Knock Knock

Little Miss M went on an adventure to Vegas with her Auntie C and Uncle D this week for spring break.  Baby P absolutely adores her big sissy and was going through major withdrawals while she was gone!  Baby P just couldn't get enough of Little Miss M when she came home today.  Tonight after Little Miss M had gone to bed, Baby P crawled in to pay her a visit. 

She was so excited to see her sissy that the Mister couldn't resist putting her up on the bed.  (Apologies for the messy floor.  Unpacking hasn't yet commenced.)

Ain't that the cutest?!

Midnight Madness

Have you ever had a hankering for something, but because it's so late at night, the only way you're going to get it is by making it?  Last night I was dying to have a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, but unfortunately no one sells them at 11:30 pm!  Instead of making the classic BEC biscuit, I decided to live on the wild side and make them muffin style.  The original recipe called for canned biscuits, but I opted to use The Best Biscuits Ever (from previous post).  These are the same concept as the Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes.  The final result was delicious!!! 

The Best Biscuits Ever

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp white sugar

1/3 cup chilled butter cut into small pieces

1/4 cup heavy cream or buttermilk

3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425 F.  Mix together first four ingredients in stand-mixer or food processor.  If using stand-mixer, metal cookie paddle attachment works best.  Add butter and mix until crumbly.  Gradually stir in buttermilk or cream and milk.  I used buttermilk for these.  On floured surface, knead dough 8-10 times.  For this recipe I rolled the dough out to about 1/2 inch to make 12 biscuits.  When normally making biscuits, I roll out to about an inch in thickness, making 6 jumbo biscuits.

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Muffins 

1 batch The Best Biscuits Ever dough
3 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup of shredded cheddar
4 slices bacon
salt and pepper

Cook the bacon in a pan or in the oven until it is slightly crispy.  (I baked mine.  Less smell and mess!)  Chop into small pieces and set aside. 

Preheat the oven to 425 F. 

Whisk together eggs, milk, a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste and set aside.  Flatten out each biscuit until it is slightly bigger than the circumference of your muffin tin. Grease the muffin tin with cooking spray and push one biscuit into each muffin cup, being sure to push it all the way down and to the sides. Leave the ridge hanging over the edge. 

Divide the cheese evenly into each of the biscuit cups and then pour egg in, filling each cup only 1/2 way.  You may still have some of the egg mixture left over.  That's ok!  Resist the urge to fill the cups all the way up or they will overflow into a big mess while cooking.  Sprinkle bacon on top of the egg.

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until biscuits are light brown around edges and eggs are set.  If egg overflows during baking, just remove the excess when you are loosening the muffins.   

Serve warm.

 
Original recipe from cookingwithmykid.com

Pot Pies and Posin'

Little Miss M is no stranger to the camera.  She's been posing for pics for as long as I can remember.  Case in point...

That's my girl for you!  When she's not posing for pictures, she's quite the little helper in the kitchen.  I think she loves cooking almost as much as I do!  This recipe was inspired by Pinterest, yet another one of my many loves.  If you haven't jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon yet, you should!!  I've probably pinned more recipes than I'll be able to make in this lifetime and the next, but whatever!  The original recipe calls for canned biscuits, but I used my own personal biscuit recipe.  From scratch are always better than canned!!  Little Miss M has fondly named them The Best Biscuits Ever.

The Best Biscuits Ever

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp white sugar

1/3 cup chilled butter cut into small pieces

1/4 cup heavy cream or buttermilk

3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425 F.  Mix together first four ingredients in stand-mixer or food processor.  If using stand-mixer, metal cookie paddle attachment works best.  Add butter and mix until crumbly.  Gradually stir in buttermilk or cream and milk.  I used buttermilk for these.  On floured surface, knead dough 8-10 times.  For this recipe I rolled the dough out to about 1/2 inch to make 12 biscuits.  When normally making biscuits, I roll out to about an inch in thickness, making 6 jumbo biscuits. 

Chicken Pot-Pie Cupcakes

1 chicken breast, cooked and diced (boiled mine with some bouillon, onion flakes, and garlic powder)

1 (14.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup 

1 cup frozen mixed veggies (used frozen lima beans and corn)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 

1 tbsp Herbs De Provence 

1 tsp onion powder 

1 tsp garlic salt 

1 batch of The Best Biscuits Ever dough

In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen veggies, cheese, herbs and spices.  

Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and place the biscuits into each cup, pressing into the bottom and up the sides.  

Evenly spoon the pot pie mixture into each biscuit cup. 

Place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until biscuits are light brown around edges.  Let sit for a couple of minutes, then remove from pan and place on rack.  Serve immediately.

Original recipe courtesy of quick-dish.tablespoon.com

Caramel Dream

After going to Leatherby's Saturday night with the boys, I haven't been able to get their amazing caramel sauce off my mind.  It is that good.  I went on a hunt to find a recipe to whip it up at home.  The one I found is pretty dang close to the original if you ask me! 

Leatherby's Caramel Sauce

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 (12 fl oz) can evaporated milk (or 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a medium-size pot, combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, evaporated milk and butter.

The original recipe says to bring to a boil and boil for about 15 -20 minutes.  It was more like 25 minutes for me to get it to the right consistency.  I boiled it on medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

Remove the pot from heat and stir in vanilla. Transfer to a glass jar.  Store in refrigerator.  If you have any left over that is.  I was eating it by the spoonfuls.  Literally.  As a side note, I forgot to put the vanilla in until it was too late, but it still tasted amazing. 

Recipe courtesy of theprovidentpantry.blogspot.com

Anthro Love

Isn't this one of the most beautiful bags you've ever laid eyes on?

I'm in love with Anthropologie.  I'm even more in love with their sales.  I think Anthro gets a bad rap for being too pricey, but you can score some crazy good deals when they do markdowns!  I ordered a skirt online a while back that was on sale from $150 down to $29!!  Sadly, when it came, the skirt and my body did not get along very well.  Such is life.  Instead of wasting money shipping it back, I held onto it until I could make my way up to the mothership, I mean store.  This past weekend I did just that.  I love the overwhelming smell of Volcano candles as you walk through the doors.  It's so intoxicating.  Anthropologie has that little kid in a candy store effect on me.  There are so many bright colors and patterns, I never know where to begin!!  After making my way through the entire store twice, I picked up a couple of lovelies I just couldn't do without!  Drum roll please....

   
This is one of my all-time fragrances.  And Anthro is the only place I've ever found it.  It doesn't have the fake vanilla smell that a lot of fragrances do.  It is pure vanilla sweetness.  The Mister thinks it smells like chocolate.  I just think it smells like goodness.  Especially with a price tag of only $18!

I knew I couldn't live without this little beauty at only $14!  A ceramic egg-carton!  It's the perfect size for holding my earrings.  Maybe now I won't lose so many pairs!  So my grand total came to $2.19 after my return.  Not to bad.  Farewell Anthro, until we meet again.

Pucker Up!

When life gives you lemons, forget lemonade!  Make lemon bars!  The Mister has a huge weak spot for lemon bars.  You'd think he was pregnant the way he craves those bad boys!  Well Winco had the prettiest looking lemons the other day that I couldn't help but grab a few.  And I have to admit, the Mister isn't the only one with a permanent hankering for lemon bars.  I love all things sour, and these definitely fit the bill!  They have just the right amount of sour mixed with sweet.  Without further ado, I introduce the lemon bar.  Be prepared to be amazed.

Lemon Bars

Crust
12 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour

Jello
6 eggs
1 cup + 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (18 tbsp)
3 tsp grated lemon peel (zest)
6 tbsp flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder

Grease a 9x13 cake pan and preheat oven to 350 F.
In a bowl beat butter.  Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp salt.  Beat until fluffy.  Stir in 2 cups flour.  Press into bottom of pan and bake for 15 minutes or until light brown.

While crust bakes, beat eggs in a bowl.  Add lemon juice and zest, 6 tbsp flour, 2 1/4 cups sugar, and baking powder.  Beat until slightly thickened.  Pour over baked crust.  

Bake 30 minutes or until light brown around edges and center is set.

Cool and sift powdered sugar on top.

Cut and enjoy!!

 This recipe is courtesy of the little sister of a friend from college. 

Saturday Is A Special Day

This weekend marked the 182nd Annual General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We had the wonderful opportunity to see and hear present-day prophets and apostles share messages of hope, faith, and inspiration to people across the globe.  



The Mister's family was in town from Indiana for Conference weekend and shared tickets for the Saturday afternoon session at the Conference Center with us.  Baby P and I hung out at the hotel and watched the session while the Mister and Little Miss M went to the Conference Center.  Little Miss M was so excited that they were sitting only rows away from the stand!  This is an experience she'll remember for the rest of her life!

Two hours is a long time for a little person to sit still and pay attention, and although a little bored, Little Miss M was still smiling in the end!!

After the session, Baby P and I met back up with the "folks" at City Creek Center.  That place is AMAZING.  I could seriously set up a tent in the courtyard and call that place home!  It's beautiful!  One of the nicest, if not THE nicest, malls I've ever seen.  Complete with a creek running right through the center!  If you're within driving distance, it is so worth the trip!  The architecture and design is incredible and the shops are to die for!  Tiffany & Co., Rolex, Michael Kors,  Nordstrom, JCrew, H&M, just to name a few!  Not to mention Anthropologie coming soon!  While the boys went to the Priesthood Session, we had some girl time.  Little Miss M would have stayed in Forever21 all night if I'd let her!

 She was exhausted by the end of the night and dying to stick her feet in the fountain!