Snacks

So it was Sunday evening and we were settling for a relaxing evening, having some neighbors over (Jason and Andrea:) and looking forward to a few snacks.

First round was the energy bites I had made once before and were a hit.

Then a new recipe of some chocolate oatmeal bars (that I made into balls instead)

The grapes were something Alan brought in from the garden. You need a little something healthy to balance it all out. Although, both of the items were on the healthy side with oats, flax seeds, peanut butter, nuts, honey and cran raisens. Can't feel too guilty about that. 

Don't judge the serving trays. They just came out of the freezer, so why dirty another plate. We planned on eating them not just admire them.

                       Round Two was chocolate/peanut butter covers banana bites covered in toasted coconut.

                           Along with some mini frozen grapes dipped in Greek honey yogurt.

I wasn't trying to make a statement with my display obviously. The cookie sheet, wax paper look wasn't meant to be a blog post. But hey, when food comes out, so does the camera in this family.

 The winning treat of the night....had to be these little babies! They were SO yummy. I have never had Greek yogurt before, I never realized what I was missing.

Below was the picture from Pinterest. It was with blueberries that were dipped in Greek yogurt (use a tooth pick to swirl/dip the small fruit). Then freeze.
I used grapes because we were out of blueberrie.
 We loved it!


This next picture does not give these masterpieces justice. Alan dipped the banana chunks into melted chocolate chips and peanut butter, then we topped it with toasted coconut flakes, just because we had some already made.

We will definitely make these again too!

This is the recipe courtesy of my pinterest board. Along with a picture of what it looks like via a Real photographer.

FROZEN BANANA BITESWhat you'll need . . .

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• Unsweetened coconut flakes

It was a deliciously entertaining evening. Good treats, Good company and our show was equally GOOD!

Once again Pintrerest comes through.

Healthy Energy Bites

Been loving me some Pinterest lately...Love the joke I heard from one of my daughters the other day. Actually I think she saw it on Pinterest as a cartoon or Quote. I need to find it myself, but it goes like this...

The husband is playing video games and the wife is on Pinterest.

He complains that she is always on the computer obsessed with Pinterest.

Her comment was classic.

"When was the last time your video game made you dinner?"

I love it because it's True.

I may spent some time on Pinterest, but I always come away with a new recipe (that I try) or a craft idea (that I incorporate into a Y.W. activity) or a home improvement idea (that I do to my home) and save money in the mean time. It may be an obsession of late, but it is a healthy one.

Especially when I came across this Health little snack idea.

I made some the other day and took some to a presidency meeting we had that night.

Everyone seemed to like them too.

Since I bothered to take a picture I will show you what some of mine looked like.

But I think you will enjoy the picture that was posted with the recipe from Pinterest more.

ENJOY!

And Healthy Too

No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed or wheat germ
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:
Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Makes about 20-25 balls.

6 minute microwave carmel's

I've got to share one of my latest Pinterest finds that I really liked.

I Love Carmel's, but was never fond of all the stirring and use of a candy thermometer....until I found this recipe and gave it a try. It literal takes SIX minutes to make.

All you do is put all of the ingredients into a microwave safe bowl and set the timer for 2 minutes.



Then stir it all up real good and set the timer for another 2 minutes, then give it another good stir. That is 4 minutes so far...

Then set the microwave for another2 minutes and hurry and get your pan ready. Grease it up however you like. I choose to spray some Pam in the dish.

After the last 2 minutes are up you are done, because that equals 6 minutes.

The first time I made it I followed the recipe exact, which is really hard for me. Then the next time I chopped up some walnuts and added 1/2 cup after the 6 minutes and stirred it up and poured it into the greased pan. That is how I will always make it now.




Then you just need to chill it in the refrigerator to firm it up.
When it is ready, you just cut and wrap those bad boys. YUM!
It actually made more then what is shown in the picture. I gave away a bunch.

6 minute microwave Carmel's

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light Karo syrup
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Combine all ingredients

Cook 6 minutes, stirring every two minutes

Stir and pour into lightly greased dish.

Let cool

Cut, wrap in wax paper & store in air tight container.

Breakfast

I often tell Alan that I think it's sexy for a man to cook in the kitchen. Then I showed him how to make German Pancakes and hinted that they were one of my favorite breakfast meals.

Now I come home to this beautiful sight often when I have a short break in the morning from the bus.



 He's a Keeper!

 Don't you think I did a good job of training him?! He also insisted on learning how to make Artisan bread all by himself. So he has me stand by him and Not do anything, just to watch and make sure he does it right.

I am so lucky.

 AAAHHH breakfast was GOOD. And the company was even better.

Krispy Kreme Donuts

My favorite find on face book today. I am seriously thinking about making them. Could be dangerous!

 

KRISPY KREME DONUTS

Terrible blurry picture. Almost don't want to look at them.

 That may be a good thing!

 

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The ingredients.

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This recipe makes 3 baker's dozen donuts (that's 39!). You can scale it down - or up - as you need!

Donuts
3 (1/4 ounce / 7g) packages yeast (3/4 oz / 21g total) - I used "Rapid Rise" but traditional is fine too - it just affects the rising times
1/2 cup (120ml) water (105-115F / 40-46C)
2 1/4 cups (530ml) milk, scalded, then cooled
3/4 cup (169g) sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup (113g) shortening
7 1/2 cups (940g) all-purpose flour
canola oil for frying

Glaze
1/2 cup (113g) butter
3 cups (375g) powdered sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
6 -9 tablespoons (90-135ml) evaporated milk (can substitute regular milk or water for milder flavor)

Time to make the donuts!

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Proof your yeast by adding it to the warm water. Mix it up and let it rest.

Scald the milk in your microwave or on top of your stove, and let cool.

Combine yeast, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 3 cups (375g) flour.

Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.

Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

Carefully, stir in remaining flour until smooth.

Cover and let rise until double, 30-60 minutes, depending on the yeast you used. I went the full 60, and you can see in step 4 what happened! (I would do it again, they were great!)

Shaping the Donuts

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After the dough has risen, turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour.

Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin.

Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Separate donuts and holes, as they take different frying times (but are equally delicious). Save your scraps - they are both great to test your fry time and to snack on while you're making the rest!

Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.

**If you want to make these donuts for breakfast, let the donuts rise in the refrigerator overnight!***

Make the Glaze

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I like to make up the glaze at this point because it can sit at room temp until the donuts are fried and ready to be dipped.

Melt the butter and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add milk (or water) until desired consistency is reached.


*** to make chocolate glaze, melt 6 ounces of chocolate along with the butter!***

 

This is NOT my recipe and I have NOT made them. But they looked good enough to blog about. I read a ton of the reviews that came with it, and Tons of people made them and loved them. So there you have it.