Monster Cookies Recipe + Eggland’s Best Foodtography Contest

March 15, 2017 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post has been sponsored by Eggland’s Best Eggs. All opinions are 100% our own, and honest as always!

Monster Cookies are a family favorite treat at our house! They’re the most perfect flavor and texture combo on the planet!

With Spring on the horizon, I wanted to share this fun little gem of a recipe with you. I also wanted to share this fun Eggland’s Best Foodtography contest with you — but first thing’s first! Below is the yummy Monster Cookies recipe!

INGREDIENTS
3 Eggland’s Best Eggs
1 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Sugar
12 oz Peanut Butter
1/2 cup softened Butter
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 cup M&M’s
1 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 tsp Baking Soda
4 1/2 cup Quick Oats

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Combine eggs, vanilla, salt, sugar, brown sugar and baking soda in a large bowl.
Add in peanut butter, and butter. Mix until well incorporated.
Stir in the M&M’s, chocolate chips and oatmeal.
Place about tablespoon size chunks on the prepared sheets several inches apart.
Bake for about 9 minutes.
Leave on cookie sheet for about 3 minutes before moving to rack to cool completely.

More about the Eggland’s Best Foodtography Contest:

Eggland’s Best is searching for the most passionate egg fan! One who also happens to have an eye for taking gorgeous food photos!

“Show us how you celebrate the only egg that provides better taste, better nutrition, and better quality for the past 25 years!”

Submit your Eggland’s Best foodie photos by April 12, 2017 for a chance to win $5,000! *Note: All dish creations must include at least 2 whole Eggland’s Best eggs.

Why Choose Eggland’s Best?

Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs contain 5 times more vitamin D
25% less saturated fat
more than double the Omega-3s
10 times more vitamin E
3 times more vitamin B12!
Superior nutrition due to proprietary all vegetarian hen feed that contains healthy grains, canola oil, and wholesome supplements of rice bran, alfalfa, sea kelp, and Vit. E.

If you’re ready to put your foodtography to the test, then submit (2) mouthwatering food photos of your dish from February 16^thto April 12^th, 2017 that includes at least (2) whole Eggland’s Best eggs into one of four categories below: You may submit up to 2 photos in each of the 4 categories.

Brunch
Appetizer
Main Course
Dessert

Prizing:

– (1) Grand Prize Winner: $5,000 and a year’s supply of Eggland’s Best eggs

– (4) Finalist Winners: $1,000 and a year’s supply of Eggland’s Best eggs

– (20) Semi-finalist Winners: A year’s supply of Eggland’s Best eggs

You can visit the Eggland’s Best website to find more information and official rules about the 2017 Eggland’s BestFoodtography Contest: http://www.egglandsbest.com/foodtography

Please, also follow Eggland’s Best below via their website and social media!

What delicious recipes will YOU be submitting?!

Ninja Coffee Bar® System Giveaway + Cookies and Cream Frappe Recipe (Giveaway Ends 12/18)

December 12, 2016 by Jenni 80 Comments

This post was created in partnership with Ninja Coffee Bar^® System. I received complimentary products in order to create the cookies and cream frappe – and compensation to facilitate my review, but all opinions within are my own.

We’re in the midst of the crazy holiday season. Between shopping, wrapping, decorating, and baking – we need to take our caffeine breaks along the way! At least I do!! Momma needs this cookies and cream frappe, yes. Yes, she does!

We have a lot of family and friends to entertain through the holiday. Most of which are big coffee drinkers. A regular cup of coffee is perfect for everyday – but special occasions call for special coffee drinks!

I certainly don’t look like Sofia Vergara, or sound like her. However, with my new Ninja Coffee Bar^® System — I can make a cup of coffee just as good as hers! Whether we want a full pot of regular brewed coffee or a single cup of coffee. Iced coffee, or a delicious coffee, or cookies and cream frappe. The Ninja Coffee Bar^® System does it ALL.

5 Reasons You’ll Love theNinja Coffee Bar^® System:

The built-in hot and cold frother.

There’s nothing like a nice amount of froth on your coffee. Enjoy a cold froth for your cold coffee drinks, or iced coffees. Or, enjoy a warm and luscious froth for your hot coffee drinks! Froth for you, froth for me, froth for everybody!

The Scoop.

Guys. There is a spot right on the side of the coffeemaker for the measuring scoop!!! No more digging into the endless can of coffee looking for the coffee scoop!

No More Filters, Pods, or Cups!

It comes with the reusable filter. No more paper filters or expensive pods or individual disposable KCups. Just dump the coffee grounds each time, rinse, and voila! Good to go for your next magical coffee experience! In our case, the cookies and cream frappe! The recipe is coming up…promise!!

6 Different Brew Sizes.

Whether you’re a whole pot kinda drinker, or a single cup drinker….this system does it ALL. You can brew a

9.5 oz. cup
11.5 oz. cup
14 oz. travel mug
18 oz. multi-serve cup
half carafe (5 cup)
full carafe (10 cup)

Five different Brew Types.

If your family is a diverse group of coffee drinkers, then you’re going to love this feature!! Personally, my husband likes his coffee a tad bit stronger than I do – so this works perfectly for us.

Classic Brew
Rich Brew
Over Ice Brew
Specialty Brew (concentrated 4 oz.)
Cafe Forte (8 oz.)*
*this brew amplifies the natural subtle flavors of your favorite coffee.

Allows Your Inner Barista to Shine.

This machine is seriously like having 4 or 5 different coffee machines and/or other gadgets all in one. Instead of having multiple machines sitting on your counter or under your cabinet…the Ninja Coffee Bar^® System really just does it ALL. And then some. And then a little more. For realz!

Makes YOU the Hostess with the Mostess.

Yeah. Just think…you could make all of your guests the coffee drink of their dreams! They’ll be ready to come to your house for all the holidays and then tell all their friends how awesome your coffee maker is!! BOOM! Coffee making envy! Your coffee will bring all the boys to the yard!!

I love that it comes with a fantastic recipe book full of 20 different coffeehouse-style recipes that you can easily make at home! Now, I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t have the time to stop by the nearest coffee shop every day NOR do I have the money to splurge on that kinda coffee every day. Seriously, the Ninja Coffee Bar^® System is like having my own local coffee shop right inside my kitchen!

My favorite recipe from the recipe book is the Coffee, Cookies and Cream Frappe. I want to share this yummy drink with you. Cheers!

Cookies and Cream Frappe Ingredients:

3 Ninja® Big Scoops (or 4 tablespoons) ground coffee
2 cups ice
1/2 cup coffee ice cream
4 chocolate sandwich cookies, plus 1 chopped for garnish
1/4 cup milk
whipped cream, for garnish

Directions:

Following the measurements provided, place the ground coffee into the brew basket.
Place the ice into a large plastic cup; set cup into place to brew in the Ninja Coffee Bar^® System.
Press the Specialty button. (this button brews a very strong 4 oz. of coffee)
When the brew is complete, combine coffee and ice with ice cream, cookies, and milk in a 24 oz. or larger blender.
Blend until smooth, about 25 seconds.
Divide between 2 glasses; top with whipped cream and chopped cookie.

Ready for a Giveaway?

One lucky reader will win their very own Ninja Coffee Bar^®System (ARV $200). US residents only, age 18 or older, are eligible to win. Giveaway ends Sunday, December 18th at 11:59pm EST. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as a part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central and must reside in the United States. Ninja Coffee Bar^® System giveaway is the same product as the review product.

We’d love it if you followed our partner on their social media channels below!

Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/ninjacoffeebar
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ninjacoffeebar
Pinterest Page: https://www.pinterest.com/ninjakitchen/
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/ninjacoffeebar/

Glazed Pumpkin Banana Bread + How to Combat Tummy Trouble this Holiday Season

December 2, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

Do the holidays just get ya? Right in the feels?! It does me too, and that’s why I’m sharing this yummy-licious glazed pumpkin banana bread recipe!

I stay “giddy” all through November and December. The music, the movies on Hallmark, the chilly air outside, and then there’s the FOOD. All. The. FOOD.

I consume more calories in November and December than I do all of the rest of the year combined. Not even kidding! But, don’t we all??!! I tend to get rumblies in my tumblies sometimes though, especially during the holidays, so thank goodness I have a few favorite digestive health relief products that I can depend on!

Thanksgiving is over and we’re gearing up for Christmas, however, we do still have a few weeks left. I’ve been wondering what in the world to do with my leftover canned pumpkin. And just FYI, no. I’m not sick and tired of pumpkin just yet! I also had some REALLY ripe bananas leftover, so…I made this delicious glazed Pumpkin Banana Bread!

Pumpkin Banana Bread Ingredients (makes 2 loaves)

5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 really ripe bananas
1 15 oz. can pure pumpkin
1 stick softened butter
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Glaze Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tsp. of vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease 2 loaf pans.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Then slowly add the pumpkin, banana, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
Add the dry ingredients and mix slowly until completely combined.
Pour the batter evenly, into the 2 greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350, for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center is clean.
Place loaf pans on a wire cooling rack. After they’ve cooled – it’s time to pour the heavenly glaze over the top!

Glaze Instructions:

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until it’s creamy. You can add more milk to get the consistency you want.
After bread is completely cool, drizzle the glaze over each loaf.
Enjoy!

I know that the holidays are the time that we enjoy the best foods! Things that we don’t often get, and yummies that are slap full of calories, and other goodness! My belly usually doesn’t agree with all of that. Yours probably doesn’t either.

While I’m out grabbing groceries for holiday dinners and ingredients for all of the candies and treats we make, I make sure to grab some of the items that take care of the belly issues too. Like the new IMODIUM® A-D® Softgels. Umm. Hello! These are a life-saver!

I grabbed mine while we were at Walmart. The husband heads straight to the electronics department. (eye-roll). I stop at the pharmacy for the IMODIUM® and then make a quick pit stop by the toy department. Luckily – I made it out of there without getting anything! Then ran on over to get all of the groceries on my list.

Make sure to stock up on IMODIUM® and all of the other digestive health relief products at Walmart — for the whole family! You never know when diarrhea will rear it’s ugly head! Gahhh! Better to be prepared, just in case — especially if you’re traveling for the holidays.

Visit Walmart.com/digestivehealth to learn more and shop these brands to feel better from top to bottom!

Are you planning to host a holiday dinner or make a dish or dessert to take to your family dinner? Our pumpkin banana bread will be a hit!! You should also check out some of these other easy and delicious recipes!

Enjoy and have the Happiest of Holidays!!

K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster Building Set Fun + Tips and Tricks

November 17, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored on behalf of K’NEX, however, all opinions and building fun are 100% our own.

K'NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster Building Set

Building things is just something that is naturally fun! Especially for the guys in my life. K’NEX recently sent us the new K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster building set to put together. You should have seen my husband’s and son’s eyes light up when it arrived!

My husband has been working SO much overtime lately – so he and Eli only have the evenings to work on it at the moment. Last night, they pulled it from the box and got to work.

Here are a few tips to help get you going on the K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster building set!

K'NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster Building Set

#1 – Build in a Low Traffic Area

Seriously. My guys jumped the gun and just dumped everything out into the middle of my kitchen floor. HELLO?! Find a spot or corner where there isn’t much traffic through the house to build. Also, keep pets in mind. They get nosy and like to knock things over!

K'NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster Building Set

#2 – Separate into Piles

Again. My guys jumped the gun on this one too. They just dumped it all out into the floor and then decided after just a few minutes that they should have separated the pieces into nice little piles.

K'NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster Building Set

#3 – Be patient

Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?! If you’re like us and short on time – pick a time to build with your kids if they need help! Choose weeknights, after dinner. Or on the weekends! We’ll be finishing ours up on Thanksgiving break!

#4 – Have FUN and Encourage REAL Play

Today, our kids are so into digital and electronic play. We can build things, with just a click on a computer screen. It doesn’t use as much “brain power” as physically building an actual building set! The K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster building set is perfect for digging in and encouraging real building and playing!

More about K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster:

Seriously! Get ready for the ride of your life!! This bad boy stands over 2 1/2 feet high! This creepy carnival themed coaster works by a motorized chain lift that shoots the coaster car through 14 FEET of twists and turns!

Thankfully, it comes with easy to follow, step by step building instructions. Everyone can build it!! There are even instructions for a 2nd coaster that you can download from knex.com! It’s the perfect gift this holiday season or ANYtime for that matter! You can find it exclusively at Walmart! You can also find other massive, moving, motortized roller coaster toys, ferris wheels, and more from K’NEX!

K’NEX wants to show kids that the only limit to building is the size of your imagination! After 25 years of business, K’NEX prides itself on connecting science, technology, engineering, arts, and math with imagination.

Visit K’NEX on social media to see what they’re up to!

Facebook: KNEX / Twitter: @KNEX / Instagram: @knexbrands / Pinterest: K’NEX Brands

Tell us, would your family love the K’NEX Wild Whiplash Roller Coaster?!

Hawaiian Toast with a REAL Cheese Twist!

November 8, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sargento® Cheese. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hawaiian Toast

You know the old “Farmer in the Dell” song?! The cheese stands alone?! Well, that’s fine by me. I can eat cheese — all by itself. And I do, often. Cheese is a major staple in our kitchen. I’m not talking about the cheese singles, either. I like the real deal.

Did you know that…

Pasteurized Process Cheese Food, sometimes known as American singles, is only required to contain 51% real cheese?!?!?!

Our fave REAL cheese brand is Sargento® Sliced Cheese. They only make 100% natural, REAL cheese. They’re the Real Cheese People! They want to rally consumers to create a community of cheese lovers to declare their passion and love for the real deal.

A German friend of mine named Dieter, told me about a treat that his family always had back home in Germany. It’s called Hawaiian Toast, or more formally – Toast Hawaii. It’s a delicious recipe – but it was always made with cheese singles, he said. I wanted to change this recipe up by using REAL cheese – and on whole grain bagels vs. white bread. Here’s how it went…

Hawaiian Toast Ingredients:

whole grain bagels (or you can use any bread you like)
Sargento® sliced cheese (any variety, we used swiss and sharp cheddar)
pineapple slices, drained really well
sliced or shaved ham

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Warm ham through in a skillet on medium heat.
Toast bagels or toast in toaster.
Pile ham onto bagel, or toast. Place a drained pineapple ring on top. Place a slice of cheese (or two!) on the top.
Place in the oven and bake just until the cheese starts to melt and bubble up.
Enjoy!

Just look how yummy these turned out! They were DELICIOUS!!!!!

You can (and should!) replace all of your cheesy recipes and favorite snacks/treats with Sargento® cheese! There’s nothing like the taste of REAL cheese!! It’s perfect for your burgers, sandwiches, wraps, etc! Visit them on Instagram and Facebook to find awesome and EASY recipes and snack ideas!

Shower Upgrade Ideas Featuring Delta

October 31, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post was brought to you by the Delta Faucet Company. I received free product from Delta Faucet to write this post, but all opinions expressed are my own.

I have the “if you give a mouse a cookie” mentality.

This is true with almost everything I do. Recently, I got a new Delta H₂Okinetic^® showerhead. When I installed this – I was in awe of how pretty it was. Bright and shiny! Like a new diamond.

Then there was the ugly shower caddy that had years worth of gross soap scum all over it. You give me a new showerhead, and I’m going to want a new shiny shower caddy to match. When you give me a new shower caddy – I’m going to want a new shower curtain. When you give me a new shower curtain, I’m going to want a new bath mat. Well, you get the picture…….”if you give a mouse a cookie” mentality.

If you’re looking for some new ideas for a shower upgrade, I’ve got some for you…

1. Upgrade your shower head! ASAP.

Get rid of that crusty old shower head that barely spits out enough water to wet your eyebrow! I’m obsessed with my new Delta H₂Okinetic^® showerhead! This baby has multiple settings and the showerhead itself, is HUGE! Makes you feel like you’re showering in a rain forest. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

I love it because I can change it to whatever setting I’m in the mood for. My husband always changes it to something different, so when I get in the shower it’s like a box of chocolate candy….you never know what you’re gonna get! HA!

The Delta H₂Okinetic^® showerhead is 2 showers in 1! A showerhead and hand shower that can operate seperately, or both at the same time.

It has 3x the coverage of a standard showerhead. Larger droplets and a unique wave pattern that creates the feeling of more pressure and a warmer shower experience. The showerhead also stays put! When you pull the hand showerhead out and place it back, it’s kept firmly in place with a powerful magnet.

Another favorite feature that I love is the “pause” feature! You just push a small button that pauses the water flow so that you can lather up, shampoo your hair, or shave! I LOVE that!!!

2. A new shower caddy

Once you put in your new showerhead, your old shower caddy will just look SO out of place! Do yourself a favor and get a new caddy. Pick one that’s large enough to hold your shampoo, conditioner, body washes, and razors!

3. A new shower curtain

I don’t know about you, but our shower curtains get GROSS. Really fast. Especially at the bottom of the curtain. New shower curtains are cheap – so grab a new one that matches your bathroom design and style!

4. A new bathmat

I love our microfiber bathmat! They’re really soft and spongy – and they absorb a lot of water! If you have slick bathroom floors, a bathmat is a MUST anyway, especially if you have kids! Get one that adds a pop of color to your bathroom!

5. Yummy scents

To top off the best shower experience ever – go buy a new body wash and shampoo. I love trying new scents! While you’re at it, grab some body scrubs too! Winter is coming soon and we gotta get prepared to get rid of all that dead and dry skin this upcoming cold and chilly season!!

Do you have any shower upgrade ideas? We’d love to hear them!

Have Seafood Night in at Home with Michael Angelo’s

October 12, 2016 by Jenni

All ideas, recipes, & opinions are entirely my own however, this is a sponsored post on behalf of Michael Angelo’s™.

Guys. Get this. You NO longer have to leave home and get out of your comfy PJ’s and slippers to indulge in Seafood night!

We’ve fallen head over heels in love with the new Michael Angelo’s Seafood Meals, and so will you! It’s an upgrade from frozen fish sticks that the kids love! Nothing wrong with those, we’ll just leave those to the kiddos while we indulge in the big people stuff!

The new Michael Angelo’s Salmon Piccata is CRAZY good! It’s turned off chilly here this week and I really enjoyed warming up and having this for dinner. Perfection! Made with wild-caught Alaskan salmon, spring vegetables, and a fluffy brown rice in a piccata sauce. It’s super flavorful, and the portion was perfect for me!

I’ve been a fan of Michael Angelo’s foods for a long time now, and most people love the amazing flavor. What they don’t know is that the ingredients are simple, and clean.

Want a night off from having to cook?

Want a super quick and easy seafood night at home?

Grab some Michael Angelo’s Seafood Meals, straight from the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. I got ours at Kroger – but you can also find them at Walmart and Publix. Visit their store locator page to see where you can snag yours!

You’ll love that you’ll be able to read and understand everything on the label. Real ingredients. No preservatives. Nothing artificial. BAM! Their salmon is wild caught and their shrimp is chemical free!

Each week now when I write out our weekly menu plan, I make sure to reserve at least one night for Seafood Night! The family is always super excited – and THIS momma is super excited that I don’t have to slave over a hot stove!

Go ahead and visit Michael Angelo’s on their social channels below to see what’s the latest and greatest!

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Some of the other products include…

Michael Angelo’s Shrimp & Kale Piccata

Michael Angelo’s Seafood Primavera

Michael Angelo’s Salmon Piccata

Have you tried any of these seafood meals yet? If so, which was your fave or which would you love to try?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Michael Angelo’s . The opinions and text are all mine.

9 Drool Worthy Coffee Recipes on Pinterest – Celebrate National Coffee Day with Folgers Perfect Measures

September 29, 2016 by Jenni 1 Comment

This post has been sponsored by Folgers Perfect Measures. All of our opinions and love for coffee, are all our own.

Happy National Coffee Day!!!!!

Pull out the party hats and the coffee cups!!! It’s National Coffee Day, ya’ll!!! Woohoo! This is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years — all rolled up into one! Right?!

Coffee is the Laverne to my Shirley.

The Lucy to my Ethel.

The ying to my yang.

…you get the drift.

I love it. It loves me. It doesn’t talk back. It understands me. It brightens my mornings. You feelin’ me?!

Folgers Perfect Measures has become a staple in our home. Why, you ask? They’re so easy to use, and completely mess free. No more worrying about measuring out the coffee. You just drop in the tabs of coffee to make your perfect pot! No measuring = no mess!

Mornings around here are so easy now. I just drop in the tabs from the canister into the filter and we’re ready to roll.

You can pick your perfect roast! Our personal fave is the Black Silk. Folgers Perfect Measures comes in all your favorite Folgers blends…

Classic Roast
Classic Decaf
100% Columbian
Black Silk
Breakfast Blend

Since it’s National Coffee Day — I scoured Pinterest and found some of the top coffee recipes on the net, including a few of our very own popular recipes amongst our readers and friends! These are all super easy to make – and gourmet coffee made at home saves you a pretty penny too!!

Pick your favorite recipe below and enjoy National Coffee Day with me! You’ll find me sipping from my own cup today!

9 Most Popular Coffee Recipes found on Pinterest:

1. Mocha Frappe

2. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Iced Coffee

3. Pumpkin Spice Frappe

4. Almond Joy Iced Coffee – A Treats Affair

5. Butterscotch Caramel Coffee – Living Locurto

6. Caramel Brulee Coffee – Foxes Love Lemons

7. White Chocolate Latte – Julie’s Eats and Treats

8. Mocha Coconut Frappuccino – Simply Stacie

9. Gingerbread Latte – Simply Stacie

Which coffee recipes above are you drooling over?!

Seriously Fast & Easy Baked Italian Chicken with NEW Idahoan Signature Russet Mashed Potatoes

September 29, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

I’ve partnered with Idahoan on this sponsored post and all opinions stated are my own.

Let’s face it. Potatoes are an integral part of dinnertime. Especially at our house. My husband is one of those “meat and potatoes” kinda guys.

There’s just one thing though. This momma don’t have the time, NOR the energy to stand and peel potatoes, cut potatoes, boil potatoes, and then mash the heck out of them to get all the lumps out. Don’t get me wrong, I do love me some mashed potatoes – but the real deal around our house isn’t as often as I’d like.

Ahem. Until NOW.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Idahoan because they are the best tasting “instant” out there, in my opinion. Well, they have overwhelmingly upped their game!!!

The new Idahoan Signature Russets Mashed Potatoes are SO STINKING GOOOOOOOOOOOD! You’d swear to the heavens above, that these were 100% completely homemade at your grandma-ma’s house! Not even kidding!

They have a very smooth taste, just like original homemade mashed potatoes with just a hint of butter and cream.

My husband is always a griper about my mashed potatoes. It wouldn’t matter if they were liquid gold, he’d still find a complaint. Not this time. He ate 2 huge helpings, and then came back and basically licked the pot clean. Kidding (sooooo not kidding!) 😉

I made these the other night with one of my super quick and easy chicken recipes. We’re having some remodeling done on the house, and this particular night — by the time dinner time came – I was too tired and needed something hearty for dinner! This was a HIT.

2 Ingredient Baked Italian Chicken Recipe ingredients:

3-4 chicken breasts, thawed
1/2 cup (give or take) Zesty Italian Salad Dressing

Instructions:

Place chicken breasts in a plastic container or large zip lock bag with Italian dressing. Shake around until chicken is well coated. Stick in fridge to marinate for 30 minutes or so.
Place chicken in baking dish or pan, pour leftover dressing from the baggie over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until no longer pink.
Spoon some of the hot dressing from the pan over chicken.
Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite veggies!

More reasons why I love the new Idahoan Signature Russets:

They’re delicious. Oh, wait…did I already say that?!
Makes any meal taste like Sunday dinner!
More than 6 pounds of premium Idahoan russet potatoes go into every 16 oz. pouch.
They use a new processing method that let’s the potatoes keep their natural goodness and texture. In the end, they taste as good as if you had peeled, boiled, and mashed them yourself!
Takes just 5 minutes using milk and butter….or just water!
You can get them in a 4 serving, 12 serving, or 20 serving pouch – and the pouches are resealable.
You can find them nationwide, including Walmart and Kroger NOW!

What’s your go-to recipes with mashed potatoes as a side dish?

College Safety Tips for Girls (and Guys) That You Never Think Of

September 12, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Wearsafe. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Sweet Pennies From Heaven.

College Safety Tips for Girls and Guys You Never Think Of!

The kids are all grown up and leaving for college. They think they already know everything, right?! Yeah, they’re pretty smart – but they’re probably also still really naive. My niece, Hannah – my “mini me” – has just started her first year.

Bathroom selfies and all… (God love her heart!). I love her to pieces.

College kids HAVE to be equipped with some “smarts” when it comes to their safety since we’re not there to protect them. Here are 7 college safety tips for girls (and guys) that most of them won’t ever think of…until we tell them!

College Safety Tips for Girls (and guys)

1 . Have car/dorm keys handy BEFORE you get to the car or your dorm room. Don’t wait until you’re there before you start digging around for keys.

2 . Keep pepper spray handy. Most people think about having pepper spray on them, but most of the time they never even buy any.

3 . Use your car alarm! If a stranger is following you in the parking lot – press that alarm button on your key ring. More than likely, they’ll run the opposite direction!

4 . Don’t leave your drinks/food unattended. I know this one has been said over and over and over again – but for realz! Keep an eye on your drinks. You never know what weird creeper will drop something in it!

5 . Never go to the ATM machine alone, especially at night. Make your bestie or room mate tag along with you. If she/he complains, offer them $5 or something off the dollar menu at Taco Bell. Guarantee they’ll take you up on that!

6 . Keep your expensive stuff like laptops and electronic devices hidden away in your backpack or bag when heading out to the car or to the library.

7 . Use Wearsafe! It’s a teeny tiny Tag that keeps the kids and their family/friends one step ahead of an unsafe situation. In this event – it can be hard to get help when you’re fumbling around for your phone. I just set one up, and it was so easy to do!

This super small Wearsafe Tag uses your phone to alert your friends and family – by sending them audio from the scene. It starts a chat room where they can coordinate, and/or call 911. Even when your phone is OUT OF SIGHT!!

The Wearsafe Tag works with both iPhones and Androids. The app is only $5 a month and comes with a FREE device/tag! You cannot beat that — and there are NO commitments!!! You can Try it free now!!!

You won’t find another product out there that will keep your college kids safer than Wearsafe. It’s the only one to offer audio, GPS, and group chat! The Wearsafe Tag is SO small that a stranger don’t even know it’s there! All the while, in a situation, they have NO idea that 911 may already be on the way, thanks to Wearsafe!

APP/DEVICE DETAILS:

GPS information – recognizes if you are traveling or moving or stationary but that alone is not enough
Audio from the scene – push of button sends audio file of 60 seconds before ‘event’. Being able to hear what is going on gives the context of what is happening
Group chat – all those in selected network are in group chat to create a virtual situation room. Connects people who may not be connected on a daily basis. They can connect as a team to address how to help person in distress and assess the situation.

This gives parents and the college kids both a sense of security. Even while you’re not close to one another, you’re still able to protect them at a moments notice! For just $5 a month. Mind blown. What other college safety tips do you have?!

We’d love to hear them. Leave us a comment below or follow us on social media!

Grilled Chocolate Peanut Butter and Strawberry Sandwich

July 22, 2016 by Jenni 79 Comments

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, in collaboration with Brownberry® Bread. The opinions expressed in this post, and my creation of my grilled chocolate peanut butter strawberry sandwich, are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Brownberry® Bread.

Grilled Chocolate Peanut Butter Strawberry Sandwich

I get all googly-eyed over a really REALLY good sandwich, don’t you?

I know that most sandwiches are more on the savory side – so today I decided to go the opposite direction and make a sweet one — and boy, is it sweet! This grilled chocolate peanut butter strawberry sandwich is so rich and gooey!

You literally can’t sit still and eat it at the same time. The only downside is that you might have oozing chocolate running down your hand, but hey…I don’t have a problem with that! Do you?!

Ingredients:

sliced bread (we use Brownberry® Bread OatNut)
1-2 tablespoons chocolate or chocolate hazelnut spread (like Nutella, or Hershey’s)
1-2 tablespoons peanut butter
sliced strawberries
softened butter

Instructions:

Butter one side of a slice of bread, and lay buttered side down in a skillet on med/med high heat.

Spread chocolate spread on side of bread facing up.

Layer sliced strawberries on top of chocolate.

Quickly spread peanut butter on one side of 2nd slice of bread, and lay peanut butter side down on top of the strawberries.

Quickly spread butter on the top of the bread, facing up.

Once the first side is browned, carefully flip over with a spatula to brown the other side.

Let it ooze and goo, and enjoy with a large glass of milk!

5.0 from 13 reviews

Grilled Chocolate Peanut Butter and Strawberry Sandwich

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

sliced bread (we use Brownberry® Bread OatNut)
1-2 tablespoons chocolate or chocolate hazelnut spread (like Nutella, or Hershey's)
1-2 tablespoons peanut butter
sliced strawberries
softened butter

Instructions

Butter one side of a slice of bread, and lay buttered side down in a skillet on med/med high heat.
Spread chocolate spread on side of bread facing up.
Layer sliced strawberries on top of chocolate.
Quickly spread peanut butter on one side of 2nd slice of bread, and lay peanut butter side down on top of the strawberries.
Quickly spread butter on the top of the bread, facing up.
Once the first side is browned, carefully flip over with a spatula to brown the other side.

Information about Brownberry® products:

All of Brownberry® Whole Grains Sliced Breads and Brownberry® Sandwich Thins® Rolls contain/are:

2 to 5 grams of fiber per slice or thin
Zero grams of Trans Fat
No High Fructose Corn Syrup
A cholesterol free food

The Brownberry® Healthfull® bread varieties contain/are:

Made with 100% whole grains
Good source of fiber
80 calories per serving
No High Fructose Corn Syrup
Heart healthy*
Zero grams of Trans Fat

Health authorities recommend munching on 25-38 grams of fiber^[1] and 48 grams of whole grains per day^[2], much of which may come from whole grain products like Brownberry® Whole Grains Sliced Breads or Brownberry® Sandwich Thins® Rolls varieties.

If you’re not sure of how many grams of whole grains you are getting, look for the Whole Grain Stamp found on all of Brownberry® Whole Grains Sliced Breads and Brownberry® Sandwich Thins® Rolls.

* Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and as low as possible in trans fat, may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

*Availability: Brownberry® bread is available in the Midwestern U.S. It can be found in the Eastern U.S. as Arnold® bread and in the Western U.S. as Oroweat® bread.

Visit the Brownberry® Facebook page for fun recipes and ideas.

GIVEAWAY IS OVER:

Simply enter, using the Rafflecopter form below. US residents, age 18 or older eligible. Giveaway ends 7/27 at 11:59pm EST. This blog is responsible for the giveaway, however, Brownberry® Bread is providing the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by, and please let us know what you think of our gooey grilled chocolate peanut butter strawberry sandwich! We’d love to know!!

Curb Hunger with Meta Appetite Control

July 12, 2016 by Jenni 1 Comment

This post was sponsored byMeta Appetite Control as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

Since the new year – I’ve tried to get a little more fit and eat better. The biggest problem is my snacking habits, especially during the late mornings/early afternoon. Breaking that habit isn’t easy, so I need this little orange zest drink to help curb my appetite.

I found out about Meta Appetite Control – and wanted to give it a shot. It’s a fiber supplement that reduces your appetite for up to 4 hours. That’s exactly what I need to get me through that snacky slump in the middle of the day!

Best part is that you can enter to receive a digital $5 off coupon and product sample for yourself to try out! Woohoo! You’ll find out how, towards the end of the post.

You just add a couple heaping teaspoons of Meta Appetite Control into some ice cold water, and stir. I like to add ice to mine too, the colder – the better! I really like the Orange Zest flavor – but then again, I’m a sucker for anything orange!

You could also add a couple spoonfuls into your morning or afternoon smoothies – to help keep you fuller, longer too!

More about Meta Appetite Control…

It’s the #1 recommended fiber brand by doctors. It’s made with 100% natural psyllium fiber*!

It’s been clinically proven to keep you full between meals, and reduce your hunger. The psyllium fiber in the powder forms a thick gel when it thickens. Thus, giving you a more full sensation.

You can find Meta Appetite Control now, in the digestive wellness aisle at Walgreens nationwide!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Digital Coupon Opportunity:

I-C is hosting a coupon opportunity for Meta Appetite Control through the form allowing you a $5 off coupon upon filling out the form.
Giveaway opens on Tuesday, June 7^th and closes when all coupons have been redeemed.

Fill out my online form.

Influence Central will select and handle all product and coupon fulfillment.

Have you tried it yet? What do you think?!

Chocolate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

June 20, 2016 by Jenni 1 Comment

This post was sponsored by Hello Happy. Hello Hershey’s, as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central. All opinions and the creation of these Chocolate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies are our own.

Chocolate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!!

There are so many awesome things about summer! HERSHEY’S is ready to open our eyes to the everyday joys that surround us!

This summer, HERSHEY’S is pushing forward their “Hello Happy Moments” – to show us that we can choose happiness anywhere, and at anytime. It’s the simple things that can make us happy…like chocolate, and FISHING! An evening spent at the lake fishing, or chocolate?! I can’t just pick one, so I’ll take both!

Today is the first official day of summer – and we’re ready to create happy memories this summer, beginning with these delicious chocolate stuffed peanut butter cookies!

Chocolate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients:

32-35 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup additional granulated sugar for rolling (optional)
HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Chips melted, for drizzling on top (optional)

Instructions:

Makes about 2 and a half dozen cookies.

Heat oven to 375°F.

Remove wrappers from chocolates.

Beat shortening and peanut butter in mixing bowl until well blended.

Add 1/3 cup sugar and the brown sugar, beat until fluffy.

Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well.

Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

Scoop out cookie dough, using a cookie scoop.

Press your thumb into the center of the cookie dough; set a HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolate into the center.

Wrap dough over the chocolate, and roll into a ball.

Roll in granulated sugar, place on cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Drizzle melted chocolate on top, if desired.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Chocolate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

Author: Jenni

Serves: 2 and a half dozen cookies

Ingredients

32-35 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
½ cup shortening
¾ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
⅓ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup additional granulated sugar for rolling (optional)
HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Chips melted, for drizzling on top (optional)

Instructions

Heat oven to 375°F.
Remove wrappers from chocolates.
Beat shortening and peanut butter in mixing bowl until well blended.
Add ⅓ cup sugar and the brown sugar, beat until fluffy.
Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well.
Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
Scoop out cookie dough, using a cookie scoop.
Press your thumb into the center of the cookie dough; set a HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolate into the center.
Wrap dough over the chocolate, and roll into a ball.
Roll in granulated sugar, place on cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Drizzle melted chocolate on top, if desired.

Recipe adapted from HERSHEY’S.

Leave us a comment and tell us about your “Hello Happy Moments”! We’d love to hear!!

Easy Chai Tiramisu Recipe

June 5, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review and in the creation of this Chai Tiramisu recipe.

Easy Chai Tiramisu

Do you know what’s better than a chai latte? A chai latte that you can make AT home, in less than a minute! What’s even better?? Chai Tiramisu. Two of my favorite words – and I’ve combined them into one scrumptious dessert!

I’m currently crushing on the new sweet and spicy line of tea from TAZO®. Have you tried it yet?

The TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods make fixing a Chai Latte at home a breeze! No standing in lines at the local coffee stop AND you don’t need any fancy equipment. Just a Keurig® coffee maker and you’re ready to enjoy a chai latte in 2 easy steps…and in like, less than a minute! For real…it’s INSANE!

First, you pour in the creamy latte mixture in the pouch.

Then you brew in the tea. Boom. Just like that, you have a nice steamy, and hot chai latte.

With the first sip, I was hooked. It’s so creamy and the all the sweet and spicy flavors just pop! Sweet cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, and spicy ginger…….

….all in one cup

…..at home

……..watching my favorite shows on tv!

It’s made from milk, tea leaves and spices. Steeped in 5,000 years of Indian history, chai is a beautiful blend of black tea with all those yummy spices and scents.

I want to drink it every day – for the rest of my life. Mmmm. You can click here to find where to buy the TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods so you can enjoy them for yourself.

TAZO has partnered with New York Times Bestselling author and host Padma Lakshmi to celebrate the release of the new K-Cup® pods. Since tea and chai are huge parts of her family’s heritage, she’s developed some incredible recipes that pair perfectly with some yummy chai. You can find all of the recipes here.

I wanted to create a recipe that I could infuse with the chai flavors. One of my favorite recipes has always been tiramisu. So, chai tiramisu it is! And it’s SO good!

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz. mascarpone cheese, softened or at room temp.
(you can use 8 oz. of cream cheese if you can’t find mascarpone)
8 oz. brewed and cooled TAZO® Chai Latte, reserve 1 tablespoon
1 package of lady fingers, or vanilla wafers
ground cinnamon

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, combine heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until stiff or hard peaks form.

Gently fold in the softened mascarpone cheese, and 1 tablespoon of cooled chai latte.

Dunk each lady finger or vanilla wafer (using vanilla wafers in my recipe because I can’t find lady fingers in stock anywhere) into the remaining chai latte, and layer evenly onto bottom of an 8″ square pan. DO NOT let the lady fingers or wafers soak. Literally…just dunk straight in and straight out, and layer into the pan. If you let them soak too long, they’ll get too mushy.

After the bottom is layered with cookies, spread half of the mascarpone mixture on top and spread evenly.

Add another layer of dunked lady fingers or vanilla wafers on top.

Spread the last half of the mascarpone mixture on top.

Sprinkle the top with ground cinnamon.

Refrigerate overnight or at least for 6-8 hours before serving.

Enjoy!!

Easy Chai Tiramisu Recipe

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

1 cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz. mascarpone cheese or cream cheese, softened or at room temp.
8 oz. brewed and cooled TAZO® Chai Latte, reserve 1 tablespoon
1 package of lady fingers, or vanilla wafers
ground cinnamon

Instructions

With an electric mixer or stand mixer, combine heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until stiff or hard peaks form.
Gently fold in the softened mascarpone cheese, and 1 tablespoon of cooled chai latte.
Dunk each lady finger or vanilla wafer into the remaining chai latte, and layer evenly onto bottom of an 8" square pan. DO NOT let the lady fingers or wafers soak. Literally...just dunk straight in and straight out, and layer into the pan. If you let them soak too long, they'll get too mushy.
After the bottom is layered with cookies, spread half of the mascarpone mixture on top and spread evenly.
Add another layer of dunked lady fingers or vanilla wafers on top.
Spread the last half of the mascarpone mixture on top.
Sprinkle the top with ground cinnamon.
Refrigerate overnight or at least for 6-8 hours before serving.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Milkshake (Plus Dairy Free Milkshake Alternatives)

May 12, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

Hey there & Welcome!!

I’ve just gotta ask…

Ever had a homemade milkshake?

A creamy, dreamy, heaven in your mouth homemade milkshake?

Guys. If you answered no, then you’re missing out and I feel so so soooo sorry for you and I’m giving you a virtual hug, right now. Bless your heart.

If you have encountered this bliss, then you KNOW just how easy they are to make…

…and how DELICIOUS they are…

…and how DECADENT they are.

Since PB and Chocolate is a favorite flavor combo among many, I wanted to share my homemade peanut butter and chocolate milkshake recipe.

What’s the most awesome thing about making homemade milkshakes?

Everyone loves stopping at the local ice cream shop for a milkshake, but

cue Rolling Stones music…

you can’t…

always get…

what ya wa-aant.

NO.

You can’t…

always get…

what ya wa-aant!

Okay – for real. You can’t always get what you want when you buy from the ice cream parlor or restaurant. However, with homemade milkshakes, YOU control

what goes in it
how much sugar is used (or use sugar free products)
fun flavor combos
or make a dairy free milkshake (what??!!) That’s a REAL thing! And they’re JUST as good!!

Homemade milkshakes are the perfect option for families who deal with a lot of allergies or intolerances.

It’s also a fun way to get the kids engaged with you IN the kitchen! Have a weekly “make your own milkshake” night. Let the kids be creative!

Here are a few fun milkshake ideas that you could throw together…

Peanut Butter and Banana
Peanut Butter and Jelly (oooohh)
Fudge Brownie and Ice Cream
Strawberry and Chocolate
Rocky Road
S’Mores

Or you could let them make a cool gross one like,

Potato chips and pickles (ewww!)

Either way, you’ve got to TRY our homemade peanut butter and chocolate milkshake! If you love Reese’s Cups, you’re gonna LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!

Click NEXT below to get our recipe RIGHT NOW!

Pages: 1 2 3

Grilled Smores Sandwich – Creating Happy Family Moments

April 28, 2016 by Jenni 19 Comments

This post was sponsored by Hello Happy. Hello Hershey’s. as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central.

Grilled Smores Sandwich

Did you know that even the smallest thing can create a chain reaction of happiness? We all love to make our family happy, and it doesn’t really take too much – especially if it’s just a grilled Smores sandwich! Do these things make you happy?

a morning hug and a kiss
a surprise “I love you” text or lunchbox note
making the family’s favorite treat

Those are just a few things that instantly come to my mind…small things that make me happy.

Nothing suits a belly better than a grilled Smores sandwich! Ever had one?

Buttery on the outside, and full of ooey gooey chocolaty and marshmallowy goodness on the inside.

Mercy.

You won’t believe how easy these are to make, here’s what you need…

Grilled Smores Sandwich Ingredients:

1 tsp. of softened butter
2 slices sandwich bread (wheat or white)
1 HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar (or substitute with HERSHEY’S Chocolate Spreads)
1 graham cracker sheet
4 marshmallows, cut in half horizontally

Grilled Smores Sandwich Directions:

Butter one slice of bread with half the butter. Place buttered side down in a cold skillet.
Break chocolate bar into sections and evenly place them on the unbuttered side of bread.
Layer with graham cracker, breaking to fit.
Top with marshmallow halves.
Butter one side of second piece of bread, and lay down buttered side up.
Heat over medium/low heat, until bottom of sandwich is golden brown. VERY VERY carefully flip the sandwich, and heat until the bottom is golden brown on that side as well. Remove from the skillet, cut and serve.

What are your happy moments throughout the day?

I’d love to know what little things make you happy! Maybe it can give me and everyone else a little more insight!

I’m really pumped to be working with HERSHEY’S on this Hello Happy Moments campaign. The idea behind it is to make us think about how to create happy moments – even in places or at times where we’re not usually happy, like during our morning commute, at work, or when our weekend plans have been rained out.

Check out this video. I bet you’ll cry, just like I did – so grab a tissue!

Blowing dandelions and makin’ wishes. ?????

A photo posted by Jenni Eaves (@sweetpennies) on Apr 19, 2016 at 12:25pm PDT

9 Fun and Easy Ways to Spark Happy Family Moments:

blow dandelions, and make wishes!
have a family bake day
have a family dance off
surprise tea party or picnic
water balloon fight
weird family science experiment (something gross and gooey!)
pitch a tent in the backyard and roast S’Mores
family karaoke night
catch lightning bugs in a jar

Another fun family moment that’s coming up is “Take Your Kids to Work Day”. Although this day is officially set for April 28th, it can really be celebrated any day. It’s a great time to spark some fun, happy moments and for parents to show off their careers to inspire their kids to be whatever they want to be.

Ready for a SWEET Giveaway?

In celebration of Hello Happy, Hello Hershey’s — one lucky reader will win a HERSHEY’S Products Prize Package! US residents only, age 18+ are eligible. You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends May 3rd, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. The prize package will include:

HERSHEY’S Chocolate Syrup – one bottle
HERSHEY’S Spreads in Chocolate – one container
HERSHEY’S Cocoa – one container
HERSHEY’S KISSES – one bag
HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Chips – one bag
HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars – two bars
Bag of Marshmallows
Box of Graham Crackers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Over 7 Places You Forgot To Clean When Spring Cleaning

April 19, 2016 by Jenni Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by The Duck Brand. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Sweet Pennies From Heaven.

Over 7 Places You Forgot to Clean when Spring Cleaning!

Are you getting ready to start spring cleaning, or have you already started?

There are over 7 places that we forget to spring clean each and every year! Some of these should really even be cleaned more often.

1. Inside Kitchen and Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets We’re in and out of our drawers and cabinets every single day – yet we NEVER clean inside of them.

Work one cabinet or drawer at a time.
Wipe the inside down with hot, soapy water and let air dry.
Lay down new shelf liner paper.

We just recently redid the outside of our kitchen cabinets and I had yet to add shelf liner paper to the inside of my cabinets. While spring cleaning, it’s the perfect time!

I’m using the new Easy Liner® with Clorox® shelf liners by Duck® brand. I wanted to try these because they have Clorox® antimicrobial protection. Since we live in an old farmhouse, I really like the idea of keeping my cabinets and drawers from growing stinky mold and mildew.

This new Clorox® antimicrobial protection just has an additive embedded into the material that doesn’t degrade over time, even after washing it!! You can use it everywhere in the home, even the fridge (however, it’s not suggested for direct contact with food).

3 Reasons I really wanted to try it:

It’s Bleach-Free (Clorox® trusted, but without actual bleach!)
It’s MACHINE WASHABLE (say, what?!)!!!
it’s easy to cut, place, and reposition without a hassle
it’s water resistant (great for dishes that aren’t 100% dry when put away!)

They have a few different varieties that you can choose from: Solid, Super Grip, Smooth Top, and Select.

Here’s my finished product! Woohoo! It looks SO much better!!

Next up on the list of forgotten places to clean when spring cleaning:

2. Ceiling Light Shades/Globes These get so dusty, and we don’t really even notice till they’re super gross! You can stick most glass or plastic shades and globes inside your dishwasher to wash easily!

3. Under/Behind/On top of Large Appliances:

Refrigerator (don’t forget the top)
Washer/Dryer
Stove (don’t forget to clean under the range hood too!)

4. Under/Behind/On top of Small Appliances:

Toaster
Coffee Pot
Microwave

5. Under and Behind Furniture Have you SEEN the size of the dust bunnies under your furniture? Pull furniture away from walls and vacuum/mop floors and clean the walls with soapy water. Let dry before moving furniture back. Don’t forget to give your furniture a good vacuum and wipe down too!

6. Pillows/Mattresses To clean mattresses, some people like to take them outside and let the wind and sunshine do their natural work to clean them. If you can’t get your mattresses outside, you can do a few things:

Sprinkle with baking soda
Vacuum
Spray a mixture of 50:50 vinegar/water on mattress, till just damp. Let air dry for a few hours.
You can opt to use a mattress cover that keeps dust mites and bacteria out. You can also get these for your pillows!

7. Closets (clean and organize): I don’t know about you, but about once a year my closet needs an overhaul. I like to get rid of clothes that I haven’t worn in months, and just re-organize it. If you need organization tips and help, I wrote this post on closet organization and storage solutions for small closets.

8. Garbage Cans Yuck! Naturally garbage cans are the nastiest. This is one job that should be done more often, but it’s an easy job to forget! Cleaning garbage cans is pretty simple. Just use hot soapy water to wash down the inside and outside of the garbage cans, using a cleaning rag. Afterwards, spray the inside with an antibacterial cleaning spray, or even vinegar before putting in a new trash bag.

Are there other places that you forgot to clean when doing your spring cleaning? We want to know, so I can add to this list! Drop us a comment!!

Chili Cornbread Muffins + a $25 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

April 1, 2016 by Jenni 77 Comments

The Eggland’s Best information, coupons, gift card, and additional gift pack have been provided by Eggland’s Best.

Chili Cornbread Muffins

Combining 2 Favorite Comfort Foods

Are you looking for a NEW, quick, and easy dinner idea?

Something that takes no time to make? Something that’s delicious, and something that takes “comfort” food to a whole new level?

These chili cornbread muffins are just what you’re looking for!

Ingredients:

(2) packages of Jiffy Mix
2/3 cup milk
2 Egglands’s Best eggs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of your favorite chili

Instructions:

Combine cornbread mix according to package directions, including the milk and Eggland’s Best eggs.
Stir in shredded cheese.
Pour into a greased muffin tin, or use muffin or cupcake liners.
Bake according to cornbread mix directions.
Heat chili on the stovetop or in microwave.
Once cornbread muffins are done, let cool and remove from muffin pan.
Top each cornbread muffin with hot chili.
Optional: Dollop with sour cream, and more shredded cheese!

Are you up for a challenge?

Eggland’s Best (EB) is looking for America’s best original egg recipe, but this recipe challenge has a twist! They want YOU to showcase your state pride by creating a recipe using an ingredient that’s local to you!

Since I live in Indiana, corn was an obvious choice! That’s why I wanted to do a fun twist on an easy cornbread recipe.

Your recipe entries must include:

a minimum of two (2) whole Eggland’s Best eggs
at least one (1) locally sourced ingredient, from your home state

Eggland’s Best will be accepting entries for the “America’s Best Recipe” contest through April 29th – so you have PLENTY of time to get creative in the kitchen! Recipes will be judged based on creativity, inspiration behind the local ingredient, and how you use that ingredient in your recipe. Winners will be announced Dec. 13th.

Grand Prize winner will receive $10,000 and a year supply of Eggland’s Best eggs
(4) Regional winners will receive $1,000 and a year supply of Eggland’s Best eggs
(53) Best in State winners will receive a year supply of Eggland’s Best eggs

Get all the details on the contest here: http://www.egglandsbest.com/americasbestrecipe.

Why You Should Choose Eggland’s Best Eggs over any others:

For the longest time, I thought all eggs were created equally.

That’s NOT the case!!

Did you know that Eggland’s Best eggs has 4 times more vitamin D, more than double the omega-3s, and contains 25% less saturated fat, compared to ordinary eggs?

Yeah. Neither did I, till a couple of years ago.

They taste better, they’re fresher, and they are SO much more nutritious!

Ready for a Giveaway?

We love Eggland’s Best eggs so much, that we’re excited to offer you a fun giveaway!! One lucky person will win a $25 Visa gift card and 1 coupon, valid for a free carton of EB eggs! Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Giveaway ends 4/6 at 11:59pm EST. US residents only, are eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can show your support and love to Eggland’s Best by visiting them! You can find them at:

If you decide to give these chili cornbread muffins a try, I’d love to know what you think! Leave us a comment.

Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores

January 29, 2016 by Jenni 49 Comments

Did you catch our Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches post from yesterday? Yep! It’s Girl Scout Cookie time, and I wanted to re-share these ideas. I mean, Girl Scout Cookies are delicious on their own, right outta the package. But smushing things between 2 cookies. Well. Do I even have to explain how good that is?!

This post is an older one, but I wanted to update it and share it again because every home in America is being hit by the Girl Scout Cookie plague. You don’t wanna miss these……………….

DUN, DUN, DUUUUNNNNN.

Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores.

Ohhhh, yes I did. Boy Howdy! I love smushing things between cookies. So – I hope you enjoy these.

IF you don’t have any Tagalongs, you can actually make Homemade Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies. My friend Andrea at Savings Lifestyle shows you how! Here’s a photo below of her yummy creation and the recipe is so super duper easy!!

Homemade Tagalong Girl Scout Cookie Recipe by Andrea at Savings Lifestyle

Whoops. Let’s try taking this photo again…

Little Man totally got away with that cookie!

You’ll need:

Girl Scout Tagalongs (or the Homemade Tagalongs recipe link above)
Regular size marshmallows
Baking Sheet (unless you’re roasting marshmallows outside)

How to Assemble:

Either roast your marshmallows outside (if it’s warmer weather) or you can roast them in your oven. Simply place enough marshmallows on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet, to make however many s’mores you want.
Turn the oven on broil (apprx. 500 degrees).
Put the pan with marshmallows in the oven and roast until just browned on top. Then pull them out and assemble your Tagalongs or other peanut butter cookie S’Mores.

*I kept my oven door cracked just a bit to keep a very close eye on them. They were ready in just a minute or 2.

**Don’t overbrown the marshmallows. I actually got mine a little bit TOO brown the first time around, but they were still sooooo good and gooey!

Enjoy!

4.9 from 8 reviews

Tagalongs Peanut Butter S'Mores

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

Tagalongs Girl Scout Cookies (or similar cookie)
Regular Marshmallows
Baking Sheet or Roasting Sticks (if roasting outside)

Instructions

Place marshmallows on aluminum lined baking sheet and place the sheet in oven on broil.
Take out just when they're starting to lightly brown.
Assemble S'Mores.

What are your favorite Girl Scout Cookies? Leave us a comment!! It’s always fun to hear from you!!

If you liked this post, here are some other ideas you might enjoy…

Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

January 28, 2016 by Jenni 58 Comments

Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

It’s that time of year! Girl Scout Cookie time has arrived and I wanted to send out this awesome post again, so that all of YOU can put these Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches together!

These were so good and I couldn’t stop eating them. They’re pretty dang addicting. Are you ready for this super difficult Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe? Get ready, and take lots of notes. Juuuuuuust kidding. It’s really easier than peasy!

What You’ll Need:

Thin Mints Cookies (or any of these mint cookies will work if you don’t have Girl Scout Cookies on hand.)
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Cookie or Ice Cream Scoop

(The ice cream started to get soft, so I ended up sticking it back in the freezer before finishing the rest.)

Instructions:

Use a scoop to plop one dollop of ice cream on top of one cookie. Smush ice cream down with another cookie.
Eat.
Repeat steps 1 and 2.

See how simple that is? Plop, smush, eat, repeat! Plop, smush, eat, repeat!

Okay, now in all honesty…there are a few things I want to mention. Just to save you some time.

Before you begin to assemble these Thin Mint ice cream sandwiches, let the ice cream thaw JUST a little bit. Not too much. You want it thawed just enough that you can easily scoop it out. You still want the ice cream a bit firm, but easy to scoop.

When you smush the second cookie on top of the ice cream, just smush it till the ice cream starts to barely seep out the side and then stop! You don’t want to squeeze it so much that the ice cream starts coming out all the way. If it IS doing that too easily, you may need to stick your ice cream back in the freezer for a bit to stiffen back up.

After assembling them, place back in the freezer on a wax paper lined baking sheet, tray, or plate until it’s time to serve them. They’re actually too hard to eat if the ice cream is soft so you want them nice and frozen!

4.4 from 10 reviews

Thin Mints Ice Cream Sandwiches

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

Thin Mints (or any Mint cookies would work)
Mint Ice Cream
Scoop

Instructions

Place one scoop of ice cream on a cookie.
Lay another cookie on top and smush down to form a sandwich.
Place on wax paper and then refreeze them until ready to serve.

Don’t miss out on these!!! If you’ve got a box of Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies, then you’ve got to check out our Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores post! These are just as easy to put together…and they’re JUST as addicting!

What Girl Scout Cookies are your favorite?

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Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores.

Ohhhh, yes I did. Boy Howdy! I love smushing things between cookies. So – I hope you enjoy these.

You’ll need:

How to Assemble:

Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

Okay, now in all honesty…there are a few things I want to mention. Just to save you some time.

What Girl Scout Cookies are your favorite?

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