Inside Out Grilled Cheese

We had a box of breadsticks in the freezer, and the kids wanted to help with dinner, so we decided on Inside Out Grilled Cheese.  This was an easy recipe for the kids to make, and would make a great afternoon snack or quick lunch or dinner.  These would be great to dip in tomato soup, or with a pepper jack cheese!  We used the herb and garlic breadsticks, and they were awesome!  We plan on using this recipe a lot when we go meatless for Lent!

Here's to full bellies!

Vanessa

Inside Out Grilled Cheese

8 frozen breadsticks (also can use room temperature breadsticks)

8 slices of cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. On ungreased cookie sheet, place 8 frozen breadsticks about 1" apart.
3. Bake breadsticks for 10 minutes or according to package directions.

4. Fold 8 cheese slices in half to create 16 triangles. (if using room temp. breadsticks, begin recipe here.)
5. Remove breadsticks from oven, and place two cheese triangles on each breadstick.
6. Put breadsticks back in oven for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Serve warm with soup of your choice.

Breadsticks before.....

Inside Out Grilled Cheese after.... yum! :)

Pin It

Groovy Granola

With the start of the new year, everyone is still trying to stick to their new year resolutions.  If one of those resolutions was to eat healthy, I have a great recipe for you!  This recipe is extremely easy to make, and the kids love helping out.  This recipe can probably be made with items you already have in the pantry, so it is a great cost effective recipe.  The granola can be added to spice up yogurt or oatmeal, and can be also be eaten as a healthy afternoon snack.  We use the granola to make our own yogurt parfaits.... McDonalds has nothing on us!  Layer yogurt and frozen berries twice, and top with granola for an energizing breakfast.  This recipe calls for raisins, but it is just as good with dried cranberries.  You can change the chopped walnuts for slivered almonds, or chopped pecans.  The possibilities are endless!  Post a comment and tell me how you make your granola!

Here's to full bellies!

Vanessa

Cinnamon Raisin Granola

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup sweetened shaved coconut

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 cups raisins

1. Preheat oven to 250F.
2. In large bowl, combine oats, nuts, coconut and brown sugar.
3. In a seperate bowl, comine maple syrup, oil, salt and cinnamon.
4. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans.
5. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to acheive even color.
6. Remove from oven and transfer to large bowl.
7. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

**Tip: I halved the granola into two bowls, and added 1 cup of raisins to one bowl, and 1 cup of dried cranberries to the other bowl.  This recipe yields about 5 cups of granola, so it is nice to have two different flavors!**

The ingredients! :)

Dry ingredients... looks good already!

Cinnamon Cranberry Granola!

Cinnamon Raisin Granola!

Pin It

Puppy Chow

Being the kitchen queen that I am, I decided to start a new blog to post some great recipes we have tested at our house.  Hopefully you will all get a kick out of this and be able to use some of these yourself!

For our inaugural post, I give you..... Puppy Chow!  A big crowd pleaser, the kids LOVE this stuff.  It is easy and fast, and great for family movie nights!  Enjoy, and let me know what you think! This is a great recipe for the kids to help with, as the only equipment used is a microwave, spoon and ziplocs!

Puppy Chow

1 cup Jif peanut butter

1 cup Country Crock butter (softened)

1 bag of Nestle chocolate chips

1 teaspoon of vanilla

9 cups of Crispix (or any rice) cereal

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. Combine peanut butter, butter, chocolate chips and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 60-90 seconds, stirring at 30 second intervals. Chocolate should be smooth and slightly shiny.

2. In a large bowl, pour in 9 cups of Crispix cereal.  Pour half of the chocolate mixture on cereal and toss gently.  Add in remainder of chocolate mixture until cereal is WELL coated.

3.  In a gallon sized ziplock, add 1/2 cup powdered sugar.  Carefully add in half of the cereal mixture.  Seal bag and shake vigorously.  Open bag, add in another 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and shake again.

4. Repeat same process in second ziplock with remaining 3/4 cup powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 of cereal mixture.

5. Let cool and enjoy!  Store tightly sealed in ziplock bags.

Pin It