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The other day I was bored. This is seriously big news if you know me and are aware of my usual work schedule! I don’t have too much free time, but this was an exception. So I thought, how about I make a nice, big cake now that I have the time? The problem was, I hadn’t made a single cake in weeks (months even), so I was a little lost with what recipe I should use. I didn’t want to go with the most ordinary ones, but I certainly didn’t want to spend the whole day in the kitchen, either.

After a moment (or two) of online searching I came across this beautiful Caramel Pumpkin Italian Cream Cake and decided to give it a go! As with so many recipes, the formula for Italian cream cake is open to a lot of modification according to the season and to your own tastes. This rich flavor combination is particularly good for Thanksgiving but I would most definitely use it for any special occasion.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Lorie’s Mississippi Kitchen

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Quick tip: If you want to make this a little faster, use store-bought frosting.

It may not be your typical chicken alfredo recipe, but this Cajun Chicken Alfredo is delicious. It contains just the right amount of spice to wake up the flavor a bit, but the spice is nicely balanced with half and half, so that even people very sensitive to spice will have no trouble enjoying this recipe. I do love Cajun recipes of all types, but ones like these are especially good for midweek nights when you want something really quick and need to keep cleanup to a minimum. I wouldn’t call this traditional alfredo, but it is certainly a yummy one-pot meal!

I must say I hesitated for a while when I came across this recipe. I do enjoy Chicken Alfredo as much as I do cajun seasoning, but had never thought of combining the two. Turns out it was a great idea!

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Recipe Critic

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Quick tip: Use your favorite pasta noodles and cheese for this dish.

If you like pecans (or nuts generally), and you want a cake with a flavor that is just a bit outside the ordinary but not TOO out there, this Toasted Butter Pecan Cake is a good choice. Maybe it’s just the Southern in me, or maybe I’m just a sucker for that blend of creamy and nutty flavor, but butter pecan has been one of my favorite ice cream brands for as long as I can remember. Needless to say, I was a little excited to try out this flavor in cake form, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Yes, some may think that frosting is a little on the heavier side, but it goes REALLY well with the cake, especially since the cake itself has a surprisingly light texture. Buttery, creamy, nutty but not overpoweringly so – such great depth of flavor here. I think that this is a great cake for the holidays, though it’s a straightforward enough recipe that you should have no trouble making it for most any occasion.

Recipe and image courtesy of Taste of Home.

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Quick tip: If you’d prefer, you can use your favorite homemade or store-bought frosting instead.

Fast-Making Meaty Deliciousness

Swedish Meatballs deliver a classic creamy and savory flavor and are really quick to make. I had some Swedish meatballs a few weeks ago at my usual tailgate spot, and I loved them so much, I just had to hunt down a recipe for them to share with you.

Fast-cooking recipes such as these are great for parties, tailgates, and midweek dinners. Just pair with your favorite pasta, and there you have it! These aren’t the Italian-style meatballs that most people are used to, but if you like savory and creamy sauces, you’ll really enjoy meatballs this way.

I think that you could practically drink this gravy. And yes, as the original recipe provider suggests, you may want to make a bit extra sauce if you are using broad egg noodles or something similar. This recipe is best if you have enough gravy that it can really soak into the pasta; that way, the savory flavor really takes hold, and you can make that great meaty taste stretch that much further.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Damn Delicious

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Quick tip: Serve with mashed potatoes.

If you are a chocolate lover but think that the average chocolate cake is a bit, well, one-dimensional, then this Black Magic Cake may be just right for you. It’s rather easy to make, can be made in under an hour, and makes use of a bit of coffee to draw out the elements of chocolate flavor that are all too often muted. I always thought that coffee and chocolate went well together; it turns out that they work brilliantly with each other in a cake!

I used to not like dark chocolate at all. Whenever someone offered me a slice of dark chocolate cake, I would cringe inside and have the tiniest piece ever. But something has happened over the years! I guess I’ve grown up because now I just can’t get enough of dark chocolate cakes, and this recipe is by far one of the best I’ve tried.

Recipe and photo courtesy of My Baking Addiction

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Carrots go well with a lot of things, but sometimes, you want to tweak the flavor a bit to keep things interesting. These Oven-Roasted Ranch Baby Carrots are just such a nice tweak, with the help of a simple but delicious homemade ranch seasoning mix.

Hey, sometimes, the simple things are a huge hit. Everyone used to rave over Mother’s carrots, and she made them so simply, she didn’t even really consider it a recipe. This is a simple side dish, but that ranch seasoning mix really delights the palate and probably would go well on a lot of other vegetables. Oven-roasting the carrots gives them a lovely crisp surface while leaving the inside nice and tender, just how I like it. The best part is; all the kids love it, too, so they’ll eat their veggies without a single complaint!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Damn Delicious

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Quick tip: Use this recipe for any of your favorite vegetables!

Just 15 minutes of basic cooking, a little prep, 20 minutes of baking, and you can have this Quinoa Banana Nut Bread ready. And with a good helping of essential vitamins, fiber, and protein, this dessert isn’t just good but also surprisingly good for you. I have always enjoyed banana nut bread (rare is the time I’ve passed up getting some of it when I happen to pass by it at Kroger), but I can’t say that I have tried a healthy, gluten-free banana nut bread recipe before now. Well, I give this two yums up, and as easy as it is to make, I’m sure it will be making plenty more appearances in my kitchen in the future.

I have several friends with celiac disease and sometimes it’s difficult to find a nice gluten-free recipe. I always want to serve something delicious, and many of those gluten-free dessert have seemed a bit on the dry side. This banana bread is such a wonderful exception!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Lou Lou Girls

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Quick tip: Use a greased 9″ x 9″ baking pan for this recipe.