trendy tuesday!

I hope you had a great Memorial day weekend! We spend quality time with family and friends, and of course did our share of enjoying summer foods at barbeque's! I  enjoyed cooking and baking, and did my fair share of watermelon cutting! So, for this trendy Tuesday I wanted to share with you the coolest watermelon cutting knife! Momastore -- to look at the website!

Arugula, Pear, Date & Manchego salad

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope you all have wonderful plans with family and friends. I was debating my post, and was going to do a great pasta salad since I figured a lot of you will be going to cookouts, but I made this salad the other night and decided to share it instead.  First, I would like to say I know a lot of people don't care for dates.. I actually won't eat them alone, I only eat them in this salad and my cereal, but don't be scared to try them! They really give it a chewy and sweet taste and texture to the salad. You can certainly omit them if you like or substitute them for dried cranberries or golden raisins. You can also substitute the arugula for mixed greens if you like. However, their should be no substitution for the Manchego cheese! It gives it that wonderful salty bite and puts this salad over the top.

Trendy Tuesday!

I am so excited about this Trendy Tuesday. Have you heard of cake pops? They are the latest sweet indulgence, and really cute too... even Starbucks added them to their pastry selection. Let's face it anything mini is cute. Mini Muffins, mini brownies, mini doughnuts, the "mini" list goes on and now you can have a mini cake, on a stick, a Cake POP, in 12 minutes.

I first learned of cake pops from the great Bakerella, she can make cake pops with no help from a machine! Well, I need a little help and this is where the babycakes cake pop maker comes in! You too can make fabulous cake pops and did I mention, doughnut hole, your own munchkins, move on over Dunkin!

Babycakes cake pop maker

So cute! and MINI

Happy Trendy Tuesday!

cake slice time

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It's cake slice time once again! This time we are baking a Orange Almond Caramel Upside down cake. The batter was so fragrant from the orange zest, and fresh orange juice, and for the caramel sauce I used orange honey, to give it more of the  orange flavor. I  baked mine in a springform pan which worked wonderfully. I hope you enjoy this recipe. I think it's a keeper!

Pig Cake-- Pig OUT!

 I had every intention when starting this blog, for it to be a mix of cooking and baking. I have come to realize that it  really has become more of a "baking blog." Although, I cook  every weeknight night, I rarely post my weeknight meals, I am always mega multi tasking during the dinner preparation, and have found I don't have much time to document  my meals. When I bake, it is  normally at night, when all is settled and quiet, and I can take the time to take pictures along the way.  So, with that being said, I  promise to do my best as to give you a variety, but today, I bring to you a great summer cake. I made this yummy "PIG" cake, and it was really good. I have no idea why it is called that, but it  does make sense, because we pigged out on it!

This is a great cake for you to have on your summer dessert list for a few reasons... 1. It's easy to transport in a 13x9 inch pan, and 2. It's full of light, fresh summer flavor, great dessert for after a cookout!

go PIG OUT on PIG CAKE!

Cookie Pie!

Today I bring to you a Toll House Classic, a chocolate chip cookie pie. It is so delicious and great to whip up before friends come over. It actually is faster to make than chocolate chip cookies, in my opinion. It tastes great right out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or the next day, just pick it up and eat it straight out of the pie plate :)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Toll House

• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream(optional)

unbaked

baked goodness

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired. 

Trendy Tuesday!

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a great Mother's Day weekend and you were all spolied for one day just as we spoil our little ones everyday!

I had a great weekend, it was beautiful weather for a beautiful occasion, my youngest daughter's First Holy Communion, and a very special day it was because it was on my angel mother's birthday.
That made it all the more special for us all. She looked beautiful dressed in her communion dress and Veil. Like a mini bride, we were so proud of her.

This Trendy Tuesday, I am going to share the cutest Aprons! I just love them-- one for mommy and one for mini mommy's out there.. the little ones that like to cook with their mommy's, like my little Madison.

Also, a few tips!

1. When marinating meat, stick it in a Ziploc freezer bag
2. When cutting rice crispy treats use a pizza cutter and when patting the sticky mixture into the pan, use the empty rice crispy bag sprayed with cooking spray
3. When cutting brownies-- WAIT at least 35 minutes and use a plastic knife!!!
4.  When making pancakes on the weekend, make extra and freeze them individually in small Ziploc bags for the week ahead.
5. Buy a cute Apron!

Mommy's

Matching Mommy!

How cute is this one!

Mommy's Helper!

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