Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

2 tbsp. flour

1 1/2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. of good cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

pinch of salt

2 tbsp. milk

1 tbsp. oil *i use unsweetend applesauce*

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. chocolate chips *optional*

Stir all ingredients in a small mixing bowl, then pour into a mug. Batter will double in size so be sure the mug is big enough. 

Heat in the microwave for 45-60 seconds. [50 was perfect for mine]

Top with ice cream, or whipped cream or whatever your heart desires. 

If you don't use the chocolate chips and use apple sauce instead of the oil its a 4 pt (weight watchers) dessert :) Its worth it in my book

Amazing Banana Bread

I am supposed to bring both adult and kid's snack to the MOMS Club business meeting tomorrow, so I was looking at a way to kill two birds with one stone and this is what I found. This recipe was originally posted HERE but because I like to use oil instead of butter and I'm in love with brown sugar I made a few adjustments

Below is the recipe that I followed:

• Four Large bananas
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/2 c white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda

1. Heat oven to 350*
2. blend bananas, vanilla and milk together.
3. mix oil and sugars and add to previous step
4. combine wet ingredients with flour and soda.
5. scoop into muffin tins about 1/2 full
6. Bake 10 mins and then turn, and bake another 5-10 mins checking occasionally.  Done when golden brown and tooth pick comes out clean.

makes roughly 20 muffins

ENJOY!!!!

Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup

I have always LOVED vegetable barley soup... every time I am at a resturant and see it on the menu I know hands down that is what I am going to order... well I have been searching for a good recipe for awhile. It seemed that every time I tried one it would turn into a gloppy mess and just not look appealing... it always tasted ok, but in our house the people eat with their eyes first.

Well I think I may have finally found a recipe that works for my family and I and since it was a hit I just had to share it:

8oz lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic- minced
5 cups beef stock
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes w/juice
3/4 cup quick cooking barley
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
9 oz frozen mixed vegetables
4 cups water

Brown meat. Add onion and garlic cook until onion is tender. Drain. Stir in remaining ingredients except frozen vegetables and water. Cover, bring to boil and reduce heat, simmer for 10. Add vegetables, cook about 10 more minutes or until barley is tender. This is where the water comes in... if you want a 'thinner' soup add some of the water... I ended up adding 4 cups of water to make it the way my family likes it...

ENJOY!!!

Oh and if you add the 4 cups of water you can have 1 cup of this soup for 3 WW PointsPlus Points :) You can eat the ENTIRE BATCH of this soup for 25 points :)

Taco Joes

1 pound ground beef ( I used 96/4)

1 10oz can reduced sodium condensed tomato soup

1 cup salsa

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp Nature's seasoning

1/2 cup taco blend cheese

brown ground beef with onion and seasoning until cooked through

add tomato soup (undiluted) and salsa 

stir together and bring to a boil

serve on hamburger bun topped with taco blend cheese

This is a new fun favorite for our family... I hope you enjoy!

Recipe:

1 pound ground beef
1 can condensed tomato soup

1 cup salsa

1/2 cup shredded cheese

8 hamburger buns

Cook ground beef until no longer pink, add soup and salsa and heat through. Serve on buns topped with cheese.

Menu Plan Monday....

Back in the day when I could think straight I used to plan my menu a month in advance and literally do all my grocery shopping (except for fresh produce, milk, bread etc) in one day. Well I have kind of skipped that the past few months and I really want to get back on track with that... so this week I am joining my friends Pam and Megan who do a weekly blog thingie called Menu Plan Monday.

So here is my Menu Plan for this week on Menu Plan Monday:

Monday: Grilled Burgers and Brats w/ chips

Tuesday: Swedish meat balls over egg noodles

Wednesday: Polish Sausage, raw fries and corn on the cob

Thursday: Johnny Carino's Bowtie Festival w/ bread sticks and salad

Friday : Grilled Steak, sides unknown

Saturday: Ground Round Chicken Tortilla Soup w/ fresh Parker House Rolls

*thank you Megan for the awesome recipes for this week's menu plan*

Freezer Meal... FAIL

A while back I blogged abut some amazing freezer meals that I had made with friends.... well the cheddar cheese meatloaf was LESS than a hit with my family. We have made this recipe several times and eaten it right away so the only thing I can think of is that the freezing some how made it less an likable for our family but lesson learned...won't be doing that again.

Easter Cake/ Veggie idea

OK... so this isn't a  'recipe' so much as fun ideas for the holiday... The first is an Easter cake that Shelby found in a magazine that she wanted to try out:

Simple cake mix in 9 inch pan and then 'layered'

Marshmallow rope around the bottom and the top

All 'roped' off

Green coconut for the 'grass'

Candy added, Jelly Beans and a chocolate bunny

 Can't forget the Peeps

Shelby's cheeseball veggie tray...