Chocolate Chip and M&M Cookie Cake

This year I was going to a recipe club and they were making Halloween Treats. I decided to get a pumpkin foil cake pan at the grocery store and then I used this recipe here. I used cake decorating tools for the Milk Chocolate frosting and decorated it with Halloween colored M&M's! This was such an easy recipe. Looks really sweet doesn't it. Well it is! I had it all made up in 30 minutes. Happy Halloween!

Braised Balsamic Chicken

This is a recipe on my to make list. I found it today and will hopefully make it this week. I got the picture from Lisa's Cooking. Hopefully mine will turn out as good looking as hers! I am using a different recipe that I found, even though im sure her's taste just as great! If this one doesn't turn out, I will have to try her's.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

DIRECTIONS:

Season chicken breasts with ground black pepper and garlic salt. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet, and brown the onion and seasoned chicken breasts.

Pour tomatoes and balsamic vinegar over chicken, and season with basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme. Simmer until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes.

Blonde Brownies

When I made this recipe it reminded me of the yummy blondie you get at Chili's. It is so good served with vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrup. We made these when we had people over for dinner and they were a big hit! Really easy to make and you just mix it with a spoon, so you don't even have to pull out the mixer.

Serves 9- you can double the recipe and serve in a 13x9 pan.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips



DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Measure 1 cup sifted flour. Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift again. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well and set aside.

Melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. If shortening is used, add 1 tablespoon hot water. Cool slightly.

Add egg (beaten) and vanilla. Blend well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well.

Spread in 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips on top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Famous Chicken Salad

This is my absolute favorite chicken salad recipe. I got it from my sister and went off of her recipe and changed it up a bit. I add grapes, but you can add apples, raisins, or all three. It goes best served w/ croissants.

Makes about 9 sandwiches and ready in 20 mintues.

Ingredients:

3 boneless chicken breasts

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

tbsp chicken seasoning

1/2 cup honey

tbsp mustard

1/4 cup mayo

tsp lemon juice

tbsp lime juice

1/3 cup almonds

1/2 cup grapes

Directions:

First step, boil the chicken breast. When finished boiling, let it cool, then shred the chicken. Add lemon and lime juice. Mix in honey, mustard and mayo. Break in half almonds, or put in food processor to make chunks smaller. Cut grapes in half. Add almonds and grapes to chicken salad. Add chicken seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.

It taste best after refrigerated, but you can serve it right away. Great dish to serve at a party/baby shower. Enjoy!

To make this recipe healthier don't add the mayo, just add another 1/4 cup of honey.

Caramel Apples

We have been in the mood for Caramel Apples and I went to the store to get some things to make them yesterday. I found this recipe at all recipes. That is one of my favorite website to search for a quick easy and always good recipe.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

6 apples
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.

Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once.

Allow to cool briefly.

Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

Chicken Parmesan

If you like Chicken Parmesan you will LOVE this recipe. This is an all time favorite in our house. This recipe is so great because it taste great, its easy to make, and it can be ready in 30 minutes!
INGREDIENTS:

4 (4 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 egg
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:


Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. I use a freezer zip lock bag, place in chicken, then use a rolling pin to beat the chicken down. In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and basil. In another bowl, beat the egg. Dip chicken into egg, then coat with crumb mixture. In a 13X9 baking dish place chicken breasts. Bake in preheated oven on 350 for 20-25 minutes.

You can view the side dishe recipes here.

Frankenstine Cupcake

INGREDIENTS:

2 dozen cupcakes from your favorite recipe
3.4-ounce box of vanilla-flavored instant pudding
green food coloring
1 cup of green melting candy (we used Wilton Candy Melts)
24 large marshmallows
skewers
waxed-paper-lined baking sheet
M&M's Minis
small serrated knife
chocolate frosting
black gel
2 green Tic Tac mints

Directions:

1. Bake and cool 2 dozen cupcakes from your favorite recipe. Prepare a 3.4-ounce box of vanilla-flavored instant pudding. Stir in drops of green food coloring until you have a shade you like, then place it in the refrigerator to chill.

2. Next, microwave 1 cup of green melting candy (we used Wilton Candy Melts, available at party supply stores) for 1 minute at 50 percent power, then stir. If necessary, heat in 15-second intervals until completely melted. One at a time, spear 24 large marshmallows with a skewer and roll them in the melted candy, coating the sides. Set them on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet, add M&M's Minis for eyes, and place them in the refrigerator to chill.

3. With a small serrated knife, remove a 1-inch-wide chunk from the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with a tablespoon or so of the pudding, then spread chocolate frosting around each pudding hole.

4. Cover each pool of pudding with a chilled marshmallow. Add black gel facial features and 2 green Tic Tac mints for bolts. 5. Finally, top each monster head with a bit of frosting and muss with your finger or a fork. Keep the cupcakes chilled until serving time.

Thanks FamilyFun