Brown Sugar Bacon Smokies

I'm not sure I've ever brought these to a get together, provided them during a football game, or offered a plate during a BBQ that I've heard a complaint about their presents yet… or for that matter, lasted very long at all.

I love them because they are so easy and delicious… Nate loves them because they "man friendly" …

My first problem with them, is that they are double the protein, therefor you are able to pile in twice as many, before realizing you would have been sufficiently happier with a fourth of the amount consumed.

My second problem with them, is that for as easy as they are to make, I never think to make them…

Now that they are blog official, I hope they become one of my top 'go-to's… which I'm pretty sure they will…

Healthy School Snack: Christmas

I use to hate the school's 'no sugar' policy. 

I use the term 'use to' loosely .. 

Honestly, I sometimes.....most times.....every time... give the disapproving squirrelly-eye to the seasonal paper that reminds us parents of such sugar free shenanigans. 

I am, however, thankful for the ways it pushes me to think 'out of the box' in festivusing up any contribution I make the the school's snack table.

Seriously, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in looooooove, with these cheese stick candy canes and Santa belly motzorella rounds.

Partly, because they are easy, mostly, because they are adorable! 

Adult Hot Cocoa

I posted this picture, among many, during a Christmas blog 2 years ago… Since then, I've gotten e-mails, comments, and, thanks to Pinterest, many share…. Although this pictures has been used by many others and claimed as their own, it is not… but can't blame them for wanted to coat tail ride such an impressive image captured of something so great… and simple… did I mention delicious ….

So here I am…. sharing it again, giving it DIY details, and stamping the Goodnyou? name on it and claiming the photo as mine, mine, mine…

As for this idea, it's yours to give, give, give….
…. or drink, drink, drink…

Dad Dip {French Dressing Dip}

You could also call this French Dressing Dip, but it's my dad's favorite and now my kid's dad's favorite, it's rightfully earned the name Dad's Dip, so we are only honoring it as that. 

It's easy, simple, and more than likely one you'll have every ingredient on hand for. 

Plus, there aren't many dips like this, so the chances of showing up to a party with it, finding out someone has already supplied one to be gorged on, inevitably turning the party into an intense and somewhat awkward dip competition, aren't likely. 

What? No one turned duplicate party dips into a contest of who made it better? 

Noted. 

With the on coming gathering season, I highly recommend this becoming one of your go to's.

Honey Mustard Pan Fried Potatoes

I love pan fried potatoes. If I were to list my top 5 'go-to' comfort foods, they would take up at least 3.7 of the slots.

Only real butter will do and there should be as many onions as potatoes.

Cooking time should be gaged by how sore your arms are from scrapping the bottom of the pan, then they should cook, no less, than 10 minutes longer. 

Unfortunately, my pallet is not the only one that needs to be catered to, within these four walls. So from my attempt in still getting what I want, but making it look like something new and exciting, has steamed what fills up the other 1.3 of my comfort food indulgences. 

Stromboli

As a kid, I hated Stromboli. Largely because I didn't feel Swiss cheese was worth my time, I saw no appeal to it's sharp fragrance appealing, I turned my nose up at it, and with out hesitation, requested provolone instead.

As an adult, I love Stromboli. Largely because I will take any opportunity to flirt with Swiss cheese and curse my younger self for not having appreciated it's allure. I'm ashamed for ever suggesting provolone could replace it so easily. 

I have seen the error in my ways. The amount of Stromboli I dismissed… the Swiss cheese I disregarded… The regretful feelings I still harbor…I was so young…. I was such a foolish… 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

{a healthier, until you add butter, recipe}

-1 1/2 cup flour

-1/2 cup sugar

-1/4 cup wheat germ

-1/4 cup flax seed

-1 TBS pumpkin spice

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp baking powder

Mix dry ingredients together 

Add wet ingredients 

-1, 15 oz can pumpkin

-1/2 cup oil

-2 egg

Add 1/2 {+an extra  handful for good luck}  cup chocolate chips 

Grease muffin tin

Bake @ 350* for 20 minutes

Best eaten warm and in a large quantity, in a short amount of time. 

Chunky Monkey Muffins

-1 1/2 cup flour

-1/2 cup sugar

-1/4 cup cocoa {optional}

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp baking powder

Mix dry ingredients together 

Add wet ingredients 

-3 over ripe bananas

-1/3 cup oil

-1 egg

Add 1 cup chocolate chips 

Grease muffin tin

Bake @ 350* for 20 minutes

Lather with enough real butter there is a twinge of guilt  

Eat 3

Naan Pesto Bites

My Uncle turned me onto this Naan bread a few years ago and I've not only been hooked, but baiting others ever since.

This dish couldn't be more simple. It couldn't be more delicious. It couldn't be more impressive.

It's one of those foods, that even if you don't know your way around the kitchen, it give the impression that you do…. and if you do know your way around the kitchen, the possibilities are endless from this as your starting point… I'm talking greek olives, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, cappers, roasted pepper spread… I'll let your imagination take over from here...

Banana Yogurt Muffins {Oil Free}

I don't really know how this recipe evolved.

I'm not much of a baker, but somehow was able to pull this muffin recipe out of my sleeve one morning.

The kids wanted muffins and we were limited in the grocery department, the odds were stacked against me.

Finding any combined recipe {let alone one that taste good} that is across the board approved by all three of my chicks is a feat in itself.

Consider this muffin mountain's top flag staked.

Creamy Salsa Dip

I've got a million dip recipes up my sleeve. I love me a reason to dip before devour.

One of my all time "go-to"s for whipping up a dip, is this Creamy Salsa Recipe… The ingredient are alway on hand and it takes as much time to throw together as it does for your guest to grab a beer and settle in.

It's a crowd pleaser, back pocket keeper, and sets the bar a bit higher than your typical salsa/chip offering.

Shrimp & Peas

Shrimp and peas is something I could eat every day and never seem to remember to make it even once a year.

Recently, I was informed that it's also called "Shrimp Pea Wiggle", which confused me and caused for a great descriptive discussion between my friend and I.

I had once had said "Shrimp Pea Wiggle" and it was presented in a tomato based form and in my opinion, hard to choke down.

This, is not hard to choke down.

BBQ Chicken Dip

We are big fans of Buffalo Chicken Dip… like…. triple the recipe when making it, than stuff our faces until we feel like throwing up and then eating that much more… kinda fans.

There is a certain satisfaction found, in a blissful state of regret, with self-control lost when eating gluttonously.

BBQ Chicken Dip, is our new alternative to Buffalo Chicken Dip. Now we have two reasons to be all consuming in the calorie department of chicken dip eating…

It's a win, win in the book of Richardson.