Welcome to the weekend, my friends! There’s a chill in the air today and I shivered while getting into the car before yoga this morning. The sun is shining though and it is making me grin. I am so ready for fall and winter. Bring on all the cozy sweatshirts and fuzzy socks, please.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Are you looking for the perfect pork roast recipe? Roasted all day, left falling apart, and tender enough to cut with a fork; this Italian Pork Roast might just become your favorite pork roast with the first bite.

Fluffy potatoes with crisp, roasted edges are seasoned to perfection with just rosemary, salt, and pepper in these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

Oven-roasted cabbage with balsamic and roasted onions has become a bit of a crazy obsession for me. Try it and you will understand.

Rich sausage, hearty potatoes, and tender, earthy green beans come together in this incredibly flavorful meal. Whether you’re looking for a hearty, comforting family dinner or just need a hassle-free meal option, this crockpot dinner delivers every time.

I’ve heard from so many of you this week after you’ve made this homemade Blueberry Pie Filling! It really does taste so much better than store-bought. And best of all, it’s super easy to make. Use it to top pies, cheesecakes, pancakes, or waffles – it’s delicious on ice cream too.

You won’t find a more decadent, amazing brownie than these rich, fudge Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting. They are chocolate and peanut butter perfection. Rich, dense, chocolate brownies topped with fluffy, whipped, peanut butter frosting, what’s not to love? These brownies are downright dangerous.

Pumpkin has a smooth creamy texture when combined with heavy cream to create a luscious, rich, Pumpkin Ice Cream that is perfect for any occasion this holiday season.

What I’m CRAVING: Dark Chocolate Oreos – thanks a lot, Lynne. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is this v-neck tank top. If you were near me today, you’d hear me cheering with joy over finally finding a top I enjoy wearing for yoga practice. I don’t know why this has been

Protein No Bake Chocolate Energy Bites

Boost your energy levels with these delicious and nutritious protein no bake chocolate energy bites, packed with protein to keep you going throughout the day. Perfect for a quick and easy snack on the go!

These no bake chocolate protein bites save me during those afternoon crashes when you’re wanting a a treat but need a healthy snack!

I am the biggest snacker ever. I’ve said it a gazillion times on the blog and Cade can totally vouch for me, (in fact he’s totally the same way). It’s why we’ve posted so many snack recipes like Aussie Bites, our favorite granola, sweet and salty caramel chocolate banana trail mix, protein monster bites or out copycat Kudos bars. Snacking actually is not a bad habit like some may assume. It’s good to keep your metabolism going and your hunger at bay by frequently eating small amounts.

So many skip a meal or snacks trying to lose weight and all they are doing is telling their bodies to hold onto every calorie possible because your body knows you’re going to make it wait to eat. The only hard part is deciding what to eat. These protein no bake oatmeal energy bites are one of our solutions.

Protein No Bake Chocolate Energy Bites

A long time ago my cute friend, Ali posted these awesome energy bites that went completely wild on Pinterest. Everyone loves them! They are a great little snack and you don’t have to feel guilty as if you’d baked up some mozzarella sticks or something. Wait, did she just throw mozzarella sticks out there as a snack? Pretty much. But don’t worry, I’ve given up that Jr. High habit.  Although now that we are talking about them, gosh dang that sounds good!

Ok, focus, girl, focus.

What are Energy Bites or Balls?

These are little balls with extra protein, and a little dose of calories that your body needs to keep you going during the day. Most are made with a nut butter like almond or peanut butter, oats and whatever flavors you desire. Ours are made with protein powder in addition to the other things.

Ingredients for Protein Chocolate Protein Bites

A healthy snack is just 6 ingredients away! Here is everything that you will need:

• Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: don’t use quick oats because they don’t hold up well
• Almond Butter: substitute with peanut butter or any other nut butter
• Honey: adds natural swe

You won’t find a more decadent, amazing brownie than these rich, fudge Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting. They are chocolate and peanut butter perfection.

Rich, dense, chocolate brownies topped with fluffy, whipped, peanut butter frosting, what’s not to love? These brownies are downright dangerous.

Chocolate Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting

Grabbing a box of brownie mix is so easy, I get it. However, you won’t regret taking just 10 more minutes to create these fudgy bites of heaven.

I baked them to share with another family, and yet I found myself returning to the kitchen for just one more sliver all afternoon. I seriously had to stash these brownies in the freezer to prevent myself from polishing off the entire batch.

I recommend making these when you have the chance to share them with friends. They are ultra rich and perfect for small bite size pieces. I’m here to tell you that brownies with frosting trump brownies without frosting every time.

Peanut Butter Frosted Brownies

I am a huge salty/sweet fan. Nothing hits that note quite like chocolate and peanut butter together. The smooth salty creaminess of this peanut butter frosting takes these fudgy brownies over the top.

When using softened cream cheese or butter, there are lots of different tips and tricks for softening them. <

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I am getting excited for fall and the approach of winter. Our weather has been swinging between chilly and sunny, the leaves are turning color and drifting to the ground, I have a list of fun fall baking and cooking ideas, and I’m ready to dive into all of it.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Fresh apples, dried fruits, nuts, creamy oats, and brown sugar create a deliciously filling hot breakfast. Less than 15 minutes from start to finish, a piping hot, warm, and creamy bowl of holiday oatmeal can be on your table.

Want the easiest crockpot dinner possible? Hearty meatballs, sweet pineapple, and colorful bell peppers are tossed with your favorite barbecue sauce and simmered in the slow cooker to make these sweet and sour meatballs that my whole family craves.

And speaking of the easiest dinners, we made these BBQ chicken stuffed potatoes again this week. When saucy barbecue chicken is stuffed into steaming baked potatoes and then topped with melted cheese, the result is mealtime perfection.

These garlic roasted carrots are caramelized carrots with slightly crisp edges cooked in a garlic honey butter sauce. This carrot side dish will steal the show on your plate.

The sweet decadence of maple syrup balances the soft nuttiness of roasted Brussels sprouts along with crispy bacon pieces in a side dish that is simply divine. If you serve this to guests, the odds are good that you will be asked for this recipe.

Make the most of this fall’s apples with a batch of brown sugar frosted apple blondies. They’re packed with delicious fall flavors in a soft, cinnamon apple blondie.

Star Crunch ice cream is creamy caramel-flavored ice cream with bits of crushed Star Crunch cookies in each bite. This is an indulgent and irresistible taste of childhood!

What I’m CRAVING: I’d never heard of Dynamites (also called Torpedoes) before this week and this saucy recipe sounds pretty awesome. Picture a kicked-up sloppy joe sauce that can be served in rolls, over pasta, or even as a dip with tortilla chips. Yes, please! Thanks for sharing another Rhode Island favorite with me, Lynne. I know my guys are going to love this.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my Kitsch hair towel scrunchie. (I’ve

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Indulge in these delicious chocolate marshmallow cookies, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. With a soft and gooey center and a chocolate frosting, these cookies are a treat for any occasion.

These cookies are thick and chewy and loaded with chocolate flavor. They are topped with a gooey roasted marshmallow and then frosted with a luscious chocolate cream cheese frosting. Totally indulgent and decadent!

Chocolate Marshmallow cookies always make me feel loved. I have had two lovely connections with these cookies and not only do I want you to read about my experience, but I totally want you to have the recipe too.

First memory…going shopping with my mom at the Vancouver mall in Vancouver, WA. They had a cookie shop and we weren’t really a family to eat out, actually, we weren’t really a mall family either, haha. Well, on one occasion my mom and her best friend had to run to the mall and I was with them when they allowed me and her friend’s child to buy a cookie from the little cookie shop on the top floor. I got a chocolate marshmallow cookie and I can still remember the feeling of my teeth sinking into that thick and chewy cookie. IT WAS AMAZING!!!

Fast forward a few short years and an interning teacher in my 4th grade class treated another little girl and I to a fun day out which included… a chocolate marshmallow cookie!!! I can still remember what a special teacher she was and mostly because she made me feel special and seen. It’s no wonder that all these years later I wanted to share the cookie with those I love! Don’t you love when food is linked to special moments?

Ingredients for Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

We are going to use cocoa powder and chocolate pudding mix to load these cookies with chocolate flavor. The rest of the ingredients are pretty standard cookie ingredients. Here is everything you’ll need:

• Unsalted Butter: make sure it is softened
• Granulated Sugar: adds sweetness
• Brown Sugar: adds rich flavor and sweetness
• Large Eggs: gives structure to the cookies
• Vanilla Extract: adds flavor
• Flour: just regular all-purpose flour is all you need
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Baking Soda: adds rise and fluffiness
• Cocoa Powder: adds bold chocolate flavor
• Instant Chocolate Pudding: grab a 5.1 oz box of either Devil’s Food or Chocolate Fudge flavor
• Marshmallows: you want large marshmallows

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. See the next section for all the ingredients for the chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients for Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

There aren’t any surprises in the ingredients for this smooth chocolate cream cheese frosting. Here is the ingredients list:

Read more