by Shelly on June 14, 2018 Leave a Comment

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Party Ideas- we’ve rounded up lots of fun July 4th food recipes and Fourth of July decorations so you can celebrate America in style!

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Food Ideas

Nothing says ‘America Rocks’ more than good food with good friends. Cooking in the backyard, Barbecues, sweets and drinks are all necessary for a great July 4th celebration. Here are a few classic crowd pleasing recipes:

This fresh BLT pasta salad has my mouth watering.
You’ve got to get the American flag in with the apps! This Taco Salad Flag is the perfect addition!
How about a DIY Burger bar where guests can customize their burgers exactly how they’d like?
These Firecracker Hotdogs will be a huge hit with the kids (and myself to be honest)!
In the midwest, July 4th is not complete without corn on the cob. Try this Mexican Street Corn for a way to spice things up!

Fourth of July Dessert Ideas

Desserts are always my way of contributing. I love making sweet treats with my daughter and who can say no to a dessert made by a little girl?!

This Red, White and Blue M&M’s Cookie Bar is at the top of our list this year for our Fourth of July party.
No-bake is always a favorite in our family. Having it layered with pretty colors and topped with berries makes it even better! We’ll definitely be trying this No Bake Summer Berry Lasagna.
If you want to look like you worked really hard but actually did hardly anything, make a chocolate bark! I love the swirls in this Red White and Blue Bark!
Again, can’t go wrong with the flag themed foods. Bring something a little healthier with this Easy Flag Fruit Dessert.
Dips in the dessert world are highly underrated. I’m dying over how cute this Chocolate Chip Cookie Flag Dip looks!

Fourth of July Cocktail Ideas

Salute to Summer Sangria Recipe

1 (750-mL.) bottle white wine (I like to use Sauvignon blanc, but any wine you choose will work)
1 (12-oz.) can seltzer
1 c. Pineapple juice
1/2 c. brandy
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 cups of strawberries, sliced
1 pineapple cut into shapes
1 c. blueberries
2 apples cut into shapes or diced

July 4th Decorations

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Pin these ideas to save for later, and be sure to follow @shellybergman on Pinterest for more ideas.

Summer Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

This shop has been compensated by collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. Maker’s Mark® is a trademark of Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. and is used with permission. #CelebratorySips #MintJulepMonth #CollectiveBias

We’re huge blackberry fans in the summer and I can’t wait to make my favorite summer cocktail as the weather warms up. Now that I’m in nesting mode, nothing makes me more happy than showing my love to friends and family by hosting them in my home. Since moving to Indy two years ago we’ve been working hard on making our outdoor space a place of retreat, back yard BBQs and a kid’s play haven. Back yard BBQs that include tasty cuisine and drinks is what I’m working on this summer.

I’ve found an amazing summer Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail recipe that both men and women enjoy. It’s just the right mix of freshness and summer combined. Pair that with a charcuterie board for snacks and it makes for a great summer night out in the back yard with friends.

Summer Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

I know with The Big Race just around the corner, Mint Juleps are on the mind, but this cocktail has got it beat. It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer with your friends. First off, if you’re not familiar with the red wax-topped whiskey Maker’s Mark®, it’s one of the smoothest whiskeys around. At 90 proof, Maker’s Mark® has a woody oak, caramel, and vanilla aroma with a wheat prevail in the nose. The finish is smooth and subtle with a sweet taste, balanced with caramel, vanilla and fruity essences.

These flavors combine perfectly with the fruitiness of the blackberries and lemon in this cocktail. I’m always surprised when I find a drink that everyone in a group enjoys. I pair it with a charcuterie board full of various meats, cheeses, crackers, dips and fruits, making sure my guests have something to snack and sip while we chat the night away.

In our home, we’ve gone straw-free and have switched to stainless steel straws. Maker’s Mark® has a similar outlook on helping to save the Earth. Be sure to check out their movement on water sustainability while enjoying your beverages this summer. You can find Maker’s Mark® at most stores where liquor is sold. To learn more about their efforts, follow Maker’s Mark® on Instagram at @makersmark.

Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

This fruity whiskey cocktail is perfect for any summer backyard BBQ.

10 Blackberries (Muddled )
2 Lemons (Juiced)
1 cup Maker's Mark® Whiskey
1/2 cup Simple Syrup
2 Rosemary Sprigs
2 Lemon Wheels

In a shaker, add muddled blackberries, juiced lemons, simple syrup and Maker’s Mark® over ice. Shake 10 times and pour into a short glass filled with ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a wheel of lemon.

Print out the recipe or Pin it for later:

Top 24 Cauliflower Recipes: Cheap and Healthy Alternative

Top 24 Cauliflower Recipes- I just finished up a year of working with a health coach to get me on the right track towards having another baby. Every couple weeks there was a new habit to add to my repertoire of healthy living. My biggest takeaway from the program was the importance of finding what food is good fuel for my body. There was a lot of trial and error through this process. While exercise is important for muscle growth and a healthy heart, a balanced diet is what helped me improve the most.

Neither my husband nor myself enjoy cooking. I learned that in order to eat good food I must meal plan on the weekends, purchase the groceries and prep the veggies. Prepping the veggies was key when it came down to making the meals. It is much easier to batch prep work all at once making dinner time a breeze. I also needed to be more creative with my meals. We’re on a tight budget currently so we’re not able to eat as much fresh fish and expensive meats as in the past. That’s where veggies come in! There are a lot of ways you can replace a main entree (meat) with a veggie and it doesn’t feel like you’re being forced to eat your veggies as a kid.

Cauliflower is my new favorite vegetable because it can be used in so many different meals. Honestly, you could eat cauliflower for breakfast, lunch and dinner and have such varied tastes that you wouldn’t realize you were eating the same food. I’ve rounded up the best of the best from the internet for you to give a try as we head into the new year and stay on track during the holiday season.

Top Cauliflower Recipes

Breakfast

3 Ingredient Cauliflower Hashbrowns

Low Carb Breakfast Casserole

Appetizer

Cheesy Cauliflower Nachos

Cauliflower Crust Stromboli

Cheesy Cauliflower Muffins

Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

Garlic Roasted Cauliflower Bites

Sides

Loaded Cauliflower

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

Roasted Cauliflower Steak

Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

Mock Potato Salad

Cauliflower Stuffing

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Entrees

Honey Garlic Cauliflower

Siracha and Lime Roasted Cauliflower Tostadas

Chicken Enchilada Cauliflower Rice Bowls

Aloo Gobi – Cauliflower Potato Curry

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower Fajitas

Mushroom Risotto with Cauliflower Rice

Bacon Cheeseburger Cauliflower Casserole

Baked Sweet and Sour Cauliflower

In what ways do you try to get more vegetables in your meals? It’s a great way to save money and be more heart healthy!

by Shelly on October 24, 2017 14 Comments

Halloween Candy Cookie Pizza

I love Halloween. It’s definitely close behind Christmas on my list of favorites. Growing up my family celebrated the entire month of October with decorations, Halloween music, indoor haunted house, camping with ghost stories, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hay rides and lots of leaf jumping. Halloween night was the icing on the cake. We would come home from school, finish our homework, have dinner and start the costume process. Rain or snow, we would layer up under our clown or bunny costumes and head out to collect our treats. My favorite part of the entire night was pouring out my bag of loot and organizing my candy by favorites.

This year I’m able to re-live my trick-or-treating days through the eyes of our four year old Sophia! The past three years have been really fun on Halloween but I continuously get more excited as the years go by. This year she’ll really understand what/when Halloween is and why people are giving her candy if she says ‘Trick or Treat!’

The first step in minimizing challenges is to prepare. The Girl Scout in me always sees the worst outcome of every situation and prepares accordingly. First up was preparing for the trick-or-treaters that come to our home. We live in a big neighborhood so I always buy 6 of the biggest bags of candy. We also participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project where we offer glow necklaces for children with allergies. Kids have the choice of chocolates or a necklace. If you’re super cute, funny or make up a Halloween cheer you can have both!

The second step is the busy night of waiting for Daddy to get home, eat dinner, put on costumes and head out for trick-or-treating while giving time for a little candy sorting before bedtime. We solve this issue by having a pizza waiting for when Daddy gets home so we’re able to spend more time on Halloween fun.

The third challenge in the midwest is preparing for weather. Since Sophie is such a big fan of dinosaurs, her Grandma found a dinosaur costume at a consignment shop that is perfect for her! We were sure to get it a little big so she will be able to wear warm clothes underneath. It also has a hood as the dinosaur head to keep her ears warm. There aren’t any restricting parts to the costume or extra accessories that she could lose on our walk. We also have a backup lighter costume of cat ears and a pink tutu if she refuses to wear the dinosaur costume.

The final challenge is figuring out what to do with all of the candy left over from trick-or-treating. When I was little, my mom and I always made cookie pizza for my Birthday and Halloween. This is my favorite dessert to make for parties because I can customize it using people’s favorite candy bars.

Halloween Candy Cookie Pizza

Ingredients:

NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
1/4 c peanut butter
3/4 c NESTLÉ® Milk Chocolate Morsels
Candy bars of your choice
Candy Eyes and Halloween Sprinkles (optional)

Let the cookie dough sit out of the fridge for a half hour. Spread out cookie dough on a pizza pan being sure to use cookie spray on the pan. Bake according to directions on packaging. I used the shortest amount of time to start and kept an eye until it was the perfect golden brown.
While the cookie is warm out of the oven, dollop the peanut butter and sprinkle the chocolate morsels evenly.

Smear the two together to make the ‘pizza sauce’. If you’re a fan of peanut butter, switch the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter.

Chop the candy bars into decent sized pieces and sprinkle evenly throughout pizza. Add the candy eyes and Halloween Sprinkles.

Cut and serve. Best eaten warm and with milk.

Have you been a fan of Butterfinger since Bart was the spokesman? It’s my favorite topping on Halloween Candy Cookie Pizza. What do you do with your leftover Halloween candy?

Nutella Parfait Dessert

I’ve been a real slacker in the world of baking lately. One, because I’m supposed to be on a diet. Two, because it’s just so much effort when I’d rather be doing…anything else. I wanted to think of an quick and easy recipe with very little ingredients but still looks cute and tastes good. That’s a lot of wishful thinking but I was successful! My Mom always used to make Jello and pudding parfaits with fruit in the Jello for a quick, light dessert. I used this idea for my Nutella Parfait dessert but it turned into being more chocolate based and then more Nutella based in the end.

Nutella Parfait Dessert

The ingredients are easily found at any grocery store and can be switched up to customize to your tastes. The recipe I made up includes the following:

Ingredients:

3 c. 2% milk
1 box of Chocolate Fudge Pudding (you can substitute this flavor for any other flavor)
1 bag of chopped hazelnuts
16oz whipping cream (not creamy Cool Whip like I did)
A few heaping spoon fulls of Nutella

Just so you know, I’m not a real stickler for following directions when cooking. USUALLY when baking, I like to follow to a T, but since I was making this recipe up as I went, I don’t have exact measurements for everything. As any good chef will tell you, the best part about cooking is tasting it along the way. If you can’t taste the Nutella well enough, just add more!

The first thing I recommend doing (because I wish I had) is to chop the hazelnuts smaller before laying them out on a pan to roast in the oven. I put them in our toaster oven at 325F for 12 minutes, tossed them around a bit and put them back in for a few more minutes. This time will probably vary slightly if you chop the hazelnuts smaller so check on them before 12 minutes.

While your hazelnuts are roasting, make your fudge pudding according to the directions on the package. It should only take 5 minutes to set in the fridge. At this time, if you were me, you’d realize you didn’t ever drink milk, and contemplate if pudding could be made with water. Do not attempt this. Run to the neighbor’s to borrow some milk. (Thanks neighbor!)

While the pudding is setting, you can move on to the part that I demolished, the whipped Nutella! What you’re supposed to do: ‘In the bowl of a mixer (or using a hand-held), add the cold cream and begin whipping; once thickened slightly, sprinkle in the sugar and finish whipping just until stiff peaks form; set aside for a moment.’ I thought I was doing this but mine turned out a bit more like this:**

*womp womp* I didn’t let it stop me! I mixed in my Nutella and just pretended it wasn’t supposed to be light and fluffy. It still tasted amazing! Now that all the fixins’ are ready, it’s time to layer in your dish. This recipe makes 6 servings in 6 oz glasses or 4 servings in 10 oz glasses. To make clean layers, put your fillings in two separate icing bags (or Ziplock bags like I used) and cut the corner. Layer as you wish. For mine I layered hazelnuts, Nutella, Nutella ‘whip’, fudge pudding, Nutella ‘whip’, a dab of fudge pudding and sprinkled hazelnuts on the top. Let’s just say my husband wasn’t upset about this dessert.

In the end, I will definitely be trying this dessert again, but with more attention to the whip! I think it’d also be good with Oreos rather than hazelnuts. There are a ton of different flavor combos you could do for this dessert. Don’t be afraid to try things and mess up because you’ll always learn something! Even if I would have had to throw the whole thing out, there’s always Dairy Queen. What would your favorite combo be?

**While re-reading once finished, I’d realized I used Cool Whip rather than whipping cream! Major rookie move that I should not have made and will not make again!

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Fourth of July Food Ideas

Fourth of July Dessert Ideas

Fourth of July Cocktail Ideas

July 4th Decorations

Fourth of July Party Ideas

Summer Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

Summer Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

Blackberry Lemonade Whiskey Cocktail

Print out the recipe or Pin it for later:

Similar Posts You May Like:

Top 24 Cauliflower Recipes: Cheap and Healthy Alternative

Top Cauliflower Recipes

Breakfast

Appetizer

Sides

Entrees

Halloween Candy Cookie Pizza

Halloween Candy Cookie Pizza

Nutella Parfait Dessert

Nutella Parfait Dessert

Ingredients:

Life Planner

Preschool Montessori Bedroom

7 Tips to Make your Road Trip to Disney Magical