Chocolate chip coffee cake

One of my friends makes a chocolate chip coffee cake that's super delicious and yesterday I was in the mood for some of that deliciousness, so I came across this recipe that looked like just the thing I was wanting.

And it was!

If you've never had chocolate chip coffee cake, then you're in for a real treat! It didn't take long at all to throw together and you probably have the ingredients on hand already.

Even though coffee cake is generally thought of as a breakfast/morning treat, I think it can be eaten as a regular dessert also. Especially this coffee cake, because the addition of chocolate chips adds a lot of extra richness to the taste.

Anyhow, if you get a chance, try this yumm-ilicious chocolate chip coffee cake recipe! :)

Mexican Pizza

Ever had the Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell?

(Or as my hubby likes to call it, Taco Hell, for reasons having to do with typical stomach discomfort after consuming a heavy, but still totally worthwhile, meal from  the glorious TB.)

Anyhow, I've always loved their Mexican Pizza so I'm excited to try this recipe that I came across, especially since it looks pretty easy to make.

And I'm all about the simple and tasty...

Anyhow, if you make this before I do, let me know what you think. Or if you're also a fan of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza.

(Or, perhaps, you just prefer to avoid this restaurant chain for reasons previously mentioned...) :)

Mexican Pizza

Harvest Hamburger Casserole

This was always a favorite casserole of mine when I was a kid and it's one I still make today. It's nice and hearty with meat and lots of veggies, with a unique blending of flavors all together in one pot.

And it's from Taste of Home so you know it's good. :)

Harvest Hamburger Casserole

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

Last summer when I went to visit my sister and her family, she made this chicken dish for dinner one night. Omw, it's addicting and lick your plate good!

Grilled squash, zucchini, and a bowl of Jasmine rice were a perfect compliment to go with the chicken and there were definitely no left overs. :)

You also don't need to use skewers-if you prefer, you can simply cook or grill the cut up pieces of meat without turning them into kabobs.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

Triple Layer Lemon Pie

Mmm, this was really yummy and ridiculously simple to make! All you need is a graham cracker pie crust, lemon pudding, lemon juice, milk, and cool whip.

I love refreshing desserts, and this kind of reminded me of a lighter "cool whip" version of lemon meringue pie. (One of my favs, btw)

Here's the recipe for Triple Layer Lemon Pie.

Hope everyone had a great Easter! :)

Super Easy Fettuccine Alfredo

For one of my bridal shower gifts, I received an envelope of recipes that my friends had compiled, full of favorites they wanted to pass on to me as a soon to be newlywed.

This fettuccine alfredo was one of them, and is always a treat when I get a chance to make it.

I love how simple it is to throw together, and I usually have the ingredients right on hand.


All you need is:

-1 pound fettuccine noodles, cooked
-8 ounces cream cheese
-1 stick butter
-i cup milk
-3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Then:

Melt cream cheese and butter in sauce pan. Next, add milk plus parmesan cheese, and stir till well combined. Finally, pour sauce over fettuccine pasta, and you're done!

If you want to make it more hearty, you can also add cooked broccoli or chunks of cooked chicken as well. I also like to season my alfredo to taste with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley flakes.

Enjoy! :)

Peachy Delight!

This is a recipe I've had in my binder for a while, and one that I tend to pull out every summer. 

I love peaches, so this cool, refreshing, dessert is one of my favorites in warm weather...

Here are the directions to make this peachy delight:

 -1/2 box yellow cake mix

-3/4 cup melted butter

-1 pound of peaches, sliced and sweetened (can use canned or fresh)

-2 cups sour cream

-1/4 cup sugar

-3 egg yolks

-cinnamon to taste

Combine cake mix and butter in bowl and stir well. Spread in bottom of lightly greased 9 by 13 pan. Layer peaches over top. Blend sour cream, sugar, and egg yolks in bowl, then spoon over peaches. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, or until set. Refrigerate until cool.

Enjoy! :)

Yogurt drops

I saw these fun little things on Pinterest and thought I'd share!

Now that it's getting warmer, it's perfect weather for light snacks and lots of fruit, right?

(Ok, we should be eating light snacks and lots of fruit all the time; but you get the picture.) :)

Anyhow, these are so simple to make, I can't believe I never thought to do them before!

All you have to do is follow the picture tutorial, and you're set. Frozen yogurt drops in about an hour.

Enjoy!

Applesauce cookies with caramel frosting

We recently had a recipe exchange at church and I decided to bring these cookies, which I found on Pinterest!

(Again, love that site.)

I had never had applesauce cookies until I met my husband and he introduced me to them. I couldn't find his recipe, so I decided to try this one; and was very pleased with the results!

(Plus the caramel frosting was an added bonus...) :)

I also used chunky applesauce, instead of regular, so that's an option if you want bits of apple in your cookies.

Enjoy!

Applesauce cookies with caramel frosting

Cauliflower Casserole

This is one of my favorite casseroles...especially good on a cold winter night.

(I've even gotten non-cauliflower lovers to eat (and enjoy) this dish!)

So whether you're normally a veggie fan, or not, give the Cauliflower Casserole recipe a try.

Happy eating! :)

Simple, tender, parmesan chicken

I've always loved chicken parm; the crunch and taste are delicious in my opinion.

While I'm used to soaking it in an egg breading, this recipe calls for butter instead.

Which I think makes the chicken even more flavorful.

Last night I made this for dinner, and it was a hit as usual. And it truly is simple to prepare and have ready within 30-40 minutes.

I modify the breading aspect by just using already seasoned Italian bread crumbs, rather than plain, and mixing that with parmesan cheese.

Simple and delicious Parmesan Chicken!

A special ladybug themed birthday party!

This past Sunday we had a birthday party to celebrate our daughter Ava turning one!

I had so much fun planning it, after deciding to incorporate a ladybug theme throughout. (Ava had previously dressed up as a ladybug for Halloween, and we also jokingly call her our little "bug," so this seemed perfect for her special day.)

I love looking at party pictures, so thought I'd share a few of my favorite highlights. :)

Here is the "sweets" table we set up in our dining room, with chocolate dipped pretzel favors, homemade cupcakes, and red/black licorice in a vase-which is not in this shot. For a little extra decoration, I included a photo of Ava I took in December, framed with a sign-able mat for guests to include a personal note for the birthday girl. There is also an album and ladybug pillow pet we recently bought her.

These were so much fun to do-chocolate bug cupcakes, with chocolate chip dots! I got the idea from Martha Stewart and kinda put my own twist on it. I also didn't use her actual cupcake recipe, just the concept.

This is the one I made: Mom's Chocolate Cupcakes.

And here's the link for  Bug Cupcakes if you'd like to design some of your own!

These red velvet cupcakes turned out so so moist and delicious! I've already posted the recipe I used, but so you don't have to dig, here it is again.
"He Proposed" Red Velvet Cake.



I used the same Vanilla Butter cream Frosting recipe for both cupcakes, and was really pleased with it.

Not pictured here, but I also whipped up a double batch of Mini Cherry Cheesecakes, courtesy of Taste of Home. Love them-the cupcakes and Taste of Home! :)

I made Ladybug Pretzel Bites for the favors, and they were very easy to put together. I dipped the bottom in milk chocolate, and for the top, simply mixed red food dye into white chocolate. Once they were dry, I decorated some of them with black food dye using a toothpick. For wrapping, I picked up clear gift bags plus polka dot ribbon from Walmart, and that was it!

Btw, my pretzels don't look exactly the same as pictured in the recipe, but that's the beauty of improvising, right? :)

Aren't these crackers really cute? I got the idea for these Ladybug Appetizers  from Taste of Home-no surprise there-and just thought they were adorable! I didn't get a chance to pipe black dots on to the tomatoes, due to lack of time, but thought they still turned out nicely anyway.

As far as the rest of the food, we made chili, along with meatballs, and bought rolls for meatball subs. We also had a veggie tray and plate of fresh, sweet, strawberries.

But, best of all, were the wonderful family and friends gathered together at our home; precious memories for Ava to cherish someday.

Finally, a pic of the birthday girl-favorite binky included- since it really was her day...

Hope you enjoyed this peek into my bug's 1st birthday party! :)

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes...

I made some of these delightful cheesecakes over the weekend and still have a few sitting in my fridge.

They're kinda my pretty, yummy, easy, go to dessert when I need the random mini cheesecake fix. And the red cherries on top look so pretty-I love a nice pop of color! 

P.S. I just spoon a can of Comstock cherry pie filling on top of each cheesecake, instead of following what the recipe suggests. 

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Happy Valentine's Day! Hopefully, you're enjoying something sweet today. xo

Super Moist Red Velvet Cake

Aren't the words red and velvet a delicious sounding combo?

(Well, I guess it depends on what exactly that combo entails...)

Happily, this one is a cake. Yum!

While I'm not exactly a red velvet cake connoisseur, I do know a good one when I've tasted it. 

And since I'm having a lady bug themed birthday party for my daughter Ava this weekend, I decided to incorporate some extra red into the mix. 

Last night, the party planning committee (consisting of me, myself, and I) whipped up a test batch in cupcake form. 

I ate three cupcakes, out of a dozen. 

Now there are only 9 left. 

(I know, I'm a math genius.)

But I'll be making more Saturday, so no worries; other than the trillion needless necessary calories consumed.

Here it is, the officially titled "He proposed" Red Velvet Cake!!!

Still unclear on the title?...

My favorite banana bread!

I absolutely LOVE banana bread. So whenever I come across a loaf, I do a little happy dance inside at the prospect of filling my mouth with this fruity goodness. 

But sometimes, that first bite doesn't live up to my, I'll admit, somewhat high expectations.

And what are those expectations?

Well, tons of moistness and banana flavor are at the top of my list, along with just the right amount of sweetness. 

Add a crunch factor, and I'm a goner.

This recipe satisfies all my cravings and more. And it can also be turned into killer muffins...

Without further ado, I give you The definitive banana bread!

Peanut Butter Corn Flake Balls

Every time I make these, they're a huge hit. I mean colossal. After bringing them to church recently, there was much drooling and rave reviews. 

When I put these together at home, they're gone almost as soon as they hit the parchment paper. 


And since I'm all about simplicity, these gooey snacks are a delight to whip together-plus no baking required!



Ingredients:

(Makes about 3 dozen cookies)

…

1 cup sugar

1 cup corn syrup

1 jar (18 oz ounce) peanut butter, crunchy or smooth (I like creamy.)

6 cups corn flakes

3 oz good quality chocolate of your choice

(You can also substitute honey for the corn syrup as a healthier option. They're delicious either way!)

Here's the complete directions.

http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2008/01/06/holycraptheseareamazing-cookies/

My Mom's Hot dog Casserole

When I was a kid, this casserole was a staple in our household; and one we asked for often. Now, I still make it for my family and, aside from the fond memories it always evokes, the best part has to do with this:

Four ingredients=dinner.

Awesome, right?

And you probably have all those ingredients on hand in your kitchen at this very moment!

I'll give you the list, while you check and see.

First, potatoes.

Second, hot dogs.

Third, green beans.

Fourth, Italian salad dressing.

Got em?

All right, now all you have to do is pull out a 9 by 13 pan and coat it with cooking spray. Pre-heat your oven to 375.

Then, cut up roughly a dozen large potatoes into smallish pieces, chop a package of hot dogs into bite size chunks, pour a bag of frozen green beans into the mix-which should be settled into your pan by now-and combine it all together thoroughly.

Finally, open a bottle of Italian dressing and pour most of it over the top, before stirring it into the casserole . (You'll want to make sure there's plenty of extra dressing on the bottom, so the potatoes won't burn or dry out during baking.)

Now, you're ready to pop your creation into the oven, where you'll want to stir/check on it approximately every 15-20 minutes. It takes about an hour and a half to cook all the way through, so plan accordingly.

Lastly, enjoy! 

Baking sheet mac and cheese

The name pretty much says it all. It's mac and cheese on a baking sheet. And it's got the perfect amount of gooey cheese and crunchy topping. 

Here's what blogger, Amanda, who adapted this recipe, had to say:

 

I've always thought macaroni and cheese's 20% crunch to 80% soft ratio was all wrong. The ratio should be more like 50:50. The soft part, delicious though it may be, wears you out. You need lots of crisp bits to stay interested in the dish. In an effort to realign macaroni and cheese, I brought together three concepts: a baked pasta technique from Cucina Simpatica, a potato gratin method from Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue's food columnist, and a similar method used by Melissa Clark for kugel. In Cucina Simpatica, pasta is par-cooked, then combined with cream, cheese and other seasonings and baked at 500 degrees. The high temperature finishes the pasta quickly and toasts the tips on the top layer -- a memorable detail. Steingarten's gratin involves roasting thinly sliced potatoes and cream on a baking sheet so that the entire gratin is crisp and handsomely browned. And Melissa Clark spreads her kugel in a baking sheet achieving a predominantly crunchy texture. Back in the macaroni and cheese lab, I combined these three ideas by par-cooking the pasta, folding it together with a few cheeses, spreading it on a baking sheet, and finishing it in a 475-degree oven. The result was total success -- the muffin top of mac 'n cheese! Major world issue solved, at last.

If the making of such yummy-ness interests you, head on over here to check it out!

 

http://www.food52.com/recipes/2534_baking_sheet_macaroni_and_cheese

Absolutely Sinful Cinnamon Rolls...

 

I'm making THESE gooey, buttery, sugary, rolls right now. Hubby asked for them and I decided the inevitable New Year's diet could wait one more day...

It's not technically cheating if I haven't "technically" started my diet yet, right? 

I knew you'd agree. :)

So if you want to not cheat with me, grab the baking ingredients...

http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2008/12/absolutely-sinful-cinnamon-rolls.html

Jalapeno Cream Cheese Crescent Poppers!

With New Year's right around the corner, these little melt in your mouth delights are perfect for your New Year's Eve smorgasboard of snack foods. They're sugar, and spice, and everything nice. Literally.

Trust me, they are the whole package, minus all the work. 

And they actually taste as good, or even better, than they look!

Here's the original link:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/the-gangs-all-here-jalapeno-cream-cheese-crescent-poppers/

But if you're in a hurry, here's the condensed version.

Ingredients:

  

• 1 package Cream Cheese (8 Ounce Package)
• 4 ounces, weight Canned, Diced Jalapenos
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 8 ounces, weight Tube Refrigerated Crescent Rolls

Directions:

Open crescent rolls, lay them out on the counter, and flatten into one straight sheet, pushing together the perforations. In a bowl, stir cream cheese, sugar, and jalapenos till well combined. Spoon mixture over crescent sheet and roll, wide end up. Using a sharp knife, cut into 16 pieces, then place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Pull em out, and begin popping into your mouth!

P.S. If you stick the knife you're using to cut the poppers into hot water between slices, it keeps the cream cheese from sticking. I learned this the hard way. :)