Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

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Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You’ve got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

A friend asked me recently to make cupcakes for a wedding shower she was hosting. Because I’m always up for spending time in the kitchen creating decadent treats, I immediately said yes. And then I spent the next couple weeks narrowing down my flavor choices.

I knew right away I wanted to do some sort of spin on my to-die-for Triple Chocolate Cupcakes, and I knew I had to a berry version with cream cheese frosting. It was only at the last minute that I decided to whip up these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting, too.

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

The pumpkin in these cupcakes is subtle, but not underwhelming; they’re perfect for those who haven’t yet seen the light when it comes to the magic of pumpkin desserts. Plus, nothing helps win over pumpkin skeptics quite like a ribbon of rich cheesecake filling. Top the whole thing with made-from-scratch salted caramel frosting, and who can resist?

Whether you’ve got a fall party coming up, or a tailgate to attend, or you just want to surprise your coworkers or family, these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting are the perfect treat.

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

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Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse

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With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

Since my gluten-free experiment morphed into low-carb eating (it seemed to make the most sense), I haven’t had too much trouble curbing my sweet tooth. That’s not to say I haven’t craved sweets at all because, well, duh. Clearly I love chocolate. My solution to the need for chocolate? This stuff right here.

When we were in Oregon over the summer, my sister-in-law requested a low carb/ketogenic dessert to celebrate her birthday, so I made this Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse. To make it a little more special, I turned the mousse into parfaits. I layered it with sliced strawberries and topped it off with homemade whipped cream that I made using the leftover cream and a little sweetener (I used a sugar alternative, but I can’t remember which one).

It was a huge hit, even with those of us who were still regularly indulging our sweet tooths (sweet teeth?). The mousse was so good that I made it again during that visit, and now I’m making it at home. This mousse is the perfect evening treat to keep in the fridge. A little goes a long way due to its richness, so a batch lasts me about a week.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

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Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken + Tailgating Tips

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GrillGatingHero #Grillgating

Dr Pepper® Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

I love just about everything about fall, but I especially love that it brings college football season. This is The South, so you know we value our football as much as we value our food. In fact, I’d say the two are synonymous for a lot fans. Any self-respecting southern college football fan has been to, and likely hosted, a tailgate. It really isn’t too hard, but it’s important to strike that balance between having enough fun, football-worthy food and doing so much that you don’t get a chance to enjoy your own party.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

Today I’m spilling all my best tried-and-true tailgating tips, including my recipe for – gasp! – Dr Pepper® Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken. You might be tempted to scroll right to the bottom for that gem, but I promise you there’s plenty of goodness up here, too.

Tailgating Tips and Tricks

Don’t underestimate the power of simple sides

A few more time-consuming sides, like Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Sausages or Cheesy Mexican Corn Dip, are great. Don’t forget to rely on the classics like carrots and Hidden Valley® Ranch or sliced cheese and RITZ® crackers. They’re both classics for a reason, and your guests won’t care that they required minimal prep time.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

MVP Tip: Top RITZ crackers with shredded Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken (recipe below) and a drizzle of extra sauce. The combination of the salted cracker and the sweet and tangy sauce is a certain touchdown.

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Homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

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Homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is quicker and easier to make than you think, and it is oh so worth the effort. You’ll never go back!

Homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is quicker and easier to make than you think, and it is oh so worth the effort. You'll never go back!

I’ve posted a lot of homemade frosting recipes because I’ve shared a lot of cake and cupcake recipes and I never use store bought frosting. I know, I know, that sounds snobby, but it’s true; homemade frosting is just too easy and too dessert-altering to settle for anything less.

It occurred to me a while back, though, that I never shared my recipe for Homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s a recipe I’ve made again and again to go with things like Double Chocolate Brownies and Loaded Candy Bar Cake, but I never got around to sharing just the frosting here.

Today I’m changing that. If you’ve never made homemade frosting because you always figured it was too difficult, or because you think the pre-made stuff in the jar is just as good, I’m begging you to make this recipe. It’s fluffy and rich, smooth and decadent, everything a homemade frosting needs to be.

And if you aren’t into cream cheese frosting (make this anyway; it just might change your mind), you need my Homemade Chocolate Buttercream recipe.

Homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is quicker and easier to make than you think, and it is oh so worth the effort. You'll never go back!

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Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce

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Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce is easy and quick enough for a weeknight meal, but flavorful and fancy enough for guests.

Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce is easy and quick enough for a weeknight meal, but flavorful and fancy enough for guests.

I’m in the middle of a month-long gluten-free eating experiment. To be honest, I’m equal parts hoping it will resolve some health issues and also hoping it doesn’t so I don’t have to give up all things gluten-full. I don’t want to buy a lot of expensive (holy cow, gluten-free products cost a lot) gluten-free products, but I knew I needed to have a few things on hand for quick meals.

One of the things I bought was gluten-free pasta so, naturally, I had to make this Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce. The sauce is thickened with starchy pasta water instead of flour, so it doesn’t get thick and gloopy, rather it stays the perfect consistency to carry the roasted peppers and coat the pasta.

Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce is easy and quick enough for a weeknight meal, but flavorful and fancy enough for guests.

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Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas

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They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

My local grocery stores don’t always have a large variety of peppers to choose from so, when I saw the crate of poblanos the other day, I grabbed a few without giving any thought to what I’d make with them.

I immediately roasted most of the peppers because I knew I’d want them that way for pretty much anything I would make. I ate some in a potatoes-and-eggs breakfast bowl and added a little more to a sandwich.

And then I made Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas. The idea wasn’t original, since I make fajita quesadillas all the time. I decided to keep these a little simpler, though, to let the veggies shine. Now I’ve made them three times in the last week. Okay, fine. Four times.

I just.can’t.resist. Poblanos aren’t spicy; sometimes they carry a little heat, but mostly they’re just full of flavor. In addition, onions are probably one of my favorite vegetables. Add in a little cheese, plus the crispiness of the corn tortilla, and I could eat these things all day long.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

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Chewy Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies

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You won’t miss the flour in these delightfully chewy, perfectly fudgy, beautifully crinkly Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies. With just six ingredients, you can whip up a batch in no time.

You won't miss the flour in these delightfully chewy, perfectly fudgy, beautifully crinkly Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies. With just six ingredients, you can whip up a batch in no time.

I first made these Chewy Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies about six years ago. We were living in Oregon and I baked frequently for my coworkers, one of whom had celiac disease. I often tried to bake something gluten-free (like Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars) along with something gluten-full. At the time, I didn’t know it was possible to make good tasting cookies without flour and I figured, if it was, they wouldn’t be as mind-blowing as these cookies are.

You won't miss the flour in these delightfully chewy, perfectly fudgy, beautifully crinkly Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies. With just six ingredients, you can whip up a batch in no time.

These cookies are the perfect example of gluten-free not being deprivative (confession: I had to google “what’s the adjective for deprive” for that one). Even those who regularly eat gluten will go crazy for them. The cookies bake into chewy, crinkly bites of paradise, with fudge-like centers. They’re awesome at room temperature, but they’re indescribable when warm. Either way, you’ll want to have a glass of milk handy.

You won't miss the flour in these delightfully chewy, perfectly fudgy, beautifully crinkly Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies. With just six ingredients, you can whip up a batch in no time.

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Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw

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Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You’ll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You'll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

I have a tried and true crispy fish taco recipe that we love. It calls for frying the fish in a fluffy batter that is pretty much irresistible, even to J, who has mixed feelings when it comes to fish. Those fish tacos are perfect for special occasions, but since we don’t make it a habit of having fried food for dinner, I don’t make them often. I knew we needed a go-to crispy baked fish tacos recipe, but I also knew it would have to be pretty awesome to compete with the fried version we love.

This particular recipe has been cooking for a while. I tried a couple variations, all designed to maximize crispiness, but this is by far the best. I’m a sucker for panko bread crumbs, and I love a good spicy mayonnaise. The fish bakes up plenty crispy, but the cabbage takes it all the way. Ditch the messy oil and the extra calories and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead.

Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You'll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

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Loaded Candy Bar Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Loaded Candy Bar Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, with homemade frosting and candy bars in every bite, is every chocolate lover’s decadent dream come true.

Loaded Candy Bar Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, with homemade frosting and candy bars in every bite, is every chocolate lover's decadent dream come true.

This Loaded Candy Bar Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting was my birthday cake pretty much every year when I was growing up. In fact, I love it so much it was my wedding cake, too. My mom was appalled by my choice because, in her words, “It’s such an ugly cake,” but to me, and to all chocolate-lovers out there, it’s a beautiful sight.

Since then, this gorgeous cake has become a staple at many family gatherings. It’s even become a tradition in J’s family. As true lovers of all things chocolate, they recognize a good thing when they see it. His family prefers to use only peanut butter cups, but I’m convinced the original method is best. Really, though, you can’t go wrong when you take a moist chocolate cake, slather it with homemade cream cheese frosting, and finish it off with handfuls of chopped candy bars.

Loaded Candy Bar Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, with homemade frosting and candy bars in every bite, is every chocolate lover's decadent dream come true.

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Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita

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Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

 Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

One of the first vegetables I remember falling in love with is peperoncini. There were other veggies I ate, of course, but I don’t remember the first time I tried them. Peperoncini, though, I first tried on my sandwich at a popular sub shop. I immediately loved the mildly spicy flavor and the hearty crunch.

Now, I don’t order a sub sandwich without them. In addition, I always have a jar of Mezzetta peperoncini in my refrigerator. I love to eat them on salads, in omelets, and on these Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita. Basically, I’m constantly looking for new ways to eat them. I even have a recipe that uses the liquid from the jar because I’m not about to waste even one little bit. Don’t worry, that won’t be a problem now that you have this recipe on hand.

Need another reason to love Mezzetta? They’re currently offering a sweepstakes with Chef’d to give away 52 meal kits! Plus, all entrants get a 10% off coupon.

 Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

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