Mouthwatering Garlic Cheese Toast Recipe

If you're anything like me, then you love the good taste of garlic cheese toast.  Anything with cheese is perfect in my book.  I  stumbled upon this recipe online and put my own twist to it, by using different bread and slicing it in half instead of using Texas Toast.   The husband approves, and I'm sure you will too!  Today I am linking up for Taste of Tuesday with Emily from Martinis and Bikinis and Kate at Green Fashionista.

 

Spread 1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper
dash paprika

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

2. Combine all ingredients for the spread in a bowl

3. Smear the spread generously on each side of the Texas toast or on the face of each half of the french loaf.        

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese begins to brown and bubble.

5. Makes about 12 slices of toast or two large halves of french bread

Recipe derived from here.

 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Hope you all had a fabulous Labor Day Weekend!  Today is the official day that Starbucks is selling their infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I thought it was necessary to make an entire post about it.  It really is one of my FAVORITE Starbucks drinks, and I'd drink it if they had it year round.  

Here's a few fun facts about the Pumpkin Spice Latte aka PSL: 

1.   Starbucks Has Sold 200 Million Pumpkin Spice Latte Drinks in the Past Decade 

2.  There have been over 29,000 tweets that have featured the hash tag: #pumpkinspice since August of 2012 

 3. Since its launch in 2003, Pumpkin Spice Latte has become Starbucks most successful and popular seasonal beverage.

 

What is your favorite Starbucks drink? 

Hashtag #designPSL on instagram and share your PSL or favorite Starbucks drink.

Guest Post From Sara

Hey everyone! I hope you are all set for Christmas!  If you need a last minute recipe, Sara from Life as a Hughes is kind enough to share one of her recipes for all my readers.  She is such a sweetheart!  And let me tell you, this oreo cheesecake is to die for!  
You don't wanna miss out!  Take it away Sara!

Oreo Cheesecake - pie or cupcakes

What you will need:

1 9-inch pie pan or cupcake pan (if making cupcakes you will need papers as well)

1 package OREO Cookies

2 packages (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

When baking it is best to use everything at room temperature or as close as possible.  I usually pull the cold items out of the fridge in the morning and start baking an hour later once they have had time to "warm" up on the counter.

Directions: (for the pie, cupcake difference will be noted at the bottom)

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Chop your entire package of Oreos up.  Half will be for the crust and half will be for the filling.  For the crust you will want to put them in a food processor or chopper to make them into crumbs.  I made my entire package into crumbs because it adds more color to the end result.

3.  Take the half that you just made into crumbs and line your pie pan.  You will need to press them down firmly using the bottom of a glass or something similar.  The cream from the centers will hold it together enough once you have done this.

4.  In large bowl beat together the cream cheese and sugar.  Add sour cream and vanilla.  Once these are all mixed well together add the eggs, 1 at a time. 

5.  Stir in the remaining half of your Oreo cookies.  Make sure to get all the way to the bottom of your bowl so you don't end up with white patches :)

6.  Pour into Oreo crust.

7.  Bake for 20 minutes or until center is almost set.

8.  Place in refrigerator for 3 hours and then enjoy! :)

To make these into cupcakes you would only crumb/chop half the bag of Oreos for the center.  With the whole oreos you will place those in the cupcake liners as the "crust".  You will follow the rest of the recipe and cook for the same amount of time.

I hope you have enjoyed this little recipe of mine.  It is super easy and tastes delicious!!!  It is definitely hubby approved!  Happy Holidays!

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe Sara!  This is a must this Christmas! Now I just have to convince my mom that we need to make this, shouldn't be hard to do!

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!  xox

CrockPot Lasagna

I love when I get the chance to cook a home-cooked meal for my fiance and I.  Although some days I really don't have all the time in the world, especially now during the Holiday Season.  I try to come up with new ideas and quick, healthy options for dinners during the week.  It's boring to eat the same thing every day, right?  Here is a quick and easy recipe, that my fiance absolutely loved so much (He's pretty picky) he even went for a second helping!

 Linking up with Blissfully Miller & Let's Get Bananas

 

I am blogging over at Big Hair High Heels, check it out!

The Easiest Crockpot Pot Roast

Do you ever feel like you have little to no time to plan dinners throughout the workweek?  Its understandable that life gets busy, but there's no excuse to have your diet fall behind in second.  My all-time favorite meals (especially in winter)  are made with a crockpot.  If you don't have one, you really should invest in one.  They have made my life so much easier on so many levels.  I usually prep all the veggies the night before and have them in a bowl ready to be thrown in the crock 5-10 minutes before I head to work.  The best part?  I get home from work and all I have to do is eat my wonderfully made dinner.  I can kick back, relax, and enjoy quality time with my fiance and our fur babies.

 

Ingredient Swaps - Healthier Options

Ever wonder if there's an easier way to make your meals healthier?  Well you're in luck!  Here's seven ingredients that will make your meals a healthier option for you, your friends, and your family:

1. Try using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream (Makes chip dip healthier- especially my favorite onion dip-- also great for use on tacos)

2. Use spaghetti squash instead of pasta (When I am craving pasta dishes I tend to swap it out for squash because it's a veggie so it's a much healthier option)

3. Use a banana instead of an egg.  ( Try it when making pancakes, or cake. I love bananas!)

4. Use olive oil instead of butter ( When cooking anything! My go-to)

5.Use avocado instead of mayonnaise ( Try on your sandwiches-- I've never been a mayo-lover, so this is a must to keep sandwiches moist)

6.Use date sugar instead of Splenda- (Splenda and artificial sweeteners have "chemicals" which have said to be bad for your health for many reasons.

7. Use almond milk instead of cow’s milk (for cereal, cooking, or drinking-- it's my favorite! and has many nutrients!)

 

Mini Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Recipe

I don't know about you, but I have cravings for "wing sauce" almost constantly.  However, I would always dine out to get that craving satisfied.  I wanted to learn how to do it myself at home, for those "at home" lazy dinner days, which is exactly what made me strive to cook this.
I wanted something easy and here it goes:

 
Recipe for two
2 chicken breasts
2 cups Franks Hot Sauce
1 tbl Spoon butter

Cole Slaw mix
Marie Calenders Cole Slaw Dressing

Mini hamburger buns or Kings Hawaiian Bread

Poke holes in chicken with a fork.  Place chicken in crock pot and pour franks hot sauce and butter.  Cook for about 2 hours (May be faster depending on how thin your chicken is.)

While the chickens cooking, mix your cole slaw package and your cole slaw dressing together. (Yes you can do homemade but I'm showing you a quick lazy gal way!)  Use as much dressing as you desire.  Let it sit in the fridge until chicken is cooked.

*DING* When the chicken is cooked, start shredding it in crock-pot.  I toast my hamburger buns in the oven for a few seconds then I add some chicken and some slaw on my sandwich and BAM!  Amazing exploding deliciousness in your mouth!  That's all it takes! Super duper easy peasy!
Enjoy!

xoxo
Lisa

Garlic Mushroom Chicken Recipe & Outfit Post

 This is such an easy recipe, and since we are living in this busy lifestyle, it's quick to whip up!
Ingredients:
- 2 cans Cream of Mushroom with roasted garlic soup ( Campbells)
- Box pasta ( any will do)
-Minced Garlic
-1 medium white onion (diced)
-Fresh Green beans
-Cayenne pepper (dash- if needed- for green beans)
-Butter
-Vegetable Oil
-Mozzarella Cheese (optional)

You will need 4 pots/pans.  One small one to make the sauteed mushrooms, one for the green beans, one for the pasta , and one for the chicken.

1. Start making the pasta in pot #1, just as you would for any other pasta/noodles.
2. Add 1 tbspn vegetable oil to pan #2 on MED heat.
3. Add about one Spoonful of butter to pan #3 and one spoonful of butter to pan #4.
4. Add green beans to pan #3 along with a spoonful of garlic, and mushrooms + 1/2 cup diced onion, and garlic to pan #4. Stir occasionally and cover. Takes about 5 mins for both mushrooms and green beans to cook.
5.  Add chicken, 1 cup onion, and a spoonful of minced garlic to pan # 2, cook for 7 minutes each side, then add both cans of cream of mushroom along with 1/2 cup milk.  Add the sauteed mushrooms from pan # 4. Stir and cover for 5 minutes.
6. Add Mozerella Cheese to chicken dish.
7. Drain pasta and serve Chicken over the pasta, and the green beans on the side,  Add additional mozzerella cheese if desired.

Enjoy!  IT is a delicious and quick meal! I only cooked for two, so you can double the recipe if needed.  I did have leftovers, so it made about three servings.

 Chicken, onions and garlic

 Green beans ,garlic butter, and a dash of ceyenne pepper.

 Mushrooms, Butter, onion, garlic

 The finished chicken with garlic mushroom sauce.

 Enjoy!

& Also a quick Outfit post.

 

Top (Foreign Exchange- Similar). Shoes (Bakers-Similar) . Bracelets. (Etsy, Tiffany & Co., and Juicy Couture- Similar.) Necklace ( Tiffany &Co- Similar)

Showered With Recipes!

Hey blogger world! Sorry I have been MIA for a few days, *ish* just got CRAy at our townhome.  We are having new roomies move in this weekend and had to clean and move furniture and get rid of a ton of what was left by our old roomies.  So its been a little hectic but I finally got to get back on Bloggin again =) and I can't wait to share my new recipe!  Today I am going to share with you a FABULOUS must try- EASY ( who doesn't like easy) Recipe for Pasta.  I modified the recipe I got from The Pioneer Woman.  It is quick, easy, and you can use items you already have in your kitchen. Which is sooo helpful!  The ingredients I used (serves 2-3 people, I like leftovers =)):

• 1 can diced tomatoes ( do not drain !) -- {I used target brand- and got the roasted garlic and onion flavor..yum!}
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream {I used target brand}
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil {Kirkland-Costco}
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1/2 cup chicken broth  {if desired}
• 1/2 Onion { I used white}
• 3 cloves Garlic {diced and minced myself}
• Pasta Noodles {I used spaghetti}
• 1-2 cups ( or whatever desired-- i love artichoke)Artichoke hearts {I used Kirkland-Costco}

Step 1: Cook pasta, I added salt to the water to add some flavvaaa!
Step 2: In a skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat.  Add onions      and  garlic till sauteed ( usually around 2-3 minutes)
Step 3:  Add the artichoke hearts & diced tomatoes (not drained) . Stir and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in whipping cream {might not need the whole 1 cup depending on how thick it becomes} and chicken broth. Add some salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt!) { I also added some garlic powder for some more flavor.. not too much.. not too little} Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.

Place the drained pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan. Pour some sauce over the top. Add some more parmesan, and more sauce if you'd like!  And Voilà! You made yourself a super easy-quick dish that you and your family/friends are sure to enjoy!

{ I also served dinner with a small salad and garlic cheese bread-- I couldn't resist =) }
Let me know if you try this recipe and if you modified it in any way!
Until Next time!  

-L