Inside BruCrew Life

bake. eat. repeat.

Easy Peanut Butter & Jelly Crumb Bars Recipe

By - 20 Comments

Enjoy your favorite childhood sandwich flavor baked into these Peanut Butter and Jelly Crumb Bars. These easy cookie bars get smiles from kids of all ages.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Crumb Bars - these easy oatmeal crumble bars are loaded with peanut butter cups and jelly. Make this easy recipe for dessert or after school snacks. #peanutbutterandjelly #cookiebars #peanutbuttercups #blackberry #backtoschool

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Two weeks!  That’s the amount of time left in our summer break.  It feels like school just ended and here we are ramping up for another year.  Ok, so I’m ramping up because I’m ready for routine and consistency in everything.  

The kids are not ready.  Well, I actually think they are ready for routine too, but they could do without all the school stuff.

I had to laugh at our daughter the other day because she was telling me how excited she was for buying school supplies. That’s as far as her excitement for school goes though.  Once we buy the pens and paper and she organizes her backpack, the excitement will be over.  LOL!

My excitement comes from the routine.  Going to bed and getting up at a consistent time, working out regularly, getting back to normal dinner hours, and figuring out a better work schedule are what I’m going to focus on in the next few weeks.

And of course, adding in more baking and fun treats is always a must.   [Read more…]

Easy Cheesecake S’mores Danish Recipe

By - 33 Comments

This easy Cheesecake S’mores Danish is filled with graham crackers, marshmallow cream, and chocolate cream cheese.  It’s a perfectly acceptable way to enjoy s’mores for breakfast.

Cheesecake S'mores Danish - an easy roll filled with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow. This delicious recipe is perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. #breakfast #danish #cheesecake #donut #smores #brunch

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

The great outdoors and I have never really been one. It’s part of the reason that I prefer to do my camping from a hotel. That and mosquitoes eat me alive! They must know how much I like to eat sugar!!

But I will brave the elements to enjoy a good campfire every once in a while. The thought of ooey, gooey marshmallows get me there every time.

I have to admit that one of my favorite parts is roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores until I feel sick!!!  

My husband is super patient and will slowly toast his marshmallows until they are golden brown and and pretty. Now me on the other hand, I like to get it in there, burn it good, slap it on a cracker with chocolate, and eat the crunchy goo. Then repeat that 10 more times.

[Read more…]

Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Recipe

By - 42 Comments

A loaf of the Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is a delicious way to use up the extra zucchinis that are growing in your gardens.  Loading this sweet bread with extra toppings truly makes it the best.

Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread - this sweet bread is loaded with zucchini, chocolate, pecans, and coconut. It's a delicious recipe to use up the extra zucchini from your garden. #zucchini #sweetbread #breakfast #brunch #recipe

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Did you plant a zucchini plant in your garden this year?  If so, you are probably wondering what you will ever do with all those zucchinis that keep coming.  

A few years ago when we lived in Indiana, I tried to plant a garden.  Or should I say tried to grow a garden because the planting was the easy part.  I seriously have a black thumb when it comes to growing things, so our garden never really took off. 

We got a few zucchinis and some tomatoes, but everything else was pretty weak. Thankfully we had friends that were much better at gardening and would regularly share their excess produce with us. [Read more…]

Easy No Bake Neapolitan Cheesecake Trifle Recipe

By - 2 Comments

A bowl of this Easy No Bake Neapolitan Cheesecake Trifle is the perfect dessert for a hot summer day. Easy, no bake, and full of chocolate and strawberry goodness in every bite.

Easy No Bake Neapolitan Cheesecake Trifle - layers of snack cakes, no bake cheesecake, and fruit makes an impressive dessert. Make this easy recipe for summer picnics and parties! #caketrifle #nobakedessert #neapolitan #chocolate #strawberry #nobakecheesecake

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

I have hit the time in summer when I do not feel like baking.  This doesn’t happen often because I usually always love to bake.  

But when the temperature outside is crazy hot and the humidity is crazy high, baking just isn’t something I want to do much of. I just want to chill out and do nothing for the next few weeks.  At least until it’s time to start doing all the school shopping.

So, I’ll just keep the Strawberry Limeade Slushies coming while I sit on the beach chair by the pool. Anyone else feel like doing the same? [Read more…]

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

By - 1 Comment

Enjoy a big bowl of this homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream on a hot summer day. This easy ice cream recipe is quick, egg-free, and tastes incredible.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream - this homemade chocolate ice cream is swirled with hot fudge, peanut butter, and peanut butter cups. It's an easy, egg free recipe that tastes great on a hot summer day! #icecream #chocolate #peanutbuttercups #homemadeicecream #eggfree #Oreos #peanutbutter #icecreamday

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

When I go to the grocery store to buy ice cream, I look for the ones loaded with the most extra fun mix-ins.  Give me all the brownie chunks, fudge ribbons, cookies, candies, and peanut butter swirls I can find.  

My husband on the other hand is perfectly content with a bowl of mint chocolate chip or vanilla bean.  That’s about as wild and crazy as he gets with his ice cream choices.

It’s funny to see how our kids tastes in ice cream follow ours.  Our daughter loves Moose Tracks or Ben and Jerry’s chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.  I have to admit both of those are absolutely amazing.  And then our boys usually just ask for strawberry and vanilla.  

Maybe it’s a girl thing to like your ice cream loaded with all the good stuff? [Read more…]

Oatmeal Fudge Bars

By - 28 Comments

These Oatmeal Fudge Bars have a crumbly oatmeal topping and a rich chocolate center.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream on one of these warm cookie bar is a magical dessert.

Oatmeal Fudge Bars - these easy crumble bars have a rich fudge center. Enjoy one of these warm cookie bars topped with ice cream for a decadent dessert. #oatmeal #cookiebars #fudge #easy #recipe

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

This summer I am working on updating the photos from some of the first recipes that I shared here on the blog from many, many years ago.  

It has been fun seeing how much my photography has changed and improved over the years.  Of course, it’s embarrassing as well because some of these old pictures are bad. We are talking, really bad.  I can’t even believe I shared some of these.

But I guess that’s what happens with anything.  The more you work on something, the more you learn and improve.   [Read more…]

Easy Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad Recipe

By - 30 Comments

Fresh cherries and cilantro add a fun twist to this easy Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad recipe.  Serve it with crescent rolls for lunch or on salad for a delicious and healthy dinner.

Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad - this easy chicken salad is made with fresh cherries, cilantro, and walnuts. Try this delicious recipe on rolls or a salad for dinner! #chicken #salad #cherry #recipe #freshcherries #chickensalad

CLICK HERE TO PIN THE RECIPE FOR LATER!

 A few years ago, I had this Grape Pecan Chicken Salad at a church event.  This was the first time that I had ever had chicken salad with fruit, and I have to admit I was a little bit skeptical at first.  

After all, I had been eating chicken salad with pickles and eggs for years.  But after one bite, I was completely hooked on this easy fruit and chicken salad.  

In fact, now our whole family loves eating fruit in different salads like this Strawberry Orange Spinach Salad or this Hawaiian Chicken Salad.  [Read more…]

Easy Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Scampi

By - 27 Comments

A pan of this Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Scampi is so flavorful and so easy to put together in under 30 minutes.  It’s an easy and delicious skillet meal that is perfect for busy weeknights.

Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Scampi - pasta and shrimp in an easy cream sauce makes a delicious meal in under 30 minutes. Make this easy recipe on busy weeknights! #pasta #shrimp #shrimpscampi #easyrecipe #parmesan

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Most of the time if I make a pasta dish for dinner, we will substitute zucchini noodles in place of the pasta noodles. After eating fairly clean and healthy for a few years now, we actually prefer these zoodles instead.  

Well, my hubby and I do.  The kids still like having the real deal.

I usually save my pasta dinners for the times when we go out to eat.  Since we do not eat out that often, I do not feel any guilt in ordering a meal that is mainly carbs.  Exercising often and eating all things in moderation is a big key in our healthy lifestyle. [Read more…]

Vanilla Bean Blackberry Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

By - Leave a Comment

A bowl of this easy Vanilla Bean Blackberry Fudge Swirl Ice Cream is just what your summer needs. Sweet creamy ice cream with swirls of homemade blackberry preserves and hot fudge will have you going back for another scoop.

Vanilla Bean Blackberry Fudge Swirl Ice Cream - sweet homemade vanilla ice cream with swirls of blackberry preserves and hot fudge is so good. Easy recipe to make for hot summer days! #homemade #icecream #vanillabean #blackberry #hotfudge #frozendessert #recipe

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

So here’s the thing.  Growing up I actually did not like ice cream.  Yes, I know.  What kid doesn’t like ice cream? Hand raised because I was that kid.  It’s not that I didn’t like the sweet goodness of ice cream.  What I couldn’t get past was the chill it always gave me when I would bite into it.

Of course, that didn’t really stop me from eating ice cream.  Most of the time I waited for it to melt slightly, then I would stir it until I had a milkshake in a bowl or what I liked to call ice cream soup.

One of the things we always did in the summer was to pull out an old fashioned ice cream maker and rock salt and make homemade ice cream to enjoy on hot nights after swimming.  [Read more…]

Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies

By - Leave a Comment

Craving brownies and cookies?  These easy Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies are the best of both worlds.  Try these thin and chewy cookies filled with frosting or ice cream for a fun dessert.

Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies - these thin chocolate cookies are chewy and delicious. Great recipe to fill with your favorite ice cream for an amazing summer treat! #cookies #browniecookies #chocolate #chewycookies #homemade #recipe

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

One of the things I am trying to do right now is to use up all the baking supplies in the pantry that I have hoarded over the past year.  There are bag and bags of chocolate chips, candies, sprinkles, and pudding mixes just hanging out waiting for me to pick them.

In all reality though, I haven’t been doing much baking this summer.  Number one because I’m trying to put a stop to my sweet tooth and when I bake, I snack. Number two, it’s hot in Florida during the summer.

And number three I have quite a few recipes already made and ready to share with you, so I’m working on editing and writing about those instead of baking more cookies and cakes and cupcakes. [Read more…]