Easy Yogurt Pie

This is your perfect "go-to dessert" for Spring/Summer! The one made for this post was key lime, but can be made with ANY yogurt of your choice!

All you need is:

a pie crust

8 oz cool whip

3 yogurts

Now... I am a sucker for a great graham cracker crust... and so if you don't  want to buy a store-bought one, here's an easy homemade one:

1/3 cup melted unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup crushed graham cracker

1/4 cup sugar

1) combine all ingredients, and press into a pie pan

2) chill for roughly an hour

3) bake at 375 for 8 minutes

Ok, so for the filling, all you do is mix the cool whip and yogurt, and pour into crust!

This was made for St. Patrick's Day, so I finished it off with green sprinkles.

Again, make this with ANY yogurt you'd like!

Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars?!?! I was so excited when my sister found a floating around Pinterest... I was getting a little tired of switching between Quaker Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars and Peanut Butter Nature Valley Bars... this is a PERFECT combination of both and super easy to make!

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cup old fashioned or quick oats
1/2 cup rice crispy cereal
1 cup chopped pretzels

mini chocolate chips

In a saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, honey, peanut butter, and vanilla. Over medium heat, stir until it starts to bubble. Once it starts bubbling, cook for two minutes (continually stirring.)

In a large bowl combine oats, rice crispy, and pretzels.



Once the peanut butter mixture is done with its 2 minute cook time, pour in the oats, and stir.

Place mixture in a lined cookie sheet (parchment paper or wax paper will work.) I used a serving spatula to form the mixture into the pan.


Sprinkle with as much chocolate chips as you'd like and quickly press them in. Then, place in the fridge to cool (about an hour.)

Store in the fridge... plus they are the best cold!



Happy snacking!!

Heavenly Hamburger

This is a "secret family recipe" from my Grandma. It's become my signature dish to bring to gatherings or cook for my friends! It's a layered casserole dish that can be made ahead of time, and is pretty easy to make! 

What you will need: 

8-12 oz egg noodles

1 lb ground beef

garlic salt

1 tsp sugar

2 8oz cans tomato sauce

5 oz cream cheese

8 oz sour cream

green onions

grated cheddar cheese

*for this recipe I actually used a portion of my "Not so sloppy, Sloppy Joe" meat as opposed to this ground beef & tomato sauce (I had a portion in my freezer from a previous night's dinner!)

READY?!

1) Cook the noodles. Once Al Dente, drain, and keep in pot with a small amount of water (to avoid sticking)

2) Brown meat, add seasonings and tomato sauce, and simmer a few minutes

3) Combine cream cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions.

Arrange in casserole dish (for these measurements I use a 2 1/2 quart dish) 

1/3 noodles, 1/3 meat, 1/3 cheese mixture. Repeat 3 times, and top with grated cheese!

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Thank you Grandma Nol for this deliciously easy family recipe! 

I hope you enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These are literally, MELT. IN. YOUR. MOUTH. so good! 

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt 

bag of Reese's peanut butter cups

(1st step... stick one wrapped Reese's cup in the freezer) 

1- preheat oven to 350

2- beat butter and peanut butter

3- add sugar and beat until fluffy

4- add egg and vanilla

5- sift in flour mixture (flour, baking soda, and salt)

Roll dough into balls.



Roll the balls in the sugar to coat. 

Line a mini cupcake baking sheet with paper cups. Place the sugar-coated balls within each.


(now take out that frozen Reese's cup)


Press Reese's cup into each ball.

Place Reese's cups into dough. 



Bake for 8-10 minutes.






You are welcome ;)

Cream Cheese, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I usually have all these ingredients on hand... all I really need are ripened bananas! 

This recipe makes 2 loaves... so it's great for a big'ol family! Or... freeze the second loaf! :)

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 8 oz cream cheese (I like to use whipped)

2 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 cup four

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup mashed bananas (about 4 medium bananas)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat butter and cream cheese, gradually add the sugar. Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Beat until blended.

Add the flour mixture gradually (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.) 

Stir in the bananas, vanilla, and chocolate chips. The mixture will be very very thick! 

Add them to 2 greased and floured 8x4 loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for about 1 hour. I checked mine at 45 minutes, because the top starts to brown... and so I covered with foil towards the end.

Let cool before slicing... ENJOY!! I like to put butter on the "fresh outa the oven" slices... and the next day I like to spread cream cheese on them (as if there weren't enough cream cheese right?)

3 Ingredient Easy Mandarin Salad

Mandarin Almond Salad

This salad credit goes to my mom! I remember it at almost every Christmas dinner... It's super easy to throw together... and goes great with grilled chicken for a meal!

SALAD:

red leaf lettuce

red onion

mandarin oranges

candied almonds*

*How I do my candied nuts: Melt white sugar (which takes FOR-ever!) and as soon as it's melted, turn off heat and toss in nuts (I like using slivered almonds.) Coat the nuts, and pour out onto wax paper. Let cool, and then break up if needed.

DRESSING:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar, my mom uses white)

1 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dry parsley)

salt and pepper

a bit of hot sauce (whatever is on hand) 

As said before... this is a great side dish... or add chicken for a meal!! 

Super easy! Inexpensive! Delicious! 

Chicken Taco Rice Bowl

1 chicken breast

12 oz salsa

can black beans, drained

8 oz corn

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 Tbsp cumin

1/2 Tbsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 

1/2 tsp kosher salt

cracked pepper

rice

cheddar

cilantro 

Another easy crock pot recipe! AND... this meal is even better the next day.

Simply place all ingredients (excluding rice, cheddar, and cilantro) in the crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours. 

Near the end of the chicken cooking, shred cheese, shop cilantro, and cook desired rice. 

ENJOY!!