• Sugar Cream Pie

    Sugar.  Cream.  Pie. Okay you guys, help me with this.  Who was like, “I’m gonna mix up some sugar and some cream and bake it all up in a pie?”  Who thinks that way? (Ok, maybe I do.  A little bit.) Seriously, this is just what it sounds like.  Sugar and cream in a pie crust.  And it’s fantastic.  Oh, just a custard pie, right?  I know what you’re thinking.  But it’s not. There are no eggs in this pie!  It is literally baked cream.…

  • 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…

  • Lemon Pound Cake & A Giveaway

    On most Saturday mornings, I take my oldest to dance class.  During her class, my youngest daughter and I venture off to a nearby shopping center and take care of our weekly household shopping.  We wander around, looking at toys, books, kitchen goodies and then pick up a few necessities before heading back to the dance studio.  In this particular shopping center, there happens to be a Starbucks, which always seems like a fabulous idea on a busy Saturday morning. My youngest, who is three…

  • 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…).

  • TUACA Mule and TUACA Root Beer Float

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of TUACA Vanilla Citrus Liqueur  for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Today’s post is sponsored by TUACA®.  Have you had it yet?  TUACA® is “a vanilla citrus liqueur, a brandy, blended with natural sugar, fine spirits and vanilla essences.”  Doesn’t that just SOUND amazing? You guys.  It’s fantastic.  And even better, it puts a delicious twist on one of my favorite drinks, the Moscow Mule.  Paired with ginger beer and lemon juice, it’s a totally…

  • Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake

    Helloooooo!  Happy fall! Ok, I know it’s not “technically” fall yet, but it was so beautifully autumn-like today that I think it’s time to take the leap.  It’s time to close up the pool, plant mums and start buying cans of pumpkin by the case.   I usually try to wait until after my birthday (in mid-September) before I whip out the pumpkin recipes, but the chill in the air this morning just put me in the mood!  This felt like a perfect transition recipe…

  • Funfetti Scotcharoos

    I honestly can’t remember the first time I had scotcharoos.  I know it was at least a decade ago.  My mother-in-law sent them home with my husband and I’m pretty sure I ate the entire box of them before my husband even realized what was going on.  They’re yumzos. Scotcharoos seem to be a pretty common Midwestern potluck/picnic/party food.  I’ve had them prepared a gazillion different ways, cut into different shapes, sizes, some with too much chocolate, some with not enough, etc. etc.  Of course, everyone’s…

  • Meatball Subs & Potato Chips

    It wasn’t long ago that I told you about my love for sandwiches.  Sometimes, I just get a craving and nothing will satisfy it until I just go out and get the real thing – and yesterday I almost caved.  I wanted nothing more than to jump in the car and go find the closest meatball sub sandwich I could.  But, since I found myself with a little bit of free time I decided instead to whip up some dinner – although I hadn’t made my weekly trip…

  • Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

    Hey, ya’ll!  It’s been a little bit since we talked last, no?  So much has happened in the last month.  I’ve been sick, twice.  Like, fever-bronchitis sick.  We got a puppy.  The girls had two weeks of double dance classes, followed by recital.  Weekends have been full of family gatherings and weekdays have been full of yard-work, work-work, and lots of coughing. Life. I feel like I’m always writing about how busy we are, but I don’t mean to.  Everyone is busy, and my busy…

  • Chocolate Chip Love Muffins

    I’m one of those people who thinks Valentine’s Day is silly.  Sure, I can appreciate a day that’s dedicated to making the loves in your life feel special and adored.  But to me it conjures up images of people waiting in line to buy overpriced flowers, cards and chocolates with only half-hearted intent.  I’ve always told my husband that flowers on a random Tuesday in August, or a card for no reason will always be more appreciated than forcing it on Valentine’s Day.  Perhaps that…

  • 25 Amazing Cupcake Recipes

    I get many emails from readers every day, and 90 percent of them ask me one of two questions:  1) Can I make a gluten/allergy/fat/sugar/oil/butter/dairy free version of xyz recipe?  If so, how?  And two:  I have an event coming up and I need to make a dessert – what would you suggest? So, the answers are: 1) yes, but I’ve never done it so I can’t vouch for results and 2) um, all of them?

  • Butterfly Cupcakes

    This past weekend we celebrated my baby girl’s second birthday with two family parties.  For me, it was a busy weekend of cleaning, cooking and keeping the girls entertained but it was all worth it.  I loved just watching how happy my girls were to be surrounded by everyone who loves them.  It wasn’t about the presents, the food or the decorations.  Especially in the wake of the tornado destruction in Joplin, MO and Reading, KS, I found myself counting my blessings.  It was a…