#FireworksAndFood! Ideas for the 4th of July

Check out 10+ Awesome 4th of July Celebration Recipes!
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com

Summer is here and we're nearing the 4th of July celebration - which is one of my favorite times of the year! I love the festivals, fairs and parades that happen in our county during this season. So many fun activities to enjoy and food to try! I especially love getting to host and attend friends and family during the 4th of July. The grilling and bonfires make for wonderful memories. Food is a big part of our celebration!

Check out the recipes I've collected for this year's 4th of July celebration. I, personally, can not wait to try the Bursting Blueberry Skillet Pie! I love using my iron skillet but have yet to make a pie in it. I hope this goes well!

Joey love anything if it is Red, White & Blue - especially when it's food. I think he'll be thrilled with the Fireworks Cupcakes and the Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts.

I think this fun color-layered drink also looks like a neat project!



We can't forget the grill! I love ribs and the messier the better. I can't wait to try these Fire Cracker Ribs!

Speaking of the grill - Interested in a chance to win a $500 Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Grill? Click here to find out how and to create your own #FireworksAndFood collection!



*This is a sponsored post created for Foodie.  All opinions are my own.

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Milk Unleashed - Hot Chocolate Treats!

Hot Chocolate is a big part of our Winter.  We make it after playing in the snow.  We take it with us when we go out to look at the pretty lights and decorations.  We sip it as we sit and enjoy the soft light of our Christmas tree in the evening.

We love making different variations of the drink and use whipped cream along with every type of marshmallow we can find.  Savannah and Joey love the multicolored and the snowman shaped marshmallows.  I love adding a peppermint stick to my hot chocolate.

There are so many ways to make and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.  Milk Unleashed has a lot of ideas that I had never imagined!  Check out the ideas below - especially number two!!


1. Add marshmallows as you’re heating the chocolate milk and let them totally dissolve for a thick, gooey treat. Float a few more on top.

2. Still have Halloween candy hanging around? Drop a mini bar (one without nuts) and let it melt into deliciousness.

3. Cinnamon sticks are always handy this time of year. Infuse your hot chocolate with a stick or two.

4. Kids like hazelnut almost as much as peanut butter. Stir in a spoonful of the chocolate-hazelnut spread.

5. Try the un-chocolate hot milk. Just warm some milk and flavor with honey and cinnamon.

6. Puree a half banana for each cup and stir into the hot chocolate. Garnish with a bit of whipped cream and banana chip.

7. Stir in a peppermint stick for a classic, holiday flavor. Then rim the mug with crushed peppermints.

8. While adults are drinking hot toddies…make hot toffees for the kids…stir some butterscotch chips into hot milk.

I love this tradition of hot chocolate during the holidays.  I have so many great memories already.  I hope Savannah and Joe have sweet memories from this sweet treat!

To learn more about shelf safe milk and tips for healthy, active families, visit Milk Unleashed and download the latest Cow Calendar.

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Happy Thanksgiving - Apple Pie

Every Fall, I love to browse blogs and recipe sites for new holiday dishes. Each year, Savannah and I try a new cookie, cake, bread or the latest dessert fad to throw into our holiday baking. This year, even though we hadn't enjoyed Oreo Truffles - we decided to try making them ourselves. They were so fun and easy to create!

Having managed to drop my food processor down the basement stairs - we were left to crush the Oreos by hand. After the crushed Oreos were mixed with cream cheese, rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate. We finally had our new dessert for Holiday Baking 2013. However, we still didn't enjoy them very much.

Except for Joey. He very much loves sweet, chocolate anything. He's already requesting more. We'll see about that.
The rest of us will stick to the peanut-buttery goodness of Buckeyes.

Out of all the treats, cookies and pies - my mother-in-law's apple pie remains my favorite. As hard as I try, I can never make it as perfect as she does. Every year, I try. Though I just can't get the topping quite right. Everything she makes is always wonderful - but I very much look forward to having her apple pie on Thanksgiving.

Apple Pie

Pie Crust:

2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup oil

Mix in pie plate with fork until crumbly, Press into shape. Prick bottom.

Apple Pie Filling:

7 cups of pared, peeled, and sliced Granny Smith apples
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp butter or margarine

Combine all ingredients except butter and mix. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Dot with butter. Put topping on top and bake at 425 for about 45 min. Don't let the topping get too brown.

Streusel Topping

1 cup flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine

In mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit filling.








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O'Charley's Holiday Whole Pie Menu!

I very much enjoy baking pies - especially this time of year. However, my schedule is getting busier by the hour! Making a homemade crust and spending the time to create a pie masterpiece just doesn't always fit with my day.  However, I'm always nervous about bringing a pie to an event or celebration if I haven't made it myself. I want to bring a pie worth eating! This year, I'm welcoming O'Charley's to my holiday table! O'Charley's is offering a quick, convenient and delicious way to make your holiday season planning a success!

We are busier than ever, how do you handle holiday meal responsibilities without sacrificing quality? O’Charley’s is aiming to lighten the load by offering guests to order and take home their fresh baked award-winning whole pies this holiday season.

Find out more here: OCharleys.com/holidaywholepies

While dining in at your local O’Charley’s, you can order a whole pie to take home or schedule a future pickup. You can also call in advance to schedule a pie pickup at their convenience.

O’Charley’s Holiday Whole Pie Menu includes:

· Perfect Pumpkin Pie – This seasonal favorite starts with a golden flaky crust that’s filled with a creamy blend of real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices including cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

· Double-Crust Peach Pie – Tender, flaky double-crust fresh-baked pie filled with deliciously sweet sun-ripened Free Stone peaches. Awarded a 2013 blue ribbon by the American Pie Council.

· Country Apple Pie – “Old fashioned” double-crust fresh-baked pie filled with sweet, crisp Michigan apples seasoned with delicate spices. Awarded a 2013 blue ribbon by the American Pie Council.

· Southern Pecan Pie – This delicious Southern classic is made with butter and brown sugar then topped with plenty of pecans for a deep nutty flavor. Awarded a 2013 blue ribbon by the American Pie Council.

· French Silk Pie – Semi-sweet chocolates blended into a velvety smooth filling in a flaky pastry crust. Topped with real whipped cream and milk chocolate shavings.

· Ooey Gooey Caramel Pie – Creamy caramel in a graham cracker crust topped with real whipped cream, milk chocolate shavings and pecans.


Of course, O’Charley’s offers Free Pie Wednesday, which is where you can receive a free slice of pie with the purchase of any entrée. This is a chance to try out which pies you like best, and then take home whole pies of your favorites to friends and family. So focus on the other stuff, dessert is on O’Charley’s this holiday season.


For more details on the O’Charley’s exclusive whole holiday pies, or to find an O’Charley’s location near you, visit www.ocharleys.com.

The Ooey Gooey Caramel Pie is first on my list!

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Family Holiday Traditions

I absolutely love this time of year! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and before we know it - the kids will be building snowmen, decorating the house with me and ripping through wrapping paper to see what awesome gifts they've received. I remember the anticipation I had as a child as I waited for this time of year to arrive. It is and has always been my favorite season.

One of my most memorable holiday traditions was driving around with my family and seeing all the lights and decorations. Some people are so creative and fun at creating Winter wonderlands all around their home. The bright and colorful lights always amazed me and drew me in. They almost seemed magical.

That's probably why one of my favorite current family traditions is to make a cup of hot chocolate for everyone, bundle up and drive around to see the lights. Specifically, we take the kids to see the lights and decorations at Fort St. Clair. They have hundreds of decorations and thousands of lights! You are able to get out and walk among some of them on your way to see Santa in a cabin warmed by a fireplace.

I love that this is a new tradition that was based on an older family tradition. I look forward to adding more as the years go by.

My kids love the tradition of making their Christmas wish list and dropping it in the mail to Santa!  Our courthouse provides an adorable oversized mailbox specially made for delivering important letters to the North Pole.  This year, we'll add an electronic version to make sure Santa doesn't miss their list.


Write a letter to Santa in the Arthur Christmas Letter portal here!



 I can't wait to hear your family holiday traditions on the Traveling Mom Holiday Traditions Party Sponsored by Sony!

Join us this Monday and share your favorite traditions

WHEN: November 5, 9-10 pm ET (8-9 pm CT; 7-8 pm MT; 6-7 pm PT)

WHO: Panelists @TravelingMoms @KimOrlando @DebMomOf3 @MomMostTraveled @CarissaRogers @MaryHeston @BloggyMoms @MimiBakerMN

WHAT: Twitter party – Holiday Traditions

HOW TO JOIN: Follow the hashtags #TMOM #ArthurChristmas

PRIZES: We'll be giving away some Arthur swag and a grand prize of a Sony Cyber-shot TX20 camera. Read TravelingMom Founder Kim Orlando's review of the Cybershot.

Click Here to get your RSVP in!
Don't forget that Arthur Christmas comes out on DVD November 6!  We have a family tradition of Pizza and Movie Night on Friday's - this will be a great addition!

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