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Healthy Chicken Salad
As I’m sure is the case with many of you, January always brings a renewed focus on health and fitness in our household. The gluttony of November and December is long-gone, and the reality of dusty treadmills and suddenly snug pants starts to sink in. So, we happily dig out our favorite healthy recipes, and wonder why we ever stopped eating them in the first place. I don’t know what it is about November and December – I know there’s a lot of food around…
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Strawberry Supreme Cake
I am a cookbook junkie. I have them all. Yes – I’m pretty sure that I own every cookbook published after 2009. … Ok, this is obviously not true. It’s not possible. But judging by my overflowing bookcases, the baskets on my hearth and the stacks on my coffee table – I’m pretty sure I have most of them. Especially if they have anything to do with baking or desserts or my blogging friends. I might need an intervention. But see what I’m REALLY trying…
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Ranch Dressing
Those of you who know my husband and I know that we are borderline, wanna-be hippies when it comes to food and sustainability. We would eat all natural, all fresh food all the time if we could, and for the most part we try to avoid preservatives, chemical additives and processed food. That’s not to say that we don’t eat plenty of bad stuff, but we’ve definitely made a conscious decision to do the best we can for ourselves and our girls. Our beehives, chickens and expanding…
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Dark Chocolate Shortbread Tart
Is it me, or does this just scream Valentine’s Day? It’s decadent and indulgent, a dark chocolate custard atop a buttery, shortbread crust. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough – how about the heaping mound of sweet whipped cream right on top? I’m pretty sure this is why we have Valentine’s Day. So we can eat things like this. Let’s just have another look, shall we? I’m a big fan of a standard graham cracker crust, and even a good chocolate wafer crust – but…
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Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake
I totally bought an electric throw blanket last weekend. I am SO dreading the cold weather that I actually took my 30-something year old tushie to Target and bought an electric blanket. It’s like I woke up and was like, “How can I be MORE like my mother today?” Sorry, Mom. I dread the winter. I love the holidays, but I dread the cold, the wind, the leaf-less trees and dormant grass. I hate always being cold. I don’t like high heating bills and the…
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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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Caramel Pecan Brownies
Chocolate. Caramel. Pecans. Oh, yes. See how they look all gooey and fudgy? That’s because they ARE gooey and fudgy. Don’t make these unless you have a large glass of cold milk nearby…you’ll need it. These are one of those treats that make you talk with your mouth full – you know, when you take a bite of something amazing and you automatically forget all about manners and mumble a garbled, “oh my gawd,” or “oh, wow…” Or is that just me? It’s probably just…
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One Hour Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
This is officially the third time I’ve used my One Hour Cinnamon Roll Dough on the blog. There was the original, the Cherry Sweet Rolls, and now these. I think these win. These are Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls, and they’re fabulous. Oh yeah- and they can be made start to finish in an hour. No big whoop. YES. ONE HOUR. CINNAMON ROLLS IN ONE HOUR, FOLKS! So today, we changed it up a bit – I added some sticky-sweet pecans to the filling, and doused…
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake
I’m in that place again. I’m in that place where I have a birthday party looming in the not-so-distant future and I’ve done ZERO to get ready for it. I haven’t ordered my decorations, started crafting my banners or even planned the meal. The party is in eight days. Oh, and I have that whole job thing, plus kids and dance classes and dinners and bathtimes and storytimes and homework and about eleventy-bazillion deadlines to meet before then. I am fuh-reaaaak-ing out. Why do I…
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Cannoli Poke Cake
There is a darling little restaurant in Kansas City called Cupini’s that I just adore – it’s cute, authentic, family-owned and operated and has some of the best pasta in the city. The pasta is all homemade and totally delicious, but I think my favorite part of visiting the restaurant is the FABULOUS dessert case. It’s full of beautiful pastries, cakes, tiramisu, creme brulee – you name it. And the cannoli – oh, the cannoli. The shell is delicate and crispy, and the filling is…
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Black Forest Pound Cake
You know what a grown-up dessert is, don’t you? My desserts get that label simply when my kids won’t eat them – usually because they aren’t sweet enough, or they have nuts or unfamiliar ingredients. (Or booze, but that’s captain obvious, right?) This one is a grown-up dessert. The chocolate is dark, it’s rich but light, and the sweetness comes from the whipped cream and cherry sauce. My kids did the “we’re gonna act like we like this so we don’t hurt your feelings” face…
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Chocolate Layer Cake
This is a variation of the very first layer cake I ever made. I got the itch to make it yesterday, after doing a little bit of maintenance on my site. I’m in the process of updating all of the recipes on all of Lemon Sugar to make them printable and more functional for everyone, and oh holy cow – I came across some cringe-worthy photos and blog posts from my early days. Case in point: This cake. I’m totally blushing right now. I’m so…
