Make Cool Treats with Your Kids- Sammy Makes Treats for His Brother

So I have to tell you this story...

Coming home from picking up the kids from school, Sammy says "Mom. I want to make something for my brother". He says.. It's super special and I saw it today in a book". He goes on to tell me why and what the treat is. Christopher had gotten into trouble last week at "Dad's" and he couldn't play on his Kindle and Sammy decided that he needed a little pick me up...

OK.. I ask him what the treat is and he says it's Star Wars R2-D2 treats made from bananas and chocolate. When I asked him what the recipe was he says "I don't know". Of course the next thing was to have him Google the recipe and he did :-)

I was so proud to see (with a little guidance) pulling up recipes online. 

We set off to the store with the list that he had complied from the internet recipe. He was so excited and actually shopped himself for all of the ingredients. Here is what we purchased for this treat.

Bananas

Chopped Pecans

White Chocolate Chips

KitKat bars

Preparing the Bananas for the white chocolate covering

Chopped and covered with the pecans

Attaching the Kit Kat bars to the sides with the melted white chocolate

~The Big Reveal~

What was a super cute request became such a proud moment for a doting mother. I love that it was his idea and he made it happen along with the help from my little foodie.

This blog is dedicated to all the little foodies out there!
Thank you Sammy and Christopher!
I love you


Thank you for reading my BLOG.... Happy Baking!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Brittney Diaz and Her Awesome Peach Cobbler!

PEACH COBBLER 

With Guest Brittney Diaz 

My First Guest on my Blog- My niece Brittney is a big foodie just like me and today I have decided that she needs to share her AWESOME recipe.

Diaz Peach Cobbler

This recipe is simple and filled with wonderful flavor.

Ingredients

Sliced peaches

Yellow Cake Mix

Butter

And That's It!!!

Pour the peaches into a pan with the juice.

Then sprinkle the yellow cake mix evenly and top with butter.

Cook for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Before

 After

What a simple dessert that will have your family in aw of your baking skills!

Thank you Brittney for sharing this wonderful and delightful recipe!

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introducing Brittney Diaz!

Thank you all for following my Blog and Happy Eating! :-)

Does an Apple a Day REALLY keep the DR. AWAY?

Does an Apple a Day REALLY keep the DR. AWAY?

Is it really true that an apple a day keeps the DR away? As a child I was told that eating one apple per day would keep me healthy. My my my how times have changed. In this day in age you have everything from the Blood Type diet to books on how to look better naked.

Research shows that an apple can help, but it takes more than that to create and sustain a healthy body.  Some people can just naturally burn fat and calories and others spend their life trying to reach the finish line. Unfortunately, I am the ladder. For years I have battled my weight and I can say that I like the size 10 better than the size 22.

Everyone knows that when you get to be a certain age, exercise is a must. It seems like more and more commercials and billboards are related to some type of exercise. Even HULU has come up with a channel called “The Daily Burn”.  My point here is that eating an apple a day is not going to keep the DR away and research studies have proven that to be a fact.

The flip side to this is that if you eat an apple a day, it may lead to healthier eating habits in the long run. Now that might keep the Dr. away for sure…

Thanks for reading my Blog and Eat That Apple TODAY!

Sal's Famous Pizzeria Inc. Where the motto is "Pay More For Less"

Sal's Famous Pizzeria Inc. 

Where the motto is "Pay More For Less"

Tonight we went for a visit to a small remodeled restaurant around the corner from the house called Sal's Famous Pizzeria Inc. The building is nothing special, however upon entering its such a lovely view. The entrance is tiled in slate and there is a copper pizza oven. The bar area is adorned with stainless accessories and beautiful glassware. 

However, the dining room was plain jane with no thought to the decor whatsoever... 

Maybe Gordon Ramsay should visit this Pizzeria

We originally wanted to order to go, but it seemed like the wait took an eternity! All that we ordered were cannoli and 2 cappuccinos.  When they finally brought out the coffee, the cups were half full and lukewarm no less. Not at all what you would expect when one has paid $37 dollars. That's right... I said Thirty Seven dollars...

Although the coffee was good and the cannoli were not at all average, the disappointment was far more concerning to me. The wait staff are not as expected in such a venue. They were arguing at the desk and discussing who was or wasn't doing their job. To boot, they were bad mouthing the owner. The wait was just a bit too long for a venue who charges too much for far less than one should expect.

This is not a venue I will be visiting again anytime soon!

As Always... Thank you for reading my Blog and Happy Eating!

:-)

Colonel Sanders KFC may have missed the mark!

I think KFC may have missed their mark this time.  A couple of weeks ago in a drive thru visit,  my friend unknowingly got more than she bargained for. 

She orders a box lunch with an extra chicken leg.  The drive thru visit went smooth and she gets back to work.  Finished with the mashed potatoes,  she proceeds to open the box to eat some yummy chicken.  She picks up the chicken leg and before she takes a bite,  looks down at the other piece of chicken to gasp at what she found next.  A long black hair sticking out from underneath the breading.  WHAT!!!!

That's not the end of the story folks.... She called the managers immediately and tells them the story,  and they reply with "Bring it back and we will issue a refund".. The biggest surprise of all is the response she received upon her return visit.  They refunded her for what she brought back and not the entire order.  They also took the food back in through the drive thru window!  Who knows what they did with that chicken. .. They could have served it to some other unsuspecting person after they pulled the hair out....

C'mon folks, this is not the first incident of misrepresentation.  You have drive thru workers licking the mashed potato containers after spilling gravy on them and dry boogers on your mirrors in your dining area. Do I really need to continue?

There is something to be said for a clean restaurant and good customer service, don't you think? 

Once again, Thank you for reading my Blog and Happy Eating.  

Let me know what you think about this article.

Desire for a Culinary Masterpiece- Cheddar's Restaurant Review- Avon Indiana

Desire for a Culinary Masterpiece-

Cheddar's Restaurant Review-

Avon Indiana

Last year Cheddar's opened in Avon Indiana. Needless to say,  I have been waiting for the perfect time to visit the place everyone has been talking about.  So I walk in with my family and am greeted and immediately seated. This is a beautiful restaurant with a row of ceiling fans and a tank full of tropical fish

I opened the menu and there were lots of fun options, so I decide on the Fish Tacos. I am so excited to order but unfortunately the wait was almost too much to bare. It was about 15 minutes before the drinks were served. The restaurant was not busy, however our server seemed to be extremely interested in the 2 tables behind us. I wasn't sure we were ever going to get her attention.

So twenty five minutes into our experience, we finally received the queso and chips. The chips were stale and the queso tasted like velveeta and salsa heated in the microwave. It was clumpy and yellow. The last time I checked, Queso is white...

Sad to say that the chips were the best part of the meal.

Whatever happened to those chefs who put their heart and soul into their food. There was nothing about the food that made me feel as if I was special in any way. When I go out to eat, I make the choice not only because of the reviews but also on how packed the parking lot is.

I made a colossal mistake! This may have been the worst meal I have ever tasted. I took one bite of the taco and immediately put it right back down. The coleslaw was a culinary disaster. The flavor was clearly left somewhere in the kitchen. The tacos' were made with flour tortillas, a spicy ranch sauce and covered in cole slaw.... The same coleslaw that was served as a side dish.

First , let me just say... Fish Taco's aren't traditionally made with flour tortillas. A traditional fish taco is made with corn tortillas. cilantro, onions and a spritz of lime. Where were my wonderful fish tacos? Somewhere in a hole in the wall in Mexico!

The chef's have no heart! They have lost their love of the culinary arts. To serve what could possibly be considered "leftovers", is a disaster in my book. I wanted to see a more heartfelt display of culinary genius, but instead received a low budget meal that could have been bought in the freezer section of your local grocery store. There are no words to describe the disappointment.

Where are the Chef's of late? Where have all of those wonderful cooks and chefs who put their heart and soul into each plate served just for the pure enjoyment. Good food is nothing to shake a stick at. I am not the perfect chef, however if I had been in that restaurant, I would have made a culinary delight to satisfy any person on the planet..... Just saying :-)

A Colossal Midwest Food Blunder

Thank you all for reading my blog and as always.. Happy Eating!!



Toasted Ciabatta Bread Sandwiches-Lunchtime Fun

Making lunch for people who love to eat is divine. There is much ado about lunch these days and I have to say "I Love Lunchtime" at my house. I get to create all different kinds of things. Most people enjoy a good dish, but I think I may have a different take on things.

I think every meal should be gourmet. There isn't much I can't do with food. I love to make up my own recipes and serve them to anyone who's hungry. I have to admit that although I may not be the best writer or have the best blog, the things I can create with food are not only simplistic but amazing.

I also love to share the recipes and how it's all done here in the Midwest Food Blunders Kitchen.

Ciabatta Bread Sandwiches

1 Ciabatta Roll

4 slices of avocado

1 cup of imitation crab

3 slices of Havarti Cheese

Top it off with a roasted red pepper sauce you can find in any grocery store

 OR

Make your own with sour cream, roasted red pepper and garlic

Toast before you add the avocado and dressing

And there you have it. Not only is this a fun lunchtime sandwich but it's also very simple to make. 

Try your own recipe using the same simple things.

Bread, Meat, Cheese and add a splash of flavor!

Once Again... Thank you for reading my blog and Happy Eating!

Oasis Diner... Where they serve Butterscotch Rootbeer Floats!

Oasis Diner

The Best Diner on the Planet

 

 

They serve the "BEST" Butterscotch Root beer floats and Stuffed French Toast in the afternoon!

 

Who doesn't love breakfast in the afternoon? I know I love, love, love it. Especially from a local downhome Diner that has super awesome service.

 

The menu is genius and the atmosphere is to die for.

This little diner brought me back to Mayberry!

 

I haven't seen an authentic Diner since I was on vacation in Julian, Ca. You can't beat a diner that actually serves good food. I mean, is there anything better than a root beer float? The answer to that question is, Yes! It's a butterscotch root beer float. Add a beautiful plate of stuffed French toast and you have the best afternoon breakfast on the planet.

 

 

The French toast was cooked perfectly and they added fresh fruit to the dish as well. When was the last time you had actual "fresh" fruit added to your plate when you ate out?

 

 

The inside was covered in a cream cheese and cinnamon blend and was drizzled with a strawberry sauce. Then to top it off, they added the perfect amount of powder sugar. It was absolutely amazing. The French toast was a crunchy outside and soft on the inside. Just like Grandma used to make...

 

 

Here is my suggestion. If you are in the Plainfield, IN area, please stop by and visit this little super authentic Diner. You will not regret a moment spent with these fantastic folks.

 

 

As Always, Thanks for reading my blog and Happy Eating!

 

 



 



 



Savory Chicken and Sausage Soup

Savory Hearty Chicken Soup

It's Dinner Time

Well, here I am again in the grocery store. I am looking for something to feed the boys and I am at a loss. I see lots of premade meals and I am thinking...NOT tonight! Tonight I am going to take some fresh ingredients and make them a healthy meal.

I ask them, "What do you want for dinner?" I knew the answer was going to be pizza. It's always pizza! Of course I said no and they did their pout face. I walked by the soup isle and said, "Hey, you want some fresh chicken soup for dinner?" 

I got a pretty fair response, so off to the veggies we went. Here is what I decided on.

Chicken and Sausage

Carrots

Celery

Potatoes

Cabbage

Canned Corn

Onions- 1 white and chives

and Chicken Broth

My kitchen in full force. I made every part of this dish separately.

I grilled the potatoes and the chicken. Then in a separate pot, I added the chicken stock and veggies along with some garlic powder, salt and a tablespoon of sour cream.

 I cut up the chicken and sausage and added them to the pot to finish off the dish.
Here is the finished dish.

My favorite part of cooking is plating the dish.

I added a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to the top of the soup for taste and presentation.

I think this is more of a stew then a soup. However, the dish was absolutely devine.  It was all cooked as perfect as any soup could be. I find that cooking things separately sometimes makes it easier to have all the ingredients cooked evenly.

Thank you for reading my blog and Have fun with some fresh ingredients tonight!

Happy Eating  :-)

Spice it up! Make ANY weekday dinner a gourmet meal for your family :-)

Spice It Up

With all of the cooking shows on T.V. today, especially Rachel Ray, you can make any meal in less than 30 minutes. I say make any dinner and spice it up in less than 30 minutes. Take plain old spaghetti for instance.

You can do so much...

Anyone who has the mind to make a decent meal, has a mind to make it gourmet with everyday thing bought from your local grocery store. I made this meal with some very simple ingredients.

1 box spaghetti noodles
1 large jar of sauce (any kind you like will do)
2 cans of turkey chili with beans
1 can of Rotel spiced tomatoes
1 bag of Quesadilla cheese
1 canister of sour cream with chives
1 bag of turkey meatballs

Take a plain roll, cut it in half and baste it with butter and Parmesan cheese to ... 

Spice it Up! Bake it until it's light brown. 

There's nothing better than a great meal on a budget. 

Make it a spicy night and Happy Cooking!  :-)

Thanks again for reading my blog.. I blog just for you!

Mini Tuna and Veggie Pot Pies.. It's What's for Dinner!

Comfort Food on a Cold Winter Day

It's about 4 degrees here in the Midwest state of Indiana and the kids are on a 2 hour delay. This morning I was thinking about what to make for dinner.....while I was eating my delicious bowl of bran flakes in almond milk. 

I knew this kids would be hungry soon after homework, so I decided on a hot single serve dish. Mini tuna and vegetable pot pies just might hit the spot. They are easy to make with little ingredients.

This is a mixture of cream of chicken soup, tuna, mixed vegetables and biscuits. 

I made 2 different size mini pot pies. The smaller size for the kids and the larger size for the adults.

This is a pretty basic method. You roll the biscuits out to fit the pan and you press them into the pan. Then scoop the mixture into the sections and cover with another piece of dough. How easy is that! Well.... it may be easy but it's time consuming. It takes about 30 minutes to get these into the oven from start to finish.

The Finished Product

Was well worth the wait...

The crust is a buttery, flaky crust with a wonderful flavor.

The middle of the pie is the perfect compliment with it's warm vegetables covered in delicious thick creamy sauce.

Typically you see chicken in pot pies. I chose to use one can of tuna to give it a more hearty sauce. The tuna is also a great compliment as well especially if you like the taste. I recommend using tuna in oil. It simply has a better flavor in my opinion.

As always, Thanks a Bunch for reading my Blog and Happy Eating!!! :-)