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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…
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Turkey & Havarti Croissant Sliders
Oven-baked slider sandwiches are among my favorite party foods. For one, they are SUPER easy to make. Additionally, you can make them ahead of time and pop them in the oven when your guests arrive, so you aren’t left frantically prepping and finishing last-minute details. After a mere ten minutes in the oven, these are warmed through and the cheese is melty and bubbly. They’re awesome. I like Havarti with deli turkey because it’s a smooth, mild cheese and works really well with the pesto. I’ve…
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Tiramisu Cupcakes
This past weekend I hosted a “Girl’s Night Out” at my house for a group of my friends, which was awesome because not only did I get to spend some time with some of my girlfriends, it also gave me an excuse to bake! I’ve been eager to share several of the recipes I made for the party, but I have to start with my newest cupcake creation, the Tiramisu Cupcake. I’ve been researching different ways to make this cupcake for a while now and…
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Grandma’s Dinner Rolls
The other day I was cleaning one of the storage rooms in our basement and I came upon a basket of items I kept when we cleaned out my Grandma G’s house for the final time. I found a rosary, a couple of candy dishes, an old soapstone jewelry box she always kept on her dresser, and a blue apron that read “RUTHIE,” her first name. It immediately brought a smile to my face, and best of all, it still (9 years later) smells like her…
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Neapolitan Layer Cake with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream
How fun is this cake? If you’ve been reading my blog, back in February I talked about my sister and her trouble making a decision for her birthday treat. She ended up choosing the Key Lime Cupcakes which turned out to be a fabulous decision because they were wonderful. This was the contender, the cake that made her decision so difficult that week. I knew I had to make this one, but needed the perfect excuse because it’s so time consuming. We celebrated Easter at…
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Lemon-Vanilla Sugar Cookies
I’m kind of in love with these cookies. They are the first sugar cookies I’ve ever made that taste like I imagine sugar cookies should. They’re soft, moist and have a slight vanilla and citrus undertone. A. Maze. Ing. In my opinion, sugar cookies should be thick and soft – and every recipe I’ve ever tried before has come out of the oven thin and crispy. Now, I realize that some of this is my fault. I probably rolled them too thin, and I probably…
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Rigatoni with Creamy Marsala Sauce
I know, it’s surprising. Another pasta dish! This is a new one for us, but it sounded good tonight and we had all of the ingredients so we decided to try it out. This pasta is actually called “Rigatoni di Gregorio” but since I changed it a little, I’m not sure that it really qualifies as such anymore. We grilled the chicken instead of pan-frying it, and I added green olives in lieu of parsley, mostly because my girls won’t eat “green stuff” on their…
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Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
I have to preface this post by noting that I don’t really care for vanilla cupcakes. They’re just ok, in my book, kind of boring. If I had to choose a cupcake, it would almost always be chocolate. That being said, I am pretty in love with this little guy. Vanilla-y, moist, and seriously, the creamiest batter you’ll ever whip up. It’s really the perfect base for any frosting you have in mind. One caveat – I think these are definitely best if eaten the…
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Penne with Broccoli
Ok, so by now you know how much I love pasta. I could go the rest of my life without eating meat again, as long as I have pasta. And this recipe is one my favorites. I saw it on the Food Network ages ago and my husband was the first one to make it, and I fell in love. It’s good hot or cold, but I think I prefer it warm. I’ve adjusted the recipe depending on what we have and I’ve never been…
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Peanut Butter Cookie Cupcakes
Sometimes when I’m baking, I have a general idea what I’m going to end up with but I’m never sure what the end result will be until I’m completely done. That’s what happened with these cupcakes. I knew I wanted a peanut butter cookie-type cake, but beyond that I was winging it. This cake is thicker and denser than a regular cupcake, more like a big thick peanut butter cookie, and I added peanut butter chips to give it even more of a cookie feel. I…
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Snickers Cupcakes
Every time I see a Snickers candy bar, I’m reminded of a friend of mine who used to LOVE them. But that’s not why I think of her – it’s actually the memory of HOW she ate them that’s stuck with me. She used to nibble all of the chocolate off the entire bar, then eat the nut layer, then the caramel layer, and finally the nougat layer. It took her, like, 20 minutes to eat the candy bar. I’m wondering if she would like…
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Baby Shower Cupcakes
I’m making cupcakes tomorrow for my dear sister-in-law, who’s hosting a baby shower on Friday night. I still haven’t decided what I want to make yet, so tonight I thought I’d play around with some fondant and try to get some good ideas. Instead, I came up with these. I also discovered that fondant and I don’t play well together. I think I’m going to need a lot more practice before I am good enough to make anything fancy. Plus, I totally hate the taste…
