Deliciously Easy Recipes
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Chinetยฎ brand for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Eggnog takes the classic holiday beverage to a whole new level of delicious. Serve it at all your Thanksgiving & Christmas parties.
I have partnered with PF Chang’s Home Menu to bring you this post through the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. All opinions are that of Kleinworth & Co.
Orange Oasis Chinese Cocktail, a delicious beverage recipe with orange juice, cherry brandy & gin, pairs perfectly with chicken dumplings & so much more.
Raspberry Mint Hard Iced Tea is a refreshing cocktail recipe for a hot summer day. Fresh raspberries, mint & a shot of whiskey makes this drink perfect.
Fun Summer Frozen Creamer is the perfect thing to add to your iced coffee. Make them in any fun shape you like. Pineapples are perfect for a pool party.
Cherry Watermelon Slush is a refreshing watermelon drink recipe that will keep you cool all summer. It’s our family’s favorite summer slushie recipe. YUM!
Blackberry Lemon Gin & Tonic is one of our favorite mixed drinks. It’s one of those perfect cocktails for a hot summer day. Blackberries, lemon & gin is a delicious combination! Serve it at all your parties & backyard BBQ’s.
This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where Iโm a contributor.
It’s time to break out the flip flops, invite some friends over & host some fun summer gatherings. My mother-in-law loved to really party.
Seemed every weekend she was hosting some sort of get-together with about 50 of her “closest” friends.
Vanilla Coconut Black Tea is the perfect refreshing beverage to pair with your lunch or dinner. One of my favorite ice tea recipes that’s so easy to make. Oh how I love homebrewed iced tea.
Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie is a delicious fruit smoothie recipe that is packed full of strawberry flavor. It’s great for breakfast or as an afternoon snack for the whole family.
Blueberry Coconut Shake is a dairy-free milkshake made with coconut milk ice cream & frozen blueberries. Simple frozen dessert makes eating healthy easy! This shake is seriously one of the best- you would never know it’s dairy free! So good!
Making homemade liqueurs like this Homemade Blueberry Liqueur is a simple & easy process. The final result is a smooth, mellow flavor that’s delicious & far less expensive than the store version. Plus it makes a fabulous gift!
Thank you TruMoo and DairyPure brand milk for sponsoring this post! Start and end your day right with milk and chocolate milk!
Chocolate milk, peanut butter & bananas come together to make this Chocolate Banana Smoothie that is the perfect breakfast or snack recipe! Make one before heading out the door or as an after school treat. Either way, everyone loves this chocolate goodness!
Thank you Tate+Lyleยฎ Gourmet Beverage Syrups for sponsoring this post. Take a moment and reward yourself with cafรฉ-style coffee and beverages at home with Tate+Lyleยฎ!
If you love to re-create your favorite coffee house drinks then you are going to LOVE this recipe. It’s your favorite coffee loaded with caramel, hazelnut & chocolate flavors- YUM. Your morning coffee just got better with this BRILLIANT Hazelnut Caramel Mocha. Definitely my favorite way to start the day & it’s so easy!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. All opinions are my own. #BrighTENtheSeason
This Salted Caramel Cream Cola is a twist on the classic polar bear recipe. RC Tenยฎ, salted caramel simple syrup & heavy cream makes the perfect fall drink.
This Frosted Sugar Cookie Liquor is made with Frosted Sugar Cookie coffee creamer, white chocolate & white rum. Makes for a delicious homemade holiday gift.
I like making something special for gift-giving during the holidays. Last year for our gifts to the neighbors, I gave them a jar of our pepper jelly along with the crackers & cream cheese we like to have with it.
It’s a family tradition to have that on Christmas. I think it’s very personal to share something like that with others you care about, which is why I chose that.
View postThis delicious Salty Devil is made with cola, Devil’s Cut Whiskey & salted caramel syrup. Makes the perfect hard fall beverage to serve this holiday season.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Casillero del Diablo Wines for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Looking for some fun adult Halloween party ideas? This Halloween Sangria is the perfect drink to serve in place of punch. It’s dark, spooky & delicious.
This Pineapple Cooler is the perfect beverage for those tropical drink cravings. Creamy pineapple whip up into this slushy goodness- it’s divine!
It’s no secret, I love all things tropical. Pineapple & coconut are my “go-to” flavors. I literally can’t get enough. So it’s no surprise that I have been making a pitcher of these pineapple coolers all summer long. The great taste of pineapple whipped with some creamy goodness & ice makes for a delicious cool down.
I was in tropical heaven with each & every sip. I did make sure to share with the kids. They LOVE it. In fact, it’s time to whip up some more for the week & they have not forgotten to remind me.
It’s so incredibly good. A few times I added coconut milk instead of half & half – made for a great virgin pina colada twist every once in a while. DELICIOUS! Definitely my all time favorite drink.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This Easy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade is just the cool down you need right now! With sweet strawberries & crisp lemonade, it’s the perfectly frosty treat for your summer.
What is it about a tall refreshing lemonade that just screams summer? Sometimes I like it by itself & other times it’s great to add some other yummy flavors to it. We are having record heat here in North Idaho (I think we brought a little Death Valley up here with us because we have not had a “normal” year since we moved here) so I wanted to take my usual beverages to a whole new level of cool & refreshing. So I came up with this frozen version of our favorite strawberry lemonade that is out of this world!
I love that it’s not only a refreshment, but in it’s frozen state – feels like a treat too. I’m always up for a treat! How about you?
That’s it! Easy right? You will love serving this all summer long. Enjoy!!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This post was sponsored by Heaven Hill Distilleries Heaven Hill Family of Brands. Bardstown, KY ยฉ 2015
Boozy Pomegranate Lemonade is the perfect summertime refreshment. Ice cold lemonade, vodka & pomegranate liqueur make for a delicious way to cool down.
Do you like pomegranate? I sure do. I’m always looking for new ways to add a pomegranate twist to my favorite recipes, especially when it comes to my summer entertaining. It’s a great flavor twist when I’m mixing drinks for our friends during backyard bbq’s & parties with the neighbors. So I was playing with some new beverage recipes to serve at an upcoming summer evening party we are planning when I came up with this absolutely delicious Boozy Pomegranate Lemonade. Oh my goodness it was good. I can’t wait to share it with all our friends here soon.
It’s light & refreshing like lemonade usually is, but with that great hint of pomegranate & a little kick too. Perfect for sipping out on the back porch in the warm summer evenings.
Right now PAMA is running a summer contest.
Winners will receive the chance to make their summer party come to life, with some help from PAMA. There will be one grand prize winner and four runners up. The prizes include:
Grand Prize Winner: $500 gift card and PAMA party kit to throw a summer party
Runners Up: $250 gift card and PAMA party kit to throw a summer party
I know I could host a spectacular party with a prize package like that! How about you?
Visit PAMA Liqueur for details on how to enter!
So what beverage recipe would you twist with PAMA Liqueur?
Stay tuned – I’ll be sharing more about our backyard BBQ soon.
PAMA Celebrate Summer Contest. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Starts on 6/22/15 at 12:00:00 p.m. ET and ends on 7/20/15 at 11:59:59 a.m. ET. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and D.C., who are at least 21 years of age and older. Void where prohibited. For complete Official Rules, visit PAMALiqueur.com/CelebrateSummer. Sponsor: Heaven Hill Brands, 1064 Loretto Rd., Bardstown, KY 40004
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This Twisted Frozen Cosmo is a great variation of the classic cosmopolitan cocktail. Using Everclearยฎ in place of high proof vodka & adding some homemade cranberry liquor makes for a Cosmopolitan like you have never had before!
I absolutely LOVE taking classics & really changing them up with twists that are outside the box. It’s really what I do best. Because when you have something that’s already a favorite – it makes it so easy to change a couple things & really take it to a whole new level. I was wanting something refreshing, classy & pretty too & I was also wanting to use my martini glasses because they are just so much fun. I started thinking about what I could make & decided on a cosmo. So when I took a look at the classic cosmopolitan cocktail (which I have never shared here before) I knew I could make it even better with just a few small changes. One thing was for sure – aside from some key ingredient changes, I knew I wanted to make this one frozen for a refreshing way to relax in the heat of the summer.
I looked through my bar & thought that using Everclearยฎ in place of high proof vodka would really give this cocktail the twist I was looking for. I also thought that adding some homemade cranberry liquor made with Everclearยฎ would make a great addition & really kick up the cranberry flavor.
It turned out just as I imagined. Fresh & pretty with the perfect blend of flavors. Perfect for a sunny, late afternoon cool down.
So tell me, what would you make with Everclearยฎ?
Be sure to check out Make It Your Own by Everclearยฎ for more info, recipes & inspiration!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Everclearยฎ is the perfect ingredient for craft cocktails and home mixology, allowing you to put your own spin on new and old favorites. With its neutral grain composition, Everclearยฎ extracts the optimal flavor to infuse your cocktails โ whether youโre making bitters, liqueurs, tinctures or extracts. Visit makeityourown.comย for recipe ideas, tips and more!
โThis post was brought to you by Everclearยฎ, the โoriginalโ grain alcohol, and Luxco. I received compensation to write this post. The opinions and text are all mine.
This post brought to you by Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Kleinworth & Co..
It’s that time of year when it’s great to host some friends for a relaxing backyard gathering. Have you ever hosted a wine party? This summer we plan on gathering in our backyard, serving some great food & enjoying some delicious dessert &ย Sauvignon Blancย in the warmth of the evening. If you are Planning a White Wine Party, here’s some tips to help you make your party a success. From how much you need to what to pair, it’s all here.
So to start – who should you invite?
Invite friends and even new acquaintances. You can use the party to engage in great conversations surrounding wine, including history, cuisine and travel.
How many to invite & how much to serve?
How many people you invite is entirely up to you. However I like to keep it more intimate & invite just a few couples over. That way it keeps the cost down for both wine & food and it allows for more engaging conversation. Plan on serving 2-3 ounces of each wine per guest, one bottle will serve 8-10 guests.
Wines
Be sure to bring your wine to proper temperature before the party so it’s ready to go. (for whites it’s 55 degrees) Also, be sure to have a few extra bottles on hand so your guest can leave with a bottle of their favorite flavor of the evening.
Since white wine pairs so well with citrus &fruit, here are some of my favorite recipes I plan on sharing.
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So what wines do I suggest you serve?
Sonoma-Cutrer โ known for their world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Wines โ are introducing an exclusive Winemakerโs Release: Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is a uniquely special release. This small production offering represents the first-time Sonoma-Cutrer has created a wine outside of the two varietals for which we are known – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir!
This Sauvignon Blanc is classic Russian River Valley. It is crafted in a bright and vibrant style that showcases aromas of passion fruit, lychee, lime and white peach. The palate is sleek and crisp with tropical flavors of guava and passion fruit that mingle with citrus notes of grapefruit and lime! For a bright and clean, citrus laced finish!
Sonoma-Cutrer has been producing the finest quality wines since it opened as a vineyard company in 1973. Its foundation is built in the hillsides and rocky foothills in the region recognized as the Sonoma Coast Appellation โ this region experiences long, even growing seasons thanks to the cool, foggy coastal climate. In the 70’s, the company planted several different grape varieties and virtually overnight Sonoma-Cutrerโs Chardonnay grapes had gained a reputation for exceptional quality and were in high demand by many premium wineries.
Did you know that Sonoma-Cutrer has a wine club that offersย exclusive wines and 3 shipments/year to members.
Join today and find some of your own new favorite wines.
They also have aย ย Winery Tourย and tasting in Sonoma. How exciting is that??
Find out more about Sonoma -Cutrer onย Sonoma-Cutrer Facebookย ,ย ย @SonomaCutrerย & ย Sonoma-Cutrer Instagram
So there you go. I hope this helps you plan an amazing white wine party!
Be sure to check back in with me in a couple weeks to see how the party went! I’m so excited!
Cheers!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Sometimes on a hot summer day you just want a refreshing drink without the buzz. This Sparkling Blueberry Sangria Mocktail is a great non-alcoholic beverage idea packed full of gorgeous fruit in a tasty blueberry juice & a little added fizz. It’s so delicious & enjoyable for the whole family.
I just love the colors of all the things that go into a sangria recipe. This one is packed with grapes, apples, lemons & limes. Gorgeous fruits in a beautiful drink. But I really like the mocktail version so everyone can enjoy it. It’s no fun if some are left out – and it’s so easy to make this one. Besides – the cocktail version of this isn’t exactly hydrating. But this, this one is perfect for sipping by the poolside.
I like to make a huge pitcher when I get up in the morning & let it sit in the fridge while we plan out our day. By the time we are ready to hit the pool it’s ready to go. Add some to a frozen mug while you relax in your floatie & it makes it even better.
What’s your favorite refreshment on hot summer days?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Looking for a few moments to yourself? With the rush of life it can be hard to carve out just 10 minutes of peace each day. But today I’m sharing with you one of my favorite ways to start my day with just 10 minutes before the rest of the house awakens. I make this Iced Coffee Protein Shake, made with delicious mocha iced coffee, frozen bananas & protein powder. A great way to start the day.
Moments to myself won’t happen unless I make them happen, which is why I love the simplicity of this shake. I can pack in breakfast along with my morning pick-me-up. It whips together in the blender in about 30 seconds, which leave me about 9.5 minutes to have some quiet all to myself. It’s not long after that the rest of the family starts emerging from their rooms.
In the summer months when the sun is up around 4:30 – I grab my shake in my travel mug & head out to the porch to enjoy the early morning. I love the warmth of the early morning sun for a few minutes to help get me ready for my day before I head up to the studio.
How do you like your iced coffee??
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Chocolate Almond Cake Mix Bars
Caramel Macchiato Pudding Pops
This conversation is sponsored by International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This Blackberry Fauxjito is a refreshing non-alcoholic version of the oh so popular mojito. Blackberries, honey & mint make for a tasty mixed mocktail.
Here we are – Mocktail Monday again. This will be the last in the series (for now). I have some fun new ideas I want to bring to you through the summer & there are only so many days in a week to fit it all in. I will still bring you mocktails & of course mix in some regular cocktail recipes too for all of you who have been missing those with this non-alcoholic series. But all those great beverage recipes will be sprinkled throughout until fall.
Since I am bringing the actual series to a close I thought I would end with a non-alcoholic version of the very popular mojito. I have not shared a fauxjito with you in quite a long while & this one seemed like the perfect one this time. Blackberries are the all time favorite in this house & it’s that time of year to enjoy!!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Today Mocktail Monday brings you this easy non-alcoholic version of your favorite Mint Julep cocktail. I’m doing my best to whittle down all the fabulous cocktail recipes out there & working on mocktail versions of them to share here. The hub’s old bartender recipe box is enough to keep me busy that’s for sure. But given the spring like temps & my mind is already in summer mode – I had to make this Mint Julep Mocktail for you all. It will certainly keep you cool & refreshed through the hot months. I’m so drawn to that gorgeous color, the crisp hint of mint & the fact that it’s a mocktail means I can not only have it any time of day – but I can also share with the kiddos if I so choose. Let me show you just how easy it is to make.
Now – I always keep a jar of my simple lemon syrup on hand in the fridge for those moments when I just need a hint of sweet lemon flavor added to my recipes. I strongly encourage you to do the same. It’s great with so many things.
You will want this by your side as the temps climb!
What’s your favorite way to cool off?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
*Disclosure: I have partnered with DASANI to bring you this recipe. I have been compensated for this post either monetarily or with product. All opinions are truthful & my own.
A couple years ago we made the move to relocate the family to North Idaho. You see – the hubs & I are both So Cal natives. I lived there my entire life there until I met him. He was born there & then lived most of his life in Tahoe before we met. Then we had 12 long years in the desert of Nevada before being given the opportunity to live in this incredible place we do now. Why am I telling you this? Well – because after all those years living with summers that lasted 8-10 months – hydration became key. Finding new & creative ways to enjoy water & hydrating beverages was a way of life. It definitely stuck with me even though we have true seasons here. I still look for tasty ways to nourish & this Sparkling Black Cherry Limeade is probably the best tasting & easiest bevies I have made thus far.
I started with these great flavors from DASANI.
Did you know they have sparkling waters in flavors like lime, berry & lemon? Lightly carbonated, unsweetened & ZERO calories!
Then there are the YUMMY flavor enhancing drops!!!
I can keep them in my purse & use them in my regular bottled water while we are out running errands or at the gym.
The family loves using them to come up with their own great flavor combos to keep hydrating fun!
When you can add a little flavor to the water & still keep it light & refreshing – they are more likely to drink more.
Cherry limeade is my “go-to” favorite beverage flavor. So knowing that I can create this so simply when I’m craving that flavor just makes me happy. When I’m looking for hydration I don’t want anything heavy or overly sweet. This definitely makes it easy to drink, drink, drink.
I learned that drinking from a large cup (like the reusable cups with a lid & straw) are the easiest for me to keep track of how much fluid I’m taking in each day. I try to have at least a 24 ounce cup – the larger it is the more likely I am to keep drinking. Something about coming to the bottom of the cup signals in my head that I’m done. So if it takes longer to empty the cup – the longer I will drink before taking a break for a couple hours.
You can pick up DASANI products at your local Target, using Targetโs Cartwheel app.
*For a limited time, coupons will be available for both DASANI DROPS Infusions and DASANI Sparkling in Black Cherry (w/in the app)
Raspberry-Pineapple Frozen Fruit Pops
Banana Blueberry Smoothie Pops
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Oh I’m so excited for the season change. Once those taxes are done & the weather is more consistent with the sunshine & warm temps I can’t help but to be HAPPY! I love making cool drinks, getting our grill on & spending the weekends gardening & working on the house. Making (& sharing) beverages here with you is probably my favorite thing to do. If I learned anything living in the desert for all those years – is that staying hydrated is so vitally important – but it doesn’t have to be boring. While we lived there I definitely filled my drink recipe box with all sorts of bevies to share with you all. So I decided to start a Mocktail Monday series here so I could start sharing some of them with you all. This way you will always have something new to try each week through these warmer months!! I’m kicking it off today with this Blackberry Vanilla Mocktail!
Blackberry Vanilla Mocktail is a sweet & sour blackberry drink with lemon, honey & a little fizz!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
You probably figured out that I love to share great drink recipes here. As the days get warmer staying hydrated is so important. A great way to do that is with low calorie flavored beverages. Personally I love clean, refreshing water all by itself. I drink that 99% of the time. But when I am looking for something to serve guests it’s nice to offer something new & exciting. So I came up with this Coconut Lime Spritzer that is so perfect for that. It’s refreshing, low calorie & incredibly simple to make using my Essential Oils.
Last month I joined some of my fellow bloggers to bring you great recipes that you can make with Lemon Essential Oils. This month we are sharing some AWESOME recipes for Lime Essential Oils that you don’t want to miss! Be sure to scroll down to see what everyone else is sharing today!
***Not all essential oils are edible. Due to lack of purity, 98% of essential oils sold should NOT be ingested. An edible essential oil will be labeled โtherapeutic-gradeโ and have a โSupplement Factsโ box on the label showing the nutritional value โ do NOT use just any brand of essential oil for cooking/flavoring foods. Be sure to use pure oils from reliable sources, not synthetic scents or flavorings.
Interested in buying Essential Oils? I have a great FAQ page here that will answer your questions and give you all the info you need to order your own set!
Check out all these great uses for Essential Oils- Lime
Coconut Lime Spritzer // Blackberry Lime Margaritas // Strawberry Limeade
Cherry Lime Chia Energy Bars // Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake // Creamy Lime Pie Bites
Margarita Crepe Cake //Edible Watermelon Bowl // Margarita Cookies
Southwestern Black Bean & Corn Salad // Lime Cheesecake Shooters
Lemon Infused Sugar
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
As many of you know my husband just had surgery & then some complications to that surgery that had us in the hospital for 8 long days. That was hectic trying to keep school & work going while being at the hospital 6-8 hours a day. Now that he’s home recovering it’s a little better. But being on a schedule of managing pain & needs every 2-4 hours has me really needing some relaxation time. So when I can finally break away from the office in the evenings I like to get him comfortable with me on the couch & relax with this Irish Cream Chai Tea Latte. It’s the perfect way to wind down the stress of the day.
I used my homemade Irish Cream which made it all the more fabulous.
Having International Delight Chai Tea latte makes this recipe super easy.
Lately these long days have me spent before I’m even thinking about dinner. So I really welcome the moments when I can pour a drink, curl up on the couch & just chill for a while. No jumping up to fix this or that, no running out the door to pick someone up from somewhere. Just quiet, just relaxing before heading to bed for some much needed rest. So enjoyable.
Where would you go to sit and relax with your International Delight Chai Tea Latte?
Be sure to sign up for International Delight Newsletter to grab coupons & more great perks!
Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
It wouldn’t be March if I didn’t share at least one Irish whiskey cocktail recipe with you all. Were you wondering when I would finally get around to it? Whiskey is so popular right now – I just had to add one more cocktail to my whiskey list here. I think you will really love this one. It’s the classic Irish Buck. Something about whiskey & sour like lime or lemon. It pairs so well together. I love this drink – perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
I love this drink because of the addition of ginger ale. It’s one of my favorite drinks- always has been since I was a little girl flying all over the world visiting family all the time. It was my drink of choice. So now I can add a couple more things to it – lime & whiskey- to make it a little more grown up but without losing my favorite drink.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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?
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