Cinnamon Rose Bread #FoodnFlix

One more quick gorgeous bread before Easter!

Plus this is my Food n Flix recipe for this month as well (skating in at the very last moment, I might add!)

This month, Ali from Fix Me a Little Lunch chose the Runaway Bride!

I remembered seeing Runaway Bride before and enjoying it – I remembered the basic premise of the movie, but none of the details, so I was excited to watch it again with foodie goggles on!

It was fun watching the movie again.  I’m not a huge Julia Roberts fan, but I do like Richard Gere, and they make a great movie couple – plus the supporting cast was fantastic! 

There was tons of food inspiration in the movie.  Eggs are a particular standout, but I really wanted to amp up the creativity.

For some reason the scene with the rose tattoo stood out.  In one scene, Ike (Richard Gere) ask Maggie (Julia Roberts) to prove that she still has the rose tattoo she got when she was involved with suitor #1.

It got me thinking – could I make something inspired by roses?  I loathe rose water, so I knew I wouldn’t go that route.  But there are always fruits cut into rose shapes or even breads!

Ever since I made my Twisted Star Cinnamon Rolls and subsequent Twisted Turkey Cinnamon Rolls, my family had been slight obsessed with cinnamon rolls.  I don’t make them often, but they’re a welcome treat when I do!  So when I saw a recipe for Cinnamon Rose Bread, I knew I had to give it a whirl!

Cinnamon Roll Mini Cheesecake #eighteencheesecakes

Hey hey!  Who’s ready for a super delicious cheesecake?

My friend Camilla, at Culinary Adventures with Camilla is celebrating her wedding anniversary with a cheesecake celebration again this year!

I love when she hosts this event, because it comes right on the heels of Hub’s birthday and I love to experiment with fun new cheesecakes on his birthday!

This year, I spotted an amazing cinnamon roll cheesecake and knew I had to try it – only small scale since it was only for Hubs and me (the dudes refuse to even attempt cheesecake!)

Holy bananas you guys!  This cheese cake was knock-you-socks-off amazing!

Vanilla Bean Mocha Biscotti #NielsenMasseyInspires #EasterRecipes

*Disclosure: I received product to sample from ­­­­­Nielsen-Massey Vanilla.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today I’m partnering with Nielsen-Massey Vanilla to bring you an awesome recipe!

Is a family operated business that strives to deliver the finest vanillas.  In addition to vanilla, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla also make a number of other wonderful extracts.

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla provided me with a bottle of their fabulous Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Paste.  I mean, hello, what’s not to love?  The vanilla paste features a stunning flavor and those signature vanilla beans specks (I can’t wait to make vanilla bean ice cream with this!)

Want to know the best part? Nielsen-Massey Vanilla is also providing a sample of their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Paste to one of my readers!  Yay!  Don’t miss the Rafflecopter Giveaway below!

But since it’s nearly Easter, I thought I’d made a lovely cookie that’s the perfect addition to any Easter brunch!  Because who can say no to a cup of coffee and biscotti (especially after staying up for the Easter Vigil mass?!?)

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal #FantasticalFoodFight #EasterRecipes

You guys!  This recipe is sooooo good!!!!

The wheels started turning when Sarah at a Fantastical Sharing of Recipes decided that this month’s Fantastical Food Fight battle would be carrot cake.

I wasn’t sure to make at first, because I’ve made an amazing Carrot Cake already (it’s so delicious, there is literally nothing I can do to make it better!)  I also reimagined a couple recipes into carrot cake versions namely Carrot Cake Pancakes and Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies!

Eventually, I started thinking about my favorite pumpkin spice baked oatmeal and wondered if I would be able to make a carrot care version?

Chocolate Dipped Robin's Egg Cookies #EasterRecipes

Can you believe it’s almost Easter?  It is soooo early this year!  It’s almost hard to wrap my mind around making Easter treats already!

Luckily, these cookies are so fun and vibrant, they make me feel the coming of spring, even though there’s another snowstorm on the way today!

Gotta love the northern states!  Easter dresses will definitely be dressed up with cardigans this year!

So let’s chat about the cookies, shall we?

The base is my very favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Only some of the chocolate chips are swapped out for crushed up springtime whoppers.  Then they’re dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with more crushed whoppers!  They’re so colorful & fun, almost like a kaleidoscope!

Beef Stew Pot Pie with Homemade Puff Pastry Topping #piday

Happy Pi(e) Day!

So, I was about to say that Pi Day was my favorite nerdy holiday, but then I remembered Star Wars Day (May 4^th) AND I just recently found out that my birthday is on Mario Day! (March 10 = MAR10) Woot!  I’m totally making myself a Mario Cake next year!

Anyway, I had to revise to say that Pi Day is my favorite nerdy math holiday! (there’s also Mole Day on October 23^nd)

And while I would love to make pie on Pi day every year, I almost never do, since Pi Day shows up right on the heels of my birthday AND Hub’s birthday (his is just a few days before mine), so there’s usually still an abundance of desserts happening in my house.

Cheesy Potato Soup with Irish Ale #EattheWorld

Today’s yummy recipe is just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Plus it’s this month’s #EatTheWorld since we were challenged to create something either from or inspired by Ireland!

And since it’s also Lent, I decided to go vegetarian!

At first, I wanted to go with super traditional Irish fare.  As I was browsing, I found all sorts of amazing recipes and started leaning toward a potato soup of sorts.