Samoa Magic Bars

Samoa Magic Bars

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup Kraft caramel bits (or about 18 square caramels, cut in half)
• 1 can (14 ounces) regular or fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Line a 9x13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. The foil is optional, but helps aid in removing these from the pan.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Beat butter in a stand mixer until smooth. Mix in flour, sugar, and salt. Beat until the mixture is crumbly. It’s done mixing when you can press it together between your fingers and it sticks together. (You can use a hand mixer but it will take a really long time to come together, FYI.) Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
4. Remove hot crust from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips, coconut, and caramels. (Note: if you can’t find caramels or caramel bits, you can use Rolos or Caramel Hershey’s Kisses, chopped.)
5. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden around the edges. Cool completely before cutting.
6. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. These can be frozen in a single layer in a resealable plastic bag or plastic container.

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw
 

Ingredients

• 8 cups shredded cabbage (we like to use a bagged shredded cabbage blend with carrots)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 large apple chopped (or 2 medium size apples - granny smith or your favorite apple)
• 1 cup Marzetti® Original Slaw Dressing (or make your own, see link to copycat Marzetti Slaw Dressing recipe below) 

Directions

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix until well coated.  Chill in fridge for approximately one hour.  Enjoy!

Variations

• Try using half shredded cabbage and half broccoli slaw - it's wonderful.
• If you don't have cranberries on hand, substitute with dried cherries or raisins.

Tips

• I highly recommend using Marzetti® Original Slaw Dressing or making your own copycat version.  The sweet and tangy dressing goes perfectly with the ingredients.  Go here, Almost Marzetti's Slaw Dressing, for a great copycat recipe made with light mayonnaise, sugar, white vinegar and yellow mustard.
• Adjust amount of slaw dressing, apple and cranberries to suit taste.  

Paleo Bars.

Now, I haven't tried these Paleo Bars, but since they listed the ingredients I thought I'd give them a whirl.

After a couple of tries, this is what I came up with.  
Hope you love them, I think they're awesome! :)

Paleo Bars.
Ingredients:
2 cups mixed nuts (eg. cashews, macadamias, walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts)
1 cup dates (medjool or dried)
1/4 cup cacao powder
2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions:

• Process nuts in food processor until very fine.

• Into the processor, put the dates, either option 1 or 2 below: 

1. If using dried dates, put them in a microwave bowl with 1/2 cup hot water and microwave for 3 minutes.  Drain off the excess water before adding to the nuts.  
2. If using medjool dates, take out the pits
   
   and add them to the processor.

• Also add the cacao powder and coconut oil.
• Process until it forms a sticky, fudgey dough. (If using medjool dates, add a Tablespoon of water if needed.
•  Line a square 20cm (8 inch) pan with baking paper.Spread mixture evenly into the pan and place into the fridge to set.  (Put in the freezer if in a hurry.)
• When set, cut into pieces and enjoy.
• Store in the fridge. 

Crispy Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Crispy Lemon Garlic Shrimp! - These are AMAZING!, you can serve them on Pasta, Salad,... even Pasta Salad smile emoticon

Mix: Olive Oil, Garlic, Breadcrumbs, Salt and Pepper. Sprinkle that over your Shrimp and bake for 10 minutes at 450... drizzle a little Lemon Juice on top and your Good to Go!

Muffaletta Tortellini Salad

Muffaletta Tortellini Salad is all your favorite things about a pasta salad and the classic Italian flavors of the Muffaletta sandwich rolled into one amazing summer salad. An easy recipe that you will be making all year round .

4 ounces Genoa salami, cut into bite size pieces
4 ounces mortadella, cut into bite size pieces
4 ounces capicola, cut into bite size pieces
4 ounces provolone cheese, cut into bite size pieces
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into bite size pieces
2 (16 ounce) packages frozen tortellini

Olive Salad
¼ cup STAR red wine vinegar
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons STAR extra virgin olive oil (divided)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 (6 ounce) jar Italian mix giardiniera, chopped
½ cup chopped roasted red peppers
½ cup STAR pimento stuffed olives, sliced
½ cup sliced kalamata olives, halved
½ cup STAR sliced black olives, sliced
2 tablespoons capers, drained

Prepare the olive salad: Reserve 2 tablespoons olive oil. In a medium bowl combine vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley and black pepper. Whisk until well combined. Set aside. Cut up remaining ingredients according to ingredient list. Add remaining ingredients to bowl. Toss well until combined and coated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (up to overnight).

Meanwhile: bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Remove from heat and drain.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare deli meats and cheeses: cut meats and cheese into bite size pieces, approximately ¼”- ½” in size. Shred Parmesan cheese and set aside.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons reserved olive oil over drained tortellini. Stir to combine. Add olive salad to drained tortellini and gently stir until well combined. Toss in chopped meats and cheeses.

Serve and enjoy.

Whipped Nutella Frosting

Or you know…straight off a spoon 

Enjoy

Whipped Nutella Frosting

 Ingredients

• 3/4 cup salted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (like Nutella)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Tbsp heavy cream

 

Instructions

1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment beat the butter and Nutella together for 2 minutes until combined and creamy, scraping sides as necessary.
2. Turn mixer to low and add in the powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream.
3. Once the powdered sugar is mixed in turn mixer back up to medium high and whip for 2 more minutes until creamy and fluffy, again, scraping sides as needed.
4. Spread or pipe on top cake or cupcakes.

Notes

Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to a week. Freeze up to a month.

Chicken Parma Balls

So, when you thought chicken couldn't get any BETTER! BOOM!

Chicken Parma Balls

Ingredients:
* 1 pound chicken ground
* 1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped Spanish onion (Red Onion)
* 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
* 1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 2 tablespoons pizza sauce

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl, join in union the mince, breadcrumbs, onion,
parsley and half the cheese. Season with sea salt and cracked pepper.
3. Using your hands, gently mix the ingredients together.
4. Shape into balls and place on a lightly greased baking tray.
5. Brush each ball with pizza sauce.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
7.. Remove and brush with more sauce, scatter with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is golden having become one with the sensuously delicious balls.
8. Serve with a salad or steamed vegetables