Chocolate M&M Pretzels

A Facebook friend (thanks Brittney!) gave me the idea to do this quick and easy dessert for a party I went to recently. They were soooo simple to make and they were a huge hit!


What you'll need: 
A bag of small, round pretzels. (Any brand, really. I used Herr's mini rounds for this one. The recipe works better if the pretzels don't have the little "H" on the inside like mine...but I made do with what I had.)
A bag of Hershey Kisses
A bag of M&Ms


Instructions: 
Arrange the pretzels onto a cookie sheet. (Since I only made a small batch to demonstrate, I used a disposable tin container instead...)

Place the Hershey Kisses in the center of the pretzels...

Pop in the oven at 275 degrees for about 2 or 2.5 minutes (or until chocolate is soft...) If you have the round pretzels WITHOUT the "H" in the center, the chocolate should just melt and fill right in, but if you have the ones like mine....I used a spoon and gently pushed the chocolate into the pretzel a bit more..

Once the chocolate is all spread out in the pretzel, place on M&M into each :)

Pop into the refrigerator to cool (shouldn't take more than 5 minutes...) and.....

 You're done!!! 

Disclaimer: Mine are not very neat or "pretty" but I literally threw these together in about 6 minutes...as I had a cranky baby who needed to be fed. ;) Don't let the fact that mine are a little sloppy stop you from making them. They're so simple and addicting. :)

Penne Rigate with Mixed Greens and Pine Nuts

This is one of my all time FAVORITE recipes. I always joke with my husband that this is what my last meal would be if I were dying. ;) I found it maybe a year or two ago online, and ever since it's been a common meal at our house. This dish is absolutely delicious and very filling, so it's meant to be a main-course meal! It's quick, easy and I promise you'll love it!


It makes approximately 6 main-course meals...
Total time: apx. 25 minutes


Ingredients: 
1 pound penne rigate
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts (apx 1 1/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 (8 to 10 oz) bags of mixed salad greens. (Choose any kind you would like...I usually use spinach and another kind that looks fresh while I'm shopping...pretty much everything is good with this recipe, just mix and match a few to see what you like.)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (plus additional for serving.)


A lot of the ingredients can be altered. If you're making for more/less use a half box/more then 1 box/etc. For the mixed greens, it says 2 bags and I definitely recommend using more then what they call for! It adds so much to the recipe and once they get cooked, you realize how little 2 whole bags makes! Side not: With this recipe, the more pine nuts, cheese and greens the better! I always add in more then the recipe calls for...you can use as little or as much as you'd like, really...)


Instructions: 
Cook penne in boiling salted water in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot until al dente or according to package directions, then drain in a colander. While pasta is cooking, in a separate sauce pan..on moderately high heat, combine butter, oil and pine nuts, stirring often until nuts are pale golden (about 3 minutes.) Add garlic and cook, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Stir in greens and cook, stirring, until they wilt, about 3 minutes. 

this was about 1.5 bags of greens...see what I mean about how much it wilts after the cooking? 

Add penne, salt, and pepper and mix. Stir in cheese and serve immediately with additional cheese on the side. 

I love to sprinkle some extra cheese on the top...and...

Voilà!