Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

Last weekend I made a batch of THE BEST rice krispie treats I've ever made.

Seriously they were so good! Obviously adding Oreo cookies to anything

is going to make it better, but I think the addition of more marshmallows

and white chocolate chips is the secret weapon!

 

I've always wanted to make extra large rice krispie treats - like the ones you 

see in bakeries or specialty stores, so I made this batch in a 9x9 bake

dish instead of the usual 9x13. They're so thick and delicious!

I hope that you enjoy them too!

 Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

6 T butter

2 - 10 ounce bags of mini marshmallows (2 cups set aside)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. sea salt

8 cups crispy rice cereal

2 cups chopped Oreo cookies

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

For thick rice krispie treats (like the ones in my photos), use a greased 9x9 bake dish.

In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add marshmallows (except for the 2 cups 

that you set aside) and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla

and salt. Add the cereal and then the chopped cookies; gently stirring until completed coated.

Fold in the remaining two cups of marshmallows and white chocolate chips.

Lightly press mixture into the greased pan. I spray my hands with cooking spray to press

the mixture.

Drizzle with melted white chocolate and crushed Oreo's.

Enjoy!

Unicorn Chex Mix

Hi friends!

Today I am sharing a fun and colorful snack mix perfect for a party or after school snack! 

Unicorn Chex Mix! This sparkly snack mix is the perfect combination of sweet and salty 

and it's so pretty! Little girls will love this!

Pencil Cookies {Easy DIY}

Hey friends! How is it mid August already?
In some ways it seems like this summer is lasting forever, but other days it seems like
it's flying by. We cancelled our family vacation this year, but we've actually been
spending more time together than ever this summer. We've enjoyed pool time, playing
cards, craft time, walking in our neighborhood, home projects, trying new recipes and
plenty of play time with our pups!

Oven Baked Zucchini Tots

I am rolling in the zucchini this year! Madison and my neighbor have given me several
and my own plants are finally beginning to produce. I've been making zucchini muffins,
zucchini fritters, grilled zucchini and using it in veggie quesadillas. I've also been freezing
zucchini to use in soup and veggie quesadillas this fall and winter.

I've had this recipe for zucchini tots in my recipe box for a long time and finally got
around to trying it last week and they are delicious! The recipe is super easy!  I use a
Pampered Chef mini muffin pan.

We enjoyed the tots for dinner with grilled chicken and a big salad, but I also put a
few in the freezer for later. I'm going to reheat them in my air fryer!

Zucchini Tots

1 cup shredded zucchini (I left the skin on)
1/3 cup diced onion
1 large egg
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
*I also added fresh parsley since I have it in my herb garden right now.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix until combined.
Using a small spoon or cookie scoop drop mixture evenly into mini muffin cups,
pressing the mixture down a little with the back of the spoon.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield - about 20 tots depending upon the size of your mini muffin pan.

Enjoy!

Zucchini Muffins

Like many of you my daughter and I started flowers and vegetables from seed this spring
while we were staying home all of the time due to the pandemic. Watching our little seeds
turn into sprouts was fun and rewarding! I planted herbs, cherry tomatoes, cucumber,
nasturtiums, chamomile and zucchini in pots. Next year I would love a raised bed or two!

Homemade Bath Bombs {DIY}

I've been trying to make the most of our shelter in place time by trying new recipes, crafts
and projects that have been on my someday list. I have a pretty long list and it's always fun
to try something new, especially when the project or recipe turns out just as you hoped it
would! Today we're making homemade bath bombs.

I've been using Young Living essential oils exclusively for a little over a year now and I
love learning new ways to get rid of toxic beauty and cleaning products in our home and
replace them with natural products.  (You can read more about why I love Young Living here.)

Baked Banana Oatmeal

Hey friends! How are you all holding up?

I've settled in to working from home and have come up with a schedule that works for me.
I miss my co-workers and visiting our residents, but I do enjoy being home with our
sweet dog Scout, going for walks in the middle of the day if I choose and not having to worry
about what I'm going to wear to work every day. Leggings and sweatshirts for the win!

I don't know about you, but I've been craving all the comfort food. Oatmeal is one of my all
time favorites, maybe because my mom used to make it for us when we were kids. She made
the cook on the stove top kind, not instant, with brown sugar, cinnamon and milk. It was so
warm and cozy! I've been thinking about her a lot lately (last week marked two years since
she passed away), so I decided to make this baked banana oatmeal in her honor.
It gives me all the feels and now I have breakfast ready for the week. I hope you enjoy it too!

Baked Banana Oatmeal

2 cups rolled oats
2 ripe bananas (one mashed and one for slicing for the top)
1 1/2 cups milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 T coconut sugar or brown sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a glass pie plate with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and coconut sugar.
In a small bowl whisk together mashed banana, milk, egg and vanilla.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Pour oat mixture into the prepared pie plate. Top with sliced banana.
Bake for 30 minutes or until set.

Frost with nut butter of your choice. Serve with fresh berries and milk.

Enjoy!

WW Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Over the weekend I posted this photo on my Instagram stories with the caption that I
make these bars every weekend and it's true! When I started WW (formerly know as
Weight Watchers) last April I found that most of the granola or protein bars that I had
been eating had more smart points than I wanted to use for a morning or afternoon snack
so I began making these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars.

Heart-Shaped Bird Feeders {DIY}

I've been feeling extra crafty lately - making essential oil diffuser bracelets and diffusers
for your car. Sitting in my office/craft room and creating is so relaxing and satisfying.
I don't take the time to do it often enough!

Semi-Homemade Heart Shaped Pop-Tarts

Hey friends! I'm coming at you today with a cute and easy dessert to make for Valentine's
Day. Semi-homemade heart shaped strawberry pop-tarts!
This recipe is super easy when you use prepared sheets of refrigerated pie crust.
Feel free to make your own pie dough if desired. I have yet to master pie crust, so I went
the easy route.

This recipe makes four heart shaped pop-tarts. You can easily double the recipe if needed.

Heart shaped homemade pop-tarts are simply adorable and my family loved them!


Semi-Homemade Strawberry Pop-Tarts

1 refrigerated pie crust (save the other half for later)
1/4 cup strawberry jam
2 tsp. corn starch
1 egg
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 T heavy cream (or more as needed)
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Sprinkles
Heart shaped cookie cutter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl mix strawberry jam with cornstarch. Crack the egg into another small
bowl and whisk.

Flour a large work surface and lay pie crust on top of it.  Roll out the circle.
Using a heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out 8 hearts. You will need to gather the dough
scraps and roll out to be able to get 8 hearts. Place four of them on the prepared baking
sheet.

Spoon a tablespoon of jam mixture onto the center of 4 of the hearts.
Brush egg around the edges of filled hearts to form a glue.
Place a dough heart on top of jam. Using a fork, crimp the edges to seal.
Repeat with remaining hearts. Brush tops with egg. Using a knife, make a 1/4 inch
cut in the center of the dough to allow steam to escape.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden. Some jam may leak out of the sides, but that's okay!
Cool completely before frosting.

After pop-tarts have cooled, in a small bowl whisk powdered sugar, vanilla and cream.
Spread glaze over each pop-tart. Immediately top with sprinkles.
Allow glaze to set a bit before serving.

Yield - 4

Sprinkle Thumbprint Cookies with Icing

Hey friends!
I'm smack dab in the middle of holiday cookie baking and I couldn't be happier.
I LOVE listening to Christmas music and baking by the glow of twinkling lights - so cozy!

Today I am sharing a recipe that I have been trying to perfect for years. Thumbprint cookies
are my husband's absolute favorite cookie and not just any thumbprint cookie - Giant Eagle
grocery store thumbprint cookies. Giant Eagle is a very popular grocery store chain in the
Pittsburgh, PA area, where my husband is from. He grew up enjoying these delicious, buttery
cookies and every time we go to visit we have to stop by Giant Eagle to get some!

Pasta with Shrimp, Olive Oil, Garlic and Chili Flakes

This post is in partnership with Moms Meet. All opinions stated in this post are my own.

Hey friends! It's been awhile since I've shared a dinner recipe around here, so today I'm
sharing a shrimp and pasta entree that is so delicious! It's pretty easy too -  cleaning
the shrimp is the hardest part!

The ingredient list is pretty minimal, which I love - especially for a weeknight dinner!
Shrimp, pasta, tomatoes, fresh spinach, a few spices and extra virgin olive oil is all
you need.

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Yay! It's holiday baking time!

Paint and Shake Christmas Ornaments

Let's get crafty!
There's just something about the holidays that gets me into a crafty mood.
I don't know why - it's not like I don't have a million other things to do, but cleaning,
baking and shopping can wait. Let's make some cute new ornaments for the tree!

Holiday Gift Guide for Essential Oil Fans

Hey friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I'm sharing my Holiday Gift Guide for Essential Oil Fans.
I'm a huge fan of essential oils (you can read why I love them so much here) and I know
that many of you are as well, so share this with your significant other or use it as a guide
to buy a gift for a friend who loves oils. They will love you!

Fall Fun with Solo Stove

This post is in partnership with Solo Stove.  All opinions stated in this post are my own.

If you need me this weekend, you'll find me here, sitting by our Solo Stove Bonfire.
It's my new favorite thing to do!

We've had an outdoor fire pit for years and it's been nice, but after sitting by it for
awhile you and your clothes begin to smell like a fire pit and no one likes that!

Paleo Cranberry Clementine Muffins

This post is in partnership with Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs. 
All opinions in this post are my own.

Most Sunday afternoons during the fall and winter you will find me in my kitchen making
a big pot of soup, followed by some type of muffin or corn bread. Sometimes I stick to our
favorites like vegetable pasta, chicken noodle or lentil soup and other times I try new
recipes that I've pinned or found in one of my many cookbooks.  My muffin Pinterest board
has close to 300 recipes that have sparked my interest, so I have plenty of new recipes to
try!

Sweet + Salty Halloween Chex Snack Mix

It's time for another festive and fun sweet + salty Chex Snack Mix!
Chex snack mixes are a family favorite, especially around any holiday.
With all of the cute and colorful Halloween candy and sprinkles available right now
I decided to whip up a batch to show you just how easy this Chex snack mix is to make.

Air Fryer Everything Bagel Chicken Nuggets

This post is in partnership with GoWise USA. All opinions stated in this post are my own.

My nasturtium plant has finally bloomed and it makes me so happy!
I was a little late in the game getting it planted, but now it's finally producing some blooms
and I love adding these peppery tasting editable flowers to my salads. I'm not sure how long
it will last into the fall, but with these warm temperatures we've been having in Virginia,
I hope to get a few more weeks of blooms from it.

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Hey friends!
Any oatmeal fans out there?

Oatmeal is one of my most favorite breakfast foods. It's delicious, hearty and good for you
too! Every few Sundays I bake a batch of these Baked Oatmeal Cups and then freeze them
to enjoy throughout the month. I top them with fresh berries, sliced figs, bananas or Lily's
chocolate chips. They are 3 Weight Watcher Smartpoints each using my recipe.