Category: Lunch box

Appetizers

Fun and Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese

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Fun and Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese

If you are looking for a yummy and easy dinner for tonight, then this Fun and Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese is for you!  One of the best things about this recipe, aside from how quickly you can whip it up, is how versatile it is.

Fun and Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese

You can add your favorite meats and veggies to make it your own personal pizza.  Your kids will even love making their own sandwich for you to put on the grill.  I used artisan bread for these sandwiches, but I have also used sourdough bread before and it turned out fantastic!  The thing I love about these is that they truly are so easy peasy.  You can even grill these in the waffle iron for a little change of pace.  No matter how you make them or what you stuff them with; have fun and make them your own <3

Fun and Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese

Gather your ingredients:

  • 8 slices of artisan bread (or sourdough)
  • 1/3 cup of your favorite pizza sauce
  • 1, 7 oz package of sliced pepperoni
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 4 Tbsp olive oil

Get to grilling:

  1. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on one side of each slice of bread.
  2. Layer mozzarella cheese evenly over 4 slices of the bread, over the pizza sauce.
  3. Layer pepperoni slices over the mozzarella cheese.
  4. Place a second slice of bread, with pizza sauce side down, on top of the pepperoni.
  5. Drizzle 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil on the outside slice of each sandwich and place the olive oil side down in skillet and grill on medium for approximately 5 minutes.
  6. While the sandwich is grilling, spread 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil on the other side of the sandwich and get ready to flip.
  7. With a spatula, carefully flip sandwich and grill for an additional 5 minutes on medium until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown.
  8. Carefully remove and place on plate and serve!
  9. Enjoy!

Give these other great recipes a try:

Easy Instant Pot Dirty Rice Ready In Under 30 Minutes

Super Easy Stromboli

Appetizers

Classic Southern Pimento Cheese

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Classic Southern Pimento Cheese

pimento cheese

This classic southern pimento cheese recipe is one from my childhood archives!  My grandmother made this every summer.  Although it will never taste just like it did when my grandmother made it; this one is pretty stinkin’ close.  I added a little flare to mine that you are welcome to use or simply leave out.  You can even use American cheese in place of cheddar cheese.  I’ve even seen it made with pepper jack cheese, YUM!  I may try that one day 🙂  This pimento cheese spread is also excellent over your favorite grilled burger.  If you’ve never tried that, you really should.  Just plop a big spoonful of pimento cheese on top of your burger right after it comes off the grill and that’s all you’ll need.

pimento cheese Collage

Gather your ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimientos, drained
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 16 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded (you can even use American cheese)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Get to mixing:

  • Mix all of the ingredients above and place in air tight container.  I love using Mason jars for my pimento cheese.  It will keep for about a week in the refrigerator 🙂
  • Let it sit in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving.  ENJOY!
Appetizers

3 Ingredient Taffy Apple Grapes

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3 Ingredient Taffy Apple Grapes

I am completely in love with these 3 ingredient Taffy Apple Grapes!  I think you will be too.  My kids love them.  My husband loves them.  Everyone in our house LOVES Taffy Apple Grapes.  My kids are so excited when they come home from school and I’ve made these for them.  You are not going to believe how easy and portable they are.

3 Ingredient Taffy Apple Grapes

They are perfect for school (if you have a school that allows nuts) or outings.  We take these to baseball with us and pop them in the cooler.  They are also a pretty healthy option as far as kids and snacking go.  You can change it up and make them your own.  Experiment with different types of nuts or even graham cracker crumbs.  These will become a favorite of your family in no time!

taffy apple grapes Collage

Gather your ingredients:

  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup peanuts (I like using salted)
  • 2 cups of grapes
  • 2 tsp of shortening (this is optional, but helps thin the chocolate for easier dipping)

Get to dipping:

  1. Rinse your grapes and allow them to dry in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Place peanuts in a quart size freezer bag and seal.  Gently hit the peanuts with rolling pin (or something similar) until the peanuts are crushed.
  3. Melt your chocolate chips and shortening in a non-stick pan placed inside a pan of gently boiling water.  Stir constantly until melted (about 5 minutes)
  4. Carefully remove the chocolate from the stove and place beside the grapes and crushed peanuts on the counter top.
  5. Use a toothpick to dip the grape halfway in the chocolate, removing any excess with a gentle tap before dipping in the peanuts.
  6. Once the chocolate on the grape is completely covered in peanuts, place on parchment paper.  You can either leave the toothpick in the grapes for eating or remove them.
  7. Serve while cold and ENJOY!

 Check out these other great posts from Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom:

Easy Creole Hummingbird Cake

Easy Overnight Breakfast Enchilada Bake

Southern Pecan Praline Cake

 

Camping

Easy S’mores Brownies

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Easy S’mores Brownies

Easy S'mores Brownies

If your family loves s’mores the way my family does; you’re going to love these easy s’mores brownies!  My daughter begs for them at least once a month and usually wins LOL  These are so easy to make and everyone will be drooling.  Even my neighbors will ask for these from time to time.  That really says a lot considering how much I cook and bake.  I think these and my totchos are my two most popular recipes in the neighborhood.  Anytime we have a neighborhood function; those are the two dishes they ask for the most.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Easy S'mores Brownies

Gather your ingredients:

  • 8 whole graham crackers
  • 2 cups of miniature marshmallows
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips or Hershey bars
  • 4 cups of your favorite brownie batter (prepared, but not baked)

Get to baking:

  1. Spread your graham crackers in the bottom of a greased 9 X 13 pan (I spray mine with non-stick cooking spray)
  2. Pour brownie batter on top of the graham crackers.
  3. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes (until you can insert a toothpick into the center and remove it with it remaining clean)
  4. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and place on a heat safe surface.
  5. Sprinkle the top of the brownie with chocolate chips or Hershey bar.
  6. Sprinkle miniature marshmallows on top of the chocolate chips.
  7. Place back into 350 degree oven for 5 minutes (until marshmallows are golden brown).
  8. Carefully remove pan from oven and allow to cool before cutting.
  9. Enjoy and share 😀
Appetizers

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

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Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

buffalo chicken Collage

You may have noticed that I am in love with pinwheel recipes lately.  These Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are so perfect for just about everything!  Right now we are preparing for the Broncos to be in the playoff game, but these are also perfect for holidays, family gatherings, picnics, camping, and lunch boxes.  This recipe was so, super easy and it is not spicy at all the way I make them.  Of course, you can spice them up if you’re looking for a little more heat.  It will not hurt the recipe if you want to add more hot sauce or even dice up some jalapeno peppers into the mix.  You can add what you want to make it your, personal favorite recipe.  This mix would  even be great added into a tortilla and served as a cold wrap.  There is no reason why this filling must be cooked or warm when served.  You can serve with ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing for dipping.  Add a few carrots and celery on the side and you have a perfect tailgating meal 😀  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did.

buffalo chicken pinwheel1

Gather your ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast (chopped)
  • 6 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 tsp celery seed
  • 1 cup cheddar jack cheese shredded
  • 1 can crescent rolls or crescent dough

Get to cooking:

  1. Mix chicken breast, cream cheese, and celery seed until well blended, then add cheddar jack cheese until well combined.
  2. Unroll crescent rolls or crescent dough sheet onto cookie sheet prepared with non-stick cooking spray and spread chicken/cheese mixture, lengthwise, onto dough leaving about 1 inch across the top without any filling.
  3. Begin rolling the dough, with filling, from the bottom into a “pinwheel” roll.  The roll will be the entire length of the dough.
  4. Wrap the roll in parchment paper and allow to “set” in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to 12 hours.
  5. After the roll is set, remove from refrigerator and place on parchment paper on cutting board.  Slice dough into “pinwheels” about 1 1/2 inches thick.
  6. Lay pinwheels, flat side down, onto a cookie sheet prepared with non-stick cooking spray.  You will make about 12 pinwheels.
  7. Place cookie sheet, with pinwheels, into oven preheated to 350 degrees.
  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, then carefully remove and place pan on heat-proof surface.
  9. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes then remove pinwheels.
  10. Serve with your favorite veggies and dip and ENJOY!
Appetizers

Easy Churros Pinwheel

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Easy Churros Pinwheel

churro pinwheel

I have been creating some super fun pinwheel recipes lately.  With the Super Bowl quickly approaching, I love finding a great game day trend and getting super creative with it!  Since we love foods with a southwest flavor around our house; I thought this would be the perfect time to experiment with a churros pinwheel!  Well, first try, and they’re perfect!  Yes, I really mean perfect.  If you’re a fan of churros, or pinwheels, or chocolate; you’re probably going to fall in love with these amazing little swirls of goodness.  Not only do they taste great, but they’re super portable and great for your Super Bowl party table.  Have fun making them and, most of all, ENJOY!

churro pinwheel2

Gather your ingredients:

  • 1 roll of refrigerated crescent rolls or crescent sheet
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

churro pinwheel1

Get to cookin’:

  • Roll out the crescent dough onto parchment paper sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and pour onto a 15 inch baking sheet.
  • Sprinkle chocolate chips onto the dough and press them into the dough with your hands.
  • Begin rolling the dough with the chocolate chips into a a roll.  I do this using the wide side.
  • Melt the butter and carefully pour into 15″ baking sheet (I put the sheet with the butter on it into an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 5 minutes and it melted the butter perfectly.).  Carefully  place the rolled dough into the baking sheet with butter and roll to coat the entire roll.  Then place the buttered rolled dough onto the cinnamon/sugar mixture and turn to coat completely.
  • Once the roll is completely coated in butter and cinnamon/sugar; cover with parchment paper and place in the refrigerator for an hour.
  • Once the roll is chilled, place on a cutting board and slice into 1 1/2″ pinwheels.
  • Place the pinwheels onto a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with any left over cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 17 minutes.
  • Carefully remove pinwheels from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.  Serve while warm or cold.  We prefer them warm.
  • Enjoy!
Appetizers

Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

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Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

pizza pinwheels

These pepperoni pizza pinwheels are so super easy to make!  You can switch up the ingredients and change the crust to match your, personal taste.  We love the versatility of this recipe.  This recipe is really the foundation for any pinwheel you want to create.  I used pizza dough for this recipe, but you can use crescent rolls, puff pastry,  biscuit dough, really anything you want.  Experiment on your own and get creative.  One thing I have learned about all pinwheel recipes is that you need some type of creamy or saucy base to cover the dough before you start adding your other ingredients.  Do not leave out the sauce on the inside of these pinwheels or you’ll have a hard time getting your cheese to stay inside.  I hope y’all enjoy this recipe as much as we do around our house 🙂

pizza pinwheels1

Gather your ingredients:

  • Pizza dough of your choice.  I used refrigerated, store-bought dough.
  • Pizza sauce of your choice.  Again, I used store-bought sauce.
  • Pepperoni
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Add as much or little of the above ingredients as you like.

Get to cooking:

  • Unroll pizza crust onto greased parchment paper and cover with a thin layer of pizza sauce.  Leave about an inch at the top of bare dough so that it will stick to the other dough when you start rolling.
  • Cover the pizza sauce with mozzarella cheese, then add pepperoni.
  • Start rolling from the bottom of the dough with the pizza sauce.  Continue rolling until the entire dough looks like a tube, then wrap in parchment paper and allow to sit in the refrigerater for about an hour.
  • After an hour, remove the roll of pizza and cut into 1-1 1/2 inch sections and lay flat on greased, lined cookie sheet.  This recipe makes about 12-16 pinwheels, depending on how thick you cut them.
  • Place cookie sheet with pinwheels in the oven, preheated to 350 degrees, for approximately 17 minutes.
  • Carefully remove the pinwheels from the oven and transfer to a plate.
  • Serve with warmed pizza sauce and enjoy!