Zappos.com Giveaway $100

You already love 

for the endless styles of shoes, clothing, and accessories, but did you know they offer housewares too?!! It's TRUE!!

How awesome is that?

So many beautiful colors....

From flatware to food processors, grills to serving trays, Zappos.com pretty much has all the houseware items you need for summer entertaining - especially for BBQ's, family reunions, or neighborhood potlucks!

We all know Zappos.com likes to take good care of their customers with free shipping and returns, as well as top notch customer service, and now they are taking care of my readers!

I'm so excited that Zappos.com has chosen to give one of YOU a
$100 Gift Card
(scroll to bottom of post for the giveaway rules)

So what's your pleasure??

maybe these cool wine glasses....

Artland Hourglass Wine Set

or this beautiful Beverage Dispenser....

Diamond 2.5 Gallon Beverage Dispenser

a new mixer perhaps...

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

The possibilities are endless!

I LOVE my KitchenAid mixer!! I don't know how I ever got along without it!!  It made quick work of these tasty little treats. I was able to prep the fruit topping while the mixer did all the work on the pudding filling! It's a huge time saver in the kitchen!

Click here for recipe:  Jell-o Patriotic Mini Fruit Tarts

allrecipes.com Jell-O Patriotic Mini Fruit Tarts

The mini fruit tarts make a beautiful presentation and were a big hit! Luckily they are easy to make, because they are so good they don't last long!

****** Giveaway rules ******

This contest has ended. Thanks for your interest - click here to see the lucky winner!

This giveaway is sponsored by Zappos.com. They provided me with a gift certificate in addition to the one I am giving away. All opinions expressed on Life Tastes Good are solely my own

Mini Apple Donut Skewers with Salted Caramel Dipping Sauce

LOVE these little apple donuts and don't even get me started on the caramel sauce! Oh my goodness it is SO good!

Growing up I remember my mom being a big fan of caramel. I guess I get my caramel addiction from her.  If I have to have an addiction I'm glad it's to caramel! Thanks mom! I just need to make sure I get an extra workout in  to keep all this caramel from sticking

Mini Apple Donut Skewers with Salted Caramel Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1 medium sized granny smith apple - peeled, cored, and chopped

short wooden skewers

Topping

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini-muffin cups.
2. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in the sour cream and milk, then mix in the baking soda, salt, and flour until just combined. Then fold in the apples pieces. Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about half full. I use a cookie scoop to measure out the batter.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted butter in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted butter, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Let cool. Skewer 2-3 donuts on each wooden stick and serve with the caramel dipping sauce.

Caramel Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 1/4 cups heavy cream - warmed

salt to taste

In a heavy weight saucepan over medium heat, heat the sugar until it starts to melt and brown. This will take at least 5 minutes - maybe a little longer. Stir constantly so you don't burn the sugar (that would be bad). Once your sugar is starting to look a little brown and turning into crystallized chunks then you can add the butter. Keep stirring! Stir until you have a beautiful caramel colored smooth sauce. Be patient. It is worth the effort! Once you reach the smooth, caramel colored sauce remove the pan from the heat.  Be sure the cream is warmed all the way through. Add the cream about 1/4 cup at a time and stir until well combined. Keep adding until all the cream is combined.  Salt to taste and enjoy the rich, smooth, creamy goodness. 

note: if the cream is not sufficiently warmed you may end up with chunks in your sauce. Not to fear - just put it back over mid-high heat and stir until all chunks are dissolved.

My little buddy is 14 today. I'm told that is 72 in dog years. He definitely isn't as young as he used to be. He sleeps most of the day and is very cranky if he doesn't get fed exactly at 5:30. He's been in diapers for several months now and is using them more and more, but he still likes to romp around from time to time. ♥ him

Happy Birthday, Fluffy!

Helping daddy with the taxes

Mini Coffee Cakes

Recipe inspired by: Allrecipes Mini Coffee Cakes

 I discovered this recipe last fall when I was searching for something to make for Madison's Equestrian Team. Don and I were traveling to GA to cheer them on, and I wanted to bring snacks for the team.  Because it was a new recipe, I made a test batch to see how they'd turn out.  Well, they ended up being the most wonderful little coffee cakes I have ever tasted! They are so light it is like eating air - only really yummy tasting air with cinnamon!  We gobbled the test batch up right away, so I made another test batch...just to be sure you know - don't want to feed the kids nasty muffins.  Again, we gobbled 'em up! I really should NEVER make these - they are too dangerous to have in the house, but I really wanted to share them here on the blog so I sacrificed just for you - I'm nice like that <<grin>>

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 
  
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. I like to do this for several minutes to make sure it is mixed well - about 3-5 minutes

Beat in the egg 

combine flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk. Beat until blended. The batter will be thick - sorry I forgot to get a photo of it - I guess I was just so excited about the muffins!

 Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. 

Combine topping ingredients; 

sprinkle over batter. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly pressed. Cool for 10 minutes; 

remove from pan to a wire rack and try not to eat them all at once!

By the way - the team LOVED them! They ate every last one!