I have been meaning to post these delicious muffins ever since discovering the recipe some time ago.
I was in the middle of reading this book and it led me to this blog which ultimately led me to this recipe.

I was over-the-moon to receive a big thumbs-up from Ella when she sampled them and knew without a doubt these "healthy muffins" were a win after she continued to request them.

These muffins are a home run on so many levels!!
They are packed with protein and lots of good stuff making them perfect for breakfast, for snacks or to throw in a lunchbox or backpack.

Plus...they are super easy to make since all you need is a blender and a muffin pan - which then makes clean-up a snap!

DOWNLOAD + PRINT THE RECIPE CARD BELOW

Now...I do have to point out the original recipe doesn't call for the addition of mini chocolate chips...but that's how we do them around my house. And if you don't want the chocolate chips but like some "chunk" to your muffins...I've also topped mine with pecans or walnuts prior to baking. Easy.

I hope you try them out and come back to let me know how much you love them!
DOWNLOAD your cute printable recipe card right here!!

PS - Catch a glimpse of me making these over on my Instastories!!

Love you friends!!
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Truth be told...Ella doesn't even like almond butter and these puppies are packed with it!! Ha!!
Now....off to clean the bathrooms before we have guests arrive this weekend!!

RECIPE + GIFT IDEA | White Chocolate + Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Delicious + festive cookies with white chocolate + red cranberries!?

Can you think of a cookie more perfect for baking + gifting during the Christmas season?

I love these cookies.

They're quite delicious...the recipe is no-fuss AND they're pretty. Win!!

Here's the recipe if you decide you love these too + want to try them....

If you need gifting ideas...well here you go:
1. bake the cookies and package them up.
2. bake the cookies, package them up AND give them the recipe on a cute recipe card.
Oh wait! You don't have a cute recipe card?
Well Merry Christmas!!
I've taken care of that for you.
AND...you see those cute labels on the cookie tins? (white background + black background)?
Yep! I've got those for you to print too - if you want them + need them. (all links below)

WHITE CHOCOLATE + CRANBERRY OATMEAL COOKIE FREE PRINTABLES:

White Chocolate + Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie RECIPE CARD

White Chocolate + Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies GIFT TAGS - white background

White Chocolate + Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies GIFT TAGS - black background

I hope you try them.
I hope you love them.
And I hope you'll let me know if you do.

Love you guys!
4 more sleeps until Christmas!!! Are you ready?

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I still have wrapping to do.
And you should see the state of our home right now. Eeks!
BUT...this is the most calm I've been through the holidays in a very long time.
And I'm liking it. A LOT!!!

RECIPE | White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

I shared our "Simple + Sweet Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Bar" yesterday.

And today....drumroll please....

White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix! YEP!!

But why? Why not just stick with the regular ole delicious Hot Cocoa Mix? 

Because you cannot make my super delicious "Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa" without it. That's why!

Which then means you can't create your own "Simple + Sweet Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Bar". duh!

AND...some people prefer white chocolate.

AND...you can add peppermint and other flavors that won't compete with the good ole regular hot chocolate...chocolate. *wink*

AND...it's SO creamy and SO delicious...and...well...you just need to try it. Trust me on this one.

PRINT THE WHITE CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA MIX RECIPE CARD HERE

(folds into a 4x6 - jpg and .pdf file formats available)

Now...I know you are wanting to try that absolutely delicious Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa I mentioned! Because I'm telling you...you are SO going to love it and thank me for forever...
for creating and sharing it with you!  Pinky promise.

So - baby steps.
Yesterday was the Simple + Sweet Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Bar - CLICK HERE!
Today is the White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix - which you will need to make the Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa.
Tomorrow?
Well tomorrow is the debut of the delicious Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa recipe!!
and a super cute printable recipe card too!

UPDATED 12/13: Here's the link to take you to the Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa recipe now posted!!

Love you guys! See you back here tomorrow!!
xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
It took me a few trials and recipe testing to find the perfect White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix.
The first couple Ella said were okay but she was missing the "chocolate" she was used to.
THIS recipe? This one is a winner.

RECIPE | Blueberry Pie

It's DAY 4 of the "Five Days of Pie" here on the blog...
and today we're talking Blueberry Pie.

This is actually the very first and only blueberry pie I've ever made.
(and truthfully the first and only photo I took as we hurried out of the house with our pies for Thanksgiving dinner).

I've never been head-over-heels for Blueberry Pie and in my mind, blueberry pie is for the Summer...like for 4th of July. And actually here in Florida, our very quick blueberry season starts in April and ends in May...so seasonally speaking, it's more of a Spring pie for us.

And yes...you could technically say the Key Lime pie I shared on DAY 3 is more of a Summer pie too...BUT...at least you have the green key lime to help tie in the Christmas season colors if you wanted to make it for Christmas! *wink*

But...regardless of my personal preference for pie flavors and the fact that fresh blueberries are hard to come by since they are not in season around Thanksgiving, my uncle requested Blueberry pie...and so blueberry pie it was.

Blueberry pie is pretty basic...as most pies seem to be.
It's made with a lot of blueberries, a good amount of sugar and a little spice.

So of course, with the pie being so simple, I decided to dress up my pie a bit by creating a braided and twisted lattice crust pie like one I had been inspired by on Instagram.  And I would typically share the link with you because the pie was absolutely gorgeous and amazing but then you'd think less of my own pie. Ha!!

DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARDS RIGHT HERE

One for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!

Okay, never mind...@thejudylab on Instagram is too amazing not to share with you so I'm swallowing my pride... HERE IS THE PIE CRUST I was inspired by. And here is an awesome Cable Knit Crust she made too!  Amazing, right?

You can totally stick with doing a traditional lattice crust top or just a regular full crust with pretty slits cut into the top of it...as mentioned on that beautiful recipe card above. *wink*

Although this blueberry pie has nothing to do with my mama or her mama or any other mama I know, "Mama's Blueberry Pie" just sounded so much more appealing and nostalgic. So yeah...I fancied the name up too!  And I think it's okay since this mama right here is the one that baked the pie, photographed the pie and decided to create a cute recipe card for the pie so I could share it with you. So there you go. Ha!!

Now...I do have to say...I did use FROZEN blueberries for this pie since they weren't in season at the time I made it. Which is why I think my uncle's feedback on the pie was this:

Of the 5 different pies I brought, he said...

"The only one I ate was the blueberry. The taste was great, the crust was great, the only thing I would say is the blueberry stuff could have been a little firmer and not so runny.  Maybe if it was refrigerated it might be firmer? But it was wonderful. " - Uncle Dan

So there you go...even though I increased the flour to 1/2 cup instead of 1/3 cup as suggested by the recipe I was following when using frozen blueberries, it still set up differently than I think it would have had I been able to use fresh blueberries. I'm definitely going to test that theory and report back.

If you love blueberry pie...I hope you'll try this one.

Or at least pin it and print that super cute recipe card! *wink*

xoxo,

Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I swear it took me an entire hour just to configure the top crust on this pie.
The first "braids" I did I ended up undoing after Ella came in the kitchen and looked at my "almost-done-ready-to-go-in-the-oven-because-I-was-sick-of-messing-with-it" pie crust and said, "I thought you were making braids? Those aren't braids.".  *handsovermyeyes*
She was right!

RECIPE | The Only Key Lime Pie

It's day three of the Festival of Pies here on the blog.
Actually, that's what I should've called it but I really named it "The Five Days of Pie" so I guess I'll stick with that to keep things consistent! *wink*

So yeah...Key Lime Pie is on the pie podium today!!
But this isn't just any Key Lime Pie.
This is the ONLY Key Lime Pie.

And so yeah...I completely copied the name of the recipe from "The Only Pumpkin Pie" recipe I shared with you a couple of days ago...naming this "The Only Key Lime Pie".

But that's completely because this really IS the only Key Lime Pie recipe you will ever want to make and most certainly want to eat.

One thing I've come to learn is that you either LOVE Key Lime Pie...
OR...you have a total aversion to it.

For me...it's a love affair.
In fact, one of my favorite cupcakes from Cupcake Delights is the Key Lime Delight...just to point that out. *wink*

If you have an aversion to it...I'm so sorry.
But hey! You might know someone who loves it and you can either share the recipe with them OR you can surprise them by baking this for them on their birthday. *smile*

And if you love Key Lime Pie like I do...you're going to love me, like forever, for sharing this today!
It's the creamiest pie I've ever eaten...and I have had a few slices.

It's so delicious.
It's so creamy.
And it's the easiest pie ever to make - literally requiring only three ingredients for the pie filling.

DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARDS RIGHT HERE

One to print for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!

I hope you try it.
And I hope you've been loving the pie recipes I've been sharing this week.
I've got two more coming your way so stay tuned.

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My daughter, Clara, is the one that made this pie. Thank you Clara!!
She did a beautiful job, didn't she?
Unfortunately, the photos I took are kind of crappy because they were two-minute pictures I snapped as we were running out the door to have Thanksgiving Day dinner with my family. And the pie had started to sweat from being out of the fridge so I had to photoshop the heck out of the pie so you wouldn't be able to see it as much. Ha!!

RECIPE | Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

Good Morning everyone!!

Today marks "Day 2" of the "Five Days of Pie" I've promised you.

If you are just joining us, my daughters and I baked five different pies on Thanksgiving for our family and I've decided you need the recipes. *wink*

No, but seriously...you really are going to want these recipes because they are just that good.

So good in fact, I'm even taking the time to create super cute printable recipe cards for each pie - just in case you're like me and prefer to use old-school recipe cards rather than setting up the iPad or iPhone in my kitchen while I bake.

Today's pie? Chocolate Chip Pecan

This pie is ridiculously good, as it takes the old-fashioned, tried-and-true pecan pie we've all come to know and love, to an entirely new level. And who am I kidding? Anytime I can add some chocolate to a non-chocolate dessert...well...I'm just not going to say no to that.

It's easy to make, easy to bake and a simple bowl and whisk is the only equipment it will take.

DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARDS RIGHT HERE

One for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!

So yeah...I hope you'll PIN THIS to try the next time you need to make a fantastic dessert.
And if you missed pinning yesterday's pie...oh boy! You're going to want THAT ONE too!

I hope you guys are loving the "Five Days of Pies"...
and those cute printable recipe cards to go with them!!!

Have a sweet day my friends!!

xoxo,
Jessica

KEEPiNG iT REAL
You would never know this unless I told you...
Go back to the first photo and look at the whipped topping at the center top of the pie.
Do you see a small inconspicuous area of one of the whipped topping dollops missing?
And a couple of tiny drops of whipped topping on the crust just above it?

Well...while I was getting ready to photograph this pie, I walked away to grab something, and mind you the pie is sitting on the ground in my studio. Thankfully something in me immediately asked, "Wait! Where's Hamilton?" (our dog)  So I run back in and he'd already licked off some whipped topping and was getting ready for who knows what! Grrrrr!! Thank the Lord something told me to turn right back around. *coveringface*

RECIPE | The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe EVER!

This is the BEST Pumpkin Pie you'll ever make...hands-down...not even kidding.
It's the one from my-favorite-bakery-in-the-world-that-I've-never-visited-but-will-one-day...
the Butter Bakery in Vancouver British Columbia.

As promised, this is the first of five pie recipes I'm sharing with you this week;
from the five pies my daughter's and I all baked together for Thanksgiving.

This recipe is easy as pie and truly makes the best tasting pumpkin pie on the entire pumpkin pie planet.

It comes from The Butter Bakery's "Butter Baked Goods" cookbook I bought a couple of years ago. (remember this post). And although I'm sharing the recipe today...you should totally just buy the cookbook because it's filled with so many wonderful recipes and photos AND IT'S SO PRETTY.

Now...you can keep the crust "easy as pie" by not getting all fancy like I did with hand-cut fall leaves and the wonky looking acorns I tried to make. Ha!

TIP:  I baked the center pie crust decorations separately and then added them to the pie after it had baked and cooled.

You can totally just do a normal crust because it's not going to make a difference on the way the pie tastes. OR...if you want to get a little fancy but not too fancy, you can use mini fall leaf cookie cutters like these or this 2 inch Leaf Cutter Set to make the process super fast.

My daughter, Ema, made this pie...I just added the fancy crust decorations before we popped it in the oven. *wink*

It's easy...AS PIE...to make and I know you're going to love it!
Now go download the recipe card and print it off to add to your cute recipe box if you have one. (I don't have one but I'm eyeing this one from Rifle Paper Company).

DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARDS HERE

One for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!

I hope your day is as sweet as PUMPKIN pie!
Stay tuned for the other four pie recipes coming this week!!

xoxo,
Jess


KEEPiNG iT REAL
I totally would've used my mini fall leaf cookie cutters instead of having to hand cut all of the leaves but while I was in the middle of making the pie I searched all over my pantry looking for them and then remembered my mom borrowed them last year and hasn't returned them yet. Don't you hate when that happens?

And yes...the crust is totally a bit overdone/overbrown but I think since I used my all natural stone pie plate, it was taking the pie an extra while to bake while the edges were already done. Besides that, I think it makes it look a little more like authentic Fall colors. That's what I'm going with anyway. *wink*

P.S. I'm considering ordering this Large Maple Leaf Cutter and this Oak Leaf Cutter for the center of my pumpkin pie next year. Going to have to work on those acorns though. *giggling*

RECIPE | The Best Chocolate Cake Birthday Cake Ever

My Ella Pie turned eight years old on November 14th and this is what's left of the cake she requested.
And although right now we are all busy focusing on our Thanksgiving pies for tomorrow, (myself included), sharing this chocolate cake recipe with you RIGHT NOW just could not wait any longer. It's really THAT good. Besides that, I promised everyone on Facebook and Instagram that I'd post the recipe this week...so there! *wink*

If you've been following along my blog for awhile, you know it's a family tradition to allow the person celebrating a birthday to choose their birthday dinner and birthday dessert - usually homemade by mom. Clara typically chooses cheesecake, Ema has chosen a fresh fruit cake for the last five years and Ella has been known to pick ice cream cakes - not homemade.

As you can see...no one ever really chooses a traditional cake - myself included.
So I was really surprised this year when Ella said you wanted a "chocolate cake with blue frosting and a dolphin on top".

The only photo I love of the cake is the mangled cake in the first photo because it was taken 5 days post-party as I was eating the last remaining MOIST bits of it alone in the house one afternoon with gorgeous natural light pouring in from the kitchen window. All of these other cake photos were taken at night because as those of you who saw my Instagram stories know...I finished the cake just barely shy of Ella walking in the door from gymnastics at 6:30 on the night of her birthday.*phew*

Regardless of the funky lighting...I just LOVE how it turned out.
I used Sweetapolita sprinkles , (a mix of New Jersey Shore + A Cherry on Top),  for me to add some fun to the sides and top of the cake. I then used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to create the glittered dolphin and waves cake topper! (also shown on my Instastories)

I'm not a huge fan of cake...even though I love cupcakes.
I've only baked a few "cake" cakes in my life so I'm certainly no expert but I am familiar with lining the pans, greasing the pans, dusting the pans and frosting a layer cake.

As my wheels started turning to figure out which chocolate cake recipe to go with, I remembered my friend, Allison, had recently made a chocolate cake for her daughter's birthday and raved about the recipe she used from someone at church.

I went with it and BAM! It's a winner!!
It's moist for DAYS...and it's oh so chocolatey!!
Which is why I'm sure it's original name is "Too Much Chocolate Cake".
The original recipe called for this to be a bundt cake but I turned it into a 3 layer 6" inch cake with buttercream frosting. I swapped out the regular chocolate chips for miniatures and I've renamed it "The Best Chocolate Birthday Cake EVER"!

I've even created cute recipe cards for you to download and print if you'd like because I love it that much!

DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARDS NOW

Do you love it?
Ella loved it...

Told you she'd just got home from gymnastics practice!
She's still in her leotard.

Anyway...the Sweetapolita sprinkles really make it extra adorable.
AND...if you aren't a cake baker or decorator...the sprinkles let you skip all those fancy piping details. BONUS!!

This cake is SO easy...especially if you do the bundt-cake version.
You could totally make this to surprise your family at Thanksgiving.

Hope you'll try it you guys!
You will NOT be disappointed.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!!
I am so grateful for your love and support and the stories you guys share with me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so genuine and real.
The world could use more YOU in it!!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I should clarify that Ella loved the way her birthday cake LOOKED on the night of her birthday because she never even ate any of her birthday cake that night. *gasp* She'd had a fever for three days previously and was okay...but not 100% percent and just didn't want any cake. I was SO disappointed my little birthday girl wasn't even eating her own requested special chocolate cake with blue frosting and dolphins on top birthday cake.

P.S. I still have her American Girl Doll themed birthday party details to share with you too.
But let's kick back and enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays for right now my friends.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a little girl named Ella who's home with me today...waiting to do something fun together. *wink*