Punkin Muffies!!!

These AMAZING muffins have become a fall family tradition. It all started in college with a health nut roomie who tried to get loverbuns and I to fall in love while baking. Awww, it worked. To this day, we're still making muffins every fall. And get this! They're FAT FREE, no oil, nada - just apple sauce! This'll make a batch of 48 that can then be frozen for later use!

Ingredients
5 ¼ cups organic flour
1 T + ½ t. baking soda
2 T + 1 t. baking powder
1 T + ½ t. salt
2 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 T + ½ t. nutmeg
1 T + ½ t. cinnamon
7 eggs
3 ½ cups pumpkin puree (~2 cans)
3 ½ cups shredded carrots
1 ¾ cups apple sauce
12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
3-4 cups chopped walnuts

Directions
Mix the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Sift together all dry ingredients in another large bowl. Add and mix ¼ of dry mixture at a time to the wet ingredients until all of it is combined. Add the chocolate chips and walnuts last. Fill paper muffin liners almost to the very top. Bake in a (preheated) 350 oven for ~18 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remaining muffins can be sealed in a ziplock and frozen for up to 3 months.

BOGO Quizno's Subs

Sometimes all ya want is a roasty toasty sub! Here's your chance to get you and your lil' loverbuns a free one when you buy another one and a drinkage. CLICK HERE to print your lil' coupie-pon! Expires 10/26

Baaa-nana Pancakes!

This is sooo obberly sad that I've neglected all my food fans. There's good x-z reasons that I've been MIA say a'hem for waaaay too long - but this is besides the point. Let's get to the good stuff - GRUB! I've been goin' crazznizzle for the past month making food up the wazoo. I do this whole "plan your meals to the T thang" for 3 months. It's saving my life... I should surriusly share how I do it bc it makes my grocery bill a whole whapping $30-50 a week! No lie!

But here are the goodies that said Good Morning to loverbuns and mwah yesterdee!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
butter for the pan
2 ripe bananas, diced, plus extra for serving
Pure maple syrup

*Want to switch it up a bit? Try blueberries next time...

Directions
Sift together all the dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ones: sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing just until combined (over mixing will make the pancakes dry and tough).

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Ladle (1/4 cup) the pancake batter into the pan to make 3 or 4 pancakes. Distribute several sliced bananas on each pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute until browned. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, add more butter to the pan, and continue cooking pancakes until all the batter is used. Serve with sliced bananas, butter and maple syrup.

Heavenly Berry Muffins!!

I think must've died and gone to berry paradise. Seriously, if you're a fan of berries and/or muffins - these are hands down the best I've EVER made! Not to "root-eh-toot-toot" my lil' horn... but these are too delish to pass up.

Ingredients
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 half-pint fresh blueberries (do not wash... i know sick... but choose organic)
1 half-pint fresh raspberries sliced in half (substitute 2 half-pints if you want to leave out the raspberries)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place 16 paper liners in muffin pans. Spray the top of the pan with "non stick" cooking spray as the muffins will overflow (don't worry, they're supposed to).

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, sour cream, and milk. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed add the flour mixture to the batter and beat until just mixed. Fold in the blueberries and raspberries with a spatula and be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each cup just over the top, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the muffins are lightly browned on top and a cake tester comes out clean.

Chicken n' Cheesy Enchiladas!

These enchiladas were sooo breezy-eazzy that I was scared to even try 'em. Sometimes the simple stuff turns out just as delish as say fancy-shmancy ones. This will be a must-do go-to when I'm in a hussle. Know a collegista? This would be a great one for those first time cookers.

Ingredients
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Pace Picante Salsa (heat of choice)
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
3 cups shredded cooked chicken
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 flour tortillas (the thin "homemade" type) warmed
1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 tablespoons)

Directions
Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante, chili powder, and cumin in a medium bowl.
Stir 1 cup picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl.
Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Spread a thin amount of sauce on the bottom of the pan so the enchiladas won't stick. Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side down in a 9X13 baking dish. Pour the remaining picante sauce mixture over the filled tortillas and top lightly with more shredded cheese. Cover the baking dish with foil.
Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion.

Jamba Juice: B1G1 for A BUCK!

A smoothie is callin' my name right 'bout now. Better grab the husby to go get 'em. This offer is good through Sept 27th. CLICK HERE to print your lil' magic coupiepon!

Want FREE Ramen Anyone?

My good pal, Pei Wei is taking a stand against prepackaged rockin' ramen. They're sayin' its a mayjerrr xnay on processed foods, eh? So just for giving your shout-out for supportin' em... they'll send you a coupiepon for their NEW Beef Ramen Dish... FOR FREE!

CLICK HERE to jump on the band wagon already.

Simmered Berries and Ice Cream

Two things that make my heart giggle with Tee-hee's: 1) a dessert that's easy and 2) dessert that's purrdy much guiltless. This one is BOTH! AND... berries are high in antioxidants! Your taste buddies and your immune system will be thankin' ya!

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 half pints fresh raspberries
1 half pint fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4+ cup fresh orange juice
quality (check the ingredients...should only be a few) vanilla ice-cream

DIRECTIONS
Combine all berries, sugar, and fresh squeezed orange juice in a saucepan. Bring the berries to a light simmered boil. Lower heat and cook for a few minutes. The berries should be lightly cooked. Off of the heat, add a few more fresh berries. Add about 1/2 cup of berries to each bowl and top with a scoop of ice-cream.

Are berries out of season? Have some frozen ones on hand? They'll work too! You can even use the micro if you don't want to durrrdy a pan!

BOGO Waffles!!!

It's officially WAFFLE WEEK!!! Ahhh, I know! Sooo excited for all of us breakfast brats. Nothing compares to bfast - so step off lunch, linner, and dinner. Surriusly, this is one week during the year to splurge by eating breakfast anytime during the day. Why, you ask? Uh...duh they're BOGO at Waffle House in tribute of non other than the incredible nook n' syrup collecting cubes with buttery goodness WAFFLES! AND get this! No, I didn't win the lottery. But 2nd best... they have a new one to try - Banana Nut. Grab the kiddos, friends, coworkers, or the stranger on the corner and get some Waffles already! Let's be honest, friends don't let friends eat pancakes.

CLICK HERE to PRINT YOUR COUPIEPON (expires dec. 09) sa-weetness is my weak-ness!



Psst! Word to the wise... I have to admit - I have never had a Waffle House Waffle. Are they good? Your taste-buddy's opinions are appreciated. Thank you.

Williams Sonoma: FREE Classes

Happy Wednesday, food fans! It's even peachier - now that I know I can go to my favie kitchen hot spot to not only stock up on some thrilling gadgets n' gizmos... but to also learn the latest cooking techniques. The fun tools + the ways to use em? Um... hi this = cooking utopia! You want the latest and greatest gadget? Butter up your loverbuns and tell him - "Sweets, I HAVE to have it. It's what they use to make this (insert delish and tantalizing descriptive words here) meal after meal! You got him, girls. He'll be beggin' you to go back!!! I think my cookinista is in chefista overload!!!

Want to see your store's sched for these funtabulous classes? CLICK HERE!

Thank you, Anthro!

My new BFF in a fashion slash home decor sense is Miss Anthro. Um...hi. Bubs and I did a lil' browsing a couple of wks ago and outta the corner of my blue eyed beauties I spotted these cans! Awww, how cute! Obviously, these were just for display and not for purchasing. Duh, why would I buy 'em when I can bust out a lil' DIY move and make 'em?!? So that's what we did. A'hem, yes...my handy husby perdy much did the hole thang. I added the finishing touch - the chalk! We're loooving them! It brought our darling dollhouse cuteness factor waaay up! Even better than how presh they are is how well they're growing my green lil' goodies! MAYJOR Tee hee's {heart giggles}!!

Cheesecake Fac: FREE Cheesecake!

1 can, you can, 2 cans, gets you FREE CHEESECAKE! Um...hi. Whaaat? Yeah, that's right. Bring in two cans of soup to get some! If you're a lucky lil' ducky who's store is participating then you're totally in to win it! Want more details? CLICK HERE!!!

Chickfila: Hooray 4 Labor Day!

Lil' food fans, have you missed me? Waaa! Why haven't I received a busted full inbox of all your WE MISS YOU, pleas!?!? UGH! Just joshin... I actually have. And for that - I'm sooo sowie! I'll do better.

Let's make-up with a FREE SAMMY hook-up!

If you wear a sports team logo of any kind to Chick-fil-A from 10:30 a.m. until close of business on Monday, September 7, 2009, you'll get a free chicken sandwich.



All better? Friends?

Panda Express: BOGO Coupon!!

Want take-out and a movie tonight? Sounds pretty nice, right about now! U say u like chicken or powk? Mmm...I say how bout both?

CLICK HERE to print your BOGO COUPIE-PON!

HUGE Fan of Earth Fare!!!

So awhile back I posted 'bout the movie slash documentary called Food Inc. Um...hi. Husby and I are waaay more edumacated about this whole what to eat slash not to and the most important reason bc of the "who, what, when, where, and WHY" all of these choices are important!!

Products with these ingredients/processes WILL NOT BE SOLD at Earth Fare:
-NO hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (added trans fats)
-NO high fructose corn syrup
-NO artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, fragances, and preservatives
-NO antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal by products in the feed (meat & dairy)
-NO bleached or bromated flour
-NO irradiated single source spices, produce, or meat
-NO animal by-products in pet foods
-NO inhumane treatment of the animals providing Earth Fare with dairy, meat, and eggs

Chickfila: Goodies Galore!!!

Our fave Cluckin' Cows have just given us something to "Moo" about - A'hem... FREE Sandwich & a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!! Wowza! All you have to do is SIGN-UP HERE!! Get a MOOOVE on, already!



Mooo! Don't forget about the FREE Meal Deal on Labor Day - Dress in your fave Sports attire to claim yours!!

FREE Kid's Cookbook

Are your lil' kiddos, food fans too? Let them experience the real deal by cookin' up some grub of their very own. Thanks to Wisconsin Cheese, now you can have a

FREE Kid's Cookbook

sent to your door! Um...kids, what's for dinner?

Anything but PBn'J puh-lease!!!

KASHI Cereal Coupie-pon!!!

Mmm...what could be more delish than happy sunshine and honey over milk? My heart pieces love cereal - especially Kashi brand! So here's a lil' treateroo for my fellow fans!
CLICK HERE to print a $1.50 Off coupie-pon.

And get this!! You can print it twice! UMBER!! That's $3.00 off this cheery cereal...for cereals? um...yeah no joshin.

Missy's Cucumber Punch!!!

I'm happy to report - Brrrr *cymbal crash* WE HAVE CUCS in our lil' a-dora-ball 'ganic garden! Awww, my lil' pink thumb has produced beautyfull produce! So in celebration of our chipper garden - I made punch! Mmm...

Ingredients

1 12oz can organic frozen lemonade
2 liter sprite or 7 up (can be diet)
1 large cucumber

Directions

Pour frozen lemonade concentrate into a pitcher. Skew the sides of the cucumber using the tines of a fork. Slice the cucumbers and add to the pitcher. Stir lemonade and cucumbers together and let marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, add the soda, ice, and stir! Serve with a slice of lemon and cucumber on the rim of each glass!!

Kung Pao Chicken!!!

Want to add a lil' !POW! to your night? Try this kickin chicken dish! We loooove it! Loverbuns, begs for me to make it time n' time again!

Ingredients

1.5 lb boneless-skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1/4 inch pieces)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons sesame oil
4 whole green onions, diced
3 cloves minced garlic
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more depending on heat desired)
½ teaspoon powdered ginger
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup peanuts
1 lemon (cut in wedges)

Directions

Heat sesame oil over medium heat, add the diced chicken and stir fry 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned. Add chopped peanuts and cook until the peanuts begin to turn color. Add the green onions, garlic, red pepper flakes and powdered ginger to the wok and stir fry for 15 seconds. Combine vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and corn starch in a small bowl. Mix well with a whisk and add the sauce to the wok. Coat all ingredients with sauce. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over chicken mixture and toss once over. Plate with brown rice. Top with additional green onions if desired and serve with a lemon wedge.

Note: Don't skip the lemon. It adds the right amount of kick to the dish!