This recipe for Easy Favorite Hot Chocolate is the perfect crowd-pleasing hot chocolate to serve at a DIY hot chocolate topping bar party! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpreadCheer #CollectiveBias For some of us as kids, the biggest incentive to brave the bone-chilling frigid winter was seeking an adrenaline rush, whether it was in the form of sledding, snowboarding, or skiing. For others, it was the promise of warming up with hot chocolate afterwards that coaxed us outside. And then for others yet – perhaps the smartest of all – it was both. […]...
Tangerine Lemonade with Clove-Infused Simple Syrup and Fresh Cranberries
Tangerine Lemonade with Clove-Infused Simple Syrup and Fresh Cranberries is full of festive flavor and easy to mix up! Special thanks to my friends at Megan Media and Tropicana for partnering with me for this blog post. I am happy for the opportunity to share brands that I believe in with my readers, and I hope you enjoy my recipe. As always, opinions stated are my own. Every social gathering I remember as a child involved my mom’s punch, especially around the holidays. I’m not sure of the exact recipe, but I remember it had two kinds of soda (ginger ale and lemon lime, I think), […]...
Apple Rosemary Brined Roast Turkey
Diestel Family Turkey Ranch provided me with product for the purpose of this post, as well as compensation for my time. I am happy for the opportunity to share brands that I believe in with my readers, and I hope you enjoy my recipe. As always, opinions stated are my own. Flavorful and juicy Apple Rosemary Brined Roast Turkey will make a gorgeous centerpiece for your family’s holiday table. The Thanksgiving I remember best isn’t because the meal was the most delicious. Actually, quite the opposite because my sister and I had no idea how to cook the stuffing, let alone the turkey. It was my […]...
Orange Chiffon Layer Cake with Almond-Orange Italian Meringue Buttercream
Orange Chiffon Layer Cake with Almond-Orange Italian Meringue Buttercream has a light and springy, yet moist and tender crumb, and the cake’s lightness is balanced perfectly by the buttercream’s richness. Growing up, my mom made orange chiffon cake in the shape of a lamb every single Easter. It was frosted with vanilla buttercream and coated in coconut, and she used black jelly beans for the eyes. If I remember correctly, a few years she even dyed coconut green so the little lamb could rest on a bed of grass, and also placed a few robin’s egg candies around for color. It was beautiful; an heirloom […]...
Cherry Almond Biscotti {Gluten-Free}
We all play favorites, whether it’s on purpose or not. Sometimes it’s a favorite song or restaurant or flavor of ice cream. Sometimes it’s a favorite aunt, cousin, or pet. And sometimes it’s something as ordinary as a favorite baked good....
Festive Vanilla Bean Mixed Nuts with Rosemary and Cranberries
Festive Vanilla Bean Mixed Nuts with Rosemary and Cranberries makes a beautiful treat for holiday parties or homemade gifts! Holiday parties are always the best parties; with everyone in a festive mood, they’re full of laughter and fun, not to mention fabulous food....
Cranberry-Pistachio Cupcakes
These Cranberry-Pistachio Cupcakes are sweetly aromatic and soft-textured; from start-to-finish they’ll be ready in just an hour, and it’s perfect if you want just a small batch of something sweet. This time of year has the tendency to get so busy. With Thanksgiving over, our focus turns to Christmas and all the preparation that goes along with it. But a moment of peace, however brief, is a most welcome retreat in December. Even if it’s just taking an hour to make these cupcakes and then enjoying one with a cup of tea. I can’t think of anything more comforting than the smell of something sweet […]...
Holiday Travel Guide: Carry-On Bag Packing Checklist
Disclosure: I’m sharing #beyondordinary in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™. I can take all the help I can get when it comes to not forgetting something when I pack and this Holiday Travel Guide: Carry-On Bag Packing Checklist makes it easy! Many people travel to visit family or friends over the holidays. It’s a busy time of year to be traveling, but packing doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s what I always include in my carry-on bag to make sure the trip goes as smoothly as possible....
Fluffy Seltzer Water Pancakes with Quick Spiced Maple-Pear Compote
This recipe for Fluffy Seltzer Water Pancakes with Quick Spiced Maple-Pear Compote makes a lovely festive brunch that comes together in less than 30 minutes. In my family, Thanksgiving Day eats are special from the very beginning. Dinner is served around 5 or 6pm, so we usually sit down to brunch mid-morning. Brunch is special, but always quick to make because of course dinner is the main event....
Cardamom-Spiced Cranberry-Pear Sauce
This Cardamom-Spiced Cranberry-Pear Sauce is perfect if you want a fresh new twist on a classic favorite. Serve it with turkey dinner or as a fun seasonal topping for oatmeal, yogurt, or toast. Most people only enjoy cranberries in sauce, but not me. I look forward to cranberry season months before those little gems show up at the market....