Sweet treat

This year I wanted to make rice crispy treats for my neighbors, since it's super easy and we have a ton of kids in the neighborhood. So when I came across a instagram post on adding cake batter, I had to try it. 

They are delicious. I can't believe I haven't tried these scrumptious treats before!

Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats

• 
  

3 Tbsp. butter
1 (10 oz.) bag of mini-marshmallows
1/3 cup yellow cake mix
6 cups crispy rice cereal
1 (1.75 oz.) container of sprinkles

Method: Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in rice crispy cereal so it is completely covered with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. 

Unfortunately I have to go to the store and get more because my kids have inhaled most of them. 

 Just watch out for the sticky fingers. 

eating

My way through the  long weekend. 

It was chilly outside, 

but we were nice and  toasty inside

stuffing our bellies.

Made Maple Cranberry Syrup and Butter

Maple-Cranberry Butter:

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

1/4 cup pure maple syrup (no aunt jemimas! :)

1 cup butter, at room temp

To make the maple cranberry butter, combine cranberries and maple syrup in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until the cranberries have softened and popped, about 5 minutes.

Let cool, then place in a large bowl with the butter. Beat with a wooden spoon until just combine, cover and set in the fridge until ready to serve

Recipe courtesy of me oh my

Chopped up homemade 

Chicken noodle soup 

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth

1/2 pound chopped cooked chicken breast

1 1/2 cups egg noodles

1 cup sliced carrots

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

salt and pepper to taste

• In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.
• Recipe courtesy all recipes.com

Made my own rendition of 

Brie Grilled Cheese with Rosemary salt and Clover Honey. 

amazing!

Made Gingerbread houses with our cousins.

decorated the tree

Had hot cocoa

Sat by the fire and cuddled with hubby and kids while watching, what else, football. 

 Christmas is here and I am loving every second!

pimp your smoothie

If your anything like me you will love this snippet from Women's Health Magazine. So far I loved the Cherry Bomb.

Cherry Bomb

Blend 3/4 cup frozen cherries

1 kiwi, peeled and quartered 

1/4 cup orange juice 

1/2 cup coconut water

3/4 tsp agave nectar and 3 ice cubes. 

Serves 1. 159 cal, <1 g fat (<1 g sat), 38 g carbs, 129 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 3 g protein 

**Trick it out even more: Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder for an additional 15 to 25 grams of protein. 

Recipe

I recently posted that my mother in law made Ramos House Warm Banana & Berry Shortcake. I got a few requests to share the recipe so here it is. 

photo taken by Nicci on Instagram

Warm Banana & Berry Shortcake

makes 6-8

4 Bananas, sliced

3 cups mixed blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries

2 tbsp butter

3/4 cup of white sugar

6-8 cooked biscuits *

2 cups of sweetened whipped cream

Method:

Saute bananas with butter in a pan until golden brown. 

Add the sugar and cook until the sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize. Add Berries and saute for an extra 30 seconds, and then set aside.

Cut biscuit in half and pour hot fruit over the bottom half of the biscuit. Top with fresh whipped cream and the top of the biscuit. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve warm.

*Disclaimer: We did not make the *biscuits, we made a white cake which was delicious, but not the same.

Buttermilk Biscuits 

makes about 25

20 oz flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup baking powder

1 scant tsp. salt

3/4 cup butter, cold

1 1/4 cups margarine, cold

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Method:

Sift Flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl and set aside. Cut cold butter and margarine into 1/2 inch squares. By hand or with a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour mixture until the butter pieces are the size of large peas. Repeat procedure with margarine. Add the buttermilk and mix until the dough is just combined, being careful not to over mix. Turn the dough out on a floured cutting board and roll out to 2 inch thickness. 

Using a biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place onto cookie sheet. Cover in plastic wrap and place in freezer for at least 2 hours. Bake biscuits from frozen on upper shelf of 375 degree preheated oven approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown. 

ENJOY!!

Happy 4th of July weekend

THE ITALIAN SKY

I hope your heading somewhere nice and cool, like the beach or pool.

MY BABY GIRLS' TOES

We painted our nails for the occasion

CINQUE TERRA, MONTEROSO BEACH ON OUR ITALIAN VACATION

got our bathing suits on, 

JORDY AND PRESLEY'S FESTIVE FINGERS

and all decked out in our patriotic colors.

Tonight we will all be looking to the skies for some lovely firework shows.

GIGI BAKING WARM BERRY & BANANA SHORTCAKE

and our bellies will be nice and full from all the food we ate.

I'm either making this delicious WARM BERRY AND BANANA SHORTCAKE or this BERRY TART.
Love Holidays and
love love love summer time.

Eggs Benedict

I love this breakfast, it easy to make and so yummy. I don't make it too often, but I couldn't resist for my hubby's birthday breakfast. Add some avocado, bacon,  & maybe spread with cream cheese add a little tomato, and cheese and you've got a gourmet breakfast at home. Enjoy!

Recipe found here for the sauce (make sure to add cracked pepper), and here for the ingredients for the eggs benedict. Also you can just buy the store bought mix for Hollandaise Sauce and just add butter and milk. Both are great.

Good Morning

Photo via Honey and Jam recipe here

Sunday is known for doughnut day in this house. Unfortunately I wont be partaking in this mornings grub fest. However, it's a lot easier to have my shake when I am down 11 pounds. 

Photo via Honey and Jam recipe here

Day 12. EASY. Had a date with my honey and saw HANNA. I loved the music when she was kicking butt, but I wish it had a better ending. I'm not gunna lie, I plugged my ears and closed my eyes a few times. I'm such a whimp. Went to eat dinner at Bandera in Corona Del Mar, it's was nothing short of delicious. I've never had anything I didn't like there. I died over their cucumber + tomato salad.

Tomato 

Cucumber

Onions

Corn

Avocado

Goat Cheese

Cilantro

Light Vinaigrette

Day 13. Under way. Shakes are growing on me, once again. I even had a vanilla shake with just a hint of vanilla extract (No Banana!!), and I finished the whole cup. Usually I have some left over. HELPFUL HINT: add lots of ICE. If the shakes aren't cold they are much harder to drink. The colder the better!!

Can't wait for dinner tonight @ my favorite spot... Gigi's house. 

Cucumber- Lemon- Lime

 These last few days the only thing that has been getting me through the day with any sort of flavor has been my Cucumber, Lemon, and Lime water.

Quite simple.
Cut up some fresh Lemons, Limes, and Cucumber.
Then toss into ice cold water.
You'll feel like you were at the spa.
It's a nice detox drink, and great for hangovers...
so I'm told.

Apricot Nut Bread

I like I mentioned before I am obsessed with the book, The Green Diet. When I photographed for the book I was able to try a few things and I just died over the deliciousness of this bread. You must try it. It's so moist and so so yummy.

1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup all-fruit apricot spread or jam
2/3 cup dried apricot pieces
1/2 cup oat bran
1/3 canola oil
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
2 Tbs. honey
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1/4 cup chopped walnuts ( or other nut)

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring the apple juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove the heat and add the apricot spread, apricots, and oat bran. Let stand for 5 minutes.

2 Combine the oil, bananas, and honey in a large mixing bowl; whisk well. Add apricot mixture. Add the dry ingredients to the banana-apricot mixture, stirring just until moist.

3 Spoon the batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy.

Servings 12.