Circus Margarita

Enjoy a Circus Margarita this Summer - it's a cool and refreshing adult beverage! #margarita #alcohol #cottoncandy



Summer is in full swing. It's been hot as Hades in Phoenix. Triple digit temperatures every. single. day, ya'll ... and no relief in site! I'm just glad there's very little humidity here .... seriously, I would never leave my house - ever!
Since my family is in the process of adding a pool to our backyard, I wanted to share a fun and refreshing adult-type beverage! I'm stopping by buddy, Evelyn's place, with a Circus Margarita. It's got Cotton Candy vodka in it! So good! I've told Evelyn that she'll have to come to Phoenix for a visit once the pool is done and we can sit by the pool with margaritas in hand, talking and laughing! I thought it was only appropriate to bring this drink over for a guest post! So stop on by My Turn for us (<<< click that link to be magically transported through the internet to her place!) for the recipe! See y'all over there! :)

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Margarita Chicken Tacos
Arroz con Leche
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

Cool App, Great Service and Good Food with BJ’s Restaurant Dine in Order Ahead

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and BJ’s Restaurants, but all my opinions are my own. #DineInOrderAhead #pmedia  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Y'all, I am such a nerd. I get so excited over things that make my life easier. Having five kids, my life seldom seems easy lol. If I could just find that clothes folder and the put away machine, I'd be set! :) 




On a serious note, I recently saw that the BJ's Restaurants have a new "Dine in Order Ahead" feature on the BJ's app (you can download the iPhone or Android version right here!) ... and there's a Mobile Pay feature so you don't need to wait around for your check when you're ready to go!



Brian and I had a rare date night a few weeks ago, so we decided to try the app out for ourselves. It was the first time we had ever been to BJ's Restaurants and it definitely won't be the last! I need a love button! Good food, great service and a cool app - what more could you ask for? Seriously, we ordered our food from the comfort of our home. It was soooo easy!! 

When we arrived to our local BJ's Restaurant, we had a very short wait time. If you know me, then you know I hate to wait. Patience is not my strongest virtue. When we were seated, the waitress already knew our order and alerted the kitchen to start preparing our food. She came back with our drinks and our entire meal was fantabulous! It all worked like clockwork. Y'all, I want to order every restaurant meal like this!


The Dine in Order Ahead App is super easy to use too! It has the menu broken down and you can even save the items you order often to make it even easier!!

Brian and I went for the soda first .... a Cherry Pepsi for him and a Dr. Pepper for myself.

We had a pretty busy day the day we went to BJ's Restaurant, so we decided to share the entire meal. We were hungry, but not starving! We decided to try the Santa Fe Egg Rolls for our appetizer.

It was easy to find and order ..... Brian wanted to know what was in the egg rolls and I was able to pull up a screen with the details!

We added that to our cart ....

We had to find a main course we could share. That is not always easy. :) Brian is a bit more picky than I am, but I convinced him to try the Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos off of the Enlightened part of the menu. 

I cannot rave enough about these tacos - I need to figure out how to make a copycat version at home for when we can't make it to BJ's Restaurant! ;)

As I read off the description to Brian, he agreed that it sounded delicious!

Just like when you order through a waitress at the restaurant, you have the option to customize your meal. If you don't like cucumbers, you can have them omitted from the Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos - But I like 'em so they stayed! Because I wanted to try the Bistro Grains, I didn't tell Brian there were other options until we were actually eating dinner! He would have wanted the fries! :) Oops!

As you can see - they make it easy so easy to use the new Dine in Order Ahead app!

Here are the options for the Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos - if you have a special request, you can even add that .... Maybe you're sharing a meal like we did, and your partner doesn't like tomatoes - you can ask them to be left off of one of the tacos or maybe you want the vinaigrette put on the side. 

Before heading out, we confirmed our order and submitted it. I heard that the Pizookie® was a must, so that got slipped onto our order somehow! :)

Here's a screenshot of our order confirmation. And of our food! :)

Unfortunately, I forgot to snap a picture of my open check before I paid for our meal via the Mobile Pay option. However, you can see the option on the main screen above! :) I loved that we were free to go whenever we were done ... and we didn't have to wait for the check to be brought to us!

We received speedy and friendly service and I was thoroughly impressed with just how easy the new BJ's Restaurant Dine in Order Ahead app really is. Brian and I are already talking about going back for my birthday - which is Friday!! (Yep, I'm really a 4th of July baby!) Those Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos are calling my name!
If you need a girls night out or a date night, be sure to give the BJ's Restaurant Dine in Order Ahead app a try! From ordering to paying for your meal, it's so much less hassle. The atmosphere along with great food and beverages will keep you wanting to go back for more! :)
Don't forget to share and comment ♥Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved

7 Muffin Recipes shared at Freedom Fridays

Seven Muffin Recipes shared at Freedom Fridays! #FreedomFridays #roundup #muffins


Here are seven muffin recipes from Freedom Fridays that are great for an easy grab and go breakfast! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Orange Streusel Coffee Cake
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

Cranberry Cashew Bark

Looking for a super simple snack to throw together? Cranberry Cashew Bark has you covered and it's OH so delicious.

Treat yourself now, or save this recipe for later, because it's never too early to plan Christmas treats. Cranberry Cashew Bark is the perfect sweet to add to your holiday baking and candy making list. Just look at the gorgeous color of those Craisins!

Since I like to try recipes out ahead of time, I mixed up a quick batch of bark to snack on. Let me tell you... it was good. So good in fact, that the next day when I went to grab another piece I made a sad discovery: it was all gone!





Cranberry Cashew Bark is seriously delicious. It is the perfect blend of sweetness with a touch of salt and a pinch of tartness. Blended together these three tempt your taste buds and make you want to have another piece or two.



Recipes with few ingredients are at the top of my list. Why? Because that normally means they can be whipped up in no time. And with Cranberry Cashew Bark, if you've got a microwave, you're ready to go. Melt almond bark in the microwave, and then stir in cashews and Craisins.

Fantastically simple, yet elegantly presentable, Cranberry Cashew Bark is so tasty. I will be making this sweet treat time and time again, and definitely will be adding it to my list of favorite holiday sweets.

Cranberry Cashew Bark 

Ingredients 
24 ounce almond bark
1 1/2 cashews
3/4 cups Craisins

Instructions 

Melt almond bark in microwave according to package directions. Mix cashews and Craisins into the melted almond bark. Spread out over a parchment paper lined cutting board or baking sheet. Let Cranberry Cashew Bark in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to harden. Once hardened, break into pieces and store in airtight container.

 Other Posts You May Enjoy: 

Copycat Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Almond Bark

Chocolate Clusters

   Jessica from All She Cooks  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

Southwest Cheeseburger Mac with VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets #WhatMySkilletIsFor

I have been selected by Kraft Foods to be a spokesperson for VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are my own. 

Dinnertime got you in a panic? Are you short on time or just don't feel like cooking? This Southwest Cheeseburger Mac is quick and easy - but more importantly, delicious - thanks to VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets! #VELVEETA #WhatMySkilletIsFor #ad


As a food blogger, my mind is constantly thinking of new recipes or ways to tweak old ones. Seriously, it never shuts off. Most of the time, that works to my advantage because it gives me plenty of things to blog about! :) My family will tell you that we rarely have the same thing twice .... and if we do, it's always with a new twist. There are a few exceptions, of course. But mostly, it's true. And if we do have it twice, I can tell you when we last had it by the date of the blog post!!! No joke. I know some of the food bloggers reading this are like, "girl ... that is so me!!" It's in our food blogger nature and it's what we're passionate about, we just can't help it. 
Keeping it real though .... sometimes I cheat. Yep. I take shortcuts. On a rare occasion, I even feed my kids cereal for breakfast! *gasp* Some days, I don't feel like cooking at all .... it happens to all of us. Even food bloggers. 

I heard this story a few weeks ago that I thought was absolute genius. Y'all know those online auction sites? They always have soooo many things for sale. I mean, you can buy almost anything in an online auction ..... dachshund condiment trays, old spark plugs and even parrot-topped lava lamps. So here's the story ... VELVEETA - you know, the Liquid Gold cheese people .... noticed that among all of this stuff on the online auction sites, there were also thousands of skillets listed too. Obviously, the sellers must not have known or may have forgotten what their skillets are for. So what does VELVEETA do? You guessed it! They bought more than 1,000 of these skillets and sent them back to the sellers with a box of VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets (and some other cool swag) to show these sellers what their skillets are for - VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets!! Isn't that the greatest thing?! 
When I heard about VELVEETA's story, I was slightly amused at the thought of these people getting their skillets back and I had to wonder how many people they told of this awesome marketing job!! You know all of their friends and family heard about it! They even took to Facebook and Twitter to tell VELVEETA how much they enjoyed getting their skillets back! EPIC!! VELVEETA knew that once people realized what their skillets are for, they'd be more than happy to get their skillet back and share the news with people!
This story stuck with me. On those days when I don't feel like cooking, I remember #WhatMySkilletIsFor - and I make a pan of VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets. Being a food blogger, y'all know it's hard for me to leave things alone - I do tend to put my own spin on things. Today, I'll be sharing one of those spins in my Southwest Cheeseburger Mac. It's still just as simple to make as the regular way since we're only adding a few cans and some extra seasoning. It's perfect for a busy night and it's a dish the family will love!

I am looking forward to trying the VELVEETA Cheesy Skillet - Chicken Parmesan next! It's a new flavor - so be sure to look for it on your next shopping trip! You can see more product information and a list of varieties with the VELVEETA Facebook App.

You're going to start off by browning and crumbling your ground beef. I like to drain mine even if it's really lean beef. I also rinse my beef too - does anyone else do that?

To that, we're going to add the ingredients listed on the box, some tomatoes, black beans and taco seasoning. Let it do its thing on the stove while you prepare a salad or veggie. Now is a great time to chop some cilantro for the garnish too!

Liquid Gold, baby! Pour that awesome creamy VELVEETA cheese sauce into the pan ... and give it a stir. Although you may be tempted to chug the VELVEETA cheese sauce instead of adding it to the pan - don't do it. ;) 

Serve your Cheesy Skillet with sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro. Dinner is ready!


Southwest Cheeseburger Mac
Printable recipe
Yield: 6 servings

1 box (12.8 oz.) VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets Ultimate Cheeseburger Mac plus ingredients listed on box
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
3 Tbsp. (about half of a 1.25 oz. packet) taco seasoning (or use my homemade mix!)
Sour cream and sliced tomatoes, for serving
Cilantro, for garnish

Brown and crumble ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain if necessary. 

Add 2 cups water, the seasoning from the box, pasta, black beans, tomatoes and taco seasoning. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. 

Cover and simmer, stirring often, until most of the water is gone (about 10-12 minutes). Remove from the heat.

Add the VELVEETA Cheese Sauce Pouch. Stir in the cheese sauce. 

Top individual portions with sour cream, sliced tomatoes and cilantro, if desired. 



VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets are premium dinner kits that offer consumers delicious and easy dinnertime solutions that will make your family smile! My family loved this Southwest Cheeseburger Mac - and I loved how quick and easy it is! Wield your skillets and forge the family dinner with the Liquid Gold of VELVEETA. Never forget that with just a skillet and some ground beef, chicken or tuna, you can smite a meal that will solder your family together, forever!
You have the chance to win your very own skillet and two boxes of VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets.
Yay for giveaways!! The winner MUST be a resident of the U.S. The winner MUST have a valid mailing address - sorry, no P.O. Boxes folks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Margarita Chicken Tacos
Quick and Easy Chicken Fried Rice
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

Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends #34

Welcome to Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends! I'm so glad you stopped by! This is an anything goes, no rules party! Link up your recipes, projects, crafts, printables ... and yes, you can even link up your giveaways!

If you don't already follow us on Pinterest, I would love for you to follow us - you can even do it right here:

Love Bakes Good Cakes
My Turn for us

Love Bakes Good Cakes has teamed up with My Turn for us to bring you the best "no rules" party around! We try to promote as many links as we can on social media - to bring more exposure to all of your projects!

Let's check out this week's features:

Features - Top to bottom, Left to right
MOST VIEWED - Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef from The Recipe RebelJalapeno Bacon Popper Dip from Baking BeautyRadio Bar from Bliss RanchDIY Patriotic Paper Flower from View From the Fridge for Juggling Act MamaFresh Strawberry Pie from Belle of the Kitchen
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Don't forget to share and commentCopyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved