Baking with Blondie

Hey friends! I've been trying to post more recipes here and there from my kitchen. Today's version is just in time for National Cherry Dessert Day! Woo hooo!! I know, sounds totally made up... but even if it is, I mean, why the heck not have a delicious cherry cupcake all dolled up for the occasion?  For these, I used my favorite Sweetapolita Sprinkles, and a little bit of edible gold leaf to take them up a notch higher. I completely love how they turned out, and LOVED sharing them with neighbors just for fun. :)  I can't wait for Memorial weekend. We have a fun BBQ planned with family, I have some yard work I can't wait to further dive into, and of course, a few cakes planned (and macarons), that I've been trying my best to keep myself from making early.  Happy Friday, friends! 

Friends! I break the silence here in blog land with a brand new recipe. I've been on a cake-making hiatus, and it has been the best, really. Making cupcake and cakes has brought me so much joy, and I'm really excited to be sharing recipes with you here and there from my own kitchen.  I know, I usually don't share my cupcake or secret frosting recipes. It's for a personal reason, really. I have dreams for my blog and baking business, and I've been burned SO many times with bigger bloggers stealing my original recipes, putting them in their publishes cookbooks with zero credit to me. I know that sounds petty, but it hurt a lot. It's one thing if it's someone else's recipe, but when it's my own, that I created from scratch in my kitchen, I get a little cranky.  But today, I wanted to share one with you, because I shared them on Studio 5 (KSL) this week, and didn't want to leave you darling friends hanging! So here it is, in it's ful...

Hey friends!!! It's National Caramel Day! I feel like just about any dessert can be slathered in caramel, so it's an important one to celebrate. Today, I'm sharing a recipe we couldn't keep our hands off of for 10 seconds without eating MORE. So yes, danger danger, friends. Plus, I'm teaming up with some of my blogger friends to keep the caramel party going all day long with 21+ Caramel Recipes  below. So make sure to not drool all over your keyboard for this one, man. 

Alrighty, friends! Another crazy healthy recipe you can either use for dinner or even as meal prep for your delicious lunches for the week is coming right at'cha! These steak fajita bowls are quick to assemble, are bursting with all the fajita flavors you love, and can be customized to whatever you'd like to have inside each bowl. For us? We went big and topped ours with all the works! 

Soft zucchini noodles, topped with warm marinara sauce, and freshly made turkey meatballs. Perfect for lunch meal prep for the week, or even a healthy dinner for the family! 

No-bake, with whole fresh strawberries, a layer of creamy ganache, a whipped filling only dreams are made of, and shaved chocolate to take it all the way home. This pie is the ultimate way to impress your family and friends on just about any occasion! Plus, it comes together without opening your oven once.  Hey you guys!!! Happy Pi/Pie Day!!!  I have been dying to share this recipe with you since the moment we first tasted it in my kitchen. It was a WINNER by all means, and fulfilled all my pie dreams and then some.  Without delay, let's jump right in: 

Sooooo I teased this crazy delicious one-pot meal a while back on my insta stories, and it got pushed back by my granola week - sorry for those who have been asking!  It's worth the wait, though. I'm just telling ya.  I can't say enough about this Mexican rice and beef casserole! Soft rice, rich beef, southwestern flair from the corn and beans, melty cheese, and topped off with all my favorite fixings. This dinner is sure to become something you'll want to make again and again, that's for sure! 

FRIDAY IS HERE!  Thank heavens. Friday is such a busy day around here, but definitely one of our favorites.  It's also the last and final day of my granola week here on Baking with Blondie.  Before I dive into this final recipe, lets do a quick recap of our favorite granola recipes that I've shared this week with you:  Monday: Dark Chocolate Strawberry Granola  Tuesday: Peanut Butter Chia Seed Granola  Wednesday: Banana Bread Granola  Thursday: Orange Cinnamon Granola  aaaaand today: Almond Joy Granola!  Coconut, chocolate, all wrapped up into a delicious bowl of granola - sure to become a regular in your breakfast granola rotation! Plus, it's chocolate granola. I mean, come on. 

Hey you guys! Happy Thursday!! Tomorrow is Friday, and man, I can't wait for the weekend to be here. It's been a crazy week so far, and with a wedding cake in the works for Saturday, THREE family birthday's today, and a bunch of balls I need to keep in the air, I can't wait for a little break. Hopefully there's one on the horizon soon.  Yeah right. haha Anyway, we're are officially on day 4 of my Granola Week. Have you found a favorite, yet? I hope so! I tried to narrow it down to granola recipes with different flavors, genres, etc.  Today is this amazing Orange Cinnamon Granola! 

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We're halfway through the week, and already halfway through my Granola Week here on the blog. Thank you so much for the messages and emails about the recipes that some of you have already jumped into your kitchens and already tried! YOU ROCK, people.  Just to recap: Monday I shared this mouthwatering Strawberry & Dark Chocolate Granola Tuesday I shared this RIDICULOUSLY good Peanut Butter and Chia Granola  ...and today...  drum-roll please...  We're giving bananas a nod and diving straight into this heavenly Banana Bread Granola.  It's all the flavors you could ever dream of from the familiar banana bread, but in granola form. In fact, my husband thought I was cooking banana bread in the oven when this was baking. It smelled exactly the same. And that scent is a very good one, my friends. This also was my KID'S favorite granola out of the 5. They constantly ask for "banana granola" and I happily o...