Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes

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What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

J has two favorite desserts: cheesecake and homemade peanut butter cup bars. Last year for his birthday, I tried to combine those two using a springform pan and a no-bake cheesecake recipe. The resulting dessert was certainly tasty, but it was super messy and it just wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

This year, I vowed to get things right.

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

I began by making miniature cheesecakes with graham cracker crusts. These little guys, on their own, are delicious. They’d be perfect as is, or topped with fruit. I didn’t stop there, though. I added a layer of chocolate, then a layer of peanut butter, and then another layer of chocolate, to top the cheesecakes with a homemade peanut butter cup.

Y’all, I totally nailed it with this recipe. The cheesecake is creamy and smooth, while the peanut butter cup layer is rich and not too thick. These little threats are perfectly sized for sharing, too!

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

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Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits

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Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

One of the first recipes I ever made was these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits. I was 21 and J and I were newly married, living in a tiny apartment in Jackson. This was before the days of Pinterest, so much of what I made came from Google or from actual cookbooks.

I remember first making these biscuits in our little kitchen, with its one narrow drawer and its burners that refused to heat evenly. I was so new to cooking and baking then; every recipe was precisely followed because I wasn’t confident enough to make even the smallest changes. Over the years, though, I’ve adapted this recipe, adding the chives and tweaking the process. The result, these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits, are just as satisfying to make now as they were all those years ago.

Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

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Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

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Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Probably my favorite thing about hand pies is that they’re supposed to be rustic. You don’t get that pressure to make sure the rim of the crust is perfectly pinched, or make a fancy design with the top crust. Instead, you get the freedom to mold the pies by hand, to make imperfect seams and homemade shapes. It’s the perfect scenario for those who love to bake, but don’t care to get fancy with it.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Know what else is perfect? The filling in these Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies. The tart apples are finely diced to allow them to soften appropriately during the abbreviated cooking time. They’re tossed with traditional apple pie seasonings, and then they just sit for a while as the flavors develop. The crust itself doesn’t need to be anything special — I just use a prepackaged kind — because, in addition to the apples, the little pies are stuffed with chunks of caramel and flakes of salt. That right there would be enough, but to take them really over the top, the pies are drizzled with a rich caramel sauce that offers the perfect finished touch.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

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Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

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Forget boring banana bread; put those overripe bananas to good use by making this moist and perfectly-sweet Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting.

Forget boring banana bread; put those overripe bananas to good use by making this moist and perfectly-sweet Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting.

My family eats a lot of bananas, so I don’t often find myself with any to use for baking. Sometimes it happens, though, and sometimes I find myself longing to make something other than the oft-made (for good reason) banana bread or banana muffins. That’s when I turn to this Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting.

The cake is just about as easy to make as banana bread, and it’s definitely easier than the tedious process of portioning out muffins. As the name suggests, it’s a little sweeter than it’s healthier counterparts, and it’s a little lighter and less dense than banana bread. While the banana flavor is certainly present, it isn’t overpowering.

As good as this banana cake is (it’s really freaking good), the star of the show just might be the brown sugar frosting. It’s fluffy, light, and not cloyingly sweet, making it the perfect complement to the cake. To be honest, the cake is still amazing sans frosting (and, of course, the frosting is phenomenal even without cake). You could leave the frosting off entirely and have a gorgeous moist cake to serve with coffee or tea. Or, you can go all out, add the frosting, and live happily ever after.

Forget boring banana bread; put those overripe bananas to good use by making this moist and perfectly-sweet Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting.

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Five on Friday: Egg Hunts and Archery

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In the interest of sharing more of the day-to-day life of the Winsteads (not that anyone has asked for that), I’m jumping on-board the Five on Friday train. Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to this last week:

Five on Friday: Egg Hunts and Archery

Girls’ Night

I went out with some friends on Saturday and we had so much fun. We ate Italian food, went to Target (of course), and had the best custard for dessert. It was wonderful to spend an evening out, laughing and eating and knowing J had everything under control back at home.

Egg Hunt

Five on Friday: Egg Hunts and Archery

This is B’s, “I don’t have time to smile, I’ve got eggs to find!” smile.

Our annual Easter egg hunt at church was Sunday. The kids heard the resurrection story and hunted for eggs, but the best part, by far, was the bouncy house. G and B loved it, but J and I had a blast, too. I’m trying to talk the other adults in our Sunday School class into renting one this summer and hooking up the water hose. J and the kids all have a few battle wounds, but I’m sure they’d say they’re worth it.

Archery

Q and I watched a high school archery meet on Tuesday. I have several students on the team and, since I try to watch at least one game/meet for every sport, I didn’t want the season to end without making it to a match. Of the four archers who placed, three were from our school. I’m so proud of their hard work!

FBLA

J and I left Wednesday morning to take 23 students to compete at the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference. This is my fourth year attending, and every year I’m so proud of the way my students compete, the way they conduct themselves, and the way they interact with each other. This trip is definitely one of the highlights of my year.

Plane Tickets

I almost forgot to add that on Sunday night I bought our plane tickets for Oregon! I’d been keeping an eye on prices and dates in hopes we could score a deal. Since we have to purchase four tickets- it’ll be five next year!- I work hard to find the best rates. We ended up going with Southwest. It’s our favorite airline to fly, but it’s a bit of a pain because the airport is about three hours away. Between the better flight times, the free checked bags, and the fact that each ticket was more than $100 cheaper than other options, it was a no-brainer. We’ll be Oregon-bound in less than two months!

What did you do this week?

 

Quinn’s Birth Story

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A VBAC, a premature birth, and a perfect baby girl: here’s Quinn’s birth story.

A VBAC, a premature birth, and a perfect baby girl: here's Quinn's birth story.

Several days before Quinn was born, J and I stood in the kitchen as I told him, “I feel like I’m going to have the baby soon.” I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why I felt that way but, even though I was five weeks from my due date, I did.

J and I attended a professional development workshop on Tuesday, June 28. I thought I was going into labor on the way there. My contractions were regular and fairly intense, but once we parked and walked in, they subsided and we went about our day.

On Thursday, June 30, I had a regularly-scheduled OB appointment. I got ready for my 10:30 appointment, all the while suspecting my water had broken. There wasn’t a big gush of fluid like I experienced with G and B, but I thought there was leaking. I brushed that intuition aside, though, convincing myself it was just another layer of the paranoia and anxiety I’d experienced throughout the pregnancy.

A VBAC, a premature birth, and a perfect baby girl: here's Quinn's birth story.

There must have been a small part of my brain that understood what was happening, though, because I took a few minutes to toss some last minute toiletries and clothes in my bag that was packed and sitting in the bedroom, waiting for the we needed it.

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Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Sausages

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These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They’re sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you’re having.

These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They're sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you're having.

There are some big changes afoot in the Winstead household. While I typically try to avoid vague statements (like the one I just made) without further explanation, I’m too excited about what’s happening to not say something. I’m excited, nervous, hopeful, and anxious all at once, and I’ll be sharing more details in coming weeks.

In a season of life when there are still so many unknowns, it occurs to me that I have so much to be thankful for. In addition to the obvious, like the health of my family and a beautiful home to live in, I’m so thankful for answered prayers and peace of mind amidst uncertain circumstances. During a time when so much of the future is up in the air, I’m thankful for confidence that God’s timing is perfect.

Things might be looking different around the Winstead house soon, but some things never change. One thing that will always remain the same is my love for cute little bite-size appetizers, particularly those that include bacon-wrapped anything. These brown sugar bacon sausages are a recipe my mother-in-law has made for a few years. They’re a huge hit with anyone who tries them, and with good reason.

The sausages themselves aren’t anything special. They’re the kind often served smothered with barbecue sauce at parties. The bacon is where the beauty begins. The strips are the same width as the length of the sausages, making them a perfect pairing. When the dish bakes, the brown sugar on top gets sticky and caramel-y. The result is a perfectly sweet and savory bite that’ll be a hit at any holiday or game day event.

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Parmesan Roasted Carrots

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

Whether you’re making a fancy spread or a quick meal, Parmesan roasted carrots are the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

Whether you're making a fancy spread or a quick meal, Parmesan roasted carrots are the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

Just a few months ago I had two preschoolers. Now, I have two elementary school students and an infant. If I thought life was busy before, I had no idea the craziness the world of dance classes and homework and parent meetings would bring. I know life will only get busier as the kids get older, which is why it’s so important to me to establish routines while they’re young.

One of those non-negotiable routines is family dinner time. It’s important to me that we begin this tradition now; I want it to be a habit so that, when the kids are older and even more active, it’ll already be something we’re used to doing.

Whether you're making a fancy spread or a quick meal, Parmesan roasted carrots are the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

Some nights this is more easily accomplished than others. Some nights, it seems I have to choose between cooking an elaborate dinner or sitting down to eat with the family. The choice is easy: I opt for family time and grab a frozen entree to eat, like LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Cheese & Fire-Roasted Chile Tamale, LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Chicken Tikka Masala, or LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Southwest-Style Potato Bake.

Whether you're making a fancy spread or a quick meal, Parmesan roasted carrots are the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

I love these meals because they’re genuinely so good. Not good-for-a-frozen-meal good, but good. Lean Cuisine Marketplace Cheese & Fire-Roasted Chile Tamale is my favorite, but the meals are unique enough to suit any mood. They’re all protein-packed, made with organic ingredient options, and full of flavor, which is why I usually toss a few in the cart nearly every time I’m at Walmart. To round out the meal and add a homemade component (because I just can’t resist), I like to pair my Lean Cuisine Marketplace meals with a simply-prepared vegetable, like these Parmesan roasted carrots.

They’re pretty simple to prepare and they roast in the oven in the time it takes to prepare the rest of your meal and whatever the family is eating. The carrots are bathed in garlic butter, roasted until tender, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, and then roasted a little more. They’re the perfect complement to any of the Lean Cuisine Marketplace meals.

Whether you're making a fancy spread or a quick meal, Parmesan roasted carrots are the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

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Stop Saying My Son Needs to Toughen Up

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Stop saying my son needs to toughen up.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his sensitivity as weakness, as something a little time spent hunting or throwing a football can extinguish. I see it as precious, like the time he insisted on putting his arm around my shoulders as I sobbed on the couch after finding out I’d miscarried his younger sibling. I see it as sweet, like the way he’s content to hold and sing to his newborn sister for far longer than most kids his age would be.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his cautious nature as weakness, too, as if he’s one hesitation away from wilting like a delicate flower. I see it as intelligence; he’s bright enough to think through the potential consequences of his actions. I don’t want him to grow up fearing the world around him, but I also refuse to dismiss his concerns and anxieties. They’re part of who he is and I won’t try to frighten them out of him.

I don’t know when I first began to notice the implication from others, often from well-meaning family members, that my firstborn needed to toughen up. The comments didn’t bother me much at first, I guess because it seemed like such a silly thing to say about such a young child.

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The Alder Collective Link Party No. 30

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Welcome to Party #30!

Are you following me on Twitter? Each week, I share some of my favorite links from the most recent Alder Collective Link Party.

The Alder Collective Link Party

Welcome to The Alder Collective Link Party! We’re so happy you stopped by to show off your stuff. A friendly reminder before we jump into the party: make sure you’re visiting at least as many posts as you’re linking up. This party is no fun if you don’t see traffic and comments from it. Now check out what your hosts have been up to this week:

The Alder Collective Link Party

Each week we pin every link to the Alder Collective Link Party Pinterest board, where it will be seen by thousands of people. Here are our favorite links from last week’s party:

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