Versatile Blogger Award

I have been nominated for my second blog award.  Today Tiffany over at My Crowded Kitchen honored me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  I am honored that you think my little blog deserves an award.  I am grateful also that I have had the privilege to meet new friends through blogging.   So, Thank you again for this wonderful award Tiffany.

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Thank the person who gave you this award.

Include a link to their blog.

Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow

regularly.

Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Finally, tell the person who nominated you, 7 things about yourself.

There are also a few add-on rules:

In the same post, include this set of rules.

Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

So, what is the Versatile blogger award?  "It is a great way to introduce different bloggers to each other and promote quality blogs readers may not have discovered otherwise".

Here are my nominees ~ please stop by and check out their blogs!

Vanessa's Values

Where Flours Bloom

Wishes and Dishes

That's Some Good Cookin'

Sprinkled with Flour

Polka and Bloom

Four Mars and One Venus

Just Us Four

Semi Homemade Mom

It's a Hodgepodge Live

Living the Gourmet

Crumbs and Chaos

A Creative Cookie

Sane Simplicity

Joyful Homemaking

Country at Heart Recipes

I have nominated 15 blogs (in random order) that I truly enjoy reading on a daily basis.  I hope you will hop on over to their blogs because I know you will find something on each blog you will love too.  I am truly having a wonderful time making new blogging friends and hope you drop by often.  ~Hugs, Michelle ~

Now on to the seven random things about me:

1.  I believe that cooking and baking is a relaxing and stress relieving activity.

2.  I have been married for 22 years to my wonderful husband and have 2 beautiful children living at home, 3 Step-daughters on their own and 3 beautiful grandchildren.

3.  I love to travel.

4.  Red is my absolutely favorite color; just ask all the people at Target who always ask me where things are located even though I've never worked there.

5.  The older I get the more sarcastic I get.

6.  I love my Family and Friends more than anything in the world.

7.  Shhhhh, I am TOTALLY addicted to Pinterest!

Thank you again Tiffany for this wonderful award.  Your new friendship is treasured.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Do you ever have one of those days where you just want to combine some recipes and make new ones?  Well I was getting tired of making the same old cookie recipes so today I did just that.

Reese's Peanut Butter Bars

While on Pinterest (my new favorite way to spend all waking hours) the other day I came across this recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Bars.  Now I ask you, who doesn't love Reese's anything?  I don't know anyone, do you?

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Vanilla Rice Pudding

This is a recipe I have used for years and I find that almost everyone I've ever fed it to loves it.  It is a warm creamy dessert perfect after any meal.  Of course you could eat it for breakfast too.

If you've never had Rice Pudding, you don't know what you're missing.  If your Grandma or Mom used to make it and you forgot all about that, this recipe is for you.  Most people say "I remember that from when I was little, or that tastes just like my Grandma used to make".  A keeper for sure.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Here's what you need:

1 cup rice, I use a medium grain white

3-1/2 cups milk, I use 1% but 2% or whole will be fine

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbs. butter, unsalted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a 3 qt or bigger stock pot pour all the ingredients and stir well to combine.

  

 

 

 

It takes a minute to stir in all the cinnamon, but it will stir in.  Once everything is combined, put a lid on the pot and bring to a boil.  KEEP AN EYE ON IT; IT WILL BOIL OVER WITHOUT ANY NOTICE.

Once it is boiling, give it a good stir and place the lid back on and reduce to low and simmer for 45 minutes. or until it is thick and creamy.  Stirring every 10 minutes or so.  I turned mine to a little above low in the last 10 minutes.

 

Serve warm.   Super yummy!

Serves 4 - 6

Enjoy!

~Hugs~

Michelle

Here's the handy printable - Old Fashioned Cinnamon Vanilla Rice Pudding

Linking up with:

Chic and Crafty Party at The Frugal Girls

Fusion Friday at Jennifer Cooks

Fabulous Friday at My Crowded Kitchen

Totally Tasty Tuesdays at Mandy's Recipe Box

Trick or Treat Tuesday at Inside Bru Crew Life

It's a Hodgepodge Friday #12 at It's a Hodgepodge Life

Catch a Glimpse Party #72 at A Glimpse Inside

Blog Stalking Thursday #33 at The Crafty Blog Stalker

Strut Your Stuff Saturday Party #37 at Six Sisters' Stuff

Anything Goes Linky #42 at The Hungry Hungry Hypo

Sundae Scoop Link Party at I Heart Naptime

Sweet and Simple Sunday #2 at Cups by Kim

Makin' You Crave Monday at Mrs. Happy Homemaker

Pinworthy Projects Linky #3 at Just Us Four

Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale

Tuesday Talent Show #30 at Chef-in-Training

Crazy Sweet Tuesday at Crazy for Crust

Lil Luna Link Party 70 at Lil' Luna

Wow Me Wednesday #44 at Ginger Snap Crafts

Blog Link Party at Somewhat Simple

Sweet Treats Thursday at Something Swanky

BBQ Chicken Calzone

Now that I found a totally easy way to make a Calzone you guys are going to be bombarded with new and tasty recipes.  I love that this recipe only takes a few minutes to throw together and yet it tastes Amazing every time.  Time to stock up on the canned pizza dough or keep some homemade in the fridge so when you get a hankering you too can make a delicious Calzone.

Here's what you need:

1 - 13.8oz can of Pizza Crust (I use Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust, but homemade would work too)

2 cups chicken breast, cooked and diced or shredded

1/2 cup BBQ sauce, any brand is fine (I use Kraft Original)

1-1/2 cups Colby Jack cheese (Pre shredded is fine)

1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

1/4 cup Parmesan, freshly grated

Precook chicken, with your normal seasonings, either in the oven or in a skillet on the stove top until done.  I usually cook up about 8 breasts at the beginning of the week just for these types of recipes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or spray with baking spray and set aside.

In a small bowl mix the chicken and BBQ sauce until completely coated.

 

On a piece of parchment roll the dough out until you have a rectangle about 12" x 16" or smaller if you like thick crust.  Move dough to parchment lined baking sheet (you can use the same piece of parchment if you like) making sure the shortest side of the dough is along the longest side of the baking sheet.

Fill half the dough with the chicken mixture leaving a 1" border around the chicken.

 

Next sprinkle the onions on top of the chicken mixture then the Colby Jack cheese.  

Sprinkle the Parmesan over the Colby Jack and fold the unadorned half over the filled half and match up the edges as best as you can.

  

Using your fingers push the dough up over itself and press down to seal, making a rope like edge.  I start in the upper right corner where the dough is folded in half and work my way around the whole Calzone.

Brush the top with a little Canola oil and make a few slits in the top for air vents.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Mine took 23 minutes.

Enjoy as a lunch, dinner or snack.

Serves 4 - 6

Enjoy!

~Hugs~

Michelle

Here's the handy printable - BBQ Chicken Calzone

Linking up with:

Fusion Friday at Jennifer Cooks

Totally Tasty Tuesday at Mandy's Recipe Box

Tuesday Talent Show #29 at Chef in Training

Mouthwatering Mondays at A Southern Fairytale

Lil' Luna Link Party #69 at Lil' Luna

Buffalo Chicken Calzone

I love Hot Wings!  Do you?  I also love anything with Hot Wing sauce, so when I came across this recipe on Domesticated Duchess Blog (which I love to browse and you should check it out) I knew I just had to make a Buffalo Chicken Calzone.  So get out your baking sheet and go make a Calzone for lunch, dinner, or just to snack on.

Here's what you need:

1 - 13.8 oz. can of Pizza Crust (I use Pillsbury classic pizza crust, I'm sure homemade would work fine too)

2 - Tbs. Ranch Dressing (I use homemade buttermilk ranch)

2 cups chicken breasts cooked and diced 

1-1/2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

1/2 cup Hot Wing sauce (I use Frank's Hot Wing sauce found with condiments in the store)

Precook chicken, with your normal seasonings, either in the oven or in a skillet on the stove until done.  I usually cook up about 8 skinless boneless breasts a week just to keep in the fridge for these types of recipes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment or spray with baking spray, set aside.

In a small bowl mix the chicken and the hot wing sauce until all the chicken is completely coated with sauce.

 

On a piece of parchment, roll out the dough until you have a rectangle about 12" x 16" or smaller if you like thick crust.   Move dough to parchment lined baking sheet (you can use the same piece of parchment if you like).  I turned my dough so that it was the shortest side of dough along the longest side of the pan. (After it was filled of course, the second one I baked I did this first).

 

 Add the ranch dressing to just half the dough along the short side leaving a 1" border around the edge, spreading evenly.

 

Add the chicken mixture over the ranch dressing and keep it in the same space.  Here is the turned picture.

Add the cheese over the top of the chicken, then fold the unadorned half over the filled half and match up the edges as best as you can.

 

Using your fingers push the dough up over itself and press down to seal, making a rope like edge.

I usually start at the top right edge where the dough is folded in half and work my way around the whole Calzone to the upper left edge.  It is way easier than it sounds.

Brush the top with a little Canola oil for browning and make 3 or 4 slits in the top with a serrated knife for air vents.

 

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Mine took about 23 minutes.

 

 NOM, NOM, NOM,  Serve by itself or with a side of Ranch Dressing.

Serves 4 - 6

Enjoy!

~Hugs~

Michelle

Here's the handy printable Buffalo Chicken Calzone

Linking up with:

Fusion Friday at Jennifer Cooks

Totally Tasty Tuesday at Mandy's Recipe Box

Tuesday Talent Show #29 at Chef in Training
Trick or Treat Tuesday at Inside Bru Crew Life

Fabulous Friday # 9 at My Crowded Kitchen
Mix it up Monday at Flour Me With Love
Lil' Luna Link Party #69 at Lil' Luna
Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
Chic and Crafty at The Frugal Girls

Chocolate Caramel Toffee Bars

I have found my new Go-to dessert for any function I need to bring a dish for.  This is the most wonderful creamy caramel, chocolate chip bar I've ever eaten.  I've adapted the recipe from Grateful Belly blog which is a wonderful site you should check out.  Go make these right now and let me know what you think.  I personally think they are AWESOME!