Our Family Treat

Chocolate Chip Rolo Cookies

2012-03-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Monday nights are my favorite. I LOVE watching The Bachelor. Do you watch? I know it hardly ever works out. But I still look forward to watching. I must have a treat when I curl up on the couch to watch the show. These are my new favorite cookie. I love caramel...so that must be why. So next time you are curling up to watch your "guilty pleasure" make these!

Source: Key Ingredient

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 eggs

3 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Rolos (frozen)

Beat together butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs until fluff. Add in dry ingredients. Then add chocolate chips and nuts. Use cookie scoop to bake cookie dough balls. Then flatten with your hand. Place unwrapped Rolo into the center and roll back into ball. Once all cookies dough balls are made, put in fridge for about 15 minutes. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Then add cookie dough balls. Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes until lightly brown.

Tommee Tippee Review and Giveaway

2012-03-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

I am an advocate of breastfeeding. I totally understand that this isn't for everyone. But it works for me. One thing that is a must when nursing is a good pump. Whether you are exclusively pumping, pumping occasionally, or needing to pump at work the tommee tippee pump is perfect! I have used other pumps before and they are SO loud. This actually isn't to loud. My first time using it, I had to read the instructions on how to put it together. It wasn't like pumps that I have used in the past. But it took just a few minutes and I was on my way. I was impressed with how easy and comfortable it was to use. I loved that there were four different suction levels, depending on how much milk I am producing. Another plus is that it is electric or battery operated. Which means you can take it ANYWHERE!! I haven't had to use the bottles yet, but I have read really great reviews online. I really liked this pump a lot better than any pump that I have used with my other kids. I will recommend it to anyone!

Tommee tippee has a lot of really great products like monitors and bottles. Plus there website it is full of really great advice . Learn more here...

You can buy tommee tippee products now at Toys R Us and Babies R Us! They are perfect gift for someone having a baby...or for you, if you are expecting!

Win It: A tommee tippee closer to nature pump

Mandatory: Head over to tommee tippee and tell me what other products you like!

Extra options:
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*Blog about this giveaway (3 entries)

Details:
Make sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Open to anyone! Contest ends March 11th at 11:59 PM and winner will be chosen by Random.org generator. When winner is announced you will have until Thursday to claim your prize, or a new winner will be chosen.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

2012-03-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, I need to stop making treats. I am never going to lose this baby weight if I keep all this sugar in my house. Sugar is my addiction. And I need an intervention. But for now...

I love cheesecake...and cookie dough. The two combined are a great combination!

Source: Brandy's Baking

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Cheesecake Filling:
10 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line an 8" square baking pan with parchment paper or foil allowing a little overhang and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pan to a cooling rack.
While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined. Mix in the flour. Add in the chocolate chips. Set aside.
Cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust. Using your hand to form clumps, distribute the cookie dough onto the top of the cheesecake batter in teaspoon-sized clumps. Be sure to use all of the dough.
Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm (the cookie dough) and the entire pan looks set if given a gentle shake. Move bars to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Baked Chicken Penne

2012-02-27T06:05:00.009-07:00

When I had Brinleyanne, my friend Hillary brought me the yummiest dinner. It came on the perfect day. Brooks was out of town, Brinley was just 5 days old, and the kids and I had a rough day. It was my first day at home...totally alone without help to start the morning. We were all in a rush to get 3 kids ready and out the door for school by 8:45. It was a mess to say the least. I was running on little to no sleep. It had been 3 1/2 years since I had a new baby...Luckily my Mom came down to help me for a bit and even cleaned my house. Then Hill saved the day with this dinner, which hit the spot.

Since then I hounded Hill for the recipe. I was so excited to make it for my family. It is one of those meals that comes together pretty quickly...but yet tastes divine. If you want to make this vegetarian, use veggie broth and omit the chicken. It would still ahve really great flavor!

Happy cooking!

Ingredients:

1 lb. penne pasta

6 TB butter

6 TB flour

14 oz can of chicken broth

1½ cup half and half

1½ cup Parmesan cheese

2 chicken breast, cut into small cubes

¼ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. crushed garlic

½ cup chopped artichoke hearts

Pine nuts

Sun dried tomatoes

1 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cook Penne according to package. Drain and pour into a large oven proof dish.

Sauté chicken in olive oil, season to taste. (I use minced garlic, salt and pepper)

Melt butter, stir in flour and add broth. Cook, stirring over medium heat until thickened. Add half and half and heat through. Remove from heat and add 1 ½ c. of Parmesan cheese, pepper, basil and garlic. Stir until cheese is melted.

Add chicken, artichokes, pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes to pasta. Pour sauce over and toss.

Top with remaining Parmesan cheese and bake for 15 min.

Asparagus and Prosciutto Bruschetta

2012-02-23T08:16:00.005-07:00

For my beautiful wife's birthday (29th of course) we went to a new Italian restaurant and tried a similar dish. It was way good, so much though that we came back and made it. Buonissimo.

Ingredients:
1 baguette sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
7 stems of asparagus blanched
10-15 1 slices cubes of prosciutto
10 -15 slices of Mozzarella Cheese
2 tbsp garlic powder and dried oregano

Start by spreading the olive oil lightly on each piece of bread. Toast them in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Remove them, and then place the remaining ingredients as such. Take the slices of cheese and top the bread. Take the asparagus cut into 1 inch pieces, and wrap it with the prosciutto square. Place that on top of the cheese, and then sprinkle the garlic powder and oregano. Place back in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Place on a pan and sprinkle the balsamic over the top. Serve warm. Buon Appetito.

Sidekick Winner

2012-02-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Happy President's Day everyone! Hope you had a great long weekend!

The winner of the Sidekick is...

#7 Rowley Family

Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Thursday to claim your prize!

Enchilada Stacks

2012-02-14T07:32:00.005-07:00

I often consider food to be an art form, and the person making it an artist. I hold this true to myself as I feel often it is the only way I can express myself creatively. For me, any artists creation draws from a childhood experience or memory. I remembered my dad used to make a dish that everyone in the neighborhood loved. I knew it was called Enchilada Stacks, but I never knew how to make it. I used this inspiration, and recreated some very good times. In this instance, the meal as my canvas, was an absolute masterpiece.

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts, boiled (in the water add 1 tbsp season salt)
1 red bell pepper diced
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 large onion chopped
3 Roma tomatoes chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp hot sauce
2 12 oz cans of Enchilada sauce
1 large package of corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar
2 cups shredded Monterrey jack
2 tbsp Cotija cheese
1 sprig of cilantro

Start by boiling the chicken with the season salt until thoroughly cooked. Remove from the water and then shred it. In a large saute pan, heat the oil and add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, and bell pepper until it begins to soften. Add the chicken, and the spices. Cook on med for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables become soft. Add the hot sauce, and then 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce.

In 9x13 pan, spread a 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce all over the bottom. Cover the bottom with tortillas so that no pan is showing. Pour another 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce over the tortillas, and spread evenly. Add half the chicken mixture over the top of that, and top with 1/3 of the cheese. Cover with another layer of tortillas, and repeat with sauce, chicken, and cheese. Cover with another layer of tortillas, and then top with the remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. It may seem soggy, but don't worry cause the tortillas will absorb quite a bit. Cook in a 375 oven for 20 minutes covered and then another 10 minutes with foil removed. Top with the Cotija cheese and Cilantro for decoration, and then enjoy. This is a work of art for everyone to enjoy.

Sidekick Bliss Review and Giveaway

2012-02-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

Go-Go Babyz® is a family company that strives to make innovative, safe, and quality products that make life easier when you and your baby are on the go. Our mission is to design and bring products to the market that provide innovative solutions and resolve the everyday difficulties faced by busy parents on the go.

I have been looking for the perfect diaper bag...without spending a fortune. And you would think with this being my 4th baby I would have a favorite already, but not until now. GoGo Babyz has created such a unique and fun diaper bag called the Sidekick. I have received so many compliments about this bag. It isn't one that you are going to see everyone having. Plus it has SO many functions. First of all, I love that the fabric can be wiped clean. You don't have to throw it in the wash or just live with a filthy bag. It comes with an insulated pouch and a changing pad. And for my favorite part of the Sidekick...it has a built in baby carrier. I am so excited to try that out when the baby is a little bigger. I think that is such a genius idea, because we all know how annoying it is to be wearing a carrier and carrying a diaper bag! There are also a bunch of pockets so that you can carry your wallet, keys, phone, diapers, wipes, bottles, toys, and a change of clothes all without things getting lost in a huge bag. Seriously, this bag is so functional. GoGo Babyz now has a customer for life!

Win It: A GoGo Babyz Sidekick in your choice of Pink or Yellow

Mandatory: Head over to GoGo Babyz and tell me what other product you are loving!

Extra options:
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Details:
Make sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Open to anyone! Contest ends February 19th at 11:59 PM and winner will be chosen by Random.org generator. When winner is announced you will have until Thursday to claim your prize, or a new winner will be chosen

LoveSac Slippers Review

2012-02-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

If you live in Utah, I know you know about LoveSac...but I don't know about the rest of you.
Years and years ago, I remember when the first LoveSac came out. I always loved to go into their store and see what new Sac's they had. Brooks and I would always go try them out and dream of which one we would buy for our house. Until now, we haven't really had the room. But now that our basement is finished...we plan on purchasing our first LoveSac!
But...let me tell you, there are more the LoveSac then just their Sac's and Sactionals. I had the opportunity of reviewing their Creme Phur Slippers. Oh my goodness...I don't know if I will ever go back to a regular pair of slippers. I got them a few weeks before I had the baby.. I tried them out at home...I pretty much lived in them....well except for going outside, because they were cream:) Then I took them with me to the hospital. I wore them all around. But then the bad news...I left them at the hospital. And unfortunately, someone decided to take them. Hope they are enjoying the slippers. I guess they needed them more than I. However...let me tell you, these were the most comfortable slippers I have ever owned. They were very well made. The bottoms weren't slippery. They didn't start to have foot indents days after wearing them. Plus they kept my feet nice and warm. These slippers are made of a hypo allergenic polyester knit...which means not only are they fashionable with cute cream stitching, but they are made of high quality products. Plus...these slippers are going to last, and for a good pair of slippers, $39 is a steal (regularly $59)!
Check out LoveSac for their other fun products!

I received this product free of charge. Opinions expressed are my own:)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-02-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

When someone brings me dinner, I feel like I need to do something for them in return. Am I the only one? I feel a little empty handed bringing back their dishes...so I always try to bring a treat or something. I have been the lucky recipient of some amazing meals the past few weeks. I am so lucky to live in this great neighborhood, with the most amazing friends.
I kind of get sick of making the same cookies over and over, so I was excited to try out this recipe. These cookies were so chewy and perfect. I think I ate these one night instead of dinner. Yum!

Source: The Idea Room

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, soft

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 to 1 tablespoon milk

1/2 to 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix together butter and peanut butter until creamy. Add sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well. Add vanilla, eggs and flour. Once combined, add milk. Just a little bit to make dough creamy. Then add chocolate chips. If necessary chill dough for an hour. Then use cookie scoop (or spoon) and scoop into small balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-9 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

2012-01-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

I am impressed with myself....for the first time since the baby was born, I cooked! Wahoo! And let me tell you, I am happy I did. This was similar to a muffin...but yet different. My family ate the entire thing. It is healthy right? There are blueberries in it! I guess I will do what I can to get my kids to eat their fruits!

Source: Alexandra Cooks

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, soft

zest from 1 lemon

3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups fresh blueberries

1/2 cup buttermilk

Cream butter with lemon zest and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, toss blueberries with 1/4 cup flour. Add the rest of the flour, baking powder, salt and buttermilk to the butter mixture. Fold in blueberries. Grease a 9 inch pan and spread batter. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of sugar. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Beignets

2012-01-25T06:47:00.009-07:00

Back in 2008 we were able to go to The Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to watch the Utes play Alabama. Brooks' Mom lives about 3 hours away from New Orleans, so we left the boys with her and took our baby with us. We spent the day walking around, and of course eating. We LOVED the beignets. Don't worry that we actually ate them twice in the two days that we were there. New Orleans is one of those places that everyone should visit....especially if you love food. We have been wanting to make these since our visit, and finally got around to it a few months ago. They are a little time consuming, but well worth it!

Source: Paula Deen

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups flour
1/4 cup shortening
Nonstick spray
Oil for frying
3 cups powdered sugar

Mix water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix egg mixture to the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour. Add 3 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees.

Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares. Deep-fry 5-6 at a time, depending on how large your fryer is, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels, and then toss them into the bag of powdered sugar. Hold bag closed and shake to coat evenly. Best is served warm.

Miss Ruby Sue Winner

2012-01-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for entering this fun giveaway! I wish I could have won as well!
The winner is:

#70 Stephanie

Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Thursday to claim your prize!

She is Here

2012-01-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Please welcome...

****

Brinleyanne

1/13/12

7 lbs 9 oz

****

and absolutely beautiful!

My dearest friend Julie, did a birth story for us. Check out her work

at Julieburtonphotography.com She did an amazing job, and it makes me cry

every time I look at these pictures. Everyone should have this done for

at least one of their births.

Kiki's Fashion Winner

2012-01-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! The winner of the Kiki's Fashion Giveaway is...

#1 Becky

Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Friday to claim your prize!

Miss Ruby Sue Giveaway

2012-01-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

Ok my friends, I have a love affair with fun hair accessories. Especially on kids. I love the look in a photo shoot, wedding, or for every day wear. I am kind of freaking out about the etsy shop, Miss Ruby Sue. Looking at this shop just makes me happy. I love all the bright colors that are used in the accessories. I know I have a bunch of items added to my basket to purchase! I am just picturing Bella wearing the aqua headband, and the baby in the aqua and off white. Seriously darling. I need to purchase these ASAP. I need them before the baby comes...which could be any day (please send me baby vibes:)).

So now for the giveaway....

Win It: One person will win a $50 gift certificate to Miss Ruby Sue

Mandatory: Head over to Miss Ruby Sue and tell me what your favorite item is!

Extra options:
*Follow "Our Family Treat" on Google Friend (1 entry)
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*update your status on Facebook or Twitter telling your friends about our giveaway (2 entries)

*Add our link to your blog roll on your blog (2 entries)
*Blog about this giveaway (3 entries)

Details:
Make sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Open to anyone! Contest ends January 22nd at 11:59 PM and winner will be chosen by Random.org generator. When winner is announced you will have until Thursday to claim your prize, or a new winner will be chosen

Breakfast Ring

2012-01-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for breakfast...I love it. But the problem is, is when I actually eat it at breakfast, I feel sick all day. I don't know why. So we eat a lot of "breakfast for dinner" or brunch. That way I can still eat those yummy breakfast foods, but not be sick!

This recipe is one you can experiment with different meats, cheeses and veggies to make it perfect for your family.

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz can) refrigerated crescent rolls

6 eggs

1/2 pound breakfast sausage, browned (if you aren't a sausage fan, use ham or bacon)

1 cup cheddar cheese

your choice of veggies: red pepper, onion, mushrooms, green onion, etc

Scramble eggs and brown sausage. Set aside. We used a prepared pizza stone (but feel free to use what you have). Unroll crescent rolls into a wheel pattern on pan. Then add eggs, meat, cheese and veggies around the center of the crescent rolls ring. Then fold the tips of the ring to the center. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Kiki's Fashion Review and Giveaway

2012-01-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

Let's start out the New Year with some great giveaways! The next few weeks we will be having an online "Baby Shower" for my sweet baby that is arriving shortly. You all get to reap the benefits! Wahoo! So whether you are pregnant, wanting to be, or know someone who is...these are some great giveaways!

Let me introduce you to Kiki's Fashions. It is an online website with maternity clothes. I swear the past few years fashion has changed so much...and maternity clothes are actually cute!
"Stylish maternity clothes at prices every pregnant mom will love! At Kiki's Fashions, we not only offer expecting mothers cute maternity dresses, trendy maternity skinny jeans, and modern maternity tank tops, we also offer our maternity clothing at prices every pregnant mom can afford. We add to our maternity clearance section weekly, so there are always deep discounts on maternity clothes saavy mothers can discover. And don't forget to check out our pregnancy clothes under $10. Where else can you find this large of a selection on cheap maternity clothes?"

The thing I struggle with about maternity clothes, is because you only wear them for at most 9 months, you don't want to spend a fortune. Kiki's has some really great shirts, dresses, skirts, and pants for under $30.00. So you won't be breaking the bank. The shirt I was sent isn't online any more...but it was the cutest brown 3/4 length shirt...with the cutest neckline. I loved the sides because it expands, so that as my belly has expanded, the shirt didn't shrink in the length. It has worn really well...and washed well.
Right now Kiki's has some really great discounts going on...so be sure to check out their site. You will be so happy you did!

Win It: One person will win a $25 gift certificate to Kiki's Fashions

Mandatory: Go to Kiki's Fashion and tell me what your favorite item is.

Extra options:
*Follow "Our Family Treat" on Google Friend (1 entry)
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*Like "Kiki's Fashions" on Facebook (2 entries)

*update your status on Facebook or Twitter telling your friends about our giveaway (2 entries)

*Add our link to your blog roll on your blog (2 entries)
*Blog about this giveaway (3 entries)

Details:
Make sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Open to anyone! Contest ends January 15th at 11:59 PM and winner will be chosen by Random.org generator. When winner is announced you will have until Thursday to claim your prize, or a new winner will be chosen

Buffalo Chicken Salad

2012-01-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE to eat a good salad. It is one of those things I think I could be happy with eating every day. Plus usually you can put everything together ahead of time, so it is a perfect week night meal.

Ingredients:

1 head Romain lettuce, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped,

1 tomato, chopped

2 cups carrots, diced

4 slices bacon, chopped

1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles

3 chicken breasts, diced

salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

hot sauce

Blue Cheese Dressing:

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

2 drops of Worcestershire sauce

Make dressing ahead of time so the flavors can marry.
Cook bacon until crispy.
Season chicken with salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika and a little hot sauce. Fry chicken on stove top in a little olive oil.
Prepare ingredients for salad.
When chicken is done, slice and top on salad. Drizzle with dressing and a little more hot sauce. Enjoy!

Drive In Movie Party

2012-01-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a nice Christmas break! We sure did! It was so nice having Brooks home from work (due to his ACL surgery) for almost 3 weeks...plus the kids were home for just over 2. I don't know what I am going to do with myself today in a quiet house! I guess I only have a few short weeks until this baby arrives, so there is plenty to do.
Both of my boys have their birthdays right after Christmas. I don't want them to ever feel like they get left out, so we have let them have a party every year. This year, my oldest wanted a car themed party. I found a fun idea on Pinterest, so I thought I would share.
We purchased some boxes at Walmart for the kids to decorate. We had paint, markers, crayons, paper, paper plates for wheels and the steering wheel, etc for the kids to decorate their cars.

Then we had a concession stand. You can do it easy like we did and let them have whatever treat they want...or you can give the kids each a few tickets to "pay" for their treats.

Then each kid got nice and cozy in their car and settled in to watch "Cars 2." It was the perfect birthday party. Plus pretty darn simple to!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

From our Family to Yours!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Artichoke and Sun-dried Tomato Dip

2011-12-22T08:08:00.003-07:00

This was a festive, red and green, dip we made for a Christmas party the other day. Always nervous to try my new inventions for the first time with big groups, but I would say an empty dish is a good sign.

Ingredients:
2 cups grated Parmesan
1cup grated mozzarella
1 13 oz can Artichoke Hearts
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes (in oil)
2 tsp chopped oregano (fresh)
3/4 cup light mayo
1 large garlic clove
1 lemon juiced
zest of the lemon
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 tsp salt and pepper

Topper:
4 slices pancetta chopped and crisped up
2 basil leaves ribbon slices
2 sun-dried tomatoes chopped

Start by straining the artichokes, and then putting half of them into food processor. Add everything but the topping ingredients into the food processor and pulse until smooth. Then stir in the remaining artichoke hearts until they just begin to break up. In a baking dish (I greased with olive oil, but probably not necessary) spread the mixture evenly. Top with the pancetta, and remaining basil and tomatoes. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until cheese on top begins to turn golden. Serve with a baguette or tortilla chips.

That is it. Pretty simple, and very tasty. Make your holiday, and others for that matter, a little tastier with this dip.

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

2011-12-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite things are brownies and chocolate. Brooks absolutely loves peanut butter. So this was the perfect combination. So this is for Brooks...who is lying on the couch, on pain medication, because he just had his ACL and meniscus repaired (don't worry that this is his 3rd knee surgery in 3 years)...

This is the perfect dessert for a large crowd! It makes a ton...but even if you don't eat it all, you will be happy you have leftovers!

Source: How Sweet Eats

Ingredients:

1 batch of your favorite brownies, cooled and cubed

1 large box instant chocolate pudding, prepared as directed

1 bag of peanut butter cups, chopped

2 cups heavy cream

4 tablespoons sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

With electric mixer, beat heavy cream and sugar until thick. Refrigerate.

In another bowl add peanut butter and cream cheese. Mix until incorporated. Add powdered sugar, and milk. Fold in 1 cup of the cream mixture.

Now layer. Starting with brownies, then peanut butter mixture, peanut butter cups, chocolate pudding and whipped cream...and repeat. Refrigerate before serving.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

2011-12-13T07:04:00.002-07:00

I absolutely love cinnamon rolls. The problem is, is that they take so long to make. This recipe is a quick and easy one...that is perfect for breakfast...dessert...dinner...ok, maybe dinner is a stretching it. But for all you cinnamon roll lovers, this is for you!

Source: http://cookinupnorth.blogspot.com/

Ingredients

Cake:

3 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:

1 cup butter, soft

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix all cake ingredients together, except butter. Mix well. Then slowly add melted butter. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Mix all topping ingredients together. Drop evenly over batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients for glaze together. When the cake is done cooking, pour glaze over the top.

Ciao Bella Boutique Winner

2011-12-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

The winner of the gift certificate to Ciao Bella is...

#18 Amy

Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Thursday to claim your prize!