Cajun Sugar Pie

Publix Running Out? Run In. & Giveaway

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:20:31 +0000

I ♥ Publix! It’s my favorite store! The customer service can’t be beat, and the “Buy 1 Get 1″ Deals are awesome. I know when I’m running out of something, I can run in Publix and pickup what I need at a great price!

Starting today {May 17th} through May 23rd, visit your local Publix to take advantage of their “Running Out? Run In.” promotion featuring great savings on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble. Be sure to stock up using the in-store coupons (valid May 9th – June 2nd) worth over $15 in savings!

Purchase over $30 in participating products during the promotion {May 17th- May 23rd}, and receive a $5 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip! Simply fill out the mail-in rebate that can be found in-store or online (runningoutrunin.com) and submit your original cash register receipts before 6/18.

And that’s not all…

I’m hosting a giveaway for a $25 Publix Gift Card to add to the savings!

To Enter:

Mandatory: Visit RunningOutRunIn.com to view participating products. What will you run in to Publix to pick up the next time you’re running out? Leave me a comment.

Bonus Entries: {Leave a separate comment for each entry.}

Follow Cajun Sugar Pie on some form of social media. Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook

Tweet It!

Rules: Giveaway will end on Wednesday, May 23rd at 6:59 pm CST. Open to US Residents 18+. One winner with a valid entry will be chosen via random.org. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen. Entries will be accepted on this post ONLY. Comments on Facebook do not count! Cajun Sugar Pie, MyBlogSpark, Publix, General Mills, and P&G brands are not responsible for lost or undelivered emails.

Disclosure: I received a $25 Publix gift card in order to facilitate this post. The Publix gift card, information, and additional gift card have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. Opinions and random thoughts are 100% mine.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Butterscotch Cupcakes

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:51:32 +0000

Butterscotch is one of my favorite flavors.

I also love Vanilla Bean Paste.

I decided to marry the two today, so I hope you enjoy this yummy Butterscotch Cupcake topped with Vanilla Bean Buttercream!

Don’t those little vanilla seeds look cool in that lovely white icing?!

YUMMY!

Butterscotch Cupcakes

Yield: 20 cupcakes

There is a print link embedded. Please visit this post to print the recipe.

Ingredients

For Cupcakes:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box butterscotch instant pudding mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs

For Icing:

1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
1-2 teaspoons milk
butterscotch chips, to decorate

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil and eggs. Mix well.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

For Icing:

Mix butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add vanilla. Mix well.
Add milk to desired icing consistency.
Pipe icing onto cooled cupcakes.
Top with butterscotch chips.

http://www.cajunsugarpie.com/2012/05/butterscotch-cupcakes.html

What is your favorite butterscotch recipe?

Shared with: Mouthwatering Monday, Manic Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Cupcake Tuesday, Creative Thursday

Thanks so much for sharing!

Mother’s Day Desserts

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:13:37 +0000

This week, I had planned to share an awesome Mother’s Day Brunch menu with y’all with a new recipe every day this week, but…

I’ve been a little busy with my Little Munchkin. We’ve been to the hospital for the third time in five months. She’s doing better today, and hopefully, soon (“soon” meaning BEFORE I go completely insane with worry) we’ll have some answers.

Since I’m a little behind this week, I thought I’d share some older dessert posts that would be great for Mother’s Day.

I hope y’all have an awesome Mother’s Day weekend!

Carrot Cake Donuts – to start the morning off right!

Chocolate Panna Cotta with Hazelnut Coffee Gelee

Bittersweet Cupcakes with Coffee Ganache

Cookies & Cream Trifles

Easy Lemon Cookies

What fun things are y’all planning for Mother’s Day?

Thanks so much for sharing!

Vegetable Garden with Whitney Farms

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:30:03 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are y’all working on your gardens right now?

My daughter received a planter box for her birthday with seeds for peppers, tomatoes, basil, and oregano. She planted the seeds, and now she loves visiting her garden every day to water it and watch it grow. It’s such a great learning experience for her to watch the growing process. We’ve even added some beans and carrots to the mix.

I grew up with gardens full of produce, so I’m glad my daughter can experience at least a little bit of that with her little garden.

Although my dream garden looks like this…

Source: fairylandscape.net via Melissa on Pinterest

My daughter’s garden is growing strong!

I’ve been looking for a more organic plant food for her garden since we’ll be eating from it in a few weeks.:)

Whitney Farms® is a full line of 100% natural organic soil and plant food without all the artificial additives.

With 25+ years of leading gardening experience, Whitney Farms has improved their products to have:

low to no dust
no manure odor
easy to apply
contains beneficial microbes
contains specially designed protein-based blends that provide your plants with both macro and micronutrients they need to grow and thrive

Whitney Farms has nothing artificial, just natural ingredients from the Earth designed to give you big, beautiful flowers and veggies.

Check out Whitney Farms Plant Food or Tomato and Vegetable Food with a $3.00 off coupon from Whitney Farms®.

What veggies are y’all growing?

Thanks so much for sharing!

Carrot Cake Donuts

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:17:13 +0000

Happy Monday, Y’all!

A great way to start the morning…homemade baked Carrot Cake Donuts. YUM!

I recently got this nifty donut pan, and I tried it out this morning.

I was surprised how easy it was to make these! I filled a quart-sized plastic bag with the batter and cut a small hole to pipe the donuts in the pan without getting any batter in the center.

I even made them with a cake mix…so totally quick and easy for a great breakfast!

Yeah, that’s cream cheese icing! MMMMMmmmm!!!

Carrot Cake Donuts

Yield: 12 donuts

There is a print link embedded. Please visit this post to print the recipe.

Adapted from Wilton Donut Pan recipe.

Ingredients

For the Donuts:

1 box carrot cake mix
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

For the Icing:

2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

For the Donuts:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray donut pan with cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cake mix, buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter until well combined.
Scoop batter into a quart-sized plastic bag. Seal bag. Cut a hole in bottom corner of bag and pipe donut batter into pan filling each 2/3 full. Be careful to not drip in donut center.
Bake in preheated oven for 7 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before icing.

For Icing:

In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy.
Add in milk to spreading consistency.

http://www.cajunsugarpie.com/2012/04/carrot-cake-donuts.html

What’s your favorite donut flavor?

Shared with: Mouthwatering Monday, Manic Monday, Creative Thursday, I’m Lovin’ It, Melt in Your Mouth Monday

I am compensated for purchases made via Amazon links in this post. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Cappuccino Cake

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:53:46 +0000

Can y’all believe it’s already the end of April? I mean, where does the time go???

I’ve been SO SUPER BUSY these last few weeks that this month has literally FLOWN by! Because I’ve been so busy, I’m also super tired by the middle of the day and have a hard time staying awake especially if I’m at the computer. I’ve started downing coffee around 2pm. Cappuccino is my favorite.

Yesterday, while I was on cappuccino #2, I had the brilliant idea to make a Cappuccino Cake, so here it is…chocolatey coffee goodness…

Oh and please forgive the fast talk and constant twitching…it’s just the caffeine.

Cappuccino Cake

There is a print link embedded. Please visit this post to print the recipe.

Ingredients

1 recipe Chocolate Cake
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup strongly brewed coffee, at room temp
1 (8oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
cinnamon and chocolate chips for garnish

Instructions

Prepare and bake Chocolate Cake recipe in two 9-inch round pans. Cool completely.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffly.
Mix in coffee until well combined.
Fold in whipped topping.
Refrigerate frosting for 30 minutes before spreading on cake.

To Frost Cake:

Turn one cake layer onto serving platter.
Spread 1/2 the frosting over cake.
Top with remaining cake layer and remaining frosting.
Sprinkle cinnamon over top of cake.
Sprinkle chocolate chips around outer edge of cake.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
Store in refrigerator.

http://www.cajunsugarpie.com/2012/04/cappuccino-cake.html

Do y’all have any recipes that use coffee?

Shared with: Mouthwatering Monday, Manic Monday, Wednesday’s Wowsers, I’m Lovin’ It, Tastetastic Thursday

Thanks so much for sharing!

Vanilla Bean Paste

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Would y’all like to meet my new love?…

Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste

I first tried Vanilla Bean Paste a few years ago, but I didn’t like it and threw the whole jar away. Looking back, I either added too much to the recipe or totally screwed up the recipe and just blamed it on the vanilla.

After seeing a lot of my blogger friends posting recipes with it and trying to convince me of how wonderful it is, I finally gave in and tried it again. OH MY YUM! You must try it!

You can use Vanilla Bean Paste in the place of vanilla extract for any recipe (1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste equals 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract). It has a more intense vanilla flavor without the overpowering alcohol taste. Plus, those little vanilla bean seeds make it look so yummy. I can’t wait to try it in ice cream!

What recipes have you tried with Vanilla Bean Paste?

Disclosure: I am compensated for purchases made via the affiliate links in this post. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Cream Cheese Brownie Pie

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:29:37 +0000

I have a cream cheese brownie that I make a lot, and I love it….but.

It needs more…

Don’t get me wrong…It’s great by itself with its gooey center and oh-so-fudgey chocolate goodness plus it’s topped with a cream cheese layer…but.

Sometimes I just can’t leave a recipe alone, and I have to add more…

More chocolate, more cream cheese, maybe. I don’t know…

Peanut butter would be a nice addition, but no more peanut butter for this nut-allergy household. (Booohoooohoooo, my sweet peanut butter, I miss you so!)

I digress…Anyway, the addition I chose today was a nice pie crust layer. It was quite tasty! Since it has a pie crust, we’ll call it a pie. I hope you enjoy it!

Cream Cheese Brownie Pie

Yield: 8 slices

There is a print link embedded. Please visit this post to print the recipe.

Ingredients

1 unbaked refrigerated pie crust
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place pie crust in pie pan.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate chips, butter, and 3/4 cup sugar stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
Whisk in 2 eggs and vanilla.
Add flour, baking powder,and salt until well combined.
Pour brownie mixture into prepared pie crust.
In a small bowl, mix together softened cream cheese and powdered sugar.
Whisk 1 egg into cream cheese mixture.
Pour cream cheese layer over brownie layer and swirl with knife.
Bake pie for 50-55 minutes or until center is set. Do not overbake. You want the center to be fudgey.
Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes before serving.
Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.
Refrigerate leftovers.

http://www.cajunsugarpie.com/2012/04/cream-cheese-brownie-pie.html

What would you add to these brownies? Leave me a comment. I’d love to see your ideas.

Shared with: Mouthwatering Monday and Manic Monday

Thanks so much for sharing!

My Top Ten Baking Tools

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:27:23 +0000

Recently, a reader (a newly-wed reader…Congratulations, Sarah!) emailed me asking what kitchen/baking items I’d recommend for someone just starting to cook/bake.

I thought I’d share my Top Ten Favorite Baking Tools with all of you! (in no particular order)

1. The Pampered Chef Classic Batter Bowl – I use the 2-quart for EVERYTHING. It’s my go-to bowl for mixing brownie or pancake batter, microwaving potatoes (Yes..Occasionally, I use instant potatoes, but that’s our secret…right?), whisking eggs, storing leftovers in the frig (comes with a lid), or even baking a cake (Yep. You can bake a cake in this bowl). Did I mention there are measurements etched into the sides?

2. Cuisinart Food Processor – I LOVE my food processor for chopping onions, grating cheese, and grinding things like graham crackers and butter to make a crust. Big TIME SAVER!

3. The Pampered Chef Stackable Cooling Racks – LOVE these! Great for cookie making, and I use mine every time I bake cookies. Cakes and cookies cool so much faster. They are stackable if you don’t have much counter space.

4. Measuring Cups – I use these two the most: Williams-Sonoma Melamine Cups and Pampered Chef Easy Read Measuring Cups.

5. Measuring Spoons – I love both of these sets from Williams-Sonoma: Melamine Spoons and Stainless Steel Odd-Size Measuring Spoons! The 2 teaspoon odd measure is my favorite!

6. Wilton Disposable Decorator Bags – I can’t stand cleaning the icing out of bags. Disposable is MUCH easier!

7. Wilton Storage Box with 101 Pieces – If you are serious about cake or cupcake decorating, this is a must-have at a great value. All the tips and tools you’ll need plus a place to store them! Love Wilton!

8. Great Pans – Some of my favorites include: Wilton, Pyrex, Cuisinart, and Calphalon.

9. Rectangle Stone – Owning a stone is a must. I use this for cookies, biscuits, rolls, bread, pizza, french fries, etc. Everything tastes better baked on a stone, and I use this EVERY day at my house.

10. Last but certainly not least my KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! If there was ever a fire, I would go back for this but only after saving my family and the doggie, of course.

Do y’all have any favorites that you’d like to suggest for Sarah? Leave them in the comments.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I just love these tools and wanted to share them with you. I am compensated for purchases made via Amazon affiliate links in the post. As always, opinions are 100% mine.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Melissa | Cajun Sugar Pie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:05:37 +0000

Finally! I’m done with ALL our business and personal taxes, and there’s even a few days to spare. I hate tax season! Now it’s time for baking again! YIPPEEE!!!

These glazed lemon cookies are sure to please your lemon cravings!

I know how tired you are from all your tax preparation, so these cookies are super easy and only take a few minutes to make! Enjoy!

Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Yield: approx. 18 cookies

There is a print link embedded. Please visit this post to print the recipe.

Ingredients

For Cake:

I box lemon cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme)
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

For Glaze:

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
lemon zest, for garnish

Instructions

For Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together cake mix, oil, and eggs until well combined.
Stir in poppy seeds.
Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. (I use my medium cookie scoop.)
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.
Remove from oven and glaze cookies while they are still warm.
Cool on wire racks for an hour or until glaze has hardened.

For Glaze:

In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
Spread about a teaspoon on each cookie.
Garnish with lemon zest.

http://www.cajunsugarpie.com/2012/04/lemon-poppy-seed-cookies.html

Thanks so much for sharing!