Not a single natural thing

As moms, we read labels, peruse organic veggies and listen to the debates about free range chickens versus chickens that grew up in the bad part of town. Personally, I feel I've done better foodwise from the days of grabbing a Pop-Tart, Diet Coke and a clove cigarette and calling it a balanced meal. (Don't judge, it was 1995. I was listening to the Grateful Dead and wearing Birkenstocks. It was mad days, I tell you, mad days.) So much information, so much of it conflicting. Sometimes, a gal just needs a Dorito.

On that note, these recipes are completely made with processed foods. Not.A.Single.Natural.Thing. among them. (I promise to redeem myself next time around. Scout's honor)

Chocolate Haystacks
6 oz (1/2 bag) semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 oz (1/2 bag) butterscotch chips
1 C creamy peanut butter
6 oz (1/2 large bag) chow mein noodles (pretzel sticks would be really good too!)

No pics-my hands were chocolatey. Sorry.

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper or tin foil. Set aside.

Heat chocolate and butterscotch chips in a large bowl for 30 second intervals, until melted. Stir well after each 30 second interval. (It took me one minute of heating time).

Once melted, add the peanut butter to the chocolatey goodness and stir until smooth and completely incorporated. (Consider licking the spoon. Then get a clean spoon for the next bit)

Add chow mein noodles, stirring until totally coated.

Drop the yumminess by spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet and cool completely in the fridge. This made about 18 good size haystacks. (I found these to get a little melty if left out, so we stored them in the fridge.At Easter, we formed them into little nests and added Cadbury eggs).
Original recipe: http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/04/07/birds-nests/

Easy Cream Cheese Danishes
2 Can Pillsbury Grands Crescent Rolls (USE PILLSBURY-store brand don't work as well)
1 can pie filling (I used cherry)
8 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C sugar

Place crescent roll cans in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or tin foil. Join your cream cheese, vanilla and sugar together in holy matrimony (or just beat them together, whatever) until smooth.

Open the cans and slice each into 12 pieces (Don't unroll them, just slice them)

Place six slices on a cookie sheet (they spread, so don't crowd them!). Flatten the center to create a little well for the filling.

Fill the indent with half cream cheese mixture and half the pie filling. (I used 3 cherries and a little gel per danish).Bake until edges are golden brown (recipe says 15 minutes, mine took about 12 1/2).

Cool completely. Nosh away! These are wonderful if you make them the day before. They get very danishy and even more yum. I used one can of rolls and saved the rest of the pie filling and cream cheese mixture for another time. This family does not need 24 danishes in the house! In the comment section of the original recipe, there was a comment about making them savory using veggie cream cheese, shredded cheddar and ham-sounds fabulous.

Original recipe: http://bakingbytes.com/2013/10/14/easy-cream-cheese-danishes/

Cornflake treats
1/2 C butter
5 C (10oz bag) mini marshmallows
6 C corn flakes

Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside. Throw cornflakes in a bowl. Heat butter and marshmallows, stir continuously until completely melted.

Pour marshmallow mixture over the cornflakes and stir them up.

Put in the pan and cool completely in the fridge.

(This is the recipe used for Christmas Wreath cookies. At the insistence of J, we added green food dye and cinnamon red hots. Feel free to make them any color you want. Add sprinkles. Sprinkles make everyone happy!)

Original recipe: http://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/2014/10/christmas-cornflake-wreaths.html

 If you have recipes for the blog, send them to dawn(dot)contreras at gmail(dot)com. Or bring samples to our next MOPS meeting on Thursday, April 23. We start at 9:30 am, so come a bit early to get your kidlets stored into childcare and your food situated. Hope to see you there!