This past week, my husband and sons have been munching on caramel coconut and fudge cookies every single day. I promise that I did not indulge but I definitely wanted to, if I'm being honest. They taste delicious and are hard to resist. I really wanted to have an excuse to buy even more of this cookie variety regularly so I thought it would be a good idea to include them in a fun and delicious recipe. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did! Caramel Coconut and Fudge Truffles Yields: 1 dozen INGREDIENTS: 1 box caramel coconut and fudge cookies 4 oz. (1/2 brick) cream cheese - softened 1/4 cup caramel sauce (I used ice cream topping) 12 oz dark cocoa candy melts Optional - 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract DIRECTIONS: 1. Line a large cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper and set aside. 2. Place the cookies in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Reserve 1/4 cup of the crumbs for later use and pour the remaining … [Read more...]
Watermelon And Blueberry Infused Water
Many of you have been hearing about the benefits of drinking infused water on a daily basis. Since giving up drinking soft drinks last August, I have been experimenting with some refreshing ways of enjoying my daily recommended water intake. You might be surprised to find out that there are some great reasons why consuming infused water is a good idea. Infused water is basically cold water that contains a mixture of herbs, fruits, or vegetables. Many people swear by it because they claim that it helps them to stay full so they don't have as much of an appetite for eating junk food. The fact of the matter is that drinking water is necessary for staying hydrated and maintaining all of our life functions. It helps to flush toxins from your body and it assists in digestion. Many people also use infused water recipes to assist in reaching their weight loss goals. The reason for this is that it … [Read more...]
Coffee Rubbed Pot Roast @Folgers #Folgers #Ad
It's no secret that I love Folgers coffee. Over the years, I have gotten very creative and infused its rich flavors into many recipes. After all, why should I limit myself to enjoying the smooth and bold taste of my favorite coffee only in the morning when I am having my breakfast? Folgers Coffeehouse Blend has been my perfect muse for trying out all of these dynamic recipes because its taste is rich and strong from beginning to end. I’ve used it before to create my Salted Caramel Iced Coffee recipe and it turned out delicious! This time, I wanted to really see how this coffee blend would stand up when paired with one of my favorite meats, pot roast. Yes, you read that correctly, I used Folgers Coffeehouse Blend to prepare Coffee Rubbed Pot Roast! This was the best way to take my brew to the next level by pairing this recipe with the smooth, bold flavor of this coffee. You can add anything to this blend and still … [Read more...]
TMNT Whoopie Pies
If your kids love the Teenage Mutant Turtles as much as my sons and nephews do, you might want to consider making these adorable whoopie pies for their next birthday party or gathering. Not only are they adorable and easy to make, but the kids just love them. Here is everything you will need to make Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Whoopie Pies: INGREDIENTS FOR THE COOKIES: 2 (8.25 oz) pouches Funfetti vibrant green cake mix 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING: 4 cups powdered sugar 1 Tablespoon butter- softened 1/2 cup solid shortening 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 Tablespoons milk 2 Tablespoons hot water 3-4 drops food gel in red, blue, orange and purple 24-30 Wilton candy eyes -small DIRECTIONS FOR COOKIES: 1. Preheat oven to 350°. 2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 3. Pour the cake mix into a large … [Read more...]
Easy Shrimp Shooters
Shrimp Shooters are a great appetizer for any adult gathering and I fell in love with them when they were served at my good friend's wedding a little over a year ago. What I like about them is that they are really easy and inexpensive to make and I think they are a refreshing change from the traditional shrimp with cocktail sauce recipe. I had the chance to make these last week when we had some friends visit us for the weekend. Not only were they a big hit with our guests, but they were also refreshing and just a great dish to entertain with. I'm planning on making them again at our next family party or gathering because I think my family would also love them. You can choose to make your shooters spicier or milder but make sure that you are generous with the shrimp you put in each one. The small shooter glasses are my favorite because they allow you to present these appetizers in such an elegant way. … [Read more...]
Pepperoni Pizza Dippers
Now that the holiday vacation is over, we are back to our regular school schedule which includes extracurricular activities and sports. If your kids are like mine, they come home from school every afternoon starving which actually makes me wonder what they are serving for lunch daily. As a Working Mom, I have tried to come up with easy after-school snacks that my boys can enjoy and that won't take a ton of preparation. Both of my sons love pizza so I knew that any recipe involving pizza ingredients would be right up their alley. I found that I could make easy pepperoni pizza dippers with some of the ingredients that we normally keep in the house anyway. All of this equals to a yummy recipe, happy kids after school, and a mom who is super cool in the eyes of her children! Pepperoni Pizza Dippers Yields: 8 pizza dippers Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 11-15 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 … [Read more...]
Frozen Hot Cocoa Spoons
My husband just went out to get breakfast and left the front door open when he came back in to get his car keys. I can't even begin to describe to you guys how cold it has gotten in New York City. I've never been a big fan of the cold weather but I do love certain things about this season. Aside from being able to wear tights and boots, I also enjoy winter recipes and just about anything that will warm me up when I get in from the cold outdoors. One of my favorite winter treats to enjoy are hot cocoa spoons. They are perfect for dipping in hot chocolate or even in a hot cup of milk. You can make them in white or milk chocolate and can even decorate them and wrap them to give away during the holidays. Since I love Frozen so much, I thought this would be a great theme for my hot cocoa spoons this year. Check it out! FROZEN HOT COCOA SPOONS SUPPLIES NEEDED 12 Plastic Spoons 2 T solid shortening 3/4 cup … [Read more...]
Salted Caramel Iced Coffee @Folgers #Folgers #Ad
There is nothing like enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee anytime of the day. The entire experience is mesmerizing and tantalizing from your taste buds to your sense of smell. Folgers Coffeehouse Blend is perfect for exploring alternative brewing methods because of its distinct taste that starts smooth and finishes bold. That is why I knew that it would be the perfect blend to use for my Salted Caramel Iced Coffee recipe. Folgers Coffeehouse Blend allows you to add anything to your coffee and still taste your coffee perfectly. When I was a little girl, my grandmother always loved to carry caramels in the pocket of her apron. She would secretly eat them throughout the day and would often give me one to eat whenever I was good or just to reward me with a treat. It's a beloved memory from my childhood so I knew that caramel would be the perfect ingredient for creating a decadent iced coffee recipe. … [Read more...]
Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
The countdown is on, I am scheduled to go back into the classroom and end summer vacation on September, 6th. My boys will be starting school two days later and, since I am starting at a new position as a high school reading teacher, my schedule will be more hectic than ever. Both of our sons attend an after-school program due to our packed working hours. We've noticed that they are usually both famished by the time we pick them up and they get home. The problem is that it's very easy for them to reach into the refrigerator or cabinet and just grab the first thing that they see, whether it is the healthiest option or not. This year, I have started making a lot of changes to my personal diet and eating healthier. I've also begun to make subtle changes in our entire family's eating habits and opt for healthier snacking options for all of us. Included in this new vision are lots of vegetables and … [Read more...]
Piña Colada Popsicles
A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to go away for the weekend without the kids for the first time in over ten years. Although we really missed our boys while we were away, having this time together made us realize how important it is to set time aside whenever possible to bond as a couple. Since we can't always get away, I started thinking about ways we could do this right at home. This doesn't mean that we can't enjoy some adult treats after the kids go to bed. It's summer vacation here in New York City so what better way to cool off after a long, hot day than by enjoying some Piña Colada popsicles. These are strictly for adults as the recipe does include rum. PIÑA COLADA POPSICLES This recipe will make 12 piña colada pops: INGREDIENTS 2 cups pineapple juice 2 cups cream of coconut 1/4 cup rum (or coconut rum) Optional- maraschino cherries DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pitcher, add the pineapple … [Read more...]
