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recipes, reviews, gift guides, & more
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from the Happy To Be Here kitchen
If you have never roasted garlic in the oven, this is your sign to give it a try! The roasting process mellows the typically pungent flavor of fresh garlic into rich, savory, nutty, caramelized deliciousness. The garlic also softens as...
These mocha chocolate truffles are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat! Semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate combines with rich heavy cream and just the right amount of coffee flavor to make decadent mocha-flavored truffles. Who needs store-bought chocolates? Not you if you...
These double chocolate chip cookies are a chocoholic’s dream! Ghirardelli Dutch process cocoa powder adds a deep, rich chocolatey flavor to soft and chewy cookie dough. For an extra dose of chocolate, semi-sweet chips are both mixed into the dough...
Some of you may call this puppy chow, while others might insist that they’re called muddy buddies. Whatever you choose to call it, this is one of my favorite easy no-bake desserts! Crispy Chex cereal is coated in a melted...
When it comes to easy no-bake treats, these 5-ingredient peanut butter balls (aka peanut butter truffles) are pretty hard to beat! Peanut butter combines with powdered sugar and butter to create a sweet, creamy, delicious filling that is shaped into...
If you’re looking for a decadent, rich, luxurious dinner that won’t take all day to make, then this truffle mushroom pasta recipe is for you! When you hear “truffle” you may think of the tiny nuggets of precious culinary gold...
With less than two weeks left ’til Christmas (!!!!), we’re now in the thick of Christmas cookie season. That’s why I am rounding up some of my favorite classic Christmas cookies in this post. There are times to experiment, and...
It’s Christmas cookie season, and what is more festive than these perfectly petite classic vanilla spritz cookies? A sweet, vanilla and almond dough is pressed through my favorite cookie press to create adorably festive snack-size cookies that are perfect for...
The Story of the Upside Down Turkey Once upon a time, many Thanksgivings ago, my mom and I were prepping for an early Thanksgiving meal (a 12 pm lunch instead of our typical 5 pm dinner). To get everything done...
It may commonly be referred to as “Turkey Day”, but I think the side dishes are the true stars of Thanksgiving dinner (and I bet others will agree with me). That’s why I’m listing some of my and my family’s...
Peppermint bark is one of my favorite Christmas treats, and this version is as easy as it is delicious. We’re ditching the double boiler and using the microwave to melt bittersweet, semi-sweet, and white chocolate chips to make two thin...
Not only is this cranberry sauce a beautiful addition to any holiday table, but it’s delicious too! This is the exact recipe that I grew up eating every Thanksgiving, and it has definitely stood the test of time. As an...
APPETIZERS
If you’re looking for a snack that’s crunchy, craveworthy, and flavorful, these zesty seasoned oyster crackers are for you! The crackers are coated in a blend of ranch and Italian seasoning mix, with some salt and vinegar popcorn seasoning to...
These savory seasoned crackers taste just like Christmas to me, since they are inspired by the dill oyster crackers my grandma used to make around the holidays when I was growing up. This version, using mini saltine crackers, is super...
Today, I have another “cheater” recipe for you… super easy, cheesy pull-apart biscuit bites that are the perfect appetizer for game days, holidays, dinner parties, or any time really. These biscuit bites are baked in a cupcake tin giving them...
The weather is cooling down, the days are getting shorter, and if you listen closely you might actually be able to hear the trumpets of the NFL intro in the background- it’s football season! Whether you’re an avid fan glued...
These pepper pinwheels are the perfect easy appetizer for game days, dinner parties, school lunches, or “just because”. They have a bit of pizzazz since they include fresh jalapeños, pickled banana peppers, and jalapeño cream cheese. The key to this...
If you need a recipe for an easy and delicious side for your next Taco Tuesday, game day, birthday party, or summer grill out- look no further. Inspired by classic Mexican street corn, this side is one of my favorites...
Who doesn’t love tacos? Seriously… who? I’ve certainly never met anyone who doesn’t LOVE tacos. These taco wonton cups are a perfect game day or party appetizer for any taco lovers. The crunchy wonton wrappers serve as perfect “mini taco...
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DESSERTS
These mocha chocolate truffles are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat! Semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate combines with rich heavy cream and just the right amount of coffee flavor to make decadent mocha-flavored truffles. Who needs store-bought chocolates? Not you if you...
These double chocolate chip cookies are a chocoholic’s dream! Ghirardelli Dutch process cocoa powder adds a deep, rich chocolatey flavor to soft and chewy cookie dough. For an extra dose of chocolate, semi-sweet chips are both mixed into the dough...
Some of you may call this puppy chow, while others might insist that they’re called muddy buddies. Whatever you choose to call it, this is one of my favorite easy no-bake desserts! Crispy Chex cereal is coated in a melted...
When it comes to easy no-bake treats, these 5-ingredient peanut butter balls (aka peanut butter truffles) are pretty hard to beat! Peanut butter combines with powdered sugar and butter to create a sweet, creamy, delicious filling that is shaped into...
It’s Christmas cookie season, and what is more festive than these perfectly petite classic vanilla spritz cookies? A sweet, vanilla and almond dough is pressed through my favorite cookie press to create adorably festive snack-size cookies that are perfect for...
Peppermint bark is one of my favorite Christmas treats, and this version is as easy as it is delicious. We’re ditching the double boiler and using the microwave to melt bittersweet, semi-sweet, and white chocolate chips to make two thin...
Peanut butter blossom cookies are a Christmas classic, so this recipe is a must-make during the holiday season. Soft, peanut butter-packed cookies are rolled in granulated sugar and topped with sweet Hershey’s Kisses. A bit of molasses adds some depth...
These old-fashioned ginger molasses cookies are soft, chewy, delicious, and a true holiday classic. As they bake, your kitchen will be filled with the deep, rich scent of molasses mixed with a perfect blend of spices that may bring you...
It’s Christmas cookie season, and today I’m sharing the recipe for one of my favorites- chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies. These cookies have a beautiful crackled appearance thanks to rolling the dough in powdered sugar before baking. They are also soft,...
These bakery-style cinnamon applesauce muffins are the perfect fall treat (or breakfast). The simple batter includes applesauce and sour cream, ensuring that these muffins stay moist. The muffins are also topped with the easiest, yummiest maple glaze that will take...
This cinnamon applesauce bread is super moist, slightly spiced, and topped with the most delicious maple glaze. In my opinion, it’s the perfect fall treat. Plus it’s a great way to use up any extra applesauce sitting in your fridge,...
It’s fall which means it’s time for allllllll of the pumpkin foods and drinks- pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, and pumpkin cake, which is what we’re talking about today. This recipe for pumpkin swirl cake is perfect for...
These peanut butter swirl oat bars are super easy and delicious, making them the perfect quick fall dessert. The oat bar base is soft and a little chewy, and the topping is a perfect mix of chocolate and creamy peanut...
Father’s Day is coming up soon and this cinnamon swirl coffee cake is my stepdad’s absolute favorite. It’s literally a cinnamon roll in cake form, with cinnamon sugar swirled in moist vanilla cake topped with a sweet glaze. As an...
These mini peanut butter cookies are the perfect bite-sized treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. Requiring only five ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge or pantry, these cookies are perfect for those times you’re craving a sweet...
What do you do when life gives you way too many zucchini? Make cake, of course. This year our plants produced over 100 pounds of zucchini. Now, I love zucchini, but that’s… a lot. One of our favorite ways to...
I have a HUGE sweet tooth, so a sweet treat is pretty much a daily requirement for me. These super easy no-bake oat bars have been a staple for me since I was in high school and remain one of...
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The Nespresso Vertuo combines style with substance, brewing exceptional coffee while looking sleek and sophisticated sitting on the kitchen counter. I‘ve had my Nespresso Vertuo (shop on Amazon) for over three years now, which I think is more than enough time to have formed an opinion on its quality, usability, and more.
Spoiler alert- I absolutely love it! And I’ll tell you exactly why…
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