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Turkey Meatballs with Butter Chicken Sauce

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These turkey meatballs with butter chicken sauce were sponsored by Passage Foods as part of an Influencer Activation. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

I love Indian food, but I very rarely attempt to make it at home anymore because  I just haven’t been able to get it right so far. But last week, I finally got the nerve up to try it again, and I made these unbelievably yummy turkey meatballs with butter chicken sauce.

Huge win!

Were it not for discovering Passage to India simmer sauces which make it so easy for the every-day consumer to explore and create authentic Indian dishes at home, I probably wouldn’t have tried again.

But Passage to India delivers true authenticity with recipes carefully researched and developed by specialty chefs from the region of origin, and all of the simmer sauces are made with only wholesome, all natural ingredients (non-GMO, BPA, and Gluten-free) and can be made in 20 minutes or less!

I love meals that come together lickety-split, don’t you?

I’ll admit I was apprehensive because of my previous fails, but I needn’t have worried. Passage Foods helped me marry an authentic, gourmet cooking experience with the ultimate in consumer ease and convenience.

And, my family went wild over these turkey meatballs with butter chicken sauce. We had absolutely no leftovers!

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Turkey Meatballs with Butter Chicken Sauce

Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon curry
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped, divided
  • 1 7-oz pkg Passage to India Butter Chicken Sauce
  • Steamed basmati rice
  • Naan bread

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine ground turkey, bread crumbs and beaten egg. Gently form into meatballs. Place into large skillet over medium heat on stove; brown on all sides. Set aside.

  2. In large saucepan on stove, mix together water, tomato paste and half and half  Add remaining spices; bring to a steady simmer. Add Passage to Indian Butter Chicken Sauce and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Add meatballs; stir to coat. Cover; simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

  3. Serve over basmati rice; garnish with remaining cilantro Pair with heated Naan bread, if desired.

Enjoy!

Turkey Meatballs with Butter Chicken Sauce

Pin the turkey meatballs with butter chicken sauce recipe!

Look for Passage to India simmer sauces now at select Walmart stores, and thank me later!

 

Toxic Tumbler Halloween Drinks (Strong Mixed Drinks for Whiskey Lovers)

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The reason these Halloween drinks go by the name of ‘Toxic Tumbler’ is that they’re strong mixed drinks, so a one Halloween cocktail maximum is my general rule of thumb on this one.

Of course, you could absolutely tone down the amount of whiskey in each drink, but then it wouldn’t be called Toxic Tumbler, would it?

Halloween drinks - strong mixed drinks

If you love the taste of whiskey, belly up to the bar and I’ll happily pour you a drink. But I’m gonna check your ID and take your keys away because I only support responsible drinking.

I rimmed (or attempted to rim – it’s harder than it looks) the glasses with Pop Rocks which is, in theory, a super fun idea. In practice, they exploded the minute they touched liquid and were very resistant to staying on the glass.

strong drinks

I’d probably go the route of rimming with sugar next time. Oh heck, who am I kidding? Pop Rocks are part of the fun… I’d totally try it again, but I’d make sure I had fresh Pop Rocks because some of mine were a bit clumpy in the package and couldn’t be used.

strong mixed drinks

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Toxic Tumbler

A haunted Halloween cocktail for whiskey lovers and sippers.

Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces orange-pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • pop rocks, your choice of flavor
  • 5 ounces whiskey
  • lemon for garnishing

Instructions

  1. Run a slice of lemon around a cocktail glass and dip in Pop Rocks to stick.

  2. Combine whiskey, orange-pineapple juice and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well.

  3. Strain into the cocktail glass over ice. Sip.

Halloween drinks

Toxic Tumbler Halloween Drinks – Strong Mixed Drinks for Whiskey Lovers

Pin this Toxic Tumbler for Halloween and fall cocktail inspiration!

Toxic Tumbler Halloween drinks - strong mixed drinks

If you love strong mixed drinks and you love fun Halloween drinks, you’ll love this Toxic Tumbler. Happy Halloween!

Penne Pasta with Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

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Thank you Modern Table for sponsoring this penne pasta with pumpkin pasta sauce recipe post. The mighty plant protein puts the nutritious in delicious — check out Modern Table pasta today!

I’m in full-on pumpkin mode right now and want to eat all the pumpkin things, but I’m saving the pies for later. This month I’m into savory, feel-good, hearty pumpkin recipes that complement the healthy lifestyle I’ve been living this year.

That’s how this penne pasta with pumpkin pasta sauce was born, and ooo baby, baby, it’s good!

And this penne pasta with pumpkin pasta sauce is made with pasta I feel great about from Modern Table.

Now you can have your pasta and eat it too!

Modern Table pastas are for those looking for a healthy lifestyle, and a perfect way to get more nutrition from your meals. All pastas are lentil-based and contain complete proteins – meaning they have the 9 essential amino acids our bodies need for strong energy, good digestion, and muscle health.

With only three plant-based ingredients, the plain pastas are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

And Modern Table Penne cooks up just as tender (or al dente) as traditional pasta. My family and I think it tastes exactly the same — translation: delicious.

I’m SO glad plant-based pasta is a thing!

To make the penne pasta with pumpkin pasta sauce, get that pasta cooking while you roast some tomatoes and saute some healthy veggies.

The veggies will be added to a savory pumpkin pasta sauce cooked over the stove. Then it’s poured over the freshly cooked pasta. YUM!

You don’t have to give up the good stuff, because the stuff you want is good.

Enjoy every satisfying bite!

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Penne Pasta with Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 2 8-oz pkg Modern Table Penne Pasta
  • 1/2 small sweet onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup carrots, cut into matchsticks
  • 2 chili peppers, finely diced
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • pinch kosher salt
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup reserved water from cooking pasta
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  2. In medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add carrots; saute 3 minutes. Add peppers; cook another 2 minutes. Add garlic and onions; cook until translucent and soft. Add chickpeas; saute briefly to warm. Remove from heat; set aside.

  3. Place halved tomatoes on baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast in oven for 15 minutes until tomatoes blister and begin to peel. Remove from oven. Set aside.

  4. While tomatoes are roasting, fill a large stockpot with water and heat to boiling. When water boils, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside.

  5. While pasta is boiling, heat pumpkin, half and half, vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper over low heat, stirring frequently. When heated through, stir in sauteed veggies. Stir in pasta water, then Parmesan cheese. Add basil and tomatoes.


  6. To serve, spoon pumpkin sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with reserved basil.

Use promo code ’25pastamonth’ to get 25% off when you order Modern Table pasta right now!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Hamilton County, Indiana Restaurants – Where to Go for the Best Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert

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Did you know there’s a world of great eats just outside of Indianapolis? There is! I had the pleasure of eating my way through a bunch of Hamilton County Indiana restaurants a while back and I can’t stop thinking about them. Still.

Here are the most satisfying, mouthwatering and memorable restaurants I visited. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert you crave, you’ll find it at one or more of these hot spots.

But bring your stretchy pants!

Hamilton County Indiana Restaurants 

restaurants in hamilton county indianaThank you Visit Hamilton County for hosting my experience.

Restaurants in Carmel, IN 

Eggshell Bistro

One of the best culinary surprises during my Hamilton County hosted trip was at Eggshell Bistro in Carmel where this Caprese Strata blew my mind. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a breakfast meal I’ve loved more.

The savory egg/bread cassolette with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella and pesto was mouthwatering upon sight and each bite yielded a creative explosion of flavors, textures and soul-warming goodness. I still drool at the thought of it. It truly was that divine.

Eggshell Bistro is the conceptual brainchild of owner, Larry Hanes whose masters degree in design, love for travel and culinary genius blend to create a globally-inspired brunch adventure you won’t soon forget.

Although the menu does rotate, guests can usually find the favorite mainstays of a strata, shatshuka, brioche and potato hash.  To complement the eclectic menu, the industrial chic decor brings its own ambiance to the dining experience with its balance of masculine and feminine, hard and soft, and old and new.

Eggshell Bistro
51 W. City Centre Drive
Carmel, IN 46031
Website

Bub’s Burgers 

If you’re in the mood for a great burger in a fun location, duck into this cute little yellow restaurant in downtown Carmel and try the house favorite – a Big Ugly Burger. Burgers here are grilled to order with fresh, never frozen (it matters) hand-pattied ground chuck and come served on toasted house-recipe buns.

Up for a challenge? You can face off against the Big Ugly one pounder, a challenge once featured on Man vs. Food. If you finish the burger, you’ll get your photo up on the wall and forever be a part of Big Ugly history.

I settled for the more reasonable ‘Less Ugly’ Quarter Pound burger and paired it with fries and a hand-dipped banana milkshake (which I highly recommend).

It was a fantastic meal!

Bub’s Burgers
210 West Main Ave.
Carmel, IN 46032
Website

Restaurants in Noblesville, IN

Rosie’s Place

This cozy little cafe and bakery on the Square packs in the crowds for breakfast and lunch, so get there early!

The menu changes seasonally and is full of tantalizing options, but I happened to visit on a day when the special of the day proved irresistible: Pumpkin-Stuffed French Pancakes. The tender ‘cakes were filled with a sweet pumpkin cream, dusted with pumpkin spice and served with bourbon pecan maple syrup. So.good.

Be sure you don’t leave without trying at least one of Rosie’s famous gooey butter cookies. They taste exactly like the name promises and are not to be missed.

pumpkin stuffed French pancakes - Rosie's Place
Rosie’s Place
68 North 9th St
Noblesville, IN 46060
Website

Restaurants in Westfield, IN

I was charmed at first glance with this once barn now restaurant located in a seemingly isolated area of Westfield. Isolated now maybe, but not for long. It’s part of a rapidly developing hot spot.

Rail serves upscale locally sourced farm-to-table Midwest cuisine in a cozy and comfortable cafe atmosphere. I ordered their spin on a BLT- a JB.L.T. It’s jowl bacon, romaine lettuce and heirloom tomatoes on toasted challah bread, and it’s served with their popular broad ripple chips.

For dessert, I highly recommend Rail’s Signature Double Chocolate Cake, even if you have to take it home as I did. It’s absolutely one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve ever had.

To die for.

Rail Epicurean Market
211 Park St.
Westfield, IN 46074
Open Tues-Sat.
Website

Restaurants in Fishers IN

Four Day Ray Brewing

Fishers is one of the fastest growing areas in the state (and country), so it’s a really fun place to spend time.  And when you can have a beer and a from-scratch meal in the same place, it’s a total win-win!

Local lore has it that a railroad worker named Ray would work four days in a row and always call off on the fifth day. So Four Day Ray gives a nod to the legend and to the railroad heritage of the Nickel Plate District where the brewery is located. Fun!

Four Day Ray has a rotating selection of 24 beers on tap. My choice: the Laplander Blonde.

And then I ordered the orchard salad.

The math on that equation is beer + salad = permission for dessert.

A colossal sweet roll, to be exact.

Poached Asian pear, fennel, red onion, sunflower granola, dried cherry, manchego, pancetta, champagne-citrus vinaigrette.

The glaze on the colossal sweet roll is made with their Track Jumper IPA!

Four Day Ray Brewing
11671 Lantern Rd.
Fishers, IN 46038
Website

Restaurants in Cicero, IN

Big Dog’s Smokehouse BBQ

This family-owned restaurant is smokin’ up some mighty good ‘cue. Guests do the saucin’ themselves, so I ordered a pulled pork BBQ sandwich with a side of beans, and smothered everything with the house-made Smokin’ Hot BBQ sauce. It was unbelievably good!

If a seat is available, enjoy your meal outside on the patio or sit inside where the dining room is full of interesting decor. Check out the truck in the entryway… it’s actually a cooler made from old 44-gallon oil drums and it has a hydraulic lift inside!


Big Dog’s Smokehouse BBQ
29 E. Jackson St.
Cicero, IN 46034
Website

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Hamilton County, Indiana is just north of Indianapolis. Plan a getaway full of eats and fun! Check out the Visit Hamilton County website for more ideas and check out our post on neighboring Hendricks County for Autumn festival happenings.

Which one of these finger-lickin’ good Hamilton County Indiana restaurants would you try first?

Solve a Puzzle a Day to Keep Your Mind Sharp

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This post is sponsored by Jigsaw Puzzle but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve always loved puzzles, logic problems and all sorts of brain games for both the challenge and the simple fun of it. But nowadays, I especially love them because they keep my mind sharp!

Since I have four curious cats, I can’t leave jigsaw puzzles out on the table to work on at my leisure anymore, so I just play with puzzles on my Jigsaw Puzzle app.

I’ve been having just as much fun as real puzzles because I can choose from oodles of vibrantly colored options (over 20,000 free puzzles are on the app) in categories I love. I’m particularly partial to the travel, animals, nature and food puzzles, but there are a bunch of other interest categories as well.

Can you guess what the very first puzzle I picked out from the app was? A cat, of course!

One thing I really love about Jigsaw Puzzle (besides the fact it’s mess-free and I don’t have to turn over all the puzzle pieces just to get started) is that I customize the number of puzzle pieces to make it easier or more difficult to solve. If I know I’m going to be waiting a while (like at the DMV), I make the puzzle really hard to distract me from the interminably long wait.

But I can do quick and easy puzzles while waiting the few minutes at a medical appointment.

Depending on my mood, I can also have background music playing, add a countdown clock or even change the background of my game play area.

On my phone I can play up to 400-piece puzzles, and on my tablet (seriously great airplane entertainment) I can play up to 1024 puzzle pieces.

Even though it makes a great solitary activity, I got my boyfriend interested in it too, so he and I challenge each other every evening to solve the same puzzle and see who can complete it the fastest. The winner of the day picks the next day’s puzzle.

But truthfully, what I love the most is that solving puzzles truly does help keep my mind sharp. It’s really, really good for our brains to get workouts every day and I’d rather work it out by doing something fun than say… math.

Try the Jigsaw Puzzle app. It’s mind sharpening super fun!

Learn more about Jigsaw Puzzle by downloading the game here (Apple Store) or here (Google Play).

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! Greek-Inspired Spinach Pie #MammaMia2 #MammaMiaNightIn

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This Greek-inspired spinach pie recipe post is in partnership with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

I’m soooo excited about this recipe because it was inspired by the movie Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again which is available on digital now, and available on Blu-ray & DVD October 23rd. I can hardly wait to get all my girlfriends together for a night of singing, dancing and eating.

I’m sort of on a kick with theming my movie snacks to the movies I watch. It adds another layer of fun to the experience.

And this savory Greek-inspired spinach pie goes perfectly with the movie!

Take a look at the trailer and grab your calendar to pick a movie night.

Celebrate the Mamma Mia worldwide phenomenon and sing-along event of the year with more music and more moments when you own Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Sing-Along Edition.

It’s available now on Digital, and available on Blu-ray & DVD October 23rd.

So you’ve got the date on your calendar now, right?

Because the sooner you’re dancing along to ABBA and scenes like this, the better.

And of course, with the return of the original cast, the magic of the first movie repeats itself 10 years later!

For the perfect dinner and/or snack, be sure to make my Greek-inspired spinach pie for your movie night. By the way, I say Greek-inspired (rather than spanokopita) because I can’t eat feta cheese, a key ingredient of spanokopita, so my recipe is made without feta cheese.

It’s a bit of a twist! A delicious twist, I promise you.

Pin and share the recipe!

Greek-inspired Spinach Pie

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Mamma Mia Greek-Inspired Spinach Pie

This twist on spanokopita is made without feta cheese, but is equally delicious and satisfying.

Cook Time 45 minutes
Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 15-ounce bags frozen spinach, cooked and WELL drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 20 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, green onions and garlic until softened. Add parsley and spinach. Continue sauteeing about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

  3. In medium bowl, mix together lightly beaten eggs, cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese. Fold in cooled spinach mixture.

  4. Lay a sheet of phyllo dough in baking pan, brushing lightly with butter. Continue layering and buttering until you have 10 sheets in pan. Spread spinach mixture evenly over phyllo dough, then layer and butter another 10 phyllo dough sheets on top. Fold overhanging dough underneath.

  5. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares; serve warm.

Make plans for a Mamma Mia night in with your friends and/or family soon. And bake up this Mamma Mia Greek-inspired spinach pie recipe to go along with it.

Get the digital version of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again today!

Frank’s® Redhot Bacon Cheeseburger for the Ultimate HomeGate Party

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This Frank’s® Redhot Bacon Cheeseburger recipe post was sponsored by McCormick as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

It’s college football season, one of my favorite times of the year, and my family and I are all about the Big Ten (specifically Ohio State and Michigan State – my kids’ alma maters). Even though I moved a few years ago and live in a town where an American Athletic League team plays… I can’t help it, I refuse to give up my love for the Big Ten.

So since I was between trips and football was happening over the weekend I knew we were due for a HomeGating party. Naturally, that calls for burgers on the grill – a favorite family meal. We almost always have them for our game day get-togethers, and they’re always cooked over charcoal for the best flavor.

Since everything anyone could need for the ultimate HomeGate during football season can be found at Walmart, that’s exactly where I went and my fave go-to McCormick brands for a great burger are all conveniently located right near each other: Frank’s® Redhot, French’s® Mustard, and Stubb’s® Bar-B-Q.

Ultimate HomeGate Essentials

French’s® Classic Yellow mustard – You can’t go wrong with the flavor of French’s stone ground #1 grade mustard seeds and with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, I feel extra good about it.

Frank’s® Redhot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is the secret ingredient in these red hot bacon cheeseburgers and it was the secret ingredient used in the original 1964 Buffalo wings. I love it because it combines heat and flavor perfectly. There’s no 5 alarm fire in your mouth.

Stubb’s® Bar-B-Q sauces, marinades and rubs have been a favorite since I visited Stubb’s in Austin and tried them on good ol’ Texas BBQ. They’re top-notch quality, contain no high fructose corn syrup and are made wgluten-free ingredients. So good!

Our essential thirst-quencher for HomeGating is Mike’s Hard Lemonade, the flavor that started it all. Don’t you just love the taste of real, tart lemons paired with just the right amount of bubbles and sweetness?

I discovered it in Canada almost 20 years ago and patiently waited for it to arrive in the US. Now that it’s here, it makes a regular appearance at my place, and I can’t help but crack a smile and feel the joy when I crack open a Mike’s Hard.

Pssst, if you’re not in lemon, get the variety pack — there’s a flavor for everyone!

And they sure wash a burger down right.

Please remember that Mike’s Hard Lemonade is only for those 21 years and older, and should be consumed responsibly.

Put all these essentials together with Frank’s Red Hot Bacon Cheeseburger (scroll down for the recipe) and you’ve got the makings of a fun new family recipe tradition.

Of course, there are tons of other ways to use French’s® Mustard, Frank’s® Redhot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce , and Stubb’s® Original Bar-B-Q Sauce to create tasty game day eats, like these Tangy Tacos or these Sticky Sweet Grilled Wings.

The only thing that could make your HomeGating experience better would be if you won the Ultimate HomeGate Sweepstakes!

The prizes are incredible, so hurry and enter by October 28th. Enter the sweepstakes now!

One (1) Grand Prize: The Ultimate Home Gate. Prize includes the following:
One (1) 60” Big Screen TV. ARV $800. Brand and model to be determined by the Sponsor at its sole discretion.
One (1) Weber® Grill. ARV $700
One (1) $100 Fanatics® Gift Card. ARV $100. Terms and conditions of the gift card apply.
Total ARV of this prize package $1,600.

Four (4) Second Prizes: Each winner will receive the following:
One (1) Weber® Grill. ARV $700
One (1) $100 Fanatics® Gift Card. ARV $100. Terms and conditions of the gift card apply.
Total ARV of each prize package $800

LIMIT: One (1) prize per person or household.

Frank’s® Redhot Bacon Cheeseburger

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Frank’s ® Redhot Bacon Cheeseburger

What makes a juicy cheeseburger better? Frank's Redhot® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce and crispy bacon. Mix sauce right into the beef for a hot ‘n spicy upgrade to a backyard staple.
Servings 6 burgers

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
  • 1/3 cup Frank’s® RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. French's® Tomato Ketchup
  • 6 slices American cheese
  • 6 slices cooked bacon
  • 6 hamburger rolls

Instructions

  1. MIX ground beef, Frank’s® RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce and ketchup in medium bowl until well blended. Shape into 6 patties.

  2. GRILL over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 160ºF), brushing burgers with additional Frank’s® RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce during last few minutes of cooking, if desired. Add cheese slices to burgers 1 minute before cooking is completed.
  3. SERVE burgers on rolls topped with bacon and desired toppings.

Enjoy this Frank’s® RedHot Bacon Cheeseburger and be sure to enter the Ultimate HomeGate Sweepstakes!

Fall Fun in Hendricks County Indiana

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Autumn is in full swing and there are oodles of ways to have fall fun in Hendricks County, Indiana. Conveniently located just 10 minutes west of Indianapolis, Hendricks County makes a great day trip or weekend getaway destination.

Fall Fun in Hendricks County, Indiana

fall fun in hendricks county, indiana

A big thank you to Hendricks County for hosting my trip.

Scarecrows on Display in Danville

Stroll around the downtown Danville Courthouse Square throughout the month of October to see all the scarecrow displays created by local businesses. Whether you’re two or ninety-two, the straw-stuffed characters are sure to make you smile.

Beasley’s Orchard

This third-generation family-owned farm has something fun happening all throughout the fall season, so you may want to visit more than once to enjoy everything.

Be sure you stop by the farm market to select some fresh apples and produce, try the award-winning apple cider, or pick up some sweet treats and bakery items.

What’s better than a freshly baked apple pie?

I tried the apple cider, and it’s incredibly delicious. Lots of farms use UV pasteurization on their apple cider, but Beasley’s apple cider is not pasteurized and they’re winning awards, so they’re obviously doing something right! It’s also 100% apple juice with no added sugar and no preservatives. Bring some home!

Watching the apples get sorted on the apple grader

The apples are washed in an apple car wash-type machine.

Apples galore in cold storage to keep them fresh. (Did you know refrigerating your apples extends their life?)

Beasley’s Orchard Corn Maze- through October 31

This year’s theme is Circle City Sports. The 8-acre design gives a nod to the many Indianapolis area sports teams!

U-Pick Apples all season long

Apple picking season is well underway, and new varieties are available each week. Whether you want apples for eating or making applesauce, apple butter or apple desserts, you’ll find what you need at Beasley’s Orchard. Apples fresh from the orchard have a flavor like you wouldn’t believe!

Heartland Apple Festival – October 6-14

This family-friendly festival includes hayrides to the pumpkin patch, puppet shows, face painting, balloon magic, a family activity area, live music, arts and crafts vendors, food galore and for the adults, wine tastings from local wineries. There are also apple cannons!

apple cannon at Beasley's

Don’t even try to resist the allure of the apple cannon. It’s FUN!

Dog Daze at the Maze – October 20, 21

It’s a special day for the furry friends in your family. Bring your dogs to the maze at Beasley’s and let them help you find your way out. Lots of exercise, fun and laughs for everyone.

Happy Halloweekend – October 27-28

Wear a costume if you’d like (there’s a contest) and enjoy festive Halloween fun on the last weekend before the holiday.

Plan Your Visit to Beasley’s Orchard
Market Hours: Daily 9am- 6pm
Address: 2304 East Main Street Danville, IN 46122
Website

McCloud Nature Center

If you love the unspoiled outdoors, you’ll love McCloud Nature Center. The nature center is home to interactive exhibits on local plants, animals, bugs and more and there’s a large bird-watching observation area as well.

The park is relatively new, but already has fabulous special events and programming in place including plein air painting, the reason I was visiting. There’s a marvelous old truss bridge across the creek which was to be the setting of our art experience with The Purple Palette. Sadly, we were rained out from sitting on the bridge, but we set up shop in the bird viewing area and had a fantastic time.

Outside there are over six miles of easy to moderate trails broken up into smaller sections. They’ll take you through forest, prairie, a honeybee observation area, a frog pond and to Walnut Bend Creek and the bridge. During the fall, there’s also a grasshopper-themed corn prairie maze to explore!

And don’t miss the Fall Colors Festival on October 20, 2018 with hayrides, yard games, face painting, pumpkin painting, archery, tree climbing and more!

Plan Your Visit to McCloud Nature Center
Hours: Daily 6am – 10pm
Address: 8518 Hughes Rd, North Salem, IN 46165
Website

Natural Valley Ranch

Sign up for a guided horseback ride (30, 60 or 90-minute options), hit the hiking trails, go fishing or hang out with the adorable farm animals at Natural Valley Ranch. You can even spend a night on the ranch in a country cottage large enough for 12-16 people.

I had intended to go horseback riding when I visited the ranch, but the rain interfered with those plans. I still enjoyed visiting with the animal friends though.

I fell in love with this wooly, wooly.

Plan Your Visit to Natural Valley Ranch
Hours (change seasonally): 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday, Noon – 4 p.m. Sunday, closed some holidays
Address:6310 East County Road 350 N Brownsburg, IN 46112
Trail rides limited to 6 people, ages 4 and older
Closed-toe shoes required
Website and Book Your Trail Ride

For more help in planning your fall fun in Hendricks County, Indiana, connect with Visit Hendricks County.

Paranormal Parfaits #HalloweenTreatsWeek

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These paranormal parfaits were created in conjunction with a sponsored #HalloweenTreatsWeek event. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of this fun Halloween parfait recipe.

I can’t begin to tell you how much fun I had making these paranormal parfaits. Every time I placed a gummy eyeball, I couldn’t help but giggle!

Paranormal parfaits - Halloween parfaits

I made homemade vanilla pudding using one of my favorite recipes and crushed up some chocolate sandwich cookies for layering.

Then I turned it to a delightful witchy green color. (Thanks, Adam’s Extract for helping me reach the perfect tint!)

I layered the pudding and cookie crumbs and added some ghoulish gummy eyeballs and zombie hands. With a scoop of whipped topping and some Halloween sprinkles, the paranormal parfaits were ready!

Happy Halloween!

 

Pin the paranormal parfaits recipe, and share it too!

Paranormal Parfaits

Paranormal parfaits - Halloween parfaits

Sponsored ingredients for the paranormal parfaits include: Sweets and Treats Monster Mash sprinkles mix , green food coloring and clear vanilla from Adam’s Extracts, sugar from Dixie Crystals and gummy candy eyeballs and zombie hands from Treat Street.

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Paranormal Parfaits

Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 whole eggs + 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon green food coloring
  • 15 chocolate sandwich cookies crushed
  • 1 1.4 oz pkg Treat Street CandiFetti Gummy Eyeballs
  • Treat Street CandiFetti Gummy Zombie Hands
  • Sweets & Treats Sweet Sprinkles Mix: Monster Mash

Instructions

  1. In a blender mix the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, milk, and flour.


  2. Pour mixture into a pot, Add the butter, and put on medium heat, stirring occasionally.  (When the mix gets hotter, you will need to stir constantly.)

    When the pudding begins to bubble, remove from heat and add vanilla extract and food coloring.

    Spoon approximately half-inch of pudding into four 8-oz dessert cups. Follow with a  layer of cookie crumbs, then pudding, then cookie crumbs, and finally top with pudding.

    Refrigerate for at least two hours. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

Check out the amazing #HalloweenTreatsWeek recipes from our bloggers today!

Happy Halloween! We hope you’re ready for a spooktacular event as we celebrate Halloween with the first annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife. This haunting week-long event is filled with fantastic Halloween treats, recipes and some frightfully fun giveaways.

“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ‘tis near Halloween.”Image may contain: one or more people, text and food

For our very first #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 30 talented bloggers that are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! There are going to be over 100 Halloween themed recipes shared during this year’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek and we can’t wait for you to see them all!

Plus, don’t forget that we have 5 (five) great giveaways for you this week thanks to our amazing sponsors!

Scroll down to take a look!

Prize #1

Prize #1 — Dixie Crystals is giving away one (1) Instant Pot (8 Qt) to one lucky winner!

 

Prize #2

Prize #2 — Adam’s Extract is giving away – 1 Gift Pack – including Pure Vanilla Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Caramel Extract, Almond Extract, Pumpkin Pie Dip Mix and Adam’s Best Twice as strong Vanilla

 

 

Prize #3

Prize #3 —Wilton is giving away a Wilton Gift Pack – including – Halloween Cookie House Bat, Tombstone and Skull 3-Piece Cookie Cutter Set, Halloween Skull Tube Pan, Zombie Cupcake Liners, Skull Sugar Decorations

 

Prize #4

Prize #4 — Sweets and Treats Shop is giving away 1 (one) 1.5lb Sprinkle Mix Kit from their shop

 

Prize #5

 

Prize #5 — Treat Street USA is giving away a $25 Visa Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Giveaway open to US Residents 18 years or older. All entries will be verified. No PO Boxes Please. Prizes will be sent directly from sponsors to winners, bloggers are not responsible for prizes. This giveaway runs from October 1st – October 6th at 12AMEST. Winners will be selected soon afterward and contacted by e-mail. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. There are a total of 5 (five) prizes and therefore we will have a total of 5 (five) winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

 

Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week-long event, #HalloweenTreatsWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like to Thank our amazing sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Adam’s Extract, Wilton, Sweets and Treats Shop and Treat Street USA ! These wonderful sponsors provided the prize packs for our giveaways and also sent samples and products to the #HalloweenTreatsWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.

 

Graveyard Pie #HalloweenTreatsWeek

By 12 Comments

This graveyard pie recipe post is sponsored in conjunction with #HalloweenTreatsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Graveyard Pie

Graveyard pie is the perfect eerie name for a Halloween dessert, isn’t it? If you’ve ever had dirt pudding, this is very similar to that and equally delicious!

If you’ve ever had the classic dirt pudding, this is very similar to that and in fact could be made in individual dessert cups. However, to give the whole graveyard impression, it’s best made in a pie plate so you can set up all the bones on display.

When you dig up the dirt for serving, you’ll want to spoon and scoop it though. It really won’t hold together like a pie. Just an FYI.

Happy Halloween! We hope you’re ready for a spooktacular event as we celebrate Halloween with the first annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife. This haunting week-long event is filled with fantastic Halloween treats, recipes and some frightfully fun giveaways.

“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ‘tis near Halloween.”Image may contain: one or more people, text and food

For our very first #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 30 talented bloggers that are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! There are going to be over 100 Halloween themed recipes shared during this year’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek and we can’t wait for you to see them all!

Plus, don’t forget that we have 5 (five) great giveaways for you this week thanks to our amazing sponsors!

Scroll down to take a look!

Prize #1

Prize #1 — Dixie Crystals is giving away one (1) Instant Pot (8 Qt) to one lucky winner!

Prize #2

Prize #2 — Adam’s Extract is giving away – 1 Gift Pack – including Pure Vanilla Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Caramel Extract, Almond Extract, Pumpkin Pie Dip Mix and Adam’s Best Twice as strong Vanilla

Prize #3

Prize #3 —Wilton is giving away a Wilton Gift Pack – including – Halloween Cookie House Bat, Tombstone and Skull 3-Piece Cookie Cutter Set, Halloween Skull Tube Pan, Zombie Cupcake Liners, Skull Sugar Decorations

Prize #4

Prize #4 — Sweets and Treats Shop is giving away 1 (one) 1.5lb Sprinkle Mix Kit from their shop

Prize #5

Prize #5 — Treat Street USA is giving away a $25 Visa Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open to US Residents 18 years or older. All entries will be verified. No PO Boxes Please. Prizes will be sent directly from sponsors to winners, bloggers are not responsible for prizes. This giveaway runs from October 1st – October 6th at 12AMEST. Winners will be selected soon afterward and contacted by e-mail. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. There are a total of 5 (five) prizes and therefore we will have a total of 5 (five) winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

 

Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week-long event, #HalloweenTreatsWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like to Thank our amazing sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Adam’s Extract, Wilton, Sweets and Treats Shop and Treat Street USA ! These wonderful sponsors provided the prize packs for our giveaways and also sent samples and products to the #HalloweenTreatsWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.

Sponsored ingredients in the graveyard pie recipe are from Wilton and Dixie Crystals.

Pin the graveyard pie recipe!

graveyard pie

Scroll down for the recipe!

Check out the amazing #HalloweenTreatsWeek recipes from our bloggers today!

Graveyard Pie

Print

Graveyard Pie

Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 3.4-ounce pkg instant chocolate pudding
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 8-ounce tub whipped topping
  • 1 14-ounce pkg chocolate sandwich cookies
  • 1 pkg Wilton white candy melts

Instructions

  1. Mix butter and cream cheese in mixer until thoroughly blended. Add powdered sugar and thoroughly incorporate until smooth and creamy. (Sifting the powdered sugar helps prevent lumps when creaming everything together.)

  2. In separate bowl, whisk together pudding mixes and milk. Fold in whipped topping. Gently combine pudding mixture with cream cheese mixture. 

  3. Add half the cookie crumbs to bottom of a 10-inch pie plate. Spoon in pudding/cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining cookie crumbs. Add previously prepared skeleton bones to the graveyard "dirt". Store in refrigerator.

Period Poverty – What if You Couldn’t Afford Period Supplies?

By 11 Comments

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The term “period poverty” is brand new to me; period struggles are not. I’m peri-menopausal so my periods are irregular, ridiculously frequent (every couple of weeks) and outrageously heavy.

I find my period very difficult to manage when I’m traveling or out for an entire day, and I’ve been caught with inadequate supplies far too many times.

My period struggles are real. I’ll never forget the time I went whitewater kayaking and about halfway through I knew it was time to change my tampon. (Ladies, your body sometimes lets you know when it’s time, right?) Well, I got absolutely soaked during the water ride, so I was freaking out!

Thankfully, I was wearing dark jeans, but I’ve never been so scared and so eager to find a porta-potty. Being a woman is tough sometimes!

period poverty

Because of my torrential periods and the struggles that go along with that, it hit me hard to hear about period poverty.

I had never thought about the fact some people struggle to afford the period supplies they need each month. Without period supplies, it’s not possible to participate fully in daily life and I know firsthand how miserable that can be.

I don’t even leave my house on days two, three and four if I’m not traveling, and if I could still predict my cycle, I’d never schedule a trip during a period.

Yes, they’re that bad.

And that’s why I am so happy to share the news that U by Kotex has become a founding sponsor of the Alliance for Period Supplies, a national organization dedicated to providing essential period supplies to those who can’t afford them.

For all of October, for each U by Kotex® product purchased in store or online at Walmart, two U by Kotex® pads or liners will be donated to women in need (up to 5 million boxes). In addition, Walmart will be donating $25,000 to the Alliance for Period Supplies.

Even though my period struggles are real, I can’t imagine not having access to a reliable supply of products to get me through them each month. Nobody should have to deal with period poverty.

Buy U by Kotex products at Walmart during October and help end period poverty.

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