Reeses Cheesecake, anyone?

I love a good cheesecake, and Matt is obsessed with Reeses...so here's a good union.

I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it looked a little TOO rich. That's the tricky thing about sweets...I love them but often they are just too rich. I decided to tweak this recipe a bit to see if it would make it a little less sweet. Instead if a brownie crust, I went with a traditional crumb crust made from Oreo Cookies. I undid the cookies, scraped out the icing, and then I crushed them in my handy dandy food processor. I used about 2 c. crumbs and mixed in 3-1/2 Tbsp. butter, melted.

Before you add crust to pan, I wipe butter around the bottom and edges of the pan. When I put the crumbs in the pan, I press firmly so that it's really packed in there and goes up the edges about 1/2-1 inch.

I put the crust in the oven at 350* for a few minutes. After taking it out of the oven, I sprinkled a package of Reese's minis onto the crust.

At this point, I wrap my pan in tinfoil and place it in a water bath. That means that you place your cheesecake pan wrapped in foil into a larger pan, such as a lasagna pan or roasting pan, then add about an inch of water. I don't really know why we do this, but it's what I was taught and I keep doing it because my cheesecakes have all turned out delicious.

Then I prepared the batter. Is that what you call the inside of a cheesecake? 

I used the filling recipe from Pinterest.

2 lbs cream cheese, softened

5 eggs

1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. Creamy peanut butter

1/2 c. Heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp. Vanilla

Put crm chiz in mixer, mix til softened. Add one egg at a time. Add sugar, then pb, then cream, and lastly vanilla. As you go through those stages, it is often an odd consistency, but as you continue to blend, it smooths out. Then pour into the pan (we're using a springform pan, as always).

Bake at 325* for 90 minutes...yep, that's a long time! 

After you take it out, let cool for about an hour. You can then run a knife around the edge to separate the cake from the pan. I often don't have to do this step, as it kind of shrinks away from the pan as it cools.

I removed the pan and let it cool in refrigeration over night. The next day, I made the topping. Again, I didn't want it to be too rich, so this recipe makes a ton! Heat 1/4 c. Heavy cream, add 1 c. Choc chips. Allow chips to soften in cream and whip it up! Drizzle over top of cheesecake! Then cut 7 Reese's in half and dip raw edge in topping and place around edge. 

When it's all done, it looks like this! 

Yummmmmy!

Freezer to Crock Pot

One of the things I've struggled with since getting my new job is time management. Mostly because a couple days a week I am gone for about 11-12 hours. I only work for 8-9 but I spend a lot of time in the car. I have felt very inadequate as a wife, unable to provide meals for Matt on those days. It's hard because this is the most amazing job I've ever had but being gone so long each day was starting to produce anxiety.

Around the end of November, God really told me that peace can be mine. As with all of the Fruit of the Spirit, we must choose to access these gifts in times where we could choose, or would normally react with, the opposite. God told me to choose it and it could be mine! It was so clear. So, this is one way that I am choosing peace--the good ol' crock!

I found a bunch of recipes on the internet and Pinterest for freezer meals. All I have to do is let it thaw and add it to the crock pot!

I made 12 meals on a Saturday afternoon. I'm pretty sure I could do it more cost effectively, but this was my first time!

Here they are:
Beef Fajitas x2
Chicken Teriyaki x2
Pork with Apples
Sausage and Peppers
Beef Stew x2
Chicken with Cilantro and Lime x2
Beef and Broccoli x2
Most will be served with rice or pasta

Now my freezer is full and my peace of mind is appeased!

Freezer-->Crock Pot// Fajitas

Fajitas
Ingredients:
·        Beef or Chicken
·        1 green pepper
·        1 colored pepper
·        1 onion
·        Some cilantro
·        1 sm. can diced chilies
·        Seasoning
·        ½ c. water

Directions:Put in freezer bag: meat, peppers, onion and cilantro.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with ½ c. water mixed with the seasonings and diced chilies. Cook on low 5-6 hours or high for 3.

Serve with tortillas, sour cream and any other condiments desired.

Banana Oat Pancakes

So I'm doing this "no flour" thing and it's going pretty well but sometimes I just miss bread! I stumbled across this recipe after a friend mentioned something like it in passing. Of course, I altered it (I find that if I don't follow directions I can't feel like I failed when I try new stuff and it doesn't quite turn out)...so here it goes...

I blended three eggs with two bananas and added about 1/2 c. milk (could be almond or soy or whatever), a splash of vanilla and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Then I added 1-1/2 c. whole oats. Other recipes I saw added oil and baking soda and powder. I didn't add those but I think they would have been fluffier if I had. I did cook in a hot pan with coconut oil! So yummy though!

Picture from: http://onceuponarecipe.wordpress.com

Stawberry*Rhubarb Pie

It's that time of year folks! Well, not quite, but it's getting close and I am stoked!

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Pasta Sauce & Lasagna

Italian Pasta Sauce (My famous!)

Ingredients:

·         Ground beef or turkey

o   precooked

·         1 chopped onion

·         1 chopped green pepper

·         Handful chopped mushroom

·         1 sliced/ diced zuchini

·         2 cans tomato sauce

·         1 can diced tomatoes

·         2 tbs. Italian seasoning

Directions:Put in freezer bag: meat, onion, pepper, mushrooms and zucchini.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with 2 cans tomato sauce and 1 can diced tomatoes with the seasonings. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Serve with pasta alone.

OR used as layering sauce for ravioli or lasagna.

Crock Pot Lasagna Ingredients:
·         Pasta Sauce Mix
·         Uncooked lasagna noodles
·         Cottage cheese
·         Shredded mozzarella

Directions:Put in freezer bag: Cook sauce.

 

When you are ready to cook:Starting with a layer of sauce. Then layer noodles, cheese, sauce, noodles, cheese, sauce, until you have filled to max fill line of crock pot. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Cheesy Chicken

Cheesy Chicken
Ingredients:
·         3 chicken breasts
·         1 chopped onion
·         Crm of Chicken Soup
·         1 can corn drained
·         1 c. shredded cheddar
·         rice

Directions:Put in freezer bag: chicken and onion.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with cream of chicken soup. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

At the end, add corn, rice and cheesy and let warm through.

Picture from southern plate.com

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Chicken Pot Pie or Dumplings

Chicken Pot Pie/ Chicken Dumplings

Ingredients:
·         Cubed Chicken
·         1 diced onion
·         1 sm. bag frozen
carrots and peas
·         1 c. celery
·        2 cans Crm of Chick Soupe

Directions:Put in freezer bag: chicken, peas and carrots, onion and celery.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup. Add water to cover.. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Serve with pasta or in pie crust. OR, to make with dumplings, cut store bought biscuits into small pieces and put in the mix with 1 hour left of cooking.

picture from taste of home.com

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Beef & Broccoli

Beef & Broccoli
Ingredients:
·        Cubed beef
·        2 c. broccoli florets
·        1 chopped onion
·        ½ c. teriyaki sauce
·        ½ c. water
Drizzle of honey

Directions:Put in freezer bag: beef, broccoli, and onion.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with ½ c. water and ½ c. teriyaki sauce and honey. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Serve over rice or yakisoba type noodles.

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki and Cashew Chicken

Ingredients:
·         3 chicken breasts
·         3 large carrots (chunked)
·         1 red onion (sliced)
·         Handful of cashews
·         ½ c. teriyaki sauce
·         1 c. orange juice

Directions:Put in freezer bag: chicken, carrots, onion and cashews.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with 1 c. orange juice and ½ c. teriyaki sauce. Cook on low 6-7 hours or high for 3-4.

Serve over a bed of rice.

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Beef Stew

Beef Stew
Ingredients:
·         Cubed beef
·         2 c. potatoes
·         2 c. carrots
·         1 chopped onion
·         1 c. celery
·         1 c. water
·         Packet of Stew Seasoning

Directions:Put in freezer bag: beef, potatoes, carrots, onion and celery

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with 1 c. water mixed with the seasonings. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Black Beans and Corn

Ingredients:
·         3 chicken breasts
·         1 c. chopped cilantro
·         2 c. frozen corn
·         1 c. chopped onion
·         1 tsp. minced garlic
·         1 can stewed tomatoes
·         1 can drained black beans

·         ½ c. lime juice

·         ½ c. water
·         1 tsp. cumin
·         1 tsp. chili powder

Directions:Put in freezer bag: chicken, cilantro, corn, onion, garlic

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with can of stewed tomatoes, black beans, lime juice, water, and seasonings. Cook on low 8 hours or high for 4.

Serve with Rice or on Tortillas

[This recipe turned out really dry. We served with tortillas and sr. cream and salsa, but with the leftovers, I added to a pot of chicken stock and it made a delicious soup.]

Also not my pic.

 

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Sausage and Peppers

Freezer to Crock Pot Meals!

I needed a way to cook meals for our family but still get home later in the evening, so over the holidays I started researching options for meals that can be prepped, frozen and then plopped in the crock pot! 

I did most of my research on Pinterest. I am horrible because I didn't copy the sites and now I can't find them, but I usually alter recipes I find to make them my own anyway!

Here's what I have so far:

Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients:
·        Italian link sausages [I used chicken sausage without nitrates!]
·        1 green pepper
·        1 yellow pepper
·        1 onion
·        1 tsp. minced garlic
·        1 can stewed tomatoes
·        1 tbs. Italian seasoning
·        Drizzle of evoo

Directions:Put in freezer bag: sausages, peppers, onion and garlic.

When you are ready to cook:place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with can of stewed tomatoes, seasoning and evoo. Cook on low 6 hours or high for 3-4.

Serve with Pasta or Bread.

 

Yum!!

Reeses Cake!

When I asked Matt what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, his response was "the same as last year!"  Quite possibly his favorite things on this planet (aside from me, of course) are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.    Last year he got a triple layered chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting filling sprinkled with peanut butter chips, chocolate frosting on the outside and peanut butter cups.  This year, I made some alterations--same basic concept, skipped a few steps in the baking process and saved $ on supplies!

I started with a boxed cake mix--Triple Chocolate.  I ALWAYS add a box of pudding mix to my cakes...makes them moist and yummy.  There is nothing I hate more than dry cake.  I baked them up in 8" round pans.

I whipped up some peanut butter frosting.  To do this, you make a basic butter frosting recipe (from Betty Crocker Cookbook) and add peanut butter!

I put a layer of frosting on the first cake. Then I sprinkled a generous layer of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (cheaper than peanut butter chips and much more tasty).  In order to sprinkle, I ground them up in my food chopper!  Gotta love Kitchen Aid!

Then I placed the next layer on top of that and lathered frosting all over!  Does anyone have a tip on how to do that without making a huge mess and bringing up pieces of cake? 

After that, I poured some chocolate glaze around the edge...just because and then sprinkled the top with a bit of Reese's.

It looks delicious!  I am not sure if I will partake since I am trying to be gluten free.  It might be worth the cheat!  We will see.

I'm sure Matt will love it!  He licked the spoon from the frosting and he LOVED it!

Strawberry Extravaganza...

Some of us country folk like us some home made jams and jellies.  With a newly purchased home, I thought a good way to initiate the kitchen was to make freezer jam!  Yum!

I went to pick berries with Hannah Dockter and her girls, Devyn and Kenzie, out in Carnation or some of them those parts... ;) 

When I got home I started cleaning, chopping, mixing and pouring until I had this delicious, beautiful pile of jam that should last the year (especially since Matt doesn't like berries!).