Chubby Hubby Bars

You will need:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cups butter (at room temp)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter (optional)

1 tbsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup chopped pretzels

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

preheat oven at 350

spray pan 9x13 pan

put pretzels in a seal-able bag and chop them up

in a bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt

using a mixer beat together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar

mix until fluffy

add in eggs and if using peanut butter add

on a low speed add flour mixture

now add 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1 cup pretzels

stir this mixture with a spoon as it will get stiff

spread unto baking pan this stuff is pretty thick

in a small bowl add remaining toppings 1/2 cup pretzels, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup peanut butter chips sprinkle over batter

bake 30 mins cool completely before cutting into squares. 

Corn Chowder

Corn Chowder in the Slow Cooker

• 2 (14.75 oz) cans creamed corn
• 1 (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 2 1/2 cups skim milk
• 1 cup diced ham
• 2 cups frozen southern style hash browns (the cubed typed)
• 2 Tbsp butter
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Place creamed corn, cream of mushroom soup, and milk in a crock pot.  Whisk until soup is well blended into the mixture.
2. Add remaining ingredients to crock pot and stir well.
3. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally.  You can add more milk if needed when finished cooking to reach desired thickness

grilled bbq chicken

3 cups Orange Crush soda
1/3 C soy sauce
1 T Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 T minced garlic (from a jar is fine)
1/3 C canola oil
1 t sugar
6 chicken breasts
regular BBQ Sauce 

1. Pour 3 cups of Orange Crush into a 9x13 pan. Add 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup canola oil, 1 tablespoon of Montreal Steak Seasoning, 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir it around with a spoon. 
2. Stick a sharp knife into the top of each chicken breast and slice it in half.  This will help keep the chicken tender and moist. 
3. Place the chicken in the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours. 
4. Heat your grill up over medium high heat. I like to let mine heat up for 10- 15 minutes. 

5. Carefully lay a large piece of aluminum foil on top of the grill, bending the corners up all around it to be sure the juices stay in the foil. Drizzle it with olive oil. Lay each of the chicken pieces on top of the olive oil. Close the grill and allow the chicken to cook. 
6. Once the chicken is no longer pink, flip it over and let it cook on the other side. 
7. Pour a bit of BBQ sauce over the top of each chicken breast, close the lid and let the sauce heat through and begin to caramelize a bit.  
8. Remove the chicken from the grill and onto a plate. Cover the plate with tinfoil and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Then serve and enjoy!

15 minute Lasagna

1/2 lb lean ground beef
2 cups diced onion
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz (about 10) lasagna noodles, broken into 1/4ths
1 (10 oz) can  tomatoes (or regular diced tomatoes)
1 cup tomato sauce
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon each
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium-high heat stirring occasionally until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant.

2. Evenly add the lasagna pieces, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water over the skillet. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine.

3. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes over medium to medium-low heat. Shake the skillet occasionally to evenly distribute the noodles as they soften. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Top with extra mozzarella

Roasted Root Vegetables

1 medium sized sweet potato
4 potatoes
3 large carrots
1 medium onion
3-4 T olive oil
salt and pepper
Montreal Steak Seasoning

1. Peel and chop all of your veggies. 
2. Spread them out evenly on a large cookie sheet, or jelly roll pan. 
3. Pour the olive oil over the top of the veggies. 
4. Sprinkle with freshly ground salt and pepper. 
5. Add some Montreal Steak Seasoning.
6. Using two spoons, toss the vegetables making sure they are all evenly coated with the olive oil and seasonings. 
7. Bake at 350 degrees until the vegetables are crisp tender, should take about 30-40 minutes. 
Enjoy!

Homemade Caesar Dressing

Homemade dressings taste so much better than store bought!

2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp vinegar
3 cloves of garlic
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
2 tbsp buttermilk ( or regular milk)
1 tbsp sour cream
1/2 cup canola oil

directions:
in a blender add the first 9 ingredients.
blend it together. let it get nice and smooth and creamy
poor in the oil 3-4 tbsp at a time. blending after each addition. if you want to make the dresing a bit thinner in consistency add a bit more milk
then serve!

crunchy poppyseed coleslaw

1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw
2 (4 ounce) packages ramen noodles
3 apples, chopped
8-10 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 C cashews, roasted and salted
1 bottle creamy poppy seed dressing (kraft)
salt and pepper

1. Grab one package of coleslaw. I opted for this tri-colored slaw that has carrots, red cabbage and green cabbage. Pour it all into a large salad bowl.
2. Grab a couple of bags of ramen noodles. Discard the seasoning packets and put the noodles into a gallon sized zip lock bag. Take a rolling-pin and crush the noodles into small pieces. Add the ramen pieces to your salad bowl.
3. Find yourself three medium-sized apples.. Cut the apples into small chunks and add them to the salad bowl.
4. Wash 8-10 green onions. Chop them into small pieces and add them to the bowl.
5. Add 1 1/2 cups roasted, salted cashews.
6. poor the whole bottle of creamy poppy seed dressing..Pour the whole bottle over the salad, sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper and mix until well combined.
7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to sit in the fridge for at least 1 and up to 2 hours.

Snack Bars

you will need:

3 cups pretzel sticks, snapped in half
2 1/3 cups rice krispies
2 cups m&ms
1/4 cup chocolate chips (any kind)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
5 1/2 cups small  marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine pretzels, cereal, m&ms, and chocolate chips. Set aside.
In a large sauce pan, melt together the butter and peanut butter over low heat. Stir in the marshmallows and continue to cook over low heat until the marshmallows are melted.Pour over the snack mix and toss to coat.
Press mixture into a 9x13 pan lined with wax or parchment paper. Firmly press mixture together to ensure that the bars stick together when they have cooled. Refrigerate until the mixture is completely cool and firm. Cut into bars and serve.

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

Ingredients:
3 (8 oz) packages regular or light cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
24 whole Oreo cookies
12 Oreo cookies, crushed
Hot fudge or chocolate syrup
Whipped Cream
Additional Oreo cookie crumbs for garnish

Directions: 
Place 24 cupcake liners in muffin tins. Set a whole Oreo cookie in the bottom of each liner. Beat together softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until just blended. Gently fold in 12 crushed Oreo cookies (I put the cookies in a ziploc bag and crushed them with a rolling pin). Spoon cheesecake mixture over each cookie in the liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the center of each cheesecake is almost set. Cool completely, then refrigerate at least one hour (or overnight). Top with a dollop of whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate sauce, and sprinkle crushed Oreo cookies on top. 

Goodbye

Dear Marley

Today is probably the hardest day I have ever had in my whole life. Today I am taking you to your new home to your new family. I want you to know that I did not do it because I am mean or do not love you anymore. I did it because I love you so much that I do not believe that you deserved to be put to sleep and that it was the safest place for you to go. You will love it there. They will take care of you.

When daddy first showed me your picture I will be honest I did not want you but he convinced me that you should be with us. After meeting you I instantly fell in love with you. You were going to be apart of our family. I remember when you first met your brothers Brody and Zachary. You fell in love with them. You were so little but you loved to play with them. We had a bon fire that first weekend we had you. You were so played out you fell asleep by the fire. I remember someone coming in the yard and you were so tired you couldn't even bark. At that time your brothers only came every second weekend. Well you slept from Sunday until the next Wednesday (10 days later) and then by that Wednesday you would be so full of energy that I couldnt wait for your brothers to get here.

You have always loved your brothers. We called you their sister. And thats what you truly became. I remember when we were wedding planning and Zach asked who was coming to the wedding. I said oh just our family and friends. Then he asked if you were coming to the wedding. I said Marley cant come to the wedding. Then he said "well you said shes part of the family" That very moment I knew... you were another member of our family. I remember the nights I would go upstairs to bed after your brothers were a sleep and finding you sleeping in their doorway. Protecting your big brothers! Oh and in the mornings you would get mad at me because I closed their door so you couldnt go wake them up. They always loved you waking them up in the morning. You always knew that if you sat under Zacharys feet at the table you would always get a good feast!

You have brought us more joy, laughter and crazy situations... Remember the night you

got sprayed by the skunk and then you ran through our house! To this day I still smell my clothes just to make sure they dont smell like skunk and that was almost 3 years ago! I always loved your reaction when daddy came home in his big truck. You couldnt wait to get outside so you could go meet him! There were days I would come home and wonder how you would get out of your kennel or wonder how you got into something. Oh I remember one night you got loose in the house and you grab the loaf of bread off the counter and brought to me in bed. or the few nights that I made blueberry muffins I would get up in the morning and you ATE ALL OF THEM! including the wrapper! Oh the day I came home and I left you in the shed and you jumped out the window.. and butter...if i left it on the counter you ate it!!

My greatest joy was when you became pregnant. It was only you and I home most of the time. At night I would rub your belly and pray. It became our ritual. I would pray that there was only 4....6...8... but NOT 10. I would pray that they would be healthy and that I was there with you when you had them.  Not only was I there but the whole family was there. You waited for all of us to be right there. You wouldn't let me go to bed I stayed up until 4 am right by your side. I promise I will never forget that. I work with new moms and I would always try to relate different situations with them. Not going through being pregnant myself I never knew... until now. I would trade all 9 of your puppies for 1 baby. I had so many sleepless nights!! But wouldn't trade it for anything. I would do it all over again just for you.... but we are never going through puppies again! lol Each one of your puppies have now been sent off to their new families. I pray that each puppies is exactly like you.

You were the best thing to ever happen to us. You made us a family. You were our fur baby. I will never forget all the wonderful things that you have taught us. I always say everything happens for a reason. Someday I will know what that reason was.  I know that in my heart your new family will love you just as we have loved you.

I promise that I will love Daisy just like I loved you. I know that she will be spoiled rotten just like you. The 4 of us love her so much already. Your brothers are a little confused because they know they are Daisy's uncle but now I call them Daisys Brothers. but thats ok.. they love her anyway. She already has so many of your mannerisms and features. You helped us prepare for her arrival into our family. She will be extra special to us because she is yours.

Enjoy your new family. Teach them about your hard head and stubbornness. Teach them that you love popcorn and when you play catch you don't bring the ball back. Teach them that you like to visit when people take showers or using the washroom. Teach them that you like to sit in front of the heat. Teach them that you give the best cuddles in the whole world!  But most of all teach them a love that they never knew existed until you came along

We will always be your family and we will always love you. We love you more than you will ever know because you taught us that.


Love Always
Daddy and Mommy

We will never be able to thank everyone for all they have done for our family. There are 2 very special people that helped us place Marley in a home, you know who you are. We will forever be in in debt to you. I promise that I will do everything I can to help get Bi-laws changed in my community so that no other family can go through what we have. Always remember what goes around comes around!