Day 7: Mini Monkey Garlic Bread

For day 7 I decided to do a side dish.  I love spaghetti & garlic bread, so this was a spin on traditional garlic bread.

I rate this recipe a 5!!  It was quick & easy to make...plus it tasted DELICIOUS!!!  This would be a recipe that would impress your dinner guests! It looks like it would be more difficult to make than it is & who doesn't love that!!

The original recipe can be found on eatcakefordinner.blogspot

Ingredients needed:
2 (7.5oz) cans of buttermilk biscuits
6 Tbsp. melted butter
3 gloves of minced garlic (I used fresh garlic, but garlic powder would work just fine)
2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese plus 2 Tbsp. to sprinkle on top (you could use a Italian cheese blend too)

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Open the 2 tubs of biscuits, cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and place in a bowl.  Melt the butter & mince garlic.  Then combine all the ingredients together and pour over the biscuits.  Toss gently to make sure that each biscuit piece is evenly coated.

Step 2:

Using a greased 12 cup muffin tin (make sure you grease the pan well...they will stick!  They look so cool when they are in one pull piece & can be pulled apart).  The original recipe says to place 6-7 pieces in each cup, but i did about 8-10...with 6 or 7 it didn't seem to fill the cup enough.

Step 3:

Sprinkle with the 2 Tbsp. of grated Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes.  Serve warm makes 12 servings.

They were SO good!!!  I think I ate more of the garlic bread then I did anything else!!

Day 6: DIY Shaving cream

I know it sounds crazy?!?  Why make something when you can just buy it?  True...but where is the fun it that?  Plus this recipe calls for things that most people have around their house, and if not most of these things  can be purchased for very little.  I had the baby oil & lotion on hand and I decided to purchase an inexpensive shampoo and conditioner that I liked the smell....that only cost me $2.00!!!  Pretty sure I will be able to make another full batch with the items that I have....so for $2.00 I can get 3 16oz jars vs. the cost of a can of shaving cream.  One suggestion that the pin I found gave, was buying the lotion in the same scent as the shampoo and conditioner...I will be doing that next time I need to mix up a batch. Then I was ready to whip it up!

This one I am rating a 4...it could use a little more thickness & next time around I will make a few tweaks.  It as easy & quick to mix up (if you have been reading my blog you'll notice that quick and easy are kind of a theme).  Bonus it smells great (since you can do whatever scent you want) and it saves money.

The original recipe can be found at beautytips4her.com

Ingredient List:

1 C Shampoo
1 C Conditioner
5 Tbsp Baby Oil
5 Tbsp Lotion

Step 1:  Mix shampoo and conditioner together & mix.

 Step 3:  Add 5 Tbsp baby oil and 5 Tbsp lotion. Mix.  It can be a little on the runny side...if you would like it a little thicker you can add more lotion about 8 Tbsp. but you can add lotion until its the thickness you like.

Step 3:  Let set up for 1 hr than pour into a container and use.

This was a really fun experiment!!  I have NEVER EVER made any homemade beauty product and I thought it was great.  I might get used to this "make your self home products" savings, the price it costs you to make it vs the price you buy to purchase could be addicting!!  Look for more in the future....I have a great homemade laundry detergent coming up soon!!

Update:  I decided since it is a little on the runny side to let it set for 24 hrs before using it.  And when I did it was truly AMAZING!!!  It left my legs SO silky and soft.  The best part....I seem to be having to shave less than when using regular store bought shaving cream!!!  Double save...save money and save time in the morning shower routine!!

Day 5: Creamy Vegetable Chowder

On a chilly winter day what could be better than a cheesy, creamy, veggie & delicious soup!!!  Since Momma S was going to be at our house to help watch Little T while I was working & Mr. J was cheering on the NDSU Bison in Texas, I decided to make her a special lunch.

Momma S and I rated this recipe a 2...it was ok...but could use a little tweaking the next time around.

The original recipe can be found at luluthebaker.blogspot.com

Ingredients List
2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 C chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped carrot (I used a grater on mine)
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
4 C chicken broth
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 C water
2/3 C milk
2 C chopped broccoli
2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese

(I also used a little salt and peeper because I thought it needed a little something something)

Step 1: Melt the butter in a large stock pot.  Add the onions, carrots and celery and saute over medium heat until tender.  Add the garlic and cook a few minutes longer.

Step 2:  Add chicken broth and potatoes (I cut mine a little on the small side, they will cook faster the smaller they are), bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender.  Mix flour and water, add to the stock pot and simmer until soup is a little thicker.

Step 3:  Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through.  (I cooked my broccoli a little longer because I like mine a little on the softer side.)

Step 4:  Stir in cheese and allow it to melt.  Serve when cheese is completely melted.  I served my soup with oven warmed rolls and crackers

I will be making this recipe again...with a few changes.  I will update you on what I did differently.

Also if you are looking for instructions on how to make this soup in the crock pot check out luluthebaker site there are a few comments on there about how people convert it to a crock pot recipe.  I promise I will do some other things besides cooking....soon!

Day 4: Dirt Cake

Today seems like a dirty cake type of day! No special event....it's just Friday and who doesn't need a little sugar shock at the end of the week :)

This recipe has a few more steps than the last couple...but like I said its Friday!!

The original recipe can be found at

Ingredient list:
1.5 package of Oreo Cookies
1 (8oz) package of cream cheese
1/2 C. butter, softened
1 C. powdered sugar
3 C. milk
1 (12oz) tub of whipping cream
2 (3 1/2 oz) packages of instant pudding, chocolate or vanilla
1/2 tsp. vanilla

The original recipe can be found at thegalwaygirl.com

Step 1: Crush all sandwich cookies (the recipe calls for Oreos, but I used Great Value...cheaper but offers the same taste in the cake). Then set them a side.

Step 2: Mix together the butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.  Set aside

Step 3:  Mix together the pudding and the milk.  Then fold together the cream cheese mixture and the pudding.

Step 4:  Add whip cream to the mixture.

Step 5:  Layer the crushed cookies and the pudding mixture starting with the cookies.  3-4 layers of cookies and 2-4 layers of pudding mixture (depending on how you want it to look).

I made mine just because I love it SO much and it seemed like a good way to end the week!  You can add gummy worms to the top if its for kids & for a more adult party you could use a clean flower pot & stuff a few fake flowers on top.

I love this "cake" and like to use any excuse to make it!!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Day 3: Olive Garden Copy Cat Dressing

Day 3 I choose to do a salad dressing...it "suppose" to be a copy cat of the yummy dressing everyone of us love from the Olive Garden.  The originally recipe can be found at mommysaves.com

It was a fairly easy recipe to follow...put all the ingredients together, mix & add to salad.  Most of the ingredients are things you most likely have in your cabinets.  The only thing I was missing was the Italian seasoning...I substitute a few "Italian" spices I had in my spice rack (oregano, basil, salt & a little pepper.)

As you mix it up you'll notice the dressing is a more creamy look than the more oil like Olive Garden dressing. 

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

• 1/2 C. mayonnaise
• 1/3C. white vinegar
• 1 tsp. vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp. corn syrup
• 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp. Romano cheese
• 1/4 tsp. garlic seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

I am giving this recipe a 2.  Overall it was really quick & easy to make...but not really like the Olive Garden's.  This is more like a creamy Italian dressing.  Would I eat it again and/or make it...yes, but I wouldn't advertise it as a Olive Garden copy cat.  Give it a try & let me know what you think...I will be having Momma S try it this weekend and get her opinion.

Day 2: Crock Pot Beef

This was a super easy recipe!! I LOVE throwing things in a crock pot & coming home from work & it's ready to eat.

Since I have to leave for work on Wednesday at 6am...yes 6...AM. I did most of the putting together the night before.

I started by putting a crock pot liner in the pot (that's for Mr. J since he does dishes if I cook), then added a frozen chuck roast.

The original recipe calls for pouring the broth & soup over the roast than mixing it together....but that is a little difficult with frozen meat. So I combined all the liquids & onion soup mix in a bowl & poured it over the roast.

The last & most surprising ingredient was the peppers & juice! I chopped off the stems & throw the peppers & juice in with the other ingredients.

Put the lid on & stuck it on the fridge. That way in the early morning am all I have to do is put it in the crock pot & turn it on!

11 hours...yes you read that right 11 hrs later it was ready to go. I shredded the beef & put it back in the juices while I got the rest ready. I served it on kaiser rolls that I toasted under the broiler topped in provolone cheese. With a side au ju for dipping.

Mr. J & Little T both loved it!! I enjoyed it as well...there is enough left over for lunch tomorrow. Hooray...my favorite!

I rate this one a 4. It was easy...only took about 10 mins to put together & 10 minutes to prep for serving. It was really tasty & the peppers gave it a deliciously different taste. The only thing I might do different it sauté for onions & green peppers to add on top.

Happy New Year!! Starting my resolution...

Happy New Year to everyone! Hope you had a good year...I know I sure did!

So when starting the whole idea of a Pinterest blog, I decided to rate everything on a scale of 1-5: 1-being an epic fail & 5-being a huge success!

For the first day I choose to do a New Year's Day breakfast of cinnamon roll waffles!!

I am giving this one a 3: for how easy it was & less mess then traditional waffles.

The first time I made them I put them in the waffle iron just as they came out of the tube...they were a little thick & more like a two sided crusty cinnamon roll.

The second time I smushed them down a little bit & they came out with a texture more like a traditional waffle. I think those were Little T's preferred way to eat them.

The third & last time I was using the left over, broken piece & just "threw" them in the waffle iron. That batch came out perfect for kids...a little crazy looking but tasting.

This is an easy recipe...all you need is a waffle iron & a tube of cinnamon rolls (I used the Great Value brand...but any brand will work).  As far as time, very waffle iron works differently.  Mine you put them in when the light is on & take them out when it goes off.  It seemed like it took 2-4 minutes (it also depends on how you what them done.)

All together this recipe took me about 10 minutes to make the whole tube.  Little T & Momma S (my mom) both seemed to like them.  Next time I am going to try using a tube of caramel rolls!! Yummy!

I found the original post on

(Still learning this blog thing...pictures will follow soon)

Tomorrows project...crock pot beef sandwiches!! Yum yum!