Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Can I be honest for a moment? I’ve just not been feeling the holidays this year. I am that girl most of the time, just counting down the days for every possible holiday event. Christmas is my very favorite time of the year. But this year? It simply hasn’t felt like it’s that time of year yet. 

So, I have been playing Christmas music (whether I really felt like it or not initially) and every time I hear a classic Christmas song, it brings a smile to my face and a little more of the holiday spirit to my heart. If you find yourself feeling a bit of the same, I recommend starting up your favorite playlist and embracing the fact that we really are in the season now.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: You know that moment when you’re halfway through winter and your body just starts begging for something fresh, bright, and alive? Yeah, that’s where this Winter Salad with cabbage and Brussels sprouts comes in. I think I’ve made it five times in the past month. 

Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, these Garlicky Roasted Baby Potatoes are tossed in a quick garlic and herb dressing right before serving. The warm potatoes soak up all that garlicky goodness, making every bite memorable and fresh.

Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta is the kind of comfort food that feels delightfully indulgent without being heavy. This is a dish that tastes fancy enough to post online, but lets you stay firmly in your rest era, as it comes together as quick as can be.

 As far as I’m concerned, this is the Best Apple Pie of all time (not that I’m biased). There’s something magical that happens when you top an apple pie with streusel. It adds a layer of texture and new flavors to the pie, that you’d otherwise miss out on. So, I’ll take a slice of this apple streusel pie over conventional apple pie any day.

There’s something incredible about a dessert that looks this fancy and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. It feels like unlocking a cheat code. And, Graham Cracker Toffee is exactly that kind of recipe.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa is one of our favorite warm drinks this time of year. Mix up a batch of this cocoa mix today and have it ready for easy peppermint hot chocolate through the holiday season.

I’ve gathered all the best Fall Ice Cream Flavors here for you. From caramel apples to pumpkin spice, peppermint, and cinnamon, sweet maple syrup, nutty pecans and walnuts, apple crisps, and all the other things I can’t get enough of, at this time of year.

What I’m CRAVING: These

Save this Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddy Recipe (also called Puppy Chow) for a quick and easy snack that no one can stop eating! No baking needed, and just a few ingredients from your pantry!!

I can’t think of a more popular holiday party snack than Muddy Buddies, made with Chex cereal coated in a chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. But have you had our dark chocolate muddy buddies? The secret isn’t in chocolate chips, it’s actually in the peanut butter!

Ok, the 2 questions I always have to ask:
Did you grow up calling this addicting snack “muddy buddies”, or “puppy chow?” 

And 

Did you mix in a bowl or a large ziploc bag?

My siblings and I grew up saying puppy chow, but I mostly call it muddy buddies now. My mom would make a big batch, throw powdered sugar in a ziploc, add the chocolatey cereal and we would take turns shaking the snack to coat it in the powdery deliciousness. We couldn’t wait to dig in!

Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddy Recipe

• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter & Co Spread: This is your main flavor powerhouse, combining intense dark chocolate with creamy peanut butter. It coats the cereal, binding the mix together and delivering a rich, slightly bitter-sweet taste that balances the sugar. 
• Butter: Adds richness and helps thin the chocolate mixture so it flows smoothly over the cereal. It also gives a softer bite and helps the coating stick. 
• Semisweet Chocolate Chips (or Peanut Butter Chips): Boosts the chocolate (or peanut butter) flavor and helps create a firmer coating once cooled. Semisweet chocolate adds sweetness without being too sugary, while peanut butter chips give a more nutty, creamy twist.
• Rice Chex Cereal: The crunchy, airy base. Its hollow squares trap the coating, creating little pockets of chocolate-peanut-butter goodness while staying crisp under the sugar. Corn Chex can also be used.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates that signature powdery, sweet coating. It also keeps the pieces from sticking together and adds a pleasant sweetness to contrast the darker chocolate. 
• Cinnamon Sugar: Adds warmth and a subtle spiced aroma that deepens the chocolate flavor.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddies

1. Melt: Add the dark chocolate spread, butter and chocolate chips to a microwave-safe medium mixing bowl and melt in 30 second intervals stirring frequently until creamy. You can also melt it over medium heat in a saucepan on the stove.
2. Coat: Add the cereal to a large bowl&nb

I just got back from a walk, and the leaves are absolutely stunning. Fall is here, at last. And, with the turning of the season comes a new lineup of irresistible fall ice cream flavors to celebrate its best ingredients. From caramel apples to pumpkin spice, peppermint, and cinnamon, these recipes bring a fresh scoop of autumn right to you.

Fall Ice Cream flavors

These are hands-down the best fall ice cream flavors. We’re talking about sweet maple syrup, nutty pecans and walnuts, apple crisps, and all the other things I can’t get enough of, at this time of year. These fall flavored ice cream recipes deliver.

Maple Nut Ice Cream

This rich, homemade maple ice cream requires just four ingredients! Pure maple syrup gives this ice cream a smooth natural flavor with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Apple Crisp Ice Cream

Luscious vanilla ice cream is loaded until it’s positively bursting with bits of cinnamon and baked apples in this apple crisp ice cream with a crunchy streusel topping. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? 

A 4-ingredient homemade popcorn seasoning recipe that will take the flavor of late-night snacking to the next level!

My family loves popcorn! A few years ago our friends told us that on days they don’t want to cook dinner they make protein shakes and popcorn, and we hopped right on that train! We usually stick to buttered popcorn or rosemary popcorn when it’s for dinner, but when it’s movie night our other favorites include marshmallow popcorn (Cade’s favorite), kettle corn (Carrian’s favorite) and caramel corn (the kids’ favorite!)

Caramel Popcorn Seasoning is a sweet popcorn seasoning that is easy to make and adds a delicious flavor to your homemade popcorn.  

Learning how to make flavored popcorn seasoning is super simple and it makes the perfect gift for neighbors around the holidays! Make popcorn at home today and try out my mom’s perfect caramel popcorn seasoning!

Ingredients for Homemade Caramel Popcorn Seasoning

Salt: Balances all the sugars, enhances flavor, and keeps the seasoning from being one-note sweet. It also makes the popcorn taste more snackable.

Powdered Sugar: Provides a very fine, quick-dissolving sweetness that clings easily to the popcorn. Its texture helps coat evenly without making the popcorn soggy.

Turbinado Sugar: Adds a light molasses flavor with larger crystals that give a bit of crunch. It brings a more complex sweetness than regular white sugar.

Light Brown Sugar: Contributes a deeper, caramel-like sweetness thanks to its higher molasses content. It gives warmth and a richer flavor that pairs really well with buttery popcorn.

How to Make Homemade Popcorn Seasoning

1. Blend: Add the 4 ingredients to a blender or spice grinder and blend until mixed well.

This easy creamed corn recipe takes simple corn and turns it into a sweet, creamy, and irresistible side dish. Perfect alongside roast chicken, prime rib, or your favorite weeknight meals, it’s packed with flavor and ready in minutes.

With butter, cream, and just the right seasoning, this creamed corn recipe is a classic that your whole family will love.

If you think creamed corn is just okay, wait until you try my version. It’s buttery and full of flavor, almost like a corn chowder turned into a side dish. I thought it might be just “pretty good,” but it’s actually amazing.

One of my favorite things about this season is taking a moment to reflect on the birth, life, and resurrection of Christ. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe He came to Earth with a real purpose, lived perfectly, and made the ultimate sacrifice because of His love for each of us. This knowledge makes everyday moments, and even something as simple as sharing a meal, feel meaningful and full of joy.

Ingredients For Creamed Corn

Creamed corn is simple, comforting, and full of flavor, and it starts with a few key ingredients that make all the difference. Here’s what you’ll need to create this amazing side dish:

• Butter: For cooking and adding richness.
• Flour: Thickens the cream sauce for a silky texture.
• Cream Cheese: Adds extra creaminess.
• Heavy Cream: Makes the corn luscious and smooth.
• Sugar: Balances the natural sweetness of the corn.
• Salt: Season to taste.
• Parmesan Cheese: Optional, for a savory kick.
• Frozen Corn: The star of the dish! You could also use fresh corn, but I would advise against canned corn.
• Black Pepper: To taste.
• Bacon: Cooked and crumbled, for a salty, crunchy topping.

With these simple ingredients, you’re just a few steps away from dreamy corn that will steal the show at any meal. It’s easy and always a crowd-pleaser.

Variations

You can easily switch things up with this recipe. Try using whole milk instead of heavy cream in the milk mixture for a lighter version, though the sauce will be a bit thinner. For a little heat, add diced jalapenos or a pinch of cayenne pepper to give the creamed corn a spicy kick.

How to Make This Creamed Corn Recipe 

Making this creamed corn recipe is seriously satisfying. Follow these simple steps to get flavorful corn every time:

1. Melt: On the stove, add butter to a saucepan over medium-high heat until the butter melts.
2. Whisk: Add the flour and whisk for 20 seconds to create a roux. While whisking, add the cream cheese and stir until it clumps together.
3. Add Cream: Pour i