Brown Sugar Caramel Glazed Pound Cake

 

Oh pound cake, how I love thee! I was super excited to make this recipe and see how it all turned out, it was amazing! The icing was so good and the cake was super tender! 

Cake

1 1/4 cups butter (room temperature)

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

5 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup buttermilk

Glaze

1/4 cup butter 

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups powdered sugar

Heat the oven to 350. Grease and flour the pound cake pan then set to the side. In your stand mixer beat together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in one egg at a time, scrapping down in between eggs. Stir in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture then alternate with the buttermilk mixture until it is all added and incorporated. Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 65-75 minutes. Remove cake from oven and let it sit for 15 minutes before flipping out of the pan to continue to cool. Once the pound cake has cooled make the glaze. In a pot melt the butter then stir in the brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and let boil for 2 minutes. Remove from stove top and allow to cool for 5-8 minutes. Whisk in the vanilla extract and the powdered sugar until smooth then pour over the pound cake.

Quick and Easy Beer Chili

Chili!!!! Chili is always always always a hit with everyone in my family! It's my oldest's absolute favorite food! And my little ones seems to really love it too! Out of all the many chili recipes I've made I think this might be my favorite! This recipe is adapted from Simply Whisked.

2lbs ground beef
1 onion (chopped)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tbsp paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
28oz diced tomatoes
1 cup IPA beer
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

In a large pot brown the ground beef then drain off the grease. Add the onion and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Lower heat and stir in the salt, chili powder, paprika, cumin and oregano then stir well. Add the diced tomatoes and beer. Bring to a simmer and stir in the worcestershire sauce and all of the beans. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings.

White Chocolate Cinnamon Pretzels

I made a double batch of these pretzels then put them in snowman cellophane gift bags to pass out to our neighbors and they turned out so cute! I also took some to small group and everyone loved them! They have that salty sweet thing going on and are absolutely addicting. This recipe is from Life In The Lofthouse.

16oz pretzel twists
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup of cinnamon sugar mixture for sprinkling
1 bag white chocolate chips

Whisk together the vegetable oil, sugar and cinnamon. Place the pretzels in a large microwave safe bowl then toss with the vegetable oil mixture. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute then stir and heat for another 45 seconds. Spread out over parchment or wax paper. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, in 30 second increments, stirring in between until fully melted. Drizzle over the pretzels and let sit until the white chocolate has set.

Dilly Ranch Crackers

This crackers will forever make me think of my childhood and Christmastime. My mom would make these for a big Christmas party my parents hosted for years and years.  I would love eating these after their party was over and I got to munch on all the yummy leftovers! These are super easy and make a great gift in a cute little tin.

1 box oyster crackers
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 pkg ranch seasoning mix
3/4 dried dill weed
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix the oyster crackers with vegetable oil.  Add the seasonings and mix until all the crackers are coated well.

Turkey and Cheese Party Rolls

These were the perfect little pick up food for a get together I was going to!  Everyone raved about them and there wasn't a single one left at the end of the night! This recipe was adapted from Passion for Savings.

8oz cresecent rolls
8 thin cut slices deli turkey
8 slice provolone cheese
1 stick melted butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp poppy seeds

Heat oven to 350. Roll out the crescent rolls and press the seems together. Layer the turkey and cheese over the dough. Roll up tightly then cut into 12 pieces. Place in the bottom of a greased 9x11 pan. Mix together the melted butter, garlic powder and poppyseeds. Brush over the rolls until coated well. Bake for 12-16 minutes or until browned and melty. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Taco Crescent Cups

I love anything that is perfect for little kid hands! These taco crescent cups were a super easy dinner and also easy for my kids to eat! Everyone could top them with whatever they wanted and they made for a great quick dinner!

1lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
2 cans crescent rolls
1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato

Heat oven to 375. Brown the ground beef then drain off the grease and stir in the taco seasoning and water. Turn the heat down to low.  Open the crescent rolls and seal the edges together then cut into 8 squares. Grease a muffin tin then carefully put the crescent squares down in the muffin tin. Spoon the taco meat into each crescent up then top with cheese. Bake for 14-18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan and serving.

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

I just made these a little over an house ago, it was such an easy lunch! I had plans to make some fancy sauces but I was just tired so I pulled out the big bag of chickfila sauces and served those instead and they were great! This recipe is from Cassie Craves.

1 lb chicken tenderloins
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup flour
1 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
oil for frying

Place the chicken tenderloins in a bowl a coat with buttermilk.  Let sit for 15 minutes. In a separate bowl combine the flour, seasoning salt, poultry seasoning and black pepper.  Coat the chicken tenders in the flour mixture. Heat about one inch of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken tenders until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let cool down before serving with your favorite sauces.

Nutella Swirled Blondies

I made these one afternoon and they disappeared from my house way too quickly! Crazy easy recipe that will be a delight for any nutella lover! This recipe is from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts.

1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour
3 tbsp nutella

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 8x8 baking dish.  Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract. Then stir in the salt and flour. Pour into the baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of nutella into the batter then swirl with a knife. Bake for 25-30 minutes then remove from oven and allow to cool. 

Crock Pot Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

I was going to make a different recipe this night but I couldn't get one of the ingredients I needed at the grocery store and I just didn't have it in me to go to another store. I created this on a whim and it was a great recipe. The kids loved the sweetness from the brown sugar.

3-4 chicken breasts
1 cup bbq sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pour the bbq sauce on top. Cook for 6-8 hours on low.  Shred the chicken in the sauce and serve on buns.

Sloppy Joe Sliders

I was going to make these when we were getting together with friends but at the last minute that got cancelled so I just made them for dinner for my family.  There wasn't a single one left! They devoured them them all and my son was sad there weren't more.  My 2 year old called them "fluffy joes" which kept us laughing all through dinner too.  This recipe was adapted from Valerie's Kitchen.

1lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp mustard
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
12 slider buns
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp sesame seeds

Heat oven to 350. Cook the ground beef and onions in a skillet.  Drain off the grease. Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder and cumin.  Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Place the bottom half of the buns in a 9x13 baking dish. Spoon the sloppy joe meat onto each bun. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with the other half of the bun then brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Black Bean Layer Dip

This layer dip is a fun twist on a classic! I loved using the black beans and it gave the dip an overall fresher flavor in my opinion. It's perfect for tailgating or watching a football game at the house!

16oz black beans
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp lime juice
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups guacamole 
1 cup sour cream
1 cup pepper jack cheese
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
2 roma tomatoes (diced)
1/4 cup sliced black olives

Drain the black beans and place in the food processor with the garlic, lime juice, chili powder and salt. Place in the bottom of a 8x8 baking dish. Spread the guacamole over the black bean layer. In the food processor place the sour cream and and pepper jack cheese until smooth. Layer over the guacamole. Top with cheddar cheese then tomatoes and black olives. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. 

Red Velvet Surprise Cupcakes

I needed to take something sweet to small group the other week and these were perfect! They were easy to throw together and they were easy to transport in the car! They turned out great and might be a new favorite around here!

Cupcake
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp red food coloring

Cream Cheese Filling
8oz cream cheese
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract


Heat oven to 350. Line with cupcake liners.  Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, white vinegar and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix. Add the red food coloring and mix until combined. Fill the cupcake liners halfway with cupcake batter. Drop in 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cake is cooked through. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to continue cooling.

Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip

I love a good dip and with football season just around the corner this is a must have at your next tailgate or football party! I served with both frito scoops and tortilla chips and no matter what you put this stuff on it's sure to be the winner!

16oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup mayonnaise
4 oz diced jalapenos (drained)
4 oz green chiles (drained)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup crumbled bacon plus 1 tablespoon for topping

Heat oven to 350. Mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until combined. Stir in the jalapenos, chiles, shredded cheese and 1/3 cup of crumbled bacon. Spread into a 9x11 baking dish. Top with remaing crumbled bacon. Bake for 25-35 minute or until bubbly. Remove from oven and serve with chips.

Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

I made these delicious cookies for our 4th of  July cookout. The next day the leftovers were sitting on the counter and my 2 year old came walking into the den with one like it was no big deal that she had snatched a cookie without asking, I asked her "what are you doing?" and she said "oh just eating sprinkles!", she is a mess! This recipe is I Heart Eating.

Cookies:
2 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 packed brown sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tbsp milk

Frosting
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
3 cups powdered sugar
2-4 milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
sprinkles

Heat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl beat together butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, scarping down as needed. Mix in vanilla extract, sour cream and milk. Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 1 1/2 tbsp scoops onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Once the cookies are cool make the frosting. Beat together the butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Spread the frosting on the cookies and top with sprinkles

White Queso Dip

I've tried a lot of queso recipes over the years. A lot. Too many really.  Bad ones. Okay ones. No good ones. I finally asked a big group on FB and so many people gave me this recipe. My best friend was coming into town a few days later so we tried and it and yes. Yes yes yes. This is it! It was delicious and creamy and perfect!!! This recipe was adapted from Seeded at the Table.

1 1/4 lb block white american cheese (from the deli)
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cold water
3 tbsp diced green chiles
3-4 tbsp diced pickled jalapenos
pinch of cumin

Cut the cheese into 1 inch cubes.  Place in the bottom of a  microwave safe bowl. Pour the milk and water over it. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes stirring in between each minute. Continue to heat for 2 more minutes and whisk between every 30 seconds. Heat for 30 more seconds if it is still too clumpy. Stir in green chiles, jalapenos and cumin. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Store leftover in the refrigerator.

Salsa Fresca

This salsa is so easy to make and has the best flavor! I love being able to use all fresh ingredients to make something tasty, it was the perfect appetizer for a warm summer night! This recipe was slightly adapted from Mother Thyme.

1 lb roma tomatoes
1/2 sweet onion
3-4 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno (seeded)
handful of cilantro
juice of 1 lime
pinch cumin
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Quarter the tomatoes and place in the bottom of a food processor, top with the sweet onion, garlic, jalapeno cut into pieces, cilantro and lime juice then the seasonings. Pulse several times until it is finally chopped. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Hot Broccoli Dip

This dip is so so good! I love anything broccoli and cheese so I loved it. And served with buttery crackers.  Oh my! I doubled it when I made it for our small group. This recipe was adapted from Damn Delicious.




8oz cream cheese (room temperature)
2 1/2 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tbsp creole seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 375. Grease a 9x9 baking dish. In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, milk, creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Stir in the broccoli. Spread evenly into the baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with buttery crackers. 

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Pretzel Cookies

I made these cookies a few weeks ago when we got together with friends then I made them again this week for our big 4th of July neighborhood celebration.  The sweet and salty combo in these is perfect and everyone raved about this. This recipe is from Cookies and Cups.

1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped pretzels

Melt the butter in medium sauce pan over high heat. Once the butter begins to boil swirl the pan constantly. The butter will foam and then begin to change colors, once it reaches an amber color remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes. In large mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda and sea salt. Once the butter has cooled, whisk in the brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Pour the butter mixture into the flour and stir.  Add in the butterscotch chips, chocolate chips and pretzels. Heat oven to 350.  Place 1 1/2 tbsp scoops on the a greased or lined sheet pan and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 3 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.

Grilled Garlic Lime Taco Chicken

Chicken legs are not my favorite but my people just love them so I make them.  This recipe was really flavorful and so easy!

10-12 chicken legs
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp minced garlic
1 packet taco seasoning

Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice and garlic. Pour over the chicken legs then toss in taco seasoning. Grill over medium high heat for 12-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. 

BLT Chicken Salad

A friend shared this recipe with me and I flipped out over it! This chicken salad is amazing, the twist of it is perfection! It would be great on crackers or croissant but I served them on little slider buns to make them easy to pick up and eat! This recipe is from Lemon Tree Dwelling.

2 cups rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1/2 cup chopped arugula
1/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder

Mix together the rotisserie chicken, bacon, arugula and tomatoes. In a small bow whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, parsley, garlic powder and onion powder.  Toss the chicken mixture into the mayonnaise mixture. Refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.