Easiest Ever Fudge "Butterfinger Fudge"

I think this may be most favorite fudge of all! It's SO easy to make and taste delicious.

Easiest Ever Fudge
recipe found at Heritage Schoolhouse, original recipe from Eagle Brand

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 dash of salt
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
crushed candy (as much or as little as you want.... we used butterfinger)
Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Combine chocolate chips, milk and salt in a small saucepan. Heat over low until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. (If you are using candy, add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup into mixture and then save some to spread on top of fudge). Spread fudge into prepared pan. Allow fudge to cool in refrigerator for at least two hours. To cut, lift entire fudge out of pan and cut into small pieces. Keep refrigerated in an air tight container.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #70 (SMOOTHIES & SHAKES) and Fruit Smoothie with Chia Seeds

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #70

(Smoothies and Shakes)

Fruit Smoothie w/Chia Seeds

We are forever in love with Jamba Juice, but to make them at home just never quite works out. I still try though, over and over again. I have already posted a few FUN smoothie recipes on my blog that we all love and now I have a new one to add to the list. This one was super duper tasty.

Today, is our last day in Minnesota (and for us California girls) we are freezing our butts off! But, dancing is my girls passion and that's why we are here. (I hope to report back to you all that we did GREAT!)

My girls have been dancing for 10 years now... and we are so excited that they will continue doing so in college. It's going to be an amazing experience for them and I can't wait to watch them grow into young adults.

Fruit Smoothie with Chia Seeds

created by me, Tina Hudgens

1 cup of cut-up fruit (melon, cantaloupe and watermelon work great)
2 bananas
10-15 strawberries
1 cup apple juice
2 containers of yogurt (about 1 cup)
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Chia Seeds

Throw this all into your food processor and blend. (Sometimes I add some ice, just depends how cold you like it!) This was a great smoothie.

Makes about 4 small cups, or 2 large smoothies.

This week's theme is: SMOOTHIES AND SHAKES

Please only link recipes with our theme!

If you are a regular to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky party, then link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. If you are new, please just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

Please Grab Our Button!!!

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This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

March 5 - (FIVE) Ingredient Meals (Rachel Ray or make up your own)

March 12 - St. Patrick's Day - GREEN FOOD - Everything Green!

March 19 - Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

March 26 - Freezer Meals (fix and freeze for later)

Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below. 

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: SMOOTHIES AND SHAKES  
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: SMOOTHIES AND SHAKES
Please only link recipes with our theme!

CPK Kids: Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

If you are a Macaroni and Cheese lover, then this post is just for you. Not only do I have a copycat recipe of the famous kids California Pizza Kitchen recipe, I've also recapped all of MOMS CRAZY COOKING Macaroni and Cheese recipes for you.

There is never a shortage of Macaroni and Cheese in our house (I think it may need it's own category here on MOMS CRAZY COOKING: Macaroni & Cheese). We have a few go-to recipes like our Easy Homemade Macaroni and Cheese that we all love. I am always finding new recipes that I just cant resist or must make for my kids (like this Crab Macaroni & Cheese for my twins who LOVE seafood or this spicy Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese). My son however loves Kraft Macaroni and Cheese from a box and CPK kids Macaroni and Cheese is his ALL-TIME favorite (so I try and get creative like this Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with Sweet Potatoes or Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Cheater Recipe) and now I bring to you the recipe that Justin says is almost like California Pizza Kitchen's Macaroni and Cheese. (I am so glad I found this on the web)

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese (copycat recipe from CPK)
recipe found at Babble - The Family Kitchen

18 oz. velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound fusilli pasta, cooked

In a large pot, melt the cheese and whipping cream together over medium heat. Stir in the pasta. Serve immediately. (Can you believe it's really that easy?)

Cheesy Baked Artichoke Dip

Homemade Donuts

I remember making these donuts as a little kid. I have no idea who made up this recipe, or who was the first to post in blogland but this recipe is all over the place now. I imagine that it first came from Pillsbury themselves in some little advertisement or take home cookbook years and years ago. I am 40 years old and we have been making this delicious breakfast treat over 30 years way before blogging began. I had actually forgotten about it and don't think my kids had ever had them (and nope they hadn't). I made it and they loved them just the same as I did, way back when (oh, I still love them now too) and NO they are NOT on my 2012 diet either.

The exciting thing is, that you can make them too! You may just have all the stuff right now to get them going (get up and go look... your kids will thank you later)! They are really super simple NOT FROM SCRATCH donuts. All you need is a roll of biscuits, some oil and a few toppings.

Homemade Donuts
recipe source unknown

1 pkg Bisquits; round (any kind will work, Grands make big donuts)

Vegetable Oil for Frying

1 stick margarine, melted

Pour oil into skillet to the depth of a little less than 1/2 an inch and heat on medium to medium high for about five minutes.

Using a plastic bottle cap, cut the center out of each biscuit. Drop dough into hot oil, watching carefully and turning when golden. Once doughnuts are golden on both sides, remove to paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all dough is cooked, including doughnut holes.

In a bowl, melt margarine. Dip both sides of each dounuts into melted margarine, then press into desired topping. In a separate bowl get toppings ready, like the combo of cinnamon and sugar.

Other Topping Ideas:

• mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup just plain sugar
• can frosting and sprinkles
• make a glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1-1/2 tbsp milk or water and 1/4 tsp vanilla

Baked Zucchini Sticks

We LOVE fried Zucchini, anywhere! anytime! We have a restaurant called Black Angus, they make it the BEST! I wish, I wish I could figure out their recipe, but until then we are on a quest to try out as many Zucchini recipes as we can. In sticking with the healthy part of our diet, I thought baking these would be wonderful, and they were! We enjoyed them almost as much as the famous Black Angus Zucchini. These are quick, easy and a sinch to throw together as a side dish for dinner! We had roast tacos and baked zucchini! It was a delicious light meal. Enjoy!

Baked Zucchini Sticks
recipe found on King Arthur Flour Blog

3 medium zucchini, unpeeled, cut into 3"-long stick

1 tbsp sea salt

1 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp Herb de Provence or Italian Seasoning

2 large eggs; lightly beaten

Cut zucchini lenghth wise in long sticks, then in half again to make smaller sticks. Place the cut zucchini sticks in a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with the tablespoon of sea salt. Let the zucchini drain for 1 hour or longer; rinse and pat dry. (I was amazed at how much liquid and water came out). This step is a MUST so that you do not get soggy zucchini sticks, who knew!!! We all know NOW! :-)

Combine the Panko, Parmesan, and seasoning; set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment, and spray the parchment with olive oil or Pam spray. Dredge sticks a few at a time in the egg, then roll in the crumb mixture. Place the sticks on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake sticks for 12 minutes, turn over, and bake for an additional 12 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately, with onion dip, cucumber dip or your favorite ranch dressing.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #69 (MEXICAN APPETIZERS, AVOCADO & SALSA) and Creamy Avocado Dip

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #69

(Mexican Appetizers, Avocado Dip, Salsa and More)

Creamy Avocado Dip

I already have the BEST GUACAMOLE DIP ever posted on my blog. It took me years and years to get this recipe exactly how we like it! Since we think it's perfect, there really hasn't ever been or probably never will be another recipe to take it's place. Although, I DO want to try Pioneer Woman's Guacamole... someday! Until then, mine is the best, according to MY family.

But, today's theme is Mexican Appetizers, mainly avocados and salsa (and by the way I have an A-MA-ZING Homemade Salsa recipe) already posted on my blog too. Check that out here: Homemade Salsa.

It was a pajama-movie-kind-of-day and since I didn't have all the ingredients to make the BEST GUACAMOLE DIP or Pioneer Woman's Guacamole, I had to rummage through my recipe box and I create this new Creamy Avocado Dip and we LIKE IT!

I have to do a shout out to this AWESOME avocado tool my daughters got me for Christmas, all on their own
with no help or ideas from me. They purchsed it at William-Sonoma and it's one of the best tools ever!

Creamy Avocado Dip

created by me, Tina Hudgens

1/4 cup white onion, dice
fresh or dried cilantro, as much or as little as you liked
2 tsp (approx.) finely diced jalapeno, as much or as little as you like
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp cumin
3 drops hot pepper sauce
3 to 4 avocados
1 tbsp salsa
fresh lemon, squeeze juice (1 to 2 tbsp)
1 pkg (8oz) Cream Cheese, room temperature
1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp kosher salt

Grind white onion, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, cumin and hot sauce in a molcajete until all ingredients are well grounded (or use a fork until mixer is paste like).

Cut 3 to 4 medium avocados in half. Cut into small squares inside skin and then squeeze out. Scoop the diced avocado into the molcajete. Gently fold the avocado into the paste and mush as finely as possible.

Add in salsa, fresh lemon and cream cheese. Mix, until well blended. Fold in shredded cheese and then add kosher salt to taste. Chill for several hours before serving.

This week's theme is: MEXICAN APPETIZERS (AVOCADO DIPS, SALSA AND MORE)

Please only link recipes with our theme!

If you are a regular to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky party, then link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. If you are new, please just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

Please Grab Our Button!!!

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This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

February 27 - Smoothies and Shakes

March 5 - (5) Ingredient Meals (Rachel Ray or make up your own)

March 12 - St. Patrick's Day - GREEN FOOD - Everything Green!

March 19 - Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below. 

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: MEXICAN APPETIZERS (Avocado Dip, Salsa & More) 
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: MEXICAN APPETIZERS (AVOCADO DIP, SALSA AND MORE)
Please only link recipes with our theme!

Sweet and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower: SECRET RECIPE CLUB

SECRET RECIPE CLUB

Sweet and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower

This month I am participating in Secret Recipe Club; Group C! All it really means is that I've moved from the second Monday to now posting on the third Monday of each month! And I now have a leader, Angela from Big Bear's Wife. (yea me!!) This is my 10th post for the Secret Recipe Club and I just love meeting new bloggers, making new things from other bloggers and enjoy everything this club have to offer. I stepped down as a leader and decided to just have some fun participating! :-)

I was assigned my blog and as always I jumped right on over and started pinning. I think I PINNED about 5 or 6 recipes, that someday I hope to make from my secret blog. The blog I was assigned is called Feast on the Cheap, it looks like a fairly new blog (so go check it out if you haven't already) and is written by a mother and daughter. I love seeing these close mother/daughter relationships. It just warms my heart, maybe someday my twin daughters will join me in the kitchen or on my blog. Just yesterday one of my twins said (they are 18 years old so not little twins). She said "mom, I pinned a recipe on Pinterest, did you see it? I replied "yes". She said "please please make it for me", I replied "Um, you can make it yourself, you know where the kitchen is". She said "Ok, if you help me, I will make it and I will even LET you take pictures of me in the kitchen so you can post it on your blog". Spoken from a true food bloggers family! I LOVE IT!!! (no we haven't made that recipe yet, but I see it in my near future)

Yes, my daughter has started pinning too... and she has a board named "FOOD FOR MY MOM TO MAKE"! I truly do love it! (and since the count down has begun for my girls to go off to college... everyday is precious!) Right now we are counting down months, so we are at 5 months. I am sure will will get down to weeks, days, then to hours!!! Happy, Excited, Scared and a little Sad all at the same time!

Here are a few of the other recipes that I hope to be in my near future from this new blog discovery Feast on the Cheap. I will be making this cake for sure during this years apple picking season Spiced Cider Bundt Cake with a Cinnamon-Cider Glaze and I know it would pair perfectly with this Cider-Roasted Pulled Pork Sliders with Braised Red Cabbage and Crisp Apples. I think I just found the perfect meal for the first night of camping while apple picking. (yes, when you camp in luxury motorhomes, you can make these fancy meals)

Sweet and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower
recipe found over at Feast on the Cheap

1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 med-large sweet onion, rough chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of brown sugar
Pinch of Sea Salt
1/4 tsp chile powder

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients coating well. Spread cauliflower onto a large baking sheet – make sure everything has a little space. You want the veggies to roast not steam. Roast for 20-25 minutes until golden and tender.

Here is a list of my past Secret Recipe Club recipes:

• Blueberry Muffins (Gluten-Free)
• Bean Roll-Up (extra post)
• Cucumber Salad
• Raspberry & Nutella Pizza (extra post)
• Pioneer Woman's Chicken Pot Pie 
• Frozen Breakfast Burritos
• Pink Pearl Applesauce (crock-pot)
• Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cake (extra post)
• Cake Mix Cinnamon Chip Brownies

Red Hot Apple Pie in a Mug

This is the easiest, fastest, apple pie tasting treat ever! And it's low calorie and taste delish!

Red Hot Apple Pie in a Mug
from Hungry Girl Show

1 medium Fuji apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
12 - 15 pieces Red Hots Cinnamon Flavored Candy
1/2 sheet (2 crackers) low-fat cinnamon graham crackers
2 tbsp Fat Free Reddi-wip (or more!)
Dash cinnamon

Put apple cubes in a microwavable cup or mug. Top with Red Hots -- the more you use, the hotter your pie in a mug will be! Cover and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir well. Re-cover and microwave for an additional 1 - 2 minutes, until apple cubes are soft.

Meanwhile, place graham crackers in a plastic bag and thoroughly crush through the bag; set aside.

Once cup or mug is cool enough to handle, mix contents well. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

Top with most of the crushed graham crackers followed by the whipped topping. (Use a double serving, if you like!)

Sprinkle with cinnamon and remaining crushed grahams. Voila!

S'more Cups

I know Valentine's Day is over, but who can resist a sweet snack. This is kind'of a cookie, but not really. Kind'of a cupcake, but not really. Kind'of a S'more, but not really. It is in a class all it's own. I think for the next family camping trip, I will be making these to share with all of the kids (although I have no idea when that will be), we have too many out-of-town must attend events to even consider camping right now (     L ). We love camping. Okay, let's just get to the recipe. I can not wait to make these again.

S'more Cups
recipe from Pampered Chef

7 whole graham crackers, finely crushed
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 tbsp butter, melted
4 Hershey Candy Bars (divided), Melting Chocolate Disks or other Chocolate Candies
12 large marshmallows

Preheat oven 350. After graham crackers are finely crushed. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter into small bowl. Using a small scoop place a scoop of the mixture into each cup of a mini muffin pan. Press the crumbs in to form a shallow cup (this works great using the Pampered Chef Mini-Tart Shaper - see photo). Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until edges are bubbling.

Remove pan from oven and place one small piece of chocolate into each cup. Cut marshmallows in half (dip your shears into cold water before cutting each piece). Return to oven 1 to 2 minutes, just until marshmallows are slightly softened. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.

Remove cups from pan and cool completely. Melt additional chocolate and drizzle on top.

ULTIMATE CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE RECIPE: Chocolate Cakes

Today, is a perfect day to announce the MOST POPULAR Chocolate Cake Recipe from our challenge last week, February after all is the "Celebration of Chocolate Month". We are in our sixth month of the CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE; and life couldn't be better! After all what is better then CHOCOLATE ON VALENTINE'S DAY! I know you won't actually be eating this cake today.... unless you get up RIGHT NOW AND MAKE A CHOCOLATE CAKE for your Valentine. Or, if you wish to save some calories you can just gaze at all of the 83 Chocolate Cakes from last week!

We had 83 bloggers (yep, 20 more then last month... it's catchin' on) search and blog about CHOCOLATE CAKE and the amazing recipes that showed up WOW! I now have about 10 more chocolate cakes that I MUST try! If you missed the linky party, check it out CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE - Chocolate Cakes. The Ultimate recipe this month is being picked from the linky that received the most traffic/most clicks, and actually I am going to feature TWO Chocolate Cakes this month. We've had over 41,000 views in just one week of this linky party! And the TWO recipes that received the MOST clicks (doubled from last month and received over 400 clicks each). A-MAZ-ING STUFF!!!

If you want more details about this challenge or joining this challenge for next month read all about it here. We will be baking and blogging about the ULTIMATE Spaghetti Recipe. Please come join us!

Now, let's announce the February WINNERS of the CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE.
This title "The Ultimate FUDGE Recipe" is given to:

The Ultimate CHOCOLATE CAKE Recipe

Yes, it was my very OWN cake that was the winner. My cake got the MOST clicks..
this was the first month since this challenge started that my recipe was the TOP, so excited!!
I am so proud and so honored YOU guys picked MY cake! Thank You! Thank You!

MOMS CRAZY COOKING

Whopper Chocolate Cake with Almond Buttercream Frosting

BUT... there was another cake that was right behind my cake and so... I didn't want to just feature MY cake!

I wanted to include the other blogger and her cake too!

Somewhere in the Middle

Chocolate Wasted Cake

Now, this is a cake I MUST make as-soon-as-possible! Like TODAY! I really am hoping to get this made this week maybe for my sister-in-law who is pregnant and CRAVING CHOCOLATE. Thank you, Somewhere in the Middle for finding this recipe over at Art of Dessert and to my blog MOMS CRAZY COOKING for finding these three wonderful bloggers that made up this Whopper Cake Kevin and Amanda, Savory Sweet Life and Urbane Fruits  We'd like to thank all of you for sharing your recipe with the CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE. You deserve a big round of applause and you are entitled to the ULTIMATE CRAZY COOKING CHALLENGE BUTTON, please feel free to grab it below and post it proudly on your blog.

<a href=" http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/p/crazy-cooking-challenge.html"><img src=" http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k498/Hudgens6/Buttons/CrazyCookingChallengeButtonVotedUltimateRecipe-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a><br /> </body>

Also a BIG THANK YOU to all the bloggers who participated!

Cake Batter Pancakes & HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU!

I woke up bright and early today to make all my little ones Cake Batter Pancakes. My little ones are 3 teenage kids (two - 18 yr olds and one - 19 yr old) and one 12-year old boy. And they LOVED THEM... they said WAY-BETTER-THEN regular pancakes! Mission Accomplished. My love-one is working, so I woke up to beautiful flowers and a card on the counter! LOVE!!!

Just wanted to share my card with all of you.. best card ever in the 13 years we've been married!
"To My Wife... this is Valentine's Day, Let's Spend the Evening playing around with one of those fun battery-powered Gadgets! (open card guy with a remote) So, what channel do you want to watch? Happy Valentine's Day, I do love you more then the remote." Okay, yes my husband is a little obsessed with the remote and I do tease him alot! BEST-CARD-EVER!!! :-)

Let's get to these delicious pancakes now! They are thick and rich with just a hint of cake flavor and they really really truly do taste better then regular pancakes.

Cake Batter Pancakes
recipe found over at How Sweet Eats

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup cake mix (we used white, but vanilla or yellow work too)
1 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2+ cups milk (try using vanilla almond milk, YUM!)
assorted sprinkles

Combine flour, cake mix, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl and mix. Add 1 cup of milk, egg and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. You want the batter to look like regular pancake batter; not too thin, not too thick. This will vary greatly on the brand of cake mix you use. Start with 1 cup of milk and add more if needed. I suggest a small taste test as well to see if the pancakes are flavored enough.

Preheat a skillet on medium heat (I use an electric grilled and turn it to 250 degrees). Fold desired amount of sprinkles into batter. Pour batter in 1/4 cup measurements onto skillet and let cook until bubbles form on top, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for 1 minute more. Serve with vanilla glaze, powdered sugar and/or sryup.

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
assorted sprinkles

Mix milk, vanilla and powdered sugar until glaze forms. You may need to add a little more sugar or water/milk to reach desired consistency. Mix into glaze and drizzle on pancakes.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #68 (Valetine's Day Treats & Romantic Dinners) and White Chocolate Heart Suckers

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #68

(Valentine's Day Treats & Romantic Dinners)

White Chocolate Heart Suckers

Valentine's Day in our house has always been about the kids exchanging those cute little cards at school, having a class party and coming home with lots of goodies! And then my kids grew up! How did that happen? There is very little romantic things when you have a house full of kids... (and since we've never be ALONE... we have a his, mine and ours situation going on). I keep thinking when they move out, go off to college and are all grown up? We have one out the door, two more in just a few months and then we've got one more kid to go! Empty Nest? I don't think so... I am sure when it comes time, I will be crying the blues... but for now, I will just dream of Romantic Days with my hubby! This year I will be taking my little guy (he is 12 yrs old) to Disneyland to celebrate Valentine's Day with him and enjoy my favorite treat Hot Caramel Apples, my husband will be at work :-(

But let's talk about this CUTE little treat first. Who has some left over Candy Canes? (I know, you'll have to remember to buy extra next year) But, for those of you who do have some left over candy canes, this is SUCH a cute treat for Valentine's Day. (Hey, I saw some candy canes on the clearance isle at Rite Aid about 2 weeks ago... maybe there is still time to grab some... yes I know it's February.) I read that Candy Canes last forever, and other sources say at least 4 to 5 years, so a few years ago while on a camping trip my mom and I found about 50 boxes of candy canes, the BIG ones (like this photo... in all the fun flavors too)! They were clearance, clearance, clearance and yep we bought them all. They were only 1 cent. Yep! 1 cent and we bought all 50 boxes! I don't have any left now, but they lasted atleast two years at our house! We mainly bought them for Operation Christmas Child, which are shoe boxes we package up every year to donate to children in third world countries, but a few boxes here and there were used for recipes.

White Chocolate Heart Suckers
found this recipe on Not So Idle Hands, but originally it's from The Idea Room

Candy Canes (any color / any flavor)
White Chocolate Melts

Big or small candy canes, doesn't matter, but just FYI the big candy canes take ALOT of chocolate, so if you are giving these away to little kids, the small ones might be better or if you want to make a BIG impression, make the big ones.

Simply take two candy canes and place them in a heart shape on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Slide a sucker stick in between them like you see in the picture above. Place them in a heated 350 degree oven and watch them closely, they only need about 2 to 4 minutes. They will be melty and bubbly (do NOT walk away.. as soon as they start to melt and bubble remove them from oven).  Quickly remove them from the oven and pinch the ends of the candy canes together at the top and bottom of each sucker. Be careful as the candy will be HOT, use another stick or two butter knifes to help squeeze them together.

Set the tray aside to let them cool completely.  Melt some white chocolate in the microwave. Pour a small amount into the center of the suckers and smooth. This can be done with your finger, a knife or just by tapping the cookie sheet. Added a few colorful sprinkles when the chocolate is still wet and then let then cool again before packaging or better yet…Eating!

Add a cute little bow and you've got the perfect Valentine Day Treat! ENJOY!

This week's theme is: VALENTINE'S DAY TREATS & ROMANTIC DINNERS

Please only link recipes with our theme!

If you are a regular to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky party, then link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. If you are new, please just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

Please Grab Our Button!!!

<a href=" http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS" target="_blank "><img src="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k498/Hudgens6/Buttons/ThisWeeksCravingsButton.jpg" /></a>

This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

February 20 - Mexican Appetizers (Avocado Recipes & Salsa Recipes)

February 27 - Smoothies and Shakes

March 5 - (5) Ingredient Meals (Rachel Ray or make up your own)

March 12 - St. Patrick's Day - GREEN FOOD - Everything Green!

Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below. 

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: VALENTINE'S DAY TREATS AND ROMANTIC DINNERS
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: VALENTINE'S DAY TREATS AND ROMANTIC DINNERS
Please only link recipes with our theme!

Cinnamon-Vanilla French Toast Nuggets

There hasn't been too many meals that look like this lately in our house! It's the beginning of the year, dance routines for twins are in full swing and we are all watching our waist-line. But, if you have a package of hot dog buns and are wondering how to use them up, this is the perfect breakfast for that and this recipe actually does come from The Hungry Girl Cookbook (under 200 calories, but I am sure not how we made it).

Cinnamon-Vanilla French Toast Nuggets
from Hungry Girl 200 under 200 by Lisa Lillien

2 hot dog buns
1/3 cup fat-free liquid egg (we used just 2 fresh eggs)
1 tsp Coffee-Mat Sugar Free French Vanilla Powdered Creamer
2 dashes cinnamon
sugar-free pancake syrup (we used what we had on hand)

Cut hot dog buns into 4 to 6 pieces (see photo above). In a small bowl dissolve powdered creamer in 1 tbsp warm water. Add egg subsitute (or eggs) and 1 dash of cinnamon, stirring until well mixed.

Bring a large pan sprayed with non-stick spray to medium heat. Dip/Soak bread in pieces in egg mixture, covering them completely. Place egg-dipped bread pieces in the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

Remove from heat and place your nuggets on the plate. Sprinkle with another dash of cinnamon and top with syrup.