This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Caramel and Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin Bread I love the Holiday Season! October - December is my favorite part of the year. During those months my days are filled with family and friends, home cooked meals, giving thanks and sharing of gifts and talents. Since my most favorite time is currently here I have been spending as much time as I can with my friends and family. That includes hosting many dinner parties. I am currently preparing my #TasteTheSeason menu for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to get cooking! Each year I host Thanksgiving and/or Christmas at my house. I invite just about everyone I know to attend. Every year I make the main dish, a few side dishes and a couple desserts. I love to cook....but the fun of it is when everyone else also brings along their favorite Thanksgiving sides and desserts to share! This year I will be making my husbands favorite dessert. … [Read more...]
Pretzel Turkeys – Perfect Thanksgiving Treat!
Pretzel Turkeys - Perfect Thanksgiving Treat! As most of you know I have chosen to home school this year. One of the reasons that I have chosen to home school is so that I can have fun coming up with creative ways to learn. I love making fun treats with the kids. Especially when it comes to holiday treats. Recently we were able to make some fun Pretzel Turkeys! These were not only great tasting treats but they were also easy enough for the older and younger kids! Pretzel Turkeys Ingredients Pretzels Candy Corn Rolos Reese’s Pieces Sugar Pearls Instructions Preheat oven to 300˚. On a sheet tray lined with parchment paper lay your pretzels with the salted side down with the double rounded end pointed toward you. Place three candy corns on the single round end. I start with the middle one and just place the tip under the middle of pretzel and the top part resting on the top of the pretzel. Place the other … [Read more...]
Halloween Monster Mouths!
** I was provided with product for the purpose of this review. However, my own opinion was used and not influenced in any way. Halloween Monster Mouths! I always have a house full of kids and I love making fun items with them for the holiday's! Recently the kids had a week long Fall Break which allowed us to spend a whole week doing nothing but fun crafts and recipes to get us in the Halloween spirit! One of the treats that the kids decided to make were Halloween Monster Mouths! These were not only a hit with them....but I loved them because they were healthy! Oh and did I mention super easy to make? Check out the recipe and instructions below! Ingredients: Sliced Apple Betty Crocker Fruit By The Foot - any color 1/2 cup peanut butter about 20 marshmallows ( or you can use Fruit Gushers to mix it up) Directions: 1. Spread peanut butter on two apple slices. 2. Take about 4 inches of a Betty Crocker Fruit … [Read more...]
Edible Plant Cell – HomeSchooling Fun!
Edible Plant Cell - HomeSchooling Fun! I love home schooling my daughter. We enjoy learning together and also coming up with fun crafts or recipes to make her learning experience more hands on and fun. Recently we were studying about plant cells. I thought it would be fun to actually make a plant cell that we could eat. My daughter loved that idea and immediately sat down with a pen and paper to come up with her ideas and a grocery list. This was fun and educational because my daughter had to look at each feature of a plant cell and pick and choose what items would work best and actually look like they do in real life. For example she decided that the Golgi Body looked more like string candy and the Nucleus looked more round like a hard cinnamon candy. Of course after making the list of candy and sweets my daughter could not wait to make this tasty plant cell model. So we rushed out to the store and purchased our extensive list of sweet goodies. When we got home … [Read more...]
Orange Cream Jell-O My Game day food AND Jell-O University Molds! #TeamJellO #shop #cbias
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Orange Cream Jell-O Game day food AND Jell-O University Molds! If you are an avid reader of my blog then you know that I am a huge football fan! As you probably know I am always trying to post about my favorite game day food! I love football season! I am always hosting parties for pro and college football games. This year I am #TeamJellO because of all their amazing Jell-O University molds! Recently I was able to host a party thanks to #CollectiveBias in celebration of the Florida Gators! This was a pre-football party to celebrate the kick off of their season! They play their first game August 30!! I can't wait! Ok so some of you might be wondering why I chose Florida Gators when I live in Colorado. Well that is because my step dad is from Florida. Also because my Mom and step dad had my 8 year old little brother together. My brother is a football fan just like … [Read more...]
Glitter Grapes! – Great Healthy Snack for School Lunches!
Glitter Grapes With school back in session have have been racking my brain trying to come up with new ideas for my daughters school lunches. My goal is to pack healthy lunches for my daughter but also add a variety of great tasting foods that she will love to eat while she is away. One of the snacks I have been making here recently is Glitter Grapes. Well this is the name that my daughter has given to her new favorite snack 'Jello Grapes'. I had never heard of adding Jello to grapes before but one of my friends told me about it and so we decided to give it a try! Glitter Grapes are very easy to make! Just take 1b of grapes, remove them from the stem and wash thoroughly. Once grapes are washed place them on paper towel to help remove excess water. As grapes are slightly drying on paper towel you can empty a box of dry Jello mix into a bowl. The Jello can be an flavor you choose. My daughter wanted Peach Jello for this recipe. Once the … [Read more...]
S’more Brownies
S'more Brownies S'more Brownie Ingredients - ¾ C. flour 2 C. semi-sweet chocolate 2 tbs cocoa powder 4 tbs. butter 3 eggs 1 ½ C. sugar ½ C. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1 tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Salt 2 tbs. sugar 1 C. graham cracker crumbs 3 tbs. melted butter or margarine 1 bag of large marshmallows (you will need approximately 45 marshmallows cut into thirds for your S'more layer) (2) 12 ct. muffin tins or 15 Silicone Baking cups (optional but highly recommended and awesome = easy clean-up!!) Directions - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. #1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside. #2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate in 15-20 second increments, stirring until completely melted. Let cool 2-3 minutes. #3. In another bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add in the melted chocolate … [Read more...]
Oreo Cookie Cupcakes
Oreo Cookie Cupcakes Oreo cookies are by far my most favorite store bought cookies. I love the chocolate cookie with the cream in the middle. There is just something about it that I can't get enough of. Because of my love of Oreo's I am always trying to incorporate them into as many desserts as possible! Like these tasty Oreo Cookie Cupcakes! Yum! Ingredients: 1 package of oreos 1 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup of sugar 6 table spoons of butter (melted or room temp) Recipe: 1. First start by separating the centers from the oreos. Place the oreo cookie part into a food processor or blender. Then place the icing centers into a bowl and set aside for later. Get your blender or processor and make the cookies into very small crumbs. 2. Now melt your butter and mix that with your cookie crumbs and place a heaping table spoon of those into the cupcake liners and press firmly down until they are all gone. 3. Grab your icing centers and put that in your bowl … [Read more...]
Mint Minecraft Creeper Rice Krispie Treats
Mint Minecraft Creeper Rice Krispie Treats It is no secret that Minecraft is taking the world by storm. It is a very popular game, especially among the kids. That is why I know that the kids will love this fun to make summer time treat! The kids will love to help you create the Minecraft Creeper faces and eat them! Yum! THINGS YOU WILL NEED: Glass Baking Dish Square Cookie Cutter Frosting Bags Frosting Bag Couplers Frosting Tips Rice Krispies Green Food Coloring Mini Marshmallows Black Chocolate Melts MINT RICE KRISPY INGREDIENTS: 3 Tbsp butter 10oz Bag Marshmallows ½ tsp peppermint extract Green food coloring 5 cups crispy rice cereal DIRECTIONS Melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir till melted. Add Food Coloring. Add Rice Krispies and stir until well coated. Lightly butter or spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, press Rice Krispie mix into prepared pan. Cut into squares. CREEPER FACE Melt Black … [Read more...]
Almond Joy Brownies
Almond Joy Brownies My Mom is a sucker for coconut and she loves Almond Joy bars. As I was trying to come up with something creative for Mother's Day I decided to take her favorite candy to the next level and make her some Almond Joy Brownies! Almond Joy Brownies Ingredients - ¾ C. flour 2 C. semi-sweet chocolate 2 tbs cocoa powder 4 tbs. butter 3 eggs 1 ½ C. sugar ½ C. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1 tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Salt 10-12 Almond Joy candy bars 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan Frosting ingredients - ¼ C. butter or margarine, softened 1/3 C. cocoa 2 C. powdered sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla 3 tbs milk Directions - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish with foil and spray with a non-stick spray. #1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside. #2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter … [Read more...]
Lemon Glazed Lemon Bread
Lemon Glazed Lemon Bread I remember the first time I ate a lemon. I was about 7 years old and I was with my Aunt Jolene who was around 14. She used to cut lemons into wedges and eat them like an orange. I remember that sometimes she would eat them with salt and other times without. One day as she was eating a lemon she offered me a slice. I have been addicted ever since! There is something about that tangy and tart flavor that I can't resist! My daughter is now the age I was during my first lemon experience and I can honestly say that she loves to eat lemons as well! It makes my husband cringe each time he sees my daughter pop a lemon wedge into her mouth! Ingredients: 1 ¾ cup of flour 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder 1 teaspoon of salt 1 ¼ cup of sour cream 1 ¼ cup of sugar 3 Large Eggs ½ cup of Vegetable oil 2 Tablespoons of Lemon Extract (yellow Lemon Sqeezes) 1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract Oven is set at 350 degrees and needs to bake … [Read more...]
Easter Caramel Corn
Easter Caramel Corn The look of excitement on my daughters face is one of the greatest joys in my life. I love to see her shining eyes and a smile on her face. That is why I have been building the anticipation for Easter with lots of Easter time crafts and snacks. Today I have another adorable Easter time snack to share with you. This idea is really easy and fun for the kids just like my Adorable Bunny Pretzels and my Pudding Box Planter Cookies that I posted recently. Ingredients: 4 cups plain air popped popcorn 1 cup butter 2 cups light brown sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 bag of Easter candy, any type you want. I used jelly beans 1 cup Almond Bark , melted and divided into 4 seperate bowls-to drizzle over popcorn Food Coloring Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. … [Read more...]
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread I love to bake bread with my daughter. There is something comforting about baking together and then eating the fruits of our labor as we cuddle on the couch. Each time my daughter and I bake bread we try to come up with different ideas. Some of you might remember my Mango Bread or my coconut bread....well now I have yet another amazing bread to add to the list! Chocolate Chip Banana Bread! Banana bread of any kind is a huge hit at my house. But, when you add chocolate to it....it takes it to a whole new level! Ingredients 2 ripe bananas (with all the lumps mushed out) 1 cup vanilla yogurt (not plain, but can be low fat) 1/4 cup of real maple syrup 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla 1/4 cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil (vegetable oil can be used) 2 cups of all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons of baking soda 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 cup chocolate chips (plus some extra for the … [Read more...]
Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge!
Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge! I am addicted to Reese's! They are one of my all time favorite candies. There is something magical about peanut butter and chocolate together! These are the type of candy that I purchase and hide somewhere away from the kids! If you love Reese's as much as I do then you will want to make this amazing Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge! Recently I have been trying to figure out what I am going to make for Easter Dinner. Now I know this is not a dinner idea...but I think that this Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge will make a tasty (and easy to make) dessert for everyone! Plus You can use the Reese's Chocolate Easter Eggs to make this extra special! Yum! To make the Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge I used a 12x8 Pan, but you can use any thing you want. A 9x13 tends to be too big so for that size you may want to double the ingredients. Directions: First you will want to line the pan with Wax paper and Spray with cooking oil. Using Reese's candy of any … [Read more...]
Bunny Pretzels – Fun Snack For The Kids!
Bunny Pretzels - Fun Snack For The Kids! We are counting down to Easter and Spring Time here at my house. This past week I have watched the grass in my front yard begin to green, the flowers start to peek through the dirt and the snow clouds turn to rain clouds. With all these beautiful changes comes the renewal of Spring! As we count down the days to Spring my family and I have had a blast doing "spring time" activities. We have recently got the bikes out of the garage, broke out our flip flops.....and started making ready for spring time snacks! Items Needed: Mini pretzels White chocolate chips, melted Red gel frosting Black gel frosting Directions: Place pretzels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place melted chocolate in a piping bag or zip lock bag with a small corner cut off. Pipe melted chocolate into the holes of the pretzels first, then carefully outline the pretzel and fill in remaining empty space. Allow chocolate to harden for 10-15 … [Read more...]