Homemade Snow Cone Syrup

One of our favorite traditions in the summer is getting snow cones, but this year, I decided to change things up a bit and make our own with some homemade snow cone syrup to go with it!  The weather here in Utah where I live has been super hot lately so we’ve been splitting our time between going outside in the morning and staying inside in the afternoon. To beat the heat, we’ve been eating lots of popsicles and now we can add snow cones to the mix! I got this recipe in an old neighborhood cookbook that was given to me by a relative as a wedding gift, but it wasn’t until recently that I actually started going through it and trying out recipes. And let me tell you, this homemade snow cone syrup is a winner!

8

Galaxy Bars

What is it about outer space that is so fascinating to us?  Maybe it's the idea of the unknown or just the thought that there are things out there that we haven't seen, but know they are there, like giant stars and black holes.  From a young age, I remember learning about the planets, moon, stars and galaxies and finding it all so interesting.  My kids are getting to the age where they are experiencing the same wonder and it's been fun to relearn with them.  (I even got to tell my kids about how "when I was a kid, we had nine planets".  Talk about feeling old!)  Today I'm sharing a family recipe with you that I've adapted to go along with the space theme and I'm calling them Galaxy Bars.

9

Cinnamon Roll Bites for Two

One of the first things I learned to make in my 7th grade Home Ec class was a classic monkey bread using refrigerator biscuits, cinnamon, sugar and butter.  While I was familiar with baking and did it a lot at home, I'd never made these before and thought they were delicious, especially when eaten warm from the oven.  I found out quickly however, that monkey bread left to cool, sit and eat reheated was hard, crunchy and not nearly as good as fresh.  I've tried out different recipes for monkey bread over the years, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon one calling them cinnamon roll bites that a light went off in my head.  With a little bit of tweaking, I was able to create a recipe for cinnamon roll bites for two and the bonus is that they taste just as good when you reheat them. *wink*

9

Orange Creamsicle Cake with Orange Zest Cream Cheese Frosting

This cake almost didn't happen.  Between sick kids and feeling a little under the weather myself, this week completely slipped by and before I knew it, it was Thursday night and I realized that I had nothing, nothing, that I could share with you for this month's Year of Color theme of orange.  But my husband saved the day by running to the grocery store at 9pm last night and grabbing me some oranges and orange soda.  All so I could make this absolutely dreamy orange cake for you.  You're welcome. *wink*

14

Blueberry Peach Cobbler Cake

The week started out warm enough but today it's been cloudy and windy and rainy.  Fall is shoving its way in which means that's my cue to start wearing hoodies every day and feeling like I can bake more often since my house won't turn into a giant oven. *wink*  Truthfully, it's been a while since I shared a recipe and it's about darn time, wouldn't you say?  I've been keeping this one hidden up my sleeve until this time of year because it uses peaches, which are in season right now, and blueberries, which are delicious in desserts and especially with peaches.  I got this recipe from my sister in law who passed it along to me.  Every time I make it, I am never disappointed in the flavor and texture.  It's sweet without being overbearing and the fruit adds a nice burst with each bite.

13

Raspberry Cake Mix Cobbler

Last weekend, I had a hankering for a dessert that my mom used to make when I was growing up.  I can't tell you how many years it's been since I even had it, but all of a sudden, it sounded like the best thing in the world.  So I called my mom who immediately knew what I was talking about.  I got ready to write down the ingredients but the list was so short I didn't even have time to grab my pen. "3 ingredients?"  I asked her.  "Are you sure?"  She assured me that was all and with disbelief I finished the call.

12

The BEST Zucchini Brownies

When my husband and I bought our home a few years ago, we knew we wanted to make space in the backyard for a garden.  The first year, we grew cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, carrots and (my favorite) zucchini.  At one point, I ended up with a zucchini that was as long as my arm from my elbow to the tips of my fingers!  That is a ton of zucchini my friends.  And what do you do when you have ridiculous amounts of zucchini?  Make some amazingly easy, yummy, chocolate-y zucchini brownies with melt in your mouth, gooey frosting of course!

24

Lemon Squares

When my husband and I were first dating in college, he invited me to a get together with all of his best friends and their wives/girlfriends.  I was a little nervous because these were his best friends and I wanted them to like me.  So what did I do?  Well, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach so I decided I would make a treat to bring and share.  Out of all the recipes I could have chosen, I chose one of my best tried and true desserts: lemon squares.  It didn't hurt that my then-boyfriend, soon-to-be-husband's favorite desserts are anything lemon.  I wasn't going to take any chances. *wink*

Long story short, his friends all liked me and all the wives/girlfriends wanted my lemon squares recipe.  Win-win!

39

Easy Strawberry Pie

We had strawberry pie a lot growing up because everyone in my family, especially my younger sister, loves strawberries.  Whenever my mom made it, she used a pre-made pie crust and store bought glaze.  Super easy and super fast.  Since then, I've found what I think is just as fast and easy, if not more so.  Instead of a pre-made pie crust that has to be baked, I use a shortbread crust.  Instead of store-bought glaze, which can be pricey, I use strawberry gelatin as a base for the glaze.  So yummy and so fast.

0

Carrot Cookies

As I started pulling the ingredients out to make these cookies, my daughter asked me what I was making.  I told her "carrot cookies" and she said, "Yum!  I love those!  I haven't ever tried them, but I like cookies!"  I like her logic.  *wink*

0

White Chocolate Dipped Oreos

I've been doing some thinking lately about an easy treat I could make for my daughter's Valentine's Day party at preschool.  Since it's her party, I also wanted to have it be something that she could help me make so she felt a part of it.  This morning, I was looking in the pantry and spotted a package of Oreos and had an idea: white chocolate dipped Oreos!  Yummy and easy.

0

My FAVORITE Roll and Cut Cookies

I love to bake, especially yummy treats.  My husband is not so much of a treat guy.  It took a little time for me to figure this out after we first got married and I'd make what I thought was a delicious dessert, only to have him take a tiny bite to appease me.  It hurt my feelings and one day I asked him why he didn't like to eat any of my desserts.  Well, it turns out he's more into fruity desserts, candy or ice cream shakes, so what I was making wasn't bad, it just wasn't what he preferred.  Now, I've learned to either half dessert recipes or make sure and share them with my friends and neighbors.

However, one recipe that my husband and kids LOVE are these cookies I learned to make growing up.  For sake of a better name, they were called "Good Roll and Cut Cookies".  Creative?  No.  Descriptive?  Yes.  These cookies are perfect for...you guessed it: rolling out and cutting with cookie cutters.  I can't count the number of times I've made these, but I would venture to say I've made them more than any other cookie recipe I own.  The reason is that they are super simple, they make a decent amount and you can use them any time of year.  They are definitely my go-to for cookie cutter cookies.

Let's get started!

5

Pumpkin Gingersnap Cookies

My mom loves gingersnap cookies so I grew up eating them.  There is something about the ginger and the molasses together rolled in sugar that just makes me happy.  My mom also loves pumpkin pie and has been known to make it any time of the year so I grew up eating pumpkin pie year round.  I love the way that pumpkin and spices smell and taste together and it always reminds me of fall.  So when I stumbled upon this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod for pumpkin gingersnaps about four years ago, I knew I had to try them.  And let me tell you, I was not disappointed!  I've brought these cookies to many a holiday party and everyone loves them.  Even people who don't like pumpkin or gingersnaps, like my brother-in-law, have requested them multiple times.  They are perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday treats or just something yummy to munch on at home.  I love that they are not your typical pumpkin cookie, but they still bring the warmth of pumpkin and spices into your holiday baking (and kitchen).

3

Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Let me just start out by saying that I love peanut butter.  I'll scoop it out of the container and eat it straight off the spoon.  Peanut butter and jam sandwich with extra crunchy peanut butter?  Yum.  But I especially love peanut butter in desserts.  This recipe I'm about to share with you today is one of my favorites and the bonus is that they are super quick and easy to make.

0