What is more, they look super cute on the festive table. And it sure feels like we’re on vacation!

It’s only April but here I am dreaming of the beach.  I guess I’ll have to eat a Pudding Sand Cup instead…

What do you need to make this Pudding sand cups recipe?

In fact, these are so easy to make, you will need no more than 10 minutes tops. In addition to the ingredients in the recipe, you will need small cups and some more decorations such as cocktail umbrellas. You can find these in the party section of your grocery store or a party supplies store. 

Remember that you make these for the grandkids, so they don’t have to be in large cups. They will be a hit at your beach-themed party!

These pudding sand cups are:

• easy to make 
• tasty 
• don’t require any special skills
• summery snack
• creamy

Make a Pudding sand cups recipe for your beach-themed party

To begin with, planning and organizing a party for the little ones can be a difficult task. If it is possible, begin preparations the month before to be sure you won’t miss anything. 

Make a party plan, choose the theme, cake, decorations, and schedule the activities and games for the grandkids. Make a food menu, and organize it all in a folder on your tablet. It helps the party to be less stressful for you.  

Helpful tips:

• You can crush the biscuits in a food processor or a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.
• Feel free to use the candy you already have.
• Instead of gummy bears, you can use different types of summer-themed treats.

What do you need to make the perfect beach-themed party?

Save on time and stress by choosing the theme first. If you decide on a beach theme party, start with the cake and then plan the decorations for the room and the table. You should include the theme colors in the appetizers, desserts, and other tasty treats you serve.

For your party you will need:

• Party theme
• Invitations
• Cake
• Food menu
• Table and room decorations
• Fun games and activities for the grandkids

What is more, make sure you send out the invitations a few weeks in advance. For more excitement, grandkids can get involved in making the invitations and get crafty. They can make the invitations by using paper, pencils, stickers, and other craft supplies. 

Write a list of all the beach-themed items you want to include at your beach party:

• seashells
• starfish
• sand
• beach or pool
• umbrellas
• fish
• boats
• palm trees
• pineapples
• flamingos
• beach balls

Make super funny food names and put labels on the table

Would you like to try these pudding sand cups with bears? Or some beach party dip? How about a starfish sandwich? Come up with cute and amusing names for the tasty treats and label them.

Put the labels on the table. It will make the party a lot more fun! Even the picky-eaters will be enjoying this party food!

Try some of these ideas:

• Starfish sandwiches
• Swimming teddy bear dip
• Bikini beach bear cupcakes
• Beach party pops
• Surfing bear cupcakes

Plan the party outside

Grandkids need to be outside to get more Vitamin D. Also, to have more space for running and expressing their excitement. They need to play outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. This party will give them lots of reasons to stay in the sun and have fun.

Easy-to-make party food snacks

Party food should be related to the topic. And it is great to have beach theme shapes and decorations, too. Get creative in the kitchen! Search the internet for some party food ideas and create them with the products you want to use. 

We have many recipes on our blog where your grandkids can help make the food item. This Pudding Sand Cups Recipe is no different. I’ve mentioned before that these are my favorite kind of treat to make because it keeps my little ones busy for a bit in the kitchen and then they always love to eat what they make. Just wait until they see this!

In addition to our Pudding Sand Cups recipe, here’s another “beach” type snack that I have made many times with my littles and they love it! It’s our Beach Theme Fruit Dip and it’s always a hit!

With summer quickly approaching, you may want to grab some of the ingredients for this recipe so that you have everything on hand. I know that my refrigerator is often sparse because there is just my husband and me at home. We don’t eat that much. 

Our little 6-year-old granddaughter was here the other day, and she opened our refrigerator, and then she said “Grammy, now I know why you and Pa come to our house for Sunday dinner because you don’t have a lot of food!”

I may not have a lot of food. But I do have lots of things to make recipes for with my grandkids. I guess I better go to the store and get some pudding! Using instant puddings makes this recipe an easy one. So let’s get started! 

Print

Pudding Sand Cups Recipe

Kids of all ages love to make this Pudding Sand Cups Recipe. Using instant puddings makes it so easy!

Course Snack

Keyword Pudding Sand Cups

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author WritersID2

Ingredients

• 1-2 pkg small box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 tub 8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
• Blue Food Coloring
• 6-8 Golden Oreos, crushed
• Gummy sea creatures, stars or shells
• Teddy Bear Grahams

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, add cold milk
• Sprinkle pudding over top and whisk until well combined
• Add food coloring and mix well
  
• Place in refrigerator about 10 minutes or until set
• Fold in whipped topping until well combined
  
• Add to glasses or cups
  
• Place in refrigerator 20 minutes to chill
• Crush cookies in food processor or resealable plastic bag until fine
• Sprinkle on top
• Add your gummy sea creatures and Teddy Bear Grahams
  

Notes

You can adapt this recipe to a "dirt cup" recipe by following the same recipe but using these ingredients:

 

1-2 small box (3.4 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed

10-12 regular Oreo cookies, crushed
Gummy worms

 

How to make table and room decorations for the beach-themed party?

It is no surprise that the general color is blue. You can combine it with white and other bright colors for accent. White table cloths will make your dishes and decorations more visible. 

For the perfect beach themed-party provide:

• decorative fishnet wall hanging
• fish and boat ornaments
• seashells centerpiece for the table
• white table cloth
• beach signs
• colorful balloons
• a small pool with inflatable fish and boats

For the table setting, you may use a blue scarf or organza fabric to drape in the center of the table. Put decorations on the top. For example, seashells, and boats. Stretch a fishing net across the table cloth or hang it on the wall. Use blue napkins and straws. You can even put an umbrella on each straw to make it more fun!

Fun party activities for the grandkids

Thirty minutes for each game is enough for the grandkids to have fun and then move on to the next activity. Plan some quiet games, too, such as puzzles or board games. This way grandchildren won’t be exhausted before the cake arrives.

You can give all the grandkids some beach-theme items like goggles, sunglasses, flippers. Make them participate in the beach-themed photo booth wearing them and take photos.

For instance, hide some beach-themed items somewhere in the garden and organize a scavenger hunt. Grandkids will be having a lot of fun while finding them. Leave clues in different places and watch them playing. 

Schedule different beach-themed party activities, such as:

• scavenger hunt
• decorating seashells
• craft with tropical items
• beach-themed photo booth
• make a beach-themed sensory bottle
• catching fish in the small pool with inflatable fish

Get some seashells, paint, glitter, and get crafty. The grandkids can make their painted seashells and take them home as a gift from the party. 

Besides, we have already shown you how to make a sensory bottle in some of our blog posts. You can use this idea as a great party activity. 

Provide bottles, cooking oil, paint, glitter, different seashells, and window stickers. Grandkids will have fun while making their ocean-filled bottles. Homemade toys are great for developing grandchildren’s skills. 

These activities will create meaningful conversations and lots of long-lasting memories. And most importantly, grandkids will be having fun!

Healthy party food

Create a well-balanced and healthy menu for the party. Include vital nutrients such as proteins, carbs, and healthy fats. Minimize using sugar as much as possible. Substitute it with fresh fruit. 

Here is what you can do to make your party food healthier:

• Why not go sugar-free? Grandkids won’t be able to tell if you use sweeteners instead of sugar. But it will make it much healthier. Try stevia or erythritol. You can use sugar-free chocolate, too. 
• Instead of artificial food coloring, put some blue spirulina. It will make the pudding the desirable blue color. 
• Make sure you have lots of colorful fresh fruit on the table. Bright colors will attract the grandkids, and they would want to have some.

In fact, cooking food at home is always a better option to make it organic or eliminating food coloring and artificial food enhancement agents. If you decide to buy prepackaged food, make sure it contains less sugar and no preservatives. 

Allergy-friendly Pudding sand cups recipe variation

When you gather more grandchildren together for a party, you have to consider whether some of them have food allergies or not. Make sure your food is allergy-free. Use dairy-free milk to make the recipe lactose-free and vegan. 

Why not make a homemade ”biscuit sand” for the Pudding sand cups? Use a gluten-free mix of flour and add sweetener to make it tasty.

For example, you can mix equal quantities of buckwheat flour and gluten-free oat flour with some erythritol to make it sweet. There are gluten-free crackers or biscuits you can use, too. 

The bottom line

How to throw the perfect beach theme party for your grandkids? We have you covered with tips and ideas to make your occasion memorable. Everyone will love these delicious and cute Pudding sand cups.

Not only are these easy to make but also look super cute on your party table. Your grandkids will be looking forward to the party! 

Moreover, get them involved in making the invitations and even the Pudding sand cups. They will be so excited to take part in the whole preparations! It is an affordable and money-saving idea for a sweet treat that will take your party to the next level! 

Are you already enjoying our pudding sand cups recipe? You have to check out these other posts, too:

• 23 ideas for a beach staycation
• 16 healthy kid snacks
• 31 easy pirate ideas
• 16 nautical DIY projects
• Quick and easy DIY seashell artwork

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What do you call these?  All my life I’ve called these Scotcharoos with an “A”.  Then I see recipes out there that are called Scotcheroos with an “E”.  What??!!

Either way, I don’t think there is a kid alive that doesn’t like these. (This Grammy loves them and can eat a quite a few.) And our Scotcharoos (with an A) is the best because of a small little tweak that makes our soft and not too hard. Plus no cutting is required. Hallelujah!

If you’ve ever cut a pan of these, you know that can be a chore.  But with our recipe below, your Scotcharoos will be a breeze. So let’s get started.

Ingredients:

5  to 5 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies (This is our little secret.  DO NOT use 6 cups that is called for in every other recipe.)

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of corn syrup

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup of butterscotch chips

Instructions:

In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.

Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Stir in peanut butter.

Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.

Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans. 

Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.

In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.

Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.

Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  NO CUTTING REQUIRED! 

Isn’t that the best news ever?

I will be serving these to my grandkids this Sunday.  Who wants to bet that there won’t be a single one leftover?

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Best Scotcharoos Recipe

With one little tweak, this Scotcharoo recipe makes the best Scotcharoos because they are soft and not hard. Plus no cutting required!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Author Debbie

Ingredients

• 5 cups Rice Krispies
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

• In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.
• Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
• Stir in peanut butter.
• Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.
• Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans.
• Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.
• In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.
• Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.
• Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  No cutting required!

Either way, with an “A” or an “E”, these are a fun treat to make and even more fun eating them!

Do you need more Rice Krispies goodness in your life?  

Take a look at this!

Roasted Rice Krispies Treats

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Going along with these Fruit Kabobs is a great fruit dip.  Get ready to dip your luscious fruit into this yummy concoction!

Print

Fruit Kabobs and Fruit Dip

Course Snack

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• Fruit Kabobs
  
• Skewers
• Fruit - grapes pineapples, red raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi or any fruit you like
• Fruit Dip
  
• 1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
• 1 7 oz container marshmallow creme
• 2-3 tablespoons juice - orange pineapple, fruit, any flavor you like

Instructions

• Fruit Kabobs
  
• Clean and wash fruit
• Place fruit in bowls
• Thread skewer with a variety of fruit
• Serve immediately or chill with fruit dip
• Fruit Dip
  
• In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and marshmallow creme.
• Add juice and beat until smooth
• Transfer to smaller bowl and cover with plastic wrap or place in airtight container and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving
• Store leftovers in fridge

So gather the kids around and tell them to dip away! 

Want some more fruit dishes?

Ice Box Cake

Charcuterie Platter for Kids Snacks

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To get started with these cookies, you are going to want our Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie recipe found here.  I know that you have to make another click to get the recipe, but I am promising you right here and now, IT IS WORTH IT!  However, if you are in a hurry, you can always use premade sugar cookie dough. 

Here are the additional items you will need for the decorating: Red, green and white frosting, black and green gel icing, triangle cookie cutter, and tongue depressors.

Roll your cookie dough per the recipe or the premade dough.  Cut your triangles out.

Lay your tongue depressors on a cookie sheet leaving enough room to lay the triangle dough on top.

Bake as directed by our sugar cookie recipe or per the packaged dough. Start with the red frosting and frost the watermelon part of the cookie.

Next comes frosting the white part of the rind.

Take your green gel and make lines to look like the green watermelon rind.

And last but not least, with your black gel, create the black watermelon seeds.

Let the frosting dry a little and then watch these yummy treats disappear!

Recipes that kids can really help and get creative are my favorite kind of recipes.  I would say this one really fits that bill and that we will be making them again.  Hope you enjoy!

More Watermelon goodness with our…

Watermelon Whoopie Pies

Watermelon Cupcakes

Watermelon Flower Pots

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Most kids love cookie dough ice cream (I am a lover of eating straight cookie dough. Don’t judge me!) and if yours do too, then you’ll want to make room for these yummy brownies.

A moist base of brownies topped with a cookie dough middle with the crowning top of melted chocolate chips make these brownies a treat that will disappear fast.

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Cookie Dough Brownies

Are you ready for a recipe that you will be asked for over and over? These Cookie Dough Brownies might just be your new favorite goodie.

Course Dessert

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• BROWNIE BASE
  
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
  
• FILLING
  
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup flour
  
• GLAZE
  
• 1 cup regular semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 Tablespoon shortening

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa and salt. Mix until combined.
• Add oil, eggs and vanilla.
• Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes
• Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes
• Cool completely
• For filling, cream butter and sugars together in a medium bowl.
• Add in milk and vanilla
• Beat in flour.
• Spread over the cooled brownies and chill until firm.
• For glaze, melt regular semi-sweet chocolate chips and shortening in microwave. Watch to make sure chocolate chips don't burn. I usually do about 25 seconds and then stir until smooth. Repeat until completely melted.
• Spread melted chocolate over filling.
• Sprinkle mini chips over chocolate while still warm.
• Let cool. Then watch them go!

I hope you enjoy these as much as our family does!

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Hey there! Molly and Chelsea here! We’re the besties and food bloggers from Bests and Bites. We’ve been best friends for over 20 years (so like, 90% of our lives) and we love nothing more than food, health/fitness and pool days!

We’re so glad we could share this Halloween recipe with you and hope you love making it for your spooky soirees this fall!

How adorable are Halloween treats? There’s no less than 10000 spooky recipes on Pinterest and every single one has an adorable place in my heart. And this one has a very special place because it’s comes together in a snap and it the epitome of fall: pumpkin spice and mummy decorations.

The base of this recipe is exactly like you’d start rice crispy treats. Measure out the cereal (which will be cheerios here rather than crispies) and melt the butter. But this is where it changes! Add a little pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to the melted butter and mix well to combine. There isn’t a ton of pumpkin puree here but it’s just enough to tell it’s made for fall.

When you mix the marshmallows in just keep stirring so it won’t burn. It’s best to use a wooden to avoid sticking. Oh and DO NOT forget to grease your pan:) Nobody wants a bunch of cereal stuck to a pan.

Expert tip: spray a rubber spatula with cooking spray before you spread it in the pan. This way the marshmallow-y cereal won’t stick to your spoon and you can press it firmly to set.

My favorite part about this is obviously the googly eyes! The bars just look like a  cereal trip with chocolate until you add the eyes and they’re instantly transformed into the spooky Halloween treat!

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Mummy Cereal Bars

Servings 9

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups honey nut cheerios
• 12 ounces 1 bag of white chocolate melting morsels
• 18 candy googly eyes

Instructions

• Spray an 11x7 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Once melted, add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice and mix well. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until they're all melted and mixture is sticky, but smooth, about two minutes. Add the cereal and mix well, making sure everything is coated with the marshmallow mixture.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan and press firmly down with a rubber spatula spray with cooking spray to avoid sticking. Allow to set for 15 minutes.
• In a microwave safe bowl, add the white chocolate chips and place on high for 30 seconds, remove and stir and return to microwave in 30 second increments until melted, stirring between each one. Transfer melted chocolate to a pastry bag or plastic bag with 1/4 and inch of the tip cut off and pipe melted chocolate on top of cereal bars back and forth horizontally, saving a little extra to add the eyes. Place bars in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
• Cut bars in long rectangles and use left over melted chocolate to place eyes on the bars towards the top of the rectangles.

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The post Mummy Cereal Bars appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hey hey all! It’s Nancy from The Bitter Side of Sweet again! I hope you are having a wonderful extended weekend! Do you have plans for cookouts? We are keeping it way low key. We do have our youngins to entertain and feed so I thought I would come up with the perfect type of snack/dessert for little ones!

Making this popcorn was the simplest recipe that I have had made in a LONG time! I have an air popper so that basically did all of the work for me. Then I used my microwave to finish the rest of it and BAM! It was done! Seriously, it doesn’t get easier than that!

Now when I make this type of popcorn it always catches people off guard because it is sticky and sweet. But that is the fun of it!! You can also roll it into popcorn balls. I actually made some extra, bagged them up and sent them off to my hubby’s work!

This would also be a great go-to recipe for the Fourth of July! It is a favorite at any get together or family gathering and can be made in massive quantity.

ENJOY!

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Patriotic Marshmallow Popcorn

Course Snack

Servings 6

Author Nancy Piran

Ingredients

• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 cups popped popcorn
• 1 tablespoon patriotic sprinkles

Instructions

• In microwavable safe bowl add marshmallows and butter.
• Microwave for 45 seconds. Checking after 30 seconds that your marshmallow is not burning.
• Stir marshmallow mixture. Add popcorn and stir till well combined.
• Add sprinkles. Stir, serve and ENJOY!

Want more popcorn? You MUST check out these other tasty flavors! Here you go…

Nutella Marshmallow Popcorn

Chocolate Popcorn Pretzel Bark

Coconut Flax Popcorn (For a healthy option)

The post Patriotic Marshmallow Popcorn appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hey guys—Margaret Anne from Natural Chow here, back with another healthy and delicious recipe for ya! With summer around the corner, cooling off is everyone’s number one priority. And these sweet, 100% natural peach strawberry popsicles are sure to do the trick!

Three ingredient recipes are among my favorite, mostly because of their simplicity. This is by far one of the easiest recipes to ever come out of my kitchen, and it’s just as delicious. All you need is canned or fresh sliced peaches, apple juice, and strawberries!

To make things easier, I prefer using canned peaches. Not only does this make for a smoother popsicle, but it also saves you from having to slice up some peaches (and removing the stubborn pits).

A 29 oz. can of sliced peaches is the perfect amount for this recipe!

I’m a little obsessed with no-mess/low-mess recipes at the moment, and these peach strawberry popsicles definitely fit into that category. Even with some little hands helping.

The amount of strawberries you add to the mix is totally up to you. I’ve found that 3-5 large strawberries makes for the perfect combination of sweet and tangy.

Depending on the size of your popsicle mold, this recipe should make roughly 6-8 popsicles. However, since not all molds are created equally, the amount you get out of this recipe may differ.

You can also add in some diced strawberries to the mix before pouring the fruit puree into the popsicle molds.

I picked up these colorful molds from the dollar store, but I think you might have more success with a non-plastic mold, as these were a little tricky to get out. But if you’re feeling extra spunky and want to take this cool summer treat to the next level, you could try using different shaped popsicle molds!

You guys are going to loooove these simple, healthy 3-ingredient peach strawberry popsicles!

Here’s the recipe:

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3-Ingredient Peach Strawberry Popsicles

Simple, easy peach strawberry popsicles made with just 3 ingredients!

Course Dessert

Servings 6 -8 popsicles

Author Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow

Ingredients

• 1 29 oz. can sliced peaches
• 1/2 - 1 cup apple juice
• 3 - 5 large strawberries rinsed

Instructions

• In your blender, combine all ingredients and blend until mixture is smooth.
• Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Notes

These will keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe!

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The first time I tried Artichoke Dip (or a version of it) was Cheddar’s Spinach Artichoke Dip. I could not believe two things I had turned my nose up on as a kid, spinach and artichokes, could bring this incredible tangy cheesy goodness. I was hooked so when I saw a recipe for artichoke dip in the slow cooker in my Entertaining: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry cookbook I knew I had to make it. And like a cherry on top I was so happy it was in the slow cooker!

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Slow Cooker Artichoke Dip

Author Penney Lane

Ingredients

• 2 12 oz. jars artichoke hearts drained and chopped
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a small slow cooker.
• Stir to thoroughly combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
• Serve warm with pita bread, pita chips, or tortilla chips.

The recipe just says for the artichokes to be chopped, but I gave mine a quick couple of pulses in the food processor to make sure there were no big chunks. I also added the S&P and the crushed red pepper flakes, which was also in the Cheddar’s dip and the small kick is a nice pair to the rich cheese. You can also use purple onions instead of white if you want a pop of color. I had white on hand.

This Slow Cooker artichoke dip has gone in my spiral notebook of go to recipes for parties or get togethers. (I saw Giada had one on her show and figured if it worked for her….) It is so easy to put together and then two hours later have a beautiful flavorful dip that is sure to be a hit at parties or just as a snack for the family. Make this restaurant favorite at home and stop by Penney Lane for more easy recipes and while you’re there be sure and sign up for my weekly newsletter for cooking tips, recipes, and subscriber exclusives.

You might also like:

Cheesy Bean Dip Skillet

Chili Cheese Dip

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I’m excited to be back again sharing a sweet recipe featuring one of my favorite ingredients: Cookie Butter.

Please tell me you’ve had cookie butter. It’s like the best spread on the planet! Peanut butter and Nutella don’t have a chance against this stuff.

If you’ve ever had those little cookies they give you on an airplane — that’s what cookie butter tastes like. It’s a buttery, spicy cookie spread that tastes good on everything! In fact, Biscoff, the company that makes those airplane snack cookies, also makes a cookie butter spread. And you can also find different varieties of cookie butter at Trader Joe’s or your grocery store in creamy and crunchy varieties, just like peanut butter.

My Cookie Butter Dip is great for parties served with a tray of fruit, pretzels, Graham crackers, and cookies.

Or you could even use it as a no-bake cheesecake filling. It would be AH-MAZING with a crust made from Biscoff cookies.

I got the idea for this recipe one night while browsing Pinterest. I saw a recipe for Nutella Cheesecake Dip from Cooking Classy and my thoughts immediately turned to the jar of Speculoos Crunchy Cookie Butter I had in the pantry. Eureka moment!

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Cookie Butter Dip

A delicious creamy dip made from cookie butter. It's perfect for dipping fruit, Graham crackers, and cookies.

Course Dessert

Author Amy Buchanan

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 cup cookie butter

Instructions

• Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
• Fold in cookie butter and mix until fully incorporated.
• Fold in whipped cream, and continue folding until blended.
• Serve with fresh berries, Graham crackers, cookies and other dippers.

This is seriously good stuff — and so easy to make, too.

I’m also a homebody, who spends a lot of time in the kitchen and craft room. This time of year, in particular, I really kick the homemaking into high gear to get ready for Christmas and the holiday entertaining season.

Here are a few holiday favorites you might also enjoy:

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars

Christmas Home Tour

Advent Christmas Tree Ornaments

The post Cookie Butter Dip appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I wanted to prepare a super crunchy and flavorful snack. But the main idea was to be healthy, too. The first thing that popped into my mind was Chickpeas. I have some great recipes for roasted chickpeas that I want to share with you. Tested in my kitchen and family-approved, of course.

What are Chickpeas?

Some of you may not know what Chickpeas are. They look like Garbanzo beans, and this is what they are. Chickpeas are gluten-free, vegan, rich in plant-based protein and fiber.

First, let me tell you more about chickpeas and the health benefits they provide.

Roasted chickpeas recipes for the perfect gluten-free and nutritious snacks

If you are diagnosed with celiac disease, a grain-free diet is essential. 

In addition to this, if you are vegetarian or avoid gluten, these are great for you. Don’t have any food restrictions? You will love these recipes for their satisfying flavor.

Protein is essential for the human body. One cup of cooked chickpeas equates to a single serving of plant-based protein. And there is more! Chickpeas are a great source of folate, B group vitamins, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. What an easy, affordable way to get the protein and fiber you need each day!

Try to cut down on meat consumption? Make some dishes of chickpeas. Besides, it adds a significant amount of protein to your diet.

Make healthier food choices

First, if you want to lose weight you are probably advised to eat fiber-rich foods. The reason is they tend to be low in calories and high in nutrients. What is more, fibers make you feel full for longer. The protein content in cooked chickpeas is around 7.25 g per ½ cup. Being a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they offer lots of health benefits.

Also, eating fiber helps to lower cholesterol and minimizes cravings, which is useful when trying to lose weight.

Healthy snacking is key to maintaining your ideal weight. Sadly, unhealthy snacks such as chips and cookies tend to be easily accessible with little prep required. In other words, it makes certain less-than-healthy foods more appealing to busy, on-the-go people. Healthy, homemade snacks are for everyone! These recipes will be viable for you, even if you have a busy schedule.

Adult and seniors’ eating habits depend on the foods that you eat as a child. That is why healthy eating is crucial during childhood! Helping your grandkids develop healthy eating habits is very important.

Kids, in particular, tend to prefer bright colors. Fruits and veggies added to the chickpeas will help keep snack time appealing! A bit of creativity can go a long way in the kitchen!

Healthy food substitutions with chickpeas

• Replacement for bread crumbs – it makes an excellent gluten-free alternative. 
• Replace nuts for people with nut allergies.
• Replace croutons on soups – it will add body and crunchiness.

Salads make for a healthy, easy-to-prepare snack. You can use any ingredients you have on hand. For example, try adding lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, even a bit of chicken or cheese.

Also, salads make a pack-and-go snack that you can take along to work or school. Sprinkle some roasted chickpeas on top for extra crunchiness and nutty flavor.

The well-known hummus is a dip made of chickpeas and sesame paste or tahini. Eat it with a slice of bread or crackers. Actually, 2 tablespoons of the hummus on the bread or crackers average 100 calories. You can add hummus to a sandwich for a protein-rich alternative to butter.

Furthermore, to make healthy food choices you need to swap some ingredients for others. Use chickpeas to replace some or all the meat in soups and stews. Add them to a vegetable soup or stew to add nutrients.

For example, make hummus, which can be a dip or spread for your sandwiches. Falafel is mashed chickpeas with cumin, garlic, chili, and coriander. Separate the mixture into small balls and fry them until they are crisp.

You can make these with lots of flavors, but I couldn’t decide on just one flavor, so I decided that I would try six!

Holy Moly!  These are absolutely my newest favorite snack food!

Are you going vegan?

It means getting rid of meat, dairy, and all animal products in your meal plan. Going vegan may be an opportunity to maintain healthy eating habits and stay fit in every stage of your life. 

If you think of becoming a vegan, you should consider including chickpeas in your diet. It is a great way to gain more protein and fiber. Why not try it for a month? You could start with removing meat and dairy one day a week and substitute them with nuts, chickpeas, tofu, or other healthy alternatives. 

Add chickpeas to your everyday meals

Chickpeas will add some extra plant-based protein to your salad, soup, or stew. In fact, it is a type of carb that you can use in your low-calorie diet.

What is more, chickpeas are an excellent replacement for meat because of their nourishing taste. Aim to swap at least three times a week. Certainly, they add body to the soup, as well as protein and fiber.

Enjoy them in hummus, pasta dishes, salads, or roasted in a hot oven for a high-protein snack.

Want another type of carb that is different from rice and potatoes? Chickpeas are worth trying. Definitely, it is a way to make nutritious and healthy meals.

Your Grandkids will love roasted chickpeas

Salty or sweet – your grandkids will enjoy eating these like popcorn. They are even more addictive than potato chips.

Surely, this healthy kid-friendly snack will be the new favorite! Besides, you can use the leftovers in a veggie-filled sandwich or a wrap to add some extra crunchiness. Try some hummus instead of butter? It is going to be one satisfying and nutritious meal! Plus, it’s great for school snacks, too.

Make the best crispy roasted chickpeas recipe

First, cooking at home is a smart choice. Also, it is the way to avoid saturated fat, added sugar, and extra sodium. The main challenge is to make chickpeas stay crispy.

Without a doubt, there are lots of flavors that go together with them. I couldn’t decide on just one flavor. That’s right, I decided to try six!

Oh my Gosh! These are my newest favorite snack food!

In fact, they were SO easy to make and took no time at all. And wait for the best part! I had most of the ingredients I needed in my kitchen cupboards. Indeed, no fancy ingredients, no fuss. Just perfectly roasted chickpeas.

They were all super yummy, but my absolute favorite was the ranch flavor.

Not joking, I could munch on these all day. And I did. Surely, they are satisfying enough when you want a little something crunchy to eat! Moreover, these are perfect for eating while watching a movie.

Well, let’s get on to the recipes so that you can enjoy some, too! 

I’m sure they will turn you into a chickpea lover!

Print

Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

Author Made From Pinterest

Ingredients

• 2 14-15 oz cans of chickpeas also known as garbanzo beans
• 2 TBL olive oil can also use coconut oil

Honey Cinnamon

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 TBL granulated sugar
• 2 TBL honey

Sesame Seed

• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 TBL sesame seeds

Garlic

• 1-2 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Spicy

• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

BBQ

• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp brown sugar

Ranch

• ¼ Cup Black Pepper
• 1½ Cup Parsley Flakes
• ½ Cup Garlic Salt
• 2 TBL Kosher Salt
• ¼ Cup Granulated Garlic
• ¾ Cup Granulated Onion
• 2 TBL Dill Weed
• This seasoning mix is used to make homemade ranch dressing. You can find the whole recipe HERE. It does contain some dairy products. You can reduce the amounts for the chickpeas recipe or make the whole recipe. It is the way to stay fresh in your fridge for months.

Instructions

• Drain and rinse your chickpeas. Remove any loose skins off of the beans. There is no need to be all of them. Remove the super loose ones.
• On a paper towel or towel, spread your beans and let them dry. I dried mine for about 1/2 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Line a cookie sheet with either foil or parchment paper.
• Evenly spread your dried beans on a cookie sheet.
• Bake for40-60 minutes. It will all depend on your oven. Check after 40 minutes if they are crunchy, then they are ready. If they are soggy, cook a little longer, but watch, to prevent them from burning.
• After baking, transfer to a bowl and mix with the 2 TBL olive oil or coconut oil.
• Then spread the seasonings of the flavor you are using and mix well.
• After coating with the honey cinnamon flavor, you can put the beans back into the oven for 5minutes. It will allow them to caramelize.
• With the ranch recipe, mix 2-3 tsp of the whole mix into your baked chickpeas and refrigerate the rest for other recipes.
• Yummy!

Helpful tips

1. To achieve the crunchy texture you are after, you have to remove the outer skin from the chickpea. Otherwise, the result will be chewy chickpeas, not crunchy.
2. Actually, if you use canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them in water before use. It is a way to reduce the quantity of sodium.  
3. Spread chickpeas on a towel and dry them.
4. Surely, the cooked chickpeas will last for 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in a fridge.
5. Add spices after roasting the chickpeas.
6. Keep the cooking water or the water from the can (if you use canned chickpeas). It is called Aquafaba and is known as the perfect egg replacer.
7. Also, chickpeas have to be spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. 
8. You can cook the chickpeas in an instant pot, slow-cooker, or on a stove-top.
9. Experiment to find your favorite combination of spices!

These roasted chickpeas recipes are:

• Super crunchy
• Flavorful and filling
• Perfect movie night snack
• Late-night snack
• Gluten-free
• Vegan-friendly
• Low-calorie snack
• Rich in fiber and protein
• So easy to make

The bottom line

In conclusion, chickpeas are a nutritious and healthy food to incorporate into your diet. Not only it packs a lot of plant-based protein, but also fiber to help you maintain healthy body weight.

Want to change your usual meal plan? Chickpeas will help you add texture and body to your dishes. What is more, add some crunchiness to your salad or sandwich and provide your meals with healthy nutrients.

In short, pick your favorite flavor from these six recipes and give it a try. It is sure to be a kid favorite that adults will crave, too.

Are you looking for other easy healthy snack recipes? Check out these recipes:

• Fresh Falafel Balls
• Cucumber Tomato Chickpea Salad
• Cold Rice Salad
• Easy Healthy Snack
• Healthy Slumber Party Snacks

You can also follow us on Pinterest │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram │ Hometalk

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When my kids were little, we used to go through popsicles like crazy in the summer. I tried to have cool summer treats that encouraged them to eat more fruit and veggies. I wish I had found this idea from Miss Candiquik years ago, but no worries. It is clearly not too late to make use of this idea, seeing as how I made these today and I ate a few, handful…okay, the amount of toothpicks left over after my taste testing was shocking! This is the kind of snack where you don’t realize how many you have eaten. And when you do realize, they taste so good, you don’t care. Next time I make these I will be making a larger batch!

Want to really cool off? Throw them in the freezer! Frozen grapes are a perfect cold bite, and with this vanilla candy coating and  dipped in nonpareils, it tastes like frozen candy.  I also like them with pecans instead of nonpareils and it is great with red grapes as well. A mixture of red and green grapes would be perfect for Christmas.

Print

Grape Poppers

Ingredients

• About 48 grapes washed and thoroughly dried - the candy coating will not stick to wet grapes
• 4 ounces Vanilla Candy Coating - not white chips! Make sure it is candy coating or it will be too thin.
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts pecans are my favorite or nonpareils

Instructions

• Melt candy coating in a small microwaveable bowl 1 minute at a time, stirring in between until melted.
• Place bowl on a heating pad covered in wax paper. This keeps the candy coating melted to a nice consistency while you are working, so take your time. No need to hurry.
• Place nuts or nonpareils in a small bowl.
• Turn grape upside down and insert toothpick. This way only the smooth green skin will be showing.
• Dip grape into the candy coating and then into the nuts or nonpareils. Place on a sheet of wax paper and let harden.
• May be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Check out a few other summer favorites:

Lemon Berry Trifle in a Mason Jar

Wool Felted Dryer BallsDIY Oxfords

We’re sharing this post with:

Living Well Spending Less

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One of my favorite things about growing up in Southern California was all the good Mexican food. My favorite places to get good Mexican food were always hole in the wall places. They seemed to be the most authentic. I had my own personal criteria for what made an authentic Mexican restaurant. Criteria number 1 was that beef was shredded, not ground. Maybe it is just my personal preference, but never have I been to a really great Mexican restaurant and been served any dish with ground beef in it. My second criteria was freshly made tortillas. If they came out of a plastic bag, I was out of there.

On a recent road trip through Idaho, I was using my smartphone to find someplace to eat. I found a Mexican place that got great recommendations on Yelp. I decided to give it a try. When we walked in, I found that this little hole in the wall met criteria number 3. When I walk in, I want it to feel like I just crossed the border. From the decor, to the menu and especially the customers, these are key indicators to me of authenticity. So now I bring you this recipe. Mango BBQ Brisket and Brie Quesadillas. Criteria number 1, no ground beef. Beef should be shredded. Criteria number 2 was met by making my own tortillas. Our recipe for tortillas is amazing and way easier than you think! Other than that there is nothing authentically Mexican about this Quesadilla. Mango and Brie? Sorry, but I gotta keep it real. Still, when I saw this from Smells Like Home on Pinterest, I was so intrigued. Her blog is beautiful. You just gotta check out her site.And real this is. As in real good. Or real tasty. And real easy to make. The flavors of the sassy Mango BBQ Sauce paired with the smoothness of the creamy Brie are amazing! This is a great spin on quesadillas, authentic or not. I have found that I can freeze any leftover meat and pull it out later for an easy dinner, light on prep. It is also a versatile recipe that can be cooked in the skillet and works just as well on the grill. Authentically Mexican, maybe not. Authentically good, definitely. So keep your cool, authentic or not…

This pin rocks!

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Mango BBQ Brisket and Brie Quesadillas

Ingredients

Brisket

• 1 3lb beef brisket
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 12oz can cola drink

Mango BBQ Sauce

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
• 2 tsp Creole mustard
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup bottled mango chutney

Quesadillas

• 8 8 inch flour tortillas
• 8 oz Brie cheese thinly sliced, with rind left on
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• Cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Brisket

• Rub the meat with salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic.
• Place brisket in the crockpot and pour the Cola over the top.
• Cook on low for 8 hours.
• Remove from the crockpot and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Slice against the grain (1/8-1/4 inch thick).

BBQ Sauce

• Heat olive oil in a 2-qt sauce pan.
• Saute onions for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender or food processor and run until smooth.

Quesadillas

• Heat a griddle or large pan over medium or preheat grill.
• Lay out the tortillas. Divide the meat, brie, and monterrey jack between the tortillas, placing the meat and cheese on half of the tortilla.
• Top with a spoonful or two of barbecue sauce and fold the other half over.
• Place in skillet on medium or on the heated grill (brushing the tortilla with oil will prevent sticking).
• Cook until the bottom is crisp and flip over.
• Remove from heat and cut into 2-3 wedges. Serve with extra barbecue sauce.
• Garnish with cilantro.

For some more Mexican “inspired” meals click on any of these photos:

We’re sharing this post with:

Living Well Spending Less

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As much as possible, I like to pack our food that we will consume during our road trips.  I can’t stand fast food.  I used to love it, but now it just makes me nauseous.  I wish I could say it was because I am super healthy and would never put such garbage into my body, but we all know better than that.  I just don’t like it anymore.

These pizza roll-ups are a staple in our house for road trips, lunch boxes and to toss in the freezer for a quick dinner.  I always make a child version (just cheese) and an adult version (packed with meats and veggies).

Getting ready for the big game in a few weeks?  These also make great party food to feed all your hungry guests.  You could even make them smaller and bite-sized if you wanted!

Pizza Roll-Ups

recipe by My Kitchen Escapades

1 recipe of pizza dough 

1 small can of tomato sauce

1/4 C freshly grated parmesan cheese

6 ounces grated mozzarella cheese

Toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers (optional)

salt and pepper

garlic powder

onion powder

italian seasoning

1.  Allow the pizza dough to rise one time after making it according to the recipe.  Roll the dough on a lightly floured counter top into a 18×12″ rectangle.

2.  Spread on the tomato sauce (as thick or thin as you would like) then season it well by sprinkling the top with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and italian seasoning.

3.  Sprinkle on the parmesan cheese, then the mozzarella cheese.  If you are adding any toppings, add those after both the cheeses.  Starting on the long side, roll up the dough into a tight log.  Cut into 12 even pieces and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Allow to rise for about 15 minutes, covered.

4.  Bake for 15-20 minutes in a preheated 475 degree oven until the rolls are lightly browned.  Serve hot or allow to come to room temperature before wrapping for lunches.

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I love Autumn, don’t you? It’s my favorite time of year. The colors are just fantastic. I love the oranges, reds, yellows, and even browns. The other day I went exploring downtown Salt Lake City and took my camera along with me. I had so much fun being by myself. Ya, I’m a nerd. I enjoy being by myself–experiencing the quiet and reverence of nature without kids saying “mom, mom, MOM!” or arguing or just gabbing. I enjoy the quiet. The sounds of birds. The flapping of their wings. Their squawks as I approach warning me to leave them alone. I love hearing the wind roar and feel my hair fly across my face tickling my cheeks. I get satisfaction out of small, yet great, things.

Here are a few pics I took today at the Brigham Young Historic Park in downtown Salt Lake City. These statues reminded me of my childhood playing in the nearby pond and catching polliwogs with my older brother. Ah, such fond memories.

Another fond memory is coming out of the chilled outdoors and sipping hot chocolate and eating pumpkin chocolate chip bread or muffins. I love the combination of pumpkin and chocolate. Today, I made pumpkin chocolate chip cake donuts. And they are wonderful. I might have eaten half a batch before everyone got home from work and school. But I’m not saying. No, you can’t make me confess. Okay, I will give you a hint: I will be tipping the scale come tomorrow morning! Oy!

These pumpkin chocolate chip cake donuts are moist, tender, and full of flavor! Enjoy a bite before autumn ends.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Donuts

Course Dessert

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12 donuts or 15 muffins

Author Bakerette.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pure pumpkin purée not pie purée
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Confectioners sugar sprinkled (optional)
• 3 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar mixture optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two standard donut pans. If you don't have a donut pan, you can make these into muffins. See notes below.
• With a wire whisk, mix all ingredients minus the chocolate chips.
• Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Pour into prepared donut pans about 3/4 full and bake for 15-20 minutes or until springy to touch.
• Let cool for 5 minutes, loosen their edges, and turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or with a cinnamon-sugar mixture
• Don't wrap leftover donuts in plastic or they'll become soggy. Either place on a plate and top with a cake cover, or place in a plastic baggy leaving the bag unfastened.

Notes

For Muffins: If you don't have a donut pan, you can make these in a standard-size muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean.

Recipe adapted from KingArthurFlour.com

Thank you Debbie, Sherri, and Tracy for allowing me to share your space today with you and your readers! I’d love it if you all stopped by Bakerette.com to see what else is cooking! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wow Jen! We can always count on you to bring us amazing recipes. Love the donut idea, and so nice that they can be made into muffins as well. We agree, pumpkin and chocolate are a winning combination.

If you like this recipe, you might also like these other items at Bakerette. Click on the photos for the recipes:

Vanilla Cookies

Christmas Star Cookies

17 Tips to find Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals, Plus 5 Best Apps for Black Friday Shopping

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Speaking of cheese, I wanted to share with you some interesting facts about cheese and crackers. When someone like me needs info, I Google it  or search Wikipedia. What I found was that there is nothing really interesting about them.  Crackers and cheese, while a tasty snack, are boring. UNTIL NOW! Cream cheese with pecans, dried cranberries and a dash of hot sauce layered between deli slices of cheddar is way better than a boring old cheese and cracker tray! These cheese and crackers are ready to have a good time. And they are purty! I loved that I could make them well in advance and cut and arrange them just before serving. This is a yin yang sort of recipe. There is the balance between crunchy and smooth, spicy and mild, salty and sweet. It hits all the right notes. I brought these to my son’s Eagle Court of Honor and they were popular even among the stellar yummy treats the three other moms whose boys were also being recognized had brought.

The next time I made these, I brought them to a dinner party. Usually I warn people to watch what they say about any food that might end up on our blog, because I just might quote them. But before being warned, one guest said he could stay and eat Party Cheese Ribbon Slices all day. He gave me permission to quote him. I could eat them all day long too. I love this combination of flavors. It looks so holidayish. These cheese slices just look like they should be at a party, right? These are so easy to make. After mixing the cream cheese, nuts, dried cranberries and hot sauce, I layered the cream cheese mixture using a cookie scoop.  It was the perfect amount. Then I spread the mixture to the edges of the cheese squares and repeated layering 6 times. This yielded two stacks of cheese. After refrigerating for several hours I took them out and to keep it looking perfect, I trimmed off the raggedy looking edges, cut each stack in half and then into slices.  Those edges are good for pre-party snacking. Of course if you don’t mind raggedy edges or don’t like pre-party snacking, you can skip this step. But I like a little nibble, and these cut off bits are the perfect excuse. Thanks to Buttercream and a Sewing Machine for introducing us to this rockin’ recipe.

Now just set them on a serving plate with crackers and you are ready to go.

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Party Cheese Ribbon Slices

Author Adapted by MadeFromPinterest.net

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese softened
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 2 8 ounce packages deli-style cheddar cheese slices about 3 inches square
• Assorted Crackers

Instructions

• Mix cream cheese, hot pepper sauce, pecans and dried cranberries.
• On a piece of aluminum foil place one slice of cheese and spread one cookie scoopful of cream cheese mixture to the edges of the cheese. Repeat layers six times.
• Fold foil around cheese and seal tightly. Refrigerate for 8 hours of overnight. Trim edges, cut in half lengthwise and then widthwise into 1/4 inch slices.

Notes

Makes 4 dozen.

This Pin Rocks!

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Ingredients

• Flour Tortillas
• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Apples
• Raisins or Googly Eyes
• Fruit Roll-Ups
• Oreo Cookies
• Shredded Carrots
• Chow Mein Noodles
• Lemon Lime Soda – to keep apples from browning

Cut your apple so you have four pieces that are rounded on one side and flat on the other side. Cut the rest of your apple into long and short strips.

Let your apples sit in a bowl of any type of lemon lime soda. I have found that using lemon lime soda works better than lemon juice to keep the apples from browning. I had to make these early in the morning for our class. We did not present until 3:30, when the class was over the apples had no browning anywhere!

Spread creamy peanut butter on your tortilla.

Fold the bottom edge up.

Place several long strips of apple just above the folded edge.

Put a dab of peanut butter on the folded edge and place several shorter apple strips on the peanut butter.

Fold your tortilla over the apples making a buritto.

You can use googley eyes or raisins to make the eyes.

I used a wooden Kabob to poke holes in the apple for the eyes.

Cut smiles out of the reserved apple peel using a knife, kitchen shears, or a round decorating tip (I used a #12 tip for the small mouths and the larger end of a tip for the larger mouths.) Set the smiles on each apple face.

I used fondant cutters on the fruit roll-ups to make the flowers and stars.

Last but not least you must add the hair. For the black hair I used crushed oreo cookies without the cream. Spread some peanut butter on your apple and then dip in the crushed oreo cookie. Tap off any excess. For the chow mein noodles and shredded carrots use the wooden kabob to make holes and then simply push them into the apple where you want them.

Wahlaa! You now have a great late night snack for your slumber party gang! Everyone in our class at the Pinners Conference agree that……

This Pin TOTALLY Rocks!

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