Patriotic Fruit Skewers {Holiday Recipe Club: 4th of July}

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

I hope you all are enjoying a day off of work, your independence, spending time with family and friends, playing {safely} with fireworks, and good food, of course!

Let me help you out a little with that one...

Here's a nice little patriotic snack or treat for the kids, or heck, for yourself. 

It's super simple. Adorable. And tasty! 

I hadn't realized that marshmallows and strawberries go together well.

Patriotic Fruit Skewers

from Meg's Everyday Indulgence 

• 1 pint strawberries, rinsed and dried
• Star shaped mini marshmallows
• 1 pint blueberries, rinsed and dried
• Wooden skewers

Thread strawberries, marshmallows and blueberries onto the wooden skewers in whatever red, white and blue pattern you like.

Printable Recipe

I am joining in over at this month's Holiday Recipe Club for the 4th of July - the ingredients were blueberries, barbeque sauce, and whipped cream. {As you can see, I chose blueberries.}

Peace, and bacon grease!

Also linking up here.

Salted Caramel Milkshake {Holiday Recipe Club: Cinco de Mayo}

It's almost over but, Happy Cinco de Mayo, amigos!

We didn't do any big celebrating, but I made sure to have a margarita.

Do you guys know one of my favorite things in life?

Salted caramel. 

For reals. I'm all about the sweet and salty if you don't know by now. 

And for this month's Holiday Recipe Club, we had to make a Cinco de Mayo recipe using either chorizo, tomatoes, or dulce de leche... or a combination of any of the three. 

I chose to roll with the dulce de leche because I love all things caramel and have seen those little dulce de leche cans around stores and always wondered what to make with it. Now was the time to find out. While I was in the aisle I saw the canned kind, and some more  dulce de leche squeezable caramel sauce, same brand. So I just got both. I ended up using the pourable caramel sauce. I'll figure out what to do with the other stuff, oh don't you worry.

I opted for something simple yet something that will brighten any day or put a nice end to a rough work day or week. I found this salted caramel milkshake recipe... with some alcohol added in. Oh I'm all on that!

Salted Caramel Milkshake

slightly adapted from Food Network

• 1 cup french vanilla ice cream
• 1/3 cup Nestle La Lechera Dulce de Leche caramel sauce (squeeze bottle)
• 1 shot 1800 silver tequila
• Whipped cream
• Sea salt and/or candied orange peel, for garnish

Blend the ice cream, dulce de leche caramel sauce, tequila and 3 ice cubes in a blender on medium speed until thick and smooth. Pour in glass and top with whipped cream, sea salt and/or candied orange peel. 

Printable Recipe

This recipe made one margarita-glass full.

You can definitely make these without the alcohol too for the young ones. Or for yourself if you're not into the whole alcohol thing. But then we can't be friends. Just kidding, just kidding. That just means more alcohol for me  :)

Check out these other Mexican recipes for other Cinco de Mayo ideas!

Baked Creamy Chicken Flautas
Chicken Taco Lasagna with Cilantro Lime Sauce
Mexican Chicken with Jalapeno Popper Sauce
Southwest Chicken Burritos
White Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce
Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad
Mexican Sour Cream Rice
Southwestern Deviled Eggs
Hot Fiesta Dip
Jalapeno Poppers
Homemade Taco Mix

Peace, and bacon grease!

Linking up here.

Bacon and Avocado Topped Deviled Eggs {Holiday Recipe Club: Easter!}

Whoa there, it's been some time since I've posted a recipe. I'm sorry! I hate myself for it. Ok that's taking it a bit far, but I do feel guilt over it. I just can't find as much time to post recipes and take natural light photos. Not to mention I still haven't learned how to use my new dslr. Which isn't really new anymore because I've had it since December and my lens since January or February. Anybody wanna come to my house and give me a personal dslr lesson? Anyone?

I did find the time to participate in this month's Holiday Recipe Club challenge for Easter, and we had to make something using one or more of these three ingredients: spinach, carrots, or eggs. I chose eggs, cuz it's Easter duh. And what goes perfect with Easter?

Yep. Deviled eggs.

Not just any deviled eggs. Deviled eggs topped with two of my favorite things: bacon and avocado. Say what?! Yes, you read that right. 

(I changed the name so that people wouldn't be mistaken that these were deviled eggs filled with an avocado mixture, because I've seen recipes like that. These are just normal deviled eggs topped with bacon and avocado). 

Bacon and Avocado Topped Deviled Eggs

slightly adapted from Lady Behind the Curtain

• 6 eggs
• 3 slices of thick-cut or center-cut bacon, chopped
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/2 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 of an avocado, sliced or diced
• 2 teaspoon lemon juice
• salt and pepper to top

Place eggs in a single layer in a 4-quart pot. Add enough cold water to cover the eggs by at least an inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 12-15 minutes. Drain. Run cold water over the eggs until cool enough to touch. Peel eggs and slice in half lengthwise. Remove yolks and place in a medium bowl. Set whites aside.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook bacon over low-medium heat until crisp. Drain grease; set aside. In a bowl, mash egg yolks with a fork. Add mayo, mustard, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to mix. 

Cut avocado into 12 equal pieces; toss with lemon juice. Pipe or spoon egg yolk mixture into egg whites halves. Top with an avocado piece and bacon piece(s). Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if desired.

Cover and chill up to 4 hours. Makes 12.

Printable Recipe

Definitely top them with larger pieces of bacon and avocado though, like Sheryl did. What was I thinking depriving those deviled eggs of more bacon and avocado? I was trying to make mine all pretty for the camera, but afterwards I topped them with more bacon and avocado pieces. I love the crunch from the bacon and the added flavor from the avocados. I've already thought about making them again this week. Yep, that soon.

These deviled eggs would be perfect to take to an Easter gathering or if you're staying home, make some for the fam! I just may whip some up to take to my mama's house this weekend. I'm sure she'd appreciate some help with the menu.

Oh, and you can always make these when it's not Easter time. You know, pretty much any time of day and for any occasion. Or lack of an occasion. 

Basically, just make em. K? Thanks.

Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Strawberry Sweethearts Cocoa for Valentine's Day {Holiday Recipe Club}

Here's a delicious Valentine's Day treat for your sweetheart.

It's sweet, it's warm and comforting, and it's pink (though you can't totally tell from the picture).

At first we were suspicious... "Why melt the ice cream?!? Why add water?!" But boy was it worth it.

Don't question it.

Strawberry Sweethearts Cocoa

slightly adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 pint strawberry ice cream
• 2 cups water
• Whipped cream
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles

In a medium-sized bowl, melt the chocolate chips and dip the top of four mugs into the chocolate. Set aside, allowing chocolate to harden.

In a medium pot, whisk together the butter, sugar, and ice cream over medium high heat until melted.  Whisk in the water, one cup at a time until your favorite texture/flavor is achieved.  Heat just until steaming.  Pour into chocolate-rimmed mugs.  Garnish with a dollop of whipping cream and a sprinkling of chocolate sprinkles.

*We only made two glasses, and only added in 2 cups of water vs. 4 cups. We used less chocolate chips for the rims since we were only having two glasses, also.

Printable Recipe

Your sweet is sure to think you're sweet if you make this for him or her. What says "I love you" more than chocolate-dipped rims and strawberry ice cream?

It's love in a glass.

I'm participating in Erin's Holiday Recipe Club. Check out all the tasty Valentine treats in the blog hop below. 

Peace, and bacon grease!