Fall Into Fall CRAFTS with MomAdvice.com

September 18th, 2012

With Fall upon us, I suddenly get the urge to start tackling some crafts that have been on my to-do list for the year. Fall is also a great time to get a jump start on holiday crafts that you might want to tackle this year for our family and friends.

Today I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite crafts and DIY projects for the Fall season that have appeared on MomAdvice.com!

The GAP-Tastic Cowl

Cowls are still highly fashionable this year, especially the warm and bulky variety. I love this easy cowl that can be created with inexpensive yarn in your favorite fall color to add a little spice to a tired fall jacket you might have in your closet. If this cowl doesn’t get you excited to start knitting, be sure to check out these seven easy scarf and cowl patterns to knit this year!

Easy Felt Fabric Brooch

You are going to fall in love with this beautiful felt fabric brooch and it would be the perfect addition to your fall jacket this year or as an embellishment to last year’s winter hat. Check out this tutorial for these easy brooches!

Anthropologie DIY Ruffled Lampshade

Perhaps one of my most favorite projects in our house was this burlap ruffled lampshade made from inexpensive burlap. If you are wanting to dress up a tired lamp for fall, be sure to check out this tutorial! This project was so easy to create and would be so cute on a side table, in your office, or a cute way to spruce up a craft room.

DIY Chalkboard Food Label Frames

All you need is a dollar store frame to get started with this easy craft. These food label frames would be a great addition to your fall entertaining and tailigating this year. The best part is that this craft can be done in fifteen minutes, making it a great fast to create

Knitted Dishcloths 

If you are new to knitting, dishcloths are the perfect project because they are like swatches of pattern rather than tackling a larger project piece. On top of that, it can make you feel braver doing patterns with more complexity and learning new knitting techniques. For the first few months after I learned how to knit, I knit a lot of dishcloths. I happen to think these are one of the best projects for Fall, and they also happen to be a fabulous little hostess gift for the holidays!

Yarn Wreath (for all seasons)

It’s time to dress up your front door for Fall! Yarn wreaths are easy to create with a mere ten-fifteen dollars  in supplies and a whole lot of your own individual creativity. Find out how to create this easy yarn wreath that can be dressed up for all of the seasons with this simple yarn base!

Painted Tabletops & Reupholstered Chairs

If your kitchen table and chairs are looking a little tired, Fall is a great time of year to spruce them up!  Last Fall, I painted my kitchen tabletop and reupholstered my kitchen chairs and one year later, they are still going strong!

Oatmeal Cookies & Milk Bath

There is nothing I love more than a good long soak in the tub in the evenings when the weather is chilly. I highly recommend this easy oatmeal bath soak you can create in your kitchen. I call it Oatmeal Cookies & Milk because it blends together the ingredients of an oatmeal cookie with powdered milk to make a soft & soothing bath for anyone who has sensitive skin.

Coffee Filter Posies

Looking for a cute addition to a side table for Fall? I highly recommend making these cute coffee filter posies for a fun Fall decoration. Dyed in yellows and oranges, they would look beautiful in a jar on your kitchen table or a cute way to dress up a dresser in your bedroom.

Decoupaged Pumpkins

I love to create inexpensive decorations for fall and these easy decoupaged pumpkins are a craft that I have been wanting to try for awhile after spotting this technique in an old issue of Better Homes &  Gardens Magazine. You won’t believe how easy it is to decoupage a pumpkin and since they were so easy to create, I made two to adorn each side of my console table.  This pumpkin is made with paper napkins, if you can believe it, and some other inexpensive craft materials you can pick up at your local craft store!

Charity Knitting Craft Projects

This is going to be the season when my friends that knit & crochet really spring into action for hat drives for those in need! One things I am proud and humbled to do is to knit for those in need. You will find loads of fun projects to knit for those in need in the Knitting section of our site. While you are enjoying the latest season of Fall shows on the television, add a little something for someone in need to your knitting needles this year!

What is your favorite Fall craft project you have tried from our site? I would love to hear from you!

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Throw a Board Game Party with Goodwill

September 17th, 2012

I am so excited to share with you today some easy craft projects you can do to create a beautiful board game party theme for a fun game night with your friends.

I recently hosted a board game party and created all of my fun decorations from supplies I found at our local thrift store and the dollar store.

The total cost spent on all of these decorations was a mere $30 and I am so proud of how this theme turned out.

 

 

I hit our local thrift on a half off sale day to score these three vintage board games for a total of $2.44 (for all three)!

What a steal!

 

 

The first thing I did with my supplies was to create a board game banner to edge my party table.

For this you will need board game paper cards, a deck of cards (optional), play money, extra wide bias tape, and a hot glue gun with glue sticks.

Using your hot glue gun, add two drops of glue on each side of the front of your board game piece and secure it to the inside front of the bias tape.

For the reverse, add one drop of glue and then secure again to the opposite inside of the bias tape.

Repeat this in a sequencing pattern all down your banner.

 

 

I decided to create two of these, one to edge my table and one above my table on my ledge.

To secure it to your table, just use safety pins or straight pins to pin it to your tablecloth.

Isn’t that the cutest?

 

 

I had a lot of food to serve and not a lot of platters to use.

Good thing we have those board games, right?

Pick up three clear glass candlesticks in the same size. If you can’t find them there, you can grab them at the dollar store.

Using a primary spray paint color, spray paint these with your favorite color.

Let them dry for an hour.

Clean off your board game with a Clorox wipe (we will be serving food on it).

Invert your candlesticks upside down because we want the wide side of the candlestick to secure to the board game to create a more stable surface.

On that side, apply your hot glue all along the edge and secure it to your board game on the bottom to create a base for your serving platter.

Hold it secure for a couple of minutes.

Repeat this process with the two other candlesticks, creating a triangle base on the bottom of your board.

 

 

Isn’t this the cutest serving platter?

By raising your food up, you will have more room to add platters below and create interesting levels to your food.

 

 

You can also use other board games without a stand to place your food on lower levels.

Doesn’t that look awesome?

 

 

To add some more interest to my table, I also created hurricanes to display the smaller board game pieces.

Again, you just need clear glass candlesticks or even brass ones, that are often in abundance at Goodwill.

Spray paint these your favorite color and then add glass bowls or containers on top to finish them off.

If you can’t find these at your store, you can also check the dollar store for small glass fishbowls and vases that can be used.

Using an epoxy glue intended for glass (I used an Elmer’s epoxy glue that I picked up from my hardware store), secure the glass bowl to the top of your candlestick (just as shown above using a hot glue gun).

Fill it with you favorite vintage board game pieces from the board games you bought.

 

 

 

I absolutely love the vintage pieces that you can find in old board games.

Just remember, these hurricanes can be reused for other parties and spray painted again in whatever your party theme colors might be.

 

 

Since I was on a spray painting frenzy and I had so many great dishes to share for this party, I also created these DIY chalkboard food label frames.

You can grab the tutorial for this project as well as the recipes for all of the dishes I created for this party to replicate what was created here.

 

 

Now grab your best girlfriends, have everyone bring their favorite beverage and board game (check out this list for great games to grab at your favorite thrift store), and have a fun board game party evening that your friends will always remember!

What happens to be your favorite board game?

This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

Don’t miss these other great posts from MomAdvice.com:

 

 

How to Organize Your Family’s Game Collection

 

 

 

DIY Roll-Up Puzzle Mat

 

 

DIY Outdoor Movie

 

 

7 Tips for Hosting a Successful Book Club

 

 

 

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Fall Into Fall DRINKS with MomAdvice.com

September 17th, 2012

If there is one thing I happen to be famous for around here, it is my ability to make a delicious Fall drink for myself and my friends. Last year I was on a quest to recreate all of my favorite Starbucks drinks and I manged to recreate all of my favorites and keep a little extra money in the bank this year.

Here are a few of my favorite Fall drinks that have been on MomAdvice over the years!

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

There was a whole lot of latte loving last year on the blog. I hope you didn’t miss it! The latte loving all began with this drink and recreating my favorite pumpkin treat at Starbucks. I can happily say that I rarely ordered one of these this fall thanks to this handy little recipe. It’s nice to know when Starbucks pulls a drink off of their menu, I can still get my midday fix.

Homemade Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

 

My new favorite drink at Starbucks is their Salted Caramel Mocha Latte. One sip of this delicious goodness had me daydreaming about how I could replicate this delicious salty caramel goodness at home. Coffee drinking is, after all, one of my favorite hobbies, but a girl has to do it on a budget.  A DIY version of this Salted Caramel Mocha Latte was definitely in order.

Homemade Gingerbread Latte

Although not a Fall drink, I feel gingerbread flavors are still so fabulous anytime the weather gets chilly! This drink tastes like gingerbread itself and is filled with ginger, molasses, and cinnamon within the gingerbread syrup you create for your latte.

Homemade Peppermint Mocha

Truth be told, the Peppermint Mocha is still one of my all-time favorite drinks at Starbucks…but… once I started making these at home,  I am not loving the Starbucks version as much as my homemade version. This post offers a recipe for a simple peppermint syrup that you can add to your drinks and keep on hand in your fridge whenever the Peppermint Mocha Latte urge hits you.  These are so delicious and one of my favorite recipes on our site.

Creamy Hot Cocoa Mix

A good cocoa mix is harder to make than it might seem. I like my hot chocolate to be the right balance of creamy and chocolate goodness. It needs to be yummy enough on it’s own, but also be able to endure loads and loads of whipped cream and marshmallows.

After trying and testing many variations in our house, we have determined that this is the best cocoa mix of all. It is the perfect ratio of everything and can make a fabulous gift to give to someone special in your life.

Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

My favorite warm drink is chai tea. The drink mixes are expensive, but mixing up a batch of this yourself can help to keep your pockets nice and warm with a little extra money. Most of the spices, dry creamer, and dry milk are already stocked in my pantry. Once you try this, you will never buy those expensive mixes again!

Butterbeer Lattes

Looking for a warm Fall drink that you can enjoy with a great movie? We decided to give a butterbeer latte a spin in our kitchen ad we absolutely love them. These lattes taste a little like  cocoa, a little like a cookie, and a whole lot like butterscotch. My kids couldn’t get enough of these and it was a fun one to have them help me in the kitchen with.

 What is your favorite Fall drink recipe you have tried from our site? Have any of these recipes become a yearly tradition for your families? I would love to hear from you!

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Fall Into Fall FOODS With MomAdvice

September 17th, 2012

The Best of Fall Recipes from MomAdvice.com.

As I begin creating new recipes for the site, I wanted to showcase a few of my favorite dishes that have been on our site in years past for the fall. Fall just so happens to be my favorite season and coincidentally, Fall foods and drinks happen to be my favorite type of sips & dishes.

Here is a list of a few of my favorite Fall foods that I can’t wait to eat this year!

Weeknight Roast Turkey Sandwiches

Few things say fall is here to me like the delicious flavor of roast turkey. While many think of roasting a turkey as only a routine done on Thanksgiving, I think of roasting a turkey as an easy weeknight dish that can be turned into delicious packed sandwiches for my kid’s lunchboxes and a lifesaver for busy weeknights when I don’t feel like cooking. You will love this easy (and frugal) technique for a great weeknight turkey sandwich!

Hearty Beef Stew

Nothing says the Fall like a great beef stew. This stew is so rich and decadent,  because of the use of bacon in this stew. The bacon fat is what all of the vegetables get coated in for cooking and then the cooked bacon is set aside for crumbling on top of the stew once it comes out of the oven.  I filled the broth with red wine and beef broth, to create a rich and flavorful broth that will have your whole family begging for more!

Soup, Soup, & More Soup

For a family that never liked soup, we have become the family with a soup night in our weekly rotation. Visit the link above to access my absolute favorite soups- an easy weeknight chicken noodle, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, our Pesto Chicken Tortellini, and so much more! If that isn’t enough soup for you this year, you must try my homemade tomato soup. It will change any negative feelings you might have about tomato soup- I promise!

Apple Pie Muffins

My family does not like apple pie (weird, I know!), but they do really love my apple pie muffins that incorporate those delicious flavors of the apple pie with a simple crumb topping. If you happen to have an abundance of apples on hand, I highly recommend giving these apple muffins a try

The batter is sweet, but not too sweet, and the apples have a warmness to them thanks to the cooked apple and the cinnamon that is worked into the crumb topping and within the muffin itself.  Serve these up with a big glass of milk and you have the makings of a perfect snack!

Apple Pork Chops

These pork chops are a satisfyingly sweet and savory dish that pairs ingredients that I typically have around our house. The brown sugar and cinnamon sauce adds a delicious glaze to this perfectly cooked pork.  Baking the pork helps it to achieve the perfect temperature and I believe you will be stunned at what a tender and juicy pork chop this recipe yields!

Baked Apple Pie Donuts

I love baking donuts and these Baked Apple Pie Donuts are the perfect treat to make for your family! The dominate flavor in this one is definitely the apple followed by the earthy and nutty flavor of ground nutmeg that helps round out the flavor profile of these donuts.  Once these delicate donuts are done baking, they are brushed lightly with butter and then dipped into a cinnamon and sugar coating that helps bring all of those delicious fall flavors together and that little bit of gritty, yummy crunch that just so happens to be my favorite thing about donuts.

Cheddar Apple Pie Dip

One of my favorite combinations for fall eating is cheddar and apples. If you haven’t tried this before, it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and they all come together in this easy & delicious dip.  Diced on top  is a mixture of red and green apples that have been tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and coarsely chopped walnuts. The layer underneath offers a surprise of cheddar cheese mixed with cream cheese and sour cream, cooked until hot and bubbly. Serve with your favorite cinnamon chip or cracker.

 

The Best of Fall Recipes from MomAdvice.com.

Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Syrup Frosting

I wanted to figure out a way to use the leftover cans of pumpkin we had from our Thanksgiving feasting last year, and I decided to create my very own Baked Pumpkin Donuts with a Maple Syrup Frosting that would be the perfect use for the pumpkin leftover. What started as a way to use up leftover pumpkin is now worked into our fall activities and this year my kids will be enjoying these with big mugs of  homemade hot cocoa on our little front step outside when we do our raking this year.

These are flavorful and almost like a glass of wine, you can taste all the different flavors as you eat them. You can taste the hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, the rich pumpkin flavor, and then that maple syrup sweetness from the light glaze drizzle. The texture is different than a fried donut and more like a muffin or a good piece of cake. They are not overly sweet though and the pumpkin really seems to add a savory quality to these.

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

I can’t tell you how many of my friends have made my pumpkin pasta a part of their fall routines. It is one of those dishes that surprises me about just how much it is loved!

Have you ever tried pumpkin pasta?  Over the years this dish has become the most favorite dish for fall and one bite of this will tell you why! The kids think it looks like macaroni and cheese so it does not take much coaxing to get them to try a bite. My husband loves the turkey sausage and the meaty flavor of this dish. Me? I just love the creamy pumpkin taste in my mouth!

If you are worried about how your family will react to pumpkin pasta, scale the pumpkin back. You can do between 2/3-2 cups of pasta, depending on your personal taste. Start with a little and ease your family into the two cup ratio.

The pumpkin recipes go on for days and days on our site! Be sure to visit my article on 11 Recipes to Try this Fall with Pumpkin!

What is your favorite Fall recipe you have tried from our site? Have any of these recipes become a yearly tradition for your families? I would love to hear from you!

 

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An Apron Full of Giveaways 09.11.12

September 11th, 2012

eVintage Patterns, $3.99

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren’t giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

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Homemade Enchilada Sauce

September 11th, 2012

Homemade Enchilada SauceOne of our family’s favorite weeknight meals is a big batch of our favorite weeknight chicken enchiladas. The first recipe I ever tried instructed me how to make my own homemade enchilada sauce to go along with our yummy enchiladas. I had never made enchiladas before so I assumed that a homemade enchilada sauce was the only way to make this recipe. Once I made and realized how easy it was to make my own sauce though, I never once considered buying my enchilada sauce.

Making your own sauces and mixes is a fantastic way to save money and you also have the opportunity to control the quality of ingredients that go into your dishes. With a sauce like an enchilada sauce, for example, you also can control the spiciness of the dish to your own preference.

Once you make this simple and fast enchilada sauce, I guarantee you will never buy the pre-packaged sauces again. The best part about this recipe though is that it is made from items you already have in your pantry and spices that are likely already lurking in your cupboard.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

We serve this yummy sauce on top of my favorite chicken enchiladas. These enchiladas never last long in our house and are awesome reheated in the oven (I reheat mine at 400 degrees for ten to fifteen minutes on a baking stone) for an easy lunch. When reheated in the oven, they taste just like the day you made them and are delicious served with a little fresh fruit for a yummy side.

I hope you can give these recipes a try in your house! I just know you will love them as much as we do!

Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Recipe Type: Side
Author: Adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 4
Once you make your own enchilada sauce, you will never go back to buying it on the shelf. This recipe is both easy in preparation and frugal on your wallet.
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder (we adjusted to 1 teaspoon)
  • 3 garlic cloves,minced
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Pepper
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a 12″ skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
  2. Add the onion and salt and cook until softened, about five minutes.
  3. Stir in the chili powder, garlic, cumin, and sugar. Cook until fragrant, about fifteen seconds.
  4. Stir in the tomato sauce and water. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about five minutes.
  5. Season with salt & pepper to taste.


Be sure to visit my Make Your Own Mixes & Convenience Foods article on other easy and effortless recipes you can create in your own kitchen and save your family hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill!

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12 Great Tailgating Recipes

September 6th, 2012

12 Great Tailgating RecipesHip-Hip-Hooray! Tailgating season is finally here and today I wanted to showcase to you twelve great dishes you can take with you to your next tailgating event. After all, what tailgating event would be complete without a great dish to share with friends?

It may surprise you that I don’t care a thing about football…Oh, who are we kidding? I am sure you already knew this about me. I will admit that I may not love the game, but I am all about the yummy food, drinks, and festivities with friends that surround the games.

Here are my top twelve choices for taking to your next tailgate:

1. Roasted Corn Salsa–  Fresh chopped tomatoes, roasted corn, and parsley are tossed with just a little red wine vinegar, olive oil, hot sauce, salt, and pepper to create this unique and easy appetizer. What makes this appetizer unique is the process of broiling your corn under the broiler to add a smokey flavor that will have your friends begging for the recipe!

2.  Cheddar Apple Pie Dip–  One of my favorite combinations for fall eating is cheddar and apples. If you haven’t tried this before, it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and they all come together in this easy dip to tailgate with.  Diced on top  is a mixture of red and green apples that have been tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and coarsely chopped walnuts. The layer underneath offers a surprise of cheddar cheese mixed with cream cheese and sour cream, cooked until hot and bubbly. Serve with your favorite cinnamon chip or cracker.

3. Lentil Soup– Looking for a wallet-friendly soup to feed a big crowd? Lentil soup is the perfect answer to feasting on a budget.  If you haven’t cooked with lentils before, you should really give them a try! Unlike dried beans, lentils do not require any pre-soaking overnight prior to being cooked. Instead, most cooks recommend that you first pick over these legumes, and remove any that look broken or damaged. A quick rinse after you have picked out the damaged lentils, and you are ready to go. The ease and minimal prep time for cooking these is why lentils are a wonderful and easy addition to any soup and the perfect soup to tailgate with!

4. Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup–  This tortellini soup brings together all of the flavors that my family loves, but is a versatile recipe that could be created with what is at your supermarket that day. For our vegetarian readers, the chicken tortellini and chicken broth can easily be switched to a cheese-filled tortellini with vegetable broth instead. I used basil pesto in this, but you could also try a sun-dried tomato pesto or omit the pesto altogether if it is not a favorite of your family. Versatility is the beauty of a good soup recipe  and this recipe is quite versatile! Not only is this sup a crowd pleaser, but it also is an easy soup to double or triple for your tailgating needs.

5. Homemade Tomato Soup– This tomato soup is all of our favorite flavors in the perfect merriment for our family.  Chicken stock, whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and a little heavy cream are all mixed together. To cut the acidity, a pinch of sugar and a healthy dose of pesto round out the flavors. Be warned, a single batch makes enough to serve a small army. I love to serve this soup with a variety of fun crackers, croutons, or shredded cheeses for topping.

6. Cookie Dough Dip– This dip was nicknamed “Crack Dip” after the bowl was scraped clean when I brought it for Thanksgiving one year. I love to bring a sweet dessert dip that can be an unexpected surprise among the savory dips that are usually offered for tailgating spreads.

7. Bacon & Ranch Cheese Ball– This cheese ball is so embarrassingly easy, but is always a showstopper when I bring it to any get together. I try to always keep these ingredients on hand in my fridge or pantry for the unexpected get together for the games!

8. Double Tomato Bruschetta– This bruschetta is a double tomato bruschetta which combines the super sweet and chewy flavors of the sun-dried tomatoes with the delicious juiciness of the Roma tomatoes. The flavors together are phenomenal and are mixed with just a little balsamic vinegar,olive oil, garlic, and a little fresh garlic.  You can prepare this one a few hours in advance, allowing the flavors to marinate together and break down the tomatoes a bit, or you can prepare it and eat it within ten minutes of preparation. I promise it won’t last long wherever you take this one!

9. Black Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Soup– Looking for a soup that will stick to your ribs through the whole day? I happen to have just the soup for you! The spices in this soup are perfect , the roasted red pepper adds a beautiful color and flavor to the soup, the sour cream adds that perfect balance of creaminess, and the beans add that filling soup combination to help keep you full throughout the day, while the chicken broth makes this soup light enough that even black bean soup haters could learn to love it… well, most black bean soup haters. This is a great soup to double or triple depending on the crowd that is gathering!

10. Baked Apple Pie Donuts– I love baking donuts and these Baked Apple Pie Donuts are the perfect treat to take to your next tailgate! The dominate flavor in this one is definitely the apple followed by the earthy and nutty flavor of ground nutmeg that helps round out the flavor profile of these donuts.  Once these delicate donuts are done baking, they are brushed lightly with butter and then dipped into a cinnamon and sugar coating that helps bring all of those delicious fall flavors together and that little bit of gritty, yummy crunch that just so happens to be my favorite thing about donuts. I guarantee that not a single one will be left within minutes of their arrival!

11. Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins– Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins are my family’s favorite side dish if it is fall or the dead of summer. I try to make sure to stockpile pumpkin for just this reason and you might be doing the same after making a batch of these for tailgating season. These are best served at room temperature which is just the right temperature for your next tailgate!

12. Sub Sandwiches- Walmart gave us a chance to throw a game party with their subs to showcase what an affordable tailgating party option these are. For $28, you can get a six foot sub with your favorite meats and cheeses and all of the toppings.

As you can see from the way that these subs got plated, I took the opportunity to throw a GAME party quite literally and hosted a board game night with my best girlfriends.

Here is a little sneak peek at my table and the spread that I did with my tailgating recipes for a fun board game night with friends. Be sure to check back next week for ideas on how to decorate, board game ideas, and other fun crafty projects you can incorporate within your own game party. This might be a fun one to throw for the wives while the husbands are enjoying the game!

Be sure to check out my tutorial this week for those cute DIY Chalkboard Food Label Frames! Those would make a fun addition to any game day party table that you might be creating!

Happy tailgating, friends!

 

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

 

 

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Cheddar Apple Pie Dip

September 6th, 2012

I am so happy that Fall is upon us and that I finally get to enjoy all of my favorite things about Fall cooking. One of my favorite combinations for fall eating is cheddar and apples. If you haven’t tried this before, it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and they all come together in this Cheddar Apple Pie Dip.

Diced on top of this dip is a mixture of red and green apples that have been tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and coarsely chopped walnuts. The layer underneath offers a surprise of cheddar cheese mixed with cream cheese and sour cream, cooked until hot and bubbly.

This appetizer can be served with cinnamon pita chips or cinnamon & raisin bagel chips if you lean more towards the sweet or a hearty wheat cracker if you lean more towards the savory. I like to platter these two options together and let my guests choose their favorite for dipping.

Allow this appetizer to set up for ten to fifteen minutes before serving to allow the flavors to merry together and to let the dip set up.

This appetizer is a potluck and tailgate winner that is sure to surprise your guests with this delicious combination of flavors.

Cheddar Apple Pie Dip
Recipe Type: Appetizer
Author: Adapted from Kraft Food & Family Magazine
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 12
A delicious combination of apple and cheddar perfect for your Fall entertaining.
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 each: red and green apple, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup walnut pieces, coarsely chopped
  • 1 package (8 ounces) low-fat cream cheese
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
  • Assorted crackers for dipping
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
  2. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl.
  3. Add apples and walnuts; toss until evenly coated. Set aside.
  4. Mix cream cheese and Cheddar cheese in medium bowl. Add sour cream; stir until well blended. Spread into 9-inch pie plate; top with apple mixture.
  5. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.
  6. Serve with your favorite crackers for dipping.
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Roasted Corn Salsa

September 6th, 2012

 

If there is one food that I love, it is a delicious fresh salsa.

Today I wanted to share with you the world’s most delicious roasted corn salsa that is the perfect dish to take to your next potluck or tailgating event.

The unique flavor in this salsa comes from a unique process of broiling the corn under your oven’s broiler until the corn gets a beautiful brown hue to it, imparting a roasted taste within each bite of your salsa and adding another layer of flavor to this simple dish.

Fresh chopped tomatoes, roasted corn, and parsley are tossed with just a little red wine vinegar, olive oil, hot sauce, salt, and pepper to create this unique and easy appetizer.

Serve this fast & easy dish with your favorite tortilla chip.

I guarantee that wherever you bring this dish, it won’t last long!

 

 

 

 

Roasted Corn Salsa  
 
Recipe Type: Appetizer
Author: Adapted from All You Magazine
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 8
A fresh and healthy salsa made from roasted corn, tomatoes, parsley, and a few other pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
  • 4 ears corn, shucked
  • 6 Roma tomatoes (diced)
  • 2 onions, diced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1-2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce (depending on how spicy you like your salsa)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
  1. Preheat a broiler or prepare a charcoal fire and let burn to a gray ash.
  2. Place corn on a broiling pan or grill set about 6 inches from heat source.
  3. Cook, turning often, until kernels have softened and are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then cut off kernels from each ear (you’ll have about 3 cups).
  4. In a large bowl, combine corn kernels, tomatoes, onions, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Add parsley and stir well. Chill until ready to serve.
  5. Serve with your favorite tortilla chip.
 

Roasted Corn Salsa from MomAdvice.com

 

 

Check out these other great summer ideas!

 

Corn on the Cob on the Grill

Grilled Corn on the Cob

 

Watermelon Coconut Lime Smoothie from MomAdvice.com

Watermelon Coconut Lime Smoothies

 

Cold Brew Coffee recipe from MomAdvice.com

Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

 

DIY Outdoor Movie Night from MomAdvice.com

DIY Outdoor Movie Night

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Dollar Store Craft: DIY Chalkboard Food Label Frames

September 5th, 2012

If you are a regular reader here, you may have been following my obsession with chalkboard spray paint for crafting on the blog. Today I wanted to show you how I used chalkboard spray paint to transform dollar store frames into DIY chalkboard food labels for parties and entertaining.

For this craft you will need one can of spray paint in your favorite color, 3.5 in x 5 in frames (I got ten of these), and a can of chalkboard spray paint. I actually am using the same spray paint that I used for our lunchbox creation station labels and my conversation bubble cookie jars that I created this summer. One bottle will really go a long way!

Take the frames apart and lay them on a drop cloth to spray paint. For the best spray paint results, shake the can for one to two minutes and during use.

For the frame itself: Hold your can 8 inches away from your surface and spray in a sweeping motion side to side with a slight overlap. It has always been my experience to go thin with the paint, allow it to dry, and then to add another layer for the best results and minimal drip. Allow the paint to dry for one hour. Flip the frames and then repeat the process on the back of the frame. Allow it to dry for another hour.

For the glass inside: Shake the chalkboard paint can vigorously for two minutes. Hold can 10-14 inches away from your project and begin spraying. Spray a thin coat in a sweeping motion beginning off the surface and continuing off the other side. Follow this pattern horizontally and then vertically. Wait fifteen minutes or so and then apply another coat. You need two coats to create your chalkboard surface.

Most importantly though, do not use any chalk on this for 24 hours! The chalkboard paint will need to harden and will not be ready until then. If you try it before it is ready (as I promptly did), it will just scratch the paint through, creating marks and exposing the glass of the frame.

Once everything has dried, you can put it back together. Now it is time to prep your mini chalkboards.

Rub a piece of chalk from side to side and then up and down to prepare your chalkboard surface. Now it is ready for your food labeling at your next party, tailgating event, or holiday feast!

Showcase how you now write like a first grader because you no longer write anything and only type. Jealous?

Tomorrow I will share with you some of these yummy recipes that I have been working on for the tailgating season! In the meantime, happy crafting with this fun dollar store craft!

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