Friday Links ~ Fun Recipes for the 4th

Okay, so I know it's not the 4th of July just yet, but this is the last "Friday Links" post that I'll be able to do before this holiday rolls around next week.  Pinterest has been filled with absolutely adorable edible options for this day and I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you.  I'm still deciding what to take to a get together I'll be attending on that day, but I'll be sure to share my confection of choice with you next week.  Stay tuned!

I'm absolutely loving this patriotic pie, complete with 

stars and stripes made from the pastry dough.  The fruit also keeps

this dish light enough to be a good options for warmer

weather.  

Tip Junkie

Marshmallow firecrackers sure to be hit amongst your youngsters.  Mix 

up the colored sprinkles to create a few of each shade and 

some that include all three.  Chubby bunny anyone?

Living Locurto

Twizzler firecracker sets!  These require very simply assembly leaving

you time to attend to the million other things on your to-do

list before the guests arrive.  Because these are

so easy you can also enlist the kiddos to help with this one.

Room to Inspire

One of my favorites.  I just want to snatch that puff pastry star

right off the top and then dig down into that creamy goodness below.

Make sure to store these inside in cooler temps!

Recipes for the Soul

Another options that takes advantage of all the great in-season fruit.  These are

classic white cake that has been died red, but I'm sure you could

also do a red velvet cake too :)

The Girl Who Ate Everything

Um, yes please!  Buy (or bake) a pound cake and cube it up

along with beautifully arranged fruit for this trifle.  So pretty

that your guests almost won't want to dig in!

The Girl Who Ate Everything

What's on your to-make list for the 4th??  

Friday Links ~ Cupcakes

TGIF!  How does that saying never get old?  Probably because Fridays and the weekends that accompany them shortly thereafter never get old.  Another thing that never gets old?  Cupcakes.

I know you love them too.  Layer cakes will always have a special place in my heart, but I've often found that cupcakes go over better when there's a crowd involved.  This is especially true if that crowd is mingling.  You don't want to have to mess with cutting a slice of cake, balancing it on your plate while juggling your fork, and then have to figure out what you're going to do with your wine glass while you enjoy your tasty treat.  But you will swiftly grab a cute cup of cake neatly bundled in its own wrapper.

And therefore I bring you some of my fave cupcakes from around the web today.  Some of these I like because of their unique flavor combinations and others I just like because they look pretty.  Yes, I'm judging the book by it's cover here.  Deal with it.  And do the same yourself here.

Gluten Free Blackberry Lemon Cupcakes

I'm loving that more bakeries out there are whipping up

gluten free versions of their favorite sweet treats.  These fruity cups of

love are certainly no exception!

The Cupcake Blog

Friday Links

Oh Friday, how I love you.  And oh how much I love the below links (and their gorgeous photos) as well.

One of the things I've enjoyed most about this blog is that it's made me check out other food blogs out of curiosity.  It is unbelievable how much talent is out there, both with regards to recipes and photography.  The confections that some of these guys and gals dream and whip up are both creative and original, and sometimes make we want to lick my computer screen.

These below dishes are just a few things I'm craving this week and/or am hoping to make here in the new future :)

Make sure to click on the link for each of the photos to get the recipe and more pics from these amazing bloggers!

None of the below photos are mine.  They have been posted *with prior permission from the original source* and include the correct citation and link.

Friday Links

TGIF!  I'm going to revert back to a previous tradition of sharing some links around the web.  One of the things I've enjoyed most about food blogging is the amazing network of other talented ladies and gentlemen who are out there.  Their recipes are inspiring and their photos are simply breathtaking.

My aim (most) Fridays is to bring some of my favorite finds to you.

*Disclaimer:  The below photos were not taken by me, nor do I claim to take any credit for them.  Please click the accompanying link for each photo to be taken to the site whose property they are.  You will also find the recipe via this same link.

Enjoy!

Friday Links

It's time for Friday Links again! I decided to switch it up this week and obtain some ideas from Food Gawker instead of just peppering you guys with Pinterest ideas :)  By the way, have I told you how much I love Pinterest?  I love it.  A lot.  If you haven't yet become addicted I would encourage you to.

Baked Garlic Cilantro Fries

from The Talking Kitchen

I have still yet to try my hand at home-made

 baked fries and these look like the

 perfect little guys to have as my guinea pig. The

  cilantro looks like it would add the perfect punch.

Cauliflower in Cheddar Mustard Cream Sauce

from Heat Oven to 350

While I absolute love cauliflower, my husband most

certainly does not.  Maybe this will do

the trick.....

Gooey Butter Cookies

from See You in the Morning

The descripion says it "tastes like baked

cream cheese".  Oh dear.  This could be bad.  I'm

in!

Banana Bites

from (never home) maker

So these appear to take about 5 minutes

to make, and I'm pretty sure they

would take me about 5 minutes to devour as well.

Anything with bananas AND chocolate

is always good in my book.

Potstickers

from The Family Kitchen

While these are quite easy to order-in, I might

try my hand at them if I have the time.

I'm sure you could also switch things up and

use shrimp too!

What's on your menu for next week?

Friday Links ~ Web Deliciousness

TGIF!!  My first week back from the honeymoon has absolutely flown by, but I am so grateful for the weekend ahead.  It will bring time to focus on getting settled in the house (if you ever do get completely "settled"), and time with our families.

By the way, when someone says "TGIF", do you still think of the Friday night specials on ABC back in the 90s?  Because I definitely do.  But maybe that's just me.

Today I am going to continue the new tradition of Friday Links.  I have done this a few times before, but I feel that Friday Links combined with Tuesday's Tip, Tricks, and Tid Bits will allow me to log a blog post every day of the week.  That leaves 3 "meal" posts, which I believe is manageable.  It also gives me a chance to share some links of recipes I might try out the following week.

Let's dive into the web deliciousness, shall we?

Valentines Day "I love you more than..." Cookies

from Pinterest

How cute are these?!  Trey and I haven't decided what we're doing

for Valentines Day yet, but I think we're going to keep it pretty

low key.  That being said, I do think that I'm going to try to make some of 

these for him if I get the time to.  *Don't worry, I doubt this will ruin the

surprise because I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this blog :)

Apple Pie Cookies

from Annie's Eats

I've got a rather large bag of fresh apples sitting

at home, which I doubt I will be able to polish off before they

go bad.  I love apple pie, so these seem like the perfect bite sized treat to

whip up in an effort to make sure that those

lovely apples don't go to waste!  Yum!

Apple Fritter Bread

from Flour Me with Love

Oh dear.  I love apples, apple fritters, and all things carb, so this could

not be a more perfect confection for me.  This would also be

a good way to use up some of those apples if the pie cookies

don't pan out.  This seems like a breakfast AND 

dessert bread that would be perfect comfort food for the cold weather that is slated 

to come our way next week too.  I also had a bad experience with yeast bread previously,

so this might be a good way to tackle my fears concerning it.

Garlic Rubbed Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Tomato

from Pinterest

Grilled cheese sandwiches are such great comfort food, and bacon always 

makes everything better.  Since these aren't the 

healthiest option I might swap turkey bacon in.  That makes it all okay and

guilt free, right?

The Fluffiest, Chewiest Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

from Apple a Day

Ok, those are their words, not mine.  But hopefully they are the fluffiest,

chewiest Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Ever.  I'll just have to

make them and see!  I've got some dark chocolate sitting in the 

pantry so this might be a good way to put it to use!

What's on your to-bake list?   I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Check back Monday for a new post!