Foodie Friday #18 - Hot Hot Hot

Holy crap - can it get any frickin' hotter?? E and I had to join Lifetime Fitness and jump in the pool just to get a break from the searing heat wave that has scorched Chicago and most of the country. It is BRUTAL out there. I am praying for anyone without A/C and more power to the folks who are conserving energy by only running fans - I mean, I am all for being GREEN but this is ridiculous...

With the heat wave in full throttle I have no energy to write a super fun post with giggles and winks threaded throughout. I am officially wilted (similar to my plants and flowers in the garden) so I am sticking to last weeks format and featuring the most clicked of the week.

First Place -

New York Crumb Cake - Cats and Casseroles. This crumb cake with an extra thick layer of crumb may actually be worth firing up the oven for! Well, you all must think so because you made this crumb cake the most clicked recipe of the week...did anyone give it a whirl? I'd love to know if you had any leftovers because judging by the looks of it this wouldn't last a full day in our house!



Tied For Second...

Lemon Drop Cupcakes - The Lady Behind The Curtain.  These lemony sweet cupcakes are the perfect treat to add a bit of zing to your day!  The glazed lemon slices on top give these babies an extra special touch.  Sheryl (um, aka The Lady Behind the Curtain) has graced our "Top Clicked" list 2 weeks in a row...will she make it a triple??  Stay tuned for next week!

Easy Pizza Sauce - Alli-N-Son.  Perfect timing to have a pizza sauce grace this here blog!  My tomatoes are out in full force and just beginning to turn orange.  Perhaps another week and Ill be mixing up my own organic version of this sauce!!  This is the second week for Allison on the most clicked as well...if you haven't popped over to see these fine ladies ya' don't know what you're missing.  That's right - go on - check 'em out and I'll wait here for you to get back...

And in Third Place with a 4 way tie...

Homemade Fudgesicles - Simply Sweet Home.  Now this is right up my alley.  4 simple ingredients that we all have and only 2-4 minutes in front of the stove.  I just found my Popsicle molds from last year so I am prepping to make a batch tonight.  I'll let you know how it goes though I am wondering about the 3/8's cup measurement for sugar...eh - I'll figure it out!!  I hope they work with vanilla soy milk...

Gwyneth Paltrow's Mom, Blythe's, Cranberry Muffins - 5 Minutes Just For Me.  Natasha was new to Foodie Friday last week and she hit it out of the ball park on her first shot.  Yeah, Natasha!!  I have been dying to get this book so I was so happy to see this link go up!!  Natasha took Blythe's blueberry muffin recipe and adapted it to what was on handy...you know what a fan I am of last minute swap outs!  Sometimes they create the most magical dish.  These look fabulous but I bet the tasted even better!!  Make sure to pop over and send Natasha some love!!

Thumbprint Cookies - Chameleon Girls.  Sticking with the dessert trend these cookies fit in perfectly.  A nice fruity blend with a shortbread bottom.  I love how the girls mixed strawberry and fig to get a fabulous taste combo!  Make sure to pop over and see the recipe for both the cookies and the jam!!  I so agree with these girls and the motto at the bottom reading "A Balanced Diet is a Cookie in each Hand"!  :)

What's With The Meat Green Beans - KB and Whitesnakes Home.  Well - I myself would wonder what's with the meat as well but in my meat eating days I never once questioned Bacon being added to anything.  Yes, I was a bacon lovin' freak often gobbling down a full pound like nobodies business.  Nowadays my husband longs for bacon and can be seen ravaging the bacon platter at any brunch or buffet where it is served - I know, I am so mean to deprive him.  Judging by the clicks this recipe got I am guessing ya'll love you some bacon too!  This is a simple and quick way to jazz up some ordinary green beans and make them baconlicious.  

NOW ON WITH THE PARTY

*Here are couple rules before we get this party kickin'...*

• It would be super nice if you Followed LBR, your hostess with the most-est...while you're at it, leave a comment if you so desire!

• Your link MUST be a food related item, duh! It can be a recipe, a specific dish you are craving, a new foodie product you just found, a specific restaurants specific dish...it can be a picnic you had - I really don't care! Just make me want to eat it!

• {mandatory} Please post my button or a clickable link in your post so others can join in - they are located on the bottom of the right sidebar...Walnuts or Garlic? I dig em' both! If you don't know how to do this just email me and I can help you out...

• Try not to post and run - check out another recipe and see what's cookin' elsewhere! You may just learn something! :)

• Please DO NOT link up your linky parties.

• FYI - By linking up your are giving me permission to use your recipe, blog, and or photos in an upcoming feature. No worries - Ill always link back to you and your blog!! :)

Let the mouth watering, drool inducing, stomach grumbling fun BEGIN!! I'm Hungry...

LET'S EAT!!