Oreo Truffles

Today I made these for a bake sale for my student with cancer. Please read his story at paytynsarmy.org. It's an incredible story for an incredible kid!

I absolutely love these easy delectable Oreo truffles. The regular or double stuff are delicious but I really love them with mint Oreos. Adjust your cream cheese to how you like the center.

Ingredients:

1 package Oreos (pick your flavor)

1 8oz package cream cheese (softened)

Chocolate white or milk for dipping about a 16 oz package. I did half of both.

Directions: 

1. Crush cookies to desired consistency. But no huge chucks. (I've used my food processor, rolling pin smack method and used a cup to crush them in a bowl). Depends on which type of mess you want I suppose. 

2. Mix in cream cheese with crushed Oreos until well mixed.

3. Scoop out spoonfuls and place in a bowl or on wax paper on a tray. Place in fridge until firm (overnight is what I do).

5. Once chilled melt chocolate in a bowl with a little bit of shortening (1tbsp).

4. Roll Oreo balls I hand a couple times to make smooth. Dip in chocolate and place one wax paper. Chill in fridge and there you go.

My notes:

*I prefer them really tiny but large ones are fun too!

*Feel free to go crazy with toppings. I had extra chocolate to drizzle. Sprinkles and crushed cookie leftovers are great too. 

Enjoy!

Easy Pad Thai

Found this recipe on Pinterest. Very good! Quick, easy, tasty. On her blog people say the noodles get dry. Mine did a little so I might add some broth or just not combine it as long next time. 8/10 (according to B) I liked it a lot. 10/10

Easy Pad Thai
(adapted from Everyday Food)

Serves 2-3

8 ounces dried, wide and flat rice noodles
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 squirt (about 1/8 teaspoon) Sriracha (optional)

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3 scallions (green onions), white and green parts, separated and thinly sliced

1/4-1/2 cup chopped/ diced red pepper ( I used half a pepper)

1/4-1/3 cup grated carrots

Any other veggies you like
1 garlic clove, minced
2 large eggs, light beaten (optional)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
1/4 cup chopped roasted, salted peanuts

Soak noodles according to package instructions. 25 min. Drain. Or place in boiling water for 5 minutes or until soft.
In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
Add scallion whites and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add veggies and cook till tender. Add eggs and cook, scraping skillet with spatula until eggs are almost set (about 30 seconds). Transfer eggs to a plate.
Add noodles, scallion greens, and sauce to skillet. Cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are soft (about 1 minute). Add egg mixture and toss to coat, breaking eggs up gently.
Serve noodles with lime wedges, topped with cilantro and peanuts.

Quinoa Burrito Bowls

I LOVE these! Not only are they delicious they're healthy and fast. Toppings are all based on what you like. 5/5

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp chili powder (mild)
Pinch of cayenne pepper (spicy)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup shredded lettuce
Salt
Optional Topping Ingredients
Grated cheddar or jack cheese
Sour cream or Greek yogurt
Pico de gallo or salsa
Diced seeded tomatoes
Hot sauce or sriracha
Sliced avocado
Guacamole

Pour quinoa into a saucepan along with 2 cups of water. Bring the quinoa to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover the pot. Let the quinoa simmer for about 20 minutes till it becomes tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Keep a close eye to make sure the quinoa doesn't burn. While quinoa is cooking, heat 1 tbsp of oil in another saucepan over medium heat. Pour minced onion into the saucepan and saute for a few minutes till it softens and begins to turn brown. Add the minced garlic to the pot and let it saute for 1-2 minutes longer till aromatic.Add the black beans to the pot of onions along with 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp of chopped fresh cilantro, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Bring the beans to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low. Let the beans simmer for 15 minutes till the liquid is mostly evaporated. Stir in 2 tbsp of fresh lime juice. Season with salt to taste. When the quinoa is fully cooked, remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Use the fork to mix in 2 tbsp of chopped cilantro and 2 tbsp fresh lime juice. Season with salt to taste

Baked Scones

Found on Our Best Bites. These are really easy and really delicious. Loved with honey butter and strawberry jam.

Ingredients:

1/3 C real butter
1 ¾ C Flour
3T sugar
2/1/2 t baking powder
¼ t salt
1 egg, beaten
4-6 T milk

Instructions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter with pastry blender until it resembles fine crumbs.

Combine egg and 4T milk. Slowly pour milk mixture into dry mixture while mixing with a fork to combine. If you need the additional 2 T milk to bring the dough together, add it. I almost always need the full 6T of milk.

Form into a ball and pat onto baking pan. Flatten to about 1/2 thickness and cut into 6-8 pieces. They say to put some milk or egg rubbed on top but I put a little too much so it needs to be light. Then sprinkle with sugar and bake for 10-12 min at 400 degrees. Don't overbake. They will be golden brown on bottom and not on top. Enjoy! Perfect Saturday morning breakfast.

Crispy Chicken Quesedillas

Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise, light or regular
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 green onions, sliced very thin
2 tablespoons sour cream, light or regular
2 teaspoons hot sauce (this does not make them spicy but adds great flavor!) we like Cholula lime.
1-2 chicken breasts boiled and shredded
1 cup shredded cheese ( mexican/ cheddar/ whatever you like)
4 ish flour tortillas
Tomato sliced
Avocado sliced
Directions
Mix chicken, hot sauce, green onions, cilantro, sour cream, mayo and sometimes I add some tajin seasoning too. Mix. Heat a skillet. Lay down one tortilla and top with chicken mixture and add some slices of avocado, tomato and onion. Sprinkle cheese on top. Top with tortilla and flip after bottom is crispy. Slice into quarters. Such an easy, fast, healthy dinner. I keep frozen shredded chicken for a super quick one. Note too that you can make however many or not you want. Most of the time I just eyeball it. We love these! 5/5

White Hot Chocolate

1 & 1/2 c. Skim milk
1/4-1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2c. white chocolate chips
1Tbsp. granulated sugar
just under 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)
Throw into a cocoamotion and let it work it's magic. Tastes a lot like the Starbucks white hot chocolate! 5/5
Makes 2 servings

Sunday Bread

Found this on Pinterest an thought I'd give it a shot. SUPER EASY! We baked it in our 12in Dutch oven and it was perfect! I added 3 cloves crushed garlic and some Italian seasoning. Can't wait to make this. Family tradition. Hence Sunday Bread.

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 cups water (either warm or cool)
Optional: any spices/ seasonings you'd like.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Add water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12 - 18 hours. Overnight works great. Heat oven to 450 degrees. When the oven has reached 450 degrees place a cast iron pot with a lid in the oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour dough onto a heavily floured surface and shape into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let set while the pot is heating. Remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough. Cover and return to oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.