Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes

A hidden chocolate center and fresh berry frosting adds a delicious finish to these Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes.

Years and years ago I took a cake decorating class with a friend. I was 7 months pregnant at the time, so I'm really not sure what possessed me to waddle into this class. Somewhere along the way I decided that having kids meant I was going to need to make fun birthday cakes every year. So I had to learn sometime.

I learned some easy decorating tips in that first 4 week class, but most of what I have learned about cakes and frosting has been by trial and error. Frosting is really pretty forgiving. If you mess up, you can just scrape it off and start over.

That's probably part of the reason I gave up my home-based cake business. The perfectionist in me was taking hours upon hours to finish cakes or cupcakes for my clients. I have found that baking for my internet friends is much more relaxing. Plus, these baked goods stay in my kitchen. There is no added stress of hoping the finished product did not get dropped on the car ride to their house. [Read more...]

Homemade Chai Whipped Cream Recipe

This easy homemade Chai Whipped Cream is the perfect topping to use on cheesecakes, pies, or coffees. The spiced cream adds so much flavor to your desserts.

Now that the nights are cooler, we have been enjoying bonfires a few nights a week in our backyard. It is so relaxing to sit in the cool air with a warm fire in front of you. Something about those sparks and flames just make all the stress from the day melt away.

Of course, a few of those logs like to crackle and pop and spit embers at your face. You have to be prepared to jump up quickly if one lands in your lap. Or sit farther back and freeze.

Since we do not like to waste a good fire, we usually stay up late watching the fire die down as we chat. These late nights are not good for early mornings the next day. I'm usually dragging until about noon when I head out to our garage to work out. [Read more...]

Caramel Apple Cider Iced Tea

Make a pitcher of this Caramel Apple Cider Iced Tea and take some time to relax on the porch with your family this fall.

Time seems to just keep going by faster and faster each year. We keep adding more projects and events to our calendar, and before we know it the year has passed us by...again.

One thing that our family has always tried to do over the years is to eat dinner together. Obviously, there are the occasional nights where someone may miss out because of work or sports, but at least 5 out of 7 days we sit down and catch up around the dinner table.

[Read more...]

Banana Caramel Coffee Cake

Try a piece of this Banana Caramel Coffee Cake warm out of the oven. That crumble topping and sweet glaze will have you going back for another piece in a hurry.

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

I think fall may have officially arrived. Maybe. Maybe not. After all, the last time I thought that, the 80 degree weather came back with a vengeance. Not that I mind this Texas weather. As much as I love the cooler fall days, I would much rather take an afternoon nap in the warm sun.

If the weather cooperates with me, I like to take a 30 minute break from my chores, baking, blogging, or whatever it is that I'm doing that day and sit in the warm sun. That little break gives me the boost I need to get the rest of my work done for the day.

Well, most days. There have been a few days that I just wanted to do nothing after that little pause in my day because I was so sleepy. [Read more...]

BruCrew Top Ten

Well, hello to the end of the month...again. I know I always say how shocked I am that the months are flying by so fast, but I guess that's just life.

I also realized that it has been months since I have done a BruCrew Top Ten post. If you follow us on Instagram, some of these are just repeats for you anyway. This is just a fun way for me to share some of the things we have done for the month or the fun finds that I come across while shopping.

1. Sea Salt Caramel Chips!!! I know, right? If you can find these in your store...buy them! Buy them all! I bought a few bags...ok, fine 5 bags...the first time I saw them.

Then after eating half of a bag in one sitting, I went back and bought a few more. Not sure if that was a smart move, but I don't even care. These are absolutely amazing!!! I'm thinking fudge, cookies, brownies... [Read more...]

Ghost Brownie Cupcakes

Add these Ghost Brownie Cupcakes to your Halloween treat table and watch everyone gobble them up. The hidden cookie in the bottom of each one is such a fun surprise to find!

Do you ever look back at things you did when you were younger and think, "What was I thinking?" I have a few of those moments. Like the time when I cut my hair really short because I thought it would be cute.

I have really curly hair, so you can imagine how this must have looked. It was long year while I waited for those curls to grow back.

Or the time when I was in high school and a group of my friends and I decided it would be fun to play ghosts in the graveyard in a very secluded cemetery in the country. That probably wasn't the smartest thing in the world to do. My mom must not have known what we were doing because if my kids ever told me they were going to do that, I would be taking their keys away.

[Read more...]

Glazed Apple Butter Bars

A sweet frosting and a white chocolate swirl give these glazed Apple Butter Bars a fun fall flair. This is a great shortbread cookie to enjoy with a cup of hot or cold apple cider.

Cookie sticks drizzled with white chocolate on a black tray.

Apple Butter Shortbread Bars

I have been burning fall candles daily, trying to convince myself that fall is here. The calendar says fall has arrived, but the weather outside does not say the same thing. I'm ready to wear jeans and sweatshirts and drink hot coffee all day because it's almost November.

The weather outside is not cooperating with my desire to be warm and toasty in a sweatshirt. Hot sunshine during the day means shorts, tank tops, and iced coffee are still happening here. At least the cool, crisp air after the sun goes down has me reaching for long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Those cool nights are the perfect time for a campfire. My husband and I have been enjoying sitting around a fire after the kids go to bed, as it's so much more enjoyable that way. The smell of the burning wood is putting me into full-on fall mode. Something about the smoke from a campfire says fall to me.

[Read more...]

Pumpkin Banana Muffins

Pumpkin Banana Muffins are just the thing to warm up your fall mornings. They're perfect for enjoying in the car on the way to school.

Pumpkin Banana Streusel Muffins - soft muffins with a crunchy topping and sweet glaze make the perfect fall breakfast. Great recipe to use up those ripe bananas.

Ok, people. What is up with all the kids flipping water bottles all over the place? All summer long…flip, flip, flip! Flip the bottle during the car ride, flip it during dinner, and flip it while watching TV. It's enough to drive a parent mad!

I guess I should be glad my kids have found something to do besides playing video games all the live long day, right? But I tell you if they flip another bottle one more time…

I guess I really should look at it as a skill. Plus, as I mentioned, it serves as a distraction from the electronics that usually capture the kids' attention. And it doesn't cost that much money. Well, that is, until I start to count up all the water bottles lying around their rooms that are not completely finished. Ok, never mind. It's time to put a stop to all the flipping bottle madness!

[Read more...]

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bundt Cake

A creamy pumpkin center and chocolate frosting adds a fun fall flair to this Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bundt Cake.

*This post was sponsored by the J.M. Smucker Company. I am partnering with them this fall as a brand ambassador creating recipes from products they send me.

Fall has kind of arrived here in west Texas. Ok, so the days are still warm, but the nights are getting cooler. That cooler night air makes it just right for sitting around a bonfire. Crackling wood, flaming logs, and s'mores are just a few of the reasons we love sitting around a good fire.

The past two nights we have sat around a fire just enjoying each other's company and talking about the things we have been learning over the past few months. It's always a good thing to reflect and share the life lessons that happen day to day because it helps us realize how much good is in our life. [Read more...]

Chocolate Chip Banana Streusel Baked Oatmeal

A crunchy topping on this Chocolate Chip Banana Streusel Baked Oatmeal will have you ready for breakfast in the morning. Enjoy a warm square with milk and drizzles of honey.

CLICK HERE TO PIN THE RECIPE FOR LATER!

You know those bananas on the counter. The ones you bought last week with the good intentions of eating them as a healthy snack each day. Yeah, they are still sitting there, but now they are a lovely shade of brown. Oh, wait. That's what happened on my counter.

You guys know how I feel about bananas. There is only a very short window where I can enjoy eating one. I try to buy the greenest bananas at the store, so they will last for a few days. After they turn yellow, I just can't do it. Yes, I know. I'm a strange one. It's ok...at least I know it. [Read more...]

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