It’s that time of year – baking season. Starting with Halloween yummies, then Thanks Giving pies and Christmas cookies (hopefully not followed up by the “well, why not, I’ve eaten so much crap already, Happy New Year cake”). There is no doubt that I’ll be on the phone and emailing manufacturers like crazy over the next 3 months. Today alone, I’ve sent out three emails to manufacturers to make sure manufacturing facilities haven’t changed from last year. Here is a little cheat sheet (AVOID THESE) below. We never use the Wilton Brand because MOST of their items, including food colorings (yes, I made an entire cake with their food coloring only to find…
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
It’s been a while, hey? I’ve been working on a home-improvement project and I blew away my goal. Happy dancing! The timeline was tight considering I still had adulting to do during the daytime (SAHM stuff) and most of this project had to happen after the kids would go to bed, and before I got too tired. Painting after 10pm is not a good idea. So this brings me to my favorite term, opportunity cost. My most utilized take-away from my master’s degree 5 yeas ago. The things we must give up to have something else. In this case, I gave up a LOT to complete this project in 4 weeks. My daily work outs…
Homemade PSL, You're Welcome.
Starbucks makes a pretty delicious PSL; however, the homemade version is pretty darn good, and easy as well. Below is a big batch method, too, so you can make it on the weekend and enjoy all week long at work. Here’s what I did. I’ll also put a cheat recipe below if you’re short on time. Enjoy, fall is just 6 days away. Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients 2 TBSP canned Pumpkin 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, plus a sprinkle for garnish fresh ground black pepper 2 TBSP granulated sugar 2 TBSP pure vanilla extract, like penzeys 2 Cups Whole milk, or whatever you like 1-2 shots espresso, about 1/4 cup or…
Biscoff European Cookies
This morning we made Stonewall Kitchen waffles in the waffle maker my Dad and Mary gave my husband for Christmas last year. As a treat for dunking in coffee and milk, we also decided to try Biscoff Cookies. Biscoff is made in a 100% nut-free facility and is a nut-free cookie. We like ginger snaps, but none of them are deemed safe! Biscoff is a nice alternative, and also served on my favorite airline, Delta! Have a relaxing Monday!
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Not sure why I haven’t made this before, but we could literally eat ALL of this frosting, sans the cupcake part. We celebrated a VERY dear friend’s birthday yesterday, and here is the safe dessert we made. Chocolate on Chocolate Cupcakes 3 sticks unsalted butter 5 cups powdered sugar 1 cup safe powdered unsweetened cocoa (Vermont nut-free or Hershey’s) Splash milk (optional) Splash vanilla extract Directions Make a devils food Betty crocker cake mix as directed, we did cup cakes Bake and cool completely In electric mixer bowl, cream together the room temperature butter and one cup of sugar at a time until creamy smooth. Add remaining ingredients. Mix slow…
4th of July Menu
The 4th of July weekend is probably my second most favorite weekend of the year. It has been a tradition in our family, ever since I can remember, to meet at the lakefront in Milwaukee and watch the fireworks together. The location and attendees has changed a bit over the years, but the tradition continues none the less. This year, we are excited to once again have friends and family over to enjoy the fireworks with some easy-to-get-to seats, and good eats. Speaking of good eats. I’m a dessert person. We were in the middle of making the fruit pizza when I realized I didn’t have a rolling pin. Doug…
No Bake Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
Father’s Day is Sunday and the kids know Doug’s favorite dessert is Cherry Cheesecake. This recipe is easy enough that they can make it for him! Since we are attending our annual summer fundraising event Saturday, I’m a little tight on time for food prep. We are going to keep it real simple. I found this recipe and hope it works! MINI CHERRY CHEESECAKES Ingredients 1/2 C Graham crackers 1/4 C melted butter 1/4 C sugar 8oz cream cheese 1+1/4 C milk 3.4 oz vanilla pudding 1 can cherry pie filling Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 (optional) and prepare cupcake tin with liners. 2. Combine Graham crackers, butter and…
Crazy Kid's Caviar
On our way home from Nashville, we decided to see if we could get as much of our immediate family together as we could. And lucky for us, everyone could make it to our impromptu cookout at the condo. It was wonderful to come home to all of our family and get caught up, celebrate, have some wine!!! One item that was fun to make and very easy (Chloe did most of it alone) was what most of us know as Cowboy Caviar. Becuase Chloe made it and she was a wild child yesterday, I’ve renamed it Crazy Kid’s Caviar. Crazy Kid’s Caviar Ingredients 1/2 cup evoo 1/3 cup white…
Easter Brunch Menu with Kids
Well I ended up feeling really burned out before the holiday weekend, sorry for the late post! Anyway, just wanted to share an easy make-ahead plan for Easter. Perhaps you can use it at your “make-up” Easter if you had sick kids (ah-hem, yes, every. single. holiday. I swear) or out of town guests coming over. Easter Brunch Menu for 10: Java Bay Coffee, ground and ready in the coffee maker for 12 cups Giada De Laurentiis biscotti (Recipe below) Asparagus + Mushroom Frittata (Recipe below) Orange Juice Grandpa Joe’s chorizo + egg scramble Mimosas Fruit salad (Recipe below) ———————————————————————– Biscotti Recipe Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour (target brand) 1…
Wild Irish Kids
St.Patrick’s Day was a lot of fun with the kids this year. We had our traditional St.Pats with friends party at Christen’s house. She did such a great job planning an all green menu for dinner. We had grapes, salad, white and green clover shaped pasta, green jello, and a bunch of other green goodies. I think the best part was watching the kids, and adults, try to smash open the giant piñata. Everything was nut-free, even the contents in the piñata, and I am so grateful to have such thoughtful friends. I know it’s not always easy, or top of mind, to make sure things are nut-free. Later on at home, Chloe and…
Sneak PEEPster into Easter
I prefer to keep it simple. A few years ago I ordered these custom baskets from Lillian Vernon becuase of the low cost and good quality. This year, I will be filling them with a combination of nut-free candies and a few small items. Here are a few ideas to jump-start your Easter baskets: Vermont nut-free bunnies Peeps Original (not all are safe!) York peppermint paties Whoppers Robin’s Eggs Bunny socks (target $1 bin) Bubbles Travel crayons+note lads (getting ready for TN road trip) Swim suit + swim trunks Black Widow action figure Hulk action figure To keep things quazi environmentally friendly, I made my own Easter grass by shredding…
I'm 8.3% Irish…
So that means I’m definitely celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, along with my VERY Irish husband, Doug, and our red-headed kids (OK, so Chloe is pretty red, Carter, not as much.) We’ll be saving the Corned Beef + Cabbage for March 17th (recipe will follow!), but this weekend, we’ll be starting our party a little early with some sweet treats, nut-free. I hope you enjoy. The last time I made this recipe I was 8 months pregnant with Carter, and I LOVED them. To find out if YOU’RE really IRISH, check out this amazing DNA testing site, 23&Me.com Guinness Chocolate Chip Cupcakes Ingredients: •1 cup unsalted butter •1 cup…
Play Date Cookies
SOYNUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS 48 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates in classic bag 1/2 cup shortening 3/4 cup soynut butter 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup additional granulated sugar for rolling(optional) 1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates. 2. Beat shortening and soynut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. 3. Shape…
Donuts at Home
Sunday is for Sweet Somethings…..today it’s donuts! This recipe is adapted from cooks.com 5 TBSP unsalted butter 1 egg beaten 1/2 cup sugar 1+1/2 cups flour 2 + 1/4 TSP baking powder 1/4 TSP salt 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 cup milk Topping: 3 TBSP unsalted, melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 TSP cinnamon. 1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat donut pan with cooking spray. Set aside 2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg. 3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg together in large bowl. Add dry ingredients alternatively with wet ingredients. 4. Fill donut tins 3/4 full (I use piping bag). Bake for 15 minutes. Take out…
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