Vegan Paleo Mock Snickers Bars Recipe

Momma Told Me: When you get bored, challenge yourself.

While you certainly see a fair range of indulgent, not so good for you, treats and recipes cross your screen on this blog, I have found that anyone truly can cook scrumptious food. As Paula Deen infers adding a pat of butter to any recipe will surely make it instantly more delicious. And, while out Circus Animal Cookie Truffles have gotten decent traffic on Pinterest, I shudder every time I see or create a recipe that is merely mashing 2 or 3 already delicious ingredients together. Do you drizzle hot fudge on ice cream and call it a recipe? Yes, even I have my limits.

While making indulgent treats is satisfying, and I surely will continue to play with simple recipes that wow the eyes and tickle the taste buds in unexpected ways, I've recently found myself a little bored in the kitchen. I've also recently re-joined a local gym. Before you start congratulating me, I'll be the first to admit getting heart healthy is a multi-part journey and daily workouts will only go as far as overall health and core attainment. I'm not quite ready to turn in my frozen yogurt spoon, but these two ripples in my life have made me more aware of the dietary needs of others around me.
Every Thursday I bake something to share here on the blog, and bring it into the bowling alley for our mixed adult bowling league. Our teams are comprised of men and women, young and old, from all walks of life. As delicious as my sweet treats are, not everyone can enjoy them. We have several diabetics I try to accommodate with recipe variations, and now a team that is taking on a month long Paleo challenge. Couple this with our close friend who is celebrating a year as a Vegan and you have the perfect storm of recipe challenges. So I set out to create a No Sugar Added Paleo Vegan Friendly dessert recipe.

The more I researched the more I learned that several of the key ingredients in cooking for each need overlapped- the exception being Honey, which is considered an animal byproduct to most modern Vegans. For those unfamiliar with Paleo, which is actually a way of living more than a literal 'weight loss' style diet, the terms are fairly flexible to the person committing to it.

At it's core Paleo individuals do not consume processed or artificial foods and attempt to eat ingredients that would closely mimic that of a caveman's. This means a diet rich in protein and nutrient dense core ingredients like grass few beef, wild caught seafood and vegetables. Most Paleo followers will avoid sugar, gluten, and generally anything with 'artificial' in the ingredients list. While it can be fairly complex, depending on the person, consider it close to an Organic, low  sugar, gluten free diet that tends to lean towards raw or minimally handled ingredients.

Many low sugar recipes and Paleo recipes will substitute several typical ingredients with coconut- which can tend to be an allergen for some. If you are suing coconut oil, butter, or flour in a recipe always make the recipients aware when serving. While most coconut allergies deal more directly with the pulp of the plant, raw oils can cause mild allergic reactions and should always be disclosed. If you are cooking low sugar and sweetening with a recipe that calls for honey, but would like a Vegan substitute, in most cases Maple Syrup will be a great alternative. There is also a Vegan apple plant based honey, which is entirely bee free, called Honee, sold online and in many organic or Whole Foods stores.

Acquiring the ingredients to cook just one of these categories (Vegan, Paleo, Sugar Free) will often cost a fair penny. The good news is that you can acquire nearly any ingredient necessary at Whole Foods, or a similar store, and in portions that will easily stretch through multiple recipes. If you're looking to begin cooking, or dabbling with, these categories, consider each shopping trip an investment. Chances are your spice rack wasn't built overnight, and neither will this arsenal of cooking tools.

These Vegan Paleo Mock Snickers Bars contain no added sweetener (aside from the natural Honee plant based sugars) and a dash of Agave syrup may be added to any layer if you desire a slightly sweeter end result. My bowling mates rarely ever question what I've made each week and these bites/bars disappeared quickly! Several people were floored to hear just how 'good for you' this dessert was, and a few even asked for the recipe. So, if you're in the fence, I'd say it's definitely a recipe worth trying. Not only are these the perfect treat (a little goes a long way to satisfy) but they can be frozen for enjoyment later as well! Do you have, or know anyone with, any special dietary restrictions you struggle to cook for?

What Daughter Says: This year I'm going to challenge myself in all aspects of my life, not because I need to, but because I want to!

Vegan Paleo Mock Snickers Bars

*** Click here for printable Mock Snickers Bars recipe.

Summer's In, Heartburn's Out- A Day Of Colorful Eats

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone and should not be taken as medical advice. All photos are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015. All characters copyright Universal Studios/Universal Entertainment. #GiveHeartburnARest #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: I've got something for that!

 There was a time in my life where I carried a handbag exclusively for aesthetic reasons. I'd lug around a 2nd hand shoulder bag with straps 2 feet too long for my height and follow Momma though the grocery store or to her Dr's appointments. I never carried much of value in it, just a couple of my parent's expired credit cards and some chewing gum. And then I grew up and learned that handbags were actually meant to be the modern woman's Sonic Screwdriver/ MacGyver's tote. I was expected to have just about anything necessary to solve just about any crisis, on hand, at any given time.

And for years I've carried it all in my purse; bandaids, wet naps, safety pins, flashlights, motion sickness pills, clear nail polish, pepper spray, suntan lotion, lipstick, nail files, breath mints, and more. But few things have occupied as much retail space in my personal handbag, as heartburn remedies. That's because so many of them are only effective within certain time frames, with certain types of food. From chewy chews to chalky tablets and sticky pink liquid- I've carried Jay's heartburn remedies around for years.

You see, frequent heartburn not only gets in the way of the sufferer's living, but the lives and activities of those around them as well. Whether I had to tone down a new dish I was trying in the kitchen, or tote around expensive tablets of temporary relief, it was clear that there was one guest our family had no room for this Summer vacation; heartburn. So, while I was at our local Walgreens grabbing sunscreen and road trip snacks, I also stopped by the Antacids aisle and picked up a 42 ct of Nexium 24HR, currently $3 off through the end of June with Walgreen Balance Rewards.

Taking one Nexium 24 HR a day can give you all-day, all-night protection from frequent heartburn, so I handed Jay his very own Nexium bottle, and cleared some space in our panda (backpack) bag for the Summer theme parks. Last Summer Jay had restrained from enjoying many of the local parks artisanal selections due to fear of severe heartburn, as consequence. This year he was prepared to partake in all of the park's colorful, cartoon inspired, foods.

Those who've struggled with fighting heartburn know there are several 'triggers' one should avoid, and those with loved ones who suffer should be mindful of them. Foods rich in natural acids, such as citrus, tomatoes and tomato based sauces can cause a flare up of great discomfort. However, the problem doesn't solely lie in food, as beverages as well can make for quite the unpleasant post-meal experience. Alcoholic beverages, beer and wine in particular, are known to make heartburn symptoms flare beyond bearable tolerances. One with heartburn could forgo social libations like these altogether, or they could resume living with a little help from Nexium level protection.

Jay was happy to snap a shot sampling a fictional brew brought to life at the Duff brewery bar, while the girls enjoyed their own Lard Lad Jumbo Donuts, respectively the size of their heads. Then it was on to the Back Lot tour, and some of the park's more intense motion simulators. By early afternoon Jay would have normally been wincing in discomfort between unsavory belches. Lucky for all of us, he was, instead, happily enthralled with snapshot moments, such as a drive through the War of The World's crash site set.

As any good theme park visitor knows, it's just not a visit to the park without sampling some of the various themed foods. For an afternoon snack we all shared a heaping portion of Bumblebee Man's Fiery Carnitas Nachos, complete with a generous serving of fresh jalapenos. Jay boldly took his intestinal fortitude to any heartburn sufferer's worst frontier- 'spicy.' He usually avoids heat infused foods altogether, especially while out traveling, just another way heartburn sufferers learn to adapt to daily inconveniences and diet changes without regular treatment.

While he was anticipating the deliciousness set before him, he also remembered to take his daily Nexium 24HR purple pill. I was quick to note the convenience of taking such a tiny pill, once a day, for 24 hour relief. And, without the chalky residue and unsavory flavorings of other heartburn treatments, Jay's palette was clear and ready to enjoy every last splash of that molten cheese volcano. I'm fairly certain I caught an impromptu Rock, Paper, Scissors for that last cheese covered chip.

With our bellies satisfied we wandered off to meet some interesting, erm, people? Nothing quite beats getting a nice photo with some of your favorite film characters. I think this shot of Minion Kevin and Gru turned out quite nice, don't you say? Because we like things fast, like our heartburn relief, I'd invested in some front of the line passes for our group, so waiting in line for the new Minion ride was a breeze. We even had time to go through some of the feature film exhibits, and get a little wet on Jurrasic park. Pro-Tip: If you're traveling with teenagers and adults consider utilizing the Single Rider line. Your party may get split up, but in most cases will ride at the same time, just on different cars.

Since we were already right next to Super Silly Fun Land (yes, that's a place, a magical, magical place- It's SO fluffy!!!!) we decided to grab lunch at Gru's Lab. Theme parks offer a lot of food options for meal dining, from nationally recognized chains to food carts and sit down themed restaurants. Gru's Lab happened to be more of a cafeteria style service with several, adorable, Minion decorated desserts. (Hello Twinkie cupcakes!) Jay indulged in an extra large Meatball Grinder with fries- he wasn't going to let a little tomato sauce get in the way of his day.

And because no theme park visit is complete without something sweet, we stopped by Phinneas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlour minutes before park closing, and on our way to the Water World show, for a carnival inspired confection. Remember those head-sized donuts I mentioned earlier? Apparently the small, normal sized, donuts are unexceptional all on their own. Here they find new, magical, meaning with several scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, strawberries, and sprinkles wedged between them.

Some of us wanted to eat this impressive food shaming concoction, I just wanted to photograph it in all it's pink frosted, sprinkle glory. I'm not going to lie, this place was pretty magical with the smell of cotton candy and buttered popcorn in the air. Our day surely would not have been the same without all of the creative, delicious, theme park food!

And how did Jay fair after consuming all of the colorful fare? Well he certainly wasn't complaining one bit as we stopped into a local restaurant for some late night boneless buffalo wings after making the trip back from L.A. In our family we have a saying when someone's checked something big off their Day/Summer/Life Bucket List- 'Best Day Ever.' I do believe that phrase was thrown around more than a few times that day at the park

If you or someone you loves suffers from frequent heartburn the solution might be as simple as avoiding anything with flavor this Summer. For the rest of us, save $3 on a 42 CT of Nexium 24HR at Walgreens now through the end of June and help put heartburn to rest. After all, I'm sure heartburn would like to spend some time with it's family this Summer too. And my shoulder? It's taking a much needed break from hauling around all those chalky old heartburn remedies. What sorts of foods do you and/or your loved ones enjoy when heartburn goes on vacation?

What Daughter Says: Stop carrying around bulky heartburn remedies. Taking one Nexium 24 HR a day can give you all-day, all-night protection from frequent heartburn.

Simple Steps To Beautiful Cakes- #CakeMyDay 25 Winner Giveaway

This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me by Sweetworks. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic.

Momma Told Me: Practice Makes Perfect!

Some people call me a baker- I refer to myself as a dessert innovator. Even long before Cake Boss and Cupcake Wars were 'things' I found myself deconstructing sheet cakes and using rice krispies treats for 3-dimensional birthday cakes. I've made king kong, a pizza, a club sandwich, a bottle of Jack Daniels, a hamburger, ice cream cone cakes, a massive cupcake, and most recently the Reese's Cups cake. In fact, I have made my father a unique food themed cake for his birthday 10 years running, and usually start planning 6 months or more before the actual day. Yes I plan, and planning is so very delicious because, above all things, I intend for my edible art to be edible (not full of chalky fondant or cardboard rods) and only ever use edible elements for my creations. That means lots of trial and error and 'practice cakes' in the weeks leading up.

For my favorite cake, the Reese's Cake, I actually hand molded 2 8" Reese's Cup cakes with chocolate ganache, brownie cake and homemade peanut butter filling. Then I used the butt end of a sheet cake to help 'fluff' my fondant wrapper, and made a mock cardboard sleeve to set my cups in. A little hand piping on the top and viola, the spitting image of the beloved candy! While I usually innovate my own cakes, there are a lot of techniques and ideas I see online and in stores I wonder how to replicate in my own kitchen. And that's where the brand new Cake My Day book comes in. I recently had a chance to check out an advance press copy and holy smokes! you must pre-order this book whether you are a curious kitchen tinker or professional cake artist, the tips and tricks are priceless!

From the authors of the best-selling Hello Cupcake book, #CakeMyDay is a collection of hundreds of unique cake concepts and design ideas with step-by step techniques and tutorials. And there are even a few cake-master secret tips in there too (in case you are a strictly original cake creator.) Inside you'll learn how to properly level a cake, how to build 3-dimensional cakes from basic sheet and round cakes, frosting texture techniques, secret patterns and so much more! To help show you the world of possibilities the Cake My Day book opens up I've created what I call a 'technique cake,' where I've practiced a few different cake tricks. Consider it a dry run for future cakes where I'll incorporate the tricks individually.

For my first technique I wanted to play with the 'melted crayon' technique that seems to have taken the web by storm. I'm always up for making a mess and playing with colors so I was sure to start with a beautifully frosted white cake. Next I took 5 ounce of white melting chocolate, 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, and 2 TBS corn syrup and nuked them in the microwave together for 30 seconds. After a good stir the mixture went back into the microwave for an additional 20 seconds, then was split into 6 small bowls where I proceeded to color each portion with candy coloring. Be sure you are using confection color specifically for confection or your chocolate will seize and it will be game over.

I could have stopped pouring colors after a single run and been quite happy with the rainbow finish of the cake but I wanted even more 3D texture and continued to overlap the drips until all of my ganache mixtures were gone. The end result was a bit more like a pile of melted wax or a very intense oil painting. Next time I think I'll add a teaspoon of shortening to help thin the mixture and create more of a watercolor effect- though the thick 'wax' texture of this recipe sure turned out pretty cool!

The melted crayon technique proved to set quite quickly. Taking a page (or several) from the Cake My Day book I decided to replicate an Argyle pattern with some colored Sixlets and chocolate Ovation Sticks from Sweetworks.net. Sweetworks sells many of the decorating staples used in the Cake My Day book and several of their bulk products can be used over and over across many of the book's designs and techniques so I highly suggest ordering the 14oz Sixlets bags and such when beginning a big cake project.

Because a cake covered in a rainbow of melting crayons wasn't quite enough I decided to try my hand at creating an Argyle Spring pattern with Irish Cream Ovation Sticks and brightly colored Sixlets chocolate candies. The Ovation sticks snapped/broke quite easily where I intended them to break and this was done fairly easy by hand and eye with no real planning. However, any proper cake designer would truly appreciate the official tips and tricks for a flawless Argyle cake design found in the Cake My Day book.

As if my cake wasn't a big enough eye sore already, I had thrown a special surprise on the inside- the actual cake itself. Cake My Day has several tips and tricks for putting patterns inside your cake (from polka dot to leopard) and even the most inexperienced of bakers can pull off a surprise cake with their tutorials. Of course you may remember I've also shared my own tips for making a polka dot cake on this popular post, as well. The technique for this style surprise cake is  bit different than the spots in Cake My Day's leopard sample cake, so I'm especially looking forward to getting my hands on the hard copy of the book to try that one out too!

So if all these colors and sweets haven't inspired you to get in the kitchen and pro order the Cake My Day book, I really don't know what will....Wait, I do! We're teaming up with 24 other bloggers to share original Cake My Day inspired creations AND 25 chances at winning your own Cake My Day Sweetworks prize bundle! That's right, we're going to send 25 of you a digital copy of this amazing book and a box full of candies used to create the amazing cakes inside it! Be sure to keep on reading to hear how you can enter and hop along to another delicious creation!

What Daughter Says: If only all of life's practice rounds were this delicious!

25 bloggers have teamed up to each offer a $50 Sweetworks candy and Cake My Day prize bundle, that's $1250 in prizes up for grabs! Each blogger is hosting their own giveaway so after you enter ours below be sure to follow the linky and hop onto the next blog!

Grilled Cheese 3 Ways- #ShareYourCheesy With These Great Recipes!

***This content is inspired by a campaign through Social Fabric. No compensation was provided for the following content.

Momma Told Me: Grilled cheese is for little kids.

If you were once a child, and I think it's safe to presume not only were we all, but some of us never really grew up- hopefully your childhood was full of the most magical elements; slumber parties, fireflies, living room forts, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Yes, a mother placing a grilled cheese before her ravenous child, as she contently tussles their hair, is about as American as it gets. And, whether your parents cut the crusts off for you, used cookie cutters to serve it in playful shapes, or always added a bowl of warm tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches were likely an often comfort food. I recall my, personal, favorite way to enjoy this cheesy treat was as triangle wedges in which I could bite the center out and hold up my sandwich as a make-shift smile.

But, somewhere between there and here, it's likely we've all lost touch with the comfort of this old friend. If you're a mother you surely use the sandwich in your lineup today, but likely thin little more of it than a way to please a picky child. For year, growing up, it was all I would order off the child's menu when my family went out to eat. Then, one day, Momma declared that I was 'too old' for a grilled cheese sandwich, and would have to choose something else. To that, I say, preposterous! One is NEVER too old for a grilled cheese- and the possibilities are truly endless when one allows themselves to get a little creative.

To fall back in love with this old friend, let's first start with the basics. You don't have to be a gourmet chef to create an elevated grilled cheese. In fact, with the wide range of KRAFT Natural Cheese Slices sold at my local Walmart I found over 10 different cheese slices on hand to pick from. The BIG Slice Smoky Chipotle proved to be just the right size to create some cut-out sandwiches with just a single slice of creamy Chipotle flavor. And, while I have no children around these days, I still thought it would be sweet to float some grilled cheese hearts in a shallow dish of warm tomato soup for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday.

A lot of people don't realize that you can truly do a lot of fun and innovative things with a classic, and simple recipe. Using KRAFT singles, deliciously fluffy Wonder Bread, and a dollop of Blue Bonnet spread I turned the most basic, traditional, grilled cheese sandwich recipe into a fun snack for children and a finger food for adults. The concept's as easy as rolling our your bread slices, adding a slide of cheese, and rolling your slices into individual roll-ups. Melt them under the pressure of a wide spatula over some melted Blue Bonnet, turning to cook evenly, and you've got yourself a fun new way to enjoy grilled cheese!

American cheese slices, like KRAFT Singles are most well known for their roll in classic Americana cooking, such as the basic grilled cheese recipe. I'll admit, the only place I use these Singles is in a grilled cheese because they melting potential makes for a deliciously satisfying treat. Fresh off the grill, these grilled cheese roll-ups will ooze melting cheese with every bite, and are easy to serve alongside a dipping cup of tomato soup. Serve these at the next game or party for an instant win with your guests.

Of course some could argue that it's not the cheese that makes the grilled cheese but the overall experience of biting into an indulgent sandwich full of creamy, often gooey and messy, ingredients. It's the warm of the ingredients melting together and the playful way that top slice always slides a little to the right when you go to pick it up. But have you ever considered that your grilled cheese doesn't have to be savory at all? With artisan cheeses such as Brie and Havarti now stocked in the local diary case, KRAFT has made it easier than ever to elevate the classic grilled cheese into a whole new treat.

My friends, I present to you the dessert grilled cheese- Be careful, once you begin down this road, there's no turning back. And, as much as I beg to differ with Momma (grilled cheese is not just for kids) you really shouldn't eat one for every meal, every day. I know, I know- with all the amazing possibilities, when will you ever find the time to try every grilled cheese combination and STILL eat a balanced diet of all the 'other' good stuff? Luckily, my friend, that is not my problem to solve, I am merely here to make you drool all over your keyboard!

If you search online you'll find several dessert grilled cheese recipes. Some of them like to go 'epicurean' and focus on towers of bread and cheese with cascades of warm berries and sticky syrup. These days I don't finger paint with my food too often, so I've devised this simple, fairly clean to eat, but still impressively satisfying Semi-Sweet Chocolate Strawberry Havarti Grilled Cheese Sandwich- and it's really as simple as it sounds. Begin with 2 slices of traditional Wonder Bread, place 1 slice of Havarti KRAFT Natural Slices atop one slice, layer the slice with thinly cut fresh strawberries, then spread an even layer of Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate shavings atop and hit the griddle. While I'm sure this could be done with some chocolate spreads- I find the Baker's chocolate melts very satisfying as sort of a 'glue' between my strawberries and makes for the perfect grilled cheese experience.

I think, by now, I've proven my argument well enough- it doesn't matter your age or background, there is a grilled cheese sandwich for you. This is simply one thing Momma and I are going to have to agree to disagree on. there will always be a special place in my heart, and my tummy, for this beloved sandwich. Do you have a special/favorite way to enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich?

Share a photos of your grilled cheese creation with the #ShareYourCheesy and #Entry hashtags to enter to win great prizes from KRAFT and Walmart, through the end of February! Check out these delicious Grilled Cheese Sandwich Creations below for more inspiration and visit the Cooking Up Good hub for even more delicious recipes with your favorite KRAFT products!

What Daughter Says: If loving grilled cheese is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Follow Momma Told Me's board Let's Get Cheesy- Grilled Cheese Recipes on Pinterest.

February is coming and I think that's the perfect month to #ShareYourCheesy- There's nothing quite like the comfort of a Kraft #grilledcheese #sandwich with warm #tomatosoup. Why not share a grilled cheese with someone you love today? Of course this wouldn't be the bomb.com without Wonder Bread either! Wanna share a plate with me? #client #ad #foodie #snacktime #comfortfood #cheese #cheesy #ValentinesDay

A video posted by Jenna Marie's (@mommatoldme) on Jan 21, 2015 at 12:06pm PST