I don’t like to eat oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal makes me gag. I would much rather have brownies than oatmeal to start my day. I know, oatmeal is good for you…blah, blah, blah. I get it! I just don’t like the texture oatmeal. Let’s not judge!
However, I do enjoy eating oatmeal cookies. Oh and I like granola bars. Are those good for you?
I did find some recipes I would like to try that contain oatmeal. I think I will have to make the Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream for breakfast.
No-Bake Energy Bites- Little balls of energy, sign me up! These snacks are packed with peanut butter, chocolate, coconut and honey.
S’mores Oatmeal- I know I said I don’t like the texture of oatmeal, but I can’t seem to help but want to try this. It’s S’mores so it’s bound to be good, right?!
Oatmeal-Bacon Waffle Cookies- Did someone say Bacon?! These are for sure going on my “to bake” list.
Oatmeal Carmelitas- With caramel oozing out of these bars how can you eat just one?!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cupcakes- Now, this is the kind of oatmeal I would eat for breakfast. Anything with the word cake in it is good in my book.
Oatmeal Walnut Cocoa Nib Cookies- Cookies filled with walnuts and cocoa nibs. You can’t go wrong.
Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream- Homemade ice cream loaded with cinnamon- sugar and oatmeal cookies.
Oatmeal Cream Pies- Mascarpone-Cream Cheese filling sandwiched between two oatmeal raisin cookies.
Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies- I love shortbread cookies! I imagine that the oatmeal in these cookies give it great texture.
Oatmeal Smoothie- Oatmeal in a smoothie? Very interesting..interesting enough to try.
Posted by Marisol on January 26, 2012
If you are a chocolate hater, then this recipe is not for. As a matter of fact, if you are caramel hater this recipe is not for you either. However, if you love chocolate and caramel than this will make you happy. And if you are a sodium lover like me than this will make you extremely happy.
There is nothing better than a fudgy brownie with sea salt caramel oozing out of it that makes everything better. And boy does this brownie make everything better. You could have punched me in face while I was eating this brownie and I would have given you a hug.
Salted Caramel Fudge Brownies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Kraft Caramel Bits
1/3 cup water
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
sea salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium saucepan melt the caramel bits and water and mix until smooth. Set aside.
Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Make sure to spray the sheets with cooking spray as well.
Melt the chocolates and butter using a heatproof bowl set atop a pan of simmering water. Melt the chocolates and butter until smooth. Set aside to cool.
Whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture; then stir in the flour with a wooden spoon.
Pour half of the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Pour the melted caramel on top of the brownie mixture and sprinkle a generous amount of sea salt over the caramel. Pour the other half of the brownie mixture over the caramel and spread evenly.
Bake for about 35 minutes or until it is slightly puffed. Cool on a wire rack.
Once cooled remove from the pan (this is tricky since the caramel oozes out of the lining) by taking a butter knife and going around the edges of the pan and cut into 1-inch squares.
Posted by Marisol on January 15, 2012
I am a reader. I like to read YA (young adult) books, sci-fi/fantasy books, memoirs, cookbooks, mystery/thriller books, self-help books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, texts and anything that has words on it.
I wish that I had a place in my home where I can sit and read in silence and comfort. Unfortunately for me, my life doesn’t contain silence. It is filled with chaos kids, work, cooking, baking and house work. But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming about a place where I can be in peace and quiet. Frankly, I am tired of reading in my bed and falling asleep before finishing a chapter (my bed is far to comfy).
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Posted by Marisol on January 13, 2012
I love crescent rolls! There is just something about the buttery and flaky roll that makes me drool.
Honestly, I wish I was talented enough to make crescent rolls from scratch, but I was not granted with such talent. Thankfully, there are canned versions I can buy that save me time and money.
It’s so great that crescent rolls are so versatile (shhh..they can be used for more than just pigs in a blanket).
Sopapilla Cheesecake- What a great twist on a Spanish dessert! Crescent rolls filled with cream cheese and topped with cinnamon and sugar.
Crescent Caramel Sticky Rolls- Caramel and pecans make such a great combination. The picture itself makes me swoon.
Carrot Crescents- I absolutely love this idea! It is filled with egg salad, but chicken salad would be fantastic as well. This is definitely on my “to bake” list. Such a creative way to get your kids to eat.
Cheese Danish- Cheese danishes are one of my favorite breakfast foods, right after cake. This is such and easy way to make your own cheese danish. It’s a must try.
Chicken Parmesan Crescents- Chicken tenders, mozzarella and spaghetti sauced wrapped in a crescent roll….GENIUS!!!
Chicken Pillows- Three words: chicken, cream cheese and gravy!
Cinnamon Crescent Rolls- I cannot walk pass a Cinnabon without stopping and drooling maybe with this recipe maybe I can get my Cinnabon fix.
French Dip Crescent Rolls- This right here, is a man’s meal (or woman’s), my hubby would love this. I bet this would just melt in your mouth.
Pepper Jelly Danish- My manager is the first person to introduce me to jalapeno jelly and cream cheese dip and I loved it! But wrapped in a crescent roll just makes it that much better. This would make great appetizers.
Sausage Pinwheels- My husband’s Aunt Dawna makes an awesome version of these sausage pinwheels. She brought them to the Dodson Christmas Eve Dinner and I think my husband ate half if not most of the sausage pinwheels that she brought. That should tell you how good they were.
Posted by Marisol on January 11, 2012
Hello!! Oh and Happy New Year! I know I have been neglecting you and I swear I don’t mean to. I wish I had a legitimate reason for my absence, but I don’t. I will however promise to not neglect you for so long next time.
Now, let’s catch up. Here’s what’s been going on in my life:
- Spent a weekend in Branson with all my co-workers for our office Christmas Party.
- I turned 30. Yes, the big 3-0! I wished that I was back home in CA to celebrate it, but my hubby still made it special!
- I got the Rosegold Michael Kors watch I have been coveting, thanks to my BFF.
- My office won a cruise to the Caribbean. We go in February.
- Decided for the cruise that I would try to eat healthier and exercise.
- Started my diet on Jan. 3rd and then gave it up that same day at about 11:30 am. What can I say, I was having a Mac Attack!
So here’s the thing, I may have given up on my strict eating healthy rule, but I did not give up on making my food choices healthier. I love desserts, as you can tell, and it’s hard for me to give them up completely.
Angel food cake is already pretty low in fat and is as healthy as cake can be. For me, it satisfies my chocolate craving. What’s even better is that this cake is topped with a dark chocolate glaze, oh and it’s made with a boxed cake mix. I don’t typically make cakes from a box, but I figured what the hell, what can I lose except for some weight. And at about 150 calories a slice, I don’t feel so guilty having a piece for dessert.
Chocolate Angel Food Cake
Ingredients:
Cake:
1 box angel food cake mix
1/2 cup cocoa powder
Glaze:
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 tbl. sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz. finely chopped dark chocolate
Directions:
Preheat the oven to temperature specified on the package.
In a large bowl combine the angel food cake mix and cocoa powder. Add the water according to the directions on the box and mix for about 2 minutes or until smooth. (I suggest using a hand mixer.)
Pour the batter into the ungreased angel food cake pan and bake according to the package directions. Let cool.
Make the glaze by warming up the evaporated milk in a saucepan, then sift in the cocoa and sugars, whisking to avoid lumps. Stir until the mixture comes to a simmer.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla and chocolate. Stir until the chocolate in melted and the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the warm glaze over the cooled cake.
Posted by Marisol on January 7, 2012
(image sources: desk set, card, prints, shirt, clutch, chair, pillow)
Posted by Marisol on December 27, 2011
I love mason Jars!! I have used them to bake with, to store with and to make favors out of. I have pretty much used Mason Jars for anything you can think of except for canning. Hey, what can I say, I have yet to learn how to can anything. I think that will be on my New Year’s Resolution list, maybe
Another thing I love are gifts in Mason Jars. They make great homemade gifts! I found a few Mason Jar Gifts to inspire you this holiday season.
Cupcake in a Jar
Bath Snowballs in a Jar
Sewing Kit in a Jar
Everything in a Jar
Mason Jar Snowglobe
Cowgirl Cookies in a Jar
Posted by Marisol on December 12, 2011
This past weekend I had myself what I call a “Lazy Sunday”. I know there are a few of you who have the same Lazy Sunday as I do. Lazy Sunday is my favorite day, because it’s a day where I stay in my PJs and do absolutely nothing and it’s wonderful!
Although, I did cheat a little this past Sunday and didn’t have a complete Lazy Sunday. I did have to go grocery and get a Christmas tree, so there was a point during the day where I had to get out of my favorite holey sweats and put on non-holey sweats.
And when I got home I got inspired to bake something. Actually, I didn’t have to bake, it was more like slapping a few things together and calling it a treat. So, this is what I would consider a “Lazy Treat”, even the pictures were lazy (they were taken on my phone using a fancy app).
I came up with an idea to make Nutella Twix Squares…
and than I thought how about PB Twix.
So, I went with both. It’s a win-win situation!
So I took some shortbread cookies and spread Nutella and PB on them.
Then I put some creamy caramel on it.
Dipped them in chocolate.
And while I was waiting for it to set Parrish asked that I take a picture of his new gloves that match his sweatshirt.
This is what they look like when they are ready to eat.
And this is what they look like when you cut them in half and take a picture with your crappy phone camera.
It doesn’t matter what the picture looks like because the end result tasted yummy!
Nutella Twix Squares
Ingredients:
About 40 shortbread cookies (I used Lorna Doone cookies)
Nutella or Creamy Peanut Butter
1 1/2 cups of Kraft Caramel Bits
1/4 cup of water
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and line up the cookies side by side. Spread Nutella/Peanut Butter over each cookie.
Over a medium-low heat mix the caramel bits and water until smooth. Once the caramel is smooth pour a spoonful over each cookie. Place in the refrigerator to set (about 30 mins).
While the cookies are setting melt the chocolate until smooth. Remove the cookies from the fridge and place a cookie on a fork and gently dip each cookie in the chocolate until fully covered. Gently tap the fork to remove any excess chocolate and place on the wax covered baking sheet to set.
Let it set for a few hours and enjoy!
Posted by Marisol on December 7, 2011
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