Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

My good friend, Janiel, is a great baker. She made these on our annual Girls St. George trip and they were amazing!  I came home and made them for a family party and they were devoured.  I could eat the frosting by the bucket. 

Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

 Peanut Butter frosting:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 C creamy peanut butter
6 C powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
dash salt
5 T milk

Make your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe.  When they come out of the oven, push a peanut butter cup into the center of the cupcake and let the cupcakes cool.  Frost with peanut butter frosting and the top with a miniature peanut butter cup.  Yum! 

Delicious Breakfast Casserole

We made this for our Christmas breakfast and it was super good.  I wanted a breakfast casserole that used hashbrowns instead of bread and it turned out great. I didn't use the gravy because I didn't think it needed it.  I topped it with salsa and the kids liked ketchup on it.

Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes, Ham, Eggs and Cheese

24 oz frozen shredded potatoes

salt and pepper

12 eggs

2 C half and half

1 t season salt

1 1/2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1 1/2 C pepper jack cheese, grated

2 C chopped ham (you can substitute cooked sausage)

Gravy:

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/3 C sour cream

4-6 T milk

salt and pepper

1. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Pour the frozen potatoes into the pan. Shake a little salt and pepper over the top.

2. In a large bowl whisk the eggs up. Add the half and half, season salt, cheeses and ham. Stir to mix it all together.

3. Pour it over the top of the potatoes. Cover with foil and let it sit in the fridge overnight. 

4. Bake at 350 for 90 minutes. (I had to cook it longer.) Remove from the oven and let it sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This will help the pieces hold shape.

5. Mix all gravy ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan. Heat over medium heat until smooth and warmed through. Pour over the top of the casserole.

Recipe from Jaime Cooks It Up

Everyday Cinnamon Rolls

This is an incredibly dangerous recipe for me to have.  Cinnamon Rolls are my weakness, but I'm usually too lazy to make them.  This recipe is so easy and insanely delicious.  I also love that it only makes one 9x13 pan of rolls.  That way I don't have a gazillion rolls tempting me for days.

Everyday Cinnamon Rolls

Adapted by Our Best Bites from Allrecipes
Dough

1 cup milk

4 Tbs butter, cut into chunks

3 1/4 – 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 (.25 ounce) package instant or ‘rapid rise’ yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg
Filling

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, softened
Icing
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 T melted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbs milk

Dough: Place milk and 4 Tbs butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute 30 seconds. Butter should be at least partially melted. Stir and set aside. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 C flour, yeast, white sugar, and salt. When milk mixture has cooled to warm (not hot) add it to the flour mixture along with the egg while the beater (paddle attachment for those using a stand mixer) is running. Beat until well combined, about 1 minute. (Switch to the dough hook now) Add remaining flour only until dough barely leaves the sides of the bowl. It should be very soft and slightly sticky. Continue to let the dough knead for 5 minutes. If you are not using a stand mixer, turn dough out onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes by hand. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and let rest for about 10 minutes while you make the filling.

Filling: make sure butter is softened well. Mix with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Assembly: Roll dough into a rectangle about 12 x 14 inches. Spread brown sugar mixture (it will be slightly thick, you might have to “crumble” it) over the surface and use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently spread around. Roll up from the longer side of the rectangle and pinch edges closed. Score the roll into 12 equal pieces and then cut into rolls. Place in a 9 x 13 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover pan with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. In the mean time, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
When rolls have finished rising bake for 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown.

If desired spread with icing while still warm. Makes 12 rolls.

*** Thank you Carly, for introducing me to this recipe!  My life will never be the same...

Mini Meatloaves

I was craving meatloaf and wanted to try something a little different than my regular recipe for it.  Tyler has never been a big fan of meatloaf and he loved this.  The kids also loved it.  Definitely a keeper.

Mini Meatloaves

Ingredients:

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. ground beef
2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. mustard

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid) combine the egg, milk, cheese, oats and salt.  Add the ground beef and mix well.  Form this into eight miniature meatloaves.  Place these in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard.  Stir thoroughly and spread over each meatloaf.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.  

Recipe from All Recipes

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

I came across this recipe and it sounded really easy and I had all of the ingredients so I tried it.  I was pleasantly surprised!  My kids are all kind of picky and they gobbled this up with no complaints.  That hardly ever happens.  It will be going into the regular rotation.  I'm excited to try the Taco version next.

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook beef and onion in a skillet until cooked through and onions become clear.  Stir in desired amount of salt and pepper.  Spray a glass pie pan (I used a glass 9x9 casserole dish) with cooking spray and spread beef mixture over the bottom.  Top with shredded cheese.  Whisk together baking mix, eggs, and milk in a medium sized bowl until well blended. (It will be runny.)  Pour over beef mixture in pie pan.  Bake for 25 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cut and serve with ketchup. 

For Taco Pie:

Add taco seasoning to ground beef when browning.  Prepare the same as above. Serve with taco toppings such as, salsa, avocado, sour cream, etc. 

Recipe from Favorite Family Recipes

Pineapple Cheese Ball

Tyler took this cheese ball to work for a pot luck and said it was so good and everyone loved it.

Pineapple Cheese Ball

1 1/2 packages (12 oz) cream cheese
1 small can crushed pineapple (drained well)
powdered sugar, to taste (approx 2-3 Tbsp)
green onion, chopped (approx 2-3 Tbsp)
chopped ham (approx 2-3 Tbsp)
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine all ingredients together.  Form into a ball and chill for about an hour.  Roll in crushed pecans.  Refrigerate until served.  Serve with crackers.