Easy as Cheesecake

We had a dinner date with some friends in our neighborhood and we said we would bring dessert and a side. I thought I would make one of Cliff's family favorite recipes. I swear every time we go to his parents house all the kids are begging for Momma Bev (Cliff's Mom) to make cheesecake. I'm sure this is just a simple recipe you can find on the inside of a cream cheese box, but none the less it is divine. We usually have cherry toppings, but I thought it would be even better with fresh strawberries. They did not disappoint. And I attempted to be a food artist. It was fun, but it didn't stay pretty for long. We devoured it. I thought I would share this simple recipe. It's perfect for spring and summer since no oven is required!

Cheesecake

Crust:
1 Tbls. sugar
1 Pkg. graham crackers
1/2 cube butter
 Crush the crackers and sugar. (I just put them in a large plastic baggy and roll over it with a rolling pin). Melt butter and mix together. Press into an 8x8 pan. Place in freezer to harden up quickly.

Cake:
1 8 oz. cream cheese package
1 8 oz. pkg. Cool Whip
11/4 Cup powdered sugar
Mix and cream these together. Pour on top of the crackers. Put your choice of topping and eat up!

It's delicious with blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and I'm sure a ton of other fruit. Be creative. Let me know what you like on your cheesecake!

Holiday's are Over

Hello! I am back with a vengence! What what! How I have missed blogging about everything! Life at the Peterson's has been so crazy I haven't even had time to hardly do any projects or crafts. A full time job, church calling and graduate school is taking over my life. But here I am fighting back. Who needs to turn in that paper due this week when I have a blog post to write. Am I right?!

So no crafternooning today but here's a mini update on my holiday season:

Cliff took me on a surprise date to the Cosmopolitan (like a crazy fancy casino here in LV) to ice skate on the top of the building and then to the Wicked Spoon to eat like the gods. I mean look at that dessert plate: macaroons, gelato, choc covered strawberries, apple cobbler, egg nog suffle. Ya stop drooling on your keyboard, not attractive. Next we went to the Bellagio to see the Christmas light garden. It was very cool.

We had our own little tree and stockings in our apartment. Look how adorbs our first tree is! It makes it look like you have way more presents when you have a small tree. Note to self: remember that when you have children. 

We spent Christmas eve with my parents. It was so amazing to get to see them and give them their gifts. We didn't capture any pictures though :( bummer. 

Then we went to my inlaws to celebrate my first Christmas with kids. It was pure insanity, but the good kind ya know. 

Here they are in their new pajamas waiting to see what Santa brought. 

And here are all the siblings and inlaws. Super selfie time! We look pretty tired and crazy.

And here is the look of one happy girl. 

This was our Merry Christmas to all face. We had such a good day. I did get homesick just a little.

We also got to catch up with my dog! Isn't she the cutest!

And now I'm back at work. But on the bright side I get to stare at this lovely view all day of the strip. 

Lately I have been a crazy coupon-er so stay tuned for tips on how to get stuff on the cheap!

2 for 1 Dinner: Pulled Pork BBQ Pizza & BBQ Sandwiches

As a newlywed, the HARDEST thing to do it make dinner. Okay, maybe not the hardest, but it is a lot trickier than I thought it would be! I was so good in college about warming up a cheese on a tortilla and calling it a meal. Some nights if I was feeling spontaneous I would add some chicken and salsa. Go me!

Now that I have my other half, I want to make all of these awesomely impressive meals. At the same time I want it to be somewhat healthy and EASY. 

Who knew it would be so hard to find recipes? I feel like I go to pinterest in search of a dinner idea and I come out feeling more overwhelmed than when I started.

So here is an easy idea. A two for one dinner! That's right I said it. 

Night One: Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches

Night Two: Pulled Pork BBQ Pizza

Here's how you pull of this awesome two night extravaganza. I started off with a Campbell's Slow Cooker pack (it honestly wasn't my favorite BBQ so I will be on the look out for one with more of a kick).

For the first night you add a pork roast and this slow cooker sauce to your slow cooker. That's it! Seriously. Let it cook for 4 hours on high or 8 on low. Serve on a warm bun. Boom, first night of dinner complete. 

Now for the second night. You will need:

Cheese

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce (It's the best)

1 Green Pepper

1 Red Onion

A Pizza Crust

Left-Over Pulled Pork

Follow the directions on the crust by precooking it for a few minutes. Then pull it out and spread on BBQ sauce to your liking.

Top with chopped onions, peppers, pork, and cheese!

Bake for instructed time on the pizza crust. (Mine was about 8 minutes). 

 My husband was a happy man. Even with all the veggies, he was devouring this pizza. He said this was a "show-off" meal to make when people come over. 

It seriously was so delicious. Just the right amount of kick with the BBQ sauce and spiciness. It also gave the pork a completely different flavoring. It was Y U M.