Creamy Yellow Cake Bars {Quick and Easy Recipe}

Quite a few years ago I first made these yummy cake mix bars for my family and just recently made them again. Why I haven't shared on the blog before I'm not sure- this one is a definite keeper!

 These are really simple and fast... and really creamy and yummy. I think I first started making these when I was scrambling to make the few ingredients I had in the cupboard work (ya know, like I pretty much always seem to have to do) :)

Game Night Pizza and Breadstick Skewers with #tonyspizzeria

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What is it about Monday that's just not the greatest?

Maybe the fact that it's not the weekend anymore- ha!

Stephen works a lot, (maybe even more so on Friday and Saturday!) but even so, we really try to do something fun on the weekends too. We love inviting people over for games specifically- seems like it's just kinda what we do for something more out of the ordinary than just our own family group. 

We've been blessed with friends that are great to jump in at our invites. They make for really fun company- it feels so good to just laugh and relax! This last weekend, I cooked up a bunch of Tony's Pizza that I picked up from Walmart, and made my yummy breadsticks to go with the fun.

Truth: lots of times when we are hosting a party, I tend to go overboard. Friends get  to the house and comment about the spread of food, even though I've been feeling all afternoon like it might not be enough! We might kinda plan more than is reasonable oftentimes. We can't just grill hamburgers, no! We gotta have grilled shrimp and smoked baked potatoes and homemade fry sauce and fancy juice and cheesecake brownies too! It's just our style and our pleasure, I guess :)

But this change of pace, sticking to the pizza and breadsticks, was pretty nice for sure- simple and fast, not to mention cheaper. I used a coupons.com coupon for 75 cents off two (while supplies last) that made it an especially good deal. Plus, a new crispier, crunchier crust, topped with real cheese and sauce made from real tomatoes sounded yum!

Double Stuffed Lemon Garlic Chicken with Kraft Fresh Take

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I've had the thought to share this recipe for quite awhile- it's a surprisingly easy favorite that's great for average nights or special occasions both. This time around I tried out a Kraft Fresh Take meal kit that honestly made it even more simple (I'll never complain about that)! 

Growing up, Sunday dinner was a pretty big deal around our house. It was the nicest meal of the week. I love the idea up continuing that tradition for my own family... but, in truth, Sunday seems to fall more toward smorgasbord for us. We get home from Church and gather around our kitchen island to a spread of leftovers, finger foods and easy options. I actually really like this way of things too :)

But for special Sundays like Easter, that simply won't do- it's a perfect time to prepare something more special to acknowledge the holiday. I love creating fun table spreads, but being surrounded by boys who really don't care at all about the centerpiece, and just want to mow down the food already, means I gotta take whatever opportunity I can get to make a meal special! :)

For Easter, we usually get together with my whole family- that's us above (a blast from Easter weekend past)! We have a great potluck meal and some fun Easter egg hunts around the yard. This was the first year my Mom and Dad starting hiding eggs for us adults- that's been a fun new tradition!

Anyhow... a Spring gathering of your favorite people, like Easter always is for us, would be a great time to concoct a yummy, seemingly involved but actually simple dish like this Double Stuffed Lemon Garlic Chicken. Like I mentioned, this time I tried Kraft Fresh Take that I picked up at Walmart:

I bought my chicken with a Fresh Take coupon that gave me a $1.00 off! Through April, or as long as the prints last, you can save when you buy the two together- perfect, since, ya know, you kinda need both :)

Quick and Easy Cheddar Chowder

Winter makes me want to make soup for dinner. I guess this season is probably the reason soup even exists, really... Gotta love eating something that just warms you inside when it's cold outside. :)

Haven't shared a recipe in a long while, so I thought I'd share this one today. This quick, easy, cheesy version of potato soup has been a go-to for me for the past few winters. I've even made it in huge batches for functions for Stephen before and it's always been a hit.

I know I sometimes look at recipes like this, that are labeled 'quick and easy', and think that they are not really quick enough or easy enough honestly! But, please don't let this recipe scare you off from the start- it truly does come together super simply and includes ingredients you very likely have. I like that there's no fake junk involved here either :) If you want to print this recipe card below, just click, then right click the bigger version and save. Paste into your document program and print. Sure hope you enjoy this as much as our family does!

Dinner Tonight: Verde Chicken Mac n' Cheese

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Let me guess- dinner tonight at your house will look about like this: Dad walking in the door just as you set a lovely warm dish on the table already laden with healthy sides and sparkling silverware. You'll call the kids and they'll come in calmly so you can all sit down together and have one of your usual fabulous family meals. I've got it right on, haven't I?? I knew it!

(Cue ripple in the record sound NOW... or about 35 words ago- ha!) Dinner doesn't look anything like that most likely, right? Dad working late and one kid just getting home from piano while another is leaving soon for dance or soccer, all while dinner needs to be happening is more like it! Stephen rarely ever eats at the very same time my little boys need fed and I'm often driving to help him or pick him up in the evening.

When we're thinking of what to cook tonight, we just want the best easy meal possible! Usually, about the time I should be getting something on the table already, I'm actually standing at my pantry door, hoping for a quick meal miracle :/ Then I move to the fridge and freezer and go through the same motions again- ha!

The Secret Ingredient for Awesome Fry Sauce

This post is silly... everyone knows how to make fry sauce, right?

Mayo and ketchup mixed together and you're done!

The thing is, I've been mixing it up a little differently... a little yummier for sure! A lot yummier in fact. Honestly, homemade baked fries have become merely the catalyst  for this sauce! So, I'm hoping sharing the "recipe" (if you can call it that) will be something you enjoy too :)

When Stephen and I were first married, he took me to a little hole-in-the-wall place in Utah that he really liked growing up- and they had the best fry sauce! Sounds weird, I know- it's kinda all the same. But, that sauce kinda wasn't... what was in that made it different? It wasn't until fairly recently actually that I got it figured out...

13 Ideas for Kids this Independence Day!

Hooray for July! And for Independence Day in just a few days! This is one of my very favorite holidays. I love filling the day of the 4th with things that remind the boys what we're celebrating, or at least keep the red, white and blue front and center :) For my first venture into round-up country, I've gathered several posts I've found that I think would be fun and simple- hopefully this will be useful for you too! 

The Perfect Potluck Pasta Salad

Been a bit since I've shared a recipe and I've had this one lying in wait for a bit, so I thought I'd share it to start off the week! When it comes to functions with both my own family and my in-laws, this has kinda become "my salad." The one that I bring kinda by default :) We all love it and I know you will too! 

Healthier Lemon Vanilla Cookies

I don't know that these cookies could actually be considered "healthy."

They are still a cookie, still made with a boxed cake mix...

so, I'm calling them "healthier!"

Healthier because I replaced the oil with yogurt!

I've been doing this a lot lately and really like how stuff works out when I do :)

Apple Pie on a stick

Doesn't this little beauty look, well, beautiful?!

It's an Apple Pie Caramel Apple- my very favorite!

Apples dipped in caramel alone are yummy, but these are delectable...

Wanna find out for yourself?

Start with either Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, small to medium.

Slip your sticks into the tops and let them lie in wait...

I make caramel from scratch, using my Mom's treasured recipe-

this is the real key to making these so yummy I think :)

If you have a caramel recipe of your own, go with that.

Or unwrap bulk caramels or caramel baking bits and go with that...

Or... alright, alright: 

You can click and copy, then paste into Word for a quick recipe card!

Moving on...

give your caramel a titch to cool, then grab those waiting apples and dip away!

Let them cool completely before adding the Apple Pie goodness :)

Mix about 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon (I really only ever just eyeball these)

and set aside in a small bowl. 

Most other apple pie apples I've ever had use a mixture of just white sugar and cinnamon

for the outer coating, but the brown makes them much better, I think!

Melt one bag of white chocolate chips or half a brick of Almond Bark.

 (a two-four cup size measuring cup works great for melting in)

Dip your cool caramel apples into the white, kinda twisting as you dip.

Immediately after pulling the apples out,

start shaking your cinnamon/ brown sugar mixture over the top.

Make sure NOT to roll the apple in the mixture, instead grab fingerfuls by hand

and shake in on, twisting to cover the whole thing really well.

Set on a greased cookie sheet or cutting board to cool... then devour!

Doesn't that taste divine?? :)

 

Just thought I'd share my little FAIL in the process of making my own...

This is what happens when you overcook your caramel

but don't realize it until far too late in the game...

toffee anyone? :P

And this is what my adorable baby does while Mom works in the kitchen...

Seriosuly makes me laugh! I know I shared this little escapade of his earlier,

but wanted to include these pics too :)

Enjoy those apples!

Catapults and Cookies

...have been what little boys are made of around here this last week :)

Don't these just shout fun?! They were so simple and easy to make- I had pinned this awhile ago and only had to look at the picture to be able to whip these out myself :) Small rubber bands and popsicle sticks- thats it! All four of the boys enjoyed these through the weekend... and FYI... Skittles make much better ammo than marbles do :/

 

Also whipped up these pumpkin cookies this weekend...

I've seen these around quite a bit, but I originally got the recipe from my sister, Lundyn, several years ago. Seriously the most simple thing ever:

Two Spice cake mixes

One Large can of Pumpkin

One bag chocolate chips

Mix and spoon onto a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

So easy, huh? They maybe aren't the prettiest cookie, but they don't last long enough to care! And we LOVE these- Ryder could eat them all day long. I actually don't sweat these as much as other cookies. At least they are somewhat healthy!

I like to make whoopie pies with these using THIS awesome cream cheese frosting recipe :) I once left out the chocolate chips and rolled the side in finely chopped pecans once the pies were put together- that was a big hit too :) Enjoy!

Everyday Momentousness

  Yes, that's a word ;)

I've missed getting the pics we've taken with Stephen's phone lately onto the blog,

so thought I'd share...

Stephen recently got to confer the priesthood onto his next eldest son- these are awesome moments that he worries greatly about making special. He did great and Keaton had some great support for his special day :)

Remember I mentioned that Fall means Stephen's loses his head for the birds? Well, this is just what I mean- that sage grouse up there (indeed, the one that's been decapitated) is what is swirling around in his brain a fair chunk of the time these days. This was a particularly successful morning, clearly... Coop thought so too :)

I recently buckled down and cleared the clutter out of all of the bedrooms in the house- I love how it feels!  Sadly, it's true, I was unpacking boxes from when we moved in here a year ago- jeez!  Now I'm hoping to do some fun decorating in the boys' rooms... Anyhow, the boys enjoyed playing in a huge pile of blankies and pillows between our bed and the wall while I worked. Piles and boys just go together :)

Last weekend we traveled with my Mom and Dad down to Bringham City for the Temple Open House. Cooper was so excited about getting to go in the Temple- he's still telling anyone who will listen about it :) We were told that the Open House expected to see 26,000 people that day and, indeed, it felt like about half of them were packed into the parking garage maze with us, but it was a good experience nonetheless. My parents treated us all to Maddox- yum!- and sent us home with some awesome Utah peaches too- double yum! :)

The next day after church, Cooper became the delighted new owner of this four-year old turtle :) His Dad is always keeping an eye out on craigslist for the next best thing for his animal-lovin' mini me. It pays off too... just today Coop was alone with me and he says, "Hey, Mom, ya know who's just my favorite?... (very brief pause)... Dad!" Yes, son, yes, I know... :) 

And for a parting shot, have you tried this recipe I shared last year yet?? You should... there are lots of reasons I'll forever be indebted to my cousin Laci... and these breadsticks are one of them:)

Yummy Go-To French Bread

This recipe is a favorite around here- we all love this amazing homemade french bread!

I wanna say my Mom got this recipe from Jodie Pearson, a childhood friend of mine's Mom- I love having people to associate with recipes. Makes me recall memories relative to them each time you make it :)

Anyhow, when I cook Italian or some sort of soup, I very often add either this yummy bread or these breadsticks to it. This dough is simple and the salted crust makes the finished product delish!

YUMMY GO-TO FRENCH BREAD


In a small bowl, mix:
     1/2 cup warm water
     1 Tbsp. sugar
     2 Tbsp. yeast
Set aside.


In a large bowl (I use my bread mixer), mix:
     2 cups hot water
     2 Tbsp. sugar
     1 Tbsp. salt
     2 Tbsp. oil
     3 cups flour


Add yeast mixture that was set aside and Mix.


Add 3 cups flour and mix until smooth.


Let dough sit for 10 minutes, then punch it down. Punch down every ten minutes for 5 times.
NOTE: I think only a few times I've made this have I punched down all 5 rounds, simply because I don't give myself enough time in advance of a meal generally! Three times will be sufficient if you need :)


Mold into 2 loaves and place side-by-side on a cookie sheet. Slice slightly through the top. Brush with one egg white, then sprinkle kosher salt. Let raise 10 minutes (I've also skipped this and been fine).


Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Enjoy!

I love that this recipe makes two loaves at the same time. The second loaf makes for the BEST french toast ever the next morning!