Key Lime Pie Milkshakes is a delightful combination of two delicious desserts! Enjoy the classic flavors of key lime and condensed milk in a frozen treat.
…
Key Lime Pie Milkshakes is a delightful combination of two delicious desserts! Enjoy the classic flavors of key lime and condensed milk in a frozen treat.
…
Sip your way to goodness with a Caramel Apple Cider Punch that everyone can enjoy! A refreshing sparkling apple cider drink is perfect for back-to-school and fall gatherings!
I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #BacktoSchoolTreats week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
…
Easy Strawberry Frosé combine a few of my favorite things: wine, the color pink, berries, and fun straws. I will totally admit that I love frozen cocktails, and this one could not be easier to make.
When choosing a wine, take into account who will be drinking it. Do your friends tend to favor more dry or sweet wines. I chose a bottle that wasn’t too sweet, so I could add in my own strawberry simple syrup and adjust the sweetness. It helped make the drink perfectly pink, because the rosé lightens when it is frozen and blended.
You will probably need to use 3 ice cube trays when freezing the wine. If necessary, the ice cubes can be made in batches the day before and kept in a freezer plastic bag until blending.
It’s BrunchWeek – my favorite event of the year! I am so excited to be working with this year’s group of bloggers. We have over 150 amazing recipes over the next few days, as well as a big giveaway > enter here! I hope you enjoy all the fabulous recipes this week! Happy brunching!
By Love and Confections
Published 04/30/2018
Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!
BrunchWeek Beverages:
Cà Phê Trứng (Vietnamese Egg Coffee) from Tara’s Multicultural Table.
Cold Brew with Hazelnut Simple Syrup from The Barbee Housewife.
Hazelnut Milk Punch from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Irish Coffee from My Catholic Kitchen.
Strawberry Frosé from Love and Confections.
BrunchWeek Appetizers:
Everything Bagel Dip from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen.
Coconut Raspberry Skillet Pancake from Books n’ Cooks.
Danish Twists with Cream Cheese Filling from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
French Toast Muffin Bites from Daily Dish Recipes
Make Ahead Mocha Granola from Wholistic Woman.
Snickerdoodle Pancakes from Mildly Meandering.
Toasted Coconut Granola from Cooking With Carlee.
Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!
This recipe is intended for individuals ages 21 & up. Please drink responsibly. Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, LorAnn Oils and Flavors, Cento Fine Foods, Michigan Asparagus, Cal-Organic and Eggland’s Best for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #BrunchWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Seven (7) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #BrunchWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or any other social channel mentioned in the #Brunchweek posts or entry.
Hot chocolate is one of my go-to cold weather drinks and I love sipping it on a cool Winter night in front of a fire pit. Instead of the prepackaged just-add-water version, I partnered with Florida Dairy Farmers to create a creamy and delicious slow cooker dark hot chocolate. My family loves dark chocolate, so using bittersweet chocolate chips made everyone happy.
The key to the creaminess and richness is using whole milk and heavy cream, bittersweet chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk. There is no water in this hot chocolate recipe! When I drink hot chocolate, marshmallows are a necessary topping.
Whipped cream is also a good choice, as are sprinkles, because everyone knows I love and hoard sprinkles. I also enjoy chocolate curls, chocolate sauce, salted caramel, or peppermint crumbles on top. This recipe can easily be adapted for milk chocolate if you prefer a lighter tasting chocolate flavor, or add a little liqueur to make it an adult-only beverage.
Here in Florida, we are just starting to get the cool Winter weather and it is beautiful! Holiday parties are starting to happen almost every weekend, especially cookie exchanges and ugly sweater parties. I love party prep, but to make it a bit easier I rely on my slow cooker for delicious party drinks.
After pouring all the ingredients into the slow cooker, it heats on low for around 2 hours. I usually whisk it at the beginning, middle and end to make sure all the chocolate pieces and cocoa are melted and incorporated. You can use your slow cooker’s warming feature after the 2 hours, or just keep it on low for the party, but it is best served right away and please follow proper food safety rules.
For more great recipes and inspiration, visit Florida Dairy Farmers on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube.
By Love and Confections
Published 11/30/2017
Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 0 hrs. 05 mins.
Cook time: 2 hrs. 00 mins.
Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!
Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with Florida Dairy Farmers as a recipe developer. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links – if you make a purchase after clicking the link, the price will not be higher, but a portion of the sale will go towards the sustainability of this website. As always, all opinions are my own.
It is officially Fall and I am excited about this season. Fall is probably my favorite of the four seasons, because of the changing leaves and cooler temperatures. Granted, we don’t get that in Florida, so maybe that is why I love Autumn so much.
There is something special about Fall; maybe it’s the weather, or the fun activities, but it is almost magical. Pumpkins pop up everywhere, pumpkin spice everything, Fall festivals and corn mazes, getting ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and that feeling of change and excitement all come around this time of year.
Apple picking is another quintessential Fall activity and I am almost bursting with excitement because I am finally going to go apple picking for the first time next week. For many Northerners, visiting apple orchards are a regular Fall activity, but for this Southern Florida girl apple picking garners way more excitement than usual. I love going to orchards and farms to pick fruits and vegetables and have never been far enough North, and able to pick, during apple season.
I am definitely going to bring back some apples from my trip, and cannot wait to make more homemade apple cider. The warm, delicious smell that wafts through the house while making cider is amazing. Pair it with freshly churned vanilla bean ice cream for an extra special Fall treat. Cheers!
Until next time,
Welcome to #PumpkinWeek 2017!! I can’t believe what started as a small gathering of bloggers wanting to celebrate their love of this fabulous Fall flavor has turned into such a great event year after year. What started off with 17 bloggers and 65 recipes has turned into 35 bloggers and 105 recipes, 4 years later. As usual, I like to start off my week-long celebrations with a cocktail, and this Pumpkin Pie Moscow Mule does not disappoint!
Within the past couple of years, I have jumped on the Mule bandwagon. Aside from the fact that drinking out of a copper mug is awesome, I really do love all the flavors in it. Now, sometimes they are a bit more gingery or limey depending on the recipe or bartender, but since it is quite different than my usual fruity/sweet cocktail order, I like to try them at restaurants or bars.
This recipe does not use lime, but the ginger beer I used had a hint of lime. It’s all about personal preference, and this recipe can easily be made for two or to serve a crowd. The Pumpkin Pie Simple Syrup is enough for quite a few drinks. I am actually saving some for another pumpkin-inspired cocktail coming soon.
I started the syrup with both granulated and dark brown sugars. The rich molasses flavor from the dark brown sugar complements the spices, but I also didn’t want it to be too overbearing. When mixed together, the whole drink is warming and delicious. You can probably even use a flavored vodka (caramel, pumpkin, or apple pie) or to really give it a punch, some bourbon.
I love playing around with different flavor Moscow Mules, and even created a Berry Basil Moscow Mule this past Summer. October has me craving pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all those lovely warm spices that feel like Fall. Since it isn’t quite sweater-weather yet, I am definitely enjoying this Moscow Mule that is cool, refreshing, and tastes like Fall in a glass. Cheers!
By Love and Confections
Published 10/02/2017
Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!
Here are today’s #PumpkinWeek recipes:
Pumpkin Pie Moscow Mule from Love and Confections.
Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce from Hardly A Goddess.
Goat Cheese and Sage Pizza with Pumpkin Crust from The Spiffy Cookie.
Kaddo Bowrani (Afghan Pumpkin with Yoghurt Sauce) from Caroline’s Cooking.
Pickled Pumpkin with Sage and Autumn Spices from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Pumpkin Beer Bread from Forking Up.
Pumpkin Beer Cheese Soup with Herbed Croutons from The Crumby Kitchen.
Pumpkin Chili from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures.
Pumpkin Corn Chowder with Shrimp from Kudos Kitchen by Renee.
Pumpkin Focaccia Bread from Cookaholic Wife.
Pumpkin Ravioli with Parmesan Sage Cream Sauce from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen.
Pumpkin Rosemary Hummus with Sizzled Garlic from Amy’s Cooking Adventures.
Pumpkin Stew with Chicken and Black Beans from Palatable Pastime.
Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies from The Redhead Baker.
Cheesecake Stuffed Pumpkin Bundt Cake from Cooking with Carlee.
Easy Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake from Daily Dish Recipes.
Jumbo Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Pecan Streusel Topping from Family Around The Table.
Pumpkin Blondies from It Bakes Me Happy.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars from The Bitter Side of Sweet.
Pumpkin Coffee Cake from The Chef Next Door.
Pumpkin Madeleines from Mildly Meandering.
Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites from Making Miracles.
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from Seduction in the Kitchen.
Pumpkin Pie Tassies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings.
Pumpkin Scones from The Freshman Cook.
Pumpkin Spice Donuts from A Day in the Life on the Farm.
Pumpkin Spice Donuts from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks.
Pumpkin Zucchini Streusel Bread from An Affair from the Heart.
Ridiculously Good Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Cake from Bacon Fatte.
My best friend’s grandmother, who everyone called Gran, even if we weren’t her grandchildren (but in all reality she is seriously like my own grandmother and I love her just the same) was one of the people who started me on my love of sweet tea. She also makes THE best chicken wings in the entire world, but that is for another time.
The other person responsible for my love of sweet tea is my uncle’s mother-in-law, Nanny. Every family gathering we went to with my aunt’s family, sweet tea was present. Nanny is the sweetest lady and I always love being a part of their family parties, especially if she comes. She reminds me so much of my own grandmother with her warm smile and welcoming hugs.
Sweet tea isn’t just a tradition, it’s more personal than that; it’s about community. Inviting someone in and offering a glass of cold sweet tea, sitting on the porch with friends in the Summer sipping from a delicious flavored tea, or enjoying a glass at a holiday party or celebration are all perfect occasions for my simple southern sweet tea.
Baby showers are also the perfect time for sweet tea, and today a group of blogging friends are celebrating a new mom and her adorable, just a little early, baby boy. Angie from Big Bear’s Wife was due in early October, but the little man decided he wanted to make an entrance 3 days ago, thus spoiling my surprise virtual baby shower–now turned surprise virtual baby welcome, LOL.
If you follow Angie, then you know she has some amazing recipes. I love her Southern-style and easy recipes, no-churn ice creams and she also has these delicious Strawberry Sweet Tea Popsicles that I cannot wait to make.
Angie, you are the most deserving, sweet and lovable person!! I know your baby boy is incredibly lucky to have you and Thomas as parents. You are going to be a great mother and you have an incredible village behind you ready to help support and love you all. Savor every moment, even the sleepless ones, because they truly do grow up too fast. All my love!
By Love and Confections
Published 09/22/2017
Yield: 1 gallon
Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!
Baby Blue Punch from Or Whatever You Do.
Easy Fall Party Punch from Miss in the Kitchen.
Simple & Fun Mimosa Bar from My Life Well Loved.
Simple Southern Sweet Tea from Love and Confections.
Creamy Grape Salad with Toasted Pecans from Unsophisticook.
Mini Chicken and Waffles from Sweet Beginnings.
Pimento Cheese Stuffed Buttermilk Biscuits from It’s Yummi.
Savory Cucumber Melon Salad with Honey Thyme Vinaigrette from Cooking in Stilettos.
Spicy Southern Deviled Eggs from This Gal Cooks.
American Pierogi Casserole from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen.
Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Butter Sauce from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Pimento Cheese Tomato Ham Sliders from Honey and Birch.
Banana Pudding Layered Dessert from High Heels and Grills.
Brookies from Baked Bree.
Caramel Corn from The Redhead Baker.
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake from Cooking with Carlee.
Chocolate Chip Clouds from All Day I Dream About Food.
Lemon Donuts with Raspberry Glaze from Ashlee Marie
Low Carb Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Cupcakes from Sugar-Free Mom.
Mickey Mouse Candy Pops from The Decorated Cookie.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownie Bars from The Bitter Side of Sweet.
Small Batch Rhubarb Strawberry Jam from The JavaCupcake Blog
Classic Yellow Butter Cake with Fudgy Chocolate Icing from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
Yellow Cupcakes with Peach Cream Cheese Frosting from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.
Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups from Cupcakes & Kale Chips.
Sweet tea is a staple in the South, and I am a Southern girl at heart. Give me biscuits, gravy and a tall glass of sweet tea and I am a happy girl! Traditional sweet tea is given a refreshing fruity twist with tangerine juice. Being from Florida, we have a lot of beautiful citrus available and adding fruity flavors to drinks is always fun.
Depending on the fruit, tangerines can be sweet or slightly tart. I created a sort of tangerine syrup with tangerine juice and sugar, to sweeten my tea. If you can’t find fresh tangerines, check the refrigerated juice section of your grocery store for tangerine juice. If that isn’t available, clementines and oranges are other good options.
Don’t forget to garnish with some fresh citrus slices, mint and fun straws. I have a large collection of straws that I am always adding to. I find them in craft stores, party stores and online. I think they really make a festive drink display and are great for parties or cocktail bars too. Hope you have a delightful day and have a glass of Tangerine Sweet Tea to sip on. Cheers!
Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!
I have an ongoing relationship with Dixie Crystals as a recipe developer and brand ambassador. I receive product, coupons and/or compensation for posts featuring their products. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. As always, all opinions are my own.