Category Archives: Food & Drink

Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon Buttercream

November 27, 2015

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We definitely did, we ate way to much and had a fun, relaxing day.

We shouldn’t be making or even thinking about food. But, my husband single handedly ate this whole batch of cookies. Lemon and ginger are meant to be together and served with a hot cup of tea is pretty much perfection. Now that Thanksgiving is over I’m ready for the holidays. And first thing on my holiday to-do list is to start making cookies. We usually eat half the batch and freeze the other half for parties and gifting.

I whipped up a batch of Martha Stewart’s Gingerbread Cookies and then filled them with Lemon Buttercream. This is my mom’s buttercream recipe and it’s amazing!!!

Lemon Buttercream

1 cup of butter

3 tbsp. lemon juice

zest of one lemon

a pinch of salt

2 cups powdered sugar

Beat on high for at least 3-4 minutes. The longer you whip it the lighter and creamier the frosting with be. I cut out 2″ round cookies and then when they were completely cooled, I filled them with a generous amount of buttercream.

etc. / Food & Drink

Caramel Apple Popcorn Balls

October 15, 2015

Halloween is sneaking up on me, and there are so many yummy treats to make. My mom is an amazing cook, baker and party thrower. Growing up, there was no shortage of yummy treats around any holiday. A halloween classic at our house was popcorn balls. So, I decided I wanted to make these for my kids and their friends this year. But, I took it one step further and turned these popcorn balls into caramel apples. They are super sweet, but the green apple flavor with creamy caramel is a Fall favorite.

Caramel Apple Popcorn Balls

3 tbsp.

40 large marshmallows

8-10 cups of air popped pop corn

1 package of Green Apple Koolaid (the only place I could find this flavor was Walmart)

1 bag of Kraft Caramels

2 tbsp. water

10 thick pretzel sticks

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter on high for 45 seconds. Add the marshmallows and sprinkle the package of Koolaid all over the marshmallows. Toss together. Place back in the microwave and heat on high for 1 min 30 sec. Stir to combine all the ingredients. All the popcorn and stir to coat.

Butter the palms of your hands and shape into balls, pressing then firmly to keep their shape. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, because these bad boys are super sticky. While they are still soft, add the pretzel stick to the top.

In a small pot. Heat the caramels and water on medium high heat until they are melted, stirring often. With a small spoon, spoon on the hot caramel to the top of the popcorn balls and allow the caramel to drizzle down the sides.

Makes 8-10 popcorn balls.

After the caramel has cooled and hardened, you can package up these sweet, chewy treats to give to friends and family. Tiny Prints is so much more then just cards and invitations, I made these cute BOO stickers with our name on them. It was hard to pick, because there were so many great Halloween gift tags to choose from.

I’m going to put together some little treat bags for my kid’s teachers as well. These little custom stickers will look adorable on little brown paper bags as well.

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints. Thanks for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.

Food & Drink

Chocolate Orange Drop Cookies

October 6, 2015

Well, this weekend our temperatures finally dropped a bit and I quickly turned on the oven and did a little baking. I’m sure it won’t last, but I’m loving the 70 and 80 F weather so much. Maybe Fall is coming. I’m tired of wearing shorts, I’m ready to wear jeans, sweater and boots.

There are some flavors that I just meant to be together, chocolate and orange are a match made in heaven. These, easy to make, soft cookies have just about as much frosting as cookie. Too pretty to stack in a cookie jar, these cookies are fancy enough to be served as dessert at your next dinner party.

Chocolate Orange Drop Cookies

2/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
zest of one orange
1/2 cup cocoa
1/ 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

In a mixing bowl beat the sugar and butter together. Add the buttermilk, vanilla, egg and orange zest, beat again. In another bowl combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt baking soda and cocoa). Whisk together to make sure there are no lumps and then the ingredients are combined. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until the batter is smooth.

Using a small ice cream scoop or a tbsp. place small scoops of batter on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 F for just 8-10 mins. You want these cookies to be soft. Cool on a wire rack.
When they are completely cool, frost each cookie with a generous amount of chocolate orange frosting (see recipe below) and sprinkle a little more orange zest on each cookie.

Chocolate Orange Frosting

Zest of one orange (save some of the zest to garnish the cookies)
3 tbsp. orange juice
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tbsp. butter
2 cups powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat well with an electric mixture until the frosting is smooth.

This recipe is adapted from a Betty Crocker’s Chocolate Drop Cookies recipe. I bought one of those little recipe books at the grocery store with this recipe in it when we first got married. It’s been a favorite recipe around here for a while now.

Food & Drink

Orange Cardamom Cooler

September 29, 2015

If you were to search cardamom on my blog, I think it would come up often. It is one of my favorite flavors, and orange and cardamom together are pretty much perfect.

I recently found some black sugar and wanted to create a fun Halloween themed drink for my family. I’m having fun with this new mocktail series, be sure to check out the other drink recipes I’ve created, like the Pineapple Rosemary Spritzer or the Blackberry Ginger Cooler.

Orange Cardamom Cooler

2 cups orange juice

1 tsp. ground cardamom

Orange Soda ( I love Izzy Sparkly Clementine Soda, it’s made with juice and not a bunch of sugar)

black sugar

Combine the orange juice and cardamom in a small pot. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. Chill until ready to serve.

Rub the rim of the glass with orange juice and dip in black sugar. Fill the glass with ice and 1 part orange juice to 1 part soda.

Makes 4 drinks.

Food & Drink

Watermelon Feta Salad

September 17, 2015

I’m really excited that my friend Sarah Hearts has moved to California. She is only 2 hours away now, that’s a lot closer then Florida.

While she’s moving into her new place and getting unpacked and settled, I’m helping her out with a post. I’m excited to be over on Sarah Hearts today sharing the recipe for this refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad.

Head over to her adorable corner of the world wide web and check out this easy recipe.

Food & Drink

Pineapple Rosemary Spritzer

August 31, 2015

Hey friends, I’m back with another refreshing mocktail recipe (did you miss last week’s Blackberry Ginger Cooler?). Cocktail hour is pretty dang popular, so I thought I should create some fun drinks that the whole family can enjoy. And it’s A OKAY to sip this drink every hour of the day. Feel free to spike it if you want, but I think this is going to be your new favorite drink! I’m such a fan of fresh herbs paired with fruit. Sweet pineapple and the warm, woodsy notes of rosemary go perfectly together. I love sips and bites that make you stop and say, “Ooh, what is that?”. This easy to make drink, will have your guests asking that very question.

Pineapple Rosemary Spritzer
2 cups of pineapple juice
1/2 cup of rosemary simple syrup
2-3 cups of club soda
pineapple wedges and a sprig of fresh rosemary for ganish
ice

In a pitcher, combine the chilled pineapple juice and rosemary simple syrup. Fill each glass with ice. Fill the glass half full with the pineapple juice mixture and then top off with club soda. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a wedge of pineapple on the rim of the glass.

This recipe make 4-6 servings, depending on size of your glasses.

Rosemary Simple Syrup
2 tbsp. of finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Place all the ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Allow the syrup to cool. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Place the syrup in an airtight container and store in the fridge.

Stay cool, stay refreshed.

Food & Drink

Blackberry Ginger Cooler

August 12, 2015

I’m trying out a new series here, I’ll be sharing some fun mocktail recipes from time to time. It’s all the fun flavors of a cocktail without the alcohol. These are fun drinks that whole family can enjoy. And the first mocktail I’m sharing is a refreshing Blackberry Ginger Cooler. Last week we visited my parents in Northern Cali, so we picked a few blackberries. There wasn’t enough to make jam, but I did pick enough to make a couple batches of this yummy blackberry ginger syrup.

Blackberry Ginger Syrup

2 cups of fresh blackberries
1 cup of water
3 tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 cup sugar
another cup of water

In a pot, crush the blackberries with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon. Add the first cup of water and the ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and strain the berries through a fine mesh sieve. Pour the liquid into a large measuring cup. Add enough water (about 1 cup) to make 2 cups of liquid. Pour the liquid back into a pot and add 1 cup of sugar.
Bring to a broil and boil for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.

To make the coolers, mix about 1-2 oz. of syrup with either ginger ale or club soda in a glass with lots of ice and a couple whole blackberries.

Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple weeks.

I can’t get enough of ginger, it’s one of my favorite flavors. It’s bright, crisp and always refreshing. These pretty drinks could definitely be given a little grown-up kick with a splash of your favorite gin. I’m not stopping you. What are your favorite flavor combinations? Is this a series you’d like to see more of?

Food & Drink

Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches

June 25, 2015

We are smack in the middle of HOT Southern Cali Summer. It’s been 100+ all week and we only want to eat frozen foods. These spiced chai ice cream sandwiches definitely hit the spot. Made with store bought ginger thin cookies, the oven didn’t even have to be turned on.

There’s no messing around with low fat or light options here. Ice cream is best when is made with real whipping cream and eggs. This, easy to make, ice cream is some of the smoothest, creamiest ice cream you’ll ever make.

Spiced Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches

2 cups whipping cream (chilled)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Chai Mix (2 scoops or 6 teaspoons)
1/4 tsp. ginger

1 package of store bought ginger snaps (I love the thin Trader Joe’s ones)

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to mix well. Pour into the bowl of an ice cream freezer and prepare according to your specific machine. When the ice cream is done, place in an air tight container and freeze for at least 1 hour. Using a small scoop (mine is a cookie scoop), place a scoop in the center a cookie and the flatten with the second cookie on top. Place them back in an airtight container and freeze until solid. Makes about 20 ice cream sandwiches.

Ice cream is our go-to when it’s hot. I have to confess that sometimes ice cream and popcorn is our dinner in the Summer. What’s you go-to cool treat when the temperatures rise?

Food & Drink

Lavender Lemon Popsicles

June 8, 2015

Do you remember the amazing the Merry Mag, a handmade holiday guide, that I was a part of this last Christmas? Well, I’ve got some great news for you, there’s a Summer addition, Merry Mag Summer, and it might be even better. If you are in need of some inspiration and ideas to give your home, parties, and self some handmade Summery touches, look no further. Every page is bright and beautifully put together. So, grab a tall glass of lemonade, put your feet up and soak up all these lovely ideas. Once again, Melissa of The Sweet Escape is the master mind behind this amazing Summer edition. And once again, I am flattered to be included with all these top notch bloggers. You are in for a treat friends.

Now, how about a refreshing treat to these hot Summer days we have ahead of us? Lemon and lavender are two flavors that are meant to be together. The tart bright flavor of lemon goes so well with the earthy, mellowness of lavender. I kept this recipe really easy peasy – just 2 ingredients needed.

Lemon Lavender Popsicles

1 12 oz. can of frozen lemonade concentrate
2 tbsp. of dried lavender
2 1/4 cups of water or 1 1/2 cans of water using the lemonade concentrate can

Pour all the ingredients into a small pan. Bring to a boil and then turn off immediately. Pour the mixture into a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge over night (or at least 12 hours). Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, to remove the lavender. Pour into popsicle molds and top each with a quarter round of a lemon slice and a sprinkling or lavender. Freeze until solid.

Before putting them in, I painted the end of wooden popsicle stick a pretty lavender color, just for fun.

If you want to check out my articles from the Holiday edition, here’s the White Cheddar Dill Scones and the DIY Holiday Floral Arrangement I made.

Food & Drink

Chocolate Chipotle Marshmallows

May 29, 2015

I love this flavor combination, it’s one that I repeat over and over. I recently made donuts with this sweet and spicey pairing, so I decided it might be a great flavor combination for a fluffy marshmallow.

For Father’s Day, I’m giving customized mugs for the dad’s in my life filled with hot cocoa an these yummy, unique marshmallows. Head over to Tiny Prints’ Blog today to check out the fun mugs we made and the recipe for these marshmallows.

Have a great weekend. I’ll be doing some last minute packing and preparing for our trip to the Dominican Republic. We leave on Sunday! Oh boy, there’s so much to do and get ready.