Double-Dipped French Toast (IHOP Copycat!)

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

If you LOVE double dipped french toast from IHOP, you'll love this IHOP copycat recipe you can make at home! Their double dipped french toast is seasonal, but you can enjoy this all year round! Just coat your favorite bread in an extra crunchy topping, fry, and serve! Easy-peasy. | IHOP copycat | Breakfast Recipe |

It’s no secret that IHOP is one of our favorite restaurants. The kiddo and I usually end up stopping there after his Autism therapy, or going for a late breakfast once in awhile as a fun treat. We’re such big fans, we even asked for IHOP gift cards for Christmas to fuel our little IHOP addiction. It’s also no secret that I am a huuuuge fan of their double-dipped French toast! I love the extra crunch that it has, the taste that takes it one step higher than regular French toast for me. The only downside? Double Dipped French Toast is seasonal on their menu, and I’ve found myself craving it like nobody’s business. I’ve been determined to make it at home so I can eat it whenever I want, and I think I’ve finally got the recipe down, so I’m going to show you how to make it a big platter (and then tell you how to scale down the recipe if it’s only you eating breakfast).

Mexican Cheese Ball

January 11, 2017January 16, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

Can't decide between a cheese ball and bean dip at your next tailgating party? Now you don't have to choose-- this Mexican Cheese Ball has cream cheese, refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, and chilis to give you a yummy cheese ball that will be the highlight of your tailgating spread! | game day recipe | super bowl recipe | bean dip recipe | appetizer | cheese ball |

Playoff season is upon us, and honestly, I can make a mean barbecue, but when it comes to appetizers, I’m never really sure what to bring to playoff parties… chips and bean dip? A cheese ball? Maybe both? Well, here’s an option so you don’t have to decide– a Mexican Cheese Ball that combines all of your favorite aspects of a cheese ball with all of your favorite aspects of a bean dip, making one delicious, dippable cheese ball that will be the star of the big game party!

Beefy Macaroni Soup

January 9, 2017January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

Cold weather calls for comfort food, and this beefy macaroni soup fits the bill! Beef, hearty macaroni noodles, and cheese make this a delightful soup the whole family will love!

Cold weather calls for comfort food, and this beefy macaroni soup fits the bill! For my family, cold weather is always soup weather, and I love a good soup recipe that basically contains the things I already keep in my pantry or freezer– who wants to get out if they don’t have to? Next weekend, we’re staring down a mini ice storm, and we’re prepared for soup weather. Beef, hearty macaroni noodles, and cheese make this a delightful soup the whole family will love, and it’s SO simple to make– you just need one pot!

Cowboy Egg Rolls

January 2, 2017January 1, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

Black beans, corn, tomatoes, cream cheese... these cowboy egg rolls are so easy to make, and make the perfect appetizer for tailgating parties and for the big game! | Super Bowl Appetizer | Easy Appetizer | Vegetarian Appetizer |

I am a sucker for a good egg roll. Snack, lunch, tailgating party, it doesn’t matter. I really, really love egg rolls. I’m also a big fan of cream cheese and black beans, which is why I just had to make my own twist on egg rolls for this year’s tailgating parties. That’s how cowboy egg rolls came to be… they’re filled with the tastiest ingredients, and they’re oh-so-simple to make.

Ball Drop Cookie Pops

December 28, 2016December 30, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

These Ball Drop Cookie Pops are perfect for your New Year's Eve celebrations! Just like the sparkling Swarovski of the REAL ball in Times Square, these cake pop-inspired treats are perfect for sharing and serving for the New Year!

I cannot even handle the fact that 2017 is just days away. I’ve already started planning my new year’s resolutions, and I’ve bought a brand new shiny planner, but I’m mostly banking on the idea of going to bed at like… 8pm on New Year’s Eve. Regardless of when I’m going to bed, though, one thing I know for sure is that it’s not the New Year without a ball drop, so I’ve got these Ball Drop Cookie Pops for you! (And they’re done in less time than it even takes to bake a cake for cake pops!)

Raspberry White Chocolate Cake Balls

December 22, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Christmas, valentine's day, springtime, any time of year is a great time for these delicious raspberry white chocolate cake balls. They're a great addition to any dessert table, and they're easy to make! Add a stick, and you've got beautiful cake pops anyone will love! Raspberry, white chocolate, a drizzle of caramel... heavenly dessert, in bite-sized portions.

During raspberry season, I can’t seem to keep raspberries in stock in my house… I buy a package, and suddenly they’re gone. I equate it with one of the great mysteries of life… my raspberries keep disappearing, and I don’t know how. Except maybe it has a little to do with the fact that my entire family loves raspberries. The only downside is raspberries have a pretty short season here in Kansas, but luckily, I’ve worked some frozen raspberries into these amazing Raspberry White Chocolate Cake Balls that are a perfect treat in the middle of winter when you just want a little raspberry taste. They’ll be the hit of the Christmas party, New Year party, or Valentine’s party while you wait for raspberries to come back into season next summer.

Kiss Under the Mistletoe Milkshake Mocktail Shots

December 19, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Love milkshakes? These adorable Kiss Under the Mistletoe Milkshake Mocktail Shots are adorable mini options when it comes to winter indulgence. And they're delicious! These simple-to-make milkshakes are perfect for winter parties, Christmas parties, and more. They're the perfect party drink at Christmas!

I can’t be the only one who loves bite-sized indulgences at Christmas time. I am one of those people who just can’t make a decision, especially when it comes to the dessert table, so I really love being able to take a bite of this and a bite of that… that’s what makes these Kiss Under the Mistletoe Milkshake Mocktail Shots so perfect– they’re bite-sized (sip-sized?) milkshakes that are PACKED with holiday flavor in a shot-sized serving, so you can indulge, but still have room for pie after.

Cranberry Orange Spritz Mocktail

December 14, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Need a tart, sweet, fizzy little drink for your next holiday party? This cranberry orange spritz fits the bill! It's a mocktail that takes minutes to make and is positively delicious. Make it by the glass or by the big batch in a punch bowl, and keep the Christmas party going all night long!

I love a good fizzy mocktail. There’s just something about a tart, sort of sweet, fizzy little drink that screams “Holiday Party!” And trust me, this super simple drink is exactly what you’ll want at your Christmas party this year. A little cranberry, a little orange, a little fizz to tickle your nose before you hit up the mistletoe… this cranberry orange spritz is going to become your go-to Christmas mocktail, trust me.

Mr. Grinch Mocktail (with Only 3 Ingredients!)

December 12, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

I received the KinderPerfect card game for free to feature in this blog post. All opinions are my own.

Having a Monday that feels like a Thursday? This Mr. Grinch mocktail will keep your crabbiness away during the season of holiday cheer when you're feeling more like a grinch than a cheermeister. And with only 3 ingredients, it'll definitely make your heart grow 3 sizes-- perfect for a last-minute holiday party drink!

Ever have one of those Mondays that feels so stressful, so exhausting, that you feel like it should be placed at the END of the week rather than the beginning? Yeah, me, too. Because it’s the holidays, the days of sugar and excitement and SANTA, my son is currently standing on a couch in his underwear, covering his ears while he screams the lyrics to Jingle Bells. Note to self: Hide the candy canes before we go into sugar overload. Yeah, it’s one of those Mondays. Luckily, I’ve got just the mocktail to help with that whole situation… because sometimes mommy needs a time out. Plus, this Mr. Grinch mocktail only has 3 ingredients, so by the end of the glass, you’ll feel more like a holiday CheerMeister than a Grinch… trust me.

Simple Homemade Caramels (And the cleanup hack that helps you finish the dishes before it’s even time to cut the caramels)

December 9, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama 24 Comments

Scotch-Brite Scrubbing Dish ClothsThis shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScrubSeason #CollectiveBias

Car-mels? Care-a-mels? It’s been a pretty consistent argument in this household since we first started making the sweet treats… you’ll hear someone sneak into the fridge and grab a homemade caramel, only to hear “You know they’re called care-a-mels, right?!” Our family has a history of bickering over the pronunciation of words that can be pronounced either way, usually for the sole purpose of annoying each other to bits. But either way you pronounce it, these homemade caramels are simple to make, and the cleanup? It’s just as easy.

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