Turkey and Veggie Meatloaf Cupcakes {aka how I get my kids to eat some veggies cupcakes}

Since Valentines is around the corner my kids have been bugging me about making cupcakes.  I don't know if I am ready for the sugar induced coma again (for goodness sake I am still recovering from the holidays!).  As I was planning out dinner and going through the fridge, I realized I had some veggies I seriously needed to cook.  A light bulb went off!  How about putting dinner in cupcake form (and throwing in some hidden veggies),  I love playing motherly pranks on my kids and thought this would be fun to watch.  When they got home from school they noticed the "cupcakes" in the oven and got so excited, until they looked a little closer as I was plating them.  But soon those frowns turned back to smiles once they dug in.  They had so much fun eating them and didn't even notice the good for you ingredients inside.  The beauty of this recipe is that you can use your favorite meatloaf and mashed potato recipe of your choice if you like and it will turn ordinary into awesomeness!  I will definitely be making these again.  Indulge!

Roasted Chicken and Spinach Manicotti

This dish is probably the one I am most proud of.   Not quite 20 years ago (that would make me 9.. right?), I saw a recipe in a little book I had bought at the grocery store.  I was having friends over and really wanted to make something they would enjoy, I had only dabbled in the kitchen and was so unsure of the outcome.  Surprisingly enough they loved it.  Over the years I have tweaked and tweaked on the recipe and changed it to my own liking.  Little did I know that this very recipe would lead me to my love of cooking.  Indulge!