Welcome to Happylifeblogspot! A food blog with drool worthy recipes
Summer nights are made for quick and easy dinner recipes. Citrus Steak Salad is the most perfect all in one dinner salad to get the job done. Crunchy greens, tender steak, juicy strawberries, mandarin oranges and a citrusy, made from scratch vinaigrette make for a meal […]
Our Ham and Cheese Bites make the cutest lil appetizer ever! This tasty bitesize snack works great for Easter brunch and doubles as a wonderful appetizer for Easter dinner too. They’re also perfect for after school snacking. Little fingers won’t be able to resist this […]
Christmas cookies?!? Ain’t nobody got time for that! Well I’m here to tell you that you do! Grrrrllll……..I got you! They very well could be the easiest cookies you will ever make! I’ve been adding them to Christmas cookie trays for years now and everyone has been none the wiser of my cookie shortcut. You see, the cookie dough is actually…..wait for it….CAKE MIX! Of course you’ll need to add a couple more ingredients, but the basic dough is just cake mix, eggs, and oil. You can play with the flavors and pick your own add ins. I’ve used chocolate cake mix with Christmas colored M&Ms here to make them festive, but adding Reese’s Pieces instead is one of my all time favorite combinations. What are you waiting for??? Let’s get baking!
Here’s all you’ll need: cake mix, oil, eggs, Christmas M&Ms. 
Add cake mix, eggs and oil to a large bowl. Yep! Everything in one bowl. I told ya this would be easy!!
Mix with a hand mixer on a low to medium speed until well combined (about 2 minutes).
Stir in the M&Ms or the add in of your choice! I recently hosted a slumber party with my niece and nephew and we paired white cake mix with chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles and they turned out fab! They love baking with Aunt Lisa!
Drop by the spoonful onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I’ve done these two ways and both have worked wonderful. Traditionally I would portion out spoonful sizes and roll them by hand into balls. This dough is very sticky. The key to working with it is a light touch. Pretend they are very delicate as you roll them. BUT…..I’ve recently used my cookie scoop to drop them by the spoonful and it’s an excellent alternative to getting your hands dirty! You can place additional M&Ms on top to make them extra pretty.
Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 8-10 minutes on the middle and top racks of your oven. Don’t forget to rotate your cookie sheets about halfway through baking so you get that nice and even bake. Remove from the pan and allow cookies to cool. I bet Santa would love a batch of these paired with a nice, big glass of cold milk!
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Hey there! Who’s ready for soup season? I sure am! We are finally getting some of that crisp Fall air blowing through Buffalo this week and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I loved grilling out this Summer, but I am SO ready to […]
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL????????? College Football, that is! We’re so amped up for the Penn State home opener that even the doggies have their own jerseys!! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! Tell me they aren’t the most precious little PSU fans you ever did […]
This recipe is EVERYTHING!!! It’s 5 ingredients, it’s no bake, it’s simple, it’s easy to whip up, it can be made ahead of time, it’s impressive, it’s a crowd pleasing favorite, and it’s so versatile! You can bring it on a summer picnic in the park, serve at your fourth of july party, or even just pack it in your lunchbox for a healthy snack on the go! Caprese salads are so delicious to begin with…the ripeness and juiciness of the tomatoes, the texture and flavor of the mozzarella, and the way the fresh basil perfectly blends it all together…Mmm!! I love them. I really could eat these any place, any time. Like seriously!! Turning them into kebabs just makes it even more fun to eat! So I’m going to dedicate this one to all of the kitchen newbies out there. I promise, you cannot mess this one up. Next time you are asked to bring a dish to a party, don’t run to the store and buy the pre made whatever you planned on bringing. Make this one instead! It’s a surefire way to really wow the crowd!! Oh and…just be sure to make enough….these will go fast!!
Here’s all you’ll need: Cherry or grape tomatoes, marinated mozzarella, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and shish kebab skewers. (The tomatoes and mozzarella pictured are enough to make a double batch. The recipe is for a single batch. )
Rinse tomatoes and basil. Is there anything that’s better than fresh tomatoes in the summer?!? I mean besides THIS recipe!
Thread a tomato onto the skewer. Then add the basil, and the mozzarella. Try not to eat all the cheese as you’re assembling! (talking to myself obviously!!) Some of the basil leaves were gigantic so I cut them in half, but it’s all personal preference.
Now do it again. Keep repeating the pattern until you run out of room on the skewer. See! I told you this was an easy one!!
They look beautiful already but we’re going to take it up a notch and add a light dressing! This dish is so colorful! (and flavorful too! Just wait til you try it!)
Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to a small container with a lid.
Shake it up to combine!
Drizzle over kebabs and serve! Really that’s it! If I don’t plan on serving them right away, I toss them in the refrigerator and add the dressing right before serving. Really wishing I hadn’t eaten the rest of the cheese right now so I could make some more!!!
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Hi There! I’m Lisa. I’m a lover of all things crafty, creative, DIY, and delicious!!! Oh yeah and puppies too! I love cooking and baking for my friends and family but especially WITH my friends and family. I show my greatest affection through food. If I cook or bake for you, it means I really like you!
