Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Must Try Tuesday: August 30, 2011

Happy Tuesday!  Can you believe August is almost done?  My kids are back to school and we are trying to get back into a routine.  This is the first time in my life that I have ever wanted the fall season to get here.  I am ready for some cool weather!  We are still in need of rain.  Some of our family friends have been fighting fires near and on their property off and on for the past week.  It is very dry and everything that has survived these terribly hot dry days is starting to die off making fire conditions worse.  It is so bad that the water level on the lake near our house has dropped 25 feet!  Please join us in praying for rain.

As it is still hot, I have not been cooking and baking as much as I would like.  Once the temperatures cool off, I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and start cooking!  Here are some great recipes that I came across this week.

Enjoy!


I love Rolos and can't wait to make this cupcakes...
Brandy's Baking

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My oldest sister loves Pineapple Upside Down Cake
but I love the idea of making them into cupcakes...
Chef in Training

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Yummy!
Mommy?  I'm Hungry!

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Must Try Tuesday: August 23, 2011

I can't believe how busy the month of August has been.  Between a family reunion, getting the kiddos ready for the new school year and a business trip out of state, time just got away from me.  One thing that has remained the same is the heat here in Texas.  We are in a terrible drought.  I am still trying to use my crock pot as much as possible.  

I haven't posted a MTT in awhile so here are some really yummy recipes that caught my eye over the past couple of weeks.

Enjoy!

I love apple cake and this reminds that 
thankfully, fall is right around the corner...
Stop and Smell the Chocolates

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I am so excited to try this crock pot recipe...
Eating My Way Back

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I have seen several different versions of this,
but this lemon one looks fabulous....
The Whimsical Cupcake

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Be still my heart...
Let's Dish

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My girls and I love a good grilled cheese,
my husband, not so much.  Maybe this 
would change his mind...
Closet Cooking

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This peanut butter pie is almost as
moving as the story behind it...
Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives

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This looks so interesting and tasty...
Life's Simple Measures

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LOVE this idea!  I am attempting to cut down
on the amount of preservatives my kids eat and 
this homemade is on my list....
Mommy's Kitchen

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Menu Plan: Week of August 21, 2011

I didn't fall off the face of the planet.  It has been so super busy around here the last two weeks that I didn't have time to blog.  Between planning and having our family reunion, getting the kids ready to go back to school and a business trip to Myrtle Beach (I know...right...it was so awful to have to work in such an ugly location...lol) that I just couldn't find any extra time.  But I am back and getting family life back to normal so back to the weekly routine of planning out meals for the week.  My kids start school today so that means planning for all three meals, but for now, I am only including dinner.  I do want to do some baking this week.  I like to have muffins on hand for the girl's lunchboxes, breakfast or for an after school snack.

So here it is for the week.  

Meal 1
Hamburgers
Tater Tots
Veggie

Meal 2
Meal 3 

Meal 4
Salsa Verde Chicken
Rice
Pinto Beans

Meal 5
Homemade Pizza
Salad

Meal 6

Taquitos
Salad
Veggie

Meal 7
Dine Out
BAKING
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Banana Cake


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Must Try Tuesday: August 2, 2011

This is a busy week.  We have a family reunion this weekend and we are busy getting everything ready for it.  I have also been trying to get the girls ready to go back to school.  We have done some shopping, but there is more to do.

There were some fan-tab-u-lous recipes out there this week.  I can't wait to give this a try!

Have a great week!  Enjoy!


The Little Brown House
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These look yummy....and possibly healthy...
Chef in Training

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Oh, this looks so yummy....
Taste and Tell

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This slow cooker dish looks amazing!
Passion for Life

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Yummy!
Crockpot Enchiladas
OK Homeschool Mom

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A taste treat to use up all the zukes....
King Arthur Flour Blog

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I love boxed cake recipes and I love blondies...
Two Twenty One

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My daughters would love this cake...
they are all about the zebra print...
All That's Left Are The Crumbs

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Monday, August 1, 2011

Menu Plan: Week of July 30, 2011

Wow....August is here and school will be starting up in a few weeks.  We are trying to enjoy the last few weeks of fun, but this heat is making it hard.  We will keep trying!

We have a family reunion this weekend so I will have to crank on the oven and make some extra goodies to bring. 

Have a great week!


Meal 1
Burritos with homemade refried beans
Rice

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Meal 2
Steak Fajita Bowls

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Meal 3
 Spaghetti
Garlic bread

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Meal 4
 Homemade Stuffed Crust Pizza
Salad

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Meal 5
 Mexican Chicken Casserole
Corn
Green Beans

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Meal 6
Eat Out

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Meal 7
Potluck @ family reunion

Baking
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Aunt Lola's Yeast Roll
s
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Brownies


Linked To:
*Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Recipe Review: Peanut Butter Truffle Centered Banana Bread Muffins


The day that I saw Jenny from Picky Palate post this recipe, I knew that I had to try it!  I had already planned to make banana bread, but this looked like a fun twist.  My over ripe bananas were practically begging me to make this...

And I did and they were amazing!  I didn't have enough regular peanut butter (I have some PB&J fanatics in my house) so I used about a cup of dark chocolate peanut butter.  It was like having a buckeye in the middle of a very moist banana muffin.  I will be making these again to try them with regular peanut butter, but I will also be making them again with my chocolate peanut butter.  My girls loved these and have already asked me to make them.  I think these would be great frozen and put in their lunch boxes.  

Enjoy!



Peanut Butter Truffle Centered Banana Bread Muffins
(original recipe by Jenny/Picky Palate)

1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter (I used a combo of 1/2 cup regular PB and 3/4 cup dark chocolate peanut butter)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 large ripe bananas or 3 small
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.  To make the peanut butter truffle, place peanut butter and powdered sugar into a medium bowl, mixing until combined. Scoop out a walnut sized amount of peanut butter mixture and roll between your hands to make a ball.  Place a ball into each cupcake liner.  To make the banana bread muffin, mash bananas with a fork until well mashed in a large bowl. Stir in sugars, egg and buttermilk until well combined. Gradually add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon until just combined. Don't over mix.  Scoop batter over peanut butter truffle filled cups, about 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until cooked through. Let cool completely and serve.

Linked To:
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday
*A Southern Fairytale: Mouthwatering Monday
*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen
*Blessed with Grace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
*My Sweet and Savory: Let's Do Brunch
*From Mess Hall to Bistro: Made from Scratch Tuesday
*Good Cheap Eats: What's On Your Plate