pumpkin cheesecake ice cream

last weekend i made pumpkin cheesecake ice cream for uncle jason's birthday dinner.
jason loves cheesecake--he's famous for it--and he loves anything with pumpkin in it.
i figured it was a win-win situation for me.
but honestly, i had no idea how much he would go gaga for it.
i think i hit a homerun with this one!

the only picture i took before it was devoured.

this recipe is ridiculously easy to throw together.
there are no eggs, no cooking on a stove, nothing scary or intimidating (as some ice cream recipes are).
but it's also so rich and decadent...and hey! you just made homemade ice cream for your family, you rock star, you!
try it.
i think you'll like it too.

pumpkin cheesecake ice cream (from iwashyoudry)

ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, (or whole milk)
• 2/3 cups sugar
• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• a pinch of salt
• whipped cream--if desired
• biscoff cookies or gingersnaps, crushed -- if desired

instructions

1. place the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and pumpkin puree into a large bowl and beat until smooth. add the heavy cream, pumpkin pie spice and pinch of salt, and beat until combined. 
2. pour ingredients into your ice cream maker and process according to manufacturers instructions.
3. when the ice cream is finished you can eat it soft serve or place in the freezer to harden a bit more.
4. top with whipped cream and crushed cookies if you want to be fancy.

yum.

wow.
have you ever been to the food gawker website?
i am addicted.
so many beautiful photos and recipes that i had to share.
happy cooking!

p.s. i clicked on the 'popular' tab and started from there!

try these.

here are a few of my new favorite recipes.
all of them have been approved by my little family.

chicken and summer vegetables tostadas.
easy and yum.
serve with chips and salsa (and a margarita or two).




peanut butter sheet cake with peanut butter frosting.
we drizzle each piece with a little bit of chocolate syrup and it is heavenly.



green monster smoothies.
i had to see what the hype was all about.
i'm happy to report that everyone in our house tried them and liked them, spinach and all.
also tried this recipe and it was yummy too.



these chocolate chip cookies.
we love cookies and if the kids are going to eat them, i'd rather have them have homemade.
this recipe makes tons.
so they stay around for more than one afternoon.
i like to undercook these a minute or so to make them a little bit softer.



veggie quiche muffins.
i have made these once a week for a month.
they are filling and a great way to use up all those veggies rotting in the bottom of the crisper.
and i like that i make them one time and get 4 breakfasts out of them.

 

 and one just for me.
southwest chopped chicken salad.
oh my.
all of my favorites thrown together.
hand me a fork.




have you tried any good recipes lately?
please share!

chicken caprese pasta salad

the other night i was staring into the fridge trying to figure out what to make for supper.
there was a mishmash of leftovers--a little bit of this, a little bit of that but nothing was jumping out at me.
all i could focus on was the yummy fresh mozzarella and basil, wishing my children would love caprese salad like i do.
then i had an idea.
there was that one time when i saw someone somewhere make a pasta salad using the same ingredients for caprese salad...hmm...
so i gave it a try (aka threw a bunch of stuff together) and i must admit, it was delicious.
john and i devoured it.

keeping it real, the kids had buttered noodles and leftover meatballs for dinner.
:)
but maybe you'll like it too. 
don't skimp on the fresh basil and mozzarella.
you can leave out the chicken but they are essential.

yum.
it's like summertime in a bowl.

yum.

i could eat this every day.
it's so yummy!

baked club pinwheels.

the keeper of my heart giveaway continues until july 21. click here to read more and enter the giveaway!
**********************************************************************************************************************

i made these baked club pinwheels for dinner tonight.
we ate them with chips and fruit.
they were quick and simple and yummy.

pic from plainchicken.com.

i think this would be a perfect recipe for what i call "clean out the fridge" night.
that's what i call when we use up all the leftovers, the odds and ends of the week's meals just sitting in the fridge.

you could easily make this using the last little bit of lunch meat, leftover bacon from breakfast, or with any combination of meats and cheeses.
and i love the fact that it's as easy to make one loaf as it is to make two or three.

get the recipe here!

french bread pizza.

"yo mrs. jupin this pizza is beast." --shane, our neighbor who apparently likes to eat over.

i made french bread pizzas tonight for supper and the kiddos loved them.
when i was a kid, one of my favorite things to eat at my grandmom's house was stouffer's frozen french bread pizzas.
i found a recipe today and the memories came flooding back.
so on the way home, i stopped at the store for a loaf of french bread.
i love how food can evoke such strong memories.
i loved my grandmom so much. she was my best friend.

check out the recipe here.
it's so easy you'll laugh (on the way to get your loaf of french bread!).

i also made the snickers ice cream pie and it was beast too.

eat.

now this is what a summer salad should look like!
made from leftover steak and corn, carrots, tomatos, greens and bleu cheese dressing.
YUM.

don't ya love my fancy plate and napkin?
it's hot, it's summer, fogeddaboutit!
now go eat!

bagels and surprises.

oh man. i love bread.
fresh, delicious, crusty and yet so soft, bread.
when sarah posted this recipe for homemade bagels, i was all over it.

this weekend i resurrected the bread machine and went to town.
it really is VERY easy.
so easy in fact, that i made two batches.

i just don't think i can go back to the regular store-bought kind any time soon.
these are so easy and delicious, especially straight out of the oven!
try them and let me know what you think. yum!

***********************************************************************************

in other news, my sweetie pie friends meg and chrissie totally pulled off a HUGE surprise on me today!
they are helping us with an amazing fundraiser for our davis boy.

chrissie is donating 25% of each pillow sale this month to our adoption fund!
i have loved these since the first time i saw them!
so, so cute!

to see more of chrissie's shop or to buy a pillow, click HERE.

i'm thinking these would be the BEST christmas gifts ever!
or birthday gifts
or good report card gifts
or communion gifts
or baby shower gifts
or christening gifts
or just because they are so stinkin cute that my child just had to have them gifts!

order one (or ten) today! :)
and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, meg and chrissie!
best. surprise. ever.
love ya.
mean it.

chocolate chip banana bread

this recipe is simple and delicious and a perfect way to use up those bananas sitting on your counter that are past their prime.

add some chocolate chips and your family will think you are a rock star.
(if i could make a candle that smells like my kitchen smells right now, i'd be a millionaire.)

happy snacking! :)