Buffalo Wing Dip

2-8oz pkgs of cream cheese (softened)

1-cup of ranch or bleu cheese dressing

1-cup of Frank's Red Hot hot sauce

2-cups of shredded cheddar cheese (divided)

1/4 cup of chopped celery

1-can of chicken or 2 chicken breasts cooked and chopped up

Heat the Hot Sauce and celery in a pan until celery is soft

Mix together: softened cream cheese, dressing, 1 cup of cheese, and chicken.

Add the hot sauce mixture to cream cheese mixture and mix thoroughly.

Place in a baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Eat with chips, celery and or carrots.

My friend Amber gave me this recipe and its a huge hit for family gatherings, bunko or for  bridal/baby showers! Sorry I dont have a pic :(
~Tia

Dinner Rolls

I decided to make rolls this morning since Koen was up before 5...but I tried a different recipe other than the one my mom uses. Im trying to make some type of bread each week so I can get better at making it. I got this recipe from my friend Raygons blog which can be found here. The rolls turned out and were yummy. Now if I could just figure out cinnamon rolls. Ive tried twice and both times were a total bust. I may try again in a couple weeks :)

1 1/4 c warm water
1 Tbs. yeast
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbs. butter, softened
3 eggs
1/3 cup powdered milk
About 6 cups flour
Combine water and yeast, set aside.

In mixer combine sugar, butter, eggs, powdered milk, and about 4 cups of flour. Slowly pour in yeast mixture. Mix until incorporated. Then add enough flour til dough pulls from the sides and the bowl is clean. The dough will be soft and a little sticky. Knead for about 4 minutes. Cover and let raise in bowl til doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. (this is important, if you dont let them raise long enough they will be dense and crumbly) Punch down and shape into rolls. Let raise another hour or so. Bake 350 for 14 minutes or until brown. Brush with melted butter when they are fresh out of the oven.

Oreo Truffles aka Oreo Balls

These do not fit into the "healthy" category but they do fit into the DELICIOUS category! My little brother has written and published a novel and he asked me to make these for his book release party tomorrow :) I am so excited for him. If you want to watch a trailer of his book you can go to youtube and type in his name Zack Scanlan. The title of the book is Mermentau. I cant wait to get a copy tomorrow night. So heres the recipe.

1 pkg oreo cookies
1- 8oz  pkg cream cheese - room temp
2 - 8 oz boxes of Bakers chocolate (you can also use 6 hersheys chocolate bars or chocolate chips)

Place oreo cookies into a blender or food processor (a few at a time) until they become fine crumbs. Place into a bowl and add cream cheese. Stir with spoon until all mixed together. Roll into balls. Depending on the size you want them, you can get anywhere from 30-50. Place them in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Melt your chocolate of choice. Place a ball, one at a time, into the melted chocolate and use 2 forks to roll the ball into the chocolate so its completely covered. Then use the forks to get the ball out of the chocolate and place on cookie sheet covered in foil or wax paper

~Tia

Whole Grain Carrot Muffins

I emailed my friend Raygon a few weeks ago and asked her for a good whole wheat bread recipe. Little did I know she had a blog with a ton of bread and healhty recipes. I got the recipe from here.

1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. white flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. applesauce unsweented ( I get a trader joes)
1/4 c. coconut oil ( I used vegetable oil)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. 9 grain cereal (I used rolled oats)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
2 c. shredded carrots (to save your fingernails and the tips of your fingers shred the large carrots not the baby carrots)

Combine all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Bake at 350. Original reicpe calls for 25 min but I did 18-20 and they turned out mosit and yummy!

Grandma's Mac and Cheese

2 c. elbow macaroni - you can buy whole wheat elbow macaroni
4 c. shredded cheddar cheese - I use medium cheddar
3 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs

Cook 2c macaroni until soft, drain water. Place in bowl and season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheese. Put macaroni and cheese into a 9x13 pan. Combine milk in eggs in bowl, pour over macaroni and cheese.

Bake 450 degree for 30-35 minutes.

You can cut the recipe in 1/2 and put in a smaller pan and it will work great.

** sorry for the cruddy picture. Zac dove into the food before I had a chance to take a pic and then I couldnt figure out how to turn the pic**
~Tia

90 minute rolls

I love my moms rolls! They are my favorite. She taught me how to make them before I had Zane but I never tried them on my own. I wanted to learn "again" so she came over a few weeks ago and showed me how to make them using my kitchen aid (she has a bosh). Ever since she taught me how to make them I have been on a baking kick. Ive been trying new recipes and trying to figure out how to make other breads etc. Its kind of addicting. Ive decided that dough is hard to figure out as every recipe has their own tricks and secrets!! This recipe makes about 2 dozen rolls

2 T Yeast ( Use Saf Instant Yeast)

1/2 c warm water

2 c warm water

4 T sugar

1/2 tsp salt ( I used 1/2 a tsp and they didnt quite taste like my moms so I used 1 tsp and they tasted better)

4 T melted butter (melt in microwave)

6 cups flour

First you need to proof your yeast. Take a glass measuring cup and put in 1 tsp of sugar (not included in the recipe) then add your 1/2 cup warm water and your 2 T yeast. Allow yeast to rise (it will look bubbly) for about 10 minutes. Once the yeast has risen, stir with a knife.

Put your 4 T of  sugar ( I use heaping tablespoons) in the bottom of the mixer then add your melted butter and 2 c. warm water. Then add your yeast mixture. Turn on your mixer ( I put my kitchen aid at 2) and pour in flour - one cup at a time. Keep adding flour until the dough starts pulling away from the bowl (It took me 5-6 cups of flour for this to occur).

Once the dough pulls away from the bowl (I say it resembles a tordorado of dough) then you kneed it for 4-6 minutes (dough will look smooth).

Turn the mixer off take the dough out and form it into a large ball. Take a large bowl and coat the bowl with extra virgin olive oil, place the dough in the bowl and cover with a cloth and let rise for 50 minutes. Once dough has risen, punch it down and form it back inot a ball. Then take pieces of the dough and form into balls, place dough balls in a 9x13 pan greased with butter. I usually use a 9x13 and a 8x8. I can fit 15 rolls in the 9x13 and 9 in the 8x8 for a total of 24 rolls.

Cover your pans with a cloth and let rise for 20 minutes.

Once they have risen, cook for 18-20 min 400 degrees. As soon as they come out of the oven I spread butter overreach roll.

This recipe is from my mom

Good Luck

~Tia

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread

2 loaves

3 eggs

1 c. vegetable oil

1 ½ c. brown sugar

2 c. grated zucchini - leave skins on

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. all purpose flour

1 c. Whole wheat flour

¼ tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 c. raisins (optional)

1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

¼ c. wheat germ

In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla. Mix well.

Add flours, baking powder, soda, salt, wheat germ, and cinnamon; stir to combine.

Stir in raisins and nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean****Mine usually takes 40 mins***

I have never made it with the nuts or raisins and its still really good. You can also make mini loaves just reduce the time.

Recipe is from my wonderful mother!
~Tia

Whole Wheat Pancakes

I love Whole Wheat Pancakes. My mom used to make these for us when we were kids. These are delicious, especially with homemade syrup.

2 eggs
2 c. buttermilk
4 T oil
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
2 T brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt ( I usually skip the salt)

Beat eggs then add remaining ingredients in orders listed. Beat with whisk until smooth. Fry on griddle. I usually set my griddle to 325 and they turn out nice and golden brown
~Tia

Learning...Bit by Bit

I make dinner for my family 6 nights a week but I want to make better choices. I want to add more whole grain and whole wheat to our diets. I want to make my children their snacks rather than buy them at the store.

Im Learning...Bit by Bit how to do this. It will take time and baby steps but I am willing to try! Some of the recipes I post will be healthy some will not be as healthy, but at least they are homemade ;).

Im Learning...Bit by Bit how to make bread and how to make better choices for myself and for my family. If all else fails then this blog will be a place where I can keep all my recipes, that way I dont have to look through 10 cookbooks to find the one Im looking for.

Wish me luck and ENJOY!
~Tia