Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Chocolate Cherry Mousse Tart

This Chocolate Cherry Mousse Tart has layers of rich chocolate fudge, creamy cherry mousse, and sweet cherry pie filling. It's the perfect dessert to make for your friends and family.

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

So, our daughter got her permit a few weeks ago and has been doing different drives and taking a driver's ed class. They have done drives in the country, down town, on the freeway, and around town.

She was a little nervous about all those places before she started, but each time she came back and said they were easy. The more she drives, the more confident she is getting behind the wheel. As hard as it is to watch your children grow up, it is fun to see them conquer fears and challenges.

I had the opportunity the other day to show her why you shouldn't hit a curb with your tire. Since this particular skill wasn't being offering in class, I decided to step up and be the one to help her out. [Read more...]

Mudslide Cheesecake Dip

This Mudslide Cheesecake Dip is a delicious dessert to share with your sweetheart after the kids go to bed. The creamy dip tastes delicious when served with cookies or fruit. Kid friendly options are listed in the recipe as well.

All the stores have had hearts floating from the ceiling and aisles of plush animals and heart shaped containers full of chocolates for weeks now. It's crazy how fast the stores transition from one holiday to the next.

In fact, I bet the stores were putting up Valentine's candy the day after Christmas. I guess, I get it. As a food blogger, sometimes I am creating holiday recipes a month or two in advance. Well, most of the time. Sometimes my brain just doesn't shut off, and I'm still baking holiday themed treats right up until the day before.

Not good for social media, but totally cool when you have friends and family who don't want pink heart cookies and fudge at Christmas. [Read more...]

Easy Pepperoni Cheese Pretzels

These easy Pepperoni Cheese Pretzels are a fun snack to make for after school or to go with a bowl of soup. Either way they will disappear in a hurry.

A pan with homemade pretzels covered with mini pepperonis.

The kids are always "starving" when they get home from school, so last week I made these fun little breadsticks in the shape of pretzels for after school.

It was a win, win for everyone. I'm calling it a win for me because my little recipe idea turned out pretty good. And it was a win for the kids because they got a snack as soon as they walked in the door. Those little pretzels didn't stand a chance against 3 hungry kids!

Pizza anything pretty much gets rave reviews from everyone in our house. Well, unless I hide mushrooms under the sauce. I thought mixing them in the sauce and covering it all in cheese was a good idea. Nope. The kids still figured it out and gave me dirty looks. From now on the mushrooms stay on my side!

[Read more...]

Tomato Basil Cheese Ball

Fresh veggies and garlic add plenty of flavor to this easy Tomato Basil Cheese Ball. Serve with an assortment of crackers for a fun game day appetizer.

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Ok, I'm ready for the big game. I've got my own cheese ball and crackers, so I should be set for about an hour or so. Hhhhmmm, only an hour? Maybe I should make these blackberry brie bites and this loaded hot corn dip too because I know football games ~~drag on~~ last much longer than an hour.

I mean the only reason I show up for these type of parties is for the food. Watching large grown men grapple for a little brown ball just doesn't excite me that much. Now a party table loaded down with appetizers, dips, and desserts. Yeah, that's where the excitement is. Am I right? [Read more...]

Thin Mint Cheesecake

Thin mint lovers! Be prepared to be amazed at this dessert. Layers of creamy mint cheesecake and a chewy brownie crust makes this Thin Mint Cheesecake a delicious and fancy dessert for any occasion.

A slice of mint cheesecake with a brownie crust on a white plate.

Do you have a favorite girl scout cookie? Thin mints and caramel delights are two of my favorites. Thank goodness they are only sold for a few weeks out of the year.

Thin Mints are one of the most popular Girl Scout cookies, so I wanted to make a dessert that would do them justice.

This cake has layers of creamy mint cheesecake loaded with mint cookies on a brownie crust. It is the perfect combination of two classic desserts.

Why This Recipe Works

Making a brownie cake from scratch can be intimidating, but it's actually easier than you think. Plus, you can change up the cookies and flavoring in the cheesecake layer based on your mood or the event.

Our thin mint cheesecake is the perfect dessert. It's easy to make and includes layers of mint cheesecake and a chewy brownie crust.

Serve this cheesecake brownie recipe at your next party and watch it disappear in minutes. Not only is it delicious, but it is fancy enough for any occasion. Your guests will be amazed at your baking skills.

[Read more...]

Bacon Mac and Cheese

This Bacon Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food for any night of the week. The rich and creamy cheese sauce is easy to make in under 30 minutes and will satisfy everyone at your dinner table.

Want more cheesy bacon pasta? Try this skillet ravioli and this chicken bacon ranch pasta bake.

A white plate with a serving of cheesy bacon mac and cheese on it.

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Why You Will Love This Pasta

Craving comfort food? We've got you covered. Mac and cheese is the perfect comfort food. It is creamy, cheesy, and satisfies everyone.

And we kicked up our recipe a notch by adding bacon. Bacon makes everything better, so adding it to our mac and cheese recipe gave it that extra delicious twist. There is a slight smokey and salty flavor that tastes amazing!

The best part is that this pasta recipe is so easy to make. It only takes 30 minutes to prep everything and make it on the stove top.

If you are looking for a fast dinner idea that will please everyone at the table, give our homemade mac and cheese a try tonight! You won't be able to resist a second helping.

[Read more...]

Raspberry Frozen Yogurt Bowls

Fresh fruit and granola on top of these Raspberry Orange Frozen Yogurt Bowls is just the healthy snack you need this afternoon.

Raspberry Orange Frozen Yogurt Bowls - fresh fruit and granola adds a fun texture to this easy snack. Great healthy recipe when you need a sweet treat.

Every so often, a food trend pops up that I'm not sure about. A few years ago, smoothie bowls took the food world by storm. Most people either loved them or hated them. At first, I couldn't get on board with this fad because smoothies are meant to be slurped up with a straw, right?

Oh, how wrong I was! Last year, I made this strawberry coconut smoothie bowl just to see what all the hype was about. It turns out that I absolutely love smoothie bowls. The texture of the mix-ins made my taste buds so happy.

Apparently, not that happy though, because I waited an entire year to create a new flavor with a frozen twist.

[Read more...]

Raspberry Cheesecake Danish

Your morning routine could use an easy Raspberry Cheesecake Danish. These sweet little treats are great for breakfast or after school.

Well, winter and snow found us. This past weekend we woke up to flurries. The kids and my husband were so excited to see the fluffy white stuff coming down from the sky. Me...not so much. I'm definitely the snow scrooge in the house. Bah humbug I say!

I grew up in the northeast and lived in the midwest for many years, so you would think my body would be used to the snow. Oh, no! My feet still freeze and I really cannot handle being cold. Is it possible for your body to adjust that quickly to living in the south because the cold really seems to bother me this winter?

Maybe I'm just being a big baby about all the cold, but I'm seriously glad to see 70 degree weather on the radar for this week. That's more like it!!!

[Read more...]

Italian Veggie Salad

This easy Italian Veggie Salad is made with colorful vegetables, mini pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. It's tossed in a zesty Italian dressing, comes together in just 20 minutes, and is one of those recipes that is great for any occasion.

If you love easy salad recipes, try this zucchini salad or this broccoli apple salad next.

A small bowl filled with an Italian veggie salad with more behind it.

While baking is my first love, I also love sharing the real recipes that make it onto our dinner table. I've been making this veggie pasta salad since I was a teen. Over time, I've added fun twists, like this pizza pasta salad. No matter how I make it, my family always loves it.

A few years ago, we were invited to a summer party and decided to bring a few homemade pizzas to share. Since both my husband and I were trying to cut out carbs at the time, we needed something we could eat too.

So, my husband took our two favorite salads and transformed them into a carb-free dish. He chopped some fresh veggies, added pepperoni and cheese, then drizzled it all with Italian dressing. Simple and genius!

We have been making and enjoying this salad recipe ever since. The last time I made it, our youngest helped himself to three big bowls. When the kids go back for thirds, you know it's a keeper.

Why You'll Love This Italian Chopped Salad

Zero cooking! All you have to do is chop, toss, and enjoy. This chopped salad comes together so fast.
Loaded with vegetables. A rainbow of colorful veggies makes every bowl pretty and delicious.
A great low-carb option. Watching your carbs? This salad has you covered. It's hearty and delicious, so you won't miss the pasta or grains.
Perfect for any occasion. Make it for potlucks, picnics, barbecues, or a busy weeknight dinner. Trust me, it will get rave reviews everywhere!
Make it your own! Use whatever vegetables you like or have in your fridge right now.

[Read more...]

Top Ten BruCrew Recipes from 2016

Another year of recipes is in the books. Thank you so much for another great year of blogging and good food!! One of my favorite things to do at the end of each year is to look at what ten recipes were your favorites.

Here are the top ten BruCrew recipes from 2016 that got the most views this year. I have to admit some of these were my favorites too, so you guys have great taste in food!

Did your favorite recipe make the list? I would love to hear what recipe was your favorite, what you tried, what you hated, what I should make next...

If you missed any of these recipes, here is your chance to catch up with everyone else because you really should try these ones!

[Read more...]

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