Cut The Crap Fudge Pops!

Is crap a bad word? Ugh, I hope not because your kids will be shouting for more “cut the crap” pops!

Today’s fudge pops are loaded with garbage and I refuse to buy them so let’s make ’em!

An iconic summertime treat with 6 ingredients.

What you’ll need measuring cups/spoons, a pot for simmering, a blender, and popsicle molds.

Ingredients: Whole milk, heavy cream, semi-sweet chocolate chips, unsweetened cocoa, sugar, vanilla

In a pot pour:

2 cups whole milk, 3/4 heavy cream, 1/4 sugar (could substitute with maple syrup), and 1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Bring that to a simmer (do not overheat the milk).

In the meantime add 1/2 semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to blender. Pour warm milk mixture over chocolate chips and blend for a few seconds. when it looks nicely blended pour into molds and freeze overnight.

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Take Me To The Tropics Mocktail!

I think I nailed it with this one! The perfect poolside/sun-is-shining beverage! The amounts listed below will make one mocktail, you could easily make 2 by doubling the recipe. I put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice and had a salted-rimmed glass ready to go! Another option is to pour cocktails over ice which is just as nice.

What you’ll need:

3 oz Orange Juice

1.5 oz Pineapple Juice

2 oz Coconut Water

.5 oz Maple Syrup

tbsp Coconut Cream

3 oz Ritual Non-Alcoholic Tequila

1 cup of Ice

Salt for rim

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Grapefruit Crush Mocktail!

Tastes like the real deal!

I’m down for a delicious cocktail, but being pregnant means a mocktail! The sad truth was every time I’ve ordered a mocktail at a restaurant it has been beyond horrible. I thought this could not be that hard…so with help from my loving husband, we succeeded in making a delicious mocktail! It also didn’t hurt that we handpicked our grapefruit from a local grove here in Sarasota!

What you’ll need for 2 mocktails:

1 1/2 oz per glass of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative

4 oz per glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit – store-bought no added sugar grapefruit juice will work as well.

1 Lime (cut into 1/4 wedges)

TBS simple syrup per glass

2 crushed cups of ice (1 cup per glass)

good salt (you could kick it up a notch by adding chipotle to the salt)

First, lime the edge of the glasses then coat the lime-juiced rim in salt, and squeeze what remains of those 2 wedges of lime into the glasses. Add a cup of crushed ice per glass. Pour Ritual Tequila and grapefruit juice over ice. Finally, add the simple syrup and one more wedge of fresh lime to each glass. Stir and enjoy!

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Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Herbs over Hummus

Simple and easy is how I roll especially when it comes to last-minute entertaining. Bonus this recipe is packed with flavor!

What you’ll need: classic hummus, cherry tomatoes, garlic, dill, cilantro, parsley, a lemon, salt, olive oil, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and gluten-free crackers (any delicious cracker will work).

I used premade organic classic hummus as the base (large container if serving a crowd).

First, cut your cherry tomatoes in half and place them on a roasting sheet with peeled garlic. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Roast until tomatoes look slightly deflated with a nice golden stickiness to them. Have your hummus in a shallow bowl or plate smoothed out to about an inch of thickness? Place your tomatoes and garlic over top (if garlic isn’t your thing you can of course omit it). Have your herbs all finely chopped and sprinkle all that goodness over top. Squeeze 1//2 lemon and a little bit more salt (I love and use Crucial Four). Boom!

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Mushroom Croustades – Homage to Mary Margaret (mom)

A family favorite with our crew!

My mom started making these Mushroom Crustades in the 90s and after she passed I carried on the tradition.

What’s so great about these tasty little bites is you can make them ahead and freeze.

I start with the cups.

You’ll need 24 slices of Very Thin Pepperidge Farm white bread, crust cut and rolled thin. Then cut each piece into fours, set aside.

Mushroom Filling:

4 Tablespoons Butter

3 green onions well chopped

8 oz chopped white mushrooms (I use food processor on “chop” setting for a few pulses)

2 tablespoons flour

8 oz heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt & pepper to taste

Chives for garnish

Preheat Oven 350

Chop mushrooms super fine of use food process (only a few pulses)

Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and finely chopped green onion cook for 4-5 minutes (keep stirring don’t burn them). Add mushrooms and cook until water from shrooms has cooked off about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add flour, once combined return to heat and add heavy cream. Heat to boiling while stirring the entire time. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, cayenne, salt, and pepper.

While the mixture is cooling in the skillet I bake the cups. You’ll need a small muffin tray(s) for this. To make life easier I now spray the tins with avocado oil, press squares into each cup, and back until the edges are golden.

Once all cups are baked transfer all cups to a baking sheet and fill each with mushroom mixture. I then place the sheet in the freezer for 10 – 20 minutes. Once frozen store in containers or plastic zip bags until you’re ready to serve.

CHEERS!

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Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

Bonus…this appetizer is super easy to make!

Start with pitted dates (I prefer smaller dates over larger ones).

Stuff each date with whipped goat cheese (either whip with a small amount of water in a food processor or by hand)

Once stuffed wrap each with 1/2 piece of bacon and secure shut with a toothpick.

Bake at 350 until the bacon has a nice crunchy bite to it.

I finished with hot honey for a little extra flavor. mikeshothoney.com

Enjoy!

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Taylor’s Summer Crostinis

This simple and delicious recipe was my go-to for the entire Summer of 2022. From Florida to the Jersey Shore to Maine we devoured these!

Grocery List: Baguette, goat cheese, grape tomatoes, honey, fresh basil, microgreens are a nice touch if available, salt & pepper, and olive oil.

Please note I don’t measure…winging it is my thing!

1 – cut the baguette lightly oil and toast in a 350 oven until slightly golden.

2 – while the baguette is toasting cut the grape tomatoes, and toss them with olive oil and a dash of salt & pepper.

3 – Once the crostinis have cooled slightly spread that goat cheese on top (note a small amount of water added to the cheese and mixed in a bowl will add to its spreadability).

4 – Next spoom the cut tomatoes with olive oil over the goat cheese

5 – My fav part drizzle that honey over the crostinis and sprinkle chopped fresh basil! Boom!

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