One Pot Linguine alla Caprese

One-Pot Linguine alla Caprese

A few weeks ago I received a free trial of one of those food delivery services. I was excited to see bruschetta on the menu. I made the appetizer-sized portions thinking the kids would never dare try them and the hubby and I would have a nice little treat all to ourselves. But sadly that was not meant to be. Turns out my kids LOVE bruschetta. They ate every last bite, aside from the little taste I had while I was seasoning the dish with salt and pepper. The girls had asked me a few times to pick up the ingredients so they could make bruschetta again. So when I saw some particularly yummy-looking artisan tomatoes on sale last week, I picked up a several pints, along with some fresh French bread. Got home from the store, dropped …

Super Easy & Delicious Pumpkin Bread

Tasty Tuesday – Super Easy Pumpkin Bread

My family has become slightly obsessed with pumpkin bread. It calls to me when I walk near a Starbucks, and always seems to find its way into my cart at the grocery store. But purchasing pumpkin bread isn’t cheap when you have five little girls who will eat a whole loaf in one sitting. I discovered a pumpkin bread mix at the grocery store and it was an okay substitute for the store bought bread, not amazing, just okay. Last night I was having a major craving for some pumpkin bread, but the store was closed and I didn’t have a mix on hand so I pulled some things out of the pantry and decided to make my own version of pumpkin bread. I have to say it turned out …

fall giveaway

Welcome to Fall Giveaway: We are giving away $750 to Target OR Sephora

Now it’s time for a fabulous giveaway! To celebrate fall (well, it’s still in the 80-90s here in NC, but hopefully we will see some fall weather soon!) I’ve teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers to bring you this FABULOUS giveaway. You could win one of two prizes, either a $500 or $250 gift card to Target or Sephora (winner’s choice). Prize One $500 Target or Sephora Gift Card (winner’s choice) Prize Two $250 Target or Sephora Gift Card (winner’s choice) Enter to win the Welcome to Fall Giveaway Here’s how it works: Simply enter below by completing the Rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. There are 150 entries so I suggest breaking it up over a few days so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming! This giveaway is open …

Black-Bottom Cheesecake Bars

Black-Bottom Cheesecake Bars

“Black-Bottom Cheesecake Bars” has been sponsored by Ankarsrum Original USA but all photos, thoughts and opinions are my own. Over the years my sweet-tooth had diminished a lot. Now I find myself attracted to more savory foods like Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Jalapeno Sauce, Inside out Grilled Cheese, Iowa Pork Tenderloin sandwiches with Tangy Apple Slaw, just to name a few. But there is one dessert that gets me every time. Cheesecake. I just can’t resist it’s creamy deliciousness. So when I saw the newest Cook the Book with Denise and Jenni featured cheesecakes from Melanie Underwood’s book Making Artisan Cheesecake, I knew I couldn’t miss it. (You can watch the replay here.) Every cheesecake they made on the show looked amazing! But as soon as I saw the Black-Bottom Cheesecake bars I knew I …

Tasty Tuesday – Fresh Mozzarella and Sausage Frittata

Tasty Tuesday – Fresh Mozzarella and Sausage Frittata

It’s really tough to find something that my whole family will eat for breakfast. One hates bacon (if she didn’t look just like me I’d question her parentage), one doesn’t like most cheeses (ditto), one doesn’t like pancakes, several don’t like oatmeal… but they all love this frittata. It took me a little coaxing to get some of the girls to try this, but once they did they were hooked! Any time they see mozzarella and eggs in the fridge they ask me to make a frittata. It’s simple to make and you can easily substitute ingredients to customize it for each person… make it vegetarian, fill it full of meat, add roasted peppers, artichokes, swap out the cheese, anything you want! In case you aren’t familiar with what a …

Celebrate National Sandwich Month with these Tasty Creations

Celebrate National Sandwich Month with these Tasty Creations

Disclosure: I am part of the BJ’s Wholesale Club Blogger Ambassador program. “Celebrate National Sandwich Month with these Tasty Creations” is a sponsored post. Although I was supplied products and/or compensated for writing this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only recommend products or services I believe in and use myself. Did you know August is National Sandwich Month? My family has been eating a lot of sandwiches this month. Not because we are celebrating National Sandwich Month, but because I haven’t had time to actually cook! “Mom! What’s for dinner?” “I’m working. Make a sandwich.” “Not sandwiches again!!” “It’s that or go hungry.” “UGH!!!!” Between work, back to school shopping, unpacking from our move, and my firstborn heading off to college, August has been one of the toughest months for me. The only reason …

Back to School Shopping at Northlake Mall

Back to School Shopping at Northlake Mall

Disclosure: Back to School Shopping at Northlake Mall is a sponsored post. Although I was compensated by Starwood Retail Partners with a payment, product, or something else of value in exchange for writing this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  It’s that time of year again! (Need a little help with your back to school shopping? Enter to win a $50 Northlake Mall gift card using the form at the bottom of the post.) I don’t know about you, but I started the count down to back to school about two weeks after my kids last day of school. Summer usually drags on FOREVER. Although with our recent move, this summer seemed to fly by. Now everywhere you look you are reminded that school is starting soon (if it hasn’t already). Back to …

"Go outside and have fun!" Come home when the street lights come on.

Go outside and have fun!

Do you remember the “good old days” when you were told first thing in the morning to “go outside and have fun” and you played with your friends until the street lights came on? Go outside and have fun with your kids! Before you know it they are going to be grown and living on their own and you won’t have the opportunity to play with them any more.