Look What I Found: Annie's Eats

I think it's pretty obvious that I'm a huge fan of cooking. Maybe not as obvious as it should be considering I haven't reviewed or posted any new recipes lately, but that's about to change.



In honor of bringing back the various cooking themed elements of my blog (and posting regularly) I thought I'd feature this awesome blog I just (literally) found while using Stumble!.



Annie's Eats is a marvelous blog dedicated entirely to recipes. While a number of these recipes look to be on the non-recipe side (see Chocolate Waffles and Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie), there are also many healthy options that are sure to be a great addition to your family meal planning.



I'm really excited to try out the Eggplant Parmesan and, for breakfast, the Fruit Bruschetta. Don't those just look phenomenal?



I've already got my grocery shopping list made out for this week, but I'll be sure to add some of these to my next meal plan and let you know how they turn out. Maybe not the fattening ones, though. Got a new eating plan to stick to this year.

Julie & Julia: When Movies and Cooking Collide

This isn't a blog about the rest of my "normal" life, or about movies (which I also love, but only watch while I'm knitting these days), but it is a blog about crafting and cooking, and viola! two of my loves have collided in the new (new to me, because I have neither the time nor the money to go see a movie at the cinema) movie Julie & Julia, starring the superbly talented Meryl Streep and one of my favorite new actresses, Amy Adams (isn't she adorable?).

I loved this movie. Really. So much that I had to blog that I loved it. What an inspiration to all of us out there, struggling to realize a dream that we may have given up on. And the food! Oh, the food! I'm so hungry right now! I've never read Julia Child's cook book, but I've always loved seeing her on television and have always meant to pick up a copy of her book. Now I must do it.

Obviously, blogging my adventures with Julia's cookbook is out of the question (great idea done already), but once I get the book I'll be sure to share how much fun I'm having with it. Mmm. Butter.

PS - Aren't I clever? I just found the original blog that started it all, created a nifty little button, and linked right up to the first entry. I've been too poor to buy a new book to read for months; now I'll have something to pick up and read. How fun.

Recipe Review: Strawberry Peach Crisp

I recently tried out yet another amazing recipe from Little Birdie Secrets. This one was the delicious and superbly easy Strawberry Peach Crisp. The recipe called for Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds cereal, but I got the Fred Meyer equivalent for $2 instead and it still ended up delicious. A thrifty change-out for us penny pinchers. I also used canned peaches instead of fresh, so those of you that don't have good peaches in your area, there's hope! How amazing does this look?



And all dished up with some whipped cream.



This recipe is super easy to make and so delicious that I only got one serving before everyone else in the house ate it all up without leaving me more than a few bites left over.

Next time I make it, I'm not telling anyone.

Recipe Review: Reese's® Puffs® Sticky Balls from Little Birdie Secrets & Contest from Today's Give Away

Yesterday I tried out this recipe posted by Little Birdie Secrets for Reese's® Puffs® Sticky Balls. They taste even better than they look and took hardly any time at all to make.



My seven-year-old daughter and I had a blast melting marshmallows and forming the sticky cereal mixture into tasty treats with our hands.

The recipe calls for Reese's® Puffs® cereal, but I used the Fred Meyer brand version of the same cereal and it was only $2 a box!

These treats were super easy to make, fun and easy for my daughter to help with, and are absolutely delicious. I will definitely make these again. I'm thinking I might contact my daughter's teacher about making some for a class snack.

So go visit Little Birdie Secrets for this great recipe.

One More Thing!



Today's Give Away is sponsoring an awesome contest. Be sure to enter so you can win an adorable trick'r'treat bag or jewelry from Beanies, Bows, and Bling Oh My!