Snack Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip

July 5, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PackSnacksTheyLove #CollectiveBias

We started school this week – crazy! It’s such a mad-dash to get them all ready and out the door in time in the mornings, and I’m eager for when we get it to a smoother routine. After school isn’t much better yet, as we need to find a good groove for homework, rinsing out lunch boxes, signing their folders and hopefully some play time. Luckily, I have some awesome recipes I can rely on to make the afternoon a little easier, like these Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip! I just whip them up when I have time, then store them in the fridge so they’re ready to go when the kids are. originally shared August 2016

These snack dips are perfect to go with crackers, cookies, even fruits for a variety of tasty things! I made sure to stock up on our favorite snack packs from Kroger when I was doing our weekly grocery shopping there – I can rely on them to have the variety I need, and do well to keep their shelves full so I’m not missing anything from my list. I found some awesome (and convenient – yay!) snacks for the kids’ lunches and after school snacks – NABISCO Multipacks like RITZ, Teddy Grahams, OREO, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Barnum’s Animal Crackers and even Honey Maid crackers are perfect! Not only do my kids love the taste, but the portable packs make it SUPER easy to just toss in a lunch bag, or pull out when they get home from school. Even when we’re racing to dance lessons, we just grab some packs and go.

As I was filling my cart with these, determined to stay prepared for several weeks of back-to-school adjustment ahead, one of their friendly workers asked if I wanted him to grab more from the back. We laughed a bit (you should’ve seen how many I already had in my cart) and he totally understood how crazy this time of year is. I was tempted to say ‘yes’ to his offer just to see if his eyes would get big 🙂

Another great benefit of these snacks are that they’re easy for my kiddos to open, plus bite-sized. Definitely a bonus for my younger ones! They go great with our snack dip recipes, which are already REALLY simple to whip up! Just grab your ingredients next time you’re at Kroger, mix them together, and you’re all set for snacks!

S’mores Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Marshmallow Creme
1 cup Chocolate Pudding
8 oz. Whipped Topping
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

Beat the marshmallow creme, chocolate pudding and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the remaining ingredients and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cookie Dough Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 – 2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Chocolate Chips, as desired

Directions

Beat the butter, brown sugar, salt and vanilla until creamy. Whip in the milk until smooth.
Slowly add in the flour until desired consistency (I did about 1 1/2 cups). Stir in chocolate chips and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

It was a mix in our family as to which of these dips were the favorite. Personally, I prefer the cookie dough dip – but really enjoyed the s’mores one, too. Dang, can’t really choose!

Which snack packs and dip would YOUR kids enjoy the most?

21+ Ways to Make Box Brownies Seem Gourmet!

March 11, 2019 by Danielle 2 Comments

Let’s face it, sometimes we just want a delicious dessert recipe that’s special – but we don’t always have time for homemade. Or you just HAVE boxed brownies, but want to spruce them up a bit instead of let them collect dust in your pantry. While brownies from a box may seem boring, here are 21+ Ways to Make Box Brownies Seem Gourmet! A few small tweaks or additions here and there can take a simple treat and turn it into the most popular brownie recipe at the party!

All of these recipes use a boxed brownie mix as the base, but then through either additions or swaps make them seem like a unique, fancy – and definitely delicious – brownie that’s perfect for any party, get-together, or just a night in!

Slow Cooker Brownie Pudding – Crazy for Crust

Cookies ‘N Cream Oreo Fudge Brownies – Kevin and Amanda

(also see their Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Fudge Brownie Bars)

Chocolate Coconut Brownies – Celebrating Sweets

Fully Loaded Reese’s Brownies – Buns in My Oven

French Silk Brownies – Crazy for Crust

Samoa Brownies – Southern Plate

Chocolate Mint Pudding Brownies – Busy Mom’s Helper

Buckeye Brownies – Shugary Sweets

Ultimate S’mores Brownies – A Latte Food

OMGEEEE! Brownies – Southern Bite

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Pizza – Mostly Homemade Mom

S’mores Brownies – Pip and Ebby

Mounds Brownies – In Katrina’s Kitchen

German Chocolate Brownies – Julies Eats & Treats

Brownie Marshmallow Crunch Bars – From Valerie’s Kitchen

Brownie Gooey Bars – Crazy for Crust

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bars – A Savory Feast

Crockpot Turtle Brownies – Passion for Savings

Neopolitan Cheesecake Brownies – Frugal Coupon Living

Red, White & Blue Brownie Pizza – Jo Cooks

Dreamy Oreo Brownies – Cookies and Cups

Salted Caramel Pretzel Crust Brownies – Living Well Spending Less

And if you’re feeling really ambitious….

Snickers Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake – Life, Love and Sugar

Brownie Recipes from Busy Mom’s Helper

Nestle Tollhouse VS. Dad’s Recipe: The Healthier Cookie

February 1, 2019 by Danielle 10 Comments

Today I’m sharing you one of our absolute FAVORITE cookie recipes, and it isn’t even my own! My Dad, who loves to experiment with recipes to make them more healthy, came up with this one and was kind enough to share it (and gave me permission to pass it on to y’all)! For a bit more fun, we’re even comparing it so you can see the nutritional difference between Nestle Tollhouse VS. Dad’s Recipe: The Healthier Cookie!

I know that the Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip recipe is many people’s ‘go-to’ for cookies, but now you’ll think twice once you not only see the healthy difference, but also TASTE the amazing deliciousness of my Dad’s Cookies!

This is comparing based on Cookie-to-Cookie of the same size, 1 tbsp scoop of dough size to be exact. It took a bit for me to go through everything, then divide appropriately, to find the correct nutritional values….but this is as close as I could get.

Nestle Tollhouse

110 Calories (60 from Fat)
7g Fat
3.5g Saturated Fat
85mg Sodium
14g Carbs
1g Fiber
10g Sugar
2g Protien

Dad’s Cookies

107 Calories (49 from Fat)
6g Fat
4g Saturated Fat
85mg Sodium
9g Carbs
.25g Fiber
8g Sugar
4g Protien

So for even more flavorful cookies, you get slightly less calories and fat, fewer carbs, little less sugar and double the protien. Woot woot!

Ingredients

1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 cup Coconut Oil (just scoop, don’t melt)
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Dried Oats
1 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
1 1/4 cup All-Purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 Degrees F. Spray some cookie sheets, set aside.
Combine the first 7 ingredients together until well mixed. Mix in the protein powder, dried oats and flour slowly. Lastly, stir in the chocolate chips.
Scoop about 1 tbsp. sized dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are BARELY brown. When you take them out, they’ll still look slightly undone, but that’s fine. Allow to cool just 2 minutes on the sheet, then remove to a cooling rack (carefully).

These cookies do AMAZING in the freezer! Make a big batch, toss some in a ziplock baggie into your freezer, then just pull them out whenever you need some cookies! My Dad likes to keep some on-hand in the freezer so he can grab a bag before a road trip. Fresh cookies during a long drive? Yes, please!

You can, of course, adjust the ingredients to fit YOUR preferred tastes! Want to try another flavor protein powder? Then go for it! I’m curious what Strawberry flavored would end up like, with maybe some white chocolate chips? Yumm-o!

Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

January 25, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you Girl Scouts of North Texas for the complimentary cookies to assist this recipe!

It’s that time of year again, when troops of young ladies and their leaders await, table full of delicious goodness, for you to exit the grocery store or drive by, hoping that you’ll stop and buy a box (or a dozen). I love seeing the girls get excited as they work hard to sell their cookies, not just to raise money but also to learn great leadership and entrepreneurship skills. If you’re looking to do something a little different with your box of tastiness this year, try a new twist to one of the favorite Girl Scout Cookies with this amazing and super easy to make Thin Mint Pudding Cookies recipe!

The Girl Scout Cookie Program runs January 11th – February 24th, so be on the lookout for your local troop so you can nab some boxes (or check out TexasCookieTime.org to order some) and give this new recipe a try. And I totally won’t judge if you eat a Thin Mint or two while these bake, because life’s about enjoyment, right? 😉

Yield: about 3 dozen Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks Butter, softened
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 cup Sugar
1 small pack INSTANT Vanilla Pudding (3.4 oz)
2 Large Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2-1 tsp. Mint Extract
2 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
1 cup (about 1 sleeve) Thin Mints, crushed

Note: to really get my Thin Mints crushed, I put them into my blender.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line 2-3 baking sheets, set aside.
Mix the butter, eggs, light brown sugar, regular sugar and pudding mix until smooth. Add in the vanilla, baking soda, and mint extract and mix again until smooth.
Mix in the flour until everything is well combined, then gently fold in the crushed Thin Mints until evenly incorporated.
Roll into 1″ balls, then place on cookie sheet, flattening just a bit.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to cooling rack. Do not overbake.

These taste amazing – soft and chewy, with a great flavor just like Thin Mints! Now, I had my Thin Mints crushed to a fine powder (because the blender), but you can do larger pieces if you want it more like chunks instead of all throughout your cookie.

Next to Samoa’s, Thin Mints are my absolute favorite Girl Scout Cookie – and I love enjoying them as-is and also in these delish pudding cookies. Plus, it makes them go further, so you can take them to a party or get-together without having to use ALL your Thin Mints!

What’s your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Mint Hot Chocolate Brownies

January 4, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Y’all know my love for chocolate, right? With all of the holiday parties the kids (and us adults, as well) had over the holidays that involved bringing a treat to share, I just knew I wanted to whip up something good. I wanted them to be a little festive, but not JUST a holiday-themed dessert. These Mint Hot Chocolate Brownies were just the ticket, with that amazing chocolaty flavor mixed with the perfect hint of mint, topped off with some marshmallowy goodness. We had to make extra just to enjoy here by ourselves!

Instead of making these brownies in a regular pan, I thought it’d be more fun (and cute) to bake them in a muffin tin so they’re more like individual little brownie bites. So fun! Plus, it’s easier to know where to place the marshmallow – and I’m all for easy recipes 🙂

You can switch up the sprinkles on top (or leave them off entirely, totally up to you) to match whatever theme or event you have, which makes them really flexible and fun. I wanted a bit more simple on this batch, but still ‘winter holiday’, so added some white pearl sprinkles. Another batch that the girls will take to their church youth party have red crystal ones on top. I love mixing things up!

Makes: 24 Muffin-sized Brownies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 1/3 cup Butter, very soft
1 cup Brown Sugar, loosely packed
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 Large Eggs
1 cup Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
3 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cup Chocolate Chips
6 Large Marshmallows
1/2-1 cup Andes Mint pieces
Sprinkles, as desired

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line two muffin tins, set aside.
In a large bowl (or mixer) mix the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs until creamy.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda and mix until well combined.
Mix in the chocolate chips, then divide into the muffin tins.
Bake for 8-9 minutes. While baking, cut the marshmallows in half.
Remove the brownies (should not be done yet) and place a half marshmallow (with sticky cut side down)into the middle of each brownie bite and press it down.
Bake for another 2-4 minutes or until the marshmallows are puffy and the brownies are fully baked (insert a toothpick next to the marshmallow to see if the center is done). Allow to cool, then remove from muffin tin.
Melt the Andes mint pieces in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until they’re all melted and smooth. Drizzle over the brownies, topping with sprinkles while still melted so they stick better.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-6 days. Enjoy!

See, they’re super easy to whip up – and the taste is amazing! It’s like a nice, chewy cup of hot chocolate with just the right amount of mint to really add to the flavor. I warmed up my brownie for about 5 seconds in the microwave to give it that bit of warmth, really making the perfect afternoon treat.

These were a HUGE hit at our holiday events, and I had quite a few friends ask me for the recipe. I love being able to share tasty treats (especially chocolate ones) and knowing people truly enjoyed them.

I think next time I’ll do a white chocolate drizzle, add a bit of mint extract and a little green food coloring, for more coloring to these little desserts. Heck, red or blue would be great for holiday time, too! Really, just have fun with it and enjoy your delicious hot chocolate brownies with mint topping!

What’s your favorite holiday recipe?

5 Easy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

September 3, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

What busy mom has time to plan an elaborate or complicated snack, especially when you have a little one in tow? Fortunately, there are plenty of great snacks out there that your toddler will adore without having to go crazy. Well, being a mom may have us crazy anyway – but at least we can use these 5 Easy Snack Ideas for Toddlers to help save what little sanity we have remaining!

No, I’m not going to go into the best crackers or packaged snacks – these are just general thought starters with things you probably already have at home in the fridge or pantry. It’s funny, because you may be like ‘oh, that’s obvious’ – but many parents overlook these awesome snack ideas! As with any food, though, please do keep in mind your child’s age and ability to avoid any choking dangers.

Here are 5 easy snack ideas for toddlers:

1. Fresh fruit – Most kids love fresh fruit. You can slice strawberries, grapes, bananas, oranges, apples or kiwi. You might also chunk pineapple, watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe. Your child might also love blueberries, raspberries or other mixed berries. With so many fruit options to choose from, your child will never get bored! Slice up your fruit ahead of time to serve your toddler when they get hungry.

2. Fresh vegetables – Sliced cucumbers, celery, carrots, and bell peppers are full of fiber and nutrients. You can serve them to your child plain or with peanut butter or vegetable dip. You can keep your fresh vegetables in containers and serve whenever your child is in the mood for a snack.

3. Yogurt – Not only is it high in protein, calcium, and Vitamin D, but most kids adore yogurt! Consider choosing plain yogurt and adding your own fresh fruit to avoid the sugar content in fruit-flavored yogurts.

4. Eggs – Hard boiled eggs can be a great snack option for your toddler. You can make them ahead of time to serve to your child over the course of a few days. Not only are eggs packed with nutrients, but they’re high in protein to help curb your child’s appetite.

5. Frozen fruit bars – These can be a real treat, especially during the hot summer months. Not only are they cold, but they also have chunks of real fruit in them. Plus, many kids believe they’re getting an awesome TREAT when you serve these, so it’s a win-win!

What are your favorite snack ideas for toddlers?

Berry Chocolate Yogurt Bark

August 6, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Do your kids get bored of the same old snacks sometimes? Mine do – even though we mix it up plenty, it’s nice to switch it up sometimes. The other day we were planning on yogurt, but I thought it’d be fun to make it a litte unique. It’s been super hot here in Texas, so a frozen snack was ideal. They were so excited, and loved how this Berry Chocolate Yogurt Bark turned out! Plus, I was happy with how simple it was to make.

You can really mix this up however you’d like – use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate, pick your type of berries, or however you want to customize it to better fit your family’s tastes. This is perfect for a hot summer afternoon, or as a quick afternoon snack.

Ingredients

Chocolate Chips
Strawberry or Vanilla Yogurt (or mix plain yogurt with a little honey to sweeten a bit)
Berries of choice
Parchment paper
Baking Sheet

Note: I didn’t include measurements, because it’s really up to you how much to do for yours or how much you need. I used a 9×13 baking sheet for mine and this filled it up almost to the edges (but not quite). I used 3 cups of chocolate chips (I’d use less next time so the chocolate layer wouldn’t be as thick), about 4-5 cups of yogurt, and 1-2 cups mixed berries.

Directions

Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet, set aside.
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl on half power, stirring often, until smooth (took mine about 4 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30-45 seconds) Spread onto the parchment paper and freeze about an hour, or until hardened.
Spread your yogurt over the chocolate, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle your berries over top, pressing them gently into the yogurt. Freeze about 3-4 hours, or until hardened.
Allow to thaw about 15-30 minutes, then break into chunks of ‘yogurt bark’. Enjoy immediately!

See, it’s really easy to make – the hardest part is allowing enough time for it to freeze all the way, so does require planning ahead a bit. If you have any extra yogurt bark pieces, store them in an airtight container of baggie in your freezer.

What’s your favorite type of berries?

50+ Cool Summer Snacks

June 12, 2018 by Danielle

School’s out for the summer – excuse me while I feel a bit crazy with both excitement AND worry! I’m looking forward to more time with them, less rushed mornings, creating our OWN schedules, and plenty of family adventures. I’m also a bit nervous about the ‘I’m bored’ phrase that I know will occur far too often. That, along with ‘I’m hungry’, of course! Luckily we’ve got plenty of delicious recipes for kids with these 50+ Cool Summer Snacks!

Whether you’re a fan of popsicles or ice cream, slushies or lemonade, we’ve got plenty of great summer treat recipes for you to try out! They’re also really ‘cool’, so your kids will happily enjoy them 🙂

Cool Summer Snacks

Rainbow Popsicles from The First Year Blog

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake Loaf from Life, Love and Sugar

Frosty S’mores Brownie Bars from Busy Mom’s Helper

DIY Gogurts from Art From My Table

Strawberry Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Kansas City Dirt Cake from Lil’ Luna

Creamy Watermelon Coconut Milkshake from Cook Nourish Bliss

No Churn Brownie Bite Ice Cream from Juggling Act Mama

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie via Busy Mom’s Helper

Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles from The Busy Baker

No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Jello Shaved Ice from Tips From A Typical Mom

Fresh Strawberry Lemonade with Honey from Art From My Table

Popsicle Brownies from Somewhat Simple

Strawberry Mango Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Banana Bites from Not Enough Cinnamon

Healthy Orange Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Strawberry Lemonade Bars from The Baker Upstairs

Melon Ice Cubes from No Biggie

Homemade Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Cotton Candy Ice Cream from Home and Plate

Lava Flow Popsicles by One Lovely Life

Individual Frozen Key Lime Pies from This Silly Girl’s Life

Watermelon Pudding Pops from Clean and Scentsible

Chocolate Chip Mint Greek Yogurt Pops from Country Cleaver

Fruit Pizza from Bakers Royale

Two-Ingredient Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites from The Baker Mama

Fruit Infused Water from I Heart Naptime

Pomegranate Coconut Popsicles from My Fussy Eater

Milk & Cereal Breakfast Popsicles from In Katrina’s Kitchen

Choco-Taco from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Watermelon Popsicles from Cooking Classy

Easy Frozen Yogurt Bites from Eating on a Dime

4-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet from Cincy Shopper

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Fresh Watermelon Cake from Sprinkle Bakes

Strawberry Mojito Mocktail from Art From My Table

Coconut Creme Ice Pops from Simply Stacie

Sand Pudding Cups from Food Fun Family

Watermelon Lemonade from The Recipe Critic

Berry Pomegranate Smoothie Pops from Juggling Act Mama

Banana Split Bites from Our Family of Seven

Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream from Baking Ginger

Blueberry Lemonade from Art From My Table

7 Insanely Delicious Ice Cream Sundaes via Buzzfeed

Cake Batter Popsicles from Just Add Sprinkles

No Bake Ice Cream Cupcakes from Juggling Act Mama

Frozen Hot Chocolate from One She Two She

Watermelon Pie from Make and Takes

Pomegranate Ice Cream from Art From My Table

15 Quick & Easy Mug Cake Recipes

January 8, 2018 by Danielle

Even though the start of year has almost everyone – me included – trying to be healthier, I believe a lot in BALANCE. Maybe that’s because I want an excuse to still have a treat or dessert every now and then, but whatever. I’ve learned that if I do keep a stockpile of tasty things, I’m much more likely to indulge more than I should – which is why single or two-serving dessert recipes are AMAZINGLY perfect! If you’re like me and needing a simple dessert recipe that won’t make a ton, or you just love your own serving cake, then give one of these 15 Quick & Easy Mug Cake Recipes a try!

Ya’ll know my love for chocolate, and there’s plenty of chocolaty goodness in the list – but there’s plenty for those times you want something a little different. Or for people – like my hubby – who aren’t the biggest chocolate fans; strawberry, pumpkin spice (of course), apple spice, funfetti, and lemon just to name a few of the tasty options. Maybe a little dessert is a great reward for a week of hitting your gym goals, or for completing your enormous and sometimes terrifying to-do list. Whatever the reason, I’m sure you’ll love at least SOME of these amazing mug cake recipes!

Lemon Mug Cake | Life Love Liz

Blueberry Mug Cake | Bunny’s Warm Oven

Chocolate Mug Cake | A Few Shortcuts

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake | Sugar Spice and Glitter

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mug Cake | Life Anchored

Chocolate Lava Mug Cake | A Grande Life

Microwave Nutella Mug Cake | Living Sweet Moments

Reese Mug Cake | My Organized Chaos

Gluten Free Strawberry Mug Cake | Frugal Farm Wife

Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake | DIY Candy

Vanilla Honeycomb Mug Cake | Sippy Cup Mom

Apple Spice Mug Cake | The Rebel Chick

S’mores Mug Cake | Bullocks Buzz

Angel Food Mug Cake | The Typical Mom

Gluten Free Funfetti Mug Cake | What the Fork

BONUS: Grain-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll in a Mug | Scratch Mommy

BONUS: Chocolate Chip Banana Mug Bread | A Girl Worth Saving

What easy mug cake recipe do YOU want to try first?

Also try…

25+ of the Best Mug Cake Recipes

Great List of Yummy Low Fat Dessert Recipes

Christmas Crepes with Mint Sweet Cream Filling

December 22, 2017 by Danielle

Crepes are probably the most-requested breakfast recipe in our family. If you’re like us and love a good batch of crepes, or are just looking for something new to try this season, I highly recommend these Christmas Crepes with Mint Sweet Cream Filling. They’re perfect for the holiday, and taste super delicious! Not only that, but they’re quick to make – because who really has a ton of extra time this week?!

They love it when we whip up a batch of our popular crepes recipe, so I thought that we’d celebrate our first day on holiday break by switching it up a bit and trying something new. I surprised them with these amazing Christmas Crepes for snack, and they were thrilled! I’m sure half that excitement was just for the sprinkles because, well, kids – you know how it is 🙂

Makes about 6 small Christmas Crepes

Ingredients – Crepes

1 tbsp. Sugar
2 tbsp. Coconut Oil, melted
1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
Dash of Salt
2 Large Eggs
1 cup Milk
1/2 cup Water
1 cup Flour
1 tbsp. Cocoa Powder
Red Food Color (optional) – I used about 8 drops

Ingredients – Mint Sweet Cream Filling

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 cup Powdered Sugar (plus more if needed for desired consistency)
1/4 cup Ricotta Cheese
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. Mint Extract

Optional: Sprinkles, Powdered Sugar for sprinkling on top, Chocolate Drizzle

Directions

Combine all of the CREPE ingredients in either your blender or a larger bowl or mixer. Blend/mix very well so it’s no longer lumpy.
Take a small frying pan, spray it with cooking spray, then heat up over medium-low heat. Scoop about 1/4 cup batter into the pan and watch carefully as it cooks.
When the edges are starting to come up and the crepe slides a bit when you shake the pan side to side, it’s time to flip it over. Don’t over cook!
Spray your pan before each crepe, and continue through the batter.
Prepare the mint sweet cream filling by mixing all of the ingredients together until smooth. If it’s runnier than you’d like, add more powdered sugar.
Fill the finished crepes with filling, then roll up and top as desired (I did powdered sugar and festive sprinkles). Enjoy!

I love doing special holiday recipes for the family, especially when it’s something they enjoy so much. I think these would also be perfect for times like Valentine’s Day even – just switch out the green sprinkles for something pink or silver perhaps!

I do think these may be better as a snack or dessert, being a bit too sweet for breakfast. Wait, is that even possible?!

What’s YOUR favorite type of crepes?

Noodle Stuffed Tomatoes

October 30, 2017 by Danielle

This post was sponsored by No Yolks as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #NoYolks #NoOtherNoodle #IC

Ya’ll know I’m a HUGE fan of easy weeknight meals that make everybody happy. As busy moms, we don’t have time to spend forever in the kitchen creating new masterpieces! Or do we? By trying noodles in new and unexpected ways, you can create all sorts of amazing dishes that not only peak people’s interest (gotta keep the kiddos happy, right?) but also taste incredible – like these Noodle Stuffed Tomatoes!

I was really wanting to whip up something new, and the other day had a pot boiling water so I could cook up some No Yolks noodles (I love that they always cook up smooth, firm and fluffy, and stay that way after mixing them with your favorite recipes). After brainstorming how I wanted to fix these up to serve for a quick snack or light meal, I decided that including tomatoes would be perfect – but not in the normal diced way!

Instead of putting diced tomatoes mixed into the noodles, why not mix the noodles inside the tomatoes?! I had to give it a try – and it turned out super fresh and delicious, and the perfect size for a great party appetizer, afternoon snack or even a simple lunch!

Ingredients

Tomatoes, washed
No Yolks noodles
Shredded Cheese of Choice
Basil for topping, if desired

Directions

Cook your No Yolks Noodles according to package directions.
Cut the tops off the tomatoes (and little off bottoms if you want it to stand flat better) and scoop out the insides.
Spoon some noodles into each empty tomato. Top with a good sprinkling of cheese.
If desired, nuke in the microwave 5-10 seconds to melt the cheese. Sprinkle some basil on top, if desired.
Serve and enjoy!

Seriously, you’ve gotta give this new twist on traditional noodles & tomatoes a try because it is da bomb!

Not only are No Yolks noodles the perfect addition for when you need a delicious meal in a hurry, but they’re also a smart choice because they’re a healthy egg noodle alternative, made from egg whites so there’s no cholesterol. Plus they’re low in fat and sodium, so I feel much better about feeding them to my family! You can nab them in Broad, Extra Broad, fine, Kluski, Dumplings and even Stir-Fry.

There’s so many creative ways to incorporate noodles into your busy weeknight meals because they’re incredibly versatile. No Yolks is for way more than just stroganoff or casseroles! Give them a try in soups like Miso and French Onion, or in dishes like Sriracha Cheesy Noodles or Noodles with Kale and Walnut Pesto. So many options for new and unexpected dishes! Take these tasty & fun Pizza Noodle Cups for example – A unique take on a definite family-pleasing dish.

Find more great noodle recipe videos HERE!

Be sure to follow No Yolks on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more tasty goodness!

Pumpkin Pie Dip

October 28, 2017 by Danielle

So this may make us ‘basic’, but we absolutely LOVE pumpkin – hubby in particular. When it hits fall, he takes that as an ‘all-clear’ to buy and make all sorts of pumpkin recipes, from ice creams to pancakes. Today we were looking through the pantry and noticed a lot of sweet crackers and cookies that would go great with a dip, so of course we had to whip up this delicious Pumpkin Pie Dip!

We’ve shared plenty of our pumpkin creations before – like our Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie or this Pumpkin Better-Than-Disneyland Pie – and we’re positive this dessert dip will be a new favorite! All it takes is 6 common ingredients and a few minutes time, then you have a party-worthy pumpkin pie dip that’s perfect for the fall or holiday season.

Ingredients

1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1 cup Whipped Topping
1 tsp. Ground Ginger
1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Directions

Whip the powdered sugar, canned pumpkin and whipped topping until creamy.
Add in the remaining spices and whip until well-combined.
Serve and enjoy!

Be sure to store any leftovers in the fridge, of course!

I bet this dip would also be perfect as an actual PIE – just pour some into a prepared pie crust and chill in the fridge for a bit. Mmmm…just thinking about a slice of creamy pumpkin goodness is making me hungry!

I love dessert dips because they’re so flexible – you can serve it as a side or snack, or pull it out for dessert! It’s great to take along for meals or parties, or put some in a cute container and gift it for the holidays! Whatever way you serve it up, I’m sure you’ll love this easy-to-make, super tasty pumpkin pie dip as much as we do! High-five to all my fellow pumpkin lovers!

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