Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwiches

It has been beeeaaaaautiful this weekend.

The kids and I have been on long walks, playing at the park, at play dates, baking cookies and heading to bed early.  I love exhausting my kids during the day, so that they basically collapse in bed around 7:30 p.m.  Is that bad?

Because this mama likes her downtime in the evening.  I often wonder about those parents that don't have bedtimes for their kids, or their kids are hard to put to bed, and here comes 9 p.m. and their kids are still up.  Ugh....doesn't sounds like fun to me.

Okay.  Anyway.  This buffalo version of chicken salad.  I figured I've made everything else into a buffalo version, I might as well tackle chicken salad too.

Want my other buffalo meals?  Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls, Loaded Buffalo Chicken & Potato Skins Casserole, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Boneless Buffalo Wings, Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Soup, Inside Out Buffalo Wings, Buffalo Wing Wonton Bites, Bacon Buffalo Mac and Cheese {this one was a finalist in a cooking contest last year!}

Holy crap.  I didn't realize I had that many until I looked all of them up.  Sorry, obviously I have issues.

There is this cute, fun, hip, little coffee shop, deli and bakery {yes, they are ALL those adjectives} a few blocks from where I work - it was the first time I ever had a buffalo chicken salad sandwich.  They make their own homemade bread and it was fantastic.  I didn't, but you get the picture.

This stuff will stay good in the fridge for close to a week - so your lunches will be planned for at least a few days!

Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwiches

{Print this Recipe!}

3 c. shredded, cooked chicken

1/2 of an avocado, mashed

1/3 c. mayo

1/4 c. ranch dressing

1/2 c. buffalo wing sauce

1/4 c. pickle juice

salt

pepper

Combine all ingredients with the shredded chicken and serve immediately, or place in the fridge.  Will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.  Eat on croissants, bread or hoagie buns.

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Okay, I'm out - it's Sunday!

Go enjoy your family, your friends or just do something for yourself today....ok?

Four Generations

Last Sunday we met my parents, Grandma and some other relatives for lunch on Mother's Day.  We almost walked out of the restaurant without taking this shot.

Can you believe it never occurred to us to take a four generation photo?  I'm glad I had my camera and made everyone get together right before we left.  The guys even got together for a "guy" photo, but I won't show you that one, you can pretty much tell they were miserable just having their photo taken.

Afterwards we visited some friends who happen to live right next to the restaurant we were at - many hours later we were back on the road!

The little man is such a stud.  Just check out his sunglasses and him crossing his leg like he's 45.  Love it.

While browsing around today, I happened to come across two recipes for homemade doughnuts.  So of course that meant I had to make some too.

Stay tuned.  These are either going to be really, really good or utterly horrible.  I'm hoping not the latter.  Do you eat doughnuts?  At least in your dreams?  I hope so.

Being a food blogger brings many opportunities.  Some good, some bad.  Its actually quite comical opening up my inbox sometimes.  I'll get random inquiries from kooks from around the country.  Many I ignore {sorry, but some of them aren't even worth developing a relationship with}, but many I listen to and reply back to.

In a couple of weeks I'll be working with Del Monte.  Developing a few recipes with some of their product.  Oh, and giving my readers some of their product too, did I forget to mention that?

Okay, tomorrow I'm spending ALL day in my friend's kitchen.  I think I've mentioned this but she is about 56 weeks pregnant with twins.  Like ready to pop any day.  Any minute.  So I am going over to her house, turning my kids loose to play with her daughter and making a zillion meals to stock her freezer.

Everything from soup, to marinated meat for the grill this summer, to breakfast burritos and loaves of banana bread.  I'm going to make sure her and her babies aren't hungry!

I'm doing this for my sister in a couple of weeks as well - she has a full-time job, two teenagers and a ridiciously crazy schedule with no time to cook or meal plan.

Maybe I should turn this into a little side business:)

Basil Pesto BLT Sandwiches

What a monster sandwich!

And so, so, so good.  But I do have a confession.  I've really only come to like bacon in the past 5 years.  I used to tolerate it, but often let it lie on my plate untouched.  What was wrong with me?

Somewhere along the way the indifference to bacon became love.  I'm not sure where my head was back in the day, but I'm happy to report it's back on track.

When I'm not making my own BLT's at home, I'm ordering one at Jimmy John's {the second best place for a BLT}.  And there I put their guacamole on it - genius!  I didn't do that here, but I have before.  

Here I put pesto on it.  And cheese.  And melted the cheese.

It's mind-blowing.

You're probably thinking how did she eat this whole thing?  Well, I didn't.  I ate half, wrapped up the other half and the husband ate the rest when he got home.

At a graduation party this past weekend, one of my husband's cousins said "I can't even look at your blog because I want to eat it all!"

Well, yeah, that is kinda the point of a food blog - to drool and dream.  So I hope she keeps looking at it.  I hope others don't stop looking because they think they'll gain weight just by reading.

Now I'm thinking into this too much.

Let's just eat this sandwich.

Basil Pesto BLT Sandwiches
{Print this Recipe!}
4 large kaiser or sub rolls
8 strips of bacon, cooked
8 slices of tomato
mayo
basil pesto {store bought or homemade}
mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and cut the rolls in half.  Spread one half with mayo and pesto.  Lay slices of cheese on the other half.  Keep open-faced and toast until golden and cheese is melted.

Remove from the oven and top with bacon and tomato.  Slice in half and eat!

The only thing I want more right now than air conditioning {it hit 90 today, but I refuse to turn on the air yet} is this sandwich.

It will DEFINITELY be put on our summer dinner rotation.

Silver Dollar Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

I hope all the Mother's out there had a wonderful day yesterday.  We had a FULL weekend.  The husband usually works every stinking weekend, so of course the first weekend he has off in ages, we cram about 4,000 things into it.

We finally tucked the kids in bed last night at 9 p.m. {way past their bedtime} so I'm just bracing for a nightmare day later today as they'll be recovering.  I'm not sure about your kids but ours are kept on a pretty tight schedule, so when busy, busy days are thrown into the mix, we all seem, well....a little off the next day.

Which usually includes tantrums and timeouts.

But, pancakes always cheer the kiddos up.  {And the adults}.  I used my basic Paula Deen version pancake, but switched up the ingredients a bit.  We always have unsweetened applesauce in our fridge and we love cinnamon on most anything - so why not merry the two together, right?

Then I made them silver dollar size, as the kids love that, plus it looks like we make a ton!  They are easy to keep in the fridge until the next breakfast, or freeze if you know they won't be eaten up right away.

Also, great slathered with peanut butter.

Just sayin'.

Did you know that when the husband is around during pancake making, he likes to take the reins for a round or two to make gooey-doughy pancakes?

I usually sit on the sidelines gagging.

He'll let them cook fully on one side, but when he flips the pancake, I swear he only lets it cook about a nano-second, before he flips it onto his plate.  He loves to eat them all doughy.

I'm not sure if this is even safe?

Cook these however you like.  Fully-cooked {like me} or still doughy {like the husband}.  I honestly hope you do not pick the latter.

Silver Dollar Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

{Print this Recipe!}

3/4 c. unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 c. sugar

2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 3/4 c. buttermilk

2 c. flour

In a large mixing bowl combine applesauce, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk.  Sift together all remaining dry ingredients and combine with the wet ingredients.  Fold gently to combine.

In a hot skillet, melt some butter and spoon a small doll-up of batter into the pan, cooking on one side until bubbles form and pop.  Flip and continue cooking for 30 seconds or until bottom is also golden brown.

Serve with desired toppings.

I'm so mad we ate up all these pancakes in less than two days.  The Little Miss was downing about 5 each sitting and then still asking for more.  I made her stop, only for the fear that she might explode.

What is one food your kids cannot get enough of?

Hot Spinach Queso Dip

So a few days ago I made a quick run to the grocery store.  I had a list of about five items, but more importantly I was taking back cans to get a bottle refund.

I know many states don't have this, but in Iowa, if you return your soda or alcohol cans and bottles, you get back the 5 cent refund you paid upfront on the tax.  So if you have a good hefty load to take back {like I did on this day}, you often get a nice chunk of change back as well to put towards your grocery bill.

So on this day I was carrying WAY too many cans.  You know, like when you have about eight grocery bags and try and carry them all in one trip from the car, instead of two loads?  Well, this was my day, but just with cans.

I was struggling to the door, praying I wouldn't drop a box and send them clattering to the cement, when thankfully I saw a man coming out of the door.  Thank god, I thought, he'll open the door for me, as God knows I don't have a hand free to do it.

He sees me.  I look up and smile with a pleading smile - please hold that door!  He walks through the door, then sees my full hands and turns back to the door - yes, he is going to open it for me!

But wait.  He turns and then looks back at the door, studies it and starts walking toward me instead.  Hmmpfh.

He then says, "Oh, it's a push door, not a pull one, I think you can get it."  And walks away.

I stood there with my jaw hitting the pavement.  I wanted to take all those cans and start beating him.  Thanks buddy, I'll just stand here and struggle.

Where has politeness gone?

And I live in small town U.S.A., not the city, this isn't supposed to happen.

So what does this story have to do with this dip?  Nothing.  I just wanted to tell you a story.  This dip however, is fabulous, much unlike that man {if you want to call him that}.

This hot dip can be the new replacement for all those other hots dips you take to potlucks, gatherings and parties.  

Here we go....

Hot Spinach Queso Dip

{Print this Recipe!}

8 oz. frozen spinach

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. Velveeta

1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and chiles

1 T. garlic powder

dash of hot sauce {optional}

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and allow to melt.  Serve warm, keep on low and serve with tortilla chips or crusty bread.

And please don't give me grief for using processed cheese.  We rarely eat it at our house and the only time I use it is in cheesy dips.  What can I say.....Velveeta just melts well.

I did see a recipe on Pinterest for homemade Velveeta cheese.  Maybe I should try that?

Are you a fan of hot cheesy dips?

P.S.  I did get that door open, it just wasn't pretty.

Wednesday What-Have-You's

I promised last week that I'd check in every once in awhile with just a "fun" post.  One that doesn't revolve around a recipe.  One where you get to know a little bit more about me - what I love, hate, enjoy, etc.

So here we go again!

I don't "do" flowers.  Unless they are delivered to my door in pretty cellophane or come up annually without any maintenance.  These tulips coming up in our yard are ones I like.  I don't have to do anything but turn the corner around our yard and admire them.

Perfect.

Last night it was just the Little Miss and I at home.  That usually means I get a tad more creative in the kitchen, as it is less bodies in our kitchen.

So we ate dip for dinner.  Call me mother-of-the-year.  But hey, I had been wanting to try out this new recipe and it was the perfect chance to try it out without two extra bodies to feed.  We loved it.  {Recipe to come!}

Katie, over at Yes, I Want Cake wrote a beautiful post today about her 2 year old daughter.  I relate a lot to her, as our daughter's are the same age and we both LOVE food.  

She does a great job of spending quality time with her little one and I think this above quote is one that would come out of her mouth and maybe is one we should all read a few times {and then maybe a few more times}.

Can someone give me this bucket of fun please?  I promise I'd sit on my back deck, not utter a word and leave you alone.

It's almost summer {well, kinda} and I'm looking forward to some lazy summer days.  My girlfriends and I held a garage sale last week - so I plan on treating myself with some of that extra cash and getting a pedicure.  If you know me, you know I rarely, if ever, spend money on myself.....like ever.  So even, making an appointment to go get my feet pretty is a bit out of my comfort zone, but honestly I think I deserve it.

A year ago today, I was featuring this Spicy Charred Broccoli on my blog.  See my foot in the bottom right corner?  Geesh.  If you need a change up in your vegetable routine, you've got to pour this sauce on your vegetables.  It's so good.

In fact, I might even challenge you to a "drink off" of this sauce.  

Forget that.  Never mind.

Yep.

This is so true.

I have one too many girlfriends that this saying applies too.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Stay tuned for:

• Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
• Hot Spinach Queso Dip

Classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I put a picture of these cookies on my facebook page a few days back and the response was overwhelming. Apparently, everyone is a fan of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

I promised I'd share this recipe.  A recipe that has literally been 10 years in the making.  I've been tinkering with trying to find that "perfect" cookie recipe and I think I've finally nailed it.  I literally make a batch of cookies every other week {seriously}, it's a bit obsessive.....so I hope you believe me that I have a bit of experience with cookies.

Thank god, I take most of these cookies out of our house.

Other than these cookies, two wild children, a husband, a golden retriever, a part-time job and well, a life......I also held a garage sale over the weekend with a girlfriend.  The weather on the first day was HORRIFIC, but people still came out!

It was a success and I got to spend some time sans kiddos and just hang out.  As many moms out there know, that is sometimes the best gift we can get.  Just time away....

And next weekend is Mother's Day - maybe more time for me?

Classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
{Print this Recipe!}
2 sticks softened unsalted butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 T. vanilla
3 1/2 c. flour
2 c. oatmeal
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 10 oz. baking semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a stand-up mixer or large bowl combine butter and sugars, beating well until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until combined.  Add in flour, salt, baking soda and oatmeal mixing to combine.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Cover and place this dough in the fridge for at least one hour or up to overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet or simply spray with cooking spray.  Using a large cookie scoop, scoop out a good amount of dough, roll and press down a bit to flatten.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly golden. 

Okay, I'm going to admit something else.

I hate taking photos for my blog.  I actually dread it.  It is the least favorite part of my food blog.  Maybe because I need a new camera?  A nice one with a lens?

Maybe because there is always pressure to make the food look nice?  As I'm usually dogging a kid, a dog hair, a bag of crap in the background that the viewers never see?

There.  I said it.  I hate taking pictures for my blog.

Doesn't quite make sense does it?  Any advice for me?

I probably just need to get over it.