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Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
Figuring out the new normal around here has been a challenge. Over the last few years, I’ve become really good at cooking elaborate, time-consuming dinners for my family. Fresh bread at dinner was not uncommon, nor were comforting, simmer-all-day kind of meals. But then, I started working away from home again, and now I get home after 6pm, and even then I’m at the mercy of my girls’ schedules. Dinner has become somewhat of an afterthought, and as a food blogger, that’s a really, really…
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Cranberry Walnut Cream Cheese Muffins
Even though I have about fifteen billion pumpkin recipes that I’m dying to try out, I thought it best to pace myself and take a break from traditional fall flavors for a few days. Ok, honestly, I had some cranberries in my freezer that have been calling to me for weeks. Then, I found this recipe. Shortly after I found the recipe, they appeared in my kitchen. And while I’m being honest, I actually had really good intentions to deliver some of these to…
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Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
My dear brother-in-law has been staying with us over the last week. It’s awesome because of course I love it when he’s home, and I get excited every year because he’s someone new to cook for – another person to eat the holiday goodies that I’m inevitably churning out. But the truth of the matter is that he really doesn’t eat much. He’s not a breakfast person. I know these things. But I still, every single year, force new breakfast dishes upon him like he’s…
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Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites
I think I have a new favorite party food. Seriously, these are amazing. As usual, my husband was my taste-tester, and his review was, “Um, yeah – I could eat like, 500 of those.” And I have to agree. If I wasn’t saving them to serve at my brother’s graduation party, we might have polished off the whole tray. I just made them again to serve at our family 4th of July bash, and they went VERY quickly. They taste like the best soft-pretzel you’ve ever…
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Homemade Caramel Sauce
I had one of those days in the kitchen. One recipe was a complete flop, and one of the layers of a cake I was making fell apart as I was taking it out of the pan. Another recipe tasted good, but it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to (appearance-wise), so I’m going to have to make it again before I can share it with everyone. So. Frustrating. Things like this always happen when I’m rushing, though so I guess I’m not…
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Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream
Oh, heyyyy. Remember me? That chick who used to post new recipes three or four times a week? Yeah, I miss her, too. My days of impromptu, mid-day baking might be over, but with a little bit of planning I’ve been able to work around it and I think I have a workable baking schedule. This means our weekends are going to be excessively dessert-laden, but it’s all in the name of Lemon Sugar, right? So, these cupcakes have been on my baking list the…
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Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes
Have I ever told you about my brother-in-law? His name is Jacob. He’s a few years younger than me, but I’ve known him since he was about nine years old. He used to field relentless phone calls from me back when I discovered I was hopelessly in love with his big brother, back in my middle-school years. Jacob left our small town in Kansas for college, and has never moved back. He lived in Minneapolis for awhile, then Seattle, and now lives in New York…
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One Hour Cinnamon Rolls
So, I’ve told you guys that I’m married to a cop before, yes? Well, I am. Actually though, as of last week, he’s now a detective – which is kind of cool in an “I-want-to-be-a-detective-when-I-grow-up” kind of way.
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A Moment of Silence
Tonight, instead of my normal weekend post, I’m standing with countless other bloggers in solidarity and support, in memory and in prayer for those who lost their lives and their families and friends on Friday morning. I’m sad. Really, really sad. I’m sad for everyone directly touched by the tragedy. I’m sad for me. I’m sad for my girls. I’m just sad. My way of honoring the memory of those babies is to do what kids do best – finding joy and hope in the…
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Valentine Love Letter Cupcakes
Wizard of Oz. The Grinch Stole Christmas. Wizard of Oz. The Grinch Stole Christmas. WIZARD OF OZ WIZARD OF OZ WIZARD OF OZ. My three year old is on a kick. She only wants to watch WIZARD OF OZ and THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
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Hot Chocolate Cake with Homemade Marshmallows
So, my daughter’s 7th birthday is next week. First of all, it’s really just not possible that she’s turning seven years old. Not possible. Second of all, this means that I have a big family party looming on the horizon. That means my house has to be cleaned. It also means I need to plan a menu, figure out decorations and – oh yeah – do all that cooking and baking without undoing all of the cleaning and planning.
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Pumpkin Ice Cream
So, I have to admit that as I write this tonight, I’m wearing two pairs of socks, a gigantic sweater and I’m sitting under a blanket drinking a huge mug of extra-hot coffee. It’s definitely not ice cream weather right now. Isn’t it funny how the first cold night of the season brings out the cold-drama? I’m pretty sure that 42 degrees in mid-January is going to feel like a heat wave, but tonight it’s awful. And I want nothing to do with ice cream…
