20 Farmers Market Inspired Recipes for Spring

From breakfast recipes to appetizers to desserts & everything else in between, these 20 Farmers Market Inspired Recipes for Spring will have you racing off to your next local farmers market ASAP...

One of my favorite things about spring is that everything comes alive & my local farmers market starts to brim with fresh garden goodness again. Everything from asparagus to ramps to bright leafy greens & sweet strawberries. Springtime is also when my local farmers market goes from a once a month thing to a weekly happening, so I am always on the lookout for more market inspired recipes to use those locally sourced & harvested veggies, herbs, and berries in. 

Once again, my food blogger friends did not disappoint when I put out the call for their favorite farmers market inspired recipes for springtime. I literally combed through hundreds of recipes to narrow it down to just these twenty. From breakfast recipes to appetizers to desserts & everything else in between, these bright & fresh recipes will have you racing off to your next local farmers market ASAP...

Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini

This refreshing Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is bursting with the flavors of fresh strawberries & tart lemon...

Who else could use a good, strong cocktail this weekend? Maybe some of you all are scrambling to get your taxes finished up over the weekend to make that Monday deadline. Or maybe the kids' spring break has just started, and you are already pulling your hair out. Or maybe you have recently delved into the world of online dating & need a drink or two to get you through the swiping. (Raises hand.) No matter your reason, this tasty Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is just what the doctor ordered. 

Can we just chat about that latter reason for a quick second though? ;) For those of you who haven't picked up on it yet or just don't know, my husband and I got a divorce this past year. I won't go into too many of the sorted details of all of that, but I will tell you that the entire thing caught me off guard and totally shook up my world for a while. I am just now starting to find my footing again and am ready to move on & forward, so naturally I decided to sign myself up for a couple of online dating apps just to test the waters. 

Let's just say the waters haven't been all that warm & friendly so far. Maybe I am too picky (ain't nothing wrong with that, you all!) or maybe it is just because of where I live, but I haven't really made any real connections so far. What I have managed to make though is a few entertaining observations about men's dating profiles from the ones I have come across so far...

The 5 Best Hikes in West Virginia for Amazing Views

Many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most scenic vistas on the East Coast. Here are the 5 Best Hikes in West Virginia for Amazing Views...

Spring has arrived, and I am ready to break free of this serious case of cabin fever that I have and get back out there on the hiking trails! Hiking is something that I decided to take up a few years back as part of my journey to a healthier lifestyle. Hiking also happened to come with the bonus perk of becoming a great way for my then teenage son & I to connect & bond over our shared love for nature & outdoor photography.

With so many great hiking trails within a 3 hour drive of us, it can be hard to narrow down our list of must-do hikes each spring. summer, & fall. But one thing I always look for is the reward of completing our hike. Sometimes that reward is a cascading waterfall. Or maybe some out of the way, abandoned ruins. But my favorite reward after a long or challenging hike is a breathtaking view. 

And when it comes to hiking trails that lead to the best views, you just can't beat West Virginia hiking. In fact, many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most amazing scenic vistas on the East Coast. Views that are most definitely worth breaking out the panoramic mode on your camera for...

Banana Mocha Smoothie

This creamy Banana Mocha Smoothie with a caffeine kick makes the perfect grab & go breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up...

You know those mornings when you are running behind, & your youngest can't find her other shoe, & you are frantically searching for your car keys so you can get out the door and get your day started? Those mornings when you are debating over just having coffee for breakfast because you don't seem to have time for much else? Those mornings when you are complicating just shoving a cold pop tart into your mouth as you walk out the door because it is better than nothing? If any of this rings familiar with you at all, then today's recipe for this Banana Mocha Smoothie is for you!

Not only can this creamy smoothie curb your hunger pangs, but it also has a bonus caffeine kick. Yes, folks. This smoothie is breakfast & coffee in one! A perfect grab & go solution when you are short on time & need to take breakfast (& caffeine!) on the run...

10 Out of the Box Cake Mix Cookie Recipes

Transform your favorite boxed cake mix into a batch of soft & chewy cookies with these 10 Out of the Box Cake Mix Cookie Recipes...

It is no secret that I have a love affair with using boxed cake mixes in my baking. I like to doctor them up to use in my semi-homemade cake recipes, like my Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake & my perfect for spring Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd Buttercream.  I am also a fan of using my favorite cake mixes to bake up a batch of sweet rolls  or my moist & fluffy Banana Spice Streusel Muffins on a weekend morning. There is absolutely no shame in my store bought cake mix game, you all. ;)

But perhaps one of my favorite things to use boxed cake mix in is cookie recipes. You can transform just about any flavor of cake mix into a batch of perfectly baked, soft & chewy cookies. And there is no need to waste your time with measuring flour, and baking soda, and sugar. The cake mix has done all the hard work for you!

Since I can't get enough of cake mix cookies, I decided to visit some of my favorite food blogs to find some of the most creative, out of the box (I know.... punny, right? ;) ) cookie recipes made from a cake mix. Whether you are a chocolate addict, a strawberry lover, or are into more traditional cookie flavors, you are sure to find the perfect cake batter cookie for you in this collection of easy recipes I am sharing with you all today... 

Magical Essentials for a Unicorn Themed Party

Planning a unicorn themed birthday party soon? Here are all the magical essentials you will need for throwing an unforgettable unicorn themed party... 

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Like most girls in grade school, my youngest is obsessed with all things unicorn. So it didn't surprise me in the slightest when she told me that she wanted a unicorn themed party for her 7th birthday last month. A magical unicorn themed party with all things purple & a fancy unicorn birthday cake.

Funny enough, I had a purple unicorn party myself for my 8th birthday many, many years ago. Maybe her obsession with unicorns & the color purple is hereditary? ;)

As soon as my daughter has settled on a birthday party theme each year, I get to work browsing Amazon for party supplies & decorations. You can find just about everything on Amazon, and you just can't beat the two day free shipping with Amazon Prime. 

Strawberry Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Inspired by the classic flavors of a PB&J, this Strawberry Peanut Butter Banana Bread is sure to quickly become a family favorite...

Strawberries are in peak season in Florida right now, and that means spring is just around the corner, folks. (Thank goodness!) That also means that you can pick up strawberries for pretty cheap at your local grocery store. I have been snagging fresh strawberries for about $2 a package for the past couple of weeks now.

In season, cheap strawberries is the perfect motivation for me to get in the kitchen and create. My family & I love anything that is inspired by the flavors of a PB&J, so I decided to take my recipe for Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Banana Bread & give it a peanut butter & jelly spin by leaving out the chocolate chunks & adding in sliced strawberries & strawberry jam. The results definitely got my family's seal of approval. :)