Fried Dill Pickle Chips Recipe {Restaurant CopyCat Recipe}

These Fried Dill Pickle Coins or Chips are from Mom's VERY BEST Recipes Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch. We've had these at quite a few restaurant but hands down these taste better! Try this appetizer at your next party! These would be great for a game day recipe, too! The first time I made them was for Super Bowl Sunday! This is a yummy copycat from the expensive restaurant fried pickles! Make your own and save money!

 Fried Dill Pickle Coins

Ingredients:
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. milk
3 c. dill pickles, thinly sliced
oil for deep frying
Garnish: ranch salad dressing

Directions:  In a bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper.  In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and milk together.  Blot pickles well with paper towels.  Coat pickles with flour mixture, then with egg mixture.  In a large deep fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees*.  Add pickles, about 10 at a time, and cook for 3 minutes, or until golden, turning once.  Drain on paper towels.  Serve warm with ranch dressing.  Serves 6.
*we just fried on the stove top

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Easy Game Day Recipe Dill Pickle Dip

In a house full of teens we are always snacking on something. This is the perfect game day recipe dip because it is so easy to make and everyone who loves pickles loves this dip. This appetizer recipe is in one of my favorite cookbooks- Gooseberry Patch Quick & Easy Christmas.

Dill Pickle Dip

Ingredients
8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. sour cream
5-6 whole dill pickles, chopped
1 1/4 t. garlic salt or to taste
pickle juice (optional)
potato chips

Directions
Mix together all ingredients except chips. Stir in pickle juice to get the consistency you want. Cover and chill 24 hours. Serve with chips. Serves 6-8.

MY KITCHEN NOTES: I didn't read the directions before planning the dip so I made it on the day we needed to eat it.  It was VERY TASTY and I wondered why you needed to wait 24 hours to eat it. We had leftover dip so I covered it and put it in the fridge. I pulled it out the next day and WOW I then discovered why you should eat it the next day. It was even better after the ingredients had time to form together. Very tasty and we will make this again, and again and again.

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Everyday Simple Suppers Gooseberry Patch Cookbook Giveaway

Gooseberry Patch is rolling out a new cookbook, Everyday Simple Suppers published by Oxmoor House. The cookbook is chocked full of tasty family favorites with 260 easy recipes! Seriously, 260 easy recipes! Here are a few we tried out and I have plenty marked to cook later.

Did you know that I'm a Early Bird Reviewer for Gooseberry Patch? That means that I get to check out their cookbooks before they hit the shelves and share recipes with you! My own opinions are always stated here on my blog!

Don't let the title of the cookbook fool you! Yes it is full of everyday simple supper ideas but they aren't just old stand by recipes. There are so many fresh new ideas and spins on old family favorites. I found that the simple part of these recipes is that most of them only use a few ingredients! All of the photos are mouth-watering fresh! There are 1-2 photos in each 2 page spread!

Whenever I get a new cookbook I make sure that I have a cup of coffee and post it note tabs to mark what I want to try first! I already started marking up this book! See the yellow and blue tabs?

Here are the chapters and a few of the recipes in each that I want to try:

One Dish Wonders-Stuffed Artichoke Chicken, Poppy Seed Chicken, Crispy Pecan-Chicken Casserole, Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup and Nacho Grande Casserole
Farmers' Market Favorites-Chicken Lo Mein, Garden Mini Meatloaves, Tuscan Pork Loin, Poblano Chowder, Gnocchi & Vegetable Toss
Sizzling Skittle Suppers-Chicken Chimies, Lemony Pork Piccata, Pizzeria Sausage Supper, Parmesan Fish Sticks & Homemade Tartar Sauce and Mom's Salmon Patties
Pronto Pizza & Pasta-Deep Dish Sausage Pizza, White Pizza, Topsy Turvy Pizza, Poppy's Onion Pizza, Creamy Chicken Lasagna, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Best Friends' Greek Pasta
Speedy Sandwiches & Salads-Cobb Sandwiches, Apricot Cashew Salad Sandwiches, Toasted Green Tomato Sandwiches, Green Goddess Bacon Salad, Mediterranean Beef Salad Lemony Dressing
Breakfast Anytime-Make Ahead Pumpkin Pie French Toast, Breakfast Apple Sandwiches, Country Style Breakfast Pizza, Crab Corn & Pepper Frittata
Super Simple Sides-Roasted Corn with Rosemary Butter, Zucchini Fritters, Crunchy Green Bean Salad, Lemony Orzo Salad, Spicy Baked Chili Fries
Short & Sweet Desserts-Grandma's Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Chocolate Icebox Cake, Gooey Toffee Scotchies with Toffee Sauce, Peanut Butter Bars, Ice Cream Tacos, Angel Ice Cream Cake

Here are a few recipes I'm sharing today and then the giveaway below! I do have more recipes to share so keep in touch by signing up for my email list below!

Slow Cooker Creamy Apricot Chicken

Ingredients

8oz bottle of Russian salad dressing
12 oz jar apricot preserves
1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast

Directions

Combine salad dressing and preserves. Set aside. 
Arrange chicken in a 5 quart slow cooker, pour dressing mixture on top.
Cover and cook on high setting for 1 hour and then low for 3 hours or until  hi ken juices run clear.
Serves 4-6

Kitchen Notes

To save time, I just added the chicken to the crockpot and then poured on the dressing and preserves. This way I had one less bowl to clean up. Also my local market doesn't carry Russian salad dressing. I haven't seen it in years. I just used Spicy French dressing. Is that the same thing? Either way this was so tasty. Everyone loved it. The juices from cooking worked great on top of the Herbed Mashed Potatoes from this cookbook (recipe will be posted in a few days)

Chocolate Icebox Cake

Ingredients

3.4 oz pk. cook & serve vanilla pudding
3.4 oz pk. cook & serve chocolate pudding
3 c. milk, divided
2 sleeves graham crackers
Garnish: whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles

Directions

Prepare pudding mixes separately according to package directions, using 1 1/2 cups milk for each one; cool slightly. 
Line the bottom of an ungreased 13" x 9" baking pan with whole crackers. 
Line sides of pan with halved crackers.
Spoon vanilla pudding over crackers. 
Cover with another layer of crackers.
Spoon chocolate pudding over crackers.
Crumble remaining crackers on top.
Refrigerate until chilled.
At serving tie, dollop individual portions with whipped cream & garnish with sprinkles. Serves 8-10

Kitchen Notes

This was a huge hit and everyone loved it. I picked this recipe because I had pudding and graham crackers on hand. Everyone wants me to make it again. It was gone in 24 hours with one of the teens eating it for breakfast. 

Enter by giveaway below and then go check out the recipes & enter at Goodness Gracious and Threaded Together’s Giveaway, Delightful Country Cookin’ and Grandma's in the Kitchen.

Easy enter below. Ends 9/7 and open to USA/Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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6 Fall Desserts you must try

Welcome back to our Pinterest Party Link and Pin! You link up your favorite pins, post, Pinterest Boards, Pinterest ID and then pin some that have been shared! If we all do this then we are all spreading great content to our readers. Join in the fun! While you are here I have picked out 6 Fall Dessert ideas from last week's party! Enjoy them! I do not have a theme for you to link up but if you have anything fall related, do share!

I'm also featuring my Best Ever Cookbooks (with over 13,000 followers) Pinterest board because it rocks! I love checking out all of the wonderful cookbooks and recipes from cookbooks that get pinned there. If you want to be a contributor leave a comment on that board or in the comments below with your Pinterest ID.

6 Fall Desserts - pin to Feelin' Like Fall
Yesterfood - Homemade Apple Pie
Lynn's Kitchen Adventures- Caramel Chex Mix
Little Island Studios-Chocolate Espresso Donuts
I Am Succeeding -Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Bars
I Am Succeeding - Pumpkin Pie Latte
SusieQTpies Cafe-Cookies & Cream Cereal Bars

The weekly Pinterest party is a great time to make new Pinterest friends and pin new content onto our boards. Thank you! In the weekly Pinterest Party you can link up anything that you want to get pinned on Pinterest! Join in the fun and link blog post, your top pins or top repins, your Pinterest ID, etc. Anything goes!

HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY Party (all optional)

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please! 

2) Link up your most clicked on post, most followed Pinterest board, favorite pinterest pin, etc...anything goes.

3) Add your Pinterest name to the linky.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

5) Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Cafe and cohost with my blogging friend Little Island Studios. 

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5 High School Back To School Tips

We love our summer schedule because the schedule is less structured then when the kids are in school. When we homeschooled we had a relaxed schedule all the time! This all changed when the oldest two teens started taking local college classes and the youngest went to a local high school last year! How does your family adjust to the new school schedule every year?  How do you make the transition smooth from relaxed summer schedule to planned and organized daily schedule? How do you prepare your kids and teens for back to school independence? 

5 High School Back To School Tips -support indpendence

1-Back to School Clothes Shopping- Take the teen shopping! Connect one on one with your teen. Plan your budget to allow them to pick out some new clothes. This is so important in their mind but they might not express it to you.

2-Back to School Supply Shopping-Get the school supply list and go shopping with your teen. Enjoy this one on one time together. Let them take charge of the list and get what is needed. In high school they do not need a parent picking out their backpack, folders, pencils, etc. Let them take charge and do it together.

3-Back to School Lunch- This seems trivial to some but talk with your teen and find out what they want to eat for school lunch. Don't just assume they want the easy hot lunch at school. Provide what they need but don't over do it. Most likely they will not take or eat a balanced meal for lunch. If they always bring their lunch from home, give them cash to keep in their back pack for those days when they leave the lunch at home or on the bus. This will give them independence to buy lunch instead of them having to call home and be embarrassed at their teen forgetfulness.

4-Back to School Bedtime- Teens do not need a set bedtime. GULP! If you set it this gives them something to rebel against. Don't start the school year off this way. Talk about what time is a good bed time and wake up time. Teach them how to set their alarm so they can be responsible for their own wake up time. They need independence and this is a good time for them to learn it. Don't wake them up. Let them do this and they will succeed. 

5-Back to School Homework-This has to be your teens responsibility. Actively ask questions about what they did in school, what homework do they have and offer your help if they need it but do not do their work or take charge of it. High school students need to do this on their own. 

It isn't easy letting go as a parent but when it comes to high school students they need to be independent. Independence doesn't mean ignoring them and letting them go off and have no responsibilities. Guide them in their decisions and always let them know you are there to help!

Did you know that each year 1 MILLION students fail to graduate high school? This statistic is sad and scary. Don't let your kid or someone you know be in this statistic. Why is that number so high? Somewhere along the way these high school students got lost and overwhelmed with life. Somewhere along the way they lost their independence and guidance from adults.

I'm a huge supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and have blogged about this organization numerous times. This organization works to support today's youth, support you as a parent and give guidance and support for the educational needs of youth. This back to school season, BGCA and Disney have launched an online school supply drive. You can play their online pop-quiz style game which will allow you to help donate school supplies to your local BGCA. The quiz is easy and for every 5 answers you get correct a supply donation will be made! 

Why is this important? If you are a parent who has the resources to provide supplies for back to school that is great. Gathering of the supplies is one of those back to school areas which allows you to bond and give the high schooler independence in choosing supplies. Some parents do not have the extra resources to do this or for some they just don't do it. The BGCA assist parents and students in this area because that is what they do! They find a need and fill it! If you are reading this you can help, too! 

Let's give help to those in need and you can start by going to the BGCA website and play the pop-quiz and assist BGCA and Disney in the supply donation! Easy way to make a difference to some of those 1 million teens which could keep them in school and graduate. Did you know that the BGCA Website is for all parents? So while you are there look around and check out all the educational content for you to assist your teens educational needs. I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

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Easy Craft Photo Cube Bouquet for Grandparents Day

I'm so excited that my Photo Cube Bouquet is being featured over on the Bowdabra Blog today! I love giving photos as gifts and this one is our newest creation! It is so easy to make and it didn't cost me anything because my teens and I found all the supplies in our home. This just shows that if you get a little creative and use what you have you can create an easy homemade gift! This would be great for the grandparents or anyone who needs a gift!

Most of the time we give photo books as gifts. This project takes a new spin where you just give the photos and the grandparent can easily switch out the photos on the bouquet. This way they always have fresh photos to look at! 

Do you have any photo gift ideas for Grandparent's Day? If so share! Here is a close up of the base. So adorable! You can use any color combination and supplies that you have around the house! 

More Easy Crafts

Flower Gift Ideas

14 Eco Friendly Crafts for Families

Recycled Aluminum Can Clothes Pin Flower Gift

Kids Craft-Edible Flower Sundae 

Graffiti Art in the Kitchen

DIY repurposed shoes

Enter below to......

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20 + Ways to Cook your Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds are so easy to make. To some, cleaning out a pumpkin seems like a lot of work. To us, cleaning out the pumpkin means fresh baked pumpkin seeds! Fall recipes like this one is super easy to make and you will wish that you could make these all year long. Do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes? How about pumpkin seed recipes? 

How to Make Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients

Pumpkin seeds-removed and cleaned from the pumpkin

Various seasonings

Olive oil or any flavor of oil you want

Directions

1-Clean off seeds.

2-Soak for 1 hour in salt water. This step can be skipped which I often do.

3-Toss seeds with a small amount of olive oil.

4-Sprinkle seeds with salt.

5-Bake in a preheated 300 F oven until seeds dry out which is approximately 15-25 minutes.

Other pumpkin seed recipe variations using the same directions up above!

Use other oils in step 3

1-Squash oil

2-Peanut oil

3-Sesame oil

4-Coconut oil

Use other seasonings in step 4 with the salt or omit salt

5-White sugar

6-Brown sugar

7-Garlic powder

8-Garlic salt

9-Seasoning salt

10-Onion salt

11-Chili powder

12-Taco seasoning

13-Ranch seasoning

14-French onion seasoning

15-Cinnamon

16-Pumpkin pie spice

17-Tabasco sauce

18-Buffalo wing sauce - very small amount

19-BBQ sauce-very small amount

20-BBQ seasoning

Kitchen Note

Don't over do the wet ingredients as it will take the seeds even longer to dry out.

Here are some bonus pumpkin recipe & pumpkin crafts

(Photo from Two Little Cavaliers and link below)

• Two Little Cavaliers for  Kale Chips Superfood Snack (Baked Kale Chips with Chia, Pumpkin Seeds and Lemon Juice) 
• Made in Our Kitchen- Pumpkin Seed Brittle
• My Darling Lemon Thyme Kale and Pumpkin Seed Pesto
• Teach Preschool - Exploring Pumpkin Seeds in the Preschool Classroom
• Huff Post Taste- Simple Pumpkin Seed Sauce 
• Nuturing Young Minds-Pumpkin Seed Turkeys

Click over to find more pumpkin recipes. 

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