Does anyone else feel like they can live on french toast for the rest of their life? I'm not alone? Whew. I have been loving french toast since I can remember. I have very fond memories enjoying french toast at my childhood friend's house - her mom made the BEST french toast ever. I also remember ordering it as a kid when we went out to breakfast. Who am I kidding? I still order it now! With all the brunch festivities coming up...Mother's Day, Father's Day, plus Spring in general, … [Read more...]
Coconut Cupcakes
Oh what a lovely day it is. For these unbelievable coconut cupcakes. Ya know...when I think of Easter I think of three things...lemon, coconut and pastels. Oh and mimosas. What do you think of? I've actually been craving coconut. It's Spring. I am kind of over the warm and comforting stuff. I say that while currently slow cooking a chuck roast as we speak. I needed something easy for tonight, okay? I guess what I'm saying is...I am turning gears...at least in the dessert arena. It's … [Read more...]
Peppermint Brownies with Chocolate Ganache
One more recipe before Christmas! I know. I know. I'm cutting it pretty close. Pretty pretty please tell me you're still planning? If you are, add these peppermint brownies to your dessert list! You will be very happy. Promise. Do you like peppermint? It's one of those flavors that you either love or hate. I actually don't love or hate it. I like it and that is totally fine with me. I really do love these brownies though! They're not overpowering with peppermint flavor so don't worry … [Read more...]
Roasted Beef Tenderloin
You need this fancy recipe! Why? Because it's so easy! Oh my gosh I'm in love with this roasted beef tenderloin. It's.so.fancy. but it's really not. I mean...it is, like it looks fancy and tastes fancy, but it's a no fuss recipe. Marinate the meat, sear the meat, then roast the meat in the oven. I can't believe I'm saying this, buuuuuuut I think it's kinda pretty. Right? I don't love photographing meat...it's just not all that photogenic but I think this is really beautiful. Maybe … [Read more...]
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Tis' the season for all the cookies!!! I could eat all the cookies in the world over the holidays. I freaking love love love cookies. All different kinds - I think we have talked about this before? They're my favorite "treat." I have been wanting to make chocolate crinkle cookies for some time now because I think they're so pretty and so Winter. We are heading out tomorrow to visit my brother and his family in Pittburgh! I can't even wait...I've never been and I haven't seen them in a … [Read more...]
Cranberry Bars
Oh my gosh, how gorgeous are these? I'll be honest. I don't bake with fresh cranberries that often. I often use dried cranberries - see these white chocolate almond cookies and this cranberry orange bread. I love snacking on dried cranberries and using them in salads...like all the time. I love a burst of a sweet in a salad, but they are lacking something...the looks. They're just not as beautiful as fresh cranberries. I am SO glad I decided to bake these cranberry bars up because they're … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Holidays = stuffing. Stuffing = holidays. It's just part of the deal. There's no getting away from it. Stuffing is just as important as the Turkey or the ham or the roast. It's what I go back for seconds for and it's what compliments every other dish on the plate. It needs to be good. And pretty! Yes, I think stuffing it pretty. It's a casserole which isn't always the most eye appealing dish, but with herbs, spices, and pretty ingredients like cherries, stuffing can look beautiful. I … [Read more...]
Green Bean Casserole
With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm thinking you may need some side dish ideas. Am I right? I know I know. It's not even Halloween yet but the holiday talk is already happening in our family. We go back to Iowa to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and now that we are older, we try to all help in the kitchen instead of leaving the daunting cooking task on just my mom. It only makes sense for me to help cook and bake, right? I love to cook in my parent's kitchen because it was the first … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies are a CLASSIC. A chewy peanut butter cookie is rolled into sugar, baked until puffy and garnished with a Hershey's kiss while still warm! I know I know...this isn't a new cookie creation. Rather it's an old one! These Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies have been around for awhile and everyone seems to make them around the holidays including my mom! We were back in Iowa for Thanksgiving and there in the corner of the kitchen were several dozen of these delicious … [Read more...]
12 Christmas Dinner Recipes
Can you believe that Christmas is just 21 days away? It doesn't feel like the holidays around here because the weather has actually been pretty warm. I am so used to blustery cold winters here in the Midwest and instead it's 50 degrees out! Not complaining, not complaining. It's probably going to be -2349384903 in March...I will complain then. Anyway, since Christmas will be here very soon, I thought I would share some main dish courses with you that I found around the web. What do you … [Read more...]
Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies – Handmade Holidays: Bake, Craft, Sew
I am excited to share this very easy edible gift idea with you as part of the Handmade Holiday Series: Bake, Craft, Sew - Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies, with sprinkles of course! Head on over to Leigh Anne's blog, Your Homebased Mom, to read the blog post and to check out all of the other fun and unique gift ideas! Don't forget to pin this recipe to Pinterest by clicking the image below! Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies - Handmade Holidays: Bake, Craft, Sew Save Print … [Read more...]
Corned Beef and Cabbage with the Fixins’
There's a first for everything. This is the first time that I made corned beef and cabbage! With all the fixins' of course. I absolutely love corned beef and cabbage but rarely do I enjoy it. Maybe once a year if Vin and I get over to his Grandma's St. Patrick's Day weekend. She makes a killer St. Patty's meal which inspired me to make it this year. I eat corned beef on reubens though...all the time. Because I'm a working girl and take care of this little blog here, I don't have … [Read more...]