Cooking Classy

Some of you may be thinking, what is with this girl? Does she only eat pumpkin? I know I've posted a lot of pumpkin recipes lately, but it's just that time of year =). Also the other reason, I always buy the huge can of pumpkin puree because I can get it for the price of what the small can costs. So why would I buy the small can? It just wouldn't make sense. I hate wasting though, so I buy the large can and then I can get two, sometimes even three different pumpkin recipes out of it (unless of course I'm making pumpkin pie).  I saw this Pumpkin Pie Dip floating around Pinterest so I thought, ooh yes I must try that! I liked that this recipe didn't use cool whip as some of the pumpkin pie dips do. I changed a few things from the original recipe. I thought it needed a little more pumpkin flavor so I added an additional 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (to the 1 cup listed).  I omitted the pumpkin pie spice and rather just increased the cinnamon, added nutmeg and cloves then left...

Someone please take this popcorn from me, I can't resist it =)! How I love specialty popcorn. This is definitely one of my new favorites. It taste like lemon cream pie, in sweet, crunchy, popcorn form. Basically, it's literally irresistible. The method of preparing this popcorn recipe may seem a bit odd. That is due to the way the oils and acidity of the lemon juice and zest react with the white candy melts. I made four different batches, knowing ahead of time what I was getting into. I thought the lemon juice probably would cause the white candy melts to seize up after melting and they did. I wasn't sure if the lemon zest would do it too, but it did. So, I found the best method was as listed. I coated the popcorn in the plain white candy melts  without  mixing the lemon juice and zest into the candy melts. Then while the coating over the popcorn was still moist I added the lemon zest so it would stick well, then I let the coating dry a bit before adding the juice so it w...

Mall pretzels that you can now enjoy in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the price with countless dipping sauce options, yes please! I found this recipe over at one of my favorite food blogs, Yammie's Noshery. It's such a great blog to follow, so if you're not yet following I suggest you do it now =). She takes amazing photos, creates many of her own recipes and she has great taste in food. This recipe she posted is one example of her great taste in food. I mean, who doesn't love a fresh, warm Auntie Anne's pretzel? And with Yammie's homemade garlic cheese sauce you've got a match made in heaven. Save a few for dessert and you can try them with a warm glaze, caramel or chocolate sauce for dunking. How ever you dunk them I recommend you eat them warm, they just aren't the same cool. This Auntie Anne's Pretzels copycat recipe is one you are going to want to try. You get a chewy yet fluffy, perfectly tender, beautifully golden brown pretzel t...

How can such an incredibly simple recipe be so fantastically good? I  absolutely love this fruit dip! I got the recipe from my sister whom got it from her mother in law whom got if from I don't know where. Basically what I'm saying is this recipe is not my creation, so if you know who came up with it please let me know because I would love to credit them. They seriously came up with something genius. This recipe literally can be made, ready for dipping in 60 seconds. It doesn't get much easier than that. It's creamy, fluffy, sweet and oh so delicious. It will have you doing the finger swipe to any remaining streaks straggling behind in the bowl. If there's any left the next day (which is very very rare) I always want to eat it for breakfast, well it is served with fruit after all so that's healthy right =)? Enjoy! Oh and if anyone tries this with honey or blueberry cream cheese please let me know if you like it, I've always wanted to try a different flavor b...

Cheesecake, caramel, apples - love all the above so why not put them all together? I wanted a simple dip for my apple one day and caramel apples are one of my favorite desserts, as is cheesecake, so I thought I may as well combine them all into one quick and ridiculously easy dip. To say this dip is good is speaking much too lightly. I'm totally in love with it! It makes a great last minute treat for a party because, really it can be made in just a few minutes (and if you have an apple slicer things are almost too easy to be true). Serve it with your favorite kind of apples (I think it would also be delicious with bananas and maybe a drizzling of chocolate mmm) and enjoy!  Caramel Cheesecake Apple Dip Yields enough for a small crowd (half a recipe would be enough for about 5 people) Ingredients: 2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, chilled 1 cup caramel ice cream topping, chilled (I used Hershey's in the glass jar) 1 store bought graham cracker pie crust, crumbled Directions: Place cream...

Don't worry people, yes Cookies and Cream Chex Mix was a limited edition (Dear General Mills, why would you make the best Chex Mix you've ever created a limited edition?) but the good news, I've figured out how to make them at home! And it's so easy and think they are even better (everything fresh home-made is better isn't it?). Also, I never thought I'd say it but these are even better than muddy buddies! I could eat the whole batch on my own. It takes 4 ingredients and they can honestly be made in under 5 minutes! I made these twice in the last two days (yeah they are that good), the second time around I did an equal ratio powdered sugar to Oreo and it was perfect. I ate these while eating cookies and cream ice cream and I think I may just like these more, that is SERIOUSLY saying something! How could one of my easiest recipes be one of my favorite =)? Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Warning: the following recipe is highly addictive, prepare at you...

Time to ditch that almond poppy seed muffin your having every other morning for breakfast and reaching for this healthier, equally as delicious almond poppy seed granola bar instead! I'm ecstatic about this recipe that I came across from Rachel Ray. You can make a full batch of better tasting (and better for you) than store bought granola bars at home in about 5 minutes. I now have no excuse for buying the preservative filled granola bars at the store =), but after trying these I no longer have the desire to buy the store bought ones either. The possibilities with the recipe are endless! I can't wait for all the variations I'm going to try on these in the future. Here are some ideas ahead of time because I can't resist sharing =): Chocolate chunks, freeze dried raspberries and chopped almonds Dried apples, chopped, baking caramel pieces (I'd freeze them first then add to oat mixture or press into the top) and cinnamon/nutmeg White chocolate chunks, dried cranberrie...

What do you make when your in a crunch for time but want a wowing, incredible and highly addictive treat?  Cookies and cream popcorn mix.  I don't know if there's a  better way to celebrate Oreos 100th birthday than by making a batch of this perfect, intensely delicious popcorn.   I didn't have time for a time consuming post today, so this was the perfect thing for me to make.  I made it in under 10 minutes!  It is one of my new favorite treats!  I couldn't stop eating it and even though it was 10:00 in the morning =).  Be warned, once you start munching it is going to be hard to stop.  I'd recommend wrapping some up in treat bags, tying them with a ribbon and gifting them to friends, neighbors or coworkers.  Enjoy! If you love this popcorn then you may also like to try  Cookies and Cream Rice Krispie Treats  or  Funfetti Popcorn . Cookies and Cream Popcorn Ingredients: 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels, or 2 bags...