24 Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Bowls

April 21, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

What’s better than chocolate for dessert? Chocolate for breakfast! Stick with me here. You’ve seen that Facebook meme that says, “Did you know you can have chocolate cake for breakfast? Literally no one is policing this!”. Well it’s true! And better yet, you can have healthy chocolate for breakfast. Here’s a great list of 24 Healthy & Delicious Chocolate Smoothie Bowls that are amazing and you don’t have to feel guilty eating them. No guilt chocolate is the best kind of chocolate in my opinion. 😉

Basically that’s almost a MONTH of yummy chocolate for breakfast – I can definitely handle that 😀 Plus, I love a good smoothie bowl, so when you combine it with something as incredible as CHOCOLATE (yes, it’s obvious I’m a total chocolate addict) it’s a clear winner!

You will not be able to resist these. S’mores? For breakfast? You bet! Peppermint hot chocolate? Oh yeah. Oh and you can have your cake and eat it too with the German Chocolate Cake smoothie bowl. You guys…these are so good!

24 Healthy & Delicious Chocolate Smoothie Bowls

Have you ever tried a smoothie bowl?

20 Fun Homemade Candy Recipes

March 29, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Have you ever tried to make your own candy? It can seem a little daunting, but I promise it’s easy! And if you love the rock candy at Disneyland like we do…well you’ll want to stick around for these 20 Fun Homemade Candy Recipes.

As much as I try to feed my family healthy meals (and I do!) every now and then we have a little sweet tooth crop up. I’m just as guilty as everyone else (you know well of my love of Dr Pepper). But let’s face it, candy at the store is expensive. Am I right? Around Halloween, we all go a little broke trying to fill the treat bowl. This is why we love trying our hand at making our own candy. It really is much easier than you think, and with a little practice I can almost bet you’ll have a Pinterest board devoted to it. You can start that board right here!

20 Fun Homemade Candy Recipes

1. Homemade Rock Candy
2. Homemade Tootsie Rolls
3. Homemade Cookies & Cream Candy Bars
4. Homemade Candy Corn
5. Homemade Candy Kisses
6. Homemade Twix Bars
7. Homemade Peppermint Patties
8. Homemade Caramels
9. Homemade Butterfingers
10. Homemade Andes Mints
11. Homemade Crunch Bars
12. Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
13. Homemade Gummy Bears
14. Homemade Peanut Brittle
15. Homemade Kit Kat Bars
16. Homemade Snickers Bars
17. Homemade Turtles
18. Homemade Candy Buttons
19. Homemade Licorice
20. Homemade PayDay Bars

What’s your favorite homemade candy?

Banana Berry Chia Smoothie

March 21, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Hey busy moms! Do you often skip breakfast because you’re so busy getting kids out the door in the morning that you simply forget to eat? Well today, I’m sharing this yummy Banana Berry Chia Smoothie to help you fill the gap while you’re on the run!

This is a fantastic recipe for sneaking fruit into your kid’s diet as well. It’s chock full of yummy bananas, strawberries and blueberries and it’s got a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fiber brought to you by the chia seeds. And they’ll never know it’s not just a yummy treat. 😉 I’m a sneaky mama, I admit it.

In all honesty though, this is an amazing smoothie as a snack or breakfast in the car for you. Go ahead, give it a try!

Note: serves 2

Ingredients

2 bananas (preferably frozen)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons chia seeds, plus more for topping
1 cup milk or non-dairy milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Place all ingredients into a blender.
Blend until smooth. Add more liquid if needed.

Have you ever added chia seeds to your smoothies?

20 Beauty & The Beast Ideas

March 11, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

By now, y’all should know my deep love for Beauty & The Beast – the classic movie was my absolute favorite growing up, and now that I’ve seen the new live-action I’m even more fascinated by all the magic, adventure and true friendship and love. To celebrate the film, I wanted to share these 20 Beauty & The Beast Ideas, from LEGO figures, to crafts and recipes!

These would be excellent for a Beauty & The Beast party, or just a fun movie night as a family. With cake pops and snacks, journals and costumes, you’ll be all set with plenty of creative Beauty & The Beast Ideas!

1. Teapop Party [Bakerella]

2. Magical DIY Beauty And The Beast party Prop Wall Decor [Surviving A Teachers Salary]

3. Beauty And The Beat Hama Bead Craft [The Inspiration Edit]

4. Disney Quiet Book Cogsworth From Beauty And The Beast [Girl Loves Glam]

*5. Belle Cupcakes [Moms Crafters]

6. Beauty And The Beast Lego Build Instructions [Eclecticmomsense]

7. Beauty And The Beast Disney Emoji Cookies [Hanielas]

8. Tale As Old As Time Journal Craft [Artsy Momma]

*9. Beauty and The Beast lego build [Eclectic Mom Sense]

10. Rose Cake Pops Beauty And The Beast [Flour Arrangements]

11. Beauty And The Beast Donuts [Babble]

12. Lefou’s Brew Recipe [All For The Boys]

*13. Chip K Cup Craft [Artsy Momma]

14. Beauty And The Beast Beast Costume [Desert Chica]

15. K-Cup Craft Chip From Beauty & The Beast [Artsy Momma]

16. Beauty And The Beast Inspired Ornament [Asthebunnyhops]

*17. Tissue Paper Roses [Easy Peasy and Fun]

18. Beauty And The Beast Chip Teacup [Cool Moms Cool Tips]

19. Belle Inspired Beauty and The Beast Cupcakes [Moms And Crafters]

20. Beauty And The Beast Chip Rice Krispies [Sugar Spice And Glitter]

Which Beauty & The Beast Craft or Recipe is YOUR favorite?

Copy-Cat Carnival Strawberry Bisque

February 28, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Does anyone else dream of vacations almost constantly? I sure do – I love remember fantastic trips we’ve taken in the past full of memories (the good, the bad, the hilarious and the downright embarrassing), as well as planning – realistic or not – future ones we can take. Looking back to my remarkably relaxing Carnival Cruise I took with hubby almost 5 years ago, it makes me want to relive it again. In a way I can, with this delicious Copycat Carnival Strawberry Bisque recipe!

Copycat Carnival Cruise Strawberry Bisque - a creamy, delicious strawberry soup recipe!

You’ll love how easy this strawberry soup is to make, and it’s so tasty you’ll have trouble deciding between having it as an appetizer, snack or even dessert! And yes, I do occasionally have it for breakfast, as well 🙂 Originally shared April 2013, updated February 2017.

Strawberry Bisque Ingredients

2 cups Strawberries, frozen
3 tbsp. Sugar
1 cup Milk
2/3 cup Heavy cream
1/4 cup Sour Cream
Fresh mint – for flavoring and garnish
1/4 (ish) cup Fresh Strawberries, chopped – for garnish

Directions

In a blender, puree the strawberries, milk, heavy cream and sour cream until smooth. Stir in the sugar.
Refrigerate overnight (or about 8 hours). Add mint as a garnish (also adds a great flavor), and also some chopped fresh strawberries, if desired.

On the cruise, they first gave you a bowl that looked like this……

……and then poured the creamy soup over top. Great presentation!

Note: also try it with PEACH instead to change it up a bit!

The fruit soups were so delicious on the cruise, I often got them for dessert as well!!!

20 Fun Neapolitan Recipes

February 22, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Here in south, it’s not as cold as it is in other parts of the country, so I know many of you aren’t thinking of ice cream right now, but if I’m honest, we love a big heaping bowl of it even in winter. That said, just because it’s cold, doesn’t mean you can’t have the fun of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors without the chill. Today, I put together 20 Fun Neapolitan Recipes that don’t necessarily require ice cream, or even a spoon! The best part is that there’s a little something for everyone and they are all kid friendly so they’d be perfect for a family gathering or a winter birthday!

1. Neapolitan Brownie Cheesecake Bars
2. Neapolitan Rice Krispie Treats
3. Neapolitan Cupcakes
4. Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake
5. Neapolitan Popsicles
6. Neapolitan Waffles
7. Neapolitan Fudge
8. Neapolitan Popcorn
9. Neapolitan Macarons
10. Neapolitan Milkshake
11. Neapolitan Sponge Cake
12. Neapolitan Cookies
13. Neapolitan Donuts
14. Neapolitan Mochi Cake
15. Neapolitan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
16. Neapolitan Rocky Road
17. Neapolitan Chocolate Bark
18. Neapolitan Rosette Cake
19. Neapolitan Cookie Sandwiches
20. Neapolitan Trifle

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate? Strawberry? Vanilla? Something else?

Batman Oreos

February 17, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Every chance we get, we love to create as a family and when we can create in a way that’s both yummy and nerdy? Well that’s just a bonus! These Batman Oreos were so fun and so easy to make, and they’re both yummy AND celebrate our love of all things superhero!

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I don’t know about your kids, but ours are superhero fanatics (and we are, too), so when I found these gummy treat Batman symbols I knew I had to make something fun for them. And these are so easy that you could create them for just about any holiday or theme – even if you aren’t as in to Batman as we are. 😉

The ingredients are simple and easy to find, which makes these Batman Oreos even better! I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience, but you can also find most of these at the local grocery store.

Ingredients

12 regular Oreo cookies
12 oz bag Wilton yellow candy melts
12 count Batman gummy treat decorations
1 Wilton white icing tube
Optional – 1 Wilton black icing tube

Yields: 1 dozen

Directions

Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Set aside.

Add the yellow candy melts to a double boiler pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth (about 3-4 minutes). Transfer to a small bowl for easier handling.

Fill each cookie mold with 2 tablespoons of the melted yellow candy melts. Place an Oreo cookie on top and then fill up the rest of the mold with additional melted yellow candy.

Chill for 30 minutes to allow the yellow chocolate to harden.

Gently pop each cookie out of the mold and place on the lined baking sheet.

Peel apart the black Batman logo from each gummy candy and place on top of the coated Oreo cookies with a dab of white icing on the back. If you do not want to use the gummy logos, you can just pipe the batman logo on each cookie with a black icing tube.

ENJOY!!

*Store in a single layer, in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Will you be trying our Batman Oreos? What theme would you choose?

Healthy Snacking Cheese Roll

February 1, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post is sponsored by Single Edition Media on behalf of PopChips. As always, we only share products we truly enjoy and use, and will give our 100% honest opinions. #PopChipsBigGame

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m not that into sports. Sure, they’re fun to play sometimes, but I’m not big into sitting in front of the TV watching them. But for the big game, I’m on-board. Want to know why? The FOOD! There’s so many delicious foods to enjoy snacking on, like this Healthy Snacking Cheese Roll, which is super easy to make – and even works as a kid-friendly recipe!

While laughing at commercial breaks or chatting about the scores, you can be spreading this tasty cheese log on some crackers, veggies, or even enjoy more PopChips Ridges with it like a dip! I love that the recipe relies on your choice flavor of PopChips to add the special crunch to it, taking it from ‘good’ to ‘fantastic’. And since we all love saving money on all our munchies for the big game, enjoy 20% off your order of PopChips online using Offer Code: BIGGAME20

Ingredients

1-2 cups PopChips Ridges (we used Chili Cheese)
16 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Mayo
1/2 tsp. Dried Onion (minced, diced, flakes or powder)
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Dried Chives
1 tsp. Parsley

Directions

Use beaters to whip the cream cheese, lemon juice and mayo until creamy. Add in the remaining ingredients until well-combined.
Spread onto parchment paper and wrap into a log shape. Refrigerate 1 hour.
Choose your flavor of PopChips Ridges, then crush. Unwrap the cheese log, and roll in the crushed pieces until well-coated. Refrigerate 1-2 more hours or until firm.

See, super easy to make – and you can have it all ready to go even before the big game begins, so you won’t miss a thing! One thing I love about this cheese roll recipe is that it’s a healthy snacking option – the PopChips Ridges are gluten free, have 0 grams of trans fat, and they’re popped instead of fried or baked! This means half the fat of fried chips – and they don’t add any artificial flavors and no preservatives.

The PopChips Ridges line is perfect for the cheese roll, because they’re super crunchy, and the flavor is perfectly kept in those ridges. Not only are they a healthy option, but they taste great and come in plenty of tasty flavors to choose from!

Cheddar & Sour Cream: I’m a big fan of potatoes with cheese & sour cream, so this is like the perfect combination of flavors in extra crispy form.
Perfectly Salted: These have just the right amount of flavor to make your taste buds happy, and you may not help but wanting more.
Tangy Barbeque: There’s just a hint of spice mixed in with this sweet smoky chip that tastes like it’s right off the grill, even though they’re popped! Plus they’re way less messy on your fingers 🙂
Chili Cheese: This was the winner that I picked to use for our recipe, and why wouldn’t I choose this authentic taste of spicy chili and sharp cheddar that’s got the perfect mix of savory and spice?

I’d love to try the other flavors of Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, Sea Salt, Crazy Hot Potato, Salt & Pepper and even Sweet Potato (hubby is most eager for this one).

Which PopChips Ridges flavor are you most eager to try?

Chalkboard Sugar Cookie Recipe Printable

January 12, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

It’s so nice having a reliable – and delicious – sugar cookie recipe on hand. Why not have it also work as a fun decoration with a PRINTABLE sugar cookie recipe? That’s right, you not only get an easy recipe for a tasty treat, but this Chalkboard Sugar Cookie Recipe Printable has a creative design worthy of decorating your kitchen!

This would also make a wonderful house warming gift, or maybe even part of a wedding gift for a happy new couple! After all, sugar cookies are kind of a staple recipe for many households, so it’s convenient to have it handy whenever you have a need for it. I’m all for cute AND helpful decor in my home – how about you?

Grab your Printable Sugar Cookie Recipe HERE

Peach Mango Smoothie Bowl

January 4, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

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

Are your kids back in school from the holiday break yet? Ours went back yesterday, and getting back into the swing of the morning rush was quite hectic. I want breakfast time to be easy and quick, but also a smarter choice as we’ve made some new health goals this year. Luckily, this Peach Mango Smoothie Bowl is not only delicious and super fast to whip up, it’s right up there on my list of better choices for my family’s health!

You can grab the handful of needed ingredients to make this refreshing smoothie bowl for your own family next time you’re at Kroger! Then all it takes is a blender, and you’re pretty much set to go. I love making mornings that much easier, and can feel better about what I’m feeding my family when I use America’s #1 Stevia sweetener, Truvia ® Natural Sweetener Spoonable in our recipes. You can even nab an online coupon HERE and save some money – another great goal for the new year 🙂

It’s a zero-calorie sweetener that’s stevia-based. Just one packet provides the same sweetness as 2 teaspoons of sugar, and is a great choice for people wanting to reduce calories, such as those with diabetes, or anyone looking to minimize the sugar in their diets. While I’m terrible at New Year’s resolutions, making better choices in my family’s food is one I’m working hard to stick to for 2017!

One of my favorite things about smoothie bowls – other than how easy and tasty – is the creaminess! It’s almost like a fruit froth in your spoon. Plus, they’re fun to mix and match with different fruits or toppings. That’s a great way to play with your food!

Note: Makes 1 Bowl

Ingredients

1 cup Mango pieces, frozen
1 cup Peach slices, frozen
1 Banana
1/2 tsp. Truvia Natural Sweetener Spoonable
2/3 cup Milk
Fruit, granola and/or oats for topping

Directions

In a blender, put in your milk, banana and Truvia Natural Sweetener Spoonable and blend a bit.
Add the mango and peach and blend until smooth and creamy.
Pour into a bowl, then top with washed/sliced fruit, granola and/or oats as desired. Enjoy!

Request a free sample of Truvia® Natural Sweetener here!

Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

January 3, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Fellow chocolate lovers, raise your hands high in the air. Okay, now put your hands down, you look ridiculous! Just kidding, you know I love you all, right? That’s why I’m sharing these amazingly easy, super delicious Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Cookies with you!

Don’t they look great? I mean, the combo of peanut butter and chocolate is a sure winner, so in cookie form it just can’t be beat. It’s like taking two of my favorite things and laying them out together on a warm cookie sheet, just begging me to eat them. Well, if they insist! 😉

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix
4 oz (1/2 brick) cream cheese
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg
20 Peanut Butter Cups

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray or line two baking sheets, set aside.
Mix together cake mix, cream cheese, butter and egg.
Portion into 1 1/2 Tablespoon-sized balls (I used a cookie scoop to help with this). You should end up with approximately 20 cookie balls.
Take one ball and flatten it in your hand. Place the peanut butter cup on top and fold the cookie dough around the pattie to cover it completely. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining cookie dough.
Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until cracked and no longer glossy.

Now just enjoy these moist, cake-like cookies full of peanut buttery goodness and lots of yummy chocolate flavor. It’s the holiday season, so can we just agree that calories don’t count?

Christmas Snack Mix

December 21, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

Whether you need a treat for a holiday party, co-workers in the office, a tasty gift idea, or just for an afternoon break, this Christmas Snack Mix is super easy to make and tastes delicious! Plus, you can customize it to your own tastes, making it the perfect holiday treat.

See, it even LOOKS festive and tasty, right? Kids would have a BLAST helping to make this – and it’d be great for packaging nice and gifting to friends or neighbors. If your family doesn’t eat it all first, that is!

Ingredients

1- 12oz. Bag White Chocolate Chips
2 cups Cheerios
2 cups Chex Cereal
2 cups Pretzels
1 Cup Peanuts
1 Cup M&Ms

Directions

Mix cereals, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms in a large bowl.
Take your white chocolate chips and put in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue to do this until chips are all melted.
Pour chocolate over mixture and mix very well, making sure everything is well coated.
Next, spread the mixture on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a nice even layer.
This step is optional: Take any leftover chocolate and drizzle over the mixture.
Let dry, then break apart! It’s now ready to eat or store in an air tight container.