Perfect Pumpkin Pancake Recipe

Let's make some homemade 

Tips:

*Do not over mix the batter.  Be sure you take the extra 2 minutes to gently fold in the mixture.  Mixing too roughly can cause a bad reaction to the mix.  There is a great tutorial if you go to WikiHow.

*Setting your stove or griddle any higher that medium heat can cause you to have burnt outsides and raw insides.  ICK!

*You can tell when your pancake is ready to be flipped by watching for it to bubble.  Don't flip your pancake more than once.  It will cause to flatten and become dense, rather than light and fluffy.  

Look how fluffy they get!!

4 ingredient Fiber Packed Smoothie

 I've been needing to add a little color to my life and for my health.  What better way to do that then a yummy nutritious (hardest word I've ever had to figure how to spell, by the way) Smoothie!!  

Now, If you are like me and have gained a few pounds and you aren't a huge fan of veggies....or fresh fruit AND you are lazy and don't like to put a lot of effort into your healthy eating  (I know, I totally suck in the healthy department)then this is the perfect smoothie for you.

NOT JOKING!!!!!!  SIMPLE, YUMMY, HEALTHY!  

Ready for it?

Are you??

OKAY!  HERE GOES!

Tia's Healthy Smoothie (yep I created it with all of my amazing craftiness)

2 cups Pomegranate Blueberry 100% JUICE V8 V*FUSION
3 cups of mixed wild berries (raspberries,blueberries,&blackberries)
1 heaping handful of kale or spinach 

1 packet of Turbinado Sugar (I use SUGAR IN THE RAW)

BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH....you know..since it's a SMOOTHie. 

I drink the whole blender full and it keeps me nice and full and gives me energy! 

It is a total of 460 calories in the whole blender.  But they are healthy bulky fiber filled calories, not icky empty bad calories.

If you break it down we are looking at

460 calories
0 yes 0 ZERO grams of fat
180 mg sodium
100 carbs
80 grams of dietary fiber (which for non diabetics this can cancel out 80 of those carbs)
vitamin A 36%
vitamin C 206% (oh yeah, hello happy immune system)
Vitamin E 20%

This also provides more than a full daily serving of fruit and a full daily serving of veggies recommended intake of veggies.  

4 simple ingredients is all it takes

A "Blow Your Mind" Recipe:: Valentine's Edition

So, I have been asking around the MothersHelpingOthers Recipe Group for super simple recipes to showcase/feature on my blog.  One of my readers, Charlene, submitted this recipe to me.  Here is what she had to say::

 "I was in a pinch the other day when my son asked for peanut butter fudge. I had NOTHING but peanut butter. So here's what I did to cheat.. A can of vanilla frosting & a jar of 16.3 oz peanut butter. Put them in a bowl DO NOT STIR. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir until creamy. Line a 9x9 pan in foil. Empty into pan and refrigerate until hard. Yep, it tasted amazing and it was fool proof!"

So here I go!  Time to recreate her masterpiece!!!  We will call this recipe

Blow Your Mind Peanut Butter Fudge 

(1) 16.3 oz jar of creamy peanut butter

(1) jar vanilla frosting

put the 2 ingredients into a bowl (do not stir) and microwave for 1 minute

Now that it is melty-ish, go ahead and stir all of that deliciousness together!

Pour it into your pan.  Now, since I don't believe in wasting food, stick you face in the empty bowl and scrape the sides with your tongue.  Also, I skipped putting foil into the pan and actually used a foil pan!  Don't judge me!  I'm tired of dishes!

Now, here is where you can have a little fun if you want.  I decided to add a little white chocolate and a little semi sweet chocolate on opposite sides.

Now drizzle it on top and take a knife and carve it in

Now just pop it in the fridge until it is all set up.  Maybe about an hour.  

Now you can take it out and cut into squares OR since it's Valentine's Day you can do this

Grab a couple of heart cookie cutters and carefully cut heart shapes into the fudge.  Be gentle though.

TA DAAAAAA!!

ENJOY!

WAIT!!!!!!

I'm not done yet.  Want a cute little meal to enjoy with your kiddos on V-Day?

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and a Cup of Soup is the way to go!  

bread, butter, cheese, and a sprinkle of salt

Pop it in your skillet and brown each side

Take out of pan and let cool for a couple of minutes so you don't burn your fingers.  

Now you can either serve it alone

All alone on a cute red napkin.  (yes because again, I HATE DISHES)

OR Get all fancy Schmancy and cut a little slit in the sandwich and top your cute cup of soup with it!

This would make a great treat for the kiddos at dinner to share your love WITHOUT having to buy them things.  Plus, you can give them a piece of that super simple heart shaped fudge for dessert.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love always,

Story of a Girl

Blow Your Mind Nutella Cookies

Okay, so the Blow Your Mind Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies was such a popular post on my blog that I decided to share another 3 ingredient cookie recipe that will also BLOW.YOUR.MIND!  Before we proceed, I feel I need to post a disclaimer prior to giving you the recipe.  Especially since these are ingredients that most people (without nut allergies) have on hand.

DISCLAIMER::: I, Story of a Girl, am not liable for any weight gained after you realize how easy and delicious this recipe is.  By continuing to read, and taking any steps in preparing the below recipe automatically releases me from all any and all liability.

Okay, now that we have cleared that up, let's get on to the good stuff!!!

Blow Your Mind Nutella Cookies

1 cup Flour

1 cup Nutella

1 Large Egg

Put all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend until all of the ingredients are mixed.  It will look a little crumbly but that's okay.  Why?  Well, because you are going to get your hands in there and grab some and roll it into a ball.  Then you will place it on a cookie sheet.  It will end up looking like this

Yes, I am due a few new cookie sheets.  I bake A LOT!

Okay now that you've finished doing that, you will need to flatten them.  Like this

Now, this is optional, you can add a 4th ingredient if you'd like too.  I had some pecans leftover from a Pecan Pie I had made last month.  So, I topped a couple of the cookies with pecans.  

Now pop those bad boys in the oven!

350* for 12-15 minutes.

Now they should look like this

You can even sprinkle them with powdered sugar if you want!

OH, and since this recipe is so quick and simple, I still had time to spend with this

My princess

ENJOY!!

Don't forget to head over to the MothersHelpingOthers "Simple and Easy Recipe" post and submit your low ingredient recipes there.  I have had one submission and I will be posting it later this week!  I can't wait!  (you have to be a member to post there)

This SUPER easy recipe will BLOW.YOUR.MIND

So, today I got together with my good friend Christine, from Moore Organized Mayhem.  I hate when I have guests over and no snacks to serve.  I didn't do a whole lot of grocery shopping.  Like, seriously, all that was in my fridge was beer, wine, cheese, and a variety of condiments.  I did, however, happen to have 2 eggs.  Then I looked in my pantry and saw chocolate chips, bread, peanut butter, and sugar.  There were also some fruit snacks and the random can of corn and Spaghetti O's.
Yea...not sure how we have survived the last few days...
OKAY!  That is NOT the point of this post!  Stop interrogating me and you just leave Child Protective Services out of this!!  ;)

Now, I know you are dying to know what I made.  Well, using just 4 of the ingredients above I made something that tasted so fabulous it will

BLOW.YOUR.MIND.

I've never made anything this easy!  I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!  YES!!  With only 4 ingredients!!

Here is the recipe::

Blow Your Mind Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees farenheit

1 cup Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth, your call)

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Using a mixer, mix the first three ingredients until completely blended.

Use a spoon to mix in the chocolate chips.

Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet

use a fork to flatten

bake for 10-12 minutes.

DO NOT BROWN THEM

Let them cool before taking them off of the cookie sheet.  If they come off before they have cooled they will break.

YEP!  That's it!  That is all you have to do!.  Way to easy right?  I threw all of this together and had them completely cooked in 20 minutes!  This is a great last minute snack idea and serves up very nicely.  Here is is step by step in pictures too!  Yeah, I'm all fancy like that!!

Okay, now that I have shared my secrets to easy can you head over to Mothers Helping Others Recipe Group join the discussion and share your super simple recipe! I  may even feature a couple on my blog!  We might even be able to convince Funny Postpartum Lady into trying out a few recipes and doing a feature on her blog as well!  

Semi-Homemade Saturday: Sugar and Spice (and everything nice) Biscuit Wreath

Hey there!!  I'm back!!  Oh, stop moaning.  It's not that bad....is it?  You should be thrilled that I am divulging all of my secrets on how to half ass your way through life!  hehe

Today marks the best time of the year!!  The holiday season is upon us and every Saturday through Christmas I will get to tell and show you how I half ass my way through the holidays!

This Saturday, in honor of Thanksgiving,  I am going to show you a super adorable centerpiece food that would go perfect with any Thanksgiving Brunch or even as a dessert and it will also dress up your Thanksgiving table.

Just admit it.  You're happy to see me.  hehe

Sugar and Spice (and everything nice) Biscuit Wreath

What you'll need:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 (16.3-ounce) can refrigerated biscuits (I used Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers) 
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup powedered sugar, sifted
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F)

In a bowl, stir to together the sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Now set the bowl to the side.  

Make sure somewhere you won't accidentally knock it off the counter.  Someone I know (who was not me) did that and I had a huge mess to clean.  Crap!  She, I meant, SHE had a huge mess to clean.  Not me,  No way!  I'm a pro! 

Okay, now open your can of biscuits and separate into individual biscuits.

Sprinkle a rolling surface with some of the sugar-spice mixture that you had put away for safe keeping. Try not to lick the counter top after doing this step.  My 3 year old did this and was on a sugar high all day, he kept coming back and begging for more.  He did some time in rehab.  It was touch and go there for a while.  He did pull through.  

Now, one at a time, press each biscuit into the bowl of sugar-spice mixture. 

Roll each biscuit on sugared surface to about 5 inches.  Don't run around looking for a tape measure.  Just eyeball it folks! 

 Now grab your cutest leaf shaped cookie cutter, and cut leaf shapes for your wreath. 

Position leaves overlapping in a circle/wreath shape onto an ungreased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Set aside. (again in a safe place to avoid knocking off of the counter)

Lightly beat egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Using a pastry brush or basting brush or paint brush (whatever you have on hand people, this isn't iron chef) paint your egg wash between the leaves where they overlap. 

Now pop that tray in the oven and bake it for 14-17 minutes.  Keep a look out though.  Ovens do vary and this is Thanksgiving NOT Halloween so black wreaths are unacceptable.  

While wreath is baking, stir together sifted powdered sugar and maple syrup until smooth. 

Cover and set aside.

Okay, grab that wreath out of the oven, let cool, and transfer onto whatever kind of plate or platter you plan on using.  

Once wreath has cooled, use a clean paint brush to apply the glaze to the leaves. 

 Paint every other leaf so that there is separation in color.  you can spoon some glaze into a decorative bowl in the center or you can also stir together some butter and honey, or butter and cinnamon for your guests to use on the un-glazed portion of the wreath.  Or not....it's your call really.  

You're all done!! Now go impress your guests!