Have I ever mentioned that I love cinnamon?
Oh, do I.  I love, love, love it!
So I was very happy to see that this cake was chosen to be April’s Cake Slice cake – the Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Pound Cake.  NOW we’re talkin’!
The Problem
As I’ve mentioned previously, however, we are working on getting healthier at my house. Learning to eat real, and at the same time trying to lose a little weight. That made this oh-so-tempting Cinnamon Swirl cake a bit of a problem. When confronted with a delicious cake like …

Why is pepperoni reserved only for pizza? It has so much to offer other dishes.

It’s got a lovely, spicy kick that adds lots of flavor, even when only a small amount is used. And, turkey pepperoni is just about as good as the real thing, so it can really liven up a healthy meal.

Like just about everyone else, I love fried foods. They’re just so crispy, savory, and delicious! But I don’t love frying them.

This is another awesome, fast and delicious slow cooker meal. Basically, you are just cooking the broth all day, then come home, throw in the fish for the last few minutes, then serve and eat.
 
A perfect meal for those crazy nights you know you won’t want to cook. Just prep everything the night before, then put the broth mixings in on your way off to work. When you get home, put the fish in and turn it up to high, put some crusty sourdough bread in the oven to warm up and 20-30 minutes later, you’re eating a hearty and satisfying meal.

I’ve had a slow cooker for as long as I can remember. I think I got it as a wedding gift many years ago (no longer married, btw), but I never used it until a couple of years ago. Although I love using it, I don’t as much as I should.
 
Why? Because you have to think ahead and well, let’s just say that’s not my strong point. Every now and then, though, I manage to think beyond just the next hour of my life and manage to get something put together in the crockpot. And I’m always thrilled when I do.

Don’t let this seemingly long list of ingredients intimidate you. Most of it is spices that go into the shrimp marinade. Really, it’s a pretty simple meal to make. Easy enough for weeknight dinner yet with enough wow factor to serve to guests.

Every place has its regional specialties, which became very obvious to me after moving to Texas. Certain dishes – like Red Velvet cake – I was aware of in California, but had no idea they were so very prevalent in other areas. And some things I’d never even heard of until I moved here.
 
One of those is King Ranch Chicken.

Is this not the coolest pasta you have ever seen in your life? I found this (and a bunch of other fun colored and shaped pastas) at World Market the other day and could not resist them, but I think this one is the most unique. I love it! I even love the name – “Mother In Law’s Tongue” pasta.
 
I’ve been pondering how to serve this beautiful pasta. Most pasta sauces would cover up the lovely colors, and I didn’t want to go that direction. Then, while browsing through some tried and true recipes, I found just the perfect thing. Spicy Garlic Rosemary Shrimp!

Everything that tastes good is fattening. That’s the rumor, anyway. And while sometimes it sure seems that way, fortunately there are a few goodies out there to prove it wrong.
 
Take strawberries, for instance. Beautiful, juicy, sweet and delicious. AND very low calorie (and they’re even quite filling). Strawberries are definitely an exception to the above rule. Strawberries are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without busting any buttons.

I’m a mean pseudo-stepmom (we’re not married, but we live together, so…). Most nights, I do not cook for my boyfriend’s son. He is forced to fend for himself.
 
Why, you may ask, would I be so unkind? Well, Morgan is about the World’s Pickiest Eater and I mean that sincerely. Not only is he uber-picky, but he’s fickle too. On some nights, he will refuse to eat things that he normally loves – pizza, for instance. If he’s not in the mood, you can just take your meal and….well, you know.

I have a confession to make. Some nights, I’m too tired to really cook. Some nights, I just don’t want to. I’m sorry! I WANT to be that person who makes everything from scratch every single night, I do! But sometimes, I’m just not. That pesky day job (and the second job, the kid, the pets, the man, the house, sometimes pure laziness….) just really gets in the way.
 
The problem is, on those nights, I still don’t really want to get fast food or order in, either. What’s a girl to do? Well, I try to keep a few basics on hand for nights like those.

Since I recently lost some weight, I often get asked, “How do you bake like that and still stay skinny?”