Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches

My MOPS group is meeting tomorrow night

to celebrate Christmas with a cookie swap.

I highjacked my husband's famous cake cookie

recipe and made some festive looking

Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches.

They turned out awesome and I

can't wait to share with my friends.

I hope you believe me because

my camera battery is dead as a door nail.

Umph!

But to make up for it, here's a fun

printable recipe card. Just click on it

to enlarge, right click to save, then print.

Enjoy!

I hope to make more for a party

I'm having later this week...

maybe my camera will be up for it then.

GOOD IDEAS: Gift-In-A-Jar Ideas

Before I get started, can I ask a favor?

Say a little prayer or cross your fingers

or whatever for my pitiful eyes.

I have terrible fall allergies and they seem

to have set up shop in my EYES this year!

They are uber itchy, red and dry.

And now I've rubbed them raw.

And I hate (despise) (loathe) eye drops.

Which has made for some interesting

scenarios at work and home recently

asking co-workers and hubby to help.

Oh me. Oh my.

Thanks.

Now, I bet you've got a few folks to give

gifts to this year like teachers, neighbors,

co-workers, volunteer buddies, sitters, etc.

but don't want to go overboard or over budget.

How about an easy and cheap GIFT-IN-A-JAR!

Here are some ideas I've seen floating around

that combine all-purpose jars and yummy recipes:

Hot Cinnamon Milk

Cowgirl Cookie Mix

Mason Jar Cupcakes

Peppermint Stick Cocoa

Enjoy making these yummy gifts!

GOOD RECIPE: Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Oh boy, have I got a recipe for you.

If you don't go out and make this tomorrow...

well, then, we might not be able to stay friends.

I kid.

But, seriously, please try this. Soon.

It's that good.

Credit goes to my more culinarily

inclined twin sister, Cyndi.

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

3 cans fat free cream of chicken soup

4 cans of water (using soup can)

diced carrots, celery, onions

2 cups shredded chicken

(I used leftover rotisserie chicken)

salt and pepper to taste

small can refrigerator biscuits

Place all ingredients, except biscuits) in your

Crock Pot and stir. Set on high for 6-8 hours.

Stir occasionally; wipe drool from your mouth

as the yummy smell fills your house.

About 30 minutes before you plan to eat,

open biscuits and roll out each one so flattened.

I simply used a drinking glass...worked great.

Slice each biscuit into thin slices. My pizza cutter

worked GREAT for this. Drop/stir into Crock Pot.

Cover and let cook another 30 minutes.

Stir occasionally until biscuits are cooked through.

Enjoy the hugs and kisses from your family

for the most awesome meal they've ever had.

I planned to take a photo of this served up in bowls

but, if we're being honest, I was too excited to eat

it and left my camera in the dust of my quick

retreat to the dinner table. Oh well - next time.

Perfect recipe for these cold evenings!

I also bet this would be PERFECT with

your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

We Interrupt Your Crazy Week for the Following...

I had given myself permission to neglect my blog

this week in order to prepare for this craft show.

But then I logged onto Facebook and saw a link to

this post from Kellie at This Blessed Nest.

Everything changed and I had to find 5 minutes

to share this piece of HEAVEN with you.

Hazelnut Chocolate & Pumpkin Panini

She had me at Nutella and Pumpkin.

Take a moment to go wipe the drool off your face.

(Tell me I'm not the only one!)

Oh my harvest flavors.

Now back to your (my) regularly scheduled

week of craziness and mayhem.

GOOD FINDS: Cool Weather Recipes

One of my favorite things about cooler weather

are the warm, tasty and comforting recipes!

Here are a few I've found in the past few days

that I think you'll love. I can't wait to try them out.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

from The Little Red House

Pancakes with Apples and Whipped Maple Butter

from Good (Cheap) Eats.

Caramel Apple Muffins

from Smashed Peas and Carrots

Cranberry Cake with Warm Vanilla Butter Sauce

from the Make It and Love It "Make a Cake Series"

Hmm...seems to be a theme. Guess I'm

in the mood for sweet, baked stuff. :)

I've also got to share with you my family's all time

favorite cool weather entree: Whole Barbecue Chicken.

I got the recipe from Kraft's Food and Family

magazine -- but you can find the recipe here.

This is, no kidding, the TASTIEST and easiest

recipe ever. I've always been intimidated by

cooking a whole bird, but this cured my fears!

You've gotta try this. It's tangy but not at all too

sticky like BBQ can tend to be. love. love.

What's your favorite cool weather recipe?

New Recipe (Fail)

I'm still on the hunt for guest posters.

Read here and email me if you're interested

in being a guest here at It's A Good Day!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I've never been mistaken for Martha.

I am no Pioneer Woman.

But once in a while I get the urge

to try my hand at something domestic.

Tonight, after a gourmet dinner of

grilled cheese sandwiches and Cheetos,

I decided to get creative and make

these *brilliant* brownie bites with

mini Reece's Cups in the middle.

They look pretty tasty, right?

I was so excited.

My Reece's loving hubby was too,

drooling over my shoulder as they cooled.

Fast forward past a few grunts, humpfs

and a bunch of "good griefs" and this is

what I had to serve to my family.

So, while this recipe TASTED fairly decent

(thanks, sweetie, for the encouragement),

it goes into the Log of Failed Recipes....

for majorly bad, sad presentation.

I'm sure there's a chef on Food Network

that tells us we eat with our eyes first.

My eyes are telling me to grab a

handful of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Done.

Tomorrow is another day.

GOOD RECIPE: Pumpkin Pancake Patches

How adorable are these?

Jessica of Zakka Life

made these pumpkin pancakes...

in look and in taste.

Seems like the perfect fall breakfast...

or lunch...

or dinner...

or snack...

Two GOOD Summer Recipes

We had friends over for dinner last night,

which gave me some momentum to actually

cook something other than sandwiches.

It's not too often that I try my hand at

original recipes, so I had to share!

Both of these recipes were perfect

for the HOT summer day...

crisp, fresh and not too heavy.

Click on the recipe cards for a larger

view, then print and file away!

Chicken Rigatoni Salad

Minted Fruit Salad

She Wasn't Kidding, Folks!

I finally had the chance to make these

Salted Caramel Cupcakes yesterday to

bring to our Vacation Bible School volunteers

at Church today. Like I needed an excuse.

And let me tell you, folks, Julie from Joys Hope

who shared this recipe (here) wasn't lying.

They are honestly, truly, cross my heart

fabulous. addictive. worth every calorie.

And, yes, the homemade vanilla buttercream

icing is TO DIE FOR. I will NEVER go back

to store bought. ever. true story.

Make these TODAY.

Get both recipes, here.

Thanks Julie - you rock.

Easy Peasy Recipe: Caramel Apple Dip

So, first of all, you'll be happy to hear I'm alive.

How did an entire week go by without me posting?!

Well, my husband came back into town after being

gone for three weeks, so we spent a lot of catch up time

hanging out as a family again = super nice.

And, even though Emma doesn't Trick or Treat yet,

Halloween kept us busy with church activities,

visiting the grandparents to show off cute costume, etc.

Anyway, I wanted to share one of the recipes I made for

a sort-of party I had this weekend.

Who loves caramel apples?!  Then you'll LOVE this!

Sorry no picture - but it even LOOKS tasty!

Caramel Apple Dip

With a hand mixer, blend

 1 block softened cream cheese*

with about 3 tbs. caramel dip** and

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon.

Add a splash or two of milk until

mixture is good consistency for dipping.

Chill and serve with apple slices.

Notes:

* I used 1/3 reduced fat cream cheese

** I used two of the individual/snack portions, again low fat.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth - FAST!

So tonight, after I put Emma to bed,

I settled in for my "late night" of

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

But something was missing.

My sweet tooth was calling.

But the ONLY sweet stuff I have in the house are these:

I took a quick peek in the fridge and spied a can of

Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls.

10 minutes to preheat oven to 350

(because I was using a dark non stick pan),

and 15 minutes later, and I had these tasty tidbits.

Let me tell you...these are AWESOME!

And what's better than a hot, flaky pastry

filled with tiny morsels of chocolate

next to a tall glass of cold milk?

Two hours of juicy medical drama shows!

New Take on Favorite Recipe

I love bread.  Savory.  Sweet.  You name it.  Kara over at Kara's Kitchen Creations just posted a great recipe on zucchini bread...Pear Zucchini Bread.  Yum. Can't wait to try this. 

Do you have any favorite fall recipes?

A Little Help, Please?

What?!  You don't receive the Kraft Foods Food & Family magazine?  Well that's just silly. 

Click here as fast as you can and sign up for FREE budget-conscience and family-friendly recipes that are sure to please.  Thanks to reader, Liz, for sharing the following recipe.  Try it today and enjoy!

Mac Chicken Cacciatore

In large skillet, prepare 1 box Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (per box directions).

Stir in 1 package Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts, 1 can italian-style diced tomatoes, and 1/2 cup chopped green peppers.

Cook on low heat for 5 minutes, or until all is heated through.

I think this meal would be just perfect with a small green salad and applesauce.  Yum!