first day of summer.

this evening marks the official first day of summer!! yay! it truly is my most favorite season of all.

i hope your summer is filled with lots of ice cold treats! especially ones that are messy and fun!!  today was the perfect day to celebrate with homemade frozen fudge pops!

 

i found the recipe in the latest issue of everyday food. it is definitely one i will be making all summer long!!

happy summer!!

sweet & tart.

i know it's finally springtime, but no matter what season it is, i never tire of cranberries and oranges together. and this morning, i had a craving for the combination of the two.  there is something about the tartness of cranberries and the sweetness of an orange that tastes so good to me.  so luckily this morning, i had a bag of cranberries in the freezer and oranges in the refrigerator to mix up and bake a batch of cranberry-orange muffins for breakfast.

cranberry-orange muffins

2 cups of flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1 egg

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon orange zest

coarse sugar for topping

combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.

stir in cranberries and orange zest.

next, in a small bowl, beat egg, orange juice and oil together. add to dry ingredients. stir until just moistened. spoon into muffin cups and fill 3/4 full.  i like to use a ice cream scoop. it seems to be just the right amount and all cups are filled equally. sprinkle each with coarse sugar.

bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes til lightly browned. 

and, enjoy!! yum... they are so, so good!!

inspired: homemade snickers.

i am seriously making these homemade snicker bars one day soon. maybe even for jeff for valentines day.  just in case you are tempted like me, the recipe and how-to can be found here.

{image via how sweet it is}

sweet valentine snack mix.

within 30 minutes time, i made this very sweet valentine snack mix yesterday. it looks really pretty in a big glass jar on the counter too!! i got the recipe from betty crocker.

{image via betty crocker}

cookies and cream cupcakes.

just before the school year began, we got together with some of our closest friends to celebrate the last weekend of our summer break. i was asked to bring along a dessert to share and when i saw these cookies and cream cupcakes via bakerella, i knew the kids would love them, especially mine. not only is there a whole oreo cookie on top of each cupcake, but there is a whole oreo cookie inside too! you definitely must try these! the recipe and directions can be found here.

personal note: the recipe says it makes at least 12 cupcakes. i had enough batter to make 12 regular-size cupcakes and 24 mini cupcakes. i used bite-size oreos for the mini-cupcakes-inside and on top.

homemade waffle cones.

since my entire family loves ice cream and we always have it in our freezer, last week i decided to make homemade vanilla waffle cones. with this recipe and a pizzelle iron, they really were extremely easy to make. i don't think i will ever buy another box of ice cream cones again.

red wine sangria.

the other night i made a pitcher of red wine sangria. it's been so hot and humid lately and i was craving something refreshing to drink after a day at the pool. a good friend of mine stopped by that evening and luckily, i already had a pitcher on hand to share. i love it served over crushed ice and with a straw to sip. here is the sangria recipe i use. i came across it more than 10 years ago in real simple magazine and have been using it ever since. it is so easy to make and so, so refreshing on a hot summer day.

{image via insiders passport}

homemade peeps.

{photo by nina callaway}

i'm gushing with ideas and things i want to do for easter. last week i came across a recipe for homemade peeps. my kids would absolutely love making these sugary sweet marshmallow treats. as soon as they see the bright colored packages of peeps in stores, they are pleading for me to buy them. most definitely, i will add this to my list of easter things to do!

p.s. - this year as a little easter treat, we will be giving all the teachers peeps with this cute topper attached.

thinking about.

it's sunny and warm today. yay! the weather is spring-like and the daffodils are starting to bloom. my kids are feeling much, much better after having a terrible stomach virus. our winter break from school continues til monday. and, i'm thinking about making these candy bar ice cream sandwiches to celebrate! i can hardly wait!!

{image via parents.com}

doctor's + cupcakes.

just when i thought i was back on schedule...

i spent most of my day either in doctor's offices or traveling to them. slade woke up this morning with a crazy muscle spasm in his neck and couldn't move. he woke up screaming in pain and i felt totally helpless. i couldn't make his pain go away and the pain was making him nauseous and sick. i didn't know it was a muscle spasm at the time, so i nervously rushed him to the doctor after getting my other two off to school. i sat and he laid on my lap waiting for the doctor to come in. we were there for at least two hours before being prescribed a muscle relaxer and some rest.

and then we rushed to pick elle up from school, who had a re-check from a prior doctor's appointment for a doctor that was running extremely behind today. so, again we sat and waited. this time it was the four of us and before we left two hours had passed again.

so now we are back at home and i am thinking these orange marmalade-ricotta cupcakes i made the other day will sweeten our mood and make us all feel a little bit better. i'm already feeling like it's okay if we've gotten off track again today.


p.s. i found these cute cupcake wrappers at ikea

ambitious + banana bread

photo via martha stewart

i'm thankful for my husband. he always takes it upon himself to complete a task when he sees one that needs to be done. for instance, last night, he was either tired of looking at the ripening bananas sitting on the counter for days or he knew i really have been wanting and meaning to make banana bread for days but i really just have not had the time.

so, while I was on the phone and working on the computer last night... he asked for my banana bread recipe (minus nuts) and the next thing i knew he was beating eggs and mixing flour and smashing bananas and adding vanilla and finally pouring sweet banana batter into three small loaf pans.

task complete. just like that. one i've been wanting to do for days now.... i'm so thankful for my husband and his ambitious nature. and, my children and i were all very happy to have dad's banana bread for breakfast this morning.

monday morning sweetness.

wishing i woke up this morning to the sweetness of these pumpkin cinnamon rolls... they look absolutely delicious and the perfect treat with my morning latte.

i just had to share...
i will be making these very soon!

my favorites on friday: summer desserts.

via marthastewart

one of my favorite summer desserts is strawberry cake. i found the recipe in the june 2005 issue of Martha Stewart Living and has been one of my favorites ever since. it is extremely easy to make and can be ready from start to finish in 90 minutes time. i think it's the perfect dessert to serve after any summer meal. serve it room temperature with a little sweetened whipped cream or serve it warm with vanilla ice cream. leftovers are especially delicious in the morning with a good cup of coffee.

i'm making a strawberry cake today to enjoy after our friday night meal of antipasta and pizza. i'm so looking forward to getting back to making pizzas on fridays. i've missed it while we were away this summer. so, it will feel great to be back in my kitchen this weekend doing what i usually do.

how about you? what are your weekend plans? will you be cooking or baking or enjoying anything sweet? whatever it is... hope your weekend is wonderful.