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Peppermint Pudding Cups

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.

Print Recipe

Peppermint Pudding Cups

Ingredients

1 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding mix
1 1.34 oz vanilla instant pudding mix
4 cups cold milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
peppermint baking chips
Hershey's candy cane candy bar
whipped cream

Instructions

Add instant chocolate pudding, 1/2 tsp peppermint extract & 2 cups cold milk to a medium sized bowl & whisk well until all combined. Set aside to thicken.
Repeat the same process with the vanilla pudding, remaining 1/2 tsp peppermint extract & remaining 2 cups cold milk in another bowl.
Once pudding has thickened (about 5 minutes) start layering your cups
Small layer of chocolate, vanilla & finished with chocolate - you can also alternate in the cups if you like to have some mostly vanilla & others mostly chocolate.
Top with peppermint baking chips, a little whipped cream & more peppermint baking chips
Add one piece of the candy cane candy bar for added fun
Serve immediately or you can chill in refrigerator for several hours prior to adding whipped cream if needed

Want more easy dessert ideas?

No Bake Peppermint Oreo Bars

Mixed Nut Bark

Reese's Coco Clusters

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Holiday Coco Clusters

By Kleinworth & Co 1 Comment

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!

Print Recipe

Holiday Coco Clusters

Course: Dessert

Ingredients

1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1-1/4 cup coco puffs cereal
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 tbsp shortening
Holiday sprinkles - opt

Instructions

Measure out your cereal, coconut & marshmallows & set aside.
Combine white chocolate chips & shortening in glass bowl
Heat over double boiler, stirring frequently until melted
Pour over your dry mix - stir to coat evenly
Scoop tablespoon size drops out & place on parchment lined baking sheet
Sprinkle holiday sprinkles on top
Refrigerate to firm up at least 1 hour before serving.
Store in airtight container at room temperature.

So- do you want more delicious holiday treats?

Peppermint Crunch Bites

Red Velvet Fudge

Frostbitten Red Velvet Brownie Bites

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Christmas Room Tour 2014

By Kleinworth & Co 2 Comments

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.

Boxwood Wreath

Metallic Rope Trees

Natural Ornaments

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix I used triple chocolate fudge
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix 3.9 ounce
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1-1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1-1/2 cups peppermint baking chips

Icing

1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In mixer bowl - combine cake mix, pudding mix, cocoa, milk, sour cream & eggs
Beat on medium for approx 2 minutes
Fold in peppermint chips
Liberally spray tour bundt pan with Bakers Joy (this is particularly important if using a bundt pan with a lot of detail)
Pour batter into sprayed pan
bake 55-60 minutes or until cake springs back when pressed
Allow to cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes
Invert onto plate & allow to completely cool before adding icing

To make icing

Combine all icing ingredients in small bowl & whisk well
Drizzle over cake & sprinkle with additional peppermint baking chips if desired

Want more cake ideas?

Peppermint Thin Cake

Red Velvet BlackBerry Crash Cake

Grasshopper Ice Cream Cake

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail

By Kleinworth & Co 2 Comments

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

Print Recipe

Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail

Ingredients

**Per glass
1 ounce Crown Royal Whiskey
1 ounce ginger ale
1 ounce cranberry juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in rocks glass over Whiskey Ball
Garnish with cranberries

Looking for more holiday drink ideas?

Champagne Punch

Blushing Whiskey Sour

Honey Irish Cream

Pink Peppermint Russian

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Red Velvet Fudge

By Kleinworth & Co 15 Comments

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.

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Cranberry Butter {Merry Berry Holiday Hop}

By Kleinworth & Co 14 Comments

You 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.

More Great Cranberry Recipes

Cranberry Orange Mimosa
Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Crockpot Cranberry Cider
Apple Cranberry Spritzer
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Quick Cranberry Bread
Cranberry Cinnamon Roll Loaf
Pumpkin Cranberry Granola
Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sparkling Cranberries

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Cranberry Butter {Merry Berry Christmas}

Ingredients

1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
1 cup granulated sugar
1/8 cup water

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into a small-medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until the cranberries start to pop & become soft - stirring frequently.
Remove from the heat & CAREFULLY use an immersion blender (gently pulsing) to blend the cranberry mixture until smooth. You can also carefully transfer the mixture to a blender, blend and then return to the saucepan for the rest of the cooking process. (use common sense - if it is splattering the hot mixture from the blender, go slowly or carefully transfer to a container that allows for easier blending)
Return the blended mixture to the stovetop, continuing to heat over medium and allow the mixture to thicken for several minutes - stirring frequently.
The cranberry butter is ready when it coats the back of a spoon.
Transfer to sterile jars and allow it to cool completely on the counter before refrigerating.
Store in the refrigerator. Freeze whatever you won't use within 10 days. You might want to keep the frozen portion in freezer-safe containers.

Don’t miss all the other FABULOUS berry recipes being shared by all my bloggy friends!

[inlinkz_linkup id=474568 mode=1]

Want more great food gift ideas?

Nutella Kahlua Truffles

Peppermint Shortbread Bars

Chocolate Covered Truffles

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Eggnog Oatmeal Cookies {Oatmeal Recipes}

By Kleinworth & Co 11 Comments

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

Print Recipe

Eggnog Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter - room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1.34ounce packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp water
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp molasses
1 cup quick cook oats
2-1/4 cup all purpose flour

Icing

1-3 cups confectioners sugar
1 cup eggnog
sprinkles of choice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Beat butter & shortening together in mixer bowl until smooth
Add in sugars - beat until fluffy
Add eggs - mix slowly until just incorporated
Add in pudding mix, vanilla, molasses, baking soda, water & salt - beat well
Mix in oats & flour
Roll into tablespoon size balls & place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart
Bake 12-13 minutes - or until tops look lightly cracked
Cook on baking sheet & then transfer to wire rack
Make icing by mixing eggnog & confectioners sugar in small bowl starting with 1 cup confectioners sugar & a drizzle of eggnog. You want just enough eggnog to make it dippable but not too thin that it runs off the cookie. I ended up making 3 batches like this to get through all the cookies.
Dip each cookie half way into icing & place on wire rack to drain
Sprinkle with decorations before icing sets

Want more great oatmeal recipes?

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats

Oatmeal Date Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Boxwood Wreath

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

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

Metallic Rope Trees

Natural Ornaments

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Bacon Mac & Cheese

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

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!

More Great Mac and Cheese Recipes

Print Recipe

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

2 packs thick bacon- cooked & chopped
48 oz elbow macaroni
2 sticks butter
1 cup flour
3 tsp salt though I usually just sprinkle in the seasonings to taste
2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp minced onions
1 tbsp granulated garlic
4 cups low fat milk
2-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

Cook your bacon- cut & set aside.
Prepare pasta noodles to package directions- cooking al dente so they hold up in the mixing process.
Drain & set aside in large covered pot.
Prepare your roux by melting your butter in a large pot over med/high heat.
Once it's almost melted quickly whisk in your flour & seasonings.
Keep it moving & wait for it to darken slightly & come to a thick creamy texture.
Whisk in your milk & increase your heat to high to get mixture to thicken- keep whisking.
Stir in your cheeses & heat until all cheese is melted & combined - at least 2-3 minutes.
Pour into your pot of noodles- add bacon-
Stir well to combine & coat everything with cheese.
ENJOY!!!

Looking for more comfort food?

Slow Cooker Clam Chowder

Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese

Beef Macaroni Soup

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Personalized Spatulas {Homemade Gift for less than $10}

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

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?

Rag Wrapped Bracelets

15 Easy Homemade Gifts

Hot Chocolate Mix

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Gingerbread & Eggnog Monkey Bread

By Kleinworth & Co 14 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Gingerbread & Eggnog Monkey Bread

Ingredients

Bread

1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup granulated sugar + pinch for yeast
1 pkt rapid rise yeast
2 tbsp shortening
Cooking spray like Bakers Joy
3/4 cup milk- warmed
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Coating

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans - chopped
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

Glaze

1/4 cup eggnog
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp nutmeg

Instructions

Combine warm water & pinch of sugar in small bowl
Sprinkle yeast over top - stir
Let yeast mixture sit approx 5-10 minutes - it should look frothy when done
Place shortening, warm milk, sugar, salt & egg in mixer bow with dough hook attachment - mix on medium
Add yeast mixture & mix well
Slowly add flour - kneading on medium for about 1-3 minutes
Place in a greased bowl - cover & let sit in a warm place to rest about 20 minutes
Spray your bundt pan with cooking spray
Now make the coating by melting the butter in one small bowl
In another small bowl combine remaining coating ingredients & mix with a fork
Sprinkle a small portion of this mixture in the bottom of the bundt pan
When dough is done resting - pinch off 1/2 -1 inch pieces & roll into balls
Dunk each ball of dough in melted butter & then roll in sugar & spice mixture & place in bundt pan
Continue until all the dough is coated
Cover with plastic wrap & let rise about 1 hour or until double in size
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Bake monkey bread 30-35 minutes
Allow to cool in pan at least 30 minutes
Invert onto plate to remove
Make icing by combining all ingredients & whisking until smooth
Drizzle over the top of the bread or use as a dipping sauce

Want more wonderful breakfast ideas?

Coconut Bananas Foster

Blueberry Pie Donuts

Monkey Muffins

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Candy Cane Vodka

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

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.

Print Recipe

Candy Cane Vodka

Ingredients

8-10 ounces vodka
1-2 full size candy canes

Instructions

Pour vodka into a mason jar
Add candy canes
Close lid & let sit about 1 week for the candy canes to completely dissolve.
Give it a good shake prior to use
Transfer to gift bottles if desired.

Want more homemade liquors?

Homemade Kahlua

Homemade Sipping Brandy

Apple Pie Infused Bourbon

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Reese’s Coco Clusters

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Reese's Coco Clusters

Ingredients

1 cups peanut butter chips
1 tbsp shortening
1-1/4 cup Coco Puffs Cereal
8 ounce bag Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Minis - chopped in half

Instructions

Prepare your peanut butter cups & place in medium size bowl
Add your cereal to chopped peanut butter cups- set aside.
Combine peanut butter chips & shortening in glass bowl
Heat over a double boiler on medium, stirring frequently until completely melted
Pour over your cereal & peanut butter cups - stir to coat evenly
Scoop tablespoon size drops out & place on parchment lined baking sheet
Refrigerate to firm up at least 1 hour before serving.
Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Want more chocolate & peanut butter ideas?

Peanut Butter Nutella Salted Sandwich Cookies

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Chocolate Bark

By Kleinworth & Co 7 Comments

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.

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Metallic Rope Trees

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

Happy 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?

Natural Ornaments

Candy Cane Candle

Christmas Gift Tag Printable

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Champagne Punch

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

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.

Print Recipe

Champagne Punch

Ingredients

1 750ml bottle dry champagne
3 cups cold ginger ale
1 ounce triple sec
cranberries
ice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except ice in large punch bowl
Stir to combine
Serve in lightly packed rocks glass - cocktail style

Looking for more holiday beverage ideas?

Crock Pot Cranberry Cider

Blushing Whiskey Sour

Cran-Apple Bourbon Punch

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls

By Kleinworth & Co 1 Comment

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.

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

1 cup warm milk 95-115 degrees
1/4 cup butter - melted
3/4 cup honey
2-1/2 to 3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp rapid rise yeast
Melted butter for serving

Instructions

Line slow cooker with parchment & lightly spray with cooking spray.
Combine yeast, sugar & milk in mixer bowl. Wait 5 minutes & then mix.
Add salt & butter & 1/2 the four - combine using dough hook.
Let sit 2 minutes to rest.
Add remaining flour, & honey. Mix to combine.
Knead in mixer with dough hook 4-5 minutes (or 10 min by hand) until elastic - add more flour if needed until it becomes elastic - not sticky
Allow dough to rest 5 minutes.
Pull off pieces & shape into rolls & place in slow cooker. -It's okay to double the layers if your cooker is smaller.
Cover & cook on high 1-1/2 hours or until firm.
Remove lid & do not allow condensation to drip on bread.
Lay a paper towel over cooker top & recover. Wait 10 minutes.
Remove & enjoy.

Want more bread recipes?

Irish Soda Bread

Pumpkin Pecan Bread

Beer Bread Recipe

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Peppermint Thin Cake

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Peppermint Thin Cake

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp homemade kahlua
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate - chopped
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
5 egg whites
8 ounces whipped topping -semi thawed
Peppermint pieces for topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Lightly coat 9" spring form pan with cooking spray & set aside
In medium saucepan - combine water, sugar & homemade kahlua
Heat over medium until sugar has dissolved & mixture almost boils.
Add chocolate & stir until melted - remove from heat - set aside.
Place the 2 egg yolks in small bowl (reserve your whites for later)
Gradually add your chocolate mixture to your egg yolks being careful to not scramble them
Once combined - add vanilla - stir & set aside.
In a medium bowl - combine cocoa powder, flour & baking powder
Add in chocolate/egg mixture & whisk until smooth. Set aside
In mixer bowl with whip attachment - add your reserved egg whites & additional 3 egg whites
Whip on medium-high until stiff peaks form
Take a small amount & whisk into chocolate mixture to lighten
Then fold in the rest carefully as to not deflate the egg whites
Transfer to prepared pan
Bake 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched
Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes
Transfer to freezer to continue cooling
Once cooled - spread your semi-thawed whipped topping over the top
Sprinkle your peppermint pieces to decorate
Return to freezer until time to serve to keep whipped topping from completely melting.

Want more cake ideas?

Blackberry White Chocolate Buckle

Red Velvet BlackBerry Crash Cake

Chocolate Sweet Potato Cake

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

White Chocolate Fall Popcorn

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

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!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want more food gift ideas?

Homemade Kahlua

Pumpkin Spice Truffles

Macadamia Nut Bark

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Natural Ornaments

By Kleinworth & Co 6 Comments

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

How to Gift Wrap like a PRO

DIY Scented Pine Cones

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Christmas Wreath Series

By Kleinworth & Co Leave a Comment

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?

Painted Christmas Sign

DIY Scented Pine Cones

Hot Chocolate Mix

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Effortless Oven Roasted Potatoes

By Kleinworth & Co 7 Comments

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.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Effortless Oven Roasted Potatoes

Effortless Oven Roasted Potatoes that will have all your guests coming back for more.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: potatoes, roasted

Servings:

Ingredients

8 medium red potatoes
2 medium russet potatoes
4 tbsp olive oil
1-2 tbsp granulated garlic
2 tsp parsley
1-2 tsp dried dill
1 tsp paprika
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spray baking sheet with cooking spray
Wash & cut your potatoes & place in a large bowl
Drizzle olive oil over cut potatoes
Add all other ingredients except butter & parsley - toss to coat well
Spread in a single even layer on prepared baking sheet
Bake 25- 30 minutes or until golden & crisp on the outside & perfectly soft in the inside
Remove from oven & carefully transfer to large bowl
Toss with butter to coat
Sprinkle with parsley - serve

Notes

To make these in the air fryer - reduce the ingredients by 50-75% to accommodate the size of your air fryer. Then cook at 400 for 15 minutes - stirring about halfway through.

Looking for more great Thanksgiving recipes & what to do with those leftovers?

Pilgrim Butty

Simple Turkey Gravy

Turkey Quesadillas

Crock Pot Turkey & Rice Soup

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Sour Pom-Cider {Cocktail & Mocktail}

By Kleinworth & Co 1 Comment

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?

Pink Peppermint Russian

Cran-Apple Bourbon Punch

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups brown sugar - packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spread - melted
1/2 cup Reese's Spreads
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs - room temperature
4 tbsp water
2-1/2 cups Peanut Butter Chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda & salt in medium size bowl- set aside
Cream sugars, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter & Reese's Spreads
Add eggs, vanilla & water. Beat well
Add dry ingredients
Fold in peanut butter chips
Make tablespoon sized balls with the dough & place on baking sheet
Add a couple extra peanut butter chips to the tops
Bake 7-9 minutes
Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to completely cool.
Store in airtight container
*Makes approx 64 small cookies

Want more cookie recipes?

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

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.

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Eggnog Pancakes

By Kleinworth & Co 14 Comments

Indulge 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!

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Holiday Card Ideas

By Kleinworth & Co 4 Comments

**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

Slow Cooker Clam Chowder

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

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.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Clam Chowder

Ingredients

4 6.5 ounce cans minced clams with juice
1 pack bacon- cooked
1 medium onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
6 medium potatoes russet or red - peeled & chopped
1 cup clam juice from your cans
4 cups chicken broth
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp dried dill
1 tsp fresh parsley
1 cup half & half
2 cups milk
4-6 tbsp corn starch
1/2-2 cups instant potato flakes

Instructions

Cook bacon until it's crispy.
While the bacon is cooking add onion, clams, celery, chopped potatoes, clam juice, broth, seasonings to crock pot & cook on high 3-4 hours or on low 6-7 hours
When bacon is done - chop & add to soup
During the last hour - add half & half.
In a separate bowl combine cornstarch & milk - add to soup & allow to continue to cook & to thicken
If it's not as thick as you like - add potato flakes 1/2 a cup at a time - waiting about 10 minutes before adding more until you reach the thickness you desire
Enjoy.

Looking for more hearty soups?

Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Tomato Soup

Idaho Potato Soup

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Vodka Sauce

By Kleinworth & Co 2 Comments

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!

Print Recipe

Vodka Sauce

Ingredients

1 green bell pepper
2 orange sweet peppers
1/2 purple onion
10 to matoes
1 can tomato paste
1/3 cup vodka
3 fresh basil leaves
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 - 1 cup half & half
season salt
granulated garlic
salt & pepper

Instructions

Cut all peppers - removing seeds & chop
Chop onion
Place peppers & onion in food processor & pulse to thick but pureed consistency
Transfer to deep skillet
Cut tomatoes & place in food processor & pulse just a few times to bring them to the consistency of crushed tomatoes
Pour into skillet
Add seasonings, vodka & tomato paste
Bring to a boil for 5-7 minutes stirring frequently
Add basil
Cover & reduce heat to low & allow to simmer approx 30 minutes
After 20 minutes - slowly add cheese & half & half - stir
Allow to simmer remaining 10 minutes
At this point you can immediately add this to your browned meat & then to your pasta & serve
Or you can carefully transfer to jars & store in refrigerator for several days before using.
This filled 2- 32 ounce jars.

Looking for more great pasta ideas?

Tuscan Ravioli Soup

Chicken Vodka Tortellini

Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Gingerbread Truffles

By Kleinworth & Co Leave a Comment

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!).

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Nutella Kahlua Truffles

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

Today 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.

truffles with kahlua

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.

kahlua recipes

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.

Other Delicious No-Bake Desserts

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip

Keto Fudge

No-Bake Peppermint Oreo Bars

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

Rum Balls

Print Recipe

Nutella Kahlua Truffles

Easy chocolate truffles made with Nutella and spiked with Kahlua.

Prep Time20

Chill2

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, French

Keyword: chocolate

Servings:

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese- softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
1½ cups Nutella
1 -2 tsp homemade kahlua
⅓ cup cocoa powder for rolling
or sprinkles of desired

Instructions

Blend the cream cheese & confectioners sugar together in a mixer until smooth.
Add Nutella. Stir.
If separating some for kids - remove a portion of the mixture & place in a small bowl - cover & freeze.
With the remaining mixture - beat in the Kahlua until creamy and smooth.
Cover & freeze 1-2 hours.
Once the mixture is quite firm - scoop out portions with a melon baller & roll into balls between your hands.
Roll in the cocoa powder or another coating of choice.
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet & return to the freezer to firm again.
Store in the freezer until ready to serve.

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!

Main Dishes

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

Vegetables

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

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

Sides & Breads

Harvest Grain Rolls | Heather’s French Press Jello Salad | Your Homebased Mom Herb and Cheese Monkey Bread | Five Heart Home Brown Rice | Uncommon Designs

Pies

Desserts

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?

Simple Turkey Gravy

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