Two-For-One Dinner Inspiration

Have you ever come across something online (especially Pinterest) and thought to yourself "Why didn't I think of that?!"  Why do we all think that something should have been so obvious after we see that some one else has come up with it first?? 

These two pins definitely had me shaking my head for not thinking of this sooner... they also had me drooling. Who knew you could make such deliciousness with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls?!  The Pinspirations:

Pizza Crescents!

Photo Credit: Plain Chicken

French Dip Crescents with Easy Au Jus

Photo Credit: MamaLovesFood

I saw the Pizza Crescent Pin just in time to become the successful dinner for my boyfriend's can-be-picky nephews on their first sleepover at our house! I really wanted their sleepover to be fun, and so, of course, I turned to Pinterest. I saw the Pizza Rolls, and knew that I had a dinner contender (I also saw a really cool idea about Spaghetti and Weiners that I haven't tried yet... I will feature it on here after the next time we have the boys over for dinner!) 

<I will preface the upcoming section with an apology for the photography. These pictures were only taken with my iPhone, and I did not really ever think they were going to leave the "Camera Roll", let alone be featured on a blog.  I also do not have step-by-step pictures for this post for the same reason.>

I picked up a package of mixed pizza deli meats and mozzarella string cheese (both on sale!) and a  tube of regular Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. There was definitely room for improvement on my choice of dipping sauce though. The next time I make this I will take the time (that I didn't have with the boys over) to make a true 'pizza sauce' - these ones we just dipped into little bowls of jarred spaghetti sauce. OK, but not as good as it would have been with a zippy pizza sauce.  

The best part of the Pizza Rolls? How ooey-gooey the string cheese gets when it melts!! It was delicious, and very fun! The boys did like getting to choose their own ingredients to customize their own pizza rolls (they got to choose from ham, pepperoni, salami, and pineapple), but they really liked stretching out the stringy cheese!  

Kaden

Bennett

After the success of the Pizza Rolls, I knew I definitely wanted to try the other Pillsbury Crescent Roll pin. I picked up some thinly sliced deli roast beef, and some deli sliced provolone cheese. The original pin suggested swiss or provolone, but I highly recommend provolone as it really was a delicious combination!! Again, there was room for improvement on the dipping sauce on this one, too. I actually forgot about the 'dip' part of the 'Beef Dip' dinner until the rolls were already in the oven, so I had to scramble and whip up something remotely 'au jus'ey... It was alright, but I will definitely make it again with an intentional au jus! 

This picture really doesn't do this justice!! It was delicious, and super easy for a weeknight meal! My suggestion to you though, is that since they are quite small, you might want to supplement this meal with a nice salad or other side dish... Also, I would estimate that one tube of crescents will feed about 2 people. I wouldn't really stretch it any further than that. Even at four each, they went down fast!!  If you're not trying to make this the 'star' of a full meal, they would be great appetizers, or finger food at a party.

If you've read this and are now thinking that you've 'got to try this', I suggest checking out the original Pinspiration for the Beef Dip Rolls. MamaLovesFood has some great ideas for different savoury and sweet combinations featuring Pillsbury Crescent Rolls I am sure they are all scrumptious!!  Go here --> MamaLovesFood <-- and scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page to the other recipes. 

Mmmmmm... after writing this post, I am thinking I will have to go out and buy some more Crescent Rolls!

A Pin With So Much Potential... Yet, a Pinterest Fail.

My first "real" blog entry will be about a Pin that I've been wanting to try for months. When I first saw the pin, I thought it was GENIUS. It rehashed my desire to own a waffle iron. I added "waffle iron" to my Christmas Wish List. I wanted one. Well, my Wish was granted in spades! My dad bought me a Cuisinart Breakfast Central Machine (deluxe belgian waffle maker and omelette maker all-in-one (and you can make them at THE SAME TIME)!! It will be the focus of many a blog post to come, I promise!! 

The "Pinspiration": 

Photo/Pinspiration Credit: Little Bit Funky

Cinnamon Buns are delicious; waffles are delicious... Ergo... cinnamon bun waffles must be delicious! Right?!  

Well, some good ideas, unfortunately have their weak points... In this case, it was the temperature of my waffle iron combined with all those sticky cinnamon topping pieces.... 

Do you see all those little brown delicious cinnamon pieces... well they're delicious when baked, but problematic in the waffle iron because of their high sugar content. When I closed the waffle iron the sizzle was loud! Then, after I flipped them, some of the melted cinnamon-sugar oozed out and spilled on to the surface under the iron. Then it started to smoke. Not a ton of smoke at first, but enough that I had to turn on the hood fan that was just a little to the left of this piece of countertop. When I opened the iron, I saw this:

Well, that was interesting... I've never seen a waffle stick to the top plate like that before. I had to use a flipper to pry it off of the top (and this was even necessary with non-stick plates that I had sprayed with cooking spray as a safety measure...).  The bottom (visible side in the above picture) was alright, the top though, was a little charred. Too much for my tastes. My 3rd and final attempt was a little better (the two-piece one shown below) - I think I got the timing a little better and opened it before it charred. The picture below is the finished, cream cheese icing drizzled product.

Not terrible, but not far from it either. I could probably get it if I were to try it again... I would turn the waffle iron setting to a little cooler, and not let it cook as long... but the clean-up of the sticky residue on the waffle plates... It's not likely I will try this again.  If you are brave and want to try this, too - check out the Pinspiration Link - she makes it look so easy (and Delicious!)

I deem this attempt - a Pinterest Fail. Yet, I will keep trying (and sharing) more!! Because when you get it right, it makes the fails all worthwhile. No risk, no reward right?

A new year, a new blog.

It's a new year, and so I've decided to start a new blog. I've said this before, but I will say it again... this time, I will have more success in keeping it full of regular posts and updates. However, this year... I will take on a less lofty goal than that of my last year's blog. I will not attempt to post something daily. That is just setting myself up for failure. I'm going to aim for at least once a week... sometimes more, but some weeks, I might not post at all, and that's okay, too! I'm also going to aim to actually look for some readers this time! 

This blog is going to showcase my trials and triumphs of my experiments with all of the lovely things I find and pin on Pinterest. I have pinned literally hundreds of great ideas. Okay... literally hundreds of things. They may not all be great ideas. I have NOT tried hundreds of things... but I have tried lots of great things (and had a few Pinterest fails of my own). I haven't captured step-by-step progress shots, or even any photographic evidence, of some of the past experiments, but those that I have, will start my blog. Going forward, I will capture even more photographs to share my experiments with you all! (If there is an all to share them with that is). Yes, dear boyfriend, that means MORE pictures of our food! 

My experiments won't all be Pinterest-based. Some of them will be purely original ideas that I will share with you (for better or for worse). Others might be suggestions from friends and family, or come from inspiration from one of these (or other) sources but with my own creative tweaks. We'll see. Nothing is off limits, as long as it interest me (and hopefully you). Something you want to see me try? Suggest it in the comments, and I will probably give it a try! 

Stay tuned!
Samantha