TAKE A BITE: BAKED CINNAMON SUGAR CREAM CHEESE WONTONS

This isn't the first wonton recipe to grace this lovely blog. I've gone spicy with the sriracha wontons, and I've gone savory with the blue cheese & cranberry wontons ... and now it's time to go downright sweet!

I bring to you:

Like the other wonton recipes I've shared, this one is so dang easy. You only need a few ingredients and a few minutes!

What you'll need to make it happen:

For the wontons-

- Wonton wrappers (I get nasoya from Target)

- Olive Oil Spray

- 1/2 brick of Cream Cheese 

- 1 tsp cinnamon + 2 tsp granulated sugar (to mix with cream cheese)

- 1 Tbsp cinnamon + 1 Tbsp granulated sugar (to top wontons with)

For the sauce-

- 1/2 cup raspberries (frozen or fresh)

-  1 Tbsp granulated sugar

- Water

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Mix together your cream cheese, cinnamon & sugar 

Step 2: Scoop about 1 Tbsp of your cream cheese mixture onto a wonton shell, and after wetting the edges, fold the shell in half, pressing the edges closed.

Step 3: Spray lightly with olive oil spray and sprinkle with your remaining cinnamon sugar mixture

Step 3: Bake in a 350 degree oven for 6 minutes, flip, and bake for another 6 minutes or until golden brown!

Step 4: Eat while still hot (just don't burn your mouth!)

While your wontons are baking, throw together your dipping sauce:

Step 1: Put your raspberries, sugar, and water in a microwave and heat for 30 seconds at a time until the raspberries are fully softened.

Step 2: Mash your raspberries together with a spoon until mixture is well combined.

If you want a smoother sauce, throw it in the blender or food processor until the chunks are gone!

Ugh these are good. I'm a bigger fan of savory things than I am of sweet usually, so I can only eat a couple of these- but the tangy raspberry sauce really helps balance these out!

What sweet snack is your go-to?

For more Food Recipes go HERE!

xo, lp

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follow B&B on instagram here: @lpodlich

FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE 4 WAYS! (Non-Alcoholic OR Alcoholic!)

Oh my friends. Finally a recipe to please everyone.

Today is all about Frozen Hot Chocolate! So who should you make it for?

Make it for your kids! It's a fun winter treat that they can dress up with sprinkles and marshmallows.

Make it for your significant other! It's super easy to make, but it'll show 'em you care.

Make it for your girlfriends! Why not host a party with a Frozen Hot Chocolate Bar? Just add booze if you're over 21, and you've got a dangerously delicious party in the making.

Make it for yourself! Because you deserve it :)

What you need to make it happen(NON Alcoholic):

- Ice

-Milk

- Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

- Chocolate Syrup

- Whipped Cream

- Straws

- Sprinkles, Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips, Candy Canes

- Grenadine & Cherries

Boozy Additions to make them a little more fun:

Cherry Vodka // Creme de Cacao // Peppermint Schnapps 

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Start with your base- Blend 1 packet of cocoa mix, 2 cups ice, 1/2 cup milk, squeeze of chocolate sauce  *mixture should be icy- not watery- start with less milk and add more as needed.

Step 2: Start adding in different flavors or alcohol as desired (recipes below)

Step 3: Top with whipped cream and garnishes

Step 4: Enjoy!

To make the 4 you see above:

Classic: BASE - top Whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate jimmies

Chocolate Peppermint: BASE + crushed candy cane- top with whipped cream and more crushed candy cane. (optional 1 ounce peppermint schnapps)

Chocolate Lovers: BASE + mug drizzled with chocolate sauce- top with whipped cream, chocolate chips, chocolate jimmies (optional 1 ounce creme de cacao)

Chocolate Covered Cherry: BASE + 1 1/2 tsp grenadine - top with whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate jimmies & a cherry (optional 1/2 ounce cherry vodka + 1/2 ounce creme de cacao)

Other great options:

Mocha: Just add Kahlua, Espresso Vodka, and Chocolate Shavings

Salted Caramel Chocolate: Drizzle Salted Caramel sauce in the mug first, top with more sauce & Chocolate Shavings

Chocolate Covered Strawberry: Strawberry Vodka + Creme de Cacao- top with chopped strawberries!

Alright- raise your hand if you're going to do a Frozen Hot Chocolate Bar for Galentine's Day now...

(if you don't know what Galentine's Day is...we can't be friends. kidding! (sort of))

xo, lp

PSST: If you end up making this recipe I'd love to see it! Post a picture on Instagram or Twitter and tag me @lpodlich so I can see what awesome version you made!

VALENTINE'S DAY ICE CREAM SANDWICHES!

Ooooh friends- do I have a great treat for you today! 

Feast your eyes on THESE babies:

These ice cream sandwiches are the perfect Valentine's treat- whether you're making them for you favorite girlfriends, you significant other, or even your kids! 

They're made with some homemade M&M cookies, ice cream, and LOTS of sprinkles....

What you'll need to make it happen:

-Valentine's Sprinkles (I got mine from Target)

- Ice cream 

- M&M Cookies (recipe makes 2 dozen cookies - 1 dozen sandwiches):

1 1/8 cup flour  ::   1/2 tsp salt :: 1/2 tsp baking soda :: 1 cup Valentine's M&Ms

1/2 cup brown sugar ::  1/4 cup granulated sugar :: 1 large egg :: 1 stick unsalted butter  :: 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Bake your cookies! (Cream sugars & butter until mixed. Add egg and vanilla & mix. Add flour, salt, baking soda & mix. Stir in M&Ms. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees)

Step 2: LET YOUR COOKIES COOL COMPLETELY. No really. If you don't wait, your ice cream will melt errywhere- and NO one wants that, right?

Step 3: Take 1 cookie- scoop about 1/3 cup ice cream on it, and press down with another cookie

Step 4: Roll in sprinkles, and put back in freezer right away.

Step 5: Bring out again right before you're ready to serve!

Oh man these things are good! Plus, if you don't need 1 dozen sandwiches- then just eat the cookies on their own :)

Looking for other Valentine's Recipes?

Try making my Conversation Heart Cookies or Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Pies!

xo, lp

psssssssssst: let's be friends on Instagram! you can find me here --> @lpodlich

AGED WHITE CHEDDAR MAC & CHEESE

 The only homemade mac & cheese I liked as a kid was the stuff my mom made with Velveeta. It was just butter, milk, and Velveeta microwaved until melted and poured over noodles. Basic, delicious, salty (as everything with Velveeta is).

This is a little bit of an upgrade from those days- mainly because the cheese I used was some 4 year aged white cheddar from a local cheese company. I mean, can you do any wrong with 4 year aged cheddar? No, no you can't.

Now before you hightail out of here thinking this is going to be an pretentious post that includes talking about eating this dish with a nice pinot in a room full of aged mahogany- I promise it's not. This recipe is crazy easy, but saying "aged white cheddar" just makes you sound hella fancy.

Here it is, team:

What you'll need to make it happen:

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp Flour

3 cups milk (I use skim)

2 cups Aged White Cheddar Cheese- shredded

1/2 box elbow mac noodles (you can use more if you don't want the noodles as coated)

Salt, Pepper, Paprika to taste

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Cook your pasta about 1-2 minutes less than you usually would, drain, and set aside.

Step 2: Melt your butter on medium-low in a large sauce pan, stirring as it melts.

Step 3: Add in your flour, and whisk until well incorporated. Continue to stir for another 3 minutes, and if your burners run hot- lower to low heat. If your burners are too hot you WILL burn your mixture. And it will smell. And it will make you sad that you have to wash your pot and start again. This definitely happened to me the first time around. ARGH.

Step 4: Add milk and stir until well mixed and thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 5: Add in 1 1/2 cups of your cheese, stirring until melted. This will probably take a LONG time. Took mine about 15ish minutes to make a full, creamy, thick sauce. Pain in the butt, but worth it!

Step 6: Add salt & pepper (about 1 1/2 tsp each) and stir in your cooked noodles.

Step 7: Pour into a 9x13 pan, top with the rest of your cheese and sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is fully melted & bubbling.

This mac & cheese is KILLER. It doesn't just taste like your run of the mill mac & cheese, I can guarantee you that. It's thick, creamy, salty, and completely satisfying.

What's one of your comfort food dishes?

It's gonna be cold here for a while, so pass them my way!

xo, lp 

* looking for more comfort food recipes? try my parmesan garlic quinoa, salty & spicy parm pasta, or this gnocchi mac & cheese! 

REESE'S + NUTELLA CAKE (yeah, that's right!)

I know you're thinking, "ummm Reese's + Nutella? isn't that a little over-indulgent?"

Well your answer is yes, it is. But don't deny it- you're intrigued! 

I made this cake for our friend Josh's birthday last month, and it was a hit! Truthfully, I wasn't quite sure what to make him for dessert, until his wife Dani said "well, he likes Reese's and Nutella." I figured, why not combine the two??

What you'll need to make it happen:

Cake:

-Either Devil's Food Cake Mix or this recipe (yes, i cheated and used a mix. oops)

Frosting:

- 14 Reese's peanut butter cups (10 cut in half, the rest chopped up)

- 1/2 cup Nutella

- 4 ounces cream cheese

- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- 2 cups powdered sugar

- 4 ounces sugar

(or, Nutella + tub of cream cheese frosting!)

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Bake yo' cake in two 8 inch round cake pans.

Step 2: Let cool FULLY. No for real. Keep your hands off!

Step 3: Beat your cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in Nutella.

Step 4: Set your first round down and put a layer of frosting down, and sprinkle chopped Reese's over it.

Step 5: Add your next layer of cake, and frost cake completely.

Step 6: Use your Reese's halves to place around the top and sides of the cake, covering the rest of the top of the cake with the crumbled pieces!

Step 7: Keep in fridge until ready to serve, and enjoy with a big glass of milk :)

nom.

There you have it. Nutella + Reese's Cake. It's as good as it looks, I promise.

You guys have any fun cake recipes up your sleeve?

Share a link in the comments, I'd love to see them! 

xo, lp

**love reese's? try my reese's cupcakes

**love nutella? try my nutella puppy chow or nutella krispy bars!

RANCH PUMPKIN SEEDS!

So last year, actually almost exactly 1 year ago to the date, I posted my favorite pumpkin seed recipe. 

It's my go to, kind of spicy, perfectly salty recipe. 

This year I wanted to try something a little different, so I whipped out my Kernel Season's Ranch. I know you remember them from my Parmesan Garlic Popcorn post, right? Such a groupie, I know.

Anyways, not only is their stuff yummy on popcorn, it is DELICIOUS on pumpkin seeds!

What you'll need:

- 1 1/2 cup Pumpkin Seeds 

- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

-  1 Tablespoon Kernel Season's Ranch Seasoning

- Parchment Paper

How to make it happen:

 Step 1: Preheat your oven 350 while you're gutting your pumpkin

Step 2: Clean your seeds off! No one likes pumpkin goop.

Step 3: Toss your seeds in olive oil and spread out your seeds on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Sprinkle with Ranch seasoning and bake for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Flip your seeds over, and bake for another 15 minutes, until golden brown!

 There is nothing better than pumpkin seeds in the fall. I don't like pumpkin flavored things...except these seeds!

What's one of your favorite fall snacks?

If you like pumpkin seeds, you MUST try this recipe!

xo, lp

RASPBERRY LEMONADE MARTINI

Today's drink recipe is awesomely easy, and can be served two ways- on the rocks (on ice) or straight up in a nice martini glass! Dani & I sipped on these by the pool the other night, and they were the perfect, refreshing, end of summer drinks! 

What you'll need to make them happen:

- Vodka (1.5 ounces per drink- I used Svedka)

- Fresh Raspberries

- Lemonade (I used CountryTime powdered)

- Ice & Toothpicks or skewers

How to make them happen:

Step 1: Mash a small handful of raspberries into 6 ounces of lemonade. You can use a spoon- or a blender if you're feeling REALLY ambitious. Let sit in fridge to get cold.

Step 2: Add your vodka to a shaker or glass with ice and shake like crazy until it's super cold. Pour into a martini glass, or leave in ice if you're having it on the rocks.

Step 3: Filter your raspberry lemonade mixture if you're drinking it straight up, or just pour it over ice & vodka as is. It's annoying as heck to try to drink little raspberry bits out of a martini glass- but isn't too bad with a straw :)

Step 4: Garnish with some skewered raspberries, and enjoy!

Easy, right? The lemonade keeps it just tart enough that you can drink one without feeling like you just drank a cup of sugar, but there's enough sweetness to cut the vodka.

I highly recommend this for a girl's night or a bachelorette/bridal shower!

What's your go-to, easy cocktail?

If you don't have one, feel free to steal this recipe!

xo, lp

For more drink recipes, click here!

MIXED BERRY MOJITOS

 I know I've been on a big cocktail kick on the blog lately- but it's just because it's too dang hot to make anything else! 

Today's drink is of course- in honor of the 4th! The berries not only make it delicious- but festive too!

What you'll need:

- Handful of mint leaves

- 2 teaspoons sugar

- Handful of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries

- 1.5 ounces white rum (or sub for vodka)

- Sprite

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Throw you strawberries, raspberries, mint, splash of sprite, and sugar in the bottom of your glass. Muddle until the berries are well mashed.

Step 2: Add your other berries, rum, and mix.

Step 3: Add a bunch of ice cubes (I make mine with mint frozen in) and top with sprite!

Step 4: Garnish with some frozen berries on a skewer and enjoy!

Oh and of course- the best part is eating the fruit when you're all done. Sugary, boozy, delicious fruit!

What will you be sipping on this 4th?

I'll be having one of these for sure!

xo, lp

SIX FANTASTIC FOURTH CUPCAKES (easy designs that take minutes!)

Let's talk straight for a sec:

I love baking from scratch and all, but sometimes it's a pain in the ass. When you just want something last second it can be a bummer when you don't have all the ingredients at hand. So, at times like this, I bake from a box. AH! GASP! BLASPHEMY! The girl that bakes uses box mixes sometimes?!? 

I know, your vision of my is shattered. Sorry. To help you cope, go eat a box of cupcakes. 

These are 6 super fast, fun 4th of July cupcake decorating ideas. All you need is a box of cupcake mix, some frosting, and the topping of your choice. Have fun!

Don't they look great together? Some fun, some whimsical, some classy. Make a bunch of each to please any crowd!

 Cupcake #1: Swirly Cupcake

This one is super easy, take some white frosting and dye some blue and some red. Swirl plain white along with the two colored frostings and BAM. Pretty swirls.

Cupcake #2: Washi Flag Cupcakes

All you need for this one is a few toothpicks and some washi tape. Just fold over, cut into triangles and you're good to go!

Cupcake #3 The Easiest Candy Cupcake

There are plenty of red & blue candies out there to fulfill this cupcake task. My current favorite is the 4th of July Twizzlers that you can buy at Walgreens. Lemonade/BlueRaspberry flavored. Nom.

Cupcake #4: Layered Swirl Cupcake

This one is the only cupcake that requires a little effort. Open a ziplock and hold it up by one corner. Drip red food coloring down one edge of the bag, and blue down the other- so they come together to a point. Cut the tip off the bag to let excess run out, and then load with white frosting. Squeeze to create ad swirled look!

Cupcake #5: Fruity 4th Cupcake

Just slice up some strawberries (or raspberries or cherries) and add some blueberries. Done!

Cupcake #6: Sprinkle Cupcake

If you don't have blue and red sprinkles, either use M&Ms or color white sugar with food coloring! 

Perfect!

Which one of these decorations would you try?

Let me know!

xo, lp

Looking for more 4th of July fun? Try my Patriotic Frozen Punch or 4 Washi Tape decorations for the 4th.

BEST & BASIC STIRFRY RECIPE

Michael and I have stir fry all. the. time. It's such a great way to go through veggies, especially if they're right on the edge of getting soft & wouldn't be as good raw. We've got a basic stirfry recipe down that makes a HUGE amount of food- which means leftovers for days! This recipe is insanely basic, and you could add veggies/ginger/spice to your hearts content...but for us we have these ingredients 100% of the time in our fridge, so it's our go-to. A few things:

1. If you don't have a rice steamer, get one. Ours is $19 (get it here) and is a microwaveable rice steamer. Put in rice and water, let it go- and you get perfectly cooked rice EVERY single time. I don't know about you all, but I burn rice when I make it in a pot...or make it overly soggy. This steamer kicks butt-plus it can be used to steam veggies & make pasta. Ridic.

2. Woks. They can be a little spendy- but if you average out cost per use...man ours is about $0.10 a use. I highly recommend this guy from Nordic Ware- Made in the USA!

What you'll need:

Rice:

2 cups basmati or brown rice

4 cups water

rice steamer (or pot)

Veggie Mix:

2 cups chopped broccoli

1 red pepper

2 garlic cloves

1 large onion

(+sliced almonds to garnish)

2 Tbsp oil- veggie or olive

Sauce:

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup soy sauce(low sodium or regular)

1 1/2 tablespoons black bean garlic sauce (we use this)

1 tablespoon Sriracha red chili sauce

1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch

squeeze lemon juice

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Get your rice cookin'! It should take about 16 minutes to cook 2 cups of rice. If you time it right you'll be done with your veggies and rice at the same time!

Step 2: Chop your veggies ahead of time. Make your onions and peppers bit sized and mince your garlic!

Step 3: Add your oil to your wok and bring to medium low heat. Once hot add your onions and let 'em sizzle for 3-4 minutes. Mmmm-mmmm. 

Step 4: Next add in your peppers and broccoli, and cook for another 3 minutes. Add your garlic and cook for another 2 minutes or so.

Step 5: Mix all your sauce ingredients together really well and pour over your veggies while still on the stove. Let heat up with your veggies and stir every 30 seconds or so.

Step 6: Scoop up your rice, dish out some veggies, and garnish with sliced almonds!

 (seriously. this rice cooker is the bomb)

 There it is! Easy, fast, delicious- and a great way to get your veggie servings in for the night!!

What is your easy go-to dish?

Anyone else have a good stir-fry recipe?

xo, lp

(like asian dishes? try my broccoli soy noodles or my crunchy asian cabbage salad!)

STRAWBERRY LEMON STARBURST VODKA.

Let's talk liquor. 

I'm mainly a whiskey girl, and in general avoid fruity drinks like the plague. 

Ever since an...eventful...night in college that involved wayyyy too many colorful, candy-like cocktails I can't quite stomach those sugarbombs like I used to. Don't get me wrong- nothing is better than a lime margarita on the rocks on a hot summer day- but not too often.

Now, all that being said you're probably wondering WHY I'm writing a post about strawberry lemon vodka. HYPOCRITE! LIAR! FRAUD! Well, sort of yes, and sort of no. 

1. I had some  really crappy vodka to get rid of.

2. I was in the mood to experiment with some leftover jellybeans from Easter.

3. I figured I'll save it for a day where I'm craving sweets or have it for fruit-lovin' guests.

So here's the deal: a few times in college my friends and I made Skittles vodka, and I figured Starburst jelly beans would work just as well! This "recipe" is crazy simple and you could do it with all different flavors- I'm thinking RAINBOW vodkas, people.

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What you'll need:

1/2 liter of vodka (any kind will do)

1/3 large bag of Starburst jellybeans.

Patience.

Sprite.

How to make it happen:

1. Choose two flavors from the Starburst jellybean bag. I went with lemon and strawberry! For the love of all that is good- don't pick two colors that will make brown. No one wants to drink brown vodka. If you choose apple & orange you deserve the nastiness that is coming your way. ::shudder::

2. Pour your jellybeans right into your vodka bottle. Enjoy watching the alcohol rip the coatings of those little guys right off!

3. Wait 4-5 days, shaking the vodka + beans once a day or so. You REALLY can't mess this up. You can leave them in longer, shake more or less. This is the beauty of booze, people.

4. Because these guys have more gelatin or faux-gelatin in them than Skittles they probably won't dissolve all the way- unless you have vodka that is borderline rubbing alcohol.  You can either strain out the mini remains of the beans or leave them in the bottom of the bottle for looks. Orrr you could eat them and get super intoxicated. Bleh.

5. Put it in a cute bottle and label it with washi tape. Then pour 2 ounces out into a glass with ice & Sprite and you have yourself one delicious, sweet treat!

Watch out, this stuff is dangerous. Sweet and a little tangy-perfect with soda water or lemon-lime soda!

Are you a fan of sweet drinks (alcoholic or not)?

You might just have to try this recipe- use those leftovers from Easter!

xo,lp

if you do, try out my grapefruit margaritas or raspberry blueberry champagne fizz recipes!