Pepperoni Pinwheels

Yep, this is from Pinterest. I made tonight's dinner from this blog.

All you need is the following:
Muenster Cheese slices

Crescent Rolls

Pepperoni (sliced)

Pizza Sauce (optional)

So simple and easy! Take your crescent rolls, pinch the 2 triangles together, add your cheese and pepperoni then roll up. Slice the rolls and you'll get small little pinwheels. Bake on 350 for about 12 to 13 min.

Some of them got a little crazy as they baked but who cares. It gives them character right? :)

Serve them with some warm pizza sauce to dip them. They are good without it too.
They are so easy to make. These would be a good appetizer at upcoming holiday festivities. :)

My Harley! :)

My kitty Harley! :) He's sitting at the window watching the birdies at the feeder. Harley likes to chirp at the birds. I just re-filled the feeder yesterday and already one of them is almost empty. LOL

Here Harley is looking around. :)

Yes, his little mouth is open. He's weird like that. LOL :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

How good do those cookies look? Trust me.....these are GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not be disappointed if you make them. :) Well.......Guess what? This is another Pinterest inspiration from this blog that's originally from here. :) Sorry......always gotta site my sources you know. I don't want to be stealing someone else's recipes or ideas! :)

You will need the following:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used dutch cocoa)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar (plus more for rolling)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)

1 cup Peanut Butter (divided)

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

3/4 cup powdered sugar
little bit of milk

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray pam on your cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together your sugars with your butter and peanut butter (1/4 cup) until light and fluffy. Beat in your egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour mixture a little at a time until all mixed in. (You can also use your kitchen aid mixer with the paddle attachment. I used my hand mixer). Once mixed just set aside.

In another medium bowl, beat your peanut butter (3/4 cup), powdered sugar and a little (FAT FREE) milk until smooth.

Next pull off a heaping tbsp of cookie dough and flatten with your hands. Take about a tsp of peanut butter and place in the center of the flattened dough. Wrap the chocolate cookie around the pb center. Roll into a ball, roll in sugar and then place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Take a glass and press down the cookie to flatten.

Bake in your preheated oven for 7 to 9 min. Let cool on baking sheet for 2 min. then transfer to a wire rack.

I made mine so big I only got a dozen! LOL But you can make them as big or small as you want.

Look at the ooey gooey pb goodness! :)

Enjoy with a glass of milk! :) Store leftovers (if you have any) in a tupperware container with a slice of bread to keep soft.

UPDATE:  I've made these a couple of times.  They are really good.  :)

New Things Monday

Last month, I went to a surprise birthday dinner for my Aunt Karen! It was a girls night only! My Aunt was so surprised and we had a wonderful good time. We went to Ozzie's in Fairfax!

Very cute place!! :)
I tried many new things that I've never had before!!!! I guess I'm learning to branch out more.

Arancini

fried risotto balls stuffed with Fontina cheese & Italian sausage, served with marinara (I never had risotto before and these were amazing).

Fontina Focaccia Bruschetta

grape tomatoes, cherry mozzarella & balsamic (I've had bruschetta but wanted to share that I ate this too)

Roast Chicken Panino

thinly sliced chicken, oven dried tomatoes, Fontina, arugula and basil aioli on BBBC grilled sourdough...fries (I ordered this for dinner. I don't think I've ever had a panino/panini before. I loved it!! I never had fontina or arugula and they were great).

Rocket Arugula, Fig & Artichoke

Parmigiano-Reggiano & pine nuts with lemon olive oil (My Aunt's BFF ordered this salad, she let me try it. It was good. I also tried a FIG b/c my cousin, Lora insisted. I liked it. It was like a Fig Newton. LOL)

Beef Short Rib Ragu

creamy mascarpone polenta, cippolini onions, wild mushrooms and buttered carrots (My cousin and BFF, Kristen got this. I tried it! It was awesome!! Never had polenta before and I would def eat it again).

Tiramisu Ho Ho (I'm not a fan of tiramisu b/c I don't like coffee but this wasn't coffee-ish at all. I even ate a chocolate covered coffee bean.....MMMMMM)

Homemade Gelato

Triple Chocolate or Pistachio�with chocolate hazelnut biscotti (I've had chocolate gelato before but never pistachio. It was delish!!! Everyone loved everything we ate).

Everything I tried I loved soooooo much!! I don't think I forgot anything. I don't remember what my little sister got. I don't think I tried her dish. :( LOL We had sooo much food! I will def go to this place again!! Thanks for the invite Lora! We had so much fun! :)

Homemade Chicken and Rice Soup

The other day my dad took me to lunch. Our lunch plates included a little bowl of Chicken and Rice Soup. It was really delicious. I'm not sure if it's made there at the restaurant or if it's from a can but my dad and I really liked it. As I was eating it, I thought to myself that I could easily make it. So, I made it for dinner tonight. :)

Chicken Breasts (cooked and cut up)

Chicken Stock (Fat free, low sodium and no MSG)

Black Pepper

minced garlic

extra virgin olive oil

Carrots (cut up small)

Parsley

Green Onions (from my water bottle)

onion powder

salt to taste

white rice (90 second packs)

Cook your chicken. Once it's done let it cool. Cut up and set aside. Cut up your carrots and cook your rice. To your pot heat up some extra virgin olive oil and some minced garlic. Mix the chicken, carrots and rice together and then add to your heated pot. Add your chicken stock or water. Then add some green onions, onion powder, pepper, and parsley. Let simmer on medium/low. Once carrots are tender then it's done. Add salt to taste. I served my soup with some pillsbury biscuits. :)

Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes

I made little mini strawberry no-bake cheesecakes. I used fat free milk for the mix. I used pre-made Keebler mini crusts. Once you've mixed the filling up, pour into the crusts. Refrigerate for about an hour. Once cheesecake is set you can add your topping. I used the strawberry topping from the box. :)

Fall Foliage 2011

Yesterday, I drove around and took pictures of the fall foliage. One of my favorite places to go is Lee Drive. It's a driving tour with walking trails and includes many key spots on the battlefield.

I just love all of the colors of fall! :)

After taking pictures I decided to make my way home. I remembered a place off of Rt. 2 that I've been wanting to see. It's called the Slaughter Pen Farm.

Silo.....

See the train in the background? LOVE TRAINS!!

Old barn building. When I first got there, I noticed someone getting there pictures taken. I assumed Senior Portraits which I found out from the Mother that they were.



For dinner, the gang got together down in Richmond at Maggiano's to celebrate Joe's birthday. We had a great time with lots and lots of laughs. :)

Homemade Mongolian Beef with Rice

Doesn't the title just make you drool?

How about the picture?

Another pinterest idea from this blog. After trying just a spoon full, well I've just got to say......Who needs PF Changs when you can make this at home. :)

I didn't do mine exactly like the blogger. I did it a way that works for me. It's cooking, not baking. You're allowed to leave something out or replace something if you want. :)

To make:

1 1/2 of flat iron steaks (I could not find flank steaks)

extra virgin olive oil

minced garlic

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

ground black pepper

chopped green onions (which I sprinkled in from my water bottle)

I baked my flat iron steaks in some W sauce, water and black pepper on 350 degrees in a deep glass dish covered with foil. Once they were done (about an hour) I let them rest a bit. While they were resting I made the sauce in a bowl. Then heat up your skillet or wok with some olive oil, and minced garlic. Then add your sauce mix and flour. Let it thicken up a bit on medium heat. While the sauce is cooking, add a few chopped green onions and cut up your meat. You can leave the meat in strips but I would rather have bite size pieces b/c then you don't have to cut while you're eating. :) Add the chopped meat in your sauce and stir up real good to coat each side. Turn down the heat to medium/low and just let everything simmer. While the meat was simmering in the sauce I made the 90 second white rice. Serve hot and enjoy! :)