Almond Cream Cheese Icebox Cookies

These things are so good.  And egg free- so really feel free to eat the dough... all of it.  So good.

Easy one bowl recipe. Original recipe seen here at Better Homes and Gardens.  I'd love to say i tweaked this recipe but I haven't.  It's just that good on it's own. I did do it lazy style and did not toast the almonds put in.  I've also seen others who have used ground almonds instead of sliced- go crazy. 

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted and chopped (toasting optional)
• 2/3 cup sliced almonds, chopped 

In a bowl mix the butter and softened cream cheese until well blended. Add in the sugar, salt vanilla and almost extract.  Add in the flour a bit at a time blending with your mixer as long as possible.  If needed use a wooden spoon to mix in the rest. (note a spatula can work- but not well this stuff gets heavy and thick) Blend in the 3/4 up almonds (toasted if you want) 

Divide dough into two. Form into rolls and roll through the remaining sliced almonds.  Wrap in cling wrap. (I used press and seal).  Chill.  I place in the freezer for an hour.  Or use the fridge for 4-6 hours. 

Preheat oven to 350F 

Slice the rolls.  Note the original recipe serves 60.  I have no clue how- because their cookies do not appear that thin.  I got 24 out of my dough. 
Bake for 10-12 minutes until just browning on edges.  I need new cookie sheets.  Mine got a bit too brown on the bottom even though I used parchment paper to line the cookie sheet. 

Enjoy! 

Tropical Frozen Treats

My kids love making Popsicles.  I love pina colada's.  So this is what we made.
1can coconut milk
1 can pineapple (Crushed) and juice

I mixed it up with our immersion blender and then poured into our popsicle molds.

Suggestions: use strong juice to mix with the coconut milk. Otherwise the taste will be quite mellow- concentrated juice mixed with just some water not the correct amount.  Or like i did canned fruit with it's own juice.

 

No Bake Cake Batter Fudge

Kids are off to their dads, I'm home alone and it's miserable and rainy out.  When the kids are gone I try to avoid buying groceries and usually don't cook big meals just for me. A friend keeps commenting on cupcake posts on facebook and it got me craving.  So off to pinterest for something fast and easy and hopefully no bake. 

So here we are- original recipe from here

Off to the pantry I go- i have white cake batter but not yellow- and no sprinkles.  MMMMM I think white chocolate chips instead.  Nope kids ate those all gone! So this is a plain Jane version.

Microwavable bowl mix together
1 cup cake mix
1 cup powdered sugar
then add in
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter

Don't stir. Microwave until melted.  Original recipe said 2 minutes- that was too long for mine- i got a couple spots of carmalized butter/sugar out of it. Next time I'll just keep an eye

Stir until completely mixed, add in any add ins such as sprinkles - and stir only until distributed.  Spread into a greased container (This recipe worked well into a pie plate) and place in fridge to cool for about 1 hour.

mixed and ready to go in the fridge

Total time from start (as in got off the couch) until into the fridge- around 5 minutes :)

Servings: 8
WW Points: 6 (no add ins)

Mustard Chicken and Curried Veggies and the Yummiest desert around

It's Wednesday- my work has cancelled so meal plan day got pushed up and we headed to the grocery store.

Mustard Breaded Chicken

WHOOPS NO PHOTO
Sorry folks- one of my bff's phoned while i just finished cooking- i got eating before i realized WHOOPS no photo! So you'll have to imagine it.

I tweaked the recipe and made it as follows:

• 1/2 cup Sour cream- (I used light) 
• 1 tbs Mustard- Dijon or honey- i used honey because that's what's in the house
• 1/2 cup Bread crumbs- I used an Italian bread crumb mix that has some romano cheese and herbs in it. 
• 3-4 chicken breasts- skinless and boneless.

Mix the sour cream and mustard in a bowl and let the chicken breasts marinate for 15 minutes.  Then take them out, bread with the crumbs.
Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes until done. These were crispy on the outside moist on the inside. Not sure if this is my favorite recipe for breaded chicken- but it was interesting to try. If I could find Panko I'd try it with that for the bread crumbs. Kids loved it!
WW Point/breast: 8

Curried Veggies: 
Simple and decently good- next time more curry!
Head of Cauliflower (we also did some broccoli)
2-3 TBS Olive Oil
Curry powder to taste

So easy- toss them in the oil and curry powder- bake at 475F for 6 minutes until just getting brown and crispy- serve immediately!
Yeah yeah just like above- no photo sorry!
WW Points: 0!

Doughboy Cheesecake= Delicious! 
The idea for this desert came from here via Pinterest
However I tweaked it to bring down the points and well I'm lazy :) Next time if I think ahead I'll buy light cream cheese and use splenda in place of the sugar. Because this is GOOD and needs to be made again!
I did 1/2 the recipe and made it in a pie dish.

• 1 can crescent rolls
• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• cinnamon/Sugar

Easy peasy this is.  Take 1/2 the container of crescent roll stretch it out and cover the bottom of the pie pan
Mix Softened cream cheese and sugar Spread over the crescent roll dough.  Take the other 1/2 of the crescent rolls- stretch out and cover the top.  Mine didn't cover it perfect- but that does not matter.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mix over top.  Bake at 375 for 20 minutes until just lightly brown  I admit I overcooked just a bit.  Best served warm- but not hot.
8 servings
WW Points: 6