Category: Savor
Holidays, Savor

Time for Treats!

October 5
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Last week was a bit on the dreary side…but weirdly, I kind of like days like those.  Not that I don’t adore the sunshine, but a dark and chilly day offers the perfect opportunity to fire up the oven and do some baking or cooking…leaving your home smelling heavenly!  So that said, I took the opportunity to try some new and completely easy recipes for some fall-inspired treats!  The cool weather seems to call for us to gather around the fire and share conversation with family & friends…AND nibble on delights from the kitchen!  I love to be prepared for impromptu guests or even those moments where the kids are content to hang out and actually participate in conversation!  Setting out some treats and munchies can be a tactic to keep them around us a bit longer and keep the conversations flowing!  (nothing like a little bribery!)  And when guests come calling, the same applies!  Even though it’s easier to keep some packaged treats in the pantry, I do love serving homemade sweets whenever possible!  So today I’m going to share some tasty nibbles that are as easy as they are delicious!  So “hello fall”…

it’s kitchen time!

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Savor

Don’t Miss the Banana Boat!

September 23
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The other night my family tried something super fun and really delicious…a sugary, chocolaty, gooey, almost caramelized banana cooked to perfection over an open flame!  I’m pretty sure at first the boys didn’t think this dessert would be too tasty even though they actually had a lot of fun making them!  And the honest truth is that when you unwrap the hot foil after removing them from the fire…they aren’t the prettiest dessert you’ve ever seen!  But after you top those melted, steamy, sweet bananas with some whipped cream and sink your spoon in for the first bite…you’re in for a surprising treat!  Not only were they yummy, they were a blast to create…and there’s something about cooking over a fire that makes anything taste just a little better!  You don’t need many ingredients to make these campfire goodies…you’ve probably already have what you need right in your kitchen!  So light up the fire pit or the grill…you’ve gotta try a banana boat!

let’s go bananas for banana boats!

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Savor

Recipe Day!

September 21
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I’ve had several requests for the cobbler recipes we served at our centennial celebration…so today I’m sharing!  One is a family recipe and the other two are recipes found online…and altered slightly.  None are difficult and ALL are delicious, but your favorite will depend on the type of cobbler you love!  Whether it’s an old fashioned crisp with a crunchy, crumbly topping, a traditional biscuit style blanketing the bubbly fruit, or a crispy, caramelized brulee on top of the berries…I’m pretty sure you’ll find one that’ll please!  So print one recipe or all three…I’m sharing cobblers today!

pick your favorite…

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Savor

Smothered S’mores!

September 19
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All summer long and as far into the fall and winter as Mother Nature allows, when the sun begins to set we start flames blazing in our fire pit!  I just love a good fire…as much indoors during the winter months as outdoors on a crisp autumn night!  And even in the dog days of summer, only the most humid evenings can keep us from firing up that big cast iron bowl!  The smell of the wood smoke is just heavenly to me any time of year, and the only thing that can make that aroma even better?  If it’s tainted with the scent of toasted marshmallows slowly melting the chocolate in a s’more!  What is it about a s’more that’s just so darn good?  I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t like them AND now there’s so many variations of the gooey treat I don’t think you could ever get bored eating them!  As summertime winds down it only means that the cooler season will allow plenty more fires and roasty treats on the horizon!  But what if you have a hankerin for a s’more on a rainy day?  Well, I have the answer to that…make ’em indoors!  And even better…try a smothered s’more for a new twist on that traditional treat!  Best thing about this altered version, it’s a fun kitchen project for the whole family!  Remember, the family that makes s’mores together will definitely be happy…for the moment at least!  All joking aside, it really can turn a dreary day or situation into something sweet!  So check out how easy, fun, and tasty it is to make this popular snack!

more chocolate on my s’more please!

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Savor, Travel

Eat a Little or Eat A Lot…at Eataly!

August 19
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Good Friday morning!  I decided to sneak in a Friday post this week because we had SO many wonderful experiences during our long weekend in New York City I just had to end the week with another!  And of all the experiences, I have to admit some of the best moments were spending time with my family around the tables of eateries or even indulging right on the curbside!  We all love to treat ourselves to good food so we were sure to stop at as many places as we possibly could for multiple tastes!  I even got smart this time and ordered the smallest portions that I could so I could sample the mouthwatering offerings and still keep up with my boys who can afford to eat pretty much non-stop!  So we proceeded to make many pit-stops at food carts, sweet shops, and restaurants and enjoyed every morsel of each and every one!  We didn’t really want to keep too many schedules so we only ate at one restaurant that required reservations…the rest were more spur of the moment and casual…but no less impressive!  And my favorite eatery of the weekend was filled with such wonder that we were all awestruck by what was within the walls!  If you’ve ever eaten at an Eataly restaurant you know what I mean when I say it’s a unique experience!  Whether you eat rooftop or casually amidst market shoppers mingling through isles that separate multiple dining options…it’s definitely a treat!  And those shopping isles are brimming over with varieties of pasta, produce, breads, deli meats & cheeses, seafood counters, cookbooks, and kitchen accessories…the list goes on and on!  Even better?  You can grab a glass of wine for some sipping and shopping while you wait for your table!  And for those in the family who are too young to visit the bar…they won’t miss out on any pre-meal fun with plenty of sweet options available…like nutella crepes!  We WERE on vacation, which i think is a perfect opportunity to eat dessert first!  So if you’re looking for a quiet, private table for intimate dinner conversation–this place might not be it!  But for lively fun paired with fabulous food…this is the place to be!

a little taste of Eataly…

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Savor

Breakfast Send Off!

August 1
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Last Thursday morning we made a special breakfast treat to celebrate spending a long weekend in New York City!  We were all very excited to go so I thought it was a perfect time to try a fun and easy breakfast idea that I was pretty certain my boys would LOVE!  Since we weren’t leaving until after lunch, why not make the morning as festive as the anticipation of fun in the big city?  So let me share our breakfast celebration…so easy you could even do it on a school morning!  Maybe a first-day-back idea?  Have a peek at the ooey, gooey sweetness…

celebrate in cinnamon roll style!

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Holidays, Savor

Chew on Some Red, White, & Blue!

June 29
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Even though my family doesn’t have the time to entertain big for the 4th this year, I still have some opportunities to create some fun and festive food for our little family celebration AND a year-end baseball party pot-luck!  Since both will happen over the holiday weekend, it’s the perfect timing for some patriotic creations!  Check out some recipes and easy ideas to create delicious sweets and sides to dish out at your celebrations!  Have some fun in the kitchen with…

patriotic preparations!

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Create, Savor

Party DIYs, Hacks, & Recipes!

June 22
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Today I’d like to share some of the simple DIY projects that I used for my pink party last week.  It makes entertaining so much easier if you have some little things done ahead of time…leaving you with less prep work so that you can relax once your guests arrive and enjoy the company!  I love to pass along helpful hints and ideas that I use to make entertaining so much easier!  I hate to think that a party might never happen due to the stress of planning it…and let’s face it, there’s always a little stress!  But the end result far outweighs the apprehension…friends and family spending time together is why we have gatherings, not to show our party planning skills!  And though I love the planning part too, it comes secondary to the people I plan it for!  Creating a party theme can also be done with very little money, time, and artistic talent–and will still make your guests feel special!  The simple projects I did ahead of time were obviously geared toward my pink flamingo theme, but you can take the general ideas and cater them to any event…whether it has a specific theme or not!  I’m also sharing some of my other time & money saving tips that make it possible for me to entertain often!  I hope you find some inspiration for your next celebration!

pre-party preparations!

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Revel in Goodness

June 2
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Today I’d like to share a recipe that was a favorite in my family when I was growing up…and is now favored by my own family!  To describe a Chocolate Revel Bar would be to compare a soft, oatmeal cookie that is submerged in chocolate fudge!  They don’t always look like the best dessert on a buffet…but once someone tries them and says “YUM!”–they’ll be gone shortly thereafter!  And I have a cute story to share about this tried-and-true dessert.  For years I’ve made a pan to package up for the bake sale at our Elementary School…and every year my husband goes and buys them all back!  It just started to be our family tradition.  I often thought I should just make a donation rather than bake all these bars only to pay to get them back…but it turned out that it was a surefire way my husband would be able to indulge on his favorite sweet that apparently I don’t make enough at home!  But the fact that he would go out of his way to get them back was really sweet and a testament to how mouth-watering good they really are!  So my plan is to make this delicious treat much more often!  And though it makes more than enough for just the four of us, I’ve decided I can freeze half so we always have some of the best bar-cookies ever within reach!  I’ll have the recipe at the end of the post…and you’ll be sure to want to print this one off.  Maybe you can start your own family tradition with this chocolaty treat!

can’t get enough of those revel bars!

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Savor

We All Scream for…Doughnuts!

June 1
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The Memorial Day weekend, which is also referred to as the unofficial start to summer, ACTUALLY felt like summer this year–which is a nice change from the rain we normally see!  However, we catapulted from damp and chilly springtime temps right into the dog days–and I don’t know about you but it was a shock to my system!  Plus, my family had plenty of tournament baseball games to attend, all scattered throughout the weekend.  I really don’t know how those boys do it, sometimes playing up to three games a day!  I could hardly sit through one without melting…and I was just sitting!  So with all this time in the hot sun, some chilly snacks were a must after a long day on the field!  I love making ice cream sandwiches…and my boys love eating them!  But like anything else, it’s also fun to come up with new interpretations of favorite treats…just to mix it up a bit.  So this weekend I tried something I’ve been thinking about making for some time…doughnut ice cream sandwiches!  What’s not to like with this combo?  See how simple this double-duty sandwich is to make!

a chilly treat for summertime heat!

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