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Friday Food Day: Peppermint White-Chocolate Fudge

17 Feb

Any day is a great day to make fudge in my book. I happened to make this little bit of heaven for Valentine’s Day but you can certainly make it for any occasion. Did you have a good week at work? Make this fudge. Did you have a bad week at work? Make this fudge. I think you get the picture.

It literally only took me about 15 minutes to put this together, and it was simply delicious. It is very rich, so a little goes a long way.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) package of white chocolate chips or high-quality white chocolate bar
  • 1 (16 ounce) container vanilla frosting
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 8 drops red food coloring
  • 2 Tablespoons crushed peppermint candies

 Directions

  1. Line an 8X8 pan with waxed paper.
  2. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval.
  3. Stir in the frosting into the white chocolate chips.
  4. Stir in peppermint extract.
  5. Spread into prepared pan evenly.
  6. Drop 8 drops of food coloring evenly spaced on top of the fudge.
  7. Using a knife swirl the food coloring.
  8. Sprinkle top of fudge with crushed peppermint candies and press down slightly.
  9. Cool for about an hour in the fridge.
  10. Once firm, turn fudge onto a cutting board and cut into small squares.

 

 

And that’s life in a nutshell … fudge makes everything okay in the end. Enjoy!

MommaNut

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Toes in the Water, Ass in the Sand: Tailgating at a Country Concert

31 Jan

I have never really tailgated much, mainly because I have never been that good at it. I’m never prepared the way I should be. Well, that all changed with the Zac Brown Band concert this past weekend. PoppaNut and I got completely prepared, and we reaped the benefits over and over again. And so, I’m sharing my tailgating wisdom for you!

1. You Must Have a Monster Vehicle: Leave the sports car at home. You need an SUV/Hummer-type vehicle for this. It’s not that you’ll get stuck in mud or something if you don’t have a big car, but there is no way in hell you can jam all the gear you need to bring in a little two-seater. Go big or go home. And so, we brought the Commander!

2.  Prepare for Disaster: While you monster vehicle may make it there, it could potentially die as you blare the finest in country music from its speakers for the four-hour tailgating festivities. And so, come prepared with some jumper cables! We sure put them to good use.

3. Bring Durable Seats: You are gonna want some place comfy to sit with a beer in hand, and the back of your vehicle is not the best spot. Bring some lounge chairs that you know are good. Our friend Sam brought an old chair with a busted leg, and just made the best of it. Ours were too low to the ground and super old … we should have upgraded before we headed to the concert. Lesson learned!

4. Find the Perfect Cooler: This is also a lesson learned for me. I went to Walmart that morning, and I picked up a cooler I thought was perfect. It would keep our food cold and it was deep. However, I failed to see the value of a locking lid and wheels at the time. Who knew those two features could make or break your tailgating day? I certainly know now.

5. You’ll Want Good Food: Yeah, you can bring your Publix subs and some chips, but you are going to want something special to put you in the mood. This is not a picnic. You need man food for a tailgate. And the meatballs I made that morning seemed to do the trick. Just throw meatballs, grape jelly and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce in a Crock-pot on High for 2.5 hours, and then finished getting all your tailgate stuff together. When they are done, put them in a heat-safe bowl, cover and head on out!

6. Red Solo Cups Are Fun for Singing and Drinking: We listened to “Red Solo Cups” (It’s a country song for those of you who don’t know) on repeat again and again … all while drinking out of our red solo cups. They are great for holding limes, beer and whatever else you need. Plus, they are super cheap for your friends that need an extra cup.

7. You Need Protection: Protect yourself at all times. Bring a hat to keep your skin healthy all day long while you are in the sun. You probably thought I was talking about something else, but your skincare is just as important to me. Plus, your cowboy hat helps with the country-concert theme!

8. Fill that Cooler with Corona: There is nothing like a cold Corona at a country concert that just let’s you kick back and enjoy the day. I don’t even like to drink beer, but I can sip Corona until the cows come home. A cold Corona and a sliced lime is just that little piece of heaven you need to keep you going hour after hour in the hot sun!

9. Bring on the Tequila: You are gonna want to get rowdy, and tequila is the answer to that. We brought Patron and Jager to the party, and everyone was quite happy to have them there. In fact, I think some people were hoping their friend Jack Daniels had showed up as well. Bottoms up!

10. You Need Good Friends to Complete the Tailgating Package: You can have all the gear and food you could imagine … but without amazing friends, you might as well tailgate in your driveway. We had great people surrounding us, some that we met that night. We all had such a blast together!

And that’s life in a nutshell … tailgating can be an experience of a lifetime if you prepare in advance.

MommaNut

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Mission Wives Relax: Cooking Dinner for Your Spouse

20 Jan

This post is dedicated to my amazing sister-in-law, Stacy. She is a woman who really does it all. She helps her dad with work, she works herself, she takes care of her husband and her three amazing children (Hi, Karissa, Kayla and Christopher) and still finds time to comment on almost every single one of my blog posts! And not only that, she keeps up with the five Facebook pages that PoppaNut and I have … and she comments on those too.

Plus, she texts us through the week and tries to schedule SKYPE calls with us too. She is just always there when we need her, and I know she generally cares about what we having going on with our lives … and I’m forever grateful for that.

Stacy and Chris

So, when Stacy emailed me an idea for my blog, I was all over it. It’s called “Mission Wives Relax” because wives certainly need a break from time to time. I mean, look at all the things I listed that Stacy does … this woman needs a tall glass of wine STAT!

Stacy and I are both lucky enough to have amazing hubbies that love to cook and will cook for us all the time. My dinner pick is always homemade sauce, and PoppaNut is always happy to make up a batch from scratch. It’s just a wonderful thing that PoppaNut does that reminds me how much he loves me. And Stacy is married to Chris, a chef who makes the most amazing food for his family and friends.

PoppaNut and I were lucky enough to try Chris’ homemade watermelon salsa when we visited Stacy and Chris last summer. Boy, was that yummy! And Stacy recently shared with me photos from a dinner Chris made for her, and I want to share them with you.

Chris made roasted pork with a raspberry sauce, sautéed corn with onions, broccoli with olive oil in garlic, and cous cous with sunflower seed and red peppers. If your mouth is not watering, you must have just ate lunch! I’ve requested a recipe to share with you guys, so look for that in the comments! I’ll share it as soon as I have it.

The point of this post is not to make you hungry … even though my tummy is talking to me at this very minute. It is to remind the men out there to pick up a spatula and get to work in the kitchen every now and then. My hubby certainly pulls his weight in the kitchen and he knows how much I appreciate that (and how much my tastebuds appreciate it too).

With Valentine’s Day coming up, this might be a good idea for you men to try. Cook up a specialty meal for your sweetie. Then, take pictures and send them to me so I can share them as well!

And that’s life in a nutshell … making dinner for the one you love works up quite an appetite for dessert!

MommaNut

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Dropping the Bomb: Jalapeno-Popper Dip

10 Jan

I’m crazy about jalapeno poppers! Those hot peppers dance on my tastebuds like no other item in the grocery store. And when I ran across this recipe on Pinterest for Jalapeno-Popper Dip, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

It was really easy to make, and most of the ingredients I had on hand in my pantry. I must warn you though … you’ll want to have a tall glass of milk on standby for when your mouth is on fire! You can reduce the heat by not adding the actually jalapeno peppers, but that just seems wrong to me. I mean, you might as well call it just popper dip if you are going to do that. But, it’s your tummy so do as you please!

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (room temperature)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano
1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapenos (pickled)
2 jalapeno peppers (chopped, optional)
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano

Directions
1. Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, parmigiano reggiano and jalapenos in a bowl and pour into a baking dish.
2. Mix the panko bread crumbs and parmigiano reggiano and sprinkle over the dip.


3. Bake in a 375-degree oven until bubbling on the sides and golden brown on top, about 10-20 minutes.

This hot dish is great for group gatherings or special events like Super Bowl. I would call it “Man Dip” and the men in the room will eat it right up!

And that’s life in a nutshell … spice up your Super Bowl party with jalapeno-popper dip. Note to self, have mints on the table, too!

MommaNut

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A Childhood Classic: S’mores Cupcakes

5 Jan

My parents and grandparents used to take me camping as a little girl. And while I never really liked roughing it, there is one reason that always kept me coming back for more: S’mores. I mean, who can resist marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate all melted together in one gooey mess. Not this sweets addict! I can’t get enough.

So, when I ran across a simple recipe for S’mores cupcakes, I couldn’t resist trying them. I must warn you though … these little bits of heaven are more addicting than a Real Housewives marathon. I couldn’t have less than two per sitting. So, bake with caution!

Ingredients for S’mores Cupcakes

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

1-1/4 cups water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

4 bars (1.55 oz each) milk chocolate candy, finely chopped

24 baking cups

Frosting

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 to 2 teaspoons milk

1 bar (1.55 oz) milk chocolate candy, if desired

24 bear-shaped graham crackers, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box; fold in graham cracker crumbs and chopped chocolate bars. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In large bowl, beat marshmallow creme, butter and powdered sugar on low speed until blended. Beat in enough milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, to make frosting spreadable. Spread over tops of cupcakes. Divide chocolate bar into rectangles. Cut each rectangle diagonally in half and place on top of each cupcake. Top each cupcake with bear-shaped cracker. After frosting has set, store loosely covered.

And that’s life in a nutshell. Finding a simple recipe to bring back a childhood classic is simply classic in every way!

MommaNut

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Welcome 2012: New Year’s Eve

3 Jan

Welcome to 2012, dear readers! I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve. I wanted to share a few photos of our celebration! Enjoy!

Thanks to Pinterest, I found a few little crafts to dress up the food table. I made NYE letters (bought the wood letter from Michael’s and used spray paint and stickers to dress them up) and printed out a sign I found online and just framed it! I added some holiday decorations I found around the house as finishing touches!

Every year, I also type out all the amazing moments PoppaNut and I have had over the years. It helps me keep track of all the special memories since I can’t remember hardly anything these days!

I used this amazing three Crock pot kit from my parents to make most of the food. I had homemade mac n cheese, meatballs and artichoke dip. All turned out super yummy, and I’ll share the recipes later. For dessert, I made s’mores cupcakes!

My father-in-law was the first to arrive. Then, my sister-in-law Tracy came over with Jason, Josh, Jordan and Halie. Finally, Brooke, Brad and Lily made it to take part in the festivities. We all had a blast!

And that’s life in a nutshell … good food and good family time is all you need for one amazing NYE celebration!

MommaNut

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Silent Night: Putting the Holidays to Bed

29 Dec

With Santa back at the North Pole, starting to make presents for next year, I’m left with fake snow, bits of wrapping paper and old cookies at my home. Every year, I look forward to the holidays, and they are over just as fast as they began. Where did November and December go? For those of you who read my blog often, you are probably wondering what the heck I did over the holiday. Well, let’s count it down through photos, shall we?

I did a ton of baking! Find the recipe on my Dec. 27 post!

We headed to Port Charlotte ... and yes, this was the beautiful Christmas tree that greeted us!

 

PoppaNut and I got to spend time with my sister and her family. Quinn really warmed up to me this time.

 

My brother sent this "dancing boob" toy to my dad for Christmas. I love my family! We laughed at this for hours.

 

My dad and PoppaNut made one delicious breakfast for all of us.

 

The Charlie Brown Christmas tree got a makeover.

 

Me and PoppaNut loved our Port Charlotte visit!

 

Trevor, Kenzie, PoppaNut and Mason had a fun time playing together.

 

JR literally cheered for every gift he got!

 

Grandma and Quinn even spent some time together. It was wonderful to see my grandparents!

I LOVED that my mom got presents for Peanut and Cashew!Next, we headed to Safety Harbor for our annual Christmas Eve celebration. Here is PoppaNut with Halie.

 

Josh, Jordan and Halie had fun all dressed up for the holidays.

 

Me and PoppaNut had a good time!

 

Josh loved his girlie calendar ... thanks to PoppaNut

There were so many presents to open.Mia and Grandpa had fun too!

 

Peanut and Cashew loved their new bed from Santa.PoppaNut and I were up at 6:30 a.m. opening gifts we were so excited.

 

I cried when I opened by dad's guitar and saw that PoppaNut had it cleaned up, re-strung and a gift card to have guitar lessons!And what cowgirl can be without the proper footwear???

 

This is when PoppaNut learned he will be having breakfast with a Yankees player on March 25!

After playing with new toys all day, we cleaned ourselves up and made dinner! It was the perfect ending to Christmas.

 
And that’s life in a nutshell … remember to enjoy every moment of the holidays. They just go by so fast, you don’t want to miss anything! Keep that in mind when the ball drops this Saturday night!
 
MommaNut
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Ring In the New Year: New Year’s Eve Recipes

27 Dec

Have any of you heard of Pinterest? My sister introduced me to www.pinterest.com recently, and I completely fell in love with it. It took a few tries to get used to (a dear coworker helped me figure this site out when I was ready to throw the towel in), but now I’m hooked. Basically, this site collects content from a ton of different places. I find DIY craft ideas, recipes and more.

So, before the holidays, I printed out several recipes from Pinterest and I decided to make them. You’ll find two here. These two are also perfect for any New Year’s Eve celebrations you might have in store. Make them for yourselves, and let me know what you think too!

Pretzel & Chocolate Treats

Ingredients

One bag of pretzels (I got the square kinds), one bag of M&Ms, one bag of Hershey Kisses

Directions

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Spread pretzels on a cookie sheet, and make sure they are laying flat.

Then, unwrap a million Hershey Kisses, and place them on top of each pretzel.

Now, put the cookie sheet in the oven for just about three minutes. You just want the kiss to get soft. Then, press one M&M into each kiss. I got the red and green variety, but for New Year’s, try the multi-colored kind or order some special ones from the M&M’s website!

Allow to cool completely. I popped mine in the fridge for a few minutes to help the chocolate get firm. Then, eat and enjoy!

Oven-Baked Ham & Cheese Sliders

Ingredients for Sliders

6 good white dinner rolls, 1/2 pound of good honey ham, small slices Swiss cheese, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/3 cup miracle whip

Ingredients for Poppy Seed Sauce

1 Tablespoon poppy seeds, 1 1/2 Tablespoons spicy yellow mustard, 1/2 cup butter, melted, 1 Tablespoon minced onion, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a few slices of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

And that’s life in a nutshell … finding a new site to get new recipes has been quite delicious in the end. I hope you make these for your New Year’s celebration!

MommaNut

 

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Inside Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen: A Holiday Recipe Swap

16 Dec

Today, I received a special delivery to my inbox from my gal pal Melissa. Melissa and I went to Indiana University together, and we have stayed close friends ever since (See post). Melissa and her boyfriend Matt have always been amazing cooks … Matt literally made a salmon spread after a night of drinking!

Melissa and I on Sanibel Island, the last time we saw each other.

So, it didn’t surprise me at all when I saw Melissa and her sister Kimberly starting a holiday recipe swap. This is what the email said:

Happy Holidays!

We are participating in a collective, constructive, and TASTY experiment. As such, you have been invited to be part of a recipe exchange concept. We hope you will participate. We have picked those we think would make this fun. Please send a recipe to the person whose name is in position 1 (even if you don’t know him/her) and it should be something quick, easy and without rare ingredients. Actually, the best one is the one you know in your head and can type right now.

Don’t agonize over it, it is one you make when you are short of time.

After you’ve sent the recipe to the person in position 1 below and only to that person, copy this letter into a new email, move my name to position 1 and put your name in position 2. Only my and your name should show when you send your email. Send to 20 friends BCC (blind copy). If you cannot do this within 5 days, let us know so it will be fair to those participating. You should receive 36 recipes. It’s fun to see where they come from! Seldom does anyone drop out because we all need new ideas. The turnaround is fast as there are only 2 names on the list and you only have to do it once.

1 – Kimberly  

2 – Melissa

Upon receiving this, I immedately sent Kimberly my apple-pie recipe. And then I sent the email to 20 of my friends, family and coworkers. But then I got to thinking. Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone posted their favorite recipe on my blog and then we could all share in the fun!

This apple pie is amazing! Use a cookie cutter for the crust to keep it seasonal!

So, that is my challenge for you. Find a great recipe and share it as a comment below. Then, I’ll start making them and blogging about each one!

And that’s life in a nutshell … I can’t wait to get my hands on your secret family recipes. Those always taste the best!

MommaNut

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Have a Holly Jolly Christmas: My Favorite Things About the Holidays

14 Dec

With Christmas right around the corner, there are a ton of things happening that I just love about the holidays. It’s a magical time of year when life seems pure and innocent. You forget about the stresses of life and you simply enjoy all the jolly spirits around you. So, I have decided to countdown my top 10 favorite things about the season.

1. Santa: Christmas would just not be the same without Santa Claus. He is the mascot that brings everything together. I literally saw Santa riding around town on a giant lighted float yesterday. I wanted to tell him to get back to work, but he just seemed so happy. His rosy cheeks and hearty laugh always put me in the holiday spirit.

2. Holiday Lights: I remember when my dad and mom used to take us kids around Winding Brook neighborhood in Mishawaka, Indiana to look at all the holiday lights. This neighborhood is completely amazing. Nearly every house is completely decked with lights and Christmas displays. And while I didn’t really appreciate being stuck in a car with my whole family during my teen years, I can certainly appreciate the tradition now.

3. Christmas Music: There is nothing like listening to “Jingle Bells” on repeat while you decorate your Christmas tree. I get out all my holiday CDs, and just listen as much as I possibly can. It certainly helps to have this type of music playing when you live in Florida. It can trick my mind into believing it really is December while I put my flip-flops on.

4. Hot Chocolate: There is not many times you can have hot chocolate while you live in Florida, so I take advantage of it when the temperature dips below 60 in the evenings. With the air cranked down to 60 in the house, I whip up a cup of hot chocolate and sprinkle in a few marshmallows on top. And just like that, I have created Christmas in a cup.

5. Shopping: I love shopping all the time, but it is especially true at Christmas. Now, don’t get me wrong. You probably won’t find me in a mall. I completely hate the long lines, the pushing, the disorganization in the stores and swiping my card again and again through the manual machines because each one acts differently from the next. No, no, no … mall shopping is for dummies. I stay online, and the UPS man does all the work. I love finding the perfect present for the ones I love, and I love that they arrive at my door about four days later.

6. Vacation Time: Ok, let’s get real. Everyone loves a day off of work. It is awesome to wake up on a day you should be at work and realize you don’t have to go in. And I LOVE my job. So I know you guys can certainly agree with me. This year, I’m actually able to take three days off around the holidays, and I can’t wait for those days to arrive. Let the Christmas countdown begin.

7. Christmas Pajamas: I love to wear pajamas. You know, those big fleece pajamas with snowflakes or Santas all over them … I can’t get enough of them. Each year, I collect a new pair of holiday pajamas. For some reason, those jammies can just put me in the holiday spirit with their coziness. If you haven’t tried this one, get your butt to Old Navy and pick out your next pair! And mean … if Kim K. can do it …

8. Holiday Movies: I would have to say that I’m completely obsessed with “Elf.” Every time I watch that, I pick up another really funny line that I missed the time before. And I love that the cable channels play it on repeat a million times in case you missed it. “A Christmas Story” is classic, as it takes place in Indiana, my home state, after all. “Scrooged” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” are favorites too!

9. Christmas Breakfast: Ever since I was a little girl, my family sat down to a huge Christmas breakfast on Christmas morning. It has always been a tradition, and we have carried on the tradition into our own home. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, hash browns, fresh OJ and coffee are just a few items on the menu. Of course, that is followed by a holiday nap and then another helping of leftovers. Yum! And it all looks so wonderful on my Christmas china too!

 

10. Family: And now for my sentimental closing … the holidays are really about spending time with your family. It is about reconnecting with the ones you love, showing them how much you appreciate them and celebrating your lives together. And while the Christmas pajamas and holiday music help us do that, those things wouldn’t mean a thing if we didn’t have family.

And that’s life in a nutshell … now please tell me what your favorite things are about the holiday season.

MommaNut

 

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