• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

    It’s official.  Pumpkin season is here.  I’m ready.  I always try to hold off on the fall flavors until after my birthday, which is just a few days away, but I couldn’t help it.  The time has come and now I’m all about autumn. I’ve actually made these muffins a few times before but never blogged them, but I couldn’t hold out on you anymore. These.  Are.  Fabulous. The muffins are the perfect blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, the pumpkin puree keeps them super-moist, and…

  • Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

    Two quick things today.  One is related to the picture above, and one is a story that you must endure to get to the yumminess. So, first of all, my four year old says the cutest-ever things right now.  She’s right between that baby-talk and big-kid speak…and she makes up words and misuses words all of the time and it’s so stinkin’ adorable that I can’t even stand it.  For instance, instead of “accident,” she says “ax-ca-dent.”  Like, “Sorry, Mommy, but it was just an…

  • Share It Saturday: Week 1

    Welcome to the first week of a new feature here at Lemon Sugar, “Share-It Saturday!”  For my many readers with blogs of their own, this is a great way to share what you’ve been up to with all of us here at Lemon Sugar.  And, for those of you who don’t have blogs, this is just another fabulous resource for recipes, crafty ideas, DIY projects and family and lifestyle bloggers.  There are so many amazing ideas out there, and I know that I love to…

  • A Family Birthday Party

    My oldest daughter turned seven years old yesterday.  I realize that every year, I find myself lamenting that it’s just not possible that another birthday has come and gone, but it really does amaze me just how quickly time flies.

  • Banana Dream Cake

    When it’s named the Banana Dream Cake, it better be good.  I’m just going to cut the suspense here and tell you that it is, in fact, a dream cake.  It’s dreamy, it’s banana-y, and it’s all covered in tangy-sweet-creamy-omgoshsogood cream cheese frosting. Dream Cake, for sure.  The brilliant Jessica over at The Novice Chef has done it again. I made this cake for our normal Sunday dinner a couple of weeks ago, and my brother is already requesting an encore for his birthday dinner…

  • Peach Streusel Slab Pie

    Last week was just one of those weeks.  We were coming off the first week of school, which is always a bit earth-shattering as we settle back into our normal routines, but we also started our weekend with a funeral.  My husband’s grandfather passed away, which was sad and complicated and full of all the feels you would expect, and my niece was already five days old and I’d barely even held her yet because I’d been so busy.  And then, I threw my back…

  • Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

    I feel like we are a couple of weeks behind everyone else, but it’s finally back-to-school week at my house.  We’re getting back into the swing of things, painfully shedding our summertime schedules and trying to remember what it’s like to set alarm clocks and adhere to bedtime routines.   Since I’m totally a creature of habit, I look forward to this time of year.  I love having my daughter home with me all summer long, but I thrive on schedules and routines. Plus, do…

  • Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

      I’ve never really had a real Boston Cream Pie.  I’ve had the grocery store version, you know – the kind that come with a plastic casing to keep the pudding from oozing out?  They always seem like they should be wonderful, but I’ve never been impressed.   I have to admit that I didn’t make the pastry-cream filling for these, I just used a boxed pudding mix.  I have big plans for the first time I make pastry-cream – those will be special occasion…

  • Caramel Bread Pudding with Creamy Caramel Sauce

    By now you know that I am a serious planner and organizer.  I plan all of my meals for the week before I head to the grocery store, including recipes that will show up here at Lemon Sugar.  While I’m always eager to share my new ideas with all of you, sometimes it’s much harder to plan meals for my family. I’m always fighting the urge to stick to my tried-and-true rotation of 6-8 dinner options, mostly because they work for us and our schedule.…

  • Easy Homemade Granola Bars

    Try as I might, I’m really not a big breakfast eater.  I know, it’s the most important meal of the day, blah, blah, blah.  I know.  Most days, I grab my greek yogurt, my coffee and a banana.  Now that school is back in full-swing, I’m trying to compile a list of make-ahead breakfasts for my family so we can grab a quick and healthy meal to start our days off on the right foot.  While my banana, yogurt and coffee breakfast works for me,…

  • Be My Valentine Cupcakes

    Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, in case you didn’t get the memo. If you’re like me, you’re probably procrastinating and pretending like you don’t have to finish your kid’s Valentine’s cards tonight before bed.  You’re probably ignoring the fact that you have to make cupcakes for a class party tomorrow, too.

  • Champagne Cupcakes

    There’s something wrong with this picture.  Right now, I’m hanging out in my living room while my kids are napping.  For some reason, the movie Twister is playing on my television.  I’m wearing my oldest, most comfortable yoga pants and my hair is in a ponytail.  There’s a basket of freshly laundered kitchen towels staring at me, begging to be folded before they become a wrinkly mess. And I’m writing about champagne cupcakes.  Such is my life, I suppose. Here’s the thing, though.  These look fancy,…