Monster Mix & Cookies and Cream Chocolate Bark

          

                   

Happy Halloween! I have two treats to share with you on this holiday; Monster Mix & Cookies and Cream Oreo Bark. I might be eating a bit of both as I write this; they are THAT addicting. Big thanks to one of my staples, Plain Chicken, for the Monster Mix & to a newly discovered site, Bakers Royale for the Oreo Bark!

Before I dive into the recipe, I had to share a picture from our Halloween Party this weekend.
Duke nearly had a heart attack when he saw my costume. 

J  went as "Topless Kate Middleton." Needless to say, I won't be posting his pic.

Ok...on to the treats!

Monster Mix

Serves: 15-20ish servings if you can control yourself

Cook time according to Rachel: 10 mins to make, then let sit for aprox 20 mins

How difficult was this for Rachel? Easy! (just took a few bags of popcorn trying to learn my new microwave

Ingredients:                                   

2 bags popcorn
1 lb Almond Bark (I used vanilla, couldn't find Almond)
1 cup candy corn
1.5 cups dry roasted, salted peanuts
1 cup Reeses Pieces



Directions:

Pop popcorn and place in a LARGE bowl. Mix in peanuts, candy corn & Reeses.

Break up bark and melt according to package directions.

Pour over popcorn mix. Stir until everything is evenly coated. 

Spread out onto foil, parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet. Let sit until completely hardened and dry. 

Break up into clumps and eat!

Cookies & Cream Chocolate Bark

Serves: 15-20

Cook time according to Rachel: 10 minutes + 20-30 mins of cooling

How difficult was this for Rachel? Easy!

Ingredients:

The ratio is 15 Oreo's to 1 bag of White Ghirardelli baking chips. 

If you use theme'd Oreo's, like the orange colored cream Halloween Oreos, your bark will turn the color of the cream. Most people would realize this ahead of time. For me, a happy accident.

I ended up tripling the recipe for the party. 

Directions:

In a large bowl, melt chocolate chips. I melted them in the microwave for aprox 3 minutes. After each minute, stir the chips, it will help them melt.

While the chocolate melts, break up oreos into large chunks

 Once chocolate is melted, combine Oreo's...enter my happy orange discovery

One thoroughly mixed, spread out on a parchment/wax paper lined baking dish/sheet

Cool in Fridge for aprox 20 mins.

Break into chunks and eat!

Note: This would also work well with the Green Christmas Oreos to make it themed!

6 Layer Taco Dip

Yeah, I was in a hurry and clearly wasn't paying attention to making my layers even. 

Who does't love a layered taco dip? This is by far one of my favorite party dishes and is such a classic. Takes practically no time and is GONE so quickly.  I skipped a traditional layer of olives because I simply don't like them.  I was in a bit of a rush when throwing this together and took the crappiest pictures...guess I will just have to make this again soon!

6 Layer Taco Dip

Serves: As much as you see in the bowl

Cook time according to Rachel: 15 mins

How difficult was this for to Rachel? Easy

Ingredients:  
1 lb ground turkey
1 packet taco seasoning
1 pkg 4 Cheese Mexican blend
1 can traditional refried beans
1 jar salsa
1 container guac (Yep, used pre-made. GASP!)
1 container sour cream


Directions:

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground turkey.

Add taco seasoning & drain.

Begin layering process: Ground Turkey, beans, sour cream, salsa, cheese, guac. 

Normally I would have put the cheese on top. But I fully planned on making this "Halloween themed" as shown below:

But that didn't happen. Cute idea though!

Trix Treats

My inner child was completely satisfied with this treat. With Halloween just around the corner, obviously, another house party was in order. I thought this would an appropriate snack to have on hand...and it was a complete hit. The only thing is, I haven't had Trix in 10+ yrs. I do NOT remember the cereal being little balls...I swear the cereal nuggets were in the shape of fruit. Am I imagining this? It is quite possible. Either way still tasted awesome, was so easy to make and really brought me back to my childhood. Thank you Cravings of a Lunatic for the fun recipe!

Trix Treats

Makes: Aprox 16-18 squares

Cook time according to Cravings of a Lunatic: 10 mins

Cook time according to Rachel: 10 mins!

How difficult was this for Rachel? Easy...just sticky!

Ingredients:  

1 400g bag mini marshmallows
10 cups Trix cereal (just less than 1 box)
1/4 cup butter      






Directions:  

Place butter and marshmallows in a microwavable bowl. Microwave 2-3 minutes until completely melted

While mallow/butter mix is melting, place Trix into large bowl

Once mallows are melted, pour over Trix. Mix thoroughly.

Place cereal mix into greased 9x11 pan. Press down with greased spoon, It will make flattening the mix easier.

Once ready to eat , cut and serve!

Italian Potato Slices

These are easy, awesome and tasty.   The recipe came from one of my favorite sites, Plain Chicken. What more can I say besides I will definitely be making them again!

Italian Potato Slices

Serves: 2-4 (Depends on how much potato you can eat

Cook time according to Plain Chicken: Doesn't say

Cook time according to Rachel: 30ish mins

How difficult was this for Rachel? Easy!

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 Tsp salt
4 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
large Ziploc bag

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Slice potatoes into very thin slices.

Throw potatoes, olive oil, Italian seasonings and salt into Ziploc bag. Shake bag until potatoes are completely coated.

Place potatoes in a single layer on a greased tinfoil lined baking sheet. 

Bake for 15 mins. 

Remove potatoes and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese

Bake an additional 5 mins

{Recipe} Savory Baked Chicken

Original photo...

My version:

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???



HOW is it possible for my version of this simple simple dish to look SO vastly different from the original???? I did substitute ONE ingredient and I am guessing that's what did it? I hope that's what did it.  The original recipe from Food.com calls for 1 cup of mayo. I substituted Greek yogurt in an attempt to make it healthier. It was still delicious...but is that what did it? If you're familiar with the way foods brown, please share below if it was the Greek yogurt. I was so disappointed mine didn't look like the photo, but  at least it was still tasty and easy!! The original recipe also called this dish, "Melt In Your mouth Chicken"...yeah, it was good but it didn't melt in my mouth. You could definitely taste the Greek yogurt once the chicken was cooked, so if you don't love Greek yogurt, stick to the mayo.

ABOUT
Makes: 4 Chicken Breasts (I only made 2)
Cook time according to Food.com: 55 mins
Cook time according to Rachel: 60 mins
How difficult was this for Rachel? Easy!

INGREDIENTS                                               
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 cup Greek yogurt (or mayo)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1.5 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375. 

Place chicken breasts in greased baking dish

Mix yogurt, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Parmesan in a small mixing bowl

Spoon mixture over chicken. I did use a bit too much mix on each piece of chicken because I made enough topping for 4 breasts

Bake for 40-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through. 

If yours looks different than mine, PLEASE let me know what you did differently!

{Recipe} Update-Slow Cooker Chicken Quesadillas

Happy Cinco De Mayo! In honor of this festive holiday, I thought it would be quite appropriate (& truthfully really necessary) to give my most popular post a much deserved face lift. Good bye Instagram filters, hello real pictures!  Enjoy!

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OK, I had a moment of stupidity with these. When I saw the recipe on Six Sisters Stuff I sort of, kinda thought the entire dish would cook in my crockpot..tortilla and all. It never crossed my mind that just the chicken mix would slow cook and that I would still have to put in a little work.  When I told J I was making chicken quesadillas in the crock pot and then said, "Well, just the chicken goes in the crock pot" the look on his face essentially said, "no shit."  Despite the extra work, these were awesome and easy.

Slow Cooker Chicken Quesadillas
Serves: 4-6
Cook time according to Rachel: 7 hours 15 mins
How difficult was this for Rachel? Only one quesadilla landed on the floor

Ingredients:                        

4 boneless chicken breasts
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (4oz) can green chilies
1 (8oz) pkg light cream cheese
mexican cheese blend
tortillas
non-stick cooking spray or olive oil


Directions:

Spray cooker with non-stick cooking spray

Place chicken breasts at the bottom of the cooker. Cover with tomatoes, chilies and cream cheese.
Cook in low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. I couldn't wait any longer than 7 hours.

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After 6 hours, remove chicken and shred.

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I actually think the first one might be better!

Once completely shredded, place chicken back in cooker. Mix well & cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.

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Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray (or olive oil). 

On medium heat, place tortillas in pan. Fill one half with chicken mix & cheese.

Fold filled tortilla in half & cook for approx. 3-4 mins until side is golden brown.

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Be careful of burning.

Lucky for me I didn't have to worry. I had a supervisor.

Enjoy!

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Yum.



{Recipe) Hawaiian Marinated Chicken Kebobs

After all the partying we did for J's bday and all the junk we ate, some vegetables and chicken were necessary. I've been wanting to try my first marinade for some time now and because eating a regular piece of chicken with a side of veggies bores me, I thought, why not make kabobs! Everything tastes better on a stick right?! Luckily we live on the west coast and it is still nice enough for us to still grill. I found the marinade at The Girl Who Ate Everything. It was REALLY tasty and of course, EASY! My two favorite things. I will for sure be making these again.

ABOUT

Makes: Marinade makes enough for 4 pieces of Chicken. I only made 2.

Vegetables enough for 4 kabobs

Marinate time recommended by Rachel: Over night

How difficult was this for Rachel? Marinating was easy. Chopping vegetables was another story.

MARINADE INGREDIENTS

2 cups soy sauce
1.5 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup white onion, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp sesame oil
2 cups water
13.5 ounces coconut milk (1 can..I couldn't find the can so I had to buy this massive carton)

Up to 4 pieces of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Recipe called for thighs. I prefer breasts. (insert inappropriate joke here)

KEBAB INGREDIENTS (Makes 4 large kebobs)
1 large purple onion
1 Red bell pepper
1 Green bell pepper
1 Ear of corn
(You can always sub out the veggies, these are just my preference)

DIRECTIONS

Combine all marinade ingredients in large bowl

In a heavy duty ziploc bag, pour entire marinade into bag. I used a double lining just to be safe. Add chicken to bag. Next time, I might chop up my chicken first. Let marinade at least 8 hours in fridge.

If you use wooden skewers, make sure to let wood soak in water for at least a few hours.

After marinade is complete. Chop up big chunks of the veggies. 

You will notice the red pepper is missing. Wah wah.

Also, when chopping the corn BE CAREFUL. I'm lucky I didn't injure myself more. I made J do the rest of the chopping. He later informed me I was using the wrong knife.

Once veggies are chopped, time to cube-ish the chicken. Just cut it up.

Skewer the chicken & veggies. Be careful with the corn. I recommend putting it on the end.

Grill (Preferably not in the dark) Make sure to rotate kabobs frequently to avoid burning. 

Once chicken is no longer pink remove from grill. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!