Last week I was craving a bit of chocolate, and since I’m really trying to cut down on my sweets intake, plus lose a bit of weight/get healthier, I didn’t want to just pig out altogether. So, I made these Choco-Peanut Butter Cups, from the Pillsbury website, and then shared with our small group at church.:) I figure when I want to bake something really rich and fattening, I’ll just find others to share it with….and then we don’t just pig out on it all. It’s a no-brainer, win-win situation, right?:)Check out the recipe for Choco-Peanut Butter Cups on Pillsbury.

(Disclosure: I was NOT compensated in any way for this post by Pillsbury; I simply wanted to share a yummy nummy recipe involving chocolate.)

We had a few chilly, rainy days last week, and as I was making our menu up, I decided to add in one of our faves, Cheeseburger Chowder. Nothin’ like a good soup/chowder to warm the heart & soul on a cold, rainy night. Enjoy!

Mel’s Cheeseburger Chowder

1-2 pounds ground beef
4-6 cups water (the thicker the chowder you desire, the less water you’ll use)
2-3 tbsp chicken bullion
6+ potatoes, peeled & finely chopped/shredded
1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped
1-2 cups milk
Velveeta Cheese
4-6 green onions, finely chopped
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Brown the ground beef in pan; drain oil, & return to pan. Prepare potatoes & carrots; add to pan, along with water; bring to a rolling boil, then simmer. Add chicken bullion. Let soup simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add milk & Velveeta; I really don’t measure everything, so the above measurements are approximate. I added 2 thick wedges of Velveeta; add this to taste. When chowder is almost done, add green onions, salt, and pepper. Let simmer until served.

Last night we needed an easy meal….something quick….something that could be cooked up in a hurry. I decided yesterday morning that I’d make tomato soup and grilled cheese. Now, you might think grilled cheese….big deal. ‘Cause that’s probably what I’d think too. However, this grilled cheese, although it may look ordinary, is in no way ordinary. There is more than meets the eye.This recipe is kid-approved, dad-approved, and mom-approved (meaning it’s quick, tasty, & makes everyone happy).

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

2 slices of bread
Real butter
1 slice American cheese
2 slivers Cheddar cheese
1 slice Monterey Jack cheese
1 tbsp barbecue sauce

Butter one side of each slice of bread (this pretty much goes without saying, but buttered sides will go on the outside when cooking). Add your cheese, and spiral on the barbecue sauce. Cook on griddle until both sides are browned well & cheese is melted. Then serve with tomato soup or maybe even salad for a healthy twist.

This sandwich certainly isn’t the healthiest meal, but it’s a nice treat, and the family is sure to love it!:) Enjoy!

The last week I was so sick, not feeling like doing much of anything besides what I absolutely HAD to do to get through the week, both mom/school wise and work wise. By the end of the week, I was starting to get a bit restless, wanting to craft or bake or just do something to break back into action. The kids started coming down with what I’d had, so I decided to make them a Valentine’s treat, just to cheer them up a bit….I had these cupcakes pictured in my head, and I mainly wanted to make them, just so I could decorate them.:) I used this recipe from Martha Stewart for the actual cake part, Strawberry Cupcakes, and then I used this Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from Taste of Home. Talk about the perfect combination….I ’bout fell over when Dan said these were the best cupcakes he’s ever had; it warmed my heart!:) After they’d cooled, I piped on the frosting, added a few heart sprinkles, and then added the Sweet Heart candy. It was so much fun and a yummy treat….though not good for my weight loss plan.:) Oh well….we all need occasional treats, right?

Happy baking for this Valentine’s Day!