Basic Tart Dough

Basic Tart Dough

This summer I’m sharing a few delicious tart recipes. But first I wanted to share my tart dough recipe used for each tart. I love how versatile and easy these tarts are. They’re the perfect summer entertaining dessert as a simple bite-sized treat.

Having the tools on hand to make tart making easier is a must! Make sure to pick up a tart shaper and a mini muffin pan to make the perfect mini tarts.

The best part about them is that they’re so versatile! I’ll be sharing lemon blueberry tarts, strawberry cream cheese tarts, and raspberry tarts.

Basic Tart Dough

This dough is a basic tart dough recipe. Please note that you will need to chill at least 1 hour or overnight.

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 3 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  1. Using a mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add flour and sugar and mix until a soft dough forms. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight. (I’ve chilled for up to three days without any issues).
  2. Shape dough into 1″ balls and press into an ungreased mini muffin pan. Using a tart shaper dipped in flour, press dough to form the tart shell.
  3. Poke bottom of shells with a fork and bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before filling.

 What’s your favorite tart flavor?

Once you’re done making the tart dough, try these delicious tarts!

Lemon Blueberry Tarts with Mint

 

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs on the Grill

Looking for a fun and easy dinner this summer? Try these Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs on the grill. Not only are they delicious, they’re easy too! 

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs on the grill

Do you ever have one of those days in the summer where you just don’t want to turn on the oven? Living in SoCal, we have about a month of that. So on those sweltering hot days I turn to the outdoors and our barbecue to get creative with dinner. But I don’t leave all of my kitchen tools in the kitchen! I also bring them to the grill.

This past weekend I busted out the pizza stone and made some delicious chili cheese crescent dogs on the grill. Not only were they quick to put together (I used leftover chili I froze earlier in the month), they took less than 15 minutes to cook on the grill. And? I wasn’t sweating while eating my meal. Now that’s a win!

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs ingredientsChili Cheese Crescent Dogs with Hebrew National

Stuffed crescent dogs are so easy to make. And even when I’m watching what I eat, I can easily modify them by using fat free beef franks and fat free crescent rolls.

Just make sure you leave a little edge to use while wrapping them up together. And pinch the seams of the crescent dough together really well (or use a rolling pin to roll the dough out flat) so that none of the stuffing comes out.

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs stuffed

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs grilling on a stone

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs baked on the grill

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs

  • 4 Beef Franks ((or Reduced Fat Beef Franks))
  • 1 tube of Crescent Rolls
  • Chili
  • Cheddar Cheese
  1. Start up the grill. If using charcoal, make sure to wait until the charcoal is all white/gray. Place a pizza stone on the grill to heat up.
  2. While grill is heating up, roll out crescent dough and break off into four rectangles (each rectangle will be made out of 2 triangles). Press seam together by using your fingers or a rolling pin.
  3. Place a hot dog on each of the rectangles. Top with choice of toppings (about 1 tablespoon of chili and 1 tablespoon of cheese) and seal together by wrapping dough around the hot dog and toppings. Make sure the seams are pinched together.
  4. When grill is at the right temperature (375 if a gas grill, white hot coals if a charcol grill) place stuffed crescent rolls onto the pizza stone. Bake on the grill for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown and the dough is completely cooked.
  5. Remove from the stone and serve. Enjoy!

Chili Cheese Crescent Dogs on a pizza stoneChili Cheese Crescent Dogs grilledChili Cheese Crescent Dogs - simple and easy

What’s your favorite way to doctor up your hot dogs?

Summer Activities, Staycations and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops Recipe

OshKosh Disclaimer

Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pop - delicious summer recipe

The school year has come to an end and we are ready for summer! Warm weather, lazy days at the beach, and finding creative ways to cool off in our gorgeous city.

Living in a major tourist destination means that we’re lucky enough to staycation a few times through the year. And summertime is the perfect time to book a staycation and relax poolside at a local hotel or visit a local amusement park.

One thing I love about staycations is that we’re not far from home. And that means having fun and getting a little creative while out and about. That includes figuring out fun snacks to make when we’re away from home so we don’t have to spend to much extra on snacks and meals.

OshKosk Play at Knott's Berry Farm

OshKosk Summer Play at Knott's

Oshkosh Daily Playtime

Most hotels we stay at when we’re on our staycations have a fridge and freezer. So we like to bring yogurts for breakfast, pb&j for lunch, and some fun treats for desserts.

When it gets really hot, a good frozen treat is perfect for cooling down. Especially one that includes all of the ingredients I already have in the mini-fridge.

OshKosh playtime on the slide

We love creating creme pops at home, so why not re-create a simpler version on the road? And if you don’t have bowls all you need to do is grab your yogurt cup, mix in some chocolate spread and peanut butter, and freeze. Then eat up like ice cream instead of a pop!

These 3-ingredient chocolate peanut butter yogurt pops are the perfect way to enjoy our time in the sun but stay cool while participating in our favorite summer activities.

Oshkosh Summer Fun at SeaWorld

Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops

  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate spread
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together all three ingredients and combine well.
  2. Pour into small cups and stick a paper straw or craft/popsicle stick into the center of the pops.
  3. Place in freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
  4. Pop out of the cups and enjoy!

OshKosk Knott's Summer Play

OshKosh Daily Play

If you’re looking for great outfits for the kids to show off on your next staycation, check out this coupon for OshKosh. Need to find a store near you? Try the OshKosh store locator.

SUM15-Mom-Blog-CouponV2

 How are you cooling down this summer?

For other fun ways to spend your summer when you return from your staycation, check out these fun Summer Activities for Kids or try making these Mandarin Orange Creme Pops with the kids.

Summer Activities For Kids

Mandarin Orange Cream Pops aerial

15 Summer Drinks to Help Cool You Down

15 Summer Drinks to Help Cool You Down

It’s unofficially summer (just 1.5 weeks until my son is out of school!) and the weather is starting to heat up across the US. Here in So Cal we’ve been heating up all spring. And the best way to cool down on a hot summer day is a delicious beverage.

Whether it’s alcoholic (look for the * next to the name for boozy drinks) or non-alcoholic, these drinks will be sure to hit the spot and cool you down this summer.

Boozy Smoothies with Blackberry Arbor Mist

15 Summer Drinks

1. Boozy Smoothies* | Source: Simmworks Family Blog

2. Easy Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade | Source: The Classy Chapter

3. Creamsicle Slushie | Source: Wife Mom Geek

4. Frozen Caribbean Breeze Cocktail* | Source: Simplistically Living

5. Orange Mojitos* | Source: Honey and Birch

6. Easy Sangrias* | Source: Staying Close to Home

7. Homemade Black Cherry Soda | Source: Flour on My Face

8. Raspberry Margarita* | Source: Love Bakes Good Cakes

9. Peach Lemonade Slush | Source: That’s What Che Said

10. Mango Coconut Daiquiri* | Source: Self Proclaimed Foodie

11. Watermelon Juice | Source: Sandhya’s Kitchen

12. Blueberry Lemonade | Source: Carmel Moments

13. Shirley Temple Ice Cream Float | Source: Coupon Clipping Cook

14. Blue Hawaiian | Source: Baking Beauty

15. Homemade Cherry Slushie | Source: Back Roads and Blue Jeans

What’s your favorite summertime drink recipe?

partida skinny margarita aerial

Pinterest Inspiration

Peanut Butter Fudge S’mores Mug Cake Recipe

This shop featuring a Peanut Butter Fudge S’mores Mug Cake recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetsMakeSmores #CollectiveBias #sponsored

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe

With the unofficial start of summer here, there’s no better time to enjoy the tastes that remind us of summer. Barbecue, simple sweets, and having fun making it! For us that means making some tasty s’mores treats. But you don’t need a campfire, or even a stove, to make these delicious s’mores inspired mug cakes. All you need is a microwave.

This variation of our chocolate mug cake is one that came about after my daughter asked if we could roast marshmallows one night in our fire pit and we realized we had no idea where our roasting sticks were. Since moving to our new home last year we had somehow misplaced them. So I figured the microwave was as good as any place to make smores!

Peanut-Butter-Fudge-Smores-Mug-Cake-ingredients-in-packaging

One thing I love to have on hand is a good dessert to go-to in case a need for sweets hits. We don’t like to keep cake or other sweets in the house because we know that they won’t be consumed in moderation. So I enjoy a few recipes that require little prep but still take care of the sweet tooth.

This s’mores mug cake takes less than 10 minutes, from start to finish, to prep and “bake” in the microwave. How’s that for instant gratification?

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe ingredients

And the addition of peanut butter to the classic flavors of a s’more just takes it to another level. But I must warn you. Make sure you have a cup of milk next to you because this is one rich dessert.

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe with toasted marshmallows

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake

  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 Hershey's chocolate bar
  • 2 Honey Maid Graham Cracker Squares (exclusively at Walmart, crumbled)
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter (melted)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • Kraft's Jet Puffed Marshmallows
  1. Combine 3 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 Hershey’s chocolate bar in a small bowl, then melt in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir until smooth and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, combine melted butter with graham cracker crumbs and stir until moistened. Grab your mug and press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom to create a crust.
  3. In a bowl. whisk egg, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add in flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa, stir until a thick batter forms. Stream in melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture, mixing to combine. This will be very thick.
  4. Add half of the mixture on top of the graham cracker mixture, then add a marshmallow or two. Add remaining batter on top. Cook in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes at 80% power.
  5. Remove and top with 1-2 additional marshmallows and a few pieces of Hershey’s chocolate bar if desired. Microwave for 5-10 seconds to make them melty and slightly puffy, or put them directly under the broiler for about 10 seconds to toast if desired (I always burn stuff I broil so I went with the microwave).
  6. If you used the microwave to melt the marshmallows, you can use an aim n’ flame or kitchen torch to char. Sprinkle with graham crumbs and grab a fork!

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe bite

You can find all of the ingredients you need for the perfect s’mores dessert at your local Walmart. Look for the special s’mores display or head to the candy and cracker aisle to find everything.

Smores at Walmart

 

How do you change up a classic s’mores dessert?

Have more time? Try my s’mores brownies! Or my healthy peanut butter s’mores. Both made in the oven!

Smores Brownies recipe

 

Peanut Butter Smores

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool

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

Boozy Smoothies

When I plan a mom’s night in I like to keep things simple: drinks, food, and fun. And if I can combine two of those things into one, like food and drink, everyone is happy!

I recently headed over to a friends house for some much needed girl time and brought a boozy smoothie bar with me to whip up some delicious cocktails we could indulge in by the pool.

With a few simple ingredients, a blender, and some plastic wine gasses I found at the dollar store we had delicious drinks that served as both snack and boozy treat. How awesome is that?

Boozy Smoothies with fruit

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool with Arbor Mist

I love to keep entertaining simple. Especially when it’s on-the-go entertaining at someone else’s house. But simplicity means that I can entertain elsewhere and am not limited to just my back yard.

This summer I forsee many afternoons hanging by the pool and relaxing with a boozy smoothie in one hand while I chat with my friends and enjoy the warmth of summer.

Boozy Smoothies ingredients

Boozy Smoothies blended up

Boozy Smoothies

  • 1 cup Arbor Mist (any flavor)
  • 1 cup fruit (I chose mango, strawberries, blackberries, and bananas)
  • 1 cup ice
  1. Add equal parts Arbor Mist, fruit, and ice into the blender.
  2. Blend until all incorporated.
  3. Serve in a classy plastic wine glass and sip by the pool!


Boozy Smoothies with Blackberry Arbor Mist

Boozy Smoothies By The Pool

Visit the Simple Entertaining Social Hub for more great entertaining ideas! And if you’re looking for more fun, enter the Arbor Mist Summer Sweepstakes where 1 lucky winner will win a brand new water sport vehicle and 100 others will win Arbor Mist beach themed prizes!

What’s your favorite way to stay cool by the pool?

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings

This shop featuring a Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings recipe and mediterranean dinner ideas has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringIntoFlavor #CollectiveBias

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings

One thing I absolutely love about summertime are the fresh flavors of summer. Everything seems to get lighter while still staying just as tasty. And I love including some light fare when hosting friends over for dinner or lunch. Especially when most of the meal is make ahead!

I recently hosted a small group of friends over for a light dinner and went with a mediteranean themed menu including a quinoa tabbouleh with onion rings, delicious sweet potato fries drizzled with homemade tzatziki sauce, and some veggies and pita bread with tzatziki dip. Paired with a great wine, this was a fabulous meal to kick of summer.

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings and veggies

All I needed to do was prep a little ahead of time by pairing a quinoa brown rice blend I had left over from dinner the night before and making the tzatziki sauce that morning, I was able to throw this all together in about 10 minutes after the sweet potato fries and onion rings baked.

By prepping 1/2 of my meal ahead of time, I’m able to enjoy my guests and throw things together right before we eat. That means more quality time with my friends and less time in the kitchen.

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings and sweet potato fries

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings

  • 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)
  • 1 cup english cucumbers (sliced and quartered)
  • 8 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
  • 1/8 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa and brown rice blend (cooled)
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 5-6 onion rings (baked and chopped)
  1. In a large bowl, mix together tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, and parsley. Drizzle with olive oil and combine.
  2. Add quinoa mix to the bowl and squeeze 1/2 a lemon over the mixture. Salt and pepper to taste and stir once more.
  3. Add chopped onino rings and lightly toss. Serve with whole onion rings on the top and enjoy!

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings mediterranean spread

By using high quality ingredients like Alexia onion rings and sweet potato fries and pairing them with fresh, in-season produce, a delicious meal can be created with little effort. And you won’t be missing out on flavor.

Every single bite of this tabbouleh is filled with fresh flavor and the perfect texture. Normally a tabbouleh is not made with onion rings but the crunch of these baked rings of deliciousness is an amazing addition.

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Onion Rings bite

You can find Alexia products in the freezer section of your local Walmart. I was able to find a handful of varieties all together right next to one another in the frozen potato aisle.

I absolutely love that Alexia products are made with all natural ingredients and love to keep these on hand for quick meals with the family or when friends come over. Next time I’m picking up a bag of the new Alexia Rosemary fries to try out with my tzatziki sauce!

Alexia Onion Rings and Sweet Potato Fries at Walmart

How do you keep meals light during the summer months?

85 Ways to Use Yogurt

Are you a yogurt fan? We’re sharing 85 ways to use yogurt in your everyday recipes!

85 Ways to Use Yogurt

There’s one thing I can always count on to make me happy. Whether it’s morning, noon, or night. And that’s a delicious bowl of yogurt. It’s the one thing I reach for in the fridge when I need a snack or when I’m cooking up a meal or dessert.

I started turning to yogurt more and more as a staple in my home after going through Weight Watchers after having my oldest child. It is such a great substitute for other ingredients in recipes and is full of flavor. Plus… less calories!

And in it’s simplest form, with a sprinkle of granola and some sliced berries, it can make any day better. Plus, when you’re done eating the yogurt inside, you can make something fun out of the container!

Have some yogurt in the fridge like I do? Here are 101 ways to use yogurt!

85 Ways to Use Yogurt

Breakfast

1. In strawberry muffins

2. Sprinkled with homemade granola

3. In a breakfast cereal parfait

4. In brown sugar maple muffins

5. To make a strawberry shortcake parfait a little healthier

6. In banana blueberry muffins

7. Spruced up as pumpkin pie yogurt

8. In greek yogurt blueberry muffins

9. In apple carrot walnut muffins

10. In chocolate chip donuts

Weight Watchers Simple Start anytime snack

11. In a healthy blueberry parfait

12. In overnight oats

13. In a Pomegranate Parfait with Blueberries

14. In cinnamon streussel yogurt muffins

15. In baby bran muffins

16. In banana chocolate chip whole wheat pancakes

17. In these flavorful Pomegranate Pancakes

18. In a blackberry shortcake parfait

19. In these Red Currant and Rosemary Olive Oil Scones

20. In these Whole Wheat Cranberry Sauce Scones

21. Or these Whole Wheat Mango & Ginger Scones

22. And these Whole Wheat Orange Scones with Chia Seeds

23. Or change it up with these Whole Wheat Pomegranate Scones

24. And around Halloween, bake up these Whole Wheat Pumpkin Scones

Strawberry Muffins with Greek Yogurt and coffee

 

Lunch

25. To spruce up tropical chicken sliders

26. In a greek chicken wrap

27. In greek style gourmet burgers

 

Dinner

28. To lighten up Pomegranate and Lamb Moussaka with Cardamon

29. In a marinade for Chicken Skewers with Dipping Sauce

30. In a chicken tikka masala recipe

31. In the slow cooker with this butter chicken recipe

32. In a Boneless Chicken Breast Kabob (Joojeh Kabob)

33. With these Filet Mignon Kabobs (Kabob-eh Barg)

34. In this Yogurt Marinated Leg of Lamb

 

Side Dishes

35. Grilled Baby Artichokes with Balsamic Yogurt

36. In carrot raisin salad

37. Mixed with mint on top of a beet salad

 

Snacks

38. In vanilla chai banana bread

39. In an apple blossom parfait

40. In apple cobbler yogurt bites

41. In cranberry orange muffins

42. With a cup of coffee and this Nut Crusted Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothie ingredients

Drinks

43. With a straw in a PB Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

44. In an orange creamsicle smoothie

45. Spiced up in a pumpkin pie smoothie

46. In a strawberry smoothie

47. In this Mango-Rum Smoothie

48. With avocados in a blueberry smoothie

49. In a cookies n cream smoothie

50. With papayas in a papaya smoothie

51. In Doogh (Persian Yogurt and Mint Drink)

52. In an Orange Cream Smoothie

53. After a workout in this Mango Protein Shake

54. In a Pomegranate Smoothie

 

Dessert

55. In mandarin orange cream pops

56. For a delicious addition to a Banana Smash Cake

57. In chocolate chip muffins perfect for dessert

58. In a Plum Yogurt Cake

59. To cool down in frozen greek yogurt pops

60. In an Orange Upside Down Cake

61. In churro cupcakes

62. In these root beer float pops

63. In chocolate covered strawberry frozen yogurt

64. In pumpkin spice yogurt

65. In a berry triffle

Mandarin Orange Cream Pops aerial

66. In strawberry frozen yogurt

67. In these Strawberry-Rhubarb Creamsicles

68. In a pomegranate sundae yogurt parfait

69. Frozen in pina colada popsicles

70. In berry cake with coconut rum

71. To moisten Carrot Cake with Walnuts & Raisins

72. With a glass of wine and this Grape Upside Down Cake

73. In a vibrant Lemon Basil Cake

74. In this Red, White & Blue Jello

75. In these mini Saffron & Raisin Pound Cakes

76. In this White Rose Cake

 

Dips and Appetizers

77. In a herbed yogurt cheese dip

78. In a refreshing homemade tzatziki dip

79. In Borani-e Esfenaj (Yogurt and Spinach)

80. In this Hatch Chile Dip

81. In Borani-e Bademjoon (Persian Yogurt and Eggplant)

82. With this Mast-o Khiar (Persian Yogurt with Cucumbers)

83. In chocolate caramel apple dip

84. With apples in this PB Yogurt Dip

85. In peanut butter cinnamon yogurt dip

Mountain High Yoghurt

What’s your favorite way to incorporate yogurt into your day?

Copy Cat Cosmic Brownies

Copy Cat Cosmic Brownies

I don’t know what it is about having a baby that makes me crave sweets but one of my biggest hurdles while nursing is saying no to too many sweets. However I still allow myself some decadent indulgence from time to time. As long as I make it from scratch.

Sure it sounds like more work, but I promise you, making these brownies from scratch is so worth it! Get ready to enjoy a small square of these brownies and be satisfied for the whole week.

Copy Cat Cosmic Brownies - delicious and decadent

Copy Cat Cosmic Brownies

  • 1 ½ Sticks Butter (softened)
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • ¾ Cup Heavy Cream
  • 2 teas. Vanilla Extract
  • ¾ Cup Cocoa Powder
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 8 oz . Semisweet Chocolate
  • ¼ – ½ Cup Mini M&Ms
  1. Preheat oven to 350˚.
  2. In a mixing bowl cream together the Butter, Sugar and Brown sugar.
  3. Add in the Eggs, ¼ Cup Heavy cream and Vanilla, stir until combined.
  4. Add in the Cocoa powder and stir until combined.
  5. Add the flour 1/3 at a time stirring between each addition.
  6. Put the batter in an 8×8 or 9×9 inch pan lined with lightly greased parchment paper and bake at 350˚
  7. until a tooth pick comes out clean, 45-55 minutes. Remove and let cool.
  8. In a microwaveable bowl combine the Chocolate and ½ Cup Heavy cream. Microwave on high for 30
  9. second intervals stirring after each until the Chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour over the brownie in
  10. the pan and smooth to the edges.
  11. Sprinkle with M&Ms and refrigerate until set.
  12. Remove from the pan and cut into desired sizes.
  13. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What’s your favorite add-in to a brownie recipe?

20 Smores Recipes

20 smores recipes

Summer is right around the corner (hello Memorial Day! I’m ready for you!) and the weather is getting warmer during the day but during the nice crisp evenings we like to sit around a fire pit and enjoy some family time. And that means 3 things: family, food, and fun.

What’s better than a delicious smore made over a roaring fire? All of these variations of smores that you can enjoy year round! Including my very delicious smores brownies. But I’m warning you, they’re addicting!

There’s no wrong way to make a smore and there’s no end to the possibilities of taking the classic flavors of smores and turning them into delicious smores recipes for every occasion.

[Read more…]



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