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Mothers Day Cookies – A Special Treat

4/15/2021

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Who doesn’t love Mothers Day Cookies?

​So many of us associate cookies with our mothers baking cookies for special occasions and after-school treats. We have a few ideas for you that makes a plain sugar cookie into a “master piece.”

But first a little history about Mother’s Day…

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed throughout the world. The American origin of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day most commonly falls on the second Sunday in May and traditionally involves presenting mothers with flowers, cards and other gifts.
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To make these Mothers Day cookies, use your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Then, decorate them as you see in the photos. This is a great time for your creativity to shine!

Mothers Day Cookies #1
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Mothers Day Cookies #2
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Mothers Day Cookies #3 
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​A tip for decorating sugar cookies: Make icing with confectioners’ sugar and milk. Make it fairly thin and ‘paint’ the icing on the cookies with a pastry brush. Thin enough to spread easily but not so thin that it just makes your cookies wet and runs off. For Cookies 2 & 3 above, you might want the frosting a little thicker.

For more Recipes, Click Here & Click Here

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6 Savory Crock Pot Recipes

4/13/2021

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In any season of the year, you will love these crock pot recipes. Colder weather calls for warm, home cooked meals, but they are also enjoyable in warmer weather because of the convenience!

These are the days when your crock pot becomes your best friend! “Throw-all-the-ingredients-in-and-walk-away” is definitely my kind of recipe!

We’ve gathered some of the best “comfort food” recipes for you to enjoy below!

Just click on each title for the recipe. Enjoy!


1. Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole
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2. Crock Pot Chicken and Biscuits

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3. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

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4. 
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

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5.  
Slow Cooker Lasagna

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6. Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu
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For more recipes: Soup Recipes
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Valentine Cupcakes – Quick & Easy!

2/12/2021

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Short on time this Valentine’s week? These Valentine cupcakes are quick and easy.

Make your favorite cupcake recipe or buy plain cupcakes from the bakery.

 Use white frosting and red hot candies to decorate them

 You now have a simple, eye-catching Valentine’s Day treat.
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We suggest that you use white or, even better, red velvet cupcakes.

These flavors will add a special touch to this special day.

These cupcakes are great for both young and old to craft.

This will keep the little ones occupied for quite some time by frosting and putting on the red candies!

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Another idea!
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Chocolate or Red Velvet cupcake with vanilla frosting and a delicious strawberry to adorn the top!

Enjoy Valentine’s Day with these Cute and Easy-to-Make Valentine Cupcakes!
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Clever Snack Ideas for Valentines Day

2/12/2021

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Just in time for Valentines Day…clever snack ideas for Valentines Day are easy to make. Add a festive touch to this special day with these snack ideas for Valentines Day that even the kids and grand kids can help make.

1) Easy Marshmallow Valentine Treats

Use strawberry marshmallows, dip them in melted chocolate and sprinkle them with little nonpareils. Decorate them with heart picks. So easy and fun!
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Source: Marshmallow Valentine Treats


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2) Cupid’s Arrows: candy hearts + pretzel sticks
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Source: Cupid’s Arrows

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3) Heart Kabobs – Made with strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, watermelon and black olives.
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​Source: Via Pinterest


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4) Valentine Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn Mix
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Source: Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn Mix
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This is a printable and can also be used on a tin can treat…for complete instructions:

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Snack Ideas for Valentines Day at Your Fingertips!
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Football-Shaped Meatloaf – Delicious!

1/14/2021

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This is perfect for football season…a football-shaped meatloaf!

Use your favorite meatloaf recipe (or use the one below) and form it into a football shape with a nice ketchup-based sauce and cheese strips for the lacing.

How yummy and fun is that? Your friends and family will be impressed with your creativity. This football-shaped meatloaf  is sure to please the “foodies” in the group!

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Football-shaped Meatloaf
Recipe makes 8 servings

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 egg

1 onion, chopped

1 cup milk

1 cup dried bread crumbs

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1/3 cup ketchup


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread OR cracker crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5×9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish.

3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.

5. The finishing touch is cheese strips for the lacing.

(A variation to this football-shaped meatloaf is to substitute some of the ground beef with ground turkey.)
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This Football-shaped Meatloaf is sure to please your party guests!

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4 Delicious Mocktail Recipes

12/30/2020

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New Year’s Eve is almost here, and most of us enjoy celebrating, however, some of us prefer non-alcoholic beverage choices. These “mocktail” recipes are special enough to wow your guests on New Year’s Eve, and the best part is they’re great for any age, too! Enjoy!!

Click on the titles for the full recipe. 


1. Sparkling Raspberry Mocktail

Pair the grape juice with a few other ingredients and you have an elegant non alcoholic drink on your hands!
Something that makes this raspberry mocktail pretty and tasty are the ice cubes. Make them the day before or you can make them in the morning or early afternoon so that by evening they are definitely ready to go.

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2. Cranberry Apple Spritzer Mocktail 
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3. Virgin Shirley Temple

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4. Virgin Pina Colada

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Enjoy These Refreshing Mocktail Recipes!

For More Recipes - Crock Pot Recipes

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Cheese Christmas Tree

12/11/2020

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You will ‘wow’ your guests with this wonderful Cheese Christmas Tree.

It’s easy to make and is festive as well. It is made with different flavored cheese cubes.

For those limiting their fat intake, look for reduced-fat cheese, such as cheddars and light pepper Jack, which are as delicious as the regular cheddars.

Plus, you can make omelets or fondue with any leftovers!
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Ingredients

•5 eight-ounce bars of different cheddars, plain and flavored (or substitute other semi-hard cheeses for variety)

•1 bundle fresh thyme sprigs

•Red grape or “teardrop” tomatoes (can substitute cherry tomatoes or olives)

•1 large white button mushroom

Preparation

1. Cut each bar of cheese into 1-inch cubes.

2. On large platter or cutting board, arrange cubes in rows to form tree shape, using a different flavor for each row. Separate the rows of cheese with thyme or rosemary sprigs (rosemary looks like an evergreen twig) and rows of grape tomatoes and/or pimento-stuffed green olives.

3. For the star on top, peel the skin from the mushroom and carve a star pattern into it with point of knife.

4. Enjoy the compliments!
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Make this Cheese Christmas Tree for your holiday parties!

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Thanksgiving Food Art for the Big Day!

11/6/2020

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Can you believe it’s almost Thanksgiving?

As you are planning your menu, crafting and decorating to prepare for the big feast, we have Thanksgiving Food Art dishes for your consideration.
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These three Thanksgiving Food Art projects are easy and fun for young and old to prepare (and eat).

Turkey Cheese Ball

This Turkey Cheese Ball is so easy to make. Start with your favorite cheese ball recipe and add pretzels for feathers, jerky stick for the neck, candy corn and candy eyes. Surround your turkey with an assortment of crackers.
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Via Pinterest

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Turkey Veggie Tray

This Turkey Veggie Tray will be the hit of your Thanksgiving feast. It is healthy as well as adding a pop of color to the table. You will need the following veggies: cucumbers; celery; carrots; asparagus; green, red and yellow peppers; cherry tomatoes; a small yellow summer squash, and lettuce. Arrange according to the photo and serve with your favorite dip.

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Via Pinterest


Turkey Fruit Plate
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What a fun turkey fruit plate made with a pear, grapes, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi and Clementines! Set a bowl of fruit dip (yogurt & whipped topping mixed together) nearby and you have a scrumptious appetizer or dinner side dish!
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Via Pinterest

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Thanksgiving Food Art is easy and fun to make!


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Winter Squash 101 – Enjoy a Variety of Squash this Time of Year!

10/19/2020

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You’ve probably noticed it’s Winter Squash season! Your local grocery store most likely has a variety of squash on display in the produce section, but aside from “looking” seasonal and pretty, many people don’t know what the different varieties of squash are called, yet alone what they can be used for!
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Hint: they’re more than decoration! Here’s a handy, dandy crash course on Winter Squash, and their many uses.

Carnival Squash
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This colorful variety is a hybrid of an acorn squash and a sweet dumpling squash. It’s perfect for soups and for roasting.
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Delicata Squash
This Winter squash is pale yellow with green stripes and has an edible skin. Try slicing it into half moons, tossing it in olive oil with salt and pepper and roasting it in the oven for a delicious Fall side dish!
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Acorn Squash
A smaller squash that varies in color from dark green to orange, with a ribbed rind and orange or yellow flesh. When halved for roasting, the acorn squash can act as a festive bowl for soups or fillings.


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Here is the easiest way ever to cook Acorn Squash…in the crock pot!

Harvest Acorn Squash
Into the crock pot put cleaned, unpeeled squash. Add approximately 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook one hour on High, then change to Low for 6-8 hours. Split and scoop out seeds from cooked squash. Place melted butter, brown sugar, pepper and dash of cinnamon in cavity of squash. Yummy!!

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Butternut Squash
It’s slim neck and round bottom gives this squash it’s distinctive shape. It has bright orange flesh and a fairly sweet and nutty flavor making it great roasted or as a soup. You can use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
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Sugar Pumpkin
It looks like a classic Halloween pumpkin, only a bit smaller. It actually has lots of flesh, and a great pumpkin flavor which makes it great for pie! Try using it instead of canned pumpkin the next time you make a pumpkin pie!

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Spaghetti Squash
Scraping a fork inside a roasted spaghetti squash will give you strings that closely resemble noodles! It’s mild flavor pairs well with a variety of sauces. It’s a great alternative to pasta!


Jack Be Little
This adorable little guy is actually best used for decorative purposes only. It has very little flesh, which doesn’t make it very practical to use in recipes, but they sure are cute and make great bowls for dip or soup!


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Hubbard Squash
Hubbard squash are a fairly large winter squash. They are slightly tear-shaped with dark green to pale grayish blue skins.

Because of their size, they are often sold in pre-cut and seeded chunks which are more appealing to home cooks. Hubbards are sweet with a clear pumpkin flavor. Their extra-thick skins help them store through the winter (up to five months in a cool and dry place). A great way to prepare Hubbard squash is to roast them. They are good  seasoned with rosemary and black pepper or roasted and then mashed with plenty of butter and warm spices like cumin or nutmeg.
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Squash makes a great Fall or Winter meal or side dish. Pinterest is a great resource for recipes, so add squash to your shopping list soon and take advantage of the season!
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​Winter Squash – Try It, You’ll Like It!​

For more Recipes: Click Here

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Top 3 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

10/10/2020

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For all the pumpkin lovers out there, we have three delicious Pumpkin Dessert Recipes for you!

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They can be used for casual or more formal occasions. They are sure to please everyone!

Pumpkin Dessert Recipes:

Pumpkin Lasagna

This Pumpkin Lasagna is a take-off of the ever-popular meat/tomato sauce lasagna. This is a great way to prepare a delicious dessert for eight or more.
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Ingredients
For crust:
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup butter-softened
  • ½ cup toasted walnuts (or pecans)-chopped

For cheesecake layer:
  • 8 oz. cream cheese- softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup whipped topping

For pumpkin layer:
  • 2½ cups milk
  • 3 small pkgs. vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 15 oz Pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

For topping:
  • 1 cups whipped topping
  • ¼ cup toasted walnuts (or pecans)-chopped

Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven at 350 F and spray 8×8 inch baking dish.
  2. Mix flour, butter and ½ cup walnuts, press into a sprayed baking dish and bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
  3. Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until it’s light and fluffy, add 1 cup whipped topping and spread over cooled crust. Set in the fridge while making pumpkin mixture.
  4. Mix milk and vanilla instant pudding mix, add pumpkin puree and cinnamon and mix until it’s smooth. Spread over top of cheesecake layer.
  5. Spread remaining 1 cup of whipped topping and sprinkle chopped walnuts and set in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

This Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip is scrumptious served with chocolate graham crackers and shortbread-type cookies. The combination of flavors is outstanding!
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Ingredients
  1. 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  2. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  3. 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
  4. 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  5. 2 teaspoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer
  6. 1 tsp vanilla
  7. 1-2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
  8. 1 cup miniature chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions
  1. In a large bowl beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
  2. Add confectioners sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie creamer, and vanilla until well combined.
  3. Add 1-2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, depending on your preference. Stir in chocolate chips. Chill until ready to serve.
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No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

These No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are divine and simply melt in your mouth! If you love pumpkin, this is your time of year…pumpkin everything!

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Serves: 36 cookies
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup butter
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • 1 (3.4oz) box instant pumpkin spice pudding mix (you can sub vanilla pudding and 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice)
  • 3½ cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
  1. In a saucepan, combine sugars, butter and milk.
  2. Bring to a boil.
  3. Boil 2 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and add in the pudding mix, stirring to combine completely.
  5. Add in pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and oats.
  6. Stir to combine and let stand for 5 minutes.
  7. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper, and allow to cool completely.
  8. Store in airtight container.
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Check out these Delicious Fall Soup Recipes: Soup

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