Category Archives: Adventures in the Kitchen

Bluebonnets in Texas

Posted in 2016 Travel Adventures, Adventures in the Kitchen by

IMG_3050[1]We love our bluebonnets in Texas!  They line the highways.  People line the highways to stop and take a family photo.  In fact, if you are from Texas, you have a family photo in the middle of bluebonnets.  It’s just what we do.

My girls are grown, but we still stop and look at the bluebonnets when we are traveling. This year, I took a picture of my daughter, holding one of my pretzels, in the middle of this field of blue.  I thought it was the right thing to do!  I’m not sure that she felt this way, but she was a good sport.

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I could not resist this photo with the Texas and Aggie flag waiving in the background!  This was one of my Easter pretzels..I wish I had made a bluebonnet pretzel for the photo…maybe next year!

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Chocolate and Sprinkles

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These pretzels are the perfect treat to bring to any party or celebration!  They have that wonderful blend of salty and sweet…and they are so darn cute!

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I needed something to take to a wedding shower for a sweet young girl at work.  Her colors are gold and blush.  When I saw these glittery gold sprinkles I knew just what to bring!

These chocolate covered pretzels are so easy and so quick and better yet…inexpensive!  Like I said, they are really the perfect little treat!

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Give these a try the next time you host a party, need to bring a snack, or just want to drop off to a friend to make them smile!   While this is so basic, I added the recipe, just to share my tips with you on making these adorable treats!

Any occasion is the right occasions for these pretzels!

Valentines
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Halloween
July 4

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

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My favorite Lemon Cookie Recipe!  

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I found this recipe for Lemon Crinkle Cookies last summer at a wonderful food blog,  Cooking Classy.   I  love everything I make from her website, and when I saw these cookies I knew I found another winner!  This is my favorite lemon cookie recipe!  These cookies just make me smile.

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YUMMY!
Next time life gives you lemons…make these delicious Lemon Crinkle Cookies!

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All things M&Ms

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This has been the week of M&Ms for me.  I have made M&M cookies, M&M chocolate covered peanut clusters and tried M&M Saltine Toffee for the first time.  Since I purchased a huge bag of pastel colored M&Ms, I tried to make sure and use them all by Easter!

I used these wonderful little chocolates in anything I could think of and also ate a few handfuls along the way!

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I did not leave the saltines and toffee in the oven quite long enough.  This was still very tasty, but next time I will leave in for the full 8 minutes as the recipe calls for!  I was not patient enough.  What can I say, I was so hungry!

You can find the recipe here or in the menu bar above! Thanks Two Peas and Their Pod for the wonderful recipe! http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/easter-saltine-toffee

Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters

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I LOVE Chocolate Covered Peanuts.  I make these tasty snacks at Christmas every year.  I was thrilled when I saw these made with Spring colored M&Ms.  I found this recipe at The Slow Roasted Italian website.   She actually makes these in the crockpot. So easy.     Here is a link to the recipe.   http://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2016/03/White-Chocolate-crockpot-candy.html

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I find this candy has the perfect touch of saltiness and sweetness and it looks fun to eat!

One of the best things about this recipe it that is has three simple ingredients; white chocolate, dry roasted peanuts and M&Ms.  The white chocolate starts to have swirls of darker chocolate as the M&Ms start to melt.  How good does this look? IMG_2924[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just drop by spoonfuls on wax or parchment paper.  Reserve a few M&Ms and add to the top.  Add sprinkles if you want for an extra splash of color .  IMG_2923[1]

It only takes a few minutes for these to cool.  Then you are ready to dig in for a delicious treat!  IMG_2926[1]

 

 

WHOPPERS Robin Eggs/Chocolate Chip

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Books I Love by

WHOPPERS Mini ROBIN EGGS/Chocolate Chip Cookies.  🙂

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I love Robin Eggs!  I always purchase a bag around Easter time and they are usually gone in a day.  I had this bag hidden very well until I was ready to bake!

I used Sally’s recipe from her cookbook Sally’s Candy Addiction: Tasty Truffles, Fudges & Treats for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix.  I simply exchanged the regular size WHOPPERS for the MINI ROBIN EGGS.  These still have the same wonderful flavor…with a touch of pastel…perfect for Spring.

I needed to chill the dough for a couple of hours, so  left to run a few errands.   When I came home I discovered  some of the cookie dough was missing.  Thankfully, I still had enough left to make a couple dozen!  Raw cookie dough does not last long around my house!  These cookies are easy to make, have a wonderful texture and don’t last long!  You can find the recipe on my home page, or here Whopper Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Spring!

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Here is a quick link to the cookbook from Sally!

Irish Soda Bread

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On St. Patrick’s Day, wearing something green is usually as far as I go to celebrate this special day.

I took it one step further this year and made Irish Soda Bread.  This was so easy and delicious served warm…with butter of course!  Find Irish Soda Bread  recipe here.

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I also wanted to make something with the color green.  I made green mint/chocolate chip cookies.  If you like mint, then you will love these.  Same as above…delicious served warm! IMG_2760[1]

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M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies for Easter

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by

Just simple chocolate chip cookies with M&Ms.  Is there anything more delightful?

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Well maybe a bit more delightful if I add a glass of milk!

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Plain Vanilla

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Uncategorized by

Vanilla is my signature flavor!  In my family I am the only one who wants white cake and vanilla buttercream icing for their birthday.  I secretly only want vanilla at Amy’s Ice-Cream or Lick Ice-Cream when there is obviously so many unique varieties and flavors to choose from.

Most people crave chocolate.  I crave vanilla. Sometimes I just need a piece of white cake.  The kind that you taste at your friend’s wedding.  I love biting into a moist cake with the strong flavor of vanilla and just the right amount of icing. YUM!

Below is a picture of a white cake with vanilla buttercream icing. I found this recipe on Pinterest.  I had to make it because it said it was “the best white cake recipe” ever!

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While this cake was good, it was not quite what I was looking for.  So I will continue to bake-on and let you know when I have found and perfected that one and only “White Cake”!

 

You can have your cake and eat it too!

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I love making lemon cakes and cookies in the summer, but when I saw a recipe for Lemon Blueberry cake today, I just had to make it!  It seems I am baking through Sally’s Baking Addiction Blog/Cookbook lately. I love all the details she gives not only in her actual recipe but in her photos as well.  Even an amateur like me can follow along!  If I can do it, you can do it!

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Find recipe here Lemon Blueberry Cake.  This recipe is from Sally’s Baking Addiction. I added a little more lemon and lemon zest to give it a little extra flavor.  This recipe will link you to her website as well for her full recipe. Enjoy!
Sally’s Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, and Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix