Super Easy Fourth of July Trifle
Click HERE to watch the video tutorial of this recipe! Fourth of July is one of those big holidays where we all like to get together and have some fun, right? Of course it is! So, whether your gathering is just your immediately family, small group, or waving at people from far away, this dessert is ridiculously easy to throw together…yet delicious and light. Perfect combination, and it’s cold too! There are just so many wonderful things going on with this recipe. […]
Our Favorite Shrimp and Grits
In 2017, I worked as an assistant pastry chef at a brand new upscale restaurant. I was overwhelmed and intimidated beyond belief surrounded by the incredible talent and skills of the chefs I worked with, and there wasn’t a dull day that was ever experienced working with these guys. Although it was a very busy, chaotic, and slightly stressful place, the experience I gained from working there, the food, and the daily belly-laughs at the shenanigans were beyond worth it. […]
Shark Cakes
Click HERE to watch the slide show of this cake, with many more pictures! A few years ago, my nephew turned 10. This baffled me at the time, considering I have the video footage of his 2nd birthday, blowing out the candle and keeps asking his daddy “More, more?” for him to relight it so that he could blow it out again. Oh, that’ll be a cute video to show when he turns 21. Anyway, he was probably my biggest fan when it came to making decorative chocolates. He thought it was SO cool when I tell him that he can eat one of the decorations because it’s chocolate. […]
No-Churn Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
This recipe was an experiment, so I called in the peanut butter expert to weigh in with his professional opinion…my oldest brother. I wasn’t sure if the first batch would be too sweet or too rich, so I made a second batch and cut the peanut butter flavor a little bit. […]
Orange Chiffon Cake
For our very last class in culinary school, we had Advanced Baking and Pastry. So, you can only imagine my excitement, considering we were finishing up with the entire program with my favorite subject. Well, this was one of the cakes that I had the opportunity to make in class. The funniest part in making this cake in class was the fact that my partner and I forgot to add the baking powder and salt… Oops! […]
Easy Meatloaf
When it comes to meatloaf, I’ve heard several reactions…mostly the famous, “Ewwww, meatloaf!!” And really what makes me quote is little Randy not wanting to eat his meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the movie “A Christmas Story.” Well, not in our house growing up. In fact, it was quite the opposite. […]
Poop Emoji Cake
Over The Hill birthdays give you the opportunity to go over the edge with funny gifts. This is why it’s one of my favorite sections in a party store to look at, because there’s usually something good enough to make me laugh out loud. This cake had the same effect. […]
Green Apple Martini
When it comes to girly froo-froo drinks, this definitely makes the top ten list…and is one of my favorite martinis. It’s fruity- it’s a martini- it’s a pretty color. That is a helluva combination, and as one guy called it, “Yumdiddles!” Yes, yumdiddles indeed. […]
Philly Cheesesteak Wrap
The first time I had a homemade Philly Cheesesteak was at my brother’s house, when his wife made them for us. I have always loved these sandwiches with the combination of roast beef, provolone, sauteed onions and peppers…but the ones she made for us had one difference- the provolone cheese sauce. When I walked up to the counter to assemble my sandwich, I asked her where the cheese was. She pointed to a small pot with white sauce and said, “Right there, it’s a provolone sauce.” My eyes got big, and I poured what seemed like 3 cups of that gloriousness all over my sandwich. […]
Princess Castle Cake
When our daughter was getting ready to turn 4, I asked Her what kind of cake and party she wanted. She was really into princesses at the time, so naturally that was the theme she chose. So, I started thinking, and asked, “Do you want a princess castle cake?” Her eyes lit up and she cried, “Yes! A pink princess castle cake!!” Done. […]
Dark Chocolate Coconut Truffles
The list of adjectives I could use to describe the massive amount of home renovations that we’re doing on our A-frame house during this time of quarantine is starting to look like my kids’ Christmas lists. It’s interesting, exhausting, chaotic, entertaining, never-ending, and stressful. We’ve been in this house for a year and a half, and had expectations to start renovations about six months after living here. Unfortunately, the timeline was much slower than expected, and the renovations started a couple of months ago. […]
Southern Shrimp and Pasta
When I started my freezer meal business back in 2017, my main focus was to make delicious comfort food that was easy to batch out and throw in the oven on those nights you just don’t feel like cooking. Being quarantined definitely gives me more time to cook at home since I’m stuck with the kids 24/7 and unable to work, so I’ve discovered myself running out of ideas on what to make that’s new and fun. […]
Candy Sushi
Click HERE to watch the video of how to make Candy Sushi! Candy Sushi…who knew? Really! A good friend that I grew up with had a birthday dinner party at a sushi restaurant, and she had asked me if I could make the cake. When I talked to her earlier in the week, I had an idea of what I was going to do, but hadn’t nailed down anything in particular…until I started doing some research. […]
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
A few months ago before this lovely quarantine, some friends had a cookout at their house. When I asked him if they had a preference when it came to flavor or type of dessert, I received the response, “Anything with chocolate. peanut butter or cheesecake.” Easy enough. So, this cake showed up at their house. […]
Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich
Chicken Cordon Bleu is one of my all-time favorite entrees. The only time I don’t get overly excited about this dish is if it’s one of those little “Chicken Twinkies” that you can buy in the freezer section at the grocery store. That’s actually what I had as a kid when I fell in love with it, but I was destroyed after making it from scratch while attending culinary school. […]
Blondies
I’ll never forget the first time I had a blondie. A group of us had gone out to eat at a chain restaurant, and I was flipping through the dessert menu…and there it was. A blonde brownie topped with chocolate ice cream and caramel sauce. Holy cow, I have to get that I thought to myself and placed an order when the waitress came back. It was glorious. […]
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Have you ever found yourself staring at the dessert menu in a restaurant, unable to decide on just one item? It’s a true crisis at times, especially when you want to order everything you see, but clearly your waistline doesn’t agree. […]
Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Cookies
In the winter around January and February, there are several things that I look forward to. Drinking hot chocolate while enjoying a fire in the living room when it’s cold outside, the down time after the holidays to relax and take it easy, Super Bowl parties…and Girl Scout Cookies. Seriously, because I absolutely LOVE the shortbread cookies. Those are the ones that I always get- not really sure what it is about them, but I think they’re heavenly. […]
Margarita Cupcakes
Well, Cinco de Mayo is coming up, and we all know what that means…TEQUILA! Such a great song, I always think of the Pee Wee Herman movie when he jumps up on the bar and starts doing the dance in those big white shoes with that goofy look on his face. Next thing you know, the bikers love him. Maybe they’d been drinking too much tequila themselves? Unsolved mystery. […]
Banana Pudding
In my family, we call this “Nanner Puddin.” Don’t forget the Southern twang with that phrase, too. My brother and I are goofy though, since neither one of us likes chunks of banana in our pudding…so I had to get creative. I knew that just using banana flavored pudding mix wouldn’t be good enough, so some research began. Looking through several different recipes, I picked what I did and didn’t like between them, and got to work on my little experiment. […]
Pirate Birthday Party
Click HERE to watch the slideshow! It’s hard to believe our son is already five years old, but I was prepared to throw him a pirate party for his first birthday. Every time my husband would pick on me for going “overboard” (ha ha, get it?), I would scoff at him and say, “He’ll remember this party for the rest of his life!” […]
Black Forest Cheesecake
The first time I had anything Black Forest, it was a trifle. I asked the party host, “What is Black Forest?” My eyes widened and mouth gaped open as she described it as being a dessert that combines chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream. Say no more, you had me at hello. […]
Dairy-Free Keto Chocolate Chip Muffins
One of my favorite things to have for breakfast is a muffin, so having a low-carb, gluten-free, sugar-free, AND dairy-free muffin seemed impossible…until I started making these little guys. Chocolate Chip is my favorite, but I also make these using wild blueberries that my son devours, too. For my hubby and daughter, they’re fans of the double chocolate version as well, so it’s a versatile recipe that can be modified and substituted in a few different ways. […]
Chicken Divan
When I first started my business making freezer meals, this was one of my favorites…it was also one of the most popular. Since people are looking for healthier comfort food these days, this dish definitely hits home. The great thing about it is that it can also be served over pasta or rice if desired! Versatility! […]
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
When I was a teenager, I remember helping my mom making some chocolate peanut butter bars for the first time. And honestly I wonder if that was a really good thing, or a really bad thing. Why? Because I ate the whole batch- in two days. In fact, that may have sparked an argument between my dad and me because he went looking for one…and they were all gone. […]