waffle maker cinnamon rolls

man. i have really been trying to eat good. really.


i found this waffled cinnamon rolls recipe while blog hopping and couldn't wait to try it.
i mean, dontcha just bow down to this mom?


i will try anything to save time in the morning with 3 kids rushing to greet the bus by 6:45am and one bleary eyed mom i really am game for all the tips that help make my morning routine easier.
this definitely deserves a  5 second hug from mama to mama so i am sending it virtually and i sure hope she can feel it. heck, you're all getting one too-just coz. feel it? good. okay, so.....


i gave my belgium waffle maker away.
do not make the same mistake.
it was a novelty item for us that i used a few times then went back to eggo's-why?
time of course! only martha stewart has it so some of us gotta get real up in here!
i do however have a panini press which i thought can't be too different.
it worked.
it was awesome.
i, uh, ahem, i mean, they ate them right up!


i dug up the old panini press

you just buy regular old (well don't actually buy old one's-gross) pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the tube and lay them on the griddle. be sure to grease the griddle and although the cinnamon roll baking directions say 400 degrees i put my panini press on 300 degrees.

you can lift the top griddle up on the hinge side of the panini press so the rolls don't flatten on one side. i kept the press down for approx. 3 minutes.

take off press and frost.

best 3 minute breakfast eva'!! yeah!!! lick your fingers!

date night pb muffins with chocolate chips

friday is my day. friday night...not so much. i kinda fall apart somewhere between 7pm and 8pm. like, put a fork in me coz she's done!

it became pretty apparent somewhere around 6pm that it was gonna just be me and the littlest little for the night. the biggest little was on a date with her bf, the middle little was at six flags and shane was brawlin with his sinuses. 

we decided to go on a lady date. it was a perfect mix of what she wanted to do and what i wanted to do.

we started with a bike ride (my choice)

then discussed where to go to dinner. decided on johnny rockets (her choice) where we sat up at the bar coz we weren't rollin our normal 5 deep. it was just us two girls. so we did. we sat up at the old fashioned bar and swiveled our way through dinner talking about school and summer and hair and of course, boys!

we chose a few songs from the 1950's on the table top juke box but then maile decided last minute that the machine might eat her nickels so she allowed everyone else in the restaurant to gamble with that right there.

after dinner we went to michael's, (our choice) where we put all kinds of little things into the cart that of course I will use (eventually) but probably don't actually need.

we got home (before dark coz we are crazy like that) where mini peanut butter muffins with chocolate chips were baked (my choice) and green smoothies were mixed (her choice) then we listen to music and took fun computer pics.

it was a good date, i will probably ask for a second one....i got her number.

peanut butter muffins with mini chocolate chips

1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder ( this seems like a lot-i think it can be cut some)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup 2% milk (i used nonfat)
2/3 cup of chunky peanut butter (we are a smooth family)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips


in a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients and set aside.

in another bowl whisk the egg, milk, peanut butter, oil and vanilla.

stir in the dry ingredients then fold in the mini chips.

fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full and bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes.

i defy you not to love these.

key lime mini tarts

i always make these around easter but am running a little later this year.
they are also great for summer and are the perfect two-bite treat.

this time i also made lemon which we all thought were pretty great but nothin beats the key lime in my house....so far.

you can make your own pastry but to save time i usually buy pre-made pie dough and just roll it out. i use a round cutter just a bit larger than the mini muffin tin.

bake following the pie dough instructions but cut the time down and watch them. poke holes in the bottoms so they don't puff up too much while baking.

make your curd filling:

1/2 cup sugar 

1/2 cup bottled key lime juice  

5 large egg yolks 

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

combine first 3 ingredients in a medium, heavy saucepan. cook over medium heat 7 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly with a whisk. remove from heat. add butter; stir with a whisk until butter melts. place pan in a large ice-filled bowl for 20 minutes or until lime curd comes to room temperature, stirring occasionally. cover and chill.

you can make this ahead of time if you wish OR if you choose to make life easier on yourself you can go buy a jar of curd. i won't judge.

make your filling:

1 pkg. cream cheese (softened)

1 cup yogurt

3 tbsps. powdered sugar

 

mix in 1/2 cup of curd to cream cheese filling. because i made lemon and key lime i split the cream cheese filling mixture in half then added 1/4 cup of each curd flavor.

spoon into cooled mini tarts. top with whipped cream and a lime/lemon wedge.

consume quickly because if you blink-my kids will eat them.