Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Boards? I'm obsessed!

Ok, how fun are these!!!??

 

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VERY MERRY INDEED!!!

Cute Christmas Cupcake Idea!

These look so cute and fun! Great for kid's class...

Church Get togethers...any get together for that 

matter! 

Also easy to make gluten free!

 

Apple Cider Donut Muffins

 

I first made these in 2013,  but they continue to be a hit!

mix together the wet ingredients:

1 cup apple cider
1 large egg
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

In another bowl, whisk together:
2 cups King Arthur gluten free 1:1 flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 tsp cinnamon

4tsp. apple pie spice

1/4 c. crushed hazel nuts (or other nuts)

Gently mix both ingredient bowls together-by hand

and very lightly-just until combined.

Place in muffin pan with liners. Makes 12

bake at 350 degrees for about 15 min.

Melt about 1.2 c. butter in a bowl 

& about 1/2 c. of sugar-adjust to your own taste

(you can also add cinnamon or other spices to sugar)

When muffins are out of the oven and still hot, dip

tops in melted butter and then in the sugar.

So yummy!

 3x

Gluten Free Lemon Cake

https://www.onelovelylife.com/gluten-free-lemon-cake/

For the Lemon Cake:

• 1/2 cup milk (I use unsweetened almond milk)
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3/4 cup sugar (I used organic cane sugar)
• 2 Tbsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons’ worth)
• 1/2 cup avocado oil (can sub melted coconut oil, butter or vegan butter)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup gluten free all purpose flour baking blend (like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the Lemon-Honey syrup:

• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

For the Lemon Glaze:

• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp milk (I use almond milk)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted (I measure, then sift)

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INSTRUCTIONS

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9″ cake pan with spray oil and line the bottom with a parchment paper circle*
2. In a liquid measuring cup (or a small bowl), combine lemon juice and milk. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
3. While the lemon juice and milk is sitting, rub lemon zest into the sugar in a large bowl. This gets the lemon oil into the sugar and distributes the flavor really well.
4. Add milk mixture, avocado oil, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. (Or you can simply sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet before stirring)
6. Pour into your prepared 9″ cake pan.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Place on a cooling rack in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly before turning out onto a plate.
9. While the cake cools slightly, mix up your lemon honey syrup (see below)
10. After 10 minutes cooling in the pan, turn the cake out onto a plate or cake stand and brush with the still-warm cake with lemon honey syrup.
11. When the cake has cooled completely, top with glaze.

For the Lemon-Honey Syrup:

1. Stir together lemon juice and honey. Brush over the cake when it’s still quite warm (as soon after removing the cake from the cake pan as you can). Let cake brushed with syrup cool completely before adding the glaze.

For the Lemon Glaze:

1. Sift powdered sugar into a large bowl. Add lemon juice, milk, and vanilla. Whisk or beat until smooth. (Ideally, you want the glaze to be opaque and to hold its shape when it drips down the sides of the cake. If yours is too thin, add more powdered sugar 1 Tbsp at a time. If it’s too thick, add more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the right consistency.)
2. Pour glaze over your cooled cake and gently spread it toward the edges. Let some of the glaze run down the sides. Let set completely before cutting and serving.

NOTES

You can absolutely make this in a stand mixer or food processor instead of in a mixing bowl. Your preference!

*To cut a parchment circle, I trace the bottom of my cake pan on parchment paper, then cut it out. It’ll be the perfect size!

Valentine Treats!

Valentine Ideas!

Valentines Day Popcorn Recipe

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Valentines Day Popcorn Recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Easy Valentines Day Popcorn recipe that features Pink Chocolate Covered Popcorn with white chocolate drizzle, sprinkles and M&Ms.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8

Author: Robin Gagnon

Ingredients

• 1 bag of microwave popcorn light or regular butter (full sized, not snack)
• 3/4 cup pink chocolate candy melts
• 1/2 cup white chocolate candy melts
• Valentines sprinkles
• Valentines Peanut M&Ms

Instructions

1. Pop the popcorn and remove the unpopped kernels.
2. Place the candy melts in small bowls or glass measuring cups, one for each color.
3. Microwave the pink candy for 40 seconds then stir, repeat in 20 second intervals until melted and smooth. (takes 1-1 1/2 minutes dependent on melt brand and your microwave).
4. Drizzle half over of the bowl of popcorn and toss to coat, Add the remaining pink chocolate candy melt (use a silicone spatula to ensure you get it all out.) Toss the popcorn with your hands until nicely coated. Then spread out onto a large serving platter (or baking sheet, if you are going to bag the popcorn up after).
5. Melt the white candy melts and drizzle over the platter of popcorn, immediately top generously with candy sprinkles. They will adhere to the melted white chocolate candy.
6. Finally, toss on the M&Ms. Allow the Valentines Popcorn to cool a few minutes before serving.

Super Bowl Party Ideas!

Here are some super easy ideas for your game day snack ideas!

These are quick and easy to assemble, no double dipping when everyone
has their own! :)   You can put in all of your own favorites to make this
layered taco dip!


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Even kids can assemble this twist on
Pigs In A Blanket--using Pepperoni, mozzarella sticks and crescent roll dough!



I hope you enjoy!

CINNAMON ROLL POKE CAKE

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Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
• ingredients needed to make cake eggs, oil & water

For the filling:

• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 tbsp melted salted butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

For the frosting:

• 1/2 block (4 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temp.
• 1/3 cup butter, softened to room temp.
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp heavy cream or milk

Instructions

For the cake:

• Preheat oven to 350f degrees, Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour prepared batter into prepared baking dish.
• After baking, allow the cake to cool. Then using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes (in about 1-inch intervals) into the cooled cake.

For the filling:

• In a small bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Pour the filling mixture into the holes and spread it out using the back of a spoon or a butter knife.

For the frosting:

• In a medium bowl, mix together softened cream cheese and softened butter with an electric mixer.
• Then slowly mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk (or heavy cream.) Mix until smooth.
• Spread frosting onto cake.
• Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of the frosting. Then put cake into the fridge for about an hour to allow the cake’s filling to set up. Then serve!

Refresh Your Diet

After all of the heavy foods we've eaten over the holidays...I thought that these
bright pictures might give you some ideas on how to lighten and refresh your
diet! Enjoy!

GLUTEN FREE NUTELLA LINZER TART COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup gluten free flour blend, (*Note, my flour blend has xanthan gum included. If yours doesn't, add 1 teaspoon.)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 egg
• powdered sugar
• Nutella

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients.
2. Whisk to blend.
3. In a small bowl, add butter, sugar, and egg.
4. Mix well.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
6. Mix and put dough onto plastic wrap.
7. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
9. Remove dough and place on wax paper.
10. Put another sheet of wax paper onto the top and roll to 1/2 inch thick.
11. Use a linzer cutter to cut the shapes.
12. Bake 8 minutes, remove to cooling rack.
13. When cool, top the bottom with Nutella and add the top.
14. Dust with powdered sugar.

Yields 24

Most Popular Cookie Recipe on Pinterest!

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M&M'S Christmas Cookie Bars

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Servings: 18 -36 depending on size cut

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter at room temperature
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of firmly packed golden brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups of all-purpose flour (easily make this gluten free with gf flour)
• 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of Christmas M&M's plus more for topping
• 1 cup of mini chocolate chips plus more for topping
• 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips (some white chips aren't gf, but Trader Joe's are)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil, leave some overhang to make removal easier.
3. Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy.
5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
7. Add M&M's and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M's, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
9. Press additional M&M'S, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
10. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.
11. Let cool completely and cut.

Yes, only 4 ingredients!


CREDIT

4 INGREDIENT CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Ingredients

• 1 box devil's food cake mix 
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 C. oil
• 30-40 Hershey Kisses  Candy Cane OR mint 

Instructions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookies sheets with parchment paper.
2. 2. Combine cake mix, eggs and oil until smooth.
3. 3. Scoop small dough balls a little smaller than a Tablespoon onto cookies sheets and bake for 5-7 minutes. (Cake mix cookies will bake up tall and not spread too much so if you want a flatter cookie, pat the dough balls down a little before baking.)
4. 4. Let cool for 2 minutes and then gently press an unwrapped Hershey Kiss into each cookie.