I don’t really care if it’s a total cliche to do a carrot cake recipe around Easter because it’s a cliche delicious enough to keep perpetuating. Rather than stress about the perfectly formed cake or cupcake, then frosting, and decorating it, I chose to disassemble it into these easy to make dessert cups. A handful of bite size spiced carrot cake pieces topped with an airy whipped cream cheese frosting,… Keep Reading
Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s is just 2 days away and I’ve got a little something for everyone.. The couples, the crafty, the heartbroken, and even something for your sweet little feline friend (because let’s be real.. your cat is probably your soulmate). These are a few of my favorites I’ve created over the years and I hope that you find something you want to try no matter… Keep Reading
I love vintage Christmas trees and ornaments, but they can often be quite pricey and with curious cats around, it’s just asking for those precious relics to be shattered. Instead I created some DIY mid-century atomic starburst inspired ornaments using foam and toothpicks. They’re fairly simple to construct and you can customize them to fit your color theme. And if you’re a last minute Christmas shopper like me.. they come… Keep Reading
If you haven’t yet heard the folklore of Krampus, you are totally missing out on one of the best Christmas tales of all time. Krampus is a creature bearing horns, fangs, a long tongue and carries with him chains and a bundle of birch sticks to swat naughty children with. He shows up at the beginning of December and then hauls the bad kids back to the underworld. I must… Keep Reading
Working in retail makes it difficult for me to get into the holiday spirit (I’m more like the Grinch this time of year) so I’ve been revisiting some of my top 5 favorite Christmas posts to help revive the magic of this season. And if it doesn’t.. at least 3 out of the 5 involve alcohol! Be sure to leave a comment below and let me know which of these… Keep Reading
Yesterday I shared how to make Simple Homemade Pumpkin Puree, so today I thought I would share a round up of some of my favorite recipes using pumpkin. Some of these posts are from my first year of blogging, which means cringe-worthy lighting, angles, and composition with the photos, but the recipe itself is something I wouldn’t change at all. They’re tried and true recipes that I use often, especially… Keep Reading
If you’re looking for a Halloween sangria as black as your soul then you’ve come to the right place. This potent mixture calls for only the darkest fruits and spirits. Fresh blackberries, plums, grapes, dark rum, and Apothic Dark wine. This full bodied sangria is the perfect libation to enjoy while conjuring the dark forces… or just having a Halloween movie marathon at home if that’s more up your alley.
I imagine that if the Evil Queen ran into Snow White at a cocktail party she would serve up one of these instead of handing over a plain old apple in the woods. The difference with mine is that I chose vodka as my “poison” and unless you take down too many, you won’t slip into a magical sleeping spell. They’re seductively sweet, crisp, and smooth with not a trace… Keep Reading
I’m going to begin by saying that Valentine’s Day is not really my favorite. I’d much rather celebrate Galentine’s Day or a Treat Yo Self Day (can you tell I still marathon Parks & Rec on a regular basis?), but I suppose I can get behind the whole chocolate and dessert splurging that comes along with the day. Since I rarely celebrate it I decided this year I would go… Keep Reading
Throughout 2016 there were times where I could barely keep up with the days and at other times it felt like this year would just never end. We’ve finally made it through though and whether you’re celebrating the phenomenal year you just had or looking forward to starting anew with 2017, I’ve got a delicious Pomegranate Citrus Champagne Cocktail for you to toast with! Fresh squeezed orange juice and pomegranate… Keep Reading
Hot Toddies are always a go-to when temperatures drop or you find yourself with a terrible cold that only spices, citrus, and a wee bit of bourbon can cure. With the weather feeling quite arctic here in the Midwest, I couldn’t think of a more perfect time to make one and Maker’s Mark must have read my mind when they asked me to participate in this year’s #MakeItTealicious Hot Tea-Toddy… Keep Reading
Every December I have this day dream of spending an entire day listening to classic Christmas music, putting up the tree, and baking and decorating hundreds of Christmas cookies. REALITY CHECK: I don’t have that kind of time in my schedule right now! Instead I came up with a quick and easy alternative that doubles as a DIY gift for friends and family.. hot chocolate spoons! It took me 20… Keep Reading
When I initially made this Peppermint Crunch Popcorn Mix I was mildly concerned that I had made far too much and I realize now what a silly notion that was. I’ve been catching myself snacking on this stuff for breakfast, all throughout the day, after dinner, and well.. right now! It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, pepperminty, festive, and clearly just a wee bit addicting! It makes a huge batch which is… Keep Reading
You know I love to incorporate whatever I’m drinking with into my recipes, so for Thanksgiving this year I used Stone Brewing’s Stone Delicious IPA for a citrusy, buttery, and juicy bird! Head to the Stone Brewing Blog for the recipe!
With temperatures dropping this weekend here in the Midwest, I find myself already layered in sweaters, burrowed under blankets, and drinking all the tea and hot chocolate that I can. I know this is only the beginning and it’s going to get MUCH colder, so I’m stock piling on ingredients to make all of my favorite warm boozy drinks through those extra chilly winter days. Luckily this Spiked S’mores Hot… Keep Reading
With Christmas decorations hitting the stores earlier and earlier each year, we seem to jump straight from Halloween to decking the halls with Christmas décor and November is becoming the forgotten month. Rather than spend money on decorations that will only be up for 3-4 weeks, I thought I would show you five simple and affordable ways to create a festive fall atmosphere using items from your own backyard.
I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been obsessed with over-sized old man sweaters. They’re big, cozy, and just make you want to snuggle up in front of a fire on chilly days. I purchased one from the thrift store about a year ago, but it didn’t fit very well so I decided to turn it into a cute pillow instead! I made a big pumpkin patch (ALL pun intended)… Keep Reading
With Halloween just a week away I couldn’t resist putting together another spooky cocktail using the Blackberry Infused Vodka I made last week. A little bit sweet and a little bit tart, this bubbly and blood red concoction is perfect for sipping graveside or making a big batch for your upcoming Halloween party!
Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday of the year. I typically start my decorating for it in August.. that’s how much I love it! That also means I start watching all of the classics like Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas, and of course: Hocus Pocus! I channeled my inner Sanderson sister and brewed up a sweet and potent concoction I dubbed the Hocus Pocus Rum Cocktail that’s perfect for a… Keep Reading
Heading into the chilly winter months, I’m always craving warm comfort food and squash is a great and healthy way to satisfy that. I took roasted acorn squash and combined it with my apple and sausage stuffing recipe to create a fall flavored dish the whole family can enjoy!
This Fourth of July, you’ll no doubt be invited to a picnic or get-together of some sort and asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Make things easy on yourself and keep it simple with White Chocolate and Sprinkle Covered Strawberries! No baking required, they can be made the night before, and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to decorate them!
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, you may find yourself out this weekend scrambling for a last minute gift for your loved one. You can go for the cliché box of chocolates, flowers, and 5ft tall teddy bear or you can craft a DIY Valentine that’s unique and extremely heartfelt. It won’t break the bank, it’s unisex, and you can keep it around for decoration unlike those wilting flowers!
I’ve never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I am a fan of the chocolate covered cherries and strawberries that seem to be in abundance this time of year! They sparked the idea to use an old recipe of mine for chocolate ale cupcakes, but this time I upped the chocolate factor by using a delicious chocolate porter from Three Creeks Brewing Co. The cake came out rich,… Keep Reading
A bourbon cocktail recipe? I know what you guys are thinking.. I’m normally a rum drinker, but a few weeks ago the wonderful people at Maker’s Mark reached out to me with their #GetCozyCocktail challenge to create a delicious eggnog cocktail using Maker’s 46. With strong notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak and a smooth finish, I had no problem making the switch for this recipe. Oh and guess what?… Keep Reading