Tag Archives: Oregon

Sweets: Desserts

valentine’s day cake pops

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Feb 1, 2011.

In honor of National Cake Pop Day, I had to share this throwback to 2011!

My non-baby days are absolutely impossible to imagine. Honestly, there is no way I would use up my precious “free time” to make cake pops ever again, haha!

But those days were a blast. Remember, Bakerella and I go way back. #winkwink

She has dozens and dozens of ideas, beautiful creations and tips on how to make the best cake pops. There’s no way I could duplicate it and no reason to! Click to check out her site.

Happy February and Happy Cake Pop Day!!

Sweets: Cookies & Bars

ritz-rolo cookies

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Okay, I made these a long time ago and got other people hooked on them, too… so this is a must-share!

There are no Rolos in Ecuador that I know of, buuuut I had Mike bring down a bag on his last Stateside trip a few weeks ago so I totally need to make these again soon.

I couldn’t find where I found these originally so I went on a hunt. I’m annoyingly careful about giving credit where its due but it’s also in turn annoying to find blog after blog that credits the next that credits the next, etc. I THINK the original creator was ‘s? Good grief. This is why I like cookbooks. Oh I miss my cookbooks…

Anyway! I’m not kidding about these! All skeptics shut their mouths after they experience the perfect blend of chocolate-y sweet and cracker-y salty. Plus, I only share recipes I like on here, so just trust me.

All you do is:

  1. Preheat to 350 F.
  2. Place crackers (salty side down) on baking sheet.
  3. Put a rolo in center of each cracker.
  4. Bake in oven until soft enough to easily squish down but not too melted or that just gets messy.
  5. Remove from oven and place another cracker (salty side up) on each. 
  6. Press down until Rolo reaches edge of cracker.

You can even make one at a time, but who would do that. ;) You need at least 20 at a time, ha.

One note – the couple times I made these we preferred them hardening for much longer than says (till they’re cool). It really can be eaten at any time, but we enjoyed it more after several hours (I know, torture, right). Whatever you prefer!

P.S. These will totally work for high-altitude dwellers. Nothing to it!

Sweets: Cookies & Bars

pumpkin swirl brownies

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Nov 14, 2010.

Original post:

I started preparing these way too close to the time we needed to leave the house the other evening that I was scurrying around like a crazy lady trying to get them into the oven in record time.  I probably did set a record!!

I literally pulled them out of the oven, put them where the rest of the family couldn’t see them and left the house.  I didn’t get to enjoy them till the next morning, but it was worth the wait!

I borrowed the recipe from and adapted it slightly.

You can print it .

Sweets: Cookies & Bars

white chocolate-dipped cranberry-oatmeal cookies

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 23, 2010.

From Original Post:

Whew!  Long name.  But turns out not that difficult to make…plus they’re pretty!

It’s basically a normal cookie recipe made fancy by the dipped look. ;)

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Sides: Veggies

herbed wild rice

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Mar 24, 2012.

Original post:

As I’m sitting on my couch trying to stay awake, I thought I’d share another recipe with you.  The hubby comes home from warm, sultry Atlanta in a bit.  Fortunately, we live close enough to the airport, I can just leave when he lands.

Anyway, the recipe!  It was a couple days before a long-planned potluck was upon us that I even realized, “oh, I need to make something for that…”  I went to work trying to figure out what I could make that would keep since I had to be at a rehearsal 2 hours before the dinner began.  Then it hit me – duh, the crock pot!

Scattered throughout all my cookbooks are, of course, many slow cooker recipes.  However, my favorite is a whole  magazine devoted to a range of slow cooker recipes.  And, me being me, I can hardly stand repeating recipes so I went on a hunt for a new one.  Obviously, I landed on this wild rice dish.  It was ridiculously easy to prepare and had good responses from the eaters, so high five to !  This one is a keeper.

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Sweets: Cookies & Bars

white elephant fortune cookies

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 18, 2010.

Mike and I have hosted some sort of Christmas party since the year we began dating [2007]. Last year was the smallest – a dinner with close friends – as I was over 8 months pregnant and not up to putting on a big one!

A couple of the parties stand out in my memory and 2010 is one of those. I went baking crazy!

These were my favorite things I made though. There was a White Elephant exchange and I tried to think up a new way of drawing numbers, something to change things up a bit.

Each person received a fortune cookie – they got a yummy treat AND their White Elephant turn number.

And just for fun, I put some Christmas jokes in about 10 of them so the recipient could read them aloud to the group before they took their turn.

It was great fun.

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Sweets: Pies & Cakes

classic pecan pie

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Oct 16, 2012.

Original Post:

It’s been a while since I shared a recipe and here is a classic!  It’s officially Autumn and we are socially free to make soups, stews, pumpkin & pecan pies, and so much more.

But I should probably admit to you that I made this in August.  ;)  If I have ANY time at all this Fall, when we’re not traveling, I have so many soups that are calling my name.  We’ll see about them…but for now, here is a very traditional recipe for super sweet Pecan Pie.  It was actually the first pecan pie I’d ever made and was pleased with the results.  The crust edge was also an experiment and I wasn’t as thrilled with that idea’s turnout, but hey you have to try to know!

Print the recipe .  Although I miss the warmth already and my frozen fingers feel numb typing this, I DO enjoy pulling my boots back out and cooking fall-y dishes. :)

Main Dishes

honey & rosemary brined turkey

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 27, 2011.

A few years ago we stayed at my parents’ house for the weekend of Christmas so it was a lovely thing to use their beautiful kitchen!

I was in charge of the turkey and I can’t believe this is the only photo we got of it! But you get the idea…

I did not alter anything from they shared on their website (besides not making the gravy they included).

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Sweets: Breads & Muffins

non-vegan vegan pumpkin muffins

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Feb 22, 2011.

Weird title? Yes, well, I really wanted to try this recipe I found which happened to be vegan and I didn’t have “vegan chocolate chips” and other items, so this is just slightly adapted to what I had in my pantry!

It was very well-received by the husband and his football buddies over watching the Oregon game. I don’t say that to say, “look how good a baker I am…” but rather to remind myself of the details of the day I made these.  ;)
See my About page about why this blog even exists. 

 

For the true vegan version, where I found this recipe.

Here’s a  of what I did!

Main Dishes

hearty chicken pot pie

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Feb 22, 2011.

Not much to say about this one except I remember we loved it. :)

!