The Magic of JELL-O

Disclosure of material connection-  I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book

Over 100 years and it's still jiggling and wiggling and creating fun for all ages!The 100 recipes in this unique cookbook celebrate all thing JELL-O®. All tested in the offical JELL-O® kitchens and accompanied with tempting photos. Because everyone loves JELL-O, there's something here for every taste. A special section for kids has cool things like Slushies, Chocolate Pudding Cats, Dirt Cups, and Lollipop Jiggles. Light Delights cater to today's health-conscious eater who appreciates the chance to indulge in a yummy dessert that's also fat-free and low-calorie. In a rush? Quick and Easy Razzle Dazzle Berry Mousse and Citrus Meringue take very little time and work--but provide plenty of pleasure. And of course there are special recipes for holidays and other occasions, like a Halloween Worm Cake and a Traditional Fruit Trifle.

My thoughts-

I think if you asked anybody to look back on their childhood and name a cherished dessert, JELL-O will have been involved 9 times out of 10. I remember at our house that my mom was a busy working woman so when we would have JELL-O it was usually just plain and cut up into squares but we loved it that way. It was a real treat the times that she thought to cut up bananas and place them inside of the JELL-O mold! That was definitely one of my favorite treats as a kid. The Magic of JELL-O has a wide array of recipes. There are easy recipes for the novice cook or too busy to cook person and intricate recipes that look fabulous for the person who loves to be in the kitchen and show off their beautiful work. There are healthier recipes and more indulgent recipes. There is truly something for everyone. I can't wait to try to make some of these things to put in my kids' lunchboxes or surprise them with after school as an indulgent treat. I think they would especially enjoy the chocolate pudding cats and lollipop jiggles. I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of nostalgia or who just enjoys JELL-O recipes!

How to Make Ice Cream: 50 Recipes for Classic and Contemporary Flavors by Nicole Weston

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Making ice cream at home is fun and easy! Nicole Weston shows you exactly how to achieve delectable results with these 50 exciting recipes ranging from classic vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and strawberry to innovative creations like blackberry cobbler, toasted coconut, lemon curd, brown sugar and cinnamon, fresh ginger, salted caramel, maple bacon, matcha, chocolate hazelnut, and goat cheese and honey. She even includes flavors especially for the holidays -- gingerbread cookie, pumpkin pie, eggnog, peppermint mocha, and more.

My thoughts-

A few years ago on a whim, my husband decided to buy me a birthday gift from Crate & Barrel- an ice cream maker. It remains one of my most beloved kitchen appliances! I had never seen an ice cream maker that you didn't have to hand churn, I was beyond excited to own an ice cream maker that would create delicious ice cream without the hard hand churning. The ice cream maker came with a little booklet of recipes, but it is mostly the basic flavors- vanilla, chocolate chip,  butter pecan, ect. so when I saw that there was a book with FIFTY ONE ice cream flavors, I was intrigued. I love traditional chocolate and vanilla, but I am a big fan of inventive gourmet flavors. How to Make Ice Cream has great traditional flavors, but also had some great combinations that i have never seen elsewhere and would have never thought of on my own. I am excited to go through pretty much every flavor in the book that I can this summer. In addition to the ice cream recipes, there is also an extensive section at the beginning on how to make ice cream (whether it be in an ice cream maker or without) and what ingredients are needed.  It also discusses American vs. French ice cream. There is great information in the first few chapters for the ice cream making novice. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys ice cream and making homemade treats.

Reese's Spread Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a sample of the product via Influenster in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

I am always excited to discover new dessert products. I definitely have a sweet tooth and I probably don't need to discover new sweets, but I enjoy it nonetheless. The best motto is everything in moderation. Anyway, I was always a fan of peanut butter cup fans growing up and have been known to occasionally indulge and Nutella and this Reese's spread almost feels like the two got married. There is so much you can do with  a chocolate spread. You can put it on crepes or toast, you can use it to create delicious cookies, or you can use it to dip your favorite chocolate dippables. Pretzels are always fun and a lot of people don't know this, but chocolate also tastes fantastic with potato chips (don't know it til you try it!!), but my favorite way to use a chocolate dip is to enhance the taste of delicious fruit. I have tried this Reese's spread with several kinds of fruit now and I haven't discovered a bad pair yet! My absolute favorite so far has been dipping granny smith apples in the Reese's spread- it is just the right amount of chocolate peanut butter sweetness cut by the beautiful tartness of the green apples.I highly recommend giving it a try!

Pacific Rim Riesling + Sara Lee = A Perfect , Easy, Affordable Pair!

Disclosure of material connection- I received one or more of the products mentioned in exchange for my honest thoughts. Regardless, all opinions stated are 100% my own.

In less than two weeks, it will be time to gather around the table with our families and friends, give thanks for what we have and enjoy good food and good company. One of the biggest components of Thanksgiving is the big meal. Many of us spend hours in the kitchen preparing the perfect feast for our families and friends. The star of Thanksgiving, of course, is the turkey, but in my family a big part of Thanksgiving are the wide assortment of desserts.  We have a very large gathering, so we do things pot luck style. This Thanksgiving, let Sara Lee cover the dessert for you. They have a ton of great desserts to chose from. Some of my favorite Sara Lee desserts include pumpkin pie, pound cake and, of course, cheesecake. You can even dress up a Sara Lee dessert and make it look like you worked hours on it in the kitchen. I recently bought a Sara Lee Cheesecake, let it defrost just enough, scooped out the cheesecake, melted some chocolate to roll it around in and voila- cheesecake truffles. These made an excellent date night treat for my husband and me and paired easily with Pacific Rim's Riesling, but you could also make a huge batch to take to your Thanksgiving meal to feed everyone and take an affordable bottle of Pacific Rim Riesling as a  hostess gift!

Sara Lee and Pacific Rim make an excellent and affordable pair. They want to help make your holiday meals come together. If you head over to the Pacific Rim website, there are some other great recipes to give a try this wonderful time of year (Salted Caramel Turtle Pumpkin Pie anyone? How about Peppermint Bark cheesecake?) There is something for everyone!

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