Pinterest For The Win!

I've heard a lot of Pinterest horror stories. Crafts that no normal human should have ever attempted, cupcake recipes that make you wish you'd cooked up some cardboard instead, and just all around failed Pinterest attempts.

While I haven't tried anything extreme.. I've been surprisingly satisfied with my recent attempts to create Pinterest things on my own. Especially the recipes! Here's a few that we've had just this week and will definitely make again.

1. Chicken Roll-Ups.

I made this yesterday in a "Eric is going to be home for dinner in 20 minutes and we have NO food in this house" panic. Luckily, I remembered that someone had given us a can of crescent rolls and we had just purchased a small morsel of cheese (Seriously, why is cheese so expensive?!?) and voila! I made the following.

This is the picture on Pinterest, but mine looked just as good, if not better :)

Here's what you do: Boil some chicken, shred some cheese and roll out some crescent roll dough. Wrap them up, stick them in a pan and then pour one can of Cream of Chicken soup +1/2 cup of water over the top. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Super easy, super delicious.. just not terribly healthy... I might throw some broccoli in there next time for good measure. Also. Note to self: Let the roll-ups cook in the oven for 7-10 minutes and then add the cream of chicken/water mixture. Cook for 10 more minutes after that. (To avoid soggy dough).

2. The Cookie Recipe that has Changed Our Lives.

No joke, we've made 4 batches of these cookies in the past two weeks. They're that good! I took them to my relief society and got rave reviews as well, so it's not just us.

The recipe for these can be found here: http://misssophisticate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies.jpg

They are made with 1/2 butter and 1/2 coconut oil, but you can double the butter if you don't have coconut oil. I personally love the flavor that the coconut oil brings and love that when I use that, I only have to use half a stick of butter. 

We seriously love these and they are twice as delicious the next day.

3. Apple Bran Muffins

So with baby on the way, we're trying our best to save money where possible. So we've ditched our beloved Frosted Mini Wheats and have dedicated ourselves to finding the cheapest cereal in the store. It happens to be Bran Flakes. Bleck.

I actually used to really like them, but my pregnant nose can't stand the smell of them for some reason. So... instead of forcing myself to gag down a bowl of those every morning... I've turned them into something delicious! And semi-healthy. Honey and apple sauce instead of oil and sugar!

http://www.neighborjulia.com/2012/06/low-fat-apple-bran-muffins.html

Low-Fat Apple Bran Muffins

Non-stick cooking spray
1 1/4 cups bran flakes
1/2 cup skim milk 
1 cup flour (whole wheat flour works well too)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1 cup finely chopped apples

In a medium bowl combine milk and bran flakes.  Set aside and let soften into mush.  In a large bowl, combine dry products and make a well in the middle.  Set aside.  To bran mixture add egg, applesauce and honey.  Add bran mixture to dry products.  Stir just until moistened.  Fold in apples.  Bake at 400 degrees for 16-18 minutes. 
Note: Do not use pan liners as these muffins are really moist and will stick to the paper.  Instead use a non-stick baking spray with flour in it and spray down your muffin pan really well.  This recipe makes one dozen muffins. 

I love these!  They are moist and tasty and don't make you feel guilty for eating 6 of them. Big Fan.

I should also note that when ever I bake anything, I ALWAYS take it out of the oven at least 2 minutes before the recipe tells me too. I can't stand an over done anything and would rather have it soft and smooshy than dry. So my advice for these muffins... take them out at 15.