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Mini Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

¾ cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Chocolate syrup (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line miniature muffin tins (tassie pans) with miniature paper liners. Crush the vanilla wafers, and place 1/2 teaspoon of the crushed vanilla wafers into each paper cup. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. If you don’t have an electric mixer you can use a blender. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. Bake for 15 minutes. Place in refrigerator until cool  Top with a teaspoonful of cherry pie filling. Place in the refrigerator for an hour to 2 hours to set cherry filling. Optional: drizzle chocolate syrup over cherry filling once set, place in refrigerator for addition 15 to 30 minutes.

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10 Gardening tips

1. Site it right.

Starting a garden is just like real estate it's all about location. Place your garden in a part of your yard where you'll see it regularly (out of sight, out of mind definitely applies to gardening). That way, you'll be much more likely to spend time in it.

2. Follow the sun.

Misjudging sunlight is a common pitfall when you're first learning to garden. Pay attention to how sunlight plays through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun in order to thrive.

3. Stay close to water.

One of the best gardening tips you'll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don't have to lug water to it each time your plants get thirsty. The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that's about one knuckle deep). If it's dry, it's time to water. 4. Start with great soil. When starting a garden, one of the top pieces of advice is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained. Achieve this just-right blend by mixing 3 inches of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Garden Soil into the top 6 to 8 inches of existing soil if you're planning to plant in the ground. If you're planting in a raised bed, use Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil which is the perfect weight and texture for raised bed growing. 5. Consider containers. When space is at a premium, look to containers. You can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. When gardening in containers, use a pot that's large enough for the plant it's hosting, and fill it with Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix. Not only is it specially formulated to help plants in pots thrive, but it also helps protect against over- and under-watering. 6. Choose the right plants. It's important to select plants that match your growing conditions. This means putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates, and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons ample elbow room (or a trellis to climb). Do your homework and pick varieties that will grow well where you live and in the space you have. And to get a step up on success when growing veggies and herbs, start with vigorous young plants from Bonnie Plants instead of trying to grow from seed. 7. Discover your zone. Knowing your "hardiness zone" can help you choose the best plants. Simply put, it describes the coldest place a plant can grow. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. So if a plant is "hardy to zone 4" and you garden in zone 5, that plant will survive in your yard. If, however, you're in zone 3, it's too cold to grow that particular plant. Find out your hardiness zone. 8. Learn your frost dates. Planting too early (or late) in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don't accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It's also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them. Discover the average first and last frost dates for your area. 9. Add some mulch. Apply a layer of mulch that's 2 to 3 inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to water less. For a polished look, put down a layer of Scotts bagged mulch. Or, you can put down straw, shredded leaves, pine straw, or some other locally available material. 10. Feed plants regularly. We've already talked about the importance of starting with great soil, but that soil works best in concert with regular boosts of high-quality nutrition for your plants. In other words, amazing soil + top-notch plant food = super garden success! So, a month after planting, begin feeding your garden with plant food like Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Be sure to follow label directions.

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10 Home Repairs you can do yourself

1. Bleach Away a Water Stain Before you go through the trouble of repainting a ceiling to get rid of a water stain try this easy home fix. Spray the spot with a bleach and water solution (10 percent bleach), and wait a day or two. If it’s an old stain, use a mold and mildew remover from the grocery store. You’d be surprised how often the stain disappears by the next day. It works on both flat and textured ceilings.Wear safety goggles, and make sure you protect the walls and floors with plastic. 2. Use Coins for Toilet Shims When leveling a toilet, I often use coins or washers as toilet shims. Coins or washers provide a firm seat and come in different thicknesses. Simply slide as many coins as necessary under the toilet until it’s completely level. Then caulk along the floor as you normally would to hide the coin toilet shims.  3. A Quick Coat of Paint Almost nothing is quicker, easier or refreshes a room more than a new coat of paint Even switching up a bright white for a trendy, bright grey can change your whole perspective and give you a starting point for new colors and decoration. Gallons of paint range from $30-$50, and with primer/paint combinations, you will likely only need a gallon or less to finish an average sized room. Add another $10, and you'll be set with rollers, paint brushes, and painter's tape. This DIY repair could potentially save you thousands over the cost of a professional painter. 4. Cleaning up paint on carpet I used to think dropping a loaded paintbrush on the carpet meant replacing the carpet, until a former foreman told me this little tip. Pour some denatured alcohol onto a rag and scrub away the paint. Use a rag that is as close in color to the carpet, as the alcohol can transfer some of the rag’s color to the carpet. 5. Repair Any Holes So a door knob slammed through the wall after one too many times slamming the door. No need to call your handy contractor. You can easily fix a few holes in your drywall by injecting a setting compound (for smaller holes) or by cutting out the damaged sections and replacing them with new drywall (for larger ones). 6. Remove Crayon Marks From Walls Have your walls been redecorated with some original crayon masterpieces? Don’t lose your cool. Just grab a rag, dip it in some baking soda and lightly scrub the marks. They will come off with a minimal amount of effort and give your young Picasso a fresh, new canvas. 7. Fix a Wobbly Chair This easy home fix is one you’ll definitely want to keep handy! Trying to keep a rickety old chair together without going through the trouble of taking it apart and regluing it? The simple home fix is to just drill pilot holes and drive trim-head screws through the bottom of the rungs and into the legs. 8. Insulation is Key Though it can seem intimidating, installing your own batting installation can be easy, and take just a few hours if you isolate the need to a few key spaces. Have a drafty attic? Start there. Concerned about a freezing crawl space? Throw on your work jeans and get to work. These insulating spaces will instantly feel warmer and you'll notice the savings on your next heating bill. Read how to install insulation here. 9. Squirt Gun Toilet Drainer When you’re repairing or replacing a toilet, you need to remove all the water. Simply shutting off the water supply and flushing won’t do it. A sponge works, but it’s kind of slow. So I use an old squirt gun to suck the water out and squirt it into a bucket, leaving just the last few drops to sponge out.  10. Silence a Squeaky Floor Another easy home fix to keep in your files: To fix a squeaky floor under carpet, locate the floor joists with a stud finder, then drive in a trim head screw through the carpet, pad and subfloor, and right into the floor joist. Be sure the top inch of the screw doesn’t have threads or the subfloor won’t suck down tight to the joist. We like trim screws because screws with larger heads pull down and pucker the carpet. If that happens, back out the screw and drive it back down. Keep adding screws until the squeak stops.

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Exercise with young kids

Hit the playground. By far the easiest frugal work out is to strap your child into a jogging-friendly stroller and hit the streets during naptime. But you can also try a more creative time- and money-saving approach. As a parent of young kids, you’re very likely spending a lot of time at the local playground. Go on a family jog. When you’re sick of the local playground, you can make working out the centerpiece of a family weekend activity. Optimize screen time. You can turn your child’s television or tablet time into workout time for you. Do an exercise video, hit your home gym equipment or do your own cardio and strength moves while your little one is occupied with his or her favorite show or app. Make exercise into a bonding activity. In other words, have your young children watch you while you work out to an exercise video (YouTube is a great resource for free workout videos), do you own workout or use your home gym equipment. Try out a free class. When you need to spice up your workout program, consider taking advantage of the free trial classes offered by parent-friendly exercise classes (such as Baby Boot Camp) to which you can bring young kids. Most gyms also offer free trials if you’re considering membership. Of course, you’ll want to focus on gyms with affordable babysitting options.

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UNsafe exercises while pregnant

Remember to always talk to your doctor before doing any exercises or strenuous activities 

Any activity that has a lot of jerky, bouncing movements that may cause you to fall, like horseback riding, downhill skiing, off-road cycling, gymnastics or skating

Any sport in which you can get hit in the belly, like ice hockey, boxing, soccer or basketball

Any exercise that makes you lie flat on your back (after the third month of pregnancy), like sit-ups. When you lie on your back, your uterus puts pressure on a vein that brings blood to your heart. Lying on your back can cause your blood pressure to drop and limit the flow of blood to your baby.

Activities that can cause you to hit water with great force, like water skiing, surfing or diving

Skydiving or scuba diving. Scuba diving can lead to decompression sickness. This is when dangerous gas bubbles form in your baby's body.

Exercising at high altitude (more than 6,000 feet), unless you live at a high altitude. Altitude is the height of something above the ground. For example, if you’re at high altitude, you’re probably in the mountains. Exercising at high altitudes during pregnancy can lower the amount of oxygen that reaches your baby.

Activities that may make your body temperature too high, like Bikram yoga (also called hot yoga) or exercising outside on hot, humid days. You do hot yoga in a room where the temperature is set to 95 F to 100 F. It’s not safe for pregnant women because it can cause hyperthermia, a condition that happens when your body temperature gets too high. Some studies suggest that spending too much time in a sauna or hot tub may make your body temperature too high and increase your risk of having a baby with birth defects. To be safe, don’t spend more than 15 minutes at a time in a sauna or more than 10 at a time minutes in a hot tub.

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Safe exercises while pregnant

Remember to always talk to your Doctor before preforming any exercises or strenuous activities.

  Walking. Taking a brisk walk is a great workout that doesn’t strain your joints and muscles. If you’re new to exercise, this is a great activity to start with. 

Swimming and water workouts. The water supports the weight of your growing baby, and moving against it helps keep your heart rate up. It’s also easy on your joints and muscles. If you have low back pain when you do other activities, try swimming.  

Riding a stationary bike. This is safer than riding a regular bicycle during pregnancy. You’re less likely to fall off a stationary bike than a regular bike, even as your belly grows.

Yoga and Pilates classes. Tell your yoga or Pilates teacher that you’re pregnant. She can help you modify or avoid poses that may be unsafe for pregnant women, like lying on your belly or flat on your back (after the first trimester). Some gyms and community centers offer prenatal yoga and Pilates classes just for pregnant women.

Low-impact aerobics classes. Low-impact aerobics don’t put as much strain on your body that high-impact aerobics do. In low-impact aerobics, you always have one foot on the ground or equipment. Examples include walking, riding a stationary bike and using an elliptical machine. In high-impact aerobics, both feet leave the ground at the same time. Examples include running, jumping rope and doing jumping jacks. Tell your teacher that you’re pregnant so that she can help you modify your workout, if needed.

Strength training. Strength training can help you build muscle and make your bones strong. It’s safe to work out with weights as long as they’re not too heavy. Ask your provider about how much you can lift.

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Tuscan Butter Roast Chicken

Servings: 4 Prep Time: 15 Mins Total Time: 1 HR and 45 Mins INGREDIENTS 1 (3-lb.) whole chicken Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 lb. baby potatoes, halved 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets 1 large red onion, cut into wedges 2 c. cherry tomatoes 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Pinch red pepper flakes 4 tbsp. melted butter 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. Italian seasoning Spinach, for serving 1/4 c. thinly sliced basil DIRECTIONS Place a large skillet in oven and preheat to 450°. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temp while oven preheats and you prepare remaining ingredients. In a large bowl toss together potatoes, broccoli, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and oil. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Brush all over chicken.Carefully remove skillet from oven and place chicken in center, then scatter vegetables around. Bake until skin is crispy and golden and internal temperature of thigh registers 165°, about 1 hour. Let rest 15 minutes. Serve chicken and vegetables over a bed of spinach. Spoon additional pan drippings over, if desired and top with basil. 

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Skinny Alfredo

Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 Mins Total Time: 30 Mins INGREDIENTS 12 oz. whole-wheat linguine 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 c. low-sodium chicken broth 3/4 c. 1% milk 1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan 2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt (optional) Freshly ground black pepper Pinch crushed red pepper flakes Freshly chopped parsley, for serving DIRECTIONS In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook linguine according to package directions until al dente. Set aside ½ cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over evenly, then stir and cook until mixture is lightly golden. Very gradually add broth in while whisking, 2 tablespoons at a time, waiting for mixture to become completely smooth before adding more broth. Bring mixture to a boil, then gradually stream in milk while whisking. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add Parmesan and yogurt, if using. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Add pasta and a 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to sauce and toss to combine. If sauce is too thick add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency. Garnish with parsley before serving.

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Best Caprese Noodles

Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 Mins Total Time: 25 Mins INGREDIENTS 4 large zucchini 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved 1 c. mozzarella balls, quartered if large 1/4 c. fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar DIRECTIONS Using a spiralizer, create noodles out of zucchini. Add Noodles to a large bowl, toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Let marinate 15 minutes. Add tomatoes, mozzarella and basil to noodles and toss until combined. Drizzle with balsamic and serve.

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Pan fried Tilapia

Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 25 mins

  INGREDIENTS 1 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

4 (6-oz.) tilapia filets

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. canola or vegetable oil, divided

2 tbsp. cilantro leaves, for garnish

Lime wedges, for serving DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin. Whisk to combine. Season tilapia filet generously with salt and pepper, then dip each in flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour. Place on a clean plate or baking sheet. In a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add 2 filet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until crust is golden and fish flakes easily with a fork. Repeat with remaining filet. Serve immediately with cilantro and lime wedges.

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Chocolate Turtle Desserts!

(recipes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

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Strawberry Glazed Sugar Cookies

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Dark Chocolate Cranberry Orange Slice & Bake Cookies

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We are buying our first house soon and I wanted to share these fun bathroom ideas. These bring some color and fun to the bathroom. Basic things like orange flowers in a pale blue bathroom can really make the room pop. Did you know the average person spends 182 HOURS a year in the bathroom? That’s 7.5 days! That doesn’t count shower or bath time. If you spend that much time in the bathroom you might as well have a nice one to spend time in.

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S’mores cheese cake

Hey guys, I wanted to share this awesome summer dessert with you. Its easy to make and very tasty. This was my first ever cheese cake and first time turned out fantastic. Every time after has been even better. Perfect for summer. PREP TIME: 0 hrs 25 mins COOKING TIME: 5 hrs 30 minutes or Overnight OVERALL TIME WITH PREP AND COOL: 6 hrs SERVING: Makes about 10 slices/cubes INGREDIENTS FOR THE GANACHE

1 1/2 c. chocolate chips 3/4 c. heavy cream FOR THE CRUST 1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed 5 tbsp. melted butter 1/4 c. sugar pinch of kosher salt 1 sleeve of graham crackers, separated into sticks FOR THE CHEESECAKE 16 oz. (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened 3/4 c. powdered sugar 1 1/2 c. cold heavy cream 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. kosher salt mini marshmallows DIRECTIONS Make garnish: Place chocolate chips in a medium, heatproof bowl and set aside. Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. When bubbles begin to break the surface around the edges of the pan, turn off the heat.Pour the hot cream over chocolate chips, whisking constantly until the sauce is smooth. Let cool slightly. Make crust: In a large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and salt. Grease an 9″ round or a 9″ X 9″ square pan with cooking spray and press mixture into pan. Pour about half of the ganache over the crust, then line the graham cracker sticks around the edges of the pan standing up to form a wall. Make the cheesecake: In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add sugar to combine, then gradually add cream and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and stir until combined. Pour cheesecake mixture over the ganache and smooth out with a spatula. Pour remaining ganache over the cheesecake then top with mini marshmallows. Freeze until firm, at least 5 hours and up to overnight. Right before serving, broil until the marshmallows are golden, about 2 minutes.

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Healthy eating tip for the busy mom! #1

Hey guys, I wanted to share a healthy eating tip for those busy mornings. Let’s be honest most of us grab a handful or cherrios and are out the door, that’s if we eat anything besides our morning coffee. And nobody wants to make those delicious looking breakfast smoothies, we all save but never use. So here’s a tip, leave your favorite fruit by the door, or even put it in your purse! Before bed shove a sandwich bag full of grapes in your purse. Grab a banana set it by your front door. Shove a couple cuties oranges in your purse. This way you have a healthy breakfast snack on your way to dropping off the kids at school and day care, while headed to work. And choosing one healthy option a day can have a big impact. Give it a try! 

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Fitness tip for the tired Mom # 1

Hey guys! So I just wanted to share a quick fitness tip. Knowing we are all tired, from changing butts, to running after them, to cleaning and cooking and picking up the slack. One thing you can do while doing all your mommy chores is lunges. Walking to the kitchen? Lunge to the kitchen. From forward lunges to side lunges, you can get around while excising. It burns more calories and keeps your legs toned too. Give it a try when going from the living room to the bedroom tonight.