Easy Baked Chicken Wings

It's Super Bowl Weekend!! Woooooo!! Honestly, I have NO idea who's playing, all I care about is the halftime show and the food. Oh, the food. 

I've been working really hard since the New Year to eat cleaner and get healthy, I don't plan on letting one day take me down! But I also want to enjoy the party we're throwing. I'm packing our chilli recipe with lots of roasted veggies, and putting out a pretty platter of crudités. But Super Bowl isn't complete without chicken wings. So I'm making my delicious, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside chicken wings. 

These chicken wings pack a lot of flavour without any breading or deep-frying, which makes them a delicious guilt-free  snack. 2 ingredients, 2 steps, no mess. They couldn't be any easier. 

2lbs raw chicken wings, tips removed 

Seasoned salt (I use Hy's No MSG)

1. Place wings on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (Way easier clean up!)

2. Sprinkle with seasoned salt  (You want to make sure to be slightly generous so that they're flavourful.) and place in a 400F preheated oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through and crispy on the outside.

They're amazing as is, or toss in some heated BBQ sauce or Buffalo Sauce for different flavours.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! 

Taco Puff Wreath

My parents host a Christmas Eve party (almost) every year and it's a lot of fun. Family, neighbours and friends stop by for laughs, news, reminiscing, Christmas cheer, and of course, food! I try to make something new every year, an appetizer, a dip, or something sweet. This year I'm making this! 

Pillsbury Cresent Rolls are so incredibly versatile, whether your dish is a main course or dessert, sweet or savoury. For this really simple but DELISH holiday app, I took Pillsbury cresent rolls and baked them in a mini muffin tin and then filled them with taco meat and a generous helping of guacamole. 

Arranged on a platter with a pretty bow, these make a really eye-catching addition to your holiday party!

Merry Christmas!

1 tube Pillsbury Cresent Rolls

1 cup cooked ground beef seasoned with Old El Paso taco seasoning

1 cup prepared guacamole

1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes

1. Open the tube of cresent rolls and break apart in half. Unroll the halves and break apart at the perforation to make 2 rectangles for each half, leaving the diagonal perforation intact.

2. Press together the diagonal perforation and then cut each rectangle into 6 squares.

3. Press the dough squares into a mini muffin tin and bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is cooked through and golden brown.

4. Remove the dough cups from the tin and fill each cup with some taco beef.

5. Top each cup with a generous dollop of guacamole and sprinkle on the chopped tomato. 

6. Arrange into a wreath shape on a platter and decorate with a festive bow.

 

This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page. 

Cookie Exchange Made Easy With Betty Crocker and Pillsbury

Did you agree to be in a holiday cookie exchange and now you're panicking because you need 8 dozen cookies by tomorrow? Well friends, let me help you out...

We're all busy. We have kids, and jobs, and hobbies, and obligations, and then there's the whole need to sleep thing. Sometimes you just don't have time to be... well, Betty Crocker. So thank goodness Betty is around and can make things simple for you! Not a great baker? Betty can Help! Short on time? Betty can help! And you know who else can help you churn out yummy treats in no time? That adorable Pillsbury Dough Boy! Pillsbury Slice and Bake? Easy peasy!

Betty Crocker has some great cookie mixes that you can customize with nuts, extracts, frostings and sprinkles. No one has to know you didn't bake from "scratch". And Pillsbury refrigerated cookie doughs can be customized too! Who knew right? I found this decadent looking recipe for Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies in the Christmas section on lifemadedelicious.ca and whipped them up in no time using Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are ridiculously good. I'm sending this batch into work with my husband tonight. Those boys are going to love them!

Want to go the extra mile since you saved so much time with baking?  There are so many cute ways to package up your cookies! I found all these adorable bags and boxes at my local Dollarama and the tins are from Independent (PC). Add a bit of curly ribbon and voilà.

My Book Club is having our annual cookie exchange soon and I'll be sharing some quick creations using Betty and Pillsbury, less time baking means more time for me! Bring on the Christmas movies, hot toddies and slipper socks!

*This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page.
 

Review - Betty Crocker Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes

I got a box of Christmas cheer delivered to my door, courtesy of my good friends at General Mills Canada. My kids were jumping up and down at what was inside. Candy canes, snowman cupcake liners, and best of all, Chocolate Cupcakes!

Of COURSE we had to make the cupcakes right away. They're chocolate cake, and chocolate frosting, basically the perfect after school snack. 

I'd like to say my kids devoured them, but that would be a lie. They each had one... and then I had one.... and I claimed the rest for myself. I had eight cupcakes in 16 hours! I can't even say I was ashamed, they were THAT good. The cake was so soft and delicate and the frosting had a fudgey taste and was very smooth. The kids were quite disappointed when they came home from school the next day to find the plate empty. What can I say, I'm a chocoholic. I'll have to get another box and make it up to them... and hopefully exercise a bit more self-control!

*This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page.
 

Christmas Tree Roll-Ups

We never have a holiday party because I'm never organized enough to have my house presentable and party supplies bought AND all the gifts bought and wrapped. Something has to give! But we do get invited to a few parties and I hate to show up empty-handed. How cute are these easy little appetizers from Life Made Delicious? I can whip these little bites up in no time and still have time to put on something sparkly!

Christmas Tree Roll-Ups
makes 64

1 pkg (250 g) cream cheese, softened 
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped drained roasted red bell peppers (from 7.25-oz jar)
1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped ripe olives 
1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh basil leaves  
1/4 cup (50 mL) shredded Parmesan cheese
4 spinach-flavour flour tortillas (8 to 10 inches in diameter) 
Ripe olive pieces 

Instructions:

1. In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except tortillas and olive pieces. Divide mixture among tortillas, spreading to edges of tortillas. Roll up tightly. Press each tortilla roll into triangle shape, using fingers. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
2. To serve, cut rolls into 1/2-inch slices. Place olive piece at bottom of each triangle to look like tree trunk; secure with toothpick.

Tip: If you don't have time to press this appetizer into the shape of Christmas trees, just prepare the filling as directed, spread on tortillas and roll up. Refrigerate 2 hours, and cut into slices.

Tip: This recipe is easy to cut in half for a smaller group. 

*This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page.

 

Old El Paso Tortilla Bowls

Once a month General Mills sends me a (new) product to try out. Usually I get excited about it and my family enjoys whatever I make. But this time, my HUSBAND got excited, and started coming up with 100 ideas for it. I believe I heard the word Superbowl about 16 times. I told him to slow down and pick one idea for dinner that night.

Old el Paso Soft Tortilla bowls are pretty cool. They’re uniquely shaped to stand on your plate without unrolling or spilling, minimizing the mess & increasing your eating enjoyment. They're like boat shaped soft taco shells! It’s the only soft-‐shell tortilla that stands up by itself! It’s versatile: can be used for fajitas, dips, traditional tacos, desserts, hot dogs, a breakfast burrito on the go!  I can see them as a bowl for chili, or a great way to serve huevos rancheros! Or you could brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake them for a few minutes and then fill them with ice cream!

My husband asked me to make individual Mexican Lasagnas. I layered taco spiced beef with cheeses and traditional tortillas and salsa and he loved every bite. My kids used them to roll up their tacos so the filling didn't fall out everywhere. 

He's still working on his Superbowl ideas using the Tortilla bowls so we'll see what I can come up with in February!

Individual Mexican Lasagnas

2 Old el Paso Soft Tortilla Bowls
2 Old El Paso Flour Tortillas
1/2lbs ground beef
1 package old el Paso Taco seasoning
1/2 cup queso cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup salsa
shredded lettuce
chopped tomato

1. Cook the ground beef with the seasoning and set aside.
2. Place the tortilla bowls on a baking sheet.
3. Spoon in a couple of tablespoons of the beef mixture. 
4. Top with a tablespoon of the queso cheese and another of the salsa.
5. Cut a flour tortilla in half and place over top the beef and cheese.
6. Repeat steps  3 to 5. 
7. Top with the shredded cheddar and place in a 350˚F oven for 5 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and top with the shredded lettuce and chopped tomato and serve.

*This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page.

Gluten-Free Banana, Coconut and Dried Cherry Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for Breakfast? Why not! These Banana, Coconut and Dried Cherry Breakfast Cookies are gluten free and a fun way to start the day!


Gluten-Free Banana, Coconut and Dried Cherry Breakfast Cookies

 
2 cups (500 mL) Rice Chex* cereal

1 cup (250 mL) gluten-free old-fashioned oats

1 cup (250 mL) unsweetened coconut flakes

1 tbsp (15 mL) ground flaxseed

1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

3/4 cup (175 mL) chopped pecans

3/4 cup (175 mL) dried cherries or cranberries

3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/3 cups/325 mL)

2 tbsp (30 mL) coconut oil, melted

1/4 cup (50 mL) honey

1/2 tsp (2 mL) gluten-free vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. 

 

2. Crush cereal. In large bowl, mix crushed cereal, oats, coconut flakes, flaxseed, salt, pecans and dried cherries. In medium bowl, stir together bananas, coconut oil, honey and vanilla until well combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients; stir until well mixed and dough forms.  

 

3. Place 2 1/2-inch round cutter on cookie sheet. Press 3 tablespoons dough into cutter on cookie sheet. Carefully remove cutter. Repeat to use remaining dough.  

 

4. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 20 minutes before removing to cool completely.

COOKING GLUTEN FREE: Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Crunchy Raw-Nola

I have become obsessed with a woman on instagram. If you're not following Joni Jane you need to start. Her pictures of food and Australia and her adorable son keep me checking her account every day. I'm a fan. 

One of the foods she makes is rawnola... uncooked granola. The lazy health nut in me loves how easy this is. You just toss everything in a blender and pulse for a few seconds! I made the recipe the way she makes it and I felt like it needed a bit of crunch, so I tweaked it for my taste buds by adding almonds and chia seeds. I've been eating it on everything! I especially love it on a bowl of sliced bananas with a bit of milk. It keeps me going all morning!

Crunchy Raw-Nola
1/2 cup raw oats
11 pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup of shredded dried coconut
1/2 cup raw almonds
2 tbsp chia seeds

1. Throw the first 4 ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse for a minute until the dates and almonds are broken up and the ingredients combine.
2. Add the chia seeds and pulse a few more times to combine.
3. Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

I have no idea how long it lasts as I can't keep it long enough to find out!

Review - Betty Crocker Chocolate Chunk Brownies

I got sent a box of goodies from Life Made Delicious this month and I had to laugh. As I pulled each item out of the box I walked over to the pantry and pulled out basically the same product from the shelves. 

Everything they sent me, I already had! 

Usually I try something new and write about it, but since there was nothing new to me in the box I decided (okay, my stomach decided) to make a batch of brownies!

I have tried dozens of from-scratch brownie recipes, and I haven't found any I've liked. They're too dry, too oily, not fudgey enough, not chocolatey enough... I have wasted many a pound of chocolate on bad recipes. I always go back to Betty Crocker. They're always perfect. I always have what I need to make them on hand and they never turn out dry or bland.

I'll be sharing this batch with members of a board I sit on at our meeting tonight. I have a feeling I'm going to be the most popular person there....


Please read my Disclosure Page to learn more about my relationship with General Mills Canada. 

Things My Kids Will Eat - Yogurt Tubes

Is it just me, or are everyone's kids getting pickier by the day? It's actually getting out of hand around here. My kids have even stopped liking toast. TOAST! Who doesn't like toast?? One thing they will still happily eat, and request often, is yogurt. I usually only let them have it at home because sending yogurt and a spoon to school almost always turns into a ruined lunch kit. If I do happen to send it, it's always a yogurt tube! 

I freeze the tubes overnight and they thaw perfectly by lunch time (according to my kids) and they double as an ice pack for their fruits and deli meat (did I mention they won't eat sandwiches?). They're a nice treat as while they're having fun eating them they're also getting some vitamin D and calcium (did I mention they won't drink milk?). 

As Much as my kids love their yogurt tubes in their lunch, they also love them after school, straight out of the freezer! Frozen yogurt tubes make a great after school snack. They think they're having ice cream, and it tides them over till dinner... which they probably won't eat. Sigh.

 

 He's saying cheese

*This is a Sponsored Post, however my words and my opinions are my own. To read more about my relationship with General Mills Canada please visit my disclosure page.