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Best Recipes of 2011

December 30, 2011 by 1 Comment

I can’t believe that another year has come and gone!  It’s the first year review for this little blog of mine, which I started just last January.  I’ve really expanded my culinary adventures since then and also discovered a love of photography.  I used to be one of the pickiest eaters ever!  My weekly meals were quite repetitious and I pretty much ordered the same entrée when I visited the same old restaurants.   Now I love reading other blogs, finding new ideas, and trying new things both in and out of the kitchen.  Thank goodness for the creation of Pinterest!  It’s been a great help in organizing all the recipes that I come across every day.   This has been a great journey and I can’t wait to see what bakes up in 2012!

Here’s a round up of your favorite recipes from 2011.   These just happened to be some of my favorites as well.  If you haven’t had a chance to make any, I suggest you do.  Enjoy!

1. Oreo Cupcakes  – What’s not to love?  Not only do these look and taste amazing, they also have an oreo cookie on the bottom of the cupcake and are filled with a cream filling!  Mmm…

2. Chicken Noodle Soup - This is my mom’s recipe that I’ve been enjoying since I was a little kid.  Comfort foods have always been a favorite of mine and there’s no better recipe than Mom’s!

3. Pumpkin Cream Cheese - As soon as fall hit I was exited to come up with seasonal recipes.  I was surprised by how great this simple cream cheese tasted and also by the response of readers.  It’s a must try!

4. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas - This is such an easy recipe to throw together for dinner.  The ingredient list is simple and it’s so fast to prepare.  When something takes such little effort to make and tastes this great, it gets an A in my book!

5. Lemon Meringue Cupcakes - These cupcakes are a show stopper!  Lemon is such a fresh flavor and it reminds me of the springtime, so I made last Easter.  Lemon was infused to every part, including the cake batter.  Plus, it’s all topped with a toasted meringue frosting!

Goodbye 2011 and Cheers to 2012!

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year!

Filed Under: Favorites

Candied Almonds

December 6, 2011 by 3 Comments

The aroma that fills your house when candied almonds are roasting in the oven is intoxicating.  The combination of sweet and salty make for a perfect snack and making them couldn’t be more simple!  It takes just a few ingredients and no more than 5 minutes to throw together.  These would be great to sit out at a party or family get together.  Throw them together right before guests arrive to give off that lovely smell in the home.  They taste great when they are warm and right out of the ovenm but they can also be stored for a few weeks.  They would also make a great homemade gift packaged up in a cute bag. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Snacks

Marinara Sauce

November 11, 2011 by 7 Comments

Before making this sauce, I had always pretty much poured everything from a jar.  I’d add in some ingredients to put my own twist on it, but the base was always store bought.  Now there’s nothing wrong with that.  And I still do that from time to time.

Before I actually tried it, I thought that making marinara sauce from scratch was a long and difficult process.  However, it’s pretty simple.  Granted, I haven’t taken it as far as peeling my own tomatoes.  Instead of using fresh, I use a can of San Marzano tomatoes.  {You could really use any kind of can tomatoes that you want, but after watching endless hours of Food Network, I always hear that San Marzanos are the best.}  That’s what I started with and that’s what I liked.  So I’ve kept making it the same way. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sauces

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Sheet Cake

November 6, 2011 by 3 Comments

Warning:  This. Is. Addicting.  Before you decide to make this, make sure you have plenty of people to share it with.  Otherwise, it will sit there tempting you until it’s all gone.  Believe me.  I know.  There are only two of us in the house, and every time I passed through the kitchen this cake was calling my name.  Strange.  Right?  In fact, it’s been calling me ever since I first saw it on the blog Picky Palate.  I had to make it the very next day!

This cake both tastes incredible and is incredibly moist!  Therefore, it’s best not to store it in an airtight container because it will cause it to get soggy.  I guarantee you won’t be storing it for long though, because whether you’re sharing it with one or many, it has a way of disappearing fast! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Desserts, Pumpkin

Caramel Apples

October 24, 2011 by 6 Comments

My husband LOVES caramel apples.  He settles for the packaged ones sold in the grocery store, and eats about a 6-pack a week.  I figured that homemade ones would be pretty simple and taste way better.  You can easily buy the packaged square candy caramels and melt them with a little cream.  However, I opted to make some from scratch, and I’m glad I did.  They turned out perfect!  The caramel was not too soft or hard.  It was just the right texture.  Not to sound too much like Goldie Locks, but it’s true.  You don’t want to bite into something that’s too sticky or, on the other hand, something that almost breaks your teeth.  In addition, the vanilla bean and pinch of fleur de sel give the caramel a nice flavor. [Read more...]

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