Deliciously Easy Recipes
Hey there!! Did you know that this month I’m celebrating my blog birthday? Yep!! For the last 8 years I have been on this blogging journey. I can’t believe it’s been that long. But since it’s a milestone to celebrate I have joined up with some of MY FAVORITE bloggers who are also celebrating their blog birthday’s too to bring you this Blog Birthday Bash with a $500 Cash Giveaway!!!
You may have noticed – I’m sort of in party food mode around here. It’s probably my favorite thing to make – other than treats of course. But with the playoffs happening & the big game right around the corner- it’s on my mind all the time. I find myself waking at 2am & having to get up to write down ideas that pop into my head. I love love love appetizers & snacks. One of my all time favorites that we have been making for at least the last 15 years are these Parmesan Tortilla Chips.
Making homemade tortilla chips is super simple & in my opinion- WAY better than anything you can buy in a bag. So when it comes to making homemade nachos or having something to dip into our favorite taco dip – these are my go-to thing. We like to use sea salt & popcorn salt & then parmesan cheese. I know it sounds strange. But many years ago we used to visit this little hole in the wall taco stand. They had the best food there & they added parmesan to their tortillas. So not only do we do that with our homemade taco shells – but with these chips too. SO GOOD!
Today I’m also participating in this Tailgate Party Hop!
Check out all these other amazing tailgating recipes!
Want to see more of the recipes we like to make for game day?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cup Sundae
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Fry Sauce is a simple dipping sauce blending the tangy flavors of ketchup and mayo. Commonly found in Utah, southern Idaho & rural Oregon- it’s a favorite!
It’s no secret that we love our Game Time Grub in this house. Homegating is a weekly occurrence & it almost always includes Fry Sauce.
Now- being that I grew up in So Cal – fry sauce wasn’t something that I grew up with. If it didn’t come from In & Out Burger – I didn’t really know it existed.
Then we moved here to North Idaho & we had a little place specific to the North West literally smell distance from our little rental at the time. The hubs picked up burgers, several tubs of fries & this stuff called fry sauce to feed our hungry crew while we unloaded the moving truck.
I reluctantly tried some- I’m just like that about new things. We all were absolutely amazed & it has become my “can’t live without” condiment. I used to be able to run on over & pick up a few tubs for our homegating events because it was literally so close to our house.
But now that we have bought this house & moved to a new town – the closest location is quite a little jaunt.
So – being that I love to find ways to make it myself, I decided to try my hand at it. 5 recipes later – THIS IS THE ONE! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas?
I love it even more than the original. I have to admit- I add this stuff to everything- it’s not just for fries. It was great on these onion rings. I also love it on chicken tenders, hash browns, home fries, burgers, hot dogs & so much more.
If you have never had fry sauce before- you HAVE TO give it a try. I think there is something similar in the South called comeback sauce. I can see why it’s called that. It’s definitely a regional thing.
I know that Utah is known for it. The family was happy about that during our trip to SLC last April. They didn’t have to go without their favorite dipping sauce while we traveled.
Because of the mayo this won’t freeze well. But the portion that this makes is small enough that you could reasonably get through all of it within the 7 days that it should stay good for in the fridge. You can always cut the recipe in half if needed instead.
You can, and we do it often. In fact, a double or triple amount is perfect for a large family.
Just keep it refrigerated for up to 7 days. As long as you don’t let it sit out at room temperature for too long, this should keep well when chilled.
We love this fry sauce so much that we like to use it on just about everything. Here is a list of our favorites
If you love this Easy Fry Sauce recipe, you’re going to love these other recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Hello there my friends! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Are you getting excited for the big game? We love this time of year – even if our team isn’t in the playoffs. We love football & we celebrate it each weekend with a spread of appetizers. Homegating is our thing & coming up with tasty new snacks is part of the fun. We like to let the kids help come up with these new snack ideas, which usually means they are centered around their favorite foods. For instance, this Peperoncini & Salami Appetizer is on top of their must make list.
You see – my son REALLY loves peperoncinis. When he was about a year old he would grab them out of the salad bowl when we would dine out & just munch on them whole. We would always wait for the heat to get to him & expected him to cry. But he never did – he just wanted more. Needless to say – all these years later & they are still a favorite snack of his. He will add them to just about anything – which is why he loves this appetizer so much.
Now my younger daughter – she loves salami. She loves it so much that she asked for her very own that she didn’t have to share. Yep – right on her Christmas list – a salami. I know- I thought it was strange too. She just had to write it on the grocery list. But she wanted her own. So when it comes to this snack – it’s hard to make enough for everyone. The kids just can’t get enough.
Looking for more great party recipes?
Here are some SUPER YUMMY recipes we will be making on game day.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
A while back my friend Andi shared a peak into her day with her post A Day in the Life of The Weary Chef. I LOVED seeing how my friend spend their days & vowed to do a similar post here on Kleinworth & Co. Well – many months later, I’m finally getting around to sharing A Day in the Life of Kleinworth & Co. It’s just a little snippet into my lifestyle blogger life behind the scenes. Oddly enough this particular day didn’t involve recipe creation or recipe pics even though that is a huge part of my work here. But this day what I captured shows a whole lot of all the other things that I do here to keep things humming along. Then this week – in the midst of all this – we started back with school again too. So add in there homeschooling a 6th, 8th & 11th grader & all the teaching, checking & test giving among all the nuttiness of my day. So anyhow- here is just a little bit of what happens here at Kleinworth & Co.
The alarm goes off at 5am. By the time I got my sweater & socks on, pulled my hair back & checked my phone for anything urgent it was 5:12 & time to snap the first pic of the day. I headed downstairs with the hubs to grab some coffee & have a little couple time.
So the hubs & I spend each morning down in our pub room catching a little news & discussing our day ahead over a nice hot cup of coffee. It’s a great way to get my brain on the same page as my to-do list.
Then by 5:30 or so I’m up in my studio & ready to get to work. I take a look at my planner, check my task board & go through anything else that was dumped on my desk to deal with that day. This particular day the priority is to wrap up some edits on some client work & get those pics delivered to her.
So after checking my blog post of the day & promoting & doing all my social media I clean out the 100-200 emails in the inbox. Then I get started on processing 150+ images for my client who sells party & gift type products.
I take a break – get myself pulled together for the day & I’m back in the studio.
Next task – new session for more products from the same client. I get each product staged, captured & then I go through & pick the best images for the final shots to be delivered.
On a regular blogging day, this would normally be the time when I get in the kitchen & start creating. Then with the completion of each recipe I truck it all upstairs to the studio & capture it. Styling & props are the part when I usually call in the kids to help with things like holding a spoon or a reflector. Then depending on the recipe -they sometimes get to eat the “famous piece” as they put it.
Then I get back to processing more of the original images I started on earlier in the morning. I finally wrap them all up & send them on over to her. Now my head is clear & I can focus on blog stuff.
Like I mentioned – I didn’t spend this day doing any recipe creation or images. That’s because I did all that the day before & so I had a ton of things to process & get posted. So I started with edits.
By now I’m ready to really get going on writing. Unfortunately my internet had been spotty all day. After a call to find out what was going on – I found out that I was not the only one. It was a widespread issue. Not that it made it any better – since I had a ton I wanted to get done- but I did feel better that it wasn’t an internal issue & that I could expect things to be back to normal soon. So I just wrote out my posts in word while I waited so I could just copy & paste in when I was finally connected again.
Well – all that time not being wasted really paid off. I was able to get everything scheduled out in time. Since this was New Year’s Eve – I really wanted to get everything dialed out so I could walk away from the office on New Year’s Day – and potentially the rest of the weekend. I wasn’t sure if the hubs would be staying home or not – so I thought it was good to be prepared.
I decide to take a couple minutes to look for dinner ideas on Pinterest before the hubs gets home.
Now during this time the hubs came home & we made some dinner. Then all the clean up from that. Sometimes he comes home & we head to the gym for a few hours as a family. But since it was New Year’s Eve – they were closing early for the night. So we stayed in & made some yummies instead.
We try to have a policy of not picking up the phones during this time because it’s our time to go over everything that happened through the day. Plus – dinner time is so busy – I rarely even think to pick up the phone to take pics anyhow. So unless something urgent & work related comes through – we try to leave the phones alone.
In the evenings we like to have a little time relaxing/work between dinner & bed. I usually curl up on the chaise & go through messages & do a little planning on the editorial calendar. The hubs usually curls up next to me & gives me ideas on things he thinks I should post about. It’s his little contribution to what you all see here.
Then – just like that – a call comes through & he’s off to go help with whatever emergency is happening. This particular night – a possible structure fire. I was happy that we didn’t already head to bed. These sorts of things usually happen at 3am. So since he’s going to get called away from our evening- I would rather it happen during our down time. However – we can’t control when emergencies happen- it’s the nature of what he does.
The hubs finally comes home & we shut down the house & say goodnight to the dog who guards the entry.
Then it’s upstairs to get a little rest before we do it all again.
So there you have it- a little glimpse into a random day here.
Want to see more behind the scenes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
From the looks of things around here I have been on quite an oat kick lately. That’s okay. Oats are so versatile. You can make them super healthy or really go all out with them & make an amazing treat. I have mentioned before that I like to keep everything in moderation. That means that just because I’m sharing healthier recipes with you to kick off the new year – I’m not abandoning my favorite goodies. I’m just keeping them more for the weekends now. One of my favorite little things to make are these Kit Kat Oat Bars. No bake- whip together in minutes – well that has my name all over it.
These literally come together in just moments. I love that they are no bake – because it takes that big ol’ oven a while to heat up. So if I’m baking I try to make it worth my while & do a few things at a time when it’s on. But I don’t always have the time for that & that’s where these come in.
The hubs can mention that he’d like a treat while we are having dinner. I can whip these up before I do the after-dinner clean up & pop them in the freezer (instead of the fridge- to chill faster) while I wash dishes. They are set & ready to enjoy by the time I’m ready to relax.
Want more easy no-bake recipes?
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars
Banana Marshmallow Fudge Parfait
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Just because we went through the holidays doesn’t mean we weren’t going gangbusters around here behind the scenes doing projects for the house. I have something to share with you all. Way back in September we changed out some of our can lights in the kitchen to pendant lights on a whim. I wanted to share the super quick & easy process & the final result. But with all the holiday posts to share- I didn’t get to it. Until now. Today I’m going to share with you all How to Change Can Lights to Pendant Lights in less than 10 minutes because it was really just oh so simple.
Here is what it looked like before we got started.
We started out one weekend wanting to change out the light above the island & the two above the sink. We actually began with pulling out the cans & completely rewiring them with the kit lights that you purchase in pieces. I captured it all & was going to share it with you here. Unfortunately the lights we chose were all wonky & didn’t hang perfectly straight. We have a house full of people with OCD – so bent cords & lights not hanging perfectly straight just wasn’t an option for us. So we tore them out & put the old can lights back in while I waited for new lights to be delivered.
We decided to just give in & spend a little more & buy the handy “screw in a light bulb easy” kit instead.
About 10 days later we got home from the gym in the evening & there they were waiting for us on the front porch.
We couldn’t even wait until after we made dinner. We opened the box & got started.
We chose ones similar to these Bronze Pendant, CONVERSION KIT
The process was so quick. Just remove from packaging & determine how far down you want the pendant to hang. In our case we had to measure all 3 to be sure they were all exactly the same length. Then wrap the cord around the hook at the base of the socket screw.
Then take out your existing light bulb & screw in the new light.
Push the mount cover carefully up the cord & flush to the ceiling. Tighten the piece that keeps it all together.
Then add your light bulb & you are done. We then repeated the process for the other two lights above the sink. That simple. We chose the cool vintage style bulbs since they show in the open cage.
See – I told you it was so EASY! I love how it makes my new kitchen so much more personal than before.
Stay tuned through 2015! We have some great projects to share with you. Some already completed that I have been just dying to share. Others I’m just itching to get working on. I have so many things I want to do to this house or create for it. The hubs & I joke that I need a whole second blog just for projects because I could easily let them take over if I were to share them all here. So I will keep them sporadic for now until I figure out a better way of sharing it all.
Want more simple home projects?
2nd Master Bath Vanity
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Oh how I love a great healthy breakfast that tastes fabulous. Just a little cup of goodness that keeps me going all morning long. That’s what we all want right. Something that tastes so good that we look forward to having it when we wake up. Yep – this Raspberry Pretzel Parfait is just the thing. I find when creating things like this I have to be sure to make it in quantities of 3. If one of my little taste testers gets left out it’s no fun. They all really enjoyed this easy recipe & were definitely adding it to the menu board for future mornings.
We started with this new Yulu yogurt. It’s a new extra creamy, honest Australian yogurt. Then I decided to get creative with the mix ins. Typically I would start with some homemade granola & then top with some fruit. But I wanted something a little different. Adding fun things like pretzels & raw honey were the perfect little match made in parfait heaven.
Yulu is smoothed twice for extra creaminess. Unlike greek yogurt – Yulu lacks the too-sour quality some find. Just honest ingredients & real fruit. It has 9 grams of protein in every cup – so it’s healthy & delicious.
You can find Yulu in vanilla, strawberry, raspberry, honey & blueberry.
Connect on Twitter @YuluYogurt Find out more on their Website.
Want more great ideas for your yogurt?
Double Berry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Yulu. The opinions and text are all mine.
I think many couples are at opposite ends on various different things – some small, some huge & some really don’t matter. One thing for the hubs & I – granola bars. He absolutely LOVES those crunchy granola bars that come in the little 2 pack & are all filled with that sweet honey flavor. Me- I really could take them or leave them. I’m more of a “if I’m going to eat a granola bar – I want it to be soft & chewy & packed full of chocolate chips” sort of person. Well – in my little list of nice things I’d like to do for the hubs has been the task of making him Homemade Granola Bars. The plan- make them just like he loves & then toy with the recipe to figure out how to make my perfect granola bar later. So this past week – that’s exactly what I did. He was BEYOND THRILLED.
Once in a while I make something that has him so over the top excited that I can completely change his tune about the store bought version. These granola bars are one of those things. He was quite impressed that I was able to make them & in his words “make them better than the store bought ones” he loves so much.
The kids loved them too. I did have one- for quality control you know. Don’t tell him – but I was pretty impressed myself & will probably enjoy a few before they are all gone. Don’t get me wrong- I’m still on a mission to make my version of perfect. But these really are quite tasty.
Want more great snack ideas?
Blackberry Whole Wheat Mini-Donuts
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
The kids have been asking for some new breakfast recipes to add to some of their everyday favorites. I like to keep things homemade. So coming up with a variety of options that are also time friendly can be challenging at times. So when I tried whipping up these Peanut Butter & Banana Breakfast Cookies in just a couple minutes – I was thrilled. They are soft & moist & packed full of heartiness to keep the kids full through the morning.
I love that these are simple enough that the kids could actually make them on their own. Just whip up the batter – NO EGGS & bake for a few minutes. The batter looks like very little in the bowl but ends up making about 15-16 cookies. That works out great when you have 3 very hungry teens just waiting to get their hands on these. They are the perfect thing to use up those over ripe bananas too. However – you don’t have to wait for them to get past their prime. I made these with a green banana & they still turned out great.
Want more breakfast ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
You all know how much I love Easy Family Dinner Ideas like soup. Make it tomato based & I’m all over it. Even better, add some meat, a little pasta or maybe even some spinach or other veggie & I’m in heaven. I love, love, love tomato based soups any time of year. But these chilly months really give me the excuse I need to cave into those cravings & whip up a big ol’ stockpot of hearty goodness. Really – I crave it almost as much as I crave pulled pork. Even just telling you about this soup makes my mouth water & I have to really fight the urge to head to the kitchen & make some more. This particular Macaroni & Sausage Soup was one that made me truly sad when I tried to stick to my “no going back for seconds” rule. I so wanted another helping.
This was so hearty & filling. I really did want more – then I waited just a couple minutes & the fullness started settling in. Then I was happy I didn’t stuff myself. However I was quite excited knowing that we had plenty of leftovers for the next night. I literally looked forward to it all day long. Don’t you just love recipes like that?!
Want more soup recipes?
Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Soup – in the crock pot
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Are you ready for an awesome snack? I am totally focused on revamping some of our favorite recipes & making them better for us. Are you with me?! So I decided to create these Cinnamon Raisin Energy Bites – because they are loaded with peanut butter & oats to keep us all feeling full & give us energy PLUS the addition of a favorite flavor- cinnamon.
Since it’s almost January I thought I would get a jump start on cutting the calories on some of my favorite foods & beverages that I enjoy. I have mentioned before that I like everything in moderation. It works well most of the time. But I always like to see just how close I can get a recipe to the original while shaving off some of the added calories that sometimes aren’t really necessary. Now there are certain things that should never be messed with. But then there are others that are not a NEED to begin with – like my afternoon iced mocha. I like having it – but I don’t like the added calories in my daily intake for something that is just a “nice thing to have”. So I created this Skinny Iced Mocha which is about 50 calories. Not too bad. If I have been good & not indulged on ice cream the night before with the hubs- then I have a little room to accommodate & enjoy.
It doesn’t taste like a “skinny” that’s for sure. The bittersweet mocha sauce is fabulous.
Want more “skinny” recipes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
There are a few recipes that I can’t seem to get enough of. One is beer bread. My mother-in-law’s recipe for beer bread is one I have been making since she first gave it to me almost 20 years ago. It’s great on the side of soup. Since it’s cold & dreary outside we have been making an awful lot of soup & so the old beer bread recipe has made an appearance several times already this season. So this past week I wanted to change it up just a tad. I created this Cheddar & Chive Beer Bread which was oh so perfect with the soup I will be sharing with you all later this week. My mother-in-law would be so proud that I am still using her recipe & twisting on it to make it even better.
Oh that little bit of cheddar & chives makes all the difference with this bread. So GOOD!
Want to know what I would pair with this?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Have you had enough treats for the season? Are you thinking about what you can do to get back on a better track this New Year? You are in luck. Today I’m going to share with you my “go-to” breakfast recipe that always makes me feel great. This Simple Green Smoothie is just the thing I love to have when I feel I have been overdoing it with all the yummies I share here with you all. I’m a firm believer in an “everything in moderation” approach when it comes to food. So I don’t deprive myself of treats nor do I go heavy on any one thing – be it healthy or not so healthy. So I like to enjoy a healthy little smoothie that keeps me full all day long. Then I don’t feel so bad when I have a nibble of something I created earlier in the day. I have to taste test what I share with you all here – so this green smoothie helps keep me full of the good stuff so I’m not tempted to over-do it.
I love it’s ease when it comes to making it.
With just 3 simple ingredients – I have everything I need on hand most of the time.
Want more great smoothie recipes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Welcome to the delightful world of Bloody Mary cocktails! This isn’t just a drink; it’s a brunch staple, a conversation starter, and for many, the perfect remedy after a night out.
The Bloody Mary is a classic cocktail known for its unique combination of savory, spicy, and tangy flavors, making it a favorite choice for those who love a little adventure in their glass.
View postA Very Merry Christmas to you all!
You all have brought me immeasurable joy this past year. I can’t thank you enough for all your love & support! I wouldn’t be here doing what I do & loving each & every day I work if it were not for you all.
Thank You!
I hope your day is blessed!
Gina
I’m on such a huge chocolate & peppermint kick right now. I can’t seem to get enough of that wonderful combo. The family sure isn’t complaining. The hubs waits all year for all the peppermint stuff to come on back. So when I start making all sorts of goodies with chocolate & peppermint- he’s one happy guy. So I just couldn’t wait to share this Candy Cane Oreo Pie with you all. I originally shared this over at Jen’s place about a week ago but just had to share it here with you all too. It’s rich & decadent & INCREDIBLY EASY to make. Isn’t that the best part??
It really is so simple & makes a huge impact. Chocolate, oreos & a hint of peppermint. I was so thrilled to find these holiday Oreo’s – Candy Cane mini’s. I don’t think I have ever found an Oreo flavor I didn’t fall in love with. It’s the one store bought treat (aside from candies) that we buy in bulk. So good.
The white chocolate drizzle on top is completely optional. You could add whipped cream instead. I decided on the white chocolate because I wasn’t sure how quickly we would get to enjoy this pie. It’s great when you need to make ahead & stores well in the freezer for a couple days. If you want whipped cream instead of chocolate drizzle – it’s best to add it right at serving time.
That’s it & look how pretty too!
Want more chocolate & peppermint?
Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Pancakes
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
So what do you do after the kids go to sleep on Christmas Eve? I have mentioned before that I am usually in our room (& have been all night) wrapping gifts until the kids wake the next morning. Not this year. I finally started ahead of schedule & didn’t wait to wrap. So this year I plan on taking Christmas Eve to sit & relax with the hubs a little. Maybe we will make a couple of these Gingerbread White Russian cocktails to have before bed. It’s the perfect little Christmas drink with all that wonderful gingerbread flavor. Add some of those cookies we will leave out. Much better than a glass of milk to go with cookies. Perfection I tell you.
Really – I’m so looking forward to setting out the gifts & stockings, curling up on the couch with the hubs & enjoying this with some Christmas sugar cookies. It’s the perfect holiday flavors all in one night.
Want more great holiday beverages?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WaysToWow #CollectiveBias
Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Anchovy lovers – have I created the appetizer for you! My family LOVES anchovies. Actually the word LOVE (in all caps) doesn’t even quite describe just how they feel about them. The hubs can’t seem to buy enough- the kids can’t get enough. They enjoy them on pizza & then they really love to have some on a cracker as a snack. Well since we are inching ever so close to New Year’s, I promised I would create a new appetizer for them using anchovies & create some new party favorites. This Anchovies & Olive Appetizer did not last long with my gaggle of taste testers. They were fighting over them & they can’t wait for our New Year’s celebration when I will make more.
I picked up some Town House Crackers at Target. (They were actually located in 2 different places in the store) I literally ran in there just for the crackers since we were in the area. I ended up walking out carrying 7 bags & spending over $100. Honestly – I’m shocked it wasn’t double that. That store is dangerous- I want everything. But anyhow- back to the recipe.
These are really simple to make.
Start with Town House crackers, spread on a little chive & onion cream cheese, top with anchovies & 1 large green olive.
These are our favorite crackers – we use them for all our appetizers. Definitely a party favorite.
Literally – my entire family LOVES these little snacks.
I know what we will be making for every party & homegating event in the future.
So tell me about your favorite party appetizer this time of year!
Want more appetizer ideas?
Prosciutto & French Onion Tea Sandwiches
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet snack, these Gingerbread Muffins are a scrumptious way to bring the warmth of the season to your table.
Imagine the smell of warming spices filling your kitchen as you bake a batch of Gingerbread Muffins. These muffins are the epitome of holiday cheer, combining the classic gingerbread flavor with the tender, moist texture of a perfect muffin.
Topped with a crumbly streusel and a sweet eggnog glaze, they’re not just a treat for your taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. Picture a warm, spiced muffin, ideal for enjoying with a cup of coffee on a chilly Christmas morning.
View postThis shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MingleNMix #CollectiveBias
We are inching closer & closer to the end of the year!!! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? I can’t believe just how quickly this year has gone by AND how much we were able to cram into it too. So I know that Christmas is just a few days away – which really means that my mind has already shifted to New Year’s & all it’s fun. Usually the kids stay up to watch the east coast celebrations & then they head to bed. Funny enough the hubs & I usually aren’t far behind because he’s always on call. Since he is on call – we keep our celebrations filled with things like goodies & mocktails. He could get called out on a moment’s notice – so he’s got to stay ready. I try to come up with fun twists on our holiday favorites to keep the excitement up for everyone. It’s important to make it special when he has to work on holidays. This year I decided that some fun Mocktail “Champagne” Shots w/ Canada Dry would be GREAT!
So typically you would add a little alcohol to your gelatin mix to create your “shots”. But since I was going for a mocktail version – I used Canada Dry Ginger Ale® instead. I picked it up at Walmart – my go-to place when picking up all my party needs.
You see – just 4 simple ingredients needed to create this super fun party treat.
(the different colored sprinkles count as one & the water isn’t pictured)
I’m so in love with this pretty color!
These are going to be SO MUCH FUN at our little low key party this year.
It makes me wish we were hosting some friends & family to share them with.
You can visit Canada Dry Ginger Ale® or 7UP® or check out Walmart to find a store near you to pick some up.
Want more great party recipe ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I have been talking a lot about quick & easy desserts here lately. Rather quick & easy recipes in general. I really think that sometimes it doesn’t matter the time it takes but rather the presentation that really brings smiles. Take these Peppermint Pudding Cups for example. I was able to make 3 of these in just a couple minutes & the kids ooohhhed & aaahhhed over them just like they do over the super elaborate desserts I create. These would be a fabulous little dessert for a large gathering. Easy, quick & inexpensive too. All of these things make it a WIN in my book. Let me show you what I did to spruce it up & make it extra special.
Adding a little peppermint extract to each flavor of pudding gives it great peppermint flavor – perfect for the holidays.
Like I said before – it’s all about the presentation. If I had just slopped the pudding in a plastic bowl & handed it to them it would have made zero impact. It would have been a completely forgettable dessert. Instead – layering it in the glass & topping it with additional peppermint goodness makes all the difference. Which is why something as simple as instant pudding can turn FABULOUS in a few minutes with a little added love.
Want more easy dessert ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Hello all my wonderful friends!!! I mentioned yesterday that with a little planning, learning to decline certain things to keep the calendar more open & sticking to a plan- we are nearing the end of our chaos this time of year. I love saying that & it feels so good. So since my focus this season has been a less is more sort of approach the last thing I want to do is fill that time up with other stuff. I worked so hard to make sure we have more family time available – I don’t want it filled with all sorts of other stuff. So fast, simple recipes are my main goal this year. So I came up with these Holiday Coco Clusters that prep in just 10 minutes + chill time. 100% delicious & definitely smile makers.
So here’s the back story on these. For years my mother-in-law would make other varieties of these little chocolaty bites. When we would visit – I would be the one that never left the buffet table. I would get there, set down gifts, say my hellos & then quickly find my way to the spread that spanned the bar area. My mother-in-law was the queen of little snacky type goodies. If I learned anything from her – it was to take what you know you already like & just keep playing & twisting it to come up with even better versions. That’s how these came about. While we still love & make the original version – these are pretty amazing too.
I love that these store well – which means you can give them as gifts.
Homemade goodies make the best gifts!
So- do you want more delicious holiday treats?
Frostbitten Red Velvet Brownie Bites
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I mentioned before that I was scaling back for the holiday decorations this year. I really wanted to re-vamp all our decor this year but I was woefully unprepared & short on time. I think I may have to start making things in July so I am ready for next year. I have this thing- I have to have it all ready & waiting for me when I am ready to tackle the task of decorating. I don’t like to add things mid-month. So since I was ready to trash nearly all our old stuff – that left for very little that would actually be used. I am happy that I was able to re-do the tree. That has been bugging me for years now. So that’s a start. But I figured that before the month got completely away from me I would jump on the home tour bandwagon & share our Christmas Room Tour 2014.
One of the things we decided early on in the construction process with this house was that this front room would be the Christmas room. This is mainly because of the french doors. Being married to a fire chief – Christmas is all about fire safety. For years it’s been a nightmare because you see…we have 2 cats. Cats & Christmas trees don’t mix. So having a tree has always been a very stressful time for us. So when we finally had a room that we could put the tree & close it off to the cats – hallelujah!!! Over the top excited about that one- even if the room is a bit tight. That’s what slim trees are for!
We moved some of the furniture out this year. I’m thinking next year I may convince the hubs to move most of it out & just put the tree in the center of the room. But I totally love that it’s in the galvanized bucket – no more unsightly tree skirt. I love that I finally have all cream & metallic decorations. So happy to let go of all those mis-matched random collection ornaments that have been on our tree for the last 20 years.
This is my grandmother’s nativity scene.
My mother grew up with this one in my grandmother’s house, so I was super happy to be the recipient when she passed it down.
If you have noticed by the other decor in the room – this is what we call our fire/pub room. We have it decorated like a fire themed pub you would see in those traditional firehouse neighborhoods. It’s cozy & it keeps all the fire related antiques all in one place & behind closed doors. We also have quite a bit of fire related Christmas decorations – this little guy just adds to my nutcracker collection.
This was my mother’s Annalee. I love the reindeer!!! My step-dad promised to locate all her Christmas decorations for me. So next year the whole house will be covered with all of these. My mom LOVED the Annalee’s & had them for so many holidays. It will sure be nice to have those soon.
The hubs found some of these GIANT ornaments – I had to have them.
I hope to pick up more & add them to the outside decor next year.
Then there is this little sign I painted. I originally planned on this being on the front porch with a bunch of decorations. Well – like I said, I didn’t get around to getting everything done – so the porch has the wreath & that is all. Oh well – next year. I will definitely plan ahead better next year.
To see how I made my ornaments & other decorations – check out these posts.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Earlier this week we celebrated my older daughter’s birthday. I can’t believe she’s 14 – which here in the state of Idaho is legal driving age. Well… that’s not going to happen any time soon. But anyhow- she’s of the age now that a traditional birthday cake isn’t quite necessary & the whole birthday ordeal is scaled back. Something a little different is often okay with her & this year she chose this Chocolate Peppermint Cake to help us celebrate. I was happy to make it as I had only baked one other cake in the new oven & I was eager to try out another recipe. She really loves the combination of chocolate & peppermint so this cake was just perfect for her.
I was hesitant to go this route for her as we really try to keep her birthday & anything Christmas related as separate as possible. But it was her idea – so fortunately it fits with the season & I can share it here with you all now.
I decided on a light peppermint glaze this time for presentation. I wish I could have shown you a slice – but I didn’t want to pre-cut her cake before the celebration. We ended up adding just a little bit of this toasted coconut hot fudge on top which was DIVINE!
Want more cake ideas?
Red Velvet BlackBerry Crash Cake
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Oh tis’ the season for entertaining. Seems like now more than ever the parties are happening nearly every night. I know we can’t keep up with all the festivities this time of year. I’m actually trying to scale back the things that end up on the calendar for the sake of our sanity. Maybe next year we will host a party – maybe. But I’m sure you all are hosting all sorts of gatherings so that means you could probably use some new drink ideas to serve all your friends & family. So I had to share with you this fabulous Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail. It’s the perfect holiday drink- cranberry, a little fizz & then the ever so popular whiskey. You can’t go wrong.
If we were hosting a party this year – this would be the drink on special for sure. It’s ALL HOLIDAY.
You can serve it on the rocks if you like – however I prefer the Whiskey Ball
Looking for more holiday drink ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Easy Red Velvet Fudge is made with white chocolate chips, cake mix, and sprinkles for a simple, no-bake holiday treat that everyone loves.
It’s fudge season!!!! I say that with an abundance of enthusiasm because my mom was the queen of fudge. She had people lining up to get her to make a little plate of her AMAZING recipe.
So when I think of fudge – I automatically think of her, which makes me smile.
View postYou know what I love most about blogging? That just because I do it from my home office doesn’t mean that I’m blogging in a bubble. I love that I can join up with, work together & even meet in person & grow true relationships with others out there doing what I do. I love that I have this group of friends that know what a blogger life is like & they are TRUE friends. I can’t even express just how grateful I am for all of you in my life – making me smile each & every day with your cheers & encouragement & support. I love you all! A perfect example of that friendship- a group of us have joined together today to bring you a Merry Berry Holiday Hop. That’s right – berry themed recipes to keep you busy in the kitchen this holiday. I created this delicious Cranberry Butter to join in the fun. It’s something fun for us all & pushes my creativity each & every time.
I love making butters & jams & jellies. I can’t figure out why (& I know I say this every time I share a new jam recipe) but there is something so gratifying about making your own spread. I also think that receiving a jar of some homemade version just tastes SO MUCH BETTER than anything else out there. It’s like a little jar of love.
I have a lot of berries stockpiled away in the freezer from summer. Since I haven’t bought jam for the kids in several years – I always make sure I have enough on hand to last through the cold months when I can’t use fresh. But this time I couldn’t resist the urge to make some cranberry butter. I don’t often play with cranberries when in the kitchen so I am super excited about this recipe. It makes such a nice holiday gift too.
Don’t miss all the other FABULOUS berry recipes being shared by all my bloggy friends!
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Want more great food gift ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Quaker. All opinions are mine alone.
As you know I have been on a cookie kick around here. It’s the holidays I suppose. I realized that when I started pulling out cookie recipes that I have stuck to the same old favorites for so very long. It was time to revamp things & make some new favorites. Since the hubs all time favorite is Oatmeal Raisin I decided to start there. To me oatmeal raisin is more of a fall thing. So I decided to take his favorite holiday drink- eggnog, and my favorite oatmeal recipes & create these ultra delicious Eggnog Oatmeal Cookies. He was pretty excited. He even asked how on earth I was going to be able to make them year round when I can’t find eggnog in the stores. Yep- guess these are a new favorite when he’s worried about stuff like that.
We headed to Target to pick up some essentials. I headed to the hot cereal isle to pick up some Quaker Oats in the limited edition packaging.
It’s found exclusively at Target. Grab a coupon to pick some up.
How cute are those pine trees?? I love the winter packaging. Anything with pine trees reminds me of the hubs home of Tahoe. Even though we live in CDA now & it’s so similar to Tahoe, I still think of Tahoe first when I see winter scenes.
Really – the sparkling sugar is my favorite part. I will always find a way to use the sparking sugar. It looks like glistening snow.
These have the perfect hit if eggnog flavor to pair with the crunchy outside & chewy inside of these YUMMY oatmeal cookies.
For more info on Quaker Oats – visit them on Facebook & Pinterest. #QuakerUp #MyOatsCreation #CollectiveBias
Want more great oatmeal recipes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I’m so thrilled to be sharing my Boxwood Wreath with you all today. I gave you all a sneak peek a while back but today I’m sharing how I made it. Since the front door & the wreath give the first impression to what’s to be found inside the home -I want the wreath to be classic, timeless & elegant. I have changed all our holiday decor to neutrals with touches of green & metallics & this goes perfectly with that. I love the accents of cream & white & it really sets the tone. Let me show you just how easy it was to make!
With a chocolate brown door with a silver kick plate I am very careful what colors I choose for my decorations. Not everything stands out as well as I would like & not all colors go well with it either. Fortunately the green & white popped quite nicely against it & it fits well with the indoor colors too.
Here is what I started out with. Foam wreath form, white cotton strips of fabric, boxwood garland, sprigs of white berries (I also had red in case I changed my mind), cream satin ribbon & lot’s a hot glue.
I started with wrapping the wreath form with the cotton fabric as hot glue & foam don’t really work all that well together. I needed to give the hot glue something to stick to.
Then I stared gluing the boxwood garland around the wreath form until it was completely covered.
I added the berry sprigs for highlights.
Then I created 2 large bows with the satin ribbon & glued them close together to look like one larger bow.
I like that it’s just simple & elegant.
Here it is! I’m so loving it on my door.
Want more holiday decor?
Easy Christmas Porch Decorations
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
It’s COLD – which means I’m wanting comfort food. What says comfort food more than homemade mac & cheese??!! This Bacon Mac & Cheese is truly my favorite. It’s thick, creamy, super cheesy…..and has huge chunks of bacon in it. Really – you can’t go wrong here with Easy Family Dinner Ideas like this. It isn’t complicated either. We typically cook in tandem – it’s just easier that way for us. So I usually have the hubs working on minding the noodles while I make the roux. The longest part of the prep is cooking the bacon- which we do in the oven. So we do the bacon first so it has time to cool before we cut it. Then we make the other stuff & the hubs chops the bacon in the 8-10 minutes that it takes for the noodles to cook. It really comes together fast. If it’s were not so loaded with cheese – I would make this all the time for a quick & easy dinner. But we make this every couple months or so & it’s definitely a treat each & every time we do.
This batch feeds our family of 5 (with 3 teens) for 2 nights.
I actually make a half batch of roux the second night & add it to the leftovers to keep it super creamy.
All I can say is – INCREDIBLE!!!!
This makes quite a bit. We made double this amount (like a HUGE batch) for guests & it was completely GONE!
Looking for more comfort food?
Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
