26 Yummy Cookies and Bars for the Holidays!

It's time to start baking for the holidays! I enjoy baking pies, breads and other delicious treats in the fall, but in the winter it's all about cookies and bars! This year, we'll be testing a few new recipes and making our the traditional sugar and chocolate chip cookies. We'll also be making our house favorite, buckeyes! They aren't cookies or bars, but they are oh so yummy!

When the kids were younger, they weren't big fans of gingerbread. It was a bit too 'spicy' for them. I'm hoping that this year, their tastes will have change enough to enjoy these delicious and beautiful gingerbread cut out cookies!

For Dan, I think he may enjoy the Italian Christmas cookies. They look so light and sweet!

I love sugar cookies. A lot. I can't pass them up and I'm so disappointed when they aren't yummy. I have a difficult time getting them as sweet and soft as I want. So I'm going to try this recipe for Buttery Cut-Out Sugar Cookies W/ Icing That Hardens. The kids will enjoy making these as they love anything they get to shape. We have around 200 cookie cutters and this turns into an all afternoon project. So much fun!

I'm deciding whether or not I want to make the Caramel Cookie Cheesecake Bars and take them to the family Christmas party. They look so good, but I'm not sure I really want to share them. Though, it is always fun having bringing the dessert that disappears the quickest, isn't it?

Which recipe below would you take to a family get-together? Maybe I'll make and take what you suggest!

Check out Cookies and Bars for the Holidays
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com

*This post is sponsored by Foodie. All opinions are my own.

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Colorful Bow Tie Pork - Delicious!

Standing by my side as I monitored the skillet and put the finishing touches on dinner, Joey grinned and then took off sprinting through the house.  I found out later that he had rushed to Dan to let him know that dinner smelled "So good!!"  I'd love to take the credit - but the Smithfield® Peppercorn & Garlic Pork was the reason for his excitement.

I do love seeing him get so excited about dinner!  He's so funny.  But I was also excited about this meal.  I found a fun and colorful recipe for Colorful Bow Tie Pork on foodlion.com that helped to brighten our weekly meal plan.  I love planning our family meal time - but admittedly, we can get into a routine of having the same meals week after week.  This was a nice addition to our list of favorites.  It was also a quick and easy meal to prepare.  Prep time was only about 15 minutes and was ready to serve at around 20 minutes. 

We typically enjoy any meal that includes pasta but I often have a difficult time including vegetables in with our pasta dishes.  I also never think to use pork with our pasta - so this was a nice change! 

Colorful Bow Tie Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 Smithfield® Peppercorn Seasoned Boneless Sirloin Roast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
• 2½ cups chopped fresh broccoli
• 1½ cups sliced carrots
• 1¼ cups milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ cup mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 12 oz. bow tie pasta, cooked

Hop on over to foodlion.com for the complete recipe with directions - I'm sure you'll love it!

Food Lion offers an array of tips and recipes for meal planning.  Definitely check out the Colorful Bow Tie Pork and let me know what you think.  What other Food Lion recipes will you be trying this week? 

*Though this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

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Breakfast for Dinner - Fall/Winter Meal Planning

We are back into our Fall/Homeschool schedule. This means, that our meals are very much scheduled. I plan our meals weekly and keep a calendar in the kitchen that lets the family know what they can expect for that week. This helps the grocery shopping time to be spent more efficiently and helps my day to run much more smoothly.

It's also a great help for Savannah and Joe - they do well when they can see what snacks and meals are coming up. They love to give suggestions and ask that their favorite foods be added to the lineup.

As we near the Fall and Winter months - I love to add dinners that are more like breakfast. I love sausage, bacon and eggs - and enjoy using them in our dinner meals. I've collected several recipes on Foodie.com that I plan to use over the next few months as I schedule "Breakfast for Dinner" once a week.

Check out Breakfast for Dinner
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com

I enjoy cooking with my iron skillets - and use every excuse to use them. First up, I'm trying the
Baked Eggs with Potato and Bacon Hash.

I think Dan and Joey will enjoy the Sausage Cheddar Biscuits Recipe - so we'll be giving those a try very soon.

Savannah will love the Breakfast Burrito Quesadilla and I think we'll be making this tomorrow evening. Looks delicious and easy!

What are your favorite breakfast for dinner items?




*This post is sponsored by Foodie. All opinions are my own.

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16 Delicious Seafood Dishes

Check out 16 Delicious Seafood Dishes
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com

I have been craving seafood.  We recently vacationed at the beach - and we never ended up locating a seafood restaurant that had just what I wanted.  So, all Summer - I've been on the hunt for amazing seafood dishes.  We enjoy crab dip and grilled salmon - but I've decided to throw a few more recipes into the mix. I've put together a delicious collection of Seafood Dishes on Foodie that I am hoping to try.

I'm excited to try the Seafood Risotto. Risotto with mushrooms has become a favorite of mine over the past year and I'm dying to try it with seafood. I'm sure Dan would enjoy this as well.

I absolutely love crab cakes and can't wait to give these Impossibly Easy Mini Crab Cake Pies a try! Speaking of crab - this lasagna recipe calls for a mix of king crab, shrimps and scallops. I imagine that this will also be a delicious dish!

I'm saving the Classic Maritime Seafood Chowder recipe for this Fall and Winter. I don't usually choose soups and chowders for Summer - so this will be a great addition to the menu for those more chilly of days.

Though Risotto has become a recent favorite - my number one seafood entree of choice has always been a Shrimp Alfredo. This Creamy Seafood Alfredo will probably be the first recipe that I try. I have not previously made my own Alfredo sauce but am looking forward to learning something new!

With these recipes - it looks like I may be able to satisfy that craving for seafood! What seafood recipes are your favorite?

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

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#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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