Category: Cooking

Feel the Heat with Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.

With the holidays around the corner I know you all are going to have a ton of baking and cooking to do!  Who doesn’t love to sit, relax, and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or two?  I love to sit back, pop some popcorn, and snuggle in with a cozy blanket.
Speaking of popcorn…have you heard of the new Breville Combi 3-in-1 Microwave?  We already own several Breville appliances in our home and they are wonderful quality and we’ve had them for years.  That’s how I know that this microwave is AMAZING!

The combination Microwave that Air Fries and is a convection oven all in one! This microwave lets you air fry (crunchy fries, brussel sprouts, chicken wings), bake or roast (whole chickens, lasagna, chocolate brownies) or simply microwave with even heat distribution.  The Combi has a 80% quieter soft close door – so no more microwave slams! It’s also 50% quieter while in operation. Clever touches like child lock & mute buttons mean less beeps/bumps/clangs and more pops, bites and crunches!

  • Intuititively easy presets at your fingertips: Smart Cook, Smart Reheat & Smart Defrost
  • The “Fast Combi” function of the Combi Wave 2-in-1 is designed to  cook your favorite dishes faster. Using Microwave, Convection Oven and Grilling to achieve the desired temperature and perfect results in less time.
  • Powered by the Element iQ system, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it’s needed to create the ideal cooking environment.
  • The Power Smoothing™ Inverter gives you precise & even heat distribution, reheating & cooking dishes evenly for more delicious results.

If you’re looking for “the” appliance to do it all this season I think this microwave is it!

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Eggland’s Best sponsored this post. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Hey Y’all!

I’d love to share with you this recipe for Guacamole Deviled Eggs.  Now that I have my kitchen back I’ve been cooking up a storm.  You never realize how much you need an appreciate a kitchen until it’s gone.  The past 4 1/2 months have not been the easiest, but I’m happy to report we have running water and a dishwasher again!  Woohoo!

This recipe is also American Heart Association approved!

Eggland’s Best and the American Heart Association have joined together to form the Family Meals Pledge.Read More

Celebrate National Root Beer Float Day!

This post is sponsored by A&W, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today is National Root Beer Float Day!  What better way to end the summer than with a root beer float right?  With summer coming to a close, and school right around the corner, we are trying to soak up these last couple of weeks together.  A&W is my favorite Root Beer…there’s just something about it…the sweet flavors of licorice and vanilla. It’s been around forever and even if I’m not making a float every now and then I crave one.

The unique, creamy taste of A&W Root Beer is a simple treat that creates fun, care-free experiences for families and can help make any moment special.  What is a better treat than an A&W Root Beer Float!

Read More

Start Your Morning with RaceTrac + Enter to WIN!

This post is sponsored by RaceTrac.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so glad to see the sun shining this morning!  Last week in rained every single day and we had a chilling cold front come through DFW.  Our mornings are pretty busy- Get up, shower, get myself ready, get Connor ready for school, make breakfast, make lunch, and all those other little things that come up.  After I drop Connor off at school I usually stop for a coffee and RaceTrac has an amazing coffee bar that I’ve written about before!

What’s better on a cold and rainy day than a warm cup of fresh coffee???  NOTHING!

Most people head to RaceTrac from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., seeing an average of 124,550 early-bird TracFanactics across all RaceTrac stores in the wee hours of every morning. Mornings can be hard sometimes, but RaceTrac has got the perfect coffee or snack to get you going. To salute early birds of all kinds, RaceTrac is honoring early-bird guests with in-store offers exclusive to early morning hours.

What gets you going in the morning?  I love a cup of coffee and Krispy Kreme Cinnamon Doughnuts!

Not everyone can be an early bird, but at RaceTrac they have whatever you need to make your mornings something to look forward to. With hearty, delicious breakfast options, they’ve got what you need so that your morning is never mundane.

My sweet little door holder 🙂

RaceTrac also knows that its guests want more than just traditional breakfast items in the morning. People are re-thinking breakfast and grabbing the things that get them going – Whatever that may be. Whatever for breakfast? Now that’s the dream. That’s everything from hot dogs and sodas to bacon, egg and cheese croissants and coffee. RaceTrac wants you to know that they have Whatever you need to fuel your morning.

My breakfast main feature is always a good cup of coffee…and RaceTrac has that and more!

Crazy Good Coffee
RaceTrac’s “Crazy Good Coffee” bar offers a variety of blends of fresh brewed coffee, including 100 percent Hazelnut, Regular, Columbian, Decaf and Dark Roast.
• All are 100 percent Arabica beans — the highest quality coffee.
• RaceTrac’s coffee bar also features cappuccinos, iced coffee, hot teas and hot chocolate.
• RaceTrac has new coffee machines coming to stores in 2018, which will give its guests an even more elevated coffee experience. This new offering will allow guests to be their own barista by selecting their favorite coffee blend and watching the beans grind right before their eyes into the freshest cup of joe.
• Guests can also be their own barista by selecting their favorite coffee blend and pairing it with their favorite creamers, sweeteners and toppings like whipped cream.


RaceTrac wants to give its guests good food that gets them excited to start their days. From six blends of fresh brewed coffee and fresh donuts delivered daily to classic roller grill items, RaceTrac has Whatever their guests need to start their morning off right.


Racetrac has everything from tasty bacon, egg and cheese croissant, to a fresh slice of pizza or a Reese’s pieces topped Swirl World, RaceTrac has breakfast covered.

OTHER BREAKFAST OPTIONS:

Grab-And-Go Breakfast Sandwiches
Sandwiches are made in-house with hand-selected, high-quality ingredients – real buttermilk biscuits, flaky croissants, Jimmy Dean sausage and Tyson chicken breasts. Most of our stores offer a customizable approach to building your perfect sandwich, bringing each food item in individually and cooking them separately.
• The store team makes the sandwiches and wraps them in the store.
• All ingredients were hand-selected by our Executive Chef to ensure they are the highest quality.
• Breakfast sandwiches are portable to meet our guests’ grab-and-go lifestyles. Today, we offer four sandwiches for our grab-and-go guest; the Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Chicken Biscuit, Ham Egg and Cheese Croissant, and Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissant.
• Our most popular new recipe combinations, which include a ham, egg and cheese croissant and a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, among others, are cooked throughout the morning and then made available in the hot case for easy grab-and-go.

Fresh Food
RaceTrac’s sandwiches, cut fruit and salads are made and delivered fresh to the stores daily.
• Salads o RaceTrac rencently launched new salads! Farmhouse Cobb Salad, BLT Caesar Salad, Side Garden Salad, Greek Style Salad. These exciting additions to the sandwich cooler have a fresh new look and taste! The packages were artfully designed to ensure the lettuce and toppings stay crispy and fresh from the moment they’re packaged until they hit your mouth.
• Sandwiches o Looking for the perfect main course to pair with your TasteWorks chips? Look no further than RaceTrac’s sandwich cooler! These sandwiches are fresh, flavorful and offer a variety of options for the guest that wants to try them all! Options include our Turkey & Swiss with Tomato, Italian Sub, Club Stacker and Chipotle Kickin’ Chicken Wrap.
Pizza
Like the new breakfast sandwiches, our pizzas are assembled in-store using separate ingredients. Guests can order a custom personal or a full 16” pizza.
• We offer “grab and go” pepperoni and meat lovers slices as well as MTO personal pizzas. Our personal pizzas are customizable with over 12 different meat and veggie toppings.
• Guests can grab slices out of the hot case, or they can also customize their own 7” personal pizza. We have more than 10 toppings guests can add to their pizza, including mushrooms, black olives, onions, jalapenos, bacon, sausage and pepperoni.
Roller Grill
• The roller grill is one of RaceTrac’s most popular offerings.
• Most popular items:
Nathan’s Famous 100 percent Premium All Beef Hot Dog: our number-one seller and a great source of protein for anytime of day!
Tamales: unique to RaceTrac, traditional corn husk-wrapped and stuffed with seasoned pork
Taquitos: battered and fried tortillas filled with meats, cheeses and delicious spices
Roller bites: breaded chicken product in such flavors as Monterrey Jack and Buffalo
• RaceTrac introduces limited time offer (LTO) products on the grill on a quarterly basis to help keep the offer fresh and fun, such as a Chicken and Waffle Taquito, Guinness Beer Brat, Bacon Cheddar Dog or even a Pork Egg Roll.
• All roller grill items can be topped with old favorites like ketchup and mustard, or mixed up with new additions like onions, jalapenos and nacho cheese from our expanded toppings bar.
• Roller grill toppings bars across all markets include Sauerkraut, sliced jalapeños, banana peppers, salsa, jalapeño pickles, sour cream, diced onions, ketchup, mustard, nacho cheese, nacho chili.
Swirl World
• RaceTrac is the only convenience store to offer Swirl World – a variety of frozen desserts including ice creams, yogurts, sorbets and Italian Ice.
• You can customize your frozen treat just how you like it – with up to 40 toppings*, the choice of a cup, cake cone or waffle cone and a variety of flavors.
• Toppings include gummies, sprinkles, oreos, chocolate covered marshmellows, salted caramel chips, hot fudge, and fresh berries, just to name a few.
*Number of toppings varies per store

ENTER TO WIN ONE OF TWO RACETRAC GIFT CARDS!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kid’s Eat Free at McAlister’s Deli on Valentine’s Day + Enter to WIN!!!

This post is sponsored by McAlister’s Deli.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Valentine’s day is next week y’all….NEXT WEEK!  You know Terence and I are pretty low-key on Valentine’s day.  When you have kids in the picture it’s just as important to make them feel loved too!  Not that it’s not nice to go out with just your hubby…but you know what I’m saying.  Sometimes life gets busy and things get put on the back burner.  Especially if Valentine’s day falls in the middle of the week.

And please don’t make your Valentine COOK…give them a night off….soooooo…..

Next week Kids eat FREE on Valentine’s Day at McAlister’s Deli!!!  I love a free meal and a good deal y’all!  (Adult entrée purchase is required. Up to two free kids meals with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine-in only.)

Now let me just say McAlister’s has always been near and dear to my heart.  My very first job 20 years ago was at McAlister’s Deli and I worked there for 2 years with my twin sister.  It’s nice to see how much it’s changed, but I’m also glad my favorite things have remained the same over the years- like the chocolate spoon cake, the TEA, and the potato salad.

Let’s throw it back for a minute…

Oh the days of working at McAlister’s and eating spooncake and not gaining any weight!  I remember them fondly! LOL!

Tea…tea…tea…or ME…ME…ME!!! Everyone loves McAlister’s tea.  It’s always been so good and it still is…I can testify to that because I made it for many years.  I love how you can now add flavors like peach or mango to your tea as well.  I’m a mango girl myself.

The cookies are the best too!  They have these premade treat bags ready to go.

I think someone is hinting at something….

Nothing can come between me and my mango tea!!!

Ter-Bear eating his sandwich and mac n’ cheese.  My forever Valentine….oh how I love this guy!

Connor is our little joker.  Is that a cookie or a mustache?

McAlister’s has something for everyone, whether it’s the enormous spuds, a sandwich creation, or a yummy bread bowl full of soup…you won’t leave until your tummy is happy!

Oh and you better believe I brought home a chocolate spoon cake!  Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

I have a great giveaway for you and your family from McAlister’s Deli! 

Enter to win a $25 gift card, just enter using the form below.

VALENTINES DAY DETAILS: 

Where: McAlister’s Deli

When: Wednesday, February 14th 10:30 AM – 10 PM

Kids Menu Entrées:

INCLUDES CHOICE OF SIDE

Turkey & Cheese • Ham & Cheese • PB&J • Toasted Cheese • Mac & Cheese

ENTRÉE ONLY

Kids Spud • Kids Garden Salad • Kids Nacho Basket • Cheese Pita Pizza

Promotion Details: Up to two free kid’s meals per adult entrée purchase. Dine-in only. Kids 12 and under. Drink not included.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine’s Day Cookie Bar Recipe + Enter to WIN! #SweetYourself

This post is sponsored by Stevia In The Raw.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Valentine’s day is right around the corner and what is Valentine’s day without a little sweetness in your day?  I made the yummiest Valentine’s day cookie bars earlier this week and wanted to share the recipe with you!  Thanks to Stevia In The Raw® zero-calorie sweetener I can indulge and feel a little less guilty.

These Valentine’s day bars were super easy to make and pretty quick to whip up too.  I’m all about fast and easy recipes.

Valentine’s Day Cookie Bars with Stevia In The Raw

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup Stevia In The Raw
  • 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of Valentine’s M&M’s, plus more for topping
  • 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a 9×13 baking dish
  3. Spray generously with nonstick cooking spray.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, Stevia In The Raw, and brown sugar together until fluffy.
  5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
  6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
  7. Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s and mini chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
  8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
  9. Press additional M&M’S and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
  10. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.
  11. Let cool completely and cut.

Mix…mix…mix…

Before:

Bake and let cool:

YUM…YUM…YUM

Stevia In The Raw® is encouraging fans to share how they’re treating themselves for a chance to be rewarded. From February 1-14, fans can share photos using #SweetYourself and tagging @InTheRaw for the chance to win product samples daily.

Plus, one lucky winner will get the ultimate #SweetYourself experience with a $500 Spa Finder gift card.  GO ENTER NOW!!!

Follow @InTheRaw on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.

Here are some other yummy recipes with Stevia In The Raw:

o   Chocolate Truffles

o   Flourless Chocolate Sunken Lava Cake with Raspberries

o   Red Velvet Cupcakes

o   Chocolate Cherry Sparkler

ENTER TO WIN!!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake #InTheRaw

The product, information, and gift card have been provided by In The Raw® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of In The Raw®.

Happy ALMOST Thanksgiving everyone!  I’m so excited to spend the next week gathering with family and friends.  Connor is out of school and I think it’s just going to be a chill week all around.  I’m already full steam ahead and have my Christmas tree up…but that doesn’t mean I forget about Thanksgiving!

What do you think of when you hear the word THANKSGIVING?

Family?

Things you are thankful for?

FOOD?

Yes…food.  Memo to everyone out there, wear your stretchy pants on Thanksgiving Day.  You can thank me later.

I have a delicious recipe to share with you, it’s a Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake featuring Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag.

I’m always looking for healthier options during the holidays, but I still want to enjoy good food too!  That’s why I love the Stevia In The Raw Bakers Bag for all my holiday baking.

Information about Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag:

  • Stevia In The Raw® is a zero-calorie sweetener, perfect for any baking and cooking needs
  • It contains an extract from the sweet leaves of the stevia plant
  • Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag measures cup for cup with sugar so it can easily be used in recipes to reduce sugar and calories with no conversion necessary
    • Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag is formulated so that 1 cup has the same sweetness as 1 cup of Sugar
  • When using Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag for baking recipes, it is recommended that the user replace about half of the sugar in order to achieve the proper browning, rising and caramelizing that only sugar can provide
  • Up to 700 calories are saved for every cup of sugar that is replaced with Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag

Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake

RECIPE:

Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake

STEVIA IN THE RAWⓇ | PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES | MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Ingredients

Cake
———-
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Stevia In The Raw®
1 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1 can 100% pure pumpkin (15-oz.)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. baking powder
Sauce
1 cup caramel ice cream topping
2 Tbsp. bourbon or apple juice
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Heat oven to 325°F. Spray 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Beat brown sugar, Stevia In The Raw®, oil and eggs until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Add flour, pumpkin pie spice and baking powder; beat on LOW just until mixed. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 60 to 70 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, combine caramel and bourbon in a small bowl. Drizzle over cooled cake and sprinkle with pecans.

This cake was so delicious y’all!  I hope you try it during the season & check out more great recipes and information about In The Raw® on the website, or Facebook,  Instagram, & Pinterest.