I love cooking. I love cooking from scratch. I love knowing what I put into my foods and I love enjoying the fruit of my labor. I also easily get bored making the same things over and over (the same thing within a two - three week period constitutes over and over for me haha). All this to say, Pinterest has helped me try out a wide variety of recipes that I never would have discovered in cook books alone. It excites me when I find a new recipe that tastes amazing and makes others just as happy but it's also disappointing when I make something with a sweet smelling aroma that may not taste great at all.Today I'm reviewing 10 different recipes I've pinned and made. These reviews aren't meant to criticize the makers or to uplift me as some expert chef. I'm just sharing my experience with the recipes.
Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies: WIN
The author says that she gave Little Debbie a run for her money and I would have to agree! These bad boys are absolutely DELISH! My husband and I could not stop chowing them down and the few that I (so kindly) shared with friends thought they were amazing as well. This would be a great batch to make for your husband right before you are about to ask him for something ;)Aside from the cookies being extremely unhealthy (lots of butter and cream), the only CON I would have to say about this recipe is that it is time consuming. The frosting itself takes 1-2 hours to cool and the sandwiches need to be refrigerated for 1-2 hours after making. (That doesn't mean you can't cheat and have a cookie right after the frosting has cooled down!)
Stovetop Mac and Cheese: FAIL
I'm a die hard Mac and Cheese fan. I love cheese and I love pasta so it's win, win when I make a dish. I've tried a total of 10 different recipes in my life and I while I do have a go-to, I still like to try new ones. This one caught my eye because it's not baked and you could the macaroni in milk instead of water. One thing I like to do before cooking Pinterest recipes is read the comments section in case people have other suggestions. I skimmed through them and noticed that someone said cooking in milk changed the texture of the noodles and I would have to agree. The sauce was delicious but the milk made the noodles taste very mushy...too mushy. I don't know if I cooked it wrong but for something that requires you to stand by your stove for 15 minutes straight, all while watching the pot and stirring, I think I'll pass on this one.The only PRO I could say about this recipe is that the sauce may be something I'd use in the future. Perhaps instead of boiling in milk, I might boil them in water and then follow the rest of the directions.
Lasagna Roll-ups: WIN
I made these as the staple for an italian appetizer night. They were pretty good! I almost like them better than traditional lasagna because scooping the roll-ups out of the Pyrex dish is much easier than trying to slice a sloppy lasagna. The recipe was easy to follow and the results were great! You can also freeze them after preparing them and save them for another dinner!Cons? The only thing I would do is add a little bit of sugar since the sauce initially tasted pretty bitter.
Paleo Pancakes (Gluten-free): FAIL
This whole week I've been trying out Paleo recipes. I've had a few turn out wonderfully but I made this for my son and I this morning and I didn't like it. They were edible (and surprisingly my son chowed them down) but they were not for me. What appealed to me was the fact that they were made out of simply: one egg, one banana and one tablespoon of almond flour. They are extremely healthy but the taste wasn't anything to behold. I definitely think they can become an acquired taste for someone who can't have gluten or is trying to slim down, but I think I'm going to keep looking for an alternative pancake recipe.
Cajun Chicken Fettucine Alfredo: WIN
This tastes like a spicier version of Olive Garden's classic fetuccine alfredo. It is a time consuming dish that probably isn't good for you at all but the sauce melts in your mouth and the dish will leave you and a handful of others with a full, happy belly. I'm also not a fan of grape tomatoes but this recipe converted me. They add such a kick to this wonderful dinner. Go make it now!!!!
Homemade Motzerella Bites: FAIL
This one surprised me. It's extremely popular on Pinterest and seems relatively easy, but the biggest complaint commentators have is the fact that the cheese melts in the oven. There have been many suggestions including using low fat cheese and freezing the cheese before baking, but I tried both methods and they didn't turn out. The bread looked nothing like the picture (I feel like it would if you fried it?) and the cheese (although it had been frozen) melted someone leaving the bits looking less desirable than I had hope. It didn't taste bad but it didn't taste like the mozzarella sticks I had anticipated.
Avacado Chicken Salad: WIN
This was AMAZING! I made it today and both my toddler and I licked our plates. This is basically like a chicken salad but instead of using mayo, you replace it with avocado! To add some flavor you can add a bit of lime juice, chop up some green onions and throw in bits of cilantro, salt and pepper. This tastes great on bread, in a pita of with a side of tortilla chips. The best part is, it's quick and easy, as well as extremely healthy! 
No Sugar, No Flour Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies: FAIL
I'm always a little hesitant when it comes to making healthy foods that are desserts. I just feel like if you are eating sweets you should go all in or go home lol. This picture caught my eye and I decided to make it. I don't know what I did wrong (because the directions are easy to follow) but mine didn't turn out. The smell of brownies teased me when the taste didn't match up. I like that there are substitutes for flour and sugar but this recipe made me realize that I'm done attempting healthy desserts.
Warm Bean Dip aka Texas Trash: WIN
YUM! This is always a hit and a great party dish! Pair it with some mexican food or tex-mex dishes and you are good to go. It's extremely simple to make and it doesn't cost much either. The only downside? It's probably not that healthy... 
Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme Copycat Recipe: WIN
I made these for my husband last night and he asked for them again today at lunch. I've actually never tried a Taco Bell Supreme Crunch Wrap, so I can't compare but these were TASTY. It does call for queso dip and I'm not a fan of liquid cheese, but it didn't taste bad in these. You can always replace the dip with real cheese instead. To get even healthier, you can ditch the sour cream and replace it with avocados too. They are fairly easy to make and I think it's a meal kids and adults can appreciate! Happy cooking! Let me know if you decide to make any of these and how they turned out!Don't forget, there is still time to enter our Ancient Ways necklace giveaway! You can enter daily until Friday!