#Repost #ThrowbackThursday Holiday Cornish Game Hens and Cranberry Apple Stuffing #Ad

**This is a #Repost of a recipe from 2015** #ThrowbackThursday

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





The holidays really are my favorite time of the year to be in the kitchen, and I love cooking for family and friends. It makes me so happy to bring everyone around the table for a delicious meal, and I like trying new recipes.

This year I bought Tyson® Cornish Hens to make, and they are honestly so simple to cook. And it's nice to change up the holiday menu, and serve the hens instead of the usual ham or turkey.

Not only are these hens fabulously simple to make, they are 100% All Natural with no added hormones or steroids. They are also yummy, comfort food, just like Mom used to make.

I paired them with simple roasted sweet potatoes and a great Cranberry and Apple Stuffing, made with an easy boxed stuffing mix. It might all look like a fancy dinner, but it was super simple!

I'm a big stuffing fan, I could eat any kind and love it, but this stuffing is one of my favorites. It's perfect for the holidays and makes your kitchen smell so, so good.

It goes great with any meat or poultry, and it went particularly well with the hens. I think the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the apples are a great combination.

I bought a few of the the Tyson® All Natural Premium Cornish Hen twin packs. I put some in the freezer so that I can have them on hand for more holiday meals or birthday dinners that are coming up. I know some people are a little intimidated when it comes to cooking these hens, but when you do serve them, you can make even a normal weeknight meal feel special.

Look for Tyson® All Natural Premium Cornish Hens in the meat and poultry department at your local Walmart.

And you can take advantage of a great money saving offer from Ibotta. Ibotta is a mobile rebate app that you can download on your phone or mobile device.

Install the Ibotta app today and get $1.50 cash back when you purchase your Tyson Cornish Hens.

I'd love to share my easy recipe for Holiday Cornish Game Hens and Cranberry Apple Stuffing. Each hen provides a generous helping of meat for each person. Since the hens come frozen, be sure to put them in the refrigerator overnight so that they can defrost. Simply rinse them off and pat them dry with paper towels. I set them in a 9x11 inch baking pan with the sweet potatoes, and they were ready to be brushed with olive oil and seasoning.

I sliced up two medium sweet potatoes and put them around the hens to bake. We've always had sweet potatoes for our holiday meals and it just wouldn't be Christmas without them.

For the Cranberry Apple Stuffing, I sautéed 2 peeled and diced apples, along with 1 cup of fresh cranberries. I added this to a boxed stuffing recipe mix and popped it in the oven for 30 minutes. It's super festive without a lot of work.

Recipe for Holiday Cornish Game Hens and Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 Tyson® All Natural Premium Cornish Hens twin pack
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

For Stuffing:

2 tablespoons butter (for sautéing cranberries and apples)
2 apples, peeled, and chopped
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 box prepared stuffing mix
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add yams to 9x11-inch baking pan. Remove thawed hens from wrappers, rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Place hens in baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix together dried onion flakes, seasoning salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly brush hens with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning mixture. Bake in the oven for 60 minutes.

To make the stuffing, heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan, sauté apples until softened. Add cranberries and cook 5 minutes longer. In a medium bowl, add stuffing mix, water, melted butter, apples and cranberries. Lightly mix together. Place mixture in a medium baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Be sure to check out more great recipes from Tyson. Do you have a special holiday recipe that you love making? Leave me a comment and let me know what it is!

Holiday Favorite Recipes: M&M's® Hot Chocolate Christmas Cake Recipe #repost #throwback #recipe

***This is a REPOST from November 2015 #throwback 
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeInTheFun #CollectiveBias

The holiday season is here and I'm very excited that I've already started my holiday baking. It's my favorite time of the year to share desserts and treats with family and friends. I have the most wonderful memories of my mother being busy in the kitchen, baking delicious pies, cakes, and cookies.

My mom would save her change in a jar all year round so that she would be sure to have enough money when Christmas came so that she could buy the ingredients she needed for her baking and candy making.

I like to think about her when I'm baking for my children and grandchildren, and they seem to love my baking, just like I loved hers.

I've mentioned before how much I enjoy the seasonal M&M's® I always find at Walmart, and sure enough, the other day I found M&M's® Hot Chocolate flavor. So, so good!! And I also bought the Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix and Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Vanilla Flavored Frosting to make a yummy cake for my family.

It's so easy to whip up a cake with this cake mix and frosting, and I simply added hot chocolate mix and chopped M&M's® Hot Chocolate candies to the cake batter for a great hot chocolate flavor.

I also bought some M&M's® Holiday Peanut because peanut is my absolute favorite kind of M&M's®, though I have to say that all the other flavors are a close second.

When my four year old granddaughter saw this cake she said it was beautiful, and that is one of the reasons I bake, for love, for family.

I want her to remember her and I baking together, which we frequently do, and remember how much fun we had in the kitchen.

Simply add chopped candies and hot chocolate mix to the batter to give it that great hot chocolate flavor. I always make sure to use parchment paper and vegetable oil so that my cake doesn't stick to the pan, it works every time.

Put together and frost both layers of the cake, then the real fun begins! Decorate your cake with the sprinkles that come with the Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Vanilla Flavored Frosting, and the M&M's® Hot Chocolate flavored candies.

This is really such an easy way to make a fun and festive cake that you can enjoy at home, or bring to a holiday gathering.

Recipe For M&M's® Hot Chocolate Christmas Cake

Ingredients:

1 box of Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/4 cup hot chocolate powder
3/4 cup M&M's® Hot Chocolate flavored candies, roughly chopped

For frosting cake:

1 container Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Vanilla Flavored Frosting
additional M&M's®

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil and place parchment papers (if using) into 2 8-inch round cake pans.
Combine cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer at medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add in chopped candies and hot chocolate mix, stirring well.
Divide evenly into the prepared pans. Bake 20-24 minutes until done, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans, put on a wire rack and let cool completely before assembling and frosting.
Decorate with sprinkles and candies.

My family and I drink a lot of milk, we can go through quite a few gallons in a week. I always appreciate the low prices on Great Value Milk at Walmart.

Having a glass of milk with dinner and dessert is something that many people take for granted. But many families with children aren't that lucky, and go without milk and it's essential nutrients because it's not typically donated to food banks, even though it is in high demand.

More than 46.5 million Americans – including one in every six children – rely on Feeding America food banks each year. And one of the most requested food items is milk. But sadly, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person per year.

But we can help out by making a small donation at pourmilklove.com. The Great American Milk Drive will deliver a gallon of milk – and all of the essential nutrients, including protein, that it provides – to a family in need in YOUR local community.

When you purchase two bags of M&M's® at Walmart ( 9.4 oz. bags or larger) up to a gallon of milk will be donated to the drive. What a great way to help get milk to children who need it. And you can also make a donation to the Great American Milk Drive here.

You can find all these products, and additional flavors of M&M's®, at your local Walmart. Check out the baking aisle for all kinds of great dessert and baking ideas.

Use this coupon to save $1.00 on any two (2) bags of M&M's® Chocolate Candies 8 oz. or larger.

Be sure to check out more delicious holiday baking recipes here. And tell me what your favorite holiday recipe, I'd really love to know.

Butterscotch Spice Cookies





I spent today making the last of the Christmas cookies to be boxed up to give to family and friends. I'm surprised that Christmas has gotten here so soon, it seems like just yesterday I was putting away the extra turkey and fixings from Thanksgiving.

These Butterscotch Spice Cookies are a cinch to make and smell and taste yummy. My granddaughter loved helping me make them because it's kind of like playing with play dough. You roll the dough into a ball and then roll it in powdered sugar. What 5 year doesn't love that?

Recipe for Butterscotch Spice Cookies 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 11-oz. package butterscotch chips

powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl beat butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Beat in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt until combined. Stir in butterscotch chips.

Roll scoops of dough to make a ball, then roll in powdered sugar. Place dough 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheets, Remove and let finish on wire racks.

Makes about 36 cookies.

-Post by Patricia



Flourless Chocolate Espresso Tart

Do you adore chocolate like I do? Maybe that's a silly question because it seems like everyone is in love with chocolate. Whether it's cake, or brownies, or candy, it seems like a real favorite with all my friends and family. Especially this time of year.

We've had quite a few people over for dinner lately, which is fun for me, because I love cooking and baking. And planning menus actually gets me excited! I'm no Martha Stewart for sure, but I do enjoy entertaining and everything it entails.

I needed a dessert last week for after dinner, and I really wanted something chocolaty. I had had this recipe for Flourless Chocolate Espresso Tart that a friend had written down for me, but I hadn't tried it yet. It's surprisingly simple and only requires six ingredients.

Well let me tell you, it turned out delicious. So rich and chocolaty, with the flavor of espresso coming through perfectly. Yum, is all I can say. Do use top quality ingredients if you can, because it really does make a difference.

If you want to impress guests or just indulge in your love of chocolate, I highly recommend you make this tart. I'm going to make it again on Christmas Eve to go with a couple of other desserts for when we have family and friends coming over. Oh, and if you like, you can add a little whipped cream on top to make it extra special.

Recipe for Flourless Chocolate Espresso Tart

Ingredients:

4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting

1 1/2 tablespoon instant espresso

whipped cream if desired

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan.

In the top pan of a double broiler, melt the chocolate over (but not touching) simmering water. Scrape the melted chocolate into a large bowl, add the sugar and melted butter, and stir to mix well. Add the eggs and mix well. Sift in the cocoa powder and espresso and stir until the batter is smooth and well blended.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the top begins to form a fudge-like crust, 20-25 minutes.

Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Dust tart with cocoa powder, and top with whipped cream if desired. Cut into wedges and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

-Post by Patricia



Holiday Molasses Cookies

Growing up in Southern California, we never got to do some of the things that I pictured other kids at Christmas time doing. Like playing in the snow, building a snowman, or coming in from the cold with rosy cheeks from caroling and then enjoying a yummy cup of cocoa.

I can remember a few times when my mother pulled the Christmas ham out of the oven and had to wipe the sweat off her face because it was in the 80's outside and felt like a hundred degrees in the house. Maybe I saw too many Hollywood movies and all the impossible perfection they supplied my mind with, but I still feel like Christmas should somehow involve snow.

But there is one thing that happened in my house when I was growing up, and that was Christmas cookies. My mother made dozens and dozens of them for us to eat and give to our teachers and friends. I can remember coming home from school and eating them with a glass of milk, and watching my mom roll dough into a ball and then rolling it around in a bowl of sugar to make Molasses Cookies. I think they were my favorite out of all the kinds she made.

I've said many times that I wish I had some of her recipes, but I never asked her for any, and by the time I was interested she had already passed away. But I think she would have loved and approved of this wonderful recipe I found for Molasses Cookies in Taste of Home magazine. They are wonderful, and smell so good.

These cookies are quite soft, and are quite large too. Shaping the dough into 2-inch balls is the perfect size, I think. And they keep well for a few days in a container with a tight fitting lid.

I made a batch for my family and the grandkids loved them. We also gave some to friends who raved about them too. So they are going to be part of my cookie-making this year, and I'll be sharing them with friends and family.

Recipe for Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar, plus 1/4 cup for rolling dough in

2 large eggs

1/2 cup molasses

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; gradually add to cream mixture and mix together well.

Shape dough into 2-inch balls and roll in sugar until well coated. Place 2 1/2 inches apart on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13 - 15 minutes, or until tops are cracked. Place on wire racks to cool.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

-Post by Patricia 

Recipe for Cranberry Muffins

Cranberries always remind me of Christmas, so I make sure to include a few baked goods with them as an ingredient. I love the tartness of them balanced with sweetness. Muffins are quick and easy to make, and you can even make these ahead and pop them in the microwave to heat up.

 

Recipe for Cranberry Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh cranberries
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Stir in cranberries; make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, butter, rind, vanilla, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 18 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pan immediately; place on a wire rack.

Makes 12 muffins.

Disney Planes Rollback Prices at Walmart

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

Looking for last minute holiday gift ideas? Delight the little ones in

your life with Disney Planes items now on Rollback at Walmart! All

items listed below are on rollback through the holiday season!

#PlanesToTheRescue #ad

Disney Planes Flight to the Finish Speedway ($24.97)

Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Die-Cast Vehicles, 3-Pack ($14.97)

Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Deluxe Talking Vehicle Assortment ($19.97)

DIY Pinecone Christmas Trees

As a child the magic of Christmas was always in the decorations, especially ones that my brothers and sisters and I had made ourselves. Every year our mother would pull out the decorations we had made over the years and floods of great memories always came to mind.

I set out to do a simple project with my little ones, something easy, fun with instant results. These Pinecone Christmas Trees were perfect for my 3 year old and almost 2 year old.

A few simple supplies: pinecones (from Michaels), sparkles for the ornaments, different string choices for the garland or lights and glue. Honestly a hot glue gun would have been better but they are so young, later as the items start to fall off I will go behind them with the hot glue gun.

Here they are working so hard, Ashley even moved on top of the table for a better angle! I let them do it all by their selves, they always love it when there are no rules during a craft! There was no fuss, no fighting and beautiful results. I can't wait to pull these out of the Christmas tub every year and seeing the same memories come to mind for them.

This was published last year, but I wanted to share it again.

Holiday Shopping With Tense Wooden Watches

I was provided with a product for my review. All opinions are mine alone.



I've never given up wearing watches, even though like lots of people, I have my cell phone to let me know what time it is. I think a watch can be a part of your personal style, and reflect the kind of life you lead. Whether your style is classic, sporty, or feminine, a watch really is a personal way to express yourself.

When I was offered the chance to review a watch from Tense Watches, I immediately said yes. A couple of months ago, I was having lunch with a friend, and remarked on what an attractive wooden watch she was wearing, and it was from Tense.

Needless to say, when I received my watch in the mail, I immediately loved it. Pretty and stylish, it's perfect for wearing when I am being everyday casual, but also looks great when I want a more dressed-up, evening look.

Tense Watches offers six themed collections to choose from, Adventure, Coastal, Discovery, Heritage, Passage, and Mainland. It's easy to see why they are worn by nature lovers all around the world.

All watches are made from natural materials from Africa, India, and other exotic places. They are also made with one of the worlds top watch movements, Miyota 2035, from Japan.

There is a watch available for everyone on your Christmas list, from your beloved grandfather, to your stylish 20-something niece, or your mom or dad. For all styles and age groups, you can count on Tense Watches to be a welcome and appreciated gift this holiday season.

I choose the Women's Pacific watch. I love it's casual elegance, and appreciate it's quality and durability.

It's made of solid sandalwood, and with a stainless steel clasp. Like all Tense wooden bracelet watches, it is hypo-allergenic.

I have never worn a wooden watch before, and I think the concept is quite unique. It feels totally comfortable and natural. I love my Tense Watch, and will be enjoying it for years to come.

You can choose from Men's, Women's, and Unisex styles. Tense also offers gift certificates for that hard to buy for person on your shopping list.

To see the complete collection of Tense Watches, you can go and visit their website here. You can also find them on Facebook and Pinterest.

If your holiday shopping includes buying someone you care about a wonderful new watch, shop at Tense, because beauty and quality are always appreciated.

Christmas Cranberry Walnut Bread

I'm always looking for easy recipes for quick breads, especially this time of year. A loaf of a yummy quick bread makes a wonderful homemade gift, or as a treat for yourself at home with a cup of tea or coffee.

This recipe for Cranberry Walnut Bread is a favorite of mine. The cranberries have a delicious tarty taste, and the orange zest in it gives it a hint of citrus.

It's easy to find fresh cranberries this time of year, or you can also use frozen. Even if you don't like cranberries, this bread just might change your mind about them.

Recipe for Christmas Cranberry Walnut Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with non-stick baking spray.
Mix together cranberries, sugar, oil, milk, orange peel, vanilla, and eggs.
Add flour, baking powder, salt, and walnuts, mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Run a knife along the edges to loosen bread from pan. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Makes 1 loaf.

I made this last year, but it's so yummy that I wanted to share it again. Enjoy!!

DIY Pinecone Christmas Trees

As a child the magic of Christmas was always in the decorations, especially ones that my brothers and sisters and I had made ourselves. Every year our mother would pull out the decorations we had made over the years and floods of great memories always came to mind.

I set out to do a simple project with my little ones, something easy, fun with instant results. These Pinecone Christmas Trees were perfect for my 3 year old and almost 2 year old.

Holiday Peanut Butter Cookies

The holidays for us are about treats, treats and more treats! But not everybody likes things that are typically given at this time of year like fudge, hard candy or peppermint. Sometimes some good old fashion peanut butter cookies can make someone's day. Dressed up with some twine and a sweet container they can be the perfect gift. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda                     
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt                     

DIY Baby Doll Bed Makeover

For Christmas this year I wanted to do a little bit of DIY mixed in with "new" things. I think that there can be beauty in used items if you look hard enough and have the time to fix it up.

Months back while scouring the shelves of the Goodwill I came across this baby bed. Now remember I have a just barely one year old daughter after having two boys so I am always on the hunt for girls stuff!! And all things PINK!!

When I saw it I knew it had to be mine hers. It had a few chips, discoloration and needed some TLC but for $4.99 I knew it would be perfect for her first baby doll bed. It is heavy wood (durable), low to the ground (she is only one) and the hearts on the sides put me over the top!

Here is the bed after I bought it, not so cute huh?

 See the $4.99 price tag! Also see the markings and chipped up paint?

Here is Ashley's sweet baby bed after I gave it some TLC, repainted it white, added some blankets and a bit of ribbon.

These pictures turned out kind of yellow, they were taken at night right before Santa came. (wink wink)