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Strawberry Lemonade

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Strawberry Lemonade is made with fresh strawberries, lemons, honey and a little sugar for a refreshing beverage this summer. 

The weather is heating up and summer is coming! I love summer. I love the sunshine, the heat, flip flops and swimming with the kids. Most of all though, I love lounging outside and enjoying time with friends and family. This beverage is the perfect lounging outside on a hot day kind of drink. 

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade is both sweet and tart with a strong flavor of strawberry that is just so delicious. This is a great non-alcoholic beverage for the family or you can add a shot of vodka to make it an adult beverage after a long, hot summer day. 

Tips & Tricks

Strain

You can use a sieve to strain the blended strawberries to remove the seeds and pulp. This is an optional step but I find when you are having a gathering, it is best to strain because not everyone likes pulp. Plus, the step is simple and only takes a minute. 

Sugar

You can make this lemonade as sweet as you like. You will need some sugar to cut back on the tartness of the lemons. Strawberries already have a lot of natural sugar and honey is also added so 1/4 cup to 1/2 extra sugar should be plenty. 



 

Strawberry Lemonade, summer beverage, strawberry drink, how to make lemonade, non alcoholic beverage
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Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade is made with fresh strawberries, lemons, honey and a little sugar for a refreshing beverage this summer. 
Servings 8 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries hulled
  • 1 1/2 cups lemon juice aprox 7 lemons
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 6 cups water
  • ice
  • lemon slices garnish
  • mint garnish

Instructions

  • Wash and hull the strawberries and  juice the lemons. 
  • Place strawberries, honey and lemon juice into blender. Blend well. 
  • Send mixture through a sieve to strain or add directly to a pitcher of ice. Add 6 cups water. 
  • Add sugar to taste. I like it with 1/2 cup but you can add less or more depending on your personal taste. 
  • Add lemon slices and mint to garnish. Stir well and serve. 

What is your favorite part about summer? Let me know in the comments below. 

Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices

Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices is a deliciously tart pie made with sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and freshly squeezed lemons in a graham cracker crust topped with homemade candied lemon slices and whipped cream.

While, I am a peanut butter and chocolate dessert kind of girl, every once in awhile, I want a dessert that is sweet, tart and creamy. This Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices is just that! Plus, both my kids really enjoy these types of desserts so it a nice treat for them too.

Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices

This Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices recipe was inspired from Joanna Gaines and her favorite lemon pie from Magnolia. This pie is vibrant, beautiful, fresh and perfect for spring entertaining, dinner parties or even the Easter holiday. This is a super simple pie to create with a bake time of less than 20 minutes and is a breeze to whip together. Make this pie for your next family get together and promise everyone will be begging for more!

Tips & Tricks

Lemon Pie

This lemon pie filling is crazy simple! Just make sure to use fresh egg yolks and once you have beaten the filing mixture, by and release some of the air bubbles by tapping the bowl on the counter before pouring into the pie crust to bake.

Whipped Cream Topping

You want to beat heavy cream, confectioners sugar and vanilla extract together to form a nice whipped cream topping for your pie which will take about 7 minutes to form a stiff peak. As you beat the mixture, look for trails being left in the mix. At that moment, you want to pay attention to ensure you don’t over mix. The whipped cream will be stiff and hold it’s shape. This means it is time to serve.

Candied Lemon Slices

The candied lemon slices make this pie really fun and is a great spin off the original recipe. The hardest part of making these candied lemon slices is the waiting period after simmering them so make sure to make them in advance. If you forget, no biggie! Just use fresh lemon slices or decorate the pie however you please!

Don’t toss that sugar water you simmered the lemon slices in! Save it for later as a lemon simple syrup to use in cocktails, to make sorbet or as part of a sweet dressing.

Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices | Lemon pie, how to make candied lemon slices | joanna gaines lemon pie | #lemon | lemon recipe | easter dessert | spring dessert | how to make whipped cream
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Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices

Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemon Slices is a deliciously tart pie made with sweetened condensed milk and freshly squeezed lemons in a graham cracker crust topped with homemade candied lemon slices and whipped cream. 
Course Dessert
Keyword dessert, lemon, pie
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 8 slices
Author Amber

Ingredients

Candied Lemon Slices

  • 2 lemon sliced
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water

Lemon Pie Filling

  • 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk (2 cans)
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup lemon juice (4 lemons)
  • salt

Graham Cracker Crust

  • 10 graham crackers (1 sleeve)
  • 6 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Whipped Cream Topping

  • 2 cuips heavy whipping cream
  • 3 Tablespoons confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • 24 hours prior to servings your pie, begin the candied lemon slices. Wash and slice 2 lemons. 
  • In a saucepan on the stove top, bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a simmer and then add in lemon slices. Simmer for 15 minutes and place onto parchment for a day. 
  • Begin the crust. first pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Place the graham crackers and brown sugar into a food processor and blend for 1 minute. Add the melted butter and blend for another 30 seconds. 
  • Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of an 8 inch pie pan. I use  spatula to press the graham cracker down and come up the the sides. 
  • Bake the crust for 8 minutes. 
  • Begin the lemon pie filling. In a large mixing bowl, add condensed milk, egg yolks, and a pinch of salt. Juice about 4 lemons to get 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice and place into the mixing bowl. I like to juice the lemons into a separate small bowl and then add the juice to ensure I don't drop in any lemon seeds. Use a hand or stand mixer to beat the mix for 5 minutes, 
  • Pat the bowl down on the counter top a few times to get the air bubbles out and then pour over baked pie crust. 
  • Bake another 10 minutes. 
  • Remove from oven, let the pie cool and then place in refrigerator for 2 hours. 
  • As the pie chills in the refrigerator, make the whipped topping. In a mixing bowl, add 2 cups heavy whipping cream , 3 Tablespoons confectioners sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Use a stand or hand mixer to beat until you have reached a firm peak which takes about 7 minutes. 
  • Decorate the pie with the candied lemon slices and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.  Mint is optional to add a pop of color. 

Notes

A touch of yellow food dye was also added in for these photos. Try 5 squirts for a more vibrant pie if you please! 

Are you typically a chocolate dessert eater or do you love more tart desserts like this Lemon Pie? Let me know in the comments below and tell me how this dessert fit into your spring planning.

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli is made with fresh broccoli florets, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, cracked pepper and olive oil.

Roasting vegetables is my jam. You can see how to roast green beans with this Roasted Green Beans recipe or try some Roasted Lemon Asparagus. Tossing some vegetables in the oven with some olive oil and seasonings is just so easy and so tasty! These Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli are no exceptional.

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli have a nice flavor of lemon with the freshly squeezed lemon and after baking, get tossed in with some shredded Parmesan cheese for a nutty note. You can makes this side dish with ANY entree you like! I recommend the Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken with mashed potatoes and this yummy broccoli.

Tips & Tricks

Don’t overcook the broccoli- keep green and crisp to ensure you are getting all the nutrition from the vegetable. After all, broccoli is said to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet full of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Folate (that’s just the beginning). Loaded with fiber for digestive health and could even help lower your risk of cancer. You should be feeding your family this stuff regularly!

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli, side dish, how to roast broccoli, parmesan broccoli, how to cook broccoli
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Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli

Roasted Lemon Garlic Parmesan Broccoli is made with fresh broccoli florets, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, cracked pepper and olive oil. 
Course Side Dish
Keyword broccoli
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli florets
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • ground pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
  • Rinse your broccoli and chop into bite sized pieces. Place on a baking sheet. 
  • Drizzle with olive oil. 
  • Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon). 
  • Minced garlic and add on top. Mix all the ingredients together so each broccoli is covered. 
  • Sprinkle on a little black pepper and cook in the oven for 14-16 minutes, flipping half way through cooking. 
  • Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. 
  • Serve. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are made with basic baking ingredients, yogurt, poppy seeds, lemon zest and lemon juice with a lemon glaze on top.

Mornings get crazy hectic around here so making a batch of muffins on Sunday night reduces that morning ‘what are we eating’ panic before school. If your a mom- you know the rush. Poppy seed muffins have always been one of my favorites and I love the extra touch of lemon and so does the rest of the family.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are made with basic ingredients plus some poppy seeds and fresh lemon. I could wake up to these babies every morning !

Tips & Tricks

For easy icing of the muffins : Dip each muffin top in the icing when they come out of the oven and then let cool on a cooling rack. This method is easier than drizzling and makes the amount of icing more consistent for each muffin!

Egg whites : Separate the eggs and place the whites in a bowl to beat to a soft peak. A soft peak is when the egg white is beaten to the point where when you lift the beater out of the bowl, a peak forms and then droops within moments. This will help create a fluffier muffin.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, muffins, lemon icing, fresh lemon muffins, poppy seed muffins
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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are made with basic baking ingredients, yogurt, poppy seeds, lemon zest and lemon juice with a lemon glaze on top. Recipe adapted from Kitchen Addiction. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 24 muffins
Author Amber

Ingredients

Poppy Seed Muffins

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 eggs separated
  • 1 lemon zest and juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons poppy seeds

Lemon Glaze

  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
  • Add your dry ingredients together of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix and set to the side. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and cup of sugar.  
  • Add the mixture of dry ingredients, milk, yogurt vanilla extract and egg yolks. Place the egg whites into a separate bowl. Set the egg whites to the side. 
  • Juice and zest your lemon. You want about 2 Tablespoons of juice and 1 Tablespoon zest put into the muffin batter. Reserve an extra Tablespoon of lemon juice for the icing. 
  • Beat the egg whites to a soft peak and then fold it into the muffin batter. Also stir in the poppy seeds. 
  • Bake for 19-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 
  • While the muffins bake, make the icing.  Whisk together the confectioners sugar and 1 Tablespoon lemon juice. 
  • Place icing on each muffin and let cool. 

When Life Gives You Lemons: Throw a Party and Make Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

When Life Gives You Lemons:

Throw a Party

and make Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

This post is sponsored by Thyme & Table. All opinions are mine alone.  #WhatAGoodThyme

Garlic Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce is a beautiful entrée made with thinly cut chicken breasts, shallots, and parmesan cheese packed with a punch of lemon and garlic flavor that is perfect for entertaining or a weeknight dinner with the family.

My collection of utensils in the kitchen have some wear- a lot of wear actually and it is long overdue for some kitchen goodies! Thyme & Table’s new product line just launched at Walmart and I felt so inspired to throw a spring themed gathering with friends ad family after receiving this beautiful collection of utensils, gadgets, knives and a cutting board! Spring is finally here and the weather is getting nicer – although it did snow this morning here in Cincinnati but the sunshine is back so I am ready to say good-bye to winter. Let’s celebrate springs arrival!

A great party always has a great theme! ‘When life gives you lemons…’ is the perfect spring theme to infuse a bright spirit in my home and give me all the inspiration needed to create a gorgeous tablescape and amazing menu for all my guests.

When Life Gives You Lemons Tablescape

My favorite part of throwing a dinner party is transforming the dining room! I had so much fun stopping by Walmart to pick up everything I needed to make my guests walk in the room and say, “WOW.” Start your tablescape with a color palette. Lemons are yellow so that was an obvious choice but I also needed another complementary color to make my table pop! Blue and yellow are always a great a combination and have such a cheery affect so blue was the winner! Before shopping at Walmart, look around your house to see what can be utilized in the space already. I was able to pull a wreath, tablecloth, plate chargers, cake stands and a few other items from other rooms in the house to use.

Thyme & Table Winged Corckscrew shown in copper plated stainless steel.

What you need to complete a beautiful tablescape: 

  • Salad and dinner plate for each guest.
  • Water glass for each guest plus wine glass for those over 21 years old. Place a lemon slice into each water glass for taste and décor.
  • Silverware set for each guest. I tied a knife, fork, salad fork and spoon into a bundle with some string to also bring in some decoration to each place setting.
  • Napkins. The blue and plaid napkins were perfect for my theme creating a picnic feel.
  • Tablecloth and runner. This is optional but it is also the easiest way to brighten up the table with a white tablecloth and blue runner which matches the plaid napkins.
  • Flowers! Walmart has a flower section with a lot of options for you. I bought some tulips to place in a pitcher on the drink table and carnations to place into jars. To pull in some more yellow, I put lemon slices into the flower jars spread out along the table runner. Wrap a small bow around each jar and you have a beautiful, affordable and colorful centerpiece.
  • Thyme & Table utensils for each dish you serve with appropriate size bowls or plates.
  • Take those extra items you found around the house to decorate. I took down a large picture and replaced it with a wreath, set up my beverage server(which I recently found at Walmart) with lemon slices and water, placed cake stands everywhere and then just played with the design. I have a pitcher of flowers on top of a cake stand that is on a tray full of lemons. Think outside the box and layer your items and fill in areas with color! Fresh, whole lemons act as the perfect color filler.
  • Name cards or a place setting decoration. A little décor on each place setting will go a long way. You can make adorable name cards, place a whole lemon on each plate, use a single fresh cut flower, or a small flower pot with a faux or fresh flowers.

Thyme & Table Winged Corckscrew shown in copper plated stainless steel.

When Life Gives You Lemons Menu

Menu planning can be stressful for a dinner party. My advice is to keep it simple. Pick an entrée, salad, two sides and a dessert. If you feel overwhelmed, ask guests to bring a dish. Nobody will mind throwing together a salad or picking up a dessert before they come over – people like to contribute so just ask for what you need.

Thyme & Table utensils shown including the mini silicone funnel.

When life gives you lemons menu:

  • Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce. Recipe card below. Note that the Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce recipe card serves 4-5. I used two pans and doubled the recipe to feed 10.
  • Roasted Green Beans with shallots and garlic.
  • Garlic & Herb Smashed Potatoes.
  • Spring Salad with strawberries, blueberries, sliced almonds, feta cheese and poppy seed dressing.
  • Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake with a peach lemon glaze.
  • Wine of choice for those over 21. I recommend a Riesling or Chardonnay and half of a bottle per person.

Thyme & Table knife shown from the 3-piece set and Acacia Board chopping block.

Prepping with Thyme & Table

I know you are scrolling through these photographs and eyeballing all these gorgeous kitchen utensils and gadgets! Thyme & Table doesn’t just offer beautiful products for your kitchen but the new line is full of items to make cooking more efficient. The Thyme & Table knife set is impressive with comfortable gripping and easy chopping.

Thyme & Table Grater shown in copper plated stainless steel and Acacia Board chopping block.

What else am I loving from the new Thyme & Table line? The copper plated stainless steel everything! From the cheese grater to wine opener to the collection of utensils- they are crazy gorgeous! Mother’s Day is approaching and I am envisioning a beautiful gift basket with the copper plated stainless steel collection and one of the Thyme & Table cutting boards.

Thyme & Table Whisk shown from the whisk and tong set.

I could talk all day about the new Thyme & Table line but we have some dinner party tips and an amazing recipe for Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce coming up and you don’t want to miss this recipe!

Tips to Make Your Dinner Party a Success

  • When inviting guests, ask if there are any food allergies so you can plan the menu accordingly.
  • Set up your tablescape the day before to make sure you have everything needed and to play with the arrangement until it is perfect. Also, make sure to iron the tablecloth and napkins.
  • Prepare dessert the night before or the morning of party to check a big menu item off the to-do list.
  • Prep all ingredients a couple hours before party. This includes measuring, chopping, washing produce and more. When dinner comes, you can cook in a clean kitchen more efficiently and quickly leaving you more time with guests.
  • Before guests arrive, get your beverage station set-up an fill water glasses.

Thyme & Table spoon and slotted turner shown from the 2 pack Acacia utensil set.

Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

Chicken is always a great choice for dinner parties because it is simple and most people are happy to eat chicken. I wanted to create a chicken dish with spring in mind so it has a strong lemon taste that pairs so well with the garlic, shallots and parmesan so here comes the Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce.

Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
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Garlic Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce, #ad, #WhatAGoodThyme, Lemon Tablescape, Spring party tablescape, spring dinner menu, Thyme & Table

Garlic Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce is a beautiful entrée made with thinly cut chicken breasts, shallots, and parmesan cheese packed with a punch of lemon and garlic flavor that is perfect for entertaining or a weeknight dinner with the family.

  • 4-5 chicken breasts, thin cut
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 shallot, diced
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • garnish with a lemon slice
  1. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts.
  2. Place the pan onto the stovetop on a high heat and let it heat up. You can use a skillet or non stick pan.
  3. Mince the garlic cloves and dice the shallot. Grate the parmesan cheese and juice a lemon.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the chicken 5-7 minutes on each side.
  5. Remove the chicken and place on a plate while you make the sauce.
  6. Place the pan back on the heat on low-medium.
  7. Add the butter, minced garlic and diced shallots. Stir often for 3 minutes keeping on eye on the garlic not to burn.
  8. Add 1 cup chicken broth, 1/4 cup heavy cream and ,5 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Let simmer 5 minutes.
  9. In a small bowl, Mix the teaspoon cornstarch with tablespoon water and add to pan. Stir in the cornstarch mixture with sauce.
  10. Add the grated parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Stir ingredients in and add the chicken back in.
  11. Spoon the sauce over chicken and add a lemon slice garnish if you would like.
  12. Serve.

Before stopping by Walmart to pick up your Thyme & Table products, visit their site by clicking HERE! Don’t forget to stop back in and comment below to tell me how your When Life Gives You Lemons spring-inspired dinner party went!

 

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake is a deliciously soft, lemon filled cake with lemon zest and a tart peach glaze.

I go through phases every once in awhile where all my favorite recipes all of a sudden seem meh. I either get in the kitchen and start creating at that point or I start digging through cook books and magazines. That’s exactly what I recommend in your own times of meh! Just browse through some foodie magazines or food blogs and see what stands out to you. It is a great way to learn new recipes and also techniques. New or just different techniques is what makes you a better cook so give it a go!

This Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake recipe comes from the Bon Appetit January 2017 Special Edition. I chose this specific cake recipe because it has basic ingredients and I rarely make Bundt cakes. Plus, I looooove lemon. This cake is fluffy and moist with the perfect about of lemon flavors and the simple glaze is the perfect touch.

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt CakeLemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake is simple to make. Just make sure the pan is well greased and you get into all those little grooves of the pan. I use a sauce brush to help spread the butter and shake the excess flour out well.

I should also mention the lemon zest. It took me awhile to zest enough lemons to get a half cup. Don’t curse my name while zesting. I promise it is well worth the effort and is seriously the most difficult part of this recipe.

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake
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Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake is a deliciously soft, lemon filled cake with lemon zest and a tart peach glaze. 

Yields: 12 servings

  • Bundt Cake
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2.5 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup lemon zest (took about 6 large lemons)
  • A bit of butter and flour needed to grease the pan
  • Glaze
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup peach preserve
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease the bundt cake pan (standard size fluted tube pan) with butter and flour.
  3. Whisk the flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl.
  4. Zest 1/2 cup with of lemon zest.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, mix sugar and lemon zest. Mix until ingredients are well blended to make a lemon sugar.
  6. Add 1 cup of butter to lemon sugar and use a hand mixer to beat until smooth.
  7. Add the 4 eggs and use the hand mixer to beat until smooth (add eggs one at a time).
  8. Add in some of the dry ingredients and beat, followed by some of the buttermilk. Alternate adding in the dry ingredients and buttermilk and mix until smooth.
  9. Pour into the greased bundt cake pan and place into oven for 60 minutes.
  10. Let cake cool and remove from pan.
  11. On the stovetop, simmer the peach preserves and lemon juice into a reduction. This takes about 5 minutes.
  12. Strain the glaze and immediately pour over cake.
  13. Let glaze cool and serve.
  • Preparation time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: 65 minutes

Lemon Buttermilk Bundt CakeLemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing has fresh strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and honeydew melon star cut outs with a simple maple syrup and lemon juice dressing. The star cut outs make this healthy side dish fun and patriotic that is perfect for holiday BBQ’s.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple DressingI enjoy making side dishes for family get togethers or neighborhood parties. I prefer to keep it simple when feeding a lot of people so everyone can dig in and enjoy. Fancy or complicated dishes can be confusing to some people and sometimes kids are weird about trying anything unfamiliar. Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing is one of those side dishes that will please everyone and does not take a lot of your time to put together.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple DressingThe fun part of this dish is the star shaped fruit. I bought a pack of star cookie cutters in multiple sizes and sliced the melons in about 1 inch sections. Then, used the different sized stars to make the cut outs. Really simple but adds a lot to the dish. Kids always think it is fun and want to eat all the stars. You will have some scraps left over from the melons. I just cut those into little bite size pieces and toss into a separate bowl for snacking.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple DressingWith my Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing in hand, I am ready for all the summer grill outs we will be attending or hosting. So fresh, easy, healthy and a complete crowd pleasure that happens to also be budget friendly and shows a little creativity.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing

 

Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing
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Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing
  • 1 pint strawberries
  • 1 quart blueberries
  • .5 seedless watermelon
  • .5 honeydew melon
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  1. Wash your berries well and dry.
  2. Cut strawberries in half and toss in a large bowl.
  3. Toss blueberries in bowl.
  4. Slice half a watermelon and half the honeydew melon into 1 inch pieces. Take your star cookie cutters and press into melon creating your stars. Toss stars into bowl.
  5. Mix 1/4 cup maple syrup and squeeze 1 fresh lime into a small maple. Mix well and pour over top of fruit.
  6. Mix all ingredients together.
  7. Serve.

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Fruit Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce has petite sirloin cut steak with an amazingly flavorful rosemary garlic sauce with a touch of lemon and shallots.

As a child, I hated steak. I thought it was horrible and gross. I wanted nothing to do with it. When I got older, I started trying more foods and different cooking methods and came to love steak. My mother would always cook our steak well done growing up. I mean WELL done. Sorry mom, steak isn’t your department. It was flavorless and hard to chew. For full flavor, keep some pink in your steak. I prefer my steak medium-rare and cook my kids a few minutes longer to be a medium to medium-well.

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce

Let us start by talking about the steak. I buy petite steak a lot. It is affordable and flavorful.  However, petite steak can be less tender than other cuts. You can certainly swap out the cut of steak in this recipe for whichever cut you prefer. I know when you have kids to feed, staying affordable is a must and the petite is a great option for those who love steak but don’t always love the price tag.

Grilling the steak really gives the best flavor so that is what we need today. I say “we” because I haven’t grilled anything in a decade. My husband is the grill chef in this household. I’m just the supervisor… which he isn’t too entertained by but marriage is what it is.

Cooking time on the grill is important. Set your grill on a medium heat. I stick to the cooking times Bobby Flay recommends. I’m pretty sure the guy knows what he is doing.  Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the steaks over and continue to grill 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare, 5 to 7 minutes for medium or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well. We cook the steak about 5 minutes each side and let the kids steaks cook another few minutes.

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce has a really great sauce. This sauce was inspired from a steak on the menu from Long Horn Steak House. Long Horn’s has a steak with a rosemary gravy, mushrooms, topped with onion straws that is pretty tasty. This is not a copy cat sauce, the sauce was just my inspiration. Instead of onion straws, I used shallots and lightened it up with some lemon. I did not leave out the amazing rosemary flavor though so if you love that Long Horn steak, this is not the same but much of the flavor profile is there so you are sure to love this too.

We made mashed potatoes on the side today and drizzled the sauce over those too and it was delicious in replace of a thick gravy. Plus, it is so simple to make with just a few ingredients.

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce
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Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce
  • 1.5 pounds steak (we went with petite sirloin today)
  • 1 lemon
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  1. Finely chop 1 shallot, 2 tablespoons worth of rosemary and 3 garlic cloves. Cut your lemon in half. Put to side for later.
  2. Place steaks on the grill on a medium heat.
  3. Cook until browned, 4-5 minutes, and flip.
  4. Cook another 3-10 minutes depending on how well done you like your steak. We typically do 5 minute each side. A few extra minutes for the kids steak.
  5. Make your sauce. In a saucepan on a medium heat, add your chopped shallots and 1 tablespoon butter. Mix often for 2 minutes.
  6. Add your garlic, rosemary, olive oil and squeeze the lemon. Let simmer for 2 minutes.
  7. Add half cup of the beef broth. Simmer.
  8. In a small bowl, place the remainder of the beef broth (1/4 cup) and 1 tablespoon flour and mix well. Pour into the saucepan.
  9. Mix the saucepan ingredients until it thickens.
  10. Drizzle the rosemary garlic sauce over the steaks and serve.

Steak with Rosemary Garlic Sauce pin

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

This shop was compensated with free product from Sun Basket for the purpose of providing a review. If you click on a link within the post and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission from the sale at no extra cost to you.  All opinions are mine alone.

There are many grocery and meal delivery services available these days and we were so happy to be provided with Sun Basket for a review. We have never tried a meal system such as this one before. I worry that these are too expensive and that it won’t supply my family with enough food.  Let’s see how Sun Basket was for my family.

If you are a newbie to the idea, here is how Sun Basket works:

  1. Visit Sun Basket.
  2. Pick your plan. There are meals for 2 and family plans available.
  3. Choose your meals.
  4. Once the Sun Basket box is delivered to your doorstep, follow the recipe cards to create beautiful meals.

 

Sun Basket

All ingredients were delivered in a medium sized box to my front door in just a few days after selecting my meals. I took the photo above to display how organized everything is. All the ingredients were nicely packaged, clearly labeled and fresh. I was very impressed with all the organically grown foods and the fruits that were all perfectly ripe, the herbs were just right, and vegetables as green as they can be. The meat was all packaged and sealed tight so there was no worry of leakage onto other ingredients. Each meal was also packaged in a paper bag to easily store in the fridge and keep the ingredients separate from other meals.

The only issue with the delivery was I had one egg cracked. Not a big deal for myself, we always have plenty of eggs in the fridge so it was not a headache to replace it.

The only extra ingredients need from my pantry were olive oil, salt and pepper. All the meals took under 40 minutes to cook and since most of the preparation was already done for me, besides some chopping, all these meals were super quick to get on the dinner table.

 

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

 

Day one we cooked Mrs. Scorsese’s Lemon Chicken and it was fantastic! The recipe card was very easy to follow. I did make one change in preparation by cutting the potatoes smaller than asked. It just makes dinner easier with young kids have everything bite sized. The rosemary on the potatoes was absolutely delicious and the broccoli turned out perfectly. The chicken had a light lemon flavor that the entire family enjoyed.

 

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

 

Day two we made the Spicy Chorizo and Tomatillo Chili with Coconut and Lime. I was worried that it may be a little spicy for the kids so I made some chicken on the side just in case, plus the soup was intended for 2 servings.  My eight year old son ended up eating an entire bowl for himself. The soup was just a little spicy and had a nice balance of sweet. The pumpkin seeds and coconut milk were a nice touch that typically I wouldn’t think of on my own.

 

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

 

Day three, we cooked the Red Pepper Frittata with Arugula Pesto and the Orange Ginger Smoothie. I also made some hash browns on the side since I wanted to make sure everyone got enough food for dinner. We do love breakfast for dinner!

The frittata took about 15 minutes to prep and cook. The arugula pesto was excellent! So fresh and tasty and paired perfectly with the roasted red pepper.

The only item from our entire Sun Basket box that we did not like was the Orange Ginger Smoothie. I did not enjoy it and neither did my kids. I had a feeling that would be the case when I ordered it but it was nice to try something different and have the kids try something new. The orange was perfectly ripe and juicy and the ginger was fresh. It just wasn’t for our taste buds. My taste buds did not do a happy dance on this one.

 

Our Family Review of Sun Basket

 

My biggest worries about Sun Basket were the price and the amount of food we received. Once I saw the quality of ingredients and the creativity of the meals themselves, the price was not a big deal for me. We spend a lot of money in food every week and this is much cheaper than going out to eat and about the same price as ordering Chinese food for us but so much healthier. The pricing is honestly very fair. As far as the amount of food we received. It was just right! The serving sizes are well portioned. We are a family of four and we all have hearty appetites. Nobody went hungry and we even had a little bit of leftovers.
$30 off Sun Basket

Overall Review of Sun Basket:

Overall review of Sun Basket is that the meal system is excellent. High quality, organic ingredients and creative recipes all packaged nicely and very convenient. I do not enjoy going to the grocery store and it was such a treat to have everything we need delivered but still healthy and still packed full of flavor. The biggest reason to order Sun Basket again will be to try new meals. It is hard to come up with dinner ideas every night of the week, it gets exhausting and I think most families get into a rut of chicken, rice, and a vegetable every other night. Sun Basket will help you explore new tastes and shake up that boring chicken night.

Have you tried Sun Basket yet?

Sun Basket 3 Meals Free

St Patrick’s Day Party {+Recipes}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JustAdd7UP

One of my favorite holidays is almost here! St Patrick’s Day is on March 17th and we are throwing a party! What makes this one of my favorite holidays? It is all about fun times with friends, decorations, food and drink.  7UP® is helping me take this party over the top with a 7UP Green Apple Lemonade Spritzer that is child friendly, plus, there’s an adult version, if needed.  I am also baking some St Patty’s 7UP Cupcakes made from 7UP with a lemon lime frosting.  I love the versatility of 7UP for special occasions like this. Kid friendly, adult approved and multi functional. Yes, please! Get this party started.

 

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

First task on the list to create an awesome St Patrick’s Day party is stopping by Walmart to pick up all your food, drink and party supplies. Here is a checklist of what we are looking for:

  1. 7UP® 12oz. 12-pack or 12oz. 8-pack found on the beverage aisle. I like buying both cans and bottles since the kids do better with lids that you can close. No spills makes for a happy party host.
  2. 7UP Green Apple Lemonade Spritzer ingredients also needed: Lemonade, 7UP, sour apple mix, green food dye, lemons, limes, green apples, green dye and ice.
  3. St Patty’s 7UP Cupcake ingredients: boxed white cake mix, eggs, unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, green food coloring, sugar, 7UP, lemon juice, lime juice, frosting bags, large frosting tip, and powdered sugar.
  4. Party must haves: Plates, napkins, cups, straws and pitcher. Think green!
  5. St Patrick’s Day decorations: Tablecloth, banner, cupcake sprinkles and liners. Plus, any décor to bring your table to life. I found these party balls and coins to add a little extra fun. Think about shamrocks and green! Lot’s of green. You cannot have too much green today.

 

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

Once you have your Walmart list completed, it is time to set up your beverage and dessert table. Lay out the tablecloth on your table or kitchen island and place the fun banner overhead so everyone knows where the fun starts when they walk in. This task is something I like to do the night before so I can see how everything will look, make sure I did not forget something important like cups (oh boy! been there) and gives me more time to mix drinks and bake the day of the party. Plus, I will be busy the day of the party throwing on all my green gear and telling myself I can totally pull off the green eye shadow. I can, right?

 

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

The night before or morning of party, start baking your St. Patty’s 7UP Cupcakes.  These cupcakes are from a white cake box mix, if you can believe it.  With a stand or hand mixer, add 1 box cake mix, 1/3 cup unsalted butter, and 1.25 cups 7UP.  In a small bowl, whisk 3 egg whites. Add egg whites, mixing all ingredients together until creamy and thoroughly mixed. Add your green food coloring and stir in. I used about 20 drops of food dye but eye ball it and add as much or as little as you like. Line your cupcake pan with your fun St Patty’s Day cupcake liners. Fill liners 3/4 full with cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before frosting. This will make 24 cupcakes.

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1.25 cup 7UP
  • green food coloring

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

Before the party guests arrive, complete your cupcakes. Use your stand or hand mixer, add .5 cup butter, .5 cup vegetable shortening, .25 cup 7UP, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 cups powdered sugar. Mix completely. Add in the other 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix until creamy. Stir in your green food coloring. Just like the cake mix, add the desired amount of food coloring. I put in about 15 drops of dye today. Put the frosting in the fridge for 20 minutes and then transfer into a frosting bag with a large frosting tip. Frost each cupcake. Garnish your cupcakes with sprinkles, cupcake toppers or whatever fun decorations you bought. A coin on top would also be a great idea!

  • .5 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • .5 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 cup 7UP (add slowly so you don’t thin out the frosting too much)
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • green food coloring

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

Right before your guests are due, mix up the refreshments! 7UP Green Apple Lemonade Spritzers are so fun and easy to make. This drink has a little tang and sour apple twist. Grab a cutting board and knife to thinly slice your lemon, lime and apple. Add the fruit slices to the pitcher with ice. Add 3 cups lemonade, 1.5 cups green apple mixer and just a few drops green food coloring. It is St Patty’s Day and we are going green to the max! Mix a little to blend the food coloring. Top off pitcher with 3 cups 7UP.

  • 1.5 cup green apple mixer
  • 3 cups 7UP
  • 3 cups lemonade
  • green food coloring
  • lime
  • lemon
  • green apple
  • ice

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

Need an alcoholic adult version of the 7up Green Apple Lemonade Spritzer? No problem. Add 1.5 ounces vodka per cup.

 

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

 

Your St Patty’s 7 UP Cupcakes look fabulous and 7up Green Apple Lemonade Spritzer is on ice and ready for guests. Designate a children’s area if children will be attending the party with a few toys and coloring books.  Turn on some music, double check that green eye shadow and get ready to party!

 

St Patrick's Day Party - 7UP® Green Apple Lemonade Spritzer
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#JustAdd7UP, #ad, #cbias, spritzer, cupcakes, holiday, green, St Patty's Day food, St Patrick's Day, party
  • 1.5 cup green apple mixer
  • 3 cups 7UP
  • 3 cups lemonade
  • green food coloring
  • lime for garnish
  • lemon for garnish
  • green apple for garnish
  1. Thinly slice your lemon, lime and apple.
  2. Add the fruit slices to the pitcher with ice.
  3. Add 3 cups lemonade, 1.5 cups green apple mixer and just a few drops green food coloring.
  4. Mix a little to blend the food coloring.
  5. Top off pitcher with 3 cups 7UP.

 

St Patrick's Day Party {+Recipes}

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