TALYA BOERNER: SPICY CREAMED CARROTS AND CAULIFLOWER
Hey everyone! If you’re looking for a healthy, flavorful substitute for mashed potatoes, my recipe for spicy creamed carrots and cauliflower is a winner. It has a back-end spicy kick and very few calories. Hello, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.
Yes, I like mashed potatoes with cream gravy just like the next normal person. I’m a fan of mashed sweet potatoes, too. But my spicy creamed carrots and cauliflower makes a tasty side dish without all the calories. Try it with roast chicken or grilled pork chops. Yum. READ MORE
ANITA STAFFORD: POUND CAKE COOKIES
Spring has arrived, and these Pound Cake Cookies are perfect for the events that come with springtime. If you’re hostessing a tea or a shower this spring you may want to serve a tray of these buttery little morsels. READ MORE
AMANDA FARRIS: STRAWBERRY SALAD
Arkansas strawberries are ready so we have been eating all things strawberry at our house. Strawberry shortcake, strawberry salad, strawberry smoothies, strawberry muffins and anything else we can think of to put a strawberry in.
Strawberry stands are a huge part of my monthly budget this time of year. I just can’t stop myself from stopping at one to buy some local berries from local farmers. READ MORE
I had so much fun making these cookies with my five-year-old. She’s at such a fun age. We’re just getting to the point where we can have full conversations and she’s wanting to help with everything, and wanting to go with me everywhere. She’s my little bestie. She always likes to help in the kitchen but this was the first experience where I told her the order of ingredients and she wanted to put them all in herself. We had so much fun baking together. She kept stealing bites of brown sugar, and of course, couldn’t resist the cookie dough once it was all mixed. I love experiencing these moments with her…this is everything I imagined motherhood would be. She pretty much made this batch of cookies herself (with my assistance of course) and she even rolled them into little balls in preparation for baking. They turned out so yummy and I’m excited to share this recipe for our Peanut Butter Heart Cookies. READ MORE
Anita Stafford: Tunnel of Fudge Cake
According to recent statistics, the average person celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2016 will spend almost $150 to show their affection. Of course, some will spend considerably more if they opt for the whole sweetheart package. According to the New York Post, the five items most purchased for a significant other are: a box of chocolates, diamond earrings, a dozen roses, dinner for two, and a bottle of champagne. Those five items can add up to over $500, all in the name of love.
I’m sure your sweetheart is worth the cost, nevertheless, not everyone wants to spend such an exorbitant amount of money. Perhaps a home baked cake would be sufficient to communicate your fondness for that special someone. READ MORE
Lacie Ring: Cupid Munch
This recipe is so easy and quick to throw together. I promise you that it takes me longer to snap the pictures than it does to make up Cupid Munch. READ MORE
Mel Lockcuff: Crisp Cut Out Sugar Cookies
What makes this recipe special is that my mom taught me how to make it, just like a lot of recipes I love to make. She is the best at making these yummy Christmas cookies, and she taught me everything I know about baking them.
To make these cookies special, all the Christmas cookie cutters come out, along with my old friend, the rolling pin. We roll and re-roll the dough, cutting out snowmen, Christmas trees, bells, and stars.
After the cookies have baked and cooled, it’s time to decorate, and the kids have so much fun with this. Jaden’s cookies are usually decorated to the hilt; they make my teeth hurt just looking at them. We keep the decorating simple, using butter knives to spread the icing on… Then sprinkle a few of our favorite sprinkles to add a little crunch.
These sugar cookies usually end up on a plate with a glass of milk come Christmas Eve. And they always disappear; so apparently, Santa likes them too. READ MORE
Ricci Alexis: Red Velvet Cake Batter Cookies
Well the other day I was at Target and they had all of their Valentine’s baking stuff on display and I decided to grab a red velvet cake mix fully intending on making some cupcakes to take to work for my birthday. I got home and realized I forgot the icing so I had to kill that idea, just my luck, but then I remembered all of those recipes I had seen for cake batter cookies and the idea was born! READ MORE
Amanda Farris: Valentine Trash
We’ve had a fun week of celebrating and gearing up for Valentine’s Day. As a homeschooling mom, planning crafts and activities around the holiday’s is part of the fun!
This past week we’ve had a tea party, math activity, made Valentine slime, fun snacks, and a craft.
We actually have tea parties often. The kids love it and it breaks up routine. Not to mention, I love watching their little personalities act so “proper” at our sophisticated backyard tea parties with animal crackers and sliced cheese.
For our Valentine’s tea party, part of the fun was making the snack for the party. We spend LOTS of time around our kitchen island making huge messes. It’s exactly what I had envisioned when we built our house. READ MORE
BINGO! There it was! The kind of Valentine treat I was looking for for Ryan! An Apple Cinnamon Granola with Hazelnuts and Cranberries recipe. Ryan eats granola daily, yet he really does enjoy having variety, so why not try a new yummy granola recipe! READ MORE
This week’s Tasty Tuesday brings a whole stockingful of ideas for you. From all of us at Arkansas Women Bloggers, we wish you the Merriest of Christmases. Thanks for allowing us to introduce you to some of our fabulous writers each week. We appreciate you.
Jennifer Maune: Gingerbread Decorating Party Ideas
My beloved Grandmother lived on Gingerbread Lane for 45 years, so we have a family tradition to host a Gingerbread Decorating Party each year with the cousins so I thought I would share these ideas with you! This is a highlight of our holiday. It’s a great creative outlet for the kids, they get to eat sweet treats, and play with their cousins. After theyve finished decorating their houses they can either take them home to display, or eat them! We like to do a craft as well. This year the kids made gingerbread ornaments. I love that everyone has something to bring home and hang on their tree. READ MORE
Keri Bucci: Chocolate Covered Almond Cheesecake
Chocolate Covered Almond Cheesecake is a rich and decadent treat that is sure to please any cheesecake fan sitting at your table! With a rich and velvety cream cheese filling flavored with almond butter and topped with a chocolate, how could that not be delightful, right?
I am a huge fan of cheesecakes and they are always easy to adapt to the sugar-free and low carb way of baking, which makes them one of my “go to” desserts when I am having friends and family over. I cannot tell you how many times I have made a cheesecake like this one and had some of my higher carb eating friends tell me “There is no way is this sugar-free!” READ MORE
Keisha McKinney: Cowboy Ranch Chex Mix
Call it nesting or the holiday season, but I just couldn’t let Christmas come without making some of favorite treats. My husband oversees a big processing plant and I think its so fun to love on his people any chance we get. But, when you have to make a treat for 30+ and most of it are men, you have to think on a big scale. And that crew has come to be open to my experimenting.
Growing up my mom always made what we just called Texas Trash. It was basically the Chex Mix recipe with a little something added. But, my mama taught me the art of experimenting so I usually read about 4 recipes and then decide what the @bigpittstop way is going to be.
This year i decided to go a little more spicy and on the same afternoon that I was making my chex mix, Mr. McKinney decided to marinate some steaks…and used all my Worcestershire sauce. So, I had to improvise. I had 2 bottles of balsamic vinegar on my counter so it seemed like the likely suspect and it turned out great. READ MORE
Brenda Embry: Quick and Easy Crockpot Lasagna
For the most part, living in the country, out of the city lights and noise, is a wonderful dream come true.
It does, however, have some disadvantages. As our area continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the drive to work gets longer and longer. I leave my house before seven and get home around six. It makes for a long day and the older I get, the less I want to cook when I get home.
I think this is why I rely on my slow cooker for many of our meals. Most of the time, I throw in a chicken or roast, add some veggies and let them cook all day. It’s so nice to come home to a wonderful smell and a delicious meal ready to eat.
Another great meal I like to make in the winter is Slow Cooker Lasagna. It does take a little more prep time, but you can do this the night before or, if you’re an early riser like me, the morning of. Since the cooking time is a little shorter than most meals, I usually save this one for the weekend so I’m not so rushed during the week. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures because it was devoured quickly and what was left was taken for lunches the next day. READ MORE
Keisha McKinney: Dragon Breath Fire Crackers
My dad and father-in-law love spicy snacks. And for 2 guys its sometimes hard to buy for, nothing seems better than showing up with a baggie or container full of a yummy little snack to say thank you for taking care of my dog or putting up with all of us over the weekend!
My brother-in-law even sent a text this week sending his “request” for a set of his own snacks. I guess since he has brought the cutest little girl in the world to me as my niece and kept her alive for almost a year, he deserves a treat too. READ MORE
Keri Bucci: Chocolate Drop Shortbread
Cookies are such a great treat in our house. As much as I bake and cook you would think that wasn’t so. But it seems I never make it around to making cookies. But lately I have been on a mission to change that. These Chocolate Drop Shortbread Cookies are heavenly and they were my first cookie recipe of the season. The buttery taste of the low carb cookie base goes so well with the dark chocolate drop in the center.
It did take a few tries at the recipe but with some minor adjustments here and there I have finally produced a crispy buttery shortbread base that is super simple and delicious. These have really been a hit with my boys! I must admit I have loved them too. READ MORE
If you want a cookie to impress, you have come to the right place with these white chocolate chip and almond oatmeal cookies. Several months ago, the Hubs picked up some delicious oatmeal cookies from a special bakery he visited during a work trip. The man knows when he leaves me with these children for a week, he better show back up with something g-o-o-o-d!
As I ate my delicious round of sugary goodness, I considered the flavors. I decided this was a cookie I must try to recreate on my own. And that was when the recipe for these white chocolate chip and almond oatmeal cookies was born. I used my basic oatmeal cookie recipe as the base and just guessed my way through the ratios for the white chocolate and the almonds. READ MORE…
Arkansas Women Blogger members enjoy a special relationship with Riceland Foods. Not only is this Arkansas-based company headquartered here, it supports and features some of the best farmers and producers in our state. Riceland is unique because it is a cooperative of rice farmers, meaning it is owned by those farmers. Both Riceland and ARWB take tremendous pride in supporting our local farmers and producers.
Several of our members have recipes which have been featured on Riceland’s blog, including this one for Baked Chicken Marsala and Rice Casserole from Lyndi Fultz of nwafoodie which uses Riceland’s Extra Long Grain White Rice.
Captain Mom, also known as Rhonda Franz our Girl Friday of everything The Women Bloggers, starts her family’s day off right with a Favorite Way to Eat Brown Rice for Breakfast. I certainly remember eating and loving steaming bowls of rice with sugar and cream especially on cold, winter mornings.
And who doesn’t love a good dessert? Rice can be your go-to ingredient for sweet craving as well as for your savory. Julie Kohl of Eggs and Herbs, Content Creator for ARWB, recently shared her Jumble Cookie recipe — perfect for lunch box treats.
I’m really looking forward to experimenting more with Riceland’s Jazmine (Jasmine) Rice in some of the Indian and Thai recipes I’m learning. (Thanks Swathi!)
Have you checked out the Riceland blog? Here are a few other examples of some of the jewels you’ll find when you do!
You don’t have to have a big fancy grill or even a tiny disposable one to have delicious barbecued chicken. I used to think that barbecue was saved for big family picnics or get-togethers at a local park and you …Continue reading…
It seems like every restaurant that serves kabobs on the menu or every butcher shop that sells pre-cooked kabobs follow a set routine by only offering chicken or beef. I often wonder, why the discrimination over other kabob meats?Continue reading…
As the resurgence of Sunday Suppers, potlucks, and general embracing of comfort foods tease us weekly on our social media apps, I am on the constant lookout for family-style desserts that are easy, delicious, and will please all age groups. …Continue reading…
When I think of black-eyed peas, I am instantly transported to a magical place of antebellum homes, magnolia trees, and mint juleps. In my minds-eye, I am sipping the mint juleps and fanning myself from the summer heat and persistent …Continue reading…
We all have those times when the day is super busy but there is still a desire to put a healthy, delicious meal on the table. This Brown Rice Chicken Skillet Dinner is quick, easy and sure to please even …Continue reading…
I keep leftover turkey and chicken in my freezer just about all of the time. It comes in handy for those evenings when I need a quick and easy dinner.During the holiday season when the prices are really good, I …Continue reading…
Just about everyone enjoys the spicy taste of Mexican food. From tacos to burritos to enchiladas, we just never seem to tire of all the combinations of meat, cheese, rice, beans, avocados and peppers. While we do enjoy those, one …Continue reading…
In late August and early fall in the South, all thoughts turn to football. And that, of course, means it’s time to tailgate! And while tailgate used to be just that —a picnic on the tailgate of your honey’s pickup …Continue reading…
Good friends are such a blessing. And they are especially so when they share delicious, original recipes with you and allow you to share those as you please. My good friend, Chef Liz Bray, created the original version of this …Continue reading…
Every Sunday, my in-law’s church hosts a dessert social following the evening sermon. Parishioners bring a variety of desserts to share while they mill around and enjoy each other’s company. My mother-in-law is always looking for fun new recipes and …Continue reading…
If Taco Tuesday isn’t a thing in your house, it should be. And if you’re not eating breakfast for dinner on a regular basis, well you should be doing that too. We love Taco Tuesday and breakfast for dinner in …Continue reading…
Even though I try not to indulge in sweet stuff too often, every now and then my sweet tooth strikes out in full force. It usually happens in the evening. You know, the times when you are already in pajamas and …Continue reading…
Join me Tuesday, September 27 when I’ll be sharing some of our favorites from Riceland on THV11 This Morning — at 6:15 am (go ahead and set your DVR:)
Bon Appetít Y’all
All recipes and photos courtesy of Riceland Foods.
I don’t have much memorized about cooking, but if you were to ask me the 2 things I know off the top of my head, it’s that most cookies bake at 350 for 10 minutes and the ingredients for Cake Mix Cookies are 1/3 cup of oil and 2 eggs. Something else my mama always taught me was that everything was worth celebrating. The end of a big project, cleaning the whole house on a Saturday, making it to the end of a hard work week, getting straight A’s on your report card, anniversaries, promotions, and even half birthdays if you were my sister.
The big and the small, it’s all worth celebrating. My parents sometimes feel bad when they get ready to pull a party together and invite their friends because we realize we have had much in life to celebrate. Heck, one year, not that long ago, we had 5 years cancer-free, a teacher of the year, a graduation, a big move and a retirement all in the same year. Not all of them had a party, but each one called for its own special celebration!
When I first lived on my own, I didn’t have much surplus in my budget, but I still loved to celebrate. I wanted to carry on this tradition I had learned from my parents to make every moment count and to celebrate all the small victories along the way. So, playing on my memory of baking growing up, and my often “famous” style of cooking, I decided to start experimenting with something I knew well.
Cake-Mix-Cookies. They were one of my favorite treats growing up. Always perfectly chewy, sometimes not too sweet and ever the easy go-to quick fix for just an afternoon toast with a cup of milk.
I’ll admit there are many varieties (and I’ll share them at the bottom), but the ones that always taste the best are the Confetti Celebration Cookies. Maybe it’s the sprinkles. Maybe it’s the fact that they taste like ice cream. Or, maybe nostalgia wins every time!
A homemade cookie with a cup of milk or a pot of coffee really is the best way to celebrate almost anything.
Congratulations Keisha! We are so excited for you guys. #Celebrate
Mix together all ingredients by hand or in a stand mixer.
Scoop dough with a cookie scoop or make 1-1/2 inch balls.
Bake for 10 minutes or until edges get a little brown.
Cookies should hold shape and not flatten out. If you want flat cookies pat them to ½ inch thick before baking) Let cool to room temperature before serving.
Optional: Make ahead and keep in an airtight container in refrigerator for an afternoon snack. Or, roll into a log and put in your freezer when you need to just cut and serve quickly. Baking process is the same.
Variations: Strawberry cake mix with butter cream icing, Red Velvet cake mix with cream cheese icing, Dutch Chocolate or Milk Chocolate cake mix and roll balls in powdered sugar before baking, Lemon cake mix with cream cheese icing, Pineapple cake mix add ½ cup shredded coconut to the mix before baking.
Keisha Pittman can be found over at bigpittstop (bigpittstop.com), a blog started when she was brushing up on her superpowers kicking cancer’s butt. Eight years later, it’s a chapter book of a 30 something navigating life and learning lessons along the way. She is a self-proclaimed nerd and every once in a while lets us have a little glimpse into her recipes-for disaster, Saturday scenic drives, “big sister chats” and thoughts about living the good life in Northwest Arkansas. In the meantime, she is busy planning her wedding to her fun loving chicken man and planning her new life in South Arkansas.
There are just certain foods you expect at every family gathering, am I right? Certain standby recipes, if you will. At Thanksgiving there will always be turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. At Christmas there will always be ham and homemade candy. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
In my family, something we have always come to expect is my sister’s Dot Cookies. My sister is the baker in our family. I love to cook but baking is just not my thing. The taste is always there but the presentation, not so much! Oops!
Dot Cookies are tiny sugar cookies with just a “dot” of icing on top and are just the perfect size to pop in your mouth and eat! Or, if you are my niece Paycen, you lick the icing off and give the cookie to your Aunt Ricci to eat. HA!
I believe the Dot Cookies came about when my aunt worked at a local bakery that made them. She started making them for our family get-togethers and then my sister started making them when my aunt didn’t want to any more.
The recipe has been tweaked a few times throughout the years but I love them no matter how they are made, HA!
I think these cookies are just adorable and I love these cookies are completely customizable in that you can make the icing whatever color you want to match your event. These cookies are perfect for holidays, birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers, potlucks, really just whatever! They also travel well which is always a plus in my book!
While they may be a little time consuming, only in that they have to chill for a few hours, I think Dot Cookies are the perfect addition to any celebration!
Struggling for gift ideas as the holiday season approaches? Festively gift-wrapped, homemade truffles make an amazing present for any friend, co-worker or family member with a sweet tooth. Made from eggless cookie dough, these treats are completely safe to eat raw. You can make them ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to five days — if you can resist for that long, that is.
Happy Holidays to you all and wishing you and yours the best for 2016!
**Just a note…I like to make these in a few different flavors for a large variety: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter and snickerdoodle! If you want those recipes go to my Facebook page,like it and ask me to send them to you and I will! Happy Holidays! Chris~
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon nonalcoholic vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling
Instructions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Melt the chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
Add the granulated sugar, butter and vanilla to the melted chocolate, and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth.
Add the flour mixture, and mix on low speed until well incorporated. (Turn off the mixer and use your hands to help combine if needed.)
Scoop tablespoons of the batter, roll them into smooth balls and put them on the prepared baking sheet.
Put the confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder on a plate.
Before serving, roll the truffles in confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder to coat.
The truffles can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Here’s your chance to load up on cookies and treats for the holidays. Or at least load up on ideas for cookies which you just might get around to baking. Some day. Soon. It’s our ARWB Virtual Cookie Swap . Link up your favorite cookie, bar and brownie recipes. We’re gonna’ come around a collect a virtual dozen or so from you and leave you some holiday love while we’re there.
Share your treat pics on Instagram with #ARWBCookieSwap15.
#ARWBCookieSwap15 – It’s not just for cookies, ya’ know.
Welcome to our #ARWB #Virtual Cookie Swap hosted by Tiffany. Be sure to add your favorite cookie posts to our Linky. Which new ones will you try?
Today, I want to share with you a recipe that I sometimes make with my goddaughter. They’re simple to make so it’s a perfect activity to make with kids. They’re also really colorful and super tasty; it’s a win-win.
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
You’ll Need:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups all purpose flour
1 tube of icing (your choice of color)
your choice of food colorings
(optional: various colors of sugar sprinkles)
How to:
Cream sugar and butter together in a large bowl Beat in eggs and oil. In a separate bowl, mix the cream of tartar, baking soda, powdered sugar, salt and flour together.
Add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter/sugar mix then stir in the vanilla extract.
Next, split up the dough into sections depending on how many colors you want to make. I usually do at least 5 so that there’s some variation but you’re welcome to do more or less as you see fit.
Blend the food coloring into your separated bowls until you’ve gotten the color you want.
Proceed to roll each color into 8-10 balls of dough, decreasing the size as you go.Flatten your dough balls into circles and then sprinkle with granulated sugar or coordinating sugar sprinkles.
Using a small star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out as many stars as you’ll need to top your cookie trees.
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, starting with the largest cookies first and decreasing the cooking time as the cookie sizes get smaller.
Remove cookies from baking pan and cool on wax paper. Once the cookies are cool, stack them starting with the largest on bottom, graduating to the smallest size on the top, adding a small circle of frosting between each layer to hold them in place.
Finish the cookie trees by topping them with a star and lightly dust with powdered sugar so that they resemble snowy trees.
I’ve created a printable recipe card so that you can take this recipe with you, if you like. Just right click and save, then print your desired size.
Tiffany blogs at Life Of A Lost Muse. She shares posts dedicated to things that inspire, lovely photos, creative drawings, tasty recipes, affordable fashion, and blogger love, travel, entertainment, fun tutorials and decor. You can find her at there or at her other blog, Fashion In the Forest.
