3. Try 30 New Recipes : Cucumber Lime Popsicles

It's summer, and here in Southern Colorado? It's HOT! Skyler and I were looking for some good ways to cool off, and we decided - what better than a Popsicle?

We started with juice-sicles, just pouring some Cherry Limeade (Minute Made) into popsicle molds and freezing them! But then we (I) got more adventurous! Today's experiement? Cucumber Lime!

Sure, I saw them on Pinterest. (courtesy of The Little Foodie) But when I first saw them, I thought "Umm... right..." Because really? Popsciles and Cucumbers? Not so much. Right? WRONG! They are delicious! And super simple to make!

 

All you need is a Cucumber, a Lime, a Tablespoon of Sugar and a Cup of Water! (For 4 popsicles) 

Run them in the Food Processor (and be sure to cover your ears while you do so!) 

 

Fill your favorite molds (dixie cups and old yogurt cups work well if you don't have popsicle molds! But these were $1/each - and so worth their cost!) 

Then freeze for 2 or 3 hours and enjoy! 

Ingredients

• 1 Peeled and Cubed Cucumber
• 2 TblSp sugar
• 2 TblSp Lime Juice
• 1 Cup Water

3. Try 30 New Recipes : Pretzels

With my recent Pinterest Addiction I've been wanting to make Pretzels for quite awhile! So Skyler and I finally broke down and tried one of the Pin's I'd saved! They turned out super yummy, and we're anxiously waiting to make them again! We followed this recipe from The Family Kitchen.

 

Big, Soft Pretzels

Ingredients

2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast (one package)
3/4 cup lukewarm water
3/4 cup lukewarm milk
2 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil
4 – 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

For the boiling solution:
2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking soda

 Directions

Pour a bit of the water into a large bowl, stir the yeast into about half of the water (measure it, then just pour a bit into the bowl to make sure the yeast is active); let it sit for about 10 minutes. If it’s not foamy, toss it out and buy fresh yeast.

Add the rest of the water, milk and canola oil to the yeast, then stir in about 3 cups of flour and the salt. Add about a cup more flour, and when it becomes too difficult to stir, turn it out onto the counter top and start kneading. Once all the flour is incorporated, keep kneading, adding extra flour if it’s too sticky, for about 8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover with a tea towel and let rest for an hour.

Cut the dough into 10 pieces and roll each into a rope, and shape into pretzels or hearts, pinching the ends to seal. Let them rest on the countertop for 15 minutes while you bring 2 L of water to a rolling boil with the salt and baking soda. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Boil about 3 at a time, so you don’t crowd the pot (they will swell) and bring the temperature down, and simmer for a minute per side. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with coarse salt as soon as they come out of the water, so that it sticks.

Bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Makes about 10 pretzels.

3. Try 30 New Recipes :: Pizza Bites

I love pizza, but for some odd reason? My daughter does not! So I decided to try it a little differently - we made Pizza Bites, and they were absolutely delicious!! (And surprisingly not messy.)

They only take a few minutes to make, and bake and then they are a great little snack for a road trip, a picnic or just lunch at home!

Ingredients
13.8 oz can of refrigerated pizza dough
½ c pizza sauce
1  c shredded Mozzarella Cheese
17 Pepperoni (or your favorite pizza filling)
Oregano

Directions:
1.    Pre-heat the oven to 400. Line two baking sheets with Tin Foil.
2.    Unroll the pizza dough and flatten into a large rectangle. Spread the pizza sauce evenly across the surface of the dough and then spread the cheese over it. Sprinkle the Oregano over the pizza and follow with the pepperoni. 
3.    Starting with the long side, roll the dough, with the toppings inside, until you reach the other end. Pinch the seam to seal. Cut the roll into 20 even pieces.
4.    Place the pizza buns on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Let cool for 5 minutes. 

You can also stick Skewers into these while they cool and enjoy them on a stick! (All food is better on a stick, after all!)

The Original Recipe is from EmilyBites!

3. Try 30 New Recipes : Doughnuts

Again, using Emily Bites, Katie and I decided to try our hand at homemade (baked) doughnuts! These cake doughnuts are hands down, THE BEST doughnuts I've ever had. Think cake doughnuts, only fluffy and moiste and melt in your mouth delicious. They are perfect to fit your sweet tooth, without the sticky sweet frosting!!

The two recipes we made are Strawberry Doughnuts (which can be made with ANY fruit, really) and PB&J Doughnuts!

Ingredients:
1 c white whole wheat flour
1/3 c sugar
1 t baking powder
1/4 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/3 cup skim milk
1 egg
1 T melted butter
1/3 c diced strawberries
1 T agave nectar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425. Lightly spray a doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine strawberries and agave/maple syrup and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add milk, egg and melted butter to the dry ingredients and mix until just combines. Stir in berry mixture.
4. Fill each space (6) in your prepared doughnut pan about 2/3 full. Bake for 7-9 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Ingredients:
¼ c peanut butter
¼ c sugar
1/3 c plus 1 T skim milk
1T fat free Greek yogurt (I used Fage 0%)
½ t vanilla extract
1 egg
1 c white whole wheat flour
1 t baking powder
¼ t salt
2 T sugar free preserves (I used Smuckers Raspberry)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325. Lightly spray a doughnut pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, add the peanut butter and sugar and blend with an electric mixer until combined. Add the milk, yogurt, vanilla and egg and mix again. Add flour, baking powder and salt and use mixer again until just combined.
3. Using a spoon or piping bag, evenly distribute the batter mixture into the spaces in the doughnut pan. Put the two rounded tablespoons of jelly into a small dish and microwave on high for 10-15 seconds. Drizzle a teaspoon of melted jelly over the batter in each doughnut space. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick stuck in comes out clean. Cool before eating.

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We did find that the PB&J donuts were just a bit rich, although they would be DELICIOUS with milk to dunk in! The strawberry were by far our favorite, and with a bit of extra cinnamon they were extra yummy.

Again, both recipes are property of Emily Bites and only pasted here for my personal storage and to share with my family and friends! I definitely think you should check out her blog and make a few of her delicious recipes! They are healthy and everything we've tried has been delicious!

3: Try 30 New Recipes: Cheeseburger Cupcakes & French Fries

On my most recent trip to Nebraska, my sister and I were both trying to find healthier ways to make some of our favorite foods and we stumbled upon the website Emily Bites. She has a lot of healthy recipes, mostly Weight Watchers themed. And they are all yummy. Every one of them that I've tried.

Today? I bring to you, the Cheeseburger Cupcake! I've since made these multiple times, each time better than the last and with rave reviews from everyone who has tried them! (Although the recipe below has a few tweaks of my own...) And what better way to get a 3 year old to eat than to give her a cupcake for dinner?

Ingredients:
¼ c onion, finely chopped
½ lb Ground Turkey (or extra lean ground beef)
1/2 T Garlic Powder
1/2 T Your Favorite Mrs. Dash Sodium Free Hamburger Seasoning
4 oz mushrooms, chopped
4 Laughing Cow Queso Fresco & Chipotle wedges, chopped (Swiss also works GREAT!)
3 T ketchup
1 T mustard
16 wonton wrappers (typically found in the produce section)
½ c tomatoes, chopped
4oz (1 cup) reduced FF shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 375. Lightly mist 8 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Mist a large skillet with cooking spray and bring to medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until cooked. Add ground beef and Hamburger seasoning and cook until meat is browned. Add mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes until mushrooms are browned as well.
3.    Add in cheese wedges, ketchup and mustard and stir frequently until meat mixture is fully coated.
4. Push a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each of the eight sprayed cups in the muffin tin. Using about half of the meat mixture, spoon evenly into the wonton wrappers. Follow by sprinkling some of the chopped tomatoes into each cup (using about half the total tomatoes). Sprinkle about half the cheddar cheese evenly over the top of each cup. Press another wonton wrapper on top and repeat the layering steps with the remaining ingredients.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin.

And what Cheeseburger is complete without some French Fries? I have to say, this recipe for (baked) Fries? One of the best I've ever had - and so simple!!

Ingredients
2 large potatoes, russet
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp herbs (your choice - I used Rosemary and Thyme)
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp  paprika
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 475°. Line baking sheet with foil for easy clean-up. Lightly coat with cooking spray.
Cut each potato lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices; cut each slice into 1/4 inch fries.
In a large bowl, combine cut potatoes and oil; toss well. Add  seasoning. Toss to coat.

Place in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until tender crisp, turning once half way through.

3: Try 30 New Recipes

Cheese Bacon Ranch Pulls

1 unsliced loaf of (round is preferable) sourdough bread

8-12 oz cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

3 oz bag Oscar Mayer Real Bacon bits

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Using a sharp bread knife cut the bread going both directions. Do not cut through the bottom crust. Place slices of cheese in between cuts. Sprinkle bacon bits on bread, making sure to get in between cuts. Mix together butter and Ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread. Wrap in foil the entire loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Unwrap. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Cookie Dough Dip

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup toffee bits

Instructions

Cream together cream cheese and butter.
Add all remaining ingredients and mix until well-combined.
Serve with graham crackers or apple wedges.

9. Bake Skyler an awesome Birthday Cake

My friend Meg makes the coolest birthday cakes for her kids, and she was my inspiration in every way for this goal. (Before her, I never had any interest in creating a fun cake. But her kids' cakes are always so fabulous, that I really wanted to give it a shot. )

My initial idea was a crayola box, but after several hours of working with the buttercream and decorating the cake, I opted for an easier design. (I have to give Meg credit here again.) I made a Play Doh cake! (Which also happens to be Skyler's favorite creative toy of the moment.

The cake as a delicious recipe (posted below) as was the butter cream frosting. After some coloring issues, my sister stepped in to help me make some fondant (Marshmallow) which was actually fairly yummy and looked FABULOUS!

My only negative comment about the cake was that the piping letters weren't very neat. But, we were running late, the icing was stiff and I was nervous. (And? My handwriting just isn't that neat anyway. *lol* )

 

Recipes:

Cake

Ingredients

• 1 Duncan Hines Yellow (or White) cake mix
  4 egg whites
  1/2 cup water
  1/3 cup vegetable oil
  1 small pkg of instant vanilla pudding mix (I use white chocolate flavour instead)
  1 cup sour cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F, Incorporate all ingredients together one by one on low speed. Make sure to mix thoroughly between each ingredient. Once all ingredients are mixed turn mixer to medium and mix for approximately 2 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30 – 35 minutes


Butter Cream

* 2 cups butter
* 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 6 fluid ounces International Delight French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
Instructions

1. 1. Cream butter until fluffy. Add confectioner’s sugar and continue creaming until well blended.
   2. Add salt and creamer, blend on low speed until moistened. Add additional creamer if necessary (up to 2 ounces). Beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy.

3. Try 30 New Recipes :: Stromboli (or Calzones)

I love being in the kitchen, cooking or baking. It's a definite stress relief for me; and it's fun to have something new to try! So for 101, my #3 is to try 30 new recipes. Tonight, I took it a step further and sort of created my own! Stromboli!

First up? Pizza Dough! Use your own recipe; mine is a revised version from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook (Eveyrone has one! ) and I double the sugar, and a few minor changes to yeast and water thanks to altitudes.



Split your batch of dough (one batch makes two stromboli's for me, and Sky can eat a half, I ate a whole and was full.) And roll it into squares, get it as large as you can without ripping.

Then I brush with Olive Oil and flip over (so that the whole outside will be well coated.)

Next up? Toppings! (Or is it Stuffing?)



Tonight I went easy... Just pasta sauce, pepperoni and cheese.

For the sauce? I used left over from our spaghetti last week. It was Mr. C's from Nebraska (Thanks Dad!!) Although I think normally I'd just use my regular homemade marinara. The spaghetti sauce was a bit too sweet for this.

Also, next time I plan on making a veggie one for myself! Peppers, Onions... all the yummy veggies from a pizza! But I was lazy tonight.

I layered, sauce, meat, cheese, sauce, meat, cheese.



Close them like a clam, and be sure to crimp the ends. (I didn't roll my dough out flat enough, so I had a bit of a struggle with this and they weren't as pretty as I'd like! )



Sprinkle seasonings on top. (I did a mixture of McCormick's Italian Seasoning and Parm Cheese!)

Place in the Oven (425*) for 13 - 15 minutes.

Enjoy!