Love Bakes Good Cakes: October 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

One Pot Goulash - Guest Post

Today, you can find me Guest Posting over at Kathe with an E. If you've never checked our her blog, you should! She also hosts a fun party called "You're Gonna Love It" on Tuesday's!

When I think of Fall, I think of comfort food. I am reminded of my Grandma's kitchen and all the wonderful things she made with love. I can only hope that one of these days, my own children and grandchildren will look at me and my kitchen with those same fond memories.

One of my family's favorite meals is this goulash. I love that it's an easy, one pot meal ... my family loves that it's tasty! Served with a side salad and some garlic bread, it's an easy meal the whole family will love!

I do hope you'll drop by and check out my recipe for goulash. Be sure to tell Kathe "hello" while you're there! Snoop around her blog and see all the great things she has posted! Some of my favorite posts from her blog are Chicken in the Chips {recipe}, Tea with My Mother (make sure you have a kleenex for that one), Coconut Maple Bacon Cupcakes, Skillet Penne & Sausage Supper ... and Kathe has some of the most beautiful tablescapes! She also finds some of the coolest stuff thrifting! Seriously, check out her blog .... Lots of great stuff over there! :)

Click HERE to go to the recipe.

I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE** Featured at Meet Penny, 4 Little Fergusons, Sunflower Supper Club, The Better Baker, The Country Cook

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

All my Bloggy Friends #19

Well, we made it through Hurricane Sandy without too much incident in our neck of the woods here in Eastern NC. I am praying for those folks who have been, and continue to be, affected by her!

The 3 most viewed links last week were:

Source: With a Blast. Please visit the website provided under the picture and link from the original site! Thank you!

Pumpkin Fritters with Cinnamon Syrup from With a Blast

Source: I Thee Cook. Please visit the website provided under the picture and link from the original site! Thank you!

Chicken Enchilada Pasta Bake from I Thee Cook

Source: Persnickety Plates. Please visit the website provided under the picture and link from the original site! Thank you!

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites from Persnickety Plates

If you were featured or if you're new to the party and would like a button, you can find them HERE.

**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE**

Monday, October 29, 2012

Menu Plan Monday {10-29-12}

Monday always seems to be my least favorite day. It's not even Monday's fault he got the short end of the stick. You have Saturday and Sunday - all full of fun and chill-mode .... then bam! Monday has to be the guy that brings it all back to reality. I don't know if it's by design, but there is always more to do on Monday. Not to mention, most folks are still in relaxation mode from the weekend .... it's hard to kick yourself in gear sometimes. Are Monday's your most difficult day?

There are a few things on this week's menu that I am looking forward to. I wanted to try Debra's Greek Baked Beans again, but with a different bean this time - perhaps Great Northern Beans? I think it will be awesome! I remember the smell in my kitchen the first time I made it - yum-o! I love chicken biscuits from the nearest fast-food joint .... but have you seen the amount of fat and calories they manage to stuff in those things?! How do they get all that bad stuff in such a little sandwich?! Sheesh .... I figure I can satisfy my craving at home with a much healthier and cheaper option! And, Steak Fingers on Sunday ..... That day will not get here fast enough! It's been forever since I've made them and truthfully, it just sounds good to me!

Here's what we're having at our house this week:

Breakfast Monday - Friday: Cereal, Grits, Oatmeal or Smoothies

Lunch All Week: Leftovers, Soup, Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, Tortilla Pizzas

(Brian - Egg McFake Muffin Sandwich, Chicken Ranch Wraps)

Monday - Debra's Greek Baked Beans, Side Salad, Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Chicken Biscuits, Tater Tots, Fruit

Wednesday - Cheeseburger Soup, Rolls

Thursday - Grilled Stuffed Burritos, Mexican Rice, Fruit

Friday - Veggie Pizza

Saturday - (B) Breakfast out

(D) Bean and Cheese Tostadas, Fruit

Sunday - (B) Chocolate Donuts, Fruit

(D) Steak Fingers, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Green Beans, Biscuits, Pecan Pie

What's on your menu ... Are you trying anything new this week?

I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE**

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Black-Bottom Banana Bars

Do you ever feel like you get tired of making the same ol' banana bread recipe? Sometimes, you need a new way to use those over-ripe bananas. This Black-Bottom Banana Bar recipe is sure to fit the bill!

It's kid tested and mother approved! ;)

Black-Bottom Banana Bars

Printable recipe

Originally found at Taste of Home

Yield: 18 servings

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 very ripe, medium bananas

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

¼ cup baking cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9x13-in. baking pan and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on low speed. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until thoroughly combined. Blend in the bananas. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix for one minute more.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to the banana mixture and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl once with a rubber spatula.

Divide the batter in half. Add cocoa powder to half of the batter. Spread the cocoa mixture into the prepared pan. Carefully spoon the plain batter on top of the cocoa batter. Level out.

Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center tests clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

To serve, cut into bars.

I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE**

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Vote Democratic/Republican printable (8x10)

With the approaching elections, I decided it would be fun to make some political party printables. They both fit inside of an 8x10 frame. There's one for the Democratic party and one for the Republican party. Choose your favorite one to print off!

Click HERE for the Vote Democrat printable (8x10)

Click HERE for the Vote Republican printable (8x10) I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
Don't forget to like, share and comment ♥

Cheesy Ham on Cornbread

If biscuits and gravy had kin, this would be it.

This makes an easy breakfast or dinner. It's also great if you have leftover ham and/or cornbread and want a new way to eat it! Y'all know with the holiday's approaching, there will be leftover ham in our forecast .... and it's coming soon! This recipe will help you use up those leftovers in a new way!

Cheesy Ham on Cornbread

Printable recipe

Yield: 6 servings

1 recipe Southern Cornbread

2 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1½ cups milk

1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

1½ cups fully-cooked ham, cubed

Prepare cornbread according to recipe directions.

When the cornbread is almost done, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Stir in the flour until smooth. Slowly add the milk while stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Stir in cheese until melted. Add the ham and heat through.

Cut cornbread into squares. Serve the cornbread topped with cheesy ham mixture.

I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE**

Friday, October 26, 2012

Potato Soup

It's no secret that one of my favorite foods is soup - of any kind! There was a time when I was ~~much~~ younger, that I did not like potato soup. (I think it was the idea of milk in my soup that turned me off - I do not like milk and my mom always used milk in her potato soup). I'm not even sure why it turned me off that much, because I like everything else in potato soup. This was one of those meals I would sit and stare at in protest and refuse to eat. I would be threatened with having to sit there all night .... or worse, eating it for breakfast the next day. I hated it.

After I moved out, I decided to try making potato soup on my own ..... I have no idea what possessed me to want to do that. But I went along with it and made it. The first time I made potato soup, there were no "potato chunks" and it was a mostly smooth soup, with the potatoes being like mashed potatoes .... and I used cheese and bacon - which my mom never did! That was it ..... that forever converted my thinking. Such a simple thing?! I have gotten over my aversion of the milk being in my soup - but I still won't drink milk! It's just too gross for me!

I have made potato soup numerous times and countless ways since. I think my mom would be proud of the fact that she was right ..... My dislike was all in my head (I admit it) ... and I now willingly make and eat it. I still have to have cheese and usually, but not always, bacon. Somethings just seem to go together, ya know?!

This recipe is for a very basic, but filling potato soup. Feel free to top it off with cheese and green onions - or whatever you like (sour cream, hot sauce and additional bacon would be great)!

Potato Soup

Printable recipe

Yield: 4-6 servings

½ lb. bacon, diced

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

4 cups (32 oz. carton) chicken broth

2 large baking potatoes, cubed

½ cup heavy cream or milk

Cheddar cheese and green onions for garnish

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Drain all but 1 tbsp. of the bacon drippings. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minutes. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Gradually add broth while stirring constantly. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Lower the heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer and add the potatoes, bacon and heavy cream. Heat through but do not boil. Serve topped with cheese and green onions.

I hope you enjoy!
Shared at these fun parties!
Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE

Thursday, October 25, 2012

It's Fall Y'all ~ Linky Party #7

Just a reminder that next week will be the last week of It's Fall Y'all ~ Linky Party! I have enjoyed this party and I truly appreciate each and every one of you who takes the time to stop by - whether to link up or to browse! You all have made this party a huge success - and I can't thank you enough!

The five most viewed links last week were:

Left to right:

Pumpkin Crunch Cake from Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Witch Legs from Navy Wifey Peters

Crock Pot Applesauce from Chocolate, Chocolate and More

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies from Break It, Make it or Bake It

Caramel Apple Chewies from Jazzy Gourmet

**Don't forget to link up YOUR Soup Recipes HERE**

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

This recipe couldn't be easier. Four ingredients and about ten minutes is all it takes to have homemade Alfredo sauce .... and by the way it is sooo good!! I think I am in love. {sigh}

I used penne noodles mixed with the Alfredo sauce, then served it with grilled chicken and a spinach salad. It was an easy meal the whole family loved! You could easily use any pasta you like. If you want, sprinkle it with fresh, chopped parsley on top (to make it look all fancy schmancy).

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Yield: 4 servings

¼ cup (4 tbsp. or ½ stick) butter

1 cup heavy cream

2 cloves garlic, minced

1½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the heavy cream and allow to simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and Parmesan and whisk continuously until the cheese in completely melted.

Use in your favorite recipe or serve with cooked pasta of your choice.