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Butter Cream Frosting Recipe

July 1, 2013

 

 

:: Butter Cream Frosting ::

 

Cupcakes have to be one of my favorite items to bake! I love them because I don’t feel as guilty eating one, as I do making a cake. Cupcakes always seem to put a smile on my family’s face.  Though I love the actual cake portion of the cupcake, I adore the frosting the most!  It is something I have enjoyed since a child.  My favorite is a light whipped cream frosting, but a good butter cream frosting {that is not too rich}, is a wonderful topping on any cupcake!  My favorite butter cream frosting is by Magnolia Bakery.  I have made it a million times, and have added a few items and recreated it into other butter cream flavors.  Yes I know… very vanilla, but sometimes simple is best!   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches

May 14, 2013

 :: Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches ::

I am dreaming of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and quiet waves, but my reality is the kids are fighting and we need to do something to break up the day.  So off to the store we go to pick up a few items.  It was while cruising down the baking isle, that I discovered this magical find of Pillsbury’s Key Lime Cookie Mix.  Okay so it’s not the answer to my tropical dream, but key lime anything makes me happy.  A quick boxed cookie mix plus homemade vanilla ice cream = scrumptious ice cream sandwiches.

My Cusinart Ice Cream Maker has to be hands down one of the easiest appliances I own.  I keep the freezer bowl in my freezer so that it’s ready when I need it. Four ingredients, ten minutes of prep time, and a flip of a switch you are on your way to making ice cream. Paired with a yummy cookie, and your stomach will be doing the happy dance!  Once you make this easy homemade vanilla ice cream recipe, you too will want to create more ice cream concoctions. Okay so now it’s your turn, let us know what type of ice cream you like to make or your favorite ice cream sandwich.  Summer is just around the corner……. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding

May 13, 2013

 

:: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding :: 

It really is simple. Use only the finest ingredients, pour some love into what you cook…. and the result is a rich, smooth, creamy dessert that will make your taste buds dance with delight!

You can adjust the sweetness of this particular dish by the amount of sugar that you add. It’s all a matter of personal preference. After allowing the pudding to chill in the fridge, dish it up and top with perfectly ripe banana slices & crunchy vanilla wafer cookies. The subtle hint of fresh banana combined with the tiny flecks of natural vanilla bean in the pudding makes this an old-fashioned dish you’ll remember!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

March 12, 2013

chocolate marshmallow cake

This mocha rich fluffy Chocolate Marshmallow Cake recipe

has been a faithful friend of mine for the past 10 years.

I found this lovely recipe in Cooking Light when

Shane and I first got married and

it remains a staple in our household.

So when I signed up to bring a dessert to Grandparent’s Day at

Madeline’s school, I knew boring brownies just wouldn’t do.

This rich and dense chocolate cake is a LIGHT recipe,

but you wouldn’t know it by the looks and taste of this

yummy surprise.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookie Recipe

February 6, 2013

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

Chocolate Chip M&M cookies are always a favorite around here.

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

With Valentine’s right around the corner,

many of you already have most of these

ingredients around your kitchen.

Chocolate chip cookies are easy to make and when you add

valentine m&m’s to the batter, you add a whole other dimension of

gooey chocolatey goodness.

To make these cookies a little more holiday like,

I have exchanged the normal Nestle Milk Chocolate Morsels to

Nestle Premier White Morsels as Mason and Madeline

tend to favor these more and they go with the

red, pink, and white of Valentine’s.

The kid’s loved helping of course,

a little taste of this, a little more of that…………

ended with two kids on a major sugar high.

{But hey, the cookies were good and that made us all happy!}

*******************************************************************

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

Adapted by Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

* 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened

* 3/4 cup granulated sugar

* 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 2 large eggs

* 1 cup Nestle Toll House Premier White Morsals

* 1 cup Valentine’s Milk Chocolate M&M’s (found these at Hobby Lobby)

Valentine's M&M's

Preparation:

In small bowl mix whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Mixing flour

Beat together butter, sugars, and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Then add one egg at a time to the mixture until combined.

mixing cookies

Slowly add in flour mixture on a low speed

{Fully mix but do not over mix}.

Lastly, add in chocolate chips and m&m’s.

With an ice cream scooper,

drop small scoops of the cookie

batter on parchment lined cookie sheets.

* I love using Martha Wrap

{but sadly I ran out before making the cookies}.

chocolate chip m&m cookies

Pop into the oven at 375 degrees

for approximately 9-11 minutes.

You then have a perfect holiday cookie!

These traditional gooey chocolate chip cookies

are the perfect ending to a Friday night!

My kid’s enjoyed them!

Whip up a batch for Valentine’s…

they are sure to make any cupid happy!

chocolate chip cookies

nicole signature via simply happenstance

 

Filed Under: Food

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

January 22, 2013

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread,

sounds very tempting right?

Well it can be part of a healthy resolution with

this recipe adapted by Skinny Taste.

I love coming across recipes that taste

as good as their original.

This recipe is fairly simple and

the best part of it is that the list of ingredients

are items often in my

fridge or panty.

The perfect chance to use up

those ripe bananas that are past

 cereal prime.

Ingredients:

* 3 medium ripe bananas

*1/3 cup chunky apple sauce

* 1 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour

* 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened

* 1/3 cup brown sugar

* 2 large egg whites

* 1/ 2 teaspoon vanilla

* 1 1/2 ounces of mini chocolate chips

* cooking spray for the loaf pan

directions

{spray a loaf, muffin, or mini loaf pan}

* I decided to try out my mini loaf pan*

In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Set aside.

Place the brown sugar and melted butter into a mixer fitted with a paddle.

Mix until the sugar and butter are incorporated,

then add the egg whites and combine.

Then add the applesauce, bananas and the vanilla.

* I prefer chunky sauce and I break up the bananas instead

of mashing them as the mixer does the job and makes the bread

richer in taste.

Mix well then add the dry ingredients slowly a 1/2 cup at a time

and then add in the mini chips on low speed,

for a couple seconds so that you don’t create a dense bread.

Pour the mixture into the baking pan of your choice.

Pop this into the oven at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

If you are doing muffins I find they cook in half the time so check on these.

Test the middle of the bread with a toothpick to make sure

the middle is baked all the way,

take out of the oven and let it rest until it’s cooled.

Your house will smell delightful

and your tummy will enjoy this wonderful

treat all while being low in fat and high in taste!

Enjoy and save me a slice!

Filed Under: Food

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About

bioSara and Nicole are sorority sisters that simply “happened” to end up in the same small town. They have many things in common, which have set the tone of their blog. They hope that you will join them in their journey of motherhood, dreams that may be, the daily life, and their passion for cooking, yoga, fashion, and design!

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