Happy Friday, everyone – welcome to the weekend!
This week I started noticing a change in the air. My Mom, who works in the school system, went back to work after having the summer off, and that coupled with less kids floating around the playgrounds and pools makes it feel like summer is really coming to a close. Do you feel it too? Cue eyes shut tight, fingers in my ears, and intense singing of LA LA LA!
Luckily we still have one quintessential summer event coming our way – the Iowa State Fair! As if I wasn’t excited enough, this year they’re offering a gluten-free corn dog aka my prayers have been answered! My yearly fresh fried, foot long corn dog was one of the foods I mourned the most after going gluten-free so I was over the moon after learning I’d be able to get my hands on one this year. Still holding out for the gluten-free deep-fried butter on a stick…NOT! I will never be able to unsee the image of a guy biting into one end and an arc of melted butter shooting out the other. Only at the state fair. ;)
Anyway, we’re heading down this weekend as a family but I’ll also be there August 18th and 20th from 12-1pm in the southeast corner of the Varied Industries Building handing out FREE Iowa Food and Family cookbooks. Please stop by and say hi, and get your free cookbook (which will be available for download later this year if you don’t live here!) if you can!
In the meantime wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend, and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click the light blue link to be taken to the original source.
Favorite fresh: Quilted Salad. Did a more summery dish ever exist?? So beautiful!
Favorite twist: Cordon Bleu Hot Dog. Summer is when I indulge in hot dogs and brats (and now corndogs!) to my heart’s content, and this spin on the plain ol’ dog looks absolutely Heavenly. Damn I miss squishy buns though!
Favorite fashion. I adore this whole fall-inspired outfit. The shirt is too cool with the fringe, and I love that bell bottoms are making a comeback…just when I got into skinny jeans. #storyofmylife ;)
Favorite grill: Grilled Corn with Spicy Buffalo Butter. I’ve seen 101 different grilled corn + compound butter combos floating around the web, but never this one – wow! The corn around here right now is candy-sweet and I can only imagine how delectable it’d taste with spicy buffalo butter.
Favorite help: 45 Wall Art Arrangements. This PDF is helpful not only because it shows over 45 different wall art arrangement combos, but because it comes with exact measurements to do them too. Awesome!
Favorite sneak: Double Chocolate Banana Bread. This decadent looking bread reminds me of my Healthier Chocolate Zucchini Bread Muffins. Healthier baked goods + chocolate = total win in my book!
Favorite must have: Cheese-Stuffed Tater Tots. OMG. So easy – I cannot wait to make these crunchy cheese bombs for Ben.
Favorite help: 10 Ways to Wear Ankle Boots. I bought my first pair of ankle boots last fall and have worn them exactly once because I have no idea how…until now! This is so helpful for the style challenged (aka me!)
Favorite bite: Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites. Sweet, sweet chicken bacon bites – come to Mama! Would it be ok to eat a giant plate of these for dinner?
Favorite treat: Big Soft M&M Cookies. Delicious cookie pillows would have also been a good name for these babies, I think. YUM.
Favorite DIY: DIY Shelving. I love the industrial, “I didn’t try too hard” look of these shelves, and especially how they’re styled. Awesome find!
Favorite tip: Easy Way to Freeze Bacon. I have been waiting my whole life for this tip! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve only needed a slice or two of frozen bacon but had to thaw the whole half pack (or whatever’s left) because I obviously can’t peel off a single frozen slice. Game changer.
Favorite craving: Asian Salmon and Noodles. There isn’t anything on this plate that doesn’t speak directly to my soul – especially the saucy noodles and especially the crispy salmon. I cannot WAIT to try this recipe!
Favorite woah: Toasted Marshmallow No Bake Cheesecake. Like I said…woah!! Who needs a campfire or plain square krispie treat when you’ve got this crazy-cool combo?
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Hi! Could you share the outfit details please? Or similar options? Thanks so much!
45+ Wall Art Arrangements – awesome find. It’s always so difficult to figure out what to do!
So excited….I will be at the Fair on the 20th (all the way from Texas). Hope to meet you and get your cookbook!
Hooray for more gluten-free options for you and others who need them! Enjoy the heck out of that corn dog!!!
I often use Udi’s gluten free hot dog buns. Mostly because that’s pretty much the only kind of gluten free hot dog bun I can find. But if you put one in the microwave for about 20 seconds, it softens it up a bit. :) Also, I was lamenting French bread one day, and another gluten-free friend tipped me off to using the hot dog buns to make garlic bread. It works!
So many great links! Thanks. The chicken bacon bites look mouthwatering.
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
OMG rice krispie cheesecake I am going to die right now!!
Dude! I know ads help you out but that clickbait ad with the weird indentations on the skin or knees is giving me the creeps.
Got rid of my cookies thinking it was coming from me but no.
It just does not belong with images of food.
Am I the only one that’s grossed out by this?
Hi Cara! I’m so sorry for the bad experience and will do my best to get it off my site ASAP. I know which ad you’re talking about, though I’ve never seen it here on the site. Regardless, yes, you’re right, it does not belong with food. Thanks for letting me know!
Hi Cara, just an update, we were able to replicate the ad and have it blocked. Thanks again for bringing it to my attention!
Thank you so much!
ALL the food! I want all the food! Actually the ways to ankle boots is helpful I just picked up a new pair and should know how to wear them before fall. Shhhhhh don’t say summer is coming to a close I’m in denial about that.
Can’t wait to make that Asian salmon with noodles! Uh, YUM!!!
Will definitely be trying the Double Chocolate Banana Bread and the Asian Salmon and Noodles. Both look amazing! Thanks for the inspiration :)
Ditto!
So. Much. Good. Food. Cheese stuffed tater tots?!?!?
Hope to see you at the fair on the 20th and get your cookbook! We saw you last year with your family! Enjoy your time at the fair.
Sad that summer is slowly coming to a close, it always goes so fast!