Banana Boat Fun #SummerWithChex

Summer is finally here and, for me, it wouldn't be complete without plans for camping. And camping wouldn't be complete without plans for lots and lots of s'mores overflowing with marshmallows and chocolate.

When we went camping last year, I somehow managed to forget graham crackers and I didn't remember until I was sorting through our food to get ready for dinner. Luckily I am pretty resourceful (plus I always seem to pack enough food for an army) and figured out a new dessert to make our camping treat complete. 

So what did I do? I just took some of the Chex cereal and a few of the bananas I had planned for a breakfast and created delicious, Banana Boats. I love that Chex is gluten free and a little healthier than graham crackers, so this year, I am not sure if I will even bother to add graham crackers to my shopping list for camping. My Banana Boats were that good.

Peep Show

This month Dawn from Spatulas on Parade challenged us to use Peeps and lemon to make something delicious in the Crazy Ingredient Challenge. I love lemon and use it in almost everything, but I had never even tried a Peep before this challenge.

Since I knew that Peeps were sugar dusted marshmallows, I knew I would be making a dessert. I couldn't even fathom the thought of trying to stuff those little guys into a dinner. And what do I think of when making a marshmallow dessert, rice crispie squares!

I decided to "fancy up" my idea a little and used puffed quinoa in place of rice crispies and I added a few additional treats in place of Easter sprinkles too. I think this recipe is worth keeping, crazy ingredients or not!

Red Carpet Cookies and a Giveaway! #ChexRedCarpet

I love watching the Oscars and the count down to the show on March 2 is already on at my house. I know a few of you might think that it's a little early to be thinking about the Oscars, especially with the Olympics still being on, but I need time to plan.

Every year I love to create fun food to serve while we watch the Oscars that is themed around at least one of the movies up for an award. This year is no different and my movie of choice of Gravity. I loved Sandra Bullock's performance and I loved the adrenaline that came from watching the movie - there wasn't much about it I didn't like.

Well there was one part I wish had been different, but I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it yet....

At first I thought I might just get a few astronaut ice cream sandwiches. That would be easy and fun. But after tasting one, I knew that could not be only themed treat I'd serve. They are fun to think about, but I wouldn't write home about how they taste.

So I racked my brain a little more and came up with a new approach. Instead of serving something that astronauts might eat in outer space, I'll serve something that resembles something in outer space - a moon to be exact.

I know you're going to try these easy Chex Moon Cookies so read on for my recipe. And also read on for an opportunity to win a great prize pack - perfect to use the next time you're serving a special dessert.

Pop of Fun

This year's long winter stretch has had me dreaming of summer camping trips and s'mores. I just love sitting out by a campfire and roasting marshmallows until I've eaten way more than my fill of those sticky treats. 

So I decided that instead of waiting for summer to come to me, I'd make some s'mores today. I mean, why not? I won't have the campfire, but I could easily have a mug of hot chocolate with my s'mores. And I think double the chocolate sounds right up my alley!

Ready for the world's easiest indoor S'more Pop recipe?

Speedy Desserts Guest Post on Hungry Little Girl

Yesterday I guest posted on Hungry Little Girl and I just had to share the recipe with all of you today. It's super quick to make, plus it tastes amazing. And when I say quick, I mean quick - it's a microwaveable chocolate cake that cooks in the microwave for 90 short seconds! 

I'll let you head over to Hungry Little Girl to read my whole guest post, or you can just read on for the recipe now, make it, and read my post on Hungry Little Girl while you're eating it! 

Cottage Bound

I love heading up to the cottage, but whenever I go it seems to rain for at least one afternoon or evening. And rain means we miss out on a campfire with s'mores - one of my favourite things about cottaging.

So, this year I have been planning alternative treats for days when true campfire s'mores aren't possible and I think that I've come up with a real winner. My dessert involves cookies, marshmallows, and it's certainly gooey, so I know it will invoke all the feelings of s'mores. Plus it's fun, so hopefully everyone will smile in spite of the bad weather!

Read on for my fun Dessert Poutine recipe. It tastes as good as it looks!

Bringing the 90s Back

I was born in the 80s so I don't remember a lot about the 90s, but I do know that it's usually not a good thing when people say a meal looks like it's from the 90s.

Usually, the colours, the old designs, and the food pairings of so-called 90s food just feel dull and uninteresting to us now.

Hopefully you agree with me when I say that it's a good thing when I am bringing the 90s back with my sweet and delicious Sweet Potato and Marshmallow Casserole.

Please Sir Can I Have S'more?

I definitely love s'mores. They're ooey and gooey, chocolatey, crunchy, and you get to bend over a hot camp fire to make them.

I don't think there's anything about the actual s'mores I don't like.

There are things about camping I don't like though. I don't like the bugs, the cold, sleeping on the ground, no toilets, or no electricity.

But the s'mores? I like those just fine.

I've tried making myself some s'mores in my oven by taking marshmallows, graham crackers, and pieces of chocolate and wrapping the little sandwiches up in tin foil. But they never taste quite right...

The chocolate still melts, the crackers are still crunchy, and the marshmallow goes all gooey, but somehow it's not right...

I think it's the marshmallow. I always try to make mine turn golden brown on a camp fire. But I usually get impatient and hold my stick closer than I should to the biggest flames, making my creation a bit black.

When I make s'mores in my oven, I cover the treats in tin foil. This means no heat directly touches my marshmallow and so it remains white.

But enough about that! I've found a solution for making s'mores at home and I think that these new treats might just overtake the goodness of s'mores on a campfire. They're that good.

So what are you waiting for? Get your bake on and try my Creamy S'More Squares.