Recipes: tried & true.

Last Monday, I shared recipes that I'd seen on some of my favorite blogs.  I'd tried them for myself over the weekend, and wanted to pass them along for you to enjoy -  with my little seal of approval.  For me, the weekend is a perfect opportunity to try new recipes - recipes spotted in one of the many cookbooks on the shelf, shared from friends, clipped from magazines, printed from the web, or bookmarked from blog posts.  It keeps things fresh and it simply feels good to try some of these recipes, instead of letting them sit in a recipe abyss.

So again, on this lovely Monday morning, as we're all trying to exit the weekend mode and plan for the week ahead, I'd like to share a couple of 'blog recipes'... tried & true.  I don't know if this will be a regular thing, but for now, it works.

It is a rare moment that I can pass up an opportunity to try a new strawberry cupcake recipe.  I've been wanting to make these for the past few weeks, and I'm sure glad I finally put my mouth mind to it.  The Traveling Mama  is one of my favorite newly discovered blogs.  I stumbled upon it not long ago, and when I am there, I am transported to a new world - of Morocco and Denmark, of foreign languages and flea markets, of creativity and passion, of sowing your oats and following your dreams.  These cupcakes did not disappoint.  They were moist and delicious.

The only change I made was that I made a strawberry glaze instead of a frosting... 1/2 cup pureed strawberries whisked into 3 cups powdered sugar (cupcakes can be dipped in or glaze can be spooned on).  *The glaze works great for doughnuts and zeppole as well!

I made a make-shift Sardinian Blood-Orange Mojito last week, but tried it again this week, with TJ's Blood Orange Soda.  Very refreshing.

And the last recipe of the weekend was prepared by Ryan for dinner last night.  This one came from a lovely blog - a peachtree city life - that I truly just discovered, like on Friday afternoon!  I, being the curious gal I am, clicked on her blog simply because I liked the title... and I'm so glad I did.  Mac & cheese, DIY projects, reading, purple blankets, gardening, and family - all described in an unpretentious, eloquent, {subtly} humorous way.  I can't wait to dig in- to more recipes and more unread posts:).

What caught my eye with this Frogmore Stew is that 1) it's a simple summer dinner that can be prepared in one pot and enjoyed in one bowl and 2) it is Claire's grandmother's recipe... and I just can't pass up a grandmother's recipe, because these are, in my humble opinion, simply the best dishes - even if it is isn't from my own grandmother.  And it was a perfect Sunday dinner.

Have a wonderful week and I hope you try these recipes for yourself!