Egg Nog Party Bar + Punch Recipe

 

Are you an egg nog fan? I feel like it's one of those holiday things that is hit or miss with people. A few weeks ago we hosted some friends for dinner and I set up with little egg nog bar. Surprisingly it was a big hit - even with the kids! 

I put out a special recipe suggestion and there was an "adult version" you could make with it. I thought I would share because it is holiday party season and anything that can make hosting easier is worth sharing! 

EGG NOG PARTY PUNCH RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

- 1 qt. egg nog

- 1 pt. of vanilla ice cream

- 2 cups chilled 7Up o Sprite

- Optional garnish: Cinnamon sticks and Nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1: Combine egg nog and ice cream in a cup.

2: Slowly add in 7up or sprite.

3: Garnish and enjoy

**For an adult drink twist you can add 2oz of bourbon or rum. Both are great additions!**

HAVE YOU DONE AN EGG NOG BAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS? WHAT EGG NOG RECIPES DO YOU ENJOY? SHARE WITH US!

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Kitchen Confessions {Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts}

Any brussels sprouts fans out there? I really like them, but only if they are "well done." There is something about that crispy and kind of charred taste on the outside of them that I love.  Before I had an air fryer I would cut them in half, toss them in olive oil and cook them in the oven until they were nice and crispy. Then I'd season with my family's favorite Everything But The Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joes. I put this stuff on EVERYTHING and if you haven't tried it, you definitely should! 

Then when I discovered hot honey I started drizzling that on just about everything, too. Including my brussels sprouts. 

Now that I have an air fryer I've been cooking them in that because they just cook so much faster and crisp up a lot better.

  

I love ordering brussels sprouts when we are out at restaurants because everyone puts their own twist on them, but I think I had my very favorite brussels when we were at Barnsley Resort over New Years.  We all shared them as an appetizer on the first night and they were SO good that we decided to get them again on night number two! 

Brussels Sprouts from Woodlands Grill at Barnsley Resort 

We didn't even really read the description on the menu so when they arrived that first night with something on top we weren't quite sure what it was until the first bite.  We discovered it was Granny Smith apples on top which was such an unexpected surprise, but oh so tasty!  

The next time I made brussels sprouts at home I decided to try to recreate something similar and they were so good! I might have hurt my shoulder patting myself on the back at recreating this dish.  Ha! 

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts 

*Wash and cut brussels in half

*Stir brussels with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. 

*Transfer brussels to air fryer basket and cook on 350 for about 15 minutes (or until desired crispness is achieved), shaking halfway through. 

*While they are cooking julienne 1/2 of a Granny Smith apple. 

*Transfer brussels to serving dish and season with salt, drizzle with hot honey and top with the apples.  

I know it sounds like such a weird combination, but the mixture of different flavors is really good! Let me know if you give this a try!  

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Coconut Pumpkin Bread Recipe

It's been Fall for a few months now, but it really hasn't felt like it until the last week or so. Sure people were running around with sweaters on and drinking Pumpkin Spice Lattes all around me, but I didn't really pay attention to it all until about a week ago when my middle child asked about pumpkin bread. 

Aside from football, and the chance to break out my favorite leggings, pumpkin bread season is my favorite part of Fall. I like any kind of pumpkin bread and I'm not discriminatory about what time of day I eat it in. 

Breakfast? Breakfast of champions obviously.

Dinner? It has fruit in it right? Vegetables? Either way totally qualifies as dinner. 

Dessert? Absolutely! 

Pumpkin bread is the universal Fall meal we all need in our lives. 

Carrie Beth has an awesome pumpkin bread recipe that is out of this world. I also have a chocolate pumpkin bread recipe I love. But my favorite has to be when I make this Coconut Pumpkin Bread. 

My love runs deep for pumpkin. But coconut is my love language. 

Combining the two flavors together? Well...let's just say I have to make several loaves because otherwise I wouldn't be open to sharing. 

I make it with or without the frosting, but the coconut cream cheese frosting does make a tasty addition. 

Give it a try and you'll be ruined of all other pumpkin breads. 

COCONUT PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE

Serves 6-8 (or one if you are selfish like me)

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 50 mins

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of olive oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 16oz can of pumpkin
• 3 cups of coconut flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• optional: 1 cup of shredded unsweetened coconut flakes

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Mix sugar, oil, eggs, and pumpkin until well blended. 
• Add flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. (Coconut flakes optional here.) Blend well.
• Add mixture to loaf pan or large baking dish. 
• Bake for 45 mins or until bread browns at the edges.  

You can serve and enjoy or add the coconut frosting...

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
• 5 cups of confectioners' sugar
• 6 tbsp canned coconut milk
• 4 oz of cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• optional: 1 cup of chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

• Mix the butter and cream cheese until smooth. 
• Add sugar slowly to the mixture. Blend well. 
• Add coconut milk and vanilla. Blend well. 
• Microwave icing mixture for 30 seconds, or until warm. 
• Drizzle warmed mixture over cooled bread. Sprinkle with pecans. 
• Serve and enjoy! 

Are you a pumpkin bread fan? What is your favorite kind? 

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Easy Breakfast Idea

If you are anything like us, you are in a mad dash each morning to get the kids up on time, dressed, fed and out the door to school.  All moms want to make sure we are feeding them something healthy that is going to fuel them all day long, but there are times when a PopTart or a frozen waffle is about as good as it gets.  My middle one was sick of the same old breakfast ideas that I was offering her, so we came up with something new!  She loved these egg muffins and I loved them because it is something I could make ahead of time and just warm up quickly on busy mornings.  

We're sharing the recipe over on Savvy Sassy Moms. Click HERE to check it out!

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Kitchen Confessions: Zaycon Fresh

Heading to the grocery store to purchase meats for your family's dinners is what most of us do on a weekly basis. What if we told you that wasn't the only option though?  We were recently introduced to Zaycon Fresh, a meat delivery company.  Now, we laughed at first learning that we were going to be heading to a drive-thru meat market and picking up a bulk order of pork tenderloin from the back of a truck.  However, the process was actually pretty neat and now our freezers are stocked with farm-fresh meats at amazing prices because we bought in bulk.

To read all about how Zaycon Fresh works check out our post on Savvy Sassy Moms.  We're also sharing an easy recipe for all that pork tenderloin that is one of our very favorites!

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Kitchen Confessions: Mango Salsa

Remember a few weeks ago when I shared about our Key West trip and all of those huge Mahi Mahi that we caught?!

Well, the good thing about having such great luck fishing means tons of fish to bring home.  All of the couples got to bring home tons of fish and now our freezer is stocked!  I've been looking for different ways to cook it and thinking back to some of our meals we had in Key West I immediately decided fish tacos with mango salsa would be added to the list.

I started looking around for some fresh mango salsa recipes, but couldn't find anything that was exactly what I was hoping for so I decided to just give it a whirl and try creating my own.  That could have gone way wrong, but instead it went oh, so right!  This mango salsa was seriously so delicious I might have hurt my shoulder patting myself on the back.

The hardest thing was cutting that dang mango.  I had to google how to do it properly and still ended up throwing half of it away because I pretty much butchered it.  Next time I make this (and there will be a next time!) I think I'll probably just buy some already pre-cut.

Mango Salsa
-3 mangos, diced (again with my mix-up I'd probably substitute 2 cups worth of diced mango)
-1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Combine mango, pepper, onion and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with lime juice and mix well, season with salt to taste. Stir and serve!

This salsa was SO very good. I had made it ahead of time for the dinner we were going to be cooking the next night, but we couldn't wait to eat it so we had some of it that night with tortilla chips and I could have finished off the whole thing.  It was that good!

I made myself save some for the next day though because those fish tacos were calling my name.  I baked the Mahi Mahi and added that with lettuce, cheese and the mango salsa to our taco shells.  Not only did it look nice and colorful, but it seriously tasted like something from a restaurant!

This is such an easy thing to make ahead of time and last for up to 2 days covered in the refrigerator.

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Kitchen Confessions: Favorite Side Dishes

Our Mother's Day was a busy one this year filled with two soccer games and a baseball tournament game. Some people may not think this is the ideal way to spend Mother's Day, but for me, I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else.  I just love watching my kiddos do what they love and this day was perfect!  

First up was Boo-Boo's baseball game. His team played great, but lost so they are officially out of the tournament now and his season is over. He told me he wasn't sad, but he was disappointed because he didn't want it to be over! After the game they gave each of the boys a rose to give their moms which was so very sweet.

Then we headed over to catch Blondie's 2nd soccer game where she ran hard and played her little heart out!  

After that we were ready to come home, get out of the heat, and relax!  We had Jen and  her family over for dinner on Friday night, but a crazy allergic reaction sent me to urgent care with Boo-Boo so instead of grilling out as planned, we ended up ordering pizza. That just meant that I still had a yummy dinner sitting in my fridge that we were able to cook on Mother's Day instead. It ended up being two of my favorite sides - roasted sweet potatoes and crunchy Asian slaw.  These are two of my go-to sides, especially when we grill out.  

Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

This side takes a little bit of planning just because it takes a while to cook, but it is so worth it!  I can't even say it is a recipe I'm sharing because it really is so simple. I just wash and cut sweet potatoes into large bite-sized pieces and place them in a large bag. 

Next I add olive oil and a bunch of random seasonings (anything from salt/pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, rib rub, basil, parsley, etc. ...honestly anything I have in the cabinet).  I shake the bag to coat all of the potatoes.

Last I spread the potatoes on a cookie sheet I've sprayed and bake at 350 degrees for about 45-55 minutes.  That is it!  You do have to be careful and flip the potatoes every 15 minutes or so or they will burn on one side, but other than that, it's a super simple side!

Crunchy Asian Slaw 
I've had a lot of different varieties of this dish, but they are all always so good and I love it because it is something you can make ahead of time and just toss with the dressing when you are ready to serve.  I've played around with mixing and matching several different recipes to find the right combo of what tastes best and the funniest thing that is in every one of them is uncooked ramen noodles. I know it sounds weird, but trust me...so good!  I've taken this side to potlucks and picnics and it is always a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients: 
Bagged coleslaw mix
Bagged broccoli slaw mix
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 packages Beef flavored Ramen Noodles
1/2 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon worcestershire

Directions: 
1. Combine bag of slaw mix, 1/2 bag broccoli slaw, green onions, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
2. Crush uncooked raman noodles and add to slaw.  Set aside flavor packets.
3. Prepare dressing with oil, vinegar, sugar, flavor packets from raman noodles and worcestershire sauce. Mix well, but note, all sugar may not dissolve.

4. Toss slaw with the dressing and serve!

What are some of your favorite sides for grilling out? Any easy, make-ahead sides you love?  

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Kitchen Confessions: Italian Sausage Roll-ups

 

Now that we've fully recovered from our whirlwind weekend, I wanted to share with you some of the yummy that was shared. From impromptu play dates turned dinner parties to game day fun, our house was a bustle of activity this weekend - and I wouldn't have it any other way! I absolutely love when our house is full and adults and children alike are having a ton of fun conversing, laughing, and enjoying great food and drinks.

Confession: The more chaos, the more I enjoy the event.

Crazy? Absolutely! Crazy fun!

Weekends like these remind me of when I was growing up. I have a large family and often even the smallest of events were large gatherings. There would be a large buffet set up and every corner of the house would contain family and friends enjoying each other's company, cheering on their favorite team, or toasting to the holidays. It was such a fun way to grow up and now any chance I can get I fill my home with celebrations.

Whether it's a spontaneous gathering or a planned tailgating event, it always amazes me how the kitchen is usually the hub of activity and the food holds center stage. I used to stress about planning the perfect menu, or crafting exciting new dishes to share, but I as time has progressed I realize keeping things simple and traditional make for an easier event all around. Who wants the stress of being a slave to the kitchen?

That's why when weekends arise like these, I resort to one of my favorite traditional appetizer recipes.

These Italian Sausage Roll-Ups are always a crowd pleaser, and as an avid sports enthusiast, and general food eating aficionado, I suggest you make them to please your crowd too.

They are super simple, can be made quickly, and - most importantly - are extremely tasty.

The secret is all in the sauce. Literally, the sauce makes this recipe. It's used as a simmering base on the front end, and for dipping deliciousness on the final product.

Long gone are the days of me attempting to make my own sauce. Ragu® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Sauces are perfect for recipes like this. Roasted Garlic was my flavor of choice for this recipe, but there are a ton of yummy ones to choose from (you can find them here). 

ITALIAN SAUSAGE ROLL-UPS

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup of ground sausage
• 1 jar of Ragu® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Roasted Garlic Sauce
• 1 pkg of crescent rolls
• 3 mozzarella cheese sticks

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice the mozzarella sticks into thirds and set aside.
3. Brown the ground sausage. Once browned place in a small sauce pot with 1/3 jar of Ragu® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Roasted Garlic Sauce. Let simmer on low for approximately ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
   
   
   
   
   
4. On a pan place slices of crescent rolls. Put a tablespoon scoop of sauce mixture onto each crescent and top with mozzarella. Roll each crescent and fold all ends to the top.
   
   
   
5. Heat in oven for approximately ten minutes or until brown. 
6. While the roll-ups are baking in the oven warm the remainder of your jar of Ragu® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Roasted Garlic Sauce to be ready for dipping. 
7. Remove crescents from oven and serve warm with sauce. Enjoy!

Super easy and so tasty! 

For more creative ideas to use Ragu® Homestyle Thick & Hearty Sauces for your next gathering or big game day check out the Ragu® recipe website. Warning: you might leave craving something delicious!

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