Salad Dressing in a Jar

{Salad dressing can be so expensive, and so unhealthy}

So I'd like to introduce 5 new homemade salad dressings that are super easy with no unusual ingredients that you might read on a salad dressing bottle.  And the best part is-they are super yummy!!

Just put all the ingredients in the jar and

{SHAKE it up!}

Apple Cider and Herb

1 1/2 cups olive oil

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh garlic

1 tablespoon italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

Salad Ideas: {this one as of late has been my new favorite...so yummy!} lettuce, bacon, feta cheese, tomato, avocado and if you want to make it a meal, top it with chicken!

Greek Yogurt Poppyseed

1 1/2 cups plain greek yogurt

3/4 cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 tablespoon poppy-seeds

Salad Ideas: spinach, hard-boiled egg, bacon, sliced mushrooms, choice of cheese.

Raspberry-Poppyseed Divine

1/3 cup Raspberry Vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon dry minced onion

1 cup canola oil (I haven't tried it with olive oil yet, but it might be good too!)

1 Tablespoon poppy-seeds

Salad Ideas: Mix lettuce and spinach, mozzarella cheese, almonds, and strawberries.

{sometimes I have a hard time finding raspberry vinegar-you can substitute with red wine vinegar}

Healthy Ranch

1 cup plain greek yogurt

1/2 cup milk 

1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix (not dip)

Salad Ideas: Lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes and carrots all chopped.

Italian

1/4 cup vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

1 packet dry italian dressing mix

Salad Ideas: I actually like to marinate my chicken in this dressing mix.  It is so flavorful!!  Marinate chicken and either grill it up or cook it in the oven and then dice it and add it to your favorite salad!

{Happy Summer Salad Eating!} yum!

xoxo

  

BBQ Chicken Salad

My hubby actually came up with this idea.  One night I was desperate for a dinner idea-I had chicken, lettuce, canned foods of various kinds and sauces that always seemed to sit in the fridge.  My creative juices weren't flowing, but thanks to the hubs we had an incredible meal that night.  We have since then added some more favorite ingredients to our favorite summer salad!!

The other night when my brother and sister in law were visiting we decided to go hiking around dinner time.  Instead of packing your typical "sandwich" meal, I packed a few of our favorite salad ingredients in a cooler and after we were done hiking, we had the most tasty, refreshing meal!  It was perfect!

Salad (Serves 4-6):

3 large boneless, skinless chicken breast 
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 heads of Romaine Lettuce (washed and dried)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can sweet corn (drained)or 1 cup thawed frozen corn
chopped green onion
2 tomatoes
1 avocado
crispy tortilla strips

Dressing

1 cup of your favorite ranch dressing
1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce


Grill up your chicken breasts, basting it with BBQ sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Cube the grilled chicken and top on washed lettuce with other favorite remaining ingredients.  

For the dressing, mix ranch and bbq sauce together and pour over salad!


{yuumy!}-get your eat on.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Just ate some of this pie tonight.  My brother and sister-in-law are staying with us, so of course I get to host and impress.  This Strawberry Pie was perfect for the occasion of a Monday night, "sit around the table" and catch up, laugh and converse with each other. What makes this pie different than any other pie you have ever tasted?

{its fresh}


I am not a huge pie crust maker.  There are other people who do just as good of a job (thank you Marie Calendar's Pie Crusts).  It's only about $3 for TWO crusts-totally worth my time to not make crust.  The secret to this amazing pie is not in the crust...

The fruit filling is divinely delicious.  You cannot have good fruit pie if you use fruit filling from a box or a can.  

DON'T EVER DO IT!!  

Especially not once I give you the yummiest fruit filling recipe there is.

The Pie

Pie crust
2 pounds strawberries
Fruit pie filling (see below)
Whip cream

Bake your pie crust and cool completely.  Cook your fruit pie filling and cool completely.  Wash, cut and dry 2 pounds of strawberries (halves work best).  Layer strawberries at the bottom of the pie crust. Pour 1/4 of the fruit pie filling over the first layer.  Layer with more strawberries.  Pour half of the remaining fruit filling over the pie.  Place the remaining strawberries on the pie and cover the entire pie with the remaining fruit filling.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Before serving, cut slices and top with whip cream.



Fruit Pie Filling

1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed {straw}berries (I puree mine in a blender or food processor)
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
3 teaspoons lemon juice

Cook in a medium saucepan on medium heat-stirring constantly-until thick. Wait until cool to pour over fruit pie. 


There are many {best} parts about this pie, but do you want to know one of the best parts of this pie-you can make this with any of your favorite fruits.

My 2 favorites are {strawberries and peaches}.

I think I am going to go help myself to some more of this decadently, scrumptious, fresh fruit pie.  Mmmmm.....

you + kids

About a year ago I went to a one night seminar with an instructor from "Love and Logic" (usually you can take a few weeks course).  I was given several hand-outs that I need to revisit more often.  Amongst all the handouts I found a gem of a handout-appropriately printed in {GOLD} with a huge list of ideas of things you can do WITH your children (and I wish I could give this list credit, but there is nothing on this piece of paper that says who came up with it-I think it may have been the instructors personal list).

{I love this list so much I wanted to create my own}

I have seen many blog posts/pinterest pins lately that are titled to the effect of "ways to keep your toddler/child busy".  I completely agree that sometimes it is needed to send your child off to go do something to keep them "busy", and in a way-out of your hair.  

BUT... it has sort of been rubbing me in the wrong way.  What if you actually tried 

{interacting, experimenting, creating, playing, laughing, talking, teaching, listening, giggling, smiling} 

with your child.

Not only will your child be in {heaven}, but chances are you are going to be a much happier person too!  There is no greater joy than seeing your child so excited, or seeing the wheels in their little brains turn as they learn.  As you spend time with your children bringing fun and learning into their lives, you are going to feel a lot more satisfied in the day.

 Arts

1. Paint with Q-tips.

2. Finger paint with pudding.

3. Add dry tempera paint to shaving cream and paint away. 

4. Make art using stickers (kids especially love foam stickers).

5. Color with sidewalk chalk.

6. Color on a mirror with dry-erase markers .

7. Color or focus on one alphabet letter each day.

8. Tie-dye t-shirts (See HERE for a non-mess approach to tie-dye).

9. Do Crayon rubbings of various objects. 

10. Paint on the sidewalk with an ice cube. 

11. Paint in ziplock bags-seen HERE.

12. Paint a canvas -as seen HERE.

Crafts

13. Make play-dough and use cookie cutters to learn shapes. 
14. Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest

15. Paint rocks.

16. Make bird feeders. 

17. Decorate pillow cases using permanent markers or paints. 

18. Make a paper plate hat-seen HERE.

Fun with Food

19. Make and decorate cookies (deliver them to a neighbor).

20. Each lunch or dinner on your living room floor with a picnic blanket.

21. Make a cereal necklace (I like using Fruit Loops-you can learn colors while doing it).

22. Dirt Cups (chocolate pudding, oreo crumbs, and gummy worms).

23. Use bread dough and make animals/shapes and then cook them!

24. Make marshmallow men/molecules using different sized marshmallows and toothpicks.

25. Air-pop popcorn-let the kids watch as it pops!

26. Create your own parfait with Granola, fruit and yogurt.

Stuck Indoors

27. Blow up your air-matress and watch a movie.

28. Roast marshmallows over your stove and make S'mores.

29. Read a book.

30. Put on music and dance.

31. Write letters (draw pictures) to family or friends.

32. Put masking tape down on the carpet to make a road for matchbox cars and build a city with blocks.

33. Build a fort using blankets or sheets.

34. Hide something in the house and create a treasure map for you kids to go find it-take turns hiding and creating a map.

35. Play card games like Old Maid or Go Fish!

36. Flashlight fun-turn out the lights and play "I Spy"

37. Play the Alphabet Game.

38. Do some science experiments-Ivory Soap, baking soda and vinegar with colors. 

39. Have a bath with glow sticks (I know, you probably don't want to bathe WITH your child, but play with the glow sticks with them).  You can find good glow sticks at the dollar store!

40. Set up an obstacle course.

41. Play in the sink with water and dish soap bubbles (they could really do this FOREVER!)

Outdoor Activities

42. Go for a little hike.

43. Water balloons.

44. Go to the zoo.

45. Visit a museum.

46. Bike ride.

47. Fly a kite.

48. Exercise all together.

49. Blow bubbles.

50. Pick up leaves/sticks/flowers/grass etc and bring them home and make a collage.

51. Go camping.

52. Water plants or flowers.

53. Go to the park.

54. When it rains-puddle jump.

55. Visit the library.
56. Berry picking.

What are some things you enjoy with your kiddos that is not listed here?

Caramel Grasshopper {icecream}

If you could not already tell, I am obsessed with {CARAMEL}

Put Caramel in any dessert and it automatically makes it better! At least thats what I live by.

I would like to introduce the easiest, but yummiest ice cream dessert you will ever make!

Best Part: {you only need 3 ingredients!}

mint chocolate chip icecream, caramel, oreos

In a food processor, blender or good old fashioned smashing by hand-take 1/2 a package of Oreos (or 1 1/2 sleeves) and crumble well (the smaller the chunks for the bottom layer, the better. I am sure you could use either regular or double stuffed.  I have only used regular, but I bet if you use double stuffed the crust might stick together better.

The Ingredients

Place crumbs in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.  Using your caramel sauce (and Smuckers really is the best tasting and easiest to use) cover the entire surface area of the Oreo crumbs.

Open your ice cream container (I love using the cardboard containers that you can completely rip open because you can then slice your ice-cream like you would a loaf of bread-it makes life much easier) and layer using entire ice cream container.

Then crumble the rest of the oreo package (or 1 1/2 sleeves of oreos).  Layer on top of the ice cream and then coat with caramel syrup. Freeze until serving!

Make sure you make this dessert ahead of time to give it time to set back up in the freezer! 

I have eaten this dessert year around!  Ice cream is always so delish for the summer months, but somehow the minty-ness of it makes me think of the winter holidays.

Anytime I have served this dessert I get a TON of compliments.  In fact, my hubby who doesn't even like mint desserts-LOVES this ice cream dessert!  

{And if you don't even want to take the time to make a full on dessert, but just want a late night treat all to yourself-make yourself up a bowl with the combination of Oreos, mint ice-cream, and caramel and I can guarantee you will be in heaven!}

Summer Strawberries

We had the chance to be in the nations capitol for the fourth of July!  We felt great patriotism for all of our past and current men and women who have done and continually do so much for our country!  We watched fireworks from the Air Force Memorial, which couldn't have been a better way to celebrate the birth of our nation!

And here is a fun, cute and simple festive treat to make to take with you to your next 4th of July or any patriotic holiday summer party!

I was a little bit skeptical about a white chocolate dipped strawberry {I am partial to my milk and dark chocolate}. But the white chocolate actually complimented the strawberry perfectly! 

I will definitely be dipping strawberries in white chocolate more often!

S'More Bars

{If you can't get to the campfire...bring the campfire taste to you!}

S'more bars

1 cup butter at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

4 king size Hershey bars (or 8 regular size)
2 cans marshmallow creme/fluff

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients (graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, salt).  Add to wet ingredients and mix well.

Split bar dough in half and press first half in the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Cover dough with Hershey chocolate bars.  Then on top of the bars add spread the marshmallow creme (it is super sticky-I have found a spatula works best to spread this).

With the remaining half of the bar dough, take sections and smash between the palm of your hands and place it on top of the marshmallow creme until it is completely covered (its like putting puzzle pieces together!)

Bake at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes.

Party Ideas:
-Coming soon: Feature on having a S'more party with a lot of fun ways to serve and eat S'mores...

{There's a reason they were named S'mores}

Fruit Tarts

{I took these to a party last night and it was the ONLY dessert that got completely polished off-they are my favorite!}

Crust

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 cups flour


Cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs and almond extract and beat well into the mixture, almost to the point to where it looks whipped.  Add the flour, and BEFORE mixing add the remaining dry ingredients-then mix all the dry ingredients into the dough together.

The dough will seem sticky.  Wrap it in one big ball with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for a least 3-4 hours.

When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a cookie scoop-scoop dough and make sure it is level in the scoop (if there is more it will be too much dough for each tart).  Plop the scoop into the slot of a MINI muffin's tin (Do not grease your tin).  Then gently press down in the middle of the dough forming a small crater.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-11 minutes.  Each tart should look somewhat doughy/greasy in the middle but nicely browned around the edges.

Remove muffin tin from the oven, and cool for NO MORE than 5 minutes (if you wait any longer the dough sets and you will not be able to make a bowl to fill cream in the middle).

The way I remove each of these from the tin is by using the cap of a water bottle (as pictured below).  I turn the water bottle upside down, and firmly press right in the middle of the crust forming a perfect cavity to fill with cream.  The tart should come up with the water bottle as you pull it out.  Place the crust on a cooling rack, and cool until no longer warm.

Cream Filling

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 package softened cream cheese (8 oz.)


1/2 pint whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract

You will need two separate bowls.  In one bowl, beat the cream cheese until the consistency seems silky.  Add the brown sugar and beat well (the mixture will look brown-but don't fear it will turn white again).

In the second bowl, whip the whip cream with the sugar and almond extract.  Then fold in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.  Make sure it is well mixed.

Scoop cream mixture into a gallon size ziplock bag (unless you have a pastry bag-then for sure go ahead and use that). Cut a dime size hole out of the bottom corner of the bag and use it to fill the cream in each mini crust.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Right before serving, garnish with whatever fruit you would like to place on top! 

{My personal favorites are raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries}

Party Ideas

-Decorate with blueberries and strawberries and make mini flags out of these for the 4th of July!

-If you want to make these even a little more fancy for a Bridal Shower, dip the bottom of each crust in some chocolate and then place on parchment paper to firm before filling with cream and fruit.

-Serve a refreshing finger food dessert at your next summer BBQ

-Garnish with tropical fruits (pineapple, kiwi, mango) and have a LUAU

Pina Colada Cupcakes

Cupcakes

1 box Pillsbury white cake mix

1 can crushed pineapple (20 oz can)

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

3 eggs

Dump cake mix into a mixer.  Beat eggs and add to the cake mix. Add the coconut oil to the mix and beat in well (you want to make sure it is well beaten so that the coconut oil doesn't solidify as you add the rest of the ingredients)  Open can of crushed pineapple and drain 1/4 cup of the juice and save it for the frosting.  Add the remaining pineapple and juices to the cake mix and whip the mixture well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake tins with 24 cupcake liners.  Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 the way full with cupcake batter.  Bake for the instructed time on the cake box (about 20 minutes)

While they are cooking you can make the frosting.

Frosting

1 cube butter (room temp)

3 1/2 cups powder sugar

2 teaspoons coconut creme (see below)

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup pineapple juice

milk for desired consistency

dash of salt

Shredded coconut for garnish

Open can of coconut creme and whip it for about 2 minutes (you are only using about 2 teaspoons of this creme but it stores well...so put the rest in an air tight container and put it in the fridge).  Cream together the soft butter, coconut creme and sugar.  Add almond extra, pineapple juice, and dash of salt and continue to mix.  If you would like your frosting to be slightly thinner so that it glazes the cupcakes (like shown in picture) add a little bit of milk.

Once cupcakes are cooled. Frost the cupcakes and add coconut to the top.  The frosting does set after letting the cupcakes stand for a few minutes.

{ENJOY yourself as you take a mini vacation to somewhere tropical while these tickle your taste buds!!}

I had always wanted to use coconut creme in a recipe but had never tried it before.  I picked some up at our local Trader Joes.  I didn't realize that it actually has a really bitter taste to it, but when the right amount is added to the frosting, it gives it a perfect coconut hint of flavor! 

Party Ideas

-Serve these at a summer luau or Hawaiian themed party

-These are great for any beach themed party too.

Ice Cream Caramel Crumble

The most delicious summer caramel dessert you will ever have.  I couldn't even get a picture of the put together product because it was eaten so fast!



Caramel Crumble

2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup oats (minute or regular)
1 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt


2 cups smuckers caramel syrup (it is important you use GOOD caramel in this dessert)
1 half gallon vanilla ice cream.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil, and spray foil with non-stick spray.  Mix the first 6 ingredients with either a fork or pastry, until all ingredient appear wet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Edges should be light brown.  When you take the crumble out of the oven, lift foil and immediately dump onto baking sheet to crumble the mixture.

Wait until crumble is completely cooled.  Place half the crumble in the bottom of a square-8x8 or 9x9 dish (and technically you really can use a 9x13-the crumble ice cream ratio just isn't quite as great as I would like it to be).  Top with half the caramel syrup.  Scoop out icecream on top of caramel layer (you may not use ALL of the ice cream-unless you make it in the 9x13 dish).  Run a metal spoon in HOT water and smooth the ice cream over before placing top layer.  Using remaining half of crumble, sprinkle on top of ice cream and drizzle rest of caramel syrup.

Cover and freeze overnight.

{If you are taking this dessert to an event, make sure you do not make it the DAY of-it will be "soupy"}

Party Ideas:
-Bring this dessert to every party and you will pretty much be everybody's favorite person ever.
-Have an ice cream open bar and make the crumble as one of the choice toppings.