Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

 

Hello friends! I hope you had a great weekend. Today I have a new recipe and fun giveaway to share with you guys. A couple years ago I shared my Mini Lemon Cheesecakes and they have been a big hit! Mini cheesecakes are my go-to when I need an easy dessert recipe and they’re the perfect bite size treats. I thought I would try out a few new combinations, like these Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes. I’m also partnering with some blogger friends to give one lucky reader a KitchenAid mixer!

If you remember my Mini Lemon Cheesecakes, you know how much I raved about my cheesecake pan. The mini cheesecake pan is a staple in my kitchen. It’s easy to use and the cheesecakes pop right out. Simply press the graham cracker mixture to the bottom, fill with batter, bake and let cool before pressing on the bottom plate. The pan is almost like a mini version of a spring form pan. The plates in each cavity come out so you can easily press the mini cheesecake out. The pan makes 12 cheesecakes; if you’re planning a big party you may want to grab two! This recipe makes about 16 mini cheesecakes but can easily be doubled.

Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

Ingredients

• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup miniature chocolate chips
• For the crust:
• 1 cup crushed graham crackers
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• For the whipped cream:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

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Rocky Road S’mores Bark

 

It’s almost summertime! Do you know what that means? S’mores are back in season! I say that as if it’s a produce, but let’s be honest S’mores basically become a food group in our household over the summer. We love having friends over to swim and BBQ, then of course make s’mores over the fire pit in the evenings. A few years ago I talked about a S’mores bark that we like but I’m going to be honest, it’s messy. So I switched up a few things and started making this Rocky Road S’mores Bark and it’s become a family favorite! The candy bark is made with a layer of graham crackers, melted chocolate, toasted marshmallows, nuts and miniature Hershey’s candy bars.


To make the bark I use a 9×13 inch sheet pan covered in parchment paper. This helps remove the bark easily once it’s set. Use a package of graham crackers broken into squares (half) to cover the pan. Melt your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or use the double boiler method. I like to use dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, but milk chocolate works great too! Spread the melted chocolate over the graham crackers using a spatula. While the chocolate is melted, add miniature marshmallows, Hershey’s and nuts. I used walnuts but you could leave these out if there’s a food allergy in the home.
 

Pop the bark into the fridge for a few minutes to let the chocolate set. Remove from fridge and use a kitchen torch to toast the marshmallows. Once the chocolate is set (if any melted while using the torch), cut bark into pieces and enjoy.

Rocky Road S’mores Bark – layers of graham crackers, chocolate, toasted marshmallows and walnuts make this delicious treat an easy recipe for parties

Ingredients

• 12 ounces chocolate chips
• 1 package graham crackers
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• ¼ cup walnuts
• 5 fun size Hershey’s bars

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Thin Mint Freakshake

Thin Mint Milkshake – here’s a fun take on a Thin Mint freaskshake! A classic cookies n’ cream milkshake filled in a chocolate and Thin Mint Covered glass, topped with whipped cream and crushed cookie pieces.

Girl Scout cookie time is coming to an end and I’m a little bummed. Have you enjoyed a box or two? I’m curious to hear what your favorites are. My oldest son is the only one of my kids who likes mint desserts, so he lucks out with a Thin Mint box to enjoy (almost) by himself. I say almost because while I’m usually busy eating Caramel DeLites, I do sneak in a few frozen Thin Mints. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out. There’s something about cold Thin Mints that makes the flavor so much better. So with that in mind I came up with this Extreme Thin Mint Milkshake, or also commonly known as freashakes.Have you seen pictures of freakshakes on Instagram? A lot of the bigger cities have restaurants that make them. It’s basically a milkshake gone crazy. The cups are covered in chocolate or frosting and treats then toppings are stacked on top of the milkshake, usually donuts, cookies or cake. It’s a little crazy but they’re really fun. I would consider this a toned down freakshake. The glass is covered with chocolate on the inside and the rim, then covered with Thin Mint cookies. The milkshake is then topped with whipped cream, crushed Thin Mint cookie pieces and of course another cookie just for fun.
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Thin Mint Freakshake

Ingredients

• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1 – 1½ cups milk
• Thin Mint Cookies
• ¼ cup chocolate, melted
• whipped cream

3.5.3226

Thin Mint Freakshake

More recipes to try:

Thin Mint Popcorn

Samoas Ice Cream Cupcakes

30+ Girl Scout Cookie Recipes

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Beauty and the Beast Cookies

Beauty and the Beast Cookies – chocolate covered OREO cookies topped with a rose, perfect for a Beauty and the Beast party!Happy Friday! Do you know what comes out in one month? Beauty and the Beast! It has always been my favorite Disney movie so I’m really excited for the remake. My daughter and I have tickets for opening day and the anticipation is starting to kick in. Stores are starting to display toys and books, which is definitely getting our excitement up. My daughter is thinking about having a Beauty and the Beast party this year so I’ve been thinking of party food and crafts to make. I thought I would share with you some ideas over the next few weeks in case your little one is as excited about the movie as we are. Today I’m sharing Beauty and the Beast Cookies that are perfect for parties, movie nights and tea party play dates.

I’ve added Amazon affiliate links to the products I used below.

 Step one: melt red candy wafers (you only need a few, maybe a tablespoon or two melted). Melt in microwave, mixing every 20 seconds. Use a piping bag to carefully fill the rose detail. Place in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool chocolate.

Step two: melt the green candy melts and use a piping bag to fill in the stem and leaves. Place back into the refrigerator to harden.

Step three: 1 cup of yellow candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Stir every 30 seconds. Spoon or pipe chocolate into the mold ¾ of the way. Place OREO thin cookie in center and cover with yellow chocolate until you can no longer see the cookie. Allow chocolate to set before removing from mold.

Beauty and the Beast Cookies

Beauty and the Beast Cookies

Beauty and the Beast Cookies – chocolate covered OREO cookies topped with a rose, perfect for a Beauty and the Beast party!

Ingredients

• 1 cup yellow melting wafers
• 2 tablespoons red melting wafers
• 2 tablespoons green melting wafers
• OREO thins

3.5.3226

More Disney ideas:

Belle Inspired Pumpkin

Mickey Rice Krispies Treats

Disney Countdown

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Mickey Rice Krispies Treats

Mickey Rice Krispies Treats – bring a little piece of Disneyland to your home with these Mickey shaped Rice Krispies treats dipped in chocolate and topped with mini M&M’s.Do you ever come across a treat and think to yourself, why haven’t I made this at home? That’s how I feel about the Mickey Rice Krispies Treats at Disneyland. I have one every time I visit the park! It’s one of those classic treats that are so easy to make that you’re wondering why you wait until your next visit to have one. During our last trip to Disneyland I picked up a Mickey cookie cutter and decided to give them a try at home. Let’s just say, these are officially my favorite easy treat to make with the kids. The combination of a Rice Krispies treat, chocolate and M&M’s is perfect! Today I’m sharing how you can make this easy treat at home.

I’ve included Amazon affiliate links below

Mickey Rice Krispies Treats

Mickey Rice Krispies Treats – Disneyland inspired Mickey shaped Rice Krispies treats dipped in chocolate and topped with mini M&M’s.

Ingredients

• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 package chocolate wafers
• 1 cup mini M&M’s

3.5.3226

Mickey Rice Krispies Treats

Step one: make classic Rice Krispies treats recipe and spread into an even layer in a 9×13 pan.

Step two: use a Mickey shaped cookie cutter to cut about 6 Rice Krispies treats (depending on the size of your cookie cutter).Step three: dip the top of each treat into melted chocolate and immediately top with mini M&M’s. Allow chocolate to set.Step four: Melt ¼ cup of chocolate to drizzle over the top of the treats. Let chocolate set and enjoy!More Disney ideas:

Finding Dory Party

Disney Countdown

Chocolate & Caramel Marshmallows

Little Mermaid Party

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Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili Recipe

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Lipton.

Slow cooker sweet potato and black bean chili is a creative twist on traditional chili recipe that’s a filling meal with sweet potatoes, black beans and a hint of cinnamon.

We only get about 3 months of cold weather here in Vegas.  I love hot weather, but I miss eating soup and chili when the weather heats up. So I take full advantage of the cool months to make lots of dinners in a bowl.   Chili is one of our family’s favorite meals. Of course, after the 4th or 5th batch of chili, we are all ready for a change.

So I decided to take a little inspiration from Food Network and Lipton’s Bright Bites and add a creative twist to my standard chili recipe.

 

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

I started with the standard ground beef, onions, garlic and tomatoes. But to add a little something different, I chopped up sweet potatoes to add to the pot. Sweet potatoes and black beans are often found in recipes together. So I also swapped out my usual pinto and kidney beans for black beans.

I really wanted to play up the sweetness of the sweet potatoes to make the chili a combination of sweet and spicy. I added bell peppers and corn, which I don’t normally use in chili, to help add to the sweetness.  I stuck with both diced tomatoes and tomato sauce to make the chili’s sauce.

When it came to the spices, I added cinnamon and upped the amount of cumin. The cumin adds a smoky flavor that pairs well with the cinnamon. I kept the amount of chili powder the same but added in a little cayenne and red pepper flakes for just a touch of heat.

I threw it all in a slow cooker so I could let it simmer while we were off enjoying an afternoon together as a family. The sweet potatoes need a little time to soften and cook. The batch was ready to go in about 4 hours on high.

 

While it may be chilly outside, we drink flavored iced tea all year long.  Lipton Tea Lemon flavored iced tea is the perfect beverage to go alongside a big bowl of sweet but slightly spicy sweet potato and black bean chili.  This chili isn’t hot, but it still has a bit of kick and Lipton has a ton of flavors that would pair well with it.

Lipton has teamed up with the Food Network for Bright Bites to put creative twists on winter meals and re-imagine meals, moments and recipes! Make sure to click over to check out the super unique and fun recipes and ideas to add a little twist to your meals!

 

 

 

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned
• 1 lb sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1″ cubes
• 1 15 oz can of black beans
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 8 oz can corn
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Dash of cayenne to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 2370kcal Calories from fat 897
% Daily Value
Total Fat 100g	154%
Saturated Fat 36g	180%
Transfat 5g
Cholesterol 322mg	107%
Sodium 3853mg	161%
Carbohydrate 256g	85%
Dietary Fiber 70g	280%
Sugars 57g
Protein 128g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Lipton. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Quick and Easy Lasagna Recipe with Frozen Meatballs

Love lasagna but not all the work of making it? Check out this quick and easy lasagna recipe using no cook noodles, a jar of Bertolli’s newest pasta sauce, and frozen meatballs for quick and easy dinner.

One of my favorite comfort foods is lasagna, but I hate making it. Cooking the meat, boiling the noodles, and then layering it all together is just too much for a weeknight meal. I took a peek around my pantry trying to figure out how I could make a quick and easy lasagna and I think I found the trick.

I happened to have a half box of no cook lasagna noodles and half a bag of frozen meatballs hanging around my kitchen.  So if I used no cook noodles, and threw in frozen meatballs in place of ground beef, could I actually get a lasagna ready for dinner in just 30 minutes?

To make things quick and easy, I used a jar of Bertolli’s new Riserva sauce.  I picked the Marinara with Parmigiano-Reggiano flavor.  Bertolli’s Riserva sauce comes in some delicious sounding flavors like Porcini Mushroom with Truffle oil.  Make sure to go get a coupon for $1.50 off one of the new Riserva flavors!

The one other layer of lasagna is the cheese and I hate to admit it, but I hate ricotta in lasagna. It’s just awful. I think the trick to a really delicious lasagna is to use cottage cheese instead of ricotta. But if you insist on ricotta, then by all means use that instead.  The cheese layer was the only prep work I had to do before putting the lasagna together.

Start with a little sauce on the bottom of the pan. Top with two noodles, cheese, and then a layer of meatballs. I did not thaw the meatballs. I threw them in frozen.

Top with more sauce, more pasta, the rest of the cheese, and meatballs.

Top the meatballs again with more sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.  While this lasagna recipe may be quick and easy, it’s also very deep.  The meatballs really give it some height.  So just be careful when layering and you’ll need less layers to get a nice thick lasagna recipe.

Cover the dish and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned.  Let the lasagna stand for a good 15-20 minutes before serving.

Seriously – I couldn’t believe how easy this was to make.  The meatballs were completely thawed and hot throughout. The Riserva sauce was amazing! I can’t wait to try Asiago Cheese and Artichoke or Balsamic Vinegar and Caramelized Onions next time.

Just stash a bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer and no cook lasagna noodles and a jar of Bertoli Riserva sauce in the pantry and you can have lasagna anytime.

Quick and Easy Lasagna Recipe with Frozen Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 jar Bertolli Riserva Sauce in your choice of flavor
• 32 frozen meatballs
• 4 No Cook Lasagna Noodles
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 8091kcal Calories from fat 5489
% Daily Value
Total Fat 610g	938%
Saturated Fat 245g	1225%
Transfat 32g
Cholesterol 2169mg	723%
Sodium 4209mg	175%
Carbohydrate 63g	21%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Sugars 10g
Protein 549g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g

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Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Make your own Cajun seasoning with just a few spices that are already in your spice cabinet!

 

A few weeks ago I made Shrimp Etouffee for the first time and it has quickly become a favorite dinner.   One of the ingredients in the etouffee recipe is Cajun seasoning. Of course you can buy Cajun seasoning, but I prefer to make my own seasonings whenever I can – like my homemade taco seasoning and Italian salad dressing mix.  I like to be able to control the amount of salt in the seasoning and in this case, the amount of heat.

Homemade seasoning mixes are easy to make.  I generally make a large amount and then store the mixes in a Tupperware spice shaker to keep them fresh longer.  The Cajun seasoning mix is good for about 3 months, but will last longer in a Tupperware shaker.

This Cajun seasoning recipe is actually from my friend, Suzy.  Suzy’s quite the cook but alas she doesn’t have a blog for me to send you to.  She actually won a Taste of Home cooking competition a few years ago!

The recipe calls for 2 Tablespoons of cayenne pepper but you can add more or less to make it spicier or less spicy.  I also ran out of thyme a few months ago and keep forgetting to buy more so this last batch didn’t have any thyme and it tastes fine.  That’s what I love about homemade spice mixes – you can customize them to your own tastes based on what you have on hand.

 

If you like to make homemade seasonings check out my homemade taco seasoning recipe!

You can also make your own Italian salad dressing mix!

Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 137kcal Calories from fat 20
% Daily Value
Total Fat 2g	3%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Sodium 102mg	4%
Carbohydrate 30g	10%
Dietary Fiber 9g	36%
Sugars 2g
Protein 6g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g

 

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