Halloween Made Easy: Cupcakes for Two #Recipe with @EnjoyLifeFoods Baking Chocolate Snack Packs + Giveaway! #SnackFreely

Gluten Free & Top 8 Allergen Free "Cupcakes for Two" Recipe + Baking Chocolate Snack Packs Giveaway! This post is sponsored by Enjoy Life Foods. All opinions are my own. Read full disclosure here.
Anyone who has tried Enjoy Life Foods #1 Selling Allergy-Friendly Baking Chocolate knows it's hard to resist not eating them straight from the bag.
That's why their new Baking Chocolate Snack Packs are perfect for those chocolate cravings. Throw them in your purse, pack them for lunch, or bake up something delicious. Like my "Cupcakes for Two" recipe that is gluten free & top 8 allergen free. Just grab one Snack Pack and follow my easy steps!
{Giveaway} Make sure you enter below for a chance to win some for yourself! 

Lunch Made Easy: Cupcake Surprise! {Happy Birthday Little Miss}

I can't believe my baby girl is ten years old today.
People have said since the day she was born, cherish each moment... they go by quick! Man, they weren't kidding. How did ten years happen so fast?
I remember her learning to crawl, learning to spell her name, mispronouncing words, her first day of school, her first lost tooth... and now she's ten?! 

Excuse me while I curl up at my desk and cry.

When Little Miss' birthday falls during the school week, I always try to make her a special breakfast and/or lunch to celebrate. Today, I packed her a fun cupcake surprise! 

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!

Italian {Sandwich} Cupcakes with Provolone Cheese Icing #GlutenFree #Recipe

You probably read the title and thought... what? Sandwich Cupcake? Cheese Icing?! 
Yup. Let me explain.
My friends at Chebe contacted me to come up with a yummy recipe that could be great for back-to-school lunches. They're running a great deal this week on a 12 pack purchase (featuring their pizza crust, all-purpose, and cinnamon mixes). 
After watching a recent episode of Eat St. on Food Network, I saw them make some amazing Italian Cupcakes and thought "how awesome would that be with gluten free Chebe Mix!?" 
And so they were born. 

Don't Go Nuts: Breakfast Cupcakes #Recipe {GF & Allergy Friendly}

Don't Go Nuts is a line of Soy Butter spreads (and now Energy Bars) that are completely nut free. The spreads also happen to be gluten free & Vegan, as well. 
When they contacted us about using their products for an upcoming Holiday Recipe E-Book, I was excited to get my thinking cap on... Little did I know that my Sous Chef, Little Miss, would actually be the one to come up with our clever recipe submission!

Food for Thought: Treat Your Valentine to Maplehurst Bakery {Peanut Free} Cupcakes!

Last fall, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to review Maplehurst Bakery {Peanut Free} Cupcakes. Well, you can only guess my enthusiasm when they asked me to do a write-up again and try their seasonal Valentine's Day cupcakes currently for sale. Umm, yes please! (A woman does not turn down cupcakes, no sir!) 

@HomeFreeTreats Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cups #Recipe!

This past Saturday we celebrated Christmas with my family.

My folks are the most amazing individuals when it comes to Little Miss' food allergies/ intolerances. They keep a peanut free home and well stocked with gluten & nut free treats for her at all times. So lack of choices for my girl wasn't an issue, thankfully, because I had baked up a batch of these delicious {Gluten Free} Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cups... aaaaand then left them at home in the fridge. *D'OH!*

 

 

Food for Thought: Maplehurst Bakeries {Peanut Free} Cupcakes

With Halloween next week, many classrooms will be having parties and treats. For those with children in peanut free schools or classrooms, finding ready-made fun snacks can often be a challenge.

 

I was so thrilled when I was contacted about doing a review of Maplehurst Bakeries {Peanut Free} Cupcakes. Even though Little Miss is now gluten free, I thought back to her first few years of school and how I would have *loved* to have been able to quick run into a store and buy a guaranteed peanut free cupcake from the bakery department. Something my fellow food allergy parents understand, it's a luxury we do not get to enjoy freely.

 

Lunch Made Easy: Happy Birthday Bento!

*Sigh* My baby girl.

She turns seven tomorrow. *sniff sniff*

That's right... Friday is Little Miss' BIRTHDAY!!!

She is so stinkin' excited too. Proclaiming to everyone, all day today, that it was her very last day being six.

Her very last day going to school, her very last dinner, and her very last sleep being six. lol

Like years past, I alway try to have a *little* fun with her school lunch on her birthday too. :)

Lunch Made Easy: Five Golden Rings!

I was on the road all day for work today. When I got home this evening I was spending some time with Little Miss and she reminded me ;) there were only 5 more days left until Christmas tomorrow (Tuesday)!
I asked her if she had any ideas for her lunch... she pondered "five, hmm... hmm..." and then screamed "GOLDEN RINGS!" I should've known!
We sing the 12 days of Christmas song together - well I sing it for her until we get to 5, that's her cue. She'll then belt out her one line "five golden rings!" and then giggles as I continue singing. :)
I couldn't have thought of a more perfectly perfect lunch to incorporate the number five for our *Advent Lunches* countdown.

Lunch Made Easy: Joyful Joyful!

Holy cow! In the home stretch now for the *Advent Lunches* Christmas Countdown!!
Monday marks only 6 days left!
(This has seriously flown by... I've really enjoyed making the lunches and Little Miss only has 5 more school days left before break - They go through Friday!)

Lunch Made Easy: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I had the idea to make Little Miss's lunches an advent, of sorts. :) Every day I intend to somewhere include a number somehwere in her lunch with how many days are left until Christmas. As of Monday, there will be 27 days left. She was VERY excited when I told her I'd be doing this!

Lunch Made Easy: Thankful 4 U

I surprised Little Miss when she got home from her half day of school today with a special lunch. :)

Lunch Made Easy: Why Did the Turkey Cross the Road?

Why did the turkey cross the road?
Because it was the chickens day off. *ba-dump-bump-shh*

Lunch Made Easy: Hello Kitty & the ELB

Last night I was so happy to hear that big brown UPS truck pull infront of my house. I knew exactly what it was - My new Easy Lunchboxes! Even though to Little Miss, the only difference she'll notice is the fun lid colors, I like how much thicker they are than my disposables. Plus they're also dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe - Win!

I also realized this morning I had not had a Hello Kitty appearance in quite sometime (that is just unacceptable, especially considering how much Little Miss LOVES her).

Food for Thought: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

This has to be the easiest pumpkin cupcake recipe... EVER. Just look! Mmm...

Lunch Made Easy: Going Batty...

After today, only three more "lunches" until Halloween! I am tired and a bleh this morning - here's what I came up with for today:

Lunch Made Easy: The Great Pumpkin

In sticking with my Halloween lunches lately, today's theme is all about Pumpkins!

Food for Thought: Hamburger Cupcakes & Cookie Fries - Gameday Special!

Today we're getting together with friends to watch the Wisconsin vs. Michigan State football game (I'll be sneaking into the other room to catch the ND game too. ;) hehe!)
As I mentioned before, I always volunteer to bring dessert when we get together. My little sous chef (aka "little miss") gladly helped me put this one together. It was so much fun!

Things I Love: Krista's Kupcakery

If you refer back to one of my original "Things I Love" posts, I mentioned my good friend Krista and her Kupcakery business. (See here for original post & pictures: http://keeleymcguire.blogspot.com/2011/05/things-i-love.html)
Well this woman is at it again! I just have to share some more of her AMAZING work...

Party Pants: Ice Cream Cone Cakes

For Little Miss's birthday cake at her party last weekend, I had made a tiered display of these ice cream cone cakes...

She loved them so much, she asked me to make more for her class treat yesterday on her actual birthday!

Here's the how to: