Category: Foodie Friday

RICCI ALEXIS: Fruit Dip, Party Punch and Pinwheels {Foodie Friday}

Tis the season of endless holiday parties, family get togethers and celebrations! I don’t know about you but it seems like every time I get invited to a party I get asked to bring a dish (snack food, finger food, drink, etc). Not a big deal. but when you don’t have a lot of spare time anything you can make beforehand that will still look and taste good is a win in my book! That’s where one of the most popular posts on my blog comes in handy…Fruit Dip, Party Punch and Pinwheels!

Have to confess that these aren’t original recipes, I got the fruit dip recipe from my stepmom, Charlotte, and the punch recipe from my Grandma. That is actually her Christmas Punch recipe but I think it’s good on any occasion. I have taken both to numerous baby showers, work potlucks and holiday parties and I kept getting asked for the recipes so I finally decided to bog about them and like I said, this is one of my most popular blog posts to date! They really are that good y’all!

I also have the recipe to my ham and ranch pinwheels on there. These are just super basic pinwheels made with cream cheese, ranch dressing powder and ham but they taste amazing and are always a HUGE hit at parties.

For the full recipes head over to my blog and check them out…HERE.

Ricci Ellis is an Arkansas native who has some serious love for the natural state. She loves big hair, monograms, blogging, caramel frappes from McDonalds and being the “cool” Aunt among other things. She has one spoiled rotten puppy girl, Sophie

. You can catch up with her on her Arkansas lifestyle and beauty blog, Ricci Alexis, or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest!

LAURIE MARSHALL: Vegan Dressing {Foodie Friday}

We didn’t go to over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving this year, but we went to my brother, Brian’s, in Philadelphia. Aside from the huge stone fireplace he doesn’t have, and the walks in the dry creek beds we couldn’t take, it was just as soul-filling, since it’s time spent with my siblings that always made my holidays enjoyable. Oh, and the food. So. Much. Food.

Since we drove, I was able to pack some things from my pantry and help cook – one of my favorite things about the holidays. I took along a pie plate for the chocolate and pecan pie, and some of the ingredients for the cornbread dressing. Brian is usually in charge of the dressing at his family’s holiday fetes, but there were going to be a lot of vegans at this gathering, so we decided to take on two different recipes. He made one with chorizo for the carnivores, and I whipped up a vegan version of my cornbread dressing, but left out the sausage. READ MORE

Laurie is a fifty-something writer, maker, and Militant Optimist. On her blogs – SeeLaurieWrite.com and JunqueRethunque.com – she shares her experiences as a “late bloomer”, creative projects, the craziness of peri-menopause, and creating a “repurposed life”. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram, and look for a podcast in early 2018.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SeeLaurieWrite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seelauriewrite/

Shana Chaplin: Chorizo and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork {Foodie Friday}

I love cooking, but all too often my work schedule, family obligations and household management chores keep me from enjoying the process. The holidays allow me the opportunity to slow down and experiment in the kitchen. I love getting lost in cookbooks and magazine pages filled with sensual and decadent looking entrees and desserts. Holidays are my favorite times to experiment, try something a little extravagant-after all the house is decked out and there are plenty of people to share in the feast!

My Chorizo & Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin evolved from a holiday recipe I tried one Christmas. My family had their fill of turkey and ham and wanted something a little different. The recipe I tried that Christmas was good, but as I began to “tweak” it I landed upon this version and have to say the sweet and spicy version hit home! READ MORE

Chorizo and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin via Shana Chaplin for ARWB Foodie Friday

I am a wife, mother to twin daughters, sister, daughter and aunt to nine. I love faith, home and family. I grew up missionary kid livin

g in Japan and Morocco. I now live in the South. My home is my haven and I seek for it to be the same for all who enter. I have returned to full time work after 17 years as a stay at home mom. I now serve as the Deputy Chief of Community Engagement & Faith-based Partnerships. As I wait for God to unfold His plans in His time I seek to be faithful and to live life fully, keeping home my priority and sharing it with those I hold near and dear.

Tasty Tuesday

Anita Stafford: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip muffins are great for any time of day. They make a terrific breakfast, can be tucked in a lunch box, or handed out as after school treats. This batch was hardly out of the oven before they started disappearing. There’s not a designated day set aside on the calendar to honor chocolate chip muffins, so I suppose it’s okay to honor them any and every day. Just between us, we’ll call today Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffin Day. Celebrate with me today and maybe tomorrow too. Read More

Keri Bucci: Pumpkin Mousse Pie (low carb, gluten free)

The other day I was craving something sweet and pumpkin, specifically a pumpkin pie, but I didn’t want to spend all that time going through the steps it takes to make a traditional pie. So I came up with an idea for this easy Pumpkin Mousse Pie. It is like one of those creamy “no-bake” pies and it is was so good. Well, technically you do bake the crust but that only takes about 20 minutes and then no more baking. How great is that? Read More

Anita Stafford: My Mother’s Yeast Rolls

My mother has made these yeast rolls at least once a week for as long as I can remember. She also makes them for the monthly potluck dinners at her church. She has made them numerous times for bereaved families or just to help out the neighbors. She celebrated 86 years on her birthday this year, so I can’t begin to guess how many pans of these yeast rolls she has made. Read More

Brenda Embry: A Couple of Crock Pot Recipes for Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and everyone rushing around trying to come up with the perfect Thanksgiving menu, I have to share a couple of very easy recipes I make in the crock pot. Read More

KATHARINE TRAUGER: My Repeat Performance Rosemary Cake

I love rosemary and grow my own, two huge bushes of it, so I will never run out.

You would find—if you were to visit me—that besides in the garden, rosemary has won a role in every act that plays in my kitchen. And I don’t mean the cute little wreath I keep hanging around, constructed from a few of its magnificent bowers. Nope.

Appearing in the salad dressing, rosemary is a bit player. In soups, it lends a dramatic melody. In meat dishes, it often has a supporting role. Veggies shine in the rosemary spotlight. And added to pasta, Brava!

The most fun role for rosemary, though, is dessert.

It’s a sweet love story!

And my latest food adventure? Creating a brand new rosemary cake recipe, of course! What fun! READ MORE

Katharine is a writer, speaker, women’s counselor, and professional mom. Happily married for 46 years to the same gorgeous guy. She loves cooking amazing homegrown food, celebrating grandbabies, her golden-egg-laying hennies, and watching old movies with popcorn. Her writing appears at Contently, The Testimony Train, Taste Arkansas, Only in Arkansas, and in several professional magazines and one anthology.

Follow Katharine on:

https://www.facebook.com/TheConqueringMom/

https://twitter.com/@KathaTrau/

https://www.pinterest.com/katharinetrauge/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-trauger-14217238/

https://katharinetrauger.contently.com

Lyndi Fultz: Make Savory Tea Using Dried Herbs {Foodie Friday}

Making your own tea from dried herbs is so easy it is a wonder that we aren’t doing it more often. Not only is it simple to prepare, it is often quite cheaper than pre-made tea and there is the satisfaction of making up your own concoctions. Who knows? You might come upon a winning combination that you package and start selling on etsy. (I can always say I knew you before you were famous.)

There are really only three elements to making your own tea. You’ll need access to dried herbs, hot water, and a loose-leaf strainer. READ MORE

nwafoodie is a hub for food happiness. Arkansas Women Blogger member Lyndi Fultz focuses on the simplicity of fresh ideas when it comes to the exploration of food, eating, and enjoying life. nwafoodie conveys a sense of joy, curiosity and wonder of all the touch points of eating coupled with a fun and upbeat tone, pulling readers into a welcoming foodie fold that has none of the usual snobbery. She blogs from the perspective of a small town foodie exploring her backyard, spreading the message that eating well is truly one of the most joyful pleasures of living.

http://nwafoodie.com/

Michelle Shellabarger: Scarborough Fair Dressing {Foodie Friday}

Dressing is something that defines a family. A simple comfort food made from leftover bread to stretch an expensive meal (typically using what type of bread you had available so in the south- cornbread, in the north- wheat bread.) You can almost guess where someone’s grandma hails from by what type they serve you (dressing, stuffing, cornbread, white bread, fruits, nuts, oysters, chicken, chestnuts…)

When we started hosting our family holidays we had an unexpected conflict on what we would serve- an all white bread dressing with nuts like my Canadian grandma made or a total traditional cornbread dressing like my husband’s grandmother made? Everyone wanted their personal favorite and so compromise was needed. Thus, I came up with a yin-yang combination dressing that seems to please everyone! READ MORE

¡Hola! I’m Michelle. I grew up mainly in the Republic of Panamá, and moved to Arkansas for love. I started blogging in 2007 and I’m still here blogging about trying to live the green life in the city with my four kids, a big dog, and some chickens and about our love of travel! Come visit me at Tales from a Panama-Mama, to see what craziness we’re up to! Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

It’s Tasty Tuesday! Thanksgiving Sides

It that time again. The time when our thoughts turn from Jack O’Lanterns, witches, bats and other scary things to the holiday many people consider to be their favorite. Thanksgiving.

What first comes to your mind when Thanksgiving is mentioned? Turkey?

For our family, it’s all about the sides! Do we stay with tradition, never changing Grandma’s cornbread dressing? Or Aunt Sue’s asparagus casserole? How about that Green Bean Casserole or Sweet Potato Casserole?

Does your family just resist changing the menu?

At ARWB, we think our foodies have some delicious alternatives for you. Why not give one or two of these a try and let us know what you think.

Lacie Ring: Easy Peasy Pleasy’s Bacon Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower is one of those versatile foods that can really take on the flavor of what it’s mixed with. This salad gets devoured anytime I serve up this dish and it will feed a crowd.

My Aunt Linda has been making this salad for as long as I can remember! You never have to wonder what she will bring to any of our family functions! She graciously gave me the recipes years ago and I’ve been making it ever since! READ MORE

Anita Stafford: Sugar Spice and Spilled Milk’s Cranberry Sauce

Even with all the hurry, I always enjoy preparing a holiday meal. Putting the Thanksgiving meal together was more fun this year because my son Daniel was here to help me with the cooking. He helped out by making Spinach Maria and a Sweet Potato/Carrot slow cooker dish. He also convinced me that we should try making our own cranberry sauce this year. I usually make a blueberry salad the family likes in lieu of cranberry sauce, but I decided to give homemade cranberry sauce a whirl.

The recipe we used was super simple and quick to make, plus it was very tasty. We made it ahead to allow it time to refrigerate in the mold overnight. I love any dish that can be prepared ahead. The original recipe came from Alton Brown. READ MORE

Talya Boerner: The Best Mac and Cheese in the World

We had friends over to eat Tuesday night. John grilled burgers, and I baked the best Mac and Cheese in all the land which hopefully cancelled out the very average pot of beans I served with it. This is my go-to mac and cheese recipe. There’s no need to make any other. You could add lobster like the fancy restaurants do and have a dish people would pay $17 a serving for in Dallas (i.e. Capital Grille). I truly believe that.

There are five kinds of cheese in this dish. READ MORE IF YOU DARE

Lyndi Fultz:Crunchy Rice Casserole (for Riceland Foods)

One of the best things about rice is that it is so versatile. That versatility kicks up a notch when you are able to meal prep by cooking extra rice and freezing for a rainy day.

Why wait until a rainy day to use that extra rice you have stored in the freezer? Make a crunchy rice casserole and invite someone over tonight. This casserole would go nicely with meat, poultry and fish. The crunch is an added touch that gives some depth to this casserole. Walnuts, sunflower seeds, and sliced almonds all have a unique texture that makes each bite interesting. The sweet onions and melted cheese takes it from a so-so side dish to a so-so-so-delicious side dish!

Who’s ready for dinner?

READ MORE

We’ll have more coming. Come back next week for another edition of Tasty Tuesday.

Lacie Ring: Chocolate Turtle Slab Pie {Foodie Friday}

Turtle candy yes or no? If you answered yes then you are going to love this Chocolate Turtle Slab Pie! If I could only use 3 words to describe this recipe, decadent is the first word that comes to mind, followed by easy and huge. I’m talking one ginormous, scrumptious, crowd pleasing and feeding kind of pie that couldn’t be simpler.

This pie uses an 18x13x1 sheet pan. Even if you don’t have a crowd to please, you can easily cut the recipe in half and use a quarter sheet pan that’s only 13x9x1.

Go on and get in that kitchen. This recipe will make you be glad that you did. READ MORE

Lacie is a busy mom who blogs about making everyday life easier. When she isn’t blogging, you will usually find her volunteering at her kiddo’s school. Lacie wants to share her easy recipes, DIY projects, and school related ideas with other busy moms everywhere.

www.easypeasypleasy.com

www.pinterest.com/laciering/

www.instagram.com/easypeasypleasy/

www.facebook.com/easypeasypleasy/

www.twitter.com/easypeasypleasy/

Debbie Arnold: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Salted Caramel and Praline Pecan Glaze

It’s got pumpkin. It’s got caramel—salted at that. And it’s got pecans. Y’all, there is one huge mouthful of fall in every bite of this Pumpkin Cheesecake with Salted Caramel and Praline Pecan Glaze!

When I first began preparing desserts for the dessert auction at the CASA of Saline County Chili Beans and Blue Jeans fundraiser, I knew I wanted to create some that would be showstoppers. No doubt. This yummy mouthful of goodness wins the crown.

This is an easy dessert to make ahead and freeze if you so desire. Why not go ahead and get one made this weekend? You can put it in your freezer til Thanksgiving then whip it out, glaze it and have a stunning dessert on the table in no time. Find out HERE.