The Best QUICK Party Food: Delicious Savory Mini Cheese Balls

Sponsored post by Lunchbox

The holidays are here and that means it's time to be a total cheese ball. I'm not talking about imitating your goofy uncle that tells jokes that no one understands! I'm all about the most delicious thing served at any holiday party, the actual cheese ball!

While I'm usually the type to stick with just one delicious big ol' cheese ball per party, I saw this Kraft recipe and knew I had to try it, so I decided to make savory mini cheese balls for everyone to enjoy! I think I like things better this way, with a variety of flavors I'm sure this will be a dish that truly everyone can enjoy!

I was so shocked at how simple this recipe is and how absolutely delicious it tastes... minimal effort with maximum taste, this is my kind of recipe! Plus, I was able to put it all together in literally a matter of minutes...

Maybe you have a holiday party coming up and can't decide what to bring... or maybe you want to show off for Santa this year? Show up with these delicious Mini Savory Cheese Balls and everyone will be asking for your recipe!

This recipe is super simple to prepare and you can find the original from Kraft here and everything you'll need at Walmart! I wanted to share the details with you though, so they are listed below as well!

You will need:

1-1/2 pkg. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese (12oz total)
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seed
1 tsp. poppy seed
2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
2 Tbsp. finely chopped PLANTERS Pecans

So lets get this party started, you'll begin by cutting the cream cheese into 6 pieces; rolling each piece into a ball.    

Combine sesame seed, poppy seed and half the garlic in small bowl. Mix herbs and remaining garlic in separate small bowl. Combine cranberries and nuts in a third bowl.    

Roll 2 cheese balls in sesame seed mixture, 2 cheese balls in herb mixture and remaining 2 cheese balls in nut mixture. Serve & ENJOY!

I'm totally obsessed with this recipe, with no baking time necessary and minimum work put into preparation, it's easy to see why I plan on making and taking this to the next handful of parties we are invited to... So tell me, what will your holiday spread include this year? Hopefully a handful of cheese balls and a whole lot of love! Find more recipes here so you can make every day delicious!

Super Simple Greek Chicken & Broccoli recipe [ including a Litehouse coupon + a giveaway ]

This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Litehouse Foods. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays are such a busy (and fun) time of year, with tons of events on the calendar and plenty of items stacking up on my to-do list, the last thing I have to do is prepare a complex dinner every night. That's why easy, delicious recipes that I can make in minutes are pretty important in this house and that's why we love this recipe so much - it's quick & easy and absolutely delicious!

Thanks to Litehouse, we have another "regular" recipe to add to our routine! This Greek chicken and broccoli dish is the perfect healthy addition to any household "dinner menu" and with barely any prep time, it's a meal you won't mind making!

You'll begin this recipe with a small helping of already baked chicken, we buy rotisserie, and a large helping of freshly steamed broccoli. Add a little bit of Artisan Feta cheese to your broccoli, a sprinkle of Litehouse cilantro to your chicken, and a nice drizzle of Litehouse Greek dressing over the top of it all.

That's it! Your super simple dinner recipe is complete and ready to serve to everyone in your family. You can find Litehouse at your local supermarket or big box chains, plus you can use this coupon and save money!

Now that everyone has a full belly, maybe it's time to share a photo of your delicious holiday dishes with the hashtag #LitehouseHolidazzle for your chance to win $1,000 of groceries & a year's supply of Litehouse dressing! Don't miss out on the fun, submit your photo before the deadline (December 17th)! Get all the details here.

That's not your only chance to win Litehouse though! Enter to win the same product line up from Litehouse, so you can recreate this recipe in your kitchen! To enter the giveaway, use the form below & also tell me, what's your favorite holiday recipe? I can't wait to hear all about it below!

Entry-Form

The Best Coffeehouse Cocktail Recipes + a Free Coffee Inspired Printable

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. #muBARista #CollectiveBias

We've all had one of those delicious, creamy, perfectly blended beverages from our favorite coffee shop.

You know the type I'm talking about, the kind that make your mouth water from the smooth and sweet goodness... The type of drink that adds a little pep in your step because of the double shot of espresso mixed in with your favorite sugary treats... The type of drink that leaves you craving another one.

Well, today I'm sharing not just one, but two recipes for those ridiculously good drinks. But here's the twist, these drinks are for adults only with my new favorite addition to my coffee bar area, mü coffeehouse cocktails.

While these drinks are tasty with or without the booze, who says no to a little "cocktail" addition to their coffee around the holidays? Not I!

Are you ready to have one (or two) of these delicious coffee house inspired cocktails? Follow the recipes below and start sipping!

Ingredients:

For the Strawberries & Cream Coffeehouse Cocktail -

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 shots of espresso, room temperature
3/4 cup mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Vanilla Latte
1 cup strawberries
1 1/2 cups ice

For the Cookies & Cream Coffeehouse Cocktail -

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 shots of espresso, room temperature
3/4 cup mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Espresso Macchiato
1 cup chocolate sandwich cookies, whole
1 1/2 cups ice

Both of these recipes are so easy to make, but we'll work on the strawberries & cream cocktail first - you'll start by mixing the strawberries and about 1/4 cup milk in the blender. Next add in the ice.

Blend until smooth and add in remaining ingredients, adding in the mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Vanilla Latte last. Place in freezer for a few minutes if you plan on making both cocktails!

Next up, the cookies & cream cocktail - you'll actually start this recipe with the ice and cookies. Blend until they make a nice chocolate icy texture and then add in remaining ingredients, adding in mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Espresso Macchiato last.

Top both delicious cocktails with whipped cream & sprinkles and your drinks are ready to serve!

That's why I love mü coffeehouse cocktails so much, it's so easy to transform your kitchen into a coffeehouse bar with just a flick of the wrist, a blender, and some ice! With a variety of delicious flavors and a $2 coupon hanging from some lucky bottles in Publix & other retailers, there are so many drinks waiting to be served and sipped this winter!

Plus, you may have noticed my awesome new wall decor in the background; I think it really adds to the vibe and with this super cute coffee-inspired FREE printable, you can transform your house into a coffeehouse too.

So now that I've shared TWO delicious recipes and one adorable free printable, I'd love to hear what kind of concoctions and cocktails you want to add mü coffeehouse cocktails into? Tell me how you want your coffee break to meet your happy hour in the comments below!

Sweet as Sugar & as Naughty as Egg Nog Holiday Cookie Recipe with SPLENDA®!

Today's discussion is sponsored by SPLENDA®.

One of my favorite parts of celebrating the holiday season is all the sweets involved. From chocolate covered everything to super sweet sugar cookies, I'm loving being able to share the spirit of the holidays with delicious dessert recipes! While I love real sugar, I know that my body holds onto it forever and ever, so I try to limit myself... luckily, that's where SPLENDA® comes into the picture.

I know you've heard of SPLENDA® whether you've had it in your coffee or tried it in a recipe - it's a brand we all know and love and the cookie recipe I'm sharing today is one inspired by the brand.
The original recipe (found here) is actually really easy to follow but since I like to mix things up, I added my own little touch to the cookies - adding a delicious Egg Nog icing and instead of baking them with real flour, I opted to make my cookies gluten-free with coconut flour!

If you want a cookie that'll leave you wanting more, these are the Sweet as Sugar & as Naughty as Egg Nog cookies you've been looking for! If Santa wants something a little different this year, these are definitely the cookies to make for him!

Ingredients:

Cookies:
    1 cup unsalted butter, softened    
1 cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend
2 large eggs    
2 teaspoons vanilla extract    
3 cups coconut flour   
1 teaspoon baking powder    
½ teaspoon salt



Icing:
1/4 cup vanilla egg nog

3 cups confectioners sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
a few pinches of cinnamon

You'll start this recipe by preheating the oven to 325 degrees, then begin beating the butter at a low speed in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until it has a creamy texture. Gradually adding the SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, mixing it well.

Next you'll add the eggs into the mix, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Following the original recipes directions, now is the time to stir in vanilla.

Next you'll combine the coconut flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate mixing bowl.

Slowly add flour mixture to SPLENDA® sugar blend, beating until completed blended.

Form dough into balls and flatten slightly or place into a silcone mold.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly browned.

Remove from oven and let cool, while the cookies are cooling you can prep the icing.

Mix the butter and vanilla eggnog on low with an electric mixer. Adding confectioners sugar about a cup at a time to the mixture and mixing until smooth each time. Spoon into a piping bag and chill in refrigerator for a few minutes.

Once the cookies have completely cooled, add icing, and little sprinkles or candies!

Enjoy!

While the Sweet as Sugar and as Naughty as Eggnog Cookies are delicious, there are so many amazing Sweet Swaps™ Recipe ideas found here and you can easily get a bag of SPLENDA® from Walmart to get baking right away! Which recipe do you want to make first?

Simple + So Delicious: Elevated Peanut Butter Ball Recipe

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

Creamy, with a little bit of crunch, covered in chocolate and coated with sprinkles... What's not to love about an elevated version of peanut butter balls? I've always had a thing for the delicious little pieces of heaven my grandmother tends to make only around the holidays. They are like gold in my family, we literally divide them into equal portions for each of us girls and we each take a bag home... They are that good!

But the thing is, my tastes have changed as I've gotten a little older and I was looking for something to give these balls a little more oomph... so today I'm sharing how I elevated one of my favorite recipes from good to amazeballs, with the help of Peter Pan Simply Ground Peanut Butter! Why is this peanut butter better than the others? It's the perfect mixture of creamy and crunchy, with a taste that you'll crave! Plus, it has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives!

I not only changed the recipe for the peanut butter balls by choosing a better peanut butter; I decided to add sprinkles, a fruit preserve drizzle, or a tiny pinch of coconut to my peanut butter balls as well. This recipe really is amazing and you can grab everything you'll need in one quick run to Walmart!

You will need:
1 jar of Peter Pan Simply Ground Peanut Butter

3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1 stick salted butter
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 tbsp shortening
Sprinkles, Shredded Coconut, Fruit Preserve or other "toppings"

You'll be happy to find out this recipe is super easy! You'll begin by mixing the peanut butter and butter together with a handheld mixer. Once combined start slowly adding in confectioners sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time.

Once all of the confectioners sugar is added into the bowl, continue mixing until the "dough" starts to form one giant ball. Place in your refrigerator for at least an hour, maybe longer if you live in warm climate like Florida. Now remove the giant peanut butter ball from the fridge and try to refrain from eating it! You'll want to start rolling about 1inch sized balls, placing them onto a wax covered cookie sheet.

Once all the dough is rolled, you'll want to place your peanut butter balls back into the fridge until they feel dense and chilled to the touch.

Once your PB balls fit this description, you'll want to begin melting your chocolate according to package directions - although, I will mention that I tend to add in 1 tbsp shortening to make it easier to coat the PB balls! Once the chocolate is melted, remove the PB balls from the fridge and place a toothpick in each one and begin dipping into the melted chocolate quickly.

Using a large spoon and drizzling chocolate with the other spoon seems to be the easiest way to coat a peanut butter ball... and here's a little tip to prevent a mess: holding the ball in the left hand, tap your left wrist with your right hand. This slight tapping motion is the only way to rid your peanut butter ball of access chocolate without making a mess, you can thank me for that later when your counter tops aren't covered in chocolate splatter!

Now quickly add sprinkles or coconut to the peanut butter balls of choice, drizzling a few with a room temperature fruit preserve as well.

Place back into the refrigerator for a few hours and they're ready to serve and so delicious!

It's that easy to get these amazing little treats ready for your next event. Whether you are looking for a way to treat your family this Thanksgiving or wanting to surprise your family with a homemade treat for Christmas, this super easy peanut butter ball recipe using Peter Pan Simply Ground Peanut Butter is the answer!

So tell me, what recipe will you add this creamy, yet slightly crunchy peanut butter to? I love anything that involves peanut butter so I can't wait to hear all about your delicious PB-inspired ideas! Don't forget to snag this coupon for 50 cents off your next jar of Peter Pan Simply Ground Peanut Butter!

Mostaccioli - A Family Tradition

Mostaccioli is something that just reminds me of my grandmother. While she's a fabulous cook and everything she makes is stellar, Mostaccioli is something that always makes me think of her love, the way she hugs us girls, the way she smiles; it's a dish that purely represents my grandmother's loving embrace and warmth, a comfort food made for every occasion, always prepared in a batch big enough to feed an army or two.

Christmas late-afternoon lunches, long weekends with my sister, short visits on our birthday's, she makes it almost every time my family gets together, making the dish that much more of a tradition...

Today I want to share my version of her recipe, which is almost the same as hers, but prepared with Mama's Special Garden Sauce from Ragu! Using Ragu makes this dish so easy to prepare, it's almost mindless - so whenever I have a big event coming up that I need to cook for or I just need some comfort food, this is the recipe I turn to.

Did you know that Ragu started out as a family tradition as well? Assunta Cantisano is the lady behind Ragu, who braved the economy during The Great Depression and started selling jars of her delicious, fresh from the garden sauce from the front porch of her home. That same delicious, fresh from the garden taste is what makes Ragu so great to this day, with tomatoes from family farms and a commitment to quality in every jar - Assunta's tradition lives on.

With fresh vine ripe tomatoes and perfectly combined herbs in every glass jar of Ragu, it's almost just like my grandmother's sauce. Since my Mostaccioli recipe is a tradition and it simmers in Ragu almost all day in the crockpot, I like to refer to this recipe as simmered in tradition.

When I mention Mostaccioli to most people, they ask me what I'm talking about and I've even been told it "sounds like a funny dish"... so while Mostaccioli may not be commonly know, it's a tradition for my family and one that I love sharing, especially because I've adapted the recipe and even made it gluten-free so that my hubby can enjoy it as well.

Surprising my friends that don't know about the delicious ways of Mostaccioli yet with a bowl full of delicious pasta, coated in a beautifully seasoned red sauce, with mushrooms, onions, and a dense handful of Italian cheese sprinkled over the top is always a fun thing to do... It's funny to me how quickly people go from questioning my cooking skills and saying a dish sounds funny to asking for the recipe when they see and taste this recipe!

Not only is this pasta dish incredibly delicious, it's such an easy recipe to prepare! Trust me, you'll want to make Mostaccioli a tradition in your home and I guarantee everyone will love it.

Ingredients:

Mama's Special Garden Sauce from Ragu
1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
1/2 lb Italian sausage
Gluten free penne rigate pasta
1 can of mushrooms
1/2 onion, chopped finely
1 tbsp oil
Italian cheese

You'll want to start boiling the water for your pasta first... then brown the ground beef and italian sausage with the onion and olive oil in a large pan. Boil the pasta until al dente and cook the meat and onion mixture until brown, drain both items.


Combine your pasta, meat, onions, can of mushrooms, and Mama's Special Garden Sauce together in a crock pot. Simmer for 3-4 hours, or until ready to serve on low heat. When everyone is ready to eat, serve up in a bowl with a large helping of cheese sprinkled over the top!

Enjoy!

Now that I've shared a family tradition in my home, I'd love to hear all about the traditions your family follows...? Does your family have a certain pasta dish on special occasions? Does your crew always go eat at a certain restaurant when everyone is together? Tell me one of your favorite family traditions (or recipes) in the comments below, I can't wait to hear all about it!

The Ultimate Taqueria "Street Taco" Recipe with Cilantro Lime Rice INSIDE!

This shop has been compensated by Albertsons. All opinions are mine alone.
#StockUpOnPace #Albertsons #CollectiveBias

Let's start here... Are you a taco person?

I mean, are you the type of taco person that really knows a good taco when you see one? Can you get down on some delicious soft corn shell, double stacked, meat overflowing with a super spicy salsa kinda tacos? Are you a true taco lover?

We can hang anytime you want, if you're willing to stop and get street tacos and a Mexican soda with me... That's what true friendship is about in my mind - a good time and tacos.

So when Pace wanted me to show you how I stock up and get down on some of my favorite salsas, I knew exactly what I wanted to share...

But first, let me ask, Are you a fan of a taco with some heat? Can you handle a rainbow of veggies stacked a mile high and a dallop of the best salsa on the planet? If so, I think it's time for me to introduce you to my oh-so-delicious "street taco" recipe.

I'm not trying to flatter myself, but I really am the queen of street tacos now that I've mastered this simple recipe. I adapted a delicious taco recipe from Pace and made it into the best homemade "street taco" you've ever tried.

What's that I hear, you want the whole recipe? My version is below and you can find the original here!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 Jar Pace Hot Picante Sauce
Corn Tortillas
1 cup Mexican Cheese Blend
Shredded Cabbage
Tomatoes
Onions
Pace Chunky Salsa or Pace Restaurant Style Garlic & Lime Salsa
Jasmine Rice
Cilantro
Lime

You'll want to start this recipe by preparing the rice as directed on the bag, adding in a dash of fresh cilantro while it's boiling.

Once the rice is started, beginning browning your ground beef in a skillet. Once brown, add in 1 cup of Pace Hot Picante sauce and let simmer for five minutes.

While the sauce is simmering with the meat and the rice is on it's way to finished, go ahead and heat up a smaller pan to heat the tortillas with. Place each tortilla on the pan one at time, heating them until they are slightly browned.

Once the rice is ready, add in a hefty amount of lime and a small handful of chopped cilantro.

Now it's time to prep your tacos! Place the shells on a plate, adding the rice in first, followed by the meat and picante sauce, topped with a generous stack of veggies (onion, tomato, cabbbage, etc), and then finish your taco off with a dallop of Pace Salsa and a dash of cheese and your set to start eating!

Now, tell me, who wants tacos for dinner tonight?! I'd also love to hear your favorite Pace recipe... I love adding the Pace Picante to my eggs in the morning and the Pace Restaurant style garlic and lime is the perfect addition to my enchilada recipe... Tell me about your favorites in the comments below! Then go stock up on your favorite Pace products at Albertsons (or Safeway) at a great savings! Grab 2 delicious Pace salsas for $4 from 9/30-10/13!

Super Simple + Saucy Adobo Apricot BBQ Chicken

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

Making yummy food for game day is something that I always strive to do, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't... Whether the recipe I prepare pans out or not, it does usually mean I have a pretty big mess in the kitchen!

From accidentally slopping some sauce on my counter while trying to get it out of the jar to sticky bbq sauce covered hands coming in to grab another beer out of my fridge, I'm always battling the mess! Luckily, I have Viva® Vantage® Towels to "play defense" for me during my game day adventures with the boys! With super stretchy-strength to deliver great scrubbing power, I'm able to clean up every mess in the house and more!

So I guess I should warn you, you may need a few rolls of paper towels. They're excellent at picking up messes and cleaning off hands and with this recipe, everyone in your house will be asking for something heavy duty to clean their hands with. I love that Viva® Vantage® are so soft they feel like cloth, yet so strong they won't rip or tear. So I warned you, this recipe is beyond delicious, but it does get a little messy... I mean BBQ chicken should be messy, otherwise it isn't really good... right?

While this recipe may have you reaching for the paper towels, it is so incredibly easy to make you'll wonder why you didn't think of it... it's so good, you'll be getting asked for the recipe all night long!

Want to make some Super Simple + Saucy Adobo Apricot BBQ Chicken for your football loving friends? While your at Walmart picking up supplies for game day you'll want to grab the three super simple ingredients to make this top-notch chicken recipe and my favorite product to help me clean!

You'll need:
A rotisserie chicken
A jar of apricot preserve
A can of Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (usually found in the Hispanic foods aisle)

Oh and don't forget the Viva® Vantage® Towels, found in the paper towel section at your local Walmart, to help handle the mess!

That's it, your shopping list is complete!
The prep for this meal is so simple, anyone can do it! If you're chicken is cold from being in the fridge, you'll start by placing the cold chicken in a pre-heated oven at about 350 for 20 minutes, or until warm.

While your chicken is in the oven, you'll want to add about 3/4 cup apricot preserve, 1/4 cup adobo chipotle peppers, and about a 1/4 cup of water to a food processor and blend until smooth.

Once the sauce is smooth and your chicken is warm, your set to start serving up your delicious dish. This is where things get messy, whether your pouring the sauce all over the entire rotisserie and then allowing your guests to grab what they want or tearing the chicken apart first and adding the sauce later - both ways your bound to get a little saucy. That's why you'll want Viva® Vantage® on hand for you and your friends!

So tell me, which team will you be cheering on next Sunday? What's your favorite food to serve to guests in the heat of the game? If you've been following the blog you know I'm a bucs fan, so we'll be eating this delicious and super quick chicken dish and cheering on the team that almost always loses... and we're okay with that, because our food is good and the company we keep is even better!