Looking for an amazing chocolate cake cocktail? This chocolate cake martini is made with just three ingredients and takes just moments to mix and pour. Perfect for a holiday party or anytime you're looking to satisfy a chocolate craving, this chocolate cake drink is perfect! Are you a chocolate lover? If so, then this chocolate cake martini is for you! Made with cake flavored vodka and a couple other ingredients, this chocolate martini tastes just like a slice of chocolate cake. Fantastic for everything from a holiday party to a night in watching movies, this easy chocolate cake drink takes just moments to mix, pour and enjoy. In this post I'll show you exactly what you'll need to make this delicious chocolate cocktail, as well as tips and liquor options for this homemade … [Read more...]
Archives for 2013
Pecan Praline Bars
Cross between pecan pie and pecan sandies, these buttery, delicious Pecan Praline Bars are perfect any time you're in the mood for something sweet! An amazing pecan shortbread crust, a delicious caramel filling and topped with brown sugar toasted pecans, these bars are incredible! The perfect addition to your holiday cookie trays! As a kid, I wasn't always the biggest fan of pecans - any nuts, really. I didn't like many foods - tomatoes, nuts, some types of meats - all of these things kinda grossed me out. Its funny, as we get older, our really palates change and evolve. I've come to really love all of these foods that I despised as a kid. I especially have grown to love pecans. My adoration for pecans has really come full circle - I now love both … [Read more...]
White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
One of my favorite cookie recipes are these White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies! The pretty red "craisins" make these cranberry oatmeal cookies perfect for Christmas, but they're actually amazing any time of year! I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to snack on is dried cranberries. I always seem to have a big bag in our pantry and they go especially well with almonds (or white chocolate chips, if I'm really craving something sweet!) Several years ago, I decided to make some oatmeal cookies, but not just any oatmeal cookie recipe would do. These cranberry oatmeal cookies were a must! I was going to throw in some raisins, but didn't have any. I did have dried cranberries and some white chocolate chunks. And voila!! There you … [Read more...]
Harvest Salad with Pears
Harvest Salad with Pears and Pomegranates Looking for an amazing pear salad recipe? My Harvest Salad with Pears and Pomegranates is fantastic! Beautiful enough for a Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish and simple enough to make for weekday lunch paired with chicken or turkey! This Pear Salad recipe is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner One side dish I always try to have on the table for a holiday meal (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter) is a fresh, crisp salad. Often, we have lots of carb-heavy sides like potatoes and gravy and stuffing during the holidays. Yes, these are definitely delicious and I would not serve a holiday meal without them, I feel like this Harvest Salad with Pears and Pomegranates is necessary to break to all the … [Read more...]
Dutch Apple Tart with Pecan Crumble
Easy as pie, this Dutch Apple Tart is an even easier version of the classic pie recipe! Sweet, tender apples, and a brown sugar cinnamon pecan crumble are baked to perfection making this tart a perfect addition to your holiday dessert table! Fantastic for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner! Are you thinking about Thanksgiving yet? I definitely am, as this is quite possibly one of our favorite holidays - great food, college football, some good wine. We have much to be thankful for, and this year is no exception. I will be hosting a few family members, and making the meal again this year. Since we live quite far from pretty much all of our family, we only get the chance to see them once or twice a year if we're lucky. As many of you know, making … [Read more...]
Creamy Hot Buttered Rum
The ultimate hot buttered rum recipe for a cold night! This creamy, hot cocktail is made with spiced rum, cinnamon and ice cream to make it wonderfully decadent and delicious. This Hot Buttered Rum goes perfectly with fuzzy slippers, fireplaces and your favorite Christmas movie! Making this Hot Buttered Rum recipe is a simple process. It starts with a batter made of butter and ice cream. Mixed with dark spiced rum you'll have a great hot toddy! Perfect for an evening in front of the fireplace after a long day, or watching your favorite Christmas movies. How do I make hot buttered rum batter? First, you'll cream together the butter and sugars. Next you'll add cinnamon and nutmeg, which add wonderful flavor and richness to the cocktail. These also go perfect with the … [Read more...]
Flufftella Croissants
Several weeks back, just after school had started, my son came home from school and quickly asked, "Mom, can I have a "Flufftella" sandwich in my lunch tomorrow?" I said, "Flufftella sandwich? What is that?" Harrison then proceeded to tell me that his friend Michael has that for lunch almost every day. He said, "Mama, it looks so yummy! It has Nutella and Marshmallow fluff in it. Get it?... Flufftella! Can I have one, please?" Well, a few days later we packed him a Flufftella sandwich in his lunchbox. He was one happy boy! This weekend, I had some croissant roll dough in the fridge and Harrison and I decided that I would be super-yummy to make Flufftella Croissants. Basically, a warm version of his sandwich using refrigerated crescent roll dough. These were super easy to … [Read more...]
Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
When its cold outside, make yourself this warm, comforting Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup. Loaded with both wide and narrow egg noodles, along with carrots, celery and thick chunks of chicken, this double noodle soup will warm the body and soul! Once the weather turns cold, do you crave soup? This comforting, hearty chicken noodle soup recipe is perfect for warming up on a cold, blustery day. This simple, homemade double noodle soup recipe is made with two types of noodles, along with plenty of carrots, celery, onion and big chunks of chicken. This is no store-bought canned soup. This delicious chicken noodle is hearty and great as a meal all on its own. What do I need to make homemade chicken noodle soup? To make this homemade hearty chicken noodle soup, you'll need some … [Read more...]
Halloween Spider Web Cupcakes
Halloween Spider Web Cupcakes These fun Spider Web Cupcakes are the perfect treat for your ghouls and goblins. These delicious Halloween cupcakes are topped with a vanilla frosting and chocolate syrup spider webs. Fantastic for a Halloween classroom treat or party snack! The perfect Halloween cupcakes recipe! The perfect Halloween cupcakes for your fall party or Halloween bash! These delicious spider web cupcakes are simple to make and easy to decorate. The spider webs are made with chocolate syrup and a toothpick. Your lil' ghouls and goblins will love these cupcakes! For whatever reason, I don't make cupcakes all that often. I don't know why - they are super easy to make, clean up, and especially fun to eat. Today, Harrison had a football game, and … [Read more...]
Nutella Hazelnut Coffee
Have you ever tried Nutella in coffee? This simple Nutella coffee recipe is rich, delicious and perfect for every Nutella lover! Northern Virginia, is absolutely breathtaking in the fall. The weather is mild, and beautiful - the summer humidity of the mid-Atlantic subsides as the days get shorter and cooler. The leaves along the Potomac and the foothills of the Shenandoah's reach their peak right about now, and the colors are gorgeous. When the sun hits the trees just right the golds, oranges and reds light up like fireworks in July. Unfortunately, today was not one of those beautiful, color struck days. It rained, and rained, and then rained some more. I do have to say...I kind of enjoy these days, too. The cool weather, makes me want to put … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Cider Floats
Apple cider has never tasted so good! Poured over vanilla ice cream and topped with caramel and whipped cream, its the perfect fall treat! Sometimes, in life, difficult days are to be had. Its inevitable, and completely unavoidable. As we all know, its how we handle those difficult situations that define us as a mother, parent, human being. Most often, our patience has been worn thin, our energy is drained, and our emotional tenacity is completely absent. The feeling of defeat looms over us with the rest of our unaccomplished tasks of the day. This is the life of a mother. Out of these rough days, thankfully, emerge new beginnings. New ideas, fresh perspective, and the hope of better days moving forward. The salvation of other mothers who know the defeat, but who … [Read more...]
The BEST Monster Cookie Recipe
Craving monster cookies? This is the BEST monster cookie recipe I've ever made, as it comes from my grandma LaDene. These jumbo monster cookies are wonderfully chewy and loaded with chocolate chips, M&M's, peanut butter and oatmeal. This monster cookie recipe came from my Grandma LaDene, and I've never tasted and better, more perfectly baked cookie than these. These jumbo monster cookies are perfectly chewy on the inside and slightly crisp on outside - just the way a good cookie should be! These monster cookies are made with everyone's favorite M&M's, chocolate chips, peanut butter and oatmeal, making them amazing for bake sales, pot-luck's, or enjoying on a movie night. What ingredients are in a monster cookie recipe? For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe … [Read more...]
Apple Cider Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
This amazing Apple Bundt Cake recipe is topped with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting making it the perfect fall dessert! Made with apple cider, this fantastic apple cider cake with caramel cream cheese frosting will be a showstopper for any occasion! The BEST Apple Bundt Cake Recipe! I've been craving something cinnamon spicy. Something sweet, but not overly sugary. I decided to make my Apple Cider Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting. However, after making it from my original recipe using apple pie filling, I experienced a disappointing baking fail - only half the cake came out of the pan. After this happened, I decided to adapt my original recipe to use fresh apples instead of the pie filling. It was a huge success! What apples are best … [Read more...]
Buttermilk Chocolate Cake
Meet my all-time favorite buttermilk chocolate cake recipe! This chocolate cake with buttermilk has been made famous by my grandma Dona. She is known for this super-moist chocolate cake with rich chocolate frosting. Once you make it, you'll never make a box mix again! This incredibly delicious chocolate cake with buttermilk might just be my all-time favorite dessert. I don't say this because it is a recipe that has been handed down generations, or that it's my Grandma's chocolate cake recipe. I say it's my favorite dessert because it is nearly perfect in every way. If you are looking for a buttermilk chocolate cake recipe, you don't need to look any further. This cake is super moist, flavorful cake and perfectly tender, but not overly dense. It's topped with a homemade … [Read more...]
Easy Peach and Cherry Sangria
Craving a wonderfully refreshing fruity cocktail? My Easy Peach & Cherry Sangria is the perfect drink to mix for a party, shower or summer cookout. Just a few simple ingredients are needed for a pitcher of this fantastic summer libation! I've decided I need to start a book club. Specifically, to have my girlfriends over to serve a giant pitcher of this fabulous drink. It is seriously my new favorite cocktail! I love adding fresh fruit to a bottle of Moscato or Prosecco, and during this time of year when fresh peaches and cherries are in season, it makes for the most wonderfully refreshing summer libation! Making this sangria couldn't be easier! You'll start by slicing up a couple peaches, and pitting some fresh cherries. If you can't find fresh … [Read more...]
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Harrison and I came back to my home town, Burke, SD to visit my family for a couple weeks. Unlike last summer, they've had lots of rain and sunshine, which has helped the local crops and gardens grow leaps and bounds. My dad's strawberry patch is no exception. I've never seen strawberry plants as full and plentiful as these. Dad has picked several gallons of strawberries so far this summer, filling up their freezer for fall and winter. Since they have a nice sized rhubarb plant, I thought hmmmm, what could we make with copious amounts of strawberries and rhubarb? Jam!!! I raided mom's basement pantry of miscellaneous jars, picked up some jar flats, and pectin at the local grocery store, and pulled out the big pot. In a couple … [Read more...]
Easy Iced Coffee
I have to tell you, that I really love coffee. If it wouldn't keep me up at night, I would drink it all day long! It's one of my favorite parts of the morning - I walk over to my trusty Tassimo coffee maker and brew me up a nice cup of joe. However, when it gets hot like it did here yesterday (90 by noon!), I really love nothing more than an iced coffee. Now don't get me wrong, I delight in a great Starbucks iced latte like everyone else, but its not always great on my wallet. So, I'm gonna fill you in on how to make a fabulous tasting, and super easy iced coffee right at home. A great tip to making iced coffee is using coffee ice cubes. Making coffee ice cubes is about as simple as it sounds. Pour some brewed coffee in an ice cube tray, and freeze. You can use regular … [Read more...]
Chocolate Chip Pancakes – Super easy from Scratch
How many mornings has this happened? You or your kids say, "We/I want pancakes!" You proceed to your pantry all to discover there is no Bisquick or any other mix on hand, and the freezer is void of anything resembling breakfast. I'm here to tell ya - You don't need it! Scratch pancakes are super easy to throw together, and in my opinion, taste WAY better than any mix you could buy at the grocery store. Not to mention, its way cheaper, too! **This recipe has been adapted by Family Fare: A Guide to Good Nutrition, published by the US Department of Agriculture, Revised , July 1974. One happy boy on the first day of summer break. That smile makes it all worth it! Hope you Enjoy! Erin … [Read more...]