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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…
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Banana Bread Cupcakes
Bananas wasting away in my fruit bowl + Marscapone cheese and walnuts in the fridge = DELISH concoction by yours truly. I love banana bread, but my girls eat bananas like they’re going out of style, so we never have any left to make treats with. This week, however, they left me with nearly a full bunch of bananas to play with. YAY! Furthermore, my husband has training tomorrow so he has lots of hungry guys to feed these to. Bonus. These are wonderful muffins. …
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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…
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Orange-Yogurt Muffins with Marmalade Glaze & Brunch
Recently, I was chosen by Foodbuzz and Dannon to review and blog about a new product: Dannon Activia Harvest Picks Yogurt. I hosted a small, light brunch for my sisters and we really enjoyed ourselves, and the food! Since spring has made an early arrival this year, I put together a little table outside so we could soak in the fabulous weather. The great thing about yogurt is that it is extremely versatile. You can eat it alone, of course, or add a topping, use it as…
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Homemade Peanut Butter
My husband and I have a bit of a problem with grocery stores, and an even bigger problem with markets like Dean & Deluca or our community mercantile. Oh, and you can’t forget Trader Joe’s. Or Whole Foods. Or farmer’s markets. By problem, I mean that we can’t be trusted to go in alone. We might spend a month’s pay without even blinking. So, we have to go together, and even then it isn’t pretty. Food shopping is fun for us. Practically entertainment. We really…
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German Chocolate Cupcakes
My parents are remodeling their kitchen, which to me comes with mixed emotions. It’s nice because after nearly 40 years of living in the same house, they are finally getting their dream kitchen. They added on to make it bigger, got all new cabinets, counter-tops and appliances, knocked down a wall and are updating the flooring. But, it’s kind of sad at the same time. I grew up in that kitchen. I have a lot of fond memories of that blue ceramic tile, the white…
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Dark Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
During the winter months, I turn into a pantry-hoarder. I tend to over-stock my pantry on trips to the grocery store, buying one or two of every possible pantry staple, so I always have everything I need for all of my baking whims. Then, when I use something, I just replace it and I can make it through the entire winter without having to run out for ingredients when I decide to bake. It’s great, for a while. But then, I end up with way…
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Hearts of Palm Street Tacos
So, guys. Gals. Friends. We need to talk. This taco is LIFE. CHANGING. I’m not one to be overly dramatic (haha…no, seriously) about food, but holy-fried-middle-of-a-palm-tree-leaf, this is a tasty, tasty taco. Uh, yeah. The guts of this taco are totally fried palm tree leaves. Wikipedia says so. Well, if we’re being technical, they’re actually the inner core of certain types of palm tree leaves, but either way, I had no idea that they were even a thing. Especially an edible thing. PS, they’re also called…
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Homemade Hamburger Buns
Yes, I realize you can buy hamburger buns at the grocery store for, like, 79 cents. Yes, I realize that this takes far more effort and time than picking up a bag of easy, quick, cheap and adequately-tasty hamburger buns off the store shelves. But. These are worth it. Yes, store-bought hamburger buns are just fine. But why spend all of that time making the perfect burger just to eat it on a tiny, flimsy mass-produced bun? I promise that your effort will make your hamburgers taste even…
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S’mores Cheesecake
Oh, heeyyy! It’s been a few days, no? Don’t worry, pretties. I’ve been a-ok. Me and my s’mores cheesecake – we’ve been juuuuust fine. Oh, and also – let’s address this right up front – did you know that my husband isn’t a “big cheesecake fan?” Like, WHAT? He just CASUALLY mentioned that to me in passing tonight. How is that even possible? Cheesecake is pretty much what life is about, right? Buttery graham cracker crust, thick and creamy filling? How can he not L-O-V-E…
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Fudge Cupcakes with White Chocolate Filling
If you know me at all, you know that I am absolutely terrified of severe weather. Growing up in the heart of tornado alley is not a good place to be when you have such a phobia, trust me. I have many (traumatic) memories of my childhood, crying on the ball field while a storm approached, hiding in a laundry basket in the basement because there was a tornado watch, hailstones breaking through double-pane glass in our living room…and the list goes on. Yesterday, we…
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Pico de Gallo
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Since the hubs and I are in serious diet mode right now in preparation for our upcoming trip to MEXICO, we won’t be getting celebrating with food this year. We’ll save our margaritas and guacamole for our trip, but I still wanted to share one of my favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes with you today. This recipe makes me happy. For one, it’s healthy. (Ok, it’s healthy if you eat it with a spoon. Dipping a whole bag of chips in it…
