Good Cheese Ball Recipe * Holiday Entertaining

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

What do you make to have on hand for family and visitors? Keebler® Club® Crackers are my go to for holiday entertaining and so is a good Classic Holiday Cheese Ball recipe.

I went out shopping at Sam's Club to stock up some entertaining essentials for the holiday season including treats, butter cookies, cheese, supplies for my cheese ball Christmas tree and my favorite, crackers. The Keebler® Club® Crackers come in entertaining sizes at Sam's Club too which is perfect to have on hand. My two college age sons can plow through a box all by themselves in one sitting so the big boxes are a must for us. You can find the Keebler® Toasteds® Crackers and
Keebler® Entertainment Crackers Collection in the entertaining sizes at Sam's Club too. Never hurts to have a good variety on hand for pop in guests. See all the  offerings at Sam's Club here.

Keebler® has a new app just in time for the holiday season to help you plan your festive party, the FREE Keebler® Party Planner Live App.  It's where I go my recipe for the Classic Holiday Cheese Ball. Rather than shaping mine into a ball I just shaped it into a Christmas tree and added sliced almonds for the tree branches. Same recipe just a different shape, easy peasy.

It's such a good recipe. Everyone loves it! I have been using the app to collect my ingredients while at the store. The list is there and ready for me so I don't have to make a separate list.
The app includes everything you need for planning a party from recipes to a party outline to printables. It even links to evite!
Go check it out and be sure to try the Traditional Cheese Ball recipe too!

Happy Holidays!
xo

P.S. Get a $1 off coupon for the Keebler® entertaining size Crackers in the Sam's Club Instant Savings booklet in store for details. Who doesn't love an extra discount!

First Day of Fall * Autumnal Equinox

It's the first day of fall. How do you celebrate and decorate for the changing of the season? Here are some of my favorite fall traditions my kids and I have gathered throughout the years. As the cooler weather sets in warm flavors and colors set the scene. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.

My very first blog post ever was for this Microwave Caramel Apple Recipe. That was 9 years ago! We make these Caramel Apples every year without fail. I wrap up the extra caramel into bite sized caramels to eat later.

My mom has a split tree. It's half red delicious and half golden delicious apples. These Turtle Caramel Apple Nachos are a great recipe to use a mix of fall apples.

My delicious Harvest Apple Pie is a mix of a crust topped and crumble topped pie. I need to make some of this pie today to celebrate the first day of fall and  a big basket of freshly picked apples. I have the no fail easiest Pie Crust Recipe too!

One of my all time favorite crafts for kids in the fall is making these simple Fall Leaf Wreaths from found items you already have on hand. It's a great time to explore outside with your kids in the cool fall air.

Painting some pumpkins to decorate the house is a great kids activity. Everyone will love to join in crafting. I used puff paint to make these Gilded and Faux Studded Pumpkins. 

With the weather getting cooler cozy up with a bowl of my mom's White Chicken Chili. This recipe is a family favorite. It can be make on the stove top or in a slowcooker.

Or if you prefer a tomato based chili my Chipotle Chili Recipe has a nice smokey flavor to it. I set out an assortment of toppings to make it a Chili Topping Bar dinner.

Happy Autumn Time!
xo

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Pink Fizzy Party Punch * Entertaining Food & Drinks

Pink Fizzy Party Punch is my favorite. Adding sherbert to your punch was a big thing when I was a kid. It was served at all the best parties and occasions. Since Rose Quartz is the 2016 color of the year I thought it would be perfect to serve a Pink Fizzy Punch for your Party.

Ingredients:

• 2 liter bottle of ginger ale (alt: use 1 liter of ginger ale add 2 bottles of prosecco for a grown up punch)
• 32 oz of cran-raspberry juice
• 1/2 gallon of raspberry sherbert ice cream

Chill your juice and gingerale for at least 2 hours. In a large punch bowl add first the cran-raspberry juice then the ginger ale. Scoop nice round scoops of raspberry sherbert into the punch. Cheers!

Mashed Potatoes * Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Recipe:

Perfect Browned Butter Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes 
Recipe & Photo by:
Kitchen McCabe


It's that time of year for Thanksgiving Dinner. If you making it your first time or if you are assigned to bring something we're collected a few recipes from our favorite bloggers. Between now and Thanksgiving day we are collecting some of the best Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes on our Pinterest THE Hearth SOCIETY board. Follow along you might just find a new family favorite this year #YUM

Recipe:
Slow Cooker Garlic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Recipe & Photo by:
Simply Gloria

Recipe:
Buttermilk Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Recipe & Photo by:
Foodie Crush

Recipe:
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Recipe & Photo by:
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Recipe:
Restaurant-Style Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Recipe & Photo by:
Delicious as it Looks

Don't forget to check out more Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes on our Pinterest board.

Greek Yogurt Peanut Butter Cup Pie * Greek Gods Yogurt

Post sponsored by Greek Gods Yogurt 

It's officially the beginning of the Holiday Season and Thanksgiving is coming up soon which also means it's PIE Season. Hooray for the Pumpkin Pie! and the Chocolate Pie and the Berry Pie and the Apple Pie and the Banana Cream Pie and the Peanut Butter Cup Pie and all the pies.

Our Peanut Butter Cup Pie filling is made of 4 simple ingredients and starts with thick rich cream and Greek Gods Greek Yogurt layered on top of a chocolate truffle bottom inside a dark chocolate cookie crust. It's so creamy and delicious you might find yourself wanting to eat it all. This pie will go fast so be sure to make a few to share. 

Peanut Butter Cup Pie

makes 1 pie

for the filling:

• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 1 cup of Greek Gods Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

for the truffle layer:

• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 3 oz dark chocolate

for the crust:

• 2 cups of chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs - about 12 cookies
• 1/2 cup of real butter- softened

for crust:

In a food processor using the pulse button crush cookies into crumbs then pulse in softened butter. In a pie pan evenly press cookie mixture to form crust.

for truffle layer:

Chop chocolate into small chunks. In a heavy bottom pan warm cream to the point just before boiling add chocolate chunks. Stir until melted. Pour mixture into the bottom of crust.

for filling:

Using a stand mixer whip together cream, vanilla and powdered sugar until stiff peaks are formed. Then add Greek Gods Greek Yogurt. Whip together until incorporated. Then add peanut butter. Whip together until thick and creamy smooth. 

Pour into pie crust over the truffle layer.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Top your favorite peanut butter cups for garnish. Enjoy!

Follow Greek Gods Yogurt on their Facebook page for more delicious Pie Recipes from some of your favorite food bloggers using Greek God Greek Yogurt.

Delicious Harvest Apple Pie * Bringing Vermont Home

Our destination for FALL this year is Vermont. Vermont is one of my very most favorite places on earth. Fall in Vermont means stunning colorful autumn leaves of the sugar maples, the smell of sweet wood burning in the fire places, harvest dances at the local town halls, harvest full moon walks, plaid flannel, men letting their beards grow out in anticipation of hard cold winters, crisp fresh apples, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, and a delicious harvest apple pie. When I lived in Vermont it felt like I was living in a movie. Everything you do in the small towns of Vermont is special unlike any where else in the world. Schedule a trip to Vermont and spend at least a week exploring the winding Green Mountain roads, little villages (yes they are called villages in Vermont), visit the local general/grocery stores, take a hike or swim in one of the many swimming holes of the fresh rivers. If you are there in the fall don't miss having a sip of fresh apple cider and an apple cider doughnut. Yes, it really does look like the beginning of Newhart even now in 2015 thirty years later and it's just as enchanting as the song Henry Mancini wrote for the show. Go a head and listen. You will imagine yourself driving from small town to small town peeping at the rainbow of colors that cover the mountains this time of year.

I love this recipe for apple pie because it's a mix of both a pie crust and the taste of an apple crisp blended together in this delicious pie.  I use locally grown apples which always taste best and are freshest. I was blessed this year to have a wonderful heirloom apple tree that is a remnant of the apple orchards that use to cover the small town of Orem, Utah.

Did you know? Many of the variety of apples where lost during prohibition because they didn't want people to make hard apple cider so the trees where cut down. So sad but if you are lucky and in Vermont and find a wild apple tree along the side of the road go and forage for some of these tasty old varieties that have long since disappeared from all most everywhere. You never know it could be along one of the roads (Hazens Notch Road) President George Washington sent the troops up to Vermont to build during the revolutionary war.

Harvest Apple Pie Recipe
makes one pie

Pie filling:

• 12 fresh apples
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• pinch of sea salt

Peel and slice apples in about 1/2 inch slices. In a large mixing bowl add sugar and spices and mix. Toss apples in sugar spice mix. Set aside.

One Pie Crust Recipe

Pie Crumble Topping:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup of fresh cream butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

With a fork or your hands blend together ingredients until the mixture forms small pebbles. Set aside.

Add pie crust to 9 inch pie pan. Be sure to prick small holes in the bottom of the unbaked pie crust with fork. Add apple filling to the pan. Top with pie crumble topping. 

For the star fall decorative topping I tool a small cookie/pastry cutter added stars around the edge of the pie crust then made the star fall pattern starting at one side over lapping the stars then slowly spacing them further and further apart to get the star fall effect. This would also be pretty with a tiny maple left cookie/pastry cutter to make a wind blown leaf decoration.

Place pie pan on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. The pie will be bubbling hot so use caution when taking out of oven.

Sweet Tip: Let pie set up for a least 20 minutes before serving.

Easy Pie Crust Recipe * Food & Drink

Everyone need to have a basic pie crust recipe in their recipe box. This version of pie crust is super easy to make. I cut out some of the unnecessary steps you'll find in other pie crust recipes and guests what?!? It turns out just as good. Don't worry about it being perfect. If a piece of the crust after you put in the pan doesn't reach over the edge just take a scrap pie of crust and patch it.
This is the same recipe I used for the my Delicious Harvest Apple Pie. It's the recipe I use for all my pies.
I hope it makes you more daring in your baking and makes the saying " as easy as pie" become a reality for you.

Easy Pie Crust Recipe
makes 2 bottom crusts or 1 bottom and 1 top crust

• 1 1/2 cup of unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of room temperature butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
• 2 tablespoons of cold water

In a food processor add all ingredients. Pulse on and off until blended and small pebbles of dough is formed. This can also be done with your hands.

Press dough together with hands. Forming a ball. Divide in two. Form into two balls; careful not to work the dough too much.

Place dough on a piece of parchment or wax paper tossing some flour over the top. Roll into a circle large enough to cover the pie pan; about 9-10 inches in diameter.

Place pie pan over the dough circle centering it. Flip the pie crust and plan over to put the crust into the pan. Press into pan. Using your fingers pinch the edge of crust to make a decorative pattern. 

With a fork prick holes to allow pie crust to vent while baking. Chill in freezer for 20 minutes then use as instructed in pie recipe.

Best Fluffy Pancake Recipe * Foods & Drink

Pancakes on a Saturday morning is the ultimate comfort food.  A nice stack topped with real Vermont maple syrup with the added salty contrast of crisp bacon is food heaven. My recipe adds a little acid (lemon juice) to activate the baking powder which creates tiny bubbles to lighten the batter up. I use real creamery butter on the griddle to create a little tiny bit of crisp crust and a rich butter flavor.
Serve these pancakes and you will be famous for your pancakes. Who knew it could be so so easy.

Best Pancake Recipe Ever

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cups of whole milk
• 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup coconut oil 
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
• fresh creamery butter to top

In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together. In a large glass measuring cup add lemon juice then add milk in same container. Then add melted coconut oil and maple syrup. Lightly mix together. Add two eggs and mix just enough to break the yokes. Add liquid to dry ingredients. Whisk together until all ingredients are incorporated together. Set aside.

On a griddle or frying pan set to medium heat. Ladle pancake batter into pan. Turn pancake when the bubbles in the batter are popped. Cook until golden brown. Top with butter.

These pancakes should be great from the very first to the very last pancake you make. No need to throw out the first one like many people do when making pancakes. 

Top with real Vermont maple syrup and crumbled crisp bacon.

Enjoy!

April

10 Decadent Chocolate Cake Recipes * Food & Drink

above is Best Chocolate Cake Ever recipe by Add a Pinch (click link for recipe)

 Everyone knows a chocolate lover. You know that person who loves chocolate in all forms and even loves the dark chocolate. The person who turns to chocolate for comfort and for good reason is raises your endorphin levels. I created a nice collection of Chocolate Cake recipes. It's a great collection to find the perfect chocolate cake recipe for the chocolate lover in your life. Enjoy!

Check out 10 Decadent Cakes for Your Chocolate Lover
by Sweet and Simple Magazine- April Atwater at Foodie.com

this post is sponsored by Foodie.com

7 Dinner Recipes of the Week * Food & Drink

NEW- Each Monday we will be posting 7 dinner recipes for you from some of our favorite food bloggers plus, a bonus Pizza recipe because at our house Friday night is pizza night and who doesn't love pizza! This is our first 7 TastePin Dinner Recipes of the Week. Enjoy!
April

Recipe:
Shrimp Alfredo Bake
Recipe & Photo by:
Damn Delicious

Recipe:
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Recipe & Photo by:
Cooking Classy

Recipe:
Chinese BBQ Pork Buns
Recipe & Photo by:
The Woks of Life

Recipe:
Chicken Fried Steak 
Recipe & Photo by:
Grandbaby Cakes

Recipe:
Hummus Crusted Chicken
Recipe & Photo by:
Gimme Some Oven

Recipe:
Spinach Tomato Tortellini Soup
Recipe & Photo by:
Diethood

Recipe:
Taco Casserole
Recipe & Photo by:
Taste and Tell

Bonus Pizza Recipe

Recipe:
Classic Pepperoni Pizza
Recipe & Photo by:
Life Made Simple

Join us every Monday with 7 new recipes to try for dinner during the week!