tasty tuesday {baked brie}



you'll need:

8-10 oz of Brie, rind removed and cut into cubes

8oz of sundried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 heaping tsp of dried thyme, or 3/4 tsp of fresh thyme

fresh ground black pepper

preheat oven to 325 degrees. in a small bowl, combine everything but the cheese. place 1/3 of the tomato mixture in a small baking dish. layer with 1/2 of the Brie. repeat the steps, ending with the tomatoes.

bake in the oven for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

((you may need to stir 15 minutes through to combine the layers))

serve with bread or crackers.

tasty tuesday {granny b's pecan pie}

let me be clear: i have NEVER liked pecan pie. shocking to those of you who know me, because i love pie something fierce. pretty much more than anything. not so with pecan. i have a vague recollection of being forced to eat pecan pie when i was younger, and have held a grudge against it ever since.

remember Matthew? (he gave me that wonderfully awesome collection of recipes) he has raved about this pie a few times, and his taste in food pretty much mirrors mine..so i figured i'd end my 15 year grudge and bake my first one..(ok, so i baked two of them)

the first forkful was absolute heaven. it evoked blissful sigh, after blissful sigh. my eyes rolled back in my head and i nearly went into a coma from pure awesomeness.

dangerous pie. how i love you.

Granny B's Pecan Pie

(makes one pie)

one pie crust

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 to 1 cup of sugar (depending on how sweet you want it) i used 3/4 cup

2 eggs

1 tbsp flour

1 tbsp butter-softened

1-2 tsp of vanilla

beat eggs until they are lemon in color. add sugar, flour, and corn syrup. mix. add butter and vanilla, mix, fold in nuts. pour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

so simple. so sweet. so nutty.

so nom.

tasty tuesday {applesauce spice cake}

as promised, Matthew's favorite cake of all time.

you'll need:

1 box of spice cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce

2/3 cup of water

beat all ingredients in a large bowl. place in a greased/floured bundt pan and bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes. cool in pan for 25 minutes before turning out onto a plate.

for glaze, mix 1 cup of confectioners sugar with two tablespoons of lemon juice (you could use milk instead, if you want)

a big thanks again to matthew for blessing me with this treasure trove of recipes. love.

something very exciting is happening on the blog tomorrow, so come back! you won't want to miss it!

tasty tuesday {honey mustard chicken & roasted red potatoes}



it's exciting what kind of meals just get thrown together and turn out amazing. i had some chicken that really needed to be used, so i whipped up this tasty 3 ingredient sauce/glaze.

spicy brown mustard

honey

a little bit of mayonaise

i butterflied the chicken breasts, smothered them in the honey mustard and baked them in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. juicy tender YUM.

for the potatoes:

olive oil

herb de provonce

clove of garlic

kosher salt

scrub, cube and par boil the potatoes. toss them with olive oil, herbs and a clove of minced garlic. place in a roasting pan and broil for a few minutes. (i broiled them in the toaster oven for about 10 minutes. if you use a conventional oven you need to reduce the time.)

super easy, super simple, super YUM.

the kids even helped themselves to seconds.

what's on your plate tonight?

tasty tuesday {red robin burgers/birthday celebration}

{kristance ann and kayle mae}

isn't she beautiful? i still can't believe she's taller than me.

friday i took my youngest sister kayle out for her birthday. we hit up red robin, since she'd never been there. my go to burger is the banzai burger (teriyaki with grilled pineapple) YUM. i decided to try something different. enter:Oktoberfest burger. pretzel bun, swiss cheese, ham, beer mustard, grilled onions.

kayle ordered the guacamole bacon burger. she doused it in ketchup.

of course, dinner (without the kids!) isn't complete without some adult drinks!

we talked a lot. and we laughed. we agreed to go see each other more. and to not let our busy lives get in the way of our relationship.

happy tuesday, friends! what's your favorite burger topping?





tasty tuesday {cheeseburger cupcakes}

seriously, how cute are these?!

i found this wonderful tutorial for making cheeseburger cupcakes on Cat's Blog. i made them for a friend's baby shower and they were such a hit!

cat has a bunch of wonderful DIY tutorials, you can find them here!

be sure to stop by her blog No Wooden Spoons and say hello!

Tasty Tuesday {PW's Spicy Pasta Salad}

i've been pretty much addicted to this pasta salad this summer. if i don't stop myself i WILL sit and eat the whole bowl of it.

the original recipe is from the Pioneer Woman. i tweaked it a bit (different cheese and more adobo sauce), it's SO YUM.

you'll need:

a box of pasta

1/2 cup Mayo

1/4 milk

2 TBSP vinegar

1 TBSP adobo sauce from chipotle peppers

1/2 tsp salt

black pepper to taste

small carton of grape tomatoes-halved

1 small block hickory smoked cheddar/swiss cheese

(or smoked gouda)-cut into small cubes

24 basil leaves-chiffionade

cook your pasta. rinse well until with cold water. combine mayo, milk, adobo sauce, and vinegar. whisk until smooth. add salt and pepper to sauce. add tomatoes, cheese and basil to the pasta and pour sauce over top. stir to combine.

tasty tuesday/MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

everything tastes better on the grill doesnt it? (yes, even peaches)

one of my all time favorites is honey salmon. OM NOM NOM.

what you'll need:

salmon steaks

honey

lemon pepper

season the salmon with lemon pepper and drizzle with honey. grill away! (reapeat when you flip the steaks)

for the peaches:

skin and slice your peaches

toss with a little bit of cinnamon and sugar

grill! (:

i served this with a side of saffron rice. the kids LOVED it. and they ate their salmon with their hands, despite my insistance on them using their flatware.

i feel wonderful that i've exposed my kids to different foods at a young age. they love most everything. (with the exception of green beans) don't get me wrong, they love regular "kid" food too (pb&j, mac&cheese, cheese-its, hot dogs), but i win a small victory when my kids ask for more fruit and veggies instead of crackers and cookies. and when they go to the fridge for water (instead of juice), be still my beating heart!

In other exciting news...i'm hosting my first giveaway over at Yellow Songbird!!!

kim is one of my favorite bloggers ever, and i have several of her super cute trio rosette headbands. i'm so excited to be giving away a $15 shop credit to her shop: Oh, Sweet Joy!

 

i can't wait to try your recipes this week! grab a button and link up, won't you?



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tasty tuesday {beef and beer stew}

what you'll need:

a dutch oven (or oven-proof pot with tight fitting lid)

6tbsp olive oil

4 slices thick cut bacon

2 1/2 lbs precut stew meat seasoned with salt and pepper

3 med onions thickly sliced

2 cloves of garlic-crushed (don't drain)

1-14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

2-12 oz bottles of dark beer (Amber Bock or Gunniess work well)

2 Tbsp light brown sugar

1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 Tbsp fresh)

1 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 Tbsp fresh)

1 1/2 lbs of yukon gold potatoes cut into chunks

preheat the oven to 350. place bacon and oil in dutch oven over medium heat. fry bacon until crisp and transfer to paper towel lined plate. brown beef in pot (being careful not to crowd the pieces) transfer to plate with the bacon. add onions and garlic to pot and cook until softened, about  7 minutes, spoon off and discard any excess fat. return beef and bacon to the pot. add tomatoes, beer, brown sugar, rosemary, and thyme. bring to a simmer. cover with lid and transfer to oven. check stew after 10 minutes to make sure it's still simmering; if not, increase oven temp by 25 degrees. cook in oven until meat is falling apart, about 2 hours. add the potatoes and cook until tender about 30 minutes more.

happy eating! grab a button and link up!

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tasty tuesday {Raw Foods Detox}

howdy friends! this week i'm doing a raw foods detox. why? because i've been putting junk into my body. ( and a lot of it ) been wanting to do this for a while ever since Sarah over at Anonymous was a Woman blogged about staying mostly raw this summer. that and my dear friend Jill suggested this detox on facebook last week.

so i'll be eating everything raw, nothing cooked. just a whole lot fresh fruits and veggies. with some nuts and beans for protein. no meat, no dairy. this will be a challenge for me as i'm still cooking for the rest of my family. that, and i'm a total carb-o-holoic. i was vegan a few years back and totally LOVED it. (but i have a weakness for bacon...that, and i married a carnivore)

check out my tasty breakfast:

{red tea, spinach, half a banana, and some raspberries}

how beautiful is THAT? let me tell you, so beautiful!

now i could have just eaten half a banana, and handfull of spinach and a few raspberries out of the carton, but that wouldn't have been nearly as awesome. and i probably wouldn't feel very satisfied afterwards. presentation is key, my friends.

what's on the menu this week, y'all?

tasty tuesday {Aunt Ruth's Strawberry Jello Salad}

remember that wonderful bbq i went to when i was in maryland? it was hosted by my mama Judy's sister, Ruth. (btw, mama judy is aaron's mom. and aaron has been my best friend for like 7 years) anyway, Aunt Ruth made this wonderful strawberry jello salad that i absolutley fell in love with. from the pretzel crust to the sweet cream cheese center to the jello chocked full of strawberries, this sweet and salty dessert is hands down one of my favorite things. ever.

i was thinking about this wonderful dish the rest of the weekend and on my flight home, when it hit me. I have a recipe for that! my bff Sara got me this sweet cookbook for my birthday this year called "Baked Explorations:Classic American Desserts Reinvented" and it has this very recipe in it!

 i will always associate this recipe with Aunt Ruth, her wonderful hospitality and beautiful family; but you can just call it Strawberry Jello salad if you don't have an Aunt Ruth!

you'll need:
8 oz (about 4 cups) salty pretzels
1 1/2 sticks butter, cubed
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

1 lg box strawberry jello
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

1 block cream cheese-room temp
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream

9x13 baking dish

prepare the jello according to box. add sliced strawberries and refrigerate until partially set (45 minutes to 1 hour) *i wasn't sure what "partially set" meant. my jello was still runny after an hour, so i used it and it came out wonderful. if anyone can educate me on that, awesome* make the crust and filling while you wait for jello to set.

preheat the oven to 325 degrees. grease the bottom and sides of your baking dish. in a food processor (or with a rolling pin and pretzels in a baggie) pulse pretzels into coarse crumbs. DO NOT crush the pretzels into a powder! in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. (cubing the butter helps it melt faster and more uniformly) whisk in sugar and remove from heat.stir in pretzel pieces. press mixture onto the bottom of your pan. bake crust for 10 minutes and then cool completely.

beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer on med speed until well combined. whip the cream with whisk attatchment until soft peaks form (you can also whisk by hand..if you have that kind of time!) fold into cream cheese mixture.

spread the cream cheese mixture over cooled crust (make sure you spread the mixture all the way to the edges of the crust to for a sort of seal so the jello doesn't seep down onto your pretzels and make them soggy!) pour partially set jello over cream cheese. refrigerate dessert for at least 2 hours before serving.

can be stored tightly covered in the fridge for up to three days.

now grab the button and link up!

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tasty tuesday {sheperds pie}

{i get hungry just looking at that photo!}

what is better than meat, potatoes, and veggies? let me tell you. meat, potatoes and veggies all mixed together and topped with cheese! i love making this simple meal. it's delicious, and the kids absolutley love it. it's a win for everyone!

you'll need:

8x8 pan (or you could double this recipe and use a 9x13)

1lb hamburger

1/2 small onion diced

ketchup

1 cup of frozen veggies-thawed (we use 1/2c of corn and peas)

2 cups mashed potatoes

1/2 cup of cojack or cheddar cheese

brown your haumburger and onion in a skillet. when burger is browned, drain the grease and stir in some ketchup. i just eyeball the amount of ketchup i add, you want enough to coat the burger. i always add a little extra because we love ketchup. place the burger in the bottom of your pan. veggies go on top (make sure they are thawed!) tatos on top of that. then the cheese. bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes.

what's on  your menu this week?

grab a button and link up!

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tasty tuesday {PW's Potato Leek Pizza}

y'all know how much i love the pioneer woman right? well i DO. she's pretty much amazing. i love to make her potato leek pizza from her cookbook! from the dough to the bacon to the goat cheese...OM NOM NOM.

you'll need:

pizza dough (i use PW's recipe which is in her cookbook and also at the beginning of this recipe)

6 slices of bacon-cut into pieces

1lb mozarella cheese (it calls for fresh mozz, but i never use it, because it's outrageously expensive around these parts)

3 leeks-well rinsed to removed dirt and thinly sliced (only slice the white/light green part of the leek. you don't want to use the leaves)

5 small red potatoes

4 oz goat cheese crumbled

grated parmesan

salt

pepper

olive oil

a baking sheet

preheat oven to 500 degrees. prepare your pizza crust and press it out onto a baking sheet. drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. fry bacon until cooked but not crisp. remove your bacon to a paper towel lined plate. pour off most of the grease from your skillet, but don't scrape it clean! add your leeks to the pan. saute over medium heat for about 3 minutes. using a sharp knife or mandolin, slice potatoes very thin. arrange potatoes on crust slightly overlapping. sprinkle potatoes with salt. layer mozzarella over the top. place leeks on top of the cheese. sprinkle with the fried bacon and goat cheese. sprinkle with pepper. bake for 8-11 minutes until golden brown and cheese is melted!

enjoy!

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tasty tuesday {pig pickin' cake}

how was your memorial day y'all? mine was wonderful. it was HOT as heck in michigan, and i baked for the first half of the day, which wasn't very wise on my part, as the stove made my apartment even hotter than it was outside. i baked 2 chess pies, and a mama trish's pig pickin cake.

i grilled zucchini and yellow summer squash for dinner, and then when michael got home from work he threw some pork steaks on the grill.

we saved the cake for when our friends Jenn and Levi came over to hang out later in the evening. turns out Jenn's aunt makes pig pickin cake too, and she's been having cravings for it the past week or so! (did i mention that she is pregnant? and SO adorable, i might add!)

you may also call this cake "hawaiian delight" cake if "pig pickin" cake is a little too hillbilly for you.

my mama trish makes this cake (and she'll only make it in the summer for some reason...) and it is SO delicious. i got this recipe from her about 2 years ago, and this is the first time i made it. it's so simple, and super moist!

you'll need:

2 round cake pans

1 box of yellow or lemon cake mix

1 large can of mandarin oranges (don't drain them!)

1/2 cup of oil

4 eggs

preheat your oven to 350 degrees. grease and flour your cake pans. mix all of the ingredients together by hand (as to not break up the oranges) and then pour into your cake pans. bake for 22 minutes. once you pull your cakes out of the oven, let them cool for 7-10 minutes before turning them out onto a plate or cooling rack to finish cooling.

for the "frosting"

1-9oz cool whip (thawed)

1-20oz can of crushed pineapple (don't drain)

1 small box of vanilla pudding

mix together and "frost" your cake. then refridgerate. YUM. there is nothing like cold cake on a hot summer night.

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tasty tuesday {peppermint lemonade}

is there anything better than a glass of lemonade on a hot day?

that was a rhetorical question, the answer is no!

peppermint lemonade!

~6 lemons

~1 cup sugar or splenda (or a bit less, we like our lemonade sweet!)

~water

~peppermint leaves (optional)

juice 5 of your lemons into a 2qt pitcher. add suagr and water. stir until sugar is disolved. crush your peppermint leaves and add to lemonade. slice your leftover lemon and add to pitcher. stir it up. chill. serve over ice to all of your loved ones!

this lemonade would most definaltely go famously with Andrea's bbq'd cheese dogs and a slice of Nessa's strawberry pie. i enjoyed mine whilst blogging out on the deck in the sunshine and making out my summer reading list.

happy tuesday! grab a button and link up!

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weekend snapshots

sharing mint lemonade

jackson turns 10 weeks

new sseko sandals

blogging on the deck

don't forget tomorrow is tasty tuesday! post a recipe and link up! <3



tasty tuesday {Brie and Bacon Quiche}

(look at all that cheesey deliciousness!)

what you'll need:

1 frozen deep dish pie crust-thawed

10 slices of bacon-fried crisp and crumbled

4oz Brie cheese rind removed-shredded, crumbled or chopped.

4oz swiss cheese-shredded

6 eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

dash of nutmeg, salt, pepper

~preheat oven to 375 degrees

~put cheese in pie crust

~layer bacon on top of cheese

~mix all the remaining ingredients well, and pour over the bacon and cheese

~bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

now, grab the button and link up below!

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