Amazon Handmade - Shop For Gifts Here (Utilitarian Handmade Gift Guide)

This post was sponsored by Amazon Handmade as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that inspire me. #AmazonHandmade #IC

Are you someone who would rather support small businesses during the holidays? Now you can now find a huge, diverse selection of handmade gifts for every taste on Amazon Handmade. Over half of the items on the site are customizable and made-to-order! 

Order before 12/08/2017 for all custom orders, and as close to 12/11/2017 for most non-custom items, like those featured in this post. Keep reading to check out one of my favorite artists on Amazon Handmade There are SO many talented artists on the site!

As an artist myself, I often do not have enough time to make everyone's gift during the holidays, like I used to be able to do. Life definitely gets busy, but that is no reason to let quality go to the wayside when you're gifting during the holidays. I was so excited to learn that Amazon Handmade offers TONS AND TONS of great gifts, handmade by people all over the country.

 Rather than purchasing something uninspired because I waited until the last minute, I'd rather shop sooner than later - that's where Amazon Handmade comes into play. With Prime two-day shipping, you're winning by not having to continually check your tracking number again and again, which is something  I really appreciate. Everything you already love about ordering from Amazon, but catering to the world of handmade items. Amazon Handmade should be on every customer's mind when it comes to finding handcrafted, unique gifts all while supporting small businesses at the same time. 

WAXED TOTE $140 (shop here)

LEATHER COASTERS, set of 4 $35 (shop here)

OLIVE GREEN LUNCH BAG $45 (shop here)

KNIFE ROLL IN WAXED CANVAS $185 (shop here)

GREEN WAXED CANVAS APRON $140 (shop here)

WINE TOTE $60 (shop here)

LEATHER CAST IRON HANDLE COVER $20 (shop here)

Learn more about Hardmill, and see everything in their Amazon Handmade Store, here.

And, enjoy lots more from Amazon Handmade, here!

The Gift of Treating Yourself This Holiday Season

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Why is it that as the days get shorter during the fall and winter seasons, we seem to have more to do than ever? The holidays can be a never-ending series of to-do lists, running errands, grocery shopping, cooking and baking projects, entertaining friends, and for us bloggers and entrepreneurs, the work load seems to quadruple! For some of us, the end of the year marks that time when we try to make up for all that we did not get done throughout the year. With all that in mind, it’s fun to be able to give yourself the gift of less stress, meaning more relaxation and ‘me time,’ which improves your overall health from the inside out.

It’s so very important to take a bit of time to relax during the holiday season and treat yo’ self! I had the pleasure of trying out a very delicious recipe lately, featuring Oregon Chai® Latte Concentrate – The Original.

There are additional recipes on the site as well as a Meijer mPerks offer! Meijer has three flavors: The Original, Sugar-Free, and Slightly Sweet.

Good karma every sip of the way! I did some research on the brand and I am so inspired to learn that, “More than 20 years ago, Oregon Chai’s founder traveled to the Himalayas to discover taste inspiration. She found chai. She was the first to bring it to the United States. Today Oregon Chai is America’s No. 1 favorite chai. Chai tea lattes are moving mainstream, and the flavor is absolutely perfect for a chilly day.”

Instead of rushing through life, trying to tackle that massive to-do list all at once, don’t burn the candle at both ends or stress can get the best of us.

I love taking a little technology detox and practice breathing exercises, stretching, and yoga. In my opinion, this tea actually encourages relaxation while offering a little boost of energy because of the caffeine. I found that taking a breather to sip a warm glass of tea helped rejuvenate me more than I could have ever expected.

Get this two-ingredient Chai Cider Recipe. To make a 12 oz. cup, simply steam equal parts Oregon Chai The Original Chai Tea Latte Concentrate and Apple Cider until warm, and enjoy! This is the perfect fall drink, and it’s delicious. Feel free to add a bit more agave or a sweetener of your choice and enjoy.

I am definitely someone who has trouble taking time to myself. I love staying busy and going out of my way to make sure those around me are happy. That brings me great joy, but it can drain me. I sometimes get to the point of needing a refresher or a little extra boost, in order to reflect on all that I have accomplished – which makes ME happy!

I do get stuck sometimes, though and I feel like if I am relaxing, I should be productive in some way or another while relaxing. I rarely find the time to set aside the to do list and just be. To breathe, to meditate, and to enjoy the fact that I am giving my body a rest – it works hard for me, so I should treat it right by nourishing it with delicious treats like one of the recipes featured in this post.

I find that if I have a warm drink in hand, it helps relax me and helps soothe my busy mind. I am not really a coffee person, but a couple of years ago, I started really enjoying tea.

Oregon Chai believes in using organic and 100% natural ingredients whenever humanly possible. They make an exception for certain things, like the Splenda that sweetens their Sugar-Free blend.

DIRECTIONS:
Shake well. Refrigerate once open. Preparation and Inspiration: Who would have dreamed a rich, creamy chai latte could be this easy? Combine equal amounts of Oregon Chai concentrate and milk (or any dairy substitute). Hot Chai Latte: Heat mixture using stove top, microwave or steaming wand. Ice Chai Latte: Pour mixture over ice. For delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert recipes you can make with Oregon Chai, visit www.oregonchai.com. Use within four weeks.

Another great recipe is the “Choynilla” – this one looks delicious! It’ contains 4 oz. soy milk (although coconut milk would be amazing too), 4 oz. Oregon Chai Tea Latte - The Original and 1 oz. vanilla syrup. Heat chai and soy, then add vanilla syrup and top with whipped cream if desired.

I love how comfy and cozy this tea makes me feel! A great way to enjoy your ‘me time’ is to treat yourself to some cute slippers, leggings, and sweet treats. I found that red velvet cookies with white chocolate chips tasted awesome with my tea. 

You can find Oregon Chai Tea at Meijer. Make sure you look at the bottom shelf, that’s where I found my Oregon Chai Tea Latte! I would have missed it if I didn’t look closer!

The holidays are joyous, wonder-filled, and let's face it, hectic!  Make sure to gift yourself with a sweet and spice break that adds calm to your day.  Thanks to Oregon Chai and Meijer, you'll find time to savor and save on the creamy, indulgent taste that makes for the perfect balance this festive season.

Delicious Pecan Pie Recipe (From Food Network Magazine)

If you're looking for a delicious and elegant Pecan Pie Recipe, perfect served with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream, you are going to LOVE this recipe! Feel free to use a pre made pie crust, or your own favorite recipe for homemade pie crust. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of friends, and I had a great time helping prepare lots of the food. We made FIVE pies for Thanksgiving this year, and I am so excited to share them with you over this next week. 

Ingredients

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup (1 stick butter), melted

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

One 9-inch deep dish pie shell, unbaked, or homemade pastry

1 cup pecan halves

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar and eggs until creamy. Add the chopped pecans, melted butter, milk, flour and vanilla extract and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Arrange the pecan halves on top of the pie in a circular pattern. 

Bake the pie for 55 minutes. Check for doneness by shaking the pan slightly. The pie should be firm with only a slight jiggle in the center. It will set more as it cools. Serve topped with vanilla ice cream or with a dollop of whipped cream.

Last Minute Guests? Stock Up On These Entrees!

This post was sponsored Tai Pei, all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #IC

Now is the time for more holiday gatherings and reasons to get together with friends and family as the end of the year approaches. I always like to comfort my guests with delicious food, so having a fully stocked freezer makes things much easier - more time with guests and less time in the kitchen. I'm excited to share a couple of new Entrees from Tai Pei that you're going to love! These Chicken Potstickers and the Pepper Beef Frozen Fried Rice.  

You're going to LOVE the wide range fo flavors available at your local Walmart. In addition to the Pepper Beef, which was a guest favorite around my house, we also enjoyed the Shrimp Fried Rice, the Sweet and Sour Chicken, and the Chicken Chow Mein. In addition to exceptional flavor, the fact that these Single Serve single serve bowls are super convenient and easy to make, top my charts in awesomeness. I always like to have a few meals that are filling, but would make a perfect snack or light dinner. 

I cooked the Tai Pei Pepper Beef Fried Rice, and it was the perfect compliment to the potstickers. These two entrees fed 2-3 people snacking on the food. We tend to share food at our house, so this was fun to be able to serve my last minute guests (or those who had a bit of a hunger spell post dinner). While this meal was super easy, I felt like it was a very special meal, something more elevated than a traditional quick meal I'd make. I was so happy to find these new flavors at my local store recently! I did make sure to stock up on these meals, they're seriously SO easy to make. 

Pick up a few flavors of teh Tai Pei single serve bowls and you will thank me next time you're wondering what in the world to have for dinner :)

These Chicken Potstickers were a huge hit! This was actually my first time making potstickers, and they were delicious. When you open the Tai Pei package, you will find about 8 frozen potstickers plus some of the best sauce I've ever had! They were very filling, so we ate 2-3 each and loved them. Next time, I will grab 3-4 of their potstickers while I'm at the store.

To cook the potstickers, as instructed, I added 2 tsp. cooking oil (I used olive oil), plus 1/2 C. warm water to a cold skillet, then placed each potsticker flat side down. They fit perfectly into my skillet! Next, I placed a lid onto the skillet so the oil would not pop at me, and cooked the potstickers on medium heat for about 8 minutes. They were ready to eat at that point, but I also cooked them a little bit longer to get a nice brown crunchy crust on the bottoms. For the sauce, you simply let the sauce packet sit in warm water while you're cooking the potstickers. Super easy! 

That SAUCE was divine!!!

Connect On Social! 

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Tai Pei on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taipeiasianfoods/

Italian Beef Recipe + Beer Pairing Idea

We recently made the most delicious Italian Beef Recipe ever! I found that if you start with the best roast possible, with a lower amount of fat, you will have the most successful Italian Beef ever! 

2-3 Pound Roast (we used the best quality roast we could find)

1 Au Jus Seasoning Packet

1 Italian Salad Dressing Packet

1 Jar of pepperoncini (16 oz jar from Mezzetta)

2 (32 oz) packages of beef broth (or 1 beef broth, 1 vegetable broth)

1/2 -1 Cup water (optional)

Package of Kaiser Rolls or other favorite rolls

Other available cuts include: 

Bottom round roast.

Rump roast.

Eye round.

Round tip roast.

Sirloin tip roast.

1.) In a crock pot, mix broth, seasoning packet, and full jar of pepperonchinis.

2.) Add roast meat as one full piece, to crock pot.

3.) Turn on crock pot to low, and heat at least 8 hours, until meat is falling apart and easy to shred. 

4.) To serve: Using tongs or forks, pull out large pieces of meat from the crock pot and place onto a plate or cutting board. Use 2 forks to shred the meat, and place onto buns. Carefully pour the Au Jus (the juice from the crock pot) onto the shredded meat on the sandwiches, and enjoy! Also feel free to add more peppers to your sandwich. Enjoy!

Vintage-Inspired Football Party Plus 2 Recipes

Brought to you by Dr Pepper® and Eckrich®.

I am so excited to bring together lots of adorable décor and recipe ideas that I have been wanting to try out for a while now. This Football Party was inspired by Dr Pepper and Eckrich, which both embody the traditional taste of game day.

This party was the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops and go wild with classy and chic décor that makes me nostalgic for the past.

During my research phase for this post, I could only find a few examples of this sort of look I was going for, so I headed to Meijer, and then the fabric store to begin brainstorming. Walking around a store for inspiration is seriously priceless.

I wanted that vintage, chic, fall tailgate sort of look, and I think it turned out so well!

THE DÉCOR DETAILS

I incorporated plaid flannel material for the tablecloth, which reminds me of a warm and cozy blanket or scarf one might wear to a football game on a chilly Sunday.

Next, one of my favorite DIY projects was to print out vintage football images from the 1930s for my bunting, which I taped to my wall. I made sure to print out the photos so two would fit onto an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, horizontally oriented.  

I also incorporated a few mini orange pumpkins, as well as my favorite mint cake stands to hold all of my refreshments and some of the snacks. For the drinks, I think it would be great to offer guests pitchers or containers of ice, and cute plastic cups for their Dr Peppers or other refreshments.

The chocolate donut “cake” is also amazing! I used 24 chocolate covered donuts to make the cake, beginning with two rows of 5 donuts, then two rows of 4 donuts, then one row of 3, then three single donuts stacked on top of one another. This cute display held together extremely well! I also added the football picks, also from a party store, to add that football aesthetic I was going for.

As soon as I began to notice the cute Dr Pepper football themed soft drinks in stores, I knew it was time for football! I was so excited to learn that I had this amazing opportunity to collaborate with Dr Pepper and Eckrich that I rushed to Meijer right away to grab supplies. Eckrich Smoked Sausage can be found in the packaged meat aisle, and Dr Pepper can be found in the soda aisle.

Dr Pepper is the one fans crave and is the perfect complement to tailgating and homegating events during the college football season! Eckrich Smoked Sausage is Naturally Hardwood Smoked and crafted with just the right blend of spices for a truly rich, savory taste. Their Smoked Sausage Links are the perfect addition to any tailgate, cookout or family meal.

Mini Smoked Sausage Pot Pies

COOK TIME: 45 minutes

SERVING SIZE: 6-12

INGREDIENTS

·       1 package (10-14oz) Eckrich Smoked Sausage

·       1 package (10oz) Frozen Mixed Vegetables, cooked

·       1 can (10 ¾ oz) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

·       1 can (16.3oz) Flaky Layered Refrigerated Biscuits

·       Non-stick Cooking Spray

·       Salt & Pepper to taste

PREPARATION

A miniature twist on a classic pot pie.

1.     Directions Preheat the oven to 375°

2.     Prep: Cook the frozen vegetables according to the instructions on the package. Set aside. Dice the Eckrich Smoked Sausage into cubes. In a large skillet, cook the sausage until browned. Remove from stove and set aside.

3.     Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked vegetables, smoked sausage, cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper to taste. Stir with a spoon until the ingredients are mixed well.

4.     Assembly: Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Separate the biscuits and flatten each into 5½ inch rounds. Press firmly into each muffin mold. Spoon 1/3 cup of the pot pie mixture into each pie. Pull edges of dough over the filling towards the center, pleat and pinch gently to hold in place.

1.     Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Cool for 1 minute; remove from pan and serve. These popped RIGHT out of the muffin tin, and looked gorgeous instantly. These taste like warm biscuits with chicken, sausage, and veggies inside. YUM!!!

Smoked Sausage Appetizer Bites

COOK TIME:  15 minutes

SERVING SIZE: 20

INGREDIENTS

·       1 package Eckrich Smoked Sausage (12oz-14oz)

·       20 bite-sized crackers (I used saltines)

·       2 tsp olive oil

·       1/2 package (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

PREPARATION

Keep the crowd happy with these Smoked Sausage Appetizer Bites. They’re perfect as a snack or an appetizer.

1.     Preheat oven to 350°F.

2.     Slice sausage into ½-inch pieces.

3.     Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add sausage to skillet and cook until browned.

4.     Top sausage pieces with cheese, then place skillet in oven and bake until cheese is lightly browned.

5.     Place cheese-covered sausage on crackers and serve.

 

A FEW MORE DETAILS

Since I wanted a nostalgic, vintage look and feel to the décor, I thought that the caramel apples were just perfect for fall. Below, I found these cute football shaped dishes at a party store and thought they were just the right festive touch for the party!

Chai Tea Gingerbread Spiced Latte Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LatteMadeEasy #CollectiveBias

I made this delicious, hot drink with International Delight® One Touch Latte™ and Chai Tea that I brewed at home! A winning combination, and I just love it so much! This DELICIOUS Chai Tea Latte will impress your holiday guests and also take away the stress of hectic holidays!

When I had this amazing opportunity to collaborate with International Delight® again, I was thrilled to create a more winter-flavored drink. All the warm spices in Chai Tea really smell and taste delicious. Now, I am not a tea purist, I need to add something to sweeten the tea up.

The plain Chai Tea tasted a bit flat to me, and when I added a "burst" of delicious International Delight® One Touch Latte™ (see the video below for instructions), I was floored!

I felt like a winter blues-curing genius, and the fact that this drink was only really TWO ingredients, is right up my alley of a low-stress recipe.

I sipped again and again, and I am so happy that I found my favorite new drink.

Tea is something I have always wanted to enjoy but have never had much luck in enjoying. I would try a sip of someone's tea, and rarely like what I tasted. Tea always seems to smell amazing, then the taste does not always reflect the scent. The Earthy taste of tea leaves just isn't something I was accustomed to. UNTIL TODAY! The addition of the International Delight® One Touch Latte™ changed me into a "tea almost every day" sort of person! I love the added boost of energy, and Chai Tea is becoming more mainstream because tea can be a healthier, less acidic option, compared to coffee. YAY!

While there is not really gingerbread or gingerbread seasonings in this drink, Chai tea does remind me of gingerbread spices. 

This drink does contain caffeine, because the main tea in Chai Tea is Black Tea. The box of tea made this very clear, so if you're looking for a decaf beverage, perhaps you could try a decaf version of your favorite Chai Tea, or a large variety of other flavors like Decaf Ginger Peach or Decaf Vanilla Almond. Before this post, I did not realize that almost every tea flavor is available as decaf. 

To make these cute cookies, I found some gingerbread shaped cookies at the store, and decorated them with a tube of white decorator icing (to outline the edges), and then two dots of white icing, then two pink sprinkle dots for their "buttons". I did try using the dots as "eyes", but they looked a bit scary, so buttons it was!

Below, you will see the brewed Chai Tea, before I added the International Delight® One Touch Latte™ to it. The aroma filled my house with warmth, you're going to LOVE this drink! Experience new One Touch Latte'™ from International Delight®. It’s the first-ever frothing creamer! Just point and press to transform your home-brewed coffee into a coffeehouse-style latte in seconds. Now you can start every morning with a creamy, flavorful latte' made by your favorite barista–you! Available in Vanilla, Caramel and Mocha.

(Makes 1 - 16oz. drink)

Hot Water + 2 Chai Tea Teabags

International Delight® One Touch Latte™ in Vanilla

1.) Boil hot water, and steep 2 bags of Chai Tea per drink. 

2.) Once tea is fully ready, add International Delight® One Touch Latte™ Latte until you reach desired sweetness! See video below for instructions. That's it! Serve with adorably decorated Gingerbread Cookies or your favorite holiday snacks.

International Delight® One Touch Latte™ can help you create a latte in 3 easy steps. Fill cup 2/3 with coffee to leave room for froth. Shake theInternational Delight® One Touch Latte™ can. Press and hold the can above coffee to cream to desired sweetness and enjoy!

Find all three flavors of the ID One Touch Lattes at Walmart, including Vanilla, Caramel, and Mocha! 

The International Delight® One Touch Latte™ in-store demo taking place at select Walmart stores over the days of November 11-12!

Which one will quickly become your favorite?

Traditional Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

A while back, our friends made us the most delicious Chicken Fried Rice recipe using fresh eggs from their chickens, and also carrots from their garden. They used a very traditional Chinese Cookbook, Wok, and this awesome metal Wok spatula that made cooking this dish in the traditional way very intriguing. I love the fact that some of these ingredients were sourced moments before they were prepared for us.

RECIPE:

This recipe was originally published in the book, "Ten Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook" by Gloria Bley Miller.

To Print, Right click and Save or Print!

There is something special about eggs from chickens we have personally interacted with!

Match Your Mood With Your Food! Fun and Creative Dinner Ideas with Tai Pei

This post was sponsored Tai Pei, all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #IC

I rarely eat the same thing for lunch or dinner every day, which makes this post a lot of fun! Now that it's getting chilly outside, I love having a few more food options in the freezer, just in case the weather gets so bad where I don't want to leave the house as much :) 

These new Single Serve Frozen Fried Rice Dishes from Tai Pei contain inspiring flavors, and make it easy to have a larger amount of meal options for yourself and for your family! 

Tai Pei has lots of awesome entrees, and I wanted to share five of them with you. I thought about the large variety of flavors in the fried rice entrees, and then how each of them would be perfect to eat this fall and winter, no matter what your mood!

Treat yourself to a new hat and gloves, and let the delicious flavors of this Chicken Chow Mein warm you from within! 

Broccoli Beef is ALWAYS my favorite dish, and this one tasted awesome. Large pieces of steak in addition to lots of rice, broccoli, and other ingredients really matched well together.

A little bit of sweet, a little bit of sour, this Sweet & Sour Chicken really was sweet and delicious.

To me, seafood always symbolizes a more sophisticated meal. The Shrimp Fried Rice has a nice garlic aroma, and the shrimp were really large!

Just a little hint of spice made the General Tso's Spicy Chicken absolutely great! Bobby really enjoyed this one because of the heat.

Have you ever tried the Tai Pei Single Serve Entrees? I found mine at Walmart in the frozen aisle marked with "Single Serve Entree", not by the other Tai Pei egg rolls and other products. 

Read more about how Tai Pei Elevated Our Date Night, here!

Prize: 10 prizes ($100 Walmart gift card each)

Dates: October 26th - November 15th, 2017

I-C will randomly select 10 winners from all program entries and will facilitate fulfillment of the winning prizes.

4 Ingredient Parmesan Chicken Bites + Tailgate Food Ideas

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.

Looking for a delicious and VERY easy way to spruce up your appetizers? Looking to incorporate more products into your life that are free of antibiotics, preservatives, and contain no added hormones or steroids?

Then you may want to give these 4-Ingredient Chicken Parmesan Bites a try! Tyson Foods has a huge range of No Antibiotics Ever products and they taste absolutely delicious!

Moms can feel great about serving all Tyson chicken no antibiotics ever products to their families. Tyson chicken products are made with long-standing dedication to quality, for the way we want to eat today. The people who make Tyson chicken products have a strong heritage of raisins chickens since 1935, they’re made with 100% natural* ingredients (*no artificial ingredients, minimally processed).

I used just a few ingredients to make these delicious appetizers. In fact, they would even be great for dinner or lunch too. This would also be a fun way to make dinner for the kids a bit more exciting, even if you’re short on time!

For this post, I used my Italian heritage as an inspiration, remembering how my grandmother used to make something like this for us when we visited. I love being able to provide that home cooked taste to my friends and family while not letting prep time get in the way of time with those I love to be around. If you have ever made Chicken Parmesan, you might have realized that it’s quite a long process. Generally, you have to make a big mess with chicken, flour, eggs, bread crumbs, then cooking the chicken, and so many other steps, it’s hard to count them all!

With all of that in mind, I thought it would be a genius idea to use these already delicious Tyson crispy chicken strips from, to save a ton of time! Let’s get started.

GET READY FOR GAME DAY

 If you’re short on time, or if you’re preparing days in advance, then you only need to stock up on a few items at Target to make game day amazing.

I basically love providing a variety of items to my guests, so I thought a well-rounded meal could consist of offerings like: 4-Ingredient Chicken Parmesan Bites, Tyson® Any’tizers® popcorn chicken, a big salad with colorful tomatoes on top, Homemade Garlic Parmesan Bread, cookies, refreshments, and anything else you like to munch on during the game.

Shop at Target for Tyson No Antibiotics Ever chicken products!

I love walking through Target to inspire my get-togethers, and I was able to find tons of awesome food, refreshments, and décor items as inspirations for this Tailgate Party.

(Serves 2-3)

1 Bag Tyson no antibiotics ever crispy chicken strips (feel free to make as many bags as you need)

1 Jar of pizza sauce or your favorite red sauce

1-2 Packages of fresh mozzarella cheese (I used the log shape that was pre-sliced)

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1.)    Bake Tyson no antibiotics ever crispy chicken strips until fully cooked, as per the bag’s instructions.

2.)    Once cooked, carefully remove from oven, and place sheet pan onto heat proof surface. Top each chicken strip with ½-1 tbsp. marinara sauce and a half of a slice of mozzarella cheese. Try to center the cheese on each chicken strip so the cheese stays centered while baking. See below.

 

3.)    Bake 5-10 more minutes, until cheese has fully melted. Once out of the oven, feel free to top with shredded parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.

4.)    Serve with cute DIY football toothpicks (shown below) if desired, and enjoy!

*Note: to make DIY football toothpicks, get a package of puffy football shaped stickers and regular toothpicks. Sandwich two football stickers around the toothpicks and press together to secure.

Don’t they look amazing?! I love how the chicken strips look so festive with those DIY football toothpicks in them, and all that sauce and melty cheese on top.

I also found some cute football-themed drink cozies, so it would be fun to provide guests with these for their drinks!

Another item that would go over super well is Any’tizers® popcorn chicken. Provide lots of dipping sauces for guests like: Cilantro Ranch, BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, and anything else you like.

YUM! This Homemade Parmesan Garlic Bread turned out great. Simply toast slices of bread on a sheet pan in the oven, and once almost fully toasted, remove from the oven, top with butter, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese, and return to the oven for 1-2 minutes.

Thanks a million for checking out my post! I hope you find this recipe as delicious as I do, and if you make anything from this post, feel free to comment with a link to the photos below! Happy tailgating!!

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Happy Halloween! My Top Halloween Posts

I love Halloween and wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween today! While everyone may have celebrated this past weekend, or are trick-or-treating this evening, I wanted to share my portfolio of Halloween ideas from the past few years. Hope you enjoy!

Thai-Inspired Vegetarian Quinoa Noodle Jar Recipe

This post was sponsored by No Yolks as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #NoYolks #NoOtherNoodle #IC

If you're looking for a new recipe to try out, with delicious, vegetarian, Thai-Inspired flavors, then check out this yummy recipe. I incorporated No Yolks Broad Noodles, Quinoa, Edamame, Peanut Sauce, and other fresh ingredients. 

(MAKES 4 JARS)

1/2 package of No Yolks Broad Noodles

1 cup prepared peanut sauce (I found mine at the grocery store)

4 cups cooked quinoa, cooled


1 cup chopped cucumber (I cut my cucumber into thin slices and removed some of the center part)


1/2 cup sliced red pepper


1/2 cup chopped or shredded carrot


1 cup cooked edamame (I steamed my frozen edamame)


Unsalted peanuts, chopped, to serve (optional - not shown in this post, but definitely recommended)


3 scallions, finely chopped

1 bunch cilantro

1/2 C. pre-shredded red cabbage (optional)

1 Lime cut into wedges (optional)

No Yolks Noodles are delicious and absorb the flavors of the Thai peanut sauce extremely well!

In addition to this delicious recipe, I thought of TONS of other recipes I'd love to make next. I want to make Broccoli Chicken Casserole, filled with white chicken, steamed broccoli, and lots of shredded cheddar. Also, Creamy Chicken and Corn Noodle Casserole sounds SO great. I love incorporating noodles into recipes whenever possible! 

Check out my other post for No Yolks Veggie Noodle Soup, here. 

I love how the bright, bold colors of the ingredients are so pleasing to the eye (and the belly)!!

1. Cook No Yolks Noodles and quinoa according to package instructions.

2. Carefully pour equal parts peanut sauce (approximately 1/4 cup per jar) into the bottom of each jar

3. Continue to layer your jars as follows: equal parts red pepper, cucumber, and carrot (split amongst the 4 jars), 1/4 cup edamame per jar, and 1 cup of quinoa per jar. Then, garnish with peanuts and scallions. Seal with lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Serve cold.

That's it! This delicious jar "salad" is a fun way to get that Thai taste at home, while enjoying a nutritious and vegetarian meal. 

My Favorite Guacamole Recipe

Everyone has their own favorite way of making guacamole. I'd love to have a big group of people over, and have everyone make their own recipe for a Guacamole Tasting Party. I think it would go over super well :) My absolute favorite place to buy avocados is a cute market attached to El Paisano (our favorite Mexican restaurant in Carbondale). They always have the best avocados, and I have actually been seeing TONS of avocados in stores lately. I assume that it's nearing the end of the season, but what a better excuse to eat a dish comprised mainly of heart-healthy avocados!

RECIPE:

2 avocados 

2 Tbsp (or way more) chopped cilantro (chop as small as possible)

2-3 Tbsp chopped red onion

5-7 small colorful cherry tomatoes, chopped into 1/8 ths

1-2 tsp salt (or more as desired)

juice from 1/2 - 1 fresh lime

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Carefully cut avocado in half lengthwise, and remove pit. Remove avocado from skin with spoon, and place into a medium mixing bowl.

2.) Smash avocado with spoon until it is smooth with a few pieces of avocado still left.

3.) Add in all other ingredients, and then use spoon to combine everything together evenly. 

That's it! Serve with tortilla chips or Red Hot Blues chips and enjoy! This is a very healthy snack or meal idea, and I hope you love it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Recipe Hack: Slow-Cooker Wine-Infused Stuffing with Sage Recipe

This post has been sponsored by Holland House® Cooking Wines, and all opinions and content are my own.

If you think that wine is just for drinking during the holidays, then think again! While you may know it’s possible to cook with wine, did you know that incorporating wine into certain recipes helps enhance the taste of the other ingredients? Holland House has a line of five different varieties of cooking wine, and I am SO excited to have had the opportunity to create a delicious recipe inspired by their Bold Boost of Flavor!

Home cooks and chefs alike are able to achieve bold flavors that excite the taste buds. I can tell you first hand that adding a dash of cooking wine from Holland House into this dish at a couple key moments during cooking really allowed the flavors of every ingredient to come alive and shine.

This recipe is a little bit like making a bread pudding in the fact that it contains bread, egg and lots of other tasty ingredients. The dried cranberries added a bit of sweetness to an otherwise savory recipe, too. This is a great Thanksgiving or Holiday Recipe Hack, because it can be prepared the night before, or even a few hours in advance, and be served warm right out of your Crock Pot when guests are ready to eat. The other part of this cooking hack is the imaginative and unique flavors that cooking wine adds to this dish.

Holland House® Cooking Wine adds a Bold Boost of Flavor to nearly every meal!

Are you familiar with what cooking with wine actually does to your recipes? If the proper varietal of wine is chosen to use in your recipes, it enhances the flavors of the meal, and the cooking wine gives the recipe a deep, rich flavor without adding a ton of extra ingredients!

I grabbed this information from the brand’s website. Here’s what they have to say:

Why Cooking Wine?

“Some wines are great for drinking. But they just don’t cut it when it comes to cooking.

Because a wine for cooking has to do so much more than just taste good. Holland House Cooking Wines are specially selected for their rich robust flavor, which means they stand up to cooking temperatures that cause the flavor of delicate table wines to cook away. What’s more is Holland House flavor does not vary from bottle to bottle as table wines often do, making the flavor last and bring great consistency from meal to meal. Studies show that meals prepared with cooking wine are as good or better than their more expensive table wine counterparts.

And not only can they take the heat, Holland House Cooking Wines last longer without refrigeration too, making them perfect additions to your pantry or spice rack! In fact, we recommend you keep a bottle out by your spices and use in place of seasoning the next time you cook. You’ll notice the difference.

The Holland House Difference

Since 1887, Holland House has been making wines specially formulated for cooking. Only Holland House offers the finest ingredients, aged to perfection, and built with flavor and preservation that will transform any dish from ordinary to extraordinary. Holland House is a quick and easy way to bring bold flavor to almost any dish. Made with fresh grapes, hand selected from our fine wineries for their rich robust flavor, then fermented and blended with our special seasoning just for cooking and flavor that lasts!”

The labels on  Holland House Cooking Wine actually helped me so much to decide which wine to incorporate into this meal. Since this recipe contains ground pork, I chose their Red Cooking Wine because the label said that it “Enhances sauces, meats, and marinades”. Then, after researching the product further, I was even happier, because I learned that this Red Cooking Wine goes well with: MEATS: Excellent with beef, lamb and pork, especially dark meats”, so everything worked out perfectly!

Like I mentioned previously, I was able to use my cooking wine in two parts of the recipe. First, after I browned my sausage, I added a little bit of the Red Cooking Wine, and also once everything was put into the Crock Pot to cook.

In addition to their Red Cooking Wine the other Holland House®  Cooking Wines include Sherry, Marsala, White with Lemon and traditional White Wine.

 

I am so excited to have received this assortment of five varieties of cooking wines PLUS new kitchen goodies from the brand, because I am currently renovating (well, re-painting) my kitchen, so this is the perfect time to refresh my kitchen goodies. I received some of the sweetest gifts ever, including a brand new Crock Pot, Amco Houseworks measuring cups and spoons, amazing wooden spoons from Calphalon, and a Williams Sonoma Cutting Board (see below). I am so excited to have been able to use the items to help me prep this delicious meal, as well as many, many more to come!

INGREDIENTS

(SERVES A LOT – great for a crowd of nearly 8-10 people as a side dish)

4-8 Tbsp (or more to taste) Holland House® Red Cooking Wine

2 (12 oz) All Natural Pork Sausage Rolls

4 tablespoons butter

1 yellow onion, chopped

5 celery ribs, chopped

10-12 cups dry bread cubes

1 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt (and any of your other favorite seasonings)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

5 pears, cored and diced (I used Red Pears and they worked extremely well)

1 cup dried cranberries

3 eggs

2 cups chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

1.) In large skillet, brown sausage until cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. During this point, I added about 3-4 Tbsp. of the Holland House Red Cooking Wine, and I thought it really enhanced the flavor of the sausage and other ingredients.

2.) Drain excess grease and set sausage aside. I just kept my strainer in the sink while I prepared the next part.

3.) Wipe out pan and add butter over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and more seasoning, and sauté 8-10 minutes or until soft. Add sausage back to pan, reduce heat to low to keep warm. (See below.) The house smelled amazing during this step!

4.) In your cool crock pot, toss bread cubes with sage, seasoning, salt, pepper, diced pears and cranberries. Add sausage mixture and stir to combine.

5.) Whisk eggs and chicken broth together and pour over bread mixture. Stir to combine.

6.) Transfer mixture to greased slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours, until mixture is moist and spongey. Yield: 8 servings

Look how beautiful this recipe turned out! It filled the crock pot nearly 2/3 of the way full, so you may even have some leftovers!

MY IDEAL THANKSGIVING MENU:

Last year, we made a beautiful ham covered in bacon and pineapple. I made a few sides, but nothing too fancy. This year will be awesome! I have been cooking so much this year, and have had lots of time to think up my dream Thanksgiving menu. This menu would include of course, this delicious Crock Pot Wine-Infused Stuffing with Sage, as well as other awesome faves like a roasted ham, Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Toasted Marshmallows on Top, corn casserole, a salad, and more.

And for refreshments, I’d serve guests fruit-infused water from a big, pretty spouted carafe, coffee, hot cocoa, cold and warm apple cider, and spiked apple cider for those who drink. For dessert, we will have both a chocolate cream pie AND a homemade pumpkin pie. It’s going to be divine!

What are your favorite side dishes to make for the holidays? Let me know in the comments, below.

Get Your Tailgate On With These TWO Game Day Recipes

This post has been sponsored by Brooks®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m super excited to bring you two delicious recipes today, sharing some pretty innovative ways to use canned Chili Beans. I prefer using the Brooks chili beans because the flavors is DELICIOUS compared to most every other brand of canned beans I’ve ever tried. I do love incorporating canned beans into so many recipes, even a few I’ve shared on my blog. They’re an incredible source of protein, and as you will see in this post, incredibly versatile. From veggie burgers to cheesy chili mac, Brooks Beans are the right choice for all of your upcoming Fall and Winter recipes.

I was able to find all of my supplies at Meijer, where I used my mPerks savings.

Save On Brooks Beans with these Meijer mPerks deals!

When you make any recipe from scratch, you will be able to appreciate every nuance of flavor, and I’m sure these recipes will give you a new appreciation for Brooks Beans! They really complimented and enhanced all of the other ingredients extremely well!

They’re delicious served together, and will make the most delicious recipes at your next Game Day Potluck or gathering.

VEGETARIAN BEAN BURGERS (Makes 6 “Burgers”)

[Burger Ingredients]

2 Cans Brooks Chili Beans in Mild or Hot

½ of a Red Pepper - Chopped

½ of a Yellow Pepper – Chopped

1 Small Red Onion - Chopped

½ C. Breadcrumbs (or more if desired)

2 Eggs

Seasoning

Olive Oil To Cook + Skillet + Food Processor + 1/3 C. Measuring Cup

[Burger Instructions]

1.)   In a food processor, add half of the chopped peppers + 2 cans Brooks Chili Beans.

2.)   Process until fully smooth and there are no pieces of beans left. About 1 minute.

3.)   Remove ingredients from food processor, and transfer into a medium mixing bowl.

4.)   In the mixing bowl, add the rest of your chopped peppers, red onions, seasoning of choice, bread crumbs, and eggs. Stir to combine. Notice how this mixture actually begins to look like real “burgers” but with absolutely no grease at all!! Put into the freezer for about 10 minutes to make mixture easier to work with.

5.)   Using rubber gloves, using a 1/3 Cup measuring cup, scoop heaping scoops of the mixture and use your hand to create patty shapes. Put them onto a foil-lined sheet pan to freeze for at least 1-2 hours before cooking. Below, you will see a photo of the frozen patties. Again, see how much they actually resemble traditional burgers?

6.)   Now to cook your patties! Add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil to your skillet, and get the heat pretty high, right before the oil begins to sizzle. Add patties to the skillet, and place a lid on top, so the oil does not spatter out. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, then very carefully, use a spatula to flip the patties. They must be cooked in olive oil on a higher heat so they do not fall apart.

See the beautiful, cooked patties below. I also made these veggie burgers another time and added two slices of cheese on each patty and oh my goodness, they were perfect! So, if you’re more of a cheeseburger person, definitely feel free to add slices of cheese on top during the last 1 minute of cooking patties.

Serve veggie bean burgers on Brioche buns, topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and of course, pickles!

Brooks Chili Beans are a hometown favorite and have over 100 years of trusted leadership in everything chili!

And, the second recipe…

CHEESY CHILI MAC (Serves a LOT)

Amazing for a chilly Fall day, this is the perfect comfort food that will literally melt in your mouth because is so creamy and delicious. Basically we are going to make the Mac N Cheese separately from the chili, and then combine them in their delicious goodness!

[Cheesy Chili Mac Ingredients]

(MAC N CHEESE INGREDIENTS)

1 Tbsp Butter

8 oz Cream Cheese

2 (8 oz.) blocks of cheese (I used both pepper jack and sharp white cheddar)

½ C. Heavy Cream

4 C. Cooked Elbow Noodles

Salt

(CHILI INGREDIENTS)

1 Lb. Ground Beef

1 Can Brooks Chili Beans

Chili Seasoning

Salt

1 Small Red Onion

[Cheesy Chili Mac Instructions]

1.)   Boil half of a box of large elbow noodles, and in a skillet, add Olive Oil, Garlic, and Onions. Once onions have softened, add 1 Lb. ground beef, and your desired seasonings. Cook meat until brown, turn off heat.

2.)   Once noodles are done, strain them and set aside.

3.)   In the skillet with the meat, add 1 can of diced tomatoes, ¼ C. Chili seasoning or more, dash of hot sauce, and 1 can of Brooks chili beans. Turn heat back up and cook everything a few minutes longer until combined. Turn off heat.

4.)   In the pot you used to cook noodles, turn on heat and add butter, heavy cream, cheese, and a pinch of salt. Once everything is creamy and melted, then add noodles back to this pot and stir until combined.

5.)   Almost done! Simply add Chili mixture into mac n cheese and stir to combine. I found that the best mixture ratio was about 4 Cups of the Mac N Cheese + 6 Cups of Chili. Serve with shredded cheese and soup crackers and enjoy!

Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL

We are so lucky to have Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL, just a 20-25 minute drive from Carbondale. It's seriously the most inspiring place around here, and it seems like they're being recognized for a new award every week. So happy for these hard working people. Bobby took most of these photos, and we had such a great time here!

P.F. Chang's Kung Pao Chicken Recipe + Video

Sponsored by P.F. Chang's® Home Menu

Are you craving new flavors that are actually easy to incorporate into your meals? This delicious, Kung Pao Chicken recipe took under an hour to prep and cook, thanks to P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu Sauce! Everything turned out even more delicious than I could have ever expected, and I am so excited to share this wonderful recipe with you today!

This recipe is amazing if you’re short on time, or just prefer to spice up your regular meals a bit more. This Kung Pao sauce is AMAZING, I am so happy it’s available at Kroger stores (I found mine at Kroger near the soy sauces). This recipe is packed with so many vegetables and white chicken as your protein, and is a great way to add more variety to your meals.

If you’re trying to eat vegetarian, simply omit the chicken, and double up on the peppers and feel free to add even more garlic and ginger.

This recipe is amazing! Great for 1-2 people, or great for a larger group!

Make this for your friends, they’ll never forget how good of a cook you are!

Shop Kroger and Kroger Banner Stores!

Featured Product: P.F. Chang's Home Menu Kung Pao Sauce

“Spicy yet balanced, our Kung Pao Sauce is anything but ordinary thanks to bold ingredients like fermented chili bean sauce, chili flakes which are complimented with sweet and tangy flavors from apple juice concentrate and vinegar.”

Kung Pao Stir Fry (Originally Found Here)

Chicken stir fried with colorful red and yellow bell peppers, crisp celery, crunchy peanuts and P.F. Chang's® Home Menu bold and spicy Kung Pao Sauce, topped with scallions

Hands On: 30 | Total: 30 | Makes: 4 servings (about 1-1/4 cups each)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic, divided

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger, divided

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper

1 cup sliced celery

3/4 cup P.F. Chang's Home Menu Kung Pao Sauce

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, half crushed

2 sliced green onions

1.) Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken to skillet, season with salt, and cook until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add 1 tsp garlic and ginger during last 30 seconds of cooking. Transfer to a clean bowl.

2.) Add celery and peppers to skillet, plus additional garlic and ginger. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Season if desired.

3.) Add chicken back to skillet and stir into peppers and celery mixture. Add P.F. Chang's Home Menu Kung Pao Sauce and peanuts to skillet and allow to cook 1-3 minutes, and sauce will thicken. Turn off heat, stir in green onions, and combine everything. Serve and enjoy!

Cook's Tips

For extra heat, add 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes when cooking the vegetables.

Connect with P.F. Chang’s® on social!

Facebook: @pfchomemenu

Pinterest: @pfchangshomemenu

Instagram: @pfchangshomemenu

Twitter: @pfchangshomemenu

Head to Kroger or your local Kroger Banner store to find my new favorite ingredient: P.F. Chang’s® Kung Pao Home Menu Sauce!

FIND P.F. CHANG'S SAUCES AT THE RETAILERS BELOW:

Kroger, King Soopers, Dillons, City Market, QFC, Fry'sRalphs, Smiths, and Fred Meyer

PIN IT FOR LATER:

DIY Decorated Pumpkins + Halloween Collars For Your Dogs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of True Chews. The opinions and text are all mine.

This post is sponsored by True Chews® Dog Treats and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about the True Chews line of all-natural dog treats , but my pups and I only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. All statements made reflect my true opinion of the product. True Chews is not responsible for the content of this article.

Make your Life’s Journey with your dog that much more special with 100% Natural Made in the USA True Chews® Dog Treats. Treat them well! We brought the dogs out on a fun adventure day recently and captured some amazing memories. We visited Petco to stock up on True Chews Treats, then headed out to the pumpkin patch with the dogs wearing their DIY adorable dog collars! We went to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins to decorate for the dogs and to display for our Trick Or Treaters next week. 

My goodness, Cabbie looks like a perfect little princess in her DIY Dog Collar, and the dog-inspired pumpkins I decorated once we got home, turned out so cute! Keep reading to see how the pumpkins look.

We headed to Petco and the display of True Chews immediately caught the dogs' attention. We chose a couple of their favorite "flavors" and then walked them around the store a bit more. The Petco staff was super friendly and even gave us a few $1.00 off coupons AND free samples from this cute sample station display. The dogs had a great time and had NO idea how much fun they were in for next.

DIY HALLOWEEN DOG COLLARS

These tulle and elastic dog collars are adorable and we had so much fun with them at the pumpkin patch. Everyone commented on how cute and festive the dogs were - I had NO idea how much of a positive reaction they would get. 

To make the collars for our big dogs, I used black elastic a bit of ghost fabric, cute Halloween ribbons, and tulle in black and orange. I'd recommend not getting the tulle that looks like netting(shown in the bucket below), because it's a bit scratchy, but the softer tulle worked super well. 

MATERIALS:

35-40 strips of tulle at 20" x 3" each, if you use tulle by the yard. If you're using the roll of tulle, then around 30 strips at 20" each would be great.  

8-12 pieces of Halloween ribbon at 15" each

Black elastic - Measure elastic to fit loosely around the dog's neck.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Cut all strips and also tie elastic into a circle. Make sure it's loose enough to fit comfortably, but tight enough where it won't fit over their ears off their head.

2.) Attach two strips of tulle at a time to the elastic. Take the two strips of tulle, fold them in half, then use a loop knot to secure the middle of the tulle to the elastic. Continue in alternating colors until the collar is full-looking. This takes a little while but is SO cute and worth the work!

3.) Tie ribbon pieces onto elastic collar evenly spaced over the whole collar until done. Enjoy!

SHOPPING FOR TREATS - READY FOR ADVENTURE

True Chews® Dog Treats are sourced and made in the USA from all natural, premium quality, ingredients. True Chews® Dog Treats are made using only natural ingredients. No artificial flavors. No artificial preservatives. No meat by-products. Just 100% natural ingredients with premium cuts of meat always #1 on the list. Created by pet parents for pet parents.

As pet parents ourselves, True Chews is committed to making simple, delectable treats that are both wholesome and 100% natural. Your loyal companion deserves the very best. They’re the family members who give us 100% of their love, 100% of the time. And with True Chews® Dog Treats, they put 100% of their best into every dog treat they make. They believe that premium ingredients show how much you care. Please view their full product line here!

Learn More About True Chews® On Their Website Here!

To Find True Chews, Use The Store Locator Here.

Connect With True Chews On Facebook Here.

DIY DECORATED PUMPKINS FOR YOUR PETS

These were a couple of the pumpkins we chose at the pumpkin patch, and I simply stuck dog-printed stickers all over them. I wanted to use dog bone shaped stickers, but surprisingly found none. So, these pupkins would actually be cute for cats or dogs!

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Vibrant Tropical Fruit Plate

We were extremely fortunate to spend time on Sugarloaf Key in January and February, and in addition to the amazing weather, ocean views, and palm trees everywhere, there are some of the most vibrant and delicious fruits available. Since we got to spend quite a while in the Keys, we got to know some of the neighbors in the neighborhood where our rental house was located, and we were so concerned for everyone during and after the hurricanes. We have touched base with at least one family and they said that no one in the area suffered too much damage, and we were lucky enough to find out that most importantly, everyone was ok. 

I was looking back at a few of our photos from earlier this year, and I even though I have of course been in Fall-Pumpkin-Everything Season lately, I still wanted to share this light and bright Tropical fruit plate with you because I am feeling nostalgic about Florida. 

Organic fruits and veggies at the grocery stores are sky high, but I wanted to embrace the tropical spirit of everything around me, and was super happy to find two awesome fruit stands. 

Keys Homegrown, the fruit stand that was much closer to our rental was located next to Keys Cuisine, unfortunately closed while we were there. I found star fruits, 4 for $1.00 there, plus TONS of amazing other fresh fruits. So sad that place closed!

Next, was Paradise Produce, a much larger and super well organized fruit stand which is luckily still there. They had friendly staff who explained a bit about some of the more exotic and unusual fruits, and their selection was incredible! (The photo below is one I grabbed from their Facebook Page).

Keys Cuisine was definitely one of the best three restaurants out of the Key West area. The other two included the OMG-inducing Bavarian Bakery and Sandwich Shop called Sugarloaf Food Co. The other restaurant was called Bucktooth Rooster and served huge portions of delicious comfort food.

For this fruit plate, I knew I needed a rather large container, and luckily, I found one at the Dollar Tree that held everything extremely well. The plate is made of white plastic, and had a smaller round center part that you would usually use for dip or salsa. I placed the small watermelon bowl into the center and then built my fruit plate around that!

Green Grapes

Red Grapes

Gooseberries (The small round orange fruits)

Kiwi, cut in half into flower shapes (simple tutorial here)

Smaller Watermelon

Papayas (one with seeds removed, and keep seeds in the other for visuals)

Strawberries

Green Apples

Any other fruit yoru heart desires! 

1.) Cut watermelon in half, carefully making sure the cut is smooth. This will become part of your fruit plate display.

2.) Choose the more attractive half of the watermelon and set aside. Cut the other half into cubes, removing the outer skin as you go. With the prettier half of the watermelon, slice around the top with a sharp knife to remove as much of the red part as possible. Then, cut that into cubes. Place hollowed out watermelon half into the center of the tray, and refill it half way full with watermelon cubes. 

3.) Cut kiwi into flower shapes, by very carefully using a pairing knife to press into the kiwi in a zig zag shape all around the entire circumference of the fruit. This is an amazing way to add visual interest to your platter! Be careful to never cut toward your hand.

4.) Lastly, cut apples and any other fruits, and begin to arrange clusters of grapes, papayas, and any other ingredients in your own style and way. This would be amazing also served with fruit dip, but this is an amazing way to encourage guests or your family to eat healthier snacks.