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Chocolate Chip Blondies

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Chocolate Chip Blondies

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What you need:

  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 1 1/4 c. flour
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1/4. t. salt
  • 1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 c. additional chips of choice (dark chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, etc!)
  • 1/2 c. chopped pecan (optional)

Make them:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F
  • Grease an 8×8 pan
  • Cream butter, sugar & vanilla until fluffy
  • Mix in eggs
  • Add remaining dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Dough is very soft and sticky.
  • Fold in chocolate chips and nuts
  • Spread into baking pan.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned on top, the bars start to crack on top and pull away from sides of pan.  DO NOT OVER BAKE! You want this to be gooey and soft inside!
  • Serve Warm.

Note for this batch, I used a combination of semi sweet, dark and salted caramel chips.  So perfectly rich and the caramel chips added a yummy extra salty punch to the bars!

More Chocolate Recipes to try:

Brownie Batter Puppy Chow

Chocolate Lasagna

Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. You can view MCC’s Full Disclosure Policy HERE.

When it comes to coffee, I prefer it served on ice, no matter how cold it might be outside!  Recently I have jumped on the bandwagon with cold brew coffee.  Rich, dark, smooth and ice cold!  Add a splash of cream and you have one delicious ANY TIME OF THE DAY drink!  

Have you seen the cost of the machines, kits, and cold brew coffee pouches? Instead of spending upwards of $5.00 on a single serving, I am now making my own at home for pennies!  No special tools, gadgets or products are needed! A French Press Coffee Brewer (Target offers an 8 cup one for JUST $15.39) will make removing the grounds easier, but it isn’t necessary! A mason jar and coffee filter will work just as well! The HARDEST part of this process is waiting overnight to drink the coffee!

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Now, lets get our cold brew started!

What you need:

  • 2/3 c. medium or dark roast coffee grounds* (light or flavored blends will not produced a strong brew)
  • 4 c. water (filtered water if possible)
  • French Press, quart or larger Mason jar with lid, or glass carafe with lid
  • coffee filter or cheese cloth

Make it:

  • Put coffee grounds into the French Press or jar
  • Slowly pour water over the grounds.  Use a circular motion so all the grounds get wet but not forcing them up the sides.
  • You can use a spoon to carefully push any grounds still not wet down into the water.  Do not stir.
  • Cover and leave at room temperature for a minimum 12 hours.
  • If using a French Press, after brewing, press plunger down HALF WAY to avoid compressing the grounds and making it bitter.
  • Using a mesh strainer lined with cheese cloth or coffee filter pour out the brew into a bowl or clean jar.  If you are using a French Press, you don’t have to do this step, but it will help remove any grounds or sediment that might not be caught in the plunger screen.
  • Do not force the brew through the filter.  Allow it to strain slowly.  You could make your coffee bitter by stirring or compressing the grounds.
  • You now have about 4 c. of cold brew concentrate. This is very dark and strong so serve over ice or add water before drinking.  Add a splash of cream and sugar to taste if desired!
  • Store any leftovers in the fridge!

* If you prefer a darker brew, use up to 1 cup of coffee grounds.

More Breakfast Ideas:

Breakfast Taco Casserole Recipe

My Copycat Starbucks Frappuccino

Teachers: Get a FREE Colgate Bright Futures Kit!

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Teachers: Get a FREE Colgate Bright Futures Kit!

If you are a school teacher with a Kindergarten or First Grade Classroom here HERE to Colgate’s site and request a FREE FREE Bright Smiles Bright Futures Kit for your students!  There is also a Headstart Classroom kit available HERE

The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® classroom kit is full of easy-to-use classroom materials, plus Colgate® toothpaste and toothbrush samples for 25 kindergarteners or first-grade students. We make it easy to help kids learn healthy oral care habits that will last a lifetime.

All kits must be shipped to a valid school address. Please note: We use UPS for all orders. UPS will not deliver to a PO Box.

 

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

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I often rely on turning leftovers in to multiple meals to save time and keep from eating the SAME MEAL all week.  One of my favorite things to do is make a massive amount of chicken breasts in the slow cooker and use it throughout the week for lots of ‘new’ meals!  Grabbing a few pantry staples this casserole is a breeze to whip up!  You can even use a rotisserie chicken and not even have to worry about cooking the chicken!

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What you need:

  • Appx. 4 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
  • 1 can cream of chicken, mushroom OR celery soup
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 1 1/4 c. chicken broth (I used the cooking juices from my slow cooker meal earlier in the week!)
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 package (10-12 oz.) stuffing mix (or use 2 Stove Top 6 oz boxes)

Make it:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F
  • Grease an 8×8 or similar casserole dish
  • Toss the cooked chicken into the dish
  • Top with stuffing mix
  • Combine broth, cream soup, and evaporated milk + season with salt & pepper
  • Pour over stuffing and make sure all bread pieces get a splash of the liquid
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until browned and bubbling.
  • Allow to rest for 10 minutes and serve with a salad or vegetable!
  • Note: you can also add your favorite veggies with the chicken and make it in all in once dish!

Check out these dinner ideas, too!

BEST French Dip Sandwiches

Baked Ravioli Lasagna – Only 4 ingredients

One Skillet Ranch Ham Pasta

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

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I LOVE anything and everything lemon.  ESPECIALLY poppy seed bread! This yummy bread pairs almond extract with tart lemon juice for a moist, tender bread.  Topped with a tangy glaze, this bread will be come a favorite breakfast treat for your family!

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What you need:

  • 2-3 lemons
  • Zest from lemons
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 2 T. butter, softened
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 t. almond extract
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 1/3 c. lemon juice
  • 1/2 vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 c. flour
  • 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1/2 t. baking soda
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 3 T. poppy seeds

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 t. almond extract
  • 2 T. lemon juice

Make it:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F
  • Zest the lemons and add to mixing bowl
  • Juice lemons to make 1/3 c. PLUS additional 2 T. for glaze (later)
  • Mix lemon juice, zest, eggs, sugar, butter, oil, vanilla, and almond together
  • In a separate bowl combine flour, soda, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds.
  • Carefully mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix just until combined.  Do not over mix!
  • You can use 1 loaf pan or a 12 count muffin tin.  Butter the baking pan or muffin tins.  I used a 12 count mini bundt pan.
  • If making muffin size: Bake for 15-20 minutes until just browned and a toothpick comes out clean
  • If making loaf size: Bake 40-50 minutes until just browned and toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and allow to rest in pan for 10 minutes.  Invert from pan onto a cooling rack.
  • Prepare glaze: Mix powdered sugar, almond extract and lemon juice until smooth.
  • While cakes are still warm, poke holes all over the top with a toothpick.
  • Pour glaze over and allow to soak into bread
  • Allow to cool

More tasty breakfast treats:

Blueberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole

My Copycat Starbucks Frappuccino

Pancake Bites

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Let’s talk chocolate chip cookies!  Who doesn’t love a warm from the oven, soft, melty fresh baked one?!?!  For YEARS I struggled making them!  It really was my cookie Achilles Heel!  THEN, my amazing Sister in Law Erin shared with me her husband’s family recipe.  ** Insert heavenly angels singing and glowing sun rays! **  These have become my fail-proof, go to, BEST COOKIE recipe! Big, soft, just slightly crisp edges and FULL of chocolate chips.

📍 Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

  • 3 sticks butter (no substitutions) room temperature
  • 1 1/4 c. sugar
  • 1 1/4 c. brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • 4 1/4 c. flour
  • 1 t. soda
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 – 12 oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Make it:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F
  2. Cream butter and sugars together on medium speed with a hand or stand mixer
  3. Once light and fluffy add eggs and vanilla.  Mix well.
  4. Add dry ingredients and slowly mix just until combined.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips
  6. Scoop by large tablespoons 2″ apart on an ungreased cookie sheet
  7. Bake 12 minutes until just slightly browned around edges and cookies start to crack
  8. Allow to rest on pan 2 minutes before moving to cooling rack

Makes about 5 dozen LARGE cookies.  This dough freezes well if you would like to bake half the batch!

Loaded Potato Skins

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Loaded Potato Skins

One of my FAVORITE restaurant appetizers is a gooey, cheesy, crispy, potato skins!  Did you know you can whip them up at home in no time?  These take just a few minutes to prep and come out just as delicious as your favorite restaurant’s menu item!

📌 Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

  • 5 or 6 Medium Potatoes – Baked and Cooled
  • 4 T. Butter Melted
  • 2 c. Shredded cheese
  • 1 c. cooked, chopped bacon (I cheat and use a store bought package of prepared bacon!)
  • Salt, Pepper & Garlic to season
  • Chopped Green Onion

Make it:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°
  2. Bake your potatoes in your preferred method (microwave, oven, pressure cooker)
  3. Allow to cool completely (I like to make them the day before)
  4. Cut each in half the LONG WAY
  5. Use a spoon to scoop out the middle leaving behind a generous, thick shell.
  6. Put skins on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet
  7. Brush the melted butter over the insides of the potatoes
  8. Season liberally with salt, pepper & garlic
  9. Bake 30 minutes until browned and starting to crisp
  10. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and bacon
  11. Bake another 5 minutes until cheese melts and bacon slightly crisps.
  12. Garnish with Green Onions and serve with ranch or sour cream!

Note: I like to use the scooped out middles for potato soup or fry up for delicious american fries!

Check out this tried & true ranch dressing recipe PERFECT for serving on the side!

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Ranch

Drive In Movie Night – A Simple Craft Idea!

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. You can view MCC’s Full Disclosure Policy HERE.

 

As we entered what seems like day 52 of January, in the midst of nearly 12 days straight of no school, I was getting desperate for a fun activity for the kids.

Since running off energy outside was no longer an option (thanks Polar Vortex for the -30° temps) I decided to let the kids create a ‘drive in movie’.  Not only did they sit through an entire movie, they spent over an hour making their boxes into cars!

Now that is what I call WINNING! Nearly three hours of entertainment from cardboard boxes!

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After the boxes were done and dried (we ate dinner while they set) the kids parked for their movie.  A rare treat of food in the living room was allowed including popcorn and juice! WOW, we live on the edge around here!  In case you were wondering, these are the Contigo Spill Proof cups we used.

You don’t need any special supplies or craft skills to pull this off.  Give your kids some cardboard boxes, construction paper and glue!  Of course, you could paint the boxes, too, but that is WAY out of my comfort zone.

Not to ANYONE’s surprise, (check out his birthday party from a few years ago) Nolan wanted a John Deere for his! No problem, green paper, yellow paper, and a shoe box!  Add a few black circles for wheels and some head lights!

Carlie asked for a PINK car.  Again, pink paper and DONE! She started calling it her Peppa Pig (insert LOUD SNORTS) car and after adding purple pin strips asked for PEPPA to be wrote on the sides!

The kids were able to handle this mostly on their own.  I helped minimally with the pin striping and making sure too much glue wasn’t getting all over.  You could decorate the cars ANY WAY! Stickers, glitter glue, washi tape, markers, and it goes on and on!

Not only did they have a blast constructing their personalized cars, they sat still for a movie AND are still playing with their vehicles hours later!  We have changed the oil and filled the gas tanks and there may have been a minor collision requiring a tow truck!  Bring on the imaginary play!

More Kid’s Activities to try out

Homemade Play Dough

Easy Bubble Refill Jar!

Chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

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Chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Turning a few pantry staples into a satisfying breakfast has never been easier.  These are slightly sweet and have a delicious butter flavor.  They remind of Sunbelt Bakery Chewy granola bars!  Mix up a batch and have a homemade, filling breakfast ready for the entire week!

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What you need:

  • 2 c. oatmeal
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/4 c. corn syrup or honey
  • 4 tsp. boiling water
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 eggs

Make it:

  • Preheat oven to 300°
  • In a large mixing bowl combine oats, flour, sugar and coconut.
  • Melt butter and corn syrup or honey together in microwave.
  • Stir boiling water into baking soda until dissolved.
  • Add soda mixture to butter mixture.  Combine well (mixture will foam – see photo below!)
  • Pour into dry ingredients and mix.
  • Beat the eggs slightly and stir into oat mixture.  The dough is slightly dry and very thick and takes a bit of effort to combine completely.
  • In a well greased 9×13 pan (glass will work best) press mixture firmly
  • Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 20 minutes.
  • Use a knife or sturdy spatula, cut around the edges and start to loosen from pan.  Turn the bars out of the pan onto a cutting board.
  • Cut into 18-24 bars.

Note: You could drizzle these with melted chocolate or stir in chopped nuts, cinnamon, vanilla, or chocolate chips depending on your preferences.

Take a look at these other breakfast ideas:

Pancake Bites

Breakfast Taco Casserole Recipe

Snow Ice Cream!

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Turn the snow day into a fun ICE CREAM MAKING party! Yes, I said ICE CREAM!  Use some of the generous gift from Mother Nature to mix up a quick easy treat for your kids!

What you need:

  • 1 c. milk
  • 1/3 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 8 cups clean snow or shaved ice (more or less depending on the snow texture)

Make it:

In a REALLY large bowl mix milk, sugar, and vanilla together until combined. Run out and grab some CLEAN, FRESH snow and quickly stir it into the milk mixture until you reach your desired consistency.  Start with about 7 cups/scoops and add more as needed.  Work fast, this will start to melt quickly.

Top with sprinkles for a fun treat to beat the snowed in blahs!

Make sure your snow is fresh and fluffy.  Hard, old snow will not give you a nice smooth texture!

 

 

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