Here are a couple of delicious recipes I shared on Parade Magazine’s blog recently:  BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD and CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE.  You’d never know there was zucchini inside.  Zucchini acts much like bananas do in banana bread- they provide some great moisture for the baked good.  These are both really great recipes.

I love baking zucchini bread in the summer since zucchini is abundant!  Here are 12 BEST ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPES for you to try!

Zucchini is also great to add in to dessert recipes.  Here are 12 WAYS TO TURN ZUCCHINI INTO DESSERT!  You’ll find lots of delicious cakes, cupcakes and cookies in this collection.

New from RecipeBoy!  » S’MORES DIP.  You may have seen this on the internet somewhere.  We saw it too, and we were excited to try it at home.  It was SOOOO good, and it was so easy to make too.

Here are two yummy cupcake recipes to try- from the blog, One Sweet Appetite:

COPYCAT HOSTESS CUPCAKES RED VELVET CUPCAKES

I’ve been enjoying this project on the Foodiggity Instagram account.  It’s a Dad and his 8 year old son sharing their creations of the FOODNITED STATES (they’re sharing each state made from some type of food).  It’s adorable.  You can follow them on Instagram HERE.

Here’s a SKY POOL that a development is planning to have in London.  It’s literally a pool that connects two buildings up high in the air!  Would you swim in that pool?  I’m thinking, NO.

Here are two delicious recipes to try from the blog:  Kleinworth & Co.

BACON CARAMEL KETTLE CORN DULCE DE LECHE PUMPKIN MUFFINS

This CAPRESE BREAD PUDDING from the blog: Framed Cooks– looks so good!  I can just imagine using fresh summer tomatoes with fresh basil… and a drizzle of balsamic. YUM.

A neighbor of ours back in our old neighborhood in San Diego has a daughter who is apparently a little entrepreneur!  She has started a business called, “TROSSI’S TREATS,” homemade healthy dog treats for sale.  I love it!  Support Ava’s efforts and order some of her doggie treats to try!

Here’s my sweet Tessie the Labradoodle (now about 9 1/2 months).  She’s hanging out with the first dog she ever met- Mud the Labrador.  They chase each other around like crazy and then they collapse and hang out.  Sweet, eh?

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-01-19” author: “Diana Thomas”

Because everyone is always looking for slow cooker recipes… and everyone wants them to be lighter too… I give you 12 BEST SKINNY SLOW COOKER RECIPES.  Check them out because they are all fabulous!

Here are more (non slow cooker) lighter recipes for you:  12 SKINNY RECIPES TO MAKE FOR TONIGHT’S DINNER

Here are a couple of recipes I wanted to share from the Carlsbad Cravings blog (yum!):

5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing Parmesan Meatballs & Orzo in Mozzarella Basil Cream Sauce

I have been having trouble with my iPhone battery not lasting very long any more before it needs charging.  So I was considering getting a Mophie (I had one before and like it… but since I have a LifeProof case now, I couldn’t justify the expense).  I discovered these cool PORTABLE CHARGERS instead.  I took a couple of them on a trip recently, and they worked great!  The best part:  they are only $13.99!

Here are some more delicious recipes to try from the blog: An Edible Mosaic:

Apple- Almond Streusel Muffins Old Bay Spiced Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Buttered Toast Topping

My husband and I recently celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary.  We celebrated by going on a Viking River Cruise through southern France.  I can’t wait to share with you about the cruise… everything we ate and saw in France!

Here’s a video to watch that is just plain FUN.  Dance scenes from all of the movies you have loved over the years… set to Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk.

And finally… here’s my 10 month old labradoodle Tessie.  She’s going through a “chewing up things” stage, but we love her all the same!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-02-21” author: “Michael Foster”

Has this hot summer had you in the mood for ice cream??  I have some great ice cream recipes for you- flavors that are crave-worthy!  Check out 15 AMAZING ICE CREAM RECIPES TO TRY THIS SUMMER.  Some of them require an ice cream maker machine, and some do not!

I’ve grown up eating artichokes.  My Mom taught me to love them when I was very young.  I know some folks look at this strange vegetable and wonder, “Why the heck would I want to eat that.  And HOW would I eat it if I tried?”  I’ve got you covered.  Check out HOW TO CHOOSE, TRIM, COOK, AND EAT AN ARTICHOKE.  Try it… it’s totally worth it!

Also on Parade Magazine’s blog this week, I shared a fabulous recipe that I made while on our family beach vacation a couple of weeks ago.  I whipped these up for breakfast while everyone was sleeping.  They were a HUGE HIT.  Everyone loved them- so tender and yummy and full of fresh cherries!  Check out my SWEET CHERRY MUFFINS RECIPE.

Like every kid out there, my kiddo is enamored with chicken tenders.  His latest recipe over on RecipeBoy.com is for (easy) BAKED PARMESAN CHICKEN TENDERS.  I never order this sort of thing in a restaurant myself… you know, they’re for the kids, right??  Well, I have to tell you : These chicken tenders that he made are sooooo good.  And they were especially good dunked in the Homemade Ranch Dressing that he made to go with them.  I suggest you try these out on your kids (and you’ll find yourself eating them too!)

I found this article to be a really great read for those of us with teenagers or pre-teens:  HOW TO RUIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR TEENAGER.  There are many good points in there for how to be an effective parent of a teenager without being overbearing and annoying.  I don’t want to be best friends with my teen, but I certainly don’t want him to hate me or resent me either.  I’m learning there’s a middle ground between being overly strict and being loose with the rules.  It’s hard for me to hold back sometimes… I want to know everything, I give too much advice, and I probably nag too much!  It’s not easy being the parent of a teen.

Here are a couple of droolworthy recipes spotted recently on the blog:  Kleinworth & Co:

Peanut Butter Overload Pancakes : obviously, these are a decadent treat.  I don’t know why, but I want to drizzle hot fudge all over the top of them too!  🙂 Italian Garlic Butter : I’d like to make this and store it in my fridge to put on everything- especially bread!  But I think it would be great swirled into pasta and onto baked chicken too.

Here’s a NYC PIZZA WITH A WHOLE LOBSTER ON IT!  What do you think?  I’m in!

When my sister wrote up her 12 BOOKS RECOMMENDED FOR SUMMER READING a few weeks back, I decided that I wanted to tackle every single one of those books.  Since I can barely get through a couple books during the summer, I’ve decided to start with this one:  STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel.  She loved the book and gave it an A+.  I’m obsessed with stories that have a premise like this one.  Here’s her description of the book: I loved this novel about a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The underlying premise is that a worldwide flu pandemic wiped out most of humanity. Twenty years later the story centers on Kristen, a member of a group of musicians and actors who travel and perform in small communities keeping art alive in the new, very dangerous world they live in. The story weaves threads of the past into the lives of this band of artist struggling to survive, and a strange connection ties the whole story beautifully together.

Here’s a recipe I tried while on our family beach vacation.  Cheesy Farro and Tomato Risotto from Food and Wine magazine.  I’ve only had farro a few times… at restaurants (I had never made it myself), but I love it.  You prepare it the same way that you do when you make risotto… adding a little more liquid at a time while stirring and slowly cooking it while it soaks up the liquid.  This recipe was excellent.  I’d make it again.

Here are a couple of droolworthy desserts spotted on the blog:  Life, Love and Sugar:

Peach- Caramel Blondie Cheesecake : since I love peaches and caramel and blondies and cheesecake, this just seems like the all-around perfect dessert to me! Peanut Butter Truffle Chocolate Cake : The peanut butter + chocolate obsessed (me!) will love this one.

And finally, here is an updated photo of Tessie the Labradoodle (now almost 9 months old).  We had to board her with a sweet dog-loving lady while we were away on a 3-week summer vacation, and now we’re so happy to be reunited with her.  Luckily, she was happy to see us again too, and she is back to being the adorable companion that we know and love.

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-18” author: “Marc Mcadoo”

Any camping trips coming up?  If you love to cook… and you’re going camping, here are 12 RECIPES TO MAKE WHEN YOU’RE CAMPING.  Nix the burgers and dogs and make something more delicious!

Cantaloupe is so sweet and inexpensive right now.  These CANTALOUPE POPSICLES are delicious, and they’d make for a healthy after-school treat too!

Speaking of cantaloupe, it’s fabulous when added to recipes too!  Here are 12 RECIPES USING FRESH CANTALOUPE that you should definitely check out.

Here are a couple of recipes from the Carlsbad Cravings blog that I’ve been eyeing lately:

Southwest Pepper Jack Salad with Creamy Avocado Salsa Dressing Baked Pineapple Sticky Ginger Chicken

I spotted this idea on Facebook:  BLESSING BAGS.  They’re bags you can carry around with you in your car to give out to homeless people.  It’s something nice you can do with your kids to teach them about helping others. BLESSING BAG CONTENTS: chapstick, package of tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, soap, hotel size shampoos, trail mix, granola bars, crackers, pack of gum, band aids, mouthwash, coins or predetermined dollar amount, say 5.00 (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item), hand wipes, you could also put in a warm pair of socks, a packet rain poncho, tampons (for women).  The ideas could be endless! Assemble all the items in a gallon zip bag, and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a time when you see someone in need.

More delicious recipes… from the blog: An Edible Mosaic

Thai-Inspired Soy Sauce Noodles with Vegetables and Chicken Cheddar Caramel Chicago Mix Cupcakes

I saw BILLY IDOL in concert last weekend.  He’s 59 years old now, but he still hops around the stage with a ton of energy.  He was great!!

Minions Tic Tacs are the cutest things ever.  I won’t let my son open the box!!

Here’s what my 9 month old Tessie the Labradoodle looks like now.  She LOVES the creek!  I don’t love the creek so much because every time we go to the creek, Tessie comes home covered in mud!  She has beautiful, white hair… but is sucks up the mud big time. And finally… here’s a video clip from Jimmy Kimmel.  It’s a spoof showing how Rick Springfield’s song, “Jessie’s Girl” came to be.  Just click the box to watch.  It’s really funny. Have a great week!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-05-24” author: “Kevin Simmons”

Shared on Parade magazine’s blog recently:  20 RESTAURANT COPYCAT RECIPES TO MAKE AT HOME.  There are some good ones in this collection- like Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!!

Also, 15 BEST BROWNIE RECIPES FOR PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS!  If you love brownies… and if you love peanut butter too, then this is a post you’re going to want to check out!

For those of you who have families who enjoy chicken for dinner, here is a collection of 12 BEST EASY BAKED CHICKEN RECIPES.  These are for nights that you’re so busy you need easy ideas!

My Mom has Celiac Disease and cannot have any gluten in her diet.  One of the things she misses most about having to avoid gluten is BREAD.  She misses good bread big time.  This company- BFREE recently sent me some samples of their products.  Mom and I enjoyed the rolls best.  They were very good, and they appeared to be most like regular rolls.  What a great find!

My blogging friend Barbara Schieving just published an ebook:  SIMPLY SWEET DREAM PUFFS.  The book has step-by-step instructions demonstrating how to create the perfect pate a choux puff pastry shell. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll find festive dessert recipes ranging from classic chocolate eclairs to colorful party puffs to gooey ice cream-topped profiteroles.  I can’t wait to try these!

I loved discovering this list:  35 DINNER PARTY THEMES YOUR GUESTS WILL LOVE from ProFlowers.  This is perfect for people who like to plan themed dinner parties!

This photo has been circulating around Facebook… can you tell what’s different about the lady circled in the picture? It’s amazing how much cell phones have taken over.  I feel like the only one who is capturing the full experience of what they’re observing is this older lady.

Here are a couple of recipes I’m recommending this week:

PUMPKIN STREUSEL MUFFINS (breakfast!) GARLIC BUTTER FILET MIGNON (yum!)

 

And finally… here’s my Tessie the Labradoodle.  She’s 11 months old now.  And one of her favorite things to do is to slither off couches or beds and stand in this yoga stretch pose.  Funny, huh??  🙂

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-01-26” author: “Colby Sanders”

My latest from Parade Magazine‘s blog, here are some great dinner ideas:

18 CASSEROLE RECIPES TO MAKE FOR TONIGHT’S DINNER 15 COPYCAT RECIPES FROM YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

And how can you resist trying to bake banana bread a million different ways???  Or at least 25 different ways… here are 25 BEST BANANA BREAD RECIPES for you!

On the healthier side of things, here are two posts to check out:

15 BEST ZOODLE RECIPES (you need a spiralizer to create zoodles!) 15 RECIPES TO TRY ON THE WHOLE30 PROGRAM

Here are a couple of GAME DAY APPETIZER RECIPES to make from one of my favorite blogs: Kleinworth & Co.

CHEESY ROAST BEEF EGG ROLL BITES DEEP FRIED TORTELLINI

 

And here are two amazing dinner recipe ideas from another favorite blog:  Carlsbad Cravings

SLOW COOKER FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES ASIAN PINEAPPLE SALAD WITH PEANUT- COCONUT DRESSING

I just bought this Under the Desk Elliptical exercise machine!  I’m sitting at my desk so much working on the computer that I figured it couldn’t hurt.  I’ll let you know how it goes!!

These personalized wooden spoons and forks are just $5 on Groupon!  Cute gift idea!

My sister actually helped me build a Necklace Holder a few years ago that was similar to this one, and I noticed that The Pioneer Woman shared a DIY Jewelry Holder on her blog recently for the same thing.  Check it out- it’s so cute and functional, and it’s easy to make too! I hardly ever go to movies, but I’ve seen a couple in the last few weeks.  I LOVED Brooklyn– about a young Irish woman who moves to the United States.  It was funny and charming- just a really nice movie.  The Danish Girl is a great movie too, but it’s pretty intense and serious- about a married artist who was a transgender pioneer (1930’s era).  It’s loosely based on a true story.  I also saw Joy,- I liked it and my husband did not.

Pet lovers!  I found a very cute Etsy site (The Stardust Studio) that has an artist who will paint a portrait of your pet!  I can’t wait to do this for my dog!  I think this would make a fun gift for someone too 🙂

And speaking of dogs, here is the latest photo of my Tessie the Labradoodle.  She’s currently obsessed with balls of EVERY KIND.  And when you greet her in the morning, she will grab a toy and bring it to you 🙂 Have a terrific week!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-01-24” author: “Marvin Schaich”

On Parade magazine’s blog, I shared a really fabulous recipe for EASY CHOCOLATE CHIP BLONDIES.  I recommend you bake them immediately!  Oh, and they freeze well… I always package things like this in zip baggies and pop them into the freezer for school lunches.  

Another goodie I shared on Parade’s site was these CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT BROWNIES. Again, a recipe you must make… especially if you’re a brownie lover like me!

And finally, if you happen to be having a bake sale anytime in the future, I gathered 12 BEST BAKE SALE COOKIE RECIPES.  These are the cookies that are easy to package and will draw in the cash for you.  Otherwise, they’re just all-around good cookie recipes to bake for any occasion.

This is what my son Brooks (RecipeBoy) has been up to lately:  baking these SIX LAYER BARS.  There are 6 layers of goodies in these delicious bars.  They also freeze and defrost well (as I mentioned… we do that often!)

I don’t know why, but I’m kind of obsessed with this cute, wheel-around WEBER GRILL.  Since the weather is getting warmer, we grilled three times in the past week.  It’s my favorite way of making dinner on warmer days.

And here’s a PIZZA KETTLE KIT that you can place on top of your Weber grill.  Isn’t this awesome?!!!!  I love the idea… especially since I can’t afford a real stone pizza oven in my backyard.  This would be perfect.

On KitchenAid’s Kitchenthusiast blog recently, I shared some photos of the super cool bar in my husband’s “Man Cave” part of our house above our garage and our rockstar KitchenAid Ice Maker, which is a key part of having a home bar!  These are three nonalcoholic beverages that we like to serve when the teenagers take over our house (details on my KitchenAid post).

Since there have been so many sweets in this post, I thought I’d share some delicious-looking dinner recipes!!  Here you go »

Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta by Kevin & Amanda Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken by How Sweet it Is Flounder Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes by SkinnyTaste Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup by Two Peas and Their Pod

I love this BEST BEER IS AN OPEN BEER sign I found on Etsy.  I think I’m gonna get it for my beer-loving husband for Father’s Day 🙂  

  And here’s a little cartoon to end on.  Exactly how I feel!  Have a great rest of the week and an even better weekend!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-01-07” author: “Bobby Herod”

On Parade magazine‘s blog this week (now called, “The Community Table“), I shared this recipe for ONE HOUR ROLLS from Christy Denney‘s new cookbook:  The Girl Who Ate Everything.  The rolls truly didn’t take more than an hour to make, and they turned out pillowy soft and delicious.  They’d be a good recipe to utilize for Thanksgiving- easy to make ahead and re-warm.

The other recipe I recently shared on Parade is this one:  LOFTY BUTTERMILK PANCAKES  from the new cookbook by Sara Kate Gillingham and Faith Durand:  The Kitchn Cookbook: Recipes, Kitchens & Tips to Inspire Your Cooking.  These are terrific pancakes to make for your family on the weekend- mine LOVED ‘EM!

I have to give my son, RecipeBoy (Brooks), a big shout-out for his latest post.  He shared a recipe that my Mom has been making since I was a little kid:  CHALUPAS.  She usually just made them simple with tortillas, beans and cheese… but his version has other stuff too- including BACON!  He made these for us for lunch last Sunday, and we were all super happy. Your kids will love this simple dinner.  YUM.

Dear Cake Lovers,  I’m excited to share my friend Sommer’s e-Book with you!  Sommer is the very talented author of ASpicyPerspective.com.  Her newly released e-book is called, “Brilliant Bundt Cakes!” It’s on sale now for only $2.99, and it’s packed with 35 Amazing Bundt Cake Recipes and Cake Toppings- this book is a must-have for holiday baking!!  You can order the book here:  BRILLIANT BUNDT CAKES.

SPEAKING of Sommer, I made a mini-Thanksgiving dinner for my family last night, and I used this OVEN-FRIED TURKEY recipe from ASpicyPerspective.  I changed things up a little by adding smoked paprika to the turkey and dipping the tenderloins in corn flake crumbs.  They were REALLY, REALLY, REALLY good.  I also whipped up some of my EASY HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE.  If you have visions of buying canned cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving this year, toss that idea out the window RIGHT NOW.  Homemade cranberry sauce is so easy to make, and it’s 100 million times better than that stuff in the can! Do you have an electric knife for carving your turkey??  I just got a CUISINART ELECTRIC KNIFE in the mail today, and I’m super excited to try it out this year for Thanksgiving turkey carving.  Or I should say, I’m excited for my husband to try it out 🙂  They’re supposed to be great- I’ve been in other people’s homes for Thanksgiving and have seen them at work before.  They seem to make carving a turkey a lot easier.

My friend Katrina Bahl from the blog, In Katrina’s Kitchen, just published a new book called, “The Biscoff Cookie & Spread Cookbook.  Have you tried Biscoff?  They call it “Cookie Butter.”  It’s like the best stuff on the planet.  Look for it where the peanut butter is sold in your store- and Trader Joe’s sells a version of it too.  This book is all about recipes made using Biscoff as the star ingredient.  You’ll find droolworthy recipes for things like: Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls, Biscoff Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gooey Caramel Biscoff Brownies, Biscoff No-Bake Cheesecake, Biscoff Banana Bread and Biscoff Buckeye Truffles.  I’m intrigued enough to try them all!  It would be a fun gift for the holidays to give to a friend along with a jar of the Biscoff, wouldn’t it ?

A newer blogging friend of mine- Chelsea (from the blog, Chelsea’s Messy Apron) has just published this e-Book: How I made 40k my First Year of Blogging by Chelsea Lords.  I love this… since I made like 100 dollars my first year blogging, lol!  She has great tips to share on how she started from scratch and was out the door running and making money.  What a great accomplishment!  If you have intentions of starting a blog… or if you’ve just started and you’re not going anywhere with it, read Chelsea’s book for some great advice and ideas!

Who loves pizza so much that they want to sleep with it?  You can buy this pizza bedding HERE.

More pizza cravings:  ZUCCHINI PIZZA BITES by Kevin (Closet Cooking) and MUSHROOM PIZZA CAPS by Julie (Table for Two).

And finally today… you know how I like to end my “Stuff” posts with a music video, right??  This is African hipster Alex Boye’s version of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Up.”  It’s really fun, and it will put you in a good mood and having you singing all day!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-05-22” author: “Ophelia Colanero”

Here’s a post I shared on Parade magazine’s blog that has been very popular: 10 BEST BAKE SALE BROWNIES AND BARS.  There are some really nice ideas included in this round-up for selling at bake sales, but these are also terrific brownies and bars for making every day or serving at parties too!

Another delicious one I shared on Parade‘s blog:  12 MUST TRY GUACAMOLE RECIPES (because guacamole isn’t only for Cinco de Mayo!!)

And finally… on Parade… I shared this fabulous recipe for GINGERY PICKLED ASPARAGUS, a surprisingly easy and delicious recipe.  I love to put pickled asparagus out for an appetizer when friends come over to our house.

My kiddo (RecipeBoy) has been up to something yummy.  He made the most delicious Homemade Ranch Dressing that I’ve ever had!  Seriously, we were so sad when it was gone.  We dunked so many things in it and had it on salad too.  I’ll never go back to bottled Ranch dressing again!!

Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite people ever, and she just launched a Southern themed lifestyle site called, Draper James.  It encompasses fashion and home decor.  I’m loving it so far!

The founders of Suja juices have just released a book called, The Suja Juice Solution:  7 Days to Lose Fat, Beat Cravings and Boost Your Energy.  It’s a 28-day program that jump-starts you with 7-days of adding in high-energy green juices (not necessarily the Suja juices– they give you recipes) and anti-oxidant rich mini meals designed to detox you and help you lose weight without deprivation.  The program in general helps you gradually increase your intake of whole foods and crowding out unhealthy foods.  There are 75 recipes in the book.  I really would like to try this sometime if I can find 28 days where I can be committed!

This is happening on my front porch right now!!  I can’t wait to see these little birdies hatch from these beautiful blue eggs!

Midori has always been a favorite of mine.  So when I spotted this MIDORI MARTINI recipe from the blog, Crazy for Crust— I bookmarked it to make and share.  Doesn’t it look good??

This is the first year ever that I’ve watched BOTH American Idol and The Voice.  My picks:  Jax from American Idol (she’s so young, but I love her crazy, wild style!)  And Sawyer from The Voice (he’s so unique and talented… and I can imagine myself listening to him on the radio.  He’s so young too!!)

My pick for Mother’s Day morning:  OVERNIGHT STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE from the Mom on Timeout blog.  Yum, right??

And finally:  here is my pup Tessie the Labradoodle.  She’s 6 1/2 months old now.  And she drinks from her water dish LYING DOWN.  Isn’t that so strange?  Some people are telling me to buy her a raised water bowl… and I might eventually do that… but it’s so cute that she drinks like this.  Cracks me up every time. Until next week, my friends, Happy Mother’s Day weekend!  Thank you for reading my blog!!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-02-26” author: “Robert Resendez”

Here’s the latest I’ve shared on Parade Magazine‘s blog:  I may have eaten far too much of this LEMON BLUEBERRY POUND CAKE.  It’s a great recipe- it makes three loaves, so you can freeze a couple to eat later… or you can be nice to your neighbors… or you can bring a loaf to a party as a hostess gift!

I’m going to call this next share an extremely useful bookmarked post to have handy!  I rounded up 12 EASY MARINATED GRILLED FLANK STEAK RECIPES!  Since my family loves beef, we are constantly looking for new ways to marinate it… and now that it’s practically summer, we’ll be grilling a lot!  Be sure to click through these recipes and print or bookmark what you might wish to use this summer. There are some good ideas in there!

It was my sweet baby boy’s 14th birthday last week!  I made him this SUPER EASY ICE CREAM SANDWICH CAKE for our at-home family celebration.  I shared the recipe over on the RecipeBoy blog this week, so go check it out!!

Here is the cake I made for my son’s birthday celebration with friends (lacrosse, of course).  I’m not awesome at cake decorating, but I think I did an okay job eyeballing a lacrosse stick picture while I piped on the frosting.  He was happy, so that’s all that matters.  OH, and that grass underneath!!  Have you ever piped grass frosting onto a cake??  It turns out pretty cool, but your hands will hurt for days from nonstop squeezing!

Since we’re on the subject of my kiddo, he has officially become bored of video games (YAYYYY!!) and has gone back to reading books.  He recommends the “Gone” series by Michael Grant for 7th to 10th grade boys or girls.  It’s a long series, so if your kids get into it for summer, that will be great!  Check out the description here:  GONE by Michael Grant.

These are sandwiches that are using doughnuts as a bun.  Most notably, that one in the front there is a doughnut lobster roll.  I love lobster and all, but I just couldn’t do this one… could you??

Call me an overprotective parent (I’m not), but I think most parents are pretty clueless as to what their kids are doing on their iPhones.  There are so many apps that can get them into trouble… with friends, with the law, with future employers, etc… and those apps can get them into dangerous situations too.  THERE IS EVEN AN APP THAT HIDES THE APPS ON YOUR IPHONE SO YOUR PARENTS DON’T KNOW WHAT APPS YOU HAVE.  Ugh.  Parenting is not easy, but keeping a close eye on what your kids are doing is essential.  Check out the 9 MOST DANGEROUS APPS FOR KIDS, and then promptly go check your child’s phone.

If I had a pool in my backyard, I’d be filling it with INFLATABLE PRETZELS, DONUTS, WATERMELON and ICE CREAM CONES.

I kinda love this idea.  You can just break apart what you need and put the rest back in the freezer.  Who needs a round burger anyways?

If you’ve been following my story of the nest on my front porch, here’s what the little birdies look like now (I believe they are robins).  They’re getting super wiggly and clamoring for space in the next, so I don’t expect them to be around too much longer!  They’ve been so fun to watch.

My Tessie the Labradoodle is just over 7 months old now.  She and I have been taking dog training classes and going on lots of hikes.  There is a fabulous creek near my house that she loves to play in and get all muddy!  Having a dog is more fun than I ever imagined.  She is a loveable, snuggly, sweet pet!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-05-07” author: “Mary Givens”

Here’s a post I shared on Parade Magazine‘s blog recently:  15 SUMMER CUPCAKE RECIPES.  I collected some really nice, summery sorts of cupcake sweets.  They’re all fun for summer parties!

Here’s another recipe I shared on Parade Magazine‘s blog:  EASY WATERMELON POPSICLES!  These are a healthy treat, and they’re a good one for the kids because it’s not junk food!!!

In line with the recipe I shared above, here are 10 WAYS TO TURN WATERMELON INTO POPSICLES.  Watermelon is a delicious, summery treat for all.  Popsicles are a treat… and they’re basically a guilt-free treat too!

And finally… I also shared this on Parade‘s blog:  15 JELLO RECIPES FOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING.  Jell-O is back.  I promise, it is!  Jell-O is just plain fun to serve at parties, and it’s still a hit with most people.  Make some Jell-O!

I spotted these CRAZY BALLOONS, and they are looking awfully cool!  This gadget fills and ties 148 water balloons in less than 60 seconds.  The price is so good ($10.74) that I think it’s worth trying out for summer fun!

Loving these recipes I spotted recently:  DEEP DISH MONSTER COOKIES from Real Food By Dad… and CHOCOLATE SORBET by An Edible Mosaic.

This is a cool link for teachers! » 100+ STORES THAT GIVE A TEACHER DISCOUNT

More delicious recipe ideas (from A Sweet Appetite blog):  An easy summer dinner:  ITALIAN CHICKEN PITAS and a fun dessert too:  OATMEAL CREAM PIES

Pineapple soaked in Malibu rum.  I totally recommend it for a fun “adult” treat!

Here’s what I’ve been enjoying this week:  lobster rolls… and hunting for sea glass on the South shore of Boston.

I just saw this movie yesterday.  It made me laugh out loud… quite a lot!  Beware that there is a lot of profanity and crude humor in the movie, just in case you’re sensitive to that sort of thing! Have a great weekend!

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-05-10” author: “Brenda Johnson”

On Parade Magazine‘s blog this week, I shared a recipe that I will make again and again and again.  It’s this WAFFLED BANANA BREAD!!  It’s banana bread, made in a waffle iron.  My whole family chowed down on these waffled banana bread slices, and they were gone very quickly.  LOVED THEM.  The recipe comes from the cool new cookbook, Will It Waffle? by Daniel Shumski.

Another yummy recipe I shared on Parade this week:  PUMPKIN- CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.  They are soft and cakey and full of pumpkin-spice.  I don’t usually like cake-like cookies, but I found myself unable to stop eating these.  They were really, really good, and they were easy to make too.  The recipe comes from the book I’ve been talking about endlessly this week:  FutureChefs.

And in case you missed it (I’m not sure how you could have though since I’ve been blabbing about it constantly), I’m hosting a giveaway for the FutureChefs Cookbook by Ramin Ganeshram.  RecipeBoy is hosting a second giveaway for the book, so you have multiple chances to win one!

Someone shared this cute idea on Facebook.  I don’t have any little kiddos anymore, but isn’t this an adorable idea for a kid’s birthday party?  Each kid decorates their own box like a car and then they have a drive in movie in the driveway.  I love it!

Here’s what I’m totally craving for breakfast these days:  

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles (from the blog- The Lemon Bowl) Breakfast Pizza with Hash Browns, Spinach and Eggs (from the blog- Eats Well With Others)

And here are a couple of recipes that my family would LOVE for dinner:

Chuck Roast with Balsamic and Dijon (from the blog- The Wicked Noodle) Pumpkin Tortellini (from the blog- The Reluctant Entertainer)

 

It has been YEARS since I’ve attended a truly formal event, but I’m going to one this weekend.  This is the dress that I bought to wear to the event!  It has some rhinestone embellishments on the shoulders and a manageable slit in the front.  I’m very excited!!

Here’s a product I really enjoy from Trader Joe’s:  TOASTED COCONUT COOKIE THINS.  My husband and my son both tell me they hate coconut, but they ended up loving these cookies anyway!  So yummy!

My friend Bridget Edwards from the blog- Bake at 350 just released her SECOND book about cookies- Decorating Cookies Party!  This time around, Bridget is showing you how to make over 50 cookie designs for parties, or to make together as a fun group activity.  She shares five classic cookie recipes (and one gluten-free) along with her perfect royal icing.  And then she walks you through all of the techniques with tons of step-by-step photos showing you how to create all of the adorable cookies shared.  Bridget shares 10 themes in the book- things like birthday parties, tailgate parties, weddings and baby showers.  Within each theme, she shares a few cookies that would be super cute to include at that themed party.  It’s such a cute book, and Bridget expertly shows you how to make everything so you can create the cute cookies yourself!

Here’s a book I just ordered based on the recommendation of my friend Gina from the blog- SkinnyTaste:  Write It Down, Make It Happen- Knowing What You Want and Getting It!  As I’m sure you know, her SkinnyTaste Cookbook has been a HUGE hit and is selling like gangbusters.  She is now officially on the New York Times Bestseller list, and I’m SO excited for her.  Guess what?  She wrote this down: “NY Times Bestseller List.”  And then she worked really hard to make that happen!  Anyway, I’m diving into the book to get inspired.

And finally… this is such a fun cover of Madonna’s Material World (I actually enjoyed it more than Madonna’s original!) I love that the singer is hugely pregnant! The cover band is called, Walk Off the Earth.

title: “Stuff I Ve Gotta Share And You Ve Gotta See Recipe Girl” ShowToc: true date: “2022-05-23” author: “John Dunston”

On Parade Magazine‘s blog this week, I shared a recipe for PUMPKIN BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING.  They are super good, really easy to make, and the recipe makes a ton… which makes them good for serving up at small-crowd gatherings like football Sunday!

I also shared a recipe from the new and super fabulous cookbook:  The Skinnytaste Cookbook by Gina Homolka:  BUTTERMILK OVEN “FRIED” CHICKEN.  This is such a healthy way to make chicken, and it’s completely family-friendly.  Kids like to pick up drumsticks and just nibble away!  They were a big hit in my house for dinner.  And I absolutely adore the cookbook too.

Over on the FoodieCrush blog, she did something kind of fun:  She featured a recipe mash-up of my SNICKERDOODLE BLONDIES and Taste and Tell’s APPLE CRUMB BARS.  FoodieCrush’s new recipe:  APPLE BLONDIES WITH CINNAMON- ALMOND STREUSEL.  They look completely amazing to me!!

Here’s a super-cool little article on THE MOST POPULAR RECIPES ON PINTEREST IN EACH OF THE 50 STATES.  If you’re on Pinterest, or if you’re a food blogger, or if you’re just curious what recipe is the most popular in your own state, check this out!  It’s kind of funny.  The most popular recipe in my state- Nevada- is Garlicky Baked Shrimp.  SO WEIRD, considering that we are nowhere near any place to get good, fresh shrimp!

My friend Christi Farr Johnstone (author of the blog- Love From the Oven) has just released her first cookbook, SMART COOKIE: Transform Store-Bought Cookies into Amazing Treats.  This is such a delightful book for those who want to whip up cute treats quickly by using store-bought cookies as the base for the recipe.  You’ll find things like Ice Cream Cone Treats made out of chocolate chip cookies, Halloween and Thanksgiving cookies using Nutter Butters or Oreos, a flag cookie using Pirouettes, party hat cookies using Walker’s Shortbread Cookies, and more!  It’s a cute book.

This is such a cute idea for a Sunday morning breakfast, isn’t it? » BAKED PANCAKE MUFFINS by the Family Fresh Meals blog.  Kids can add whatever they want to their pancake muffins- totally customized!  Fun!

I feel honored to be included in this list of the TOP 25 FOOD BLOGS OF 2014 by The Daily Meal!  There are some great blogs on this list- so nice of them to think of RecipeGirl!

I’m sure you’ve seen this floating around the internet… or on TMZ… or NPR… or a whole bunch of other places- it’s the PIZZA CAKE.  My friend Shawn Syphus from the blog- I Wash…You Dry developed this recipe for her client- Pillsbury, and it has completely gone VIRAL.  It’s so exciting to see that happen.  What a crazy-fun recipe!

Here is a product that I am very much obsessed with right now:  RAINCOAST CRISPS– I happen to like this flavor:  Rosemary Raisin.  I spotted them at my grocery store a couple of weeks ago and decided that it would be a good idea to have these with some soft cheese and a glass of wine for dinner.  My husband was on a business trip, so it makes perfect sense to have wine and cheese and crackers for dinner, right??  Anyway, I LOVE THEM.  I’m not sure if I’d try ordering them online because they might crumble in shipping.  They do carry them at Whole Foods, and they were at my regular grocery store too- near the gourmet cheeses.  Word of warning: they are expensive.  They were $6.99 at my market.  I didn’t even realize that until after I bought them.  But I’ve been buying them again because they’re so darn good!!  Check out their website for more details.

Yes, this is me.  And yes, I still count to three sometimes… even though my son is 13-years old 🙂

I’ve seen a LOT of people out there apple-picking!  Here’s a fun video from a chef that shows you how to quickly peel a whole bunch of apples using a DRILL!