Day before the beach recipes!

I am going to the beach tomorrow (!!!!) and am SO not bathing suit ready.... but decided to try and cut down on the grocery shopping while there (and save my precious pennies), so I cleaned out my cabinets and made anything google could think of.

Here is what ensued:
Raisin Bran Muffins (I have a TON of cereal since I'm not drinking milk)


These are REALLY good, but I would add more raisins next time. I also tried this recipe because these are really good at a local restaurant, but I don't have buttermilk, so I used skim milk.... not such a wonderful idea. The raisins sank to the bottom and they didn't exactly rise like a muffin should. First batch of Kellogg's version is much better. But here is the thing, when I've had these in the past they are a very brown muffin. My version? More white. I don't get it.

Cheerio Breakfast Bars


These look awful, but they are FABULOUS and dairy-free! Although, not so much sugar-free. I followed the recipe for the 'healthier' version. I also attempted one WITH chocolate that I was making for Ben for his weekend, but they didn't turn out at all. They are VERY crumbly. Not real sure what I did wrong, but I'm pretty fantastic at not being able to reproduce recipes. Even with it all written down.

Cookie mix that was B1G1 at Publix today = 48 cookies for $2. I'd say that is a deal!!


And if you are thinking, "NONE of that is on your diet...." I know. It sucks. I did have a muffin and a cereal bar. I'm doing good on the cookies though!

These are for the other 21 people going. For me, I plan on taking a cooler filled with: Lettuce, celery, carrots, dressing, sunflower seeds, strawberries, apples, oranges, bananas and 1 cantaloupe! That should get me through Sunday and if we happen to eat out I have been ordering grilled chicken salads with oil and vinegar hold the cheese.

Have a great weekend!!!

My version of chili

I was once told that chili was supposed to be made from everything left over in your fridge - beans, various meats, veggies, etc.

Most of my meals are really not from recipes and I have a hard time making them again, and this one is not any different... But I wanted to inspire you to create something out of nothing and share it with me b/c I do need actual recipes with lots of specifics for things to turn out right.... even sometimes that doesn't work.

Since I came home from my momentous grocery trip I had to use up any leftovers that were moments from spoiling...yum.

Here is what ended up getting cooked:

1 to 2 green bell peppers - chopped

1 random quantity of black beans (we always have these in the fridge for such an occasion)

1.5 or so cups of brown rice

1/2 a container of sour cream

shredded cheese

I stirred this all together and cooked it in the oven for about 30 or so minutes and it was amazing! I'm sure there is a specific recipe to add a few more things to make it better, but I loved it. It was wonderful with corn chips. Ben wished it was 'hotter' but from the man who eats habañero peppers in everything I let that go in one ear and out the other. I love new recipes so anything you would like to leave as a comment is greatly appreciated!

Know when to ask for help.

Today I went Christmas shopping, and accidentally bought myself a Christmas present. Of course I only bought it because I will be able to make super cute cookies and pretty little tins full of them for Christmas gifts....of course! This one to be exact. And let me just tell you.... my cookies look NOTHING like those above. See exhibit A (Side view was a little more forgiving):


In fact, not only do they not look like that, but I'm sure they don't taste like those either. They are kinda crumbly, kinda salty, and kinda just plain bad. My husband (who typically has no problem eating 5 cupcakes at a time or a pan of brownies) ate half..... HALF of one. Then he asked it that was what they were supposed to taste like. HAH! crap....

So all you blog readers. How do I make these cookies beautiful AND not so gross?

Not Me Monday

It was most certainly NOT ME that ate almost an entire cookie sheet of these amazing Rolo/pretzel/nut combinations during Thanksgiving break. I think it may have been my husband, but since I'm still trying to not gain back 4lbs lose 10lbs, it was certainly NOT ME.

However, I'm pretty sure I should share this 'recipe' so you can NOT eat a whole cookie sheet as well. (I'm not sure it counts as a recipe since you really just squish a bunch of stuff together, but here you go).

Buy those little checkerboard pretzels (they work the best).
Then unwrap 200 rolos - that's the fun part!
Put a rolo on top of every pretzel and put it in the oven on 350 for 3.5 minutes.
Pull out and quickly (!) put a nut on top, preferably Almonds or Pecans.
Put tray in fridge for 30 minutes so the chocolate hardens again and then you can pull them out and bag in cute little bags for gifts! (Or not eat them all by yourself...either way).