Energy Bites (Banana Balls)

So I found on facebook a group of friends in a word of wisdom support group.  Someone posted this from the children's friend and I actually liked this recipe, it has helped my sweet tooth cravings and fills me up.

Energy Bites (Banana Balls)

Energy Bites:
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup peanut butter
1.4 cup honey
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together, shape into teaspoon size balls, refrigerate for 2 hours, enjoy!

I used organic peanut butter, raw unpasteurized honey and dairy free chocolate chips 

These are really yummy and quick to make!  I use fresh squeezed peanut butter I get at winco.  If I dont have special choc chips, I use regular.

:)

Chick Fil A Sauce Recipe

So at work we have Drug Reps bring us lunch, and sometimes they bring us Chick Fil A sandwich wraps and then we dip them in their chick fil a fry sauce, and it is to die for, so I googled the recipe and this is what I came up, and I made it and we use it to dip our homemade fries in , and as a sandwich spread as well. It is yummy!

Chick Fil A Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 Tblsp honey
1 Tblsp yellow mustard
2 Tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp lemon juice
2 Tblsp barbeque sauce

mix it all together
This is not enough sauce so I double it!  
Awesome sauce
Yummy goodness.

I just saw that six sisters has this as well so I will link that site, it is just a bit different than what I had, but looks yummy as well! look here

7 Layer Salad

I just found this on facebook from a friend, Amy Dickie, whose mother passed away and she was looking for a layered salad recipe for Easter and found a cookbook with her mom's recipe in it, she was so happy.  Thought I would post it in here!

7 layer Salad
1 head lettuce, torn into pieces
1 cup celery, cut into tiny pieces
1 cucumber, sliced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 bag frozen green peas

dressing:
2 cups mayonnaise
2 Tblsp sugar
1 Tblsp seasoned salt
8 slices bacon, fried, crumbled
4 oz parmesan cheese, grated

Layer salad ingredients. Can vary according to family favorites (like can add green peppers or boiled egg)but the frozen peas are a must
Frost with mayonnaise to cover whole salad. Add more mayonaise if needed to cover the whole salad  sprinkle with sugar and seasoned salt.  Sprinkle with cheese and bacon.  Cover and refrigerate over night.  Can use cheddar cheese or swiss.  Parmesan is really good!

Apple Muffins

My friend Peggy posted this on facebook and said they were her favorite so I am going to post them so I can make them, they look delicious! Okay, I did make these and they are delicious! they are a keeper!

Apple Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 Tblsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

ADD:
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup pumpkin
2 cups peeled chopped apples

Mix all together and put into greased muffin tins, add streusel on top.
Bake at 400 for 20 min

Streusel
1/2 cup sugar
2-3 Tbslp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp butter

Mix streusel together and add a teaspoon to each muffin before cooking.
Makes about 20 muffins

These are really yummy!  I did make them and loved them!

Fancy Brownies

I went to a church activity (potluck)  and found myself eating these brownies, so yummy, and had to find who made them, it was Jana K!  she shared her recipe with me and I will share with you!

Fancy Brownies:

1 cup butter 
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
4 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup nuts (optional)
Melt butter, cocoa and sugar together.  Cool and add remaining ingredients.  Pour into lightly greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 25 min.  Remove and cover with a layer of mini marshmallows.  Put back in the oven until marshmallows are puffy but not brown

watch carefully!
cool brownies and then frost with :

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup milk
pinch salt
1 lb powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients together and frost brownies

For Mint Brownies:
Make as above, but do not put the marshmallows on top.  Add mint flavoring to the frosting (1 to 2 tsp or to taste).
Sometimes i do a green layer of frosting under the chocolate layer.

These are yummy!

Very Berry Cheesecake Salad

I found this salad at this blog and made it and it was wonderful, you can substitute other fruits as well, like mandarin oranges and bananas.  you can go here for the original site

Fresh Berries combine with a creamy cheesecake fluff.  This is so amazing and will be the hit of any gathering!  from Alyssa at the recipe critic web site:

Ingredients
*  1   8-oz cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 8 oz cool whip, thawed
* 6 cups berries (she used 3 cups strawberries, sliced, 1 cup blackberries, 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup raspberries)


Instructions:
In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.  Fold in the thawed cool whip.
Add the 6 cups berries.  
Fold carefully into the cream cheese mixture. 
serve immediately
serves 6-8, can double the recipe!

Cream Cheese Chicken and Vegetable Soup

I have made this soup twice in the past week, and I really like it, so I will share it with you.  I found it at Mel's Kitchen Cafe, one of my favorite sites. You can find it here

Cream Cheese Chicken and Vegetable Soup

2 Tblsp butter
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 cup diced carrots (about 2 reg carrots or handful of baby carrots)
3 cups chicken broth
2 to 3 potatoes- peeled and finely diced
1 cup milk
4 Tblsp flour
1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
* option (2 cups noodles, either egg noodles or wide noodles)

Directions:
1. In a large pot, melt the butter and add the onion, garlic, celery and carrots.  Saute, stirring often, for 3 to 4 min, until the veggies are slightly tender and the onions are translucent.  Add the chicken broth and potatoes.  Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 min.
(If using the  long skinny chicken noodle soup egg noodles, I do this step a bit different. Add the chicken broth and noodles, cook for 10 min, then add the potatoes and cook for ten minutes.)
(If using the quick cook in 5 min noodles, then let the potatoes and chicken broth cook for five min first and then add the quick noodles)  Depending on what noodles you use, read the package to see how long they take to cook, and adjust to how long this recipe gives you to cook the potatoes and so forth. 

2. In a liquid measuring cup, vigorously whisk the flour and milk together until smooth.  Whisk the mixture into the soup, stirring quickly, and cook over medium heat for 3-4 min, until the soup begins to thicken slightly.  Stir often to ensure the soup doesn't burn.

3. Soften the cream cheese in the microwave until it is very soft/melty.  Add the cream cheese to the soup in small tablespoon size pieces.  Let the pieces sit in the soup and warm through, then whisk or stir the soup until the cream cheese melts and mixes in well.

4 Add the cooked chicken and heat through.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serve.

So both times I have added noodles (I used two diff kinds mentioned above) and loved it.  Since I am making it for my little girl or grandkids, they seem to gobble it more if there are noodles in it!  
I have also added mushrooms when sauteing the onions, celery and carrots, I love mushrooms.  You can add bell pepper as well, as I have done that and thought it gave it good flavor.  Just have fun and throw in whatever ingredients you like!

This is my new favorite soup!  Yay!

And now for a thought for the day:

"Self worth is not measured by accolades, but by being able to look in the mirror and smile.  -Janice Harris "

and "As you get older you will understand more and more that it's not about what you look like or what you own, it's all about the person you have become"

Have a wonderful day! and EAT SOUP!