Pepperoni Pizza Bites ~ The Perfect Finger Food!

I found a new recipe that is a huge hit in our house. It's Pepperoni Pizza Bites aka Stuffed Pizza Rolls. These babies are so yummy and very kid friendly. I found this recipe over at Mandy's Recipe Box who saw them on Our Best Bites. I knew immediately I had to make these.

If you love finger foods then you're going to love this recipe. Pizza Bites are little pizza dough balls filled with all sorts of yummy pizza toppings. In this recipe the pizza sauce isn't added inside of the pizza bites but used as a dipping sauce instead.

My kids loved these when I made them the first time. They are already asking me to make them again. These pizza bites make the perfect little appetizer especially for kids. Our toppings of choice were pepperoni and cheese and pepperoni, cheese and black olives. You can customize these pizza bites to what ever your favorite pizza topping is. Let's get started and I will show you how easy these pizza bites are to make.

I chose to make a homemade pizza dough using my favorite Quick & Easy Pizza Dough recipe. Store bought is fine, but I wanted to use what I had on hand. Unroll the pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface until it is about 12" by 8". Then using a pizza cutter cut it into 24 squares.

Place cheese and desired toppings on each square. You are not putting the marinara sauce on the dough- it's for dipping after. You need to be able to enclose the toppings in the dough. When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings.

Pinch to make sure each ball is sealed shut and then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish). Brush the tops of the dough balls with olive oil or melted butter. Sprinkle with the garlic and Italian seasoning and top with Parmesan cheese. Bake in oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Serve warm with marinara or pizza sauce for dipping.

Pepperoni Pizza Bites

1 - package Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade)
pizza or marina sauce for dipping
2 - tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 - tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
1/2 - teaspoon garlic powder
1 - teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
mozzarella cheese or string cheese cut into pieces
Pizza toppings of your choice:
pepperoni slices, hamburger, sausage, ham, veggies, pineapple, etc.

You can use homemade pizza dough or store bought. Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package. Usually it's 400 degrees. If you make your own dough, 400 is usually a good heat as well. Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough so it's about 12" by 8". You're going to want to cut it into 24 squares.

Place cheese and desired toppings on each square. (Note you're not putting the marinara sauce on the dough- it's for dipping after). You need to be able to enclose the toppings in the dough. When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings. Pinch to make sure each ball is sealed shut and then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish).

Brush the tops of the dough balls with olive oil or melted butter (I used butter) and then sprinkle with the garlic and Italian seasoning and top with Parmesan cheese. Bake them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve warm with warmed marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

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Tate's Bake Shop Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins & A Tate's Bake Shop Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Today I wanted to bake up a quick snack for the kids. Last week I was thumbing through a new cookbook I received in the mail I came across this recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. My little guy is a chocoholic as well as a muffin man so I knew this recipe would be perfect.

Not to mention I had a couple bananas in my fruit bowl just calling my name. I had everything I needed in the pantry so it worked out perfectly. Look how high and yummy these muffins baked up. I literally had this recipe thrown together and in the oven in about 10 minutes. Don't you just love those kinds of recipes.

I mentioned above that I received a new cookbook in the mail. Well besides the cookbook. I also received COOKIES!!!! A couple weeks back a representative from Tate's Bake Shop asked me if I would be interested in sampling some of their yummy cookies and reviewing their new Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook. I said yes of course because who can turn down a good sampling of cookies. I had heard that the Tate's Bake Shop in South Hampton had some awesome goodies so I couldn't wait.

I was so excited the day my packaged arrived. I ripped open the box like a kid in a candy store. Pulling the boxes out as I read each cookie flavor I was in heaven. Oatmeal Raisin, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Chip. One of my favorite cookies is white chocolate chip with macadamia nuts. I was so bad I didn't even wait until the kids got home to share the cookies.

Instead I just helped myself to a big glass of milk and few cookies. All of the cookies were crispy on the outside and buttery good on the inside. My favorite cookie by far was the oatmeal raisin they were crispy yet chewy all at the same time.

And the cookbook well it's is simply wonderful. All of the recipes are home style cookies, pies, cobblers, cakes and muffins. There's even a healthy alternative chapter consisting of recipe like Energy Bars, Whole Wheat Quick Bread, Sports Bars and Multi grain Muffins.

Be on the look in the next couple weeks because I will be making Tate's Cinnamon Swirl Bread pictured above. And since I am coo coo for coconut I plan on making Tate's Coconut Birthday Cake for my upcoming March birthday. The Coconut Cake has both buttermilk and cream of coconut, so I know it will be fabulous.

Would you like to have some of Tate's Bake Shop Cookies? Well, I have a treat for you! One lucky Mommy's Kitchen reader is going to win an assortment of Tate's Bake Shop Cookies as well as a copy of their wonderful cookbook. You will receive the following cookie flavors. Oatmeal Raisin, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

How To Enter The Giveaway:
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite cookie is? Mine is Oatmeal Scotchies by far. (mandatory entry)

Additional Entries:
You can do any or all of the following for extra entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

1. Become a fan of Tate's Bake Shop on Face book. When you have done that, return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know that you are now a fan of Tate’s Bake Shop.
2. Become a Fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book.
3. Mention this giveaway on your face book page. Come back and tell me so.
4. Become a new Google Follower to Mommy's Kitchen (left side of my blog page)
5. Tweet this giveaway by using the re tweet button on this post. Come back and let me know you tweeted the giveaway.

Bonus: Before I go if you can't wait to try Tate’s Bake Shop cookies you don't have to. Tate's is offering all Mommy's Kitchen readers a 15% discount on any purchase from now through December 31st.

Just go to Tate's Bake Shop and enter the promotional code "cookie" to get your discount upon check out. This discount is valid until December 31st.

This giveaway will end at midnight (cst) on Saturday, January 1st 2011. At that time, a winner will be chosen at random using random.org and notified. Winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. If you do not have a blog please leave your email address in your comment in case you are the winner. Contest open to US Residents only due to shipping charges.

As for these muffins they turned out really good. They even got my little muffin mans approval.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 - cups all purpose flour
2 - teaspoons baking powder
1/2 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1/2 - cup salted butter
1/2 - cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 - cup sugar
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
2 - large eggs
1 1/2 - cups mashed bananas
1/2 - cup sour cream
1 - cup chocolate chips
2 - tablespoons raw sugar for topping, optional

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan. Mix the flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and the sugars until they are lights and fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix everything well. Mix in the bananas and sour cream. Fold in the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the mixture into prepared muffin cups to about 3/4 full. The cups will be very full, but don't worry they wont spread over. Sprinkle them with sugar or more chocolate chips. Bake them for 20 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted comes out of the center of one muffin clean.

Disclosure: Tate's Bake Shop provided me with an assortment of cookies as well as a copy of Kathleen's, Tate Bake Shop Cookbook for the purpose of this review. Tate's is also offering one of my readers with a Tate's Bake Shop Prize Pack. I would like to thank Tate's Bake Shop for sponsoring this giveaway.

I also wanted to announce the winner of the Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer by Masterbuilt. The winning comment is:
#155 Alissa Gass
Congrats!!! I sent you a email letting you know.

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Knock Ya Naked Brownies {Potluck Sunday}

I finally finished up all my holiday baking on Christmas Eve. I needed one more yummy chocolaty treat to finish off my Christmas Cookie Trays. I have to say I could not of picked a better treat then Knock You Naked Brownies. This recipe has been filed away in my recipe file ever since my daughter was a baby.

I initially got this recipe on the baby center forum, but I recently read that this recipe supposedly originated at the Salt Creek Restaurant in Breckenridge, Colorado. What is a Knock You Naked Brownie you ask? Well it's a chocolate brownie filled with chocolate chips, nuts and a gooey caramel layer in the center.

This recipes calls for a german chocolate cake mix which is always a plus in my book. I love using cake mixes to create so many different desserts. The recipe was easy to toss together and only required a handful of ingredients. These chocolaty brownies bake up perfectly with yummy little pockets of caramel throughout.

I can honestly say these brownies are so good they could knock your clothes off!!!! We took a bunch over on a cookie tray and my friends husband ate all of them. The kids kept asking about the about name of these brownies all night. I really think they thought these brownies were gonna knock their clothes off! LOL

So today I am bringing these yummy brownies to our Sunday Potluck. Do you have a recipe you would like to bring to our the potluck? If so then link directly to your post not your homepage. Also please include a link back to Mommy's Kitchen, so everyone can view all of the delicious recipes. In usual fashion I have included some step by step photos of the recipe preperation. The full recipe is at the end of this post.

Enjoy!!!

Knock Ya Naked Brownies

1 - 18 .5 oz package german chocolate cake mix
1/3 - cup + 1/2 cup evaporated milk - divided
1/2 - cup melted butter
1 - 14 oz package caramels, unwrapped
1 - cup chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi sweet)
1 - cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, nuts, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and melted butter. Press half of the batter into the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Bake in the oven for eight minutes and then remove. While the first brownie layer is baking go ahead and melt your caramel mixture. You can do this in the microwave or by using a double boiler melt caramels with remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk.

When caramel mixture is well mixed, pour over baked layer. Cover with chocolate chips. Chill for about an hour or until the caramel is hard. (I did not do that part because I was afraid of the temperature change with my baking dish. So I just let the Brownies sit on the counter for about 30 minutes and then added the second layer).

Using the remaining batter drop by spoon fulls all over the caramel mixture. Don't worry about covering all the caramel mixture because the batter will bake up over the gooey mixture. Return to oven and bake an additional 28 minutes (or less for gooier brownies). Let cool before cutting.

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Easy Monkey Bread & More Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas

Today I am sharing a easy one with y'all. Quick and Easy Monkey Bread. The reason is it so quick is because it utilizes canned buttermilk biscuits. Don't get me wrong my favorite by far is the full homemade version of monkey bread with homemade yeast rolls. But sometimes time just isn't on my side, so this quick and easy recipe can be a life saver.

For those of you not familiar with monkey bread it's a sweet, gooey, cinnamon infused pull- apart bread. Pure goodness if you ask me. My kids love this bread because they can eat it just like monkeys...... pulling it apart with their fingers.

Also for a different taste add some pecans, raisins, chocolate chips or apples to give your monkey bread a whole new different flare. I do add pecans and raisins every once in a while. But for the most part I just stick to the basic recipe. If I make Monkey Bread on Christmas morning I usually make the full homemade version. But if you are pinched for time this would work just as well.

The recipe for this Easy Monkey Bread is at the end of this post.

Also since we are on the topic of holiday breakfast ideas. I thought it would be a good idea to post some other recipes that would be perfect for Christmas morning. A few of the dishes are prepared the night before which is always a plus. The rull recipe for the Easy Monkey Bread is at the end of this post. Overnight French Toast Casserole - (overnight recipe)


Grandma Mack's Breakfast Casserole
Time Saver Tip: Sausage can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for easy assembly.


Weekend Company Breakfast Casserole - overnight recipe

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls
Dough and cinnamon rolls assembly can be prepared in advance.

Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pancakes
These are the absolute best pancakes I have ever had. Light, fluffy and delicious.

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls -
Dough can be prepared the night before and stored in the refrigerator.

Toasted Pecan Waffles - Copy Kat Waffle House Pecan Waffles

Southern Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

My Favorite Breakfast Quiche
Time Saver Tip: Cook the sausage and the bacon the night before. Store in the refrigerator for quick assembly the next morning.


Velveeta Cheesy Breakfast Bake - overnight recipe

Brown Sugar Bacon aka Pig Candy
This pairs perfectly with pancakes or french toast.

Cheesy Hash brown Bake


Kick Butt Gorilla Bread


Sausage Cream Cheese Crescents
Time saver tip: Prepare the filling mixture the night before then assemble the crescents in the morning.


IHop French Toast


Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

Southern Chocolate Gravy
If you want to live dangerously serve those piping hot biscuits with some Southern Chocolate Gravy. Don't knock it till you try it, trust me on this one. Who doesn't love chocolate for breakfast?

Easy Monkey Bread

4 - cans refrigerated biscuits (7.5 oz each)
1 - cup packed brown sugar
1 - stick butter
1/2 cup white sugar
2- tablespoons cinnamon
Icing, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube or bundt pan. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a large zip lock bag. Cut the biscuits in half and then cut each one in half again making quarters. Place eight to ten biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mixture and shake well making sure all pieces are covered. Arrange bicuits pieces in the bottom of the greased pan.

Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits making sure to cover all the biscuits with the boiled mixture. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 5 - 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Drizzle the icing on top and pull apart and enjoy!

Powdered Sugar Glaze:

1 - tablespoon butter
1 - cup powdered sugar
1/2 - teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons milk

Put butter in 2 cup glass measure cup. Cook on high for 30 seconds or until melted. Add all ingredients. Starting with 1 1/2 tablespoons milk, add more only if needed to get glaze consistency. Drizzle over cool cake. Yield: About 1/2 cup.

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Low Country Boil Using the Butterball Indoor Turkey Fryer by Masterbuilt & A {Giveaway}

"This Giveaway is Now Closed"

Do you own an outdoor turkey fryer? I don't only because the outdoor fryers look so dangerous in my opinion. I am sure they are safe but since I have little kids I get a bit nervous frying something outside in a fryer. I am always afraid one of the kids will bump into it and tip it over. So needless to say I have never deep fried a turkey before.

Recently I was contacted by Masterbuilt to see if I wanted to test out their new Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer. I was so excited an indoor turkey fryer now that was right up my alley. After visiting the Masterbuilt website I knew just the recipe I wanted to make. The recipe I decided on was for a Low Country Shrimp Boil. You see I have wanted to do a shrimp boil for a quite some awhile so the timing couldn't be more perfect.

I was so amazed that not only could you use this indoor fryer to fry a turkey, but it also boils and steams food as well. I think the boil and steam feature is my favorite part of the whole fryer. Well not to mention that I can use it indoors without a flame source. Now I don't have to worry about my kids accidentally bumping into the fryer and tipping it over or someone getting burned. Below is a list of features for this wonderful turkey fryer.


The Butterball Turkey Fryer from Masterbuilt:

• The fryer is retailed at $159.96
• Adjustable thermostat temperature control
• Stainless steel construction
• Porcelain-coated inner pot
• Digital timer
• Folding lid with window and filter
• Cooking basket with drain clip
• Drain Valve for easy cleaning
• Saves on oil - uses 1/3 less than conventional turkey fryers
• It can feed up to 8 people when frying a 14 lb turkey (max turkey limit)
• The fryer can also be used with chicken, and can boil and steam food instead of frying Ü

I also am including a link to Johns Video so you can see the in's and outs of using the Butterball Electric Turkey Fryer. This video helped me out so much. It really put my mind at ease when I used the indoor fryer for the first time. I have to say it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

The Turkey Fryer also comes with a "Dadgum That's Good Cookbook" by John McLemore, the CEO of Masterbuilt. This cookbook is filled with a variety of recipes that can be prepared in the indoor electric turkey fryer.

Here is just a sample of recipes. Fried wings, steamed sesame chicken & vegetables, steamed crab legs, pumpkin fritters, deep fried mini pecan pies, chowders, ribs, lemon pepper chicken and even boiled peanuts.

Since I chose to do a shrimp boil I have included some step by step photos of just how easy the whole process was. I was so excited because I did 90% of the recipe all by myself. So trust me if I can do it anyone can. Let's get started........

Fill the butterball indoor fryer to the max line with water. Place the seasoning bags in the basket. Set the heat to 375 and bring the water to a boil. (about 20 minutes) Add the whole potatoes to the basket and lower into the water carefully; boil 12 minutes.

Add the corn to the potatoes and boil an additional 9 minutes. Add the sausage to the potatoes and corn and continue boiling for 9 more minutes. Lastly add the shrimp. Boil for a additional 3-5 minutes or until the shrimp is pink. Total cooking time for the shrimp boil is 33-35 minutes. Lift the basket from the hot water hooking the basket to the drain clip.

Allow country boil to drain and then serve hot. That's it a Low Country Shrimp Boil in about 30 minutes who wouldn't love that. We were so excited at how good the shrimp boil turned out that we packed up half of it and surprised our friends. They were just as excited as we were that it only took 35 minutes for the shrimp boil.

Would you like to win a Masterbuilt Butterball Electric Turkey Fryer, a $15 coupon for a Butterball turkey and the cookbook Dadgum That’s Good? Well you can because today the generous folks over at Masterbuilt are going to send one lucky Mommy's Kitchen Reader a Butterball Indoor Turkey Fryer too!!! What a great gift! Thank you so much Masterbuilt.

How to Enter:

Just leave a comment letting me know what you would fry, steam or boil in the butterball indoor turkey fryer.
(mandatory entry)

For Additional Entries
(separate comment for each entry)

• Become a fan of Masterbuilt on Face Book.
  
• Become a New Fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book.
  
• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway: Win a Butterball Indoor Turkey Fryer from Masterbuilt @mommyskitchen http://tinyurl.com/27832a7 @masterbuilt
  
  
  Contest open to US Residents only due to shipping charges. If you do not have a blog please leave your email address in your comment. This giveaway will end at midnight (CST) December, 26Th 2010. Winner will be chosen on Monday December 27Th, 2010 using random.org. Winner will be given 48 hours to reply before another winner will be chosen. Good luck to everyone.

I am happy to say that we ate all of the shrimp boil and it tasted awesome. Next on my list is boiled peanuts and pumpkin fritters.

Low Country Shrimp Boil

2 - lbs whole new potatoes
8 - 12 pieces of short ear corn
1 - 2 lbs pre cooked smoked sausage (cut 1/2 -1 inch thick)
2 - lbs uncooked shrimp, preferably split and deveined
1 - 2 crab or shrimp boil seasoning bags

Fill the butterball indoor fryer to the max line with water. Place the seasoning bags in the basket. Set the heat to 375 and bring the water to a boil. (about 20 minutes) Add the whole potatoes to the basket and lower into the water carefully; boil 12 minutes. Add the corn to the potatoes and boil an additional 9 minutes.

Add the sausage to the potatoes and corn and continue boiling for 9 more minutes. Lastly add the shrimp. Boil for a additional 3-5 minutes or until the shrimp is pink. Total cooking time for the shrimp boil is 33-35 minutes. Lift the basket from the hot water hooking the basket to the drain clip. Allow country boil to drain and then serve hot.

Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup butter
4 - medium cloves garlic, minced

in a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and mix. Drizzle butter sauce over each plate or serve on the side.

Disclosure: Masterbuilt provided me with a turkey fryer and a cookbook "Dadgum That's Good" for the purpose of this review. Opinions stated above are entirely my own. I have not been compensated in any way to publish positive comments. I would like to say thank to Masterbuilt for sponsoring this review and giveaway.

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Scarlet Threads & Santa's Sugar Cookies

Hi everyone I just wanted to make a quick post and let you know that I am Guest Posting over at Scarlet Threads today. I hope you can pop over and check out my post. Since Christmas is only days away I am sharing my favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe. These are the cookies that the kids and I bake every year on Christmas Eve for Santa. Do you bake a special cookie that leave out for Santa Clause?

If you are not familiar with Scarlet Threads please stay a bit and visit their beautiful boutique. It is filled with all sorts of wonderful items. Aprons, tree skirts, purses and hand sewn tiger hats. All of the products for sale are created by talented seamstresses in Asia earning a steady source of income for their families. When you purchase one of their beautiful hand-crafted products, you become part of their story by providing a woman with safe and rewarding work.

I have included a photo above of my first apron purchase from Scarlet Threads. I was so excited when my (Phoebe) finally arrived in the mail. The detail and hard work really shows through in this beautiful apron. I wear it proudly knowing that a part of my apron purchase will go towards helping another woman, mother or family in need.

Today I am also offering all my Mommy's Kitchen readers a 20% discount code good towards any purchase at Scarlet Threads. I can't wait to purchase my second apron. I am leaning towards a Aubergine or Kyra apron I still can't decide.

Enter Coupon Code: mommyskitchen
at checkout to receive 20% off your entire Scarlet Threads purchase. Coupon Code expires on 1/4/11

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