• American Kitchen Stories

    When I think back on my childhood, then to my college years, and now to my adult life (I use the term adult loosely), many of my happiest and most vivid memories took place in a kitchen.  When I think of family gatherings, I’m always transported to a kitchen.  When I was a teenager, we had a phone with a long white cord in our kitchen – and I spent many nights laying on my kitchen floor talking to my now husband. On Sundays, all…

  • Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

    Last Sunday, while my family was gathered at my parent’s house for our weekly Sunday dinner, I asked my Dad if he had any tomatoes left in the garden.  He said he’d check, and then disappeared for a while.  He came back with a handful of tomatoes and a couple of GROCERY SACKS FULL of jalapenos.  Not being one to ever turn down garden-fresh produce, I happily took a sack of them home.  I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with…

  • Red Velvet Poke Cake

    Yep.  Kinda obsessed with the ol’ poke cake. I actually have yet another one coming soon.  But since I’m 100% convinced that you can’t have too many poke-cake recipes, I’m not going to worry about it one little bit.  The world cannot have too many poke cakes. And it’s possible that I say this about EVERY poke cake I make, but this one is my favorite.  There’s actually no contest.  This is the best.  Until the next one, I know, but still.  So far –…

  • 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,…

  • Marshmallow Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Cloud Frosting

    Look at the frosting on these cupcakes.  Look at it.  See how smooth and creamy it looks?  I’m here to tell you that it tastes about ten times smoother and creamier.  Rosie over at Sweetapolita aptly named this frosting Nutella Cloud Frosting, and I’m not sure there has been a more fitting name in the history of the universe.  If you were to eat a chocolate cloud, I’m pretty positive this is exactly what it would taste like.  Maybe better. It’s been a while since…

  • Lemon Pudding Cake

     Now that St. Patrick’s Day is behind us, I feel like spring is in full swing.  The warmer-than-normal winter has our yard turning green, our daffodils blooming and our trees budding a few weeks ahead of schedule.  This time of year I want to be outside with my hands in the dirt – planing, pruning and trying my best to remove all signs of winter.  And while I spent a good part of my weekend outside, I think you all know me well enough by…

  • Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

    So, I have a confession to make.  I don’t care for seafood.  Admittedly, I have had a bite or two off my husband’s plates over the years that didn’t make me gag, but generally speaking, I can’t do fish – cooked or raw, shell or not – it’s not happening.  For this reason, growing up in the Midwest has proven to be to my advantage – I have a lot of other protein options and a good steak is far more prevalent than any seafood…

  • 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.

  • Share It Saturday: Week #3

    I’m so impressed by the amazing recipes shared last week!  I had a hard time choosing the features for this week – a REALLY hard time.  Please do yourself a favor and check them out. Claudia at The Story shared her broccoli souffle.  Doesn’t this look amazing?  I’ve admittedly never made a souffle, but I’m going to have to try now. Joan at Chocolate, Chocolate & More Chocolate came through, as always, with a fabulous dessert.  Honey Buns are probably my favorite pre-made bakery item,…

  • Cookies & Cream Popcorn

    So, I made this popcorn today, mostly to use up a half-empty package of Oreo cookies from some cupcakes I made last week.  I brought a little bag of them for my daughter to snack on during the drive to gymnastics practice after school. Do you know what she said to me? And.  I .  Quote:  “Momma, ohmygosh, this popcorn is the BOMB DOT COM.” I just stared at her.  Ok you guys, she’s seven years old.  SEVEN.  She just used a phrase on me…

  • Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Cake

    Hi everyone!  I soooooooo miss you guys!  My life is in perpetual “just-get-by” mode and right now I’m feeling lucky to get all four of us out the door in the morning fully clothed, fed and headed in the right direction so I’m calling that a win.  Life is nutsos. That being said, I love my new job and I’m hoping that soon we can figure out our new normal around here.  I think we’re getting better at it every day, so in a few…

  • 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…