Chocolate Pudding

Have you ever had homemade chocolate pudding?

And I don't mean from the box but actually from scratch, pudding?

This has got to be one of the easiest but most rewarding desserts out there.

It was super simple to make, once I got the ratios correct, and is creamer and richer than any box mix around.

Do you have a few extra minutes in your day?  It only takes about 15 minutes then in the fridge to chill. What could be simpler?

Lemon Meringue Pie

While on my pie making kick this past week I made my first ever Lemon Meringue Pie.

I have always wanted to try making meringue and was surprised at how easy it really is to make.

I also found out just how easy it is to make pudding/custard from scratch too.

I know most people probably use boxed pudding mix for pies but in the past week I have made several types of pudding/custard for pies and it really is super simple to make from scratch.

I also think it makes a much richer creamier tasting pie than those from boxed puddings.

Here is the cookbook I purchased from Amazon along with my Southern Pie Cookbook ~ Classic Southern Desserts which is where this delectable pie comes from.

Waldorf Salad with Honey Yogurt Dressing

Waldorf Salad is something I remember having when I was growing up.

We used to go to hotels like the Hyatt Regency for Brunch on the weekends or Mother's Day and I always remember seeing this on the buffet.

I also remember my husbands Grandmother making this when we were first married and it was delicious.

I love a cold salad and this one is perfect for those Spring gatherings coming up and also great for Summer barbecues and get togethers.

Coconut Cream Pie

I've been back on a pie baking kick lately and it might be because we've had such warm weather here in California lately or it could just be the fact that I LOVE PIE.

Let me say that again....I love pie!  More so than most other desserts and I love cream pies and berry pie the best.

Coconut Cream Pie is my hubby and my favorite so I decided to give it a whirl.  I had never before made homemade pudding/custard but it was SOOOOO easy that I can't believe anyone would make it from a box!

This is the amazing Southern Pie Cookbook I found on Amazon and have tried several of the recipes already.  You'll be seeing them over the next couple of weeks ;)

Lemon Brownies

I found this recipe over at my friend Veronica's blog MorningNooNight and knew I had to try it right away.

I love all things lemon and am always looking for something new and tasty to try.

Plus, I've been making a lot of chocolaty recipes and needed a change.

This recipe is almost embarrassingly easy to make.

Parmesan Peppercorn Dressing

With Spring just around the corner I thought it would be a nice change to start trying out some new salads and dressing.
I love all things buttermilk! And especially love to use it in homemade dressings.

It gives dressing that tang I'm looking for and makes for a nice creamy topping to any salad.

So here is the first in a line of dressings that you'll be seeing over the next few weeks.

Nothing says spring better than fresh herbs in a homemade dressing served over crisp greens :)

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

I love Jalapenos!  It's a pretty new love too.  I never used to eat them and now I can't get enough of these fiery little monsters.  I mostly stick to the jarred ones, but I add the fresh ones to some recipes I make too.

I came up with this sandwich one day while I was trying to decide on something different for lunch.

We eat a lot of sandwiches around here and I get tired of plain old turkey or ham day after day and I LOVE grilled cheese.

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream

A few weeks ago we were getting the best fresh strawberries from Bel Air Market. They were almost as sweet as they are in the middle of summer.

I guess it could have been that heatwave we had here in California throughout January and February!

So I decided to make some delicious recipes that I would normally have to wait until summer to try and this was by far a favorite around here :)

When strawberries are at their peak where you live, be sure to give these a try and let me know what you think.

Mud Pie for One

A little while back I posted my number one favorite ice cream pie for one.

Here is another family favorite on the ice cream pie list.  Especially for all you chocolate lovers out there.

This mud pie is full of chocolate cookies crumbs, hot fudge, and ice cream, all topped off with some fresh whipped cream ~ YUM!

Mud Pie is so easy to assemble and can be made a few days in advance or just a few hours in advance.

Perfect for those hot summer days we're still having or even the cool Fall nights that are coming up :)

Mocha Toffee Ice Cream

A month or so ago I held a summer dessert/frozen treats party on my Facebook page.

Everyone brought delicious looking recipes to try but the one that stuck out the most was Coffee Toffee Ice Cream from Debi over at Life Currents.

I don't know if you know this or not but I'm kind of a coffee lover (shhhh) and I have always loved any type of coffee flavored ice cream so this was definitely going to be made in my kitchen!

I changed the recipe to suit my ice cream maker but I'm sure it tasted just like Debi's :)

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This Mother's Day we had a backyard barbecue at my brothers house and  my cousin brought this amazing salad.

I have seen orzo salads before but had never tried one.  I usually use orzo in hot dishes.

I got the recipe as soon as I could and I've been waiting to make it ever since because I knew I'd need a crowd to make it for.  I finally got the opportunity at my daughters birthday last weekend.

I don't believe there is such a thing as too many salads or side dishes one can know how to make, so I'm always on the lookout for new recipes.  I am so glad I got a hold of this one because it's a keeper!

Turtle Pie for One

Growing up I remember always having ice cream pies during the summer.

Mud Pie and Turtle Pie were our favorites and made all the time, especially when we had big family get togethers.

My sister-in-law Stacy used to make the best ice cream pies but for some reason we stopped having them and moved on to other desserts.

Steak & Potato Kabobs

My new favorite way to grill steak is these delicious Steak & Potato Kabobs!

I've been wanting to try kabobs with baby potatoes and corn on the cob for a while now and I finally gave it a try last week and they were A-MAZ-ING!

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

Do you have a favorite thing to cook in the summer?

Mine is probably kabobs.  I love that the whole meal, except maybe some rice cause that'd be kinda hard to skewer, is on a stick.

I also love that I can get my kids to eat more veggies.  Veggies are fun to eat when they're on a stick.

And this recipe has got to be one of my absolute favorite kabob recipes yet!

Sweet & Spicy Potato Salad

Years ago I found this recipe watching Sunny Anderson's cooking show on the Food Network.

I made it for a holiday dinner, and with the kids all being quiet a bit younger, they didn't much care for it.  

I made it again last week, after adapting it to better fit our tastes, and they LOVED it!  I will definitely make this again.

It's great for picnics and barbecues too because you don't have to worry about it sitting out and spoiling because there is no mayo involved, which is a plus for me.

This is a salad that can be served warm or cold.  And it just tastes great!  

I love the combination of the sweet, tangy, and just a little heat in this salad and you will too!

Roasted Corn & Black Bean Salad

I've been trying out some different salads this summer and so far and this is by far one of my favorites.

It combines the smoky flavor of roasted veggies with my all time favorite, roasted corn and black beans.

The balsamic vinegar gives it a little tang and it is the perfect side dish to any picnic, barbecue, or grilled food.

Piña Colada Cupcakes

Oh the cupcakes I've been making around here!

These are one of my favorites by far and I know I say that each and every time but seriously, these are the best.  The flavor is so rich and the cupcakes are so moist and I'm just gushing over here aren't I?

Do you like the pineapple coconut flavor combo?  I do and I have always tried to make them into a great cupcake but the flavor was always so-so.

Well with a little ingenuity and time, I found out what made the flavor in these POP and it's all about making the pineapple more flavorful to begin with.

Homemade Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

Don't you just love the undecided weather?

I just love when it's 90 degrees one day and raining two days later (said with extreme sarcasm, lol)

With all the hot weather we've had lately, I've been putting my ice cream maker to good use.

We've been enjoying some of the most delicious homemade ice cream these past two weeks!

Cheesy Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream Dipping Sauce

I brought home a couple of rotisserie chickens last week and wanted to make some quick and easy dinners with them.

I wasn't sure what I was going to make when I bought them, but I have a ton of magazines laying around with recipes for meals that include rotisserie chicken.

The first one I made up all by myself :)  Even made a new dipping sauce to go with!

You all know how much I love my Mexican food and I was in the mood for some on this night.  But I didn't want to make the whole spread with rice, beans, and a main course.

Instead I settled for some finger food.

One of my favorite things to order is Flautas and so I thought I'd try my hand at making them at home.

And let me tell you, it was A-MAZ-ING!

Aloha Teriyaki Burgers

After seeing all the great burgers on Pinterest and Facebook lately I decided I needed a few new ones for my blog.

I saw this Big Kahuna Hawaiian Burger over on The Slow Roasted Italian's blog and knew I had to try a teriyaki burger.

Everyone in my family LOVES teriyaki and when we go to Red Robin we all order the same thing...Banzi Teriyaki Burgers!

I adapted Donna's recipe to suit our tastes and we fell in love with this burger.  What amazed me most about the flavor was that just from the spices alone that I added to the meat it tasted like a teriyaki burger; before I even added the sauce!