Monday Features

Wow--27 participants this week! Big thanks to everyone who linked up over the weekend! Once again, we had some great recipes ultimately, making it difficult for me to pick just 5! Most of you should know by now that I'm a sucker for a fabulous cupcake! I love cupcakes over regular cake any day of the week only because its a much smaller and regulated portion! For some reason I don't feel as guilty if I eat one cupcake opposed to one slice of cake. ;) (If that makes any sense!) 

If you were featured please grab a button and display it proudly on your blog! 

Slow Cooker Carnitas from Easy to be Gluten Free

I've never made carnitas before, and I'm digging this crock pot recipe! This will definitely be added on to my list of items to make in the next month! Ultimately, I think this will make my husband very happy--he always orders the "carnitas" when we go to Chipotle! 

French Fried Onion Meat Loaf from Permanent Posies Creative Chaos

For those of you who might not know... Ketchup and I don't get a long. We've had a very long running history of not being friends, so ultimately any sort of "normal" meatloaf recipe turns me off. That's why I create my Italian Style Meatloaf... that has chunks of tomatoes on top and Italian seasonings inside. I will admit, even though this recipe does call for ketchup I'd be willing to give it a try! And, who doesn't love French Fried Onions? I mean I think they are honestly only one of the best food inventions of our life time! I also love the fact that  you can make two... bake one for dinner and then freeze one for another day! Since I'm going to be traveling quite a bit for work this year I think I'd definitely give it a try (the smaller portion) and freeze one for my husband to cook on a night that I'm not in town! 

Kitchen Tip: Oven Baked Potatoes from Food, Folks, and Fun

I feel that everyone should know how to bake a potato hence the reason why I'm featuring this great tip/tutorial post! I grew up in a house that only knew how to "nuke" potatoes as well, so I can appreciate this post. My husband on the other hand grew up in a house that never nuked potatoes so when we first moved in together and I made baked potatoes he asked why the skin wasn't crispy! lol... I typically tend to use the "short on time" method... nuking the potato until almost done, and then placing it in the oven or in my toaster oven for a few additional minutes just to get the skin crispy! 

Green Chili Chicken & Lime Soup from Debbi Does Dinner... Healthy & Low Calorie

Mmmm... my mouth was salivating as I read over the recipe! I love "mexican" style soups, and of course am considered a soup connoisseur! The next time I have leftover chicken I'm totally making this soup! I typically always have almost all the ingredients for this recipe on hand at any given time! 

Ok, now onto the sweets that I just can't resist! 

Thin Mint Cupcakes from Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen

Well, it's that time of year... Girl Scout Cookie season! For the most part I can resist buying boxes and boxes of cookies, but for some reason my husband (who does not have a "sweet tooth") can not! He absolutely LOVES the Caramel deLites and probably purchases about a case each year! I on the other hand will purchase at the very most either a box of Thin Mints or Tagalongs. I'm also a huge fan of mint so I think that's also what has attracted me to this cupcake. This cupcake is definitely going on my "baking" list... 

Caramel Caffe Mocha Cupcakes from Inside BruCrew Life

Mmmm. Did someone say Caramel? This cupcakes look and sound heavenly! Besides peanut butter cupcakes my next favorite chocolate candy is rolos! The fact that you place a rolo inside the cupcake makes me swoon! I can't wait to give this cupcake a try!