Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

If you ever need a dessert in a pinch

make these easy cake mix cookies that are always a hit.

All you need is 5 ingredients:

oil, eggs, a cake mix, 

almond extract, and chocolate chips.

 You can use any flavor cake mix you want -

I had Devil's Food on hand,

but I've made it with all varieties: 

chocolate, fudge, german chocolate, whatever.

I even use white cake mix when that's all I've got,

but I prefer a chocolate variety with chocolate chips 

because the double chocolate chip cookies are so soft & delicious.

They're also simple to make -

just mix all of the ingredients together and bake.

 They're best warm and gooey, right out of the oven.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 box cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1 tsp. almond extract

1 bag of chocolate chips

Ignore the directions on the cake mix box and mix only the above ingredients in a large bowl. Bake at 350 for approximately 8 minutes. Enjoy with a large glass of cold milk!

Lightning Bugs

Here's a fun summer craft for the kiddos.

We made lightning bugs on the Fourth of July because I knew 

the kids would be up late enough to fly them around at dark.

I just bought a pack of small green bottles of pop,

which we drank, rinsed out, and pulled the labels off.

  Then I grabbed a pack of pipe cleaners,

 

some googly eyes,

and glow in the dark bracelets from the dollar store.

 

All you do is wrap some pipe cleaners around the bottle,

twist them together and bend to make feet.

Then grab another pipe cleaner and wrap it around 

the bottle top to make antennae.

 

Then I took some scrapbook paper and wrapped it 

around the middle of the bug to make the body.

I let each kid pick out what color of everything they wanted

and then they had a little help putting it all together.

 

I cut out wings that we taped on their backs 

and then we super-glued eyes onto the bottle tops.

I think they turned out pretty cute.

Once it got dark, we busted out some of the long skinny glow

sticks and stuck a few different colors in each bottle

and let the kids wear the extras as bracelets.

I didn't get good pictures of them outside 

because they were so busy running all over,

but here's one of Kaitlyn and Walter with their lightning bugs.

They had a good time flying them around,

and now Walt's is sitting on his bookcase, 

so anytime he wants to fly it again

we can just drop in new glow sticks and let him go!

Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Sandwiches

Here's a summer grilling meal for you 

when you get tired of burgers.

To make some fabulous sandwiches just

grill up some chicken breasts

and then melt provolone on top while

you grill some buttered Ciabatta buns.

 Then for toppings, saute some onions and slice up a

cucumber, tomato, avocado, and throw out some salad greens.

 Then just toss it all out there on the counter 

like a sandwich assembly line

so everyone can make there own concoction.

I had my toppings stacked so high that you can't even see the avocado, chicken, or cheese below,

but I assure it's in there and it was delicious!

If you're wondering what kind of spread I have 

on the bun on the right,

it's a homemade chipotle mayo that goes good on everything!

That recipe is coming.

Flashback to Father's Day

I know it's a little late, 

but I came across these great photos from Father's Day

and just had to share them.

Here's Adam and our babies.

 And here they all are with Grandma Tami who came to visit.

This is Brooke and I with our own fabulous father,

and my dad with some of the grandkids.

  Aren't they a great looking bunch?

No Bake 3 Layer Bars

Adam fell in love with some bars from a bake sale 

that were simply labeled "3 Layer Bars".

He's been asking me to recreate them ever since.

This was my first attempt with a recipe I found on the internet.

Here are the ingredients for the first layer:

 

Dump graham cracker crumbs, coconut, nuts,

 and cocoa into a mixing bowl.

Pour in some melted butter,

a beaten egg,

and some vanilla.

 

Mix well before dumping the crumbly mixture 

into a 9 x 13 inch pan.

 

 Use a fork to flatten the layer firmly into the bottom of the pan,

until it looks like this -

Then grab these ingredients and your favorite baking buddy 

to get started on the second layer.

Mix all of the ingredients,

until a stiff, frosting-like consistency is reached.

 Spread the second layer over the first,

 

pressing it down smoothly and evenly with a spoon.

 

Then pop the pan into the freezer 

while you melt a bag of chocolate chips 

and some butter in a sauce pan

 

It takes a few minutes of constant stirring,

  but it eventually reaches a spreadable consistency.

Dump the chocolate onto the second layer,

and work quickly to spread it out 

before the chocolate starts to set.

It works best to chill the finished bars 

for a few more minutes in the freezer

before slicing them into squares and storing them in the fridge. 

 If you freeze them too long they get hard to cut, 

so just leave them until the chocolate is set.

Then cut them into squares and store them in the fridge.

As you can probably guess from this picture, 

these bars taste great!

Unfortunately, however, I was informed that they aren't quite like the ones Adam was dreaming of.

Guess that means you'll be seeing more variations 

of 3 layer bar recipes until I get it right!

 

No Bake 3 Layer Bars

Bottom Layer:

2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. flaked coconut
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 T sugar
1/2 c. unsweetened baking cocoa

Middle Layer:

1 lb powdered sugar
1 package instant vanilla pudding
1/3 c. melted butter
milk, as needed

Top Layer:

1 (12 oz) bag chocolate chips
1 T butter

First Layer: Mix all ingredients together to form a crumbly mixture. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9 x 13" pan. Place pan in freezer to set while preparing the next layer.

 

Second Layer: Mix the first three ingredients together, using only enough milk to make a stiff, frosting-like consistency. It should be stiff but spreadable, so don't add too much milk.Spread over first layer and return pan to freezer.
 

Third Layer: Melt chocolate chips and butter in a sauce pan over very low heat, stirring constantly.Pour melted chocolate mixture over the second layer, spreading quickly and evenly before chocolate starts to set.Return pan to freezer for a few minutes to set bars before cutting. Cut into squares and store in fridge.