Guest Blogger Jaime's American Flag Cheesecake Bars!

Festive... and an instant favorite!

When I first set out to make American Flag cheesecake bars, I'll have to admit -- I wasn't cheesecake's biggest fan. HOWEVER, these cheesecake bars turned out light and not overly "cheesecake", but with a good cake:crust ratio.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Blueberries!  I love this part of summer when there is so much choice when you're walking down the produce aisle.  This week blueberries were on sale buy one pint get one free.  I was thrilled! Blueberry Muffins for breakfast this week? Yes, please!  I 've been on a little bit of a muffin kick lately because muffins are the perfect portable breakfast for my long commute. Right now my commute involves a ride on Metro, then the Marc train to Baltimore followed by the Baltimore Light Rail to the office.  On a good day it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes door to door.  On terrible days, it's unspeakable.  I am not a morning person, so getting up so god awful early doesn't leave me a whole lot of time to eat breakfast at home.  That's where these muffin come in handy.  Pun totally intended, please forgive me.

Oreo Cupcakes

I saw this on Pinterest months ago but never got around to making them.  My brother was in town in between wrapping up his semester at Virginia Tech and starting his internship at Tulane right before his birthday.  My brother is the only person that I know that manages to get everyone to celebrate his awesomeness twice a year.  The obvious celebration is his birthday, but St. Patrick's Day is also a pretty huge deal.  I mean, his name is Patrick after all.  When we were little he didn't wear green on St. Patty's Day because he didn't have to, because no one would dare pinch someone named Patrick! Craziness.  My brother's favorite cake of all time is "chocolate cake with white frosting."  His words, not mine.  These Oreo cupcakes were perfect because he got his chocolate cake with white frosting and I got to make something fun!

Bacon Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken & Pineapple

I found this recipe a while back on Pinterest. I am finally going back through the pins on my YUM board and trying them out at home.  The original recipe was designed to make fantastic honey mustard glazed bacon wrapped chicken bites.  After reading the recipe I decided that I wanted to make this more an entree.  Bacon + Teryiaki + Pineapple= Hawaii.  When we were there we had the time of our collective lives.  I have never been so relaxed in my whole entire life.  Just gorgeous.

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Dear Google/Picasa,

I hate your guts so much right now.

Love,

Richelle

Cheesy Vegetable Baked Penne

The first week of work was BRUTAL.   Leading up to the first day Jamie and I spent a lot of time doing that stuff that you neglect to do until you move-- like donating clothes to goodwill or scrubbing baseboards.  In our campaign to organize everything we must have kicked up a ton of dust because on Memorial Day I was so sick.  I mean, couldn't get out of the bed and I was demanding apple juice at regular intervals.  So the first day of work happens and I have to start getting up like an adult-- at 6 am-- and I was miserable.  It was all I could do to sit up straight during that god awful orientation at work.  So much for making a good first impression.  Every day of the first week my schedule was like this:  I went to work, came home, ate dinner took a shower and went to bed by 9 pm.  I never even once considered cooking anything.  If it wasn't apple juice, I didn't want anything to do with it.  I am so glad that I finally feel better-- the clear indicator-- I came home and wanted to cook dinner!