KitchenAid & Dream Kitchen Giveaway, over $45,000!

I had so much fun helping Real Women of Philadelphia give someone their Dream Kitchen!  I'm so excited and can't wait to see who the winner is! I also had a blast with former Bachelorette star, Jillian Harris, she's a super fun person:

Second, I am so exctied  about this giveaway that I want to also have a little one of my own...I'm giving away the gorgeous pink KitchenAid stand mixer we used in all the promo videos! 

To enter to win the Dream Kitchen Makeover, GO HERE.

To win the pink KitchenAid stand mixer, do any of the following: Time's up!
We have a winner!
A&Qort who said...
"You are an inspiration to us aspiring cooks! I don't have a KitchenAid and that pink one is fabulous!!"

We will pick one winner for the KitchenAid Stand Mixer on August 19th.  Open to US Residents.  Dream Kitchen Makover giveaway ends August 19th, official rules are here.  I was provided the KitchenAid mixer for this giveaway.  I was not compensated for this post and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Butterscotch Peach n Porridge Upside Down Cake

I'm hoping to qualify to go to the World Porridge Championships in Scotland this October and am trying to get the judges to notice my entry!

If you have a second, go here to see my entry for Butterscotch Peach n' Porridge Upside Down Cake and click "LIKE". Just takes a sec, no registration required, I'm just trying to get them to notice it!! 

If you have a fantastic recipe using Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats, you still have a few days to join in on the fun!  Go here for details!

In the meantime, if you are an oats fan, you will go crazy for my skillet cake!  I especially love making this in the summer because I don't have to turn on my oven.

Butterscotch Peach n' Porridge Upside Down Cake

IIn a large sauce pan, place:
1 c steel cut oats
 2 ½ c water
soak 2-3 hours

Without draining, place on stovetop, add ¼ tsp salt and cook over medium-high heat for 11 minutes, stirring occasionally.

While oats are cooking, combine in a small bowl:
3/4 c oat flour
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/3 c white sugar
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon

In a 10” skillet, melt
2 Tbsp butter
When melted, turn heat off
Peel and slice 2 ripe peaches and place in skillet

After oats have cooked, add dry ingredients then stir in:
1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg. 
Stir well.  Spread oat mixture over peaches in skillet.  Cover with a large lid and cook on medium-low heat for 8 minutes. Remove lid and cook an additional 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and let rest for 2 minutes, flip onto large platter. Drizzle Butterscotch sauce over cake, slice and serve.

Butterscotch Pecan Sauce
In a small saucepan, melt:
4 Tbsp Butter
then add
½ c. light brown sugar
½ c. heavy cream
¼ tsp. salt
Stir over medium heat until boiling and boil for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and add:
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c chopped pecans

Summer Fun

I apologize for my lack of posts...as soon as the kids get out of school, I get into full Summer Fun mode!  We are always cooking up plenty of fun things in the kitchen and I will try to be better about sharing some of those fun ideas with you!

This week I've been busy doing some videos for Real Women of Philadelphia and even had the chance to work with this gorgeous lady, Jillian Harris...

There is something AMAZING coming your way in about a month, I wish I could spill the beans but will let you know as soon as I can!  I will say that it involves a seriously awesome prize just for sending in a recipe and photo....stay tuned!

Summer Entertaining Tips

A little while ago I had a chance to send Executive Chef Stephen Kalil (the man responsible for all the yummy flavors of Frito Lay) some questions about summer entertaining.  He was kind enough to make, along with Chef Jody, this fantastic video for me!  It's full of all kinds of great summer entertaining tips and I am so excited to be able to share it with you...a huge thanks to Chef Stephen and Chef Jody!

This is the time of year that I don't turn on my oven...if I'm cooking something it's going to be out on the grill!  Do you any great tips for fun meals to beat the heat or cooking out?

One of our latest favorites are these Ranch Hand Chipotle Burgers from the Frito Lay website.  They are sooooo good!  Click here or on the image below to get the recipe.

Disclosure: I was provided these ideas/tips from Frito Lay and was not compensated for this post.  All opinions, as always, are my own.

Bacteria Buddies

Little C's class went on a field trip this week to our city's Water Treatment Center.  Although we learned a lot of interesting things, all the kids seemed to talk about was the "Poop-Eating Bacteria" that they treat our water with.  They were fascinated! 

Soooo, for Friday snack this week we sent some "Bacteria Buddies" to school....

To make I simply took chocolate/vanilla swirled marshmallows, dipped them in melted yellow candy melts, rolled in crushed corn flakes, rolled in a variety of sprinkles with sunflower seeds (cleaning out the cupboard!) and added two edible eyeballs. 

Wilton sells candy eyeballs now if you don't want to make them!  Check your local Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

I also wrote a fun little poem to go along with them, you can click here to download/print it or on the image below.

I love how the sprinkles and sunflower seeds make them look "dirty", like they're cleaning up our water!  Gross but funny.  I'm sure they were a hit with the kids!

Peeps S'mores

Do you have a few of these around the house after Easter?

Our FAVORITE way to use leftover Peeps is to make quick s'mores using Nature Valley Granola Thins!  Check our our recipe on Tablespoon for complete instructions.

Bunny Tail Bag Toppers

For a quick Easter treat, it's always fun to put white cheddar puffs or marshmallows in baggies as a snack of "bunny tails".  In fact, we'll have a basket of them on hand at Easter dinner for the kiddos to snack on!

To make it super easy, we created this cute baggie topper for you to download/print.  Simply fill your snack bags, fold labels in half and attach to the top with double-sided tape. Enjoy!
Click Here or on image to download.