Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Tropical Banana Bread

This Tropical Banana Bread is the best way to use up those ripe bananas on the counter. Adding cherries, pineapple, and coconut makes this sweet bread a favorite in our house.

This weekend we experienced a chill in our weather. It dropped into the 30's overnight and then was extremely windy, rainy, and chilly the whole weekend. When your body is used to it being in the 80's, that is a big change.

Our youngest son had two soccer games on Sunday, so that morning he and I loaded everything up and headed out to the field. Apparently, I can't ready the team app very well though because we got there and found out the game had been cancelled. At first I was slightly annoyed that I had misread everything wrong, but then I realized that meant I didn't have to sit for an hour and half in the 45 degree weather. Thank heavens!

By the time we had to go back for the second game, the chill was out of the wind and the sun was out, so it wasn't as bad to be outside.

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Apple Snickers Cheesecake Trifle

Layers of crunchy apples, creamy cheesecake, and candy bars make this Apple Snickers Cheesecake Trifle an impressive no bake dessert. Perfect dessert for summer picnics or dinners.

*Crunch Pak apples sponsored this post. I am partnering with them as a blog ambassador creating delicious apple recipes.

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Our local grocery store offers a free cart service for their shoppers. As a recipe developer I frequent the grocery stores a few times a week. One of these days, they are going to remember who I am. Most of the times when I am there I'm weating workout gear and a hat pulled down low. There are a few times when I head to the store that I am actually ready for the day and wearing normal clothes. Plus, I rotate stores each time I go too. Fingers crossed this keeps me from being remembered.

What will get me remembered is if I actually take advantage of the cart service. You see, I have a very bad habit of parking my car, grabbing my groceries, and forgetting where I parked. And that's all in the time frame of about 30 minutes. I usually refuse the free grocery carry out and tell them I got it.

Not because I don't want the help, but because I don't want them to laugh at me when I can't find my car. Trust me, I'm sure that could be a hot topic in the break room. Or maybe I'm just paranoid, but whatever the case I'm not going to chance it. I'll continue to wander around the parking lot loaded down with all my bags rather than be giggled at. [Read more...]

Salted Caramel Snickers Fudge

This easy Salted Caramel Snickers Fudge is loaded with lots of candy bars and is the perfect blend of sweet and salty.

The other day I was reading a magazine and saw an article on defying age. Since I just celebrated the 12th anniversary of my 29th birthday, my eye was drawn right to that info. Most of the tips were things that I knew already. Smile, exercise, stay out of the sun, sunscreen...and eat less sugar? What??? That last one is not the easiest thing in the world. My sweet tooth is larger than my thighs.

But if it can help me stay looking younger, I guess I can try to limit the sugar intake in my older age. But I'm not going to like it.

The one thing that can derail my healthy eating in a hurry though is salted caramel. I'm trying my hardest to stay away from anything in the dessert family right now, but there is something about that combo of sweet and salty that I just can't resist. Give me all the salted caramel brownie bites over wrinkles any day! [Read more...]

Pineapple Sriracha Chicken Salad

The homemade sweet and spicy salad dressing adds a fun kick to this easy Pineapple Sriracha Chicken Salad. This is such a healthy and refreshing salad for summer nights.

There are two times a year that I go on a big salad kick. Now don't get me wrong, we eat salad all year long because it's healthy and delicious. Everyone in our family enjoys a big giant salad for dinner. Especially one that looks like a giant beach ball before it gets tossed!

But for me, the beginning of the year and the beginning of spring are the two times I get the urge to eat even more salads than normal. Of course, at the beginning of the year it's mostly because I indulged a little too much in holiday treats. Salad is necessary to battle that cookie bulge.

I do really well for a month or two before slipping back into my old eating habits. Before I know it, spring has arrived and it's time to bring out the shorts and t-shirts. The only problem is that once again there are bulges to be battled. Bring on the protein shakes and salad dinners because mama wants to wear shorts this summer. Please tell me I'm not alone in these salad phases.

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Strawberry Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Bake

Strawberry Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Bake adds a sweet taste and delicious flair to breakfast. And don't forget about that chocolate.

This week, I challenged myself to bake something using items from the refrigerator and pantry. A few weeks ago, I grabbed some refrigerated cinnamon rolls for a quick, easy breakfast for the kids.

But then we got busy, and I forgot about them. I found them in the back of the fridge and thought they could be fun to work with.

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Easter Dirt Cupcakes

These easy Easter Dirt Cupcakes are a fun dessert to make for Easter parties and dinners this weekend. The hidden pudding center always gets smiles from kids and adults!

3 chocolate cupcakes topped with malt eggs, a candy carrot, and marshmallow bunnies.

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I just had to make one more fun treat for Easter this year. You don't mind, do you? A few weeks ago I bought some packages of marshmallow bunny Peeps, and they have been staring me down from the counter. Every time I walked past the kitchen, I thought about just putting them in the pantry for later.

But the danger in putting things in the pantry is that they would be forgotten about until the middle of June when no one wants to see marshmallow bunnies.

I had to leave them out until inspiration hit...or until someone opened them. By now our kids know better than to take candy without asking. Actually that is not true because the other day I found a bag of Reese's peanut butter eggs OPEN in the pantry. The littlest monster found my secret stash, and he has been quietly helping himself. I guess it is time to find a new hiding place.

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Salted Caramel Oreo Bark

Swirls of chocolate, white chocolate, caramel and cookies will make this Salted Caramel Oreo Bark disappear in a hurry!

Last month we took the kids on a missions trip to Puerto Rico for spring break. Of course, when you know you have a beach trip coming up it is easy to stay on track with healthy eating and exercise. Then you come home and eat all the sweets for a month because there is no more beach in your near future.

There is nothing like trying on shorts to stop you in your dessert eating tracks quickly. Shorts that fit just fine last month are now feeling snug. Curse you sweet tooth! Or should I say sweet teeth because I'm sure this problem isn't from just one tooth. LOL!

That was my dilemma earlier this week. I know, right? First world problems right here. Right away I busted out the healthy eating and made this strawberry orange spinach salad. It's one of my favorite dinners when I want to get back on track quickly! [Read more...]

Mini Lemon Cheesecake Pies

Bring these fun bite-sized Mini Lemon Cheesecake Pies to your dinner parties this spring. Lemon pie filling and cheesecake is such a great combo. You should try it.

*I am partnering with Lucky Leaf this year as a blog ambassador bringing you delicious recipes using pie filling.

Mini lemon cheesecake pies topped with cherries on a white doily.

This past weekend I realized that I am the only one in our household that likes thing neat and organized all of the time.

If you take a walk through our bedroom, there are piles of clothes on my husband's side of the bed. Then if you go into our bathroom and open both doors to our closets, you will find one neat and orderly and one covered in clothes and shoes. Any guesses who owns the neat closet?

Our three children are following in their father's footsteps too. All three bedrooms have piles of clothes, water bottles, and makeup. Ok, ok so the piles of make up are only in our daughter's room. The boys have piles of video games and dirty plates.

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Caramel Peanut Butter Pretzel Fudge

Pretzels and candy bars swirled in this easy Caramel Peanut Butter Pretzel Fudge add a fun crunch and chew to each creamy square.

The one thing that I have always been able to resist eating are bags of chips or snack mixes. My body just doesn't crave salty snacks. Now give me something sweet and salty, and I will go to town on it like there is no tomorrow. The combination of sweet and salt is definitely a skinny jean killer.

I was pretty proud of myself for being able to resist that one food group. That is until I tried peanut butter pretzels. Those doggone little bites of crunchy salty pretzels filled with creamy peanut butter have me under their control. We have been buying the big container at Sam's Club because our son loves them too.

If I can stay out of the container, it's all good. But it only takes one pretzel for my resolve to crumble, and then I find myself eating at least 50 of these little pretzels in one sitting. Dang it! [Read more...]

Cheesecake Love: Cookbook Cover Reveal

Hello, cheesecake lovers of the world! I am so excited to finally be able to share the cover of my cookbook and some fun details about the book with you!

Eeeeeiiiikkkk! The day has finally come when all the hard work and labor of this cheesecake book can finally be shared. I realize that the book isn't even out...yet. But I am excited to share the cover of the book with and some fun sneak peaks from inside. Hopefully those few glimpses will tempt you to buy the book. I am SO excited for everyone to have a copy in their hands!!!

It is available for pre-order now!!! All you have to do is head over here to Amazon and order it, and it will be shipped to your doorstep in September. You will not be charged until it ships, and if the price should lower, you will pay that lower price.

After two years of preparation, baking, writing, photographing, and sometimes crying in a closet because writing a cookbook is hard word, everything has been turned in. I never knew how much work and time went into creating a cookbook until I was deep in the process. Thank goodness I have a loving husband and sweet friends who kept me focused and motivated to finish.

I am so happy with how everything turned out. Well, for the most part that is. There are a few photos that I wasn't super happy with, but I had to let go of a few things when the deadlines came due. For the most part, I am so extremely happy with how everything came together and for a wonderful publishing team who is prepping everything for the book's release on September 26th, 2017! We are only 6 months away from seeing it on shelves!!! [Read more...]

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