**Sunday Social - 4.24**

{A few days late. I meant to do this Monday but our power went out and remained out for 40 hours and then we were under a tornado warning the whole next day. *phew*}

Happy Easter everyone! Or perhaps I should say Happy Zombie Jesus Day! [sorry if that offends, but you know it's true :P] [disclaimer: it's a joke, I promise I'm not being mean]

Only one really great recipe this week on Fantastical:

• Cinnamon Roll Pancakes: These are utterly amazing. You absolutely have to try them. :D

I've gone back to bookmarking sweets. Didn't last very long, did I? Here's what the food blog world had to offer this week:

• Strawberry Cupcakes from Real Mom Kitchen: I love strawberry cake anything. These look absolutely amazing. Oh! And it's Laura's 3 year blogoversary!
• Banana Coconut Upside Down Cake from The Girl Who Ate Everything: Lately I've been on a bit of a coconut cake kick.  But this just ups the ante by a lot. It looks delicious!
• Cream Soups from Finding Joy in the Kitchen: I don't know if you've noticed, but I always thought it was ridiculous to pay $1.25+ for a small can of soup. This recipe will definitely come in handy.
• S'Mores Cake in a Jar from How Sweet It Is: Be prepared to want to lick your computer screen!!
• Magic Peanut Butter Middles from Back to the Cuttingboard: In her post, she says a friend was convinced there was crack in these because she couldn't stop eating them. That is exactly what I want to hear about something I want to bake :)
• Grilled Hawaiian Pork Chops from Sing For Your Supper: Two things I really love to hear are: grilled and Hawaiian. This usually means pineapple. There is nothing more magical in the world than grilled pineapple.
• Chicken Egg Rolls from Annie's Eats: Okay..maybe I didn't get ALL sweets this week. I love egg rolls!
• Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie from Tracey's Culinary Adventures: The picture is perfect. It is so perfect!! Go look at it!! NOW :D
• Itty Bitty Cinnamon Roll Bites from Picky Palate: Last week I told you I was obsessed with cinnamon roll-like foods. I wasn't kidding. Hellllllloooo sweet little things!
• Crispy Chicken with Creamy Italian Sauce and Bowtie Pasta from Jamie Cooks It Up!: This looks incredible! I only wish I knew where to find this cooking creme. I can't find it anywhere!
• Apple Fritters from Get Off Your Butt and BAKE!: Rhodes Rolls! Seriously! I love them. They are soooo delicious :)
• Chocolate-Drizzled Strawberries and Cream Pie from Our Best Bites: These ladies really cannot come up with a bad recipe! I don't like the artificial-ish syrups and stuff on pies either. This pie looks amazing.
• Banana Manna from The Purple Foodie: I can't wait to try this one. My daughter loves bananas too much for me to pass up something like this.
• Banana Split Cream Pie from Mel's Kitchen Cafe: I'm not really a huge banana fan, but I love banana pudding and banana cream pie.
• Quick, No-Rise Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls from Alli 'N Son: Another "must look at the picture" recipe.

{Stay Safe and make sure you check out these awesome recipes!}

~Twisted Thursday - 4.21.2011~

So here's what to do...

It's YOUR turn to share one of your favorite recipes!

You can also grab a button for your blog from the right hand side --->

The recipes will probably be pretty scarce over the next 3 weeks. My husband is coming home for R&R and I am road tripping on down to Tennessee tonight from here in up upstate New York. I'll still be cooking at my in-laws, but I'm not sure how much I'll actually be doing and how many new recipes I'll be making.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

These were divine. We had brinner (breakfast for dinner) and I think that these are so good that they could be considered dessert! Thank you Lori @ recipegirl.com/ for this wonderful recipe. It's amazing!

**Sunday Social - 4.17.2011**

   I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and weekend too! 

This week is full of goodies - you have to check them out!

My favorites this week on Fantastical:

• Fiesta Chicken & Rice: This one was like a breath of fresh air after all my failed recipe tries over the last few weeks. I can tell it will be a regular.
• Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies: I know these sound really weird...to some, gross, but I can assure you, if you like bacon and you like chocolate chip cookies, you'll love these cookies!
• BBQ Beef Sandwiches and Sweet Coleslaw: I love pulled pork, chicken and beef sandwiches and I don't eat coleslaw much anymore because no one else in the family likes it, but since my husband is deployed, I have free reign to make all my favorites. The sandwich was so good and it seems like my daughter is now on the coleslaw bandwagon :)

This week in the rest of the blog world:

• Slow Cooker Beef Stew from Mommy Hates Cooking: I think that every recipe I've ever found for beef stew is complicated or ends up tasting horrible. I was so excited to see this one pop up. While you're there, make sure you check out Kristy's other recipes! She has a GREAT collection.
• Vegetable Lasagna from Pioneer Woman: I actually really enjoy vegetable lasagna and didn't have a recipe for it before this one :) I cannot wait to try it out! Also if you haven't heard, Ree Drummond is going to have a show from her ranch on Food Network!!
• Baked Buffalo Wings from The Comfort of Cooking: DROOL. My husband has me hooked on buffalo and I've started to get a little out of my comfort zone and eat wings...uhh NOM.
• Sparkling Summery Sangria from Sing For Your Supper: Summer is upon us! It's soooo close. This looks picture perfect for a nice summer day.
• Honey Nut Bars from My Baking Addiction: I'll be honest, this was perfect timing on the day I was craving Pay Day bars :)
• Pretty Layered Overnight Salad from Jamie Cooks It Up!: My husband's aunt makes something similar that I still need to get the recipe for. I absolutely love this salad!
• Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken from Beantown Baker: Mmm. I have never made a whole chicken before. But I adore Thanksgiving for the turkey and it tastes similar to chicken, so why the heck haven't I done this yet??
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from Finding Joy in My Kitchen: I really like the concept of making chocolate chip cookies into different things...that are much larger. :)
• Sticky Pecan Bites from Tracey's Culinary Adventures: Maybe it's because I am a sucker for anything that resembles a cinnamon roll, but these look amazing!
• Caramel Brownies from Annie's Eats: Just the picture. Just LOOK at the picture.

Just a little note: I assure you readers the world will not be coming to an end. I know it was strange to not see my list of the week full of sweets :) I hope you all check out all these recipes and blogs.

This post is linked up @

Friday Favorite Finds

BBQ Beef Sandwiches & Sweet Coleslaw

I unfortunately got a bad batch of meat from the Commissary (go figure) and it did NOT want to cooperate, but this recipe was great nonetheless. You can find the original on My Baking Addiction! There are tons of really great recipes there. Mostly sweets, which in my opinion, makes it all the much better :)

 

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

I am not a big fan of "plain" yogurt...and I had a little vanilla...but I also had a little blueberry yogurt so I subbed plain yogurt for 6 oz. blueberry and 4 oz. vanilla.

Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bacon + Chocolate = EPIC.

Now to some, this sounds kind of gross. But I assure you...it's not. The bacon ends up around the texture of raisins and salty and sweet is a great taste combo :)

~Twisted Thursday - 4.14.2011~

So here's what to do...

It's YOUR turn to share one of your favorite recipes!

You can also grab a button for your blog from the right hand side --->

     Be on the lookout for Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies, 

Strawberry Banana Smoothies, Bacon Cheese Pull-Aparts, and BBQ Beef Sandwiches with Sweet Slaw! Those recipes are coming very soon!

Menu Plan Monday - 4.11.2011

This week WILL be good. I'm making it that way.

I'm going with some tried and true recipes this week. Or at least recipes I know will be great. I'm also going to WILL myself into making breakfast. I did much better last week, but I want to do even better this next week :)

So here's the plan for this week:

Lunches will all be leftovers or a whatever we have in the house because we are getting ready to go home to Tennessee for 3 weeks.

Tuesday, Apr 12:

• Breakfast: Cheesy Bacon Pull Aparts

• Dinner: Chicken & Pepper Pasta Bake

Wednesday, Apr 13:

• Breakfast: The Best Blueberry Muffins

• Dinner: BBQ Beef Sandwiches and Sweet Coleslaw (this was supposed to be tonight's dinner but my chuck roast went bad)

Thursday, Apr 14:

• Breakfast: Cinnamon Roll Bites

• Dinner: Leftovers

Friday, Apr 15:

• Breakfast: Poptarts

• Dinner: Chicken a la King

Saturday, Apr 16:

• Breakfast: Other Worldly Sticky Buns

• Dinner: Stuffed Crust Pizza

Sunday, Apr 17:

• Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Muffins

• Dinner: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Monday, Apr 18:

• Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza

• Dinner: Roast Beef Tenderloin, baked potatoes and corn on the cob

Extras:

• Crockpot Mud Cake, Andes Surprise Pillow Cookies

**Sunday Social - 4.10.2011**

Another slow week in the Fantastical kitchen...I picked a bunch of recipes that I didn't care for. I hate when I get a week of disappointing recipes! But I'm hoping I pick a bunch of winners for next week :)

My favorite recipe that I posted this week was Homemade Mozzarella Sticks. I made them for snack time...they were incredibly simple and we devoured them!

And I swear I say this every week...but there are some awesome recipes in the food blog world. Awesome people sharing awesome recipes!!

• Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies from Picky Palate: I really need to try some of these stuffed cookies ASAP. (These were reposted by I Heart Naptime this week)
• Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen: I am just going to go ahead and tell you that Kristan is my favoritest food blogger right now. She is an absolute riot. I don't care if that made me sound like I belong in the 50s...and I'm only 22. She's a hoot! See: Facebook
• The Ugliest Best Cookies Ever from Picky Palate: These kind of look almost a bit like the 100-Calorie Pack Oreo wafer thins. I can't wait to make them!
• Banana Bread French Toast from Real Mom Kitchen: Ohh two of my favorite things to eat for breakfast in a beautiful marriage of deliciousness!
• Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies from Tracey's Culinary Adventures: I really adore carrot cake. It's probably my second favorite after devil's food. And I've been meaning to make whoopie pies since I saw an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay with whoopie pies. I just like saying whoopie. :)
• Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies from Brown Eyed Baker: I had a recipe fail from a similar recipe and I trust BEB wouldn't lead me wrong!
• Pizza Pockets from Finding Joy in the Kitchen: These look really great..a more healthy twist on normal pizza.
• Vanilla Bean Cupcakes from Busty Baker: I love how she has her's decorated. They look so classy! I have never had a vanilla bean cupcake, but I love vanilla bean ice cream...so I think they would be fantastic.
• Overnight Danish from One Crazy Cookie: I simply love danishes. They might be my favorite breakfast food ever!
• Angel Fluff from Mommy Hates Cooking: My grandma always made me angel food cake for my birthday and I love cherries..this is perfection!
• Simple No-Knead Pizza Dough from My Baking Addiction: Right now I am obsessed with finding the perfect spaghetti sauce, but I'm fairly certain that pizza dough will be my next obsession. I like shortcuts so this will be my first experiment :)
• Spicy Chicken and Pepper Jack Pizza from My Baking Addiction: This goes with the pizza dough - yum :)
• Jelly Bean Cookies from Alli 'N Son: Just in time for Easter!!

I hope you all check out all these great blogs and all the other ones on my fave hunting spots list!!

Hope you all have a great week!!

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

Yummy! I love mozzarella sticks. I mean, who doesn't?

~Twisted Thursday - 4.7.2011~

I'm having a really slow cooking/baking week. :( I've been in a little rut lately. All the foods I've been trying aren't spectacular at all. The kids have been shunning the foods. So hopefully I'll get some good'ns next week!

Today is Thursday and that means it's your turn to share some awesome recipes :)

Menu Plan Mondays - 4.4.2011

Menu Plan Monday - YAY!

Tuesday Apr 5

• Breakfast: EZ Donuts (I swear we haven't had these a ton..I keep skipping on the mornings we were supposed to have had them)
• Lunch: Grilled cheese and yogurt
• Dinner: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple, corn on the cob

Wednesday Apr 6

• Breakfast: Caramel Pull Aparts
• Lunch: Leftovers from dinner
• Dinner: Cheesy BBQ Casserole

Thursday Apr 7

• Breakfast: Blueberry Oat Squares
• Lunch: Homemade Bagel Bites
• Dinner: Leftovers

Friday Apr 8

• Breakfast: Bacon Cheese Pull Aparts
• Lunch: Chicken nuggets and fries
• Dinner: Order out Dano's pizzeria

Saturday Apr 9

• Breakfast: Cinnamon Roll Bites
• Lunch: Mac'n'cheese
• Dinner: Fiesta Chicken and Rice

Sunday Apr 10

• Breakfast: Best Blueberry Muffins
• Lunch: Sandwiches and veggies
• Dinner: BBQ Beef Sandwiches and Sweet Coleslaw

Monday Apr 11

• Breakfast: Cinnamon Swirl Bread
• Lunch: Hot Dogs, fruit, chips
• Dinner: Crunchy French Toast and scrambled eggs

Extras: Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies, Crockpot Chocolate Mud Cake, Strawberry Banana Smoothies

Hope everyone has a wonderful week :)

**Sunday Social - 4.3.2011**

It seems like everyone is getting some warm weather - so I hope you were able to get outside some - here in NY, it's still a bit cold. They are calling for snow tomorrow - BOO!

I can't wait to share what I have found this week!

Favorites from my blog this week:

• Copycat Wendy's Frosty - it was SO delicious and incredibly easy. Now if I could just perfect their secret to good fries...
• Caramel Biscuit Bites - A really simple, great breakfast :)

I am hoping to have some more great recipes posted soon, including: Donut Muffins, Mexican Shepherd's Pie, Hostess Cupcake Cake and Glazed Cinnamon-Raisin Biscuits


My favorite finds from the foodie blog world:

• BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Pizza from Sing For Your Supper - I absolutely love pineapple on pizza and this just looks too good to be true!
• Hot Chocolate Cookies with Marshmallows from Dine and Dish - *drool*
• S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies from Picky Palate - I haven't tried any stuffed cookies yet, but I'm really glad they have taken the foodie world by storm.
• Cake Batter Truffles from The Girl Who Ate Everything - I love cake batter anything.
• Pina Colada Cupcakes from Beantown Baker - Jen was one of the first food blogs that I stumbled upon and I love all of her postings. I love the very simple look to these cupcakes and I cannot wait to try them!
• Hot Fudge Whopper Cake from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen - I don't even like Whoppers and I really just want to eat every last morsel of this cake...did you SEE it? Oh my gawsh! Go take a peek and tell me that doesn't look like the most delicious thing you have ever set your eyes on?!
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken from Mommy Hates Cooking - Bacon makes everything better. It's the truth.
• Chicken Skewers from Alli 'N Son - I am so excited that it's warming up - time to fire up the grill!
• Margarita Cupcakes from Beantown Baker - Again...Jen is a genius! These look so cute and packed with flavor!
• Tex Mex Potato Soup from Back to the Cuttingboard - Here's another truth for y'all: Anything that has Tex Mex in the name..will be delicious. :)
• Mozzarella Chicken from MOMS CRAZY COOKING - This one looks great too. I love finding new ways to cook up chicken!

You have to go check out these recipes! I know I'm very excited to try them out.

Have a great week!

Copycat Wendy's Frosty

Update: 2/24/13 - finally got a picture of this one. It's a great recipe to make when you are craving a Wendy's frosty.

This was SO good! I seriously am in love with copycat recipes :)