Upside Down Mini Ice Cream Cakes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoHoppinGood #TopYourSummer #CollectiveBias

Ahh, summertime. There's nothing better than beating the heat with ice cream! But if you want to make your ice cream something extra special, you'll want to make these delicious upside down mini ice cream cakes! They're perfect for any summer soiree! | dessert | party food | #sohoppingood | #topyoursummer | ad | @walmart | @blue_bunny

Ahh, summertime. There’s nothing like ice cream to beat the heat in the summer, is there? Growing up, I looked forward to summer solely for the ice cream… for us, it was just a part of tradition. My great grandmother wouldn’t let an evening go by without a bowl of ice cream, and that’s a standard that I love to live up to, especially in the heat of summer… with heat indexes reaching 104 around here, you have to cool off somehow! And with these mini ice cream cakes that are upside down, you’ll have the whole family ready to cool off in no time!

Read more

Simple Sweet Sun Tea

Nothing refreshes quite like sweet sun tea in the summer. It's SO easy to make-- with just 2 ingredients and some water! Make summer a little bit sweeter with this refreshing beverage.

One of my favorite things about summer in college was driving down south to visit my gram. While spending time with her is a treat in itself, I have fond memories of dinner and talks on the back patio with sweet sun tea. It’s simple to make– there’s only two ingredients!– and absolutely delicious.

Nothing refreshes quite like sweet sun tea in the summer. It's SO easy to make-- with just 2 ingredients and some water! Make summer a little bit sweeter with this refreshing beverage.

Start with a large pitcher that will hold at least a gallon. A glass pitcher works best, but if you don’t have one on hand (I didn’t!), you can use your favorite covered pitcher.

Place 5 bags of black tea in your pitcher. I use a little piece of tape to secure the bags so they don’t just go nuts in the container. Then, pour in 2 cups of sugar.

Fill the pitcher with a gallon of water.

Nothing refreshes quite like sweet sun tea in the summer. It's SO easy to make-- with just 2 ingredients and some water! Make summer a little bit sweeter with this refreshing beverage.

Then, place the pitcher outside in a sunny spot and let it steep for a few hours– I like to leave mine for 6 or so hours just to be sure it’s nice and steeped for some nice, rich flavor. The sunlight will help the sugar truly dissolve– it’ll heat up the water a bit and really help push it towards being nice and sweet without any gritty flavor you’d usually get from an iced sweet tea that didn’t get a chance to sit in the sun a bit.

Nothing refreshes quite like sweet sun tea in the summer. It's SO easy to make-- with just 2 ingredients and some water! Make summer a little bit sweeter with this refreshing beverage.

Once you’ve got a nice, rich amber color, it’s time to pop your pitcher of sun sweet tea into the fridge until it’s chilled– I like to make mine the day before I’d like to serve it, but really, if you’re serving over ice it doesn’t matter too much! For me, it wasn’t a summer holiday without a little bit of sweet sun tea, and even now, I’ll enjoy some on the regular. It’s just simply so perfect– that little touch of summer charm that every family gathering needs.

Simple Sweet Sun Tea
Yields 1
Write a review
Print
Prep Time
3 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Prep Time
3 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Ingredients
  1. 5 black tea bags
  2. 2 cups sugar
  3. 1 gallon water
Instructions
  1. Place tea bags into glass pitcher (or any pitcher you have on hand).
  2. Add sugar, then fill with water.
  3. Stir, then set outside, covered, in sunlight for several hours.
  4. Serve chilled.
Notes
  1. Consider muddling in some mint or other herbs in it for a new twist on the flavor.
Mama Plus One https://www.mamaplusone.com/
Nothing refreshes quite like sweet sun tea in the summer. It's SO easy to make-- with just 2 ingredients and some water! Make summer a little bit sweeter with this refreshing beverage.

Cheers and have a great 4th of July, everyone! What’s your go-to summer drink? Let me know in the comments below!

 

Banana S’mores Pudding Cups with Homemade Agave Marshmallows

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackPackNaturals #CollectiveBias

I'm all about snacks that are a total throwback to my childhood, like pudding, but I like providing my son with a more natural option and better choices. These banana s'mores pudding cups are the perfect choice, and when topped with homemade marshmallows made with agave nectar, they're sure to please while still being a smarter choice for snacktime. #SnackPackNaturals [ad]

Summertime as a child meant a few things… plenty of time to play outside and roll in the mud, summer rainstorms, the choice to stay up later than usual, and of course… delicious snacks! One of my favorite choices as a child was a delicious chocolate pudding cup, and the best part of pudding cups was finding all kinds of things to mix in! That’s why when summer rolls around now, I make sure to have pudding cups on hand for my son to enjoy… and the mix-ins he needs to enjoy it! But as my family works to take a more naturally-based approach, it’s important for me to make smarter choices, which is why I’ve made the switch to natural pudding and tried my hand at making my own homemade marshmallows– both of which have NO corn syrup at all!

Read more

4 Smoothie Bowls to Kick Afternoon Slump to the Curb!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. on behalf of its advertizer, ZonePerfect. All opinions are my own. #SnackandRally #CollectiveBias

Afternoon slumps are the worst. You're halfway through your day, and suddenly you hit that wall. Banish the urge to snooze and perk up with these mini smoothie bowls, which will kick your booty back into gear with tons of protein, while still tasting AMAZING! #SnackAndRally [ad]

Ugh. Afternoon slump. Come on, busy moms, you know what I’m talking about… that moment between lunch and dinner when you hit a wall. It’s the time when you think “If I have to stay awake for one more baseball/dance/soccer/cheer practice I’m going to cry.” It’s when you have that urge to say “forget everything… I’m taking a nap.” I get it. We’re all trying to be supermom. And afternoon slump? It’s not helping us get there, is it? A lot of times, I turn to snacks to get me out of that slump… after all, I can’t be dozing off if I’m eating, can I? And it’s during that time that I turn to old cravings like chocolate. But guess what, supermom? I’ve found a solution that banishes afternoon fatigue AND satisfies your munchy little cravings. I promise you’re going to love it… 4 great mini smoothie bowls for that time between lunch and dinner, when you want to snack, but don’t want a meal, and definitely want more energy to finish out your long, never-say-stop day.

Read more

Walking Taco Bar for College Basketball Watch Parties!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GameForBasketball #CollectiveBias This post is not medical advice.

When college basketball games roll around, you want to make sure you're having the best college basketball party you can! This walking taco bar is party perfect, and allows everyone to customize their food to their individual tastes! Make sure you're ready for game time AND meal time this basketball season. #GameForBasketball [ad]

College basketball playoffs are upon us, and you’ve probably already been filling out your bracket. I know I have a few ideas about who I think will win it all… but when it comes to college basketball season, I also know it’s time for plenty of watch parties as you cheer on your team. Luckily, I’ve got a walking taco bar that will feed everyone, without a ton of effort, plus some tips to make your watch party the one that guests will be talking about for years to come!

Read more

Easy Sesame Shrimp!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShrimpItUp #CollectiveBias

Hello, Seafood! This easy sesame shrimp is a great Asian-inspired weeknight meal, and it's so simple to make. If you love shrimp, you're going to love this sesame shrimp recipe! #ShrimpItUp [ad]

I love a great sesame chicken from my favorite Asian restaurant here locally. It’s just good stuff, but sometimes I need a little shake-up from the norm (and who wants to order takeout ALL the time?). So, I decided that I’d try an easy sesame chicken sauce over shrimp, and you know what? It’s SO easy to make the sesame shrimp that it takes less time than ordering and waiting for delivery, making it the perfect weeknight solution.

Read more

Black Forest Dessert Shooters

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you'll love this easy dessert that's perfectly pre-portioned for you and your Valentine. Whether you're hosting a Valentine's party or enjoying this treat by yourself, it's nice and chocolatey, just like those dessert shooters from popular restaurants! It's just a little taste of the sweet life. | Valentine Dessert | Black Forest Cake | Easy Dessert |

I love Valentine’s Day. The hearts, the pretty colors, the time spent with my favorite Valentine (who happens to be four years old). But I especially love the chocolate… what I don’t love is having to share dessert. That’s why I like single-serve options that I can make for the whole family to enjoy, just like the single-serve dessert shooters from some of my favorite restaurants. These black forest dessert shooters are sure to impress any Valentine, and they’re super easy to make.

Read more

Hearty Bacon Chili– with a twist!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweetNewYear #CollectiveBias

Hoping to have a #SweetNewYear? You'll love this hearty bacon chili and cornbread that are packed with protein, plus have less sugar, so you're able to meet your goals while still feeling full. Plus, it takes minutes to make, making this the perfect weeknight meal for your family. #Truvia [ad]

January is such a confusing time of year. On the one hand, you really, really want to reach those New Year’s Resolutions you set and were determined to stick to, and on the other hand, it’s snowy and it’s cold and you just want a warm cup of something nice and hearty. Luckily, it isn’t either/or– I’ve got the perfect, protein-packed chili recipe that’s packed with flavor while still being a great balance of food groups. The best part? This hearty bacon chili is really simple to make, making it the perfect thing to throw together before practice on a chilly winter weeknight.

Read more

No-Bake Skittles Push Pops in YOUR Team’s Colors!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MakeSB50Sweeter #CollectiveBias

You can make Super Bowl 50 even sweeter with these fun Skittles push pops that have tons of fruit flavor, while still matching YOUR team's colors. Don't just leave it to the Super Bowl, either-- these are party perfect for any gathering, and since they're no-bake, they take minutes to assemble. Or, for a rich chocolate caramel sensation, try the Snickers or Twix push pops, which are also no bake! #MakeSB50Sweeter [ad]

Can you believe the Super Bowl is almost here? We’ve been watching football a bit more here in Kansas City, since the Chiefs made the playoffs for the first time in my life! While my team is no longer playing in Super Bowl 50, I’m still looking forward to a very sweet Super Bowl. And what watch party would be complete without awesome desserts? Well, none… that’s why I’ve got these super-simple no-bake push pops using Skittles! And the best part is, you can customize them to YOUR favorite team’s colors in a snap!

Read more

Apple Pie Egg Rolls with 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareTheJoyOfPie #CollectiveBias

Looking for the perfect dessert? You can #sharethejoyofpie with these apple pie egg rolls and easy 3-ingredient pumpkin pie ice cream. Even better? The ice cream doesn't require any special equipment-- just a mixer and a few ingredients. You'll love these dessert egg rolls, too-- they're perfect for parties or a great weekend at home. For Christmas, share the egg rolls or your favorite pie with neighbors in this adorable neighbor gift idea! #ShareTheJoyOfPie [ad]

Mmm… pie. It’s easily my favorite dessert for Christmas– nothing says “celebration” like a big slice of dutch apple or pumpkin pie. But sometimes, you need a little twist on a classic, and that’s where today’s recipes come in. All you need is a couple of Marie Callender’s® Dessert Pies, a couple of extra ingredients, some Reddi-Wip®, and a mixer… and you’ll find some serious pie love.

Read more