tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70096451360983434232012-02-06T12:36:54.827-07:00Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.comBlogger2091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-20987709364300057862011-12-14T11:39:00.000-07:002011-12-14T11:39:00.289-07:00

My son turned 2 a few months ago and he is obsessed with trains so I decided to make a train cake for his birthday party. Thanks to Pinterest I was able to get a lot of great ideas and this is what I came up with. For the train engine I used this cake mold and for the train cars I used a small loaf pan. I used pound cake recipes for the actual cakes so that they would be firm enough to stand up

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-30980163667180563532011-12-12T13:18:00.002-07:002011-12-14T11:18:53.075-07:00

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Kristin and it is A-MAZ-ING! I made it yesterday for my brother's birthday and the whole family absolutely loved it! The "swirl" is what makes this cake. It's a yummy cream cheese and chocolate chip mixture swirled throughout the cake. I also love the topping. I'm not a huge frosting fan so the cool whip/vanilla pudding topping is light, creamy and just

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-53946409939912774892011-11-09T15:52:00.000-07:002011-11-09T15:52:01.038-07:00

It's a rare thing when bananas go bad at my house because my husband goes through them so quickly. So I was really surprised this morning when I noticed that we had not one, but THREE bananas that were turning brown. My first instinct was to make banana bread but that's so typical and kind of boring and I knew I'd end up eating most of it myself since my husband doesn't eat a lot of sweets. So I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-80299025787497758062011-11-06T12:38:00.005-07:002011-11-06T12:42:57.545-07:00

I don't know if you remember these cookies, but they are seriously my favorite Christmas cookies. Unfortunately since it's still a little too early to start Christmas baking (don't worry I've been listening to Christmas music for the past 2 months to the dismay and disgust of my husband) I decided to make my favorite Christmas cookie in the form of a chocolate chip cookie. With this version I can

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-31838821273665075042011-09-28T18:41:00.000-06:002011-09-28T18:41:29.644-06:00

I don't know about you but a lot of the time I feel like the side dishes I make for dinner are kind of an after thought and I usually end up making the same boring things over and over again. Sometimes it feels like it's just too much work to make an exciting side dish after I've spent so much time working on a main dish. We're big fans of asparagus and fresh green beans at my house so those are

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-53598605039026736452011-09-27T13:34:00.002-06:002011-09-27T17:13:49.994-06:00

I have been on a quest to find a good, I mean really good, whole wheat bread recipe. A few weeks ago my friend Andrea mentioned that she had just made wheat bread so naturally I had to ask her for her recipe. She said that this recipe is the BEST and after making it today I can tell you that I completely agree!  It is so soft and sweet and yummy and the best part is that it's super easy to make.

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-14701605061218463662011-03-09T12:37:00.005-07:002011-03-09T12:52:20.263-07:00

Ok everyone, I just have to warn you up front and let you know that this is not a recipe post but a bragging post. I feel like it's ok though because I have the BEST mom ever and she deserves a little credit! She came up to visit this last weekend and as usual we had so much fun spending time together. I have been working on a big house project and she not only helped me with the project, but

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-63487063737108832732011-03-07T08:50:00.002-07:002011-03-07T08:52:41.237-07:00

A while ago my husband randomly said that he really liked chicken and dumplings. I guess I took that as a challenge because I was determined to come up with a really good recipe that he would love. I was a little nervous about making dumplings because I wasn't sure how difficult they would be to make. I decided to make things easy on myself and used Bisquick with a little added basil and it

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-41109351568986954692011-02-28T08:36:00.005-07:002011-03-01T17:57:15.948-07:00

My friend Amber gave me this recipe and it is amazing! I made it the other night with just a few minor adjustments and it was a BIG time winner with the husband. These enchiladas are cheesy and creamy and loaded with meat, just how my husband likes it. And like its name says, you make these enchiladas in a large skillet but I actually made them in my beloved Le Creuset dutch oven and it worked

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-76428946229215047972011-02-23T07:48:00.002-07:002011-02-23T09:41:38.837-07:00

I don't know if any of you have been to the restaurant BJ's, but they have this dessert called a Pizookie that is sinfully good. There's a BJ's right by my parents house in Vegas and my husband and I always like to go there when we're down visiting. Anyway, the Pizookie is amazing! It's a warm, gooey cookie made in a round pan and then topped with big scoops of ice cream. If that doesn't sound

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-89062672967174564512011-02-21T12:10:00.001-07:002011-02-21T13:29:28.559-07:00

Back in junior high I worked at a candy store during the holiday seasons. The owner of the store lived in my neighborhood so all of my friends and I would go and work together. The store made homemade salt water taffy, fudge, caramel apples, and tons of other yummy sweets including dipped pretzel rods. Those were my favorite! Not only did I like to make them but I loved to eat them! It's been

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-49068997545503481492011-02-18T10:38:00.002-07:002011-02-18T10:51:39.441-07:00

Last Sunday was really busy and I was short on time but my in-laws were coming over for dinner so I wanted to make something healthy and good. My mom used to make this when I was growing up and it was always one of my favorites. This soup is simple and like it's name says it's really hearty with the beef and all of the fresh chopped veggies. The original recipe directions say to cook the soup in

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-61309486935423219412011-02-11T08:57:00.000-07:002011-02-11T08:57:10.345-07:00

I made this the other night for dinner for my husband who's been sick and it was just perfect. I added sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips to my chili and it made it so creamy and cheesy, oh it was good! When it comes to spicy foods I'm a baby and so for me this chili is at the top of my spicy threshold. For my husband however it was just right. So if you're like me you could reduce the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-88170731001997894482011-02-09T16:09:00.000-07:002011-02-09T16:09:53.845-07:00

I don't know if it's the sun shining outside and the fact that it's a nice 31 degrees outside or if I'm remembering that exactly two years ago I was in Maui, but today I was craving a yummy tropical smoothie. This recipe is easy and SO good! I'm not a big fan of tart smoothies so this one is nice and sweet. I love how the cream of coconut gives it almost a pina colada flavor, yum! My husband is

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-21113498275133852082011-02-04T14:43:00.000-07:002011-02-04T14:43:40.959-07:00

I love the name of these cookies. They are loaded with cherry and chocolaty goodness and are soft and chewy. I just popped these babies out of the oven and they are pure chocolate bliss! It's so satisfying when you have an idea for something and then it turns out just how you envisioned if not even better. I have a feeling I'm going to be sick tonight from eating too many of these! Chewy

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-15330784111118976352011-02-04T10:33:00.001-07:002011-02-04T10:34:05.057-07:00

Hey Everyone! Sorry I've been so bad about posting lately! The end of January was super busy and now that February is here all I've felt like doing lately is sit around and do nothing. I blame it on the cold, grey weather. However, today I'm feeling much more motivated and on my list of things to do is make a yummy treat using these: If you like regular Craisins you'll love these. I think these

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-46977184558003461222011-01-27T16:57:00.002-07:002011-01-27T17:06:54.072-07:00

I'm at my mom's house in sunny Las Vegas right now visiting for a few days. She's nice enough to let me experiment in her kitchen so I've spent the last few hours making a dessert that I've been trying to perfect for a long time. Unfortunately this attempt wasn't completely successful, but I'm definitely getting closer! While baking in her kitchen, I went through all of my mom's cupboards just

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-24715055167385181252011-01-25T10:48:00.000-07:002011-01-25T10:48:00.195-07:00

For years I have wanted a Le Creuset dutch oven and my cute husband finally got me one for Christmas! It is beautiful. I got it in the ocean color (as seen below) and I absolutely love it! Anyway, the first recipe I made in my new dutch oven was this soup and it was so delicious! It's loaded with meat and veggies and I love the creamy texture from the mashed potatoes. It was definitely a winner

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-84069180302029497202011-01-20T15:14:00.001-07:002011-01-20T15:16:24.766-07:00

I guess I must really be in the mood for cupcakes or something because here is another cupcake recipe. This one is a little twist on this recipe. With Valentine's Day coming up I thought these pink cupcakes would be appropriate and fun to make. Instead of doing a regular cream cheese frosting I decided to add coconut and a little bit of my absolute favorite almond extract. I've found that most

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-6390413350232999962011-01-14T10:22:00.002-07:002011-01-14T10:39:30.944-07:00

Oh my gosh these are good! My husband came home last night and saw them and couldn't resist. He said he was only going to eat half of one but within minutes of eating the first half he went back and finished the rest of it off. I really like how these are made in muffin tins because they come out in perfect little individual servings. The brownie is rich, chocolaty and nice and dense. Now we'll

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-55697451105337438872011-01-12T22:53:00.002-07:002011-01-13T08:22:04.607-07:00

I LOVE cookbooks! It makes me feel so happy to flip through the pages of a beautiful cookbook and imagine and dream about all of the delicious things I could make. Here are a few of my favorites that I keep on a shelf by my computer for inspiration.  Here are some cookbooks that are currently on my wish list. I'm always on the lookout for great cookbooks so let me know what your favorites

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-59020015888873997452011-01-10T09:11:00.002-07:002011-01-10T09:17:40.253-07:00

I love this recipe, it is so good! My husband really loves it too, especially since it has chicken in it and not just cheese and spinach. The recipe can easily be doubled and it transports really well which makes it a perfect meal to make when you have to take dinner to someone. When I make this, I like to serve it with a salad and garlic bread or homemade bread sticks. Cheesy Chicken and

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-85952037670053768472011-01-06T09:05:00.000-07:002011-01-06T09:05:11.397-07:00

I made this for the first time last night and it turned out delicious! The sauce is light and creamy and I love the fresh flavor the lemon gives it. This recipe scored high points with my husband so I'll definitely make it again. The ingredients are so basic and the instructions are easy so this will be a go-to recipe on nights when I need something simple but really good. Creamy Lemon Chicken

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-45789293213142261982011-01-04T17:00:00.001-07:002011-01-04T17:05:39.264-07:00

I can't go see a movie without getting a big bag of buttery popcorn. It's a guilty pleasure that I crave and dream about. If I get popcorn then naturally I have to get some sort of chocolate treat to balance out the saltiness of the popcorn. My husband likes to get peanut M&M's and dump them into the hot popcorn so that they get all nice and warm. Well here is my grown-up variation on the peanut

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-27136628330921591862011-01-03T08:31:00.001-07:002011-01-03T08:31:50.426-07:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I feel like it went by so fast. While I'm sad it's over I'm really looking forward to this new year and to lots of new, yummy recipes! I've been putting off going to the grocery store since we got back in town from Christmas so I had to be a little creative last night for dinner. I ended up making a carbonara sauce with a little

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-10724155351996147942010-12-16T09:46:00.001-07:002011-01-06T09:09:31.758-07:00

Here is another easy dinner recipe. I know it's not the healthiest of recipes but it is so good and even my overly health conscience husband loved it and didn't complain about the ingredients. It also doesn't look amazing but trust me, it is delicious! The thing that really gives it flavor is the green onion. Also, I just want to point out and you've probably noticed that a lot of my recipes

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-60936868237711054392010-12-15T08:16:00.000-07:002010-12-15T08:16:40.226-07:00

The auction for the Bloggers Give Back Project starts this morning! There are so many amazing things up for auction so go check it out NOW! :) Also, check back here tomorrow for a really yummy and easy chicken recipe and check back again on Friday for a delicious cookie recipe. I'll be baking up a storm over the next few days and I can't wait to share my new recipes with you!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-28506090397763083062010-12-14T10:32:00.001-07:002010-12-14T10:32:56.484-07:00

The auction for the Bloggers Give Back Project starts tomorrow! If you haven't checked the blog out you definitely should. There are so many great items up for auction including one from me!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-60514289059553981502010-12-14T10:16:00.001-07:002010-12-14T10:22:00.754-07:00

It was my brother's birthday a few days ago and so I decided to make a nice dinner for his special day. My mom was in town and she helped which was super nice! I wanted to make a roasted chicken but of course the grocery store was completely out and since it was almost 10 at night when I went, I wasn't in the mood to go to another store to get a chicken. The store had nice big selection of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-30756584197862391352010-12-13T08:08:00.000-07:002010-12-13T08:08:25.773-07:00

Entry number 4- Liz and Zac!!! Congratulations! Email your address to me at val.kuki@gmail.com and I'll send you your prize. And I just have to say THANK YOU to all of you amazing followers! The rules for the giveaway just said that you had to leave a comment saying that you're a follower, it didn't say that you had to leave a comment saying how much you like my blog. So thank you for all of the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-42693817521398077102010-12-07T08:48:00.000-07:002010-12-07T08:48:42.420-07:00

I just LOVE this time of year (who doesn't?) and the spirit of giving. I want to give back to you my awesome, loyal readers, and so here is a fun little giveaway just for you! As you can probably tell, I'm in love with Williams-Sonoma, so this giveaway comes straight from that magical store. I'm giving away a set of their Snowflake Cookie Cutters and a jar of cute Holiday Star sprinkles. All

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-8953364868620705972010-12-06T07:36:00.000-07:002010-12-06T07:36:25.877-07:00

.....and here is a great way that you can give this holiday season! One of my friends has created this neat blog called Bloggers Give Back and it has been set up to help out a family who is in serious need. This blog is so great because all of these amazing designers, photographers, etc. are donating their services and other fabulous items for an online auction. If you would like to find out

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-35507341127585614972010-12-01T10:14:00.000-07:002010-12-01T10:14:02.266-07:00

Here is the third bar (brownie) recipe that I made for our family event last week. I chose this recipe because one- it's delicious and two- it makes a lot and we were feeding a ton of people. My mom made these brownies often while I was growing up and they have always been a favorite. I love the fudgey dense brownie and the yummy homemade mint frosting and chocolate glaze, and all three together

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-8919928064281825962010-11-29T09:25:00.000-07:002010-11-29T09:25:07.160-07:00

These bars are A-MAZ-ING! I made them with two other bar recipes for a recent family event and these were the first to go, and they went fast. I saved one to take a picture of for this post and my husband kept bugging me to hurry and take the picture so that he could eat it. There are several different steps to making these bars but each step is really easy and it is so completely worth taking a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-26059262386941647572010-11-24T06:55:00.000-07:002010-11-24T06:55:09.903-07:00

Here is a yummy pumpkin recipe just in time for Thanksgiving. I usually love all things pumpkin but I just do not like pumpkin pie at all! For some reason the texture does not appeal to me whatsoever so I always go for the apple or chocolate cream pies at Thanksgiving. I love these bars because they taste just like pumpkin pie only with a better creamy and crumbly texture. I also really like the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-68629889544401240052010-11-22T09:29:00.000-07:002010-11-22T09:29:41.041-07:00

Kalua pork is the third and final meat that we served at my son's birthday luau. This recipe is also from our friend Kalani and it is amazing! Like the teriyaki chicken and beef, this recipe is very simple but just make sure you read through it completely before you make it to make sure you understand all of the instructions. *We had a big family get-together yesterday and I was in charge of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-28981777687841931592010-11-19T08:58:00.000-07:002010-11-19T08:58:39.258-07:00

For my son's birthday luau not only did we make teriyaki chicken but we made teriyaki beef as well. The recipes for both are exactly the same except for the meat. I have two regrets when it came to this dish at the luau. First, that I was so busy with the birthday boy and everything else that was going on that I didn't even get to have any of it. Secondly, that even though we made a lot we should

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-32156051553753269212010-11-17T07:35:00.000-07:002010-11-17T07:35:40.721-07:00

I love, love, LOVE this recipe! My husband is half Hawaiian and in the Hawaiian culture a baby's first birthday is celebrated with a big luau. My son turned one almost two months ago and so we threw a really fun luau for him and of course we had delicious food. Since luaus are all about the food, my husband and I wanted to make sure that we used the best recipes. Our good friend Kalani cooks the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-33051433327137542882010-11-15T09:23:00.000-07:002010-11-15T09:23:52.624-07:00

Hey everyone! I'm happy to report that I'm finally done moving, my computer is FINALLY set up, and despite the million house projects I have on my to-do list I am ready to start posting regularly again. I also want to apologize for my blog being down for a few days. Of course I get a message of suspicious activity on my account and it gets shut down when my computer's packed away in boxes for a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-18686524079739993662010-11-04T15:47:00.000-06:002010-11-04T15:47:15.547-06:00

I feel like it's been forever since I last posted, but I have a good excuse! I was out of town last weekend and I've been in the process of moving all week so things have been a little crazy. And I just have to say that I have the BEST mom ever! Not only has she cleaned and watched my son all week while I pack but she's made good dinners for us each night including this yummy recipe. It's

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-12443300907718071672010-10-28T11:39:00.001-06:002010-10-28T11:40:48.547-06:00

I'm LOVING this fall season and all of these yummy pumpkin recipes! This bundt cake is super easy to whip up and so delicious. I'm really surprised with myself that I didn't add chocolate chips to this cake but it's so good with the cream cheese frosting that it really doesn't need anything else. However, next time I make this I'm definitely going to try it with chocolate chips because I readily

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-14533455655781598012010-10-26T05:36:00.000-06:002010-10-26T05:36:43.708-06:00

My family will tell you that I'm obsessed with beverages. I'm always craving a yummy drink whether it's soda, punch, hot chocolate, smoothies, you name it! One of the things I love about throwing parties is making something delicious to drink. The only problem is that kids usually come to most of our parties and so I tend to just stick with water to avoid messy spills. However, I threw a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-80144099783720865092010-10-22T11:31:00.001-06:002010-10-22T11:33:49.216-06:00

I've been wanting to make pumpkin bread for SO long now but I wanted to wait until I had time to actually sit down and think and put together something super yummy. The two requirements I have when it comes to pumpkin bread is that first it's soft and moist, and secondly it has A LOT of chocolate chips. Well, I just pulled this bread out of the oven and it definitely meets both requirements. In

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-38158934263977491892010-10-19T09:26:00.000-06:002010-10-19T09:26:30.099-06:00

About a month ago I was contacted by the editor from MainStreet Magazine about featuring one of my fall recipes in the magazine's October issue. (MainStreet Magazine is a magazine that goes out with the newspaper to homes in Utah county.) Of course I said YES and I am so excited that they printed my favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cupcake recipe. It's been so fun receiving comments from some of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-22722061463909304822010-10-18T10:20:00.000-06:002010-10-18T10:20:28.888-06:00

Last night I had planned to make stew for dinner but when I looked over my recipe I realized I didn't have all of the ingredients I needed. I didn't want to go to the grocery store so I looked through all of my recipes and found this one which I happened to have all of the ingredients for. I hadn't had this soup since I was a kid and I can't believe that I had forgotten about it. My brother came

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-34979473906625707692010-10-11T10:03:00.000-06:002010-10-11T10:03:42.240-06:00

These bars are SO yummy and addicting which is no surprise considering the fact that they contain three of my favorite things- chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal. I made a pan of these for a get together we had and both the adults and the kids loved them. The bars are nice and thin so I personally feel like it's ok if I eat three or for of them at a time! Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Oatmeal

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-91511112907008101222010-10-07T15:00:00.000-06:002010-10-07T15:00:40.060-06:00

For some reason I used to be afraid of making homemade syrup. Ok, maybe I wasn't really afraid it's more like I was just too lazy. I thought that it would take too much effort and too much time to make it from scratch and what was the point when I could easily buy it from the store? So when I finally decided to make it for the first time I realized how easy it actually is and felt dumb for being

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-83514928103703554552010-10-04T10:16:00.000-06:002010-10-04T10:16:18.217-06:00

Fall is here and with that brings one of my favorite things...baking with pumpkin!!! I was at the store a few weeks ago and could not find pumpkin anywhere due to last years pumpkin crop failure. Fortunately the shortage is over and the stores are again stocked full with canned pumpkin. I've stocked my cupboard with this fall staple and now I'm ready for months of pumpkin baking! I've got so many

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-24900210460942241652010-09-30T09:22:00.002-06:002010-10-20T11:26:41.899-06:00

I love garlic mashed potatoes. It is seriously one of my favorite comfort foods and this recipe is nice and simple and so delicious! I have the ingredients and some of amounts listed below, but the great thing about this recipe is that you can add more or less of each ingredient to make it taste exactly how you want it to. I am getting so hungry just thinking about these potatoes and I just had

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-61585962347874420452010-09-27T09:39:00.000-06:002010-09-27T09:39:47.135-06:00

This is one of my new favorite grilled chicken recipes. It's light and simple and so versatile. It has a nice mild flavor so it goes perfectly with garlic mashed potatoes. (I have a great garlic mashed potato recipe that I'll post next time.) It also tastes amazing in a sandwich with really good whole wheat bread or flat bread. You could even slice it up and toss it in a salad, that would be so

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-45505664373738065062010-09-24T09:53:00.000-06:002010-09-24T09:53:54.799-06:00

Here is the fourth and final dip that I made for my husband's football party. This dip is so simple and easy to make and it tastes great with veggies. Creamy Veggie Dip1 cup sour cream 1 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon dried onion 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic salt mix all ingredients together. refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-68996574934126979102010-09-22T10:36:00.003-06:002010-09-25T20:17:55.792-06:00

This is a yummy fruit dip that I made for my husband's football party. Now I know this kind of a dip is more like something you would see at a wedding or baby shower but by the end of the game the guys had completely devoured it. This dip is a delicious twist on the standard cream cheese fruit dip and the toffee bits just put it over the edge! Toffee Caramel Fruit Dip1 8oz. package cream cheese

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-1888856440012083182010-09-20T08:53:00.002-06:002010-09-22T10:40:44.294-06:00

Last Friday my husband had all of the guys over to watch football. You can't have a football party without food so decided make several different finger foods for the guys. I actually made four different dips and they were just perfect for the party. I made my husbands favorite cheesy corn spread which I posted last year, and also this really yummy buffalo chicken dip. I got the recipe from my

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-27078084071021456052010-09-13T09:30:00.001-06:002010-09-13T09:33:44.238-06:00

This recipe comes from my grandma Squires and it has always been one of my favorites. The cream of coconut makes the cake so moist and yummy and I love the flaked coconut in the cake and on top of the cake. Besides being really good, this cake is also really easy to make. Coconut Cake1 white cake mix 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 cup water 2 eggs 2 cups flaked coconut, divided 1 can cream of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-31899441688676811042010-09-07T10:18:00.001-06:002010-09-30T10:05:23.703-06:00

Fall is in the air and that makes me so happy and excited because fall is my favorite season and I LOVE fall recipes. I went home to visit my parents for Labor Day weekend and while I was there my mom had the best idea to make pumpkin cupcakes. We found a recipe, made our own adjustments to it and added chocolate chips and the result was absolutely delicious! Now not only can I look forward to

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-6402774571652910072010-08-31T09:56:00.000-06:002010-08-31T09:56:04.924-06:00

This is a super easy recipe that you can prepare in advance and then quickly grill when you are ready to eat. I like this recipe because it's similar to teriyaki chicken but the ginger gives it its own unique flavor. It's also light and healthy which is always and added bonus! Grilled Sesame Chicken4 chicken breast halves 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup white grape juice 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-10910804686650001052010-08-23T09:41:00.000-06:002010-08-23T09:41:25.999-06:00

I made these bars for a baby shower about a month ago and they were so good! I was in charge of all of the desserts so I chose this recipe because it's so simple to make and I knew I would be short on time. Normally I'm not a big fan of nuts in my desserts but I love the flavor and the crunch that the pecans give to these sweet, yummy bars. 6 Layer Bars1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes 1 cup sugar

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-6664279307234596312010-08-19T14:00:00.000-06:002010-08-19T14:00:55.600-06:00

Ok, I'm just going to tell you right up front that this is NOT a healthy dish. It is however delicious and how could it not be with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon? To me the pancake tastes more like a german pancake than a regular pancake and with the melted butter and sugar there is no need for syrup. I think this recipe is definitely worth the extra calories...at least once in a while! :)

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-70963753423497051812010-08-17T09:39:00.000-06:002010-08-17T09:39:16.167-06:00

I have never been a big fan of artichokes but my mom absolutely loves this recipe and she told me that I had to try it. I made it last week for a dinner party and it really was so good! The recipe might look a little long and complicated but it's actually fairly simple to prepare. If you decide to make this, which you definitely should, I recommend getting the pasta and chicken going first and 

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-45979004531984204272010-08-11T08:48:00.001-06:002010-08-11T19:46:28.604-06:00

I've been looking for a really good lemon bar recipe and so when my friend Amber gave me this recipe, I knew I had to try it. I made them a few days ago and they are SO good! Normally when I make a whole pan of something, part of it will go to waste because my husband and I just can't ever finish it on our own. This is not the case with these bars. We definitely won't have a problem finishing off

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-32583371184587556402010-08-09T08:55:00.000-06:002010-08-09T08:55:44.821-06:00

I don't think you can ever have too many easy-to-make chicken dishes and this recipe definitely fits that category. I got this recipe from my aunt Amy and not only is it easy to prepare but it's also really good. It's got a great combination of sweet and spicy flavors. The recipe calls for whole chicken breasts but I actually used chicken breast halves and reduced the baking time to about 25-30 

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-42619877984486103402010-08-07T08:39:00.001-06:002011-09-15T10:01:20.418-06:00

I'm always on the look out for new, healthy dinner recipes so that as my family grows I'll have a nice variety of dinners to make for them. Lately however, I've been a little disappointed in the recipes I've found. It seems like almost every recipe calls for cream of chicken/mushroom soup or onion soup mix. I found this recipe the other day and it didn't call for any of those ingredients so I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-1047077692216713262010-08-02T09:34:00.000-06:002010-08-02T09:34:28.554-06:00

Here is another easy-to-make and delicious chicken dish. I love using the chicken breast halves in this dish because they cook so quickly and are nice and light with the cream sauce. I also really like the flavor of the sauce. The combination of the dijon mustard and the tarragon creates a unique and tasty flavor that complements the chicken very nicely. Sauteed Chicken with Creamy Mustard

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-52376854882406874792010-07-26T10:32:00.001-06:002010-07-26T10:38:07.387-06:00

I threw a baby shower for a friend a few weeks ago and I wanted to make cute cupcakes for it. The theme of the shower was beach party so I decided to make the Martha Stewart beach and shark cupcakes. I also wanted to try a new cupcake recipe that I had found that was supposed to make perfect decorating cupcakes. Just like the recipe promised, the cupcakes turned out perfectly with nice round tops

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-35554578978987622102010-07-19T10:12:00.000-06:002010-07-19T10:12:00.662-06:00

Ok, so people are usually surprised when I tell them that I do not like strawberries. That's right, the fruit that everyone seems to love, I do not like. I thought that maybe it was just a kid thing and that as I grew up I would start to like them, but no, I still have not found a love or even like for this popular fruit. However, I do have to say that I am very fond of this yummy strawberry cake

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-79050870199082083632010-07-15T08:58:00.000-06:002010-07-15T08:58:27.850-06:00

No matter how busy I get, I always like to have a fresh, yummy meal at the end of the day that's simple to prepare. This is a delicious, easy-to-make dinner that's really great for busy nights.We love rice at our house and so I like to prepare dishes like this one that are served over rice. The hoisin sauce and the crunchy cashews really make this dish flavorful and tasty. Cashew Chicken1 1/2

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-56717321159234662012010-07-12T10:42:00.000-06:002010-07-12T10:42:24.269-06:00

It's summertime and that means it's time for s'mores. These brownies are a fun twist on this summertime favorite. They're also super easy to make and don't require a campfire so you can make them at home anytime. You definitely need to give these a try because s'mores are good but these brownies are simply amazing! S'mores Brownies1 box brownie mix 4-5 graham crackers 4 Hershey chocolate bars

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-34503708232262733942010-07-10T13:22:00.000-06:002010-07-10T13:22:13.602-06:00

This is one of my all-time favorite cakes and if you haven't had it before, you seriously need to make it! My sister-in-law Mari makes it every 4th of July and I look forward to it every year. This recipe is from the delicious book 'Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Family Style,' and coming from the Barefoot Contessa, you know it's got to be good! I know that the 4th of July has come and gone for

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-43364857490033075002010-07-02T11:33:00.000-06:002010-07-02T11:33:36.362-06:00

This dish is really yummy and really easy to make. I like to serve it with steamed asparagus and a spinach salad and then with either garlic mashed potatoes or baked sweet potatoes. So good! Marinated Flank Steak with Caramelized Onions1 beef flank steak 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium sweet onion 3 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon salt crumbled

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-31514748079550406692010-06-25T09:05:00.000-06:002010-06-25T09:05:51.673-06:00

Here is another delicious recipe from my sister-in-law Kristin. I've been wanting to make it for the longest time but I could never find black bean sauce at the grocery store, I could only find black bean garlic sauce. So I finally decided to just try it with the black bean garlic sauce and it turned out so good! This dish is really easy to make and it's great because it's a complete meal with

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-44663522019311496022010-06-23T08:44:00.000-06:002010-06-23T08:44:58.649-06:00

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted! I was out of town for a week and I don't know about you guys but for me this summer has already been super busy. So I apologize about my lack of posts but I'm back and I have a really great recipe post for today. I got this recipe from my friend Amber and it's seriously one of my favorites, if not my absolute favorite, chicken salad

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-51900621561579668932010-06-08T13:31:00.000-06:002010-06-08T13:31:49.995-06:00

I made these cookies yesterday to give to someone and of course I saved a bunch for myself. Now I'm regretting that I didn't give them all away because I had 4 for breakfast and who knows how many more I will consume throughout the rest of the day. I love regular chocolate chip cookies and I love peanut butter so this is the perfect combination of both! Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies2

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-1655662168228714592010-06-01T09:14:00.003-06:002010-08-09T11:10:33.394-06:00

When I think of my grandma I think of yummy bars. I don't think I've ever gone to her house when she hasn't had a pan of these sitting in her kitchen. These bars are the perfect munchie treat and are seriously addicting. They're also super easy to make. We went to my parent's house for Memorial Day weekend and my mom had a pan of these made and sitting in her kitchen. So I guess the tradition has

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-90050664313823486922010-05-28T10:25:00.000-06:002010-05-28T10:25:52.515-06:00

Now I know that most of you probably already have this recipe or something really similar but this is such a yummy and easy-to-make dessert that I thought I would post it anyway. I've had different versions of this cake but this is my favorite one because it's so moist and gooey and seriously so simple to make! Skor Candy Bar Cake1 german chocolate cake mix + eggs, water, and oil specified on

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-74580717606448712362010-05-24T09:44:00.001-06:002010-05-24T09:45:55.229-06:00

Ok, so it has been snowing all morning and it looks like a winter wonderland outside...what is wrong with this picture??? I'm just glad it's supposed to be nice the rest of the week or this would seriously be depressing! Since it's snowing, I thought I would post a yummy recipe that I made last week when it was nice, sunny and warm outside. These stuffed pork chops are so good and easy to make. I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-66411213521573622072010-05-18T09:36:00.007-06:002010-10-05T09:43:15.095-06:00

My husband and I had some family and friends over the other day for a barbecue and I really wanted to make skewers for the occasion. I found this super yummy and super easy teriyaki sauce recipe from Our Best Bites that I used to marinate the bacon wrapped chicken and pineapple skewers. Wow! They were so good and everyone just loved them! My husband keeps telling me that we need to make them

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-43674663574650192192010-05-17T11:27:00.003-06:002010-05-17T11:40:49.313-06:00

For some strange reason I have been craving a really good sloppy joe for the past several months. I would have made some right away when I first started craving them but my husband told me that he thinks sloppy joes are gross. Well I decided that he must not have ever had a really good sloppy joe so I was determined to change his mind. I did a little recipe searching and finally ended up

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-66497757175717889722010-05-14T10:06:00.001-06:002010-05-14T10:07:56.955-06:00

I saw this recipe several months ago and I've been wanting to make it ever since. I don't normally make recipes like this but I thought that it would be fun to try something a little different. I made it for my husband and myself and we both really liked it! Since it was just the two of us we had leftovers and I seriously lived off of these for the next few days. I really like the combination of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-40361374860076957502010-05-12T08:45:00.001-06:002010-05-12T08:47:25.955-06:00

First off, I think these cookies are SO much better than store bought oreos. Don't get me wrong, I like store bought oreos, but these homemade oreos are so soft and yummy that I can't help liking them more. I made a double batch thinking they would last for awhile but no, they were gone way too quickly. I took a plate over to a family get together and I think everyone wished I would have brought

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-29466999856759861802010-05-10T09:05:00.000-06:002010-05-10T09:05:13.973-06:00

This is another amazing recipe from my sister-in-law Kristin. I made it for my husband and brother and we all loved it. This is one of those recipes that tastes like you spent a lot of time making it but it's actually really easy to prepare. If you decide to make this chicken (which you definitely should) I recommend serving it with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus, so delicious!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-83883252257298547562010-05-07T09:56:00.000-06:002010-05-07T09:56:19.618-06:00

I woke up this morning and I was starving! Unfortunately I've been procrastinating going to the grocery store so there was seriously nothing to eat. All I had was one egg so I looked through my recipes and found this breakfast cake which conveniently only called for one egg. It also looked simple to make so I went for it. The results were delicious! The cake was nice and fluffy and the streusel

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-56384313852601831042010-05-03T10:29:00.003-06:002010-05-17T11:42:33.693-06:00

My mom and I helped throw a baby shower for one of my good friends this last weekend and we were in charge of dessert and favors. We decided to make things easy for ourselves so we ordered bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes for the dessert. For the favors we made cake pops from bakerella. Both the bundtinis and the cake pops were SO yummy and they were just perfect for the shower! So I guess this

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-16870883489976318782010-04-30T13:35:00.001-06:002010-05-03T10:50:19.857-06:00

This is a really yummy and easy to make pasta salad. I love the color that the red grapes and craisins give to the salad and the creamy dressing is so good. This salad would be great for bridal or baby showers or even for a fun summer bbq. Chicken, Craisin and Bowtie Pasta Salad1 16oz. bag bowtie pasta, cooked according to package directions 4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed 3/4 cup craisins

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-55676475475371890812010-04-28T13:10:00.000-06:002010-04-28T13:10:16.583-06:00

One of my husband's and my favorite vegetables is sweet potatoes. Usually we bake them and top them with a little butter and brown sugar, so good, but sometimes it's nice to mix things up. So when I'm in the mood for something a little different I turn to this recipe that I got it from my sister-in-law Kristin. The light orange sauce is a perfect complement to the sweet potatoes and makes them

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-89398305184548834032010-04-26T11:42:00.000-06:002010-04-26T11:42:48.723-06:00

I am in love with these brownies! I have to admit that normally I prefer the box mixes when it comes to brownies but this recipe is definitely the exception! And these are no regular brownies, not only are they topped with creamy chocolate frosting, but they are filled with your choice of peanut butter cups or caramel filled chocolate bars. I mean does it get any better than this??? Ultimate

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-53821894846617878912010-04-22T09:30:00.002-06:002010-08-13T11:47:06.322-06:00

My aunt Amy gave me this recipe and it's delicious! I made it for a family get together last week and everyone loved it. I think my husband liked it the most because he kept going back for more and he said the only reason why he did eventually stop eating it was because we were having cake for dessert and he wanted to save room for that. This would make a great side for any bbq or summer dinner,

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-3269589263199348182010-04-20T07:54:00.002-06:002010-04-20T08:00:30.378-06:00

These bars are simply heaven! I got this recipe from the recipe club that I go to and this one is definitely a keeper. These bars take banana bread to a whole other level with the creamy, brown sugar cream cheese frosting. I had to have my husband take a few plates of these bars into work so that I wouldn't eat them all myself because they're so yummy and tempting! Banana Bars with Brown Sugar

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-77313915028091259572010-04-17T08:46:00.001-06:002010-04-17T08:49:45.527-06:00

This is my mother-in-law's recipe and it is by far my favorite chinese chicken salad recipe! I had it for the first time when my husband and I were dating and I have loved it ever since. I love it because it's simple and fresh and the light dressing gives it a great flavor. This is one of those salads that I always end up craving for days after I've had it! Chinese Chicken Tossed Salad1/2 lb. 

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-9573651378672227952010-04-15T10:15:00.000-06:002010-04-15T10:15:24.696-06:00

My husband is half Hawaiian and besides getting a cool new last name, I have absolutely LOVED learning about Hawaiian culture and traditions and getting great new recipes. Guava cake is a traditional Hawaiian recipe and it is one of my husband's favorite desserts. I've been wanting to make it myself for awhile so I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Mari. It's really easy to make and so yummy!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-56199755329967058302010-04-13T09:24:00.001-06:002010-04-13T09:25:37.451-06:00

I love barbecued chicken but sometimes I get sick of the bottled stuff. This is a great recipe for when I'm in the mood for something completely homemade. It's easy and delicious and I love combination of sweet and spicy. We had a beautiful spring day last week and so we got out the grill and made this chicken. It was absolutely perfect and made me even more anxious for summer! Sweet and Spicy

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-50134135851635314562010-04-11T09:48:00.001-06:002010-04-11T10:05:36.705-06:00

This is another delicious soup recipe that I got from my sister-in-law Mari. It's also one of those great soups where you can add all of your favorite toppings to it to make it just the way you want it. I love the flavor of this soup and the green enchilada sauce gives it a nice subtle, spicy kick. When I made it, I halved the recipe and it turned out perfectly. I used three chicken breasts when

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-43446129000523186542010-04-08T09:01:00.000-06:002010-04-08T09:01:35.785-06:00

This is a recipe that I got from my mother-in-law and I love it because it's super easy to make, it's healthy, and it's delicious! I sometimes get bored making chicken or beef every night so it's nice to do something a little different. The turkey is great because it's really nice and tender after marinating overnight. If you're having a BBQ this summer this would be a great alternative for

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-87765468279545579752010-04-06T16:30:00.002-06:002010-04-06T16:40:17.193-06:00

I have had this recipe probably since junior high and I'm kicking myself for not making it more often. I always look at it and then decide on making something else. Well, I just made these and oh my gosh I'm in love! I had forgotten how amazingly delicious these cookies are. I shouldn't be surprised because not only are they filled with chocolaty caramel goodness, but there is almond extract in

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-27914372353093692172010-04-05T09:35:00.000-06:002010-04-05T09:35:46.963-06:00

This is my aunt Lisa's recipe and I've really wanted to try it for awhile now. I finally made it last week and it was so yummy! This recipe is great because you can make it with any vegetable or pasta, whichever is your favorite. I made mine with peas and rainbow rotini. I also think it would be fun to try different sauces to go with this pasta. Classico has several different alfredo sauces so I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-79812167285827017632010-04-01T11:39:00.001-06:002010-04-05T15:20:48.154-06:00

I made this ice cream yesterday for my brother's birthday to go with his cake and everyone loved it! My dad who usually will only eat desserts if there's chocolate in it had two bowls. He told me that you know it must be really good if he, a "chocolate guy," went back for seconds. I'm more of a chocolate fan myself but this ice cream is absolutely delicious and I think it's a perfect treat for a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-24457356050379513592010-03-31T08:18:00.000-06:002010-03-31T08:18:57.139-06:00

So I guess this is a fairly common dish but my husband and I had actually never had it until just recently. After I made it I knew why this recipe or others like it are so popular...it's really good! It's also very easy to make and you can serve it with your favorite pasta or rice. I served it with multi-grain linguine and it was delicious!  So if you're like me and had never had this before, you

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-63232327918141849422010-03-30T09:38:00.000-06:002010-03-30T09:38:06.104-06:00

This recipe comes from my great grandma and it has always been one of my favorites. I'm not sure why it's called a salad because it's more of a casserole, but either way it's really good. It has a nice mild flavor (if you leave out the green pepper like I do) and can be made in advance so it's a great dish if you are short on time and want to prepare it the day before. This recipe feeds ten but

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-74976417818171077342010-03-26T10:13:00.001-06:002010-03-26T10:18:52.160-06:00

This is just a fun, simple recipe that I think would be great for kids. What makes it fun is that you can use any color/flavor of jell-o that you like to make these cookies. I used raspberry jell-o for the cookies pictured below. I also think these cookies would be great for a party where specific colors are being used because you can choose a jell-o color to match your party theme. Jell-o

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-34682146586266649932010-03-24T10:34:00.000-06:002010-03-24T10:34:26.176-06:00

This is another recipe from my cute friend Jessica (the one who did the design for this blog) and oh my gosh these brownies are good! This recipe is really similar to the Chocolate Caramel Bars that I posted earlier except for instead of having an oatmeal crust, this recipe has a brownie crust. I made these brownies last week and I think I ate at least half of the pan by myself. You would think

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009645136098343423.post-5475288958996432032010-03-23T09:15:00.001-06:002010-03-23T09:17:46.854-06:00

My wonderful husband made dinner for us last night and this is what he made. I always love it when he cooks because not only do I get a break, but everything he makes is always delicious. He also baked some sweet potatoes and made a spinach salad- the perfect sides for this dish. You can adjust the chili powder and red pepper in this recipe to make it more or less spicy. Personally I'm a medium

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15813374699309797687noreply@blogger.com2