King Cake!

King Cake is special to the Mardi Gras season. It comes in all different flavors and fillings - cinnamon, cream cheese, raspberry, chocolate. My favorite is the traditional cinnamon king cake. It's topped with icing and then sprinkles of the colors of Mardi Gras - purple, green and gold. Sometimes a little plastic baby can be found inside. However, now because of choking hazards, most bakeries put the baby on the outside of the cake. Whoever gets the baby on their piece has to bring the next king cake to the party!

The inside looks like this....

This particular year of Mardi Gras has extra special meaning. This was when I met my husband at Mardi Gras in New Orleans! A big group of us in college went down for the festivities. I was on Canal Street (drinking a "Hand Grenade"- they're deadly!) and that's the spot I met my husband. The rest is history! We are getting ready to celebrate 8 years together! - I'm so glad I caught this bead at the Bacchus Parade. It will always be close to my heart:)

Hershey's Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Sometimes the best recipes come from the back of the box. I have made a chocolate chip cookie recipe for years and everyone says how amazing they are. Well - it's just the one on the back of the butter box! Here's a cupcake for you that will melt in your mouth. I have been looking for a legit cupcake recipe. All the ones I have tried are nothing compared to this baby. They puff up perfectly, cooked all the way thru and that icing.... So here ya go - the cupcake recipe from the back of the Hershey's Cocoa Powder box!! INGREDIENTS 2 cups of sugar, 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2/3 cups cocoa powder, 1-1/2 tsp baking powder, 1-1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup boiling water DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Add boiling water at the end. Mix all together - batter will be very thin. Grease a muffin pan and fill each almost to the top. Bake for 20 minutes - check to make sure they are finished by inserting a toothpick in the middle. Creamy Chocoalte Frosting 1 stick butter - melted, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup milk, 2/3 cups cocoa powder, 2 tsp vanilla extract, Mix all together until creamy. Let sit in fridge for about an hour. Frost cupcakes when they are completely cooled.

Deer Meat Spaghetti

One of my best friends from high school, Matt loves to hunt. He made us some deer meat spaghetti the other night and it was AMAZING. My mother-in-law also makes deer meat stew and it's so delicious. It's so fresh and full of flavor! Also, very lean and healthy. INGREDIENTS 1 LB FRESH, GROUND DEER MEAT 1 CAN ROTEL 1 JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste DIRECTIONS Brown deer meat, breaking up big chunks to make sure all is cooked through. Drain any grease, add rest of ingredients and stir all together. Wins easiest recipe award!

St. Patty's Day DIY Wreath

St. Patrick's Day is around the corner and I'm elated! I thought I'd take a break from the mesh stuff and try something different. Everything for this wreath costs about $20.00. I already have a lot of paint and brushes. So, I wanted something not too bright green and fru fru, but still cute. I came up with this idea. I may add a green bow when it comes time to put this up on my front door. MATERIALS NEEDED Foam wreath Wooden Initial Burlap ribbon hot glue gun and glue sticks St. Patty's decorations Any other bows, ribbon, etc.

It is quite simple to put this together. Just wrap the burlap ribbon around and fold in the back to secure. Hot glue any little clovers or other decorations. Then paint a wooden letter (this is dark and light green polka dots. I know it almost looks black). Hot glue that on and there you go! It takes about 10 minutes to complete. Simple, inexpensive and cute. I'll take it!

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Mardi Gras is in full swing! This weekend was filled with parades - even more parades next weekend!!! Here are some photos! Raising Cane's Chicken before the parade - my all-time favorite! Fresh, juicy chicken tenders, crispy fries and the sauce - so amazingly delicious you just want to keep ordering extra little cups of it! The toast melts in your mouth. My version of heaven - would literally be eating this every day and never gaining a pound! (yeah right!) I try to only eat this once a month. It's so good I sometimes eat it a couple of times a month. Fun fact - I worked there in college and I KNOW THE SECRET SAUCE RECIPE - but I will never tell you. Ha!

Some pretty floats...

Moon Pie!

My dinner table decorations. All of our beads!

Mardi Gras!!!

The most glorious time of year in Louisiana - MARDI GRAS!!! Partying, eating and going to parades. It's truly magical. So much culture and history surrounded by good food, family and friends. Crawfish season is starting up too!!! The peak of the season isn't usually until end of March/early April. I will have a post dedicated to just crawfish: how to peel, boil and serve. That comes later. I just wanted to share my Mardi Gras mesh wreath! I make mesh wreaths for all seasons. I'm very proud of this one! It's a bit large, but that's ok. Mardi Gras is all about bright colors and big decorations! The main colors of Mardi Gras are Purple (Justice), Gold (Power), Green (Faith). So check out my latest creation!

Chicken Gyros

These are seriously amazing. Takes no time to prepare and you will impress your friends and family! INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 6-8 chicken tenders salt and pepper to taste warm pita bread 1 cucumber, sliced 1 red onion, sliced 1 tomato, chopped Tzatziki sauce (see recipe in below post) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Let chicken tenders marinate in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic for 1 hour. Place on a baking sheet with foil and bake for 25 - 30 minutes until chicken it cooked through and registers 165 - 170 on a thermometer all the way thru. To assemble - place about 1 tablespoon of tzatziki sauce on pita bread, place a chicken tender, and then cucumbers, tomato, and red onion. Top with additional tzatziki sauce. Wrap bottom with aluminum foil so it won't spill everywhere! These can be a little messy to eat but so delicious!