Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn

So, not a huge fan of Black Friday madness here.  I just can't justify being up at 3am to get to a store in hopes of saving $100.  Instead, the Finley clan has spent the day grazing on leftovers and watching the Star Wars marathon.  

It's COLD, we all have fuzzy socks on, a fire in the fireplace and heaps of blankets with us on the couch.  Mr. Finley walked into the kitchen and asked if we had marshmallow......absolutely EVERYONE knew what that meant.....

Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn!

Here is an easy peasy for ya for any time of the year really but, for some reason, it seems super special in the winter - with a fire and fuzzy socks!)

Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn

• 1/2 c packed brown sugar
• 1/2 c butter (1 stick)
• 9-10 large marshmallows (or the minis that are equivalent to 9-10 large)
• 1 bag microwave popcorn popped

Mix brown sugar and butter in a large  microwaveable bowl and microwave for 1:30 - 2:00 mins until butter is melted.  Stir to mix well.  Add  marshmallows to the brown sugar and butter mixture and microwave an additional 2 minutes (or until marshmallows are melted) and mix well.  Once marshmallows are melted stir to combine mixture well.  Pour your popped popcorn into the bowl and mix well.  Work the mixture quickly as the marshmallow, brown sugar and butter will start to set and it will get harder to mix.

Enjoy!!  

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Polishing Off the Week

Polishing Off the Week by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

Absolutely LOVE the latest shades for the season!  The Sephora has to be one of the BEST polishes I have ever used.  If you have not tried it you should!

Banana Coconut Walnut Muffins

Well, school tracks back in next week!  I have to say that I have truly enjoyed the last few weeks with my son and I guess I have to attribute that to him getting older.  I can't really say "what" we did as I look back only that we had a TON of fun these last three weeks!  

With punk kid going back to school we need grab and go breakfast food!  It doesn't matter how much he eats for breakfast he always wants something else to grab on the way out the door.  My solution?  All kinds of different muffins baked on weekends that are ready to go for the week.  One of our favorites?  Banana Coconut Walnut Muffins.  I found a base recipe YEARS ago and had edited it multiple times of the year to result in what WE think is a super moist and yummy on the go snack.....I hope you try them!

Banana Coconut Walnut Muffins

Banana Coconut Walnut Muffins

• 2 c All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 c Brown Sugar
• 1/2 c Granulated Sugar
• 1 Room Temperature Egg, slightly beaten
• 5 Tbs Milk
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 c Butter room temperature
• 1 c mashed Bananas (about 2 large or 3 medium - RIPE!)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 c Walnuts
• 1/2 c shredded Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or use paper liners.  

Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl cream together butter and sugars.  Mix in slightly beaten egg and vanilla. Once mixed add the mashed bananas and mix well.  Slowly sift in your pre-mixed dry ingredients.  Lastly, add in the coconut, walnuts and milk. 

Pour batter into muffin tin.  Back for approximately 45 - 50 mins.  Depending on the weather my cooking times vary.  I start "watching" the muffins at about 40 mins. When you touch the top of a muffin with your finger and the top springs back they are done.  The toothpick trick doesn't really work because you may hit a pocket of mashed banana.  ;)

I hope you give these a try and let me know what you think of them!  

What's your favorite baked muffin whether savory or sweet?


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Cheese Crisps - A Low Carb Afternoon Snack

We are always in search of snacks in this house and over the last few months with one family member on a low carb regime it has become harder and harder.  Not today!

I stumbled across this little gem of a recipe and made a few.  Oh my goodness, delicious, super easy and low carb.  Notice I didn't say low fat!  ;)

This one comes from Wellness Mama with a teeny adaption from me- THANKS!   Don't forget to check out Wellness Mama - she is AMAZING!

Cheese Chips

Cheese Crisps

• Shredded Parmesan Cheese (Shredded NOT Grated!)
• A few sprinkles of Garlic powder

Toss the cheese and garlic powder together in a bowl with your fingers.  Turn oven on broil.  LIGHTLY spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Seriously, LIGHTLY!  Drop small mounds of cheese on baking sheet and, remember, the cheese will spread so space them out about 2 inches apart.  Place the baking sheet in the oven and keep your eyes on them - they brown quickly.  Mine were in the oven appx 7 mins.  We did like ours a little crisper - you may want to broil for a little less time.

Once out of oven let cool for a few minutes and then use a metal spatula to remove them to a cool plate, a cool cutting board or any cool surface.  

These were YUMMY!  We dipped them in HeluvaGood! Buffalo Wing Dip.  Try it - you'll LOVE IT!

HeluvaGood! Buffalo Wing Dip

Do you have any good low carb snacks that you'd like to share?  I'd love to have some more!!


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Five Friday Favorites

 Whew - Halloween has come and gone!  My teenager decided he was a bit too old (at only 13) to trick or treat this year.  Instead, he wanted a Pumpkin Spice Latte and to ride around and look at all the other trick or treaters.  For some reason, even though the weather was PERFECT to be outside, it just didn't seem like there were many kids out and about this year.  There's no candy to eat in the house and for that I am grateful!  ;)


So, what's on my mind today?  Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and the whole mad rush of craziness that is about to ensue..... ah, 'tis the season!

A few favorites this week could certainly come in handy during the Holiday season.  

Usually when I visit others I like to take "presents".  They never have to be anything expensive or over the top but just something to let my friends know that I am thinking of them.  A perfect one for this time of year with the abundance of apples?

Apples with Toffee Caramel Dip:  Isn't this one just as cute as can be?   Super easy to put together and simply by changing the ribbon you can tailor it for MANY occasions!

Fresh Autumn Apples with a Toffee Caramel Dip

My new found favorite Side Dish?  Well, one of the anyway is Spaghetti Squash any which way I can get it!  The resounding winner in the house seems to be Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan and Herbs.  My house has adapted it somewhat from this Martha Stewart recipe but it's pretty much similar to our way.  I have a pretty good feeling this will be making its way onto the Thanksgiving table this year.  

Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan and Herbs

My latest obsession......SUSPENDERS!  I know, I don't get it etiher!  I am on the lookout for some cool suspenders.  Something along the lines of a pencil skirt with suspenders.  Or, jeans with suspenders, dress pants with suspenders......I really don't care!  I just know I have to have them!  This particular pencil skirt with suspenders you can find here. 

Pencil Skirt with Suspenders

My Public Service Announcement for the week?  Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend!  It's the end of Daylight Savings on Sunday, November 3rd.  If you don't?  You are going to be early everywhere you go on Monday.  So, go on, take that extra hour of sleep!!!

Set Your Clocks Back One Hour

Lastly?  I have to end this with a funny video!  I don't know what is going on but Jimmy Fallon has been tearing it up for this household!  But, when you put two faves together like Jimmy Fallon and the cutie patootie Joseph Gordon Levitt?  HI - LAR - I- OUS!  They were all fantastic but JGL absolutely NAIILED both Sir Elton Jon and Nicki Minaj!  Am I right??  (You can find JGL at 3:16 and 7:58 - you're welcome!  And the band member's face between 8:48 - 8:57?  Priceless!)
    

Until next week!!!  Peace, Love and Twizzlers for all!

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