A Yummy Favorite!

One of my favorite things to eat for actually lunch or dinner or a snack is a bagel with swiss cheese, tomatoes and Spike...remember these from the bagel shop in Poway? What was the name of the bagel place next to Ralphs across the street from the church? This is where we discovered this and they had the most delicious bagels!



Anyway...I make this in my little convection/toaster oven.

1. lightly toast bagel (onion, plain, garlic-not chocolate chip!)

2. place a slice of swiss cheese on each half (I like the Boar's Head lacey swiss)

3. broil for a bit until it's melted

4. add a couple slices of tomatoes-in the summer with garden tomatoes...oh my!

5. add another slice of swiss cheese

6. broil until top layer of cheese is super melted and bubbly

7. add Spike seasonsing (I've seen it in the healthy living section of Harmon's)

Be careful because it's really hot when you take it out of the oven...oh so delicious!

Yummy Cookies...

Last night we made a bunch of different treats for some friends and neighbors for Family Home Evening and I tried this super delicious cookie recipe from Picky Palate. Sometimes I just want to try something new in the cookie category! Well, these did not disappoint-they are very tasty and very sweet! And to top it all off...they're PINK! What could be better. And I need to say...they are super easy!

Strawberry Colada Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 box strawberry Cake Mix, I used Pillsbury Brand
1/3 Cup coconut oil, melted in microwave until liquified
2 eggs, beaten

Frosting
4 oz softenend cream cheese
1 Tablespoons softened butter
1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoons milk
1 Cup shredded sweetened coconut toasted in oven until golden brown (350 degrees)
(I left the coconut off because Maddie made me...I WILL add it next time)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, oil and eggs until just combined. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet. Do not press down. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until cooked through. Let cook 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

2. Place cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy. slowly add in powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth. Spread frosting on top of cookies then sprinkle toasted coconut over top of frosting.
Makes about 24 cookies

**I found the coconut oil at Harmon's in the Healthy Living section. It is great to bake with. I use it in chocolate chip cookies too.

We also made these Toffee-Crunch Cookies and Poppyseed Cake...it almost felt like the holidays!

Candy, Candy, Candy...

My mom and I have been making candy for the past two days...caramel-chocolate pretzels, toffee and caramel. YUM-O! It was so much fun to spend time with my mom making these fun treats for friends (and ourselves, right Mom?) My parents are going to be gone for Christmas so it will just be the four of us until we leave for New Mexico a couple of days after Christmas. I'm glad I got to spend time with my mom making our traditional holiday treats! Thanks for all the help Mom.

So many pretzels...milk chocolate, milk chocolate with mini m&ms, white chocolate, white chocolate with cinnamon sugar



Making the yummiest caramels on the planet...so buttery!



All packaged up for friends!



And our little helper/taster/mess maker!

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Gorgonzola Crumbles

These sandwiches are delicious. The whole family loved them. And the best part is that they are so dang easy.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Gorgonzola Crumbles

1 soft sandwich roll of choice

Mayonnaise for roll

Finely shredded romaine lettuce

2 large pre-cooked chicken strips, warm (I used ones from Harmons deli)

¼ Cup Barbeque sauce, add some honey

1 Tablespoon butter

¼ Cup Gorgonzola Cheese crumbled

1. Spread mayonnaise on both sides of roll. Layer bottom roll with lettuce then chicken strips that have been thinly sliced, about ½ inch. 2. Place barbeque sauce, honey and butter in microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, or until butter is melted. Stir to combine and pour over chicken. 3. Top with crumbled gorgonzola cheese and close with top roll. Enjoy!

p.s. There is nothing low-fat in these. That is why they are do dang good!

Toffee-Crunch Cookies

I saw these cookies and knew I had to try them. They are absolutely delicious-in my opinion, better than plain chocolate chip cookies. The almonds in the cookies are so heavenly. These will become a family favorite. They won first place in a cookie contest on the Food Network! Thanks Picky Palate!

1 cup real butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 10 oz bag Heath toffee bits

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup chopped almonds

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup sweetened flake coconut

Cream butter, sugars and vanilla. Beat eggs slightly and add to creamed butter mixure.

Add flour, salt and baking soda. Mix well. Add remainding ingredients just until mixed in. Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown.