WFD? Buttermint Marshmallows

I think I get excited for cold weather.  Which is weird for me because I don't like to be cold.... but I know that when the weather gets cold, I get to wear comfy boots, long sleeves, scarves.  I get to stay inside and do indoor crafts and games with my kiddo.  I get to light fires in the fireplace  decorate my house drink hot cocoa.

I think it's mostly about the cocoa if I'm going to be honest.

Anyway, I like to make my own marshmallows because they do this amazing melty thing on the top of your cup.  You literally get a creamy bit of mallow in every sip.  It's heaven.

Well, I like my peppermint cocoa...and since we have moved to a small town I haven't been able to find my peppermint cocoa.  I know, I know...there's Amazon.  I could order it...but that requires planning ahead...yuk.  I have a hot cocoa compulsion and I can't wait for 2 day shipping even if it's free.

So this year when I made my marshmallows....I made Buttermint Marshmallows

WFD?: Almost Grandpa's Apple Cake

My whole family is from Georgia.  But when I was 8 we moved to Texas and my grandma left her home in Albany and followed us.  So basically I'm a Texan.

So when I was little, my grandpa used to come visit us in Texas for the holidays.  He would leave Georgia right after pecan harvest season.  And when he would visit he would bring pecans, peanuts and all these fresh ingredients from the farms.  I have a lot of fond memories of him.  We would do jigsaw puzzles together in the afternoon.  He had an infectious laugh.  Sun tea and pumpkin pie were some of his his favorites.  He made the best Mayhaw jelly....

Anyway, every season when he would visit, there was always apple cake.  It was my favorite.  I snacked on it every second I could.  And since he passed over 10 years ago, there has been no apple cake.  I miss the apple cake.  Every year around the change of the seasons, I start to think of him.  Grandpa and apple cake.

On Grandma's milk glass....so appropriate :)

WFD?: Decadent Double Chocolate Cake

Seriously, this is the best chocolate cake in the history of the world.  I'm not even making that up.  Would I fib to you??  

No, I wouldn't.  Mamma didn't raise that kind of girl.

It's perfect for a chocolate craving, a family function, just because.... pregnancy induced hormonal meltdowns.....

WFD?: Spiced Pumpkin "Muffin Cakes" with Cream Cheese Butter Cream and Salted Caramel

Yes, it's a "muffin cake".

"Muffin cake": A term made up by me, just now, that describes a cupcake that is mixed like a muffin.  Which would technically make it more of a muffin, but it's very cake like in texture....and there's frosting so ya know...

Makes sense to me.

Lot's of parts to this "muffin cake", which should prove to be a rather long recipe packed post.  :)
So let's get right to it shall we??
Yes...yes we shall....
Ok then...

Lemon Chevre Cheesecake Ice Cream with Berry Coulis Swirl

 So This recipe isn't diet.  Not even kind of.

But it is perhaps some of the creamiest, most indulgent ice cream I've ever eaten (that wasn't chocolate).  It's been calling to me from my freezer for days.....

I'm bringing it to our family 4th of July pool party. 

Anywho.  I could go on and on and on about the deliciousness of this ice cream but I won't.  I'll just give you the recipe and threaten you with a spatula to your throat STRONGLY ENCOURAGE  you to make it post haste.

WFD? Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Hooked on the ice cream maker.  :)

That, and the local store was having a fabulous deal on strawberries....

I wanted to make a strawberry rhubarb ice cream that I saw on cooking light but when i went back to the other store they didnt have rhubarb.  You see that's what I have to do around here.  I have to hit 2 different grocery stores to get most of my shopping done....because one has better looking produce and the other one has all the usual food staples.

Anyway, I didn't want to make straight up strawberry.  It's Sophie's favorite but straight strawberry sounded so boring.  And I was feeling....AMBITIOUS (I know, that like almost never happens)

WFD? Peppermint Patty Ice Cream

 So my MIL bought my hubs and I an ice cream maker forever ago. They have one and they love it.  Well needless to say it's me right?  So it's been sitting in a box for months....

Well the weather is getting warmer, and ice cream is beginning to sound good.  And I'm still waiting on my favorite frozen custard place to come out with their wedding cake concrete.

Not until June, just in case you're wondering.  (I know you were)

So I figured I would break out the ice cream maker and make something...

WFD? Pasta Fresca

There are a lot of things that I miss about living in Dallas.

First is the shopping.  No more needs to be said about that.

The second, is the food.  I miss the vast variety of fine dining and casual eateries.  Don't get me wrong, food in Joplin is good, but there are restaurants I miss desperately.

So speaking of shopping and dining, I found myself thinking of The Grand Luxe Cafe last night. It was a place I would stop in often while shopping in the Galleria (that I used to live only 2 short exits away from....oh yes, it was dangerous).

I recently made a trip to D-town for my bestie Kim's big 30th celebration.  While I was there, I filled up on as much Tex-Mex as possible, of course.  I hit up the N Bistro at Nordstrom (the fries and olive aoli - my god).  I even managed to sneak some Pinkberry in.  But I never got around to visitng the Grand Luxe Cafe.

I also hit up Central Market.  One of my greatest thrills in life is shopping at a fabulous grocery store.  I often walk into Central Market, breath it in, and I am convinced that it is the happiest place on earth.  It truly rivals Disney World for me.  And while I was there this last trip, I picked up the most beautiful baby eggplants and colorful cherry tomatoes.

WFD? Roasted Tomatoes with Angel Hair

OK, I LOVE PASTA!  I'm not kidding.  I have to control my pasta intake because I am a pasta nut.  I will eat my weight in pasta.  (and hunny that's a lotta pasta...)

This is a recipe that I commonly make for lunch.  Mostly because it's light, tasty, and only calls for a few ingredients (most of which I always have handy).