Digiorno House Party

Several months ago, I received an email from Kraft suggesting that I become a member of House Party. I looked into it and thought it sounded interesting, so I applied for several parties.

One of the parties I applied to host was a Digiorno Pizza Champions House Party...and I won! They sent me a party pack in the mail that was filled with goodies, including 6 free coupons for Digiorno Pizza and Breadsticks plus 15 coupons for $4 off one Digiorno Pizza and Breadstick package to share with my guests.


There were some other goodies as well, including a pop can "hoops game", beads for each guest, a pizza cutter, and even a magnet clip. Here are some pics from the party:

The Yummy Food:

My Awesome Digiorno Pizza Cutter and Magnet (notice coupons)

The Fun Pop Can Hoops Game

Everyone had such a great time. We watched the game (college basketball), ate yummy pizza and breadsticks, played some tabletop "hoops", and just had fun! Even the little ones enjoyed it.

Thank you, House Party, for allowing me the opportunity to host this party. I am so grateful for the free food and other goodies! Can't wait to host more parties in the future. :)

Cream Cheese Frosting

I had so much fun hanging out with friends tonight, and babies too! I hosted a Gerber Generation House Party and had some Mommy-friends and their little ones over for games, food, and fun. I will post more about the party with pictures in the next day or so, but for now I have to tell you about this amazing frosting I made to go on the top of my devil's food cupcakes. It is to.die.for. I also like to put it on this cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all together. Frost cupcakes (or cakes, or cookies, or just eat it straight from the spoon!) I usually keep mine in the fridge just because the cream cheese needs refrigeration. Enjoy!!

Take me out to the ballgame....

I just got back from a Louisville Bats baseball game with some friends of mine and my hubs and little man. We had a blast! Plus, it was $1 hot dog and $1 Pepsi night! So, here is what I have discovered about baseball games (in particular, this one):

*Ball parks smell sooooo good!

*You can never find the stand that sells the food that smells so good....

*People eat way too much food

*People drink way too much beer (and then choose to drive home = stupid)

*There should really be a 3rd inning, 5th inning, and 7th inning stretch

*$1 hot dog and Pepsi nights are awesome

*People eat way too many hot dogs on $1 hot dog night

*The Kizito Cookie lady only comes around once :(

*One funnel cake costs as much as feeding a whole family on $1 hot dog night

*There is now a "funnel cake" vendor that comes around to your seat
*The Louisville Bats are awesome!! (When we left the score was 9-0)

Speaking of eating too much food.....here is what I had tonight:

Two of these:

Two of these:

And 1/2 of one of these:

And now I think it is time to go on a diet...... :)

The Easiest, Yummiest, Peanut-Buttery-est, No-Bake Cookie Goodness you will ever make!

I.Love.No-Bake Cookies. Actually, I love any sweetness that you don't have to bake (and all of those that you do have to bake, too!). :) But these....oh, these...are so easy a caveman can do it. Plus, the ingredients you need you probably already have in your pantry. I got this recipe from my friend Melanie. Mel is always making yummy things, and these are one of her specialties.

Melanie's No-Bake Cookies

1 stick butter
1 T. cocoa**
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups oats

In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cocoa, sugar and milk and stir well. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and peanut butter. Add oats one cup at a time and stir well until all incorporated. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let set for a few minutes or until cookies are "dry". Enjoy!!

These are soooooo good! And sooooooo easy! The tricky part is the boiling for 1 minute part. If you boil for less or more than one minute, the cookies will not turn out. Enjoy-- but I'm warning you, don't eat too many of them or you will definitely get a belly ache!!

**If you like your cookies more chocolatey, you can add more cocoa to the mixture. These are light brown in color (kind of like the color of brown sugar) because of the amount of cocoa added.

Fat Jimmy's

One of my favorite things to do here in the big city is to eat at local places around the 'Ville. Most of these local eateries are located on Frankfort Avenue. I have been to several of the food establishments on Frankfort, and have not been disappointed with any of them. One of my favorites is Fat Jimmy's.

Though I have never met "Jimmy" nor do I know if he is really "Fat", I thoroughly enjoy his food! This place has a vast array of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and my favorite, the pizza to please all palettes! The pizza is by far my favorite (second to Pizza Hut, that is), and is very affordable.

The atmosphere of FJ's is very casual, only about 7 tables in the entire place. Kind of dark inside, too. Pictures of locals adorn the walls and neon beer signs adorn the windows. Sometimes you will even find some local band or "artsy" advertisements in the front windows. It just makes the place even more unique.

So yesterday, my two boys and I went there for dinner. I had a 10-inch bacon pizza, hubby had the "Fat Jimmy Club", and little man had the Turkey/Cheese sandwich. All of their subs are hot, and come with a bag of chips and a pickle. It all came to about $20 (including drinks), which is not bad for 3 people. Plus, I had leftovers and so did my little man.

I highly encourage you to head over to Fat Jimmy's on Frankfort Avenue and experience some amazing food and casual atmosphere. Might I suggest the Stromboli or Meatball sub?

G.O.R.P.

I haven't had GORP in quite a while, but was thinking about it this evening. I may have to make some in the near future. What is GORP you ask? Well, it's simply "Good Ole' Raisins and Peanuts." :) Actually, the recipe I used includes M&Ms too.

G.O.R.P.

Raisins -however much you like

Peanuts - " "

M&Ms - " "

Mix together and store in airtight container. Enjoy!

YUM-MY!!

When you don't have any food in the house....

It has been raining ALL DAY LONG here in "Derby City," and I don't have any groceries in my house. I used the last 4 pieces of bread to make hubby and little man a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch (we had tomato soup too, but made with water since we are also out of milk!). I have been trying to "clean out" my fridge and my pantry lately before going grocery shopping so I don't overstock on items. Well....I think I waited a little too long this time.


If you were to look in my fridge right now, you would see the following things: 5 slices of cheese, some shredded cheese, a can of crescent rolls, sour cream, some Coke Zero, a half a jug of Pedialyte, a pudding cup, 3 sticks of butter, and condiments. No milk, no eggs, no juice, no lunchmeat. The freezer is just the same - 3 chicken breasts, some ice cream, a bag of frozen broccoli, some frozen cherries and corn, and ice cubes. I promise I am going to the store.....tomorrow. :)


So what do you make with what little you have in your house? I came up with a recipe using the crescent rolls, chicken, sour cream and cheese, and half a can of cream of chicken soup. I call them "Chicken Pockets". Here is the recipe (or what I just threw in a bowl!):


Chicken Pockets


3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese (colby jack is best, but I only had mozzarella)
2 cans crescent rolls**


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together shredded chicken, soup, sour cream, and cheese.
Unroll crescent rolls. Pinch two crescent rolls together to form a rectangle. Place a heaping spoonful of the chicken mixture in each rectangle. Pull up corners and pinch sides together to form a little purse, or "pocket". Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

**I only had one can of crescent rolls, so I had quite a bit of chicken mixture left over. Maybe I'll get some more at the grocery tomorrow.... :)