Healthy Banana Bran Muffins

My oldest loves banana muffins. We have a tried and true recipe that we all love but frankly, it's not that healthy so I wanted to branch out and try some something new.

Something at least that sounded healthier.

I loved bran muffins growing up. I can't really remember why but they have always reminded me of home and being delicious. And I confess, I have never made them as an adult.

So I decided to rectify the situation and see if these would pass my oldest son's scrutiny and my memory of those amazing things from my youth.

We all really loved these muffins. Especially warm out of the oven with butter. The texture was great and they were moist with a wonderful banana flavor. Plus now we have a new banana muffin on our repertoire. Sweet!

Healthy Banana Bran Muffins

(click here for printable version)

2 tbsp butter, softened
1/3 cup applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups bran flakes
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with paper cups. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, applesauce and sugar. Add the eggs, bananas and buttermilk and mix well. Add flour, baking soda, salt, bran flakes and chocolate chips. Mix just until no dry streaks remain, batter will be lumpy.

3. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes or remove to a wire rack to cool completely. These muffins freeze great in a air tight sealed ziploc bag. Enjoy!

Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Peanut Butter Oreo Muddy Buddies

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The other day on Facebook I ask what kind of Oreo I should use in the new recipe I was making.

The top votes were for mint and peanut butter. Mmmm so delicious!! I love both of them but as I was browsing through the store I decided on the peanut butter Oreos especially after I "found" the peanut butter M&Ms. 

Maybe I should say they "found" me. Seriously, I "heart" those little things so much.  

Well this was a hit. Everyone at this house was in love. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is the ultimate for me so adding even more chocolate and even more peanut butter seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Heaven. Heaven. Heaven.

Peanut Butter Oreo Muddy Buddies

(click here for printable version)

9 cups Chex cereal (rice, corn or chocolate)
1 cup peanut butter M&Ms, chopped coarsely
1/4 cup butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
10 peanut butter Oreos
1 cup powdered sugar

1. Mix cereal and peanut butter M&Ms in large bowl and set aside. In medium microwave safe bowl combine butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. Microwave in 30 second increments until everything is melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla. Set aside.

2. Crush Oreos in your food processor (I like to have them crushed fine which is why I use my food processor but you can also crush them in a ziploc bag to the consistency you prefer). In a large ziploc bag add Oreo crumbs and powdered sugar. Mix well.

3. Pour chocolate over cereal and M&Ms. Stir until completely covered. Pour into ziploc bag and shake until cereal is coated with powdered sugar mixture. Pour onto large rimmed cookie sheet and let set 5 minutes to let chocolate set completely. Eat and enjoy!

Flatbread Spinach Bacon Chicken Pizza

You have a couple more days to enter the giveaway!!

Sometimes I try to get my kids to change their preference choices when it comes to pizza.

Every single time it's cheese or if they are adventurous, cheese with pineapple.  I know, I know...they really live life on the edge.

The hubs and I are a completely different story. I L.O.V.E. my cauliflower pizza crust especially with the veggies piled high (red peppers are my favorite on there). But if I am feeling super industrious I will make 3 pizzas. One for the kids, a cauliflower one for me and Sam, and then a new one for everyone to try.

This beauty was a a yummy find. Bacon on pretty much anything makes it to die for but add spinach and chicken with a homemade flatbread dough and it's over the top. Plus I am so set on my usual homemade dough that this was fun to try something new. 

Flatbread Spinach Bacon Chicken Pizza

(click here for printable version)

*Note: this dough takes a while to rise so plan ahead. If you don't feel like making this dough you can always use your own or this one that we love.

Flat Bread Dough:
1 packet active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups water
2 tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour + more if needed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp italian seasoning

Spinach Bacon Chicken Pizza:
6 oz chicken shredded
6 oz bacon, cooked, drained, and chopped
4 cups spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup parmesan cheese, divided
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup smoked cheddar cheese

1. To make the dough, mix yeast with warm water and oil till foamy, about 15 minutes. In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine flour, salt, and italian seasoning. Once yeast is ready, turn on mixer and add slowly to the flour mixture. If needed add more flour until dough is tacky but not sticky. Knead 1-2 minutes or 4-5 minutes by hand. Cover and let rise in a cool, dark place for 2 hours.

2. To assemble the pizza, preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare your baking pan--I always use my stone for pizza works amazing. Roll dough out onto your prepared pan. Bake alone for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside. Turn oven up to 425°F.

3. In a medium fry pan, sautee spinach in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and garlic clove until it is cooked down. While the spinach is still warm, combine it with cream cheese and 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese. Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth.

4. Brush dough with the last tablespoon of olive oil. Spread spinach mix on dough. Top with 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spread grilled chicken and bacon over the top. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Enjoy!

Source: How Sweet Eats

Cowboy Spaghetti by Seth

Did you enter the GIVEAWAY already? Don't forget!!

 My oldest child, Seth, has quite the sense of humor. It's just like his fathers' and I haven't decided if that's a good or bad thing. It all depends on the day!

Seth has a really good friend that comes over quite often. And we love having him over mostly because he tames Seth down and gets his quirky sense of humor (and that means Seth isn't trying it out on us for several hours--hahaha...). This boy also makes dinner and breakfast for his family quite often.

Now I have this thing about my kitchen. If anyone is making a recipe in there it takes all my willpower, not kidding, to leave them alone. The hubs doesn't really appreciate me telling him all sorts of ways to do things better, so it's just best for me to stay out of there.

Anyway, this boy convinces Seth that he should make dinner for us.  Now I have been wanting to try this recipe (because my girls L.O.V.E. spaghetti and would have it every night if I let them) just to have a little change of pace. 

Seth decided this was easy enough for him to do so off he went. I found something that would keep me mostly occupied and out of their hair and besides a few pointers--which resulted in this conversation:

Friend: How can she (meaning me because I am several rooms away from the kitchen) hear us all the way in there?

Seth: She's a mom. She has radar hearing.

Friend: Good point!

I thought it was hilarious. Well this is the masterpiece that turned. They did an awesome job and it even met the approval of our spaghetti connoisseurs. Fast, easy, yummy, and perfect for a quick night meal.

Cowboy Spaghetti

(click here for printable version)

1 lb. spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained

6 slices bacon, diced (doesn't matter what kind)

1 lb. lean ground turkey or beef

1 small onion, chopped 

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional but totally delicious

1/4 cup BBQ sauce 

Toppings:

Sliced olives

Shredded cheddar cheese

Sliced green onions

1. In a medium nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Scoop the bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels and drain the grease, if needed, reserving a teaspoon in the skillet for cooking beef or turkey. Return the skillet to medium heat and cook the ground turkey or beef with the onion, salt and pepper, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until meat is cooked all the way through and a little crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Drain any excess grease.

2. To the meat mixture, stir in the cooked bacon, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, Worcestershire, liquid smoke (if using) and BBQ sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes or up to an hour.

3. Boil the spaghetti noodles according to package directions and serve the sauce over hot noodles and sprinkle with toppings of your choice. This spaghetti is fabulous with these French Bread Rolls. Enjoy!

Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

A Few of My Favorite Things Giveaway!!!

Since I have hit several major milestones on this little ol' blog I thought I should give away some of my favorite things. I am over 1600 "likes" on Facebook, 2200 followers on Pinterest, and almost a 1000 friends on Google Friend Connect.

You guys are amazing and I am so thankful for all you that come over everyday and read what I write and make my recipes.

I totally love it!

Plus have you noticed that I started a new way to see what I'm doing all day long!!?? Not that what I do is all that exciting but I would love for you to come follow me on Instagram. It's a party over there.

Here is what you can win:
1. A homemade apron (yep my mom made it and she is awesome at sewing and quilting and baking and cooking, umm...you get the idea!)
2. Pie Server--we make a lot of pies around this place and I couldn't do without mine.
3. Vanilla sugar. Ashton introduced this to me and has changed my life ever since.
4. Cake tester--this comes in so handy in checking so many things I am baking.
5. Mini Serving Spatula--this beauty is hands down #1 in my kitchen. I can't live without this thing.
6. Sprinkles--makes everything so much more fun.
7. Cupcake Liners--I LOVE my collection of cupcake liners. Makes me smile everyday to look at them.

8. Silpat 1/2 size baking mat--I use my silpat or silpain at least once a day. They are amazing. My life is so much better for this baby right here!

Thanks again for all your support!

Giveaway open only to U.S. residents. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway