Why are grilled cheese sandwiches so delicious?  Make your favorite grilled cheese sandwich right here and kick it up a notch with our favorite compound herb butter spread. So easy kids can make it with you… Absolute Yumminess!

Don’t forget to enter our Land O’ Lakes Giveaway as well and you could win your own panini maker.

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I love scalloped potatoes.  There’s something so luxurious about preparing scalloped potatoes for dinner. I used to think as a child that it took so much time making scalloped potatoes… I guess I thought this because of the so many thin layers of sliced potatoes that were soaked in a delicious  rich, creamy béchamel sauce that is poured all over.  Then baked to a golden crunchy crust.  I could not of been more wrong…  Scalloped potatoes are one of the easiest things to make and one of the most delicious side dishes ever.  The best part leftovers are always a guaranteed and taste just as good as the first time.

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In case you missed this morning my daughter Kayla and I were featured on Good Day Orlando on Fox 35 News.  We were asked to come on and talk about a little contest I have been telling you all about called Ben’s Beginners Cooking Contest, you know that BIG partnership Uncle Ben’s Rice and Rachel Ray are having that is helping kids of all ages cook in the kitchen.

Chef Kayla on Good Day Orlando, Fox 35 News

Kayla was able to showcase her yummy “Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice” that features Uncle Ben’s Brown Rice.  We were interviewed by  the oh so sweet Michelle Burdo.  I was sooooo unbelievably proud of Kayla today while we on set, she did a FANTABULOUS job and it made me, her daddy, and brother so proud.

Today is the last day to vote so please make sure to go right one over and click on “VOTE” for Kayla.  Help Kayla win $20,000 in cash, a Rachel Ray Show Appearance and a School Cafeteria Makeover valued at $50,000 for Timber Lakes Elementary.

Voting ends tonight 11:59PM PST.  So make sure to get them in as soon as you can.  Thank you all for all of your support and blessings Kayla and I truly appreciate it!

Here is our delicious recipe:

Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

Ingredients:

Serves 6

2-cups Uncle Ben’s® Brown Rice, cooked

2-tablespoons sesame oil, (100% pure sesame oil)

1/2 medium onion, chopped

½ ginger, grated

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1-tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ yellow bell pepper, sliced

½ red bell pepper, sliced

1 red chili peppers, sliced

½ cup peas and carrots, de-thawed

1-cup fresh cubed pineapple, (more if you desire)

1lb of shrimp, deveined

1-tablespoon dark soy sauce

1-tablespoon pineapple juice

Salt to taste

Black Pepper to taste

Fresh scallion for garnish
Directions:

Cook 2 cups of brown rice 4 cups of water.  I like to add a little oil to my rice. Cool the rice or make the rice a day ahead.

Heat up a wok or large Dutch pot and add the sesame oil.   You want the pot to be smoking hot.  Add the onion, ginger, garlic, pepper flakes and the sliced chili pepper.  Stir-fry for a few minutes or until it becomes aromatic.

Add the pineapples, bell peppers, peas and carrots and stir them around quickly at high heat.  You want the pineapples to caramelize and get a golden color.  Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp turn pink in color and are not overdone.

Lastly add the rice, pineapple juice, dark soy sauce, salt and pepper.  Stir everything together and cook for another minute or until everything is incorporated.

Garnish with fresh scallion.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Are there ever times when you need a quick and easy delicious meal to make during the week.  I know that for me dinner times is the one time when me and my family are able to get together and just share our days, the good and the bad.  That’s why having an easy meal to make sometimes is so great to have in my repertoire especially when its pasta, which is a definite favorite in The Kennedy household.

This classic Italian comfort dish is baked with savory mild Italian sausage and ground beef, spaghetti sauce and lots of yummy cheese.

I hope you try this one on yours the next time you have a craving for Baked Penne.  Serve alongside a side salad with a crusty baguette and a nice glass of wine.

**Side Note**

Please don’t forget to head on over to Uncle Ben’s Rice and vote for my daughter Kayla and her “Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice.”  Remember voting end March 11th… so HURRY and get all your votes in now.  It would mean so much to Kayla and I.
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Now I know that February is the month of love, so to speak… It’s the month of letting that one person you love so much know how you feel.  It’s a time to shower them with gifts of yummy chocolates and sweet smelling flowers.  Now if you ask me this kind of affection and love telling should be done on a regular basis and not just during one day.  But because Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and I know how much all of you must be wanting to make something special I wanted to share a recipe that has definitely been a huge success and quite popular on my blog… Pink Velvet Pancakes.  Now its just like my Red Velvet Pancakes but PINK… HOT PINK! 🙂

I didn’t add the chocolate chips in these, but was definitely going to add white chocolate chips but ran out of them, unfortunately… they would of for sure been great.  I did dust powdered sugar all over and slathered maple syrup on top.  Trust me these will perk anyone up and make them smile.  I really do hope you enjoy them as much my cutie pies did…

Happy Valentine’s Day… Now start cooking!

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Does it feel like yesterday that 2012 just started.  I mean just the other day we were all celebrating New Years and gearing up for all that 2012 has in store for us.  Now it’s February and I am literally watching time fly by… Where is it all going?  I know this isn’t a recipe or a knock your socks off take your breath away yummy treat, it’s just little ol me sitting down in my pjs on my bed thinking of all of you readers.

You see, I have been blogging for three years today.  Can you believe it, THREE years.  It feels like I started this blog just yesterday.  Even though there are days sometimes even weeks where I do not get a chance to fill you all in the most recent cooking adventures or recipes that I have don’t think that my mind doesn’t run across you guys.  See I almost forgot our birthday today… can you believe that… I looked at my calendar and said, “Hold on a sec… Feb 6th, that date is special to me… why…?”  Then it hit me… DUH!!!!!!!

Today we, ThatsSoYummy, are Three Years Old.  Even though we are still so young and have so much to learn I just want to give all of you, my readers, fans, and loyal foodies a BIG bear hug and say Thank You!  I also wanted to share a few comments I have been getting from fellow readers that have truly touched my heart…

From Angela:

“I am loving your site. I have bookmarked several of your recipes and can’t wait to try them. Your daughter is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!”

From Kim:

“Dear Tasha,

I was searching for a recipe for banana fritters and came across your website. I’m so glad I did! I have some several ripe bananas and was about to make my mother’s Jamaican Banana Bread (with my own twist: chocolate chips!) but wanted to make banana fritters. I haven’t had them in YEARS. Both of my parents are Jamaican and I am Canadian.  Baking my favorite ‘comfort’ foods always helps, living away from my home city.

Your website is warm, inviting and I really like the personal aspect of it. God bless you and your lovely family and thanks SO much for the wonderful recipes! I’ve bookmarked your site and I will share the link with my friends.”

From Savannah:

“I’m only 12 but i like your recipes and im reallly passionate about cooking and you have helped me be more confident.”

There’s a famous saying in our house, it originated from my husband of course… “What’s sweeter than pork?… More Pork?” LOL… 😀  I don’t know about you but whenever he sys that to me, which he does on a regular basis I just crack up.  Just by that then you know how much he loves his bacon, we all really do.  That’s why when I make twice-baked potatoes now for the family I stuff with them with lots of cheese and yumminess, but especially with sweet fried bacon bits right out the oven.  Doesn’t the thought of that just make your mouth water, I can actually say that mine just did, well a little at least.

The best thing about twice baked potatoes, besides them being so easy to make, you can make them ahead of time and freeze them, or you can stuff them with anything you want… the choices are endless.  These are my favorite, but I would love to hear what yours is.

If you have a favorite recipe or stuffing for twice-baked potatoes, let me know in the comments down below…
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Cinnamon Rolls….

Is there anything sweeter than the smell of freshly baked sugary pillows of cinnamon rolls wafting through the house… NOPE!

Especially when you see them rising in the oven and then take them out and drown them in a maple syrupy glaze that just is out of this world.

You see cinnamon rolls play a special place in my heart, when I was younger my sister and I would always go to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami.  While walking around we would always get a Cinnamon Roll and of course a Funnel Cake.  I remember the cinnamon rolls always being these huge, soft and sticky buns that just completed our day perfectly.  I used Ree, from Pioneer Woman’s, Cinnamon Roll Recipe, which is truly to die for and really easy to make… I also made two different glazes– one that was cream cheese drizzle and the other one a maple syrup drizzle (similar to Ree’s).  My favorite icing I have to say is the Maple one, so yummy!!!! 🙂

Please try these as soon as possible, they are sooooooo worth it!
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Shrimp Fra Diavolo is a perfect date night dish, that takes a classic Italian dish and adds just the right amount of spiciness to it.  I like my dishes with a lot of kick so I add lots of red pepper flakes and handful of fresh chopped garlic, but for those with a less stronger tolerance you can add just a teaspoon or a half to your dish.  I use either linguine or fettucini, whichever one I have on hand at the time, both of these are my all-time favorite kind.  This simple yet elegant dish is fantastic with pieces of crusty baguette and a nice red wine to drink.

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Can you believe that 2011 is practically Finished, Kaput, Terminée,  Done, Finito?!?!!!!

I can’t at all, I’m still trying to believe that 2010 will be here in just a few days.  It’s exciting actually, I cannot wait to see all of the wonderful, exciting, memorable things that God has in store for not only ThatsSoYummy and myself, but for my family and friends as well.  With all that said lets take a look back of all the yumminess that went on in 2011… with recipes, photos, and deliciousness.

1. Red Velvet Pancakes
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