tropical sunrise breakfest smoothie

2 kiwis quartered
1 banana
1 orange quartered
1 tangelo quartered
1/2 can of pineapple and juice
1 cup coconut milk
1 hand full ofice

toss in blender, mix, enjoy!

Cake Pop

Adorable cake pops....inspired from BAKERELLA if you haven't seen her blog you must check it out! She gives great step by step directions and is the mastermind behind the cakepop movement. ( she also has an adorable book out).


To make you need :

cake mix ( and all ingredients required to make the cake)
1 container of complimentary frosting
candy melts ( I used pink and brown)
sprinkles
tiny ice cream cones ( I used Joy Cones that I found at Target)
red peanut m&m's

Make cake, cool completely ( or let sit for one day). quarter cake then take desired amount and crumble the cake . Add frosting following guide below...mix well. form into balls and place on cookie sheet , put in freezer for 15 min. take out. Dip ball in melted candy melts ( I did this on a double broiler). Drip off most of the excess, place on cone allow some pink chocolate to drip over the cone. add sprinkles ( i like jimmies for the look) then top with a tiny bit of melted brown chocolate ( this will re melt the drying pink chocolate so don't use to much). add a red m&m cherry on top. ..allow to dry . Present to eat or place in candy bags w/ ribbon for a cute gift.


1 quarter cake makes approximately 8 balls (ours were about 1 1/2 inches across)
for each quarter of a cake use 3-4 tablespoons of frosting.

Super Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 frozen chicken breasts

2 cans of black beans UNDRAINED

2 cans diced tometoes ( I like mexican style or RoTel)

2 cans tomatoe sauce

1 can diced green chillis

1 can corn DRAINED

Mix in crockpot, low 8 hours, high 5 hours

Shred chicken and serve garnish with - tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, and sour cream

Gourmet Pretzel Rods

Hazelnut Heaven

1 container Nutella
1 pkg pretzel rods
1 pkg almond bark
1 cup crushed hazelnuts

Melt almond bark in microwave safe ( we used a paper bowl coated in wax for easy clean up) Microwave 4-6 pieces of almond bark 20 seconds at a time, taking out and stirring every 20 seconds, repeat until melted. If Bark hardens during dipping process just re microwave.

Spread Nutella over top 2/3 of pretzel rod. Dip in melted almond bark. lay on wax paper until slightly cooled ( it will have a light shine and be slightly sticky).

While cooling , place chopped hazelnuts on cutting board, spreading the nuts out in a thin layer.

Pick up cooling pretzel and roll across nuts. Lay back on wax paper until hardened.





Almond Joy Pretzel Rod


1 container almond butter
1 cup coconut
1 pkg almond bark
1 pkg pretzel rods


Melt almond bark in microwave safe ( we used a paper bowl coated in wax for easy clean up) Microwave 4-6 pieces of almond bark 20 seconds at a time, taking out and stirring every 20 seconds, repeat until melted. If Bark hardens during dipping process just re microwave.

Spread almond butter over top 2/3 of pretzel rod. Dip in melted almond bark. lay on wax paper until slightly cooled ( it will have a light shine and be slightly sticky).

While cooling , place chopped coconut on cutting board, spreading the coconut out in a thin layer.

Pick up cooling pretzel and roll across coconut. Lay back on wax paper until hardened.


Peanut Butter Bliss


1 container chunky peanut butter
1 pkg almond bark
1 pkg pretzel rods



Melt almond bark in microwave safe ( we used a paper bowl coated in wax for easy clean up) Microwave 4-6 pieces of almond bark 20 seconds at a time, taking out and stirring every 20 seconds, repeat until melted. If Bark hardens during dipping process just re microwave.

Spread peanut butter over top 2/3 of pretzel rod. Dip in melted almond bark. lay on wax paper until cooled.






Rice Crisps ( not a pretzel but the same idea)


1 pkg pre- made rice crispies treats
( or if you have time make your own for an even better taste!)
1 pkg almond bark

popsicle sticks
sprinkles of your choice



Melt almond bark in microwave safe ( we used a paper bowl coated in wax for easy clean up) Microwave 4-6 pieces of almond bark 20 seconds at a time, taking out and stirring every 20 seconds, repeat until melted. If Bark hardens during dipping process just re microwave.

Mold rice crispies treat into fudge bar shape. Dip in melted almond bark. lay on wax paper until slightly cooled ( it will have a light shine and be slightly sticky).

Pick up cooling "popsicle" and sprinkle with toppings. Lay back on wax paper until hardened.

All of these can be topped with anything you like, I love to top with nuts, crushed oreos, m &m minis, marshmallows, sprinkles and to drizzle with candy melts of various colors...they are all delicious

7 Up Chicken

I found this delicious recipe for 7-up Chicken at http://frostedbakeshop.blogspot.com sch an adorable blog with great looking recipes!

1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. horseradish sauce
2 cups 7-up
Chicken breasts or tenders - enough to fit comfortably in a gallon zip-lock bag


Mix all the ingredients together and marinade the chicken overnight ( 12- 24 hoursin a pinch 8 hrs will work). The longer the better! I usually put my zip-lock bag on a cookie sheet in the fridge. Amy ( the blogger at frostedbakeshop)says she turns the bag over multple times during the process.

Pizza Dough for Grill

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm water ( about the temperature water safe for a baby)
2 Tablespoons of cornmeal
1 teaspoon olive oil
dash sugar
2 1/2to 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

more cornmeal and more olive oil ( as desired we like A LOT)


dissolve yeast in warm water . Let stand 5 mi .Stir in the 2 tablespoons cornmeal, the 1 teaspoon olive oil, salt and sugar. Mix in as much flour as you can. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic ( about 6 min). let rest 10min. sprinkle rolling surface with cornmeal . Flatten dough by hand or with rolling pin to desired thickness drizzle olive oil on the top; flip dough over and drizzle more olive oil on the back.

5 layer brownies

I found this delicious recipe at a year of slow cooking. It s so decadent and delicious! I made it for the class, my DH took some to work the next day for lunch they asked him to bring in a whole pan of it.

--1 16 oz package of brownie mix (I used a brand that had chocolate chips in it for extra yum!)
--1/4 cup melted butter
--1 egg
--1/4 cup water
--1 can sweetened condensed milk
--1/4 cup walnuts
--1/4 cup coconut
--1/4 cup oats

--melt butter (you can do this in the crockpot)
--add 1/4 cup of water, the egg, and the brownie mix
-stir until none of the powder is left dry; batter will be quite thick
--pour can of sweetened condensed milk over the top.
--cover milk with a layer of oats, then coconut, then walnuts.
--close up crockpot and cook on high, if using a little crock, low if using a bigger one. Test with a knife after two hours, if it comes out clean, cook for another 20-30 minutes with the lid off to get rid of the collected condensation and to help solidify the condensed milk. You will know this is done when the edges pull away from your stone.