Strawberry Cheesecake or Pina Colada Muddy Buddies

My anniversary is coming up.   8 years of marriage...woohoo!  Annnnd we dated for 3 years preceding that so really to us it feels like an 11 year anniversary.

Even though Drew is training for a triathlon and probably doesn't actually have time to be indulging in a sweet tooth craving, I thought I'd be super considerate and make him something sweet anyway. ;)  He loves to munch (ask what he does after the kids go to bed almost every night to keep himself awake while he works late hours)  so I thought I'd help him switch it up a bit and add some zang to the late night hours.

This post can really be blamed on Dessert Now, Dinner Later who introduced the idea of Cherry Cheesecake Muddy Buddies.  Then, I was talking to Meilea about the Muddy Buddy recipes she's tried and she said her favorite is Strawberry Cheesecake.  I told her, I was thinking the same thing... man, these would taste so much better with Freeze Dried Strawberries added in for REAL Strawberry flavor.  And then my mind started wandering and I thought, self, Freeze Dried Pineapple is ALWAYS a hit... you must do the Muddy Buddies some justice and use REAL Pineapples in at least one recipe.  So I kindly listened to both trains of thought and created 2 recipes that I am SURE you are going to enjoy, like TODAY.

In fact, I'm so sure you'll enjoy them because my sister took a bag of these to her work to enjoy, and brought a baggie for her carpooling friend.  She came home with multiple requests for the recipes and $16 (and more money to come) to pay for baggies to be distributed at work.  Yes, they're awesome!

First up:
Strawberry Cheesecake Muddy Buddies

Ingredients:
10 c Chex cereal of choice
1 (12 oz) bag White Chocolate Chips
1 (10 oz) bag of Cherry Chips (or 2 white)
2 T Coconut Oil (you can use shortening)
3/4 c FD Strawberries, ground into powder
2 (4 oz) boxes Jello Brand Cheesecake Pudding Mix
1 c Powdered Sugar

Directions:
1. Grind Strawberries in your food processor or blender.
2. Get a ziplock bag and combine Strawberry Powder, Powdered Sugar and Cheesecake Pudding Mix.
3. Measure out your cereal into a large bowl.
4. Empty your White Chocolate Chips, Cherry Chips and Coconut Oil into a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave them for 30 seconds at a time stirring well in between each time increment.
5. Pour steadily over bowl of Chex mix and use a soft spatula to mix the melted chocolate around and completely cover the mix.  You will want to make sure there aren't huge chunks that need to be broken up before adding to the Powder Mixture.
6. Dump chocolate covered cereal into the Powder Mixture and shake until it is evenly coated.
7. Put into a serving container and ENJOY!

I like to premeasure everything so once the chips are melted,
we're ready to roll through all of the remainding steps.

Kid tested, Mother approved :)

Yes, even bloggers making a professional post find ways to make incredible messes.
I love how my nephew seizes the moment and thinks, sweet, I'm going to grab some while they're all over.

Second recipe for the day:

Pina Colada Muddy Buddies

Ingredients:

10 c Chex Cereal of your choice

1 (12 oz) bag of White Chocolate Chips

2 T Coconut Oil (or you can use shortening)

3/4 c FD Pineapple

1/2 c FD Vanilla Yogurt Bites (can replace with 1/4 c powdered sugar)

3/4 c Powdered Sugar

1/4 c Coconut Flakes, ground up slightly

1 (4 oz) box Jello Brand Coconut Creme Pudding Mix

Directions:

1. Grind Pineapple, Vanilla Yogurt and Coconut Flakes in your food processor or blender.
2. Get a ziplock bag and combine Pineapple, Coconut, and Yogurt Powder, Powdered Sugar and Coconut Creme Pudding Mix.
3. Measure out your cereal into a large bowl.
4. Combine White Chocolate Chips and Coconut Oil into a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave them for 30 seconds at a time stirring well in between each time increment.
5. Pour steadily over bowl of Chex mix and use a soft spatula to mix the melted chocolate around and completely cover the mix.  You will want to make sure there aren't huge chunks that need to be broken up before adding to the Powder Mixture.
6. Dump chocolate covered cereal into the Powder Mixture and shake until it is evenly coated.
7. Put into a serving container and ENJOY!

I'm a chocolate kinda girl, so of course I had to make a Reese's and Andes (different from this recipe) version.  I also found these Milky Way, and Cookies n' Cream versions to get started on.  YUM!

Thanks for stopping by!


Question of the Day:
  What is your favorite Muddy Buddy Recipe?

Healthy Mama Top Tips

Happy Monday Everyone!!! We are on a mission to make Monday somethin that you look forward to instead of dread!!! Hopefully this post is a good start!!!

I have been working on a list of the best tips and advice that I have received or things that have helped me on my journey as a mama. Here goes:



Handy Dandy Water Glass!!

1.   Good ol' H2O!!!

Water is so important!!! Not only is water important to a healthy pregnancy, but also to a breastfeeding mama! You need so much water in order to make milk or keep your amniotic fluid goin strong, but also to keep your own body hydrated. I find that the best way to make sure that you are getting enough water during the day is to make yourself accountable! You will need 2 Liters everyday while pregnant or nursing (4 oz. extra for every 20lbs. overweight) What works best for me is to get a water bottle or cup that is around 1 liter. Then I divide up my day in 2 (I go from 6am-12noon and 12noon-6pm). that way you curb your intake before bed so you are not up all night! Then I just make sure that I drink the entire glass or bottle before that time! Also, I drink so much better if it is from a straw, so if that helps you, make sure to get a cup or bottle that has a straw. The idea here is to make it effortless!!!

2. Be prepared!

The easiest way to eat healthy foods is to have them ready and at your disposal. The reason that most of us eat junk food is because we have it lying around and it is usually in a nice little package that is easy and convenient. If you plan ahead a little bit and make sure that the healthy snacks are easy and convenient, you are much more likely to choose those. This is also why I make my Breastmilk Boosting Breakfast cookies! What I did was picked 1 day a week, usually Sunday because the hubby is home and can help, to pack snacks and plan meals. Make the snacks something you already like! My favorites are the THRIVE fruit line. Strawberries, Pineapple, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries are my favorites!! I usually make a "trail mix" type of snack bag by throwing in some of my favorite freeze dried fruits, nuts, and granola or yogurt chips. This way when I am out and about, I can just grab my snack bag and enjoy instead of being tempted by my other choices! :) These yummy granola bars are also an awesome option! Be creative and add what you like!

These are so yummy!!! We eat them right out of the can!

3. Indulge!

I cannot stress enough how important it is to treat yourself to something nice! It does not have to be food (although it certainly can be)! Get a pedicure, take a bath, rent a movie! It doesn't matter what you do, just do something! I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas, so for me, sweets are my indulgences! I love the THRIVE macaroons! Dipped in a little chocolate and I am in heaven! That is all it takes to make it easy for me to eat well the rest of the time...1 little macaroon...or maybe 2!

4. Find yourself in Awe...

Take a little but of time to think about just what we are doing here. If you are pregnant, just take a little time to think about what a miracle it is to be helping your little one grow! It takes a LOT of hard work to make a tiny person, and it truly is amazing! If you are a nursing mama, just think about all the steps your body goes through in order to make milk for your little one. I am still dumbfounded that it even works in the first place! Once you think about how amazing all of this is, eating healthy and taking care of yourself really doesn't seem so hard anymore!

And Last but certainly not least...

5. Catch some ZZZ's

I know that as a pregnant or new mama, sleep is something of a precious thing! However, it is one of the most important things that you can do for a healthy body. Do whatever you need to do to relax yourself and get some rest. If that means napping while your little one naps, then do it! Do not let anyone make you feel like a slacker for taking care of your body. After all, it is the only one you get!

Don't forget to check us out tomorrow for info on our big giveaway!! Happy Monday!

 

 





Fruit- My favorite line in the Shelf Reliance Spectrum

Currently Out of Stock Ultimate Fruit Package

473.29 plus shipping and tax

(This is not the picture of the package because I do not yet have a picture of this package.  The actual package has 30 #10 cans).   This makes the cans only $15.78 a piece!

Package Contents:

3 Strawberries (FD)

3 Raspberries (FD)

2 Blueberries (FD)

2 Blackberries (FD)

2 Peach Slices (FD)

3 Mangoes (FD)

2 Sliced Bananas (FD)

1 Pineapple Chunks (FD)

3 Pineapple

3 Apple Chips

3 Apple Slices

3 Banana Chips

This is a SMOKING DEAL so if you are ready to stock up for an incredible price, email me at ShelfRelianceMom@gmail.com.

Freeze Dried Pineapple ... THRIVE Sweet and Sour Pork or Chicken

Today is Day 21 of the 30 Days of Faves and I just HAVE to post this because it is literally almost everyone's favorite product.  If you haven't already tried FD Pineapple, it will rock your world.  THRIVE outdid themselves as they went to 16 different companies before they chose this company for the finger licking, tongue tingling fruit. 

If you'd like a sample of this delectable fruit, email me at TiffsTreasures@gmail.com for more information.

The following recipe is adapted from the Betty Crocker Bridal Edition Cookbook.

Ingredients:

Getting Started:

1 1/2 c FD Pineapple

4 c water

8 cups cooked rice

1 1/2 lb boneless pork (or chicken)

Vegetable Oil

Batter:

1/2 c flour

1/4 c cornstarch

2/3 c cold water

1/2 t salt

1 1/2 T THRIVE egg powder

Skillet Mix:

3/4 c THRIVE Carrots

1/2 c THRIVE Mixed Bell Peppers

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c white vinegar

1/2 t salt

2 t soy sauce

1/2 t minced garlic

2 t cornstarch

1. Combine pineapple and 4 c water in a bowl and allow to soak in the fridge.  Begin cooking your rice.  Click here if you need a rice recipe and just double what it calls for.

2. Remove excess fat from pork or chicken and cut into 3/4 in cubes.  Heat deep fryer or dish to 360 degrees.  Note: I don't fry things very often so I just filled a skillet with about 1 in vegetable oil to cook the pork.

3. Combine all of the batter ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk quickly until mixture becomes smooth.  Add pork pieces to batter and toss around until each piece is well coated.

4. Add pork pieces one at a time to frying oil leaving a little space in between each one so they will not stick together and so they will be easy to turn.  Cook them 5-6 minutes long turning each piece 2-3 times until golden in color.  Drain on paper towels and keep warm.

5.  Get 2 1/2 c water from bowl of pineapple (add water to equal 2 1/2 c if there isn't enough) and put this, brown sugar, vinegar, 1/2 t salt, soy sauce, THRIVE carrots, THRIVE Mixed Bell Peppers, and garlic into pan and bring to a boil.  Let it cook for 6-7 minutes.

6.  In pineapple bowl, add 2 T cornstarch (2 T water if there isn't any water remaining and the pineapple soaked it all up).  Mix well, then add cooked pork.  Mix again.

7. Add contents of the bowl into the pan with the rest of the cooked ingredients and allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Serve with one cup of cooked rice.

If you are lucky to end up with pineapple powder at the bottom of your can and aren't quite sure what to do with the powder, you can visit here for more ideas.  To purchase pineapple or see any of your other favorite THRIVE products, you can go to www.shelfreliancemom.shelfreliance.com/home.

To enter to win the free shelving system, don't forget to like me on Facebook and follow my blog.  For all of the details on the drawing you can go to win a free Harvest 72.  Hurry, contest ends June 30th.

Doughn't you like Homemade Pizza?

I am a huge fan of homemade pizza and have a few recipes for the crust that I absolutely adore.  I received two this week that I haven't got to try yet, but here is one that is getting rave reviews...can't wait to try it out.

This is from Jamie at http://shelfrelianceswwashington.blogspot.com

Pizza Dough

My family has become spoiled!  I make home made pizza once a week.  I know your probably thinking pizza isn't very healthy.  I have made a healthier pizza that my fam LOVES!  I make a whole wheat crust and add veggies for the toppings.  I got this recipe from my fave blog www.everydayfoodstorage.net.  Here is a video showing how to make the dough.  Krystal is making bread sticks but also talks about how to make the dough into pizza.  One thing I do different from Krystal is I don't put butter on my cookie sheet (cut calories) I spray mine with pam instead.  I also don`t let my dough rise.  I just put it in the oven right away.

2 in 1 Pizza Dough & Bread Sticks

2 1/2 C. Medium Hot Water
5 tsp. SAF Instant Yeast*
2 Tbsp. THRIVE Sugar
Let the yeast rise.


Add

3 Tbsp. Oil
1 tsp. THRIVE Salt
6 C. THRIVE Flour (I do 100% whole wheat but you can use any variation of white or wheat flour)

Note:  This recipe will make 2 cookie sheets of pizza or 1 pizza and 1 bread stick.  Or you can 1/2 the recipe and just have 1 bread stick or pizza.  Any of the THRIVE ingredients can be exchanged for other brands.

Toppings:

Cheese, olives, THRIVE mushrooms, THRIVE mixed peppers, THRIVE oinions, THRIVE Spinach THRIVE sausage (FD or TVP), THRIVE ground beef, THRIVE ham & FD pineapple (Hawaiian pizza).  The sky is the limit as far as toppings go.  Several THRIVE ingredients will go perfect for toppings.

Put dough directly onto a pam sprayed cookie sheet or pizza pan.  Spread with your fingers.  No need to flour your counter or dirty your rolling pin!


Before I start making my dough I take a SMALL bowl and add a few Tbs of oil and several crushed/minced garlic cloves and mix it together.  When I take my pizza dough out of the oven to top it I brush on the oil mixture.  Bake 400 deg for about 7-10 minutes (for pizza) 10-12 minutes for bread sticks or until desired browning is accomplished for bread sticks.  Baking the dough prior to topping it for the pizza keeps the dough from being soggy.

 For pizza take out of oven and top with your fave toppings.  I top ours with cheese, mushrooms, olives, chopped peppers and sometimes broccoli.  Then put it back in the oven just to melt the cheese.

For bread sticks top them how ever you like.  We brush some butter or oil and garlic (like for the pizza) then add some cheese.   Cut into strips and enjoy