Are you Hooked on Tuesday?

  Today on the 30th of January I decided to take advantage of 3 deals.  Now for you I can at least maybe promise 2.  I went out for dinner and dining out is an expense but, if you do it right it doesn't have to break the bank (nor should it).  Welcome to my experience at Bonefish grill.

  I received several birthday treat's via local places and although you don't necessarily get to use all of them; some you definitely take advantage of right out the gate.

  I have enjoyed using a reward here and there throughout the month.  Some treats expire on your birthday, start on your birthday or others are available till the end of the month. Bonefish Grill gives you the month to use your freebie.

  Bonefish Grill offers you their delicious specialty Bang Bang Shrimp or a dessert for your birthday.  If you have ever been to this restaurant you know if your going to eat the birthday reward your going to also enjoy dinner.  There's no way I'm showing up for just that and not a delicious dinner too!

So deal number one!  I hope for your sake today was not the last day because if it is..... I am sorry!

  Hooked on Tuesday was today. I strategically planned to save money and dine out.  The deal gets you a 3 course meal starting at 15.9.  This includes a salad, entree and dessert!

Behold your options:

a house salad
a Caesar salad

Second course for us:


Cod Piccata


Chicken Teriyaki bowl

Final and most important course:
Keylime pie


Jamaican Coconut pie

  Second deal is to sign up for their loyalty program.  On the 4th visit you receive 50% off! Today I did not strike that deal but next trip I will.  Dinners on me! Who wants to come?  Their dining program also includes Carrabba's, Outback and Flamingos. So if you visit any of these places it counts every visit.

 Lastly, your third deal is sign up for that email!  You will get nothing but money saving offers. You will get the special menu notices, as well as a heads up on daily or weekly specials, and a birthday freebie!

  Now what are you waiting for?  Even if you don't have a Bonefish Grill near you, perhaps you have one of the other places instead.  I would start taking advantage of the deals they have to offer.  Even if you only go out a few times a year I'm sure it's at least right around 4 times. That's 50% off!

  I hope I have peeked your appetite.  I had a great dinner and even though it's not quite the last day of the month.  It's close enough to say goodbye birthday month it's been real.

 Disclosure...... I received nothing from Bonefish Grill for this post.  I had a great time and I am just sharing my honest opinion.

Arctic Frozen Dessert Review Part 1

   I received a box of frozen goodness outside my door.  I must admit the first delivery was not successful but then I received a replacement box! This frozen dessert was a nice sight in a week of temperatures in the high 90's.

  I the packaging was very sweet to include a handwritten note! A catalog of other flavors and the bow was a nice touch over the cooler.

  In the box were 3 pints of various frozen desserts, a cute heart shaped bowl and a box of cake batter pops!

Let's talk about the flavors!

  Rocky Road Trip first off was this gorgeous chocolate flavor with chunks of almonds and marshmallows.  Sadly this one was not my favorite.  I dug into it first anticipating chocolate and didn't taste it as much as I wanted.  Aside from that it was hearty and full of chunks. There were bits in every spoonful.

  Peanut Butter swirl was a combination of peanut butter and white chips swirled in vanilla.  I enjoyed this one and although I would have liked more swirl; the flavor was there.  You could  visible see tell peanut butter and chips so again you were getting spoonfuls but this one was more appetizing to me.

  I finish with Cherry Chocolate Chunk. Another chunk dessert.  Similar to the first flavor with big pieces mixed in.  I liked this flavor the best.  The cherry flavor combined with burst of chocolate was delicious.  Even if you managed to get a scoop without the chocolate it was still good.

  What I love about Arctic Zero frozen desserts is there is a whole variety of flavors as well as the healthier choice aspect.  These desserts are not only gmo free, gluten free, lactose free and but have between 75-80 calories.  So after a hard work out or a week of eating right this makes the best treat!

Part 2 my review of the Cake Batter pops to follow shortly.  

  I received this awesome box complimentary for my tasting and review pleasure.  All opinions are my own.

Ice Krispies

  I want to share with you the best ice cream treat that will not melt.  It's still summer and there are a few hot days sprinkled throughout the week so take advantage of this tasty treat to cool off.

I'll take a chocolate cone please!

A few ingredients

and some creative construction and I have now learned will earn me points with my kids as well as a pretty cute end result.

  Melt your marshmallows down

and prepare the krispie treats as usual.

  I scooped out the tops with an ice cream cone scooper and added the side on by hand to give it an all around "perfect" scoop.

  I added some chocolate topping to the cone.  Melt chocolate chips and dip the cone (carefully) or drizzle/spoon chocolate evenly on the krispies top.

  Top your cone off however you please we went with sprinkles and a cherry on top!

  This is one of the cutest snacks I have made and I will make it again in the future.  I can't wait to change up the flavors maybe strawberry or mint chocolate chip next time.

  This was one of my Pinterest wins.  You can find that and other wins under that board title on Pinterest.

#pinterest
#pinterestwin

Chocolate Cookies

  Believe it or not some weeks I do not make anything.  Tonight I made cookies because there I was minding my own business when a plate full of cookies gets my attention on Facebook.  A quick glimpse over the recipe and it's on.

  These cookies boasted of a chocolate flavor and there is no doubt about it when you see them and when you smell them fresh out the oven!

  They were easy to make adding that the teen made these.  The longest process was letting them chill prior to cooking. Ooh the torture.

  However after an hour of that I am almost sure when I took a bite of the first one I had already forgot about the waiting period.

  These are a great little cookie.  They have a great chocolate flavor, were soft, resembled a brownie in flavor and texture.  All you need is a glass of milk to accompany these and you too will be in a happy place.  These would definitely get you bonus points if you cooked them and had them ready for unsuspecting children!

 Get to cooking these!  I know you didn't know you needed them but, your welcome anyways.

Check out the recipe here:
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2016/03/07/chocolate-sugar-cookies/

Hot Strawberry Dessert

  While I sit here and rummage through the Internet I always think to myself.  Is this a good recipe?  This recipe looks good! I hope this one is good.  We like strawberry shortcake so another strawberry dish with breading should be a hit so tonight we are eating Strawberry Cobbler!

  This was an easy recipe to make.  You should have all ingredients on hand.  Basic staples with an exception of the strawberries.  So put strawberries on your grocery list and make this for dessert!

  I didn't use as much sugar but I also didn't use as many strawberries.  Next time I will use more strawberries and double the recipe.  Start with your sugar and strawberries first to let the flavors blend together.

I did have my separate bowl of batter!

Then added the strawberries to the batter prior to baking!

  This was definitely a pretty dish.  My strawberries did fall under the crust.  I'm not sure if there were more strawberries if they would stay on the top more or not?  The crust was soft on the inside and a slight crunch to the sides.  The strawberries despite my reduction of sugar was just the right bit of sweetness.  This was delicious warm and I'm sure when I grab a piece in the morning it will taste just as good.

Check out the recipe here: http://divascancook.com/fresh-strawberry-cobbler-recipe-easy-dessert/

Strawberry Mousse

  Tonight's strawberries was a prep ahead.  I started it just before dinner and after dinner was done and dishes were taken care of the dessert was done.  Of course more organization would of had this dessert done in the morning but who needs all that organization.

  The recipe only requires a few ingredients and is really easy to make.  I did have to pick up heavy cream as that is not a staple in my house and I doubted myself in making it myself.  (I will be attempting to make my own heavy cream to see how easy it is, how it tastes and peaks up)

  For this delicious Strawberry Mousse you need strawberries, heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla.  In measuring equipment your only using a tablespoon, 1/2 teaspoon and 1 cup!   I did have to use the food processor and eventually the mixer so you did make a few more things dirty but it was well worth it in the end!

  Turn your heavy cream

into whipped cream by any means necessary!  I started by hand but needed to hurry up so pulled out the heavy machinery to speed up the process.

                     

Enter food processor to make strawberry puree!  I have had this food processor for years and just recently have built a good relationship with it.  I am slowly learning it's true capabilities and strengths.  It does make chopping some things easier.

  Add your powdered sugar and vanilla and mix again then fold in your strawberries!
            
Before                             After

The finished product was delicious!

I could see making this dish again as a quick dessert or even for a potluck.

I didn't think it was too sweet although I did have a complaint regarding that.  The strawberries were not sweetened so I think the little bit of sugar used just blended into to everything nicely.

Check here for the recipe: http://www.pumpkinnspice.com/2015/04/10/strawberry-mousse/

Cookie Time

  Everyone has a weakness.  Mine just happens to be all things dessert.  Dessert is the reason I work out (worked out still nursing that foot).  Dessert in my opinion is what makes the world go round.   What are two dessert that you can make together to make something even better?

  Ice cream and cookies! I made a delicious ice cream cookie and saved myself the cookie baking and took my ice cream to a higher level by making it healthy.

  I choose to make banana ice cream.  It's something I have done before and everyone here enjoys it.  This time we added peanut butter and vanilla.

  Throw your bananas into the food processor.

  Look what happens when you blend frozen bananas.  It turns into a delicious, creamy ice cream! 

Enter cookie to compliment the ice cream.  I choose a Biscoff cookie.  I received them in my #JingleVoxBox free from +Influenster 

These cookies came in a package as a pair.  That makes a great sandwich for my ice cream cookie.  They have a nice cinnamon flavor and nice crisp crunch to go with it.  The perfect combination of sweet and crunch.  Hmm, how convenient.

Don't mind that crack.  It's driving me up the wall but, I will tell you that it didn't compromise the taste at all.

This coffee biscuit has now just been promoted to a dessert with a healthy twist!

Recipe:

2 bananas frozen

Splash of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 Biscoff cookies

Put everything in a food processor and blend together.  Smear a nice dallop of ice cream onto one cookie.  Place the other cookie side on top of the icecream covered cookie and place in freezer.  Freeze until ice cream solidifies.  Enjoy!

  I was provided this product for free for testing and review purposes.  All opinions stated are solely my own.

Pumpkin recipe enclosed for Day 21 pumpkinchallenge

  The pumpkin challenge is still around.  Day 21 is done and over.  I have only a few days left but can say this was a great journey.  No, I didn't make something everyday but it was my game and my rules so I get to make the exceptions.  Besides the homemade outweighs the store/restaurant items!

  Today's recipe was found on a pumpkin dedicated board on my pinterest.  Check out what else in have pinned by selecting the tab on the side.  I have a wide range of boards from fashion, to recipes, to homeschool lessons, to crafts, science and DIY projects.

  Todays pumpkin cake was super easy.  I like that I got to pull out some ramekins.   I bought 4 (need 2 more) awhile ago and only use them randomly.  So when I pull them out it makes the occasion feel extra special.  Besides everyone loves to have their own cake and some of us need a little bit of portion control.  A ramekin guarantee one slice (basically) and not a piece more.

  The recipe was originally made to make 2 ramekins but ramekins do come in different sizes and I have never been one to get an exact count to compare with what the recipe states.  So I present you 3 cakes. (Still an issue for 6 people to get a sample of however)  But never fear we made do and we will keep this recipe to make again and doubling it will not be a problem.

Of course when you make it in a ramekin depending on the size it really looks just like a cupcake.  But that's ok because this little cake was delicious.  I did leave off the topping and used all purpose flour for the whole thing but this was a great, moist tasting cake.  Again the smell coming out of my oven was divine. I wish I could capture that and share it with you.

Thank you howsweeteats. This recipe was delicious!

What's orange and round and only comes out in fall?

  Surprise, it's pumpkins!  I am a pumpkinlover.  I am going to start a petition to all business owners to start their pumpkin promos on the same day.  I hate when I get excited and my hopes up to start binging on pumpkin at my local eateries only to find out that not all eateries are have their pumpkin goodies available yet.

  You have no idea when I walk into a coffee shop to find out they have it (I asked because I didn't see it).  I see it on a business sign down the street. Great to know I will be back but no all businesses are as punctual.  I just went to a restaurant the other day not specifically for the pumpkin goodness but it would have ended my lunch better.  They told me the pumpkin goodness would be there after October 1st.  Ok, thanks for supporting the pumpkin movement but it would have been nice if you started a little earlier.

  I am giving myself a new challenge.  A 31 day challenge! It's for health reason.  I will consume pumpkin everyday this month.  I will try to do my part to help the pumpkin farmers!  I may not make all the yummy goodness some of it may be bought but I will still be indulging in pumpkin for 31 days.

  Today I started with finishing off some pumpkin coffee from yesterday and then I made some fresh goodness.  I made a smoothie to start out my 31 day challenge.

  I have made this recipe before and really enjoy the flavors.  I am not to concerned with the specific ingredients it calls for Greek yogurt and skim milk.  Unless you are counting calories or shooting for more protein.  Just have fun use the ingredients you have on hand and make this.

   I have everything which always makes whipping something up easier.  Grab your blender and these ingredients.  You will not be disappointed.

I just bought 5 cans at the store last month.  I will need to go back and get more cans to supply this challenge but I don't always use a whole can for everything I make.  

A frozen banana is a staple in my freezer.  I do run out of fresh bananas on the counter sometimes but I do have a bag of them in the freezer awaiting to be utilized.  Most of them make it in there due to be borderline rotten but these are when a banana is the sweetest and the best ones to use.  I often use frozen bananas in smoothies not just for flavor but as a thickening agent, banana ice cream and peanutbutter banana snacks.

The infamous maybe under used kitchen appliance.  The blender.  I don't do any fancy tricks with mine and it is years old but works great.  As long as the job gets done that's all that matters.

  The result is amazing!! Pumpkin Pie Smoothie is my go to pumpkin drink every year.  If you like pumpkin I don't have to sell you on the deal but if you like pumpkin you really should try this.

 Here's to a happy healthy pumpkin season.    
Thank you sallysbakingaddiction for your delicious pumpkin-pie-protein-smoothie.  I use this recipe several times!!