FriendlyIam

When I see fresh strawberries at the grocery store in the spring, these bars are the first thing I think of. And then I make them all summer long until the prices of berries go up and the quality goes down. My friend Liz gave me this recipe a few years ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite treats. These bars are different from anything I�ve ever eaten. The texture is amazing, and the mixture of flavors is divine! Every time I take them somewhere, people ask me for the recipe. And no one can believe it when they find out how easy and quick they are. { Strawberry Cookie Bars } 1 large tube refrigerated cookie dough* 8 oz. cream cheese 1/3 cup sugar 1 T cocoa 2 cups Cool Whip 2 cups sliced strawberries 1 cup chocolate chips (mini are best!) * Now listen up, friends�I�m not usually one to use store-bought dough, for any reason. But I�ve tried this recipe with homemade cookie dough and it wasn�t as good! Trust me on this one and just fork out the dough for this dough : Preheat ...

We're guest posting at Snips & Spice today! Here's a little preview of what we're sharing in celebration of Cupcake Month: Stop on over to see all the fun cupcakes, and while you're there...  be sure to check out Malory's amazing skillz . We've been friends for years, and I can say first-hand that she bakes, sews, knits, crafts, and quilts like a professional. She's a perfectionist...big time...and it shows! Oh, and guess what? She made her own wedding cake. For reals! --Tammy

Ooooh, look at those. Yum! We have a few of our favorite recipes we will be sharing with you over the next week. Today, it's the most delicious meatloaf ever . { M E A T L O A F } 1 1/2 lbs Lean Ground Beef 2 Eggs, Beaten 1/4 cup Ketchup (plus more for tops) 3/4 cup Herb-Seasoned Dry Bread Stuffing Mix (Pepperidge Farms) 1/2 Package Dry Ranch Dressing Mix 6 oz can French Fried Onions 1) Preheat oven to 350 2) In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well 3) Shape into a single loaf and fit into a 9x5 inch loaf pan or split evenly into smaller portions and fit into a mini-loaf pan (as pictured) 4) Smother the top with additional ketchup 5) Bake , covered loosely with foil, for 50-60 minutes or until meat is thoroughly cooked. (If using a mini-loaf pan, check after 45 minutes, as the mini-loaves can cook a bit quicker) 6) OPTIONAL YUMMINESS : Sprinkle on additional fried onions during the last 5 minutes of baking *be mindful of over-baking, as this can cause the meatl...

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway and let us know you are still around! Our randomly selected winner is.... Congrats, Arya! This basket of goods will soon be headed your way: Please email us at PeppermintPlum [at] Hotmail [dot] com with your name and address. Hooray!

Every once in a while you stumble across a recipe that becomes part of your life. It's one of those recipes that you continue to make, year after year. It becomes a staple at certain holidays and times of year. For me this is a classic applesauce coffee cake that I found in a Martha Stewart cookbook years ago. I love it because it is quick and simple to prepare, and it uses ingredients that I usually have stocked in my pantry. But, what I love most about this cake is its presentation. It is a beauty; a high cake, dense, and decorative. People are always impressed by it. And, the best part is, that it freezes really well too. Look, I am not a major 'freezer', if you ask me, fresh is always best. But, I've got to be realistic. And, chances are, if there's something I can prepare in advance, I will. When I am referring to freezing, I am not talking about leaving something in your freezer for 2 years, but usually for up to a month or so. Everyone seems to love this cake...

There have been some really great S�Mores-themed goodies all over blogland this summer. I decided to try the idea with my favorite chocolate cookie recipe , and man, they were yummy! These are a great way to celebrate the last few weeks of summer. Here is the basic recipe: { Chocolate Cookies } 1 1/2 sticks butter 2/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 1/2 cups flour Cream butter and sugars, and then add eggs and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients. Roll into small balls and place onto greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. { For S�Mores Variation } Break up some graham crackers into 1-inch pieces, and stick two into the sides of the top of each cookie, at an angle. Break up a Hershey bar into the pre-scored rectangles, and then break each piece in half. Stick one in the top of each cookie, also at an angle, so you have a little cavity to put a mini-marshmallow right on...

Hello, lovely readers! We are officially back to blogging . We've had a great Summer so far and we are happy to be back to share some of our ideas with you. We'd like to thank all of you for sticking with us during our break, and what better way is there to do that than with a G I V E A W A Y ! I picked up a few extra items during my last IKEA visit (which I am lucky enough to have within 2 minutes from where I work) so I could put together this sweet giveaway basket ... and by sweet, I mean AWESOME ! Check out the goods: Perfect for a patio picnic during the last, hot days of Summer. (The basket is included as well.) This is not a sponsored giveaway.  We just love cute IKEA products and wanted you to have some, too! Would you like to W I N ? (of course!) Just leave us a comment letting us know you are still around and would like to win . Simple as that. Comment entries will be accepted until midnight (MST) on Thursday, August 25th and a winner will be chosen Friday ...

It's not out of the ordinary for me to over-buy when it comes to food. I can't help myself when I pass a basket of juicy bright tomatoes, I will add them to my cart even though I know I already have tomatoes at home. So, I often I end up with many "soft" and sometimes moldy tomatoes in my fridge... Well, there is no reason to throw them away. This colorful, delicious pasta dish always gets eaten up to the last morsel. It's a wonderful dish to make with tomatoes that are on their way out and it can be prepared in no time. All I do is wash the tomatoes, cut off the rotten parts and discard, and chop the rest into chunks- it doesn't have to pretty or perfect. That's the beauty of this recipe (also, the fact that all you will need are 5 straightforward ingredients). By the way, cherry tomatoes and fresh tomatoes of ANY kind can be used in this recipe! Quick & Gorgeous Fresh Tomato & Basil Pasta Serves 4- 6, but can easily be adjusted for the number of...

There are many things I love about the culinary world in Montreal..but my favorite are these 'lolipop' steaks, basically steaks on a stick, sold at J&R Kosher Butcher (JRKosher.com). I love the concept, a small portion of steak served on a skewer- they are great to serve at a barbecue, and kids love them! I simply grill them, as I would any ordinary rib steak, and serve them with this amazingly colorful and flavorful, zesty chimichurri sauce. You can make this recipe using any type of steak, and the chimichurri goes well with all grilled meats and chicken- just to change things up a bit. Chimichurri is a green sauce used for grilled meats or as a marinade, and it originated in Argentina. Here is my version which basically uses those vegetables that I have forgotten about in my fridge, ie. soft tomatoes and peppers, and fresh herbs that aren't looking so alive anymore! Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Serves 4 4 individual steaks or 'lolipop' steaks, seasoned with ...

There's nothing like eating your food out of a bowl, don't you agree? When you are short on time, and looking for a quick, light meal, rice bowls are a great way to go. Simply steam some of your favorite white or brown rice, and top with sliced grilled chicken, beef, tofu or fish and spoon over this spicy, fresh, flavorful slaw. (This is a great dish to make using your leftover rice and/or whatever leftover protein you may have in the fridge!) Dinner in no time, served with a spoon! Spicy Ginger-Carrot Slaw Serves 4-6 3 kirby cucumber, unpeeled, halved lengthwise, and then cut into very thin slices 3 cups shredded or julienned carrots 1 cup shredded green cabbage 4 tablespoons chopped red onion 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro 3 tablespoons chopped parsley 1- 3-inch piece ginger, peeled and cut into small pieces 1/4 cup rice vinegar juice from 1 lime 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup sesame seeds   4 cups steamed rice your choice of prepared chicken, be...