The haunting of sweet treats

 

Seems like chocolate and sweet treats in general have been on my mind.  Yes, I have cheated on the promise to myself to be sugar free.  Sometimes you just have to, and I can't stop thinking about chocolate.  As I was putting my grocery list together, the sour cream cake donuts popped up as a recommendation and I could not resist.  Little setbacks will not take away my progress since I have still not had a Pepsi for at least a month.  Tomorrow is another day!

Since sweet treats have been on my mind, there are many new recipes listed on my food blog.  Wuth Valentine's Day coming up, I will be listing more.  Valentine's Day is now a sad day for me, so maybe I will have to drown my sorrows with a chocolate sweet treat.  I have found many good ones!

Have a wonderful day everyone!  Check out my new blog posts . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

New Orleans-Style Spicy Shrimp UPDATE

Bloomin' Onion Dip

Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe (Homemade) and Frozen Fish Sticks UPDATE

Strawberry Shortcake

Manicotti

Valentine's Day Desserts from The Food Network

Black Forest Cheesecake

Ghirardelli Brownie Mix Recipe

Cherry Chip Cake

How to Keep Bagged Salad Fresh, Longer

Valentine's Day Chocolate Desserts

Love Yourself First

 

We get busy on a day to day basis and forget something so important to all of us . . . love yourself first.  Take time for yourself.  Do something for you.  Do something you love.  Slow down.

When I think about slowing down and doing something you love, believe it or not, I think about making bread.  There is something so special about it.  The reward is bread like you never get at the grocery store.  

With that fresh on my mind, I posted a few articles about baking bread.  One is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know about it.  Last week I posted an article listing 93 recipes for homemade bread.  Guess it is time for me to make that french bread I have been thinking about.

Don't forget others, but love yourself first.  We can do more for others when we are happy.  Think about it.

Have a wonderful day!  Check out my new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Italian Ciabatta Bread - Easy No Knead 

Hash Brown Quiche Cups

Homemade Breakfast Bars

Oven Baked Potatoes

Exactly When To Use Tin Foil, Wax Paper, And Parchment Paper

Recipes for Homemade Bread and More About Bread

Cherry Dump Cake UPDATED

New Orleans-Style Spicy Shrimp UPDATE

LaBelladiva

DIY Lanyard Tutorial

Fabulous Frugalista

Everyday Uses for Baking Soda That Work UPDATE

Mardi Gras

 

That Mardi Gras tree reminds me of the garbage bags full of beads I have collected from various  Gasparilla parades.  Oh the memories . . .

With Gasparilla festivities drawing to a close, Mardi Gras always comes to mind since it happens shortly after Gasparilla.  Although I have never been to Mardi Gras, it has always interested me since it is much like Gasparilla, but even more festive.  

This week I will be focusing on the food associated with Mardi Gras and New Orleans.  

Have an awesome week!  Check out my new blog posts . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Creole-Style Red Jambalaya With Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough, PIZZA & Gina's Garlic Bread UPDATED

Chicken Noodle Soup recipes

Southern Fried Shrimp

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Cracked Out Breakfast Bubble Up

Cannoli Cheesecake

Apple Hand Pies

Easy Sriracha Mayo

My Florida Paradise

Gasparilla 2026

Subtropical Gardening

Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying - How To Bring It Back

LaBelladiva

Patchwork Potholder Sewing Pattern with Pockets

Log Cabin Hexagon Potholder Free Sewing Pattern

Dog Collar Bandana

Fabulous Frugalista

Common Winter Habits That Are Running Up Your Heating Bill

A slow week

 

My food focus as been on Mardi Gras this week.

I may continue looking for more.

Not much to say.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week.

Check out my new blog posts!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Bourbon Chicken

Shrimp Etouffee 

Fried Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

Easy Dirty Rice

New Orleans Beignets

Subtropical Gardening

Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying - How To Bring It Back

What it Means If Your Plant Leaves Have Brown Tips

LaBelladiva

How To Make a Dress Bigger

How To Make A Rope Bowl

Fabulous Frugalista

How to Clean Baking Sheets So They Look Brand New

The Pirates Are Here!

 

Photo source:  GasparillaPirateFest.com

Despite the unusually cold weather, Gasparilla has arrived in Tampa . . . check out my blog post Gasparilla 2026 . . . click here.

Not much to say . . . check out my new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Best Easy Banana Bread

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta

Fish Cakes

Crab Rangoon

Carrot Cake Muffins

Stir-Fried Garlic and Sriracha Shrimp Recipe

Subtropical Gardening

Front Yard Flower Bed Ideas for a Charming Entryway

How to Store Your Garden Hose in Winter So It Doesn't Freeze or Crack

Seed Starting Mistakes You're Probably Making

LaBelladiva

How to Make A Lip Gloss Pouch

Cute Corners DIY Cosmetic Case 

Fabulous Frugalista

Understanding Food Expiration Date Labels Made Simple UPDATE

Grocery Store Items with the Highest Markups

How to tell if your phone is hacked

Here’s What to Do When the Power Goes Out in Your Home

Pirate festival time!

 

Lately I've been gathering my jewelry supplies and the sparkly beads have encouraged my excitement to get started making jewelry again.  Actually all types of crafts have been attracting my attention.  It is in my nature to be creative and my hands are itching to get started again.  As a result, the crafty type of articles and tutorials have been calling me and I have posted a bunch and have even more that need to be posted.  

It feels so good to have desires and interests again after not wanting to be bothered with anything.  Grief does that to me and it is now confined to what I call waves.  They come and go quickly, not lingering like they did.  I'm becoming my happy self again and that's a good thing.

Gasparilla, a Tampa pirate festival time is this weekend and that means that Mardi Gras is near.  I will be focusing on these festivals this week instead of complaining about the cold weather.  Ok, maybe I'll complain a little since I hate it.  Rare freezing temps are threatening to put a damper on Gasparilla which is a local bummer.  However, the festival goes on!  I'll post about it in my blog "My Florida Paradise" which has been severely neglected, but will soon make a comeback and upgrade.

Happy Friday everybody!  Check out my new blog posts . . .

 

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

Make Compost Tea – Fertilize Plants Naturally 

How To Grow In 5 Gallon Buckets 

Secrets to Getting Christmas Cactus to Bloom More Than Once a Year

Reasons To Start A Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

LaBelladiva

DIY Fur Baby Coat – how to sew a dog coat

Make your own scrungies

How to make hair scrungies

How to Make Cute Designer Scrunchies

DIY Beach Cover Tutorial

The method of life

Going through these cold days has me hoping for an early spring, so the gardening articles have really caught my attention.  

Although I still have packs and packs of seeds and jars of seeds I harvested, it is the normal thing to go through seed catalogs in the winter time.  I'm sure many of you are having the same thoughts.  If  you are, you will enjoy the articles I have posted this week to Subtropical Gardening.

Don't have much to say except to say I'm happy, which is a major thing and I hope I can stay in this method of life.  

Check out all the new blog posts this week listed below.

Stay warm!

NEW BLOG POSTS    

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Espresso Cheesecake

Upside-Down Chili Pie

Beer-Battered Fish

Homemade French Bread

German Chocolate Brownies

Sourdough Bread

Glazed Donuts

Easy Chicken Stuffing Bake

Classic Beef Empanadas

Meatloaf With Brown Gravy

Copycat Olive Garden Recipes 

Collection of Cheesecake Recipes

Subtropical Gardening

Houseplant Problems That Happen More in Winter

Where to Find Quality Seeds For Free or Cheap

Where to Find Cheap Seed Starting Containers

Growing Tomatoes From Seed - What You Need to Know

Top 3 Mistakes Gardeners Make Growing Tomatoes – And How To Avoid Them

LaBelladiva

Sew a Handy Travel Case – Free Sewing Pattern

How to Clean Your Silver Jewelry