Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone loves peanut butter cookies. But when it come to making homemade cookies, most people pass their love for peanut butter cookies and go for the more simple chocolate chip or sugar cookie. But the truth is peanut butter cookies are simple and easy to make. Making a peanut butter cookie is no more complicated then making a chocolate chip cookie and to be honest some find it much easier.

Ingredients for peanut butter cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Once you have all your ingredients, these delicious cookies can be made in three easy steps.

1. Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

As easy as 1-2-3 you will have delicious peanut butter cookies that the whole family will love!

Your wanna-be foodies,

Melissa and Rachel

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ever wish you could have a Superbowl party everyday? The foods and snacks that most of us dig in on once a year for the big game don’t have to end. Many of these foods are so good and should be enjoyed more often. Buffalo chicken dip is a crowd favorite and is really simple to make.

Lets start with the simple ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup ranch dressing
3⁄4 cup red hot sauce
1 (10 ounce) can chicken, drained (or equivalent rotisserie or freshly-cooked, chopped chicken)
shredded cheddar cheese, you decide how much
chips you want

Most people don’t even realize that all these ingredients are usually stocked in your house all of the time. Once you have these things out and ready to go, we can begin the simple baking that will leave you with delicious buffalo chicken dip.

• Beat cream cheese, ranch dressing, and red hot sauce. 
• Fold in shredded chicken.
• Spread mixture into pie plate sprayed with Pam.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
• Add cheddar cheese to top.
• Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
• Serve hot with any kind of chips to your liking.

Your probably saying to yourself right now, “Wait, thats it!” Yup, thats all there is to it. This recipe is so quick and simple you won’t have to wait for the Superbowl to roll around to taste this deliciousness.

Your wanna-be foodies,

Melissa and Rachel

Mac and Cheese with a twist!

Straying from our usual dessert posts, we have decided to give you two recipes to the typical macaroni and cheese- but with a twist!!

First up are fried macaroni and cheese bites. Don’t let the fried scare you…these delicious mac and cheese bites are sure to impress. Heres what you’ll need:

• 1 lb Macaroni
• 2 (8 oz) packages of sharp cheddar cheese chunk
• 1 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• Vegetable oil

Here’s how to make these delicious cheese balls.

• boil macaroni until cooked, drain, and set aside
• shred cheese
• in a large pan, melt butter over medium head
• add flour to pan and mix until light brown
• add 1 cup of milk and whisk until it becomes thick
• add cheese one handful at a time
• mix until cheese is melted and smooth (no lumps)
• add macaroni and mix until well coated
• add salt and pepper to taste
• refrigerate for 1 hour or until cool
• line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper
• form cold macaroni into 1″ ball and place on sheet
• place the macaroni in freezer for 1 hour
• beat eggs, then add 1/4 cup mil in bowl to eggs
• dip macaroni into egg mixture and then roll in bread crumbs and coat completely
• heat oil in deep fryer to 320
• fry for 3-4 or until brown and drain

For our next Mac and cheese twist, we decided to let you in on our secret to making buffalo mac and cheese. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Chicken Breast, cooked and chopped
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce (we used franks red hot)
• 3 tbs all purpose flour
• 3 tbs butter
• 1/2 – 1 cup shredded cheese (depending on taste, we used colby jack)
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• salt, pepper and granulated onion to taste
• 6 oz macaroni, cooked
• 1/2 cup blue cheese (add more depending on taste)
• 1/2 – 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• cooking spray (e.g. Pam)

Here’s how to make the buffalo mac and cheese.

• First, combine buffalo sauce and chicken, to taste.
• melt butter and stir in flour over medium heat for a few minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to make it creamy. then add in cheese and seasoning (salt, pepper and onion)
• stir in the chicken and buffalo into cheese sauce
• stir in cooked macaroni
• pour into a glass dish (for baking) and top with blue cheese crumbles
• sprinkle on panko crumbs and spray oil on top
• broil in the over until the top is crispy. be careful not to burn the breadcrumbs

Enjoy! Be careful because both recipes will be hot upon serving!

Your wanna be foodies,

Melissa and Rachel

Fried Pepper Jack Cheese Sticks

A new twist on the classic mozzarella stick.  These fried pepper jack cheese stickers are so simple to make and they are a nice twist to the old mozzarella stick.  First, pepper jack cheese is used instead of classic mozzarella.  Also, a wonton wrapper is used before the cheese is friend to add a good crunch. A third change is the avocado dipping sauce that adds a whole new twist to the tastes you will experience.  To start, here are the ingredients needed to make 10 sticks:

• 5 pepper jack cheese sticks, sliced in half
• 10 wonton wrappers
• water
• oil

For the Avocado Cream recipe you will need:

• 1 Avocado, pitted and removed from skin
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• salt

First, we must assemble the cheese sticks.  Take one half of the cheese and lay it on top of one wonton wrapper.  Dip one finger in the water and run it along the edges of the wonton wrapper. Next, fold the wonton wrapper over the cheese, folding it away from you. You must be sure to fold the ends until the cheese is no longer visible and the ends are closed.  Repeat these steps until you’ve made all 10 cheese sticks.  To cook, heat the oil in a pan over medium heat to 350 degrees.  Fry the sticks, about 2-3 at a time, for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.  Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Enjoy while hot!  To make the avocado dip, combine all the ingredients into a food process and work until smooth.

Be sure to keep in mind that the cheese sticks will be hot when removed from the oil, so be sure to let them cool down a little before enjoying.

Hope you enjoy!

Your wanna-be foodies,

Melissa and Rachel

Stuffed Cinnamon Crescent Rolls

Trying to find a new, quick, easy dessert? These cinnamon crescent rolls will change the way you eat crescent rolls forever. With just five simple ingredients you will be able to make a delicious new treat. The marshmallows that get baked into this treat will melt and into a clear glaze and truly melt your taste buds.

The ingredients needed are:

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 
8 large marshmallows
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1⁄4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter

Once you grab these ingredients all you need to do is follow these simple directions and these treats will be yours!

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Combine sugar & cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Place cupcake liners in muffin tin.
• Spray liners with Pam.
• Separate rolls into 8 triangles.
• Place marshmallow into melted butter.
• Roll marshmallow into cinnamon/sugar.
• Place marshmallow on crescent roll.
• Pinch dough up around marshmallow.
• Encase.
• Seal seams by pinching.
• Dip the tops of dough into the butter.
• Then into the cinnamon/sugar.
• Place in muffin pan w/cinnamon/sugar side up.
• Bake at 375°F for 13-15 minutes.

Your wanna-be foodies,

Rachel and Melissa

French Toast Roll-Ups

French Toast Roll-ups, sounds interesting right? Well, this delicious and crowd pleasing treat will be sure to impress. These delicious treats are super easy to make and they are so gourmet they just melt in your mouth. It’s simple. First, take regular white bread and cut off the crust. Then, use a rolling pin to flatten out each piece. Next, you add your fillings to the end of the bread. In my recipe I choose to add Nutella and diced strawberries (cream cheese is also a common replacement).  From here, you gently roll up each piece of bread. Next, dip each piece of bread into an egg mixture just as you would to regular French toast. Then, place the rolls into a pan and brown them slightly.  Once browned in a skillet, roll each piece of bread in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar mix. There you have it! Simple.

Here at the ingredients for a more precise mixture

• 8 slices white sandwich bread
• softened cream cheese, diced strawberries, or Nutella
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 heaping teaspoon ground cinnamon
• butter, for greasing the pan

Your wanna-be foodies,

Rachel and Melissa

Drinks, Drinks, Drinks!

Straying from our usual theme of food, we decided to change things up a bit and post some of our favorite (adult) drink recipes! These are simple and refreshing drinks perfect for any (and every) occasion.

The first drink we chose is called the Malibu Drink.  The ingredients are as follows:

• 1 small can of pineapple juice
• 1 ounce of grenadine
• 1-2 ounces of Malibu Pineapple Rum (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon of cherry juice

Mix all of the ingredients together, add some ice cube, a pineapple chunk, a cherry and enjoy!

The next drink we chose is called a Malibu Sunset.  As far as ingredients go, you will need:

• 3-4 ounces of pineapple-orange juice (mix)
• 2 ounces of Malibu Coconut Rum
• Grenadine (to taste)
• cherries, pineapple and/or orange slices for garnishing

To create, add the pineapple-orange juice and Malibu to a cup over ice.  Stir ingredients, drizzle in the grenadine, and add the garnishing.  This drink should be served immediately, and enjoy!

Our final drink is called a strawberry limeade rum punch, and trust me it tastes as good as it sounds. For this drink you will need:

• 2 liter ginger ale
• 12-ounce frozen limeade
• 10-ounce frozen Bacardi strawberry daiquiri mix
• 2 1/2 cups rum
• limes, lemons, and strawberries (sliced)

Before combining the ingredients, be sure to thaw the frozen drinks first, then mix all your ingredients together into a large bowl.  Add ice to the mix and serve!

**As mentioned, all the drinks above contain alcohol.  Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed under the age of 21. Please enjoy responsibly**

Your wanna-be foodies,

Melissa and Rachel

Summertime Barbecue

While still in this cold tundra, Rachel and I have decided to think ahead to warmer days where the temperature is 85 and sunny. In preparation for the good-eats that come with warm weather, we have decided to get the inspiration juices flowing by starting with the best part of summer: barbecues!! One of the best parts of summer is being outside with good company, good weather, and some kick-a$$ good eats! The first step to planning a great barbecue is set the date and invite the good company! Be sure to plan ahead in accordance with the weather so that nothing gets cancelled or rained on.

Next, its time to set the menu.  Our favorite items to barbecue are: hot dogs, hamburgers (or veggie burgers), chicken, and vegetable skewers. We like to keep that part simple so it requires less time to cook and more time to enjoy.  The best way to account for a proper amount of food is to assume 2-3 grilled items per person.  It also helps to know your guests. For example, if there are no kids, then hot dogs are safe to lower to a smaller number kept on hand just in case. (Tip: they keep in the freezer for a long time so it never hurts to have).  From there on, it is easy to hand out food because most people will make due with what is in front of them.

Another thing to keep in mind is the drink menu. Following the same pattern as food, you want to keep it simple: Beer, wine, sparkling water, regular water bottle and soda.  Again, make sure to know your guests and adjust accordingly. Also, don’t forget ice to keep the drinks cold and a container to keep them in! To spice things up, you can also add a margarita pitcher or sangria bucket. Rule of thumb: plan for 3 drinks a person.
The next thing to take into consideration are appetizers and side dishes.  For starters, we recommend a veggie and dip tray, chips and salsa/guacamole/hummus, pigs in a blanket, mozzarella sticks, to name a few.  As far as side dishes go, some small items are easy to do: corn on the cob(already has the husk off), potato salad, pasta salad, fresh fruit salad, are some easy ones.  If you would like, it may also be easy to ask your guests to bring one of these with them as they come.  The same follows for dessert, which usually has cookies, cupcakes, watermelon or fruit, again to name a few.

The last thing to remember is to have fun! Plastic silverware, cups and plates were made for a reason and they are much easier to clean up.  Music also sets the tone but nowadays they have playlists already made for such days. If you have any other questions or need more tips, please comment below and we will be sure to answer!!

Your wanna-be foodies,

Rachel and Melissa

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies with Nutella

When it comes to baking, no one wants to spend hours trying to make something from scratch when nowadays its as easy as buying them pre-made. But lets be honest, nothing is as good as a homemade chocolate chip cookie. This recipe requires approx. 20 minutes for prep and 15 minutes for bake time. Thats less time than the local news! First, you must gather the following ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips (or chunks)
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp fine salt

First, make sure to set your oven to 375 degrees, and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Once this step is complete, place your butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat until it is melted. Whisk the sugars, eggs, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until it is smooth.  Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl. Then, slowly combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until they are combined but be careful not to over mix. Finally, add in the chocolate chips. [If you want to add a twist to your normal cookies, I added Nutella into the middle of each piece of cookie dough before putting into the oven.] 

Scoop each piece of cookie dough onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart on the pan. Bake the cookies in the over until golden brown but still soft for about 12-16 minutes, but be sure to watch.  Let the cookies cool once they are finished cooking and enjoy!! 

Hope you all enjoy the cookies with a glass of milk!!

Your wanna-be foodies,

Rachel and Melissa

Chipotle Mexican Grill

When thinking about the definition of fast food, what comes to mind? Unhealthy eating, greasy mess, not satisfying food, etc.  Well, recently new to the fast food industry, Chipotle is taking its competition by storm.  It’s Mexican food with integrity. You first choose how you want to eat your food including: burrito, bowl, salad, tacos and quesadillas. From here, you choose what kind of rice (white or brown), beans (black beans or pinto beans), or veggie fajitas (peppers and onions).  Next, you choose the kind of meat you want: chicken, steak, barbacoa, carnitas, sofritas or no meat.  Then, you can choose from a salsa (mild, medium, or hot), sour cream, corn salsa, cheese, guacamole, and lettuce.  The premise is to build your own meal and choose the ingredients you want in it.  You are also able to add chips and drinks when it comes time to check out.  The meal itself ranges from 7.25 to around 8.50, plus the cost of guacamole (an added fee) and any drinks or chips.

The Order Line

Expanding close to 2,000 stores, Chipotle attracts customers from far and wide. The ingredients is locally grown and they strive to keep it that way despite its cost.  For the price of its menu, the portions are very large and the quality of its food has yet to disappoint.  They also have a menu just for kids which offers the same food items but at smaller portions for children to enjoy.

Margarita

Another addition the company is trying is a pizza spin-off. Its only open in a few locations but they are planning to expand in the future.  One other interesting aspect that separates Chipotle from other fast-food chains is their alcoholic beverage service.  Ranging from Margaritas to Beer, some Chipotle locations service alcohol as well. So when it comes to eating any fast food, Chipotle Mexican Grill is certainly an option to consider.

Your wanna-be foodies,

Rachel and Melissa