Tres Leches Cupcakes

Tres Leches Cupcakes. Perfect for Cinco De Mayo. Topped with Walkers Vanilla Shortbread and Whip Cream.

:: Tres Leches Cupcakes ::

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Sara, happy birthday to you!!! Oh my friends, you don’t know how much I appreciate my co-author and dear friend Sara! Today is her birthday, and we are going to celebrate with one of her favorite recipes, Tres Leches Cupcakes.  Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without my partner in crime.  She balances our Simply Happenstance in ways you don’t see.  We created Simply as a place to share our favorite things {food+family+lovelies}. It has grown because of our lovely readers and it keeps chugging away because of our partnership.  I am so very grateful for Sara.  I hope today turns out to be a relaxing and special with family. Soon Sara, we will have some Tres Leches together, maybe at Cafe Rio {wink}.  Happy birthday my friend!!! [Read more…]

Strawberry Shortbread Pie & Giveaway

Strawberry Shortbread Pie

:: Strawberry Shortbread Pie & Giveaway ::

Okay, so I am going to date Sara and I with this Strawberry Shortbread Pie Recipe.  We don’t talk about our age, but let’s say besides Sara being my favorite red head; Strawberry Shortcake was mine as a kid.  Luckily our girls have been able to experience one of our favorite childhood characters. Strawberry Shortcake and Cabbage Patch Kids were a big deal at the age of 5.  In fact because of Strawberry Shortcake, I had asked for a Strawberry Cake for my 6th birthday party.  From then on I loved everything that was strawberry. This Strawberry Shortbread Pie is an ode to all things strawberry.  These little red berries make me happy and their sweetness makes for a winning combination with Walkers Shortbread Round Cookies.  The mixture of the two makes for an awesome yet simple spring time pie!

Strawberry Shortbread Pie

We are a little blessed to experience these magical berries for most of the year.  Sometimes we forget that strawberries aren’t as readily available to most of the country until the summer.  Strawberries honestly, {besides all the talk of Strawberry Shortcake talk} have been a big part of my life. My Grandma Joan was a Californian Native.  She was a fourth generation Californian.  Making her family here in the state long before it was even a state.  She had a fondness for strawberries.  She liked to bake with them and she grew them in her backyard.  My sister and I loved to see the little white flowers turn into red berries.  Picking them and eating them straight from her garden was our favorite part.

In fact in a way this recipe is dedicated to her. It is my Grandma’s Strawberry Pie Recipe. I hope you enjoy it….

[Read more…]

Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream

Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream

:: Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream ::

Sara and I are so very excited to be Blogger Ambassadors for Walkers Shortbread!  You know your favorite plaid cookie tin that you have been enjoying every holiday since you were a kid?  We were asked to come up with  recipes using their delightful cookies. {A thrill for us, as these classic cookies are made from only four pure ingredients… and are GMO, vegetarian, and preservative free.} The family owned company still makes all of their traditional cakes and cookies in the same secluded village in Scotland that they have been running since 1898.  We LOVE that! What’s even more exciting, Walkers is sharing the love of their cookies with our readers for a limited time {until January 31st, 2014}, with this discount code on their site SHMINI2014.

I decided to create this Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream recipe using the Walkers Mini Shortbread Fingers.  I know what you are thinking! Ice cream in February? It’s been hot in Southern California. It feels like July in January, and believe me… we could use some rain! With this crazy summer like weather, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a scoop of Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream!

 Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream

[Read more…]

Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins

Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins 1

:: Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins ::

Do you have an upcoming school event that that requires you to bring a healthy home made snack?  These Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins are the perfect fall treat.  Loaded with pumpkin flavor these little muffins make for an easy bite sized snack.  Made without nuts and the additive of applesauce and yogurt with a mixture of canned pumpkin these muffins won’t disappoint your little ones.  I know for myself, I often would love to bring in cupcakes for a birthday celebration or fall party, but these muffins were just as fun with half the sugar.  Easy to make and full of pumpkin spice flavor this is sure to be a new healthy fall treat to add to your list. [Read more…]

Sensory Bags

Sensory Bags

:: Sensory Bags ::

School has been back in session for approximately a month now.   We are still working out the kinks and are preparing ourselves for the upcoming homework load that will start next week.  These sensory bags are a project that I sought out for Mason to help him prepare for doing homework and transitioning time in the classroom.   As some of you readers may know, my son is on the Autism Spectrum.  I have written about my experience with Autism {here and here} and have had hopes to help others whom are in the midst of the chaos of their diagnosis.  We keep Mason on a sensory diet, in which we use methods of physical activity before and during school to keep him focused in the classroom. 

In school he has a quiet corner and a box of small items in which he can use to play with that allow him to get back on task.  I thought these sensory bags would be a great fidget toy for his box at school, as well as at home.  These sensory bags are terrific for any child that may need a break in-between tasks or long periods of home work.  These squeezable bags, that are filled with a jelly material, allow a child to regroup and organize their thoughts when they’re distracted by their environment.  Mason’s sensory issues cause him to be overloaded by the activities on the playground, making it hard for him to transition from the play yard to the classroom after lunch.  [Read more…]

Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread

Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread

:: Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread ::

 

Bananas are a simple staple in our home.  They are used to create smoothies, toppings for cereal, and stand alone snacks.  I am a bit weird when it comes to this fruit, I only will eat a whole banana if it is a tad green {I am sure there are some of you that agree to this}.  That being the case, I always have enough ripe bananas to create a bread, dessert, or breakfast drink with. 

With a slight drop in the temperature and the start of autumn, I decided to turn these little gems into a breakfast dessert paired with a frosting infused with the caramel sauce that I used to create the Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe that we posted last week.  This Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread is a basic banana bread but kicked up a notch with the added creaminess of Greek yogurt and caramel.  I promise this will be become a favorite of yours. 

 

[Read more…]