Lunchtime Links for January 31st, 2013

• Serious Eats: Coffee cake muffins.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Bulgogi sliders.
• How Sweet It Is: Bacon blue cheeseburger potato skins.
• Steamy Kitchen: Potato Dominoes. 
• Alaska From Scratch: BBQ chicken wonton tacos with sesame slaw.

Georgetown Cupcake - Caramel Praline Crunch Cupcake

This Caramel Praline Crunch cupcake from Georgetown Cupcake is a new flavor for 2013, and I was definitely looking forward to it when it came out in January! 

This is a Caramel cupcake baked with fresh praline, topped with praline buttercream frosting, a caramel drizzle, and crushed praline.

From the description, it might seem like there's a lot going on for one little cupcake.  Be that as it may, this was super delicious!  I've never been a huge fan of pralines much, but the praline flavor in the cake and frosting wasn't overwhelming at all.  In fact, I'd say the caramel flavor was stronger overall.  As far as texture, the crushed pralines were a great touch.  This was really a tasty cupcake and I'm so happy it was added to the menu rotation.  I hope they bring it back occasionally as the secret free flavor! 

Lunchtime Links for January 30th, 2013

• Brown Eyed Baker: Snickers rice krispie treats. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Spicy sweet potato fries. 
• Steamy Kitchen: Chocolate cake s'mores cookies. 
• Table for Two: Homemade hummus two ways.
• How Sweet It Is: Banana bread tres leches cake. 

Trader Joe's - Mini Gingerbread Men

Aside from the obvious reason, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy aren't these Mini Gingerbread Men sold year-round????????

I picked these up at Trader Joe's as a last-minute cart addition, and I am so, so, so, glad I did.  The little gingerbread cookies have just the right amount of spice, and the white fudge frosting adds some extra sweetness.  These are a delicious holiday treat!

...On second thought, maybe it's best that these aren't available year-round, because I'd probably buy them way too often, haha. 

Lunchtime Links for January 29th, 2013

• Brown Eyed Baker: Chipotle chicken and corn chowder. 
• Picky Palate: Soft batch style chocolate chip cookies. 
• Table for Two: Skinny chicken and broccoli alfredo.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Truffle stuffed chocolate chip cookies. 
• How Sweet It Is: No-bake double chocolate peanut butter snack bites. 

Georgetown Cupcake - Free Vanilla Champagne Cupcake

At the beginning of the month, Georgetown Cupcake offered this pretty Vanilla Champagne cupcake as the free secret flavor of the day, woo!  I really enjoyed their Strawberry Champagne cupcake before so of course I was excited to try this one out.

This cupcake looks like the regular Vanilla Squared cupcake, but you can tell a difference in the taste, a little different than the regular vanilla flavor.  I love the idea of adding champagne to cupcakes - a fun and festive way to switch up the regular cupcake flavors.  The fondant 2013 snowflake was also a cute little touch.  This cupcake was a great way to ring in the New Year!

Lunchtime Links for January 28th, 2013

• I Heart Naptime: Reese's peanut butter cookies. 
• Smitten Kitchen: Gnocchi in tomato broth. 
• Dessert for Two: Chocolate cobbler. 
• How Sweet It Is: Creamy pasta verde with garlic brown butter breadcrumbs. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Maple glazed cinnamon French toast donuts.