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Black Bean & Corn Salad

Last week I shared with you this recipe for General Tso’s Chicken Salad as an easy homegating recipe along with a whole bunch of other info. Because we enjoy it so much & it’s sooo good, I really wanted to give it it’s own post. I think it really deserves that. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Sometimes when I include recipes along with other content it tends to get overshadowed. That makes me sad, especially when it’s a recipe that we enjoy so much. It’s such an easy way to have a nutritious side dish or make it your main meal. The kids like to have leftovers for lunch too. Personally – I like my food to be visually interesting. So all these colors & then that pop of flavor make me happy.

Like most salads – just throw it all in there- give it a toss & it’s good to go.

I think that is why we are making this one so often – the ease & it’s soooo good

Print Recipe

General Tso’s Chicken Salad

Ingredients

3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 lb General Tso's chicken - cut to bite size
1 cup chow mein noodles
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 small oranges

Instructions

Add spinach, noodles,almonds & oranges to large bowl - toss
Add chicken & sesame seeds - toss
Add additional sesame seeds when serving

Want more great salads?

Caprese Pasta Salad

Garlic Cabbage Slaw

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

By Kleinworth & Co 11 Comments

Wow – it’s been a really long time since I baked some cookies. I had yet to break in the new oven with a cookie recipe & we moved in 2 months ago. It was sure time. The hubs has been begging me for some oatmeal cookies but I am just so over my regular recipe. I wanted something different. I was sent some samples of Peanut Butter from Peanut Butter & Co. & of course the first one I wanted to test was the White Chocolate flavor. No one had any objections & I was truly craving a really good cookie. I was not disappointed. These Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies turned out SO soft & chewy. YUM!

The kids LOVED these. We love soft & chewy cookies. Just like you get at the bakery.

The flavors of the peanut butter & white chocolate are fabulous.

The oatmeal just gives it a little more body & fullness that I often crave in a cookie.

Print Recipe

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make cookie recipe packed with rich and creamy peanut butter and white chocolate chips.

Prep Time10

Cook Time11

Chill30

Total Time21

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookie, oatmeal, peanut butter

Servings:

Ingredients

1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup walnuts chopped
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick ) room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
3/4 cup quick oats
1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

In mixer bowl- combine butter & both sugars. Beat until light & fluffy.
Add peanut butter, nuts, extract - blend well
Beat in egg
Add flour, baking soda & salt - mix well
Add oats - beat well for 1 minute.
Fold in 1/2 of the white chocolate chips
Cover & refrigerate at least 30 minutes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees conventional/325 convection
Line baking sheets with parchment
Roll spoonfuls of dough into balls & place at least 1-2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet
Top with additional chocolate chips
Bake 10-11 minutes for soft cookies- 13 for crisp cookies
Remove & allow to cool on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack
Store in airtight container

*Disclosure: I was sent product from Peanut Butter & Co. to try in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are truthful & my own.

Want more cookie recipes?

Oatmeal Date Cookies

Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Nutella Salted Sandwich Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Caprese Pasta Salad

By Kleinworth & Co

Now that we are settled in our house we are getting back into our routine of making family dinner each night. I can’t tell you just how nice it is to be in the kitchen together as a family & creating wonderful dishes that we all enjoy. Family time is so precious & I am enjoying each & every moment I can. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? One thing we do often is make enough one night so that we have enough leftovers to last us another night or two. This makes it easy when coming home late from the gym to still have a delicious meal when we aren’t here to prepare it. Our latest creation is this Caprese Pasta Salad. It’s perfect for those evenings when we don’t have a lot of time – which seems to be more often than not these days.

I love that it has everything in there that we need. Veggies, beans for protein, olives, homemade croutons for grains & mozzarella for dairy.

It’s practically a meal in itself. An 6 ounce serving left me quite satisfied.

If you plan to make this full quantity & have some leftover for the next day, I recommend holding out the croutons & adding them when serving so that they stay crunchy when refrigerated. When ready to serve – give a drizzle of Kraft House Italian Lite Dressing for that perfect zest every time. I like it because it adds just the right amount of flavor & still keeps it light.

I’m adding the recipe here which is great for a large family with a second night of leftovers. There are 5 of us & this was enough for a second night AND lunch on the 3rd day. This portion is also great for parties & potlucks. If you are making this for a small family, or a single night – you can easily half the recipe. For personal size, 1/8 recipe is perfect.

Print Recipe

Caprese Pasta Salad

Ingredients

16 ounce box Garden Rotini pasta - cooked al dente & cooled
2 cups grape tomatoes
6 cups baby spinach leaves - rinsed & dried
12 marinated artichoke hearts
1-1/2 cups homemade Garlic & Herb Croutons
16 ounces mozzarella cheese - cut into bite size pieces
1 can pitted olives
1 can black beans - drained & rinsed
1/3 cup Kraft House Italian Lite Dressing

Instructions

Cook pasta a according to box directions - drain, rinse under cold water & add to large bowl
add in all other ingredients
Toss to disburse dressing & mix ingredients
Serve immediately
If you plan on saving some for leftovers - add croutons after serving individual plates
Keep refrigerated
Will keep for up to 24-48 hours

For more recipes using Kraft House Italian Lite Dressing connect with Kraft!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

Want another great side dish? How about this…

Black Bean & Corn Salad

Need a beverage to pair with this?

Coconut Lime Tea

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Change up your dinner routine with Kraft. Visit KraftRecipes.com for great recipes and meal ideas, featuring Kraft. Because food deserves delicious.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kraft. The opinions and text are all mine.

How to Monogram a Butcher Block

By Kleinworth & Co 11 Comments

Do you ever have those projects that you say you will do “someday” & then sort of get put off? That is until you find new inspiration to jump right in with both feet. That’s what happened to me with this project. You see – when we were in the beginning stages of building this house, I found this piece of header laying in the scrap pile. I squealed & then asked the hubs to save it for me. So we took it back to our rental & it sat in our garage while we waited for our home. He kept asking me, “what are you going to do with this thing?” I kept telling him that I was going to make it into a butcher block. Well – we just hit our 2 month mark here in our home & the project is complete. I will be sharing how I actually built the butcher block in another post here soon. You see, the thing that sparked my desire to finally get it done was the addition of the Dremel Micro 8050 to my arsenal of tools. So today I am going to share How to Monogram a Butcher Block. It was so FUN & easy – even for this beginner diy-er.

Here it is! Check it out!! It comes with a great little kit of starting bits & tools.

I love the variety that came in the starter accessory kit.

Light and easy to handle in tight spaces, the Dremel® Micro™8050 is packed with features that have crafters, hobbyists and DIYers in mind: soft grip, LED front-end lighting to illuminate projects, a docking station that continually charges, and an 8V Max Lithium-ion battery.

Once my block was ready, I created my monogram design in photoshop & printed on just regular paper. Then I used image transfer carbon paper between my image & the block. Then I traced the image.

I traced over my image transfer with pencil so it was easier to see.

Then I started with my cutter accessory & started cutting away at my design.

**I should tell you that I used a small scrap piece of wood to practice on first. I wanted to be sure I knew the feel of the Dremel & was comfortable with it before starting on my actual project. I was so happy I did because it took a little getting used to so I knew exactly what the tool would do & the pressure that was needed to work the project like I needed to. Things like the lines in the wood from the tree rings – it’s harder than the rest of the wood & that took some practice to work with.

Here is what it looked like after cutting. This did take some time because I wanted it pretty deep. Because it’s cordless – I ran it out of battery several times. Which gave me time to stretch my legs & work on some other projects I had in the works that weekend too. I did get over 1-2 hours of non-stop cutting with each round.

So in my trial piece I used wood stain & a cotton swab to darken the area. That didn’t work so well & the cotton swab was too big. There was a bunch of bleed over & the color wasn’t quite right. So my son suggested that I use those furniture scuff fix markers. While I thought that was a great idea – I decided that a regular fine tip Sharpie in brown was the right tool. It did bleed out a little bit in some areas – but I like that it gives it a burned & rugged look.

That’s it for the monogram. I told you it was easy for a beginner diy-er. Here is the finished block.

I really can’t wait to start working on my next project with the Dremel Micro.

The Micro 8050 can cut, carve, engrave, sand, grind, sharpen, clean and polish—helping you bring just about any brilliant project to life.

You can purchase the Micro 8050 nationwide at Home Depot and Lowe’s and online at Amazon.com for $89 USD.

I love how it turned out & that it’s a sentimental piece from our house – that is now being used in our house.

I actually sent the hubs back to the hardware store to pick me up the mega pack of accessories for future projects.

My head is swirling with ideas now. The possibilities are endless.

Dremel wants to celebrate its fans’ brilliant projects, work and ideas! Now through October 3, share, tweet or post photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that depict your brilliant ideas using the hashtag #MyBrilliantIdeaSweeps for the chance to win weekly prizes, including free tools, gift cards and handmade gifts, or the grand prize: a custom-engraved Honda scooter and a Micro 8050. Visit www.facebook.com/dremel for rules and to learn more.

For more information on Dremel products, project ideas and problem-solving tips, visit www.dremel.com.

Connect with Dremel on Twitter & Pinterest

Want more projects for the home?

DIY Pallet Console Table

Raw Husk Corn Husk Wreath

Easy Rope Vase

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Garlic & Herb Croutons

The other day we were making salad as a side dish. There is this joke in the house that I like to have a little salad added to my bowl of croutons. If you know me – then you know I’m not a huge fan of salad in general. But I will on occasion have a garden salad with the family – as long as I have plenty of croutons. But this particular day we didn’t have any. So I finally did what I have been saying I would do for a very long time. I made these Garlic & Herb Croutons & I can’t believe I have been paying for them for all these years. Really – it was so simple- they tasted fabulous & I didn’t have to worry about having bread go to waste. The best part is that I was able to have my bowl of croutons garnished with a little salad along with the family. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas?

Okay – so I said it was easy. When I say easy, I mean crazy easy!!!

Cut, toss with your addins & bake. Done! Literally! There is no reason why you should be buying croutons – EVER!

I think I may now take them & crunch them up to use as topping for other things too. YUM!

Now I’m hungry as I type this. I may need to go find a snack. Just looking at these makes me want some!

Print Recipe

Garlic & Herb Croutons

Easiest homemade crouton recipe!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: croutons, garlic

Servings:

Ingredients

½ loaf french bread 1-2 days old is perfect
¼ loaf pumpernickel bread
⅓ cup olive oil
2 tbsp granulated garlic
2 tbsp Mrs. Dash seasoning
1 tbsp parsley

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 conventional/ 350 convection
Cut bread into cubes & place in large bowl
Slowly drizzle olive oil over bread - turning to coat
Add seasonings & continue to toss to be sure to distribute the seasonings & oil as evenly as possible
Place on large baking sheet & bake for 15-20 minutes
Allow to cool completely on baking sheet before transferring to airtight container
Will store well up to 2 weeks in pantry

Notes

These can be made in the air fryer - just cook at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, stirring after the first 5 minutes. You may need to reduce the recipe or work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Adapt seasonings as desired.

So what to have with your croutons & salad???

This French Onion Cheese Sauce is great on some grilled chicken – with a little salad on the side.

How about a little pasta? This Chipotle Spinach Fettuccini is FABULOUS!

Do you like a soup/salad combo? You could use the croutons in this Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup too.

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

John Wayne Casserole

John Wayne Casserole is a hearty casserole with ground beef, veggies, biscuit crust, creamy gravy, and cheesy topping to feed a whole family.

It is a biscuit casserole dish that has been around since the 70s, and you’ve probably heard about it at least once.

A classic family dinner casserole, that feeds a crowd and is an easy meal to make even on weekdays. Many recipes have the same name now but all share the same hearty rich flavor and simple ingredients.

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3 Tips to Mixing Modern and Rustic Styles in the Home

Since I am talking more & more about our home, I have here today Tali Wee of Zillow to share with you all 3 Tips to Mixing Modern and Rustic Styles in the Home. I think eclectic styles are the easiest for most people to put together in their homes because most people collect pieces from all sorts of places when they are putting their homes together. But there is a way to do it right so that it all comes together nicely. It doesn’t have to be all matching to work well together & Tali is here today to show you how.

Zillow Digs: The Corcoran Group

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Blackberry & Banana Ice Cream

Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

Okay – last summertime post I swear! After today I’m jumping into fall. But I just loved this Blackberry & Banana Ice Cream so much that I couldn’t let the last little but of summer slip away without sharing it with you. It’s simple, quick to make & HEALTHY too. You have got to love that.

Just look at that color!! I just swoon. I had no problem letting the kids eat this for breakfast on our last couple hot days we had. Bananas & blackberries – just because it looks & tastes like ice cream doesn’t mean it’s not good for you. They absolutely loved it.

With this one I decided to freeze it overnight before serving. I had a few other things that needed to be eaten first. But I think next time I will eat immediately & enjoy it soft serve style.

I originally shared this Blackberry & Banana Ice Cream post on Or So She Says.

Print Recipe

Blackberry & Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients

5 frozen bananas
2 cups frozen blackberries
1-1/2 cups almond milk

Instructions

Add all ingredients to blender & blend on high until completely smooth & combined.
Serve immediately for soft serve or transfer to airtight container & freeze several hours for a firmer ice cream.

Want more easy treats?

M&M’s Cookie Dough Bites

Frozen Kit Kat Pudding Pie

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Cake Batter Meringues

By Kleinworth & Co 8 Comments

Today is all about MERINGUE!!! You see – meringue was a favorite for my mom. She baked A LOT & meringue was her “go-to” thing. I originally planned on sharing her Meringue Buttercream frosting. But then I decided to make her favorite cookie – meringues instead. But that’s not all! Since one of our favorite things to do while baking together was lick the bowl while we waited for cakes to bake – I decided to make these little gems cake batter flavored. She would have loved these Cake Batter Meringues.

These are definitely a tribute to my wonderful mom. It was however rough for me while making them. I can touch just about anything of hers – except her baking stuff. Baking was so much a part of who she was & so many of my memories are of us together in the kitchen. It’s really hard to even touch her tools without breaking down. But in honor of her – I did it & she would love these.

Light & airy – with a subtle hint of cake batter flavor. YUM!

This made several dozen cookies. They are about 1-1.5 inches in diameter & they filled my 3/4 sheet. I probably should have used my full sheet for these – but I was already committed once I figured that out. 🙂

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Cake Batter Meringues

Ingredients

4 egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
pinch of cream of tarter
1 tsp Cake Batter Flavoring
Food Coloring Optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 175 degrees for conventional/ 150 for convection
Line a 3/4 size sheet pan or several smaller baking sheets with parchment & set aside
Place sugar & egg whites in medium bowl over the top of a pot of simmering water. Do not allow bottom of bowl touch the water.
Constantly whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
Transfer to mixer bowl
Using whisk attachment - beat on low & add in Cake Batter Flavoring
Gradually increase speed & continue to beat until stiff peaks have formed & meringue is glossy in appearance.
Transfer to pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
Pipe meringues onto parchment about 1 inch apart.
Bake in preheated oven for 90 minutes. Then turn off oven & allow cookies to cool in oven with the door slightly open.
Once completely cooled - transfer to airtight container away from heat & moisture.
Can also be stored in the freezer.

Want more great cookies?

Oatmeal Date Cookies

Peanut Butter Nutella Salted Sandwich Cookies

Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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DIY Pallet Console Table

By Kleinworth & Co 40 Comments

DIY Pallet Console Table is a quick and easy project that can be completed in just a few hours. This repurposing project is great for small spaces.

Looking for a quick and easy weekend project to spruce up a small space? This DIY Pallet Console Table can be made in just a couple hours and is the perfect addition to an entryway, hall or any tight space that needs a little extra something.

Coconut Lime Iced Tea

Pineapple Sparkler

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

Are you ready for fall or are you still hanging on for summer??? Well I’m sort of in-between. I love fall- it’s my favorite season. However, with the whole move & not getting to really jump in to summer posts here with both feet, I’m sort of wanting to cling on to summer for just a bit longer. The temps here this time of year are so up & down anyway – but I’m not complaining because if we were still back in Vegas, I would still be talking about 100’s. But with all that said – I just had to throw in this super tasty summertime Pineapple Sparkler that I know you will love.

This probably won’t be my last summer post of the season- but am feeling the need to wrap it up & start sharing with you all the fall ideas I have swirling around. I have to say- I started thinking about fall as soon as we got settled here back in July.

I love how easy it is to whip this up. I almost always keep a fresh pineapple on hand. So when I’m cutting one up to have with lunch – I just take a little & pop it in the blender with the other ingredients & there you go. Tropical drink in about 90 seconds – start to finish.

Print Recipe

Pineapple Sparkler

Ingredients

2 cups fresh pineapple- cut into chunks
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup cream of coconut
12 ounces coconut sparkling water
1-1/2 cups ice

Instructions

Place all ingredients in blender & blend on high for about 45-60 seconds- making sure all the ice is crushed before pouring into your serving glasses.
Garnish with pineapple, lime or mint.

Want more refreshing beverages to cool you down?

Blackberry Watermelon Fizz

Coco Piña Colada

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Glitter Wave Table Makeover

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

If you remember when we were first moving into our house, I mentioned that I was putting unpacking on hold while I worked on getting some final projects painted so they could finally be put into their permanent space. Well one of those little (& more fun) projects was this Glitter Wave Table Makeover. I had been dragging around this really inexpensive accent table since I bought it for my very first apartment when I was 18. Jump ahead all these years & I still have it. It’s traditionally used under a table skirt – which is how I had been using it or storing it for all these years. Until I saw someone paint a similar table a few months ago. The light bulb went off – duh! I love transforming things with a little paint. So I pulled out some colors to match the powder room & got to work. Check out how easy it was to complete.

Here it is – in all it’s sadness. You can still buy them at places like Walmart. I don’t even think Walmart had made it to the west coast yet when I bought mine. You can see a similar one here.

So I started with the pale pink shade all over the whole table – Valspar Cape Sands. Then I used the Martha Stewart Champagne for the waves. I was so excited to find actual glitter paint while shopping one weekend.

Once the paint was dry I used some leftover shape tape that I had from another project.

I purposely made the waves progressively larger from one side to the other.

Just a couple coats – pulled off the tape & let it dry overnight.

Then I added the glass piece for the top when I finally placed it in the powder room.

It was so easy. I wish all furniture makeover projects were this simple. I like it so much better than draping a table skirt over it.

I have a couple more projects I did for this room – so stay tuned for those in the coming weeks.

Want to see more from our new home?

Easy Rope Vase

Master Bath 2nd Vanity

Coastal Decor {Living Room Reveal}

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday 8 24 14

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

I realized a few weeks ago that I have been spending so much time working- that I almost never pick up my camera for creativity anymore. It was sad. Not only that – but when it comes to creative processing…it was bad. I had lost all vision. I am clearly out of practice. So I have decided that since I began honing my photography skills by joining up to the weekly Scavenger Hunt Sunday years ago – that it would be a good challenge for me to jump back in as often as I can. I really need to keep up on my photography beyond work & this is a wonderful place for me to do it. So I am going to do my best to keep up & participate more frequently.

So here are the prompts for this week….

Flowers

Click through below to see the rest of this week’s prompts.

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Black Bean and Corn Salad

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

So Labor Day is like right around the corner. Can’t even believe I just typed that. This year is just flying by. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? But because it is so close to the final BBQ of the season I wanted to share with you this recipe for Black Bean and Corn Salad. It comes together so quickly & makes a LARGE amount. So it’s perfect for those Labor Day entertaining with your friends or those fun end of summer church picnics. Whatever the occasion- this is a great side dish recipe to bring along to feed the crowds.

I love the vibrant colors. I literally just started throwing things in the bowl based on the colors I felt it needed to be visually interesting. Of course I took into account flavor medleys – but I really wanted this to have a nice array of colors to just pop out of the platter.

Simple & easy – you know that is the best when it comes to preparing for a large crowd.

My kids went back for thirds! We enjoyed this on the side of our Baby Back Ribs.

Print Recipe

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Ingredients

2 15.25 ounce cans black beans - drained & rinsed
32 ounce bag corn - cooked & slightly cooled
10 ounces cherry tomatoes - halved
1 large orange sweet pepper - finely diced
2 cup spinach leaves - chopped
3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
4 ounces feta cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine all prepared ingredients to large bowl - toss well to coat with oil & seasonings.
Chill in refrigerator for about 20 minutes prior to serving.

Want more great side dishes?

Garlic Cabbage Slaw

Restaurant Style Refried Beans

Slow Cooker Black Bread

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Coconut Lime Tea

By Kleinworth & Co 10 Comments

Coconut Lime Tea – perfectly brewed with the refreshing flavors of coconut & lime. Such a delicious way to hydrate all summer long.

You know – the weather has been so fickle. This time of year it can’t decide if it still wants to be summer or if it really would rather start heading into fall.

We have a couple of days of low 80’s – which is soooooo nice. (The So Cal girl in me really wishes it were like that all the time) But then it gets back up near 90 again & I start heading for the kitchen for a cool down.

Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe

Prosciutto French Onion Tea Sandwiches

Prosciutto French Onion Tea Sandwiches are perfect for bridal or baby showers, Mother’s day celebrations, or backyard pool parties. Super easy & delicious.

August tends to be a very busy month for us in regards to celebrations. I mentioned earlier that the munchkin celebrated a birthday.

This month we also celebrate the birthday of my niece & the anniversary of my brother & sister-in-law. And before we had hit mid-month we also celebrate the hubs birthday.

Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe

Chipotle Spinach Fettuccini

French Onion Cheese Sauce

By Kleinworth & Co 11 Comments

Remember back in April when I attended the SNAP! Conference? Well – the first night of the conference they fed us this INCREDIBLE chicken smothered with this sauce. It was so good. It was all I could do to not ask for another plate of it…..or 4 or 5 more plates. I could have eaten it until I was sick. It was amazing. So literally ever since then I have been craving it. Clearly I didn’t get enough. So I started experimenting in the kitchen with different sauces for my chicken. I came up with this French Onion Cheese Sauce that is really quite tasty. It isn’t quite like the one I mentioned before- I’m still working on recreating that one. But this was still tasty & share worthy. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Top it on your chicken, add it to some noodles- whatever. It’s YUM-O!

We just grilled some boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the BBQ with just seasonings.

Then added the sauce just as we plated it.

Add a little additional parsley to the top to make it look pretty!

Makes for a scrumptious dinner with a side of baby spinach.

Print Recipe

French Onion Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup French Onion Recipe Mix
3/4 tsp teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
sprinkle of parsley

Instructions

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat
Once melted- whisk in flour to make a roux - cook 1-2 minutes
Slowly add milk & water - whisking briskly to fully incorporate & keep milk from scalding
Keep whisking 5-8 minutes to thicken sauce
Remove from heat, add french onion mix, teriyaki, cheese & parsley - whisk in well
Serve warm
Ladle over your grilled chicken
garnish with additional parsley after plating.

Want more dinner ideas?

Simple Teriyaki Stir Fry

Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Almond & Macadamia Nut Butter {Back to School Extravaganza & Giveaway}

By Kleinworth & Co 12 Comments

Do you ever have those things on a so-called “recipe bucket list” that you keep meaning to make? Those things that you have been hearing about for a while & you keep telling yourself that you will do it & then days, weeks, months – maybe even years go by & you still haven’t done it yet? Yeah – for me – it was nut butter. In our effort to eliminate as many processed foods as we can from our diet- without taking away the wonderful conveniences of living in today – I finally tried my first attempt at making nut butter. Since macadamia nuts are my favorite nut – I already had a bunch on hand. So I started there…with a little mix of almonds for a twist to create this Almond & Macadamia Nut Butter. I’m happy with my first attempt. Excited to try some different varieties in the future.

It wasn’t hard to do. However- pack your patience. This did take far longer than I expected. Far longer than others mentioned in their recipes. Maybe it was me – maybe just how I was doing it. I did find that I had better success with my blender than with my food processor. I think there was too much space with the food processor & the nuts were not getting enough of the blades – which is probably what contributed to the additional time. I ended up transferring to my blender & things went a lot quicker after that. Sooooooo- my next batch I will start with the blender. I’m sure I will be sharing future recipes with you – so I will be sure to share my thoughts on the process change as well.

This turned out pretty tasty. I love that I made it myself.

I can’t wait to enjoy it with some of the jams I have been making lately.

Print Recipe

Almond & Macadamia Nut Butter {Back to School Extravaganza & Giveaway}

Ingredients

1-1/4 cup macadamia nuts
3/4 cup almonds
2 tbsp + 1 tsp raw honey
1/2 tsp Princess Cake & Cookie Bakery Emulsion
1/4 - 1 tsp salt - to taste
1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 conventional/ 325 convection
Spread almonds on baking sheet - toast 6-8 minutes to help release oils
Remove & transfer immediately to food processor or high powered blender
Add macadamia nuts
Puree until smooth - approx 4-6 minutes - scraping sides often
Add honey, bakery emulsion, salt & coconut oil
Puree again until creamy - the longer you puree- the creamier it gets. This can take 6-20 minutes depending on your machine. Be patient & scrape sides often.
Transfer to clean & sterile jars - store in refrigerator.

So what will I pair it with?

Definitely this Huckleberry Jam for a great sandwich.

Want to try another SUPER YUMMY spread?

How about this Chocolate Chip Cookie – Cookie Butter?

For me, traditional Back to School time means good old fashioned Peanut Butter & Jelly! But many kids can’t bring peanut butter to school anymore. So I thought this would be a great Back to School alternative for those that need a substitute.

I have teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers (you know them all) & I’m sharing this recipe as part of our

Back to School Extravaganza & Giveaway!

Added BONUS in this giveaway…4 spice packs from Urban Accents! Two dry glazes and two veggie roasters. Available at grocery stores, Costco Midwest and online at UrbanAccents.com. PLUS, they make specialty items for Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table and World Market.

Please follow/ like them on Facebook Instagram Twitter and Pinterest.

Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!

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To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Easy Rope Vase

By Kleinworth & Co 5 Comments

Remember when I said I was crafting up a storm & revamping things to fit in the new house? Well I’m still working on things but I thought I would share with you this super simple & Easy Rope Vase that I made for the hearth. I have had this plain ol’ vase sitting around for forever. We had some flowers in it on the coffee table at the old house. But it wasn’t very pretty & honestly, I was so tired of the same old look. I contemplated painting it on the outside, or maybe on the inside…..or even just staining it. I left it sitting in this box of “still deciding what to do with- last of the move” stuff for a while. Then I was inspired to take a little sisal rope & transform it into something that actually matches our house decor & is a little more visually interesting too. Let me show you just how easy this was.

Literally – just the hot glue gun, sisal rope & this vase – 20 minutes max.

Just a little dab of glue & wrap until you get it to where you want it. Dab & wrap, dab & wrap. All the way up.

It matches with the coastal vibe of the space so nicely.

These are so popular these days. But with $10 coil of sisal & some hot glue sticks I made this for a bargain. Especially since I have seen similar ones sold for as much as $140. Really??!!

I love it when I see something I would like for the house & I look at the hubs & say “I can totally make that”. Then I go home & I actually do it. Then he’s all impressed & I’m pretty happy that I was able to save while still getting the look I want.

Want more projects for the home?

Beachy Painted Corkboard

DIY Clay Coasters

Updated House Numbers Sign

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Rag Wrapped Bracelets {Back to School Craft}

By Kleinworth & Co

Do you like re-purposing projects?? The kids & I are always looking at things we have collected, used containers & whatnot to see if there is anything we can use it for before it goes to the trash or recycle bin. One thing we go through A LOT of in this house is coffee creamer bottles. I hang on to them to store things like buttons or glitter or beads in the craft room. But then I came up with this fun craft for my tween – Rag Wrapped Bracelets. We may not be going back to school (because we break during the holidays)- but most public school kids ARE heading back to school soon. So I thought this would be a fun back to school craft for girls to do with their friends or as a mom/daughter activity.

These are incredibly simple to make. Took just a few minutes!!

Start with some fabric of choice & your empty & washed creamer bottle.

You will also need a hot glue gun & ribbon if you do the second style I created.

Cut your bottle into rings. I STRONGLY suggest you use scissors & not the exact-o knife like I did.

I ended up slicing myself pretty good with it & nearly needed stitches.

Cut some long strips of fabric about 1″ wide.

Because I was closer to the neck of the bottle & this ring was smaller – I cut it to make it wider.

Place a dab of hot glue at your starting point & then attach the end of your fabric.

Then just wrap the fabric around until you come to the end & you have covered the entire bracelet piece.

On the one I cut open – I then attached a small piece of ribbon on both ends.

Then I glued another piece around the tip to finish off the ends.

If you do a standard bangle style- just glue the end piece down when you get to the end. It will blend in.

Here’s the finished bracelets. I love how they turned out. I see many of these in our future.

As you can see I did some thin & some wide. My girls like to alternate them.

I’m just LOVING these! Such a fun little project with my girls.

Be sure to pick up your International Delight to enjoy & then re-purpose the bottle into these Rag Wrapped Bracelets.

Look for the new International Delight Logo when picking up your own favorite flavors!

I would love it if you would connect with International Delight!! It’s easy!

Join the International delight Community at internationaldelight.com

International Delight members are entered to win prizes every month. This month, the prize is a tablet.

Follow on Twitter @indelight & use #IDelight & don’t forget to connect on Facebook too.

They’re on Google+ & Instagram too!! Find more International Delight on PINTEREST

Want more re-purposing projects?

Coffee Can First Aid Kit & Printable Checklist

DIY Wasp Trap – from an International Delight Creamer Bottle

Corn Husk Luminaries

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

With the whole hubbub of back to school going on I thought I would make a little something that just screams school time to me. Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream! With just 3 simple ingredients, completely dairy free & it’s ready in just 5 minutes. So incredibly easy. When I did my little quality control taste test – I was really surprised by how it truly tastes JUST like a good ‘ol PB&J. It also made me realize just how little the bread contributes to the overall flavor of a PB&J. This Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream is all I ever need when I’m craving those two wonderful flavors together.

The kids were all over this. I love that I can whip it up in my blender & it’s ready so quickly.

I decided to use my Huckleberry Jam that I shared with you on Monday. So I suppose this is really peanut butter & jam ice cream. But it doesn’t have the same ring to it now does it?! Besides – you can use any flavor jelly you like with this so the name still holds true for recipe recreation purposes.

Print Recipe

Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

Ingredients

5 frozen bananas
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup jelly (I used my Huckleberry Jam in this batch

Instructions

Place peanut butter in the bottom of blender (this helps make sure it's fully incorporated)
Add bananas
Blend on high for several minutes
Scrape down sides & continue blending until creamy
Transfer to medium size bowl & fold in jelly/jam being careful to not fully blend it in. You want ribbons of jelly throughout.
Enjoy immediately for a soft serve ice cream or transfer to air tight container & freeze overnight for firm ice cream.

Want more recipes made with frozen bananas?

Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream

Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream

Banana Root Beer Float

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Simple White Board Organizer {w/ Sharpie}

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SharpieBTS

I am slowly getting each room dialed in around here. One of the big things for me is my office/studio space. I thrive on keeping everything organized so I can stay functional. Between working full time on the blog, homeschooling 3 kids, running my product photography biz & the regular family activities – my head is swimming trying to remember everything that needs to happen everyday. I purposely added as many windows to my work space as we could during the planning process because I wanted to flood my space with lots of natural light. This is wonderful when taking pictures. Not so great when it comes to places to hang all my usual office organizers that kept me running before the move. So I had to come up with a different system. I knew I wanted something large & it had to be colorful to catch my attention. So I headed to Staples to take advantage of all the great back to school deals happening this time of year & I started with Sharpie to create this Simple White Board Organizer.

What is it about Sharpie? I can’t seem to get enough of them. I have an entire drawer in my desk dedicated just for Sharpies. Every size, shape & color they make – I seem to pick them up as they are available. Look at all of these!! I think I was squealing as I was finding more & more displays in the store. Did you know that right now Staples has all Sharpie Fine & Ultra Fine markers & highlighters on sale – while supplies last of course. I definitely picked up my fair share.

I started with my assortment of colors & types. I used both the standard permanent markers & also the new paint markers.

I picked up a large white board & used some washi tape I had on hand.

I used the paint markers & colored these little wood shapes. Then used the standard permanent markers to write the subject name on each one. Then I added a small strip of magnetic tape to the back of each one so they would stick up on my white board.

I used my washi tape to mark off my sections/ categories. I decided on 9 for this board.

I also picked up some dry erase magnetic strips that I can move around as I work on things.

As you can see I have my categories for things I am working on now, what’s coming up next week, personal tasks I need to remember, things on the calendar, sponsored posts that I have coming up, ideas for upcoming posts, upcoming holidays & then the completed area. I love taking my tab & moving it over to the completed box – it’s mentally cleansing.

It didn’t take long to put it altogether & I use it SO MUCH!

As you can see – I can look up from my desk & easily see everything I have going on at a glance.

I can’t believe I have lived this long without this board. I love it!

Now to finish all the other little things in my space to make it complete.

To check out all the Sharpie products – visit their website or connect with them on Twitter | Facebook & Instagram

Want more projects for the home?

Simple Coffee Filter Flowers

Hair Accessories Organizer

Recipe Request Board

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Huckleberry Jam {Ready in 10 Minutes}

By Kleinworth & Co 7 Comments

Have I mentioned how much I love huckleberries? It was such a treat when we moved here. Being a So Cal native I had never had one before our transplant here to North Idaho. Oh man- no wonder everyone here won’t share their picking spots. They are so amazing. I decided that before the big bag I picked up was gone I had to try making some into jam. Homemade jam is something I truly enjoy having in the house. I can’t remember the last time we bought jam from the store. It must be years now. I love the whole process from start to finish. It’s one of those things – I can’t explain it. But you know what?? This Huckleberry Jam is probably my most favorite flavor to date.

If you have the opportunity to get your hands on some huckleberries – this is THE recipe to use them in. YUUUUMMM!

Now to make some crusty bread to have it on some toast.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Huckleberry Jam {Ready in 10 Minutes}

Ingredients

1-2/3 cup fresh huckleberries
2 tbsp instant pectin
1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Place berries in large bowl & mash with a potato masher until well broken down - set aside
In medium bowl combine sugar & pectin- mix
Add mashed berries & mix well - at least 3 minutes
Transfer to small saucepan & bring just to a boil
Remove from heat & cool several minutes before transferring to prepared jars
Store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 6 months

Want more spreads & syrups?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cookie Butter

Raspberry Marmalade

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Dirty Diet Coke Pops

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

Happy Friday! It’s time to grab your favorite drink & find a shady spot to cool down. We have been experiencing some unusually warm weather for this area. We spent most of July above 90 – which for here is decently hot. What we are used to after so many years in Vegas – it’s not all that bad. But I did find myself making more & more tasty frozen treats. I originally shared this recipe at I Heart Nap Time on July 22 as Creamy Dirty Diet Coke Pops. But since they are now a huge favorite – hello….dirty diet coke – YUM – I had to share them all with you here. These Dirty Diet Coke Pops are DELISH!

I LOVE coconut anything- add lime & I’m in heaven.

I’m sure you have noticed around here – I talk a lot about coconut & all the wonderful things I can make with it.

Have you tried a Dirty Diet Coke?? So good!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm – seriously, that’s all I have left to say about these.

Print Recipe

Dirty Diet Coke Pops

Ingredients

1 - 15 ounce can Cream of Coconut
¼ cup lime juice
24 ounces Diet Coke

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in blender & blend approximately 60-90 seconds, or until ingredients have combined.
Transfer to pop molds & freeze overnight.
Enjoy!

Want more frozen treats?

Double Berry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt

Frozen Brown Cow

Banana Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Smashed Broccoli

Smashed Broccoli is a quick and easy side dish that features tender broccoli, lightly smashed, seasoned to perfection, and topped with cheese.

Get ready to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary with Smashed Broccoli! This dish transforms the familiar broccoli floret into a crispy, cheesy delight that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

Think of this: each piece of broccoli, smashed flat and baked until the edges are irresistibly crispy, and the parmesan cheese forms a golden, flavorful crust. It’s a simple side that packs a punch of texture and taste, making it perfect for shaking up your veggie routine.

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Blackberry Watermelon Fizz

By Kleinworth & Co 13 Comments

Blackberry Watermelon Fizz is a quick & easy blended drink packed full of watermelon, blackberries, fizzy coconut water & sweet cream. It’s delicious!

Sweating yet? I bet you need a cool down. I have just the thing to help. This Blackberry Watermelon Fizz is a simple & easy drink recipe that is perfect for backyard bbq, pool parties or just chillin’ with the family over the weekend.

Matcha Brownies