Rich Cheesecake Bars

photo courtesy of Taste of Home

I made these yummy cheesecake bars for a family gathering recently and they were a hit!  I will definitely be adding this recipe to my collection of favorites and wanted to share with my readers too.  

Ingredients

• 1 package (9 ounces) yellow cake mix
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 egg
• TOPPING:
• 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, butter and egg until well blended. Spread into a greased 9-in. square baking pan.
• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and egg until smooth; spread evenly over batter.
• Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2 dozen.

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Superbowl Snacks!

Who's ready for some football?  Well, I wouldn't say me…but I am getting ready for the Superbowl Party that involves getting ready for football!  YEAH!  
We're getting together with some friends for the big Superbowl Party on Sunday February 3rd.  I went searching around Pinterest in hopes to find some good ole party snack food -- well, I was not disappointed in the least…..I thought I'd pass along these FAN-TABULOUS websites that have tons of snack foods for the many fans -- no matter which team you're rootin' for.  

The Recipe Critic

Lilac City Momma

A Helicopter Mom

Simmworks

Football Desserts

Spoiled Rotten Kids

Last but not least -- I found this fabulous photo on pinterest -- it was uploaded by the user so I couldn't find a blog or website.  Isn't it fabulous?? YUM!

Do you like football?   Who are your rootin' for San Francisco 49ers or Baltimore Ravens?

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Creamy Pasta Shells with Broccoli and Ham

After Thanksgiving I had quite a bit of Ham left over so I went searching for some recipes I could make.  (I made this a few weeks ago)….. This Creamy Pasta Shells with Broccoli and Ham was amazing and I wanted to share the recipe from My Recipes website [click here to print recipe].

(source)

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{Spookalicous Halloween Mix} ~ It's Frightfully Delicious!

Don't let the name scare you one little bit -- this is no trick but a treat instead.  I thought it would be a fun idea to create a spooky halloween mix that would be interesting to share with co-workers, classrooms, friends, neighbors and trick-or-treaters.  With a little help from Google I came up with some creepy, crawly names for each of the "ingredients".   This delightful mix will definitely get a few smiles this Halloween.  

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Crescent Pizza Rolls

I found this yummy recipe over at Sharing My Love for Cooking's blog and made these for my family. 

All I can say is simple.easy.yum! 
☺

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Cupcakes {Mix them up} - Bite Size Too!

Today I'm simply sharing a tip/suggestion when making cupcakes.  I found these {adorable} red & white polka-dot cupcake liners at Michael's Craft Store last week.  These come together for $1.50/pkg.  I really wanted the large liners but the pkg. came with the mini ones too.  

I'm a box cake mix girl and my family has a {love} for cupcakes right now.  No recipe to share just a box of Red Velvet Cake mix by Duncan Hines and Cream Cheese Icing for the topping.  Simple enough for me.  When lining my cupcake pans this morning I decided to make a few mini {bite-size} cupcakes too.  I thought they'd be perfect for when we didn't want shouldn't have a whole cupcake.  LOL.  The mini cupcake may be the perfect size to deter a 5 year old little boy from grabbing a cupcake just to eat off the icing.  

Depending on how full you fill up your cupcake liners will depend how many cupcakes you'll make out of 1 box of cake mix.  


Another tip when baking - I baked the larger ones according to box directions and the mini ones took about 15 mins. to bake.  I didn't bake them together since the mini ones wouldn't take as long. 


I'm a happy mom today and couldn't wait to share this tip with you all.  So the next time you make cupcakes make a few mini ones too.  That way you can grab a bite size one when you just want a little taste. 


Happy baking {and eating} and have a super day everyone!  

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{Fruit Bowl Tips} - 15 Minutes to Get Prepared!

 

I love fruit! I love to eat it and have it available in my fridge for me and my family to eat.  It's yummy, delicious and healthy! I simply was not eating enough of it. 

This leads to my dilemma here….why didn't I eat more fruit?! 

Because I HATED preparing fruit.  

You know, slicing, dicing and making it ready-to-eat.  I like cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries and grapes. 

Silly, maybe but I really did hate cutting up the cantaloupe, washing and pulling the grapes off of the stems.

Until I started doing this tip I'm sharing with you today that changed my attitude.

For years I would buy the fruit to have in the house but if I didn't take the time to wash it and slice it up -- it would sit there and eventually go bad or until I really took the time to eat it. Wasteful, yes!  ☹

One day while at work some friends and I got on the subject of fruit expense and what we do to get our fruits and veggies in our daily diet.  

I shared with the girls that I love fruit but hated preparing it for eating.  One of my good friends shared this tip with me and so I said I'd give it a try.   

It's not rocket science by no means but it has totally changed my attitude towards preparing my fruit.

I usually grocery shop on Sundays after Church.  So when I get home I take about 15 minutes and cut up my fruit and make fruit bowls that I can grab in the morning for my lunch or to snack on throughout the day.  

Yes, this is my fruit-sanity tip!  lol!

I don't put it in the fridge until it is ready-to-eat. 

These are the kinds of fruit me and my family enjoy.  

  

I usually start with dicing up my cantaloupe…putting it directly in my bowls as I go along.  I then add in strawberries and grapes next.  If blackberries are on sale -- I grab a box of those too. 

Taa- Daa….no more hatin' for Tracy!!

Do you like preparing fruit? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks of what you do to get more fruit in, how you prepare it for your family and other goodness. 

Wishing you all a GREAT week!  

♥Tracy

Linking this post to:
The Gunny Sack
Craft-o-Maniac
Keeping it Simple
The Girl Creative
Serenity You
A Diamond in the Stuff
Cowgirl Up! Linky Party
Reasons to Skip Housework
Lil' Luna
Sassy Sites!
The Purple Pumpkin
Tatertots and Jello
Young and Crafty
The Prudent Pantry

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Project Gallery | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube

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Ramen Noodle Salad ~ The Perfect Side Dish!

I'm excited to share another "family favorite" recipe with you.  This one comes from my great-aunt who shared it years ago with my mother and it is one of our favorite noodle salads e.v.e.r!  It's the perfect side dish to take to a ladies luncheon, serve along with a family meal or just eat it as is.  lol.  Its best eaten cold so keeping it refrigerated is recommended until time to eat. It's also best to make it the day before your event as I feel the flavors really blend together.  Yumm-o!

Ramen Noodle Salad

3 pkgs. of Oriental Flavor Ramen Soup Mix (blue package) - set flavor mixes aside for a moment

1 Roma tomato

1 small cucumber or 1/2 of large one

2 green onions 

2 tbsp. sugar

Oil (I use extra virgin olive oil but you could use another if you have it)

White vinegar 

I usually push down on the noodles to break them up in pkg.  Cook all 3 packages in pot of boiling water until done. Drain well.  In large bowl, add cooked noodles and sprinkle 2 pkgs. of oriental soup mix onto of noodles - mixing thoroughly. If you want to use all 3 pkgs. -- please do so but I find 2 is plenty for me.  Chop cucumber, onion and tomato into fine chunks.  Add to bowl with noodles.  In a separate bowl add 2 tblsp. of sugar and about 1/4 cup of oil and vinegar each.  Whisk up with small whisk or fork.  Taste oil-vinegar combo and add more as you'd like to.  Stir oil & vinegar into noodle mixture; mixing well.  Transfer to serving bowl.  Cover and serve cold.  Stir before serving.  

(click here to print recipe)

Linking up at these fun parties this week:

Craft-O-Maniac

♥Tracy

_____________________________________

Project Gallery | Facebook Fan Page | Pinterest

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{Creamy} Chicken Spaghetti

Chicken Spaghetti is one of my favorite dishes and this recipe is one of my absolute faves of all time. It's rich, creamy, cheesy and tastes like a million bucks.  Well, maybe not a million -- but pretty close.  Anything with cheese, right?!  It also makes a big ole batch so I always have some to save for another meal.  

::Click here to print recipe::

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

3 large boneless chicken breasts

1 can creamy chicken mushroom soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes

1 cup Half & Half (optional)

1/2 block Velveeta cheese

1 box angel hair spaghetti

• In large pot cook chicken breasts until done and season with salt and pepper.  Allow to cool.  Save broth. 
• Cook spaghetti; drain and set aside.
• Combine soups, Ro-Tel tomatoes, Half & Half and simmer in large pot until heated through.
• Chop or shred chicken and add to soup mixture.  Simmer on low to prevent burning.
• Add chicken broth to make soupy. 
• Melt 1/2 block Velveeta cheese in microwave - cut cheese into 1 inch hunks for easier melting. (start with 2 mins.)
• Stir in melted cheese into soup/chicken mixture.
• Add cooked spaghetti.
• Spray 13” x 9” baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Pour soupy mixture into baking dish.
• Top with more Velveeta cheese. (if desired)
• Bake 325º for about 25 minutes or until heated through. 

Enjoy!  

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Dirt Pudding Dessert

Today I'm excited to share one of our favorite desserts with you.  Many may have the recipe (or something like it) but its too good not to share this fun and cool dessert.  Kids and adults just love it in our family and my mother in law makes a bowl of it at most all family gatherings.  Its truly the hit of the dessert table. 

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{Holiday Pretzel Kisses} - Last Minute Gift Idea or Party Snack!!

I was totally inspired to make these {Holiday Pretzel Kisses} when I spotted this adorable cello goodie bag on Pinterest which led me to the fantabulous blog Little Birdie Secrets.  Of course I had to find out how to make these because I knew they would be a hit for my crew!  I have several office parties as well as family gatherings coming up this week so I bought the ingredients and this is my take on this super easy treat. Here is the goodie bag from Little Birdie Secrets.  



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Recipe Blog to Share - {Jamie Cooks It Up!}

I'll admit it -- I'm addicted to Pinterest!!  There I said it!  LOL  Its so fun to find new and exciting stuff.  I love it.

. . . . . . . .

As I was browsing pinterest I spotted this yummy chicken plate and had to check it out.  This recipe led to a recipe site called Jamie Cooks It Up!  Okay - my mouth is litterally watering when I browsed through her recipes.  Another site to bookmark and check back for more yummy recipes!  Click on the button to check it out folks!

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Mexican Casserole

I really need to get back into the habit of cooking more for my family.  For some reason I've gotten into a bad habit of quick fixes and fast food.  (shame shame, I know!!)  I like to cook -- I really do its just being a working mom, by the time I get home, kid stuff -- house stuff -- blog stuff -- yada yada ...you know the drill!!  Soooo....I've been paying a little more attention to some of my favorite sites which posts weekly menus -- like Sister's Stuff.  As I was browsing this fabulous site I ran across this yummy recipe and knew I had to try it.  Aren't you proud of me??  LOL I'm such a loser sometimes.  


Anyhoo's -- give it a try.  It's DELICIOUS and it has my family's two thumbs up approval.

Fast and easy!  My style of cooking for sure.  


I added a few ingredients to this recipe -- but if you'd like to see the original recipe just click here.

Mexican Casserole

1 lb. cooked ground beef
1/2 chopped onion
1 tsp. minced garlic (I use the minced garlic in the jar)
1 lb. grated cheese
1 can refried beans
1 can enchilada sauce (always use Rosarita brand)
4 fajita size flour tortilla's (torn into pieces)


Grease dish. Put 2 tortilla's on bottom, add a layer of refried beans, ground beef, cheese and half of the enchilada sauce.  Repeat layers again but I chose to top with the cheese.  Bake uncovered.


Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.  

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