The folks from Blount Organic sent me some of their Blount Bowls to try! The Blount Family has been in the food business since 1880. Their products include  refrigerated and frozen gourmet soups, sauces, side dishes and entrées! Blount's gourmet soups and specialty foods are made with the finest and freshest ingredients,

I was really excited to try their Asian Inspired bowls. Just 3 minutes in the microwave and  you have a delicious hot meal.  Their bowl  flavors include Vegetable & Rice, Hibachi Chicken & Rice, Coconut Chicken & noodle and Chicken &  Ramen. I decided to try the Hibachi Chicken & Rice Bowl. 

It is gluten free and the chicken is raised without antibiotics. It contains sweet and roasted flavors of garlic, red peppers, red onion and tomatoes. It had a hint of sweetness and was very satisfying and FRESH! It really only took 3 minutes in the microwave. This is a great quick meal and is perfect for a cold winter day. 

In honor of January being National Soup Month, Blount Organic is doing a Giveaway!! 
 
Enter for you chance to win some of their delicious products! 

Nothing like a nice cup of hot chocolate to warm you up on a frigid winter day. In honor of January being my Mom's birthday month (she is turning 50 this year), I decided to make Birthday cake hot chocolate! It is very easy and so delicious! 

(Makes approx. 2 servings)
Ingredients: 
-1 1/2 cups of whole milk
- 1/4 cup of dry funfetti cake mix
-1/4 cup of chopped white chocolate
-1/4 tsp of vanilla extract
-Whipped cream
-rainbow sprinkles

Directions: 
Simmer the milk in a small  pot on low heat.  Then whisk the cake mix until dissolved.
Add the chocolate until completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 
Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream and sprinkles. 
Enjoy! 

I am huge fan of YouTuber Rosanna Pansino! I love  her YouTube show Nerdy Nummies. She recently launched a baking line and I purchased her silicone poop swirl treat mold. It makes your treats look like the poop emoji! Well I wanted to make something festive with the mold so I decided to make Elf Poop Brownies! 

Ingredients: 
-1 cup of butter
-3 oz of white chocolate
-4 eggs
-2 cups of sugar
-1 tsp of vanilla
-2 cups of flour
-1 tsp of salt
-red and green food coloring 

Directions:
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the butter and chocolate until melted. Then set aside to cool. 
In a bowl, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla. Then add in the butter mixture. 
Stir in the flour and salt. 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
Divided the batter into two separate bowls. Make one batch of batter red by adding a few drops of red food coloring and the other green by mixing in green food coloring. 
Put the red batter into a small pipette bag and do the same for the green. Cut the tips and then place both pipette bags into one large pipette bag  and cut the tip. 
Spray some non-stick spray into your treat mold then begin squeezing batter into each mold in a swirl pattern. 
Bake for about 30 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center and if it comes out clean then it is done. 
​Enjoy!! 

Are of you a fan of How The Grinch Stole Christmas? I love Dr. Seuss and I was really excited to give this Who Pudding recipe that I found online a try. I decided to modify the recipe by cutting it in half. So if you wish to just make about 2 servings or so, follow the recipe below: 

Ingredients: 
1/3 cup of long grain rice
1 1/2 cups of milk
6 tbs of sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 tbs of butter
1/4 tsp of salt
2 eggs separated
red and green M& M's 

Directions:
In a double boiler, combine the rice and milk and cook for 30 minutes. 
In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until frothy. Then stir in the sugar, vanilla, butter and salt. 
Then combine the rice mixture. 
Grease baking dish. I use two souffle dishes. 
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees. 
Then refrigerate overnight and top with M&M's before serving. 
 

I love an easy appetizer for the Holidays. This Baked Brie only requires two products. Yes, TWO products. 

You will need Formaggio Brand Betta Brie which comes with a super delicious almonds and cranberries topping. 

As well as a puff pastry sheet. 

Take a thawed puff pastry sheet and roll it out a bit with a rolling pin. Then take a spoonful of the almonds and cranberries topping from the Betta Brie and place that in the center. 
Then place the Brie on top of the topping. Fold the pastry sheet corners to the center  covering the brie. Pinch to close. Brush some egg wash on the puff pastry. Then flip it over and brush on the other side. 
Bake (with the folds on the bottom) in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. 
Serve with the  Almonds and Cranberries topping ( warm in the  microwave) and then top the baked brie with it. 
​Enjoy! 
​

Tthis dessert is Holiday Heaven!!! Eggnog and Gingerbread are my two favorite flavors!!

Ingredients:
-1 large (3.4 oz) vanilla pudding mix
-3 cups of eggnog
- 1 box of spice cake mix
-1 tbs of molasses
-1 tsp of cinnamon
-1 tsp of nutmeg
-1 tub of cool whip
-Ginger Snap Cookies

Directions:
In a bowl combine the vanilla pudding mix with the 3 cups of eggnog. Set in the fridge til firm. 
In another bowl make your spice cake mix (follow the instructions on the back by adding eggs, water, vegetable oil etc.. whatever your box says). Then add the molasses, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well and bake according to your box instructions. 
Once the cake is cool, begin to assemble your Trifle in a Trifle dish (or you can assemble in small glass cups). Cut up the cake into cubes and add into your dish as the bottom layer. Then add the eggnog pudding, then a layer of the cool whip. Repeat. 
Sprinkle the top with crushed ginger snap cookies. Place in the fridge until you are ready to serve.  
​Yummmm!!

Who doesn't love macaroni and cheese? It is a must in my household for the Holidays! Here is an easy recipe for Three Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese. 

Ingredients: 
-1 box of rotini pasta
-1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese
-2 cups of whole milk
-3 tbs of butter
- a dash of salt and pepper
-1 1/2 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese
-1 1/2 cups of shredded smoked Gouda cheese

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
Boil pasta and when finished drain with some cold water. 
In a skillet, on medium heat pour in your milk, add the cream cheese and season with salt and pepper. Stir frequently until cream cheese has melted. 
In a bowl combine the shredded cheddar and Gouda cheese and mix. 
Place the pasta in a casserole dish and pour in the hot milk mixture. Then add your shredded cheese and mix. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

Enjoy! 

For Christmas dinner I enjoy making Cornish hens with veggies for my husband and I. It is really simple and requires no carving. 

Ingredients:
-2 cornish hens
-1 sweet onion chopped
-carrots
-potatoes
-1 stick of butter melted
-2 tsp of dried oregano
-2 tsp of  dried rosemary
-1 tbs of minced garlic
-1 tbs of olive-salt and pepper
-oven bag (optional)


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
In a bowl, melt the butter and mix in the garlic,oregano and rosemary. 
I used small potatoes and mini carrots so that I didn't have to chop. Place the vegetables and onions in a bowl and combine with the butter mixture. 
I like to use an oven bag because I feel is makes the chicken extra moist. 
Place a little bit of flour in the oven bag and put in the veggies and place in a pan. 
Brush olive oil on the hens and season with salt and pepper. Place on top of the vegetables(breast side up) and close the oven bag. Cut a few slits into the oven bag. 
Bake in the oven for 1 hour-1 hour 15 min or until the  thermometer reads 180 degrees. 

Are you a fan of Snow White? You will love this very simple poison candy apple idea that is PERFECT for Halloween. 

You will need:
-red apples
-white melting chocolate
-green food coloring
-a tbs or so of vegetable shortening 

Directions:
In a microwave safe bowl, pour in your white melting chocolate. Melt by following the directions on the back of the package. Then add a few drops of green food coloring. For a nice bright green use neon green food coloring. 
When you add liquid to the melting chocolate you will notice the consistency changes. Add a tbs or so of shortening and microwave a few seconds more until you have a smooth consistency.
When the chocolate is slightly cool. place in a sandwich bag and cut off the tip. Then begin piping the chocolate onto the apple. First do an outline for the nose and eyes. (similar in shape to a skeleton's  nose and eyes). Then begin to add  the drips and  you can fill in and smooth with a toothpick. I just covered the front portion of the apple. You don't have to cover the whole thing. 
​Poison apple anyone? 
Happy Halloween! 

Did you know Vampires love cupcakes? Well of course they do! Make these cool Vampire Bite Cupcakes! 

You will need:
-Vanilla cupcakes topped with white icing
-Toothpick
-candy blood
-Plastic vampire teeth

Directions:
Simply make two bite marks into your vanilla cupcake with a toothpick. Then using a spoon, pour your candy blood into the holes and have it drip down the side of the cupcake. Then I took plastic vampire teeth and cut it in half. Then I inserted it on the top. 
​Yummm!