Just Fun

Happy Independence Day… early!  These cupcakes were going to be my Fourth of July treat, but all my nieces and nephews are coming today and I wanted them to get to enjoy them too.   So I’m a week early.  I’m pretty sure I won’t hear any complaints. My kids were so excited over these, I barely got to frost them before their hands were reaching to snatch them away from me.  They loved biting into them and seeing all that color.  And who wouldn’t?  These are a perfect dessert to have at a Fourth of July picnic or party, don’t you think?  Make enough for the grown-ups too.  They’re hard to resist. To help speed things along, I used a boxed cake mix.  The white cake is a good palette for the colors.  I divided the mix into thirds, and added red and blue to two bowls.  I just layered each color into each cupcake liner and voila.  I found the cute cupcake liners in the dollar section at Target, so I was lovin’ that.  Super frugal dessert with a huge presentation.  (The sprinkles were from a p

As much as you’d love to throw that Memorial Day cookout we see in glossy magazines and sales commercials, it’s tough to find the time to prepare those backyard decorations and table settings. Instead, many of us spend these days pushing through work or chores so that we can spend some meaningful time focusing on family and friends over our long holiday weekend. But if you skip the decorations now, you’ll meet the same dilemma once again come July 4th. Good news: we've got the perfect compromise. With these seven quick and easy decoration ideas, you can leave the decorating until the very last hour, and have everything you need to ensure that you and your guests get the most out of your holiday. And the best part? All of your decorations will be ready to go for July 4th, too!

This New York Style Cheese Pizza Recipe features a chewy crust, sweet and tangy sauce, and plenty of gooey cheese! This pizza is almost identical to the famous slices sold on the streets of New York. And so much better than delivery! The Best New York Style Cheese Pizza Prep 20 mins | Cook 45 mins | Total 2 hours, 50 mins Yield 1 Pizza Ingredients For the Crust: 3 and 3/4 cups bread flour 1 and 1/4 teaspoons sugar 1 envelope active dry yeast 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 and 1/2 cups water, 110 - 115 degrees (F) 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons For the Sauce: 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon black pepper For the Cheese: 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded then frozen Instructions For the Crust: Combine the bread fl

Think cheese pizza is boring? Try changing it up with the more sophisticated White Pizza recipe. An herb and garlic infused olive oil is spread on a pizza crust that is topped with three cheeses for a delicious, cheesy pizza. We have been a pizza making family for many, many years now. One of my daughter’s first favorite foods was pizza. And today, pizza is my youngest’s favorite thing that I make. But when it comes to pizza night, the kids always choose the same. Cheese for one, pepperoni for the other. Not that I think there is anything wrong with cheese pizza. Or with pepperoni pizza. But sometimes you need something a little extra. Like garlic and rosemary brushed over your crust. And then topped with 3 different cheeses. And a little red pepper flake for a hint of heat. Ingredients 1 lb pizza dough 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3/4 cup ricotta cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/3 cup grated Parmesan chee

I can’t even tell you how many amazing memories of my childhood were brought back while making this super delicious Homemade Sheet Pan Pizza Recipe! Regardless of what type of toppings you like, for sure this pizza dough should have you well on your way to making an amazing sheet pan pizza. Happy baking you guys! SERVINGS : 1 large sheet pan pizza INGREDIENTS For the Dough: 4 ½ cups of flour 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt 1 packet of active yeast 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 1 2/3 warm water (110° to 115°) For the Toppings: 4 cloves of pressed garlic cloves 15 ounces of canned crushed tomatoes 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella 8 ounce ball of sliced mozzarella Pepperoni slices Loose Italian sausage Sliced domestic mushrooms Sliced green peppers Fresh basil leaves Shredded parmesan cheese Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 500°. Dough: Mix together the flour, salt, yeast, sugar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and water unti

Memorial Day weekend typically kicks off the start of summer, and it's filled with lots of time spent outdoors and even special Memorial Day activities like cookouts featuring the best Memorial Day recipes. But while you're enjoying a summer barbecue or even visiting a lake on your day off, it's important to pay tribute to those who earned our freedom. These patriotic quotes will help get you in the mood and keep in mind the real meaning and history of Memorial Day: to honor all the men and women who have died while serving our country. Trying to get yourself in the right mindset for the day? Add some patriotic country songs to your playlist and check out these super patriotic quotes. Barack Obama "In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it." John F. Kennedy "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the

For many American families, a Memorial Day celebration includes a three-day weekend packed with picnics, a trip to the lake, backyard grilling sessions featuring Memorial Day barbecue recipes, and a red, white, and blue Memorial Day dessert to top it all off. This year's activities might be smaller in scale, but it's still important to keep in mind the history of Memorial Day. This national holiday isn’t about sales at your favorite stores or online or an extra day off from work. It’s about remembering and honoring those who have made the greatest sacrifice for our country’s freedom and lost their lives serving in the U.S. military. So when is Memorial Day this year? Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday in May. This year, on Monday, May 25, 2020, share your love and respect for those who have served. Or put pen to paper and write cards of appreciation to relatives and neighbors that include one of these Memorial Day quotes to make you proud to be an American. Let the ki