'Tis the season to eat at Panera Bread

So guess who has a new celebration going on? Yes, it's definitely Panera Bread and the items are out of this world, and perfect for any chilly day.

{French Toast Bagel Breakfast Sandwich}

This sandwich even has delicious Vermont white cheddar cheese and natural sausage that has been grilled on Panera's signature maple-laced French Toast Bagel. The sandwich is amazing... it's sweet, it's savory and it's all sorts of deliciousness. Definitely a breakfast sandwich you want to try for yourself.

{All-Natural Steak Chili with Cornbread}

This is a new product that Panera Bread has out for the winter season. It contains a blend of slow-cooked tender brisket slices and ground beef with vegetables and kidney beans in a rich tomato based broth. This chili has a bit of a kick to it, but paired with the sweet cornbread it's packed with some great flavor. I definitely am thinking the cornbread crumbles are the star of this dish!

{Creamy Tomato with Asiago Cheese Croutons}

Most of us can't make it through the winter without having a bowl of some delicious tomato soup. This soup is vegetarian and paired with the Asiago Cheese croutons it's the perfect soup to warm you up from the brisk winter weather.

'Tis the season for curling up near a fire or bundled in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate, but why settle for an ordinary hot chocolate drink, when you can have a Mint hot Cocoa or Mint Mocha.

{Mint Mocha}

{Mint Hot Cocoa}

Let's talk cocoa... when Starbucks cups changed to red most of us ran to the nearest coffee shop. That red cup gets us into the holiday spirit. As a lot of you know I went to college where the owner/creator of Starbucks went to college. My college also is the only one that has a Starbucks on campus. So you can imagine I practically lived in Starbucks, and my go to drink quickly became the peppermint hot chocolate. Starbucks has been the only place that has ever made a peppermint hot chocolate that I was completely in love with. However that has all changed. Yes it's true Panera Bread's Mint Hot Cocoa is 110 times better than Starbucks is. So for the rest of this chilly season you will not see a red cup in my hands. The Mint Mocha from Panera is also completely out of this world. If you want a good drink with quality taste the next time you want to go to Starbucks skip it and head to Panera Bread... seriously you'll thank me!

{Mint Crinkle Cookie}

This cookie is brand new for the holiday season, and the taste is amazing. It's a fudgy mint cookie made with chocolate chips and powdered sugar. It's definitely a must have for sitting next to a roaring fire with a cup of minty hot cocoa.

{Gingerbread Man Cookie}

He's back and as delicious as ever. Not to mention this gingerbread man cookie is absolutely adorable, and who doesn't love a cute cookie to get you into the holiday spirit?

My Panera

My Panera is a new loyalty program that Panera Bread came out with. It offers members exclusive invitations as well as recipes, cooking tips and surprises such as a free bakery-cafe menu items. I just got a free Mint Mocha... yum! Definitely sign up for this program the next time you swing into Panera Bread!

Panera Bread date anyone?
xo

A Holiday Harvest

I was fortunate enough to be selected by POM Wonderful to host a POM Dinner Party this week. POM was so gracious and sent me two cases of gorgeous pomegranates to help with my menu. Let me tell you these were the BEST pomegranates that I have ever tasted. For my dinner party I incorporated pomegranates into each item I created. I also created a lovely tablescape.

{the table scape: i used pomegranates as place cards}

How to cut a Pomegranate

{while waiting for dinner, guest munched on pomegranate brittle.}

{Appetizer: Bacon wrapped shrimp with a pomegranate glaze}

{Salad: spinach, mandarin oranges, pomegranate arils, slivered almonds and poppyseed dressing}


{Cocktail: a POMtini}


{The main course}
{buttermilk biscuits with pomegranate butter}

{chicken orzo with pomegranate arils}

{and pineapple clove boneless pork ribs with a sweet and tangy pomegranate barbecue sauce}

{Dessert: homemade vanilla ice cream with a pomegranate honey glaze, slivered almonds and pomegranate arils}

{After dinner drink and treat: POMegranate mulled cider and shortbread cookies with a lemon glaze}

xo hope you enjoyed! I`ll post recipes soon!

Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 cup Quaker old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (30 oz.) LIBBY's Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix
• frosting (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Combine flour, Quaker oats and brown sugar in large bowl. Stir in butter until moistened. Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Place in oven and cook for 5 minutes.

Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, cornstarch and pumpkin pie spice in large mixing bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs. Beat in pumpkin pie mix. When crust is finished baking pour mixture over it. (Crust should NOT be cooled when you do this.) Then sprinkle with the reserved oat mixture.

Bake for 30-45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. I like to drizzle frosting over the top of mine.

xo

Back on the road again

As you read this I am on the road with the boy headed back to Pennsylvania. Let's pray that my home has not been taken over by stink bugs! *fingers crossed* The above flowers is just a sample of one of the bouquets that I made for my Mummie and I to give to Meeme and my Aunt, because of the loss of their brother. I went with very fallesque flowers and think the bouquets turned out wonderful.

My mummie doesn't work on the weekends so her and I were able to spend some quality time crafting together. I got some of my Christmas presents finished which made for a very productive weekend! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP MUMMIE!!! I cannot wait to show you all the cute things that we made... but in my family Christmas does NOT go up until Thanksgiving. Looks like you'll have to wait a couple weeks.

10/22 eats{apple with Cabot Cheese}
2 pts.

{mine: Maurice Salad}
8 pts.

For lunch/dinner my mum and I went to the Macy's (Hudson's) Bistro.

{Mum's: ham and pepper quiche with a lakeshore salad}

{dessert: hudsonville ice cream with sprinkles}
4 pts.

10/23 eats

{apple with Cabot Cheese}
2 pts. {half a polish ham sandwich with lettuce mayo and pringles}
5 pts.

Snacks (not pictured)
100 calorie pack cookies: 3 pts.
String Cheese: 1 pt.
{chicken faijta with a sprinkle of cheese}
6 pts.

10/24 eats
{apple with Cabot Cheese}
2 pts. {half a polish ham sandwich with lettuce mayo and pringles}
5 pts.

Snacks not pictures:
100 calorie pack: 3 pts.
Apple Crisp: 5 pts.

{scalloped potatoes and meatloaf with ketchup}
9 pts.

Apple Strudel a Houston Classic

A couple of nights ago I decided to make an Apple Strudel, and I found an amazing recipe in the book Houston Classic Desserts.

After moving to Pennsylvania and being surrounded by oil field people all I hear is talk about Texas. Mainly Houston and the AMAZING restaurants that are there. This cookbook contains all the classic recipes from favorite Texas restaurants such as The Lexington Grille Creme Brulee (which I have heard heavenly thoughts about) to the Blueberry Tart at Marks. This book is going to make your mouth water!


The Apple Strudel recipe comes from Brenner's. What is Brenner's? Well it opened in 1936 as a cafe but is now a steakhouse with a great past and even better Apple Strudel.

Here is the super amazing
Apple Strudel recipe

Yield: One Strudel, 8 Servings

Filling

• 1 c. unsalted butter
• 1/4 pounds brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon (the strong good stuff)
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbls. Meyers Rum
• 6 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (2.5 pounds)
• 1/4 c. cornstarch
• 1/3 c. cold water

• In a extra large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.

• Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and rum. Whisk until completely incorporated.

• Add the apples to the sugar mixture and cook over medium heat until cooked through, approximately 20 minutes. Combine the cornstarch and water... add mixture to skillet. Cook until mixture thickens, and then turn off heat. Transfer to an appropriate storage container. Cool in an ice bath.

• Place the cooled strudel filling into a perfprated pan and allow most of the juices to drain.

Assembly

• 1 batch apple strudel filling (see above)
• 1 each puff pastry sheets, thawed
• 1/4 cup toasted pecans
• as needed all purpose flour water, egg wash

• Place a linen napkin down on a work table. Dust the napkin with flour and place puff pastry on the floured napkin. Roll out to twice its original size (about the size of the napkin)

• Place the strudel filling in the center third of the puff pastry, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of pecans on top. Fold one end of pastry over the filling (using the napkin to fold it) brush with water, fold over the other end, gently press together.

• Pinch excess pastry from the ends and fold the ends over the top (all seams should be on the same side). Flip so the seam is on the bottom. Place strudel on a parchment lined sheet pan, and brush with egg wash. Cover and freeze for at least 12 hours. (I did mine over night)

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Remove the strudel from the freezer and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Brush again with egg wash.

• Bake frozen strudel until golden brown on the outside. About 20 minutes. Slice each strudel into eight equal pieces. Discard a 1 inch piece on each end.

• Serve with vanilla ice cream


Enjoy!!!

xo

I cannot seem to get back on track

{honey crisp apple with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar}

honey crisp apple: 1 pt. (116)
dusting of cinnamon and sugar: 1 pt. (20)
breakfast: 2 pts. (136)

{hudson's salad at home}

lettuce: 0 pts. (20)
pickles: 1 pt. (30)
cheese: 1 pt. (50)
turkey: 1 pt. (70)
dressing: 2 pts. (50)
lunch: 5 pts. (220)

{chicken broccoli bake}

cheesy rice: 2 pts. (125)
chicken breast: 2 pts. (100)
broccoli: 0 pts. (30)

{side salad}

side salad: 3 pts. (197)
dinner: 7 pts. (452)

{apple mess}

honey crisp apple: 1 pt. (116)
nuts: 2 pts. (80)
caramel: 1.5 pts. (75)
dessert: 4.5 pts. (271)

not pictured
granola bar: 2 pts. (90)
graham cookies: 2 pts. (100)
total: 4 pts. (190)

22.5/18 & 1,269 calories

Chicken Broccoli Bake

Ingredients
• brown rice (I opened up one boil in bag package)
• velveta cheese
• 2 cups boiling water
• chicken breast
• frozen broccoli (semi thawed)

Directions
Place brown rice in the bottom of a glass baking dish with two cups boiling water. Add cubes of Velveta cheese. Place uncooked chicken breast on top. Cover and place in the oven for 30 minutes at 425 degrees. After 30 minutes pull out the dish add shredded cheese to the chicken if you would like. Then place the broccoli over top of the dish. Cover and cook another 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Serve and enjoy.

xo have a fabulous Saturday!