90 Second Fruit Crisp In a Mug
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Quaker. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LoveMyCereal #QuakerUp
The past few weeks I’ve been up late wrapping gifts, making cookies to take to cookie exchanges and putting up Christmas decorations. During my late nights, sometimes a little snack is in order. And by snack, I mean sweet treat!
But I am busy! I don’t have the time or energy into really cooking something and the oven is usually occupied with other things so my go to sweet treat has been my
90 Second Fruit Crisp.
Yes! 90 seconds. And you make it in the microwave!
This is one of my favorite desserts to make. Not only is it quick and easy, but it’s perfect for portion control too. This time of year it’s easy to over-indulge. But having a mug recipe helps me to fix my sweet craving, but still keep the portion in check.
That’s called: A win-win.
And Quaker (R) makes it so easy!
Another bonus: You don’t need very many ingredients! Just 4 ingredients, plus your fruit of choice. For this recipe, I used a frozen mix of strawberries, pomegranate, cherries, raspberries and blueberries. I also used Quaker (R) Simple Granola
You can find everything you need at Walmart!
2 TBSP
brown sugar
1/4 TSP
cinnamon
1 TBSP
butter
2 TBSP
Quaker (R) Simply Granola
1 Cup
Fruit thinly sliced
Servings:
-
Add your fruit, cinnamon and brown sugar to a plastic baggie. I used a frozen mix, but you can use any kind you would like.
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Shake the bag and until the fruit is well covered.
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Pour the fruit into a microwave safe mug.
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Add the Quaker (R) Simply Granola (R) on top of the fruit. (I used the Oats, Honey, Raisins and Almonds flavor. YUM!)
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Then, put the butter on top and microwave for 90 seconds. If you would like, add a dollop of whip cream. Either way, it’s delicious!
This is seriously, one of my favorite recipes! If you are looking for a snack Quaker (R) has tons of great options like Quaker (R) Oatmeal Squares (R), Quaker (R) Simply Granola, and Quaker (R) Life are all yummy options!
Chocolate Covered Buckeye Bites
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TasteTheSeason #CollectiveBias
For us the holiday season is synonymous with baking season. We keep busy creating cookies and treats for neighbors, teachers, cookie exchanges, and for company all season long. There are so many wonderful people in our lives and so many people that I want to know that we appreciate them! I think cooking up a little homemade gift is the perfect way to say thanks! Plus, it’s a great way to stretch the budget to be able to include everyone! (And as an added bonus, we can make one giant batch of Chocolate Covered Buckeye Bites and it will make lots of great gifts to hand out! Saving time and money during the holidays? A win!)
Today I’m going to share with you one of our absolute favorite treats ever.
Chocolate Covered Buckeye Bites.
Wherever we bring these Chocolate Covered Buckeye Bites, they are a huge hit. Out of all of my recipes, this is one that I get the most requests for!
The ingredients in this recipe are really important.
You want to be sure to get the Philadelphia Cream Cheese and the Baker’s Premium White Chocolate! I have tried this with other kinds of chocolate and this is the brand that works the best. SUPER important! Kraft makes the best baking products!
Get the good stuff, you can find it at your local Walmart.
If you need more inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. It has recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!
1 package
chocolate sandwich cookies
1 package
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 boxes
Baker’s White Chocolate
1/8 cup
peanut butter creamy
Servings:
-
Use a food processor to finely crush the chocolate sandwich cookies. If you do not have a food processor, place them in a plastic baggie and crunch them up. (I’ve used a rolling pin before and it worked fine!)
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Next, transfer your cookie crumbs to a bowl. Add one package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
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Mix the two together well.
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Then, take a little bit in the palm of your hand and form a small dish shape. Add a small bit of peanut butter to the middle. Form the edges up around the peanut butter and roll into a ball.
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Place the Buckeye Bites on a cookie sheet. (We put ours in mini cupcake liners.) Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes to help set the bites.
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Remove the Buckeye Bites from the freezer and set aside. Melt the Baker’s Chocolate according to the box directions. Dip the Buckeye Bites into the melted chocolate and place back on the cookie sheet. If desired, grind up a few extra chocolate cookies and sprinkle the top with cookie crumbs. Then, place in the freezer to set for just a few minutes. You will want to store in the refrigerator.
Hot Chocolate Bucket List: 10 Hot Chocolate Recipes To Try This Winter
Hot Chocolate is a favorite each winter. We love to have a cup for dessert or as a snack after playing outside. And when it is snowing, you can find me curled up on the couch with a cup and my favorite book. While I love a cup of traditional, chocolate-y, creamy hot cocoa sometimes I’m looking for a little variety. This Hot Chocolate Bucket List is full of the best hot chocolate recipes out there!
Yum. I love caramel. Adding white chocolate and that sounds blissful to me! Passion For Savings has a slow cooker caramel white hot chocolate recipe that is divine!
I’m a little bit of a pumpkin nut. Pumpkin cookies…pumpkin french toast….pumpkin coffee. So it’s only natural that I would love a pumpkin spice white hot chocolate too!
Love Starbucks hot chocolate? My Frugal Adventures has a great copycat recipe for some delicious hot chocolate!
If you handed this cup to me, at first I would probably tell you that it was too pretty to drink. But I think after staring at the caramel hot chocolate (and smelling it!) I don’t think it would take long for me to give into temptation!
I love Oreos. It doesn’t to me if they are traditional, Golden, or Double Stuffed, I love them all the same. So I can’t wait to try The Recipe Critic’s Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate recipe!
This White Hot Chocolate has me dreaming of a snow fall! I absolutely love watching the snow come down while curled up with a cup of cocoa on the couch!
I love Girl Scout cookies! Combining my love for the cookies and my love for cocoa seems like a wonderful idea to me! I’m so glad Your Home Based Mom has a recipe for Thin Mint Hot Chocolate!
I could stare at this. Doesn’t it look amazing?! S’mores Hot Chocolate really seems like a dream come true to me!
Joshua’s favorite thing is peanut butter. He loves it on his toast, his waffles, and in his hot chocolate! I can’t wait to try this Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate recipe out! I’m sure he will love it!
If Christmas had a flavor it would have to be peppermint. I think one taste of this peppermint hot chocolate and you will be dreaming of Christmas!
How many of these hot chocolate recipes will you cross off the bucket list this winter?
Don’t forget to pin!
Tips For Freezing Chicken
One of my family’s meal plan staples is chicken. We make lots of dishes with chicken! We love dishes like Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken, Bacon, Tater Tot Casserole and Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu. We love fried chicken, chicken and rice soup and Josh’s favorite, homemade chicken fingers.
Saying we go through a lot of chicken in our house is definitely an understatement. Luckily, I have a secret. I order my chicken from Zaycon Foods. It’s 100% natural, hormone free and comes directly from the processor. The quality is really great and it’s a steal at $1.89 a pound!
Yes, I said $1.89 a pound for high quality chicken.
When you order your chicken from Zaycon (as it is with all of their awesome foods they offer), there is one catch. You have to buy it in bulk. So make sure you have space in your freezer or go in with a friend to share it! The chicken comes by the case, which is about 40 pounds.
Here are a few tips for freezing chicken!
The first thing that I do when I get ready to freeze chicken is to get out our supplies. I like to use two sizes of plastic bags. I use quart size bags as well as gallon size bags. I also like to have out a cutting board, knife and a Sharpie.
Go ahead and label the gallon bags. You will want to make sure that you have the date on each one of the bags. Just in case a bag gets lost in the freezer you will know how old it is.
Next, you will want to trim your chicken. I trim off the fat from the chicken breasts. I am really impressed by the quality of chicken that came with our order from Zaycon. The amount of fat that needed to be trimmed from the chicken was very minimal. In fact, it was less than I was expecting.
After your chicken is all trimmed you will want to put it into the quart sized Ziploc bag. Press the air out and seal. If you have a vacuum sealer, you can also use that.
Then you can put the quart bags into a gallon sized bag. For us, we put 2 quart bags into 1 gallon size bag. Be sure to press the air out the best you can.
After you are done placing all of the chicken in the bags you will want to clean things up. Raw chicken has lots of germs. After you clean up the area where you have been working. I also like to use an antibacterial wipe to do a quick wipe down of the outside of the bags. Then, just put the bags in the freezer.
Chicken will stay good in the freezer for 2 months.
Zaycon offers more than just chicken! You can get ground beef, salmon, cod, berries, honey, and even waffles! We are already planning on our next order! When we went to go pick it up – the whole process took about 90 seconds. I was beyond impressed with their quality and service!
Don’t forget to pin on Pinterest!
I did receive a case of chicken from Zaycon in exchange for my honest opinions. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Petz Beach Cupcakes
Last year’s school year was tough for us. We moved after the first 9 weeks and suddenly Josh went from elementary school to middle school. From a small school that was project based to a large, traditional school. We inherited lockers and changing classes. It was a lot to take in. Especially for a child who suffers from Autism. Josh’s grades fell drastically, which for someone as smart as he is, this was a first. Luckily, we made it through. And a few weeks ago, the first report card came. And it was Honor Roll! WOO HOO! And, because I’m a proud Mom, his reading test came back. Josh is reading at over an 11th grade level! He’s only in 6th grade! Awesome right? Well, we had to celebrate.
It was perfect timing because I was given the chance to review the new Petz Beach 3DS game. So before Josh came home from school I decided to make some special cupcakes to help reveal his ultimate surprise. The new 3DS game!
These cupcakes were just about as easy as you can get. Just a simple box mix with store brought frosting. I divided the white frosting in half, tinting one half blue and leaving the other half white. To create the sand, we just crushed up some Golden Oreos. The consistency was perfect sand.
I started with the beach side. Just frost half of the cupcake with the white frosting and roll in the Oreo crumbs. Then using a butter knife, frost the other side with the blue frosting. We like our water side to have lots of waves, which is good since I’m not a very good cupcake decorator. But even I can manage creating some choppy waves! Then, a couple Teddy Grahms relaxing on the beach and your cupcakes are ready! Quick and easy! And of course delicious!
Josh was pretty excited about his cupcake, but afterwards when I gave him his new 3DS game, he was very excited!
We have had several Petz games over the years so we were excited to add this one to our collection. There were several things that I felt like were really cool (and so did Josh!) One of which was that there were so many choices of animals. This game had everything from dolphins to puppy dogs.
Another thing I loved was the fact that while he was playing he was also learning really great facts about animals thanks to Petz partnership with Encyclopaedia Britannica.
This is a game that will last and entertain your kids for a long time. The game actually expands while they play giving them so much to do and learn. You can also connect it to play with friends which is a big plus for us!
Petz Beach would make for an awesome holiday gift this year. (You can purchase it from Amazon here!) They have also come out with Petz Countryside which is another fun adventure kids are sure to love!
Petz Beach & Petz Countryside Product Specifications:
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Release Date: October 14, 2014
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS system
- Category: Pet Simulation and Adventures
- Rating: E
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Holiday Survival Guide: Fall Recipes
November already?! Can you believe it? I can’t that is for sure! It’s Monday which means another Holiday Survival Guide. This week we are talking about yummy fall recipes to try. We also have last week’s link up results!
We’re going to get you decluttered, organized, cleaned, decorated, and ready for all the holiday fun…without you needing to be committed to the looney bin before New Year’s.
It takes quite the team to pull this off, but we’re here for you! We’ll be here every Monday through the end of the year to make sure you’re on track and able to enjoy everything you have planned.
Ready to meet the team?
Sheri from Career Girl Interrupted
Dani from Dani Schnakenberg Studios
Katie & Jairus from KatieMarcum.com
Jessica from Jessie Bee Healthy
Kristen from From Son Up Til Son Down
Stephanie from Sharing A to Z
and our lovely co-host Amanda from It’s a Fabulous Life
Each week we’ll take turns bringing you something awesome to help you stay on track preparing for the major Holidays of the season. Be sure to come back and link up your holiday posts each week so we can share the fun!
This week Stephanie, Katie and Jairus are bringing you some more tasty Fall-inspired recipes!
Apple Cinnamon Spice Energy Tea from KatieMarcum.com
Spinach and Bacon Vinaigrette Salad from KatieMarcum.com
Grandma’s Homemade Noodles from KatieMarcum.com
Sweet Potato Bites from SharingAtoZ.com
Crock Pot Stuffing from SharingAtoZ.com
Healthier Pumpkin Pie from SharingAtoZ.com
Now, who’s ready to party? Share your awesome Fall-inspired recipes with us this week!
Link Party Rules:
- Follow all hosts: subscribe, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whatever you prefer!
- Be sure to link directly to your specific post, NOT your blog’s homepage.
- Don’t link and run! Be sure to visit the last couple links before yours and let them know how you found them through #HolidaySurvivalGuide2014!
- By linking up, you give all hosts permission to pin and share your projects (with links back to you, of course). We’ll also be sharing the top three clicked through with each following week’s project!
- Be sure to follow the Holiday Survival Guide 2014 Pinterest board, too!
Top links from last week:
1. I’m Pumpkin Carving from Life with Lorelai
2. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (Or Muffins) from Our Life Out There
3. Fall Wreaths from Mom Among Chaos
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Moms Check In – What Is Your Favorite Pumpkin Recipe
I love pumpkin everything! I think pumpkin pie is probably my favorite but pumpkin in baked goods (breads, muffins, etc.) is soooo delicious.
I love a good old fashioned pumpkin pie, piled high with Cool Whip!
Pumpkin is my thing. I love it. Before fall even started I ordered a case of pumpkin.
‘);
Pumpkin Swirl Brownies Fall Recipe
My falls are filled with bonfires, hoodies and lots of pumpkin. There really isn’t much better than fall. It’s beautiful! And it tastes pretty darn good too! These Pumpkin Swirl Brownies help make my fall complete. They are moist, delicious and just perfect.
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or chips)
- 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (or chips)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter your pan. I use a 9 inch pan.
- Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. When melting chocolate in the microwave heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each set. You don’t want burnt chocolate!
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a separate bowl until fluffy and well combined. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Beat in your flour mixture to the wet mixture.
- Divide batter between two bowls. Stir chocolate into one bowl. In the other bowl, stir in pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Start by pouring half of the chocolate batter to your greased 9 inch pan. Layer with half of the pumpkin layer. Repeat again. You will want to work quickly!
- With a butter knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect.
- Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Pour a glass of milk and enjoy!
- This recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart.
http://itsafabulouslife.com/pumpkin-swirl-brownies-fall-recipe/
The Most Amazing Fruit Tea (The Best Fruity Drink EVER!)
This shop has been compensated by #Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
I have a few favorite things in the world. One of them is fruity drinks. I have perfected the BEST fruit tea. Seriously, I make it all the time! I bring it with us to get togethers and everyone always asks me for the recipe. Some people are known for their lasagna; some people are known for their chocolate cake. Me? I’m known for my fruit tea! Whether you are looking for a way to spruce up your water or something to drink while you are trying to ditch the soda or even just looking for something delicious – this is the perfect drink!!
The other day I was in Walmart and saw a Crystal Light display and it dawned on me that I have not shared this with you yet! And the timing couldn’t be better because Crystal Light is sponsoring the Miranda Lambert Platinum Tour and rewarding customers with a #PlatinumTour Sweepstakes!!
What is the Platinum Points Loyalty Program? Simple create an account, purchase qualifying Crystal Light products at Walmart and scan your receipt. You will start earning your points! You can redeem your points for some really awesome prizes! At the end of the program they will be selecting one winner for an amazing sweepstakes prize!
For me, I will be able to earn lots of points! We go through a lot of a Crystal Light! 🙂
Ingredients
- Crystal Light Tea – I have used the Lemon Tea and the Peach Tea. Both turn out great! I like the Peach Tea the best!
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 4 Qts. Cold Water
- Fruit – For this batch I used a frozen berry mix that had strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and pomegranate
Instructions
- The recipe couldn’t get easier! Simply mix all of the ingredients together and serve!
I always keep packages of Peach Iced Tea in my purse to add to my water while I’m out and about! Crystal Light makes it so easy to have a low calorie drink that tastes amazing. There are so many varieties available at Walmart. Plus, now with their new Platinum Rewards Program, it’s really a no brainer!
Fall Recipes with the Holiday Survival Guide
I’m really excited to be a part of a fun series about surviving the holiday season! Fall is my favorite season, but sometimes it seems as if I get so busy it’s hard to actually enjoy it! Don’t worry – these ladies are here to help!
Welcome to the second week of the Holiday Survival Guide 2014! This week we’re talking recipes. Not just any recipes, but recipes that embody everything we love about Fall. We’ve also got your top links from last week’s link party and a new, fresh link party for all your Fall recipes! Just in case you missed last week’s free fall printables you can find them here!
We’re going to get you decluttered, organized, cleaned, decorated, and ready for all the holiday fun…without you needing to be committed to the looney bin before New Year’s.
It takes quite the team to pull this off, but we’re here for you! We’ll be here every Monday through the end of the year to make sure you’re on track and able to enjoy everything you have planned.
Ready to meet the team?
Sheri from Career Girl Interrupted
Dani from Dani Schnakenberg Studios
Katie & Jairus from KatieMarcum.com
Jessica from Jessie Bee Healthy
Kristen from From Son Up Til Son Down
Stephanie from Sharing A to Z
and our lovely co-host Amanda from It’s a Fabulous Life
Each week we’ll take turns bringing you something awesome to help you stay on track preparing for the major Holidays of the season. Be sure to come back and link up your holiday posts each week so we can share the fun!
This week Stephanie, Katie and Jairus are bringing you some tasty Fall-inspired recipes!
Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothee from Katie & Jairus at KatieMarcum.com
Pumpkin Soup from Stephanie at Sharing A to Z
Smoky Bacon Pumpkin Penne from Katie & Jairus at KatieMarcum.com
Pumpkin “Ice Cream” from Stephanie at Sharing A to Z
Pumpkin Pie Spice Whipped Cream
Now, who’s ready to party? Share your awesome Fall-inspired recipes with us this week!
Link Party Rules:
- Follow all hosts: subscribe, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whatever you prefer!
- Be sure to link directly to your specific post, NOT your blog’s homepage.
- Don’t link and run! Be sure to visit the last couple links before yours and let them know how you found them through #HolidaySurvivalGuide2014!
- By linking up, you give all hosts permission to pin and share your projects (with links back to you, of course). We’ll also be sharing the top three clicked through with each following week’s project!
- Be sure to follow the Holiday Survival Guide 2014 Pinterest board, too!
Top links from last week:
1. Fall Cleaning Tasks from From Son Up Til Son Down
2. Owl Pillow Tutorial (Free Pattern and Give-away) from Our Life Out There
3. Thanksgiving Menu FREE Printable! from The Road to Domestication
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