Hot Fudge Cupcakes

Ahhhh....a new year, a time for resolutions and rigorous diets and workout plans.  It seems like everyone resolves to lose weight and workout more or become a nicer person or spend more time with their family.  The sad part is, by February, most people forget about their resolutions or give up altogether.  I'd like to offer you a chance to take part in a resolution that is sure to be a success...a resolution that I can certainly handle as well.  EAT MORE CUPCAKES!!!  You can start with these...

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

Most of you already know, I am temporarily a stay-at-home mom.  Let me say this, it is TEMPORARY.  I am currently in the process of jumping through hoops for the Florida Department of Health to renew my Massage Therapy License.  Let me also say that my hat goes off to ALL stay-at-home moms.  It is hard work, there is never a government regulated break after so many hours on the job and it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.  I have learned a lot of things about my toddler.  He's way too smart, he climbs on everything, he can find Sharpie markers when I thought we had none and he has a very intricate filing system.  I did not know, until recently, that the couch stores Cheerios and my laundry basket stores everything else...but only in the very bottom.  On any given day, if a household item is missing, I have learned that it is most likely in the laundry basket.  Just this morning we found daddy's missing car remote, daddy's belt, mardi gras beads, daddy's work laminates...you get the point. 

Staying at home has also given me the opportunity to cook more, craft more and relax more.  I still hate grocery shopping, so at 5:00pm yesterday, I realized I had NOTHING to make for dinner.  Well, almost nothing.  You see, this is where the most delicious meals are created...out of necessity or laziness.  I'll say necessity.  Vegetarians beware...this one is NOT FOR YOU!!

Stella Artois Chili

I've been making chili for a long time.  It's one of those dishes that you first learn how to make and then spend years trying to perfect.  I think I finally perfected mine this time, with a little help from my friend Stella.  You see, we had a friend visiting for our wedding a few weeks ago, and he loves Stella Artois.  He drank a few, giggled on the couch, fell asleep, and ultimately forgot that he shoved two behind the milk jug.  Oh lucky day.  I love beer, but I don't drink often.  So, there Stella sat...behind the milk jug for two weeks.  I consumed one when I was making my Chocolate Covered Turtles post.  Because, ya know, chocolate and beer go together so well.  The other went into the most mouth-watering, satisfying, crave-inducing chili I have EVER made.  EVER.  So, here's to the perfect batch of chili, laced with Ms. Stella Artois.

Simple Stromboli

Something about Sundays feels right to me.  I'm not talking about the running around helter-skelter type of Sunday where you're trying to figure out this week's meal plan while juggling laundry and getting the family ready for the week.  I'm talking about "Lazy Sundays".  The type of day where no one in the family gets out of their PJ's.  The one filled with good movies and family naps, if you're lucky (like me).  Yesterday was that type of day for us.  We just finished up a LONG, ridiculous week of work where we only got to see each other in passing.  Not cool.  So, yesterday was our day...nothing on the agenda except relaxation.  And stromboli.

We have a favorite restaurant in Montgomery called Mr. G's.  Every time we go, my husband orders the stromboli.  It's the size of Texas.  Yes, he eats the whole thing.  Anyway, I've had the intention to make stromboli for some time now, it's just never come to fruition...until yesterday.  I don't know why I didn't make it a million times before.  It was so simple and so good and the leftovers accompanied us to work today.  I suggest you don't follow my example and make a stromboli today....now as a matter of fact.  Do it!!

Chocolate Covered Turtles

The day is finally here!! Today, I am a guest blogger on Frosting for the Cause.  This website is a gem among many, many charitable websites and causes.  I encourage everyone to make a donation to an organization, locally or nationally, that helps fund research for cancer.  Nearly every one I know has been affected in one way or another, losing a family member or someone close to them.  Please, reach out in your community and do what you can.  What you may consider a small donation, is a huge stepping stone in the future of cancer research.  It's not always about a monetary donation, volunteering is a great way to help out, too!  My post today is about Mrs. Sylvia Richardson.  Please, go read my post, donate if you can, and get out there and make a difference!  You can view my post at Frosting for the Cause.

Baked Chicken Alfredo

I haven't posted in a while, over a month to be exact.  I promise, there is a good reason for this.  You see, there was this guy, a prince charming of sorts and he convinced me to marry him.  Being the type of woman that I am, I spent time fretting over details, tying up last minute ideas, and worrying over every possible thing imaginable. I did not spend much time cooking.  Terrible idea.  While I enjoyed the break from the dishes, I never enjoy a break from making a homemade meal.  We ate at lots of wonderful, delicious restaurants.  I did NO dishes. Yet, with all these delicious, care-free meals I still wanted to get back to normal.  Back to cooking.

On September 17th at 6:00 pm, I married my prince charming and continued on the journey to my happily ever after.  It was a beautiful day with LOTS of wonderful food and great times spent with family and friends.  It is a day that will forever remain bittersweet to me, a day that is precious, a day when I married the man who forever changed my life.

We've been back home for a little over a week now, and I wasted no time getting back into the kitchen...with new gadgets, no less.    So here is my apology for being gone so long.  I made you one of my family favorites, Baked Chicken Alfredo.  I hope you forgive me.

Mushroom and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts

All you mushroom haters go ahead...say it...Yuck, gross, ewwwwwwwww.  Feel better?  Ok, for the rest of us "normal" folks, let's control our urges to lick the computer screen.  I wasn't always a mushroom lover but now it seems I can't get enough.  I want to put them on everything. 

My family had quite an adventurous outing yesterday with wedding shopping.  On the way home, with the mini me quietly snoozing in the back, I got a familiar craving.  Mushrooms.  And Cheese.  Like, I've said before, my family is only a few chicken dinners away from growing feathers and clucking, so it was only natural for me to want to pair this insatiable craving for mushrooms and cheese with some chicken.  Don't anyone dare to tell me it's "too cheesy" or I will put you in a straight jacket myself.