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 Does any one else have Halloween candy still laying around? Usually by this time our house is cleared of any candy (mostly because I am home all day and it is way too tempting to stay out of!). Not this year, though.  My kids have been hiding it carefully so they can eat it (and so I won't).  Silly kids.  Mom "never" gets into your hidden candy stashes. Heck, she doesn't even know where they are--not!! And for the record I only get into them to make something super delicious--like these.  And by the way, they didn't even notice all their reese's peanut butter cups were missing. These bars were a hit.  I made them for some family that was coming into town and they graciously helped us eat all of them.  S'mores are amazing with a reese's peanut butter inside so this was that version just a whole lot more of it.  So yummy! Peanut Butter S'more Bars ( click here for printable version ) 3/4 cup butter 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 2 cups powdered sugar...

I just can't resist one more pumpkin recipe. And if you are anything like me, you prefer your oatmeal baked rather than cooked. The texture in cooked oatmeal is like mush (which is fine most of the time but sometimes I just can't handle it...). This cooked oatmeal is the only one I have tasted that I truly like (I think it's the combination of steel cut oats and Cook's Illustrated--which never goes wrong). We eat a lot of oatmeal in the mornings, because it's quick and most of the kids like it.  Luke, the youngest, has developed an intense dislike for the stuff.  So much that he cries when I'm telling him we are having it and has taken to praying the night before that we won't eat it in the morning.  I find it quite amusing and think it's so cute but alas we still have oatmeal at least once a week. I know, poor kid! But this oatmeal was absolutely fantastic.  It has a wonderful crunch on the top and there is no mushy at all in it.  Which makes it a win a...

 Is everyone recovered from Thanksgiving? After a super fun week of lots of extended family we ended it with at least 1/2 of us getting the flu (Out of 60 people at least 30 were puking--guess that means it's time to go home!!). What's up with family gatherings and the flu!??! At least it wasn't on Thanksgiving day right? Well everyone at my house is all better--yeah--and I just can't resist sharing a few more delicious pumpkiny things with you.  It's still November after all. My sister requested this cake for her birthday and boy did it deliver!  Everyone went nuts over it.  There was one piece left by morning and my kids were fighting over who got to take it to school with them.   This cake is super easy to make, a cinch to whip up quickly, and tastes absolutely fantastic.  What could be better than that...? Better Than Anything Pumpkin Cake ( click here for printable version ) 1 box yellow cake mix 1 small can pumpkin puree (NOT the pumpkin pie filling) ...

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend. I am having lots of fun with my family and kids. I will be back with a new recipe on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving--tomorrow! We are in full pie mode at the house.  We have 20 pies to make.  I get so excited just thinking about it. I have two most favorites foods for Thanksgiving--pies and rolls.  I pretty much like almost every single thing about Thanksgiving dinner (I still can't stand stuffing) but pies and rolls are on the top of the list. There is nothing like leftover turkey on a homemade roll. I have fond memories of waking up early the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping. We would all grab rolls and turkey and head out the door. I remember it always tasting so good. This recipe is a ramped up version of your basic roll.  Add lots of delicious cheese and garlic and it is a bite of heaven.  My family went nuts over them and I love how they dress up normal in such a yummy way. Cheesy Garlic Rolls (click here for printable version) Dough: 1 1/2 cup warm water 1 tbsp yeast 1 tbsp sugar 3 1/2-4 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup butter, melted Cheese and H...

Do you have your menu planned for the big day? We get to be with lots of relatives this Thanksgiving which is nice because we spread out the food assignments and no one has to make all of it. My job this year is the pies.  Surprise, surprise I know. But I also love to make the turkey.  Mostly because I HATE dry turkey.  I love it moist and juicy so it doesn't have to be slathered in gravy to get it down. I think one of the biggest keys to a moist turkey is brining it.  There are lots of different ways to brine a turkey.  This recipe was fantastic. The flavor with all the fresh herbs and apple cider was an amazing combination.  The kids thought it was the best turkey we've had so far--which is a ringing endorsement from the non meat lover daughter I have. Now hopefully the one on Thanksgiving Day will turn out just as good or better! Cider Brined Turkey ( click here for printable version ) Brine: 8 cups apple cider 2/3 cup kosher salt 2/3 cup sugar 1 tbsp bl...

(Last day to enter the giveaway ) And last but not least...Pie #5. I shared with you yesterday my love for coconut.  Which is the reason this little pie was put on the short list.  Not only did we combine chocolate and coconut we added nuts.   Amazing.   My kids were super disappointed that I didn't make them a pie they could eat.  They hate coconut (and lets not even talk about the nuts) and then when I made that beauty from 2 days ago (the chocolate peanut butter torte ), I gave all but one piece away (and the hubs and I ate that piece before they got home from school--I know shame on us :) I was not their favorite mom that day.  But I have been the hubs favorite all week.  He shares the same love of coconut and nuts as me so this was win-win for both of us (and the neighbors who we shared with too in case you've been thinking we are eating all this pie ourselves!). This pie was fantastic warm out of the oven with some ice cream.  It's making my...

And up for pie #4...this beauty. I love coconut.  Always have.  I know for some people it's a take or leave it kinda thing but mine has always been a take it.  One of my favorite pies ever is this Coconut Cream Pie . My world changed after I tasted it. You know why...2 words...coconut milk. Man does it make pies taste way better (I mean it totally makes sense since it's the real thing versus the imitation stuff).  When I saw the recipe for this I knew I had to make it.  I mean it calls for coconut milk too.  That sealed the deal for this lady. This pie was fabulous.  It is very mild on the lime and coconut but a perfect combination.  Top it with toasted coconut and wow!  Absolute deliciousness. “I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!” Coconut Key Lime Pie (click here for printable version) 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 can (13.5 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk 1/3 cup fresh or bottl...

(Don't forget to enter my latest giveaway ) I think I have found heaven. Pie #3. I'm totally not joking. I am at a loss of words because this torte was one of the most delicious things I have every tasted.  I have tasted some pretty amazing things, but this takes it all. I will let the pictures speak for themselves because I really don't know what to say besides, "Amazing", "To Die For", "You need to make it RIGHT now!", "Delicious". Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte (click here for printable version) Crust: 32 Oreo cookies, finely processed into crumbs 5 1/3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled Small pinch of salt Crunch: 1/2 cup salted peanuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips 2 tsp sugar 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon Dash of ground nutmeg Filling: 2 cups heavy cream 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted 12 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter (not natural) 2 tbsp whole milk 1/4 cup salted peanuts, finely cho...

 Welcome to PIE WEEK.  I’m joining TidyMom and Whirlpool for the 4th Annual Love the Pie Party. You can too. Enter a pie to win a new Whirlpool Gold® Induction Range . I decided that since pies are my favorite part of Thanksgiving I would devote an entire week to them.  I always have a list of new pies I want to try and now is a perfect time to share my favorites. I LOVE apple pies.  And I love to try to new ways to eat them.  I have seen several recipes floating around with crumb toppings and finally decided on this beauty.  I love the crunchiness the crumb topping gives it, which pairs perfectly with the soft apples.  Definitely an add on to your Thanksgiving menu. And to kick off PIE WEEK I am doing a giveaway. Have you ever heard of FLIPZLES . My sister introduced me to them and they are fabulous.  "They are a two sided, wooden children's puzzle. The house puzzle has 23 wooden pieces is printed on both sides. The front shows pieces of the ext...

I have a neighbor that is just wonderful. Isn't it great to have awesome neighbors (growing up we had no one within several miles of us so neighbors was a new concept when I moved to the city). Anyway...we are always borrowing things from each other if we run out of something, watching each other's kids if someone needs to run somewhere really fast, canning, and inviting each other over for dinner.  My kids love her house because she has a trampoline and an electric piano.  Pretty cool--we just have one of those boring ones that don't plug in. Last month was her birthday so we invited them over for dinner.  I have been dieing to try this lasagna because I LOVE white sauces, especially white sauces with lots of cream cheese and no flour.  Wow. Wow. Wow, Wow. Wow. We were in lasagna heaven.  It is was absolutely amazing.  So much so that I am going to make it again because writing this is making me drool just thinking about it.  All of us couldn't get en...

There is something about apples that remind of growing up.  I don't know quite what it is but the smell of them takes me right back to my childhood.   Maybe it's because our farm was surrounded by orchards.  I didn't know that apples from the store are different than apples picked right off a tree or bought from the local orchard stand.   Those apples were crunchy, sweet, so juicy, and the flavor was amazing.   It's another reason I love fall.  Apples.  I love to get them fresh and eat as many as possible.  Heaven!! When Annie posted this I knew what I needed to do with those gorgeous apples sitting in my garage.  Not to mention the parents were coming over and I wanted to knock their socks off.  And man did this do it (I did sneak a corner--I just couldn't help it!).  It was absolutely fabulous.  The caramel, crumb topping, and sauteed apples will make you almost die of pure happiness.  The other thing better would be a ...

Well the dreaded fall colds have arrived at our house. How about you? Last year we all did great.  Even when school started.  Nothing.  It was awesome. This year, WOW!  My kindergartner has had a cough since school started.  Poor guy.  Kindergarten is rough on the immune system. Now the hubs and one of the girls are in the middle of it. Bummer. So we are eating lots of soup around here and maybe a few of these babies (sweets are good for you right??!!).  I *heart* Reeses Pieces and anytime I find a recipes for them--it is a must make.  Combine that with a peanut butter cookie and HEAVEN.  The kids went nuts over them, so did all our guests.  Definitely a keeper. Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies ( click here for printable version ) 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 large e...