Category: Cooking

The Best Way to #SpreadCheer is to Bake it for all to EAT!

This is my favorite time of year and I love to give the gift of yummy goodness to friends and family.  A favorite recipe that my Mom used to make is peanut butter blossoms.  It’s a peanut butter cookie with a Hershey Kiss in the middle.  They are so easy and sooooo good!

This year making my peanut butter blossoms was even easier because I had help from a good friend named Betty… Betty Crocker that is!  Found at your local Walmart store 🙂

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All you need is a package of Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix and some Hershey Kisses.  Sprinkles too…if you desire!

Connor helped me make the cookies.  He likes to stir the bowl and crack the eggs.  He’s also a pretty good chocolate peeler too 🙂

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And a fabulous chocolate topper!  I just love having my little elf in the kitchen and making memories.  That’s what life is all about right?

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We got some cute cookie tins and then shared with our friends.  If there was ever a time to #SpreadCheer it’s now y’all!

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Our favorite part is sharing with friends.  This is Connor’s best friend Alek in Kindergarten- they are both CRAZY about Star Wars.  Don’t mind their chocolate covered faces 🙂

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Add the perfect touch to your baked goods this season with FREE #SpreadCheer downloadable printables.  You can print gift tags & cookie coloring sheets.

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Download you coupon HERE & enter to WIN $20 Paypal cash to make your own #SpreadCheer goodies!

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Spice up your Holiday Recipes with #PricesSouthernStyle

I’ve partnered with Price*s® to bring you this delicious snack idea, but all opinions are my own.

The holidays are in full swing and if there is one thing I like to do during this time of year it’s EAT GOOD FOOD!

I’m excited to share a couple of recipes with you today.  They are super easy to make and great for a family dinner or a night in 🙂

Both recipes contain Price*s® pimiento cheese tubs in Southern Style Original and Spicy Jalapeño.  These can be found at Walmart & trust me they are SOOOOOO good!  I’m a big fan of pimento cheese in general, and these are so yummy and are already made and ready to eat!

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Everyone loves a good twice baked potato.  Here’s my recipe for the easiest twice baked potato you’ll ever bake!

TWICE BAKED PIMIENTO POTATOES

3 large baking potatoes (I just got the ones you can microwave quickly)
1⁄2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Price*s® Southern Style pimiento cheese
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
3⁄4 cup grated cheese-for topping
2 green onions
1/4 cup bacon bits

DIRECTIONS

Microwave potatoes according to how many you want, or bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour.

Wash potatoes before baking

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Scoop out inside of potatoesBBP_2671

You have a nice little potato boat 🙂BBP_2673
When potatoes are done let them cool 10-15 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients with the potatoes you just scraped out into a bowl.

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Stuff your potato boats with mixture & top with cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutesBBP_2679

This is a super yummy & creamy potato perfect for any holiday meal!
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BUT WAIT!  I’M NOT FINISHED….

Another favorite recipe is Jalapeno Corn Bread.  This goes great with a warm cup of soup on a cold night, or as a side to any dish.

All you need is a box of “Jiffy” mix and Price*s® Spicy Jalepeno pimiento cheese.

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Make corn bread according to directions on the back of the box.  Add in 1/3 cup of Price*s® Spicy Jalepeno pimiento cheese.
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Bake for around 20-25 minutes until golden.BBP_2698

YUM.

This was super easy and all I did was add one ingredient to get my favorite type of cornbread!  Perfect way to add a little kick to a regular recipe!

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I’m so excited for the next few weeks and I can’t wait to share these recipes with family and friends!  It’s amazing how much you can “jazz” up a recipe with just ONE ingredient like Price*s® pimiento cheese.

Price’s pimiento cheese is sold at select Walmart stores in Texas.  To find your nearest location go HERE.

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Thanksgiving 2015

I know…I know…

I’m behind on catching up again.  Here we are almost to Christmas, but I didn’t want to forget to recap our Thanksgiving either.  I’ve been busy with work and photo shoots.  I’ll do a post soon with some of my favorite shots this fall.

We spent Thanksgiving with Terence’s family this year at his brother Paul’s house & ate ourselves silly!  I put some fun Christmas lights on our balcony and decorated our tree!  Early Thanksgiving morning we went to the park and took some family photos with our new friends that just moved here from New York, they have a son the same age as Connor and they just LOVE each other.  It’s Star Wars all day every day in their minds 🙂

These aren’t our Christmas card photos, a few outtakes.  Since we moved I’ve been trying to update everyone with our new address.  If you would like a card from us please email me at beckylbranch@gmail.com and I’ll send it to you!

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Terence and I got new cell phones right before black Friday.  Yay!  Ours were a few years old and I’m excited to have an updated phone with a better camera.

Connor and I ventured out for a tiny bit of Black Friday shopping.  We went to World Market.  The store we visited is moving so everything on the floor was on sale.  I got a $150 beautiful bar stool for $25 bucks!  I talked to the store manager and he let me have it for a steal 🙂

Did y’all find anything fabulous for Black Friday?

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I also went to a cookie decorating class my friend Bree was hosting.  It was so much fun!  I’ve always been intimidated by using fondant….but we had a great time just talking and decorating cookies.  I definitely want to try this again soon!

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I hope you all are enjoying this season.  It’s definitely my favorite and I get sooooo excited this time of year!  I can’t wait to go home and visit my friends and family in Arkansas.  I’m counting down the days!  My DVR is full of Hallmark Christmas movies….I know they are so cheesy, but I still can’t help but indulge in the cheesy romance of each story.  Ha ha!

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Appetizer: Tortilla Roll-Ups

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

It’s the holiday season and I sure do love to eat good food during this time of year.  We just finished Thanksgiving and I’ve got a little “turkey hangover” going on.  I love spending time with family and friends.  We also get to eat some of my FAVORITE foods during this time too!

One of my favorite recipes is tortilla roll-ups.  My Mom used to make these for everyone to snack on because you know it takes a good while for the turkey to cook.  You may plan to eat at noon and actually eat at 2 pm.  That’s why it’s nice to have appetizers and finger foods to snack on.

Here’s my recipe for Tortilla Roll-Ups:

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
  • 1 package bacon flavored cream cheese or bacon bits
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
  • 1/4 C. chopped Mezzetta (Petite Blend) olives, pitted and chopped (These have great flavor, and the red and green colors are extra festive!)
  • 5 flour tortillas (10 inches), room temperature

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, olives, bacon, green chilies, & sour cream.

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Spread over tortillas.

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Roll up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate over night or until firm.

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Unwrap and cut into 1-inch slices.

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Serve with salsa

Find inspiration for your holiday entertaining and enter for a chance to win the holiday memories sharing pack HERE.

  • Grand Prize (1) – Instant Print Digital Camera plus an Ultimate Olive Lover’s Gift Basket including Mezzetta Olives, Olive Spoon, Cutting Board, Olive Bowl, Cocktail Napkins and Recipe Card.
  • Runner Up Prizes (10) – Ultimate Olive Lover’s Gift Basket including Mezzetta Olives, Olive Spoon, Cutting Board, Olive Bowl, Cocktail Napkins and Recipe Card.

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What’s your favorite recipe during the holidays?  I’d love for you to share 🙂

Klondike Fall Treats #KlondikeVariety #IC

This post was sponsored by Klondike as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

It’s fall and football season is officially in session.  We are big TCU fans in our house.  Every weekend our Saturdays seems to revolve around the big game.  It’s so much more fun to have people over and watch sports than watching alone right?  Gathering, talking, and eating our favorite snacks and sweets.  One of my favorite treats to serve guests in Klondike bars.  Each sweet snack is individually wrapped and easy to share and serve!

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Let me introduce you to my little friends : The Klondike Bars.  Klondike has 12 varieties of yummy chocolate covered bars and candy filled treats!   My absolute favorite is the new Cookie Dough Swirl!  It’s just like the classic Klondike bar, but with layers of cookie dough mixed in…YUM.  Not to mention there are 2 extra snacks in the package 🙂

The OREO is one of my favorites too.  Mixing OREOS with ice cream???  Yes please.

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Look at my future little football player…isn’t he precious!

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Connor’s favorite is the Klondike Mrs. Fields sandwiches.  Chocolate chip cookies sandwiches with vanilla ice cream.  That’s a happy kiddo!  He’s growing up way to fast I tell ya.  I can’t stand it….soon we’ll be watching him in the stands (maybe if that’s what he’s into).  Of course by then I might need 3 boxes of these because boys eat a TON!               

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Also, the Klondike Kandy bars are AMAZING ya’ll!  If you haven’t tried these you are missing out.  The Cookies & Cream bars are sooooo good!  I’m in a mint mood with Christmas coming up, so the Mint Fudge Cookie bars sound so good right now.

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What are your favorite treats to serve during the season?  

Sometimes it’s nice just to sit back and relax this time of year and not have to worry about cooking…especially “what’s for dessert?”.  I guarantee your guests will enjoy a Klondike treat just as much, and you’ll get to spend more time with your friends and family too!

Now that’s what I call a WIN=WIN.

For more information about Klondike visit Klondike on Facebook and on Twitter 

Boost your Cup of Coffee with Folgers Flavors #RemixYourCoffee #IC

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Folgers. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”
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Coffee is definitely one of my love languages.  I love coffee any time and any day of the week!  It puts the pep in my step and helps with that daily “boost“.  Some days are just hard to get through, from the moment you get up it can be struggle just to make it out the door.  I also have those afternoon sinking spells all the time.  Needless to say, I drink a lot of coffee!  I’m not really a black coffee sort of gal…I do love coffee…but I need some FLAVOR!

I just love, love, love these new Folgers Flavors.  These are perfect for adding yummy flavor to your coffee.  The bottles are easy to pop in your bag- use on the go, no matter where you are.  Folgers Flavors don’t need to be refrigerated either!

Folgers Flavors come in a variety of flavors too:

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I am a big fan of caramel.  The first flavor I tried was the caramel and it added just the right amount of “oomph” to my coffee.  Some days I also enjoy an iced coffee, and the Iced Hazelnut was really good too!  BBP_9272

I even add the Mocha flavor to my protein shakes to flavor it a bit more. They taste really good that way!  You can also mix the flavors together and have a caramel hazelnut coffee.  Or how about a hazelnut mocha? #YUM

How do you #RemixYourCoffee ???  What’s your favorite flavor?

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YouTube sensation Mike Tompkins has put his unique spin on the iconic Folgers jingle and created an original a capella Folgers remix mash-up.  Watch HERE & below.

For more information, visit www.Folgers.com

 

Folgers Flavors Giveaway:

“Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central.”

Enter to win two samples of the Folgers Flavors using the entry form below.
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Follow the latest and greatest from Folgers on Facebook & Twitter.

Weight Watchers Red Velvet Cake Balls #SmarterTreats #CollectiveBias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SmarterTreats  #CollectiveBias

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It’s almost time for the holidays!  It’s only a couple months away and my favorite time of year is kicking off.  Yay!  The food this time of year is also something I wait all year for.  From sweets to savory treats…I love them all!  My favorite meal is dessert and this year I vow not to eat my weight in food.  Fear not… Weight Watchers is here to help you!

One of my favorite treats during the holidays is red velvet cake balls.  I usually make them around this time of year to take to parties or work functions.  I went to my local Walmart and picked up a couple of boxes of the Red Velvet Creme Cakes in the snack cake isle.

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Red Velvet (Weight Watchers version) of Red Velvet Cake Balls:

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All you need are two boxes of the Red Velvet Creme Cakes and some chocolate dipping sauce.  That’s it!  No need to bake the cake (NO BAKING!!!) or adding icing like you normally would.  Save time and feel healthier at the same time 🙂

The Red Velvet Creme Cakes already have the cream inside to give your cake mix moisture.

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Peel off the wrappers and put in a bowl

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Mix together until you get a big ball of red velvet goodness

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Roll your balls into the size desired.  I got around 16 cake balls from two boxes.

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Put in refrigerator for around 30 minutes until firm

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Dip in chocolate and top with your favorite sprinkles!

Each cake ball is around 11-12 Weight Watchers points.

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Easy as cake 🙂 Literally

You could also make chocolate cake balls with the Weight Watchers Chocolate Creme Cakes.

So, there you have it.  My favorite holiday treat- a lighter version that is!

Be sure to check out more delicious Weight Watchers recipes HERE and share your favorite too.  There will also be live demos showcasing some great Weight Watchers recipes at a local Walmart near you from 10/29-11/1.  Click HERE to find where the nearest location is to you.