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 Almost every time I make a new recipe for the kiddos I always get the same comments over and over again.  They go something like this: "That looks gross" or "I don't like [insert whatever I happen to be making]" or "I'm sure I'm not going to like that" and the list goes on. Most of the time I try to have something nice to say to them about it or just ignore it but sometimes that is the frosting on the cake and mom goes over the edge. Several weeks ago we had a particularly bad week with it. I finally told them, "do you really think I try to make things you don't like?" And to give them credit almost every single time they try something new they actually like it . Heck I have several kids that realized they like asparagus and cauliflower and bacon all because they tried something new. So to get over our bad week I decided to make something "new" that I knew that all of them would love.  They loved this pasta. It was simp...

Spring is in full swing at this house. Hence (why I forgot to post last Friday--sorry peeps but sometimes this momma has got to go play!) We have been busy planting our garden, pulling weeds, fertilizing the bushes, taking walks, watching three versions of "Willy Wonka" all in one week, and just playing. It's been wonderful. And we have loved every minute of it. One day though the kids were craving some cookies so we decided to make some together. And since peanut butter and chocolate are always the best thing in this house (and this girl has been dying to make these beauties) we made amazing cookies. Wow! These are probably one of my favorite cookies yet. The combination of the two frostings on top were TO.DIE.FOR. No one could stay out of them and needless to say, they soon got carted off for other people to enjoy because this house had already eaten half the batch.  You should totally make them today!  Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies ( click here for printable version ) ...

My oldest loves banana muffins. We have a tried and true recipe that we all love but frankly, it's not that healthy so I wanted to branch out and try some something new. Something at least that sounded healthier. I loved bran muffins growing up. I can't really remember why but they have always reminded me of home and being delicious. And I confess, I have never made them as an adult. So I decided to rectify the situation and see if these would pass my oldest son's scrutiny and my memory of those amazing things from my youth. We all really loved these muffins. Especially warm out of the oven with butter. The texture was great and they were moist with a wonderful banana flavor. Plus now we have a new banana muffin on our repertoire. Sweet! Healthy Banana Bran Muffins ( click here for printable version ) 2 tbsp butter, softened 1/3 cup applesauce 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp bakin...

Did you get an email to see if you were the winner? Check it out and see!  The other day on Facebook I ask what kind of Oreo I should use in the new recipe I was making. The top votes were for mint and peanut butter. Mmmm so delicious!! I love both of them but as I was browsing through the store I decided on the peanut butter Oreos especially after I "found" the peanut butter M&Ms.  Maybe I should say they "found" me. Seriously, I "heart" those little things so much.   Well this was a hit. Everyone at this house was in love. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is the ultimate for me so adding even more chocolate and even more peanut butter seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Heaven. Heaven. Heaven. Peanut Butter Oreo Muddy Buddies ( click here for printable version ) 9 cups Chex cereal (rice, corn or chocolate) 1 cup peanut butter M&Ms, chopped coarsely 1/4 cup butter 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup creamy peanut but...

You have a couple more days to enter the giveaway !! Sometimes I try to get my kids to change their preference choices when it comes to pizza. Every single time it's cheese or if they are adventurous, cheese with pineapple.  I know, I know...they really live life on the edge. The hubs and I are a completely different story. I L.O.V.E. my cauliflower pizza crust especially with the veggies piled high (red peppers are my favorite on there). But if I am feeling super industrious I will make 3 pizzas. One for the kids, a cauliflower one for me and Sam, and then a new one for everyone to try. This beauty was a a yummy find. Bacon on pretty much anything makes it to die for but add spinach and chicken with a homemade flatbread dough and it's over the top. Plus I am so set on my usual homemade dough that this was fun to try something new.  Flatbread Spinach Bacon Chicken Pizza ( click here for printable version ) *Note: this dough takes a while to rise so plan ahead. If you don't ...

Did you enter the GIVEAWAY already? Don't forget!!  My oldest child, Seth, has quite the sense of humor. It's just like his fathers' and I haven't decided if that's a good or bad thing. It all depends on the day! Seth has a really good friend that comes over quite often. And we love having him over mostly because he tames Seth down and gets his quirky sense of humor (and that means Seth isn't trying it out on us for several hours--hahaha...). This boy also makes dinner and breakfast for his family quite often. Now I have this thing about my kitchen. If anyone is making a recipe in there it takes all my willpower, not kidding, to leave them alone. The hubs doesn't really appreciate me telling him all sorts of ways to do things better, so it's just best for me to stay out of there. Anyway, this boy convinces Seth that he should make dinner for us.  Now I have been wanting to try this recipe (because my girls L.O.V.E. spaghetti and would have it every nigh...

Since I have hit several major milestones on this little ol' blog I thought I should give away some of my favorite things. I am over 1600 "likes" on Facebook , 2200 followers on Pinterest , and almost a 1000 friends on Google Friend Connect. You guys are amazing and I am so thankful for all you that come over everyday and read what I write and make my recipes. I totally love it! Plus have you noticed that I started a new way to see what I'm doing all day long!!?? Not that what I do is all that exciting but I would love for you to come follow me on Instagram . It's a party over there. Here is what you can win: 1. A homemade apron (yep my mom made it and she is awesome at sewing and quilting and baking and cooking, umm...you get the idea!) 2. Pie Server--we make a lot of pies around this place and I couldn't do without mine. 3. Vanilla sugar. Ashton introduced this to me and has changed my life ever since. 4. Cake tester--this comes in so handy in checking so m...

There is nothing quite like a warm, messy, all over your hands, sandwich. Sometimes you just need one or two. Anytime we got to a sandwich shop I always have them melt the cheese and get it all toasty and delicious. This sandwich fits right along those lines and I loved it. My kiddos also love meatballs. My 9 year old keeps asking for me to make her some "North African Meatballs" a sweet old lady let us try around Christmas (haven't made them yet--oops!). So I knew they would loved this sandwich. I think we all almost died and went to heaven. This is on our regular recipe list now because everyone loved them that much. They were super easy (and even easier if you buy some buns from the store) and full of wonderful flavor. The boys in our house loved them probably more than the ladies but how can you resist such a hot, messy, delicious sandwich. Italian Meatball Subs ( click here for printable version ) Meatballs: 1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs or crushed saltines 3/4 cup s...

 Do you instagram? You might want to, hint, hint.... I don't know what it is with a gooey, warm, chocolatey, caramely bar that makes my mouth start to water and my brain to start screaming "EAT THIS NOW!!!" or "DON'T SHARE!!!". Seriously. It's pretty pathetic but oh so true. I try to stay out of them but as soon as it comes out of the oven, I want to immediately start picking at the edges to just "try" a little bit. I can't hardly leave it alone. And for my defense neither can most of my family. Everybody wants a piece but nobody has the patience to wait a little bit till they are cool.  I think we have a problem. The "i can't stay out of delicious gooey oatmeal bars" problem.   Anybody else have this problem? If you do you better make these.  You will totally feel better, well as long as you don't eat the whole pan. Good thing it only makes an 8x8. Whew!! Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars ( click here for printable vers...

I've mentioned before about the bread lovers that I have at my house. I'm slowly trying to wean them off so much bread but wow are they resisting (and it probably doesn't help that I make fantastic things like this that totally tempt them--especially the hubs!). And it certainly doesn't help that I have a Silpain . Man do I love that thing!! It is designed specifically for breads.  The darker mat and the tiny holes in the bottom let the bread breathe so the bottom is oh so crunchy and absolutely amazing! I even make our weekly  biscuits on it and they are even better than before.  Didn't think that could happen but it's totally true. The hubs loves to eat at Johnny Carinos. He loves their pasta (and bread!). We hadn't been in ages and we went the other day with some friends and the hubs just about died over their bread but mostly the oil they bring to dip your bread into. So I thought for sure we could make something at home that he would love too. Well we ...

When I started this little blog I use to a post about some of my favorite things to use in my kitchen. Those pictures were pretty horrid (like this one and this one --oh man!) but hey at least we can say that the photography has come a long ways, right!?! But the tools you use in your kitchen are very important. And because I cook a lot I get quite picky with what I use. It's like any job, the kitchen tools you use can make the job much easier when you are in your kitchen. I think the tools I use in my kitchen are pretty great and it makes my day to have things around that are a benefit, but there are definitely some things I have been totally coveting. A salad spinner is totally one of them.  As we say in our house, they are things that "we want and things that we need".  A salad spinner fit in the category of wanting but man have I been wanting one of those babies for several years now. Mostly because we tend to eat a lot of salad at our house and I love the way it ma...

Tis the season of lemons and I love it.  And since I don't think I have posted nearly enough lemon things this year I thought I should fill you in on one of my very favorite lemon recipes. You can buy lemon curd from the store but I prefer the homemade kind and since it's super easy even better.  Plus if you use Meyer lemons it tastes even more delicious. For those of you who don't know what Meyer lemons are (and which I didn't know until several months ago), they are a lemon that is sweeter and less acidic than your regular lemon.  That makes them perfect for recipes, especially this little beauty. But don't worry if you can't find Meyer lemons where you live (which I'm totally with you on this, finally found one store that carries them "sometimes"--arghh!) regular lemons will work just fine. Now this delectable treat is pretty yummy by itself but I love to add it to things. Things like cookies or pancakes or pound cake or one of my favorite thing...

I noticed I hadn't posted a brownie recipe for at least a month.  Seriously! What is the world coming to? I haven't ever posted a mint brownie recipe before because I hadn't found one yet that was "knock your socks off" amazing.  Either the mint was too strong and tasted like toothpaste, or the consistency of the mint layer was too much like frosting, or the brownie layer was too dry and thick. Well ladies and gentleman...I think I have finally found "THE ONE".  Yep it's true.  The one mint brownie no one can stay out of, and I repeat no one. Even my mint hating children and friends about died over this brownie and even asked for seconds and thirds.   It is seriously that good. The mint layer is a cream cheese base so it is a perfect combination of creamy yet with a subtle mint flavor. The homemade brownie is super tasty too. Fudgy and moist. Then adding the chocolate ganache to the top takes it to a whole new level. My friends you N.E.E.D. to make t...

Now that gardening season is starting upon us we have been so busy outside.  There is just something about the sun shining and your hands getting dirty. Must be the farm girl in me. I instantly get happy when I go outside and even happier when I get to start messing around in my garden. This week we are on to planting potatoes, peas, carrots, onions, and beets. So exciting! But because we are spending so much time outside I am so about quick, yummy, easy meals. This meal  is the complete cheater way to make fish tacos. Plus my kids love fish sticks so this makes them much happier then "real" kind. The roasted corn salsa and avocado sauce dress it up for a delicious, quick easy meal. Easy Fish Tacos with Roasted Corn Salsa ( click here for printable version ) Tacos: 1 18oz box fish tenders (or fish sticks) 8 corn tortillas 2 cups tri-color cole slaw mix queso fresco Roasted Corn Salsa: 1 12 oz bag frozen corn 1/3 cup red bell pepper, diced 1/4 cup red onion, diced 2 limes, jui...