No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake

We recently started a game night with my family from Kitchener one day a week and it's becoming something that we look forward to so much! Since we don't know very many people in this area and we are at home most evenings now since Landon was born - it's definitely the highlight of our week and we count down the days till the next one!

Reese's Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies

I feel like it's been forever since my last post - even though it's only been a couple of weeks! Life has been pretty crazy around here but I'm loving every minute of being a mom:) I made these cookies the other day and I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of sad when the last one got eaten - so I guess I'll have to make more soon! They were absolutely AMAZING!!!! They are chocolaty, peanut buttery, and all around delightful! They're a tender cookie (not crunchy and definitely not cakey), and when you bite into one...you'll most certainly discover the surprise of the reeses peanut butter cup nestled inside.

German Apple Cake

One thing I've learned over the years while being married to a German is that they really know how to bake delicious cakes! I enjoy looking for German cake recipes online, or asking my mother-in-law for her famous cake recipes that everybody loves. It's something really special for me to make something for my husband that reminds him of home and that he will enjoy - especially when he's homesick! I tried this recipe for German apple cake for the first time yesterday and I was so happy with how it turned out! I couldn't get over how incredibly easy and simple this cake was to throw together - but yet it had a special look to it and tasted delicious! I got this recipe from marthastewart.com and I loved that it had a video to watch on how to prepare it. You guys should really check it out!

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I bake with bananas on a regular basis, so when I see them starting to get to that dark, ripe baking stage, I start scouring my brain, the internet, and my recipe box for banana recipes. Having made banana muffins too many times to count, I was searching for something different. Something that I either haven't made in awhile...or something I haven't had the chance to try out yet.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

A lot of people are intimidated by making Red Velvet anything - and I have no idea why! If you break it down into these easy steps it is actually one of the simplest things to make. I've never once had a problem with this recipe - it is very reliable and turns out perfect every time!

Pizza Ball Bites

Hey Everyone! 

I have another recipe that I would like to share with all of you! I tried these Pizza Ball Bites last week and I was really happy with how they turned out! They were so simple to do and what I love about them the most is that you can make them however you'd like! My favorite pizza happens to be Canadian - so I put Bacon, Mushrooms, and cheese inside my Pizza Bites. But you can add your favorite toppings and personalize them to suit your fancy! If your favorite pizza is Hawaiian - add some Pineapple, Ham, and cheese to yours! Or how about some sausage, peppers, and cheese? The combination of flavors is really up to you and what you prefer. 

Garlic Knots

I am writing this blog post today especially for my brother-in-law and I'm sure he's thinking "Well, it's about time!" He asked me to put these on here about 3 weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to it now! Sorry for the long delay but here they are! 

Apple Crumb Pie with Maple Glaze

As I'm sure you already know about me, baking has always been a passion of mine. It's not because I enjoy making a mess of my kitchen, or even because I love eating the delicious creations at the end...


I've realized the true reason why it has become such a big part of me and why I get so much happiness from it. It's my way of showing kindness to someone. There is no better feeling than putting a lot of work and effort into something for someone else, and watching the expression on their face when you hand over that special something. Whether it be bringing a nice dessert to someone's house when you've been invited for dinner, or simply knowing how much this loved one adores chocolate - so you put together something for them that you know they'll go crazy for. I love seeing the reactions! That is truly the reward for me. It lets that person know that you were thinking of them. I love how excited people get and how appreciative they are when I make something for them. It could be as simple as bringing a pot of homemade soup to someone when they're sick, or even bringing a meal to a family during a difficult time. I look at it as I've taken something that I enjoy doing so very much and turned it into something for others, not only for me.  Each one of us has at least one...if not more...special talents in our lives - why not use those talents that God has given us to do good for others?

Apple Cream Cheese Turnovers

Any day that my house is filled with the wonderful smell of apples and cinnamon is a good day in my opinion. That's right - I'm back to the apple recipes once again to use up the rest of these apples on my kitchen table. Since I got them, I knew I wanted to make some Apple Cheese Turnovers! There is nothing like biting into a flaky, buttery puff pastry and indulging in the warm gooey apple cinnamon & cream cheese center of these pastries - It is simply divine! My favorite way to serve them is fresh out of the oven with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream - It is perfection in a bowl!

Crock-Pot Chicken Parmesan

It's no secret that one of my favorite gifts that we got for our wedding is my Crock-Pot! I'm sure most of you would agree with me that it is seriously the BEST invention of all time! For those of you who don't have one - You should really get up off your chair right now and go buy one! They are AMAZING! I wake up in the morning, throw in all of my ingredients, turn it on low...and Voila! I'll have a yummy dinner on the table in 6-8 hours and I didn't even have to do any of the work! I love walking through the door after being gone most of the day and the whole house smells Fantastic - like someone has been cooking up a storm in my kitchen.

Apple Streusel Muffins

Mondays always seem to be the craziest day of the week for me! Besides it being "Laundry day/Change the bed sheets day"...along with picking up random stuff that has been tossed here and there from the weekend - Oh, and having a 5 month old - it's hard for me to find the time to do much else. But I'm not complaining over here! I love keeping busy :) 

Fudge Brownies

We had 2 very special people arrive at our home on Wednesday! We knew that Ben's brother Stephan would be coming...but we were shocked to find out that his other brother David surprised us and came along too! Yesterday I wanted to put together something sweet for them to enjoy while they were here - so I got out my baking pans and made some M&M cookies and Fudge Brownies. 

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus

Often times I find myself having a difficult time to choose a side dish when I'm planning what to make for dinner. I ended up making this Parmesan Roasted Asparagus a few weeks ago and I have fallen in love with it! This is a super simple side dish that you can make on a busy weekday because it literally takes 15 minutes to put together and it tastes so delicious. One thing I like about it is that it goes with pretty much anything!

Pudding Cookies

When I was a little girl my parents would always call me their Cookie Monster! My mom would put a tray full in the oven and I would sit on the floor staring through the oven door window and watch them bake - patiently waiting for that timer to go off. Once they were done I would always snatch a few off the cooling rack when they were still warm and gooey when my mom wasn't looking.

Citrus Custard Tart

If you love citrus as much as I do then you are going to go crazy for this Citrus Custart Tart! It's packed full of delicious and fresh lemon & orange flavor - it's just amazing! I love how it's made with freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice and that the flavor isn't fake and from a box! I'm all for boxed puddings and stuff don't get me wrong - but if you can make it from scratch just as easy then why not do it right? :) When you bake this your kitchen will be filled with this fantastic lemon aroma - I just love the way it smells!

Apple Cheesecake

Awhile back I shared a recipe with you all for Almond Cream Cake (Frankfurter Kranz.) That recipe was from Ben's Aunt Gisela who is a phenomenal cook and extraordinary baker! This is one of the recipes that she gave me as well - everytime I make it I have tons of people asking for this recipe! It's so simple and easy to make so its always been my go-to cake when I have company coming over!

Apple Strudel

The month of September always seems to sneak up on me - then it flies by so quickly. Once it arrives, all I can think about is apples! I love the smell of them cooking in the oven mixed with a sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar...Mmm Mmm Mmm. In my book apple recipes are a typical fall dessert and I can't get enough of them during these chilly months. There are so many options to choose from! Apple Crisp, Apple Strudel, Apple Cheese Danish's, Apple Pie, Apple Spice Muffins, Apple Cider - The list could go on forever! 

Nutella Cookies

For some reason this week seems to be my cookie week. It is one of my favorite things to snack on in the evening with a big glass of cold milk to dunk them in! I've sent Ben off to work this morning with over a dozen cookies because this recipe makes 3 dozen - and we all know what will happen if they sit on my counter. One by one...or two by two...they will disappear.

M&M Cookies

Hey guys! So I'm gonna try to make this quick because my bed is calling my name right now...but I just wanted to let you all in on my new discovery! I'm not sure if any of you have ever made m&m cookies - I'm sure you probably have! But today was my first time ever making them and they turned out Aaamazing! I still can't get over it! I thought only Subway sandwich shops had the best m&m cookies in the world...but not after today! Ok, maybe they're not "better" than Subway - but they taste exactly the same! I never thought I could get this ecstatic about a cookie! Haha. 

Homemade Granola Bars

For years I've been trying to find "the right" granola bars - they are either too sweet or too dull in flavor. I found a recipe for Homemade Granola Bars so I thought I would give them a shot...and they are right on the money! If you're looking for "the perfect" granola bars that don't taste like a sugar loaded chocolate bar - then you should definitely try these out! This is a healthy snack that's a perfect pick-me-up during a school day, work, or after a workout at the gym.

Chocolate Raspberry Torte

The best part of every meal is definitely dessert! OH. MY. GOODNESS! As soon as I took my first bite - I was speechless! There are no words to describe this dessert. It's not only gorgeous...but it tastes even better than it looks! Ben's face was priceless when he had his first forkful - his eyes widened and all I heard out of his mouth was "Mmmmm, WOW!" 

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

These Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are absolutely amazing! We couldn't believe how good they turned out! They are not your standard everyday mashed potatoes I can promise you that! They have an unbelievable amount of flavor and go great as a side dish with pretty much anything. 

Beef Wellington

Hey everyone! Hope you are all having a great week so far! I wanted to share a recipe with you guys that I ended up making for my hubby and I last week. Since we have our little one now we don't go out for dinner as often as we use to - which is totally fine because I love our dinner dates at home just as much! 

Mint Chocolate Pudding

I'm starting to notice that each blog post I write seems to be getting shorter and shorter each time. I guess that's what being a mommy does to ya! ;) Since we're moving in 4 days and I have yet to pack up all of my baking supplies - I thought I'd slip in one small post before they get all boxed up. 

BLT Spaghetti

I LOVE spaghetti! So when I found this recipe online a few years ago, it has been a personal favorite of mine ever since! The name was obviously the first thing that caught my eye...but after seeing how quick and easy it was to put together and tasting the combination of flavors afterwards - I was hooked! It was definitely hard to keep my fork out of the pan before serving this pasta! Bacon. Leeks. Tomatoes. Fresh Basil. Garlic. Parmesan cheese. Oh yes. This stuff is good! This recipe brings together some of the most enticing ingredients known to man into an easy, irresistible dish. So I just wanted to share it with all of you pasta lovers out there who are looking for a super easy dinner to throw together. So let me show you how its done...

Oreo Truffles

I've seen these Oreo truffle recipes around a few times and I have been dying to try them! So yesterday I told myself "I'm not putting this off any longer - I'm making these!"

Passion Tea Lemonade

Yesterday my cousin's wife Clara came to visit me! It's been so long since I've seen her so it was really great having her here with me for the day! :) She made this amazing Passion Tea Lemonade - and I'd like to show you all how she did it! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bars

It was another gorgeous sunny morning here in the city - perfect for a walk! So I put my little munchkin in the  stroller and away we went to walk with Ben on his everyday route to work. That is probably one of the only things I'll miss about living here when we move...It's so nice to have his job just a 15 minute walk away! Walking with Landon at 5:30pm to pick him up from work has started to be an everyday routine for us now:) So I will make sure to enjoy it to the fullest while we have this privilege!

Bacon, Chive and Onion Chicken

This is what we had for dinner tonight and absolutely LOVED it! 

The chicken turned out so tender, moist and flavorful! The creamy chive and onion cream cheese center is the key ingredient to making this dish so mouthwatering. I can't even begin to describe how amazing the smell was coming from my kitchen! I kept opening the oven door just to enjoy the lovely scent of bacon! haha. This is a quick and easy recipe for one of those busy weeknights for sure! So I figured I won't keep this delicious recipe all to myself - I'll share it! :) We enjoyed our chicken with a baked potato and caesar salad...but it would go perfectly with many other sides as well. 

Nutella Fudgsicles

Hello again everyone! Wow, I have to get back in the swing of things here! I've been super busy with our new little addition that I haven't had much time to post anything new...But now that I'm slowly starting to get into an everyday routine, I'm able to find some free time to catch up and enjoy some new recipes I've been wanting to try out!

Strawberry Banana Muffins

What is it about these 2 fruits that go together so delightfully? Whether they are mixed into an iced cold smoothie or tossed together into a fruit salad - there is just something so magical to me about this combination!

Green Bean Fries

We are definitely trying to eat somewhat healthier these days - My plan was to have some healthy steamed green beans with dinner...but when I saw this recipe online, those plans quickly changed! What I've done here is taken a perfectly good nutritious vegetable - smothered it in bread crumbs and threw them in piping hot grease until crisped to perfection. It seemed so wrong...but at the same time it was just so right! They were absolutely delicious! Its going to be hard for me not to do this with every vegetable that enters our house now! These green beans are crispy on the outside and tender, but yet still have a bit of crunch on the inside.

Chocolate Caramel Squares

My day was quite eventful today - between going through my bag summer clothes in the basement, catching up on laundry, a dentist appointment, baking an extremely tasty chocolate caramel treat, and making dinner - the day flew by pretty fast! I can hardly believe tomorrow is Friday already! 

Marshmallow Muffins

One of the things I am enjoying so much about being on Maternity leave is all of this FREE TIME! This is a whole new world for me and I am loving every minute of it before my little guy comes. I know when I first started this blog I mentioned that I would be making atleast 1 recipe a week - Well I've noticed I haven't really kept my word with that challenge so I'm going to try to make sure I remind myself of it more often and use some of this free time of mine wisely. If I happen to miss a few weeks then I'll make it my goal to add more than one recipe the next week so it makes up for the time I've missed;) So lets see if I can stick with it this time!

This recipe book if one of my favorites and I think you might be able to guess why...

I am a chocoholic people! So when my dad came across this book at a yard sale last summer he didn't hesitate to scoop it up. I absolutely love the cd that came with it and its become a routine of mine to play it while I'm baking:) 

Greek Style Pasta Salad

What's the go-to side dish for a hamburgers-and-hotdogs cookout? Pasta salad, of course.

I may be jumping a little ahead of myself here but I can't help but be excited for picnic and Barbecue season! This is a recipe that was always a favorite at our Picnics, Potlucks, and Barbecues for the past few summers and its so incredibly simple to just throw together. A friend of mine from work gave me this recipe and it has been so helpful to me when I have to think of something to make at the last minute! I ended up making this when we had my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins over for a Barbecue on Saturday night and everyone really enjoyed it. We were also invited to an Easter potluck on Sunday and since I had leftover ingredients I thought I would quickly toss one together to bring along with us. It was a pretty big bowl so I sort of had the feeling we would be coming home with a week supply of leftovers for just the 2 of us to finish...but that was not the case at all! That huge bowl was cleaned right out! Not a crumb of cheese or a lonely little pepper left in the bowl.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Oh sweet treats how I have missed you! So many weeks have been passing by and I really haven't been doing much good home cooking or baking lately...Shame on me! So I have to get back in the swing of things here. All of this gorgeous weather the past week has really gotten me into the summer mood! Time to open all the windows and let the beautiful spring air come right on in! The shorts have come out of hiding and it feels so great to wiggle my toes into my favorite pair of Old Navy flip flops! :)

Almond Cream Cake (Frankfurter Kranz)

There are so many things about a Saturday morning that are so special to me. I love waking up in my nice warm bed wrapped up in a cozy fluffy duvet and know that today is going to be a slower paced day for us.

Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

Is it weird that I have never in my life eaten a Quesadilla? I always see them on the appetizer menu's at restaurants but I always seem to pass by them and go right for the chicken fingers or nachos instead. I might rethink my choice next time considering my first Quesadilla experience was "mmm so good" !

Pudding Dessert

Hello again all!

I wasn't sure if I was going to put this so called "recipe" in here but I'm hoping that some of you might benefit from it like I have tonight! So here is my little last minute potluck dessert explanation...

Chocolate Chip Loaf

Waking up in the morning and realizing that its your day off from work and the sun is up before you are is an amazing way to start my Thursday!

I got the feeling the second I crawled out of bed at 9:30 that it would be a lazy day today. Well I like to call it "take care of myself day" because that sounds a lot nicer...I will admit that its actually just laziness though. But after staring out my front window I don't feel guilty at all for telling myself Thursday, February 2nd is pajama day! Snuggling up in flannel just sounded so much more tempting to me than walking outside in the bitter cold I guess. On any other day off I would normally feel really guilty about lounging around because I would usually have an appointment scheduled or housework to catch up on...but today my calendar and my laundry basket are completely empty! So why not take advantage of that right?

Cheese & Leek Soup

There is nothing like a nice hot bowl of fresh soup on a chilly snowy day! This recipe for Cheese & Leek Soup came from my Hubby's favourite cookbook of all time! Well we actually just purchased this one when we were in Germany and hadn't actually made anything in it yet until today...but he insists that it is his favourite one anyway. It's called "German cooking today" by Dr. Oetker. I've already marked quite a few pages of recipes I'd definately like to try out so I'm sure I'll end up using that one alot.

Best Ever Banana Muffins

A freshly baked batch of muffins is always a nice treat! Especially on Saturdays when we have the luxury of being able to spend some extra time at home in the kitchen and some extra time to drink some coffee, read a magazine and have an overall relaxing day.