It is almost impossible

So Live It Up!

It's the little things

Our Troops Need Our Help!

Classic Simpsons

I May Not Be Perfect

The Way We See Things

At Some Point

Obviously.

Sometimes...

True Friends.

Cracks...

Some Days

Rome

It's Not Easy

This Is Your Captain

At Least

Chocolate Chip Cookie and Oreo Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips
•  1 package of oreo cookies
• 1 package of brownie mix 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line a 9X13″ pan with parchment paper 
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs followed by vanilla and mix well.
3. Add the flour, baking soda and salt and continue to beat until well combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.
4. Press the cookie dough evenly into the pan.
5. Now place the oreos on top of the cookie dough.  Surprisingly enough, there are just enough oreos to top the whole thing!
6. Prepare brownie batter as directed 
7. Pour brownie batter on top and smooth it around with a spatula.
8. Bake for 40-50 minutes.  They should look slightly under baked.  The edges will likely puff up and dry out a bit but you can trim them off afterwards and still have way more than enough gooey chocolatey squares to go around!  Some of the comments in this post suggest that 40 minutes is too long to bake, so it’s recommended to start peeking in on them after about 30 minutes. 

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 22 Oreos: 16 left whole, and 6 coarsely chopped
• 2 8-oz packages cream cheese, at room temperature (Neufchatel is fine)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 275 F.
2. Line 12 standard muffin tins and 4 ramekins (or 16 muffin tins, if you have them) with paper liners.
3. Place 1 whole Oreo in the bottom of each lined cup.
4. Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium. Gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla.
5. Pour in the beaten eggs, a little at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
6. Beat in the sour cream and salt.
7. Stir in chopped cookies by hand.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared tins, filling each almost to the top.
9. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until filling is set, 22-25 minutes.
10. Cool in the pans for about 15 minutes, on a wire rack, then transfer to a plate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, divided
• 4 cups whole milk, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered gelatin
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup dried milk powder
• 2 tablespoons glucose
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Take 2 cups of the cereal and crush to the texture of gravel. Add to a pitcher or large bowl. Pour 3 3/4 cups of milk over the top and stir vigorously. Let steep for 20 minutes at room temperature.
2. Strain the milk through a fine-mesh sieve into am medium bowl. Use a spatula to squeeze the milk out of the cereal, but don’t force the mushy cereal through the sieve.
3. Set aside. Take the remaining 1/4 cup milk, which should be thoroughly chilled, and sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the top. Let stand for 20 minutes.
4. Warm a cup of the cereal milk in a sauce pan (either on the stove or in the microwave). Remove from the heat and whisk in the gelatin mixture to dissolve. Whisk in the remaining ingredients, including the rest of the cereal milk, until fully dissolved and incorporated.
5. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve again into the ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Rock Bottom

Rock bottom can give you the best chances of your life. In a moment of defeat you can find the hope of opportunity. So even when the going gets tough, never give up. Always keep your feet churning and your eyes up. Good things always come to those who go and get it. So don't sulk in your sorrows. Instead, learn from them and move forward. Always be moving forward.

Paleo Snickerdoodles

ingredients

• 2 cups almond flour (or meal)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 coconut oil (not melted- kind of like softened butter. So if it's hard, let it soften some. If it's melted, throw it in the fridge for a bit)
• 2 tbsp agave

topping:

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. in a blender, combine flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. 
3. Pulse in the coconut oil and agave.Roll 1 1/2 tbsp scoops into a ball and then roll through the topping. 
4. Put onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten with a cup.
5. Bake 7-9 minutes and let cool. They may not seem done at the end, but they'll firm up. If you REALLY don't think they will, throw them back in for an extra minute. 

Meatball Sub Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices
• 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
• 1 t. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1-lb. pkg. frozen meatballs, thawed
• 28-oz. jar pasta sauce
• 1 c. water

Directions

1. Arrange bread slices in a single layer in an ungreased 13″x9″ baking pan; set aside. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasonings; spread over bread slices.

2. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese; set aside. Gently mix together meatballs, spaghetti sauce and water; spoon over cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
• 20 Regular Oreos chopped
• 5 cups mini marshmallows
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• white chocolate for drizzle optional

Directions:

1. Spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, pour measured Rice Krispie Cereal.

3. Chop and mash Oreos. You can do this by putting them in a ziplock bag to help keep the mess under control. You want the Oreos to be a variety of sizes from chunky to finely crushed.

4. Add Oreos to Rice Krispy cereal and stir to combine.

5. In a medium sauce pan, heat butter and marshmallows together over medium heat, stirring constantly, until they melt together.

6. Pour melted marshmallows over cereal and oreos and use a spatula sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to quickly combine all the ingredients.

7. As soon as all the cereal is combined, spread mixture into the prepared 9×13″ dish. Use the spatula to press the mixture around the dish, and flatten as needed.

8. Let sit until completely cooled. NOTE: When the rice kris pie treats and cooled I drizzled mine with some white chocolate and let it set until it hardened for a pretty finish.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter melted
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (use the boxed kind, or grind them in a food processor. Tiny granules.)
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar (aka powdered sugar)
• 1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. 
2. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. (I did mine in a 9X9 square pan because I wanted them thicker) 
3. In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted until smooth. 
4. Spread over the peanut butter layer. 
5. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

S'more Brownies

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips (I used Hershey’s Mini Kisses.)
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• miniature marshmallows to cover (about a cup)

Instructions

1. Line a 8″ x 8″ baking pan with parchment and grease the parchment.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk until well combined.
4. Spread into prepared pan.
5. Bake approximately 30 minutes or until set and golden.
6. Put marshmallows on top of bars and place back in the oven. Turn on the broiler and broil until marshmallows are toasted. Be sure to watch this carefully as you don’t want to burn the marshmallows or catch the parchment on fire.
7. Cool completely in pan before cutting.

Breakfast Calzones

Ingredients

• 15 oz pizza dough
• 6 eggs
• ⅛ cup milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk. Pour into a skillet over low medium heat. Scramble until eggs are firm but still moist. Set aside.
3. Prepare your additional ingredients and set aside.
4. Pinch off 5 oz of pizza dough and with a rolling pin, stretch the dough into a circle. Place your ingredients onto half of the circle, fold over the other half of the dough and secure edges. Repeat until there is no more dough left. Bake for 15 minutes on a lightly greased cookie sheet until calzones are golden brown.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese With Bacon

Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, coarsely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 5 cups low-fat milk
• 18 ounce package  low-fat cream cheese, cut into chunks
• 18 ounce package  shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper

directions

1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, then return to pot.
2. Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon and onion over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is just crisp and the onion is softened, about 8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Melt the butter in the skillet, whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until just melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese, a handful at a time, until smooth.
3. Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and stir until combined; season with salt and pepper. Top with the bacon-onion mixture.

Mississippi Mud Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of melted butter (or 1 stick of butter and 1 stick of margarine) 
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 4 large eggs (lightly beaten)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted 
• 1 (10.5-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows
• Whisk together melted butter and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. 
• Stir in flour and chopped pecans. 
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Chocolate Frosting

• 1 (16 oz) package powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/4 c. butter, softened
• 1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa

Directions

1. Beat all ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. 
3. Remove from oven; top warm cake evenly with marshmallows. 
4. Return to oven, and bake 5 minutes. 
5. Drizzle Chocolate Frosting over warm cake. 

TIP: Let these cool completely before cutting into squares!

Molasses-Bacon Pork Tenderloin with Smoked Tomatoes

Ingredients

Serves: 6

• 1 cup pecan wood chips  Substitutions
• 
  
• 2 pounds assorted heirloom tomatoes
• 
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 
  
• 1 pork tenderloin, about 1 1/2 pounds
• 
  
• 2 tablespoons McCormick® Grill Mates® Molasses Bacon Seasoning

Directions

• Soak wood chips in enough water to cover for 1 hour. Drain. Fill smoker box with wet wood chips. Place smoker box under grill rack on one side of grill. Close lid.
• Heat grill on high heat about 10 minutes or until smoke appears from chips. Reduce heat to medium.
• Meanwhile, cut larger tomatoes in half. Toss tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Brush pork tenderloin with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle evenly with Seasoning. Place pork on grill rack. Close lid.
• Grill 25 minutes or until pork is desired doneness, turning occasionally. Add tomatoes during last 5 minutes of grilling. Slice pork and serve with smoked tomatoes.

Take Risks

Do you think successful people got to where they are because they played it safe? No. So why are you going to be satisfied with being mediocre? Why are you not going to chase your dreams when you only have one life to do so? Why are you sitting around and not taking action upon making that dream a reality? Stop doing what you're doing and take that step. Don't be afraid to fail. Failure will make you stronger on your journey and a necessary evil. Don't let it break you. Get up and try again. Try as many times as you need to. Never give up faith and you shall succeed.

My Thoughts

Lately everything seems to be changing quick. One swift motion and life as I know it is no longer the same. It's important to myself to not get emotional but become logical. It is easy to fall into a spiral and crash because you handled a situation wrong. But as relationships fall and friends fall with it, one is left standing in a wave of doubt and self-loathing. Most probably ask what is wrong with themselves. It is not you that the problem lies. It is inside others. I need to worry about building my future with who's still around rather than worry about why close ones are no longer a part of my life. The path ahead is what's important to me. The most I can do is appreciate the times I've had with people and the experiences we share and keep my feet churning on this crazy ride we call life.

What Screws Us Up Most

Sometimes in life you need to focus on the now. Our minds can become so involved in the future that it ruins the present. It is our responsibility to appreciate the things we have now. Whether it be love, family, or anything.  If we take a look at the miserable people in this world, why do they seem so miserable? The simple fact is because they don't appreciate the little things they have that people in this world actually pray for. They take for granted what others would die for. Don't think too much of the future and keep yourself grounded to the present.

Poor Charlie

Sometimes life just doesn't seem fair!

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (15.5 oz.) Oreos, finely crushed, divided
2 pkgs Semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Your Life

I hope many people find this out soon. I know I did. My life has changed dramatically in recent times. I quit a job I hated, I dumped a boyfriend doing nothing for me, I started doing things I loved even if i did them alone. I have never been happier and I can only hope that people would follow in turning their lives around. Only you have the strength to do it. Stop waiting until tomorrow. Tomorrow will never come if you don't take that first step. Be the person you want to be.

Worrying is Pointless

Remember this. I used to be a huge worrier. Making mountains out of mole hills and attempting to foreshadow the worst to come. It's all a mind set and it starts with you to change it. Stop worrying about the future cause if you spend too much time on the future you're going to let the now pass you by. Then you will be stuck wondering where your time went. So as the famous saying goes, don't worry, be happy!

Get Better Sleep

Sleep is probably one of the most important things in your life. I mean, you do spend 1/3 of your life sleeping. Not to mention that sleeping better can make you feel better and in turn could potentially help your life. So take these simple tips and put them to use!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•  1/4 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/4 teaspoon sea salt
•  1/2 cup butter, softened
•  1/4 cup white sugar
•  1/2 cup brown sugar
•  1 egg
•  2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
•  
•  1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
•  1 1/3 cups water
•  1/3 cup canola oil
•  3 eggs

Directions

• Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside. Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add 1 egg and the vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls; place onto a baking sheet, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer to break up. Add the cake mix, water, and canola oil; continue beating for 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each 2/3 full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion of the cupcake (not the cookie dough ball) comes clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Respect Yourself

Just had to deal with a situation like this. He was no longer trying to hold us together while I tried everything to hold us. I'd call, he'd ignore. I'd show up to his job and all he said was that he was busy. Then I realized that I was wasting my time on someone who did nothing for me. Although I still loved him I couldn't reach my full potential with him around. Life is about sacrifice. I sacrificed someone I still loved in order to reach a level of happiness I never thought possible. It's been a month, and honestly, I have never been happier. I just wish more people would do the same because I see too many people holding on to a dead rose.

Politeness

It's a shame that this is what the world has come to. Over here in Miami it is so hard to find a genuinely nice person. It seems like everyone here is selfish and only wants whats yours. This is what makes it hard to believe in this world when all you're surrounded by is corrupt souls and materialistic beings. No one here looks out for you and it's a dog eat dog world. I've thought about adjusting to this atmosphere but instead I stay kind and true and hope one day I will be payed back in a major way.

S'More Cookies

S'More Cookies

chocolate cake mix 

2 Eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 cup chocolate chips

2 cups miniature marshmallows

2 chocolate bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, eggs, and oil until well combined. Mix in the chocolate chips. Using your hands, "smoosh" the marshmallows into the dough, then roll the dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet. (Yes, "smoosh" is the technical French cooking term.) Then, break off small pieces of a chocolate bar and add a few to the top of each cookie. Bake for 7-10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a cooling rack. Cookies will be really soft when they first come out of the oven, but harden as they cool. Do not over bake.

Camping Photo

I'm about to embark on a camping trip of my own up in Tennessee and I hope that it will look something similar to this. What could be better than roasting up some s'more, listening to your favorite music, and watching as day turns into night. Can't picture anything better.

Crock-pot Spaghetti and Chicken

Ingredients

3 lb. chicken pieces 1 (2/3 oz.) pkg. Italian salad dressing mix 4 tbsp. melted butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 (10 1/2 oz.) can cream of chicken soup 8 oz. cream cheese 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 lb. of spaghetti

Methods/steps

Place chicken pieces in crock pot and sprinkle Italian seasoning over chicken. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp. melted butter. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Melt 2 tbsp. butter in a saucepan and saute onion and garlic. Add Cream of Chicken Soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth. Stir until smooth. Add this mixture to crock-pot and cook on low for an additional hour. Prepare spaghetti according to package directions.

My Fathers Day Gift

Headphones
My dad is a music nut! From his Beatles to recent bands like Breaking Benjamin and Rise Against. He is constantly blasting his music over the tv and making it hard to concentrate when I'm studying for class. So I thought that this was the perfect gift for him. It would keep the house quiet and will keep him in his music world without the worry of disturbing his family. I'm proud of my father. He is a hardworking man who will do whatever it takes to make his family happy. I believe that on Father's day I should reverse that role and make him happy that I'm his daughter. I know you won't see this but I love you dad! Hope you enjoy your gift!

Movie facts

Now I have to rewatch these movies to see if these are true!

Now that summer is here

It's time for some s'mores! There is honestly nothing better than hanging around a campfire with the people that mean the most to you and making these delicious snacks.

Dr. Seuss Quote

A great quote to reflect upon when going through a break-up

Brownie Refrigerator Cake

Ingredients: 2 brownie mixes 1 extra large egg 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 2 (8 oz.) containers whipped topping 1 (3 oz.) package instant chocolate pudding 1 (3 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding 3 1/2 cups milk 1 Hershey candy bar or chocolate syrup

Directions: Mix brownie mixes according to directions. Add egg. Bake in 9x13 inch greased and floured cake pan. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 container whipped topping. Put this mix on top of the cooled brownies. Blend puddings and milk together and put on top of the cream cheese mixture. Top with another layer of whipped topping. Put chocolate shavings or chocolate syrup on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Invisible Cat

Cats are sooo cute! Makes me almost want to get one!

Castle in germany