Boost Your Buzz Giveaway: Win $1000 Cash With Crazy Daisy

Do you remember that Boost Your Buzz Giveaway for $1000 cash back in April? Well, it's back!!! Who's up for another chance at winning $1000.00 cash paid directly into your paypal account? Ok, besides ME!?!

You are all so wonderful that I jumped at the chance to partner with the Boost Your Buzz Giveaway so that you all have a chance at winning $1000.00, if you want one!!! Yippeee!

Gain entries in this giveaway by following Jasey's Crazy Daisy on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, and Twitter (@JaseysCrzyDaisy). If you already follow, you are already eligible! All you have to do is head over to ONE of these places: Survey Junkie,  Simply Stacie or Little Yaya’s (you only have to enter on one of the sites as the forms will be the same on each) and put a check next to me on the entry form list. Who knows, maybe you are already eligible for more entries!!! If you're not following, get clicking and head over for your chance at this fabulous $1000.00!!!!

The giveaway starts August 1st 12 am EST  and will run until August 15th 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide. 

$1,000 CASH prize will be delivered via Paypal after the winner has confirmed. The winner has 48 hours to confirm their winning notification.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours of receipt of the winning email a new winner will them be drawn and so on and so forth.

What would you do with $1000.00?
Good luck, my friends!

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Cake Batter Cream Cheese Frosting

Summer is screaming by... in fact I made these ages ago, but in the midst of new puppies, swimming lessons, soccer camp, and s'mores, there just hasn't been any time to actually sit down at the computer to do anything productive. So here I am, finally sharing this yummy frosting! It's a cream cheese frosting infused with a little cake batter flavor. I've got to say, we found it pretty spectacular on funfetti cupcakes. What will you frost?

Cake Batter Cream Cheese Frosting
*Adapted from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

1 stick of butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/4 cup white cake mix.... straight from the box (I keep a plastic container filled with cake mix powder in the pantry, with all those cake batter recipes out there, i don't seem to have a problem using it.)
1 Tablespoon milk

Beat cream cheese until lumps are gone. Add butter and vanilla, beat until smooth and combined. Add powdered sugar cake mix and beat on low until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Add one tablespoon of milk and beat until combined. If you prefer a thinner frosting, add milk  a splash at a time until you get your desired consistency. Use to frost what ever you like.

I link at these parties.

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Lucy

What's new? Meet Lucy. Well, mostly Lucy, but sometimes we have a few Lucifer moments. Did I just say that? Nope.

What's new at your house? Anything exciting?

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Mocha Coconut Creme Brownies

I seriously cannot believe I have waited this long to share these with you. What can I say? Life happens! It was a sad day... we lost our little Wheaten, Maya. She got sick. Real sick. She's at peace now. Our hearts are sad, but we are ok. She's not hurting anymore which makes it bearable. There's the down side of things. But we've also had some ups.  We had an amazing visit with my grandparents. I fell in love with pineapple upside down cake and my family had a fabulous train ride. Enjoyed my in-laws company for a few days, along with some fireworks! And to top it off, my almost first grader is home~ which is the best part! I love it when my kids are home and I don't have to share them with the rest of the world... or at least with the school for the majority of the day :)! We're up to nothing but fun now! Which means blogging has sort of taken the back seat. But I'm back with something totally super yummy! I promise. Let me introduce you to my inspiration....

Image by Chuggin McCoffee

Yep, Starbucks Mocha Coconut Creme Frappuccino! Have you had the chance to taste one? If not, do. What are you waiting for? Heaven in a cup. And while their frosty version is amazing, I wanted a brownie version. What do you need to know about these brownies? They are perfect, moist and chewy with a hint of coconut and a hint of coffee. It's been said that they are "off the hook!" Think you should make them? I do.

Mocha Coconut Brownies

Brownies

2 boxes of Betty Crocker Brownie Mix, either the dark chocolate or the fudge brownie mix

4 Tablespoons flour

2/3 cup Coffee-mate Coconut Creme coffee creamer, from the refrigerator section

2 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee (I used 2 Nescafe's Taster's Choice single serve packets)

2/3 cup oil

5 eggs

Coconut Mocha Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 Tablespoons butter, room temperature

2 Tablespoons Coffee-mate Coconut Creme coffee creamer

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease the bottom of a 9x13 pan. In a large bowl, stir flour into dry brownie mix. Add coconut creamer, instant coffee granules, oil, and eggs and stir just until combined. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for around 50 minutes. I would check after 45 minutes, just to make sure. They are done when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

For the glaze dissolve instant coffee granules in coconut creamer. You may need to heat for 8-12 seconds in the microwave.  Stir in vanilla. Whisk in powdered sugar and butter until smooth. Drizzle over slightly cooled brownies. I have a hard time waiting, {gasp} for the brownies to cool all the way, but if you add the glaze too soon, it will melt into the brownies. So do your best and wait a bit.

You'll be glad you did.

Just in case you were wondering about the stars of the show, this is what they look like!

Image from Coffe-mate

Image from Taster's Choice

I used two of those packets that you see above in the brownies and opened one for the glaze... I just keep that tucked away for the next batch. Because there will be a next batch, and another, and another, and another.... you get the point.

Oh yeah, what do you think about the new look?

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Glazed Doughnut Muffins

I don't know about you, but brunch, is probably my most favorite meal. Ever. I think it's because you are  expected to eat the most delicious things, and call it a meal. You don't even have to wait for dessert! Now that's what I call perfection! Doughnuts and muffins seem like a pretty natural brunch food, don't you think? Combining the two only makes it better. Doughnuts + muffins = super delicious and easy and perfect. 

Glazed Doughnut Muffins
*Recipe by Crazy Daisy adapted slightly from The Bakery Spot

Muffin Batter
1/4 cup butter, softened (the other half of the stick will be used in the glaze)
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
1 - 1 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 2/3 cups flour
1 cup milk

Glaze
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons hot water

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease muffin tin, or use paper muffin cups.

Cream together butter, oil, and sugars until smooth. Add eggs, beat to combine. Stir in baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. stir in flour, alternating with milk. Begin and end with flour, and make sure everything is mixed well.

Fill muffins cups, until nearly full. (I used an ice cream scoop and then divided the extra batter between all the muffins.)

Bake for 14-17 minutes, our until pale golden brown and the toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle.

Prepare the glaze by mixing together the melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and water, whisking until smooth.

Dip tops of muffins into the glaze and allow to harden. You can even double dip if you'd like.

Serve warm, for best results, but muffins will keep at room temperature, covered, for a day.

Next time I think I'll try almond instead of vanilla in the glaze. Mmmmmm! Enjoy!

PS - If you are thinking you've seen these before, I shared them over at Kel's place on Friday! If you haven't ever checked out Between the Lines, head over and say hello for me!

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The Little Things {Words To Love By}

Source: sayingimages.com via Jasey on Pinterest

I just ran across this on Pinterest. I am so excited. This is it! This is what I mean up above when I say finding joy in life's little moments~ they just knew how to say it better. It sounds so easy, but don't be fooled. I don't really think it is. I think that technology, among other modern day culprits, set up huge road blocks because they prevent us from being present and we have to be present to those around us, to ourselves in fact, or the simple things pass us by and we never even know it! We are always so distracted. We have so much we want to do, so much we have to do. We get sucked in. Take a moment. Be present and aware and waiting for those unexpected moments to grab your heart and make your very favorite memories. The ones you will hold on to and laugh and cry about forever. Seriously, until the day that you aren't anymore. This is what this life should be about, what we all should really be working for. Happiness lies somewhere in these moments, in having them to hold on to when things get difficult. Memories. Precious memories, they are all we have left in the end, our greatest treasures. Go make some. I dare you.

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Cheddar Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits {My take on Red Lobster's Cheddar Biscuits}

I have a weakness for carbs. Adding buttermilk, garlic, and cheddar cheese certainly doesn't help matters. At all. I don't want to like them. But I do, I simply can't help it. Sometimes they just call my name and I just can't resist.  Especially when I know they are the perfect match for whatever I am serving for dinner. Or maybe they are dinner. They are what I want for dinner. Just kidding, sort of. Seriously, what's not to like, though? Tell me. Maybe you can help me learn to steer away from them. Until then, you will just have to suffer with me. This is my take on those famous Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits. We don't have a Red Lobster in my little corner of Wyoming, so I had to figure out how to make my own. I adapted my recipe from this Top Secret Restaurant recipe. They were pretty close, but I certainly don't remember anything green adorning the biscuits in the restaurant. And good luck getting my kids to eat biscuits sprinkled with anything green. Come to think of it, I don't want my biscuits sprinkled with anything green either. I wanted a softer and moister biscuit, enter buttermilk. And cheddar. More cheddar, after all, isn't the cheese the star of this show?

Cheddar Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits
*Recipe by Crazy Daisy Adapted from here.

Biscuit Ingredients 2 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix
3/4 cups cold buttermilk
4 Tablespoons cold butter, cubed (1/2 stick)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 3/4 cups sharp grated cheddar (sometimes I even use 2 cups)

Butter Glaze
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut butter into Bisquick mix using a pastry cutter or large fork, until small chunks if butter remain the size of peas. Add cheese, buttermilk, and garlic. Mix by hand or with wooden spoon until just combined, don't over mix. Add a splash of buttermilk if mixture seems too dry, the batter will be super thick though, use just enough buttermilk to make everything stick together.

Drop biscuits, by 1/4 cup portions, onto an ungreased cookie sheet. An ice cream scoop works well.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the tops begin to turn golden brown.

Melt two Tablespoons of butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and stir to combine. Brush on top of biscuits with a pastry brush, spreading the entire butter mix between all the biscuits. Makes @ one dozen biscuits.

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