Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

I almost feel silly posting this because it is so simple it probably doesn't even qualify as a recipe. However, we've been making these every single day lately (sometimes twice a day!), so I figured I might as well share!

Ingredients:

4-6 oz milk or almond milk

1 banana

1 Tbsp peanut butter OR 2 Tbsp PB2

4-5 ice cubes

Handful of spinach (optional)

1 scoop vanilla protein (optional. We add this when we drink it post workout)

Blend in blender. That's it! We seriously cannot get enough of these!

Pizza Dough

We have started Friday night pizza night at our house, and I dare say it's maybe the best decision we've ever made! Sometimes we go out, sometimes we order in, and sometimes we make our own. No matter where or how we get it, we never miss a Friday pizza night!

When we do stay in, we use this quick, easy dough recipe, and it is always a hit! I have never been one to make breads or doughs, so I was a little intimidated, but this one couldn't be easier! 

Ingredients: 

1 Tbsp. Yeast

1.5 C warm water 

4 C flour

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

If you have a high powdered blender (I use my Blendtec), you can throw it all in there and hit the pulse button a few times until well mixed. You could also do it in a Kitchenaid. If you don't have a blender like this, mix together in a bowl (using a fork) until mixed, and then knead by hand If "kneaded." (Okay. That was bad ;)

Let sit for about 10 minutes, and then roll out onto a floured pizza stone or cookie sheet. I usually add a little more flour if it's sticky (probably about 1/4 C, but I really just add a little at a time until it doesn't stick). 

(We're clearly not too picky about the shape)

Poke with a fork (to avoid bubbles when cooking) and bake on 450* for 10-15 minutes or until edges are golden. 

Remove from oven and top with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings. Or, you can do our favorite and use BBQ sauce, cheese, chicken, and pineapple. 

Broil on high until cheese is melted and enjoy! Sorry for no after shot; we gobbled it up too quickly! 

Yum! So glad it's Friday! Happy pizza night! :)

Turkey Panini

Long ago, when we lived in an apartment in Orem, we had what we called dinner group with two of our neighbors. Every Tuesday, Kristen cooked, every Wednesday, Megan cooked, and every Thursday, I cooked. When it was our night to cook, we'd make enough food for all six adults, and then we'd send a text (or just yell out the door :) when it was ready. Everyone would take their plates, go pick up food, and go home to eat. It. Was. Heavenly. You got a good meal three nights a week, but you only had to cook and clean up once. Also, while we were dishing up our food we could chat, but then we could go home and eat with our husbands. Also, (I know...it just keeps getting better!) it expanded our repertoire of recipes! It was a sad day when we all moved away and dinner group ended.

ANYWAY, this recipe is a result of dinner group and comes from my cute friend, Megan. It is yummy and filling enough for dinner, or light and quick enough for lunch. You probably have everything you need already in your fridge, too. You really can't go wrong!

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread, pita bread, or tortilla (pictures)

2 slices deli turkey

4 THIN slices green apple (I'm sure any apple would do)

1-2 slices cheese

1 tsp mustard (or less, you just want a tiny hint of flavor)

Dusting of powdered sugar

Directions:

Assemble and place on panini maker or George Forman grill. If you don't have either, you could just do it in a frying pan, rotating so both sides are toasted.

Cook until bread/tortilla is toasted and cheese is melted. Dust with powdered sugar. 

I know this sounds random and somewhat bizarre, but the flavors combine so well and are just delicious. Let us know if you try it!

best EVER chocolate chip cookie

it seems like we're all always on the search for THE perfect chocolate chip cookie. am i right? i have looked high and low for years, and although i've found plenty i like, i've never had one that i absolutely-can't-live-without-gotta-have-more love. you know what i mean? until this. this recipe is the recipe. now, i'm sure everyone has their own IT recipe because we have different tastes, right? like, apparently some people like their cookies crunchy?? i'm not sure such a person exists; i know i've never met them! but i also know plenty of people who love a good, gooey, soft-on-the-inside cookie, and this is it!

recipe found here.

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened 

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract (pure mexican vanilla will make these extra delicious! i use this brand as my secret weapon)

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch (pretty sure this is the key ingredient!)

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt (i always think it seems like too much, but it's not! trust it!)

1 c. milk chocolate chips

• preheat oven to 350*

• cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color (very important step! i tried just mixing until combined and my cookies were f l a t and not delicious. take the 2 minutes to get that stuff fluffy!) add egg and vanilla and blend in.

• next add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. mix until combined. stir in chocolate chips.

• using cookie scoop or spoon, drop golf-ball sized dough balls onto a pammed cookie sheet.

• bake for 7-9 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  mine are perfect at 7 minutes. they won't look done, but if the edges are golden, they are! i promise!

• let cool

i promise you. you will not be disappointed!