Simple Girl

I'm not doing much fancy cooking this week, but I am bringing you an updated take on the camping classic - S'mores! Just when you thought a S'more couldn't get any better - think again!  Instead of the traditional Hershey's bar, try the classic milk chocolate stuffed with a soft peanut buttery center!  These Reese's Peanut Butter Cup S'mores are over the top delicious! The key, of course, is roasting the marshmallows until they've reached a perfect golden brown. If you don't smell like a campfire when you're finished, you just didn't try hard enough!   Then there's that age old question of one marshmallow....... ....... or two? You can see my preference here! My beautiful niece, Sherah, would agree.   These Peanut Butter Cup S'mores are completely worth the ooey, gooey, sticky mess! THIS POST IS PROUDLY LINKED TO  MONDAYS :  MOUTHWATERING MONDAYS ,  MADE BY YOU MONDAY , MINGLE MONDAY   TUESDAYS :  TUESDAYS AND THE TABL...

With three little girls at home, the theme of "A Touch of Whimsy" made for a super fun week!  In this photo we went for the whimsy of pattern and maybe the irony that there has been no need for  an umbrella in the sunny, 95 degree heat for many, many weeks!  I can't wait to get more whimsical ideas this week at I Heart Faces ! :-)

I spend the summer months dodging the southern heat, adjusting the thermostat and standing over the A/C vent.  I spend the summer months shamelessly sending my husband to the kids' swim meets so that I don't have to feel the sweat trickling down my back.  I don't believe in outdoor camps when the weather consistently tops 90 degrees.  Instead, I bring the kids to the pool where I try to sit, motionless, as they run and jump and play.  This is my southern summer.  There.  I have said my piece. Today, therefore, when the thermometer topped out at a mere 58 degrees, I didn't complain.  Toto, we're not in The South anymore!  This is the land of my youth.  This is the land where my forefathers, who once inhabited the Arctic Circle, decided to settle.  This is my home.   OK, so I didn't grow up in a barn, but I did pass this freshly painted beauty while walking in the brisk morning air! And as the locals complained about the unusu...

Cherries.  Plump, red, succulent balls of sweet delight.   We wait all year for these seasonal gems.  When they finally arrive, we eat them by the bowlful, leaving nothing to show but stems and pits.  When I found this recipe in Whole Living Magazine, it seemed to me to be the perfect Ode to Spring.  Juicy cherries, grated lemon zest and fresh ricotta cheese.  Breakfast al fresco.  What a perfect way to start the summer! When it comes to cherry season, a good cherry/olive pitter is a must.  Fortunately, I got my husband this really nice one from Williams-Sonoma a couple of years ago for Christmas.  I'm telling you, he gets the best presents! Macerate the cherries in brown sugar for about 10 minutes.   Watch the delicious, sweet juices start to flow! Grate the zest of one lemon and mix it with the ricotta cheese. Spoon mixture on top of rustic bread, toasted. (I used a cranberry walnut bread.) Top with the delicious cherries ...

I'm married to Superman.  It's true.  Always on call.  Always coming to my rescue when life gets tough.  From diaper changer to coach, he's been there every step of the way.  He encourages  and challenges, disciplines and loves.  And did I mention?  This man of steel can still pull off the red cape and tights! :-) HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Now and again, Anna the Scholar becomes Anna the Baker. While I am working my way through Martha Stewart's Cupcake Book , Anna prefers Martha Stewart's Cookies .   Cookies are a bit less fancy.  A bit more her. Anna chose to bake these Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies to bring to the NEW NEIGHBORS!   While the new neighbors did not include new playmates ..... they did have two dogs! Tart Cream Cheese swirled with sugary, cookie dough batter. Be careful..... These Blondies are highly habit forming! Thank goodness for the new neighbors! Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies Martha Stewart's Cookies Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a buttered 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang.  Butter overhang. Blondie Layer 1 2/3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt 9 Tablespoon Butter 1 cup packed light brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, m...

How cute and easy are these?  These Father's Day Tee Time Cupcakes from Martha Stewart's Cupcake book are sure to be a hit for any dad on Father's Day. Simply start with any cupcake (I used Martha's One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes .) And top with icing.   (I used green tinted Cream Cheese Frosting  for no other reason than it's my favorite!) Cover the freshly iced cupcakes with green sanding sugar  (or green sparkly sugar flakes, if that's what you have in your pantry!) As luck would have it, in my totally clutter-free life, I found these fun paper scraps which I had used for another golf-themed project.  These, taped to wooden skewers transformed into colorful flags.  These candy coated chocolate mints, which I found in the bulk candy aisle at the grocery store, made delicious mini golf balls.  Keep the white ones.  Eat the rest. These cupcakes aren't only for Father's Day.   Wouldn't they be cute for a Miniature Golf themed bi...