Recipe Swap - Special K Cereal Bars

When I get the tummy grumbling feeling late at night it's usually for something sweet.  I try not to eat too late but sometimes like once a month or so I just can't help it...you know ladies?!  Anyway, I thought why not make Special K bars so I don't have to feel as guilty about it!  I didn't do anything special with this recipe other than I used way less sugar since the Special K cereal I had was that yummy Honey and Oats variety which is already sugared a bit.  Next time I'm going with the strawberry one.

If you get a hankering for a late night snack with a little chocolate this is the way to go.   I packed these in hubs lunch, had them for breakfast, and so forth.  Easy and versatile.

Ingredients

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup white sugar  (I used less)

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)

6 cups special k cereal (experimemt - use any variety)

12 ounce bag of chocolate chips or chocolate bars melted

Directions

In a bowl stir syrup and sugar and melt in microwave for a couple minutes just until the sugar is dissolved.

Then stir in the peanut butter and combine well. 

In a larger bowl add your cereal following with your peanut butter mixture.   Mix well.

Spray or butter a baking pan (the bigger the pan the bigger thinner the bars) - and press the cereal mixture into it.  Afterwards, melt your chocolate in the microwave (in batches is easier and quicker).  Spread over your cereal like icing. 

I then cover and place my pan in the refrigerator to let firm.  Hubs likes his room temp but I like mine a little chill.  So up to you on how you wish to serve it. 

Enjoy.  Happy Thursday everyone.   Are you all getting ready for back to school?  It's sneaking up fast!

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rum aged well above the clouds

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Diageo. All opinions are 100% mine.

Some times there's nothing better than relaxing with an adult cocktail whether you’re on vacation, enjoying dinner or just simply amongst friends.  I've always been a rum fan and have added Zacapa premium rum on my list of brands to try.  What's your favorite premium dark rum?  Even if you don’t drink, premium rum is a very nice add to recipes.  There’s one recipe I haven’t shared yet but it’s out of this world called Rum Balls.  Typically I make these around the holidays and the rum is such a delightful touch!

Zacapa is only just a few years older than I, having been created in 1976.  With acidic soils (volcanic) and golden sunlight, the cane is grown.  A difference between other rums and Zacapa is they use molasses as a base but Zacapa uses what's called virgin sugar cane honey which is the concentrated first press of sugar cane.  That mixed with the ageing process at one of the world's highest ageing (2,300 meters above sea level) facilities called The House Above the Clouds! 

From there the Zacapa aged rum passes through several casks that previously housed American whiskey, sherry and wines giving its distinctive taste.   Are you thirsty yet?

To learn more about the unique ageing process and interesting discoveries visit the Zacapa Society www.zacaparum.com.

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Free eBook - Cooking Simply The Italian Way!

 Cooking Simply: The Italian Way! 

Cool beans!  If you have a knack for Italian in the kitchen then check out this free eBook being offered through Amazon (kindle edition). What's even more fun is this book contains not only recipes but 10 videos as well!  Usually these free eBooks do not last long so go ahead and grab it while you can!





Thanks Money Saving Mom

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Bobby Flay - Blue Cheese Yogurt Sauce (for wings)

So, I really wanted to hang out with and be happier than a pig in mud and join in on the celebrity cook off.  Sounds like a fun way to try new recipes of the famous!  I had some wings already in the freezer and thought why not try Bobby Flays blue cheese sauce for them.  I'm a huge blue cheese fan on any wing I eat so .... I figured what the hay.

Based on the reviews from his wings, I really should of tried those but couldn't fine the spices that easy so just opted for the sauce.  Anyhoo, it's easy as can be.

Ingredients
1 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tbsp finely grated red onion
2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
salt/pepper

Directions
Stir everything together in a bowl and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or so to let the flavors gel.  Serve it up with some hot wings.

I thought it needed something so I added a small clove of minced garlic and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
If you like refreshing dips then give this one a whirl.  I think I was hoping to get hooked on the first bite but... it was fun trying it!

Do you have a favorite Bobby Flay recipe?

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Veggie Breakfast Quesadilla

Every now and then I get a hunger for something different. As most of you know I'm a sucker for cheese plus I love an onion and mushroom combo. So...I decided to add a few of my favorite things into this quesadilla for breakfast.

Ingredients

1/4 cup onion chopped small
1/4 cup bell pepper diced small
1/4 cup mushroom chopped small
1 cup shredded Mexican blended cheese
4 eggs whisked
1 tbsp butter
4 flour tortillas
2 tbs or so of cilantro
salt/pepper

Saute onion, bell pepper, and mushroom in small pan in butter until slightly soft.

Spray medium pan with non stick spray and cook eggs scrambled style on medium to medium high heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For the tortillas - add about 2 tbsp of the scrambled eggs, 1 tbsp pepper mix, and 2 tbsp of cheese to each or until ingredients are used up. Fold over and hold together with a toothpick if needed.

Spray medium pan with non stick spray and cook on medium/med high until tortilla is lightly brown and cheese is melted. Respray as necessary. Flipping once.

Top with sour cream, cilantro and salsa if desired.  Cut in half for smaller portions if desired.  Makes 4 individual quesadillas. 


The cilantro adds just the right touch for tons of flavor.  What are some of your favorite things to add to quesadillas?

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BLT with a Twist

 

I'm a huge BLT lover.  I think it's all about the bacon.  The other day I got hungry for one and thought I'd switch it up a bit since hubs isn't that much of a fan of BLT's.  I checked the fridge and decided to make it tastier, meatier, bigger, and well more manlier.  It turned out to be a hit.  Here's what I did.....


Ingredients

Onion slices
Swiss Cheese slices
Tomato
Romaine Lettuce
Fried Bacon Strips
Ranch Dressing
Mayonnaise
Honey Roasted Turkey Breast (deli meat)
Slices bread of choice
salt and pepper

Directions
Toast your sandwich bread.  On one slice of bread spread ranch dressing and the other spread mayo.  Then layer your sandwich as follows: a leaf or two of Romaine, a slice of Tomato, salt and pepper to taste, a few slices of bacon,  a slice of swiss cheese, a slice of turkey breast (or more for hubs), and then a couple onion slices.

Enjoy!

What's your favorite way to make BLT's?

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Betty Crocker - Extraordinary Chocolate Chip Cookies

The other day I posted about the Best of Betty Crocker 2011which is a free recipe book for download.  Well after downloading it, I had to make something from it and no doubt that would be the extraordinary chocolate chip cookies.  It wasn't until I got into the recipe that I realized that I didn't have any chocolate chips on hand so I improvised and used crushed heath toffee bits.  This recipe came runner up as the best midnight snack.

I was really hesitant about heating up my kitchen on such a hot day but....cookies got the best of me.  Besides what kid (parent) wouldn't like homemade cookies on their summer break?  

Here's the recipe

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag chocolate chips 24oz
2 eggs
2 tsp baking soda

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl beat sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs until fluffy.  Stir in your flour, baking soda, salt.  Then add the chips.

Grab an un-greased cookie sheet and use a #40cookie/ice scream scoop to scoop out your batter and place on the pan.  I just used a regular ice cream scoop which made bigger cookies.  Keep each cookie about 2 inches apart.  Flatten slightly.  Bake for 11-13 minutes or until browned.  Center will be soft.  Cool for about 2 minutes on a cookie rack.

Then grab a tall glass of milk and enjoy the warm goodness of fresh cookies right from the oven.  Ahhhhh.  

Makes about 72 servings.

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Best of Betty Crocker 2011 Summer cookbook

 

Yum is all I can say looking at the photos in this ebook!  The Best of Betty Crocker 2011 Summer Cookbook is free for download via pdf.  If you check it out come back and tell me if the recipes don't look delish!



Thanks Money Saving Mom

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No Ordinary Burger Contest

http://www.facebook.com/johnsonville

Build your best burger using Johnsonville Brat or Italian Sausage Patties, and you could win a year’s worth of groceries from WalMart in the “No Ordinary Burger Contest!”

Ignite your inspiration with pork and get grilling!

Now through September 6, log on to the contest page and submit your recipe and vote for your favorite pork burger.  Two grand prize winners will be awarded one year's worth of groceries and their winning recipes featured on Johnsonville Brat and Italian Sausage Patty boxes.

Check it out on Facebook , the Pork Be Inspired website and the contest rules here.

Will you be entering? 


Information regarding this giveaway was provided by One2One Network and I may be entered to win a gift card.

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Potter pals trip to Harry Potter Wizarding World

Guest post written by AJ Nielson



One thing that I've stuck with over the years is the Harry Potter series. I loved reading the books as I was growing up and I've continued to love the movies and rereading the books as each of the movies comes out. Well, several of my friends have felt the same way too about it and that's been a point of us bonding over the years. Well, we thought that it would be fun to take a little trip to the Harry Potter Wizarding World. Strangely enough, none of us have been to the park yet though. So I knew this would be a really fun friend trip to make.

Since it was my idea, I've been doing all of the planning for it. While I was doing that I saw the website CLEARWIRELESSINTERNET.net and after I showed it to my roommates we decided to sign up for one of the internet packages on there.

I really can't wait through this next month until our trip to the theme park! It's going ot be so much fun and make a really nice vacation from work.

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4th of July Blowout - Flirty Aprons in the Kitchen

Need a hot new apron for the kitchen?  Check out this 4th of July Blowout at Flirty Aprons - Right now for $12.99 you can snag this Irregular Frosted Cupcake Apron plus Free Shipping, while supplies last, code JULY4 at checkout. These aprons are hot and very popular by the way who doesn't love cupcakes?

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