Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie & Family Game Night

Not sure about your house but in our house my kiddos love to play board games. They love it so much that at times I catch Carson playing monopoly or operation all by himself LOL he just plays multiple players. We had so much fun with our last game night, "Fudge Puddles & Family Game Night" that we have now combined baking and family game night as a special new tradition in our house.

What we do it designate one night a week for a family game night. If you can't do once a week then do every other week to start. You can always work your way up to once a week. First you will need to designate a night that works best for your family.

Maybe it's Friday night at your house or every Sunday might works out better. Really it's all up to you and what night works best for your family. For us it is usually Saturday night that way the kids don't have school the next day.

On the day of family game night we all try and decide on what game we will play and what sweet treat we will be baking to go along with our game. Some of our favorite games are Disney Scene It, Twister, Disney DVD Bingo and Wii Bowling. We try to pick a game everyone can agree on, sometimes that's the hardest part of the whole thing.

Once we have a game picked out then we move onto what special treat we want to have to go along with it. Once all that is decided then the fun begins. On Family Game Night its all about being together and having fun doing a family activity.

Last weekend we chose a Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie. I saw this recipe at Ezra's Pound Cake and I have been itching to try it out ever since. Usually on game night we try to pick something that isn't to complicated or time consuming. Because it's all about having fun, playing games together and enjoying your yummy creations.

We don't want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole night so, try and pick a simple treat. The kids love helping out and baking up whatever sweet treat we make. They have so much fun sharing it with the whole family and letting them know that they helped bake it.

Mom this is the perfect way to get your kiddos cooking in the kitchen with you. My kids, look so forward to Family Game Night that the excitement of the big night usually builds throughout the whole day.

The kids love going to the store together and buying everything we need to bake our goodies. Then going home and getting the game set up and preparing our sweet treat together. Family game night is all about spending time together as a family, baking, laughing and just having fun.

So that's how we do game night at our house. From time to time I will be bringing y'all posts from our family game night adventures and spotlighting what goodies we bake up together. So be on a look out.

What activity do you do to spend time together as a family? if you don't have one, starting a "Family Game Night" might just be the answer.

We served our yummy skillet cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Next time I might scale back on the chocolate chips just a bit. In the end it made a big fudgy center perfect for vanilla ice cream.

little hands mean little helpers. The kiddos added all the ingredients and mixed everything up. Mackenzie is becoming quite the pro at running the kitchen aid mixer.


um mm cookie dough, be still my heart.


Um so easy you just spread the ingredients in your favorite skillet that you can use in the oven and that's it. I used my 11 inch cast iron skillet.


Carson wanted to show me how strong he was. He told me he could hold the whole pan by himself. I guess he can!!


Right out of the oven and cooling.


Time for Twister fun.



Even I joined in. All I can say is, its not as easy as it used to be to play twister. Sometimes mom just doesn't bend that way LOL.

enjoying the yummy skillet cookie. This dessert received a thumbs up from everyone.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1 - cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 - cup granulated sugar
3/4 - cup packed light brown sugar
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
2 - eggs
1 1/2 - 2 - cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi Chocolate Chips
1 - cup chopped nuts (optional)

Pre heat oven to 375°F. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Press cookie dough mixture into a large oven proof skillet. (I used an 11 inch cast iron skillet) Any large oven proof skillet will work.

Press to flatten, covering the bottom of the pan. Bake until the edges are brown and top is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. If the cookie starts to brown to quickly cover with a sheet of aluminum foil sprayed with a bit of baking spray and continue cooking. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into 8 wedges. Serve each with a scoop of ice cream or all by itself. Ice cream is best.

If you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe just use that one. Any cookie recipe will do.

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Texas Caviar

My favorite beans by far are dried beans they are so cheap, packed with fiber and great for so many yummy recipes. On the other hand I also love canned beans which are so convenient and also pretty cheap as well. So I have decided why make a choice, just use both. I have come to realize that for some recipes it's best to use dried beans and for others its best to use canned. Canned beans are not expensive, so really both dried and canned beans are both a frugal choice. Today I am bringing you are recipe for Texas Caviar that utilizes canned beans.

The reason I love this recipe so much is because you just have to pop open a couple cans of ingredients and you have easy appetizer in no time. The first time I had Texas Caviar was at my friend Nancy's house about 10 years ago. I was instantly hooked and had to have the recipe. Since then I have tweaked the recipe up just a tad. It is still the same recipe I just added a extra ingredient that's all. The ingredient I added is corn! Not only does the corn add a great flavor but it also adds a beautiful yellow color. This recipe is the perfect appetizer served with tortilla chips, pita triangels or by itself as a salad or side. I have also used black beans in this recipe and it is just as good. So if you are not a fan of black eye peas by all means use black beans.

I used Bush's Beans for this recipe because in my opinion they are the best canned beans. Bush's has so many beans to choose from . The Great Northern beans are good as well perfect for so many recipes. My thoughts are if you find a good brand stick with it. I wanted to post this recipe for two reasons. One I have been trying to find a great excuse to make this caviar. And two Bush's Beans has invited me and a few other bloggers to Napa Valley, California for a chili tasting at the Culinary Institute of America.

So I thought it would only be fitting to post one of my favorite recipes using Bush's Beans. I am so excited becasue we will get to cook at the CIA with Connie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D., and author of the New York Times best-selling book The Sonoma Diet. I am so syked to get to meet and cook with Connie and the other wonderful bloggers. Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer, Aggie from Aggie's Kitchen and Amy from She Wears Many Hats. I cant wait to come back and share with y'all what I learned and hopefully return with some beautiful pictures. I leave on Thursday so hopefully I can get one more recipe post in before then. So onto the recipe for the Texas Caviar.

These are the ingredients you will need: 2 cans canned black black beans or black eyed peas, one can of corn, celery, red and green bell pepper, purple onion, pickled jalapenos, cilantro and Italian dressing. Drain and rinse the black eyed peas/ or black beans in a strainer. Drain the corn and chop up all the vegetables. Toss everything into a large bowl.


and gently mix you can also add a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Then finally add the Italian dressing and mix together. Chill overnight so the flavors will marry together. Serve with tortilla or pita triangles. You can also serve this by itself as a salad.


Umm so yummy

My favorite way to store this caviar is in a Quart Size Mason Jar in the refrigerator. It makes the perfect jar for gift giving or if you just want to take it to a grill out. I think the mason jar gives it a nice southern touch.

Texas Caviar

2 - cans (15 oz) Bush's canned black beans or black eye peas, drained & rinsed
1 - 15 oz can regular yellow corn, drained
1/2 - 3/4 cup diced celery

1/4 - cup diced green bell pepper

1/4 - cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 - cup diced purple onion
1/8 - 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
chopped pickled jalapeno slices (to your taste I used 6)
1 - 8oz bottle Italian dressing

salt & pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients together adding the dressing last. Chill overnight. I usually cannot wait that long and end up digging it right away. *Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips or as a salad. I have included a recipe for homemade pita chips if you want to use those. So much cheaper to make them homemade versus buying.

Homemade Pita Chips

1 - 12oz Package Pita Bread, Split
6 - tablespoons Butter, melted
1 1/2 - teaspoons House Seasoning

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly grease two baking sheets. Cut Pita rounds in half crosswise. Cut each half into 3 triangles. Place pita triangles on prepared baking sheet. Brush each with melted butter sprinkle evenly with house seasoning. Bake for 8 minutes until golden brown. Cool Completely. Click here for a link for step by step directions on how to make homemade pita chips. Scroll down it isat the end of my strawberry salsa tutorial.

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If you are trying to incorporate more beans into your diet you should check out Bush's site Beans, The Vegetable with More. they have some great recipes. I found a few new ones to try out on my family.

Disclosure: Bush’s Beans has invited me on this trip and is covering my costs to attend. I am under no obligation to write this post, I am just a big fan of Bush's Beans. Opinion stated in this post are entirely my own.


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Overnight French Toast Casserole

Today I am posting a recipe for a Overnight French Toast Casserole. We made this for breakfast on Valentines Day. I have had a few people on face book asking about when I was going to post this recipe. It has been so crazy around our house so I apologize for not getting this post up sooner. This dish is very easy to throw together and perfect if you have overnight guests.

We had a pretty big day planned out, so I didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen trying to get breakfast together. So I thought a overnight casserole would work out best. Mackenzie helped me assemble the casserole the night before, so this is a fun recipe to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Mackenzie did everything except the baking part. You can use just about any type of bread to make this recipe. I used leftover Texas Toast and some day old bread slices that needed to be used. Really any type of breads can be used for this recipe.

We always have hamburger and hot dog buns left over from a meal so they work perfect as well. Usually from any given dinner meal we always have leftover bread. So what I like to do is slice it up and place the pieces in a large zip lock bag. Then just toss the bag in the freezer. This way the next time I want to make this french toast bake I already have bread on hand and there is no need to go out and by some. Plus it is a great way to use up any leftover bread you have hanging around.

I have tried other recipes for overnight french toast and have been disappointed with the end result. This is the first recipe I found that isn't really soggy inside. Now it is soft inside since the bread is soaked up with the yummy milk and egg mixture over night. But it wasn't a runny soggy mess. It turned out perfect and was so crispy on top. Some people still might have a problem with the middle being a little soft. The only way I can see to prevent this problem is to assemble the casserole a bit different. See the note and additional photo at the end of this post for directiona.

What is your favorite breakfast dish to make for overnight guests?

I cut my slices of Texas Toast into strips. Layer all of your ingredients. For the rest of the directions I filmed it on my flip video. That way you could see what it looks like from fridge to finished product. Just click play to see the rest of the prep work.




* These are the directions from the video*

Cover the French Toast Casserole with foil and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning remove from the refrigerator. Preheat you oven to 350 degrees and cover the casserole with foil again and bake for 30 minutes covered. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for 15 more minutes. I like to drizzle a bit of maple syrup to the top and return the casserole to the over for about 5-7 minutes so the syrup can caramelize bit. You can use the broiler but watch it carefully.

Image courtesy of google images

The only other way I can see to avoid the casserole being to soft in the middle is to assemble and bake the casserole a bit differently. You can use thick cut french bread like pictured above or just leave the Texas Toast Slices whole instead of in strips or pieces. You can add about 1/4 cup flour to the egg and milk mixture and then dip each slice into the batter and layer into you baking dish. Proceed with casserole directions. Other than that when you remove the casserole from the refrigerator you can take out each slice and lay them on a baking sheet and bake them in a flat layer, turning over once. You wont get all the yummy brown sugar mixture if you choose this manner, but it should bake up crispy.

Overnight French Toast Casserole

1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
12 - slices Texas toast or any leftover bread
1 - cup brown sugar
1 - tsp cinnamon
1/4 - tsp nutmeg
1/2 - cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 - tsp vanilla extract
5 - eggs
1 1/2 - cups milk

Melt butter and pour in a 9x 13 . Mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and if nuts if you are using them. Whisk eggs, milk & vanilla together. Layer bottom of pan with half the bread pieces Sprinkle half brown sugar mix over the bread. Layer second half of bread. Pour egg mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and cover with a new piece of foil. Preheat oven to 350 bake the casserole for 30 minutes. Then uncover and bake 15 more minutes french toast bake should be browned and set. I like to remove mine from the oven and pour some maple syrup on top and place back in the oven to caramelize for about 5-7 minutes.

Recipe adapted from: Frugalupstate.com

For my email subscribers you will have to click through to my site to view the video. Just click here and it will take you directly to the post.

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Friendship Casserole {Share Dinner with a Friend}

Have you ever had Friendship Casserole? It's one of my favorite casseroles to make. If you have already tasted this casserole considered yourself blessed, if you haven't let me explain what it is.

The reason it is called Friendship Casserole is because this recipe makes two casseroles. One for yourself and one to share with a friend!!! If you like you can also double up on your casseroles and keep them both for yourself, just cook one and freeze the second casserole.

My favorite way by far is to share with a friend. When I give this casserole out to a friend I like to present it unbaked. I do this just in case they don't want to eat the casserole on that particular day.

What I like to do is prepare and assemble both casseroles. I bake one for my family and then I take the second unbaked casserole and double wrap it with plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil. I also like to wrap a pretty bow around the whole baking dish and you can even add a pretty spoon.

As a extra touch I like to slide a recipe card under the bow and present my dish in that manner. That way if the gift recipient is to busy to eat the casserole on that particular day, then they can freeze it or place it in the refrigerator for the next day.

This way they have the recipe card handy with the baking instructions. Plus they also have the recipe so they to can prepare and pass on this lovely casserole to a friend in need. I love to surprise my friends with a Friendship Casserole out the blue.

Try and think of someone who might need a reminder that they have friends who care about them. A new mom in your neighborhood, a family who’s moving, someone with an illness or just someone that needs to be reminded that they are a special part of your life.

This casserole not only cheers up the gift recipient but also the person giving it. I like to take my children along with me when we pass on a friendship casserole. I want them to experience that giving is just as wonderful as receiving.

This casserole is really easy and pretty quick to assemble. It also utilized pantry ingredients making this dish very economical.

Sorry for the not so good photos of the finished product. The weather is so bad in Dallas and my daylight is limited so I cant get any great photos outside. I cant wait to purchase my Lowel Ego Light. It will be so much easier to take pictures inside.

Friendship Casserole

2 - lbs ground beef
1 - 48 oz jar spaghetti sauce
2 – tablespoons sugar
1 (16 oz) - pkg medium egg noodles
1/2 - cup margarine or butter
½ - teaspoon onion salt (or onion powder)
½ - teaspoon garlic salt (or garlic powder)
½ - cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 - 12 oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 - cup each sauteed green pepper, onion & mushrooms, optional

Preheat oven to 350º Brown meat and drain fat. Add spaghetti sauce and sugar to meat; simmer 20 minutes. Cook noodles as directed (al dente); drain and toss with margarine, salts and Parmesan cheese. Spray two 9x13 pans with non-stick spray. In both pans layer half the sauce, all the noodles, rest of sauce; top with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 45 minutes.

*You can also add some sauteed green bell peppers, onions and mushrooms to the sauce. Make sure the person you are gifting this wonderful casserole to likes the veggies. If not just leave them out.

*Note: Since this recipe makes enough for two casseroles, plan one for your family and one for a friend. Think of someone who might need a reminder that they have friends who care about them - a new mom in your neighborhood, a family who’s moving, someone with an illness.


To print off the recipe card above to go along with your casserole. Click on the recipe card to view it in its full version. Right click on your mouse and print picture.

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Tina, The Mom in Mommy's Kitchen

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Snow Ice Cream, Snow Day FÜN and Paula Deen in our Backyard!

Today was a snow day for the kiddos. They were so excited!!! We couldn't believe how much snow Mesquite got. Last I heard on the news we received 11 inches. Wow is all I can say. We wish for snow every year and nothing. Then we finally get some snow and we hit the jackpot. Everyone was so excited to wake up this morning to so much snow on the ground. The first thing the kids wanted to do was go outside and play and build a snowman. Then we did something really fun and different together we made Snow Ice Cream!! Well, we actually made it twice once yesterday and then again today. I remember snow ice cream when I was younger and lived in Nebraska. What fun to finally get to make this wonderful sweet treat with my own kiddos.

They kids were excited and confused all at the same time when I suggested the idea. . Mackenzie said snow ice cream? I told her its super yummy trust me on this one. I have to admit it was so long ago I couldn't recall all the ingredients. I knew it was milk and sugar but that was it. I remembered Paula Deen making snow ice cream her show last year, so I knew just where to get the recipe. I love her version because it uses sweetened condensed milk and turns out so creamy.

The kids loved making this recipe all by themselves. I have included a short video of the kids making the ice cream. When they were finished and got their first taste they loved it!!! so the snow ice cream was a success. I hope you enjoy some of our photos from our snow day. I love the one of the barn pictured above with the Texas flag painted on the side. It is just around the corner from our house. When I drove by it was post card perfect!


Carson having fun throwing snowballs. He was going to throw it right at me but luckily he has bad aim.


Mackenzie making a snowman and a snow angel.


Here is Mackenzie's Paula Deen Snow girl!! LOL we cracked up at this one. Look at the stick of butter in her apron.


Even the dogs joined the fun. Freeway didn't know what to think about all this snow.



Good Morning


A site we probably wont see for a long time.

Here is a short video of Mackenzie and Carson making Snow Ice Cream.

Um a big bowl of yumminess.



Snow Ice Cream

8 - 9 cups freshly fallen snow
1 - (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract

Place snow into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Slowly Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls.


(Make sure to use fresh fallen snow when making snow ice cream.
We placed some bowls out to catch all of our snow)



Recipe courtesy of: Paula Deen.com

Tina, The Mom in Mommy's Kitchen

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts "Happy Valentines Day"

Here is another sweet treat just in time for Valentines Day. I saw these cute little Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts over at the Sunday Baker. I really wanted to make them last year, but ran out of time. So this year I made a point to get them done. To me these yummy little hearts taste just like reeses peanut butter cups and who doesn't like those.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter such a awesome combination. These cute little hearts will make the perfect gift for that special someone. My kiddos will be giving these little Pb hearts out as teacher gifts. Every holiday we make a point to give the teachers something sweet and yummy.

There is still time to make these for Valentines Days!! If you have a peanut butter lover in your house I suggest hiding these little hearts until the big day. If not you wont have any left to give, because once you taste them they will disappear so fast. I am happy to say mine are under safe lock and key in the freezer. LOL.

Here are my little valentines with their valentine gifts for their teachers. We added Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies, Peanut Butter Hearts, Chocolate Kisses and a heart shaped note. I think the teachers are really going to love their goodie bags.

Carson working hard putting all the chocolate hearts in his teachers gift bag. Mrs. Schildmayer I think Carson snuck you a few extra. Smart boy!!!


In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and stick of butter. Stir until very creamy. Slowly start to stir in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Eventually you can just use your hands to start mixing it in. You want the mixture to be the consistency of play-doh. It should not stick to your hand at all and you should be able to easily form a ball with it.

Sprinkle a clean surface with a dusting of powdered sugar. Flatten some of the peanut butter dough on this surface, and slowly roll it to about 1/2" thickness (it should be very easy to roll. If not, add more powdered sugar). With a 1-1/2" heart cookie-cutter, cut out the heart shapes: Place the hearts on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Cover with wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (I placed them in the freezer overnight). I like to spread out my candy making so I am not doing it all in one day.

Using a large fork, dip the hearts in the chocolate one at a time. With the covered heart sitting on the top of the fork, bang the fork against the side of the dish removing any excess chocolate. Place the heart on the wax paper to set. I used kitchen shears to trim away the extra chocolate around the edges of the hearts. Don't let the chocolate get totally set when doing this or it will break the chocolate instead of trimming it off.

Let sit on the counter until completely hardened. It wont take long for these to set up.

Here is the yummy peanut buttery center.

Very pretty!!!! I think these would be so cute placed in little valentine boxes or placed in a heart shaped chocolate box.

This is a very inexspensive and pretty gift all rolled up into one.



Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

1 - 16 oz sized jar of peanut butter
1 - stick butter (1/2 cup) or margarine - softened
3 – 5 cups of powdered sugar (I used 4 cups)
1 - bag of semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3 T. shortening
1 – Package milk chocolate almond bark
(if using the almond bark omit the chocolate chips & shortening)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and stick of butter. Stir until very creamy. Slowly start to stir in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Eventually you can just use your hands to start mixing it in. You want the mixture to be the consistency of play-doh. It should not stick to your hand at all and you should be able to easily form a ball with it.

Once it's to this point, you won't need to add anymore powdered sugar: Sprinkle a clean surface with a dusting of powdered sugar. Flatten some of the peanut butter dough on this surface, and slowly roll it to about 1/2" thickness (it should be very easy to roll. If not, add more powdered sugar). With a 1-1/2" heart cookie-cutter, cut out the heart shapes: Place the hearts on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Cover with wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (I placed them in the freezer overnight).

Chocolate Almond Bark Method:
If using milk chocolate almond bark omit the chocolate chips and shortening. Melt the milk chocolate almond bark on the defrost setting of the microwave in 3 minute intervals, stirring between each one. Melt until the chocolate is creamy and a runny consistency. Do not use the cook setting or it will cook the chocolate instead of melting it. You want it thin for dipping. You can also melt the chocolate in a doubler boiler as well. The microwave is just much faster. * My favorite brand of almond bark to use is Plymouths Pantry. I purchase mine at Super Walmart in the baking isle. In my opinion it melts the smoothest and easiest.

Chocolate Chips Method:
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate morsels with the shortening for 1 minute. Stir and reheat for another 15 seconds, stirring again. Continue to do this until the chocolate is completely smooth and the shortening is melted. If the chocolate seems to thick and fudgy, add a bit more shortening. You want it almost at a runny consistency. Remove hearts from the fridge. Using a large fork, dip the hearts in the chocolate one at a time. With the covered heart sitting on the top of the fork, bang the fork against the side of the dish removing any excess chocolate. Place the heart on the wax paper to set:



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