Mini Cauliflower Pizza Bites

Want kids to eat their vegetables? Try this deceptively healthy recipe. These cauliflower bites taste like a yummy combination of pizza and a breadstick all wrapped into a mini little bite. Plus, they are perfect for dipping! These pizza bites would make a delicious snack, side or lunch. Not to mention they are kid-approved.

Mini Cauliflower Pizza Bites
Makes 14 mini muffins 

Ingredients
2 cups cauliflower (about 1/2 head of cauliflower)
1/4 cup egg whites (or 1 large egg white)
1/8 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1//2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 mini turkey pepperonis

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 14 mini muffin cups with silicone liners,or foil muffin liners with paper liners removed. Spray liners with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Wash cauliflower, and cut in half (save the rest for later). Break cauliflower into segments, and place in food processor. Pulse until it reaches a rice-like texture.

Place cauliflower in a microwave bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. (do NOT add water or cover).
remove cauliflower from microwave and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine. Place back in microwave for 2 minutes . Mix again.

Scoop cauliflower mixture into muffin liners, dividing evenly between the 14 mini liners. Fill to the top and press filling down so it's compact in liner.

Place muffin tin in the oven and bake muffins of 30-35 minutes, or when top starts to become golden brown. Remove from the oven, let cool completely before popping the muffins out of the liners. Serve warm with pizza sauce for dipping!

Gooey Butter Cake

The title of this cake alone sold me. Gooey? Butter? Count me in! I didn’t need any more convincing. And, quite frankly, nor will you. Apparently, Gooey Butter Cake is a tradition is St. Louis often served at breakfast. But you don’t necessarily need to eat this for breakfast. Snack, dessert – anytime is a good time to eat this cake.

Gooey Butter Cake

Ingredients
For the crust:
1 package (18.25 Oz. Box) plain yellow cake mix
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 whole egg

For the filling:
8 ounces, weight cream cheese, at room temperature
2 whole eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
3-¾ cups confectioner's sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare crust first. In a large mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients with a wooden spoon until moist. Transfer to a 13″x9″ ungreased baking pan and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan. Set aside.

Next, prepare the filling. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and melted butter, and continue to mix. Next, add the confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time until all sugar is mixed in. Pour filling over the crust, and spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake gooey butter cake for 40-45 minutes until it is browned, but the center is still jiggles when the pan is shaken. Cool for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with additional confectioner’s sugar and serve.

 

Twix Caramel Popcorn

Caramel popcorn is one of our favorite fall snacks. One day I decided to jazz it up with one of my favorite candy bars – Twix. All I can is, “Wow!” Sweet and crunchy, this is the perfect sweet snack for movie night, game day and Halloween. This is super easy to make but looks oh-so-gourmet.

Twix Caramel Popcorn
Makes a lot!

Ingredients
5 quarts plain air popped popcorn
1 cup butter
2 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 "fun size" Twix candy bars, chopped
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted-to drizzle over popcorn

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. Pour caramel in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat. Gently stir until all of the popcorn is covered.

Place popcorn on two large shallow baking sheets and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for about an hour. Remove popcorn from oven and let cool completely.

Break popcorn into pieces and mix in chopped Twix candy bars. Drizzle popcorn with melted chocolate. Let the popcorn sit until chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.