Cinnamon Crunch PopCorn

I love making my own popcorn. I don't buy the bags.

My friend gave me this recipe. She calls it "Crack Corn". Yes, it is addicting....it is like a drug. Now I call it "Crack Corn". I am hooked!

The second I tried this popcorn, I was in heaven. It is SOOOO good. My whole family loves it. And did I mention, cinnamon is one of my faves? But you knew that already.

It is glorious. What a sweet treat. Talking about it makes me want some NOW...right NOW. But I will make it another day.

Anyway, I have Cinnamon Rolls baking in the oven. It has cinnamon, so it will fill my cinnamon addiction for today. Mmmmm!

Pizza Dough

This recipe for Pizza Dough...I use a lot!

I mean, A LOT....for stromboli, calzones, pizza, pretzels, sticky buns etc. etc.

It is fast. It is easy. Everything I have on hand. It is homemade. It is kid friendly. It is delicious. It is versatile. It can be grilled...oh yah, it is good on the grill!

So, having established the fact that I use this recipe a lot, I am sure I will refer to it in the future.

Kid's Kitchen

Kids in the Kitchen.

All these recipes, I have personally taught kids how to make. I teach a Kid's Kitchen class once a month, to teach kids how to cook.

Yes, flour was all over my floor. Yes, an apron was a must. Yes, it was a learning experience.

BUT....

I was teaching 8 kids at a time.

AND....

Yes, they had a blast. Yes, they love every minute. Yes, they are learning a valuable talent. Yes, they want to keep cooking. Yes, they all went home and cooked for their families. Yes, it is well worth the time to teach kids how to cook.

Lesson 1: Pizza Dough

Each cooking class we make 3 recipes.

Lesson #1: We made Pizza, Pretzels, and Sticky Buns.

Corn Pineapple Bruschetta/Salsa

Ahhh Fresh. Nothing better than fresh food!

You could call this one bruschetta or salsa. All the fresh veggies are Yumm-O!

To be honest really, I can't make up my mind about this one. So many options, a mouthful of good flavor. You just call it what you will and "taste" it how you like. And I will call it Bruschetta/Salsa. There.

Chocolate~Chocolate Chip~Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Whew, that is a long name. And well worth it.

I often eat a banana's covered in peanut butter and melted chocolate. Why not put it in the bread too?

What a treat! Let me tell you, it was gone fast!

Where is my cup of milk? Ahhhh tastes good.

Pesto Pasta with Sauteed Veggies

This one is not rocket science.

In fact, it was a quick meal at our house.

Sauteed Veggies make anything taste good. Really good.

Perfect Pancakes

WAKE ME UP! It is morning already? It is time to eat.

I always eat a HUGE breakfast. And these pancakes...I load up! I will eat about 6. Oh num num!!!!

Yes, I ate all of these...and then some.

I make these at least once a week. I don't buy much cereal. It doesn't have much "much-ness". Now, these pancakes have "muchness"...what movie is that from?

Alice and Wonderland. Jonny Depp. "Alice, you have lost your muchness."

I am ready now for my day. Bring it on. Thanks pancakes!

And they have Sprinkles!!! At least, that is what you should tell your kids. Yes, they have carrots, squash and apple in them. I PROMISE you can't taste it. Promise. You can't really see the sprinkes either. And who says you shouldn't have veggies with every meal?

"Sprinkles"

I have taste tested these pancakes on a few neighborhood kids. They have NO clue. And better yet, they LOVE them! No joke.

I have put a lot of things in my pancakes. I love to try new things. But with "sprinkles"....these pancakes are by far my favorite! I am tellin' ya, you have got to try these. And when you do, tell me what you think.

You will be addicted like me. 

Italian Bread

Homemade Bread makes everything taste better. Maybe because YOU made it. Maybe because it is Fresh. Or maybe because in the cooking process, it turns to gold...so when you eat it, you feel RICH!

This recipe is not hard. Believe that it will rock. However, not be a rock.

This Italian Bread or French Bread I use for many things. Sandwiches. Side with Pasta etc. Bruschetta.

So lets get our hands messy...

To make:

It is a story really. Once upon a time:

Fruit Shake

Good Morning. Are you ready to conquer the day? Well, this might help....

I might even run a marathon with this one. NOT. Do not like to run. But if I did, I would now be pumped to. Let me conquer something else instead. Or just let me get through the day without any glitches. Can I get everything done I need to? We shall see. Life. It's crazy sometimes.

So, drink. Indulge. Enjoy. Relax. Or run a marathon if you really want to. Your choice.

Baked Broccoli and Cauliflower

You can eat TONS of this and not feel guilty. It is not difficult. It is healthy. It is a great side dish.

Chicken Bruschetta Sandwich

Dine this. It is super tasty! I took a few of my favorite things and put them together and thus the Chicken Bruschetta Sandwich was created.

It is the perfect ladies luncheon sandwich. Mmmmm. 

3 Part-Pull Apart Bread

My New Love....

I LOOOVE bread, so I had to make me some pull aparts. It all began like this...

This bread is the reason why I wanted to start a food blog. Let the pictures do the talking.



The Ooeey Gooey Stickiness

I got the idea from Joy the Baker. But it is my own recipe/creation, and let me tell you~WOW! I am going to toot my own horn here...toot toot! I done good.

So, I started to think...'well, gotta add whole wheat in bread, that is always a MUST'. And then my imagination started to talk to my taste buds for the stickiness...'Ooooo you should add Pumpkin'. AND 'Honey Orange'. Just look at this:

3-Part: Cinnamon, Honey Orange, and Pumpkin

This is where my 3-Part-Pull-Aparts came from. And let me tell you, after eating it....I was doing my happy dance!

Bread is Heaven. Sticky Buns are Glorious. Therefore, 3 Part-Pull Apart Bread=Out of this world Glory!

I am an honest person, you have GOT to try this recipe. It trumps all other sticky bread!

Making Bread with Kitchen Aid or Bosch

So, to make your bread dough with Kitchen Aid or Bosch:

Follow the same steps as directed (making bread by hand).

When the recipe says use a wisk...use your wisk attachment in your Kitchen Aid. Mix wet ingredients first (do the same order that the recipe calls for), then as the dough gets thicker, switch to your dough attachment. Add the rest of your flour. As the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl and is no longer sticky. Remove and followed the rest of the instructions by hand. *Test the dough to see if it has been kneaded long enough. Poke slightly or spank and if it bounces back, then it is done. You might need to finish it by hand.

The Kitchen Aid and Bosch will do the messy part for you.

Let me know if you have any questions.