Kisses + Caffeine

Sharing my journey as a mother, wife, homemaker, Jesus girl, entrepreneur and all things in between!

Cozy Slow Cooker Taco Soup

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Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Cooler weather has hit the North Carolina mountains, and that means it’s officially soup season! This cozy slow cooker taco soup is so easy, it only takes a couple of minutes to throw together, and you are all set for a delicious meal. I like to make it using my Ninja Foodi because I can brown the beef on the sautée setting and then simply add everything else and switch it to slow cook! Less dishes and way faster prep time.

Check out my Instagram Reel to see it in action:

Yes, it literally is that easy! I typically will make a double batch which is enough to feed our family of 4 and then freeze 3-4 EXTRA meals worth! This is a great dish to prep when you are taking meals to friends, as well. 

Cozy Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Simple and savory, this slow cooker taco soup is one of my all-time favorite meals. My kids love it and it always is a huge hit! If you want to make it more of a chili consistency, double everything except for the V8!

Having company over? This soup pairs really well with my Charred Corn Fiesta Dip! Football game watching perfection!

Charred Corn Fiesta Dip (Cowboy Caviar)
Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Cozy Slow Cooker Taco Soup

This recipe is so stinkin’ easy that it takes minutes to throw together!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: crock pot, mexican dip, slow cooker, soup, taco, taco night, taco soup, taco tuesday

Equipment

  • Slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground Beef browned and crumbled
  • 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 can corn drained
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1 64oz jug V8 Original vegetable juice
  • Optional toppings: Fiesta Blend cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, guacamole

Instructions

  • Brown and crumble your ground beef. ( I like to use my Ninja Foodi here so that I can do all steps in one spot!)
  • Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
  • Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  • Serve with whatever toppings you like! We love cheese, tortilla chips and sour cream in ours!

Notes

This recipe is so easy, it only takes a couple of minutes to throw into the slow cooker and you are all set for a delicious meal. I like to make it using my Ninja Foodi because I can brown the beef on the sautée setting and then simply add everything else and switch it to slow cook! Less dishes and way faster prep time.
This recipe doubles beautifully, too! I typically will make a double batch which is enough to feed our family of 4 and then freeze 3-4 EXTRA meals worth! 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Wow your friends and family this Thanksgiving with a scratch-made Apple Pie!

Easy Apple Pie From Scratch
Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Hilarious Goodbye Cookies for a Departing Coworker

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Coworker Goodbye Cookies

A good friend of mine reached out to me asking for these hilarious Goodbye Cookies for her boss’ final day last week. I think they may just be some of my favorite cookies yet! 

Coworker Goodbye Cookies

The color scheme was a simple black, white and red because they work at Ruth’s Chris (side note: you have to try my Copycat Ruth’s Chris steaks!). To give them a little pop, I added this Edible Glitter. It’s my favorite to use on cakes and cookies for the wow factor!

Coworker Goodbye Cookies

As always, these are done with my delicious melt-in-your-mouth No-Spread sugar cookie dough (recipe HERE). The icing is my viral Royal Icing recipe (found HERE). The cookie cutters are from my go-to Plaque Cutter Set (HERE). They are super versatile and pretty! 

Coworker Goodbye Cookies
Coworker Goodbye Cookies

Seriously. How cute are these? The most fun way to send a coworker off in style!

Coworker Goodbye Cookies

Check out more of my cookie design ideas here!

Sugar Cookie recipe
Royal Icing Recipe
Ruth's Chris Copycat broiled filet

Dang Delicious (& Easy) Apple Pie from Scratch

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Easy Apple Pie From Scratch

We started home preschool with my 3 year old and 1 year old a few weeks ago. This past week, their lesson was “A is for Apple,” so of course, mama wanted to do all the fall things! Including making up a recipe for this dang delicious apple pie from scratch!

If you want to see more of our Homeschool journey, get ideas for your own, and more, make sure to check out my Instagram Story Highlights! I’ve added tons of ideas for inspiration!

Note: Cold butter is SO important! Make sure you chill it first. I like to stick mine in the freezer for a bit while I am prepping.

First, you will stir together the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands or a pastry blender (we think hands are fun!), smash the butter and the flour mixture until most of the butter is incorporated. You’ll have some chunks of butter coated in flour. It will look lumpy and dry, which is what you want.

My sweet girl had so much fun  squeezing the butter chunks in her little hands, and it was a great sensory activity. Those big chunks of butter give your crust that flaky texture that makes it so divine.

Little Hands Making Pie Dough

Drizzle the ice water and vinegar into the flour/butter mixture. Use your hands or a pastry blender to mix this together until everything pulls together into a dough. Knead the mixture a few more times until you’ve got a nice, smooth ball. Cut the dough into 2 equal parts, roll each into a ball and wrap individually in plastic wrap or a ziplock.

Scratch Made Pie Dough
Now, here is the deal. You can do this step a couple of days out and store in the fridge, or the day of. It needs to chill for at least an hour to firm up, two is optimal. While your dough is chilling, we will make the pie filling!
 
You will need to core your apples and then slice into thin slices (peeling is optional). I personally LOVE using my Pampered Chef Apple Peeler, Corer, Slicer to do this. It makes the process so much faster! Total game changer (you can grab one HERE).
In another large mixing bowl, toss your apple slices, half of the sugar, brown sugar, flour, vinegar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Set this mixture in the fridge until your dough is ready.
A note on the cinnamon: 

“Korintje cinnamon is the most popular type of cinnamon used by professional bakers. It’s what makes their cinnamon rolls and apple pies taste extra special! Trust this high-grade pure cinnamon to provide the classic, sweet flavor your remember from your childhood.

We know how much time and love you put into making cookies, cakes, and pies for family gatherings and to give as gifts. That’s why we want you to use the best.”

Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Look at that gooey goodness…

Once your dough has chilled, go ahead and beat the egg and water in a small bowl, just enough to blend. (This is your egg wash. It gives the crust that delicious golden sheen!). Preheat your oven to 375º.
 
Remove one of your dough balls and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. You want a circle about 12 or 13 inches in diameter, to allow room to overlap. Carefully wrap the dough around your floured rolling pin to make transport easier. Gently lay the rolled-out round of dough to a 9″ pie dish, allowing the dough to slump down into the bottom and up over the sides.
Scratch Made Pie Crust
Scrape your apple filling into the pie crust (make sure you get all of those yum juices!). Brush egg wash around the outer edges of the crust.
Apple Pie filling in Homemade Crust
Roll out the remaining disk of dough and place it on top of the filled bottom crust. You could get fancy here and cut your top crust into strips for a basket-weave, etc. Most of the time, I prefer to just keep it simple!
 
Press the edges of the top crust to the edges of the bottom crust to crimp and seal. I like to roll them upward and tuck/crimp to make sure the pie stays together. It’s okay if this isn’t perfect! It gives your pie that rustic, cozy, handmade look.
Ready to bake Pie
Using a pastry brush, coat the pie all over with egg wash mixture. Sprinkle it with the remaining sugar (I like to add a dash more cinnamon here, but you don’t have to!). Using a sharp knife, cut a few slits in the top of your pie to allow it to vent while baking.

It’s super important, unless you love scraping the bottom of your oven, to place your pie on a parchment or foil lined cookie sheet! Because this pie is packed with goodness, sometimes that goodness spills over the sides. If you don’t follow this step, that goodness will drip to the bottom of your oven and burn there for all of eternity. I doubt you want that. Do the cookie sheet! 
Apple Pie Ready to go into the oven
Place the pie into the oven, and put a pie crust shield on if you have one (you can make one out of foil if you don’t! Or order one here. This will keep your edges from burning).
 
Bake the pie for about an hour and 15 minutes, until it is golden brown and the juices are bubbly. It’s really important to make sure you don’t underbake it! I remove the crust shield at this point and bake about 10 more minutes.
 
Allow the pie to rest on the counter for a half hour or so before serving. This gives the juices time to settle. We like to drop a big fat scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
 
 
Apple Pie from Scratch
When making this pie, you can chill it, unbaked, overnight and bake it the next day to make things go more smoothly. Just don’t forget to add the egg wash before baking (do not do that step the day before!). You can also fully bake it the day before and serve it at room temperature or warm it back up in a 350° oven for 30 minutes.
 
There you have it! Dang delicious apple pie from scratch, and it wasn’t even as hard as you think! Wow your friends and family this Thanksgiving by dropping in with one of these!
Apple Pie from Scratch

Side note: if you do much of anything with apples, this guy will be your new best friend! You can grab one from my PC site HERE!

Apple Peeler, Corer and Slicer
Full week of meal plans, grocery lists included!

Check out my viral Blackstone Griddle Recipe Roundup!

Blackstone Favorites

Want more pie?? Try my Easy Icebox Coconut Cream Pie!

Easy Icebox Coconut Cream Pie
Apple Pie from Scratch

Dang Delicious & Easy Apple Pie from Scratch

This pie will make you look like the rustic little Pioneer Woman you have always dreamed of, but it really is not that hard! Wow your family and friends (and yourself) with how amazing this is!
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Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple pie, apple pie from scratch, apple pie recipe, apple recipe,, dessert, fall recipe, pie
Servings: 8

Equipment

  • Deep Dish Pie Plate
  • Pie Crust Shield (optional)
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pastry Blender (optional)

Ingredients

  • For the crust:
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup 2 sticks cold butter, cut into small pieces Salted or Unsalted doesn't matter.
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup ice water I always make the ice water and let the ice melt, and then pour out to get what I need!
  • For the filling:
  • 8 apples, sliced. I personally love HoneyScrip or Fuji! Granny Smith are good, too!
  • ½ cup sugar divided
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon This Korintje cinnamon is my favorite! SO flavorful!
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg gently beaten with a 1/2 TBSP of water.

Instructions

  • First we will do the crust:
  • Chill your butter. I like it stick it into the freezer for a few minutes while I am prepping. The colder, the better!
  • Stir together the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands or a pastry blender (we think hands are fun!), smash the butter and the flour mixture until most of the butter is incorporated. You'll have some chunks of butter coated in flour. It will look lumpy and dry, which is what you want. The butter chunks are what make that flaky crust!
  • Drizzle the ice water and vinegar into the flour/butter mixture. Use your hands or a pastry blender to mix this together until everything pulls together into a dough. Knead the mixture a few more times until you've got a nice, smooth ball. Cut the dough into 2 equal parts, roll each into a ball and wrap individually in plastic wrap or a ziplock.
  • Now, here is the deal. You can do this step a couple of days out and store in the fridge, or the day of. It needs to chill for at least an hour to firm up, two is optimal.
  • While your dough is chilling, we will make the pie filling!
  • Core your apples and then slice into thin slices (See the recipe notes for the easiest way to do this!)
  • In another large mixing bowl, toss your apple slices, half of the sugar, brown sugar, flour, vinegar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Set this mixture in the fridge until your dough is ready.
  • Once your dough has chilled, go ahead and beat the egg and water in a small bowl, just enough to blend. (This is your egg wash. It gives the crust that delicious golden sheen!)
  • Preheat your oven to 375º.
  • Remove one of your dough balls and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. You want a circle about 12 or 13 inches in diameter, to allow room to overlap.
  • Carefully wrap the dough around your floured rolling pin to make transport easier. Gently lay the rolled-out round of dough to a 9" pie dish, allowing the dough to slump down into the bottom and up over the sides.
  • Scrape your apple filling into the pie crust (make sure you get all of those yum juices!).
  • Brush egg wash around the outer edges of the crust.
  • Roll out the remaining disk of dough and place it on top of the filled bottom crust. You could get fancy here and cut your top crust into strips for a basket-weave, etc. Most of the time, I prefer to just keep it simple!
  • Press the edges of the top crust to the edges of the bottom crust to crimp and seal. I like to roll them upward and tuck/crimp to make sure the pie stays together.
  • Place your pie on a baking sheet (I like to put a piece of parchment over it) to catch any drips from baking.
  • Using a pastry brush, coat the pie all over with egg wash mixture. Sprinkle it with the remaining sugar (I like to add a dash more cinnamon here, but you don't have to!). Using a sharp knife, cut a few slits in the top of your pie to allow it to vent while baking.
  • Place the pie into the oven, and put a pie crust shield on if you have one (you can make one out of foil if you don't! This will keep your edges from burning).
  • Bake the pie for about an hour and 15 minutes, until it is golden brown and the juices are bubbly. It's really important to make sure you don't underbake it! I remove the crust shield at this point and bake about 10 more minutes.
  • Allow the pie to rest on the counter for a half hour or so before serving. This gives the juices time to settle.
  • We like to drop a big fat scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
  • When making this pie, you can chill it, unbaked, overnight and bake it the next day to make things go more smoothly. Just don't forget to add the egg wash before baking.
  • You can also fully bake it the day before and serve it at room temperature or warm it back up in a 350° oven for 30 minutes.

Notes

For prepping the apples, THIS contraption will make your life SO quick and easy! I detest peeling apples, so this is a game changer.
This is my go-to Pastry blender!
And as for a pie crust shield, this is the one I use!
Oh, and a note about the Cinnamon.... (Get you some HERE!)
"Korintje cinnamon is the most popular type of cinnamon used by professional bakers. It’s what makes their cinnamon rolls and apple pies taste extra special! Trust this high-grade pure cinnamon to provide the classic, sweet flavor your remember from your childhood.
We know how much time and love you put into making cookies, cakes, and pies for family gatherings and to give as gifts. That’s why we want you to use the best."
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Delicious and Easy Meat-Free Spaghetti Parmesan

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Spaghetti Parmesan

In an effort to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and maybe save some money since the world has gone mad and the prices of meat are through the roof, we have been trying to work more meat-free meals into our rotation. We are by no means vegetarians, but I am learning to appreciate the simplicity of these recipes. Cutting out the meat doesn’t mean you have to cut out the flavor! Thus, this dang delicious Meat-Free Spaghetti Parmesan recipe was born! 

Now, there are a few variations that you can do here. Personally, I love using my Ninja Foodi for its multi-use functionality. Less dishes, easier cooking, faster time to get dinner on the table…all big wins for this mama! (Check the recipe notes for my reasoning/method).

If I am not using my Foodi, my RockCrock Dutch Oven is my go-to! I absolutely love that I can take it from stove-top to oven and not have to dirty an additional baking dish. You could even cook your pasta in it and remove to drain/keep warm while your sauce simmers. These two tools (the Foodi and RockCrock Dutch Oven) are my kitchen powerhouses. They have both been the best investments!

If you want to make this meal with meat, you can either add browned ground beef at the “simmering the sauce” stage, or (my personal preference!) make it with chicken. To do the chicken variation, combine your sauce, tomatoes and seasonings in a slow cooker (another win for the Foodi!). Add a few chicken breasts and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken breasts with a fork (or this amazing meat shredder). Proceed with the recipe as is- or- you can do the cheese/crumb steps and then serve over pasta rather than stirring it in. 

Okay whew! Now that I have loaded you down with variations…the recipe! Let me know in the comments if you try it! 

Spaghetti Parmesan

Meat-Free Spaghetti Parmesan

Make meat-free Monday a little more exciting with this easy, flavorful Spaghetti Parm! It's the crispy topping for me!
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: italian, meat free meals, parmesan, recipe, spaghetti
Servings: 8

Equipment

  • Ninja Foodi, Slow cooker or a deep baking dish. (I prefer the Foodi, myself)

Ingredients

  • 1 Large can of Italian style diced tomatoes
  • 1 Can or jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
  • Italian seasoning to taste (I use about a TBSP)
  • 1 Bag of frozen spinach, microwaved and squeezed out. (You could use fresh and wilt it in a pan first)
  • 1 6oz bag Shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1.5 cups Panko crumbs
  • 4 TBSP melted butter
  • 1 box spaghetti, cooked and drained

Instructions

  • Combine tomatoes, sauce and seasoning and simmer it for a few. It brings out the flavor! *See notes
  • Add the spinach and stir to combine.
  • Add cooked spaghetti and stir it in well.
  • Top with Parm cheese and cover to melt.
  • Combine Panko crumbs and melted butter.
  • Top with Panko crumb mixture and brown (this is why I LOVE using my Foodi!)

Notes

The best way to enjoy this recipe is using a Ninja Foodi. You can do almost all of the steps together. 
If using a Foodi, you will simmer your sauce and add the pasta on the "sauteé" setting. When it comes time to add the cheese and eventually crumbs, I switch over to the "bake" setting.
If you don't have a Foodi (you need to get one), you can do this in the oven by simmering your sauce on the stove top and then combining everything into a baking dish and using the oven for the cheese/crumb steps. A good Oven-Safe pan works great too! I absolutely love my RockCrock Dutch oven! Stovetop to oven to broiler with no issues!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Full week of meal plans, grocery lists included!

The Most Bangin’ Blackstone Breakfasts

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Blackstone Breakfasts

If you don’t own a Blackstone yet, you need to hop on the bandwagon as quickly as possible. (Walmart consistently has the best prices on them! That’s where I would buy one if I were you. Click HERE for current deals on them.) It is our favorite way to cook, and I secretly love that my husband does most of the work and cleanup on days that we use it. 🙂 Making breakfast is one of our most common uses, and I have rounded up a handful of the most bomb Blackstone Breakfasts to help you break yours in. 

Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned vet, cooking at home or on the go at the campground, these are tried-and-true crowd pleasers. Click the pink links or the images for the recipe.

When you’re done, head over to my viral Blackstone Recipe Roundup and grab a few dinner ideas, too…. 

Blackstone Favorites

Blackstone Folded Breakfast Quesadillas

Stef’s Eats and Sweets NAILED it with these delicious Folded Breakfast Quesadillas! This is a super yummy take on the folded quesadilla TikTok trend and an easy breakfast to bust out on your griddle. 

Blackstone Folded Breakfast Quesadillas

Blackstone Sausage and Egg Loaded Hash Browns

Oh. Em. Gee. This is fantastic, y’all. If you are familiar with my Favorite Blackstone Griddle Recipes, you know that I love the Or Whatever You Do blog! Fluffy eggs, sliced sausage and a load of cheese, wrapped in crispy hash browns? Sign me up! Grab the recipe here.

Blackstone Sausage and Egg Loaded Hash Browns

The Best Breakfast Sandwich

Straight from Blackstone themselves, check out Chef Nate’s killer breakfast sammich. This one is a must-try and great for camping.

The Best Breakfast Sandwich

Breakfast Scramble on the Blackstone

Watch the video. Seriously, you will be sold. Just go watch it.

Breakfast Scramble on the Blackstone

S’mores Pancakes

Nothing says camping quite like S’mores! These S’mores pancakes are super easy, and a huge hit with the kids!

S'mores Pancakes

Grilled Cinnamon Rolls

Okay so, Julie grills these on a grill. But we LOVE doing these on our Blackstone! Easy and fun, these rock for home or the campground. 

Grilled Cinnamon Rolls

GRIDDLE GIRL Breakfast Pancake Tacos

Okay sit down for this one. These are amazing. You’ll need the Taco Holder to pull this off, but it will be worth it, I promise! Having girlfriends over for brunch? Wow them with this sweet, fruity breakfast!

GRIDDLE GIRL Breakfast Pancake Tacos

Stuffed French Toast

French toast is good. French toast stuffed with gooey cream cheese and fresh fruit? To die for! This is one of my top favorites, and you can switch up the fruit to suit the seasons! Fresh berries or peaches in the summer, apple in the fall…you get the idea. So good.

Stuffed French Toast

While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and talk about this Pineapple and Pork French Toast. If you love Hawaiian flavors, this is a must-try! 

Pineapple and Pork French Toast

And then let’s head on over to the Spicy Southern Kitchen blog for this dang delicious Bacon Stuffed French Toast. 

Bacon Stuffed French Toast

Okay, okay. I know. I am on a French Toast trip. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this Drunken Rum French Toast, too. Adults only, of course.

Drunken Rum French Toast

Bacon and Corn Griddle Cakes

These are a great savory breakfast. They also make a great breakfast for dinner option! 

Bacon and Corn Griddle Cakes

Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

Okay so, these may feel like more of a dessert than a breakfast…but they are so good! Perfect for birthdays, company or special occasions. My girls love pineapple anything, so this is a huge hit! 

Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

Bacon Pancake Dippers

Sure, you could do these inside. But they are way easier, and taste way better, on a Blackstone! You can have bacon cooking on one side and then the batter-coated-bacon on the other. Plus, kids really enjoy these and they are great for camping trips!

Bacon Pancake Dippers

Banana Bread Griddle Cakes

If you’ve been around long, you know this mama loves her some banana bread. (check out my two favorite recipes HERE and HERE). These griddle cakes give me all the heart eyes. Look at the gooey topping…SO good!
Banana Bread Griddle Cakes

While we are getting fancy with pancakes, these Carrot Cake Pancakes are amazing, too!

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Breakfast Chorizo and Eggs

Last, but definitely not least: a spicy and savory Mexican breakfast! She does this one in a skillet, but its really easy and delicious on the griddle! Plus, you can go ahead and cook up some breakfast potatoes and warm some tortillas while you’re at it!

Breakfast Chorizo and Eggs

There you go! A super delicious round-up of all of our favorite Blackstone breakfast dishes in one convenient spot. Make sure you Pin and save this one for later, because I have a feeling you will be checking back often! 

Have you tried any of these? Do you have any other bangin’ breakfasts we can add? Drop me a comment below! 

Before you leave, check out my viral list of our FAVORITE Blackstone recipes!

Blackstone Favorites

Brown Sugar Banana Bread (Freezer Batch Recipe!)

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Brown Sugar Banana Bread (Bulk Prep Recipe!)

Is there a much more cozy breakfast than slicing up a warm loaf of banana bread, adding a little butter and relaxing with a cup of coffee? My Brown Sugar Banana Bread is moist, chewy and delicious, with a crispy texture on the top! 

This particular recipe will make 6 loaves, using these foil pans. I prefer to do them this way because they come together in minutes, and then I have a stash in the freezer to thaw out when I need it! If I have a friend who had a baby, or is having a rough week, I just pop one of these out and deliver it a few hours later! Surprise guests over for coffee? Warm it up and I’m good to go! Or if I just want a little something special for my sweet family, having a loaf ready to roll makes my mornings so much easier.

I personally am obsessed with the simple brown sugar sprinkle on top. My kids love the ones with chocolate chips! You can go crazy here. Add peanut butter chips, walnuts, caramel bits…whatever you like! 

Hop on down to the bottom for the Brown Sugar Banana Bread recipe. 

Love Pumpkin Everything?? You have to try this Pumpkin Banana Bread with a Cream Cheese Swirl!

Pumpkin Banana Bread with a Cream Cheese Swirl
Brown Sugar Banana Bread (Bulk Prep Recipe!)

Brown Sugar Banana Bread

This is the most delicious, chewy bread with a crisp texture on top! Make the recipe as is for about 6 small-ish loaves, or you can cut it in half or even quarter if you just want a loaf or two to enjoy!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack
Keyword: banana bread,, breakfast, breakfast recipe, dessert, recipe

Equipment

  • Mixer
  • Loaf pans (See note)

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 8 large over-ripe bananas
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Sprinkle Extra Brown sugar or chocolate chips , optional for topping!! (But sooo good! 🤤)

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°
  • Mash bananas (I use my mixer!)
  • Add oil, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix well.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.
  • Gradually add dry mix to wet ingredients and combine well.
  • Spray pans pans with cooking spray (I like to use foil for ease of freezing/deliver! See the recipe notes for the exact ones!).
  • Divide batter evenly among pans. 
  • Top with extra brown sugar and chocolate chips of desired.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes, until center is set.
  • If you’re freezing, let them cool and wrap tightly! Then place inside of a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months!

Notes

I use THESE loaf pans, and tightly wrap and freeze my extra loaves! They are great to have on hand for quick breakfasts or to drop off to a friend who is having a rough time. They rock!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How to Make Gooey Lactation Brownies From a Boxed Mix!

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Super Easy Lactation Brownie Recipe

Do you struggle with low milk supply? I feel you, mama. I have battled this with both of my daughters, especially my first. I shelled out tons of money buying lactation treats online…and they did actually work! But as a stay at home mom, it just wasn’t feasible in our budget to keep up with that. I worked hard to develop my (now viral) chewy chocolate chip lactation cookies that work like magic, and today I am going to teach you a crazy easy way to make Lactation Brownies From a Boxed Mix! (I make them from scratch when I am operating my home baking business, but I realize that most people don’t have that kind of time!) You’ll want to hop on over to Pinterest and save this one, because you’ll be referencing it often! 

Lactation Brownie Ingredients

First, you will want to grab a family size (make sure you do family size, not regular!) box of your favorite brownie mix! I like the Pillsbury Chocolate fudge or the Ghirardelli myself. The flavor variety literally does not matter. The sky is the limit! 

You will also need good Brewer’s Yeast powder. Trust me, they are not all created equally. Some leave a gross aftertaste, so take my advice on this one! I love the Mommy Knows Best brand because it is completely tasteless! Plus it’s non GMO and doesn’t have anything extra added to it. You can grab it on Amazon here and they sometimes have it on sale! One bag will last you a while, even if you make these often!

Lactation Brownie Ingredients

I like to add Ghirardelli chocolate chips to mine. They give it a really gooey texture. You can leave these out if you want, or substitute really any add in that you like! M&M’s candy, peanut butter chips, Reese’s Pieces, Caramel Bits, Nuts…go crazy if you want to! 

Lactation Brownie Ingredients

You also need good Rolled Oats and Ground Flax Seed. I realized after I took these pictures that I forgot to include the Flax Seed in the photos. Don’t skip that step! This is a good Flax Seed Brand! These two things, coupled with the Brewer’s Yeast are your galactagogues, so don’t leave them out!

Before you start anything else, combine your Flax seed meal and water in a small prep bowl and let it soak (sorry that I forgot a pic of this step. Literally stir them together and let them sit a few minutes).

Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

Lactation Brownie mix

Add in the regular brownie ingredients (eggs, oil, water), as called for on the box. Also add your soaked Flax seed here. 

Lactation Brownie mix

Stir in your mix-ins.

Lactation Brownie mix
Lactation brownie batter

Grease your pan and add the mix. You can use a regular 9×13 pan, but I personally am obsessed with my Pampered Chef Brownie Pan. All of the brownies have that edge-piece crisp with the chewy center. Plus they are perfectly portioned and easy to freeze (more on that later).

The Best Brownie Pan for Perfect edge pieces!

Bake according to the package directions! With my brownie pan, it takes about 20 minutes. With a 9×13, usually around 30 or so. 

Homemade Lactation Brownies

Let them cool and voila! Perfectly gooey, easy lactation brownies! 

Homemade Lactation Brownies

These make a fantastic gift for a new mama, too! So even if you aren’t nursing babies, go ahead and save this one. It’s so easy to make Lactation Brownies From a Boxed Mix and your friends will thank you! 

The easiest homemade lactation brownies!

Now, before we get to the actual recipe, a note on freezing. If I am having a decent supply week, I eat one of these a day. If I am sensing a supply drop (around my period, stress, etc) I will do two a day. When I am on my two-a-day kick (sometimes I just do it because I can’t help myself 🙂 ), it is no problem at all to eat these before they start to get dry. I just keep them in an airtight container on the counter. 

But on the weeks where I am only eating one at a time, after a few days they begin to dry out. To combat this, most of the time I just make a batch, wrap them in these little self-seal bags and pop them into the freezer! It keeps them fresh for a long time, and I just pull one out when I want it. Most of the time I don’t even let it thaw!

One final note: You may be familiar with the term “Emergency brownies,” made popular by several Lactation treat companies. That just means they are more potent and help boost supply quickly. If you want to make these ER brownies, add an additional two TBSP of Brewer’s Yeast and double the flax seed/water (and don’t leave out the mix-ins! The extra calories give more of a boost). They will taste a little bit different, but still so good!

The easiest homemade lactation brownies!

How to Make Gooey Lactation Brownies From a Boxed Mix!

Need lactation brownies but don't want to break the bank? Try this super easy recipe to Make Gooey Lactation Brownies From a Boxed Mix!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: brownies,, lactation brownies, lactation cookies, lactation treats
Servings: 12

Equipment

  • Brownie Pan
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 box Family Size (9x13) Brownie Mix Any brand and variety will do!
  • Eggs, oil and water According to the recipe on the box!
  • 4 tbsp Brewer's Yeast See notes
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 tbsp Flax Seed Meal, soaked in 3 tbsp water
  • 1 cup Your favorite mix-in (chocolate chips, Reese's Pieces, Nuts, Andes Mints, etc)- Totally optional!

Instructions

  • In a small prep bowl, combine your flax seed meal and water and allow it to soak for a few minutes.
  • Preheat oven according to the box mix. Most are 350º.
  • Combine all dry ingretients in a mixing bowl.
  • Add wet ingredients, according to the package. Also add the soaked flax seed meal here.
  • Stir in any mix-ins, if you so desire!
  • Spread batter into a greased 9x13 pan or brownie pan and bake according to the package directions!
  • Eat 1-2 a day. Store in the freezer for a longer shelf-life!

Notes

These make a fantastic gift for new moms! Customize them however you want! Below are my ingredient recommendations for best flavor and nutrition!
Brownie Mix
Brewer's Yeast (This brand is the best! No taste at all)
Flax Seed Meal
Rolled Oats
Brownie Pan: Perfectly crispy edges with a chewy center!
I love these little baggies for freezing them! 
 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Lactation Cookie Recipe
Increase Milk Supply
Breastfeeding Must-haves
Full week of meal plans, grocery lists included!

Overwhelmed by the Task of Raising Godly Children?

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Raising Godly Children

Are you overwhelmed by the task of raising Godly children with the state of our world right now? I hear you, mama. There is so much unknown, and in the face of Cancel culture, it can be a real struggle. Read on for some encouragement and practical steps you can take. 

Remember that we do this by His strength, not our own.

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
-Isaiad 41:10

Seek the truth in the Bible directly. Not from what a “scholar” or influencer tells you it says. False teaching is abundant right now, and so damaging. Get in the Word! 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
-Matthew 24:35

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
–Hebrews 13:8

Speak the truth boldly. Do not compromise your faith just because “cancel culture” tells you that you have to.

Teach your children the truth of God’s Word. And the value of sharing that without apology. There is far too much on the line.

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
-2 Corinthians 4:2

Remember that He will have the last word. The victory is already won!

55 “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
-1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Don’t lose hope, we are in this together. You are not alone! He has you, and you’ve got this!

“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” – Psalm 127:4

While you’re here, check out my meal planning mom-hack that saves me hours every week! 

Meal Planning made easy!

The Cutest Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies!

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Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies

Wow! It’s been a hot minute since I shared some decorated sugar cookies with you guys! I’ve been enjoying a break from baking to focus on our family, but when my sweet friend Sam contacted me needing Crossfit Baby Shower Sugar Cookies, I couldn’t say no! This theme is adorable.

The parents were not finding out the gender, so we kept it neutral: mint, coral and royal blue. As avid Crossfitters, we had to work the kettlebells and weights in there, too! 

Kettlebell baby rattle cookie

The kettlebell rattle is simply an Ann Clark Rattle cutter flipped over.  The scripted Baby cutter is this one from BobbisCutters on Etsy.

Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies

The weight is done using a simple Circle Cookie Cutter.

Barbell Crossfit Baby Shower Cookie

The onesie is done using this Ann Clark Onesie Cutter. Of course, we had to add the barbell on there! 

Onesie Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies

These were made using my melt-in-your-mouth no spread sugar cookie dough, and decorated with my viral royal icing recipe! 

Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies

Brb. Obsessing over how cute these turned out! I totally want to throw a Crossfit Baby Shower now!

Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies
Crossfit Baby Shower Cookies

If you’re planning a Crossfit Baby Shower, you have to hop over to Etsy! My mind is blown by how many cute theme-y items are on there! I mean just look at a few of them:

Crossfit Baby Shower Theme
Crossfit Baby Shower Theme

Here’s the link to that Baby cookie cutter!

Script Baby Cookie Cutter

Grab that Melt-in-your-mouth Cookie Dough Recipe Here!

Sugar Cookie recipe

And my viral Royal Icing recipe here!

Royal Icing Recipe

LOVEVERY: The Play Kits Full Review

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LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit

I have always been a huge fan of the Montessori style of teaching (learn more about it here), which focuses on child-led play and development, designed around their natural interests. Even with our 3 year old, I have sought to really support and develop the things that draw her in. So when LOVEVERY offered to send me a Montessori-inspired play kit to review for our 17 month old Lillie, I jumped right on it! 

To be honest, I’ve been eyeing them for a long time. I am so thankful for the opportunity to test it out with our littles and am doing a full review below! If you’ve been considering it too, read on!

As I have mentioned in my other product reviews, I am a huge packaging snob. Good packaging can almost always sell me on a product before I even crack it open! LOVEVERY did not disappoint in this area. The kit arrived in a sturdy, crush-proof box and you are met with beautiful imagery from the moment you lift the flap.

LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit

There is a handy reference chart that shows you which age-range kit you are receiving and a breakdown of what is inside. Our girl was sent The Pioneer Play Kit this time. 

LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit

Each toy is carefully and thoughtfully packaged in, to prevent damage in shipping. They also include a really well-made play guide for the parents! It explains each toy and how you can use it to maximize your child’s learning. Even more valuable is the detailed information on the social, emotional, communication, motor skills, and problem-solving milestones your child may explore at this stage.

LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit contents

Here is a breakdown of The Pioneer Play Kit:

LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit
LOVEVERY puzzle and Race and Chase Ramp
LOVEVERY Play Guide
LOVEVERY Play Guide

Honestly, I was really impressed with how many toys you get in the play kit, and how sturdy and well made they are! They may look simple, but they are quality. Minimalist Montessori design allows room for creativity to flow, and each toy is really beautiful! 

LOVEVERY Pioneer Play Kit

My little one saw me opening the box, and she was so anxious to play that she was not thrilled with how long I was taking to photograph everything! 

We busted out the Fuzzy Bug Shrub first, and she was immediately drawn in.

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

She had fun babbling about the types of bugs, and proudly showed me each one, over and over.

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

It may seem incredibly simple, but she literally played with this for 45 minutes without asking for anything else. I was the one that initiated a switch in toys! If nothing else, I am already amazed by the attention-span development that this Play Kit has brought. None of the electronic toys hold even close to this time.

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy
The Play Kits by Lovevery
LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

Next, I broke out the Wooden Stacking Peg Board. I was amazed that she just naturally knew what to do. I did not have to explain it one bit! Her little mind was just drawn in and she figured it out.

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

She had so much fun just stacking them up and tearing it down, over and over again. 

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy
LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

Again, we got another 30 or so minutes of pure entertainment before I switched her to another activity. So far we were over an hour in and only tried out two of the toys.

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

While the first two activities were very natural (and highly entertaining!), the Stringing Bead Toy was more of a challenge for her, which I liked. It frustrated her a little at first, but her brain worked to figure it out. Before I knew it, she was happily threading and removing beads by herself.

LOVEVERY Montessori Bead Toy
Toddler Play Kits by Lovevery
LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

What was the most surprising to me was the amount of interest this Play Kit garnered from our 3 year old, Addie (excuse our bed-head). She was immediately curious as to what her sister was doing and wanted to play too. After a short skirmish about sharing, I instituted a timer where I rotated them between the girls  so that they could each play with an activity.

LOVEVERY BIG KID PLAY KIT

She could play with the simple Stacking Peg Board toy for hours herself. Mama will definitely be ordering her a kit for her age! 

LOVEVERY Montessori Toy

Since taking the pictures for this review, we have also fallen in love with the Race and Chase ramp, and the girls giggle and play with it often (you can see a video in my Instagram Reels!). Lillie absolutely loves the ‘Max and Nana go to the Park’ Board Book (What happens when you get hurt? A story about learning to process and manage emotions). She will carry it around saying “Oh, Max!” Seriously. Cutest. Thing. Ever. And it’s a super simple book, so it fascinates me how much she has taken to it. The sweet garden puzzle challenges her, but we are working on it and I love a good challenge! 

My biggest takeaway? 

LOVEVERY is worth every dime, and is way cheaper than a babysitter! If you are a work-at-home parent like I am, these Play Kits are invaluable! Any time I pull this kit out, both of my children (now 18 months and 3 years) will engage with it easily for a couple of hours. Most of the time, this is independent play, which has always been a struggle for us with our oldest. Worth it, over and over again!

What’s really cool?

You can start your child from day 1 with a Play Kit tailored to their developmental stage. I only wish I had known about LOVEVERY when my babies were tiny. Next one, Lord willing!

LOVEVERY description

They have a beautifully crafted Play Gym that is designed to give your child an entire year of play! I don’t know about you, but my girls were over their simple play gym by about 3 months, once they could roll out from under it.

LOVEVERY Play Gym

The Montessori Playshelf

I am super intrigued by this, and when we finally build our home, may just have to order one! Check out this goodness, straight from their site:

“Bring the benefits of a Montessori play experience to your home with The Playshelf by Lovevery. The 2-in-1 shelf makes toy rotation and storage simple in a modern, 100% birchwood design. Display the optimal number of playthings at a time for deeper learning at your child’s pace, and keep out-of-rotation toys out of sight for a calm, clutter-free playspace. Watch your child take the lead on their learning as they naturally follow their interests, respect their toys, and embrace order.

Key Features

  • 2-in-1 shelf makes for simple toy rotation and storage of up to 6 Play Kits
  • Montessori-inspired design
  • Includes 2 Wooden Trays and 2 Storage Bins
  • 100% FSC-certified Baltic birch
  • Soft-close technology to protect your child’s fingers
LOVEVERY Montessori Playshelf

There’s an entire Home Collection that is filled with purposeful decor to stimulate your child. There is a a 5-star rated Block set, thoughtfully designed to provide years of purposeful play. You can even create a Baby Registry to stock your home with unique toys for your baby. Definitely give LOVEVERY a look over, you will not be sorry!

The Play Gym by Lovevery

A Sweet Fox Baby Shower

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Southwestern Baby Shower Theme

One of my sweetest girl friends is expecting a precious baby boy very soon! Myself and the other staff wives from our church threw her a sweet southwestern fox themed baby shower this past weekend and I am obsessed with how it came out! The theme was simple: organic earthy colors, centered around a set of watercolor fox, owl and cactus prints that she ordered off of Etsy. (These exact ones, if you are looking!). 

Our church has been utilizing a farm for service during this whole Pandemic and they have been kind enough to allow us to host events like this there. It was the perfect venue for this little shower!

Friends at Baby Shower

Isn’t she just the cutest little mama?!

Greenery Baby Shower

Our friend Crystal brought the earthy vibe with some canvas tablecloths, burlap and greenery from her home. We had guests fill out this sweet journal with notes to mama, and also write their address on Thank you card envelopes to make life easier on the parents-to-be!

Southwestern Themed Baby Shower

The “barn” that we use is really just a large, open pavilion type of deal, so we had guests enter by this table and set up the gift table just past it. Some of the sweet girls went out into the fields and picked wildflowers to fill vases around the barn, which could not have been more perfect! 

Southwestern Fox and Cactus Sugar Cookies

A simple whitewashed crate brought some dimension to the desserts! The sugar cookies were our party favor, and we placed those in a simple seagrass basket like this one!

Southwestern Fox and Cactus Sugar Cookies

I, of course, made the cake and cookies! I have taken a major step back from my baking business, but I truly enjoy doing things like these for my friends and family! Hand painting them for the watercolor effect is my favorite anyway, and it matched perfectly her prints!

They are made using my no-spread sugar cookie dough (recipe here) and viral royal icing recipe. The fox is done with this cute little fox cutter from Ann Clark, and the cactus is done with this one! 

Southwestern Fox and Cactus Sugar Cookies

I had a wooden cake plate on hand that was just right! 

Watercolor Fox and Cactus Cake
Wildflowers

I have actually ordered Snake Plants from Amazon and been super happy with them! You can’t beat the price! 

Snake Plant

Again, how sweet are these prints?! 

Watercolor Fox Nursery Prints
Greenery Baby Shower

His round name sign was made by our sweet friend Lauren with White Flag Design Co. Check out her Insta to see some of the other amazing ones she has done and request a quote! 

Watercolor Fox Baby Shower Set Up
Fox Prints
Watercolor Owl Nursery Prints
Watercolor Owl Nursery Prints

The journal is so sweet and special. I know Morgan will cherish it in the days to come.

You are Loved journal
Thank You Notes Envelopes

Lauren found these cute little fox napkins on Amazon (here) and they worked out great!

Fox Baby Shower Napkins

At Morgan’s request, we did grilled hot dogs using this awesome portable grill. I am 100% a fan of simple food, and these were great!

Cuisinart Portable Grill Hot Dog Station
Cuisinart Portable Grill Hot Dog Station
Fox Napkins

You just can’t go wrong with backyard barbecue food! Watermelon, chips and hot dogs all the way! 

Cookout Baby Shower Food
Wild Daisies
Round Nursery Sign

LOVE this sign by White Flag Design Co.

Round Nursery Sign
Watercolor Fox Baby Shower Table
Baby Shower Gift Table

What’s a baby shower without a little blind baby food taste test?! 

Baby Shower Baby Food Tasting
Watercolor Fox Baby Shower Cake

We had so much fun throwing this little get together, and the details were so simple but came together amazingly well!  Love you, Morgan! We can’t wait to cuddle sweet Ashby!

Watercolor Fox Baby Shower

While you’re here, go ahead and grab that royal icing recipe!

Royal Icing Recipe
Postpartum Must Haves
Breastfeeding Must-haves
Boho Rainbow First Birthday

The Most Fun Baking Kits to Do With Your Kids!

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FoodStirs Unicorn Treat Pops

How cute are those Unicorn Treat Pops (and the little face that is so proud of them)?! We had such a good time with this fun baking kit, and I am here to break it all down for you! Foodstirs offered to send me one of these boxes for Addie and I to make together, and I am so glad that I said yes! (They have several Fun Baking Kits to choose from!)

Activities like this are so fun for me, not only because I am a baker and love involving my girl in cooking, but also because I can build her confidence. As much as possible, I love to allow her to do things herself. Plus, Foodstirs is a “junk-free” company, so everything is organic and mama doesn’t have to feel guilty!

Foodstirs Baking Kit

Everything arrived in a super high-quality box, packaged really well. We had fun unboxing it, and Addie was tickled to see all of the supplies!

Foodstirs Baking Kit
Foodstirs Baking Kit

Seriously, the branding and packaging nut in me could not get enough of this cute kit!

Foodstirs Unicorn Baking Kit

The little stickers for the pops were a huge hit! Anyone with a 3 year old knows that stickers are life right now. 

Foodstirs Unicorn Baking Kit
Enjoy the Foodstirs Bake & Color Activity Book!
FoodStirs Unicorn Treat Pops Instructions

Each baking kit comes with a handy little card that tells you what is included in your kit and also what tools and ingredients you will need to gather beforehand. 

Spend $30 or more on kits or mixes, receive 1 FREE Cinnamon Swirl Mug Cake (4 pack)
Kids doing Foodstirs activity kits

Addie can’t read yet, but she was so excited looking at the pictures and helping me figure out what we needed to round up! 

Sitting on the kitchen counter cooking with me is her favorite. I pray she holds onto these memories and precious times together for life. What a special thing FoodStirs offers, making this easier on parents that are not bakers by nature! 

Unicorn Treat Pops Baking Kit Supplies

First, we gathered up all of our supplies. Honestly, you don’t need too much! Most everything I had on hand, including the extra ingredients. My Stoneware Bar Pan is my go-to for stuff like this, and was perfect for this kit!

FoodStirs Unicorn Treat Pops Baking Kit

Next, I let Addie add all of the ingredients to the mixing bowl herself (I helped crack the eggs).

Baking Kit Cake mix
Baking Kit Cake Mix in bowl

I let her use our Hand Mixer to blend everything together well.

Baking Kit Cake Batter

We spread the batter out in our Bar Pan and baked according to the instructions from the Kit! 

Bar Pan with Cake Mix

While the cake baked, we went ahead and started making the icing. It was so easy, guys! You just add the yogurt and butter to a bowl.

Foodstirs Baking Kit Icing

Mix well using a hand mixer.

Foodstirs Baking Kit Icing

And add the icing mix in, mixing well again! 

This particular kit calls for you to separate the icing into three bowls:

Baking Kit Icing Bowls

Then, you use the included plant-based dye packets to color your icing! No questionable colorings here!

Plant-based food coloring packets in the FoodStirs Baking Kit

You wind up with blue, pink and purple. In hindsight, I should have stuck these into the fridge for a bit after this part (more on that in a minute). So if you are following along, I suggest you do that! 

Baking Kit Unicorn Icing

Once we got our icing done, it was time to take the cake out of the oven! 

Bar Pan Vanilla Cake

I was a little impatient and flipped it out of the pan a little sooner than I should have, which caused a tad bit of cracking. Really not a big deal though, because we had way more cake than we needed! The scraps were fun to eat while we worked. 

Vanilla Sheet Cake

Now, for the fun! Once the cake is fully cooled, you use the Treat Pop container to cut rounds out of your cake. 

Cake Rounds for Unicorn Treat pops

Our cake was still a teeny bit warm, so we went ahead and set up the pop stand next! Really easy. You tape the cute little enclosed card to the top of the box, and then use scissors to make holes for the treat pops to stand! Don’t skip this! It was really cute, and also made life so much easier during assembly. 

Baking Kit Treat Pop Stand

Now that all of the parts were done, it was time to assemble! We had a blast making a mess and tasting as we went.

Unicorn Baking Kit Assembly Process
Unicorn Baking Kit Assembly Process

If you aren’t baking-inclined, let me show you how easy this part is. Seriously. So easy! You just push a cake round down into each pop container:

Baking Kit Assembly

Add a spoonful of one of your colored icings to each:

Baking Kit Assembly

Add another cake round:

Layered Treat Pop assembly

Another layer of icing, in a different color:

Layered Treat Pop assembly

Top with a final cake round. We had a lot left over!

Layered Treat Pop assembly

Last, you swirl icing on top. I used a piping bag and a wilton star tip. Now, here is where the baker OCD got the best of me. I am not sure if our butter was too soft or what. But the icing came out a bit thin and did not hold its shape how I wanted it to. No worries, because it tasted delicious! I truly think letting it chill in the fridge for a bit, and maybe adding a little extra powdered sugar would likely have fixed this issue.

As you can see, they kind of “wilted” a bit. I also let Addie do the swirls, so my perfectionism had to take a back seat. 

Foodstirs Unicorn Treat Pop Baking Kit
Foodstirs Unicorn Treat Pop Baking Kit

The final step was putting the sticker “faces” on them, which was a huge hit! 

Foodstirs Unicorn Treat Pop Baking Kit

She had so much fun. I had so much fun. And Daddy and Lillie had a blast enjoying them with us! 

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this Unicorn Baking Kit! It was super easy to follow, even if you are a novice baker. An older child could probably even do it themselves, with some supervision. These would make such a fun and unique gift! Plus, check out some of the other kits:

 

This Out of This World Donut Kit is next on my list! How FUN!

If you need an idea to entertain your kiddos, or just want something fun to do to connect, go ahead and order yourself one of these kits. We will be doing more, for sure! 

Also, check it! They have a whole line of Keto-friendly sweets! Yes, please! 

Shop the KETO Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Today!

Before you go, grab my viral Bakery-Style Chocolate Buttercream Recipe! 

Bakery Style Chocolate Buttercream recipe

Also be sure and check out my Meal Planning Hack that saves me HOURS each week! 

Meal Planning made easy!

A Pour Paint Date Night (with a delicious Cheese Fondue Recipe!)

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Cheese Fondue and Wine Date Night

Ya’ll. Babysitters are expensive, for real. My husband and I don’t have family in town, so if we want to leave the house for a date, you can just go ahead and tack on an extra $40 to that bill. I was craving some one on one time a few weeks back, so I planned this fun little Pour Paint Date Night on our porch, complete with homemade cheese fondue (recipe at the bottom of this post!).

Floating Deck with Patio furniture and cafe lights

Last summer, we did a total makeover of our side yard area, and my sweet husband built me this amazing deck. We love spending time on it, especially on these warm summer nights. We recently moved our outdoor dining table down there (long story), and it was a great spot to set up for painting.

Pour Painting Date Night set up

Isn’t that little seating area so cute?! Seriously love sitting out there, and it did not cost much, at all! You can grab this seating set for less than $300 on Amazon right now (HERE). We also snagged the triangle sun shade and string lights from Amazon. 

Pour Painting Date Night set up

To protect our furniture, I laid down some cheap plastic paint drop cloths. I have been drooling over pour painting videos on Pinterest and YouTube for months. Something about it looked so satisfying to me and I knew I wanted to try it out. 

One day I was hunting for deals for my Deals Group (JOIN US if you aren’t in there!) and came across a killer deal on this pour painting kit. I couldn’t say no! It seemed like the perfect date night. Creating is powerful and a unique way to connect. A big multi-pack of canvases and we were all set! 

Pour Painting Kit

This kit was perfect for us as beginners! It came with tons of colors, metallic included! Paint brushes, gloves and the oil that you use to make the “cells.” We were able to get about 5 11×14 paintings done with this kit, and a couple of smaller ones. Definitely not bad for the price! 

Complete Pour Painting Kit
Complete Pour Painting Kit
Metallic Pour Paint

I got that all set up during our girls’ nap time. As I made dinner for them, I started prepping out our “dippers” for the fondue! I knew that I wanted to do a savory fondue this time, since our go-to is usually chocolate (Grab my recipe here). 

And then while Mike was getting the oldest to bed, I went ahead and whipped up the cheese fondue (recipe below), and set it to stay warm in our fondue pot. As soon as both girls were down, we carried everything out! 

Cheese fondue

For dippers, I went with broccoli, lil’ smokies, French baguette and Granny Smith apples. I saw the apple idea on Pinterest and to be honest, I wasn’t sure. But it actually was amazing with the tang of the cheese!

Charcuterie board for fondue
Glasses of red wine

What’s a date night without a good bottle of Merlot?! We love Winc and their entire customization process. It’s nice to have some on hand for sweet evenings like this! I also love using these lowball wine glasses because I am notorious for breaking mine. 

Fondue Date Night

Because we live in the mountains, we get tons of mosquitoes. I lit our tabletop tiki torch, but quickly decided that it wasn’t enough. So we busted out the Thermacell, too. That thing works miracles, ya’ll! 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that little box beside our food. That, my friends, is a box of the most delicious macarons you will ever taste! As a baker and Macaron snob, I am super choosy. My friend Marlee (Macs by Mar) creates the BEST macarons, hands down. Go give her a follow and order you some. You won’t be sorry!

Fondue Date Night

After we snacked a bit, we got to the painting! It was every bit as fun and satisfying as I imagined that it would be. I mean, look:

Pour Painting with blush and gold

We made a hot mess, but we sure did have fun playing! 

Pour Painting with blush and gold

This one was Michael’s. I absolutely love the way his color contrast came out! 

Pour Painting
Pour Painting
Pour Painting drip

This at home date was seriously so much fun, you guys. It was really nice to unplug and connect with each other, and to do something outside of our norm. If you are wanting to create a special evening- heck even a girls night- I would definitely recommend this! We already had a fondue pot, but even if you had to buy one, you could set this up super cheaply! Now, on to that Cheese fondue recipe!

Cheese fondue

Easy Cheese Fondue

Whip up this super simple cheese fondue in 5 minutes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Course: Appetizer, fondue,
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheese, fondue
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • Fondue Pot

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter salted
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese mild or medium is best!
  • 1 cup Shredded swiss cheese
  • Assorted dippers!

Instructions

  • In a fondue pot (or you can do this in a saucepan on the stove), melt the butter on low.
  • Add in your cornstarch, stirring well.
  • Add the salt.
  • Add in your milk, and stir constantly over medium-low heat until it begins boiling. Continue boiling and stirring for about a minute. Whatever you do, don't stop stirring! If you do, it will stick to the bottom of the pan and you will have a mess.
  • Turn the heat down to low and add your cheese, 1/2 cup at a time. Stir it well and fully melt after each addition.
  • Serve warm with your dippers! I made ours in the fondue pot and set it to warm and it stayed perfect for a few hours!

Notes

This fondue pot is amazing! It makes fondue so much easier and less messy than doing a saucepan or double boiler (for chocolate fondue). 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Check out our delicious chocolate fondue recipe for another fun at-home date night! 

Chocolate Fondue Date Night
Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe

Meal Plan Monday: July 19th-25th

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Meal Plan Monday

Shew, it has been a crazy week. We lost a good friend of ours last week, and things have just been a whirlwind, processing grief and trying to be there for his family. I am so excited to share this week’s meal plan with you guys though, because it is a good one! If you try some of these, let us know. I’m the most excited about those burgers!

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out my meal planning trick that helps me to bust this out in minutes every week! 

Meal Planning made easy!

Monday: Pineapple-Steak Bites with Rice and Broccoli

Pineapple-Steak Bites with Rice and Broccoli

I’ve been on an Asian food kick lately, and my kids on a pineapple kick. This marries the two so beautifully! Do make sure you note that the steak needs to marinate for 4 hours. I missed this when choosing it, but plan to put the meat into the sauce during lunch time today.

Meal Prep Hack: This Pineapple wedger is my BFF right now! I can cut one in seconds, and anything that speeds up dinner time is a win for this busy mama!

Tuesday: Mexican Crunch Cheeseburgers with Cheesy Yellow Rice and Summer Fruit

Mexican Crunch Cheeseburgers with Cheesy Yellow Rice and Summer Fruit

New twist on Taco Tuesday?! Turn it into a burger! We are adding some sautéed peppers and onions, as well as sour cream. But oh my gosh how good do these sound?

Wednesday: Pizza-Stuffed Chicken

Wednesday: Pizza-Stuffed Chicken

Getting my pizza fix without the carbs! I love quick, easy meals like this that I don’t have to feel bad feeding my family.

Meal Prep Hack: The Close & Cut makes slicing chicken a breeze! It is easily one of my most used and favorite kitchen items. You should totally treat yo-self to one ASAP!

Thursday: Everything Club Stromboli

Everything Club Stromboli

Stromboli? Club sandwich? Everything seasoning? This is a big win for sure! Our favorite Everything Seasoning is the Trader Joe’s brand. So good! This is a crowd-pleaser dinner that comes together in minutes. Big win for the second half of what promises to be a busy week!

Friday: Tomato-Feta Chicken with Dill Orzo

Tomato-Feta Chicken with Dill Orzo

It’s like bruschetta on a chicken breast. YUM! The 30 minute meals are my favorite, especially on Fridays so that we can get on to the weekend! 

My husband is a lover of all things lemon. As a surprise, I am treating him to these delicious homemade Lemon Bars for dessert! 

Prep tip: using a citrus press like this one makes extracting the juice so much easier! You will never go back to the fake lemon again!

Fresh Lemon Bars

Saturday: Teriyaki Ground Beef and Broccoli

Teriyaki Ground Beef and Broccoli

Told you. Bad Asian kick lately! I’ve never done ground beef in a teriyaki meal, so I was super intrigued and just had to try this one! 

Sunday: Pancetta Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan Zucchini and Grilled Bread

Pancetta Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan Zucchini and Grilled Bread

Bringing it home for the week with a good ol’ pork tenderloin. Super easy and really flavorful. A lot of the time I roast these in my oven in my Cast Iron Baker rather than grill them. Our forecast is iffy for this Sunday, so that is likely what we will do! 

Need some more inspo? Check out the archives for previous weeks!

Full week of meal plans, grocery lists included!

Grab the recipe for this Easy Icebox Coconut Cream Pie! 

Easy Icebox Coconut Cream Pie

Need a Saturday morning breakfast idea? Try out my “Just Like Grandma Made” Biscuits & Gravy!

Biscuits and gravy recipe

Easy, Beachy Waves!

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My favorite way to create beachy waves is with my L’ange Applatir Flat iron! (The Le Waver is on my short list!). I need to do a full tutorial video on that soon, but it is so simple! You work your hair into sections and simply alternate the direction that you have the flat iron turned! While you’re waiting for my video, my sweet friend Lauren has a great one in her Insta Reels if you need a visual!

Soft Waves Beachy texture spray

This Soft Wave Sea Salt Spray by Not Your Mother’s is my new hair go-to! Not only does it smell amazing, but it doesn’t make my hair feel cakey like most product does. I actually like it best when I use it on my dry hair, on day two or three after washing! It adds a great texture and separation to my beachy waves without being crunchy.

This little hair routine happens about 3 times a week for me lately. I am all for quick styles that get my done and on my way in minutes! 

Have you tried the beachy wave trend?

Huge Savings at L'ange for Black Friday in July. Take 40% off sitewide with code ALL40. Valid through 7/31. Shop now!

Adding to your self-care routine? Check this out! 

Spongelle
Philly cheesesteaks on the Blackstone

A Sweet Little Lemonade Stand: A DIY Tutorial

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Lemonade, sweet tea and cupcake stand

Isn’t this little lemonade stand adorable?!  If you say no, you’re lying. The sweet saleslady is even moreso! I’d buy anything she’s selling! So, how did we get to this? 

A few weeks ago, our three-year-old, Addie, came to me asking if we could buy her her very own camera to take on our beach trip. Usually, we just buy her things like this, but I decided in that moment that this would be a great teaching opportunity for her. We started her a piggy bank a while back, so I suggested we go and count up the money that she had in there.

The camera that she wanted was on sale for $12. She had $11 in her bank. I explained to her that she was short, but we actually needed more than just the $1, because we needed to tithe first, and save as well. I asked her how she wanted to earn the money, thinking she would suggest dishes or some other household chore. Her answer? She wanted to do a lemonade stand! (Isn’t it funny how kids just arrive at this? I partially blame Blippi!).

I could have just been a normal mom and set her up at a table in the yard. But I cannot help myself. I’m extra. So off to Michael’s we went! I’ve been wanting to make a stand for their playroom for a while anyway, so we killed two birds with one stone! 

lemonade stand supplies

I grabbed 4 of the bargain crates that they sell (You can also grab them on Amazon or at Walmart) and a few options for the side pieces.

Crates for lemonade stand

We decided to alternate how they were facing so that she would have some storage for supplies in the back, and some open shelving for decor and her money jar on the front.

Crate Lemonade stand building

I secured each crate to the others in the corners with some screws.

Screws holding crates together

And along the thicker edges where they had something to grab onto.

Screws and nails in crate lemonade stand

Because the wood is thin and splintered easily, I used some small brad nails along the edges to hold them together more securely. You could also use really strong wood glue here if you prefer! 

Brad nails holding crate together

We opted to use some post-style wood pieces that I grabbed at Michael’s for the side bars. They were much easier to screw in than the round dowels were. 

Partially built lemonade stand

My little cutie just needed to test out the height. It was perfect! 

Next, I threw down a cheap drop cloth and moved it out into the sun.

Plain lemonade stand

Trying to be economical, I bought two cans of white Walmart brand spray paint. On the unfinished wood, it simply did not cut it. This was what we had with two full cans:

One coat of paint

Now, if you wanted to simply “whitewash” it, then this would work great for you! I knew that I wanted a more solid white look, so we went back to the store and got some Krylon ColorMaxx (the best!) indoor/outdoor paint.

One coat of paint

Less than a full can of the Krylon paint got us here. Next time, I’ll just go that route! 

Painted lemonade stand

Much better! 

The banner decorations were on clearance at Michael’s in their summer line, but there are a lot of cute options on Amazon! Etsy has tons, too. Browse them here!

Kids lemonade stand

Her little Lemonade pitcher was a $2 Walmart find, but this one on Amazon is way cute! I used one of these small easel chalkboards to make her sign! And the little colander of lemons? This gorgeous teal metal colander, and these fake lemons– so that we can use them over and over! 

Lemonade Stand Trial Run
Lemonade Stand Decorations
Lemonade Stand Decorations

The day before her lemonade stand, she decided she wanted to also make and sell cupcakes. I was so proud of how much work she put in, and let her do as much of it as possible herself. 

Making Cupcakes

The result of letting the toddler control the sprinkle container! 

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Lemonade Icing

The morning of, she helped me get everything set up. It was her choice to set up on our deck, “so her customers would have seating.” She kept telling me that everything was “absolutely darling.”

Porch lemonade stand

In the interest of less spilling, I decided to let her serve her customers with my Pioneer Woman Beverage Dispensers (these exact ones). That way she could simply hand them a cup of ice. She served pink lemonade, sweet tea and I stood by with the cute lemon pitcher filled with raspberry lemonade as well!

Cute Lemonade Stand
Open for business!
Lemonade Cupcakes
Lemonade Stand Chalkboard Menu

She really impressed me. Her customer service skills were fantastic, telling everyone their options and serving so cheerfully. I do have to say, my tribe is amazing. I put it out on my social media platforms and people showed up big. It was so heartwarming to see. 

Customers at a Lemonade Stand

Her auntie even overnighted her a lemonade stand outfit because she spotted it in the store and couldn’t resist! Amazon has some cute ones, too!

My precious little lady, serving with a smile!

And of course, sampling the product!

She was a gracious host, entertaining her guests in-between customers!

Sand and water table

We completely sold out of all 50 cupcakes that she made, and she went through 3 gallons of lemonade! Not bad for a little girl! 

Sissy just wanted to play with the decor.

Toddler with fake lemons
Playing with lemons

The lemonade stand was a smashing success! My girl got to learn entrepreneurial skills. She was able to pay back her investors for the startup money (her dad and I), tithe, put money into her savings account, buy her little camera and she even had some money leftover to take for spending money on vacation. More importantly, my little girl ended her day feeling valued, capable and confident.

Could I have just bought her the $12 camera or spotted her the difference? Sure! But we would have missed out on these awesome life lessons, and the joy of a really fun project together. This will by no means be her last event! She’s been bitten by the entrepreneur bug! I want my girls to grow up knowing that they can be self-made. They don’t have to trade their time making someone else’s dollar. They can do hard things if they set their mind to it and see it through until the end. 

Lemonade Stand Earnings
DIY Sweet Lemonade Stand

While you’re here, check out my meal planning hack that saves me tons of time every week! 

Meal Planning made easy!

Meal Plan Monday: July 5th-11th

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A full week of delicious meals, planned out with grocery lists!

If you’re like me, planning dinner can be such a struggle! I love using eMeals to pick out simple dinners that I can feed our family, on a budget. I especially love how much quicker this “chore” has become for me, and I especially love sharing delicious meals with you guys each week! 

This week has tons of variety and is a great mix of healthier options, and some that are just good!

If you want to check out past weeks’ plans, head on over to the archives! You can also read my full write up on how I meal plan each week here! 

Full week of meal plans, grocery lists included!

Scroll on for this weeks’ dang good dinners, and as always- click the pink links for the recipes! 

Monday: Sheet Pan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken

Sheet Pan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Recipe

Pesto is an easy sell for me on any recipe! I love that this starts our week off on a healthy foot after a weekend of July 4th celebrating! I always prefer making sheet pan meals on my Pampered Chef Bar Pan because it really just enhances the flavor so much! 

Hint: If you’re like me and hate touching raw chicken, the Close & Cut is amazing for halving chicken breasts super easily! 

Tuesday: Loaded Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Loaded Buffalo Chicken Nachos recipe

Love this fun, delicious twist on nachos for taco Tuesday! This one is right up my husband’s alley, so I am excited to serve him with this one this week! 

Wednesday: Dilly Beef Burgers with Mixed Greens Salad

Dilly Beef Burgers with Mixed Greens Salad

Low-carb doesn’t have to be bland! These dilly burgers sound so good! This dill is my all-time favorite dried dill, too! 

Thursday: Crispy Hash Brown Quiche

Crispy Hash Brown Quiche Recipe

My kids love quiche and breakfast for dinner in general! I’ll be serving this up with some fresh Orange Juice for a hearty dinner after a busy day!

Friday: Tossed Chicken Salad

Tossed Chicken Salad Recipe

Tons of fresh, summer flavor in this simple salad! Our tomato plant is finally rockin’, and I love using sweet corn in dishes during the summer! 

Hint: Use a kernel cutter to make getting the corn off of the cob so much easier!

Saturday: Mozzarella- and Mushroom-Topped Chicken with Wild Rice and Buttered Green Beans

Mozzarella- and Mushroom-Topped Chicken with Wild Rice and Buttered Green Beans

So, I know mushrooms aren’t for everyone. But we love the flavor that they bring to dishes! This is a 30 minute meal, too, so we won’t spend our entire Saturday in the kitchen. Win, win!

Sunday: Tex-Mex Patty Melts

Tex-Mex Patty Melts Recipes

I’m a recent convert to the pepper jack cheese club, but you guys! I am hooked all of the sudden. I can’t get enough! These sound amazing, and the perfect way to wrap up a busy week! 

I hope you try a few of the delicious meals from this week! We are so excited to dig into these and love the balance and flavor. 

Is your interest in eMeals piqued? If so, try a FREE two week trial and see what you think! 

Want to impress your friends and family with the most delicious cake ever?! Check out my viral Chocolate Buttercream recipe, and pin it for later! 

Bakery Style Chocolate Buttercream recipe

Spongellé: The Body Wash-Infused Sponge You Never Knew You Needed

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Spongelle

A couple of years ago, a sweet friend gifted me a couple of Spongellé sponges, and I immediately fell in love! The smell is amazing and my skin feels so soft after using them! They have become a favorite self-care item for me.

When Spongellé reached out to see if I would want a few of their products for a review, it was an easy yes! While they did send me these goodies (because they rock!) to share with ya’ll, the opinions are 100% my own! 

So, what exactly is Spongellé? 

All in one beauty treatment

The one-step use leaves your skin feeling silky smooth and smelling amazing! I especially love them in the summer to slough off sunscreen and dry skin!

Germ-infested Loofah

Have you ever looked into the germs that grow in loofahs? If you are squeamish, maybe don’t. It’s kind of gross. 

At-home spa experience

One of my favorite things about using Spongellé? It basically doubles as a room freshener! Not only do I smell great, but the scent lingers in my bathroom, which gives it a beachy-spa feel.

Vegan and Cruelty Free

Totally guilt-free experience!

How to use a Spongellé buffer?

Spongellé body buffer

So easy! Simply unwrap the sponge and place it under the water. Squeeze to absorb and activate the body wash and then massage in a circular motion from tip to toe! When you are finished, squeeze out excess water and hang it up to dry for maximum usage. 

The package says 14+ washes for the body buffer, but I can usually get a solid 21 if I do this!