Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe (AKA Cake Mix Cookies)Cookie Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Edible Gift Recipes, Recipes
This recipe for gooey butter cookies is courtesy of my friend Debbie who makes these yummies for her annual Christmas party. Debbie is from St. Louis where gooey butter cake is a local staple...Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe (AKA Cake Mix Cookies)... »
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Recipes
Mini pizzas recipe using cookie cutters and wheat tortillasDinner Recipes, Kid-friendly Recipes, Lunch Recipes, Recipes
Mini pizzas have quickly become a dinnertime staple at our house. They're just so cute and easy to make, and Elise can help with the recipe. The final mini pizzas are about 2-1/2 in...Mini pizzas recipe using cookie cutters and wheat tortillas... »
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Sweet potato crackers recipe – easy, healthy recipe for kidsBaby & Kids, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Snack Recipes
I've been making this sweet potato cracker recipe again and again since Thanksgiving's sweet potato leftovers and I think it's high time I passed along this yummy kid-friendly crackers recipe. Elise has become my...Sweet potato crackers recipe – easy, healthy recipe for kids... »
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Chalkboard lids for baby food jarsBaby & Kids, Recipes, Recycled Crafts, Under $10, Under 1 Hour
Elise is eating solid foods now so I've entered the Land of Frozen and Leftover Baby Food. With my brain still set on 'sleep deprived,' I put my chalkboard obsession to good use with...Chalkboard lids for baby food jars... »
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Grandma Beulah’s Rice Pancakes from Leftover Chinese TakeoutBreakfast Recipes, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Recycled Crafts, Vintage Inspired
Along with homemade egg noodles, chocolate pie and fresh-off-the-vine concord grape juice, rice pancakes were my Grandma Beulah's specialty. My parents were in town to help us take care of new baby Elise and...Grandma Beulah’s Rice Pancakes from Leftover Chinese Takeout... »
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Australian Weet-Bix Banana Chocolate Chunk MuffinsBreakfast Recipes, Edible Gift Recipes, Kid-friendly Recipes, Muffin Recipes, Recipes, Snack Recipes
It’s been 10 years now since I lived in Sydney, Australia. Recently we received a gift box (yay!) filled with heaps of Australian beer and food – including my favorite biscuits, Arnott’s shortbreads -...Australian Weet-Bix Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins... »
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Flower-Topped Birthday Cake With Chocolate IcingDessert Recipes, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes
During our recent weekend visit in northern Michigan, my friend Jennie and her two girls made this flower-topped chocolate iced birthday cake for me. Pretty, yes? Ten-year-old Elizabeth did much of the baking, mixing...Flower-Topped Birthday Cake With Chocolate Icing... »
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Canning label templateDIY Gift Ideas, Free Printable, Home, Recipes
Canning has been a theme the past few weeks so I'm excited to share these free canning labels with you inspired by A Sonoma Garden. It all started with a canning night from iheartcrafting,...Canning label template... »
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Spinach, Ham and Parmesan QuicheBreakfast Recipes, Lunch Recipes, Recipes
I'm not sure what it is about spring but I go into quiche mode. I noticed the other day at Lovely Bakery that quiche was on the menu, so I decided to make one...Spinach, Ham and Parmesan Quiche... »
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Vodka Infusion Party and Hangover Cure FavorDecorations & Favors, Free Printable, Inspiration, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes
Za Vas! Heather Crosby and I continued the Upper Crust Social Club event series by co-hosting a Russian-inspired vodka infusion party. Guests brought their own homemade vodka infusions ...such a range of tasty concoctions...Vodka Infusion Party and Hangover Cure Favor... »
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Peanut Butter & Jelly Mac and Cheese – 4th Place!!Baby & Kids, Lunch Recipes, Recipes, Sides Recipes
Updated: I found out that I got 4th place beating not only Stephanie Izard, Top Chef winner, but also Roger Herring, chef and owner of Socca in Chicago. Hip hip! Peanut butter & jelly...Peanut Butter & Jelly Mac and Cheese – 4th Place!!... »
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Handsewn fabric tea bags for loose tea favorsDecorations & Favors, DIY Gift Ideas, Free Patterns, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes, Sewing Projects, Under $10, Under 1 Hour, Weddings
I'm posting the free tutorial for how to make sewn fabric teabags for loose tea by request. Jessica Mullen wrote: "I saw your beautiful photos from the tea party and I have a quick...Handsewn fabric tea bags for loose tea favors... »
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Bacon pancakesRecipes, Under $10, Under 1 Hour
Lucky for me that magazines in my doctor's office are hopelessly out-of-date. I hit a goldmine during a recent appointment by seeing this bacon pancake idea in an old issue of Martha Stewart Living....Bacon pancakes... »
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Toasted Coconut Chocolate Valentine Dessert with Cacoa NibsDessert Recipes, Edible Gift Recipes, Holidays, Recipes, Valentine's Day, Winter
While I've never been much of a Valentine's Day girl, I've always been a big fan of coconut and chocolate. I made these special treats by modifying a recipe from an Australian cookbook. //...Toasted Coconut Chocolate Valentine Dessert with Cacoa Nibs... »
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Upper Crust Social Club Ladies’ Late-Night Tea PartyDecorations & Favors, Inspiration, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes, Showers
My ever-so-creative friend and frequent partner-in-crime Heather Crosby came up with a festive idea that encapsulates the two things we like best -- making things and spending time with friends -- by creating the...Upper Crust Social Club Ladies’ Late-Night Tea Party... »
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Seared scallop on parmesan crisps appetizerAppetizer Recipes, Recipes
I'm a shameless sucker for all things seafood. So when I stumbled upon this recipe in an old cookbook of mine when looking for easy appetizers for guests, I had to give this tasty...Seared scallop on parmesan crisps appetizer... »
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Homemade marshmallowsDessert Recipes, DIY Gift Ideas, Edible Gift Recipes, Holidays, Recipes, Under $10
Today we're going to learn how to make marshmallows using a really easy marshmallow recipe - it's a yummy DIY gift and you can always make some extras for yourself. Lately I've developed a...Homemade marshmallows... »
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Pumpkin banana breadBreakfast Recipes, Fall, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Snack Recipes
Shane and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary with an autumn weekend in Wisconsin. Along with the pumpkins, colorful leaves, fresh apple cider and antiques, I picked up this tasty recipe for pumpkin banana...Pumpkin banana bread... »
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Eyeball lychee ice cubes for Halloween martinisDrink Recipes, Fall, Halloween, Holidays, Recipes
In the past five years or so, it seems like Halloween has gone bonkers in the DIY area. From costumes to cupcakes to candy, it's a holiday ripe for creepy crafting. The always stylish...Eyeball lychee ice cubes for Halloween martinis... »
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Mac and cheese bacon cupsLunch Recipes, Recipes, Sides Recipes
The Fulton Market area of Chicago where I work is filled with food wholesale companies - fish, meat, eggs, butter, ...and (xoxo) bacon. This week I walked into Meadow Brook Egg Company and walked...Mac and cheese bacon cups... »
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Chocolate tasting tour of ChicagoInspiration, Recipes
Anyone who works in the Fulton Market area on a windy day can attest that Chicago's long standing candy and chocolate history is still thriving. For his sister's recent Chicago weekend visit Joseph Dombroski...Chocolate tasting tour of Chicago... »
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“Summer to Fall” Berry Cider SmoothieBreakfast Recipes, Drink Recipes, Fall, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Snack Recipes, Summer
While Monday is the official first day of fall the best thing about Chicago is that summer days usually extend way into September. It's 80 degrees today and I just spent the afternoon at...“Summer to Fall” Berry Cider Smoothie... »
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Campfire cookiesCookie Recipes, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Summer
Hot Indiana summers spent at Camp Na Wa Kwa seeded my campfire obsession. The idea for this one has been in my head for a while, and I couldn't stop thinking about it while...Campfire cookies... »
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Mussels in BrothAppetizer Recipes, Recipes
Inspired by our recent trip to Seattle I've been waiting for the right night to try to replicate the fantastic manila clams in broth that we ate there. I took a lunchtime walk over...Mussels in Broth... »
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Star Sugar CookiesCookie Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Fourth of July, Kid-friendly Recipes, Recipes, Summer
It could have been the yummy flavor, the scraggly homemade cuteness or the cold beer that made these star cookies fly off the platters at Shane's Fourth of July birthday BBQ. The icing in...Star Sugar Cookies... »
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Ice cube shot glassesParties & Birthdays, Recipes, Under $10
So I had a semi-bad day at work today. What better time than now to try out my super classy silicone ice cube shot glass mold for the first time. Supplies: Ice Cube Shot...Ice cube shot glasses... »
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Personalized birthday rhubarb berry pieDessert Recipes, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes, Summer
Growing up in upstate New York, Shane loved his grandmother Myrtle's rhubarb and berry pies in the summertime. So this year for his birthday I decided to make a pie instead of a cake....Personalized birthday rhubarb berry pie... »
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Friday Inspiration: Fulton Seafood and Meat MarketsInspiration, Recipes
Who says there's no good fresh seafood in Chicago? Stepping inside L Isaacson & Stein Fish Market to buy ingredients for Shane's Fourth of July birthday BBQ was a revelation. I've heard about this...Friday Inspiration: Fulton Seafood and Meat Markets... »
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Indoor SmoresRecipes, Under $10, Under 1 Hour
So it's pouring outside right now and I'm craving a smore. Luckily, living in a locale with nine long months of winter has allowed me to perfect the art of indoor smores. And the...Indoor Smores... »
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Tasty marinade recipe for grilling chicken, pork, fish or veggie kabobsDinner Recipes, Marinade/Sauce Recipes, Recipes
Memorial Day in Chicago means one thing: grilling! Here's an easy, very tasty and relatively healthy marinade recipe for chicken, pork, fish or veggie kabobs, courtesy of Merriment reader Jen Martensen who created and...Tasty marinade recipe for grilling chicken, pork, fish or veggie kabobs... »
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Custom, personalized cookbooksInspiration, Recipes
Mother's Day is quickly coming up and so I thought I'd post a unique idea: custom, personalized cookbooks with all your family's favorite recipes from Tastebook.com. Build a cookbook using recipes from Simply Recipes...Custom, personalized cookbooks... »
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Rainy Day Green Pea SoupLunch Recipes, Recipes, Soup Recipes
Here's one of my favorite it's-a-rainy-day-and-I-am-low-on-groceries recipe: Green pea soup with toasted baguette slices. It's a healthy, low fat, non-dairy recipe from Ellie Krieger, one of my favorite Food Network chefs. 1 teaspoon olive...Rainy Day Green Pea Soup... »
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St. Patrick’s Day Personalized Pot PiesDinner Recipes, Holidays, Lunch Recipes, Recipes, Spring, St. Patrick's Day
So I thought of something to do with my mini alphabet cookie cutters. I simplified a more intensive version that Simply Recipes adapted from a Marshall Field's cookbook. Chicago *knows* St. Patrick's Day. //...St. Patrick’s Day Personalized Pot Pies... »
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Engagement Party Alphabet CookiesCookie Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Edible Gift Recipes, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes, Weddings
We co-hosted a couple's BBQ last July to celebrate the engagement of my friend Heather (H) and her fiance Noah (N). Our co-hostess Michelle Platts scored by bringing these festive romantic sugar cookies that...Engagement Party Alphabet Cookies... »
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Kitchen Sink FrittataBreakfast Recipes, Recipes
I first saw the frittata concept at Simply Recipes. The great thing about a frittata is you can really throw pretty much anything into it and it will still taste good and look like...Kitchen Sink Frittata... »
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Hearty Soups for Cold Winter DaysRecipes
To celebrate Valentine's Day, Shane and I took a cooking class at Sur La Table. While the classes there aren't as hands-on as our beloved, defunct Calphalon Culinary Center Cooking Classes, the personable instructor...Hearty Soups for Cold Winter Days... »
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Monogrammed coffee insulator wrapAccessories, DIY Gift Ideas, Earth Day, Free Patterns, Recipes, Recycled Crafts, Sewing Projects, Under $10, Under 1 Hour
So I was pretty excited about the success of the campfire coffee insulator wrap and decided to make a monogrammed coffee insulator wrap for my sister Krista. Perfect for coffee/tea/cocoa drinkers and the eco-friendly,...Monogrammed coffee insulator wrap... »
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Poppy Fall Themed Wedding CakeRecipes, Weddings
++ UPDATED: See our retro poppy wedding cake featured on an episode of 'Amazing Wedding Cakes Season 2' on WeTV!! Part of We Go Bridal Night. ++ Honestly, I'm not typically a cake type...Poppy Fall Themed Wedding Cake... »
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Gourmet Popcorn BarDecorations & Favors, Edible Gift Recipes, Kid-friendly Recipes, Parties & Birthdays, Recipes, Snack Recipes
As part of my Rooftop Outdoor Movie Night Birthday Party I created a gourmet popcorn bar. It was a big hit! Supplies: 8.5"x11" red and yellow paper Admit One tickets (at Party City) Paper...Gourmet Popcorn Bar... »
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