Pink Peanut Butter Apple Sauce Cookie Muffins

This recipe is already listed, but I've changed it up a bit. They were originally cookies, but they have a cakey taste to them. So it was Valentine's Day yesterday so I thought it would be fun to die them pink and put them in festive muffin cups! And they taste just as good!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup apple sauce
• Red food coloring
• Decorated muffin liners

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cream butter and sugar together with mixer until combined
• Add peanut butter and mix well

• Combine flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg together
• Then slowly blind together with mixture

• Spoon in apple sauce and stir
• Add food coloring until desired color on low speed

• Line muffin pan with pretty muffing cups and spray each lightly with nonstick spray
• Scope and fill about 1/2 to 3/4 full for each muffin

I put some chocolate chips on a few for my mom because she loves chocolate as much as I do.

• Bake until passing the fork test (15 to 20 minutes)

• Cool and enjoy!

Veggie Pasta

This recipe was created by my mom and me. We pretty much just added any vegetables we could find to our pasta, and created a wonderfully yummy dish! Any vegetables could easily be substituted in or out of this recipe. We've been waiting to be able to make a meal like this because my dad refuses to eat almost any vegetable. He likes meat and potatoes, so this may be described as a "girly" dish, but the guys would love it if they tried it! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• Lemon juice
• 8 oz package of linguine
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 1/2 cup of sliced zucchini 
• 1 1/4 cup peas (canned or frozen)
• 1 small can or mixed vegetables
• 3 cups of fresh spinach
• Oregano
• Basil
• Parsley
• Black Pepper
• Sea Salt
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente

• While cooking pasta, pour the olive oil, sliced onion, and garlic into a large skillet over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally

• Add a few drops of lemon and stir
• Add the zucchini and mushrooms stirring for about 2 minutes

• Add peas and mixed veggies along with a few shakes of each seasonings, stir for a couple minutes, or until slightly browned, reduce heat to low

• Add the spinach then pasta and stir until spinach is wilted

• Remove from heat and enjoy it topped with some Parmesan cheese!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 3/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup of old fashioned oats
• 1 cup of flour
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Line cookie trays with wax paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars with electric mixer until combined
• Add the egg and vanilla and combine

• Next add the baking soda, cinnamon, oats, and flour and mix until well combined, but don't over do it
• Stir in chocolate chips and any other mix ins you'd like( M&M's, nuts, etc)

• You can refrigerate the dough if you have time for an hour or so, or scoop it out onto lined pans and slightly press on each piece of dough

• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or unto slightly brown around the edges

• Enjoy!!

Strawberry Surprise Muffins

I have always wanted to use oat flour but didn't know how to make it or where to buy it. I didn't realize it was as simple as putting it in a blender or processor and blending it for a couple minutes! And I just made this recipe up as I went, and looked at what was the pantry and refrigerator which is why "surprise" is in the name! And surprise! These muffins are semi healthy! They are gooey and yummy inside and I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

• 1 heaping cup of old fashioned oats
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 individual container of Greek nonfat yogurt with strawberries at the bottom ( I used Okios, 5.3 oz)
• 3 or 4 chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 table spoons egg whites
• powdered sugar for topping

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with muffin cups
• With either a food processor or blinder ( I used my Ninja) blind oats for about 2 minutes or until it is the from of flour

• Pour in a large bowl and add the baking soda, cinnamon, and brown sugar

• Whisk together until combined
• Add vanilla , yogurt, strawberries, chocolate chips, oil, and egg whites

• Whisk or stir together until well combined

• Pour mixture about 2/3 full in each muffin cup (Makes about 8 or 9 muffins)

• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes

• Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of each one with love and care

                                        Some went missing before I added the powdered sugar.

• Let cool and enjoy!

Chicken Bruschetta

I came across this recipe at ateaspoonofhappiness.com/bruschetta-chicken/ and it is AWESOME! It is so simple to make but tastes so good! It is also a healthier option, but you still get all the good flavors and tastes! I changed it up a little bit, butI had quite a bit of left overs with the bruschetta though so halving it may be a better option!

Ingredients:

Chicken-

• 1 package of chicken tenderloins( 2 if you feeding more than 5 people)
• Olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Oregano to taste

Bruschetta-

• 4 cups of diced tomatoes
• 3 teaspoons of minced garlic
• 1/2 cup of red onion minced
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 8 basil leaves chopped, or about 2 tablespoons of basil in seasoning bottle
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients

• Taste to see if any more season is needed and let refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
• Wash chicken tenderloins
• Season with salt, pepper and oregano on both sides
• Heat a large skillet on medium high heat with the bottom coated with olive oil
• Once heated place chicken on skillet
• Heat on both sides between 3 to 5 minutes, or until it is completely white in the inside
• Remove form heat

• Pour some Bruschetta on the chicken and enjoy!!!

Sliced garlic bread also goes wonderfully with bruschetta, and sliced potatoes and green beans are great additions to this meal also!

Chocolate Chip Brownies

This is a slimmed down brownie recipe that does not taste like a slimmed down brownie recipe! It was on fitsuger.com which is a good place for those who like healthified food. But even those who aren't in a health kick will love these!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup of self rising flower
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 shake of salt
• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2/ 3 cup of brown sugar( or regular)
• 1 large egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Optional: Nuts or white chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Line a 8 inch square baking dish with aluminum foil, spray lightly with cooking spray
• In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa, and salt, set aside

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes

• Add egg, egg whites, and vanilla continuing to beat until well mixed

• Reduce speed to low and slowly add in the flour mixture, then the yogurt, scraping the sides of the bowl when needed ( batter will be thick)
• Stir in chocolate and any other add ins you like

• Spread mixture evenly into the dish

• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until fork comes out clean in the center

• Let cool and enjoy!

Royal Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

I saw these on Pinterest and HAD to try them! I love chocolate and Rice Krispies and this recipe combined both with other wonderful ingredients, and it tastes amazing! The recipe is from the website recipegirl.com and you must try it! So good!

Ingredients:

Bottom Layer

• 1 and 1/4 stick of butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cup self rising flour
• 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa 

2nd Layer

• 4 cups of mini marshmallows

Topping:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups Rice Krispies 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease or spray nonstick cooking spray on 9 by 13 inch baking pan
• In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar from bottom layer ingredients with electric mixer
• Now add the eggs and vanilla, and continue to mix until light and fluffy

• In a separate bowl, combine the flour and cocoa 
• Add to the butter mixture until well combined

• Pour and spread evenly into the baking pan

• Bake 15 to 20 minutes ( Might be a little wiggly)
• Sprinkle the marshmallows onto the base layer and return to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes

•  With a knife dipped in water spread melted marshmallows evenly over bottom layer

• Let cool
• For the topping, combine butter, peanut butter, and chocolate in to a sauce pan

• On low heat, cook until melted, stirring occasionally

• Remove from heat and stir in rice krispies
• Spread evenly over marshmallow layer

• Chill until firm and ENJOY!!! :)