family + travel + lifestyle + wellness
I’ve never described myself as a ‘baker’ but I would definitely describe myself as an ‘eater’. Last year, I found a chocolate bundt cake described as ‘fool proof’, this was intriguing to me as a novice baker and someone who loves chocolate cake. It’s now my favorite chocolate cake recipe and great news, it’s actually simple to follow the recipe and make! I’ve made it a few times since I first tasted it at my friend’s house. The recipe is from A Bountiful Kitchen.
click image for recipe ^
I love peppermint desserts this time of year and these chocolate peppermint Christmas cookies are some of my favorites! The ‘frosting’ is a melted Andes mint and they’re great with just the melted chocolate or you can top with crushed candy canes, sprinkles or other Christmas candies. These are cake mix cookies, very easy, require few ingredients, and are delicious! 
We’ve moved around quite a bit (ok, 10 times in 10 years of marriage!) and we recently started a new tradition we do shortly after moving in; it’s a fun way to make instant friends: dessert night!
We usually invite 5-10 families/couples from church and sometimes it’s just people we’ve only seen at church and have never met or have briefly talked to. It’s a great way to enjoy each other’s company, meet new people, and have delicious desserts. Ours are super casual on a Sunday night after dinner time. We usually make 4-5 desserts.
This last dessert night we hosted we made raspberry lemonade tarts, symphony brownies, lemon white chocolate chip cookies, and peach cobbler (with Blue Bell Vanilla Bean ice cream).
I could actually eat this salad all year around but it’s especially nice in the summer because it’s served cold. I love that it includes fresh fruit and also protein (chicken). It can be prepared before hand, made in large quantities and tastes great as leftovers. I got this recipe from my mother in law and have made it a ton since we got married 10 years ago.
Happy Friday and weekend! We made it!
Hosting a tea party? Check out this scone recipe.
I’ve been reading about how to epoxy a garage floor (exciting, I know!) Anyone have experience doing this – any tips?
My current favorite recipe for roasted butter garlic carrots! Disclosure: all the recipes I use and post here are simple ones that basically anyone can make, with 2 little kids I don’t have much time to cook 🙂
and a little motivation:
I would love a fox as a pet, my corgi is the next best thing 😉 check out this amazing fox sanctuary
The easiest way to clean a dirty microwave – lemons optional 😉
Soccer kit + Game of Thrones mashup
My favorite Mexican rice recipe I’ve made at least a dozen times since finding it
More makeup tips when being photographed (previous tips posted here) – “make up will photograph 2 shades lighter”
Jen Holtkamp 