Chocolate Covered Strawberries

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020 AmandaLeave a comment

Chocolate covered strawberries are an indulgent and easy Valentine’s Day dessert that can be made for a fraction of the cost of the high-priced, store-bought ones. Customize them with your favorite chocolate – dark, milk, or white. You can even top them with crushed cookies, candies, or sprinkles!

Buckle up, y’all. We’re starting Valentine’s Day preparations with a batch of chocolate covered strawberries!

Some may argue that it’s too soon to start Valentine’s Day planning.

Some may argue that it’s just a holiday invented by the greeting card companies to sell more product.

And to those people I say….shut your mouth! But not before you put a chocolate covered strawberry in it!

Thursday Things

January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 Amanda4 Comments

Whipped up this crazy good banana bread in an hour last Sunday. I’m thinking of sharing the recipe. Who’s interested?
I made that bread right before seeing Charlie Berens. Which happened right before I met him! And got to give him some strawberry jam and cherry bounce!
Yesterday someone parked this close to my driver’s side door at the grocery store – forcing me to climb in through the passenger side. It was totally ridiculous, but totally reminiscent of when I was in high school and I had an old Woody Caravan whose driver’s side door was held on with bungee cords. I only ever used the passenger door then.
Tuesday night I caught Seth singing the New Girl theme song to Edgar, but he changed the words to “Who’s that dog? It’s Edgar!” I’ve never heard anything cuter.
I made a super fun gif/stop motion of some stuffed shells I made earlier this week. Check it in my highlights! (And give me a follow on IG while you’re at it!)
Ya girl got an InstantPot! And promptly got the most terrifying “FOOD BURN” warning the first time I used it. But! I poured a can of beer into the pot and the pork turned out beautifully!
Seth has figured out a new way to make potatoes and they are unbelievable! Like a cross between a potato chip and mashed potatoes. I’m going to wrangle him into letting me shoot them soon so I can share!

King Cake Layer Cake

January 21, 2020 Amanda1 Comment

Full of brown sugar, bourbon, cinnamon, and pecans – this King Cake Layer Cake has all the flavors of the traditional NOLA dessert! Instead of a yeasted dough, moist cake layers studded with pecans and sprinkled with cinnamon are soaked with a bourbon syrup and topped with layer of a light and airy Brown Sugar Swiss Meringue Buttercream. Baby Jesus figurine not totally necessary, but always totally fun!

King Cake Layer Cake with Brown Sugar Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This isn’t a new recipe.

At least, not entirely! It’s just an improved version of an already incredibly popular recipe on this little ol’ site of mine.

KING CAKE LAYER CAKE!

How to make a cheeseboard: Wisconsin Pride Edition

January 18, 2020 AmandaLeave a comment

Learn how to make a cheeseboard that’s piled high with Wisconsin flavors! Aged cheddar, creamy provolone, port wine cheese spread (and more) are all surrounded by cranberries, summer sausage, and other Badger State snacks! Serve this delicious cheeseboard with Wisconsin craft beer. You won’t be sorry!

how to make a cheeseboard with Wisconsin cheese

Well if this isn’t shaping up to be the most Midwestern weekend, then idk what is!

First, baby sister and I are going to see Charlie Berens tonight!

Second, it’s been snowing since yesterday afternoon and doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon. FINALLY!

Third, the Packers are playing in the NFC championship tomorrow!

So many causes for celebration! So many causes for cheese! And crackers! And summer sausage! And beer!

Thursday Things

January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 AmandaLeave a comment

Cheeseboard Charcuterie Board Meat and Cheeseboard

I got the photos back from my last cheeseboard class and I am in LOVE! Gosh, I know some talented folks! (If you’re in the area – be sure to check out Whitney for all your photography needs!)
Finally! She’s here! The range of my dreams! It’s been a week since it was installed (and a week since I answered the door in a towel – those poor delivery men) and I am just in heaven. The quality, power, and style are just unmatched! I can’t wait to really dig into everything this baby can do! It’s got a proofing setting for goodness sake!
Speaking of babies – I had to order a bag of babies for my King Cake-ing needs. How does one review that transaction on Amazon?
My little sister and I are going to see Charlie Berens this weekend and I’m going to have a few words for him about what it means to be Midwest Nice!
I found this dress at Goodwill for $6! And an amazing kaftan for the first day of our cruise. We’re under 45 days until Golden Girls at Sea!
Earlier this week I washed, folded, and put away all my laundry ON THE SAME DAY. Killin’ it in 2020!
In Bed with Nick and Megan is my new podcast listen, obviously! And The Dream – Seth and I dug into that the other day running errands. And, and! Sick. This one. Oooh hoo. It’s all about “what goes wrong in the place meant to keep us healthy.” The first season is about a fertility doctor that was doing some truly terrible things. I blew through six episodes last night!
This was really exciting – TJ Maxx featured one of my photos in their feed! How stinking cool is that?! Go over and give it a like, wontcha?