What's Cooking, Love?: March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Announcement and An Award

First of all , I will be hosting a weekly link party starting next week!! Showcase your Talent Thursday will be starting every Wednesday evening. Feel free to take a button and please join me and link up your crafts, recipes, tutorials, etc. I hope to see you all next Wednesday night !!

I want to give a lot of thanks to Tiffany at My Crowded Kitchen for awarding me the Versatile Blogger Award!!! Make sure you go check out her blog, she has some great recipes.

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Thank the person who gave you this award.

Include a link to their blog.

Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly.

Nominate those 15 bloggers for the the Versatile Blogger Award.

Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

There are also a few add-on rules:

In the same post, include this set of rules.

Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

So, what is the Versatile blogger award? "It is a great way to introduce different bloggers to each other and promote quality blogs readers may not have discovered otherwise."

Here are my nominees- please stop by and check them out!

Addicted to Recipes

Cake Balls, Cookies, and More

Make sure to go check out all of these great blogs. I enjoy reading your posts and look forward to seeing your posts. I love each one of your blogs and look forward reading you in my news feed.

Thank you so much for everyone that reads and comments on my blog. I really appreciate all of the support in something that I enjoy doing!

Here are my 7 facts:

1. I live with my husband Brian, my son Aaron, who is 9 months old, and my dog Homer.

2. My husband and I met at the end of our senior year of high school and our second date was going to prom together. We have been married for 5 1/2 years.

3. I was born in New York state, about 45 minutes from the city and lived there until I was 8 years old.

4. I moved to Central Pennsylvania when I was 8 and have lived there ever since, except for the four years I went to college near Pittsburgh.

5. Aaron is named after my mom's dad who died when she was 9 of Lou Gehrig's Disease.

6. I love food, when we go on trips our favorite part somehow revolves around food.

7. I have a special weakness for desserts. If there are multiple desserts I always have to try a little bit of each. I don't try to make desserts all the time, however, because I would end up eating them all.

*Alyssa*

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Peanut Butter Cup Smores Brownies

First of all I wanted to make an announcement, I will be hosting a weekly link party starting next week!! Showcase your Talent Thursday will be be posted starting every Wednesday evening. Feel free to take a button from my sidebar and please join me and link up your crafts, recipes, tutorials, etc. I hope to see you all next Wednesday night and Thursday!!

By the way I hope that you like my new blog design, it is still a work in progress, but I really like the new buttons and header so far!!

These brownies were SO good, it was like eating a Smore in brownie form with added peanut butter cups, what could be better? The gooeyness of the marshmallows with the peanut butter cup and graham cracker crust were amazing. These are also really easy to make since I used a box brownie mix.

I made this using Easter candy, but this can be also made year round. This would be a great dessert and use for leftover Easter candy. Instead of regular marshmallows, I used Chocolate Mousse Puffs (that is why you can't see the Marshmallows). Instead of Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, I used Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs. These brownies were so moist and delicious, I hope that you try them!!

Peanut Butter Cup Smores Brownies

Graham Cracker Crust

12 graham crackers, crushed

3/4 stick or 6 tablespoons of butter, melted.

1. Mix together the crushed graham crackers and melted butter to create a crust and press into a 9x13 inch pan.

Brownies

9x13 size Fudge Brownie Mix

1/4 cup water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 package of 8 Chocolate Mousse Puffs (2 3/8 ounces) (can substitute regular marshmallows), in pieces

15 Mini Peanut Butter Cup Eggs (can substitute mini Peanut Butter Cups)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix the brownie mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Tear the Chocolate Mousse Puffs into small pieces and gently mix into the brownie mix.

3. Pour the brownie mix on top of the graham cracker crust in the 9x 13 inch pan. Put the Peanut Butter Cups into the brownie batter standing straight up, they will be sticking out a little bit.

4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

*Alyssa*

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday {20 April Fools Day Recipes}

April Fool's Day is coming up this weekend. I've seen many ideas from different blogs of dinners that look like desserts and desserts that look like dinner. I think this is a great idea that is fun for kids. Here are 20 different recipes you can make for April Fool's Day.

KFC Fried Chicken Bucket and Sides

{Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons}

Pie Fries

{The Domestic Rebel}

Rice Krispie Meatloaf

{Dixie Delights}

April Fool's Cupcakes

{Rosy Cheeks}

Candy Sushi
{What's Cooking, Love?}

Mock TV Dinner
{Delectable Edibles}

Mashed Potato Sundaes
{Bake at 350}

April Fool's Day Dinner
{Hoosier Homemade}

Mock Spaghetti and Meatballs
{Delectable Edibles}

Meatloaf Cupcakes
{Bake at 350}

April Fool's Dinner
{Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons}

Fakin' and Eggs
{Making Memories}

April Fool's Day Breakfast
{Blue Skies Ahead}

Grilled Cheese Dessert
{Making Memories}

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
{Hoosier Homemade}

Hamburger Cookies
{Greetings from the Asylum}

Deviled Meringues
{Pixel Whisk}

If you have been featured, feel free to grab a button on my sidebar. I have pinned all of these recipes. Enjoy!!

*Alyssa*

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Banana Walnut Cinnamon French Toast Bake

This Banana Walnut Cinnamon French Toast Bake is a variation on the Cinnamon French Toast Bake that I posted a few months ago. This is made using refrigerated cinnamon buns and adds bananas and walnuts to make a great breakfast. This would be perfect for an Easter brunch, for any special occasion, or just because.

This was so delicious, I really like the flavor the bananas added to it. I think the bananas make it perfect for spring!! The icing can be drizzled on each individual piece, or like I decided to do, it can be poured over the whole french toast. This french toast bake is a special treat that is so delicious and is also easy to make. I recommend it and hope that you try it!

Banana Walnut Cinnamon French Toast Bake
(Recipe Adapted from Best of the Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookbook)

3 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 can refrigerated cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 banana (optional garnish)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl beat the eggs, banana, and sugar with a wire whisk until well blended.

3. Separate the refrigerated cinnamon rolls into 8 rolls, setting the icing aside. Cut each roll into 8 equal pie-shaped wedges. Gently stir the cinnamon rolls into the egg mixture until well coated. Spoon the mixture into a greased 8x8 baking dish, spreading evenly.

4. In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour and brown sugar. With a fork, cut in the butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Then stir in the walnuts. Sprinkle the mixture over the cinnamon roll mixture.

5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is puffed and the edges are a golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes.

6. Meanwhile pour the icing into a small bowl and mix with the syrup until well blended. Microwave for 10 seconds to warm.

7. To serve pour the entire icing mixture over the French Toast Bake and top with banana pieces. Alternatively, top with the banana pieces and then pour the icing over each individual slice.

*Alyssa*
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Friday, March 23, 2012

Candy Sushi

I saw this Candy Sushi on Pinterest and thought that it was perfect for April Fool's Day

I don't really like pranks that much, but I like the idea of desserts that look like dinner. I love desserts, so dessert for dinner is a fine prank with me.

This is easy to make and is a sweet treat that is also a fun food for April Fools Day. Also the kids can help make it as well. I used store bought Rice Krispy Treats as a shortcut, but you can of course make your own if you wish. Enjoy!!

Fake Sushi

(Recipe adapted from Making Memories)

Rice Krispy Treats (I used store bought, for a homemade recipe see the original recipe)

Gummy Worms

Green Fruit Roll Up

1. If using store bought Rice Krispy Treats,flatten them with a rolling pin.

2. Cut the Gummy Worms to fit on the Rice Krispy Treat, and lay on the end of the Rice Krispy Treat, horizontally, if the long part of the Rice Krispy Treat is vertical.

3. Roll up the Rice Krispy Treat and then cut in half to make two sushi rolls.

4. Cut the Green Fruit Roll Up in half lengthwise and roll the roll up around each sushi piece.

*Alyssa*

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday {20 Spring Inspired Recipes}

Yesterday was the First Day of Spring. I love this time of year, the flowers, the wildlife, and the weather. Here it has been unseasonably warm and has felt like spring for the past week or so. Here are some recipe ideas that are spring themed or remind me of spring. Enjoy!!