Deliciously Easy Recipes
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
Do you like making gifts that aren’t food? I’m all for a plate full of goodies – sometimes those are the easiest ones to make. However, there is something to be said for the homemade gift that can be enjoyed for weeks, months or years later. I love the gifts that people send me that I can use again & again. Each time I use that gift I can think of them & how special they are to me. So since kitchen spatulas are my one thing I completely hoard in the kitchen – I thought I would come up with a really fun & simple way to make them into a a great gift. These Personalized Spatulas are the perfect Homemade Gift for less than $10!
I picked out some spatulas from the $1 bin. I used my Dremel tool, some ultra fine tip Sharpie markers & a stencil. However the stencil is optional as I only used it on one of the spatulas. I ended up just drawing freehand on the rest.
Start by using a pencil to draw your designs.
Next I used my Dremel ultra fine high speed cutter tip & just cut out all the areas I had drawn. Then I brushed out all the particles & sawdust & made sure my lines were clean.
Then I took my ultra fine tip Sharpie markers, in coordinating colors & just filled in all the cut areas to make them show up more. That’s it.
I also picked up some matching kitchen towels to give along with the spatulas. Tied them together with a cute ribbon & gift tag – and there you have it. A simple & quick gift for less than $10. This time of year you really can’t beat that!
Want more great gifts?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Do you like monkey bread? My family LOVES it. I have been making the same recipe for so many years – long before the blog, all the way back to before we had high speed internet. Yeah- I told you- a long time. The hubs was begging for it & I finally told him that I would only do it if I could twist it up a bit for the holiday & make it better. So I came up with Gingerbread & Eggnog Monkey Bread that is soooooo yummy. It truly is the perfect Christmas breakfast.
Top it with a little butter while it’s hot. Then I like to make an extra batch of the icing so we can dunk each bite. It’s incredible! Ours never really lasts long enough to have leftovers the next day. I like to make it the night before. Sometimes I just let it rise all night & then bake in the morning so it’s fresh out of the oven. Or you can bake the night before & just zap in the microwave for about 20 seconds before serving. Either way – it’s delish!
Want more wonderful breakfast ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Happy December all!!! I’m in gift making mode around here. We had a great holiday weekend. When the hubs is home that doesn’t mean down time. We are usually busy working on projects for the house or he’s helping me work. I have been SO BUSY with my one client & helping her get all her images ready for her store’s relaunch – I’m working round the clock these days to keep up. I’m also employing the help of everyone in the house so I can keep it together. So since time is tight – I came up with this SIMPLE & tasty little gift of Candy Cane Vodka you can put together quick.
With just 2 simple ingredients & some adorable bottles – it makes the cutest gift.
Just pour it in, add your candy canes & store away for a short time. Then it’s ready for giving! (or enjoying for yourself)
I think homemade liquors are great as gifts. It’s more special than just picking up something at the corner store & tastes better too.
Want more homemade liquors?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I love a tasty little treat that whips together in moments. This time of year there isn’t always time for all the goodies I would love to make. I tend to chose recipes that end up taking more time than I have, which leaves less time for other things. Then I remembered some of the wonderful little treats my mother-in-law used to make. Every Christmas we could go to her house & she would have all these goodies sitting out that I couldn’t get enough of. I would ask her for the recipes of all of them. You know what she said to me EVERY TIME? “Oh Gina! It’s so easy – you don’t need a recipe” was how each & every food conversation started. She was the queen at whipping up wonderful treats that tasted so good. I would park myself on a bar stool & munch all afternoon until my stomach hurt. So since it’s that time of year – I decided to take a couple ideas from her book of secrets. I put my own twist on them for you all here today to bring you these Reese’s Coco Clusters.
It literally takes longer to cool these than it does to make them. They keep well too. The hubs grandmother sends us similar treats each year all the way from Northern Nevada. They still taste great when they arrive. They never last long past the first day- the kids knock them out quick.
Chocolate & Peanut Butter – really!! SO YUMMY!
Want more chocolate & peanut butter ideas?
Peanut Butter Nutella Salted Sandwich Cookies
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This Chocolate Bark with Nuts is rich, velvety chocolate topped with premium nuts, creating a symphony of flavors and textures in every bite.
Chocolate bark is one of those amazing treats that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! Imagine a thin layer of smooth, melted chocolate spread on a baking sheet, then sprinkled with all sorts of yummy toppings like crunchy nuts, flaky sea salt, or even candy canes.
I’ve got so many memories of making chocolate bark with my family growing up. So this type of chocolate has a special place in my heart. It’s a versatile sweet treat that’s perfect for the holiday season or any time of year when you need a quick and easy dessert.
View postHappy Thanksgiving!!
Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday! Since we celebrated our Thanksgiving a few weeks ago- we are spending this day enjoying football, snacks & setting up Christmas. One little fun thing I created for this year’s decor – these Metallic Rope Trees. You see – this year I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do – change the colors in our Christmas decor. Out with the traditional red & green. This year we are doing metallic colors with whites & creams. It fits our home more & I’m already so in love with the colors altogether that it just made sense to bring them into our Christmas too. These trees were so simple to make – check it out.
I started with these cones & a little rope. It didn’t matter the color of the rope because I knew I would be painting it later. This is just plastic rope – nothing fancy. I think I may have picked it up at the $1 store or something a few years ago. Just hot glue it all the way around the cone & let set.
Then I just gave them a few coats of metallic spray paint. I started with a brushed nickel. But since it’s so light it didn’t give the coverage I was really after. So then I hit it with 2 coats of Hammered Chestnut.
So simple & they don’t completely scream Christmas – so I can use them all year long if I like.
Want more holiday ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Looking for a last minute bevie to serve your guests tomorrow? How about a super easy drink to serve at all your holiday gatherings? I have the thing for you & you can serve it through New Year’s. It’s nice to have a punch bowl sitting out for guest to serve themselves instead of having to play bartender all day long. Just have a little cooler of ice next to the table so they can pack their glass & you are free to enjoy your own festivities. This Champagne Punch takes just a couple minutes to prepare, is super pretty when served & adds a touch of sophistication to your gathering.
If you are wondering about the ice ball – It’s FABULOUS. I picked up the smaller version to start. You see – the size & shape of your ice has a huge impact on the taste of your beverage. The larger the ice- the more surface area touching the beverage – making it colder & giving it better flavor. Larger ice also melts slower – so your beverage won’t become watered down before it’s gone. LOVE these. You can pick up this Ice Ball Maker Moldfor this size ball. Or you can pick up Whiskey Ballfor a larger size.
So anyhow- look how gorgeous this drink is!! I think it’s the perfect addition to any party.
Looking for more holiday beverage ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I love utilizing my slow cooker whenever I can. It frees up my oven for other things & makes life in the kitchen simpler. So a couple years ago I learned how to make bread in the slow cooker. It was definitely a game changer for me. I love fresh bread & being able to utilize my slow cooker to make it just puts a smile on my face. Since we are just 2 days away from Thanksgiving – I figured these Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls might be a recipe worth sharing. You can have these going while your oven is occupied with the turkey.
Do you love the smell of freshly baked bread. I have a slight obsession with it. I would make fresh bread every day if I could. I like this recipe because it’s just enough for one night for our family of 5. We don’t have leftovers so we can all enjoy it while it’s fresh & warm. Perfect way to eat bread if you ask me.
Want more bread recipes?
Beer Bread Recipe
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
It’s been a really long time since I made a cake. I have been craving cake. Growing up in a house with a baker – cake was an almost everyday thing. So going so very long without it had me sort of going through a funk. One that only a good piece of chocolate cake could fix. But since we have been working so hard at being dedicated to the gym – even during this time of year, I wanted a lightened up version. I created this Peppermint Thin Cake which gives me everything I have been craving – but I don’t have to feel so guilty about having it during the week. Plus it’s all holiday inspired – which makes it feel extra special.
It’s just enough cake to cure the craving – at least for now.
Adding whipped topping instead of frosting helps keep it a little healthier too. You could omit all these toppings & just do a little confectioners sugar right before serving if you like. That would be so pretty too!
Want more cake ideas?
Blackberry White Chocolate Buckle
Red Velvet BlackBerry Crash Cake
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Hello everyone!!! Today is exciting! I have the pleasure of sharing this fabulously yummy White Chocolate Fall Popcorn over at Leigh Anne’s place today for Bake Craft Sew– today!!!! Can I get a WHOOT??!!! So, if you are not familiar with Bake Craft Sew let me share a little bit about it. Each year a few very AWESOME bloggers open their blogs up to all of us who love them & allow us to post a little something holiday themed. The idea is to inspire people to get started creating handmade holiday items – be it food gifts, sewing ideas & crafts. This series has been going on for 5 years!! Wow – how cool is that?!
So since we are sharing edible gifts I thought I would go with this White Chocolate Fall Popcorn.
I know that I typically end up with at least 2 of those jumbo cans of popcorn during the holidays. Giving popcorn as a gift isn’t unusual. However – giving some like this all covered in gooey marshmallow creme & white chocolate is WAY BETTER!
Really – aside from the cheese popcorn in those tins – could take them or leave them. I do have quite an addiction to the cheese popcorn. It’s crazy. If those tins came with just one flavor – I would buy 10 of them – all cheese! No joke.
But since I can’t do that – this is the next best thing. You see – I can whip up a large batch & disburse among all the little gift buckets. Then I save out a little bit to snack on while the kids are out delivering to the neighbors. It works out great.
So to grab the recipe – head on over & see Light Anne at Your Homebased Mom
Check out all the other AMAZING contributions by other bloggers for Bake Craft Sew while you are there.
So now on to the GIVEAWAY!!!
Check this bad boy out! I soooo wish I could be eligible to win. Look at this!!!
ENTER! ENTER! ENTER!! GOOD LUCK!!!
Want more food gift ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
When we moved up here two years ago it was the weekend of Thanksgiving. So since my mom was with us- she desperately wanted to help us set up Christmas. (Little did we know that it would be her last Christmas) So at that time I was desperate to makeover the tree. We headed to Target in search of some new ornaments. Well the batch I really wanted only had one set left & they were half broken. So I settled for the set of traditional red, green & gold. I was truly disappointed. It wasn’t what I wanted & I didn’t have a whole lot of time to worry about it since we were just moving in. I vowed that I would make them the way I wanted for the next tree. Flash forward a year & Christmas wasn’t celebrated because of all that happened with the passing of my mom. So I never fixed those ornaments. Soooooo- this year it was a priority. We were already moving things around in the garage to make room for the outdoor stuff & the new snow blower & so I had the hubs pull out all the ornaments so I could get started on them. I decided that I along with some color changes I really wanted to make some Natural Ornaments to fit with the beachy vibe of the house. I love how they turned out.
This is what I started with – look at all those colors. I really wanted a more streamlined look this year.
I grabbed my hot glue gun & all these natural elements I have here in the studio & let my imagination run wild.
I wrapped some in corn husks, ripped pieces of muslin, ropes, burlap – you name it.
I think my favorite are these sisal ones. Just add a strip of glue & press all the way around until completely covered.
This was the first of many. It was definitely an afternoon project & so worth it.
I love how the texture pops against the tree.
See- I told you it was simple.
These will go perfectly with the tree this year! I can’t wait to get started.
Want more Christmas ideas?
Easy Christmas Porch Decorations
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Hello friends!! Today I have the pleasure of joining in with some amazing bloggers to be a part of the Christmas Wreath Series over at Jill’s Create Craft Love. You see – a LONG time ago Jill invited us all to hop on board this super fun series where we all create a Christmas Wreath to share. I love this because I have been saying I would make a new Christmas wreath for years now. So this was just the thing I needed to make sure it happened this holiday. I chose to keep it simple – using the foam wreath form to create this Boxwood Wreath.
I will be sharing the details here in the coming weeks. However – I encourage you to head on over & visit Jill & check out the full tutorial where I show all my steps. You can also check out all of the other Wreaths shared for the Christmas Wreath Series.
Want more holiday ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
It’s almost Thanksgiving. Like – one week from now! How can that be?! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Well – I mentioned before that we don’t typically do Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. A lot of that comes from the fact that the hubs is on call – so having him run out in the middle of festivities is a real drag. But it’s the nature of his job – so we work around it. So we actually had our Thanksgiving a week ago. Just the 5 of us, on a random night & it was great. One thing I have been telling myself I would try making – Oven Roasted Potatoes. So after years – I finally did it. I was so pleased with the results I just had to share them with you. Incredibly EASY too – so here you have them Effortless Oven Roasted Potatoes that will have all your guests coming back for more.
Really – just toss them in a bowl with your seasonings & bake. That’s it.
You never know with the kids. Sometimes they really surprise me & won’t like some random recipe that I fully expect them to love. It’s rare, but it happens, so I always hold my breath a little when I give them something new. I was super happy to see them going back for seconds. I think I’ll add this as a side for regular, everyday dinners too.
Looking for more great Thanksgiving recipes & what to do with those leftovers?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Hello my dear friends!!! Are you looking for a great fall beverage to serve your guests this Thanksgiving?? Have I got the drink for you!! Bourbon is all the rage right now – which is why I dedicated an entire week to bourbon recipes a while back. This Sour Pom-Cider {Cocktail & Mocktail} has that great fall cider flavor but it’s mixed with pomegranate liquor & of course bourbon. WIN WIN!! It’s easy to make & your guests will LOVE it! Oh & I included a non-alcoholic version too. So really you can’t go wrong. This bourbon drink will keep everyone happy during your holiday festivities.
To get the recipe – head on over to see my friend Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe! I’m sharing the details on this tasty bevie over at her place today while she’s touring Rome!! I can’t wait to hear all about her adventures when she returns. I have been following her on Instagram – you should too. She always has something amazing to share – including all her fun she’s having on her trip.
Want more great beverage ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I think I mentioned it before – but I think it’s okay to say it again….It’s cookie season!!! Now is the time when the kitchen never gets a break. I’m in there daily baking up goodies to send off to this person or that person. My mom was like that, always baking a plate full of love to give to someone on her list. I suppose that is where I get it. I love homemade gifts- especially the tasty kind. I came up with this recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies that will surely be a hit with all who receive them.
These are a huge favorite of the hubs. I don’t know if it’s a guy thing or what. But most of my blogger friends say that their spouses love the peanut butter & chocolate combo. I’m a fan too- don’t get me wrong. It IS pretty amazing. But my hubs- it’s his “go-to” flavor combo every single time. I love that this recipe makes approximately 64 cookies – so I can take care of multiple people on my list with one batch of cookies. YAY!
Want more cookie recipes?
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies are soft and chewy, loaded with a tender buttery crumble, melty chocolate chips, and a wonderful pecan crunch.
Hello there all of my wonderful friends!! I am in cookie mode around here. I like to give packages of cookies whenever I can over the holiday season. I think homemade gifts packed full of love are the best kind of gifts.
When we first moved to this area 2 years ago, we had several of our neighbors stop by to not only welcome us to the neighborhood – but they came with plates full of holiday goodies that I was so grateful for.
View postIndulge in the festive flavors of the season with our Eggnog Pancakes! Light, fluffy, and infused with the rich, creamy taste of eggnog, these pancakes are a delightful holiday treat.
Get ready to welcome the holiday season with a delightful twist on your favorite breakfast treat – Eggnog Pancakes! Imagine waking up on a chilly morning to the sweet aroma of fluffy, golden-brown pancakes with the heartwarming taste of eggnog. It’s like having Christmas in every bite!
These eggnog pancakes are the perfect way to start your day, combining the classic pancake fluffiness with the rich, festive flavor of eggnog. I don’t know about you, but I would include eggnog in more meals throughout the year if the stores would sell it to me. Ha!
View post**Disclosure – I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
It’s time to start thinking about holiday card ideas!!! I like to get our photo session wrapped up by this time each year & get our cards ordered quickly. The thought behind this is that I can have the cards here by Thanksgiving & get them ready & out the door by December 1st. Sometimes life happens & that doesn’t always come through. Last year I was shooting our session around this time. My plan was to not only get the cards done but order a nice large canvas for my mom too. Well – as most of you know, my mom passed away right after Thanksgiving last year. So holiday cards didn’t happen. I was home in So Cal for most of December. The hubs was so sweet & decorated the house for us so we could have Christmas a couple days after we came home. It was a strange year with life being completely turned upside down. This year I am planning on getting our family session all wrapped up this week. I would love to stick to my usual plan & stay on schedule. We will see. The temps have been much colder & it’s been a long time since I have done a session with the whole family.
I had planned on using these images last year if I had sent out cards. I love how they turned out.
The weather was about 16 degrees before the wind chill at the lake & the kids were such troopers.
One thing for sure – I will be using Minted for our cards. Their quality is absolutely TOP NOTCH! If you met me this past spring at SNAP! Conference then you probably received one of my super gorgeous business cards. Really – Minted did such a wonderful job on them. I am so pleased with the heavy paper- the colors printed true & the exceptional customer service too. So you can see why I am so excited (read- practically giddy) to have our holiday cards printed by them too.
Check out all the gorgeous items in Minted’s holiday collection this year!!
From rose gold foil cards, to gift wrap, to cards that double as ornaments, printed envelopes, booklet cards, postcards, fun & unique shapes, custom stationary, kid’s door signs, planners & address books that make great gifts, custom art & photo gifts, framing, calendars & all sorts of party decor. They really have you covered this year!!!! Again – I can’t stress enough just how INCREDIBLE the quality is. I will never print with another company for my cards!
Visit Minted & choose all your holiday paper gifts & cards!!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
The cold winter weather has arrived not only here in North Idaho- but in nearly every place in the country. So are you wanting to hunker down, pull out the slow cooker & make some comfort food?? Yeah – I thought so. I have the perfect Easy Family Dinner Ideas for you. I love utilizing my slow cooker on cold winter days because I can have dinner going & still have my stove top & oven free for all the other things I want to make. On the coldest days my favorite place to be is in the kitchen baking. The oven warms the room & it feels so cozy. But I still need dinner & that’s where this Slow Cooker Clam Chowder comes in.
This recipe proves that a good Clam chowder doesn’t have to be complicated.
The hubs was traveling when I made this. He sure missed out. The kids didn’t leave him even a taste.
Looking for more hearty soups?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Before the hubs had left on his trip I stopped at the store & picked up a huge bag of tomatoes. For some reason I had it in my head that I was going to make enchilada sauce. Well… those of you who already know that you don’t use tomatoes in enchilada sauce are laughing at me right now. I know – but at least I didn’t try to make it work using them. I ditched my not so great idea & went back to my Easy Family Dinner Ideas. One thing I have always wanted to do was make my own pasta sauce. I have seen many different marinara recipes floating around & I thought about trying one of those. But what I really love is Vodka Sauce. It’s so amazing & I love that you get the flavor enhancement from the vodka – but all the alcohol cooks out so everyone can enjoy it. So that’s what I set out to make.
So I just started pulling ingredients out that I thought would work well. I didn’t really have a plan – it was sort of throw this in & “oh, this would be great” sort of recipe day. I had the basics in my head & the rest was just R&D. Which I am happy to say, worked out great this time. While that isn’t always the case & there have been plenty of recipes as of late that didn’t make it here for one reason or another – this one I had to give you.
Something so satisfying about making your own sauce. I then used it with some ground beef & elbow macaroni & a few olives. YUM!
Looking for more great pasta ideas?
Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Easy, no-bake Gingerbread Truffles are made with just a few ingredients and are a cute treat to give or serve during the holiday season.
Do you have a moment to daydream with me? These perfect bite-sized confections burst with gingerbread flavor, coated in creamy white chocolate and topped with festive sprinkles. Sound amazing to you?
Today, I’m sharing my Gingerbread Truffles recipe, a delightful treat that will be the star of your holiday season. They’re so darn delicious, I’m sure you’ll be making them every Christmas season (and maybe more often than that!).
View postToday I have a very special blog hop to share with you all. I have joined up with some of my favorite blogging friends to help you get ready for your Thanksgiving feast with these Nutella Kahlua Truffles. I mean- Here we are – 12 days into November.
Are you feeling even the slightest bit ready for Thanksgiving? We actually don’t get together with family – in fact since my mother-in-law passed several years ago & my brother was stationed in Japan a couple years ago- we have been doing Thanksgiving with just he 5 of us.
I actually like it – it’s low key, no pressure. Sometimes we actually make the dinner on the weekend before so we can spend Thanksgiving just eating football snacks, my favorite leftover sandwich & enjoying the game. It’s my preferred way to spend the holiday because then I’m not doing dishes all day.
But I do still plan a menu & try to come up with some new family favorites to enjoy. One goodie that I whipped up the other day will be making another appearance whenever we do make our Thanksgiving dinner this year – Nutella Kahlua Truffles. The hubs was OFF THE CHARTS in love with these, which made me pretty happy as he’s not a huge chocolate lover.
I like to make a double batch & then split it in half. One has kahlua & cocoa powder. Then I do the other half without kahlua & add fun sprinkles for the kids. But these – with kahlua, are all for the hubs & I to enjoy. Have a couple while cooking – then have a couple more with some champagne when we curl up on the couch for some zone-out time after the kids go to bed. It’s the perfect little evening treat after a long holiday.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip
Keto Fudge
No-Bake Peppermint Oreo Bars
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
Rum Balls
I mentioned above that I have joined up with some of my best bloggy friends today to not only share this recipe, but to give you an entire meal’s worth of recipe ideas for this Thanksgiving Recipe Blog Hop.
While I am posting a dessert today (along with many other great dessert ideas being shared) – there are some INCREDIBLE recipes for main & side dishes too. Just look at all of these!!! Your menu planning is now complete!
Cranberry Stuffed Turkey | Thoughts from Alice
Maple – Glazed Turkey with Bacon and Sage | Five Heart Home
Turkey Tetrazzini w/ Mushrooms and Kale | The Fountain Ave Kitchen
Orange Balsamic Glazed Ham | Cherished Bliss
Turkey Soup | Carmel Moments
Cauliflower Gratin | Love Grows Wild Creamy Cheese Corn Casserole | Five Heart Home Cranberry Citrus Salad with Goat Cheese and Pecans | Delightful E Made Sautéed French Green Beans | Cherished Bliss
Potatoes Au Gratin | Yummy Healthy Eats Mashed Sweet Potatoes | Live Laugh Rowe Honey-Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes | Cooking with Ruthie Cheesy Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes | Cherished Bliss
Harvest Grain Rolls | Heather’s French Press Jello Salad | Your Homebased Mom Herb and Cheese Monkey Bread | Five Heart Home Brown Rice | Uncommon Designs
Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie | Cooking with Curls Apple Pie Waffles | Club Narwhal Raspberry Pie | Dessert Now Dinner Later Triple Layer Chocolate Pie | I Should be Mopping the Floor Salted Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Pie | Lemon Tree Dwelling
No Bake Brown Sugar Cheesecake w/ Spiced Pears | Baking a Moment Pumpkin Cupcakes & Maple Cream Cheese Frosting | Cupcake Diaries Cream Filled Coffee Cake | Tastes of Lizzy T Cranberry Orange Mulled Wine | Wine and Glue Praline Pumpkin Cheesecake | Maison De Pax
Want to make your own Homemade Kahlua for these like I did?
Want more great Thanksgiving recipes?
I always love unwrapping those fabulous boxes from Tiffany’s. They are always so impeccably perfect. Ever wonder how they do it? Today I’m going to show you how to use your ribbon differently & give that box that same perfect wrap. I know that I order, order & order some more & stash everything away until Christmas Eve. Then I hole myself up in our room ALL NIGHT LONG wrapping 75-100 gifts to be opened up the next morning. It’s daunting & oh so time consuming. By the time morning comes – I am so done looking at wrapping paper. This year I will be shifting to this easier way of wrapping that actually looks better, saves time & it’s all reusable. YAY! If you know me well- then you know I have issues with waste. Whether it’s my time, food or money – I don’t like to be wasteful. So today I’m sharing my trick for How to Gift Wrap like a PRO.
Start with a nice box & ribbon.
This is where I will be doing things differently this year. I typically wrap & then do the bow.
This year – good quality boxes that are so pretty in & of themselves that they don’t need anything but a ribbon.
You don’t want to do this!
Most people start on the top & place the middle of the ribbon in the middle of the box & then twist it around on the bottom.
This gives you a twist that keeps the box from sitting flat.
Set your box top up in front of you.
Hold your ribbon in the center of the top of your box – leaving enough of the end to make your bow when you get to that part.
Wrap the ribbon around the box- meeting in the center of the top of the box where you are holding the other end.
Like I illustrated in the image – wrap that longer piece around the short end you were holding on the top.
Then wrap around the other side of the box meeting back at your center point on the top.
Now you trim the long piece so that you can make your final knot & bow.
Tuck that newly cut end under & to the right to help give it tension.
Pull through & your ends should be coming out of opposite sides of your twist.
Make your knot.
Then you can either tie in a bow like I did here – of you can create a fancier bow to tie onto your knot.
I have a method for making bows that I may cover at a later time.
But this year I plan on using a standard bow as it makes unwrapping so much easier.
When you are done the bottom of your box will look like this. Pretty!!
There you have it! A simple & pretty way to gift wrap that will save you HOURS.
Want some homemade gift ideas to give in your pretty new gift wrap?
But First….. Coffee – DIY T Shirt & Printable
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.
Have you ever thought about what really happens in time of an emergency? Most people don’t really think about those that come to help when they are in time of need – until they are in time of need. First responders are special people. These are men & women who often live at the station for several days at a time – on the ready the entire time they are there. If the call comes out at 3am – they are out the door in moments to help in whatever way is needed – often times risking their lives for the safety & property of a complete stranger. That dedication & sacrifice often goes unrecognized. So I came up with this simple little Firefighter Appreciation Gift & Give Extra.
I realized one day when having a conversation with my neighbor that most people don’t realize the sacrifices our first responders make. I mentioned to her that even though my hubs is no longer a line guy (meaning he doesn’t sleep at the station anymore) – he’s the chief – that actually means he’s working more – often 60-80 hours a week. She said “what, he’s just bossing everyone around all the time?” I was sort of taken aback by this & then realized that most people don’t truly know what it means to do the job he does. They take it for granted that when they need something- some stranger will come to their rescue. Yes – he typically works 8-5. But then after those 40 hours AT the station – there are far more hours NOT at the station that most don’t see. The countless hours of phone calls with commissioners during dinner time, travel to conferences on weekends, phone calls regarding emergencies & personnel matters when we are supposed to be having family time at the gym. When a call comes out at bedtime – he’s laying awake listening to the radio to make sure everything is handled – or he’s racing out the door at midnight on a cold & snowy night to help someone who’s house is burning or they crashed their car because of the weather. He’s always on call – never unavailable. He has been driving home with ice cream for a birthday celebration only to have to turn around & go back to work for a call. We have turned our car around after only starting our family vacation 6 hours earlier to drive all the way home so he could head out for a 20 day assignment for a wildfire in another state. I’m not complaining – really, it’s the nature of the biz. We are all understanding & know it’s our livelihood. But I think that knowing the sacrifices that my hubs & so many others in his profession make is important.
There are so many that devote their lives to helping others & making their community a better place.
They deserve our thanks – no matter how small.
Sometimes it’s the gesture – more than anything, that matters most. Just letting them know that you notice & appreciate all they do can mean the world to them. While you are celebrating Thanksgiving & Christmas – there are countless first responders away from their families working to ensure everyone else has a safe holiday.
So during this holiday season- print off these easy Thank you’s I created & pick up some Extra Gum.
Give this simple & inexpensive gift to show you care! It doesn’t take much to say Thank You!
They will smile & they will appreciate your kindness!!!
Connect with Extra Gum @ExtraGum on twitter & Facebook & on Pinterest
Want more easy gift ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This post brought to you by The Frozen Food Foundation. The content and opinions expressed below are that of kleinworthco.
I love a hot, home cooked meal. Good Easy Family Dinner Ideas. But with heading to the gym & the kids swim team & rock climbing schedules – it’s hard to be here to prepare something for us all. I certainly don’t feel like making something time consuming after getting home late but I don’t want to head to the drive-thru either. It’s important to me to give the kids home cooked meals as often as possible – which is why I am so in love with these simple Chicken Fajitas. I was able to whip these together in less than 30 minutes & even the clean up was a breeze. Now that’s my kind of dinner.
The key here – frozen veggies. I love fresh veggies in my meals – but the prep time can be a bit much when it’s late at night. So grabbing these ready to cook frozen veggies is PERFECT. Nearly 80 percent of Americans fail to consume the recommended amounts of fruit, with nearly 90 percent failing to meet dietary recommendations for vegetables. That is a startling statistic. I am striving to change that for our family. A variety of factors may contribute to low consumption, including cost and convenience. A recent study revealed one easy solution: frozen.
I just skillet fried my chicken & shredded. Then I returned it back to the skillet – added the veggies & a little sauce & cooked until the veggies were hot & the flavors had blended. SIMPLE!
The best part – my kids LOVE these. After a hard workout – this was delicious.
Why do I stock up on frozen foods??
The University of California, Davis, in partnership with the Frozen Food Foundation, conducted a study that revealed that frozen fruits and vegetables are most often (or generally) nutritionally equal to – and in some cases better than – their fresh counterparts. For the study each fruit and vegetable was analyzed under the following conditions: frozen (analyzed within 24 hours of harvest and after 10 and 90 days of storage in a freezer) and fresh-stored (analyzed within 24 hours of harvest and after three and 10 days of storage in a refrigerator).
I love that I can always have fruits & veggies on hand without the worry of then going bad too quickly. Freezing fruits and vegetables is nature’s pause button and an easy way to combat things like the cost of fresh produce, the cost of fresh ‘out of season’ produce and issues like fresh fruits and vegetables spoiling before you’re able to prepare and eat them. Results of the studies done reveal that frozen fruits and vegetables are most often (or generally) nutritionally equal to – and in some cases better than – their fresh counterparts. Which makes me confident when turning to them to make quick & easy meals for my family.
I love to incorporate fruits & veggies in my daily recipes but having a variety in the house at all times would be challenging if it were not for the convenience of freezing. I keep a nice stock in both my freezers to make meal prep quick & simple on busy nights.
Visit Frozen Food Foundation Twitter Frozen Food Foundation Facebook
Want more quick & easy dinner ideas?
Angel Hair Pasta in Burgundy Garlic Sauce
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I received compensation and information and/or free product from The Hershey Company and/or Collective Bias. All opinions expressed within are my own.
Up here in the Pacific Northwest we drink coffee beverages 24/7. There are coffee huts on every corner – if not 2-3 per parking lot. It’s just a culture thing here & I absolutely love it. But I usually don’t stop at the huts. I like to make my favorite beverages at home so I can have them any time of day, whenever I want a little something. In order to do this I like to stock up on great ingredients so I can make a great variety of flavors. My latest creation & new favorite flavor is this Reese’s Frappuccino w/ Reese’s Spreads.
You see – I was wandering through Walmart on our weekly shopping trip when I came across this Reese’s Spreads in the peanut butter isle. I mean – the perfect combination of chocolate & peanut butter in spreadable form is like heaven in a jar in my book.
I added all my ingredients to the blender – adding my 2 tbsp of Reese’s Spreads last. Blend & serve! There isn’t a whole lot that goes in to this drink- but it tastes so delicious, one would never know. With just 4 ingredients & blend – you are done in less than a minute or two. #AnySnackPerfect
This is the perfect peanut butter & chocolate frappuccino! I love to have one mid-day while here in the studio.
Now the whip cream & drizzle topping is optional – but when making it at home, I like to get the full coffee house experience.
I encourage you to attend the in-store demo in your area to try Reese’s Spreads paired with apples November 13-16. Find a location near you.
Based on the iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, new Reese’s Spreads will make snacking even more delicious by adding the unique, one-of-a-kind combination of chocolate and peanut butter flavors to any food, anytime, anywhere.
Don’t miss this FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!! (Thanks Reese’s & #CollectiveBias)
Want more snacks?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
It’s that time of year where the days run together & there seems to be a shortage of hours in a day. I know that my baking list is long & so when I can find little ways to speed up the time it takes to make recipes- I am happy to do it. So yeah, sometimes I use box mix for some things. Not everything has to be from scratch. But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad. I decided to replace the eggs, oil & water usually used in brownie mix with some healthier ingredients to create these Pumpkin Pecan Brownie Bites. They are so moist & fudgy – incredible! Definitely easy & a crowd pleaser. I love Yummy Bar Recipes!
I decided to add a light caramel glaze & pecans on top. Then cutting them into bites made these the perfect party dessert.
To make – I used the 9×13 cake pan from the set by Cake Boss sold on Hayneedle.
Top quality & definitely compare well to my professional pans.
Want more great brownie recipes?
Truffle Brownies
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
