Recipe Review: Paula Deen’s Gorilla Bread

November 3, 2010 by · 6 Comments
Filed under: breakfast ideas, desserts, fancy made easy, recipe reviews 
Link to Recipe Review: Paula Deen’s Gorilla Bread

My husband saw this recipe this past weekend, and he insisted on making it.  His mom usually makes monkey bread for Christmas morning, and it is a serious favorite.  Gorilla bread is apparently  monkey bread on steroids...meaning the sweet biscuit bites are filled with cream cheese and cinnamon sugar. I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that it is a 5 out of 5, a 10 out of 10, and 100%!  I was going to take off points for the high calorie content, but these little nuggets of deliciousness are just too good.  And I just can't make myself care because...

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Mojito Love

June 13, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: beverage recipes, recipe reviews 
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I have loved mojitos for as long as I can remember.  I have always tried to make them by some recipe I found online or in a cocktail book, but it just was not good.  We have SOOO much mint that grew back this year, so I really felt the pressure more than ever to make a good mojito.  It didn't help my cravings when we were at the beach one day, and my sister-in-law mentioned how a cabana boy would make our little (almost) private beach perfect.  Because it so nearly is perfect already.  No high rise condos, no...

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Tropical Fusion Salad with Spicy Tortilla Ribbons

Link to Tropical Fusion Salad with Spicy Tortilla Ribbons

My version of this recipe is based on the April/May Taste of Home magazine.  After being sick and out of the kitchen for so long, I needed some inspiration.  Something new and tasty and fabulous.  I wandered around for awhile and just when I thought I was getting my swagger back, our kitchen was overtaken by ants.   Hoards of them.  Every. Where.  Even in my spice cabinet!  All of my spices have been on the dining room table for weeks while we tried to get rid of these varmints.  We finally resorted to calling a professional after using way more...

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The Vegetarian Memoirs: Double Chocolate Balsamic Cookies

February 12, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: desserts, recipe reviews, vegan, you have got to try this! 
Link to The Vegetarian Memoirs: Double Chocolate Balsamic Cookies

I haven't made cookies in a long time.  I love them, but we have a plethora of kids who sell stuff for their schools, and Joe loves to buy the cookie dough.  That is obviously not good for us, but Joe just can't say no to the little buggers.  When I came across this recipe that didn't involve a mixer, I had to try them pronto.  I made the first recipe below because they were lower in fat and I thought I liked cakier cookies like Susan described them.  It turns out, I like a lot more crunch...

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Vegetarian Memoirs: Ethiopian-Inspired Lentil Stew

Link to Vegetarian Memoirs: Ethiopian-Inspired Lentil Stew

I tried this tonight, and it is DELICIOUS. The spices really make this, so try not to leave too many out. Red lentils have become my new favorite protein source, but you could use regular ones and this would be just as tasty. My official review of this is a 5 out of 5 because it was a one pot meal, it was full of flavor, and it was low in fat. I added carrots because I had some from the organic produce store, and I thought they would be good. They were. If you don't...

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“Pumpkin Cheesecake” or “The Best Thing Ever!”

November 23, 2009 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: desserts, recipe reviews 
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This comes straight out of The Taste of Home Cookbook.  I don't know why I was always wary of cheesecakes.  Perhaps it was the disastrous efforts of trying to make my mom's famous fudge.  Candy is a real doozy.  But I will perfect my mom's fudge this year.  And of course I'll be sharing the recipe.  Also look forward to some Martha Washington balls from my mom's friend Ruby this Christmas. I write this as my heart breaks about my oven.  The coil caught on fire earlier tonight, and I almost cried.  Especially since I had just deposited an Enchilada Verde...

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New Orleans Bread Pudding from Dooky Chase

November 16, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: desserts, recipe reviews 
Link to New Orleans Bread Pudding from Dooky Chase

Holy crap, y'all! This is going to make you want to slap your grandma it is so good. My mom found this recipe from a Southern Living magazine. When she was making it the first time for herself, she talked about all the ingredients over the phone. And it became my mission to get a copy of this fabulous thing. She's made it several times since, and she has started calling the bourbon sauce "dooky sauce." Yes, Maxine is a trip. I tried it out this past weekend, and we liked it so much that...

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