Easy Microwave Fudge
/I originally posted this recipe for Easy Microwave Fudge way back in 2007 during my first year of blogging. The photo is the original photo I took for that blog post.
Read MoreCaramel Apple Nachos
/These Caramel Apple Nachos are just like regular Caramel Apples without the struggle of figuring out how to cut and eat your apple after it’s been dipped in caramel plus they are easier to make than traditional caramel apples! These Caramel Apple Slices perfect for a party treat too. Give them a try. I know you will love them!
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We wanted to serve Caramel Apples this weekend for a get-together but wanted something that was easier to eat and something everyone could eat in bite-size pieces. We decided to take our caramel recipe we make every year and came up with our Turtle Caramel Apples, nacho style. It's such a delicious and easy treat to have at a party or just to eat while watching your favorite fall movie.
Turtle Caramel Apple Nachos
8-10 of your favorite apples
12 ounces of milk chocolate
12 ounces of white chocolate
1/2 cup of chopped fresh pecans
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Core apples. Slice apples. Toss in lemon juice. Arrange apples on a serving dish. Set aside. Chop pecans. Make one batch of caramel. Melt milk chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds then stir. Continue every 30 seconds until completely melted. Melt white chocolate the same as milk chocolate. Drizzle hot caramel over apples. Drizzle melted milk chocolate over apples. Drizzle white chocolate over apples. Top off by sprinkling pecans over the top. Serve.
Does chocolate go with Apple?
Does chocalate go with apple? I say absoultly especially if you are adding caramel into the mix.
Happy Fall!
Click here for my Easy Microwave Caramel Recipe
SAVE IT FOR LATER! CLICK HERE
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Quick Pickled Red Onion Recipes
/Making red pickled onions are so easy to make and are one of my favorite things to top salads, wraps and a good charcuterie board.
Pickled onions are popping up topping burgers and salads at all the trendy restaurants. They are something our grandmothers use to make. I don't really know why they ever fell out of popularity in food because they are soo flavory and easy to make.
I loved picking out the pearl pickled onions out of my grandma's mustard pickles. I promise to post the mustard pickle recipe sometime soon because anyone who makes a roast should have some mustard pickles to add as a relish.
You can make pickled onions with an onion really. I'm making a batch with both red onion and yellow onion.
You will simply need vinegar and onions. That's it! See super easy!
I love using my vintage ball canning jar with the glass lid and clamp on it to make pickled onions.
Peel your onions. Slice your onion into thin slices. Add to a jar of vinegar. All to pickle in the refrigerator for about 2 days then they will be ready to top your hamburger, salad or add to your charcuterie board.
Enjoy!
Hot Dog Toppings Bar For Dinner or a Party
/This post is sponsored by Hebrew National®
Are you planning a springtime BBQ celebration get-together? I have the best quick but still delicious and quality grilled dinner idea for you, your friends and your family. It's a Hot Dog Toppings dinner party. It is seriously the easiest to plan and make. It's also a HUGE crowd pleaser. The kids, as well as the adults, will love it.
I put together a list of premium toppings I thought would cover everyone's tastes to go with Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks. One of the things I love about Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks is that the hot dogs are good premium cuts of 100% kosher beef. Quality is always something I look for when planning dinner.
For our Hot Dog Bar, I added fresh ingredients. I made sure to chop the pieces smaller than I usually do so they could fit nicely on the bun. I bought freshly made buns from a local bakery and chose some tasty toppings, including onions, avocado, tomato, peppers, sauerkraut, a spicy green sprout mix, a variety of mustards and, of course, some ketchup. You can pretty much add any that you love. Think of your favorite salad-bar toppings if you are looking for some inspiration. With the kids, you can tell them to choose three toppings so they are sure to get some veggies in their meal. My family loves it and it's definitely on our list of things to make when friends come over. Happy spring!
More Recipes for Your Hot Dog Bar
Easy * Fresh Pico De Gallo Salsa Recipe
/LOW CARB KETO FRIENDLY RECIPE
Fresh pico de gallo is one of my favorite kinds of salsa. It made from all fresh ingredients and is another one of those delicious condiment toppings to have on hand. It's great on everything from carne asada to fish!
Did you know that Pico de Gallo only has 5 ingeirents? It's super eay to make. If you want to grow one thing even on a porch garden this summer make it a pico de gallo garden. Tomatoes and jalapenos are some of the easiest garden plants to grow. Add a pot of cilantro and you will be making this delicious recipe all summer!
FRESH PICO DE GALLO SALSA RECIPE
serves 4
3 large tomatoes
1/2 onion
1/2 fresh jalapeno
Small bunch of cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
Course Sea Salt
Simply chop all your vegetables into small pieces. Chop cilantro. Mix together in a bowl. Squeeze the juice from 1 lime over the top. Salt to taste.
Our Favorite Avocado Guacamole Dip Recipe
/LOW CARB KETO FRIENDLY RECIPE
There is no need to miss out on some good snacks at a party. Just make this quick and easy low carb keto friendly guacamole inspired dip. Perfect for dipping veggies.
Avocados are rich in good fats and essential nutrients. They also happen to be one of my favorite foods. This simple Avocado Party Dip, which is basically another kind of guacamole recipe, will be the rave of our party. It's soooo addicting so be sure to make extra. You might even want to make a batch for yourself.
More guacaole recipes coming soon... until then enjoy this creamy dip!
2 Large Haas Avocados
1/2 sour cream
1 lime
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
In a small mixing bowl add all ingredients squeezing in the juice of the lime. Smash together with a fork. Top with a light sprinkling of red pepper for garnish.
Serve with tortilla chips, veggies or potato chips. Enjoy!
Note: The lime keeps the avocado from turning brown. I left mine out for a good hour to test it and it works quite nicely.
MORE RECIPES TO TRY!
Easy * Lettuce Wrap Tacos Recipe
/LOW CARB KETO FRIENDLY RECIPE
Taco on a low carb keto diet? You bet! I wouldn't go with out some good Mexican flavory keto tacos in my life.
🎵"If you like Cinco de Mayo, so you c'n eat tacos all day. If you're not into carbs, and you have half a brain. If you like taking walks at midnight ..." 🎵 I know, in another life I was weird al with food lyrics haha.
There is no way I'm missing Taco Tuesdays just because I'm on a low carb keto diet. I love Mexican foods and flavors. Any taco can easily be converted to a low carb - keto taco by replacing the taco shell with your favorite lettuce. I used romaine hearts but a butter lettuce taco shell would be really good too.
Do you make tacos for Taco Tuesday? These turned out so good. You're going to love them and so will your family.
LETTUCE SHELL SOFT TACO RECIPE
serves 4
1 lb ground beef
vegetable oil, butter or bacon butter
red pepper flakes
1 small onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
head of lettuce
Pico de Gallo- recipe here
white cheddar cheese - shredded
1 large avocado
sour cream
In a saute pan add bacon butter, ground beef, chopped onions, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, paprika, cumin and sea salt. On medium heat brown your ground beef until starting to caramelize. Set aside.
How to Boil Eggs } Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs Method
/I have always loved eating boiled eggs but avoided them because of sore fingers after peeling them. This easy-to-peel method will thrill you once you give it a try. Don’t worry the eggs won’t crack anymore than placing them in boiling water versus placing them in cold water and bringing them to a boil.
How do you get boiled eggs to peel easily?
It’s really very simple. You won’t believe how easily this simple reverse in method works!
Enjoy!
Rainbow Coconut Jelly Bean Coconut Easter Cake Recipe
/When I was growing up my mom made us a special treat each year. It was always one of my favorites. It was her White Chocolate Coconut Jelly Bean Candy Easter Nests. I just love how the white chocolate, coconut and the fruity flavors of the jelly beans mixed so well. With this flavor combination in mind I came up with a new Easter tradition our Easter Cake. As I thought about the flavor of the jelly beans Kool-Aid came to me. Kool-Aid comes in many different shades of bright colors, it has similar flavors and some of our favorite jelly beans so it was the perfect solution to both coloring and flavoring each layer of our Easter Cake.
Our Easter Cake has a pink strawberry, yellow pineapple, green lemon-lime, and blue mixed berry layers. It is frosted with the most delicious coconut white chocolate buttercream frosting. Combining the coconut and the flavors remind me of a colada drink.
This is a great cheery cake for kids.
Cake:
2 Box Cake Mixes or 2 batches of White Cake Batter
1 packet of Kool-Aid drink mix powder for each color -4 total (the ones without sugar)
Prepare your favorite box white cake mixes or this great from scratch recipe for White Cake ( two batches.)
Divide the cake batter equally into 4 medium mixing bowls. Slowly add Kool-Aid powder until you reach the desired color and flavor or each color.
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Bake each cake color layer in an 8 or 9 inch round cake pan for about 18-20 minutes check after 18 minutes. The cake will bounce back when done when pressed down in the middle with your finger.
Cool for 5 minutes then remove from pan and completely cool on cooling rack.
Wrap each cake layer in plastic wrap and place in freezer.
White Chocolate Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Note: You will need two batches for this cake
2-pound bag of powdered sugar
1/2 milk
1 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup of melted white baking chocolate
In a stand mixer using the whip attachment whip together melted white chocolate, butter, milk, vanilla and about 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar to incorporate air. This will make your frosting nice and light and fluffy.
Slowly mix in the remaining powdered sugar then add coconut and whip together.
This frosting is creamy, delicious and sets up very nicely.
Coconut Nest Topping
1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
1 packet of green lemon-lime Kool-Aid powder mix
1 bag of your favorite jelly beans
1-quart size zip top bag
Add coconut and 1/2 packet of Kool-Aid powder to zip top bag. Mix the coconut and powder together kneading with hands.
Mound in the center of the top of the cake to form a nest top off with a large handful of jelly beans.
SWEET TIP: To frost the cake and get beautiful layers add your frosting to a quart size zipper top bag. Snip of one corner of the bag about a half inch up.
Starting with the bottom layer squeeze our large dollops of frosting around the cake top. Spread evenly and repeat as you add each layer. Then squeeze out frosting in a zigzag pattern around the side of the cake. Spread over the sides filling in between the zigzag. Don't worry if you zigzag is straight.
The point of this is to get a fairly even amount of frosting around the cake so it is easier to spread and prevent little cake crumbs from mixing into your frosting.
If you have any holes in your frosting just go back and add another dollop of frosting.
This frosting sets up nicely and is very forgiving. Since it is a coconut frosting it doesn't have to be perfectly smooth.
The kids are going to LOVE this cake.
Free Printable Dinner Planner & Recipe Cards
/Keto Friendly
Wether you’re planning meals for your whole family or just for yourself it’s nice to make a plan. Since I’m on the keto diet I like to meal prepping on the weekends and plan out my meals for the week. It helps cut down on food waste and it keeps me on track so I’m not tempted to eat out or grab something that is off my keto diet plan.
For moms and dads it’s great to have a meal planner so that everyone in the household from you to your spouse to your nanny knows what’s in stock and what’s planned for dinner!
I made this simple meal planner for you! I included a couple of recipes cards too just in case you want to share one of your favorite recipes with a friend.
Pickle Juice Recipe For the Keto Flu | Why is Everyone Drinking it?
/Everyone from dancers to soccer players to swimmers use pickle juice but you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit for a shot of pickle juice!
Read MoreBest Banana Nut Bread Recipe - Better than Starbucks!
/With our delicious family recipe I will show you how to make banana bread that will become your favorite banana bread recipe of all time! It’s better than Starbucks!
Read MoreOur Perfect HomeStyle Cinnamon French Toast Recipe
/When I first started thinking about the FIRESIDE FOODIE theme - telling the stories of the food that made us, this recipe for HomeStyle Cinnamon French Toast was the essence of the perfected tried and true recipe that everyone in our family loves. It has been on the table every Saturday morning since my twins were old enough to eat it. It’s buttery and cinnamony and hearty. It is one of the recipes that made my kids. It’s a true comfort food.
“I firmly believe in making a recipe your own so it sings to your tastes. “
Now this my french toast recipe which is a little bit different from my mom’s but it was built on her recipe. I firmly believe in making a recipe your own so it sings to your tastes. My recipe includes a ton of cinnamon and splash of vanilla. My kid’s dad grew up with french toast that was made with salt and black pepper. I know. Pepper! But it’s surprisingly good that way too.
French Toast Toppings
We ALWAYS top it with pure Vermont maple syrup since we have friends and family who are maple producers in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. My sister and her family contribute to the Butternut Mountain Farm’s maple syrup which you can find at William Sonoma around the country. We are lucky enough to get some from them and our other friends who tap the most remote trees in Vermont for the cleanest purest natural organic maple syrup.
We usually top our french toast with fruit in season such as blueberries, strawberries, peaches etc and sometimes even a dollop of whipped cream too!
Here’s to another lovely late Saturday breakfast/brunch together as a family.
Maple Milk
/Vermont Inspired Recipes
Not so much a recipe as a mix in idea, Maple Milk is a family tradition with my kids and my sister's families in Vermont. It's comfort food at it's best.
Did I tell you my sister and her family live on a mountain in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. They make the most amazing pure Vermont Maple Syrup. A while back my brother-in-law along with his dad and brother decided to put up a sugar house in the middle of a Vermont winter. If you know Vermont winters you know this is quite the fête. They wanted to get it up in time for maple sugaring season which is early Spring.
They collect the sap from some the most pristine woods full of old sugar maples. The area is so remote it is clean and free from water, soil and air pollutants. They stay up all night when the sap is running feeding the wood fired evaporator stove. The results is gallons and gallons of pure liquid maple gold.
Maple Sugar Walnut Blondies Recipe
/Vermont Inspired Recipes
When we visited Vermont for Camp Gathering-Vermont this past April we visited just at the end of the maple sugaring season. A lot of people think of fall in Vermont and they think maple syrup but the maple sugaring season is in the very early spring when the days are warming up but it's still below freezing at night. This is when the sap flows.
To the warm flavor of real Vermont syrup still evokes a feeling of fall. My Maple Sugar Blondies are made up of the warm fall flavors including walnuts and the caramel flavor of a blondie. I use Butternut Mountain Farm's real Vermont Maple Sugar AND pure Vermont Maple Syrup in this recipe too. If you can't find it in your local store you can order it online on their website- Butternut Mountain Farm
We visited Butternut Mountain Farm in Johnson, Vermont and I assure it is some of the purest finest maple syrup you will buy.
Enjoy!
Maple Sugar Walnut Blondies
1/2 cup of butter
1 1/2 cup pure maple sugar
1/2 cup of grade A dark robust pure maple syrup
3 eggs
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Melt butter. Add eggs, maple sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, baking soda, salt and nuts.
Stir by hand, Then mix in flour. Pour into 9x13 inch greased cake pan. sprinkle white
chocolate chips on top. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown and pulling
away from the pan on the sides. Cut and serve. I like to sprinkle a little bit of maple sugar over top and drizzle with a little bit of pure Vermont maple syrup right before serving.
Sweet Tip: Only mix by hand and be sure stir only to incorporate the ingredients and no more for best
More Vermont Posts
Easy Hummingbird Food Recipe
/It’s spring time which means the hummingbirds are coming back. Every year my grandma would hand a hummingbird feeder so we could watch the hummingbirds from her kitchen window. I carried on that tradition with my kids. Now that they are grown and off to college I look forward to the days I feed the hummingbirds with my future gandkids just likemy grandma.
Hummingbird food is really a simple recipe. It consists of sugar and water. You boil the water to make sure it is clean and pure for your hummingbird friends.
This is a basic plain sugar syrup. Do not use food coloring. The hummingbirds will love their freshly made nectar.
Info for feeding hummingbirds:
Hummingbirds eat the most during the early morning and about a half an hour before dark so it's best to check on your hummingbird feeder just after dinnertime.
Humming birds are drawn to the colors red and orange. To attract them to your yard plant bright hues of red and orange flowers. It's also good to make sure your hummingbird feed has red on it too.
A few good hummingbird friendly flowers are petunias, lupine, lilies, and bee balm in shades of reds and oranges.
Fresh Basil & Jalapeno Omelete Recipe
/Omelettes are a keto diet staple food. They are a perfect food for someone doing the keto diet on a budget. This omelette recipe is so tasty and filling, you are going to love it! It's a great low carb breakfast idea or for any low carb keto diet meal!
Weekends call for delicious brunches. I have a nice bunch of basil in my garden that needed to be picked and some nice beautiful jalapenos ready to harvest too. Emmi sent me some of their Cave-Aged Le Gruyére try so I decided to add a bit of this rich nutty flavored cheese that pairs perfectly with the fresh green flavors. Add some garlic and farm fresh eggs to make a delicious breakfast or brunch meal.
An omelet is also a tasty quick dinner too that doesn't taste like a quick dinner.
I like to make one big omelet slice it and serve it on a platter so everyone can choose the size they would like to eat.
Fresh Basil & Jalapeno Omelete Recipe
Serves 4
6 eggs
1/4 cup cream
gruyére cheese
1 clove garlic
small bunch of fresh basil
1 fresh jalapeno
salt and black pepper to taste
tablespoon butter
There are two techniques used in making a creamy perfectly cooked omelette. First is whipping the cream and eggs together. Crush and mice the garlic, chop the jalapeno into small pieces, add salt and pepper to taste and whip into eggs.
Add butter to a medium size frying pan. Heat on medium heat. Add eggs mixture to pan.
The second technique is to allow the eggs to cook on the bottom they pull the edges into the center with a wooden spoon allowing the uncooked eggs to fill in the sides and cook. Repeat this until all the eggs are almost cooked. At this point add the Gruyére cheese. You can either slice it into thin slices or grate it. Then fold the omelette in half and cook just until the cheese is melted.
With these two techniques you will end up with a cream delicious center and perfectly cooked eggs that aren't dry.
Slice and garish with a sprig of fresh basil and slices of fresh jalapeno.
Enjoy!