Best Breadsticks

 I usually try a new breadstick recipe every time I make bread sticks.  I had found one years ago that I just loved, then lost.  When I found this recipe, I made a few adaptations, and they matched up pretty well to my lost love!  They are soft, a little chewy, buttery, cheesy, and garlicy.  All things I loo for in a good breadstick!

"Wickedly Awesome" Turtle Brownies

I dare you to find me a better tasting brownie recipe than these.  Seriously.  Try to one up me.  These are hands down, the BEST brownies I have ever had, and I can never go back.  (And never fear you silly nut haters-or legitimate allergy sufferers, this nut lover has even left them out of a batch, and they were just as good being chocolate and caramel brownies, never fear!). The interesting thing about these brownies is that you use cake mix.  Yeah, cake mix, crazy, I know.  But these are to die for.  I am totally not exaggerating either.  Make them, and please don't send any marriage proposals afterwards, I'm taken.

Chicken, Dumpling, and Quinoa soup

 Are you ready to try one of the most flavorful and tasty soups I know of?  This soup is oh so good.  Perfect for our cold rainy day yesterday.  We paired it with some cornbread because I didn't have time to make rolls or bread sticks, but this soup can stand on its own if needed, that's for sure!  The dumplings are more like a schnitzel-tiny little dumplings-and are tasty themselves. This soup scored a home run in my book!

Banana Crumb Muffins

 These are my favorite banana muffins.  They also make a pretty mean banana bread too.  I pretty much love anything with a crumb topping, so these were a home run for me.  My kids could eat a whole batch each-and my hubs could do some damage as well.  These are amazing muffins-and incredibly soft and squishy (I tried my best not to use the word moist ;)).  Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert.  Mmmmm makes me want to eat these with some cheesy eggs and OJ....is it breakfast yet? No? Ok, i'll still have one anyway!

Vanilla Sugar

 Vanilla sugar is extremely easy to make.  All it takes is 2 ingredients, mix them together, then you are done.  Vanilla sugar has a very vanilla-y taste, and you get the awesome vanilla bean specks. I love this stuff!  Use it in sugar cookies, use it to make ice cream, or cake, or breads.  You can replace sugar with it is most recipes.

Vanilla Swirl and/or Coconut Swirl Bread

I found this recipe (for the Vanilla Swirl) a while back and right away made some vanilla sugar (recipe here) since I had a few vanilla beans hanging around. Vanilla beans are awesomeness beans.  I love them.  So fast forward a few (ahem, 7 months...) and I am FINALLY getting to this bread.  No, it doesn't take 7 months to make vanilla sugar, I just have finally found the time to make this bread, and it is wonderful.  It is sweet, and soft, and perfect. It is cheaper to make your own vanilla sugar, but it takes a week to soak in the vanilla flavor.  You can find vanilla sugar if you don't want to make it!

And then I had the thought.....what if I added a coconut filling!? My best friend makes these buns with a coconut filling, and they are my ABSOLUTE favorite in the whole wide world.  So I gave it a shot.  The result. Perfection.  It is buttery and sweet, and oh so coconuty.  I'm a fan. This bread's base is a blue ribboner! And I am finding, so versatile!  I bet it would be good with a cinnamon swirl too!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Mac and Cheese

I am not the biggest Mac and cheese fan.  Just being honest.  I know, how un-American is that!?  BUT I am a big Cordon Bleu fan.  Since yesterday was Easter, we had some Ham just lying around, so I whipped up some of this pretty little Mac and Cheese.  And let me tell you, this dish makes me a Mac and Cheese fan!  Soo cheesey, so pasta-y, so ham-y, so Cordon Bleu-y!  I adapted the original recipe a tad, because I am not a huge Gruyere cheese fan.  This is a recipe for our keeper books, the kids had 3 or 4 servings, which is totally uncharacteristic of them, since they are usually a 3 bites, then "My tummy is full" kind of kids.