Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Strawberry Lemon Snack Cake

This easy Strawberry Lemon Snack Cake is delicious anytime of day. Homemade strawberry pie filling and a lemon glaze will have you smiling in no time.

A white plate with two squares of strawberry lemon cake stacked on it

Spring is in full force here. The trees and plants are flowering and spreading pollen everywhere. But I'll take pollen over snow any day!

I realize this time of year is hard for everyone up north. Everyone is so ready for the warm weather to just be here and stay. I remember when we lived in Indiana and would have those teaser days. One day it would be really nice and warm and then it would get cold again.

Thank goodness that life in Florida isn't that temperamental right now. Just give it time. In a month or two the humidity will come back in full force, and I will be wishing for those cool Midwest days.

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Manatee Viewing Center

A few months ago, we decided to head to Apollo Beach to see the manatees that come looking for warmer water when the temperature goes below 68 degrees.

The power company at Apollo Beach has been providing electricity to the area for many years. They pull saltwater in from the bay to cool the units, then discharge it back into the bay.

During the cooler winter months, manatees find their way into this area looking for a way to escape the cold water.

The water coming off the electric plant is the perfect sanctuary for these gentle mammals.

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Fudge Mint Popcorn

A big bowl of this Fudge Mint Popcorn is the perfect snack to make for the next movie night. Mint cookies and candies will have everyone reaching for more chocolate covered popcorn in a hurry.

A green bowl with white polka dots filled with chocolate popcorn and green M&M's.

It's time to eat your greens. And by greens, I'm talking about green sprinkles and green candies.

You didn't think I meant the spinach, kale, broccoli or cucumbers that are in the fridge, did you? Veggies! Who needs them anyway?

Ha, ha! I'm just kidding. We really do eat veggies and proteins 80 percent of the time. These fun desserts and sweets that you see here only make up 20 percent of the food in our house.

Well, maybe that's not entirely true because there are probably more bags of chocolate chips, cookies, and candies in the pantry than there are veggies in the fridge. But we don't eat that food all the time.

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Almond Banana Bread

This Almond Joy Banana Bread is loaded with chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and diced almonds in every slice. All the delicious flavors of your favorite candy bar are baked into this easy sweet bread recipe. It makes two loaves, so there is plenty to share.

Two slices of almond joy banana bread on a blue plate with the loaf behind it.

The post for Almond Joy Banana Bread was first published in July 2012. The pictures were updated in March 2019, and the recipe notes were revised in June 2026.

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I cannot stop buying bananas, and I am fine with it. Whenever I see discounted bananas at the store, I come home with a few extra bunches. Most of them get frozen for a cherry smoothie or peanut butter banana ice cream, but I always set one bunch aside to ripen.

You just need to be patient and wait about a week for the fruit to turn dark and spotty. The darker the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your baked goods will be. A few ways I like to use them are this sour cream banana bread or banana zucchini cake.

The idea of combining banana bread with an Almond Joy candy bar had been on my mind for a while. Once I finally made it, I wished I had done it sooner. Coconut finds its way into so many of my recipes because I love it, and this bread was the perfect place for it.

The original version of this bread used blue Almond Joy candy pieces in the batter. However, I simplified the recipe to include coconut, almonds, and chocolate chips. The result is a cleaner, more delicious loaf that highlights the almond flavors without any distractions. Trust me, it's so good!

Why You'll Love Almond Joy Banana Bread

Almond Joy flavors in every slice. Chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and sliced almonds make every bite taste like the candy bar in quick bread form.
So rich and tender. Adding cream cheese to the batter is the secret to a soft, moist loaf that tastes even better than classic banana bread.
Makes two loaves. Keep one on the counter for the week and place the other one in the freezer for later. Or share one with a neighbor and make their day!
Great any time of day! Breakfast, brunch, afternoon snack, or dessert. There is never a wrong time to enjoy a slice of nutty bread.

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Behind BruCrew Life

How is it already March? Is anyone else feeling like the year is flying past them at warp speed? No? Ok, maybe it's just me.

Today I thought it would be fun to share some of the random tidbits of life that has happened in the past few months.

One of our absolute favorite things to do is head down to the bay (or ocean) and watch the sunset. We made it just in time to catch this amazing view at the beginning of the year.

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Thin Mint Latte

Adding a cookie rim to this delicious chocolate Mint Latte makes it the perfect pick-me-up for those afternoon blues! It's a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth and get your caffeine fix all in one cup.

Looking for another homemade latte? Try this coconut Nutella latte or this dark chocolate latte.

A clear mug full of a chocolate mint latte on a green plate.

Is it just me, or do the afternoon blues always seem to hit around 2 pm? I love making a special homemade latte to help fight off the mid-day sluggish feeling. This caramel mocha latte, maple latte, and this peanut butter latte are a few of my favorites.

The best thing about making coffee drinks at home is that I do not have to go anywhere. Yay for not having to get ready to go out for the day.

Plus, not spending $5 on one drink is always a good reason to keep making them at home.

Why This Recipe Works

Craving a hot cup of specialty coffee, but don't want to leave your house? We've got the perfect drink for you. Save money and time by making special coffee drinks in the comfort of your own home.

Fat free milk, chocolate syrup, and a little bit of mint extract give this homemade latte an amazing chocolate mint flavor that will leave you wanting more. Plus, our easy mint latte is served with a mint cookie rim to make it even more special.

You are going to love this drink! It's the perfect pick-me-up for those days when you need an extra boost of energy to get all the things done.

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Chocolate Mint Cookies

These easy Chocolate Mint Cookies are loaded with three kinds of mint goodness. Such a great treat to fill the cookie jar with this weekend.

3 chocolate cookies with green candies stacked on top of each other on a white plate with a green napkin.

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Recently we cleaned out some of the shelves in our pantry. I organized the baking liners, cake baking supplies, and food coloring boxes. Then I pulled out some extra plates and cups we never use while my husband looked through my baking supplies.

It turns out I am a baking supply hoarder because we found boxes and bags of food from 2009, 2012, and 2016 hiding in the bottom of some of the baskets. Yikes!!!

I stopped looking through one of the baskets in the pantry after counting 15 bags of different baking chips. It was easier just to shove it all back in and close the door.

That basket is scheduled for clean out on another day because I don't think I really want to know how many bags of chocolate chips, marshmallows, and candies I have stashed in there.

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Low Carb Chicken Alfredo Soup with Zoodles

Low Carb Chicken Alfredo Soup is the perfect meal when you want healthy comfort food. This zoodle soup combines chicken soup, chicken Alfredo, and healthy zucchini noodles in one big pot.

It's an awesome low carb meal that will get two thumbs up from everyone. Want to try others? Check out this sausage kale soup or this loaded cauliflower soup!

Two white bowls filled with chicken alfredo soup with zoodles.

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Say hello to my new favorite dinner. This chicken alfredo soup with zoodles has been on repeat for the past few weeks since I first made it on a whim. I just can't get enough of it!!!

Even though it is mostly warm and sunny here in Florida, we do get cool rainy weather occasionally. These cooler wet days call for warm delicious comfort food dinners. But just because we are eating low carb does not mean we have to give up that comfort food.

To satisfy my cravings for chicken noodle soup and chicken alfredo, I decided to combine the two meals in a big pot. Winner, winner chicken dinner. This easy low carb soup satisfied all my cravings.

Using zucchini noodles instead of pasta keeps the carb count down in this healthy chicken soup recipe.

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Blood Orange Bars

The buttery cookie crust and a sweet orange filling make these Blood Orange Bars a pretty and delicious treat to enjoy for dessert.

Orange Bars

Have you ever had a blood orange? They are kind of freaky when you first cut into them. Even though I know they are going to be red inside, it still makes me do a double take every time I slice into one.

I really enjoy the sweet flavor of these bright red oranges. It's definitely orange, but there is a slight hint of raspberry in them.

We picked up a few blood oranges at the grocery store the other day because I really wanted to make these Best Lemon Bars with the red orange juice. It's not the first time I have given that recipe a fun twist. It's so easy to change out the juice for whatever fruit you are craving.

A few years ago I made these Key Lime Bars, and I loved the bright green color, so I knew the burgundy red of the blood oranges would be so pretty in these sweet bars.

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Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Enjoy chocolate chip cookies AND cheesecake in these easy to make Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars. These delicious cheesecake cookie bars come together in minutes and will be a hit at every party or picnic.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

These cheesecake cookie bars combine two favorite desserts into one easy to hold cookie bar. The combination of chocolate chip cookies and vanilla cheesecake will have you going back for another slice in a hurry.

One of the best thing about these cheesecake cookie bars is that everything bakes all at once. No scooping and baking pans of cookies. They are always a big hit every time we bring them to dinner parties or picnics.

When I first started making this chewy chocolate chip cookie bar recipe years ago, I used a roll of refrigerated cookie dough. But since I don't always have that on hand, I started making the cheesecake bars with homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. In my opinion, the homemade ones are better!

Cheesecake bars are also so easy to customize. You can change up the cookie dough with different chips, nuts, sprinkles, or candies. One of the favorites in our house are these Oreo Cheesecake Cookie Bars.

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