Garden Vegetable Quinoa

Pin It I'm always looking for interesting side dishes for dinner.  While I do love baked potatoes and pasta, I get bored.  I had a box of quinoa and had just gone to the farmer's market and inspiration struck.  I chopped up some veggies and tossed them with quinoa.  Simple, delicious and healthy.  Use any fresh vegetables that you have on hand.  Next time I make this I plan on adding some asparagus, squash and eggplant.   A great summer side dish!

Garden Vegetable Quinoa
1 cup uncooked quinoa, cooked according to package directions
2 cups diced fresh vegetables (I used onions, peppers and cherry tomatoes)
olive oil
garlic powder
salt and pepper

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions and set aside.
2. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Saute vegetables for 3-5 minutes or until starting to get tender. 
3. Season veggies with salt, pepper and garlic.
4. Stir quinoa in with veggies.  Allow to cook for about 3 minutes or until quinoa is heated through and flavors combine.

Bacon Wrapped BBQ Scallops

Pin It Summer grilling season is in full swing.  I bet I use our grill at least 4 nights a week when the weather is nice.  Tonight I tackled scallops.  These were absolutely amazing.  I definitely regret not making a double batch so I could have leftovers (or just eat 3 helpings for dinner).  We will be having these in the near future for sure.

Bacon Wrapped BBQ Scallops
12 oz scallops - I used small 40-60 count, but feel free to use any size you want (I will probably use larger next time)
8-10 slices of bacon
1/2 cup BBQ sauce of your choice (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ)

6 skewers

1. Lay bacon on a papertowel covered plate and microwave for 2 minutes or until partially cooked.  (You could also partially fry the bacon on the stove, just don't cook it all the way)
2. Wrap bacon around scallops and place on a skewer.  Because my scallops were small I could get 3-4 scallops wrapped with one strip of bacon.
3. Grill skewers for about 1-2 minutes per side, basting with BBQ sauce.
4. Scallops are done when they become opaque.  Bacon will also get crispy.

Chubby Hubby Truffles

Pin It I saw this recipe a few months ago, but never had a reason to make them until this weekend.  My brother and sister in law were in town and I brought these over for dessert.  They were inhaled and they were such a hit that they were requested for my sister's wedding shower in a few months.  These are a mixture of sweet, salty, crunchy and creamy...All the best parts of a dessert rolled into one delicious ball.

Chubby Hubby Truffles
Original recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff
1 cup crushed pretzels
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 Tbsp butter, softened
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp powdered sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Toppings:
1/4 cup crushed pretzels
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vegetable oil

1. Mix peanut butter, butter and brown sugar in a bowl until well combined.
2. Stir in pretzel pieces.  Then mix in powdered sugar.
3. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop rounded balls onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Remove balls from fridge.  Melt chocolate chips and vegetable oil in the microwave for 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds.
5. Dip  balls into chocolate and return them to the wax paper cookie sheet.
6. Melt peanut butter and vegetable oil in microwave for about 30 seconds or until able to be drizzled.
7. Top truffles with pretzel pieces and peanut butter.
8. Return truffles to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.
9. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Smashed Potatoes

Pin It I try to avoid packaged pasta and potato dishes because of the ridiculous amount of salt and preservatives in them, but cooking potatoes as a side dish can get kind of boring.  You can only eat so many baked, mashed or roasted potatoes.  When I found this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to try it.  Besides being creative this side dish will not heat up your kitchen because you do not have to bake these at all.  Just a short trip to the broiler and you are done.  This is more of a method than a recipe.  Feel free to use any seasonings or toppings that you want.

Smashed Potatoes
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
6-8 small Yukon gold potatoes (depending on the size of your crowd)
olive oil
shredded parmesan cheese
garlic salt

1. Place your potatoes in a large pot, covered with water.  Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender.
2. Drain potatoes and place them on a foil covered broiler pan.  Smash potatoes down with a potato masher so they become flat and spread out.
3. Drizzle potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garlic salt (or any seasonings you want).
4. Place potatoes under the broiler on low for 5-8 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Oreo Brownies

Pin It I'm working at a summer camp for gifted children during the month of July.  I'm super busy and exhausted at the end of each day which explains my lack of posting recently.  (I will try to get better).  Anyway, we always have snacks in the kitchen area of camp for all of the teachers and assistants.  I made these to share and they were inhaled by lunchtime.  Everyone kept asking for the recipe and it's so easy it's almost embarrassing.  I will definitely be making these again.

Check out Weekend Potluck for some amazing recipes! Also head over to Strut Your Stuff Link Party for some great recipes and craft ideas.

Oreo Brownies
1 box brownie mix - plus ingredients to make brownies (oil, eggs, water)
20 Oreo cookies, divided
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Make brownies according to box directions.  Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Pour half of the brownie batter on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 pan.
4. Press 16 Oreos into the batter.  Pour remaining batter on top of Oreos making sure to cover the cookies completely.
5. Crush the remaining 4 Oreos and sprinkle on top.
6. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Snickers Apple Salad

Pin It Who loves no bake desserts???  I do, especially when the temperature has been in the triple digits for over a week.  This 3-ingredient gem is perfect for a potluck, picnic or just for snacking.  It can be whipped together in under 5 minutes and doesn't require time to set in a refrigerator or anything.  What's not to love?

Snickers Apple Salad
6-8 granny smith apples, cubed (leave skin on)
1 tub whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
2 regular size Snickers bars, chopped

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

**Leftovers are good for about 2 days

The Best Kabob Marinade

Pin It Summer is here and that means grilling out all the time.  I love kabobs because you can pretty much put anything on a skewer and cook it up quick.  This marinade is a fmaily recipe that gets passed on to every bride in the family.  You get a cookbook full of family recipes at one of your wedding showers.  I grew up with this recipe and it is amazing!  Impress your friends at your next outdoor bbq!  These would be great for the upcoming 4th of July!

Check out Six Sisters' Link Party for some great ideas!

The Best Kabob Marinade
4 Tbsp ketchup
10 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp white vinegar
1/8 tsp black pepper

3 lbs beef, chicken or pork (I used stew meat)
Veggies of your choice, cut up (I like onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and cherry tomatoes)

1. Mix all marinade ingredients in a large zip top bag. 
2. Add meat and marinate 2-8 hours in the refrigerator.
3. Put meat on skewers with your choice of veggies.
4. Grill 15-20 minutes turning often.