• 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…

  • Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

    I have to say that I had very low expectations for this recipe.  It just didn’t really appeal to me at all for some reason.  It wasn’t until my brother requested these for this birthday dessert that I finally broke down and made them. They are actually quite delicious.  The chocolate chip cookie is firm but soft, and even the Oreo cookie softens up a little bit in the middle of the cookie.  I will now humbly admit that I should’ve tried these years ago.…

  • Beer & Pretzel Cupcakes

    After a pretty darn stressful week (few weeks, actually), I had a pretty amazing day.  My parents kept the girls for us this morning, and the hubs and I spent a few hours together, just the two of us.  We had some fun in downtown KC, and grabbed a quiet lunch.  It was nice to have some adult time.  Some QUIET adult time. After a quiet morning, we came home and just kind of hung out.  The girls went swimming, I took a nap (A…

  • Ham & Cheese Sliders

    This quick and easy party food has become one of my most-requested dishes lately.  Which is completely fine by me, because there’s nothing better than a party food that goes together in no time, makes virtually no mess and can be made in advance.  And, they’re fabulous. This picture does not do these sandwiches justice because I had to photograph them before they were finished so I wasn’t taking pictures of my food during the party=).  They are gooey, melty, buttery little bites of yumminess. …

  • Castello Moments: Potato Gratin

    There’s just not much better than this.   Warm, gooey potatoes, oozing with cheese?  You guys, come on.  This is the ultimate comfort food. My friends at Castello were kind enough to send me some generous wedges of two varieties of their cheese, Hirten and Classic.  I have to admit that we’ve enjoyed cuts of the Hirten with crackers and a full-bodied red wine on a few occasions lately, but once I settled down to cook with it, I was glad I did. You can…

  • Skillet Apple Pie

    There is just something about good apple pie that makes me happy.  Obviously, it’s delicious, but there’s a lot of nostalgia that comes with it, too.  The smells of baking apples, cinnamon and buttery pie crust take me back to my childhood and for a moment, I’m back in my Mom’s kitchen, or in one of my Grandma’s.  My Grandma used to sprinkle the leftover pie crust with butter, sugar and cinnamon and bake it – I can remember fighting over those little bites of…

  • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    I’ve grown up around a lot of amazing cooks.  Both of my Grandmothers rocked the kitchen, my mom and my mother-in-law are both awesome, and even my husband knows what he’s doing in there.  In fact, two of my most treasured posessions are recipe books full of my Grandmothers recipes.  My mom is practically famous for her chocolate chip cookies, and she made them all the time when we were growing up.  You’d think that I would’ve watched her make them, but honestly – I didn’t…

  • Cherry Cordial Cupcakes

    I think this might be the last Valentine’s Day treat on the blog this year.  I think I’m ready for the next holiday. Okay.  Actually, I’m really just saying that to convince myself that I’m over the treats because I’m starting my second juice fast in a couple of days.

  • Hot Corn Dip

    Who doesn’t love a good dip, right?  In fact, I’m getting to the stage in my life when a good dip (or lack thereof) can make or break a good party.  Now, exactly what that says about me is not the issue right now, but what I know for 100% sure is that this dip is yum. o. I’ve had Trisha Yearwood’s Home Cooking cookbook for a couple of years, and I have to tell you that I had some serious doubts about her back…

  • Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake

    You know that feeling when you’ve just come home from a whirlwind road trip to Omaha, Nebraska and then you wake up and watch a travel show where they’re diving off the coast of Thailand and you’re like, “Hrmph.  Nebraska was almost as cool as that…”? Yep, I’m there. Don’t get me wrong, our “stay-cation with a mini-roadtrip” vacation was nice, relaxing and easy, but I’m a total beach-vacation kind of girl.  We had a great time in Omaha, but I need that sand, surf,…

  • Giant Chocolate Muffins

    Can you justify eating a cupcake for breakfast? I can. It’s easy, really.  You just call it a muffin.  I mean, it doesn’t have frosting, so clearly it isn’t a dessert – and everyone knows that muffins are perfectly acceptable breakfast fare.

  • Sweet Cherry Salsa

    There are some things on this planet that were just meant to be together.   Peanut butter and jelly.  Wasabi and soy sauce.  Mashed potatoes and gravy.  Sweet cherry salsa and salty tortilla chips. Sweet.  Cherry.  Salsa. It’s sweet.  It makes me happy.  And with salty, crispy tortilla chips?  Holy cow you guys. This recipe came my way via my lovely sister-in-law.  She’s like, the queen of dips.  And parties.  She throws the best family parties and she makes the best dips. AND, she actually…