The Best-Ever Cupcake + Frosting Recipe Guide

October 20, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

Do you remember last week when I shared with you secrets from the world of cupcake bakeries? Well, this week I’m back… spilling secrets wasn’t quite enough. How could I share so much about cupcakes and not tell you how to make them?! Now, I’m giving you the best when it comes to cupcake recipes and frosting recipes, because you cannot miss this.

Last week, I told you that most of the time, the secret to cupcake shops making a ton of different kinds of cupcakes easily is that they only really make 2-3 flavors of cupcakes and vary the frosting recipe on each one to make awesome varieties for their store. The best starting place is to have one really solid chocolate cake recipe, and a really solid vanilla recipe. To me, there’s really only one option when it comes to a great chocolate cake or vanilla cake recipe, and that’s what’s called a “White Almond Sour Cream Cake.” If you love wedding cake, this is the cupcake recipe to go with.

If you make it according to the directions I’ve listed, and use an ice cream scoop to measure it out, you’ll get roughly 40 cupcakes, and trust me, they’ll be so good your friends and family will be begging for more.

Secrets of the Cupcake World

October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 - Mama 3 Comments

Who doesn’t love a good cupcake? I mean, really– perfectly portioned fluffy, moist cake with delicious frosting in as many different flavors as there are cupcake lovers. It’s part of why cupcakeries are all the rage. And, despite many news articles saying that the cupcake is dying, more and more cupcake shops open up across the country, and even around the world. It appears the cupcake is here to stay…. and now, I’m going to give you all of the tips to get the perfect cupcakes at home.

Applewood-Style Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork with Homemade Apple Cider Barbecue Sauce

October 6, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

I have to say, I’m a Kansas City girl at heart. So if there’s one thing that gets my heart beating a little bit faster, it’s good quality barbecue. You see, barbecue is such a part of my city that our soccer team even has a chant that revolves around barbecue. It’s a staple here in KC. You know what else is a staple? Louisburg Apple Cider. Ask anyone who knows what they’re talking about, and they’ll say that, when it comes time for cooler weather, you can’t beat hot apple cider doughnuts and a cup of warm Louisburg apple cider. I had to combine the best of both worlds and create a delicious applewood-style slow cooked pulled pork. And what does that need? Apple Cider Barbecue Sauce.

Best-Ever Slowcooker Mac and Cheese with Crystal Farms

October 1, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama 43 Comments

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from Crystal Farms, but all opinions are my own.

I love macaroni and cheese. It seems like the ultimate comfort food, especially in the winter. The best mac and cheese is creamy, with just the right amount of good, wholesome cheese.

So, when I teamed up with Crystal Farms and saw their mac and cheese blend, I knew exactly what I needed to do. And, you’re going to want to stick around to the very end for this one, because you could win this Crock Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker and some Crystal Farms coupons so you can make Mac and Cheese just like this at home (plus a ton of other great cheesy slow cooker recipes!)

Sneaking Seasonal Produce into Your Child’s Diet This Fall

September 15, 2014September 15, 2014 - Mama Leave a comment

Getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables is often a parents’ dream. Filled with nutrients kids need, it’s great to say “I want my kids to get the 5 a day they’re supposed to have.” But getting them to eat it is a bit harder. Sure, it’s easy in summer when fresh watermelon and other sweet fruit treats are readily available, but come fall, it’s still important to get those nutrients in your child’s diet.

The best possible way to do this is to use fresh, seasonal produce. Because seasonal produce are more affordable, and tend to be better tasting, it’s a great idea to get them to eat it. But what do you do when your child isn’t a fan of the seasonal produce available for them?

You get sneaky, and add it into foods they love already, and with these meal ideas at every stage in the day, you’ll have no problem ensuring they’re getting 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.

Maple Apple Dump Cake

September 2, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

Yesterday, for many, marked the official end of summer. That must make today the official start of fall, then, right? The day when it’s acceptable to start posting all things pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider and all things autumn? I certainly hope so, because I have the perfect cake to get your autumn kicked off the right way!

Meat Lovers Pasta Bake

August 26, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

Do you like meat? And easy recipes? And recipes that can be made with leftovers and ingredients you have on hand?

If you answered yes, then you’re going to absolutely love this meat lovers pasta bake. If you answered no to the meat question, stick around… you can make this dish with veggies instead. But the meat part? Oh-so-good.

If you have pasta, cheese, diced tomatoes, and some leftover meat (pretty much any kind will work), then you’ve got dinner. Bonus points if you have pasta-friendly veggies like mushrooms and onions.

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

August 12, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

In our area, back to school is coming up fast. Today, we took our exchange student school supply shopping and just days ago, the last of Zach’s curriculum arrived for the year. There’s no shortage of planning and preparing for the school year, and that means a whole lot of busy days ahead, both as we soak up the last days of summer and prepare for the school year, and in the days ahead where we’re going to be teaching, working, and keeping the house clean.

Luckily, I have a crock pot. And trust me, I use it and use it often. I love being able to use my crock pot to keep meals easy, and starting a meal early means I get to work on other things and not worry about dinner.

3 Irresistible End-of-Summer Mocktails

August 4, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 4 Comments

Ugh. Back to school time already? I mean, I love back to school, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just this finality that seeing backpacks and pencil cases in stores brings. It means that before long, the pool will be closing, the days will be shorter, and it’ll be time to pull the sweaters from the back of the closet. While fall is pretty much my favorite thing, I’m never ready to say farewell to summer, either, so I had to share these three great summer mocktails that will keep you in good spirits until that first bus pulls away or the books come out of storage. The best part? Since they’re mocktails, the whole family can indulge in a little celebratory toast to a rockin’ school year.

Peach Walnut Salad

July 29, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

I love salad. It’s seriously one of the best foods in the world. My mom and I always bug the living daylights out of my dad because on a nice summer day, we’re content to just eat salad. No meat, no grilled whatever, just a nice salad. But when the grill is already heated and prepped, why not grill some delicious fruit for a salad? This easy summer salad is a sure-fire stunner with it’s grilled peaches, candied walnuts, and delicious greens and feta.

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