White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

White Chocolate & Pretzels 

I always see pretzels covered in yogurt in the grocery store.  I opted for some white chocolate chips & small pretzels instead.  This was my first time actually covering a food item in chocolate.  Geez, what is wrong with me?  Why did I wait so long?  

Melting Chocolate

Microwave Method:

1.  Throw some chocolate chips or shavings in a bowl.  

2.  Microwave in 20-30 second intervals.  You don't want to over cook it.

3.  Once you get the consistency you are happy with dip your pretzels in.

4.  Put them on a tray covered with parchment paper.

5.  Put the tray in the refrigerator for an hour or until chocolate has hardened. 

White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I threw a strawberry in for the fun of it.  My first few pretzels didn't come out so neat, but I soon got the hang of it.  When I finally had my first pretzel, oh my, was I a happy girl.  Now I want to cover everything in white chocolate.  This was such a simple treat to make.  

What else can I cover in chocolate?  Are you a chocolate lover?

Too Many Toys

Do you ever feel as if your kid's toys are consuming the entire place you live?  Our one bedroom apartment is an okay size...for a couple.  For a family of four, that's a different story.
I am one if those parents that cave too easily when it comes to toys.  Sometimes I even like the toys too.  My son is hooked on Hero Factory which is made by Lego.  The age group is for older kids but I find it good for fine motor skills.  My son gets OT therapy and any kind of Lego building is helpful.  He can now build his own sets with our help of keeping him focused. 
Mega Bloks make cute toys for girls and toddlers.  I can't help but buy my daughter pink blocks. 
What toys do your children like the best?  Do you have fun playing too? 

Hero Factory 

Mega Bloks

Welcome To My Blog Giveaway

Welcome to my first giveaway on Barefoot and Loving It.  I just wanted to say thank you to all my readers.  This is such an exciting adventure and I am so glad to be part of the blogging community.
This giveaway is not sponsored.  It is from me to you.  So let's have some fun. 

I chose to giveaway an Old Navy Gift card because you can use it at the other partner sites on their website too.  I always find a lot of great and affordable clothing there for the whole family.  

*This Giveaway is for the US only*



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday Recent Photos

Noah Graduates Pre-K

My husband & Nia

My Daughter & I at the Beach

Cooking Ingredients

Stir Fry Oil

I found a new oil in Whole Foods this weekend.  While I was looking for olive oil, I stumbled upon this stir fry oil by La Tourangelle.  Olive oil is used most nights that I cook.  It's just one of my favorite cooking ingredients.  This oil is infused with stir fried onion, garlic, and ginger flavors.  Flavors that I like in my food anyway.  I tried using this with chicken, peanut butter, and soy sauce.  I love making my own type of peanut sauce.  

Chicken Tenders in sauce

I used some Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter creamy and soy sauce too.  Along with the new stir fry oil, it tasted pretty good.  It can be a one bowl meal with some rice at the bottom and some of your favorite veggies.  I like snow peas with stir fry and/or peanut sauce.  

My favorite cooking ingredients:

1.  Olive oil

2.  salt & pepper

3.  soy sauce

4.  chili sauce

5.  peanut butter

6.  Old bay seasoning

Those are just a few of the basics.  What ingredients do you like to use most?  What is your favorite cooking ingredient?

Wildcard Wednesday

Welcome to Wildcard Wednesday!

<a href=" http://www.simplyclarke.com/search/label/Wildcard%20Wednesday"><img border="0" src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9pLa5DA6z9pQwAzTJuR2DOHQaJXFLEMtPbCjgIIsa5rVtlE9bLF_HEuZx8huR3E9f1Q1q_UlLFep7SD5L0XrzyOfGVUVY2Ghv2Rl-MRO8HSz6OBnAMWA_6zVCy88lwyxSUgX3NSLoJc/s1600/wcw2.jpg"/></a> 

The name of the game is #wildcard 

Stakes: A special PRIZE will be up for grabs the last week of each month

 Your link ups each week are your entries

Example: If you link up your blog, bloglovin and twitter you will have 3 entries each week

Disclaimer: You MUST be following your hosts in order to win

Winner of the May #wildcard {Won A $25 Giftcard of Choice}:

Rules of the Game: 

1. Follow all your hosts

Simply Clarke: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

Hooah And Hiccups: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

All That Glitters: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

and co-hosts

Lifeology: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

Life Style Love: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

Barefoot and Loving It: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

2. Grab our button for your post so that others can join in the fun

3. Link up using your Blog URL, Bloglovin' URL & Twitter

4. Visit at least 3 other blogs

5.  TWEET about Wildcard Wednesday using #wildcard 

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Now make some new friends :) 

Kimchi Fried Rice

Kimchi Fried Rice

Trader Joe's has a Kimchi Fried Rice in the frozen food section that is really good.  Last night I decided to try and make my own.  I had Kimchi, rice, and eggs on hand.  This version is just really simple...and I like easy cooking.

1.  Cook some rice.  I used my handy rice cooker and made two cups.  One cup for me and left the rest plain for the family.  

2.  Fry up some Kimchi.  Most recipes say to chop it up.  I did not.  I just threw a nice amount into my frying pan.  I used olive oil but you can use frying oil.  I also added a little salt...I have a salt problem.

3.  Add your cooked rice to the pan.  Now it is better to have the rice cooked way ahead of time.  It makes for a better fried rice.  As you may have noticed, I go to the beat of my own drum.  

4.  Last step is up to you.  There are many pictures of a sunny side egg on top of the Kimchi fried rice.  I did not want the runny egg yolk on my rice.  So, I used a fried egg instead and mixed it into the rice.

5.  Enjoy your rice!  The best thing about fried rice is that you can make so many different versions.  You can use chicken, steak, shrimp or just veggies.  Take out the kimchi and add soy sauce and oyster sauce.  The possibilities are endless.  Have fun with your food.

I Love My Bread Machine

Before Mixing

Over five years ago, we bought our first bread machine.  It is a Cuisinart Bread Machine and it is so easy to use.  Follow the directions for what type of bread you want to make, put in your ingredients, close the lid, press a few buttons, and your done.  The machine will knead, let your bread rise, and then bake.  Close to three hours later you will have a warm loaf of white bread...well that is what I usually make.  Most of the time we finish an entire loaf in one day.  If you have any leftovers it would make for some nice french toast.  

What I keep in my pantry for the bread machine:

1. Bread Flour

2. Yeast

3. Butter

4. Sugar or Honey

5. Salt

I also love the way fresh bread smells throughout the apartment.  If I could have fresh bread every day I would.  

Do you make bread in a machine or oven?  What is your favorite kind to make?

*aff link*

Crepes and Rice Pudding

Crepe with Strawberries

My Not So Wordless Wednesday is on the adventure of discovering a new shoppe.
Went into Sweet n Savory for the first time this past weekend.  They offer all different types of crepes and rice pudding.  What a wonderful and yummy idea.

Rice Pudding Enjoyed by Me

This Rice Pudding is Awesome!  I can't wait to try other flavors.  They offer different size containers.  This one is a single serving container.  I wish I had brought some home with me.  

Ling Ling Dumpling Snack

A Quick Dumpling Snack

Ling Ling Asian Kitchen makes a nice frozen dumpling.  I bought a bag of dumplings just to try out from the frozen food section.  I have yet to make my own.  This is a light and quick snack to make.  I had mine before dinner because I didn't want to get hangry.  It's never good to be really hungry while making dinner.  As food finishes cooking it might not make it to the table.  

You can boil these or pan fry them.  Whatever makes your tummy happy.  I boiled mine.  Drained them.  Fried with a little butter.  I love the dipping sauce they give you.

Dumplings  

I could have fried them longer but I was impatient.  I like this brand and would like to try some of their other frozen food products.  I also want to try making my own dumplings in the future.  Putting that on my "experiment" list now.