Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

chocolate + peanut butter = ::insert contented sigh::

duh.

make these & try not to ingest them all.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls (or Buckeyes)
You Need:
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup (4 tblsp) unsalted butter- softened
1/4 tsp salt
2-2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp vegetable oil

Directions:
- Place the peanut butter, unsalted butter, and salt in the bowl for your stand mixer (or use a hand mixer). Beat until combined & then tir in the vanilla extract and confectioners sugar and mix until it has the consistency of a dough (add more sugar if needed).
- Roll the dough into 1 inch round balls. Place on the cookie sheet and freeze for about one hour, or until firm.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl (heat, check, stir- repeat) & then stir in the Veg Oil till it's thinned slightly. Using a fork & spoon (or whatever works best for you) dip the balls, one at a time, in the melted chocolate, making sure the entire ball is coated with chocolate (Or for Buckeyes- leave part of the peanut butter ball top exposed) Place the chocolate covered balls back on the baking sheet & pop them into the fridge until hard.
- Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Tips:
- After the pb balls were frozen i used a toothpick to stick & dip. that made things so much easier. i then went back over each ball with a spot of chocolate.
Not the prettiest- but very efficient.
- freeze the balls before dipping. DO IT!

Homemade Peppermint Patties

did you read the title up there? that should be more than enough to have you running to your pantry to make sure you have the needed ingredients.

Homemade Peppermint Patties (via Savory Sweet Life)
You Need:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tblsp peppermint extract
3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips*
3 tblsp shortening*

Directions:
- Add condensed milk, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything on medium speed using the paddle attachment until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is stiff but still pliable.
- Roll 3/4″ balls of dough between the palms of the hands.
- Press each ball down slowly and set the flattened disk on a flat cutting board or plate. Transfer peppermint disks to the freezer for no longer than 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, temper the chocolate coating.
- Place chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, making sure to stir after each time until chocolate is smooth. Stir in shortening to thin the chocolate. Remove patties from the freezer.
- Place a patty on the tines of the fork and dip in the chocolate until completely covered. Allow excess chocolate to drip off the patty before setting each one on top of wax or parchment paper.
- Allow the chocolate coated peppermint patties to completely set up. This can be done quicker by placing the patties in the refrigerator. The peppermint patties are ready when they are dry to the touch. Enjoy!


*A few things:
- i'm going to use Dark Chocolate Next time.
- i'm going to thin my chocolate out with Veg Oil instead of shortening
- def. freeze your patties for at least 30 min- then work quickly. i dip with a fork & scrape off the excess with a spoon.

These were amazing. Seriously like biting into a York...mostly. nothing beats a York.
but i'm def going to go with Dark Chocolate next time & to cut down on the greasy feel, i'll go with Veg Oil as a thinner.

Keep these bad boys int he fridge- they're best that way!

Breakfast Quinoa

as i've stated- quinoa is a recent discovery in our house & we're currently still in the newelywed stage of our love affair with it.
we often discuss how awesome it is & how we want to eat it all day every day.

so why not for breakfast- yes? YES!


Breakfast Quinoa (adapted from Martha Stewart)
You Need:
2 cups of milk
1 cup of quinoa, rinsed
3 tblsp light brown sugar
1/8 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 cup fresh blueberries (or other fruit)

Directions: In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Add the quinoa & return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until 3/4 of the milk has been absorbed (about 15 min)
Stir in the cinnamon & sugar & pinch of salt. Cook, still covered, until almost all of the remaining milk has been absorbed. (another 5-8 min or so).
Remove from the heat & spoon into bowls. Sprinkle with a little more cinnamon & brown sugar. Toss in a handful of blueberries & add mroe milk (if you like it that way- which i do)

Enjoy!

Pretzel Bites

easy as pie.

...wait. pie isn't always very easy. where the hell did that expression come from anyways?

let me correct this: easy as cereal! cereal is super easy. if you're over the age of 3.

Pretzel Bites
You Need:
small pretzel twists
Hershey's Kisses
M&M's

Directions: Pre-heat oven to 275. Line baking sheet with foil or parchment paper (if you're lazy like me & dislike having to wash anything).

Lay the pretzels on the baking sheet & place a Kiss on top of each one. Pop in the oven for 3 minutes.
Take them out & quickly press an M&M down onto each Kiss.

Place the cookie sheet in the fridge & let them get nice & hard.
Enjoy

these remind me of the Pretzel M&M's- but better. these would be perfect for a camping trip ormovie night snack. or a kid's party. or in a big bowl sitting on my desk.