Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos

Over a year ago, I made and blogged about Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken.

In that post, I shared three different ways to enjoy it,

and I've done so many time since.

Recently I ran across a recipe for Baked Tacos that sounded great!

I knew almost immediately that I wanted to make some,

but that I'd incorporate the Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken too!

Not only did I previously give you three ways to use the chicken,

but today I'm sharing yet another delicious way,

so you now have FOUR different options!!!

The Goods:

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

Taco Shells

Shredded Cabbage

Avocado

Green Onion

Bleu Cheese

Ranch Dressing

Franks Red Hot

You can buy your taco shells...

OR you can make your own!

They're actually quite simple.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Microwave corn tortillas for about 10 seconds to soften.

Drape the tortillas over two bars of your oven rack.

And back for 5 to 10 minutes - until nice and crisp!

The baked shells are SO much better for you because they aren't fried in oil.

Stuff your tacos to your liking and pop them in the oven.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Add fresh avocado, a little ranch dressing and a dash of Franks.

Then devour them while attempting not to burn your mouth!

Favorite Pies!

Happy Friday you guys!!!

I'm back today for another Friday Link Up!

This week, I'm linking up with TWO different groups.

Make sure to check them all out at the bottom of this post!

If you're anything like me,
you probably ate wayyyy too much yesterday.
And are still possible full from your feast!!
So talking about more food seems a little wrong, but oh well!

It's not Thanksgiving for my family without a few yummy pies.
so today I thought I'd share some recipes for my
FIVE FAVORITE PIES!
And yes, I've made them all at one point in time!

Dutch Apple Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

Pecan Pie

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Turkey Pot Pie

Now for more Friday Link Up Fun, check out the blogs below!

Andrea and Erika's blogs from Friday Favorites.

April's blog from 5 on Friday.

Things I'm Lovin' Tuesday: Spotify!

This is a non-sponsored review and I purchased my own Spofity Subscription.

A few months ago I started another monthly blog series called

THINGS I'M LOVIN' TUESDAY!!!

If you missed the first few, you can find them here, here, here and here!

and make sure to check back every last Tuesday of the month!

Now onto what I'm lovin' this month...

I've known about Spotify for years now,

but didn't really start using it until recently.

And after using it for a few months, 

I'm hooked! Yes, HOOKED!

I created a free Spotify account over the Summer

and started using it mostly while working out.

I was already using my iPod or other music services,

but I quickly found out I really liked Spotify.

Not long after signing up, I was pretty much only using Spotify,

so I decided to upgrade to the paid version for a 30-day trial.

I now had the ability to skip a ton of songs and no more ads between a few songs.

I knew within the first week that I'd be keeping it past the trial!

So why am I loving Spotify exactly?

As mentioned above I use it when working out,

and it's totally improved my workouts the last few months.

But I've found I also love to use Spotify while doing long drives,

and have started listening to it while working as well!

If you haven't tried Spotify yet, you really should!

Don't delay like I did.

I really wish I'd given it a try sooner!

DIY: Pumpkin Vases

When I recently posted about the DIY: Pumpkin Puree,

I told you to check back soon for another DIY post

because I felt like I was cheating reposting about the puree.

I have guilt problems, but it probably works in your favor!!!

Well folks, soon is here and I am so excited about today's post!

And while technically I have blogged about the topic in the past,

I'm revisiting it and doing it ALL over this year,

instead of cheating, again, and reposting a past post!

Enough talk outta me, let me show you how to make these beauties!

The Goods:

Fall Colored Flowers

Mini Pumpkins

Floral Foam

Scissors

Cut the top off your pumpkins and scoop out all the seeds/goop.

Wash out, dry and then fit your floral foam inside each pumpkin.

Start with one variety of flower and secure them in the floral foam.

Keep adding the different varieties of flowers until your vase is filled.

And it looks something like this!

Or maybe like this!

Play around with the different flowers 

until you get the look you're going for!

Each one will look a little different and that's totally ok!

Bubble Bath Review: Mr. Bubble

This is a non-sponsored review and I purchased my own Bubble Bath.

It's the third Wednesday of the month,

so of course that means another Bubble Bath Review!
And did you know that there are only seven, 
yes SEVEN Wednesdays left (including this one) in the year?!?
Wow time sure is flying!!!

Do you guys remember Mr. Bubble from your childhood?
It's been around since 1961, so chances are good that you do.
I for sure remember it, but I didn't remember it's bubble quality,
so of course I had to buy and review it when I saw it recently.

Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath 

I read the directions and started with two ounces...

And just like most bubble bath's,

just pour under running water!

But I quickly learned two ounces wasn't enough.

Not nearly enough AT ALL!

So I added about half the bottle

(maybe a little more if I'm being honest)

And had a decent amount of bubbles!

I'm betting you already know how I felt about this bubble bath.

 Mr. Bubble was not as amazing as I remember from my childhood,

but I'm sure that's mostly because I like A LOT more bubbles now.

So - for kids this bubble bath would be great, but not so much for adults!

If you missed them, make sure to check out past bubble bath reviews:

Lush Bubble Bars

 Aura Cacia Foam Bath

 Rite Aid

Bath & Body Works

Avon Bubble Delight

Dead Sea Essentials

Dr. Teal's Foaming Bath

Calgon Skin Silkening Bubble Bath

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

CONFESSION: I don't love the quality of these pictures.

They were taken quite awhile ago on an older camera, 

but I'd been saving this post until Fall because hello - pumpkin!

Even though the pictures below aren't the best,

 these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are AMAZING.

Please don't let the pictures fool you.

When looking at Pumpkin Whoopie Pie recipes, 

I realized I didn't love everything about a single one,

so I combined two different ones to make something I did love.

For the cake part, I used Mix and Match Mama's recipe,

but I'm not the biggest fan of canned frosting,

so I used the cream part from Momfessional's recipe!

Let me show you how they're made.

The Goods:

Yellow Cake Mix

Vegetable Oil

Eggs

Pumpkin Puree

Cream Cheese

Butter

Vanilla

Powdered Sugar

Cinnamon

Combine cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs and pumpkin puree with mixer.

Mix until ingredients are well combined.

Transfer mixture to large zipper bag.

Cut off the tip of the zipper bag and start piping mixture.

Make small circles on parchment lined baking sheet, leaving room to expand.

Bake for about 10 minutes, then cool on pans for a few more minutes.

Remove to wire racks and finishing cooling completely.

You'll notice about half of mine turned out near perfect,

where the other half sadly just weren't as pretty.

While they're cooling, it's time to make the frosting!

Cream together the butter and cream cheese.

Then add the powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon

and mix until everything is combined. 

Grab another large zipper bag and transfer frosting to that.

Then cut off the tip and pipe onto half of the baked cakes.

Lastly, add the other side of the whoopie pie and you're ready to go.

Now dig in and enjoy these yummy pumpkin treats!!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Cakes from Mix and Match Mama

Frosting from Momfessionals 

For the Cakes:

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Eggs

1 Cup Pumpkin Puree

For the Frosting:

16 Ounces Powdered Sugar

1 Stick Unsalted Butter

1 Block Cream Cheese

Splash of Vanilla

Few Dashes Cinnamon

1. Combine cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs and pumpkin puree with mixer. Mix until ingredients are well combined.
2. Transfer mixture to large zipper bag. 
3. Cut off the tip of the zipper bag and start piping mixture. Make small circles on parchment lined baking sheet, leaving room to expand.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes, then cool on pans for a few more minutes.
5. Remove to wire racks and finishing cooling completely.
6. Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Then add the powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and mix until everything is combined. 
7. Transfer frosting to another large zipper bag.
8. Cut off the tip and pipe onto half of the baked cakes.
9. Lastly, add a second cake on top to finish assembling the whoopie pies.

DIY: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

I'm currently having lots of fun on vacation,

so today's DIY post is a repost from the past
about Pumpkin Puree from last year.

While it's really easy to go to the store to buy a can of Pumpkin Puree,

it's just as easy to make your own, and to me it just tastes SO much better!

The Goods:

Pumpkins - THAT'S IT!

 I used a regular one and a sugar one.

Cut your pumpkin open, remove seeds/pulp and cut into large pieces.

Roast at 325 for an hour and a half or more - until super tender.

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheets.

Once cool, remove skin and cut into chunks.

Add to food processor and thin with water.

Measure out and package up your puree.

You can use it right away in something yummy 

or freeze and use in the next few months!

And that folks, is it!!
Super easy like I promised.

And since today's post was kinda cheating...
check back again soon for another fun pumpkin related DIY!!!

Whiskey Wednesday: Bourbon Cherry Coke

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

A few months ago, I started a fun new blog series - 

Whiskey Wednesday!!!

If you missed them, here are the last few:
Irish Mule
 Mint Julep
Bourbon & Sparkling Lemonade
Irish Redhead
Old Fashion
Jameson Coke Floats

Make sure to check back each month for a new recipe!

Whiskey Wednesday will happen every first Wednesday of the month.

I'm not much of a soda drinker these days.
In fact, I really only consume it with the addition of alcohol.
But funny enough, I've been drinking soda more often recently
because I've used it in the last two Whiskey Wednesday posts!

This month, I could have simply made a Bourbon and Coke,
but wanted to take it a step further and make a Bourbon Cherry Coke.
And using grenadine you're able to adjust the cherry flavor yourself.
Let me show you how I made mine.

The Goods:

Bourbon

Coke

Maraschino Cherries

Grenadine

Ice

Pour one shot of bourbon over your ice...

Add as much grenadine as you'd like...

(I used about a teaspoon in mine)

Stir to mix the grenadine with the bourbon...

Pour in your chilled Coke until your glass is full....

I've found the mini cans (7.5 ounces) are PERFECT for this.

And finally add a few maraschino cherries and a fun straw...

Now sit back, relax and enjoy your Bourbon Cherry Coke!

Baked Donut Monday: Maple Bacon Donuts!

Happy Monday you guys!!!
I'm back again for another Baked Donut Monday post

and today I'm going to tell you about some super tasty

MAPLE BACON BAKED DONUTS!!!

When I first came up with the Baked Donut Monday series,

I knew that I'd blogging about Maple Bacon donuts at some point.

Because hello - donuts...and bacon!

And doesn't bacon make everything better???

WOW YOU GUYS!!!

I thought the Toasted Coconut donuts were my favorite,

but I'm thinking I may actually like these a little better.

It's like an entire breakfast in one bite!!

Before I show you how to make these delicious donuts,

I have to confess to a small blogger fail.

I missed a few step by step pictures for this post.

OOPS - sorry!!!

The Goods:

All-Purpose Flour

Brown Sugar

Baking Soda

Baking Powder

Salt

White Vinegar

Milk

Vanilla Extract

Cooked Bacon

Maple Syrup

Maple Extract

Powdered Sugar

Oops - not pictured, but needed too:

Egg

Vegetable Oil

Mix together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Mix together the egg, vegetable oil, homemade buttermilk* and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.

Add the cooked, chopped bacon bits and fold into the batter.

Transfer donut batter to a large zipper bag.

Cut off the end of the zipper bag 

and fill your donut pan until 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cool in pan for a few minutes.

While the donuts are cooling, make the maple glaze.

Combine maple syrup, vanilla extract, milk, maple extract and powdered sugar.

Whisk until glaze is smooth and forms ribbons when scooped from the bowl. 

Working one at a time, dip each donut into the glaze and garnish with more bacon!

Let the glaze set up completely.

Step back and admire how amazing they look...

And then pick one to devour!!!

Maple Bacon Donuts

Adapted from Broma Bakery

For the Donuts:

1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Egg

1/2 Cup Homemade Buttermilk*

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

4 Strips Bacon - cooked and chopped into tiny pieces

For the Glaze:

3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Milk

1/4 Teaspoon Maple Extract

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

2 Strips Bacon - cooked and chopped into small pieces

1. Mix together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. Mix together the egg, vegetable oil, homemade buttermilk* and vanilla extract.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
4. Add the cooked, chopped bacon bits and fold into the batter.
5. Transfer donut batter to a large zipper bag.
6. Cut off the end of the zipper bag and fill your donut pan until 1/2 to 3/4 full.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 9 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into donut.
8. Cool in pan for a few minutes and while the donuts are cooling, make the maple glaze.
9. Combine maple syrup, vanilla extract, milk, maple extract and powdered sugar.
10. Whisk until glaze is smooth and forms ribbons when scooped from the bowl. 
11. Working one at a time, dip each donut into the glaze and garnish with more bacon!
12. Let glaze set completely and then devour the donuts!!!

*Homemade Buttermilk is a mixture of Milk and Vinegar. Find more info here!