About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She's also a cat lady in the making.

Get Out on the Water and Discover Boating

June 14, 2019 By Liz Leave a Comment

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

It’s not surprising I love being out on the water because I grew up in a pretty little beach town on Lake Michigan where boating was everything! Although my family didn’t own a boat at the time (womp, womp), most of my friends had them so my weekends were centered around boating activities.

There’s so much you can do when out on a boat! (But if you or your friends don’t have one yet, don’t worry. You can rent or charter a boat so easily nowadays.)

Boating Activities For All Ages

Try some new water sports.

Go water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing or parasailing or sit back and watch your friends and family partake while you snap photos of all their boating activities!

Go fishing and/or join a fishing tournament.

Everyone should try their hand at fishing from a boat sometime, and during a fishing tournament, you could score big!

Take a boat out at sunset.

Sailing at sunset is something I’ll never tire of doing. The world is quiet but for the sound of gently lapping waves and rustling sails, the coastal breezes temper the day’s heat and the sun paints the sky in an ever-changing palette of glorious hues.

And be sure to turn around. The sun can create magical surprises when you’re least expecting it.

Watch a fireworks show from the water.

Drop anchor in a prime viewing position on the water and enjoy the sky display from a new perspective.

Join a boat parade.

Many coastal communities host holiday boat parades where boats deck themselves in colored lights and parade along the shore for spectators to admire.

Watch for birds and wildlife.

Keep your eyes open and you’re bound to catch a glimpse of something special each time you’re out on the water.

osprey nest with two babies

82% of Americans say being around water is relaxing and 72% feel healthier after spending time on the water. I can’t argue with those stats; I love being out on a boat. Pure unplugged bliss!

Discover Boating has resources to help find local boat rentals, clubs and peer-to-peer sharing so you can get out on the water this summer. You can also check the boat finder tool to see which type of boat fits your lifestyle and budget.

What are your favorite boating activities?

Food Lion Fresh Fruits and Veggies – 30 Days, 30 Ways

June 7, 2019 By Liz 21 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Food Lion. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s National Fresh Fruit and Veggies Month and with a bounty of seasonal fresh fruit and veggie options available, it’s the perfect time to grab your favorites at Food Lion and maybe even try something new.

We hope this list of recipes and ideas for fresh fruits and veggies inspires you to enjoy nature’s bounty every day this summer!

I do love shopping at my local farmer’s market, but it’s only open on Saturdays which isn’t always convenient.

Fortunately, Food Lion often has locally sourced fresh fruits and veggies at affordable prices, so I know I can find what I want any day of the week, and there’s a lot to choose from!

Food Lion makes it so easy for me to nourish my family the way I want to without spending a fortune. Whew!

Also, my Food Lion redid their produce section a few years ago so it has a fresh marketplace vibe to it. I love it!

And with their food freshness guarantee, I never worry about quality. On the rare occasion when something hasn’t tasted right, they’ve refunded my money (double the price paid) with zero hassles.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies – 30 Days, 30 Ways

1. Cool off from the summer heat with a refreshing fruit slushie.

2. Make zoodles instead of noodles. You may never go back to pasta!

3. Try stuffed peppers for breakfast instead of dinner.

4. Pick a few extra berries this summer and try your hand at making homemade jam or jelly.

5. Select a fruit you’ve never tried before. Have you tried persimmons, tamarind or jicama yet? I love using jicama in watermelon salad.

6. It’s homemade ice cream season. Churn a new flavor or two!

7. Whip up a cool dessert like this strawberry no-bake refrigerator pie.

8. Serve salad in a jar instead of a bowl. Try this chicken taco salad.

9. Wrap your favorite veggies in foil for a delicious campfire grilled foil packet meal.

10. Make a fruit pizza or get crazy and make a fruit pizza pancake!

11. Make your own homemade fruit rolls.

12. Freeze grapes for a refreshing, crunchy snack. (Try them candied too.)

13. Have you ever made your own vegetable pho? Try it!

14. For a kid-friendly treat that also pleases adults, put fresh fruit on a skewer. Also tasty when grilled!

15. Asparagus is a satisfying side dish, but it’s also delicious in a savory breakfast frittata.

16. Mix up a fruit sangria.

17. Make a banana split or a frozen banana split.

18. Create interesting fruit and yogurt parfait combos.

19. Take radishes out of the salad and into a zippy appetizer.

20. Grill or oven roast your favorite veggies and serve with homemade herb butter.

21. Experiment with different colors and varieties of beets.

22. Add a spritz of flavor to your water by infusing it with fruit. Here are 10 creative ways to do it.

23. Try a new cucumber appetizer.

24. Make homemade cauliflower tots.

25. Prepare new-to-you salsa flavors for tacos, salads or chips.

26. Try a new regional favorite like this Georgia peach cornbread coffee cake or this potato and okra summer salad.

27. Serve fruit inside fruit for show-stopping appeal. Everyone will love these avocado pesto stuffed tomatoes or this pineapple berry treat.

28. Grill a pound cake and top it with fresh berries and whipped cream.

29. Use fresh jalapenos to make margaritas with a kick.

30. Jump on the floral trend and try adding lavender, hibiscus or even dandelion to a smoothie or tea.

Be sure to check out the Weekly deals at Food Lion and for the ultimate in convenience, try Online Shopping with pick up or delivery. For even more fresh fruit and veggie ideas, browse through the entire collection of Food Lion Recipes.

Crazy-Good Ranch Buffalo Wings

June 5, 2019 By Liz 1 Comment

This post is sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

These Ranch Buffalo Wings are crazy good!

The secret is to use the delicious blend of Ranch dressing and herbs and spices found only in the new Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Shaker. Yum!

I found the recipe here and knew I had to make it. Buffalo wings are always a crowd pleaser, so I knew Ranch Buffalo wings had the potential to go over big, and I was right!

I dipped my drumettes into a mixture of melted butter, hot sauce and vinegar and then laid them out on a baking sheet. Then I used the Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Shaker to sprinkle on additional flavor before baking them in the oven.

When they were done baking, I sprinkled on a little paprika and BAM. Ready to eat.

My boyfriend (who does not like to admit any recipe could outdo one of his) couldn’t deny that these Ranch Buffalo wings are better than his.

Who knew?

I feel like a whole new world of flavor has opened up to me since discovering the new Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Shaker with its delicious blend of Ranch dressing and herbs and spices. YUM!

It’s shelf stable so it’s going to be such a convenient pantry helper for adding some extra zing to my recipes. It’s easy to use – just measure or sprinkle some on and “shake” things up. It’ll make easy weeknight dinners yummier than ever!

You can even perk up your side dishes with it. Try sprinkling some on your baked potatoes, mac and cheese or buttered rolls. The options are only as limited as your imagination, but if you’re stuck for ideas, there are lots of recipe suggestions on the Hidden Valley Ranch website.

The Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Shaker may become your new favorite kitchen helper.

Ranch Buffalo Wings

Servings 24 wings

Calories 141 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

½ cup butter or margarine melted
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ cup hot pepper sauce
6 teaspoon Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Seasoning & Salad Dressing Mix Shaker
24 chicken wings or drumettes
3 tablespoons vinegar
celery sticks
1 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In small bowl, whisk together butter, hot sauce and vinegar. Dip drumettes in butter mixture; arrange in single layer in large baking pan. Sprinkle with Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Seasoning, Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix Packet. Bake until chicken is browned and an internal temperature of 165°F has been reached, about 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle with paprika and your buffalo wings or hot wings are ready.
Serve with Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing and celery sticks.

Nutrition Facts

Ranch Buffalo Wings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 141 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13g 20%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Cholesterol 32mg 11%

Sodium 340mg 14%

Potassium 48mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 1g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 3.6%

Vitamin C 2.9%

Calcium 0.7%

Iron 1.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Coffee Icebox Pie

June 2, 2019 By Liz 3 Comments

This post is sponsored by Chameleon Cold-Brew Concentrate but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

First of all, take a look at this chocolate peanut butter coffee icebox pie. Yumsicles, right?

Well, Chameleon Cold-Brew is the abracadabra ingredient that gives it a perfectly smooth and delectable coffee flavor. It’s magic, I tell ya!

The idea came to me when I found Chameleon Cold-Brew at Publix. It caught my eye at first because of the cute chameleon on the label but I bought it because the entire line is certified organic and they only use sustainably grown and ethically sourced organic specialty grade coffee beans.

Raise your coffee standards, y’all. I sure am!

I chose the black coffee concentrate, but I very well could have gone with vanilla or espresso and had equally delicious results.

My guys are huge coffee drinkers but have never done the cold brew thing (late to the party, I know) so we started simply by adding 1 part concentrate to 1 part liquid of their choice. In our case, it was milk, but you could use nut milk, water or add a splash to your favorite protein smoothie.

The sky’s the limit!

Then sip away and enjoy the expertly crafted and perfectly brewed smooth coffee flavor. Soooo good!

Now, how about a slice of that pie I mentioned?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Coffee Icebox Pie

Pin this chocolate peanut butter coffee pie and share it with your friends and family!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 557 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
2/3 cup chocolate sauce
2 tablespoons Chameleon Cold Brew coffee concentrate
1 cup whipped topping
Optional: Chocolate peels for garnish

Instructions

In small bowl mix together cookie crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Press into bottom and sides of greased 9-inch pie plate.
In large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, condensed milk, peanut butter, chocolate sauce and coffee concentrate until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Pour over crust. Freeze 6-8 hours or overnight. Garnish with chocolate peels.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 557 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 29g 45%

Saturated Fat 15g 75%

Cholesterol 64mg 21%

Sodium 454mg 19%

Potassium 406mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 67g 22%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 50g

Protein 11g 22%

Vitamin A 13.9%

Vitamin C 1.6%

Calcium 19.8%

Iron 7.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pick up some Chameleon Cold-Brew today and refresh your summer with cold brewed coffee and this delicious chocolate peanut butter coffee icebox pie!

And bonus: when you purchase Chameleon Cold-Brew, you’re supporting their mission to develop long-term economic and environmental sustainability throughout the coffee. Love your earth while you love your coffee!

Love summer pies? Try this strawberry refrigerator pie, this decadent mud pie or this whoopsy-daisy blueberry pie.

Summer Party Food Must-Haves + Upgrade Your Summer Sweepstakes

May 22, 2019 By Liz 17 Comments

This post was sponsored by Upgrade Your Summer as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

I’m so excited for summer I can hardly stand it! I love the sunshine, blue skies, warm temps and all the backyard parties with friends and family.

I’m already planning my menu for our Memorial Day party – the first big summer gathering of the year. I find it especially convenient to shop at Walmart for summer entertaining needs since it’s an affordable one-stop shopping solution. I can buy party food, festive decor, grilling supplies and even outdoor furniture there.

And when you buy participating brands at Walmart between May 1, 2019 – July 22, 2019, you can enter the Upgrade Your Summer Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $25,000 backyard makeover that includes an Ultimate Outdoor Movie Theater!

The participating products are perfect for all your summer gatherings too; I picked mine up at Walmart yesterday.

I can’t imagine a summer party without Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. It’s the perfect snack dip for picnics and poolside. I really like serving it with fresh vegetables and crackers, but it also makes a perfect complement to any proteins I might be serving. Chicken wings anyone?

Be sure to try dipping some deliciously crispy Nut-Thins into the Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus too. They’re made with real Blue Diamond almonds, are wheat and gluten-free and contain no artificial flavors so you can feel great about serving them. I love them for the crunch!

I’m also geeked about the new Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Lemonade. I’m a huge ginger ale fan and this twist on the classic ginger taste adds a splash of lemonade made from real juice. Who knew ginger ale could be improved upon?

I can see my friends and I relaxing and kicking back with this caffeine-free and naturally flavored refreshment all summer long!

Aren’t you even more excited for summer now? I know I am!

Be sure to pick up all these yummy party essentials and enter the Upgrade Your Summer Sweepstakes today!

No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Must be at least 21+ and a legal resident of the 50 U.S./DC. The Sweepstakes will consist of one (1) random drawing period to award (131) prizes. Sweepstakes begins on 5/1/19 at 12:00:01 a.m. (midnight) ET and ends on 7/22/19 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. To enter and for Official Rules and other important terms and conditions, visit upgrade-your-summer.com. Sponsor: Fuel Partnerships, Inc., 6111 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite #265, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

Sweepstakes Prizes
- One (1) Grand Prize Package: Winner will receive the following:
  - Winner will have the opportunity to select one (1) of one-hundred (100) sealed envelopes to see if the selected envelope reveals one of the following prizes:
    - One (1) envelope to contain $25,000 payable by check in the name of the winner. Odds 1:100
  - Ninety-nine envelopes will contain a $100 Wal-Mart® Gift Card Odds of winning 1:1.01

PLUS, THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING:

One (1) Samsung® 8 Series 50” LED Smart TV. ARV $2,400
One (1) 40-50 Weatherproof TV Enclosure – The TV Shield. ARV $699
One (1) Sonos® Outdoor Speaker Playbar. ARV $699
One (1) One (1) Weber® 11 E310 Grill. ARV $860
One (1) Belleze® all-weather backyard 4-piece outdoor patio set. ARV $299
One (1) Ozark® 73 Quart Cooler. ARV @199
One (1) $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card (Terms and conditions of the Gift Card apply). ARV $100
- Total ARV of this prize package is $5,356 to $30,256 (depending on the results of the 1 in 100 envelope game.
Ten (10) Second Prizes: Each winner to receive one (1) Wooden Cornhole Set. ARV is $175 each.
Twenty (20) Second Prizes: Each winner to receive one (1) JBL® Link 20 Voice-activated Portable Speaker. ARV $150 each
One hundred (100) Third Prizes: Each winner to receive one (1) $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card. Terms and conditions of the Gift Card apply. ARV $25 each

Mexican Frittata (Crock-Pot Express Crock Recipe)

May 15, 2019 By Liz 18 Comments

This post has been sponsored by the Crock-Pot® brand. All opinions are my own.

I’m so excited because I found a brilliant new way to make one of my favorite spring recipes, a Mexican frittata. For years I’ve been baking it, but now I can make it in my Crock-Pot® 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cooker. Total game changer!

I love cooking with the Crock-Pot Express Crock; it makes my life so much easier. On days when I’m super busy or need to take a nap (no judging), I can use a pressure cook setting and have dinner on the table in a jiffy. It took just 15 minutes to pressure cook this delicious Mexican frittata!

I couldn’t have asked for a better cook on the frittata either – light, fluffy and evenly steamed. Magnifique!

There are 8 pre-set pressurized settings to make one-pot meals (like this Mexican frittata) a snap, but the Crock-Pot Express Crock also has a slow cook setting so you can enjoy a delicious hot meal later on in the day.

In fact, you could make the frittata using the slow cook function as well.

Don’t you love a kitchen appliance that can do everything you want? I know I do!

To make my Mexican frittata, I start by preheating the unit on the meat/stew setting and cook my chorizo, peppers and onions until the veggies are tender.

I whisk my eggs and cream together and stir in salt, pepper, chili powder and cilantro.

Then I add cheese!

The Crock-Pot Express Crock has a non-stick cooking pot (that’s dishwasher-safe – yay!), but since I use a chorizo puree which has the consistency of tomato paste, I add my egg and cheese mixture to the pot, swirl it all together and then pour the whole shebang into an 8-inch springform or cake pan.

Tip: If you use a springform pan, wrap foil around the base to stop any potential leaks.

Wipe out the inside of the cooking pot, add about 2 cups of water and the round steaming rack. Place your baking pan on top of the rack; lock and seal the pressure cooker and cook on high for 15 minutes letting the pressure release naturally.

When you open the Crock-Pot Express Crock, there will be some moisture on top of the frittata from the steaming process. That’s normal! Just dab it with a paper towel to absorb the water and you’re good to go.

All that’s left to do is EAT.

Cut the frittata into the desired number of servings and enjoy!

Mexican Frittata Crock-Pot Express Crock Recipe

Pin this Mexican Frittata recipe and share it with friends and family!

Mexican Frittata (Crock-Pot Express Crock recipe)

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 8

Author Liz

Ingredients

1/4 lb chorizo sausage puree or chorizo sausage, crumbled
1/2 cup poblano pepper, seeded and diced
1/4 cup sweet onion, diced
4 eggs
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup Mexican shredded cheddar

Instructions

Place the chorizo puree, onions and peppers inside the Crock-Pot® Express Crock Multi-Cooker and press the Saute/Brown function. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions and peppers are tender (about 3-5 minutes). Remove pot from cooking unit.
In separate bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, salt, pepper and chili powder. Stir in cilantro, sundried tomatoes and cheese.
Pour into cooking pot with sausage mixture; stir together then pour contents into greased 8-inch round baking pan or 8-inch springform pan. If using springform pan, wrap base with foil to help prevent leaking.
Clean the inside of the cooking pot and pour 2 cups of water inside. Place wire rack in the pot. Place 8-inch pan on top of wire rack.
Cover and close the Crock-Pot Express Crock making sure the pressure valve is in the closed position. Press the Meat/Stew function, set pressure to high. Set time to 15 minutes and push start. When cooking is complete, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then carefully flip pressure valve to open to finish releasing the steam. When steam stops, open the lid and dab the extra steam moisture on top of the frittata with a paper towel. Carefully remove pan from the multi-cooker.
Release the springform pan sides and slide frittata onto a serving dish. Serve immediately.

Lemonade Cake

May 9, 2019 By Liz 17 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Food Lion. All opinions are 100% mine.

How about a luscious lemonade cake to celebrate spring?!

Lemonade cake was one of my mom’s favorite dessert recipes and since it’s Mother’s Day weekend and spring is fully in bloom, it seemed like the right time to share something she loved. If you didn’t know, I lost her just a few months ago, so it will be my first Mother’s Day without her.

Holding her close with memories, photographs, treasured recipes and fresh flowers from the garden (she adored gardening) helps ease the heartache… just a little bit.

And since she taught me how to make this lemonade cake as a little girl, I can’t help but smile with every bite I take.

The sweet, yet tart lemony flavor is so perfectly springtime, don’t you think?

To make the lemonade cake just like my mom did, I mix together lemon cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil and pour that into a prepared cake pan.

Once baked, I let it cool for 5 minutes while I whisk together frozen (but thawed) lemonade concentrate and powdered sugar, and I poke a zillion holes in the warm cake from top to bottom and side to side. Then I slowly pour the lemonade glaze over the entire cake, letting it completely soak in.

Oh my goodness!

Let the cake cool completely, and then enjoy as is…

… or top it with your choice of ice cream, whipped topping or frosting.

And be sure to go full-on springtime with a fresh bouquet of flowers for mom or for the table.

I get all my ingredients and my flowers at Food Lion for such an affordable price. They have a great selection of products to help me nourish my family on a budget. I base my meal plan on the weekly deals and incorporate fresh fruits and veggies from the recently redesigned produce section.

Everything is always so fresh at Food Lion, including the cut flower bunches. I love the cheery colors and the smell of spring is impossible to resist!

Pick up the ingredients for this lemonade cake or one of these other Food Lion Recipes
at Food Lion in-store or use online shopping with pick up or delivery.

Lemonade Cake

Pin the lemonade cake recipe!

Lemonade Cake

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 12

Author Liz

Ingredients

Cake

1 15.25 oz pkg lemon cake mix
1 lemon instant pudding mix
1 cup water
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil

Glaze

1 6-oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In mixer, blend together cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil. Beat at medium speed for 4 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and cake begins to pull away from edges of pan. Cool in pan about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare glaze. In medium bowl, whisk together lemonade concentrate and powdered sugar.
Thoroughly poke warm cake through to bottom with a large utility fork. Slowly pour or spoon glaze over cake until completely absorbed. Cool.

Blueberry Lemon Poppyseed Pancake Balls and Breakfast Kabobs

May 6, 2019 By Liz 20 Comments

Pancake balls and breakfast kabobs… these are the things that pop in my head at 2 am and wake me up. Usually, my sleepytime “good ideas” sound amazing in the moment, but when I wake up I realize they were absolute stupidity. In this case, I was pretty sure I had a bonified good idea.

And so I spent my morning creating these delicious blueberry lemon poppyseed pancake balls and breakfast kabobs.

Yum-mee!

This post was sponsored by Krusteaz. Opinions are my own.

Start with Krusteaz Protein Buttermilk Pancake Mix. It’s my go-to pancake mix for everything!

Usually, I mix it up as directed on the package, but in this case, I needed a thicker batter to form pancake balls. So as not to overmix, I combined ingredients just until it came together and then folded in the blueberries.

Then I used a cookie scoop to measure out a level scoop of batter, and I carefully lowered the batter into my electric fryer and let each pancake ball cook until golden brown and crisp on the outside. I cooked about four of them at a time, removing one and adding another as needed until I had 18 fried pancake balls.

Let those drain and cool a bit on a paper towel, then sprinkle them with powdered sugar. You can roll them in the powdered sugar if you want, but I like mine with a light dusting.

Aren’t they cute?

Then it’s time to turn the pancake balls into breakfast kabobs!

Grab your plate of bacon and sausage along with your freshly washed and cut fruit.

Take a 12-inch wooden skewer and thread the pancake balls, breakfast meat and fruit onto the skewers in any order you like. Each of the breakfast kabobs will have three pancake balls on it.

Don’t they look appetizing?

Place full skewers on a platter and let everyone grab one! They’re fun to eat and super tasty!

I suggest you have a pitcher of warm maple syrup nearby so guests can drizzle it over their pancake balls and breakfast kabobs.

It’s a super kid-friendly idea. Just be sure to tell them to remove everything from the stick before eating.

Pin this pancake balls and breakfast kabobs recipe!

Blueberry Lemon Poppyseed Pancake Balls and Breakfast Kabobs

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 319 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

Oil for frying
2 cups Krusteaz Protein Buttermilk Pancake Mix
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup blueberries
12 strips bacon, cooked until done but not crisp, then rolled up.
6 breakfast sausage links, cooked and halved
fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
small strawberries or large strawberries, halved
1/4 cup Powdered sugar
Maple syrup, optional

Instructions

Preheat oil to 350 degrees in electric fryer or large pot.
Drop about 1-1/2 tablespoonfuls of dough into oil. I use this cookie scoop. Let cook for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crisp on the outside. Scoop out individually with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper-towel-lined plate. As you pull one out, add another until you've got 18 cooked pancake balls.
Using a 12-inch wooden skewer, thread three pancake balls, 2 bacon rolls, 2 sausage halves, 2 strawberries and 2 pineapple chunks onto each one in any order. Dust pancake balls with powdered sugar. Serve immediately with warm maple syrup.
In large bowl, mix together Krusteaz Protein Buttermilk Pancake Mix, water, sugar, poppy seeds, lemon extract and lemon zest just until combined. Fold in blueberries.

Nutrition Facts

Blueberry Lemon Poppyseed Pancake Balls and Breakfast Kabobs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 319 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12g 18%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 30mg 10%

Sodium 804mg 34%

Potassium 139mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 33g 11%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 13g

Protein 18g 36%

Vitamin A 0.3%

Vitamin C 1.9%

Calcium 5.1%

Iron 9.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Pizza #BrunchWeek

April 24, 2019 By Liz 17 Comments

This bacon and sausage breakfast pizza post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

I sure do love a savory brunch entree, and this bacon and sausage breakfast pizza is so umptuous and satisfying. When I made it for the fam, we all took a bite and looked at each other with wide eyes and synchronized exclamations of “this is so good!”

It’s truly beyond delicious.

Much of the yum comes from the sausage, bacon and eggs.

But the key to the flavor magic lies in the cheese.

I used Cabot Fiery Jack cheese, a combination of Habanero Cheddar and Monterey Jack.

It’s craaaaazzzzy good!

It’s the kind of good that makes me want to buy and hoard every single bag of Fiery Jack I can find so I never run out as long as I live.

I’ve never loved a cheese this much in my entire life.

I wonder if it would marry me.

Marriage might be hoping for too much, so I guess I’ll just settle for making lots of bacon and sausage breakfast pizza with all my soon-to-be-hoarded cheese.

May I serve you a slice? Cheese hoarders still like to share.

Wondering about the pizza crust I chose?

I used a refrigerated roll-out European-style pizza crust, so it was thinner and crispier than other prepared pizza crusts I’ve tried. I simply unrolled it, pre-baked the crust halfway, added my toppings and baked until the cheese melted on top.

Perfection!

Scroll down to get the bacon and sausage breakfast pizza recipe and be sure to pin it and share it with your friends! And enter the BrunchWeek giveaway below for some amazing prizes!

Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Pizza

Pin the bacon and sausage breakfast pizza recipe!

Welcome to #BrunchWeek 2019 hosted by Love and Confections and A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures! This is our 7th year of #BrunchWeek and we have 35 bloggers from around the country sharing over 140 of their best Brunch recipes. We have so many delicious recipes for you to enjoy throughout the week including cocktails, appetizers, casseroles, cinnamon rolls, breakfast pizzas, coffee cakes, plenty of desserts, and more! Our BrunchWeek Sponsors are helping us give away some great prizes. Thank you so much, Sponsors, for your generosity. We have an incredible giveaway below and we’d love if you would take a moment to read about it and what you can win!

PRIZE #1 DIXIE CRYSTALS

Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker.

Since 1917, Dixie Crystals® has been the South’s choice for high-quality sugar and sweeteners. For generations, Dixie Crystals has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations. Our pure cane, non-GMO sugar products guarantee that treasured family recipes will turn out right every time. Bake with love and Dixie Crystals.

Dixie Crystals is giving away a Keurig for BrunchWeek 2019

PRIZE #2 CABOT CREAMERY CO-OPERATIVE

Cabot is giving one winner a gift box of assorted Cabot cheeses.

The farm families that own Cabot Creamery Co-operative love what they do. And they’ve been doing it for a long time—every single day since 1919. Almost 100 years later, we’re proud of our thriving farms, strong communities, and happy, healthy cows that produce the rich, buttery milk that we use to make Cabot’s award-winning cheese and dairy products. We like to think those awards mean we’re doing something right. Of course, you’re a big part of this too. If you love eating our cheese as much as we love making it, then we’ll get to keep doing what we do for generations to come.

PRIZE#3 JOYJOLT

Joyjolt is giving one winner a Carre Crystal Glass Cake Holder. Limited edition of 500 in the exclusive series. Made out of 100% high quality crystal. DRINK WITH JOY. ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

Here at JoyJolt we believe that so many of the moments you enjoy most include raising a glass. From the jolt you get from that first sip of coffee in the morning to toasting a milestone with close friends. That’s why we have created glassware equally as special and unique as your happiest moments.

PRIZE#4 SWEETS & TREATS

Sweets & Treats is giving one winner the Year of Sprinkles that contains holiday mixes, classic sprinkles, and some of their most popular sprinkles, assorted cupcake liners, and the My Little Pony Baking Book.

Sweets & Treats, a party and baking supplies manufacturer and wholesaler, started out of a baking industry need for truly grease-proof cupcake liners. From there, the company expanded into a handful of specialized categories including the latest, Sweet Sprinkles, their one of a kind sprinkles and sprinkle mix line. With hundreds of truly unique products, they are a one stop shop for your next party!

PRIZE#5 TORANI

Torani is giving one winner a year supply of Torani: 12-750ml glass bottles, flavors will be winner’s choice, plus pumps for each bottle.

Torani inspires you to taste life, one flavorful experience at a time. Even though people all over the world recognize our iconic Torani bottle, we’ve remained a family-owned company — adhering to the high quality standards that Rinaldo and Ezilda set over 90 years ago. Each and every syrup, sauce, and smoothie is created with care and pride. Way back we started with just five syrups. Today, you can use more than 100 of our naturally flavored syrups, sauces and beverage bases in coffees, sodas, teas, smoothies, cocktails and more. And we’re excited to bring you new taste traditions and flavors as we move forward.

PRIZE#6 COOKBOOK SET

Sarcastic Cooking is giving a copy of her book, Quick Prep Cooking with Your Instant Pot – 75 big-flavor dishes that require minimal work

Dessert for Two is giving a copy of her book, Dinner Just for Two – a cookbook that inspires couples to get into the kitchen together

Sweet Phi is giving a copy of her book, Baby Food Maker Cookbook – 125 Fresh, Wholesome, Organic Recipes for Your Baby Food Maker Device or Stovetop

The Little Ferraro Kitchen is giving a copy of her book, The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen – 80 Authentic, Healthy Recipes Made Quick and Easy for Everyday Cooking

Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!

BrunchWeek Beverages:
Guava Gin Fizz from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Guava Cosmopolitan from Family Around the Table
How to make Italian Soda from Creative Southern Home
Strawberry Hibiscus Mint Julep from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Watermelon Fizz Cocktail from Who Needs A Cape?

BrunchWeek Appetizers and Salads:
Brown Sugar Bacon Palmiers from Jolene’s Recipe Journal

BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:
Breakfast Potato Skins from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Keto Frittata from April Golightly

BrunchWeek Breads, Grains, and Pastries:
Bacon & Sausage Breakfast Pizza from Eat Move Make
Bananas Foster Pancakes from The Nifty Foodie
Coffee Cake Muffins from Snacks and Sips
Churro French Toast from The Redhead Baker
Easy Braided Bacon Cheddar Bread Wreath from Cooking With Carlee
Ham and Cheddar Bread Pudding from Cookaholic Wife
Overnight Oatmeal 3 Ways from Big Bear’s Wife
Peanut Butter, Bacon, & Banana Stuffed French Toast from Sweet Beginnings
Princess Toast from Seduction in the Kitchen
Quiche Bites from For the Love of Food
Sourdough Bagels from Karen’s Kitchen Stories

BrunchWeek Main Dishes:
Apple Cheddar, Bacon Quesadillas from Books n’ Cooks
Blueberry Cheddar Sausage from GirlCarnivore
Cheesy Hot Chicken & Waffles from The Crumby Kitchen

BrunchWeek Desserts:
Bananas Foster Breakfast Yogurt Cheesecakes from The Spiffy Cookie
Chocolate Pecan Congo Squares from Love and Confections
Gooey Mango Butter Bars from Hardly A Goddess
French Lemon Yogurt Cake from Caroline’s Cooking
Shoofly Pie from Platter Talk
Walnut Crumb Cookies from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Joyjolt, Sweets & Treats, Torani, Sarcastic Cooking, Dessert for Two, Sweet Phi, and The Little Ferraro Kitchen for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #BrunchWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Six (6) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Winners have 48 hours to respond once chosen, or they forfeit the prize and another winner(s) will be chosen. The #BrunchWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #Brunchweek posts or entry.

Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Pizza

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 12 slices

Calories 275 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

1 14.1-ounce classic European style bakery dough
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 large eggs, scrambled
2 tablespoons water
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
2 cups Cabot Fiery Jack shredded cheese

Instructions

Prepare pizza dough as directed on package directions, then prick the dough with a fork. Coat dough with olive oil and bake it for half the indicated baking time. Remove from oven.
Whisk together eggs and water and cook eggs to just scrambled stage - no more liquid, but still wet. Set aside.
Sprinkle eggs, sausage and, baconover crust. Top with cheese. Bake for remaining half of dough cook time or until cheese is melted. Cut into slices and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts

Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Pizza

Amount Per Serving

Calories 275 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 18g 28%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 130mg 43%

Sodium 593mg 25%

Potassium 116mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 15g 5%

Protein 12g 24%

Vitamin A 3.5%

Vitamin C 0.2%

Calcium 3%

Iron 4.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Grilled Cheese Patty Melt with French Fried Onions

April 23, 2019 By Liz 28 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Food Lion. All opinions are 100% mine.

This grilled cheese patty melt with french fried onions combines so many of the things I love. The golden-buttery-crisped bread, savory bacon, smoky BBQ, crunchy onions, kick of peppers and ooey, gooey hot melted cheese make everything that’s wrong in the world go away.

I cri at the taste of it. And you will too.

So head over to Food Lion for all the ingredients and turn your next burger night into a celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month by griddling up a grilled cheese patty melt just like mine.

You can find everything I used in this recipe at Food Lion for a really great price. Check the weekly deals when you plan your menu! Food Lion makes it so easy to nourish your family affordably, and the fresh food selection is outstanding.

They also go above and beyond to help you find what you need. Case in point: I was looking for a loaf of rustic bread to make these grilled cheese patty melts, and the bakery had a great selection but they were all thinly pre-sliced.

On a whim, I asked at the bakery counter if they had any unsliced loaves and she said she’d bake me one in 12 minutes! I had no idea they could do custom requests like this, but I’m thrilled. It’s just another reason to love Food Lion, y’all.

So when I got home I sliced the bread into slices, buttered one side of each slice and placed them on the griddle to cook low and slow while I layered on all the other ingredients for my sandwiches.

I added two kinds of cheese, diced peppers and a burger patty, but that’s not all.

Next came some French fried onions.

And finally, some bacon and BBQ sauce.

Combine both halves of the sandwich together, and grill it until the cheese melts and the bread has been toasted to a nice warm, golden brown.

I’m drooling all over again just thinking about it!

Serve the grilled cheese patty melts with fries and some coleslaw from the Food Lion deli.

Enjoy every bite of this hot, melted goodness!

Too busy to get to the grocery store? No problem! Try Food Lion’s online shopping with pick up or delivery and check out these Food Lion recipes for more inspiration!

Grilled Cheese Patty Melt with French Fried Onions

Pin my grilled cheese patty melt recipe and share it with your friends!

Grilled Cheese Patty Melts

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4 sandwiches

Calories 877 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck
1 lb artisan bread loaf Country loaf, Italian or French are good choices
Butter
4 slices Pepper jack cheese
4 slices Cheddar cheese
2 serrano peppers, diced
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp
1 tablespoon French fried onions
1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

Using the ground chuck, form four burger patties and cook to desired doneness. Set aside.
Heat an electric griddle to 300 degrees.
Cut bread into 3/4-inch thick slices and butter one side of each piece. Start assembling the sandwiches. For each sandwich: slice of bread (butter to outside), cheese, diced peppers, cooked burger patty, French fried onions, bacon and BBQ sauce, dividing ingredients between the four sandwiches. Place sandwich butter side down on the griddle and grill until bread is golden brown and cheese is melting. Flip over and grill the other side.

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Cheese Patty Melts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 877 Calories from Fat 540

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 60g 92%

Saturated Fat 26g 130%

Cholesterol 163mg 54%

Sodium 1173mg 49%

Potassium 595mg 17%

Total Carbohydrates 36g 12%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 9g

Protein 44g 88%

Vitamin A 11.6%

Vitamin C 1.6%

Calcium 51.4%

Iron 27%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Springtime Stuffed Cupcakes #BrunchWeek

April 23, 2019 By Liz 15 Comments

This springtime stuffed cupcakes recipe post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Oooo, stuffed cupcakes! You can’t go wrong when a dessert is stuffed with more dessert, right?

These springtime stuffed cupcakes are bursting with pastel-colored cake balls, so they’re sure to put a smile on your face when you see the springtime surprise inside.

I’m not gonna lie… it’s a process to make these, but they’re so worth it. They’re perfect for spring and summer parties, birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, baby reveal parties and so many other occasions!

Start by baking a vanilla cake (use a mix… I did), let it cool and then crumble it into a bowl with some white frosting and some of your favorite springtime sprinkles. I’m using this super cute sprinkle mix from Sweets & Treats.

Then you’ll mix it all up until evenly dispersed. At this point, decide how many colors you want to use for your stuffed centers. I chose four colors so I divided my cake ball batter into four parts and put each into a separate bowl. Then I used four colors of gel paste: pink, lavender, green and blue, added a few drops of each one and mixed it evenly into the batter.

Next you’ll get started on the actual cupcakes, so prepare another cake mix following my recipe and spoon a tablespoon of the batter into the bottom of your cupcake tin. Place a cupcake ball surprise on top of the batter and toss in a few more sprinkles.. just for fun.

Then you’ll spoon another tablespoon of batter over the top of the cake balls, completely covering them. If you can see a little of the color showing through… don’t panic. The icing will cover it up later!

Bake! Remove the cupcakes individually and let them cool completely on a cooling rack.

Make a buttercream icing with Dixie Crystals powdered sugar and pipe it on top of the cupcakes with a star tip. Add some more sprinkles on top and voila!

The springtime stuffed cupcakes are ready to wow your guests with their secret surprise.

What color will you get?

Enjoy!

Scroll down to get the springtime stuffed cupcakes recipe and be sure to pin it and share it with your friends! And enter the BrunchWeek giveaway below for some amazing prizes!

Springtime Stuffed Cupcakes

Pin the springtime stuffed cupcakes recipe!

PRIZE #1 DIXIE CRYSTALS

Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker.

PRIZE #2 CABOT CREAMERY CO-OPERATIVE

Cabot is giving one winner a gift box of assorted Cabot cheeses.

PRIZE#3 JOYJOLT

Joyjolt is giving one winner a Carre Crystal Glass Cake Holder. Limited edition of 500 in the exclusive series. Made out of 100% high quality crystal. DRINK WITH JOY. ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

PRIZE#4 SWEETS & TREATS

PRIZE#5 TORANI

Torani is giving one winner a year supply of Torani: 12-750ml glass bottles, flavors will be winner’s choice, plus pumps for each bottle.

PRIZE#6 COOKBOOK SET

Sarcastic Cooking is giving a copy of her book, Quick Prep Cooking with Your Instant Pot – 75 big-flavor dishes that require minimal work

Dessert for Two is giving a copy of her book, Dinner Just for Two – a cookbook that inspires couples to get into the kitchen together

Sweet Phi is giving a copy of her book, Baby Food Maker Cookbook – 125 Fresh, Wholesome, Organic Recipes for Your Baby Food Maker Device or Stovetop

The Little Ferraro Kitchen is giving a copy of her book, The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen – 80 Authentic, Healthy Recipes Made Quick and Easy for Everyday Cooking

Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!
BrunchWeek Beverages:
Iced Lavender Latte from The Baking Fairy
Mango Lemonade Cocktail from Kate’s Recipe Box
Mango Wine Spritzer from April Golightly
Meyer Lemon Margarita from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Strawberry Lassi from Tip Garden

BrunchWeek Appetizers and Salads:
Breakfast Salad from Simply Healthyish Recipes

BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:
Croque Madame Casserole for Two from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Crustless Zucchini Quiche from Platter Talk
Taco Spiced Crustless Quiche from Hardly A Goddess

BrunchWeek Breads, Grains, and Pastries:
Bacon Cheddar Grits Casserole from Love and Confections
Easy Baked Oatmeal from Creative Southern Home
Vanilla Bean Scones from Cookaholic Wife

BrunchWeek Main Dishes:
Breakfast Poutine from The Redhead Baker

BrunchWeek Fruits, Vegetables and Sides:
Cheesy Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Potatoes from Seduction in the Kitchen
Mango, Melon and Berry Parfait from Family Around the Table

BrunchWeek Desserts:
Berry Cheesecake Tart from Sweet Beginnings
Springtime Stuffed Cupcakes from Eat Move Make

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Springtime Stuffed Cupcakes

Servings 24

Calories 264 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

Cupcakes

1 15.25 oz white, vanilla or yellow cake mix, prepared as directed you'll be using half the cake, so if you can find a 9 ounce cake mix - perfect!
1 cup white frosting, divided
2 tablespoons pastel colored sprinkles, plus more for decoration
1 18.25 oz pkg white, vanilla or yellow cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup canola oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Buttercream Icing

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Crumble half the prepared and cooled cake into a large bowl. Add 1/4 tub frosting and 2 tablespoons sprinkles. Stir until combined.
Divide dough equally in separate bowls to be colored. I divided mine into four different colors, but you could do two colors and just divide it in half. Add a few drops to each dough ball and mix in until you've reached your desired color and it's uniform throughout. Repeat for each remaining color; set cake balls aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line regular-sized muffin pans with paper liners; set aside. In large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, sour cream, canola, eggs, vanilla on low until mixed.
Spoon a level tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup, placing a prepared cake ball on top. Cover cake ball with another tablespoon of batter. Bake about 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted near edge comes out clean. Cool completely.
In large mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat inthe powdered sugar, vanilla andmilk, adding milk if needed to reach desired piping consistency. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Decorate with additional sprinkles, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Springtime Stuffed Cupcakes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 264 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 16g 25%

Saturated Fat 7g 35%

Cholesterol 53mg 18%

Sodium 107mg 4%

Potassium 31mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%

Sugars 26g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 7%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 1.9%

Iron 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.