Pasta Puttanesca in my tummy!

Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, isn't even Italian and this is quite the tasty, authentic tasting Italian dish. I was looking for something outside my comfort zone of tomato, garlic, basil, and a meat. I was skeptical about the anchovies due to their piss poor attitude, however I bravely gave them a chance and lived to feel good about it. Matt had 3 helpings. I think he liked it.

Mexican street tacos from a Boston chef: Authentic? You decide.

Thanks PEOPLE magazine and Chef Ken Oringer (who?) for this yummy Carne Asada Tacos recipe. He includes 2 delicious toppings that I've also shared with you below.

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes dear Ethne, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes to you!

Happy Birthday to my precious niece! Ethne turned 7 and her parents asked me to bake her birthday cake. Since we had to travel 3 hours and they weren't having the party until 2 days after we arrived, I knew a cake wouldn't last. And I can't properly do a cake without my kitchen and my gadgets. I made the cake version of this same recipe in May for Heather's birthday and it turned out fantastic. I also made these cupcakes earlier this summer for a family reunion in Sunriver, OR, however the problem there was the altitude made them all sink in the middle (but you can't tell in the picture below). I wanted to give them another go, and I had faith that at a normal elevation, these would be perfect.