Candy Corn Popcorn Krispie Balls

These sweet & salty Candy Corn Popcorn Krispie Balls are the perfect easy to make treat for a fall or Halloween celebration...

Post updated 10/25/17- These perfect for Halloween Candy Corn Popcorn Krispie Balls deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

Easy Nonpareil Kettle Corn

This Easy Nonpareil Kettle Corn combines two movie time favorites into one sweet & salty (& practically guilt-free!) treat...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Weight Watchers®. The opinions and texts are all mine. 

I have chatted with you all a little before about how I am trying to make healthier swaps happen here and there on the daily lately. With the weather warming up, there is no denying that shorts and swimsuit season is bearing down on us all, right? But one thing that I have learned over the years when trying to eat healthier and better is that denying my cravings completely is just a recipe for disaster. Why? Because I end up binge snacking, and that is slightly counterproductive with my summertime goals, you know? ;) So instead of denying my cravings, I choose to go ahead and indulge them. But in more guilt-free ways. Like this Easy Nonpareil Kettle Corn recipe that I am sharing with you all today. 

My biggest guilty pleasure when going to the movie theater is to sit down with a bag of buttery popcorn and a box of nonpareils (aka, Snow Caps) and enjoy them together by the handful. I just love the sweet & salty combo! Thanks to Weight Watchers® Endorsed Jolly Time Healthy Pop microwave Kettle Corn I have found a way to enjoy my favorite movie time treat minus much of the guilt (and the extra calories and butter). You too can whip up this Easy Nonpareil Kettle Corn in less than 5 minutes using only 4 simple ingredients...

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Butter Pecan Sweet Rolls

These Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Butter Pecan Sweet Rolls start with a box of butter pecan cake mix, are filled with crunchy pecans, and are then topped with a sweet brown sugar glaze and salty bacon...

Father's Day is less than two days away, folks. If you don't have a plan yet, let me help you out with that right about now with these Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Butter Pecan Sweet Rolls.

Yes, I said brown sugar. 

And bacon.

And pecans.

And sweet rolls.... all in the same recipe title. 

I am almost certain that there is no way that you could possibly go wrong making these for dad for Father's Day breakfast or brunch.

I haven't met a man yet who would turn down a homemade sweet roll... or bacon, for that matter. ;)

These Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Butter Pecan Sweet Rolls start with a box of butter pecan cake mix, are filled with crunchy pecans, and are then topped with a sweet brown sugar glaze and salty bacon... It's cool if you just started drooling on your keyboard. I will look away and give you a moment. 

Cookie Butter Candied Pumpkin Seeds & Pecans

Carving pumpkins this weekend? You will want to be sure to save those pumpkin seeds to make these crunchy, sweet & salty Cookie Butter Candied Pumpkin Seeds & Pecans then...

Each fall when we visit our favorite pumpkin patch, my son goes on the quest to find the largest pumpkin that he can possibly fit his two arms around. 

At first, I thought it was just a boy thing.

Or maybe he wanted a larger surface area for carving.

But nope.

This year his true intentions came to the surface...

MVPeanut Butter Snickers Popcorn

This MVPeanut Butter Snickers Popcorn with it's crunchy popcorn, gooey peanut butter, and bits of Snickers is the perfect sweet treat for game day...

Looking for a sweet and salty snack for your tailgating or game day get-together this weekend? I have you covered with my MVPeanut Butter Snickers Popcorn!  

This easy dessert that requires no utensils (and hey, even a plate or napkin is optional with this one!) comes together in about 30 minutes and is sure to please even the most hardcore football fans.  

The new MARS Snickers Bites makes this popcorn treat come together in a snap since there is no unwrapping of candy bars required.  Just dump out the entire bag of unwrapped bites of peanut, nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate onto a cutting board and give them a quick chop!

I am not going to lie to you all.  This stuff is seriously addictive.  Like the day I made this popcorn, it may have ended up constituting most of my lunch because I couldn't keep my hand out of the bowl.  Sweet, salty, chewy, crunchy.... okay, perfect. ;)  

Tossing the Snickers Bites in while the peanut butter mixture is still warm is the key.  It melts the chocolate and caramel ever so slightly making it stick in delicious little globs to the popcorn that harden after it has cooled...

Sparkling Princess Popcorn

This easy & quick Sparkling Princess Popcorn is the perfect sweet & salty treat for your princess themed party...

I have a goal each year for little miss's birthday- to make her party as special and as beautiful as she is.

However, I am not one of those over-the-top Pinteresty moms. You won't find me painting little stools to look like toadstools, or setting up extravagant photo booths, and I don't even hand out party favor bags (gasp! I know...).  

But you will find me going above and beyond the simple cake & ice cream and balloons. I want her to have a memorable party that makes her feel special, but not one that will put my sanity to the test or empty out our bank account. ;)

Being her third birthday this year, this was the first year that little miss was able to pick out her own party theme. And this little lady wanted Disney princesses all the way! 

After poking around on Google and Pinterest a little, I found a few ideas for making pink or purple popcorn for a princess party and loved it. 

We had rainbow popcorn for her very first birthday party, and that was a huge hit with the guests.  I knew I had to make a sparkling pink popcorn that would be fit for a birthday princess for her third birthday this year...

Biscoff Pretzel Crunch Ice Cream

You are going to love the sweet & salty combo in this creamy, no ice cream maker required Biscoff Pretzel Crunch Ice Cream...

I have been holding out on you guys for a couple of months now.  

My sincere apologies.

Because it really isn't fair that I should have kept this recipe to myself for so many weeks.

You all deserve this ice cream recipe.

Maybe even need it. ;)

This recipe is actually the one and only time I "worked" while I was away on vacation at the beach.  I decided to make a homemade ice cream one day for the family, and it turned out so wonderful and delicious that I knew it would most definitely be making it to one of my blog posts.

Bacon, Cantaloupe, & Arugula Salad

Juicy & sweet cantaloupe, peppery arugula, and salty bacon are tossed together and then drizzled with a homemade bacon balsamic dressing in this Bacon, Cantaloupe, & Arugula Salad...

Let me set the record straight now- I am not trying to pass off bacon as "healthy" because I am putting it in a salad here for my second recipe post of Bacon Month. 

But you can feel a bit better about indulging in a little bacon goodness when it is accompanied by some leafy greens and a little fruit. ;)

It is all about balance and moderation, folks. Balance and moderation. 

And speaking of balance, that is exactly what this salad has flavor-wise.

Sweet & juicy cantaloupe paired with peppery arugula and then topped with salty bacon and a flavorful bacon balsamic dressing?

Perfection.

This Bacon, Cantaloupe, & Arugula Salad is so, so simple, yet impressive and elegant to boot...

Skittles Game Face Fizz

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

Who is excited for the Big Game tonight? I know we will be watching it in this house. Well, I will be half watching the game between taking sips of this fun Skittles® Game Face Fizz and munching on one of our game day favorite recipes, my MVPeanut Butter SNICKERS® Popcorn. ;)  

My husband though? He will be all into the game.

Before any big game, I am making my own game plan for a tasty football party menu. I had to stop by my local Walmart first to pick up some of my game day favorites, like Skittles and SNICKERS.

I knew that for today's big game I wanted to come up with a super fun drink that all the get-together guests could enjoy, including my almost 3 year old daughter. 

While picking up a bag of our favorite Skittles at Walmart, it occurred to me why not concoct a fun and fizzy drink in our favorite team colors using the Skittles? :) And thus, my Skittles Game Face Fizz was brought to fruition...

Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Almonds Trail Mix

You only need 4 ingredients to whip up this easy to make & addictive Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Almonds Trail Mix... 

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Huy Fong Sriracha Almonds.

Who else just loves getting their snack on? Personally, I am a big fan of anything sweet, salty, & crunchy with a little kick of heat. Who else is with me on this one? ;)

That is why I was crazy excited when I got the chance to try the one and only Huy Fong Original Sriracha Almonds. These California roasted premium almonds are flavored with the official, full-flavored taste of the authentic Huy Fong brand Sauce. It's just like having your favorite Sriracha sauce in a perfectly snackable form! 

Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita

Ripe peach and sweet Cara Cara oranges come together in this refreshing Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

So, can we chat about Cara Cara oranges for a second? I literally just discovered the existence of this navel orange hybrid last month, and I have been hooked ever since. Like I want to make all the Cara Cara orange things now. 






And why you might ask? Well, they happen to be a little sweeter and milder in acidity than traditional navel oranges. They also happen to be seedless which makes them perfect for juicing. And just look at what is on the inside when you slice one open. Such gorgeous color, folks!

Since patio sipping weather has just about arrived here, I thought why not use my new favorite citrus fruit in a frosty margarita? I combined fresh Cara Cara orange juice with ripe peach and fresh squeezed lime juice to make the perfect frozen peach margarita. You can rim your margarita glasses with salt or sugar depending on your taste preference. 






Personally, I am all for the sweet & salty combo, so I opted for a salt rim with mine. But if you prefer a sweeter margarita, go for the sugar rim. I found that the natural sugars from the orange juice and fresh peach were just right for me, but my husband who prefers all things syrupy sweet went for the sugared rim for his frozen margarita...

Caramel Bacon Cashew Ice Cream

Buttery caramel ice cream is infused with smoky bacon & studded with crunchy cashews in this creamy Caramel Bacon Cashew Ice Cream...

I am going to take a brief pause in Crock Pot Week today to focus on another foodie cause that is near and dear to my heart.  Yes, folks.  I am talking about Bacon Month. ;)  

During the first week of Bacon Month, I shared with you all my recipe for Bacon & Egg Angel Hair Pasta.  Seriously, folks.  If you haven't already checked that one out, you may want to after you done drooling over this new bacon laced recipe of mine. ;) My pasta dish is breakfast for dinner elevated to an entirely different level.  

I really wanted to challenge myself with at least one dessert recipe during this month-long celebration of all things bacon.  The savory dishes would be crazy easy.  But sweets were more of a stretch.  Even for me.  

I once tried dark chocolate covered bacon from a swanky chocolate shop...  I wasn't impressed.  So I have kind of steered clear of adding bacon to any desserts since then.

Well, until now. 

Behold.  Bacon in sweet, creamy ice cream form! 

Baymax Marshmallow Dip

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigHero6Release #CollectiveBias

Tomorrow happens to be a day that my family and I have been looking forward to since we first watched Big Hero 6 in the theaters months ago and met Baymax. That big marshmallow of a hero (and personal health care companion) happened to win all of our hearts.  In fact, my youngest has pretty much been obsessed with him since then. She has been asking for months to watch Big Hero 6 again! And tomorrow we get to watch Baymax, Hiro, and their band of heroic "nerd lab" friends as many times as we would like since Big Hero 6 will be available for purchase from Walmart.com.  I didn't waste any time pre-ordering my family's copy. ;)

I am already planning a fun Big Hero 6 family move night later this week complete with this easy to make Baymax Marshmallow Dip.  You can divvy up this dip into individual cups or ramekins so that everyone can have their very own Baymax dip for movie night or serve in one large bowl for sharing. Either way this is one fun and yummy dip that everyone will love for Big Hero 6 movie night...

15 Bacon For Dessert Recipes

If you love the flavor combination of sweet & salty, then you are going to just love this recipe round-up of 15 Bacon for Dessert Recipes...

Bacon for Dessert week and Bacon Month are both coming to a close, but don't be sad, friends.  

In fact, it just might be impossible to be sad when you have these 30 sweet & salty bacon-licious dessert recipes to browse through! ;)

If I haven't convinced you that bacon is not just for breakfast and savory dishes by now with the Candied Bacon S'mores Pizza and Bacon & Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies I posted earlier this week, then one of these desserts below is bound to. 

From ice creams to cookies to pies to brownies and more, every single one of these desserts has at least one thing in common...

Bacon, glorious bacon.

Bacon & Corn Risotto

Sweet summer corn and crispy bacon take classic creamy risotto to another level in this Bacon & Corn Risotto...

When I think of comfort food, I automatically think of creamy risotto. Forget chicken noodle soup or mac 'n cheese (although I do love those too).

But if I am craving a warm bowl or plate of comfort, risotto is by far my go-to. 

I love risotto for it's versatility as well.  The arborio rice is like a blank canvas for whatever seasonal flavors or veggies happen to be plentiful and at their peak at that time. The flavor possibilities are endless! :)

Many people I know are intimidated by the whole cooking process of making risotto, but don't be! Once you have the technique down (and when I say technique, I mean scooping ladles of heated broth a little at a time into a large skillet- easy, right?), you will want to make risotto all the time.

This Bacon & Corn Risotto is a perfect dish for end of summer with it's combination of sweet, fresh corn (which is everywhere & cheap right now!) and smoky and salty bacon...

How to Spend 24 Hours in Portland, Oregon

From where to eat, must-see sights, and local festivals, this is How to Spend 24 Hours in Portland, Oregon...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

I have to admit that this post has been long overdue, you all. I actually visited Portland, Oregon for the first time when I attended the Indulge conference last May, but this post kept getting pushed to the back burner. 

Not only was this trip my first time visiting the city of Portland, but it was also the first time that this East Coast gal traveled all the way to the West Coast. I ended up spending about 53 hours in the city before catching an overnight flight back to Pittsburgh. 

Can I just say that the 3-hour time difference is sort of brutal?? I didn't think that 3 hours could make such a profound difference, but I came back home exhausted. Like I crashed on the couch for a solid 3 hours. In the middle of the day. And I don't nap during the day, folks. Like ever.

But enough about the trials and tribulations of traveling across the country and through 3 different time zones. Let's talk about Portland, shall we? ;) 

Let's just say that you happen to find yourself with only 24 hours to spend in the city- an unexpected or planned layover, or maybe a free day during a work conference, or maybe you live within driving distance and want to spend the day in the city. 

I have gathered some of my best ideas for spending a whole day in Portland, Oregon, & I am sharing them all with you in today's post. Granted, I do not think that for 5 seconds that my 2 day+ experience in the city makes me an expert on all things Portland. But I will say that I was amazed at how much you could pack into a day while visiting there....

Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls

These Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

It is hard to believe that another year is almost done and over with. This has been such an incredible year for Frugal Foodie Mama, and I first and foremost want to thank all of you out there who come back day after day to read what I have to say, grab my recipes, pin them, share them, and just be a part of this little food blogging dream of mine. 

Without you all, this dream of mine wouldn't even be possible. So THANK YOU. :) 

I am determined to make 2016 another fabulous year for this little space of mine, so stay tuned. There is so much more good stuff coming your all's way very soon.

But let's talk New Year's Eve for a second, shall we? I have never been much for partying it up and painting the town for this big night. I have always loved staying at home with the ones that I love to ring in the new year. 

But we always try to make it a special night with lots of delicious finger foods, plenty of bubbly (sparkling grape juice for the kiddos), and watching the ball drop at midnight (for those of us who make it til then, lol.). ;) 

I have always been a sucker for all things sweet & savory, so when Blue Diamond sent me their new Honey Roasted Almonds to try out in a recipe I knew I wanted to make a little something for New Year's Eve. 

Cheese balls have always been a favorite with my family, so I decided to turn one of our favorite creamy appetizers into the perfect finger food- these Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls! 

These mini cheese balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey-roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...