Summer Spotlight: Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen

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The Summer Spotlight focuses on great ideas for the home from a different blogger each week. This week we’re casting the spotlight on Belle of the Kitchen.

Welcome to the Summer Spotlight where we’re sharing great ideas for the home from a new blogger each week this summer! This week our featured blogger is Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen.

Summer Spotlight with Kenarry, View from the Fridge, Oh My! Creative and One Krieger Chick

The Summer Spotlight is a collaborative effort to showcase great ideas from a different talented blogger each Friday throughout the summer months. Follow my co-hosts and I online to see the great ideas we share year-round:

Carrie of Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®

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Katie of View from the Fridge

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Susan of Oh My! Creative

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Ariean of One Krieger Chick

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I’m Carrie from Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® here today to cast a spotlight on my friend, Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen. Ashlyn and I first connected several months ago when we each started blogging. We were both overwhelmed and excited with all that we’d been learning about the ins/outs of our new role as bloggers. We quickly connected and started to share tips, struggles, and exciting news. It was great to have our first real friend in the blogosphere as there’s only so much our husbands really want to hear about our blogs.

Ashlyn originally hails from Georgia, but as a devoted Army wife and mother of two she is currently stationed in Hawaii. There were several days this winter when I enviously encouraged her to send some of that warm weather our way! Besides Ashlyn’s southern charm and friendly encouragement, what’s really impressed me about her is all the beautiful photos of delicious food on her blog. At Belle of the Kitchen, Ashlyn is focused on sharing creative recipes for both healthy eating and indulging your sweet tooth. I was thrilled when she said we could share some of them with you in this week’s Summer Spotlight.

Belle of the Kitchen on Summer Spotlight

Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen - Summer Spotlight

NOTE: If you love the recipes in the Summer Spotlight this week, please pin them from the original source, Belle of the Kitchen.

Life is Short. Eat Dessert First.

I recently read that saying on a sign in a friend’s cupcake shop, so I thought I’d start with the spotlight on Ashlyn’s Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes. It’s one of the first recipes I discovered on Belle of the Kitchen. As of this writing, the cupcakes have been pinned almost 1700 times. You can see why. Don’t they look amazing?

Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes

Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes from Belle of the Kitchen

Breakfast: The Most Important Meal of the Day

My husband and I have always loved the song by Jack Johnson about Banana Pancakes, so I was drawn to Ashlyn’s Greek Yogurt Banana Pancakes. Why not start your weekend with these on Saturday morning?

Greek Yogurt Banana Pancakes

Greek Yogurt Banana Pancakes - Belle of the Kitchen

Zucchini, Zucchini, and More Zucchini

If you grow zucchini in your garden, you know by the end of the summer you’ll have an overwhelming number of zucchini to contend with. Be sure to visit Ashlyn’s site and pin her Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars recipe for later. You’re going to need it.

Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars

Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars - Belle of the Kitchen

Summer Party Fare

If you’re planning a summer picnic with friends or family, I’ve taken the liberty of putting together your menu courtesy of Belle of the Kitchen. You can thank me (and Ashlyn!) later.

First Course: Appetizer

When I’m at a restaurant, spinach artichoke dip is one of my favorite appetizers to order. Ashlyn’s created a skinny version your guests will love.

 Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip

Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip - Belle of the Kitchen

Second Course: Salad

Tired of the usual tossed salads this summer? Ashlyn’s got a fabulous recipe for Strawberry Spinach Salad along with a great tutorial about how to make cinnamon and sugar roasted pecans.

 Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing - Belle of the Kitchen

Main Course: Burgers

What summer barbecue would be complete without burgers? Ashlyn makes these with ground turkey which makes them healthier than the usual beef burgers. If you don’t have access to a grill, Ashlyn shows how you can pan fry them too. If you need a side dish and still have a lot of zucchini leftover after making her Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars, check out her recipe for Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin.

Bacon Ranch Turkey Burgers

Bacon Ranch Turkey Burgers - Belle of the Kitchen

Dessert: Save the Best for Last

If we started with cupcakes, it seems only fitting to end with them too. Ashlyn’s Tres Leches Pina Colada Cupcakes are a refreshing way to satisfy your guests’ sweet cravings. Don’t they look great for summer?

Tres Leches Pina Colada Cupcakes

Tres Leches Pina Colada Cupcakes - Belle of the Kitchen

We are grateful Ashlyn allowed us to cast the spotlight on her wonderful recipes this week. If you loved these great food ideas, be sure to follow Ashlyn on:

Belle of the Kitchen

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

If you enjoyed this feature about Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen, you may want to check out the other bloggers we’ve featured in the Summer Spotlight.

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4 Comments

  1. Carrie, I am just so touched by your kind words and this amazing feature that you have written about little ole me. I can’t even begin to say a proper thank you for the time and effort you took to give me such an honor here on your blog, and what a wonderful friend you have become to me in the past few months. Navigating this path of blogging and establishing a voice can be a challenge, but it’s because of the support from friends like you that I find myself growing and improving. I am constantly inspired by the wonderful ideas you share, and the kind, genuine way you reach out and promote others. Your blog and ideas are always so well written and you are an excellent role model for myself and other bloggers to aspire to be like. THANK YOU so much for sharing my recipes and my blog with your readers and community. You have made me feel very special, and I will be grinning from ear to ear all day. 🙂

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