Buckeye Cheesecake Cake

What's better than chocolate cake? Chocolate cake with peanut butter cheesecake in the middle smothered in peanut butter frosting, chocolate ganache, and Buckeye candies!

I love seeing what cakes my kids will choose for their birthday cakes. For Matthew's 12th birthday last year, he chose this Buckeye Cheesecake Cake. I was a little surprised because of the cheesecake part, but that's what he wanted and that's what I made. The chocolate cake was fabulous - one of my favorites I've made. The combination of the lovely chocolate cake with the peanut butter cheesecake and frosting was fantastic. I personally found Buckeye candies at our local Cracker Barrel - you can also make a batch and freeze extras. They are sometimes also called peanut butter balls.

Food Cart Inspired Chicken

This Food Cart Inspired Chicken is perfect for summertime with the lemon garlic chicken - veggies and a delicious yogurt sauce!

I am not sure what kind of food cart food this is supposed to be (Greek, Mediterranean?) but I'm on board with it. I love a yogurt sauce that's similar to tzatziki and having cucumber, tomato, and onion with it. I love this lemon garlic chicken too - it paired with everything so well. YUM!

Copycat DQ Ice Cream Cake

Classic DQ ice cream cake with layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, chocolate crunch bits, chocolate fudge, and a light and fluffy whipped topping.

When I was a kid, Dairy Queen was a big deal. I loved going and getting the chicken strip basket and loved even more getting to turn in my coin for a Dilly bar. Occasionally, if it was a good year for my family, my mom would get a DQ ice cream cake for my birthday and I loved when she did so so much. I don't really even care for chocolate ice cream, but the DQ ice cream cake is supreme! My favorite parts are definitely the chocolate crunch bits AND the delicious light and fluffy whipped frosting. I'll be honest and tell you that I have no clue why I made this cake when I did. It was in the midst of all the birthdays, but it wasn't for someone's birthday. Because as an adult, you don't have to wait until your birthday to have the cake of your dreams, I guess!

Menu Plan Monday - May 25, 2020

And just like that May is wrapping up! We're finishing the month with some of my all-time favorites. There are a few new things and I'm excited about those too. I've been pretty lucky with finding what I need for recipes like the ones that are coming this week.

Monday - Roasted Garlic and Cheese Spaghetti [blog no longer active]
Tuesday - Pork Tostadas
Wednesday - Egg Roll Soup
Thursday - Grilled Cobb Salad
Friday - Cheesy Cheeseburgers
Weekend - English Muffin French Toast Sticks // Kielbasa, Pepper, and Onion Hash // Peanut Butter Crisscrosses

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken Copycat

This Applebee's copycat chicken is topped with a Mexi-ranch sauce, pico de gallo, and loads of cheese!

I just posted the cheesecake I made for my sister-in-law's birthday last year and today I get to post the dinner she chose. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get to make dinner that the birthday person wants and she requested copycat Applebee's. I had heard of this dish, but never looked into it to see what exactly was on Fiesta Lime Chicken because I always order the same thing there (Quesadilla Burger). I was so happy to make this recipe because it surprised me in the best way and I'm glad my sister-in-law asked for it.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

This delicious cheesecake dessert is so beautiful that it's hard to believe it's so easy to make!

One of my favorite things about having a large family is the amount of birthdays we get to celebrate, which means we get to eat lots of cake. I'm always so happy to make someone's birthday cake if they want and my sister-in-law requested raspberry cheesecake last year for her birthday cake and trusted me to find a good recipe. I usually am successful and this raspberry cheesecake was definitely perfect! It's simple yet rich and way too delicious for how simple it is. The raspberry sauce really truly makes this dessert and the way you make the hearts on top makes for such a beautiful cheesecake and again - SO simple!

Latin Burgers

Find the recipe on The Recipe Jackpot

Menu Plan Monday - May 18, 2020

Alright y'all, still trying to make adjustments as needed to our meal plan because I don't always find what I need. I think this week may be okay except for the banana peppers. That just really depends on the produce section (pandemic or not). I've replaced it with poblanos and Hungarian wax peppers and anaheims in the past, so I'll try my best to get what I need. Hope you all are doing well and staying safe.

Monday - One Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Tuesday - Taco Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Wednesday - Unstuffed Banana Pepper Soup
Thursday - Tuscan Smothered Pork Chops
Friday - French Bread Pizzas
Weekend - Salted Caramel Parfaits // Copycat Carraba's Chicken Bryan // Reese's Peanut Butter Bars

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Bacon Cheeseburger Spaghetti

Taking spaghetti to a whole new level with all the toppings for a bacon cheeseburger! You'll never want regular spaghetti again!

Okay, okay, I know I said you'll never want regular spaghetti again, but that's not 100% true. I'm sure you will, but this recipe is THAT good that you're going to want it all the time. I sometimes forget about recipes between the time I make them the first time and post them, but this isn't one of them. Every time we have spaghetti, it's this version I want. I think a lot of it has to do with the pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce with it. I don't know why that really is just it for me, but gosh, it's amazing!

Butterfinger Maple Bars

Quick and easy homemade maple bars topped with a drizzle of chocolate and chopped Butterfingers for an out of this world breakfast treat!

The last donut recipe I posted was the Maple Bars recipe that this one uses. The original recipe creator used leftover maple bars and just warmed them in the microwave and added the chocolate and Butterfingers. I don't like maple bars typically, but I enjoy this homemade version with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits. I knew the addition of Butterfingers and chocolate would be insanely good and, of course, it was and the whole family loved them!

Chili Cheese Fries Pizza

Carbs on carbs, this pizza is topped with chili cheese fries and is EVERYTHING!

Sometimes I get a little weary that my husband and kids might look at me like I'm crazy when I pick a recipe for the meal plan that's a little out there. This is definitely a recipe that I would say is out there but in the best way. Who would think to make pizza topped with chili cheese fries? Chili cheese fries are already so dang good! I wasn't sure I was going to be a fan of fries on a pizza, but I was so wrong. Fries on pizza is a game changer. I didn't want to mess with making chili, so I used Skyline chili in the can (beanless) and it was the best decision because there was no choosing between Skyline, fries, or pizza - you get them all!

Menu Plan Monday - May 11, 2020

You may see a pattern each month for the Taco Tuesday chicken recipe...we keep having these chicken tacos. Honestly, I cannot get enough of them and I have never really cared for chicken tacos before. They are the most amazing tacos ever and I have been putting them up at least once a month. I am really tempted to make a double batch this time because we rarely have leftovers and if we do, it's very little. This week is also Nick's birthday (Thursday) and we probably are just doing a lowkey celebration here at home.

Monday - Kicked Up Sausage Alfredo
Tuesday - Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Italian Meatball Soup
Thursday - General Tso's Chicken // Butterscotch and Beer Bundt Cake
Friday - Five Guys Style Little Burgers
Weekend - Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins // Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf // Soft Lemonade Cookies

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Italian Love Cake

You will love this cake so much - with its moist chocolate cake layer, cheesecake layer, and mousse-like topping! It's amazing what you can do with a box cake mix and pudding mix!

So I'm still not sure how this recipe works, but apparently the layers are supposed to switch out when you bake. Somehow mine turned into a split deal which we found awesome! You get a little rich chocolate cake on bottom and top of the cheesecake-like layer. If you make this, please let me know how it turns out for you - if you get a flip flop layer deal or a split layer of chocolate cake. Regardless, it was one of the best cakes I've ever had. This cake was actually my daughter's 11th birthday cake...back in 2019. I'm so behind sharing recipes. That's why this cake features this gorgeous, fancy paper plate serving platter :)

Peach Crunch Cobbler

This peach cobbler has a good crunch and is fantastic on its own, but even better with ice cream on top!

This was supposed to be blackberry crunch cobbler, but I have had no luck finding blackberry pie filling. Is that a thing that exists in stores? I shop at Kroger - maybe that's why? If you have purchased blackberry pie, where do you get it? I decided upon peach because for whatever reason, we've been eating a lot of peach cobbler and cobbler-like desserts as of late. I thought this was one of the best cobbler recipes I've ever had. I also insist that you test out different flavors of ice cream for topping. Vanilla bean is bomb, but we love churro ice cream paired with peach cobbler. But there are also tons of other flavors that would work. The ice cream aisle has endless possibilities!

Berry Avocado Summer Salad

The best summer salad with fresh berries and avocado topped with sweet poppyseed dressing!

Berries in salad is something I discovered when I volunteered in the Family Readiness Group in my husband's unit back at Fort Drum years and years ago now. The battalion commander's wife made a salad with strawberries and blueberries in it and I was blown away. It seems so silly to not add fresh fruit to salad, but I had never thought about doing that. Poppyseed dressing was something my mother-in-law introduced me to and I love the combination of berries poppyseed dressing. This summer salad is awesome because you get walnuts, avocado, and feta with it too. My picture does not show those because I forgot the walnuts and feta until I was halfway through eating it -_- But you definitely don't want to forget those!

Menu Plan Monday - May 4, 2020

May the Fourth be with you! :) I'm looking forward to a lot of old favorites this week, but I'm also looking forward to the two new-to-me recipes (Monday and Thursday) we will be eating. I feel like I haven't had a tuna melt in forever. I'm also hoping I can find everything I need at the store. I find that sort of like with zucchini during normal times, it is in stock up until I put it on the meal plan and then BOOM. Not available. We'll see, I do suppose. How are the grocery stores where you are located?

Monday - Spinach Dip Pasta
Tuesday - Nachos Bell Grande
Wednesday - Kale Soup
Thursday - Ultimate Tuna Melt
Friday - Copycat Pickle Pizza
Weekend - Baked Vanilla Donuts with Chocolate Frosting // Copycat Popeye's Chicken and Crockpot Collard Greens // Chocolate Cheesecake Oreo Parfaits

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Nutella Swirl Danish Ring

It's oh so amazing what you can do with refrigerated crescent rolls, like this incredible Nutella danish!

I feel like I've made a few recipes with refrigerated crescents to make danishes and I haven't had much luck with them turning out. I didn't have high expectations going in and once again, low expectations for the win because I was blown away with how delicious this simple recipe was. It wasn't super hard to make and it turns out looking so pretty and fancy. And like you slaved over for so long. Definitely all wins in my book - easy to make, looks great, tastes even better!

Quinoa Berry Parfaits

The perfect filling breakfast or snack with just 3 ingredients!

When I was in the hospital after giving birth to my third child a little over 5 years ago, I was given the option to have oatmeal for breakfast. I jumped on it because 1) it's supposed to be good for breastfeeding moms and 2) it's oatmeal. Heck yeah! When they brought it up, it was completely unseasoned and I only had one packet of sugar (which was going to the coffee). I had a yogurt as well and on a whim, I threw my yogurt into the oatmeal to flavor it and sweeten it. I became obsessed and still eat yogurt with my oatmeal to this day.

Why am I talking about oatmeal on a quinoa post? Because this recipe reminded me of that but a fancier version and a slightly lighter version too. I loved the fresh fruit with it too. This is so easy to make in advance or with little prep the day of. Bonus because it can be portable if you need to grab breakfast on the go!