Pinterest, anyone?

This full-time working mama has lost track of time, and missed many a blog post. However, Pinterest is an easy way to keep up with new recipes, and to get inspired by other foodies. Are you a pinner?

http://pinterest.com/kewhicker/

I'm a huge fan. You can check my recipe boards, as well as many others through the link above.

Happy pinning! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cookies

Here is another recipe from a blog that I follow. The Picky Palate probably has the best treat recipes I have ever seen! This is definitely only one of many. I even use this recipe minus the cookie dough bites for good ole' plain chocolate chip cookies. Try them either way... They are the best!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cookies

2 sticks softened butter

¾ Cup brown sugar

¾ Cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¾ Cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

2 6 oz boxes Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well mixed. In a separate bowl sift the flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with the chocolate chips and cookie dough bites until just combined.

2. With a cookie scoop, scoop onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until cooked to your liking. I usually take mine out right at 9 minutes for a softer cookie. Let cool on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Makes about 36 cookies

Skor Cake

This cake is so good... and so simple! I got the recipe from a ward cookbook that my Aunt Wendy gave me for Christmas. It is jam packed full of tasty recipes, and when Nate's mom said I could make dessert for family dinner today, I knew this was my pick! I did substitute a Heath bar for a Skor bar today; I couldn't find a Skor bar at Target. But that's okay, it was still toffee-ish and good none the less. This picture needs no introductions because for once I did not borrow it from someone elses blog, I took it myself...which is why it is not nearly as good a picture as the others I have posted in the past. Try this cake out, you'll love how easy it is! Enjoy!

Skor Cake

1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix
1 Carton Cool Whip
I Jar Mrs. Richardson's Caramel Butterscotch Sauce
1 Skor Bar, chopped

Bake cake according to package directions. While cake is still warm, poke holes all over cake with a straw, and cover cake with the caramel sauce. Let cake cool completely. "Frost" with Cool Whip, and top with Skor bar. Yum!

Faux Fried (Baked) Zucchini

Everyone loves fried zucchini, but man is it grease loaded-- and no one wants to feel that guilty! So here is a lighter alternative. We have made it several times, but I have never snapped my own picture-- so thanks to Family Favorite Recipes for the awesome recipe, and borrowed picture.

Faux Fried (Baked) Zucchini, Favorite Family Recipes

4-5 small zucchini spears, cut on an angle

2 eggs

1-2 Tbsp. milk

1 c. Italian-style bread crumbs or finely blended croutons

1/2 c. parmesan cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Butter or cooking spray

First, line a baking sheet with cooking spray. Next, combine eggs and milk in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Dip each zucchini piece into the egg mixture, then dip into bread crumbs until evenly coated in crumbs. Place zucchini on baking sheet, spray the top of each with cooking/butter spray and then bake in the oven at 425-degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. For an added crisp, turn the oven to broil and cook for about 30-45 seconds longer or until golden (watch them closely to prevent burning). Remove from oven and serve hot with ranch dressing or marinara/pizza sauce for dipping.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe comes straight from one of my personal favorite food blogs, Favorite Family Recipes. We try to do dinner with my extended family at my grandparent's house, at least one Sunday a month. There is always a theme, the most recent, was Soup. Everyone brought some sort of yummy soup dish. This is what we took, and it was a hit. Totally delicious! I highly recommend it!

Chicken Tortilla Soup, Favorite Family Recipes

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp. oil
1 onion, chopped
½ tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin
3 (14.5oz) can chicken broth
2 cans corn (drained)
1/2 tsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice(or both!)
1-2 c. salsa

2 cans white Northwestern Beans
1 c. tortilla chips
½ c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 avacado

In large pot boil chicken for about 25 minutes or until cooked through. Remove chicken, cool, and shred. In a large skillet cook onion, garlic in the oil and add cumin. Cook until onions become clear. Drain water from the pot you cooked the chicken in add chicken broth and onion & garlic mixture. Add shredded chicken,corn, chili powder, lemon (or lime) juice and salsa to the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30-40 min. Top with corn chips, cheese, avacado, and a little sour cream.

Chicken Puffs

These are a hit around the Whicker house... Credit for the recipe must go to my other mom. Sandy has an organized cubbard filled with delicious recipes. This is one of them. They may not photograph the best, or be the prettiest on a plate- but these little puffs are pretty darn tasty!

Chicken Puffs

1 8 oz. brick cream cheese
4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
garlic salt to taste
black pepper to taste
2 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first four ingredients. Unroll crescent dough, and separate into individual triangles. Place one tablespoon of chicken mixture on the wide end of each triangle. Fold into balls, seal all edges very well. Bake 12-18 minutes or until golden. Serve with chicken gravy.

Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden Knockoff)

Mmmm. Olive Garden. How I love your soup and salad! Zuppa Toscana has always been my favorite; there is just something about the creamy, slightly spicy broth with chunky potatoes, kale and sausage that is just the perfect combination of delicious!

Now you can go buy a bottle of their dressing, grab a bag of green salad, whip up this soup, and you're on your way to a delicious dinner in the comfort of your own home! Now their breadsticks... That will be adventure I will seek out sometime soon, in the meantime, the Easy Breadstick recipe I have posted previously is pretty darn good itself!
Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden Knockoff)

3 cans chicken broth

2 cups whipping cream

red pepper flakes (to taste)

salt and pepper (to taste)

1-2 cups kale, chopped

3-4 potatoes, sliced thin

1 lb mild Italian sausage, cooked

Place all ingredients inside slow cooker/crock pot. Cook on high 3-4 hours.

Serve with crackers or breadsticks.