Cosmic Cookies

Remember those Little Debbie cosmic brownies?  That was my inspiration for these cosmic brownies.  

I wanted something fun.  For the kids.  You know.  

These box cookies are super easy to make and something fun to do with Baby Girl too.  

These came out super cute and just how I would hope.  

Cosmic Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup M&Ms
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• rainbow sprinkles & sugar to roll cookie dough

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Refrigerate dough for about an hour.  
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
4. Roll dough into balls and roll the balls in sugar and sprinkles
5. Bake for about 8-10 minutes.  (Mine were done at 10 minutes)
6. Let cookie cool.  

These cookies taste just as good as they look.  Make them.  You will not regret it.  

Keep cookies friends!

XOXO

Pork Chop

It's been a while since my family had pork chops.  I think I forgot how good this is.  Need to make sure pork chops are added to the meal rotation.  

Pork Chop 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 5 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Directions:

1. Marinade for 4 to 24 hours.  
2. Fry pork chops or grill.  
3. Serve with rice. Enjoy!

These were grilled and oh so good.  Thin boneless pork chops were used.  So yummy!  Make this!

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Buttermilk Biscuits

Biscuits are super yummy.  

Especially when you make them into squares.  

Because square biscuits mean no waste!

What else does square biscuits mean?

They mean breakfasts sandwiches!

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, frozen
• 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  
3. Grate the frozen butter and stir into the flour mixture.  
4. Add buttermilk and stir using a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.  
5. Working on a flour surface, knead the dough until it comes together.  Roll the dough in a square until about 1 inch thick.  Using a sharp knife cut the dough.  Please biscuits onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.  
6. Bake for 16-19 minutes or until golden brown.  
7. Serve warm

This recipe is so easy that Baby Girl did most of the work.  That is how easy these biscuits are.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Okay making mac and cheese in the instant pot is super easy.  Now you might say box mac and cheese is super easy too.  But box mac and cheese has nothing on this.  

This mac n cheese is not only easy to make but super yummy.  

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth 
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions:

1. Add pasta, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder to a 6 qt Instant Pot.  Stir  in 3 1/2 cups of chicken broth.  
2. Use manual setting, pressure to high, and set time to 6 minutes.  When finished cooking, quick release pressure.  
3. Select warm setting.  Stir in heavy cream and Dijon and combine.  Gradually whisk in cheese until melted.  
4. Serve immediately.  

Pancakes

Super easy pancake mix.  If you are still buying pancake mix you gotta try this pancake mix.  

This pancake mix is easy ingredients that you should have in your pantry.  

Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 3/4 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1. Heat a griddle to 350
2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder,  and salt.  (I use big heaping tablespoons of sugar)
3. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extract.  
4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and mix until combined.  Do not over mix    
5. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.

Baby Girl loves pancakes.  I think I need to start having her try to help me make these.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Stromboli

Pizza dough can be used for more than just making pizza.  

This is super easy and the kids love it.  

My kids love pizza and dipping things.  

The dough is super easy to make or you can make the dough ahead and freeze it. Freezing pizza dough is great.  You can have pizza or stromboli anytime.  

If you are thinking of another way to use your pizza dough this is it.  

The kids can even help make this.  

Stromboli

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups warm water, 100F
• 2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 lb thinly sliced meats, salami, pepperoni
• 3/4-1 lb cheese
• 1 egg, large
• 1 Tablespoon water

Directions:

1. Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer.  Cover and rest for 10 minutes.  When you uncover the bowl the yeast and water should look frothy.  
2. Add the olive oil, salt, and flour to the bowl.  Attach the bowl to the stand mixer and use a dough hook.  Beat on low speed for about 2 minutes.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  With floured hands, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes.  After kneading, the dough should feel soft and bounces back when you poke it.  If not, keep kneading.  The dough should also not stick to your hands. 
3. Grease a large bowl with non stick spray.  Please the dough in the bowl.  Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a clean towel.  Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 1-2 hours or until double in size.
4. Preheat oven to 400F.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  
5. When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air.  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half of dough into a 10x16 inch rectangle.  
6. Mix melted butter and garlic powder together.  Spread all over rolled out dough.  Start layering meats.  Add a layer of cheese.  Make egg wash with egg and water.  Brush all edges with egg wash.  Slowly roll into a tight log.  Transfer to prepared baking sheet.  Seal ends.  
7. Brush each stromboli with egg wash.  Cut 3-4 slits into the top of each stromboli. 
8. Bake for about 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.   Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before cutting.  
9. Serve plain or with marinara sauce for dipping.  

My family enjoyed these and it was a nice way to switch up from our normal pizza.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Buttermilk Biscuits

I love everything about breakfast.  There are so many combinations and foods to make.  Biscuits is always something that I wanted to learn how to make.  These biscuits are super yummy and pretty easy to make.  

The key to these biscuits is frozen shredded butter.  It makes everything so much easier.  

These biscuits are super fluffy and yummy.  

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, frozen
• 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  
3. Grate the frozen butter and stir into the flour mixture.  
4. Add buttermilk and stir using a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.  
5. Working on a flour surface, knead the dough until it comes together.  Roll the dough in a square until about 1 inch thick.  Using a sharp knife cut the dough.  Please biscuits onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.  
6. Bake for 16-19 minutes or until golden brown.  
7. Serve warm

The hardest part about making these biscuits is remembering to put butter in the freezer to make them.  Make these.  They are perfect for breakfast sandwiches.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO