Name: Cheesy Hawaiian Barbecue Pasta Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces pasta noodles; 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1/4 cup chopped onion; 1/2 cup chopped green pepper; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 2 cups cubed ham; 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (20 oz. can); 1 - 12 ounce can evaporated milk; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Twix Fudge

This Twix Fudge is an easy treat to make when your sweet tooth starts calling out. Creamy chocolate fudge on top of a sweet, crumbly crust and lots of chopped up Twix candy bars...yes, please.

My house is an absolute disaster right now. No, not because I have given up completely on cleaning... although that has crossed my mind a time or two.

We decided to paint our kids' bedrooms. It was really supposed to be one room that quickly spiraled out of control into all 3 bedrooms. You know how it goes if you have more than one child. I mean, how could we even possibly think about only doing one?

Children tend to warp your brain with their logic. Of course, painting is fairly easy, so they won us over to their dark way of thinking. It has been over 4 years since we painted those rooms. Time for a refresh and a redo. [Read more...]

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies

Fill your cookie jar today with some Butterscotch Pudding Cookies. The pudding makes them soft and chewy, and the M&M candies add chocolate and color.

If you love baking with candies, check out our M&M cupcakes or M&M cookies.

Last week we went to a picnic with some friends. Picnics + Friends = Baking Fun! Any chance I get to bake and get rid of the sugar from my kitchen is definitely a good day! Plus, hanging out with awesome friends is always so much fun.

I realized that it had been a while since I made cookies. Pudding cookies are one of my favorites because they are so soft and chewy. These Butterscotch Pudding Cookies never last long when I make them.

So, as I looked through the boxes in my cupboard, I kept coming back to the butterscotch. I absolutely love butterscotch, but I just don't use it enough. That's going to change starting now. [Read more...]

Cheesy Hawaiian Barbecue Pasta Bake

Turning your favorite pizza toppings into a delicious and cheesy pasta bake is a delicious dinner option. This Cheesy Hawaiian Barbecue Pasta Bake disappeared quickly when it was put on our dinner table.

Are you ready for this?

I turned another one of my favorite pizza toppings into a delicious pasta bake. I know, you are just as surprised as me. Ha!

This pasta obsession of mine hasn't gone away yet, even in the heat of summer. Of course most days we are grilling out or eating salads. But then a random day will come, and I just have to have pasta covered in lots of cheesy goodness.

Last week when the pasta craving came over me, I decided to come up with another pizza inspired pasta bake. Now this is one that you will have to trust me on!

Hawaiian pizza is one of my favorites, but for some reason we just do not order it that often. A few weeks ago we had some friends over that love ham and pineapple pizza too, so we all enjoyed a large Hawaiian BBQ pizza for dinner. It was the first time I had one with barbecue sauce on it, and I have to say I was loving it.

So now I have a pasta craving that needs satisfied and a pizza flavor still fresh in my head. Why not combine the two and see what happens?

Cheesy goodness that is out of this world! That's what happens.

My kids devoured this pan of pasta! Usually I will get some sort of "bad" feedback from at least one picky child, but not this time. Everyone loved the dinner and went back for more.

Woo hoo! Dinner success is mine!

When you are making a pasta dinner and you want it on the table faster, make sure to prep some ingredients before hand. You can chop the veggies and ham the night before and have them in containers in the refrigerator. Or you can chop them while the pasta is boiling. There are not that many in this dish, so you can easily have everything prepped while you wait for the noodles to cook.

Another time saving tip is to buy bags of frozen already chopped veggies. I have a few of those in my freezer for nights when I am in a hurry. You can buy packages of cubed ham in the deli section of the store too. See? I just saved you 10 minutes of chopping time. You are welcome 🙂

There is no need to dirty a thousand pans while making dinner. Make sure you reuse pans as you are cooking. This dinner needs two pans. Three if you count the baking dish at the end.

After the noodles are done cooking, drain them and put them right back in the same pan. Drizzle the noodles with a little bit of oil to keep them from sticking. Saute the veggies and ham in a large skillet. When these are finished cooking, spoon them right on top of the pasta. Now reuse the dirty skillet to melt the cheese in. All of these ingredients will be in one dish sometime, so it is ok to reuse the pan. But if you absolutely love washing dishes, go for it and get a clean pan out.

After the cheese is all melted, stir it into the pasta. You can go ahead and eat it now if you are in a hurry. BUT...if you have time to wait another 20 minutes, bake it with more cheese on top.

There is always time for extra cheese here!

Recipe

Cheesy Hawaiian Barbecue Pasta Bake

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ham, pineapple, and barbecue sauce add a delicious pizza twist to this cheesy pasta bake. My kids went nuts for this dish.

No Ratings

Ingredients

8 ounces pasta noodles
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups cubed ham
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (20 oz. can)
1 - 12 ounce can evaporated milk
½ cup barbecue sauce
2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon oregano

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions. Drain and put back in pan. Stir in 1 teaspoon oil and cover. Set aside.
In a large skillet saute the onion and pepper in 1 Tablespoon oil for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, ham, and pineapple and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Spoon the ham mixture into the pasta and cover again.
Pour the milk and barbecue sauce into the skillet. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to simmer. Add 2 cups mozzarella cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Pour over the pasta and ham. Stir together. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.
Spoon the mixture into a greased 8x8 pan and top with the remaining cheeses. Sprinkle with oregano. Bake for 20 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes to brown the top.
Serve immediately. Serves 6.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 434Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 1102mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 22gProtein: 28g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

More delicious dinner ideas with the barbecue twist added in:

BBQ Chicken & Avocado Quesadillas title-1

Barbecue Chicken & Avocado Quesadillas

Chipotle BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Raspberry Chipotle Turkey Pocket Thins

Birthday Candy Jar with Printable

This fun and easy Birthday Candy Jar and printable is a cute gift to share with friends and family.

I always have candy in my cupboards and empty mason jars in my blogging stash! I decided to combine the two for a very quick and easy gift for the blog hop.

As for the other creative ideas, a lot of these gifts are versatile for any occasion, and can be a go to gift to your friends, family, or even that friend that you would like to get to know better. Even more fabulous--most gifts are under $5, and have coordinating printables to make it super simple!

As we get older, we tend to not celebrate our birthdays with friends as much. It just ends up being another day in our busy schedules with a cake bonus thrown in, if we are lucky.

Just think how exciting it would be if one of your friends showed up unexpectedly with a cute little gift to say "Happy Birthday" and "I was thinking about you today." [Read more...]

Banana Split Cheesecake Rolls

Looking for a new breakfast or snack idea? These Banana Split Cheesecake Rolls are perfect with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.

I hope you have enjoyed this fun Banana Split inspired week. Aimee and I definitely had a blast making you treats that had the traditional banana split flavors incorporated into new and delicious goodies.

I still have a few more recipes that I want to try out. But after a week of all banana I am ready to change it up a bit in my kitchen. Be prepared to see a random Banana Split recipe here and there over the next few months though. #youhavebeenwarned

The rest of the ripe bananas have been frozen for future breakfast smoothies.

Speaking of breakfast...we couldn't have a themed week and not include a breakfast treat, now could we?

I love making easy danishes and rolls as a special breakfast. And yes, these are considered breakfast and snack around our house. I also let them eat marshmallow cereal and drink chocolate milk. Whoops 🙂 Now before I get hate mail from you saying that I am horrible for letting my children eat these as breakfast, let me ask you a few questions.

1. Do you eat donuts and pastries for breakfast sometimes?
2. Why is soaking pancakes in syrup an acceptable breakfast?
3. Aren't some muffins just cupcakes without frosting?
4. Do you really think my kids eat these kinds of things every single day?

We am a firm believers in moderation and healthy eating. Fruit and veggies are main staples in our house. I have had quite a few people tell me how impressed they are that my kids will eat salads for lunch and dinner. We started them young on these kinds of foods, and they are used to eating healthy food every week. #theythinkitsnormal

They are also used to a dessert blogger mom who can't stay away from baking sugar bombs all.the.time. Teaching them moderation in what they eat has been an important lesson for all of us to practice. Yes, even me. Personally I would love to eat sprinkled and chocolate goodness 24/7, but we all know my pants would kill me for that. Not to mention what does that say to my kids? "No sweet darling children you must eat your veggies. Now excuse me while I scarf down this piece of cake." Yeah, that's probably not going to go over so well.

Now that I got that out, let's make some cheesecake rolls. Banana Split style!

These rolls are really easy to make. Mix your softened cream cheese with a ripe banana and a little bit of sugar and flour. Set it in the refrigerator while you get the crescent rolls ready.

Open the can and separate the rolls into 4 rectangles. There are 8 triangles in each can, but you are going to press 2 triangles together to form a rectangle. You will use 2 cans of rolls to get 8 rolls total. Make sure all the seams are pressed together very well. Try not to press your dough too thin. We don't want the cheesecake goodness escaping during baking.

Spoon the cheesecake batter down the center of each roll. Drop a little bit of strawberry preserves into the cheesecake. Fold over the dough and press the ends together. Gently press the center seams together and flip the roll over so the seam is on the bottom. Bake and let cool.

To finish off these pastries, add some chocolate drizzles and sprinkles. I mean if you are going to eat a pastry for breakfast, you might as well go all out 🙂

Recipe

Banana Split Cheesecake Rolls Recipe

Yield: 8 cheesecake rolls

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Banana and strawberry inside an easy to make cheesecake roll. Chocolate and sprinkles give it a fun flair.

5.0 Stars (1 Review)

Ingredients

2 - 8 ounce cans refrigerated crescent rolls
1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 medium sized ripe banana
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons all purpose flour
½ cup strawberry preserves
¼ cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening
sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
Mash the banana and add it to the bowl with the flour. Beat until it is all incorporated.
Open both cans of crescent rolls. Press together small rectangles to form 8 total rectangles.
Spread a large tablespoon of cheesecake batter down the center of each rectangle. Drop a teaspoon of preserves into the cheesecake. Dot it down the entire length of the roll.
Fold the sides of the crescent roll up and over the batter. Press together the seams on top and at the ends. Flip over gently so the seam is on the bottom.
Bake for 10-11 minutes. Remove and let cool on the tray for 15-20 minutes. Refrigerate until set.
Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds, then stir. Stir and heat for 15 seconds at a time until melted and creamy, if needed.
Spoon into a ziplock baggie and cut one tip off. Drizzle over chilled rolls and top with sprinkles. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container.

Notes

*Seamless crescent dough can be used. Cut each sheet into 4 rectangles.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 327mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 2gSugar: 24gProtein: 6g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

More fun recipes to try that have the delicious Banana Split flavor incorporated:

Banana Split Popcorn

Banana Split Bundt Cake

No Bake Banana Split Oreo Dessert

Banana Split Brownie Pie

Banana Split Bundt Cake

Adding chocolate chips and cherries makes this banana cake extra special. Bring this Banana Split Bundt Cake to those weekend picnics and watch it disappear.

One of my favorite jobs when I was in college was at a restaurant in PA called Friendly's. I waitressed there with my two best friends, and I have so many fond memories from those days. There were so many days of just goofing off, laughing when we had to work the "butt" tables, flirting with the customers (yeah, we had no shame then), and trying to get our tables to order an ice cream dessert.

On the busier nights we had someone who would make the ice cream treats for us. But there were those slow days and nights when getting the ice cream order just went with the job. I have to admit I really loved making those fun treats. [Read more...]

Chicken Nacho Supreme Skillet

*I have been selected by Kraft Foods to be a spokesperson for VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are my own.

Some of the things I like to look for when shopping in different kitchen stores are fun baking pans. I have started to accumulate quite a collection of different types of pans. There are pans for making donuts, whoopie pies, and cheesecake stored in totes in our basement. Those pans come out every so often when I have a fun baking idea.

On the shelves in my basement are also a few different sizes of skillets. I tend to forget those pans are down there when I make dinner.

Recently VELVEETA contacted me about trying their new Cheesy Skillet dinners for my family. These are a delicious and easy way to put those unused pans back into play.

Apparently there are quite a few other people out there that have forgotten about their skillets too. VELVEETA noticed that there are thousands of skillets listed for sale on online auction sites. All of their owners have forgotten how to use these skillets for dinner. VELVEETA purchased more than 1,000 skillets and returned them to their owners with a box of VELVEETA Cheesy Skillet. #whatmyskilletisfor

I was very excited to watch for my new skillet and boxes of Cheesy Skillets to arrive. That box was opened immediately, and the first one I noticed was the Nacho Supreme Skillet Dinner staring back at me. I have a slight weakness for any and all things nacho related. A plate of nachos can not be anywhere near me, or I will devour it all.

Seeing that dinner on top was a sign to me that I needed to make this one first for our family.

The only thing you need to add to these boxed dinners is the meat. Now the Nacho Supreme does call for ground beef, but chicken nachos happen to be my favorite. So I substituted a pound of chicken for the beef. I love that these dinners are easy to make, and that you can change up the ingredients based on what you like or have on hand.

I cooked the chicken in my skillet and then added the water, noodles, and seasoning and waited for it to come to a boil. After the noodles finished cooking, I also added one can of drained corn and one can of rinsed black beans.

Now it is time to add that Liquid Gold!

Chicken Nacho Supreme Skillet - this VELVEETA Nacho Skillet has chicken, corn, and beans for the ultimate nacho pasta dinner @liquidgold #ad #whatmyskilletisfor

I think stirring in the packet of cheesy goodness was my favorite thing. I mean look at the Liquid Gold covering all the noodles and meat. This is definitely what those unused pans in my basement need.

Now to set the table and add one more nacho inspired topping. I had bowls of chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced avocados ready for anyone who wanted to take their dinner to another level. This Chicken Nacho Supreme Skillet got thumbs up from everyone around the table. Our skillet will definitely be used again for more meals.

Recipe

Chicken Nacho Supreme Skillet

Yield: 5 - 1 cup servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Chicken, beans, corn, and nacho toppings turn this VELVEETA Cheesy Skillet into a delicious nacho experience.

No Ratings

Ingredients

1 pound chicken, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 box VELVEETA Nacho Supreme Cheesy Skillet
2 cups water
1 can corn, diced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced avocados for garnish

Instructions

Place oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until completely cooked through.
Add the water and the bag of noodles and seasoning to the cooked meat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until most of the water is gone, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Stir in the can of beans and corn. Open the cheese packet and stir into the pasta. Drizzle the top of the skillet dinner with the salsa packet.
Serve with lettuce, tomato, and avocado if desired. Makes 5 - 1 cup servings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 526Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 789mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 12gSugar: 5gProtein: 33g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

*I was sent a new skillet and boxes of VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets to review. I also was compensated to create a recipe and blog post. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Cheesy Beef Panini

Enjoy these Cheesy Beef Panini for lunch or dinner. This easy grilled cheese sandwich is loaded with goodness and will have everyone wanting more.

We have added a new member to our family. Now before you start thinking we have a new baby or puppy, let me set you straight. We bought a panini press. And it has been love at first use.

Honestly, I think someone has made a sandwich on it every day for the past week. My oldest even told me he was kidnapping the machine when the time comes for him to move out. I think it is safe to say this new Griddler is going to get lots of use in the next few years.

Another thing I'm thinking is thank goodness for a machine that is so easy to use that our kids can make their own BBQ Chicken & Avocado Quesadillas for lunch this summer.

[Read more...]

Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes

These homemade Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes are a fun way to celebrate any party. The surprise cherry center will make everyone smile when they find it.

Do you long for the lazy days of summer? It's been so long since we have actually had a summer with absolutely nothing to do.

I remember when our kids were little, and we would look forward to summer time because it meant nothing but pool days and park fun.

Then our kids started getting older, we changed jobs, started a new business, and realized that summer is really just another season with more things to do. [Read more...]

Family Fun at Walt Disney World

A few weeks ago we were able to spend a week in Orlando visiting the Disney World parks. As we talked about our vacation before we planned it, we realized this could be the last time we come with our kids. They are starting to hit that age where Disney isn't as magical as when they were younger.

Yes, I am just as horrified as you are! That means they are getting older, and we are getting older. Neither of which I am happy about!

Now don't get me wrong. They still enjoyed getting away and doing the rides. There was just no character meeting or autographs this time. Sad face that we only saw Mickey and Minnie from a distance.

Our kids were way more into getting in line for Space Mountain and Mt. Everest than wasting time on a person in a costume. I get it, but it still is sad in some ways.

Now I hope you are ready for photo over load. I tried really hard to narrow it down to my favorites. This year I really didn't take as many pictures of the attractions as I have in previous years. It was nice to not be snapping behind the scenes the whole trip. Although, if you ask my family, they would say I bugged them with my camera and phone. Oh, well! That's a mom's right!

We spent our first day wandering Animal Kingdom. Great tip for this park is to get there first thing and go right to the safari. We have been there before, but I have never seen this many animals out. They are being fed in the morning, so more animals were visible.

There were probably 6-7 giraffes walking around as our truck passed through. Those are some incredible animals. Can you believe they have just as many bones in their neck as we do?

And did you know zebras are black with white stripes? Just a few fun tidbits I remembered from our adventure. I have to admit the giraffes and zebras were my absolute favorite animals we saw.

We came, we saw, we conquered Mt. Everest again. This is such a fun ride and totally worth the time in line.

Although I have to say, if you wait and hit the ride at the very end of the day, you can get on it like 5 times in a row. Or at least that's what my hubby and daughter say. One of the perks of getting older...rides too many times in a row start to make you feel sick.

I also use that excuse on rides that involve water. Call me crazy, but I am not very fond of the water rides. I'm the boring one that waits in line with everyone and then crosses over and waits at the end for them. Yes, I'm not that fun. I've heard it before, and I'm ok with it.

On to the Magic Kingdom! Selfies with the castle were a must. As much as I wanted to stop someone to take a group photo with my big camera, my hubby wouldn't let me bug someone.

His reasoning...they paid money to be here, so we can't waste their time with a camera. So instead I made my family take a few different shots with the castle. They humored me!

One huge tip on getting a shot with the castle with everyone else around you doing the same thing is to head to the sides. Everyone stops in the street right in front of the castle, so you will end up with a photo that includes lots of strangers all around and behind you. If you look at the set of photos below, you can see what I'm talking about.

The first two pictures are in front of the castle with lots of people all around us. It is definitely a closer angle, so you have to decide what you like.

The next picture was taken a little farther into the park and to the side of the castle. There are still people in the background, but not quite as many.

Merry go rounds, Space Mountain, and a magical fireworks show completed our day. There were tons more rides and shows that we did, but I had my camera away and just enjoyed the fun with my family.

And of course, you can't go to Disney World without getting a Dole Whip. There is something so refreshing about that frozen treat.

I loved them so much that I had to make this Disney Dole Whip recipe at home.

Now to my hubby's favorite part of the trip. When we were planning this trip, he was firm on getting there before May ended. Hollywood Studios has Star Wars weekends every weekend in May.

I may have searched every store in the park just to find this particular Star Wars shirt. I had seen a lady wearing it the day before, and I really wanted it. And I even had the opportunity to tell another lady where to find it! LOL!

One fun thing that they have for the kids on these weekends is a Jedi Training Camp. It is limited so you have to get there as soon as the park opens and get in line and signed up for one of these sessions.

Our youngest was able to participate in this fun event. They had Jedi robes to wear and were taught a few moves using their lightsabers. Then each "youngling" was able to fight either Darth Vader or Darth Maul. It was pretty fun to watch.

Our youngest was finally tall enough to ride the Rockin' Roller Coaster. Every other year that we have been there, he was too short. He was definitely excited to be able to ride with everyone this year.

The best part of the day was the fireworks show. It was set to all the Star Wars music, and it was amazing!!! It was probably one of the best fireworks shows we have seen at Disney!

We added an extra package to our tickets this year. They offer a Water Park Fun and More package where you can enjoy extra passes to the Disney water parks, Disney miniature golf and Disney Quest for a very reasonable price. If you are going to be there for a longer amount of time, this is really an affordable way to enjoy these extra places.

One day we went to Blizzard Beach and spent all day at the water park. There is absolutely no way you can walk around with a camera, so these are the only pictures I have from our day.

I have to admit it was fun to relax and not have a phone or camera at all times. Although the photographer in me was cringing a little because I do love capturing those moments. Especially moments where every single one of us went down Summit Plummet. This is one of the tallest, steepest body slides around. 12 stories almost straight down. Talk about freak out moment when you are sitting at the top and the cast member says so go ahead! They have a photographer at the bottom taking photos, so I definitely need to get on Disney's website and see those. They might be worth buying just for the faces I'm sure we all made coming down.

We also used our extra fun passes at Disney Quest. Our video game loving kiddos had a blast there. In fact we went twice during the week.

And of course no trip to Downtown Disney is complete until you have done selfies with a sea monster photo bombing you. Yes, we were that crazy couple taking a billion and one photos in a row making faces the time.

It was definitely a fun week hanging out as a family. Lots of fun and on the go adventure every day. Now to plan a relaxing beach vacation where all we do is nothing. Maybe next summer!

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