Shannon and Dawn James
We have a huge interest in food, fitness, healthy living and daily indulgences. This blog follows our yummy eats and finds!

EASY GOOEY MICROWAVE POPCORN BALLS


Yields:  8 medium sized balls

1 cup to 2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
4 qt. popped corn

Place butter, marshmallows and brown sugar in atleast a 2 qt tall dish.

Microwave 2 minutes.

Stir together.

Pour over 13 cups of popped corn.  

I will probably use more popcorn next time.

ENJOY!!!



I used yellow popcorn on this batch.  Yellow corn made bigger popped corn.  










Vegetarian Chili Verde

Shannon always seems to find the recipes that call for the most ingredients, or calls for spices that we do not have and will only probably use once, or is a recipe that takes a bit to make.  I was kind of surprised when he said he wanted to make this Vegetarian Chili Soup that Giada was preparing on the Food Network.  This chili was actually pretty good.  Maybe next time he will use less Oregano and maybe add chicken.  I thought that it would be good with lentils or Qunioa as well.  This is one chili Shannon will make again.  Geez, I taste nothing but Oregano...definitely next time less.  Link to recipe


Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • One 8-ounce Yukon gold potato, peeled and cut into 1/3-inch cubes
  • One 8-ounce yam (red-skinned sweet potato), peeled and cut into 1/3-inch cubes
  • 4 large cloves garlic, flattened, peeled and chopped
  • 4 large tomatillos (8 to 9 ounces), husked, rinsed, cored and chopped
  • 2 large poblano chiles (8 to 9 ounces), stemmed, seeded; 1 diced, 1 cut into 4 strips
  • 2 tablespoons dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • One 28-ounce can hominy with juices (preferably golden)
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • One 7-ounce can diced mild green chiles
  • Garnishes, such as crumbled feta cheese, chopped green onions, sliced avocados, lime wedges and chopped serrano chiles)

  • Directions
Heat the oil in a heavy, large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, potatoes, yams, garlic, tomatillos and poblanos. Cover and sweat until the onions are tender, stirring often to prevent browning, about 8 minutes. Mix in the oregano, flour, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the hominy with the juices and the broth and bring the chili to a simmer.
Place the green chiles in a processor. Using tongs, transfer strips of the poblano chile from the pot to the processor; blend just until smooth. Scrape the chile sauce into the pot.
Cover and simmer the chili 20 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the potatoes and yams are tender and the chili is reduced to desired consistency, stirring often, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Season with more salt and pepper if desired.

EASY GOOEY YUMMY POPCORN BALLS

My cousin Carol shared this recipe with me. YUMMMY!!!!!!! It is very easy.  This is the first time that I have made popcorn balls.  I can not wait to make more this weekend.


1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup oil
 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
20 caramels (I used 1 cup of caramel bits)
1/2 pound salted peanuts (without skins)
10 cups popped corn
1/2 pound M&M's plain candies


In microwave:  melt butter, oil, marshmallows and carmels.  1 1/2 - 2 minutes - stir, then 30 more seconds.


Place popcorn in a large bowl.  Add melted ingredients and stir together until popcorn is well coated.





Alternative idea:
Place popcorn and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Add melted ingredients and stir together until popcorn and peanuts are evenly coated. Add the M&Ms last. Shape into popcorn balls and wrap in plastic wrap. You can also color this with several tablespoons of jello.







Simply Organic Cinnamon

If you love cinnamon - BUY SIMPLY ORGANIC Cinnamon - it smells so yummy and tastes DELICIOUS!!

Visit their website to download a printable coupon!  Simply Organic Web Page

I love it in my Greek yogurt and on my Honeycrisp apples!

Mexican Stir-Fry

Shannon found this recipe at allrecipes.com.  We both agreed that we would be making this again!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion (I used one large onion)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (I omitted this)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper (I used to small green peppers)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper* (used one small jalapeno)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup tomato puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/3 cups diced cooked chicken (I used one can of chicken 13 oz)
  • 2/3 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup cooked rice (I used one cup uncooked rice - brown Minute Rice)
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (I used fat free cheddar cheese)

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil for 3 minutes. Add peppers; saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in water, tomato puree, chili powder, bouillon, salt an cayenne; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add chicken, beans and rice; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

Boo-O-Grams

FBLA is selling Boo-O-Grams
rice krispie treat - $1.00,
Popcorn ball - $1.00,
Cake Pop - $1.00, Halloween cake pop - $1.50 
Each come with a message and in a cute Halloween baggie. 
Delivery available on Halloween.
 email me at djames@abileneschools.org if interested.

2 Ingredient Muffins with extra YUMM!!!

1 chocolate cake mix
1 can pure pumpkin
Combine and mix well.

Additional yummies!!!
1 cup milk chocolate chips and heath bits

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

New Blog - for my love of Cake Pops

Crazy for Cake Pops!

This blog documents all of the cake pops that I have made.

As a fundraiser for FBLA - order yours today!

Cowboy Creations!!!!!!  Cake Pops!

I went Cake Pop Shopping

My favorite cake decorating supply store is called Sweet! Baking & Candy Making Supply located in Topeka on Fairlawn Plaza.  I went shopping.  They have the most reasonable prices of any retail store that I have visited.  So of course I had to make chocolate and strawberry cake pops this past weekend.  My sister had made banana bread to try and make cake pops out of.  She made the cream cheese frosting.  However, she wasn't too impressed with the taste of the cake ball.  But I went ahead and made them into cake pops.  I thought they were yummy!