Let's Get Social Sunday #27

Just a reminder - Lets Get Social Sunday will be on 9 different blogs every week!  That means maximum exposure for you :) 

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!

This party is for bloggers who wish to make new friends and gain new followers. It is also an opportunity to link up all your social media sites to gain more followers for blogging opportunities and it increases traffic to all your sites.

Please:)

(1) Follow your hosts and co-hosts in as many ways as possible. We are the first 1-9 link-ups in each category.

  Hosts:

Joy @ Yesterfood 
Linda @ With A Blast 
Paula @ Call Me PMc 
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile 
Diane @ Mamal Diane

Evelyn @ My Turn for us

Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes

and meet our co-hosts this week:

Parrish @ Life With The Crust Cut Off

and

Diane @ Vintage Zest!

(2) Grab our button and share it on your blog

(3) Let us know if you followed in the comments, so we can return the follows!

(4) Find some new blogs to follow and let 'em know you found them from the Let's Get Social Sunday party. 

*Just a note - If you would like to co-host, we are accepting spots in the future for co-hosts. Please, email us at letsgetsocialsunday@gmail.com and we will send you the information on scheduling. :)

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Not a requirement, but we appreciate the love - If you enjoy this party, would you mind hitting the tweet button to help spread the word? Or share on your favorite social media! Thanks y'all :)

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Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Weekend Round-Up {6-29-13)

Can y'all believe that the 4th of July is next week? Holy smokes! That means summer is almost half over already! The kids will be back in school before we know it - and I know some of y'all are already counting down the day! ;)
So what happened in my world this week? Not a lot - but we did get a visit from a Homeland Security agent (no lie, one really came to our house!) this week! I answered the door and this very official guy flashed his very official badge identifying himself. All I could think about was all the stuff on the news lately and I thought they were coming to get me! Of course, my mind immediately started thinking of everything I've ever posted online or said or texted via phone! Maybe my post about being fed up used some of the government's trigger words?! LOL. No seriously, their visit wasn't a big deal (thank God!).


It's been hotter than Hades in Phoenix! I keep seeing these posts of people cooking eggs outside in the sun or baking cookies in their cars! Y'all know we'll be trying that sometime this summer! Has anyone ever tried it? Don't be surprised if you see pictures some time this summer! :)


I was also contacted by a Hershey's Kitchen representative earlier this week ..... My Death By Chocolate Poke Cake will be featured on their page in September!! I was super stoked - I had to reread that email like 5 or 6 times! I think that totally made my week! :)
Here's a look at what else happened around my little spot of the blogging world this week:

Let's Get Social Sunday #26 - Don't forget to join us tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 6 am Eastern time when the next party goes live! Meet some other bloggers and make new friends! We would love to see your smiling (or grumpy) face there! ;)

All My Bloggy Friends #52 - the party is still live and closes at 11:59 pm Eastern time tonight (Saturday)! Don't forget to join us every Tuesday morning at 7 am Eastern time when the party goes live! I'd love to see you there! :)

Fresh & Easy Picnic Ideas - Being new to the Phoenix area, I have had some new grocery chains to try out. I got some picnic fare at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets that was super tasty and affordable!

Spicy Southwest Meatloaf - If you like meatloaf, definitely try this kicked up version! It's not too spicy so the kids will eat it too! :)

Warfare by Duct Tape or Jewels by Julia Giveaway - I recently had the opportunity to review 2 great e-books. My boys had so much fun making and playing with these swords and shields! I'll be sharing some of the jewelry from the other e-book some time in the future! Be sure to stop by and enter your choice of e-book!

I also shared a post about Taco Tatos! I almost could have ate just the potatoes and left everything else! Soooo good!

__________________________________________________________

Five things I pinned this week that you should see too:

1. Chili Dog Casserole from The Vegetarian Casserole Queen - My kiddos would *love* this dish. I love that it's super easy for those nights when I really don't feel like messing around in the kitchen!
2. Patriotic Puppy Chow from Sweet As A Cookie - I haven't made puppy chow in forever. I love the patriotic colors in this one!
3. One Pot Cheeseburger Casserole from No. 2 Pencil - I love one pot dishes! This is similar to my One Pot Goulash .... but cheeseburger flavored!
4. Caramelitas from The Recipe Critic - Pop over and look at the picture (the link will open in a new tab) and you'll be drooling too!!! Oh, my gosh! I may dream about these things!
5. Easy Homemade Funfetti Cake from Sally's Baking Addiction - How fun is funfetti?! Right? I love the idea of making a homemade version!

Most popular post this week: Death By Chocolate Poke CakeBiggest referring site this week: PinterestMost searched phrase: Homemade Alfredo Sauce

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!

Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Taco Tatos

I realized that I don't have too many side dishes posted ..... what is up with that?! I guess I need to start sharing some of those with y'all as well! :)
Yesterday, I shared my recipe for Spicy Southwest Meatloaf and I told y'all I would be sharing these awesome Taco Tatos with you today! In my humble opinion, these are the perfect side dish with that meatloaf! I think they would be equally great with some sort of Southwest seasoned grilled meat as well. Although I have never tried it yet, I would be tempted to cook the potatoes in foil right along with the meat and save myself some clean-up! 
This is one of those side dishes that there is never any leftovers .... my kiddos gobble this stuff up like it's their last meal! I hope you'll give it a try - and if anyone tries cooking them in foil on the grill, I'd love to hear back as to how they turned out .... and if I make them that way, I'll be sure to update this post! :)



Taco TatosPrintable recipeYield: 6-8 servings
6 large russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-in. cubes½ cup butter, melted or ¼-½ cup olive oil2 tbsp. taco seasoning1 cup (4 oz.) Cheddar cheese, shredded1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled3-4 green onions, choppedSalsa and Sour Cream, optional
Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. In a large ziplock bag, combine the potatoes, butter and taco seasoning. Seal the bag. Shake and squeeze to make sure the potatoes are evenly coated. Spread into the prepared pan in a single layer. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the potatoes are tender - flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven and the sprinkle cheese over the top. Return to the oven for another 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with bacon and green onions. Serve with salsa or sour cream if desired.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad

Creamy Pea Salad

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!
Featured at Ms. enPlace and Everyday Mom's Meals

Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Summer is in Full Swing - Warfare by Duct Tape Giveaway

Summer is in full swing ..... Have you heard the famous line, "Mom, I'm bored!" yet? I was recently asked by Gloria over at The Resourceful Gals if I would be interested in doing a product review on some e-books her kids wrote! They are a homeschooling family with young entrepreneurs! How awesome is that? Having 4 boys and a little girl, I knew right away that the warfare books from Warfare by Duct Tape would be a hit with my kids ... Abby is still a little too young for the jewelry e-book, but I plan on putting that to good use with the holiday's coming up - and I hope to show you what I created with Jewels by Julia later!

One of the things I really wanted to see with this review was just how easy the instructions were to follow ..... could my 11 and 12 year old son's do this by themselves? Brian used the saw to cut the pvc to length, and other than that, I am happy to report that these were indeed made entirely by my kids! Super, super easy! And the best part? They had tons fun making and playing with them - and even modified what they learned in the book to make their own shield! (The book uses plywood, they used cardboard - it's a lot lighter). :) They also made a smaller sword and shield for Gabriel! 




I was extremely impressed with these toys and how much fun my boys had.  I loved that it sparked them into wanting to find more things they could make with duct tape! For those of y'all that know me, you know I am the least crafty person I know, so I appreciate easy stuff! :) 
The readers of Love Bakes Good Cakes are being offered a 20% discount on all e-books from Warfare by Duct Tape and Jewels by Julia ..... Just use code lovebakes20. Each book has step-by-step photos and easy to follow instructions. They're a sure way to beat the boredom! ;)
But that's not all, The Resourceful Gals is also sponsoring a giveaway for 5 people to win their choice of e-book!!! Be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter below! As always, I promise it's easy entry!! I hate jumping through hoops and I know you do too! (Just a note, it has been my experience that this works best with Google Chrome - so if you have any problems, please try that browser).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!

Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Spicy Southwest Meatloaf

Meatloaf seems to be one of those foods that people either love it or they hate it. There really isn't any middle ground, is there? My family enjoys meatloaf - Dare I say, they actually look forward to it? I probably have 10 or 15 different meatloaves that I have made over the years. While the traditional meatloaf with the ketchup topping is nice and comforting, sometimes it's nice to shake things up a bit.
This Spicy Southwest Meatloaf is a hit with my family! It's not too spicy, but the Ro-Tel tomatoes and chili sauce give it a nice spice without making it too hot. 
We served this up with some Taco Tatoes and green beans. Cornbread muffins on the side would be a nice accompaniment! If you're looking to kick your regular ol' meatloaf up a notch, definitely give this recipe a try - you'll be glad you did!

Spicy Southwest MeatloafPrintable recipeYield: 8-10 servings
2 lb. lean ground beef3 slices bread, torn into small pieces (or 1 cup bread crumbs)1 small onion, finely chopped½ cup green pepper, finely chopped1 can (10 oz.) Ro-Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, slightly drained2 eggs, beaten2 tsp. chili powder½-¾ cup chili sauce
Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine the beef, bread, onions, green pepper, tomatoes, eggs and chili powder in a medium bowl. Shape the meat mixture into a loaf. Place in an ungreased 8½x4½x2½-in. loaf pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink in the middle. Carefully drain. Spoon the chili sauce over the top of the meatloaf and bake an additional 10 minutes. Allow to stand 5 minutes before slicing. 

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

White Castle Casserole

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!

Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Fresh & Easy Summer Picnics

Don't you just love the purple mountains in the background and to the right? Definitely one of my favorite things about the Phoenix area! Where I'm from, we just never saw stuff like that! I love that no matter where we go in the Valley, I can see for what seems like forever and there's always mountains somewhere in the scenery!
Speaking of where I'm from - As many of you know, my family recently moved to Arizona. I don't know about y'all, but I love checking out new grocery stores. Weird?! What can I say - maybe it's just me?! In my hunt "to get to know the area," I have discovered Fresh & Easy! I wasn't really sure what to expect the first time we went there - but when Brian and I went to the store, I liked the fact that it felt like a neighborhood market. Not too big, but still plenty of choices - and it carried everything I needed for a summer picnic or for family meals! Score!


As you can see, we found some great picnic fare - that would easily double for an easy weeknight meal for the family too! You just can't have a summer picnic without watermelon - so that was the first thing we grabbed! We picked up some romaine lettuce and 2 tomatoes for our sandwiches too. I loved the produce section - everything just looked so fresh! We found some fresh&easy organic chia & flax seed bread that I just couldn't wait to try! I had never had chia anything before - and it seems to be all the rage these days! This bread seemed like a pretty easy thing to introduce my family to. We also found those cute little rolls for the sandwiches! As we strolled through the aisles, I spotted those wasabi pea puffs and I had to have them! Brian chose to try the fresh&easy baked not fried sour cream & onion potato chips instead - he's not a fan of wasabi! ;) We also decided to get a package of ham and turkey lunchmeat ... and some Provolone (our favorite cheese). We already had condiments at home - so we skipped picking those up. We made our way over to find some beverages to quench our thirst and opted for some refreshing lemonade and fizzy root beer. Brian suggested picking up a cold salad too. Of course, as we walked over that way, I spotted a dessert cooler with lots of yummy treats and I told Brian to go ahead and find the salads and I would pick out a dessert - although I was tempted by the luscious lemon cake, I picked up the red velvet cake. Brian told me he was hoping I would pick the red velvet and I just had to smile because I know (and now you do too) that I picked it because of him!
We invited my mother-in-law and our neighbor, Alyce, over to enjoy this meal with us. We had such a great time and enjoyed the company! Fresh & Easy made our summer picnic easy, delicious and affordable!
I think one of my absolute favorite things about Fresh & Easy is that they never use high-fructose corn syrup, added trans fats, artificial colors or flavors in any fresh & easy brand products. And - they believe fresh, wholesome food should be affordable to everyone! How awesome is that?!*
Though the parent company of Fresh & Easy plans to leave the US, they’re pleased to confirm there are no plans to close any portion of Fresh & Easy markets in Arizona, California or Nevada. For me, and many of my West Coast friends, that is great news! While they don’t yet know who their new owner will ultimately be, Tesco has already received interest from a number of parties including groups looking to purchase Fresh & Easy as an operating business. As a matter of fact, Fresh & Easy is confident that they can remain their customers’ favorite neighborhood market and they have just launched an exciting new marketing campaign. They look forward to serving their neighbors for many years to come!
Fresh & Easy also just launched some exciting new summer grilling products along with new delicious frozen microwavable and skillet meals. They know how lunch time options can get boring (mine sure do!), so they just refreshed their grab-and-go fresh sandwiches, salads and wraps. They hope you’ll get to try a few of these great new items that are all made without artificial colors or flavors, added trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup.
If you would like to try Fresh & Easy (or if you're already a loyal customer), they are providing a coupon to the readers of Love Bakes Good Cakes - you can find it HERE - Hurry, it expires on July 7th, 2013.

You can also find out more about their fresh&easy Neighborhood Market through the Apple and Android apps. You can access your Friends Rewards account to view your points balance, convert points to rewards, view your points history and update your profile. You can load Bonus Point coupons and scan your ‘Made for Me’ coupons right from your phone. You can view your local fresh&easy weekly flyer, including our weekly deals, meal ideas, and other great offers. It will also help you find your closest fresh&easy store, along with store hours, directions and a phone number.
I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!

Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved
*Some of the information provided is from Fresh & Easy.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

All My Bloggy Friends #52

Welcome to All My Bloggy Friends! I'm so glad you stopped by! Feel free to link up anything family-friendly ... or just browse all the great stuff my bloggy friends share! Either way, thanks for being here! :)

 Just a reminder, all of the features will be pinned to my Pinterest board as well as shared on Facebook, Twitter and Google+!

Without further ado ... onto the features from last week! Drum roll .....

The most viewed link was:

Why I'm A No-Reply Blogger from Sew n' Bows by Mayen Designs 

My 3 personal faves -

Berry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies from Life, Love ... and Sugar 

{Patriotic} Rag Wreath Tutorial from Oh So Crafty Life

8th Anniversary Table in Red from Kathe With an E

**Don't forget to stop by With A Blast to see Linda's faves as well :) 

If you're new to the party or if you were featured and you would like a button, you can find them HERE.

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Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

Let's Get Social Sunday #26

Just a reminder - Lets Get Social Sunday will be on 9 different blogs every week!  That means maximum exposure for you :) 

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!

This party is for bloggers who wish to make new friends and gain new followers. It is also an opportunity to link up all your social media sites to gain more followers for blogging opportunities and it increases traffic to all your sites.

Please:)

(1) Follow your hosts and co-hosts in as many ways as possible. We are the first 2-9 link-ups in each category.

Hosts:

Evelyn @ My Turn for us

Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Joy @ Yesterfood
Linda @ With A Blast
Paula @ Call Me PMc
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Diane @ Mamal Diane

and meet our co-hosts this week:

Anyonita @ Anyonita Nibbles

and

Gosia @ Kiddie Foodies

(2) Grab our button and share it on your blog

(3) Let us know if you followed in the comments, so we can return the follows!

(4) Find some new blogs to follow and let 'em know you found them from the Let's Get Social Sunday party. 

*Just a note - If you would like to co-host, we are accepting spots in the future for co-hosts. Please, email us at letsgetsocialsunday@gmail.com and we will send you the information on scheduling. :)

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Not a requirement, but we appreciate the love - If you enjoy this party, would you mind hitting the tweet button to help spread the word? Or share on your favorite social media! Thanks y'all :)

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Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved