Vanilla Bean AND Strawberry Ice Cream

We had a warm day and the first thing that came to my mind was, "I think I'll make ice cream..."  Is that so wrong??

I consulted with my three year old. 

She concurred. 

Honey Bun Cake

I can't decide if this is a dessert or a breakfast...

Its sweet enough and satisfying enough to fulfill that after dinner sugar craving, but it also sings of cinnamon and brown sugar and that delicious icing I associate with donuts and cinnamon rolls. 

Its a toss up, I tell you.  I've been eating it at night after the kids go to bed, because I want to be able to savor every bite.  And, as anyone with kids can tell you, when there are children present whilst eating, meals are just a shovefest that happens between calls of, "Eat your peas!" and, "Get your finger out of your nose!"

Brownies Baby!!

Brownies are my husband's favorite food of all time, I think.  He didn't say that.  I'm taking a leap, here.  Here's why:

1.  When I ask what kind of dessert I should make, his answer is always, "brownies."
2.  When I make brownies, he eats them.  ALL of them.
3.  If he doesn't get to eat the LAST brownie, he pouts.

I think I have a pretty good case.

I made these brownies last night and the girls and I polished off the last two while he was at work today.  Ten bucks says he has something to say about it when he gets home.  Double or nothing he demands more.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

I got a new baking pan.

Do you love it?!?

I love it! 

The good people at Williams-Sonoma have been reading my diary.  How else would they know to create a pan like this?  Its like they pulled the idea straight from the depths of my baking imagination.  No matter.  The pan is mine now.  I own it and I will take it on its maiden voyage - and you can come along!

Make Your Own "Hostess Cupcakes"

You remember those, right?  All chocolatey and delicious on the outside.  Gooey and creamy on the inside.  These cupcakes are part of my childhood.  And I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume you've got your own personal experiences with these babies. Cause this is America, after all.  Home of the Fat Kids, Land of the Brave. 
Now, I do my best to avoid impulse gas station cupcakes so cleverly placed at fingertip's reach near the checkout counter.  I really do.  And I tell my kids that they should quickly learn to expect the word 'NO.' to answer their snack requests while standing in line to make a purchase...uh, anywhere.  But, I must admit.  I, myself, have a difficult time blocking these cupcakes from my periferral vision.  Because I never look them in the eye.  I can't.  Its too dangerous. 
But.  The other day, while I was at Walmart, I caved.  I bought two packages of the vile beasts.  That's four cupcakes.  FOUR. 
I was good, though.  I only ate one.  I fed the rest to my family.  Then I decided I needed more.  But I couldn't succomb to the idea of going back for six more cupcakes.  I mean, who eats ten cupcakes in one day?  I told myself, "I do not need fourteen cupcakes." 
So I baked a bunch of them myself. 
And now you can, too.