I love Pinterest. I am sure I am not alone, many many people do. One thing that I wish Pinterest had was a review section where people who have tried the things they've pinned (although maybe everyone else is like me and has pinned WAY more than they've tried? Yes? No?), said what they liked/disliked etc... to save the rest of us from trying a bomb or skipping on a treasure (or getting red faces but more on that later). So, I've decided to share with you some things I've tried on Pinterest, give you my twn cents, any changes I made or big fat DON'T DO IT (!!!) warnings. Look for this blog from time to time, I am not going to commit to a weekly post as I just can't guarantee I'll get to enough pins or time to blog weekly but do promise to share what I can, when I can. Here are the first few reviews...
Cauliflower Breadsticks & Pizza Crust
These bad boys were tricky. Neither recipe really gives you amounts (although one is better than the other) so the first time I made them I flew by the seat of my pants so to speak and added what I thought would work. They turned out really good, everyone liked them. The second time I made them...not as great. I like the idea of broiling them because they were firmer but something was just not quite right the second time I made them. I am still ironing out the kinks but I DO know it needs more cheese, salt and seasonings. Here is what I know I did...
Preheat oven at 350*
2 cups grated (I just used my food processor) cauliflower
1/2 c mozzarella cheese
Oregano to taste (I tried a italian seasonings mix and I liked just the oregano better)
1 egg + 1 egg white
Salt to taste
Garlic to taste- ok I actually liked just using garlic salt better than the jarred garlic I tried the second time. That being said, fresh garlic would probably be yummy. Now, if you try garlic salt, check it before you add more salt.
***FYI: I will be sure to pay attention to amounts when I have it perfected, for now, I think you'll be better off on your own :)
Mix all ingredients (if you use fresh garlic I would cook it in a pan with some olive oil until fragrant then add) together. Take parchment paper and place inside a loaf ban, cooking sheet, which ever. I used a glass baking dish when I made breadsticks (so they were thicker) and a cookie sheet when I made it into crust (cause I like it thinner). Spread or spray oil on the parchment paper, add the mixed goop and flatten down to desired thickness. Cook in oven for about 30 mins, until it starts to turn golden brown. Then (if in loaf pan) transfer it all to a cookie sheet via the parchment and cook a 10 more mins. If you used a cookie sheet just cook until golden brown. Then pull out, sprinkle some more cheese on top, I used parmesan, you can add more seasoning here too if you wish and throw in broiler for just s few mins to firm it up a little more. If you are making breadsticks you can cut them into pieces before broiling them to crisp all sides. If you are making a crust out of it add your toppings and pop back in until cheese melts on your pizza. Voila! Feel free to mess with the recipe, everyone's tastes are different so you may find things you like better.
No Bake Chewy Granola Bars
Original recipe found here.
I LOVE these bars! Love, love, love them. My husband loves them, my kids love them, they are just GOOD. I did make some changes to the recipe though, out of personal preference. As they are I thought they were too sweet, so I took out a tablespoon of honey (3 total, rather than 4). I know it would have been better to remove some of the brown sugar but they didn't hold together as well that way. I also "cooked" the butter, sugar & honey a bit longer which made them firmer. Another variation I tried (and LOVED) was to add a 1/4c of peanut butter to the butter/sugar/honey mix after it was ready to add to the dry ingredients. I stirred it until it was melted/mixed in, then added to the dry ingredients per usual. I use all natural, no sugar added, peanut butter and I recommend doing that. I did not modify the honey when I added the peanut butter, if you use sweetened pb I wouldn't use all the honey. Seriously, these have been HUGE hits with anyone that I've given them to and are way cheaper (and so similar in taste/texture, not to mention healthier) then Quaker brand granola bars. TRY THEM!
Miracle Mask
Claim to fame and directions here.
"This DIY mask, made of nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing!", that's what the site claims. Well, I'll be honest- not so much. It was sticky and drippy to wear, my kids thought it looked like poop (which it kinda does) and it burns a little, if you have sensitive skin it would probably burn a lot. In the end all I noticed was my face was red from the cinnamon. I posted the picture of myself below on FB only to have my friend (and owner of her own fantastic line of natural skin care products called Nabele, check them out here!) comment that she'd be careful putting cinnamon on my face and that she'd never heard of using nutmeg as part of a mask before. Note to self, check with Bri before you try anymore weird sounding face masks from Pinterest :).
PS. Did you check out the natural skin care stuff? Cause you should have. GO GO! :)
Black Bean & Pumpkin Chili
Recipe found here.
This stuff was great! And the only recipe in this blog I didn't change haha. It doesn't taste like pumpkin if you are worried about that, my husband (who is not a pumpkin or chili fan, except my own chili which I'll share someday when I write down what I put in it:) liked it ok. I thought the pumpkin was a great way to thicken the chili (chicken chili tends to be more liquid-y) and uses up any extra you may have around the house during the fall/holiday seasons. I highly recommend this one!
