The greatest!!!

Grilled Cheese?  Do you like it just plain, or have you reinvented it? 

A few days back I saw that Betty Crocker on facebook had this question in their community questions.  It was a interesting one to me.  I have eatten it just plain old Grilled Cheese for years, usually paired with a great bowl of Tomato Soup!  Can't go wrong right?  So I pondered this question for a few days, and then it dawned on me, I have to reinvent this sandwich!!!  It can NO LONGER be PLAIN!!!  Just won't do!  LOL!!! 

So we have tried it many new ways, our favorite being with turkey, peppers and onions!  Add some pepper jack cheese to the american already on there, and call it YUMMY!  So what is your favorite way to eat a Grilled Cheese? 

Please share!
~The Mommy of 6 <3

Happy Valentines Day!

Just in time for Valentines Day!  Lets see how much you know about Aphrodisiacs?  Take this quiz!

Click on the picture to be linked to the quiz!

I score 9-10 right: the Doc is in!  What do you score, place your score int he comment space!  I want to know!!! 

Enjoy~ The Mommy of 6 <3

Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sliced fruit like bananas, strawberries, apples, oranges, etc.
Marshmallows
Pretzels

Directions:
1. Heat cream over medium to low heat in a small pot until hot, but not boiling.


2. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth.

3. Stir in vanilla extract.

4. Transfer to a fondue pot or a small crock pot, if you have one. If not, transfer to a heavy bowl and serve immediately with cut fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, etc.

Caramel Kisses

Kisses of Caramel and drizzled chocolate make these love at first bite!

recipe and picture from Parentsconnect.com

Ingredients:
4 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp cream of tarter
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.


2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

3. Combine egg whites, vanilla and cream of tarter in a large mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.

4. Gradually add in brown sugar, beating between additions. Then, beat until stiff peaks form (about 3 to 4 additional minutes).

5. Transfer to a large zipper top bag (or a pastry bag fitted with a star tip). Press the meringue down towards one bottom corner of the bag and push any air out.

6. Cut the corner of the bag and pipe "kisses" onto the cookie sheet about 1½ inches apart.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until outside of meringues are hard. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on baking sheet.

8. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.

9. Transfer melted chocolate to a small zipper top bag.

10. Cut a very small hole in one corner of the bag and drizzle the meringues with the chocolate.

Enjoy the heavenly light taste of these small treats!
~The Mommy of 6 <3



Heart Cocoa

Heart Cocoa

Ingredients:
4 jumbo marshmallows

3 oz bittersweet chocolate
4 cups milk
½ cup sugar
½ tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Directions:
1. Give your kids the jumbo marshmallows and some plastic knives and tell them to "sculpt" a heart out of each marshmallow.


2. Meanwhile, chop up the chocolate into small pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.

3. Heat the milk over medium-low heat until scalding (don't let it boil).

4. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.

5. Pour about one third of the milk over the chocolate and whisk until the chocolate is melted.

6. Slowly adding the remaining milk, whisking constantly, until all of the milk is incorporated.

7. Divide the hot chocolate into 4 mugs and top with the heart-shaped marshmallows.

Strawberry Pancakes

Strawberry Pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup of your favorite pancake mix
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup of milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg
5-7 fresh or frozen strawberries, cut up
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together; there's no special order.

2. Heat griddle between 350°F.  Brush griddle lightly with melted butter or vegetable oil, or spray with non-stick spray. The griddle is ready when water dissolves quickly after being splashed.

3. Pour a circle of batter onto hot griddle and cook until tiny bubbles begin to form along the edges of pancake; flip once to cook the other side. Stack on a warm plate; brush with melted butter between each pancake.

4. Serve hot.
Makes 10-12 pancakes

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!
I love that there is a day set aside to spend with you and your honey!  In our case, we like to make it a family thing, after all Love did make those beautiful babies of ours!  We start off with a Valentines day breakfast complete with Heart Shaped Strawberry pancakes and Heart Cocoa.

We then go to Lunch where we will usually eat Heart Shaped Peanut butter and Honey Sandwiches, yogurt, and strawberries!  I might even drizzle the strawberries with a little marshmallow cream and chocolate syrup.

We will then go to Dinner where we will have Baby Carrots, Sweet Baby Back Ribs, Roasted Red Potatoes, and a Strawberry Spinach Salad with a vinaigrette dressing.  End it off with a heart shaped Strawberry Shortcake, or your Choice of lovely dessert!

These are just my examples of loving meals for Valentines day!  I would love to hear your examples!  comment and share with us!

~Mommy of 6 <3