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Out and About: Wine and Sunflowers
I am fortunate to live with a quick drive of two local gems: Holy-Field Winery & Vineyard and Grinter’s Sunflower Farm. Since we have the first week of school behind us now, and since the sunflowers are in their prime this week, a visit to our local winery and sunflower field were definitely in order. Holy-Field Winery & Vineyard is an award-winning Kansas winery. They grow about ten different varieties of grapes, and offer about 18 different wines – from semi-sweet to dry. It’s a…
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Pumpkin Pound Cake
So, let me preface this by saying that I miss ya’ll! Life has been insane around here lately, and I haven’t had time to be in the kitchen, or even much time at all to chat with everyone on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and via e-mail. My work schedule has changed, so getting the family into a new routine has been taking its toll on me this week. Thank you all for asking about me and for all of the notes looking for new recipes!…
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Restaurant Style Salsa
You know when you go to a Mexican restaurant and they give you one of those little bottles FULL of extra salsa? You know, so you can refill your own salsa dish? Those are my favorites. Because seriously, a little tiny bowl of salsa for a table full of people is just never going to be enough, it’s just not. And then, you know when you’re at a Mexican restaurant, and your food comes out and you immediately have to ask for a box because…
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Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Have you ever played the “If I won the lottery, I would…” game? We don’t really buy lottery tickets, but sometimes, when the payout gets really, really high, we buy a ticket for fun. I think the most fun thing about it is dreaming about how we’d spend our windfall, where we’d travel, who we’d help…it’s good for a little bit of practically-free entertainment and good conversation. I do the same thing when it comes to bakeries. Sometimes I like to scope out quaint buildings…
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Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
Let’s talk about pet peeves, shall we? Specifically, let’s talk about MY pet peeves. The list is short. Okay, the list is kind of short.
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A Princess Party
Two of my favorite little princesses just turned three years old. My niece, Ruby Jane and my youngest daughter, Mia Kate, were born just 17 hours apart and have grown to be best buds. Well, usually. They get along when sharing isn’t involved. But that’s just a phase, right? When my sister and I asked the girls what kind of party they wanted, they barely skipped a beat before they decided it should be a princess party. And who are we to argue? This meant…
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Blueberry Breakfast Cake
This blueberry breakfast cake is reminiscent of a shortcake, slightly sweet and bursting with fresh blueberries and undertones of crisp lemon. The crunch from the turbinado sugar lends a satisfying crackle, and reminds you that breakfast is meant to be delicious. Hi everyone! I’m back! Not that I was really gone, but I took a bit of a self-prescribed break from the blog last week. My kids were sick, I was sick, my kids were sick again – it was just a really crummy week.…
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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.
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Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread
I have to say that I’m a bit relieved that the holiday season is over. The last six weeks have been a total blur. Shopping, parties, planning, cleaning, baking, wrapping (oh, the wrapping…).
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Castello Moments: A Roundup of Recipes
Last week I shared a recipe with you, for Cheesy Potato Gratin, made with Castello’s Hirten Cheese. Many of my fellow bloggers also participated in this recipe development program, which was sponsored by Honest Cooking Magazine and Castello Cheese. After browsing their submissions, I wanted to be sure to share them all with you as well, because these seriously talented cooks came up with some fabulous recipes. Take a few minutes and check them out. Hope you find yourself as inspired as I did –…
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Peanut Butter Cupcakes
It’s funny where my cupcake inspiration comes from sometimes. These particular cupcakes were born when I found a bag of mini Reece’s Peanut Butter cups at the grocery store last week. I thought, “Oh – those are cute, they’d be a good cupcake garnish!” I then spent all of last week trying to find the perfect peanut butter cupcake recipe to hold my cute little garnish. I’m sick, I know. I decided on this recipe for a couple of reasons. First, it’s easy. The chocolate cake starts with a…
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Cookies ‘n Cream Cupcakes
This was another fun cupcake that I made for a surprise birthday party this week, which is actually somewhat fitting because these cookies have a surprise in the bottom of them, half of an Oreo cookie! I’ve made these once before and they were a big hit, so I’m really hoping they go over well at the party. But really, how could they not? These are a white cake with chunks of cookie baked in the batter, and topped with a cream cheese buttercream. The…
