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Air Fryer Bacon

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Bacon! BACON! BACON! Always a good idea and perfect addition to so many dishes. You can cook your bacon so easily and without a mess in the Air Fryer to make life a little easier. Here’s how!

Air Fryer Bacon

Can we just dive right into this one?

Place 5 slices of bacon into the airy fryer (you may be able to fit more if you have a larger air fryer). Set the temperature to 390 degrees. Cook for 10-12 minutes depending on the crispiness level you like. 11 minutes is perfect for me where it is crunchy but still has great flavor.

To clean the air fryer after cooking bacon, drain the fat into a mug and let that thicken up. Once thickened, dispose in the garbage. Wipe the inside of your air fryer clean. No bacon splatter to clean up! Amen. 

Take note that I am using thick cut bacon which I always recommend buying. If you have a thin cut bacon, reduce your time.

What can you use bacon with?

The short answer is anything. Some ideas include with waffles for breakfast, in a BLT for lunch, on a salad, on top of a cheeseburger, make crumbles for potato soup or eat as a snack.


how to make bacon in the air fryer, air fryer recipe, air fryer bacon, crispy bacon
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Air Fryer Bacon

Bacon! BACON! BACON! Always a good idea and perfect addition to so many dishes. You can cook your bacon so easily and without a mess in the Air Fryer to make life a little easier. Here's how!
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 5 slices bacon thick cut

Instructions

  • Line the bacon slices into the air fryer basket side by side. 
  • Place the temperature to 390 degrees and cook for 10-12 minutes depending on how crispy you like your bacon. 
  • Place on a kitchen napkin to absorb any excess grease and serve. 
  • Repeat. 

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda are a delicious appetizer perfect for a crowd made with crescent roll dough, cocktail sausages, Gouda cheese and poppy seeds paired with a honey mustard dipping sauce.

The holidays are HERE and that means there are many gatherings with friends, family and coworkers right around the corner. I’m not sure if any gathering is complete without some delicious Pigs in a Blanket as a simple appetizer that everyone loves. These Pigs in a Blanket are just like the original but we added in some Gouda cheese for extra flavor and sprinkled some poppy seeds to the top.

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

I usually don’t get excited over sausage links (there are a few exceptions) but there is just something about Pigs in a Blanket. They are additive and it is that dish you will see me hovering over at parties.

 

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Unroll the the sheets of crescent and cut along the perforated edges. Cut each of those 8 sections in half.
  3. Roll a mini sausage and a small slice of Gouda in each of those triangular sections and place onto a baking sheet. Your slice of Goua should be thin and the same length as the cocktail wiener.
  4. Melt some butter and brush onto the top of each roll.
  5. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes of until golden brown.

 

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

  1. As the Pigs in a Blanket bake, make the dipping sauce using 1/4 cup of both Dijon and mayonnaise, plus 3 tablespoons honey. Mix well.
  2. Serve the Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda as an appetizer warm out of the oven with honey mustard sauce on the side.

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

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Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda cheese and honey mustard dipping sauce, feed a crowd, cocktail sausages, party recipe, appetizer, crescent recipe

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda are a delicious appetizer perfect for a crowd made with crescent roll dough, cocktail sausages, Gouda cheese and poppy seeds paired with a honey mustard dipping sauce. 

Yields: 32

  • Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda
  • 2 crescent rolls containers
  • 12 once package mini sausages (cocktail wieners)
  • 8 ounce block smoked Gouda cheese (you only need about half the block)
  • poppy seeds
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup whole-grain Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Unroll the the sheets of crescent and cut along the perforated edges. Cut each of those in half to make 32 triangles among the 2 containers.
  3. Roll a mini sausage and a small slice of Gouda in each of those triangles and place onto a baking sheet.
  4. Melt the butter and brush onto each roll.
  5. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes of until golden brown.
  7. As the Pigs in a Blanket bake, make the dipping sauce using 1/4 cup of both Dijon and mayonnaise, plus 3 tablespoons honey. Mix well.
  8. Serve as an appetizer warm out of the oven with honey mustard sauce on the side.
  • Preparation time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes

Are Pigs in a Blanket one your go-to appetizers also? Have you ever tried them Gouda or do you have another way you like to bake yours? Let me know in the comments below.

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

amazonThe airy fryer is making egg cooking way easier and more convenient than traditional methods. These Air Fryer “Hard Boiled” Eggs take only 20 minutes without any water to boil or pan to clean.

There can be some adjustment needed on the time and temperature depending on what air fryer you have. I use the Midea Air Fryer. Here are some other options below if you are in the market to purchase one.


Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard boiled eggs are a go-to food for me and my kids in the morning to get some protein without eating too much. We all have a hard time eating in the mornings so eggs are perfect. Eat after a workout or put on salad for lunch. Lot’s of possibilities.

Place 4-6 eggs into the air fryer basket. Close and put temperature to 275 degrees. Place the timer on 20 minutes and let cook. If you like the eggs less done,  reduce time by 2 minutes.

I recommend testing out a couple batches with a single egg to get a feel for your air fryer and how you like your eggs. Note that the more eggs you put into the air fryer, the more time you will have to add for them all to cook thoroughly.

When the timer goes off, place the eggs into a bowl full of ice and water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, peel and eat. I like just a pinch of salt and cracked pepper on mine!

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

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The airy fryer is making egg cooking way easier and more convenient than traditional methods. These Air Fryer “Hard Boiled” Eggs take only 20 minutes without any water to boil or pan to clean. 

  • 6 eggs
  • water
  • ice
  1. Place 6 eggs into air fryer.
  2. Set temperature at 275 and timer for 20 minutes.
  3. Place into an ice bath when timer goes off.
  4. Peel and eat.

How to Perfectly Grill Corn

How to Perfectly Grill Corn

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

Summer is officially here and grilling season has begun! Today, I am sharing my tips on How to Perfectly Grill Corn every time and sharing how I combat heartburn with TUMS* Sugar-Free for all of this seasons grilling.

WHAT IS HEARTBURN?

Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus caused by stomach acid that can lead to pain in the chest and throat. There are many triggers for the discomfort you feel from heartburn including consuming particular foods, medications prescribed, physical changes or conditions, and daily habits.

For a full list of symptoms, you should see the TUMS label for symptoms of heartburn.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HEARTBURN?

Foods

A common heartburn trigger is some of the foods you eat. Many of your favorite summertime grill out foods are on this list from onions, tomatoes, meat, tea, and spices. Some other foods include:

  • Fried foods
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Citrus fruits and juices
  • Alcohol
  • Garlic
  • Chocolate

Medications

Medications can trigger heartburn. If you live with frequent heartburn and are on medication, make sure to speak to your doctor or pharmacist to see if a medication is the source of your discomfort.

Habits

Daily habits may also be a trigger to heartburn. I am guilty of eating too quickly which can lead to heartburn and it is a hard habit to break! You may be guilty of some of these other habits:

  • Eating large meals.
  • Eating before bed. Lying down after eating can bring on heartburn so make sure to eat a few hours before bedtime.
  • Working out right after a meal. No, this doesn’t get you out of exercise but make sure to eat a small meal or let the food settle before a workout.
  • Tight clothing around midsection may cause pressure on the stomach that triggers heartburn.
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking

WHY IS TUMS SUGAR-FREE MY HEARTBURN RELIEF SOLUTION?

I won’t let my heartburn stop me from eating my favorite foods so I turn to TUMS Sugar-Free to provide fast relief of occasional heartburn. New TUMS Sugar-Free Melon Berry has all the extra-strength power of TUMS, without the sugar. Plus, it tastes great!

I found my TUMS Sugar-Free at Target next to the Pharmacy. TUMS Sugar-Free is also available at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, and Amazon.

CLICK HERE TO SNAG A COUPON FOR ANY TUMS PRODUCT!

Printable coupon is good all year.

HOW TO PERFECTLY GRILL CORN

Now that we talked about heartburn and how to get relief, let’s get to the good stuff – GRILLING! Today, we are grilling up some seasoned steak kabobs with onion, bell peppers, and tomato with fresh corn as a side with a garlic butter. A tall glass of iced tea with a lemon slice completes the meal. You can go ahead and count how many heartburn inducing foods are being consumed. Yea, it is a lot but TUMS Sugar-Free is on hand to go to work in seconds so let’s us get cooking, starting with the corn where I am sharing my tips on How to Perfectly Grill Corn.

Begin by prepping the fresh corn. Place the corn into water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Many people like to remove to husks before cooking, but leave the husk on. Trust me. The husk will trap water inside to help steam the corn while on the grill.

Put the corn onto the upper rack of the grill for 25 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Your grill should be at a medium-high heat (450 – 500 degrees).

Remove corn from grill and carefully remove husk. A simple way to remove the husks is to cut the corn on the end where the husk is attached and then pull out the remaining husk. Spread butter over the corn while still hot and serve. We made a garlic butter today with loads of garlic, parsley, lemon juice and spices that are so delicious!

Whether you are grilling steaks, juicy hamburgers or loaded hot dogs, grilled corn is always the perfect side. Don’t forget to grab the #1 Pharmacists recommended antacid brand, TUMS, to get to work on heartburn relief so there is no reason to skip out on these beautiful grilling days ahead!

*Refer to the TUMS bottles for full directions, and use as directed.

Roasted Lemon Asparagus

Roasted Lemon Asparagus

Roasted Lemon Asparagus made with fresh lemon, olive oil and just a pinch of salt and pepper for a really simple side dish to any entrée.

We are right in the middle of asparagus season and my family definitely eats their fair share of the vegetable. This Roasted Lemon Asparagus is fresh, crisp, quick and so easy to toss in the oven.

To prepare : Preheat the oven to 425 degrees as you give the asparagus a rinse and trim the ends by 1/2 inch. Lay the asparagus on a baking sheet and grab a small bowl to mix the olive and lemon juice. Cut the lemon in half and use half as juice and the other half is sliced for garnish. Pour the olive oil and lemon juice mixture over top and make sure to thoroughly cover each asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and lay the lemon slices over top. Roast in the oven for about 9 minutes and serve.

How to pick the best asparagus from your grocery: 

  • Make sure the stems are not dried out. Often, asparagus is stored in shallow water at the store.
  • The stems should be firm and not limp.
  • The tops should not be mushy.
  • They should have a rich green color with some white at the bottom and purple hues at the top.

If you are storing your asparagus a couple days before cooking, make sure to trim the ends and wrap in a wet paper towel or in a jar filled with a bit of water to keep fresh.

Roasted Lemon Asparagus

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Roasted Lemon Asparagus, how to bake asparagus

Roasted Lemon Asparagus made with fresh lemon, olive oil and just a pinch of salt and pepper for a really simple side dish to any entrée.

Yields: 4 servings

  • 1 lemon
  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Wash and trim the asparagus. Place on a baking sheet.
  3. In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon olive with juice from half the lemon (about 1 tablespoon, more for a stronger lemon flavor). Mix together.
  4. Pour lemon juice/olive oil mixture over asparagus. Make sure to coat the asparagus thoroughly.
  5. Season with just a pinch of salt and pepper.
  6. Slice the other half of the lemon. Place lemon slices over asparagus.
  7. Place in oven for 9 minutes.
  • Preparation time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 9 minutes

Roasted Lemon Asparagus, how to bake asparagus

Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice

Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice

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Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice is made with ground pork, mint, garlic, ginger, scallions, delicious and flavorful kimchi topped with a fried egg.

You haven’t been seeing as many new recipes from me recently but I am back in full swing and have a whole lineup of great recipes waiting to be shared! Starting with this Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice.

Long story short of where I have been – we decided to sell the house, we rushed and rushed and rushed some more to finish up all those little projects we started and never completed, painted the whole darn house… even put down new flooring. Then, we decided to stay. At least I have a freshly painted house and no projects for the moment!

Back to what’s really important – the food! This Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice comes from Recipes Swap Club where I was tasked this month with The Schizo Chef. I love this website! There are so many awesome recipes from all around the world. I didn’t grow up learning how to make Asian, Caribbean or African foods so a lot of recipes on the site are really foreign to me which is cool because I get the opportunity to learn a new recipe, new cooking techniques and discover new ingredients. Then, I get to share all that with you!

I chose to recreate the Kimchi Fried Rice recipe and Mireille shares her tips to the perfect fried rice! See the tips and entire post by clicking HERE.

I have made fried rice plenty of times but my fried rice making skills go as follows: have leftover rice, throws it into wok with some oil and soy sauce, scramble up an egg , tosses in whatever vegetables happen to be laying around, done. I won’t lie- this works pretty well but today, I am sharing a Korean fried rice that is so flavorful with the kimchi, hearty and packed with protein. I did do a couple of things differently than the original recipe by opting out of shrimp, adding more pork and using mint instead of perilla leaves so make sure to also check out the original recipe.


Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice

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Pork and Kimchi Fried Rice is made with ground pork, mint, garlic, ginger, scallions, delicious and flavorful kimchi and topped with a fried egg.

Yields: 8 servings

  • 1 tablespoon oil (I used olive oil)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 16 ounce jar kim chi, rough chopped
  • 2 cups long grain rice, cooked and chilled (I used jasmine)
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 3 mint leaves, thinly sliced
  • 1 fried egg per bowl, sunny-side up
  1. Prepare all the ingredients- beat 2 eggs, mince garlic, chop ginger, mint, scallions and roughly chop kimchi.
  2. In a wok, heat olive oil.
  3. Add garlic and ginger, cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
  4. Add ground pork and cook until browned.
  5. As the pork is cooking, cook your fried eggs on a medium-low heat in an oiled pan for 2 minutes or until the whites are cooked through. Set eggs to the side once cooked.
  6. Add eggs and mix. When they start to cook, add kim chi.
  7. Stir to combine and cook for 30 seconds.
  8. Whisk together the soy sauce and sesame oil in a bowl on the side.
  9. Add rice and wet ingredient mixture, a little at a time, until well absorbed.
  10. Cook for a few more minutes until rice is well coated with the kimchi.
  11. Add scallions and mint and stir.
  12. Add a fried egg to each bowl of fried rice.
  • Preparation time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice is made with basmati rice, freshly squeezed lime, chicken broth and cilantro for a simply delicious side dish for any night of the week.

Let’s get cooking!

Cilantro Lime Rice

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Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice is made with basmati rice, freshly squeezed lime, chicken broth and cilantro for a simply delicious side dish for any night of the week.

Yields: 6 servings

  • 1 cup long grain rice, basmati rice recommended
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil or butter
  • .5 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced
  1. Place the rice and chicken broth into a pot on the stove top.
  2. Add a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
  3. Cook accroding to packaged directions on rice bringing to a simmer and covering for 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
  4. Roughly chop your cilantro.
  5. Squeeze in fresh lime juice and the cilantro. Stir.
  6. Serve.
  • Preparation time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes

What entrée will you pair this Cilantro Lime Rice with?

Roasted Green Beans

Roasted Green Beans

Roasted Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish that goes with almost any main dish baked in the oven with fresh green beans, garlic, shallots and a bit of salt and pepper.

Roasted Green Beans We eat green beans with dinner frequently- it’s one of the only green foods the kids will actually happily consume! This recipe for Roasted Green Beans is by far the easiest and most frequent way I cook them.

Start by rinsing the green beans and snapping off the ends. As you snap off the ends, also remove that “string” part attached that goes down each green bean. You can also buy fresh greens that are already prepped to skip the extra steps but it is simple and only takes a few minutes.

Roasted Green Beans Place all your prepped green beans onto a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. I recommend about a tablespoon but this recipe is really one of those that you just toss together without having to measure so don’t be afraid to do a little less or a little more of anything.

Chop up a shallot and mix with green beans. Mince two garlic cloves over top. Finish off with some sea salt and pepper. Again, the salt and pepper amount depends on your own personal taste. We like green beans salty (probably too salty) so I go pretty heavy with the salt and pepper.

Place green beans in the oven on 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve immediately. Feel free to add your own twist to this recipe! Have some cherry tomatoes from the garden that need eaten? Add them. Toss in some sliced almonds or add more seasonings!

Roasted Green Beans

Roasted Green Beans

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Roasted Green Beans

Roasted Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish that goes with almost any main dish baked in the oven with fresh green beans, garlic, shallots and a bit of salt and pepper. 

Yields: 4 servings

  • 1 pound fresh green beans
  • 1 shallot
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Sea salt (to taste)
  • Pepper (to taste)
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Wash and snap off the ends of the green beans. Also remove the string down the center of each and discard.
  3. Place cleaned green beans into a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
  4. Finely chop a shallot and mix with green beans.
  5. Mix 2 minced garlic cloves in and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Use as much salt and pepper as you like. I am always generous with the salt because we enjoy our green beans salty so it is all personal preference.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes.
  7. Serve.
  • Preparation time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes

Roasted Green Beans quick and easy roasted green beans

Homemade Parmesan Croutons

Homemade Parmesan Croutons

Thank you Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soups for sponsoring this post. Stay warm with this winter with a cozy bowl of soup!

Homemade Parmesan Croutons are made with day old bread, seasonings and parmesan cheese nestled on top of a delicious, warm bowl of Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soup.

There is a lot of hustling about this time of year between school activities, holiday parties, shopping to check all the items off that Christmas list and trying to find a moment to spend with the family. We all need a few go-to items in the pantry in these chaotic times that are quick, easy and still allow you to put a comforting meal on the dinner table that will warm up the whole family.

Idahoan Steakhouse® Soups bring together real, red Idaho® potatoes with flavorful seasonings and rich cheeses to provide a creamy taste in every spoonful – all you have to do is add water. In just 5 minutes, you can have flavorful, slow-cooked taste of restaurant-quality soup at home!

Idahoan Steakhouse® Soups are available in four delicious flavor varieties:

  • Loaded Potato
  • Creamy Potato
  • Cheddar Broccoli
  • Cheddar Potato

Visit Idahoan Steakhouse® Soups to get more information by clicking HERE.

Homemade Parmesan Croutons

Homemade Parmesan Croutons are so easy to make! If you have not made your own croutons before, you want to try out this recipe. You will never go back to the store bought and homemade croutons are such a great use of a food you would probably just throw in the garbage. They are delicious and reduce waste. Win, win.

Today, I am sharing my Homemade Parmesan Crouton recipe but this is one of those recipes that you can easily tweak to utilize whatever you happen to have around the house. Swap some of the spices, opt out of the cheese and any kind of bread can be used. Have a loaf of ciabatta bread that has been sitting around for a week? Chop it up, add some spices and olive oil and then toss it in the oven for some great croutons!

Let’s get cooking!

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Remove the crust from the bread slices or leave the crust on-up to you! Then, slice the bread into 1 inch cubes. In a mixing bowl, add your seasonings and some parmesan cheese. Add in the cubed bread and drizzle with olive oil. Mix everything together and place on a baking sheet.
Bake the croutons for 20 minutes.
Remove the croutons from the oven and flip. Sprinkle with more parmesan cheese and bake another 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the croutons the last 5 minutes to make sure they do not burn. You want the croutons to be toasted and golden brown.

Homemade Parmesan Croutons

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Homemade Parmesan Croutons are made with day old bread, seasonings and parmesan cheese nestled on top of a delicious, warm bowl of Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soup.

  • 6 slices day old bread (4 cups cubed)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Slice your bread into 1 inch cubes. You can remove the crust or leave crust on.
  3. In a mixing bowl, add your seasonings and mix.
  4. Mix in half the parmesan cheese.
  5. Drizzle the olive oil on top and mix all ingredients together.
  6. Place on a parchment paper covered baking sheet.
  7. Bake 20 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven and flip croutons. Sprinkle the remainder of the parmesan cheese on top and bake another 10 minutes.
  9. Let cool and store in a sealable container.

Place your Homemade Parmesan Croutons into a sealable container once completely cooled to be stored. Toss them on salads, eat them for a snack or on top of cozy, warm bowl of Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soup.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda

Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #TurkeyDayTips #CollectiveBias

Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes made in the slow cooker with red potatoes, sour cream, cream cheese, rosemary, garlic and melted gouda cheese are the must have side dish this Thanksgiving. We are pairing these creamy potatoes and the rest of Thanksgiving dinner with Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Red Blend to pull together the spirit of the day.

With my husband being in the military going home for holidays hasn’t always been an option, especially when we were younger and didn’t have the money for flights and travel. I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner with friends as a teenager and it was a disaster.

Disaster!!

Our friends are gracious and amazing so they were more than thankful that I cooked but I just took on way too much! I made everything I could think of from scratch and it was so stressful and chaotic. I have learned a few things over the past decade and the biggest tip I have to help a new entertainer prepare is to focus on just a few dishes and make them fantastic!

As a host, you want to focus on the “stars” on the table. Those are the turkey, the must-have mashed potatoes, the drinks and of course of the dessert. I’m helping you out today going over each of these star items.

Don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring items. Designate someone to bring rolls, someone to bring green beans and whatever else you want to see on the dinner table. Your guests want to bring something and contribute! Take away some stress and let them.

Click HERE for Turkey Day tips!

Shop and redeem rewards with Shopkick this holiday season!

Click HERE for more info.

Hosting

Hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner can get a bit overwhelming but we are keeping it as simple as possible. We have the big items taken care of with the Butterball Whole Turkey, Woodridge Wines, side of Crockpot Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda, Marie Callender’s Dessert Pies and Marie Callender’s Loaf Cakes.

The stars of dinner:

  • Butterball Whole Turkey – figure 1 pound per guest.
  • Marie Callender’s Dessert Pies and Marie Callender’s Loaf Cakes – enough for each guest to have two slices. Yes, two! It’s Thanksgiving!
  • Crockpot Red Mashed Potato with Gouda ingredients (recipe card below)
  • Woodridge Red Blend, Woodridge Chardonnay and Woodridge Cabernet – 1/2 bottle per person and get a selection of both the red and white

What else is on that Turkey Day checklist?

  • 2 clean plates for each guest
  • water glass for each guest and wine glass for everyone over 21
  • silverware- 2 forks, 1 spoon and 1 knife for each guest
  • beautiful serving platter/bowl for each dish and dessert
  • roasting pan
  • thermometer
  • hand mixer
  • crockpot
  • to-go boxes for guest leftovers
  • napkins
  • gravy bowl
  • ample amount of servings spoons for each dish
  • knife for carving the turkey

The special touches are what gives the holiday a warm, inviting feeling to the dinner table. Just a few items can bring out that “wow” factor.

Get the wow factor: 

  • candles
  • tablecloth
  • table liner
  • pumpkin and leaf for each guest
  • placemats
  • fresh flowers
  • the turkey is naturally the centerpiece so place some rosemary and fresh cranberries on the platter for instant décor

The Wine

Wine pairing is an area that can be intimidating but I have you covered. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Red Blend was released earlier this year and comes in 750 mL and 1.5L bottles. The wine offers warm, toasty aromas and flavors, including jammy blackberry, vanilla, and baking spices. It’s full and rich with a long, flavorful finish. Pairs well with all your holiday favorites, including the turkey, potatoes and even pumpkin pie.

Woodbridge has been crafted for 30 years and offers classic wines that are balanced and smooth making them ideal for gatherings with friends and family for that perfect pairing. Woodbridge Red Blend is my recommended wine but also pick up Woodbridge Chardonnay and Woodbridge Cabernet so there is a great selection.

Visit Woodridge and follow on social media:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Turkey Time

Butterball is the #1 brand of turkey in America for a reason! Butterball Whole Turkeys are all natural and pre-brined giving you the highest quality, juiciest turkey perfect for your Thanksgiving celebrations. Every Butterball Whole Turkey comes with easy-to-follow instructions packaged in an easy open bag.

I bought a 10 pound Butterball Whole Turkey. If you are questioning how much you need to buy, figure 1 pound per person. This will give you more than enough for everyone and allow for leftovers. I followed the instructions that came with my turkey and thawed it out for a few hours in cold water, changing out the water every 30 minutes. Then, I preheat the oven to 325 degrees. I rubbed olive oil on top of the turkey and instead using stuffing inside the turkey, I filled the cavity with onion, lemon and rosemary for a nice aromatic. I cooked the turkey for 3 hours until the thigh temperature was at 180 degrees.

Don’t fret over the gravy! Your Butterball Whole Turkey comes with a gravy packet and instructions to whisk up the perfect gravy for those potatoes and turkey.

Only Butterball has a team of turkey experts at the Turkey Talk-Line who are ready and waiting to answer all of your cooking questions.  Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456.

Visit Butterball and follow on social media:

 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda

I am a big fan of mashed potatoes of any kind but today I wanted to make them extra special for the big Thanksgiving dinner so I pulled together these Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda cheese. This side dish is so tasty and very simple to whip up.

Wash your red potatoes, peel or don’t peel (up to you), quarter and toss in that slow cooker for 3-4 hours with chicken broth, minced garlic and some fresh rosemary. Once the potatoes are tender, remove the rosemary, add shredded gouda cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Use a hand mixer to blend until smooth and creamy.

You are definitely going to want to make these mashed red potatoes!! They are a huge hit!

Crockpot Holiday Mashed Red Potatoes with Gouda

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Yields: 15 servings

  • 5 pounds red potatoes
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 sprigs rosemary
  • 8 ounces gouda cheese, shredded
  • .5 cup chicken broth
  • .5 cup sour cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Pepper (to taste)
  1. Wash and quarter 5 pounds of red potatoes.
  2. Peel potatoes if you wish. I like to peel half to keep some skin.
  3. Place chopped red potatoes, .5 cup chicken broth, minced garlic cloves and 3 sprigs of rosemary in crockpot.
  4. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
  5. Remove rosemary sprigs.
  6. Add sour cream, cream cheese, shredded gouda, salt and pepper.
  7. Use a hand mixer to mix ingredients together until creamy. You can add a pinch of milk if you need to thin out the mashed potatoes.
  8. Cook another 15 minutes so cheese melts and serve.
  • Preparation time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 4 hours

Dessert

Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without warm, delicious desserts.  End Thanksgiving on a high note with Marie Callender’s Dessert Pies and new Marie Callender’s Loaf Cakes. Dutch Apple and Chocolate Satin Dessert Pies taste just like homemade that are easy to make and quick to clean up. Marie Callender’s Loaf Cakes are made from scratch with real ingredients and no preservatives or artificial colors with flavors like Double Chocolate and Banana Nut.

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I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season with friends and family. Have you hosted a big Thanksgiving dinner or are you a new entertainer? Leave a comment below with tips from my veteran hosts for my newbies. New entertainers, leave a comment with any questions or concerns.