Peanut Butter Pretzel Balls

Jonathan and I are really loving it here in Iowa.  We've made some sweet friends already, and one couple likes to have us over for game night, so this is one of the treats I made for snack-time between games :)  I saw the recipe online and it looked simple, and boy, was I glad I made them!  For some crazy reason, the combination of peanut butter, pretzels, and chocolate resulted in a sweet and salty treat that tastes so similar to a Butterfinger.  My friends loved them, too!  Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, plus 1 Tbsp. (divided)
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup crushed pretzels
5 ounces melted chocolate

Stir together 1/2 cup peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and pretzels.  Form into 1" balls and set on plate or cookie sheet.  Put in freezer to firm up (about 30 minutes).  Melt chocolate over low heat or in microwave (monitor closely in microwave to prevent scorching).  When chocolate is almost melted, add 1 Tbsp. peanut butter and stir into chocolate.  Continue melting until smooth.  Dip balls into chocolate, coating evenly.  Refrigerate or freeze until set.

Erin's tip:  To dip balls into chocolate, place into chocolate, roll ball around in the chocolate with a fork to coat, then pick up the ball onto the fork and tap the fork on the side of the bowl.  This helps remove excess chocolate so you don't have a puddle of chocolate form at the base of the ball.  It also helps you not have a crazy mess on your hands (literally!).

Finger-licking good!

Adapted from:  Blog is the New Black

Moe's Tomatillo Salsa

I confess...I have a thing for salsa.  I crave it, and it's something I really enjoy making.  My favorite salsa to make can be found on this link, but my favorite salsa from a restaurant is Moe's tomatillo salsa.  It's a salsa verde made with tomatillos, jalapeños, and cilantro.  I've looked for the recipe online for years, and now that there's no Moe's near us, I became super-determined to find the recipe.  Luckily, I found a recipe for it, but I couldn't find canned tomatillos anywhere up here (the recipe insists that canned tomatillos give a more similar taste than fresh).  I found a Mexican grocery the other day, and they had canned tomatillos.  I went home and made the recipe, and it was amazingly similar!  It definitely hit the spot, and I'm going to make it anytime I have the craving for tomatillo salsa.  If you like crisp salsa with citrus/cilantro flavors, try this!

1 (28 oz.) can tomatillos, juice drained
1/2 small yellow onion
2/3 cup cilantro
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 fresh jalapeño (remove half the seeds for medium; leave all seeds for hot)
1/2 tsp. salt

Chop onion, tomatillos, cilantro, and jalapeños.  Add to food processor with lime juice, sugar, and salt.  Pulse to your desired consistency (I like this salsa relatively thin).  Place in bowl, cover with cling wrap or a lid, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors combine.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Source:  The Dabble

First Day of Orthodontics!

Today was my first day of orthodontic residency, and I was both so excited and so nervous about starting.  On one hand, I was excited because I've been wanting this for a while now, and I'm on the road to fulfilling my dream.  On the other hand, I was nervous about this new chapter in my life and fears associated with the unknown, since ortho is totally different than general dentistry.  BUT...I had a great day!!  I'm exhausted (a girl gets used to sleeping in after a month off, lol), but I've already learned so much and can't wait to get back there tomorrow.

Bye for now, and happy early 4th of July!