Summer

Summer is here once again! That means when it gets too hot we need to cool down! Best way to cool down?
Here are some:
Lay on tile or wood floor
Drink Lemonade or Water
Eat ice cream or some popsicles
Go swimming
Run through the sprinklers
Have a water balloon fight
Stay inside where there is AC
Go for a car ride with all the windows down

And so much more! Hopefully you're staying cool this summer!!

Kiwi Strawberry Smoothie

I've been getting into smoothies again! Here's my latest smoothie recipe and it's so easy! Only three ingredients and then blend! It makes about two servings and you can freeze it if needed. The flavor is so yummy and it's super thick, so you can add some milk if it's too much for you. I am in love with this one!

Here's what you need:
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 kiwi (skin removed and chopped into chunks)

Blend it all together in a blender and pour the pink mixture into a glass! Feel free to get creative and customize it any way you'd like! Let me know what you think in the comments!! Enjoy!
-Grace

Chicken Taco Wraps

Hello guys! How are you? So today I'm posting a late taco Tuesday recipe that I actually made Wednesday because I didn't have time yesterday. Ooooooppppsss..... sorry guys! But you'll have it in time for next Tuesday am I right? Also I'm gonna try something new, because when you find most recipes online and you scroll to the end it has all the info, but Grace and I don't do that. Why? Well different post and I'm sure you don't wanna read that yeah boring! SNOOZE!

Onto the tacos wraps!

I originally was gonna make some Ranch Chicken Wraps but then decided against it. I might make them a different time, but I didn't this time. I still wanted to make chicken wraps so I got chicken out and started chopping. I chopped in about 1-2 inch cubes. I chopped up 2 whole chicken breasts, and that was enough for 3 people. There was extra chicken in the end, but I just used it to make a quesadilla later on. Preheat the oven to 350

After I chopped them up I dumped them into a stir fry pan and let them cook. Then I added taco seasoning, you can pick whichever seasonings you choose. Let that cook until it's done, make sure there is some extra juices at the bottom, because you will need that. 

Get the tortillas out , cheese, and a 9x13 pan. Grease the pan, and grab a spoon. Lay a single tortilla down, then sprinkle cheese on it, add chicken, pour small amount of juice from pan, finally roll up and set in the pan. But don't add too much fillings! Repeat that until the pan is full and stick into the oven. Let them cook until the desired crispness on the tortillas. ENJOY!!!

-Hallie

A nICE mocha drink

Man I love the mocha taste, but I can not stand straight coffee. At home we have this cappuccino drink mix, I may not enjoy it as a warm drink, but mixed up as a cold drink mmhmm yum!

If you own something like this you should check out the side of it. Does it have recipes for hot, cold and blended? Well if not don't fret! I'll let you know what to do!

What you need:
+ two cups*
+ blender
+ ice
+chocolate sauce**
+ milk (or you can use water or any milk substitute)

What to do:
+ add the ice and milk together in the blender
+crush the ice
+add as much drink powder to your desire
+ add chocolate syrup
+mix all together
+pour into cup(s)
+drink up!

*or even one, but I prefer 2 so I have some for the next day
**optional, but I highly recommend!

-Hallie

Fresh Made Cookies? Or no?

We bought some pre-made cookie dough, I do love myself some fresh cookies (honestly, I don't really like cookies that much, favorite: no bake [no coconut though ewww] and peanut butter, I'll eat chocolate chip ones, but I am really picky about them).

I thought about making them earlier this afternoon, but I decided to make dog treats. Then I didn't make the dog treats, because I didn't have what I needed to make them. Instead I cleaned the cupboard. My dad made dinner and afterwards when we were sitting around talking, my dad was asking for cookies. So we cleaned up that table, and I started the cookies. The cookies luckily only took around 12 minutes, because we like the GOOEY!

How do you like your cookies? Comment down below and tell me!
1: Gooey
2: Crispy
3: dipped in milk
5: ice cream sandwich!
6: ew no cookies!
7: other (please tell)

--Hallie

Do You Like The Edges of the Brownies the Best?

If you're like me, you LOVE the corners and edges of brownies! They are chewy and delicious! YUMMY! But, there's limited parts of the brownie pan that are this amazing! So, here's a tip to make a gooey brownie close to the way I love them!!!

Here's What You Need...
-A gooey browie from the middle
-A spoon
-A plate
-Powdered sugar

1. Put the brownie on a plate
2. Start to smash the brownie down with the back of the spoon
3. Add a little bit of powdered sugar and continue to squish it with the spoon
4. Make the brownie mush a thin layer across your plate
5. Let it sit for a minute or two, but don't let it get stale!
6. ENJOY!!

                                              ---Check out our Instagram for a pic---

If you are the person who likes a gooey brownie, then give me all your edges, please!! Today, go enjoy some brownies :-)
-Grace

Happy Mother's Day

Moms. They do a lot. I want to be respectful to anyone who has a hard time on this holiday. Maybe your mom isn't here anymore, maybe you used to be a mom and something happened, or maybe you want to be a mom so bad and it's hard to be patient. Despite all of that, I'm sure everyone knows a mom, even if she's not your own, who needs to be appreciated. My mom is absolutely amazing! She recently took a trip to Ukraine a few weeks ago and it took almost five people to help take her place while she was gone! Five people! Wow! That really put things into perspective for me. Of just how much she really does. And its not just the cooking and cleaning stuff. It's the late night talks, the encouragement with school, the hugs when I so desperately need one, even just a smile. She's always there when I need her no matter what. When I do something great, she's there to praise me. And when I have a hard day, she's there to talk to. That's exactly what a great mom is, there. A mom that is always there even when she's busy, is a wonderful mom. I hope to be exactly like my mom some day with my future children. I just want to say 'thank you' to all the OUTSTANDING mothers out there that really really deserve to be celebrated today. You are awesome! Now go and celebrate your moms!!

Hallie's Mothers Day 2018

For mothers day this year I decided to go cheap. I was looking for a sugar scrub she had received a few years ago and re-gift it. I know that might sound horrible, but hear me out! Our linen closet is kinda just a throw all, or like a giant junk drawer! We have all kinds of stuff in there; sheets, towels, wash clothes, batteries, cleaning supplies, candles, nail polish, soap, shaving cream, razors, hair curlers, more candles, contacts, old glasses, travel soaps (LOTS), first aid stuff, even more candles, pillow cases, I think you guys get it, we have lots of random stuff in there!

I changed my mind and decided to clean the linen closet for her! I cleaned out the top drawer and organized it, cleaned the shelves, and organized the towels, rugs, hand soaps, and lotions. Then I tackled the second drawer, full of random stuff, like totally random everything and anything! By then I was kind of almost over it. I pressed on and finished! I also found a whole bunch of spa type stuff!

I found a gift bag from Easter and added the spa stuff into the bag. I remembered we had some mini jars and wax cubes. If you've never seen it on Pinterest and don't know what i'm talking about its little car scent things. You put a few wax cubes into the jar, and poke holes into a cup cake wrapper or the jar lid. You then take the rim of the jar lid and screw it on! Put it in your car so when its warm the wax will melt and put off a wonderful scent! My dad cleaned out an old candle jar and we gave it to her too. I found an old notebook of mine and my dad and I wrote 20 reasons why we loved her (10 each) and finally my dad gave her flowers to plant because she loves plants. 

I did all of that yesterday, and so this morning when we woke up I made her some cheesy scrambled eggs (my parents favorite thing for me to make) and toast. After she finished her breakfast we gave her our presents, we managed to make her cry so I think my dad and I did great!

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there! 

-Hallie

Mex-bowl

Hi guys! I decided to make my parents some dinner one night. I was originally gonna make cheese fries, (still probably gonna do that) but my dad was like we have chicken breasts that you can make something from. So I said okay! CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

My mex-bowl

Sadly I didn't measure anything.... so like ummm... guesstimate..... my bad. <3

Materials:
Knife
Pot
Skillet (or whatever you wanna cook your meat in)
Spatula
Bowls
Silverware

Ingredients:
Chicken (or any other meat you want)
Lettuce
Melty Cheese Sauce
Mexican/Spanish rice
Tortilla Chips
Taco Seasoning
Flour (optional, truly not needed)

Directions:
Cut up the meat
Mix one packet of seasoning with small amount of flour
Dip chicken into the mix
Put chicken into pan and fry it
Make the rice
Make the melty cheese stuff
Cut up the lettuce
Grab a bowl
Put all the stuff in the bowl and enjoy!

~Hallie

Wrap-ping up your hunger

Hi guys!! What's up? So yesterday I made this really yummy wrap! I forgot to make a post yesterday about it, so here it is!

Materials:
A plate ( honestly, you don't even need one)
A knife if you wish to cut it in half.

Ingredients:
Tortilla (I had a burrito styled one and it was the perfect size.)
Whatever you want I had: (In order I put it on)
Lettuce
Turkey
White cheddar cheese
Ham
Colby Jack cheese

Directions:
Plop the tortilla on a plate and pop it in the microwave for like 10 sec, just helps so you can wrap it easier.
Add all your ingredients
Wrap and enjoy!

Here's directions for wrapping your wrap:


Enjoy! ~Hallie

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Hey! So, I was craving a summery (summery? Not sure if that's a word! lol) treat. I kind of have the winter blues. I thought that this cupcake could count as a Valentine's Day dessert! It's SUPER simple, so pretty much a fool-proof recipe! Here you go!

What you need...
- Strawberry cake mix (and the supplies to make it)
- Lemons (you need the juice)
- Strawberries (this is optional, but I used it as a garnish)
- cupcake tin (I used mini cupcakes)
- Powdered sugar

1) Bake the cake mix according to the box in a cupcake mix (secret ingredient: put about a teaspoon of lemon juice in the mix. shhhh! Don't tell!!)

2) To make the frosting, put about a cup and a half of powdered sugar in a bowl and mix in some lemon juice until it is a liquid consistency.

3) Let the cupcakes cool, then dip them into the frosting bowl gently.

4) Garnish the cupcakes with strawberries (I let the strawberries soak in some lemon juice to flavor them even more)

These were seriously delicious and pinky perfect for Valentine's Day. Plus, they seemed to cure my winter blues! One bite of this summery (BTW, I looked it up. Yes, it is a word!!) treat, and you're mind will be in summer again! Okay, maybe it's not exactly magic, but it's delicious!!

~Grace

A Gorilla's Favorite Quesadilla

A gorilla may have never tried one of my quesadillas, but I'm sure it would be their favorite. 

Materials:

+ Frying Pan

+ Plate(s)

+ Pizza Cutter (Or kitchen Scissors)

+ Kitchen Spray Oil stuff

Ingredients:

+ Cheese

+ Tortilla

+ Any other ingredients you wish

Directions:

+ Spray Oil in the frying pan

+ Turn the burner on high or medium

+ Place a tortilla in the pan, flip every once in a while until the tortilla starts to bubble

+ Sprinkle the cheese on the tortilla (however much you wish)

+ Place the second tortilla on top of the other

+ Let cheese melt for a few seconds and then flip

+ Keep flipping until the tortilla reaches the crispiness you desire

+ make as many more as you wish

Optional Dip:

+ Sour Cream

+ Fajita or taco seasoning

+Just mix together and dip your quesadilla in and enjoy!

~Hallie

Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Shells

What you need...
-12 oz pkg of jumbo pasta shells
-2.5 c chopped cooked chicken
-15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
-2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
-1 egg
-1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
-Salt and pepper
-25.5 oz tomato sauce/pasta sauce
-2 tbs olive oil
-2/3 c plain panko bread crumbs

Steps...
1. Heat oven 350 degrees, spray 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray

2. Cook and drain pasta

3. In medium bowl, mix, chicken, ricotta, 1 c mozzarella, egg, parmesan, and salt/pepper

4. Spread 1 c of sauce on bottom of pan

5. Fill each shell with mixture and place in pan, then cover with remaining sauce

6. Cover with foil; bake 30 min, sprinkle the remaining cheese over top, then bake uncovered for 5-10 min. Let cool for 10 min.

7. Heat oil over medium heat in 8 inch pan. Add bread crumbs and stir 2-4 min until brown and crispy. Sprinkle over shells.

I hope you enjoy this! It's really yummy :) I made it for my family and it was a hit! I found the recipe at Bettycrocker.com, Enjoy!

-Grace

Starbucks Mocha Frappe

Who likes mocha frappuccinos from Starbucks? I know I do! But it's expensive! So here's a way to make a cheap one at home!

Ingredients:
5 scoops Vanilla Ice cream
 chocolate syrup*
1cup of coffee ( I used one of the mini espresso and cream Starbucks drinks that you can buy at the store)
1 cup ice

*I added about 4-5 tbsp. but add it to your liking and taste!

Directions:
Add all ingredients together and mix!

Enjoy! ~Hallie

Chocolate Oreo Shake

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. I've been really busy. I had two vacations, my birthday, and a trip to Chicago! In Chicago, I got a shake. It was delicious! So, I tried my best to recreate this yummy dessert. I think I got it pretty close. So here's what you do! It's really simple!

         *NOTE: You can make any flavor you want,  just use a different ice cream flavor!

1. Put 1-2 scoops of melty (if not, you just have to use your muscles) chocolate ice-cream in a large cup.

2. Put 1-2 scoops of melty cookies n' cream ice-cream in the same cup (add more scoops to make it more chocolaty, or less).

3. Add some milk, a little at a time, to get the consistency you desire! I recommend that it be not to thick that you can't slurp it down, but not too soft!

I hope you enjoy this super simple shake! See ya soon! :-)

-Grace

Pancakes tips, tricks, and hacks!

Here are 6 pancake tips, tricks, or hacks! Whatever you want to call them I have some for you! Thanks to my father for teaching them to me.

1. Put a small amount of butter in the pan and swirl it around
2. To easily flip the pancakes try to get it all the way or at least half onto the spatula
3. Stay calm, even when your pancakes flip onto them selves, they will still taste the same!
4. So the pancakes won't get cold, heat the oven to 250 degrees F. put them on a pan and let them stay toasty
5. To save time, while the pancakes are cooking get the toppings out, whether it one or a ton, just don't let your pancake burn!
6. When the pancakes are a little golden around the edge and bubbly in the middle its time to flip!

This is for just plain pancakes, but if you try on different pancakes let me know if they still work the same!

~Hallie

4th of July Cake Recipe

I have a delicious cake for you. It is so SWEET looking, and I can't wait to share this recipe with you! It's a wonderful cake to make for the forth of July! Here you go, I hope you love it BERRY much! :-)

Ingredients:
+ white cake mix
+ 2 circle cake pans
+ strawberries
+ Cool Whip

STEPS:
1. Make white cake recipe as directed on the box.
2. Pour one half on the batter into a circle cake pan, and the other half in another circle cake pan. Try your best to make them even.
3. bake as directed.
4. When finished baking, let cool for about 10 minutes.
5. Take the cakes out of the pans and level them off.
6. Frost the top of one cake with cool whip and carefully lift the second cake's bottom onto the frosted cake.
7. Frost the whole cake with more cool whip.
8. Slice some fresh strawberries in half
9. Push in sliced strawberries into the side of the cake so they stick into the cool whip.
10. Cut off the tops of more strawberries and arrange them on the top of your cake.

TIPS TP MAKE IT MORE PATRIOTIC:
- you can dye the cake red or blue with food coloring
- you could use blueberries and make a flag with the berries on top of your cake
- you could dye the cool whip with red or blue food coloring

Hope you enjoy this cake! Get creative with it!

-Grace

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

What's hangin'? Is someberry looking for a smoothie recipe? Well I've got one for you!

Ingredients:

+ 1 cup yogurt
+ 4(ish) strawberries
+ 1 banana cut into chunks

Directions:

+ add all ingredients in blender
+ Mix, mix, mix it up!
+ Pour Into glass
+ chill in freezer or fridge for 10-20 min
+ enjoy!


~Hallie

P.S.
Updated version with ice, will come soon!

Chocolate Brownie Milkshake

So, I love chocolate! Now that it's summer, I don't crave hot chocolate anymore. So I had to find something else to quench my chocolate thirst! Here's a great recipe for a cool, chocolaty drink!

Chocolate Brownie Milkshake:

1. Get a blender.

2. Add chocolate ice cream, brownie(s), and milk to the blender.

3. BLEND!

4. Taste it and decide if it needs more of anything. Everyone likes a different chocolate amount, so I chose not to add measurements.

5. Pour into a a cup and enjoy!

I hope you like this simple treat! It's really easy to make and tastes delicious!!

-Grace :-)

Chocolate Monkey Smoothie

Hey! My friend and I tried these today! It was really good! It's not thick, maybe its my fault, but it tastes good!

Ingredients:         estimated: 2-servings
+ 1 cup milk
+ 1 1/4 Tbsp. Chocolate Syrup
+ 1 banana
+ 1 cup crushed ice

Directions:
+ Crush the ice
+ Add the milk
+ Add the chocolate syrup
+ Add the banana in chunks
+ ENJOY

this is joe, he's enjoying his sandwich, like you will (hopefully) enjoy your smoothie!