Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken + Pumpkin Cake

Being on a budget, I've fallen in love with cheap and easy homemade meals. These are two prime examples of quick meals with few ingredients and I found both on Pinterest. They both turned out delicious and you'd never know how little time and money they take to make! :o)

Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken

Ingredients:

6-8 Boneless Chicken Breasts, frozen

1 bottle Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

2 cans Pineapple Chunks

Directions:

Line crock pot with plastic liner. Place chicken in bottom. Cover with sauce and pineapple. Cook 2-3 hours on high or 5-6 on low. Serve over rice with Hawaiian Biscuits.

Inspiration Link:

http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/crock-pot-hawaiian-bbq-chicken.html#comment-form

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake Ingredients:

1 box Butter Golden Cake Mix

1 can Pumpkin

1 stick of Butter, softened

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Cake Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x9 pan. Combine all ingredients, mix well with mixer. Pour in pan. Bake for 28 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients:

1 box Powdered Sugar

1 block Cream Cheese, softened

1 stick Butter, softened

1 tsp. Vanilla

Frosting Directions:

Combine all ingredients. Mix with mixer until completely integrated. Spread onto cake once completely cooled.

Inspiration Link:

http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2008/11/two-ingredients-pumpkin-cake-with-apple.html

7UP Biscuits

These are so good... Another Pinterest find, boyfriend approved. These are super moist and yummy.

Ingredients:

2 c. Bisquick Mix

1/2 c. Sour Cream

1/2 c. 7UP

1/4 c. Butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450. Cut sour cream into the Bisquick Mix. Add 7UP to make a soft dough. Sprinkle extra Bisquick Mix onto board and pat out dough. Cut dough into squares. Melt butter in 9x9 pan. Place biscuits into pan on top of butter. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove pan from over and brush tops with butter. Enjoy!

http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/04/7up-biscuits.html

Pumpkin Dip

A fall classic, I always get excited to make this every year. Our ASG Advisor first made this for us but this year I couldn't find her recipe so I went online. I adapted this one based off how I remember it being made from before.

Ingredients:

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 small can Pumpkin

2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 c. Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Combine ingredients. Mix with mixer until smooth. Enjoy!

Notes: Many online recipes serve with apples or ginger snaps. I personally prefer graham crackers or 'nilla wafers.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/fall-pumpkin-dip/

Zebra Bites!

I found these on Pinterest and had to make 'em! They are super easy, and so tasty! I've posted the link to the recipe below as the recipe isn't mine, but the new name "zebra bites" is. :o)

http://cookiesandcups.com/pretzel-hugs/

Boyfriend Food

I has a new boyfriend! And that means I've been cooking him delicious meals which I'll share with you below. He even cooks for me sometimes! :o)

Meal #1

This was my first home-cooked meal for Michael, so the pressure was on to create a great menu. He stuck around, so he must have approved. :o)

Grilled Pork with Arugula-&-Grape Salad: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/grilled-pork-with-arugula-and-grape-salad-recipe2/index.html

Roasted Potatoes and Tomatoes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/roasted-potatoes-and-tomatoes-recipe/index.html

Boozy Peaches and Cream: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/boozy-peaches-and-cream-recipe/index.html

Meal #2

After a successful first meal, I had to step it up and out-do myself. And I did, haha.

Pan-Seared Filet Mignon in a Cabernet Sauce: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pan-Seared-Filet-Mignon-with-Cabernet-Sauce-105682

Chipotle Sweet Potatoes: http://everydaychampagne.blogspot.com/2010/05/brown-sugar-chipotle-sweet-potatoes.html

Old-Fashioned Scalloped Corn: http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/vegetables/old-fashioned-scalloped-corn/

Chocolate Layer Cake: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Double-Chocolate-Layer-Cake-101275

Beaufort Stew

Being from South Carolina, Michael made us this traditional southern-coastal dish to enjoy as we watched a full Saturday of SEC football. It was so delish! Here's the recipe: http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/see-do/food/flavors/appitizerssoups/frogmorestew/default.aspx.

Pizza Dip

Yesterday was another day of AR and SC college football and after the afternoon at Foghorn's, we baked some pizza dip for the evening game. A classic local dish from Grub's, we made our very own: http://southernfood.about.com/od/cheesedips/r/bl90129d.htm.

More to come of course! :o)

Graduation Party Food

For my graduation party in May, I really pulled out all the stops and created an amaze-balls spread of food. I was pretty impressed with myself. :o)

Cake by Rick's

Strawberry Champagne Punch

Sausage + Mozzerella

Cookies by Rick's

Fruit Tray + Fluff

Sparkling Cherry Punch

Petit Fours by Rick's

Assorted Meat + Cheese Tray

Chicken Salad on Cranberry Pecan Rolls + Turkey on Croissant

Baking Photo Menagerie

If you know me very well, you know that I took a hiatus from my baking blog the past spring semester and summer as I prepared to graduate from law school and pass the bar exam. Well, good news, I accomplished both! And don't worry, all that didn't keep me from baking - just blogging about it. So here is the last several months in photos to bring us all up to date! I'm happy to post recipes if there are any requests - just comment below! :o)

Valentine's Day Vanilla Cupcakes

Funfetti Cupcakes with Rainbow Chip Frosting

Angel Food Cake

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars

Chocolate Meringue Pie

Dark Chocolate Brownies with Fudge Frosting & Chopped Pecans

Granny's Giant Muffin Pan

I have a new infatuation with everything vintage. So you can imagine my excitement when my mother passed along my Granny's oversized muffin pan. Although to be fair, I only got it because it doesn't fit in her over - but it does in mine! Hooray! Big win. Watch out for muffins and cupcakes this semester. :o)