It's Time for Turkey: My 4 Essentials for Easy Holiday Dinner Prep

Make your family holiday dinner super simple & hassle-free with My 4 Essentials for Easy Holiday Dinner Prep...

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

It is t-minus one day until turkey time, folks! If you happen to be scrambling to put the finishing touches on that holiday dinner menu for tomorrow, then you are in luck because I have a few quick & easy ideas to share with you all today. 

Who says that hosting a family holiday dinner has to be crazy time consuming and stressful anyways? ;) You can make it super simple & hassle-free with a few simple ingredients and a little creativity. I am sharing a handful of my favorite products & tips below for making that happen.

Easy Brownie Cheesecake Two Ways

Be ready for holiday entertaining & unexpected guests quick with this no-fuss, yet impressive Easy Brownie Cheesecake Two Ways...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Save-A-Lot. The opinions and text are all mine.

The busy holiday season is just around the corner, and I am already gearing up for holiday entertaining and the inevitable unexpected guests. One thing that you can never go wrong with when entertaining guests is dessert. Am I right? ;) That is why I like having a few easy, yet impressive dessert ideas on hand from Thanksgiving straight through to New Year's. Recently I discovered the delicious & affordable America's Choice® Creations line of products at my local Save-A-Lot, and can we just say that I am smitten, folks?

With easy and indulgent favorites like New York Style Cheesecake, Honey Bourbon Salmon, & Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies, you can keep your freezer and pantry stocked up for entertaining with America's Choice® Creations throughout the entire holiday season without breaking the bank. For this Easy Brownie Cheesecake Two Ways recipe I am sharing with you all today, there is no baking or major prep involved. Just set out the cheesecake in the fridge to thaw the night before or a few hours ahead of time and the rest of is a matter of simply crumbling cookies or cutting a brownie and drizzling on a little sauce...

Breyers Apple Pie A La Mode

In partnership with the folks at Lunchbox, I am sharing this recipe for a holiday dessert classic- Apple Pie A La Mode. All opinions expressed below are my own.

When it comes to holiday baking and hosting guests for the holidays, you can just never go wrong by serving the classics. From hot cocoa with marshmallows to frosted sugar cookies to classic apple pie, the holiday classics are always sure to please and to disappear quickly. 

Homemade apple pie happens to be the most requested dessert in my home no matter what time of the year it may be.  For this holiday season, I am taking the classic apple pie and kicking it up just a notch by using my Toasted Pecan Pie Crust Mix for this and then topping it with a creamy, decadent surprise- Breyers® Gelato Indulgences in Vanilla Caramel... :)

Cranberry Gingerbread Mug Cake

Soft gingerbread and tart cranberries come together in this low calories dessert for one... 

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

I am picturing it all now... The busy holiday season is quickly approaching on the not so distant horizon.

I see lots of holiday cookie baking, and gift wrapping, and online shopping in my near future.

I see lots of wonderful memories about to be made. Cozy evenings snuggled up on the couch with my family and a warm mug of cocoa watching the twinkling of the lights of the Christmas tree.

But I am also seeing lots of extra calories and fat grams and not enough time for a good workout (ahem... time to #drinkTEN ). And a some stressful, frazzled evenings. And moments when all I want to do is hide in a distant room of the house and catch my breath for a moment... alone. 

Ahhhhhh... 'tis the season, folks! ;)

Before the hustle and bustle and wonderful craziness of the season are upon us, I decided to come up with a perfect little dessert for one that can be made in minutes, is low calorie and low fat (less guilt!), and has some of my favorite flavors of the season. 

And believe it or not, the recipe inspiration for my newest mug cake came from a little trip to my local Kroger to pick up some of my favorite TEN beverages...

Pumpkin Pecan Tassies

These bite-sized Pumpkin Pecan Tassies make the perfect addition to that Thanksgiving dessert table or that holiday cookie tray...

Post updated 11/17/17- These bite-sized Pumpkin Pecan Tassies 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 facelift. ;)

25 Waistline Friendly Holiday Treats

Treat yourself this holiday season without the guilt with these 25 Waistline Friendly Holiday Treats...

The holiday season is definitely upon us, my friends. It seems to get ushered in each year with the start of the Black Friday sales and keeps right on going until the New Year. 

And while it is definitely one of my favorite times of the year, it is also that one time of year when I can be guaranteed to gain a least a few pounds before that ball drops on New Year's Eve. 

Honestly, it is hard not to.  With all the home baked cookies, and holiday dinners, and extra cocktails, and homemade fudge... well, we can all see how it adds up pretty quickly. 

But the holiday season is also no time for self deprivation.  I am all about moderation. So while I will still be treating myself to a few of my holiday guilty pleasures, I will also be balancing it out a bit with some of these waistline friendly holiday treats that I gathered to share with you all. Think of this as the "nice list" of Christmas sweets. ;) 

From quick desserts for one to homemade truffles to creamy dessert dips, you are sure to find a lower calorie, less guilt treat to curb those naughty holiday cravings a bit... 

40+ Holiday Baking Recipes {& a HUGE Holiday Baking Giveaway!}

Okay, friends. The holiday baking season is on the not-so-distant horizon.  Are you ready for the flour caked, sugar coated madness that is about to ensue? ;)

If you happen to be feeling a little unprepared for the upcoming holiday baking season, never fear! I have joined together with Real Housemoms and a few of my other blogger friends to help get you all ready for all that pie baking, and cookie making, and frosting whipping.  

How you may ask? Well for starters, we gathered up over 40 of the best holiday baking recipes for you all...

Pumpkin Chai Tiramisu

Combining the flavors of a creamy pumpkin latte & warm chai spices, this no-bake Pumpkin Chai Tiramisu is a must-make dessert for fall...

In case you all haven't noticed it already, I have been on a little bit of a chai spice kick the past week. ;) 

I updated a long-time reader favorite, my Overnight Pumpkin Pie Chai French Toast, with pretty new pics. And I posted a delicious and creamy Chai Tea & Pear Oatmeal recipe to the blog last Friday. I mean, when it comes to chai spices, 'tis the season! 

The toasty flavors in warm chai spices not only make me think of cozy fall recipes, but this mix of comforting spices is something I can incorporate into my holiday baking and cooking right on through to Christmas. 

That is why I decided to whip up my own DIY Chai Spice Mix last fall. I always have a jar of it in my pantry ready to go for my holiday baking, or to mix into my oatmeal or a warm cup of hot cocoa. 

Pumpkin Chai Hot Buttered Rum

The classic hot buttered rum mix gets a delicious holiday makeover with the addition of pumpkin and chai spices...

If you ask me, snowy holiday evenings are meant for curling up under a cuddly blanket with a mug of something warm and tasty in your hands while watching the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree.

One of my favorite winter time drinks is a nice hot buttered rum.  Butter, brown sugar, a few spices... add a shot of rum and hot water and voila! The perfect way to warm up on a chilly evening...

No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcake

Looking for an elegant, yet fuss-free dessert perfect for ringing in the new year? Then you are going to love this recipe for No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcake... 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Save-A-Lot. The opinions and text are all mine.

When it comes to New Year's Eve, my family and I like to keep it low key, fuss free, yet still fun and festive each year. We usually stay home to ring in the new year with a little bubbly (sparkling wine for my husband & I and sparkling grape cider for the kiddos), lots of tasty appetizers, and a classy dessert. 

We may not be painting the town at some swanky party when the clock strikes midnight, but we still like to do something special at home as a family to celebrate the beginning of a new year.

This December 31st my family and I will be indulging in these easy to make No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcakes. And to make them even more fun, I plan on setting up a toppings bar so everyone can garnish their shortcakes with their favorite fruits and candies... :)

Guilt-Free Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

This Guilt-Free Snickerdoodle Mug Cake is a comforting, low calorie, perfectly portioned for one microwave dessert!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Pure Via®, but all my opinions are my own.

As I mentioned to you all in yesterday's recipe post, I am tackling the holiday sweets monster head-on now.  I figure a head start will give me somewhat of an advantage and hopefully help me keep the annual holiday weight gain in check.  

I do still plan to bake lots of the holiday goodies that my family loves, but I will also be keeping a few lower calorie, low fat dessert recipes in my arsenal to keep me from devouring half a pumpkin pie or a half dozen of frosted sugar cookies. 

I am a firm believer in not trying to dodge my sweet tooth cravings. That will eventually lead to a sugar and butter induced binge for me.

But what I can do is trick my sweet tooth into thinking that it is indulging in a sweet treat... ;)

On a recent shopping trip to my local Walmart, I picked up a box of Pure Via 40 Count Packets and knew right away that these would become a very important weapon in my arsenal against the holiday weight gain. Pure Via is made from the pure, sweet extract of the stevia leaf. That means no artificial processing or preservatives, folks. It is all natural, non-GMO, and the best part? ZERO calories! :)

6 Holiday Perfect Cookbook Gift Sets (Updated for 2022)

If you happen to have a foodie, an aspiring home cook or baker, or a wanna be pit master on your gift list this holiday season, you are going to love this collection of 6 Holiday Perfect Cookbook Gift Sets...

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

If you happen to have a foodie, an aspiring home cook or baker, or a wanna be pit master on your gift list this holiday season, then you are going to love today's post! 

I polled my food blogger friends to find out what are the must-buy cookbooks this year, and then matched each one up with the perfect gift to ensure that the your gift recipient actually puts that brand new cookbook to good use. 

Because let's face it- oftentimes when you give a cookbook for a gift, it finds it's way onto a shelf in the kitchen and then proceeds to collect dust. 

But pair that cookbook up with a baking pan set or a shiny new slow cooker, and bam! They have a little motivation to actually crack open that cookbook, am I right? ;)

Most of these cookbook gift combos I am sharing with you all today come in at under $40 making them totally budget friendly gift giving ideas, but I included a couple of splurges in this gift guide as well for those of you with more generous gift giving budgets this holiday season.

Whether you have a loved one who is looking to up their pie making game or a friend who is interested in getting in on the Instant Pot craze, I have the perfect holiday cookbook gift set for you... 

Snowman Pull-Apart Rice Krispies Treats

These Snowman Pull-Apart Rice Krispies Treats are already cut & ready for sharing making them perfect for that holiday party or get-together... 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kelloggs® Rice Krispies®. 

As always, all opinions are my own. 

We got our first snowfall a couple of weeks ago. It was just a dusting of maybe a half inch, but my daughter insisted on getting all of her snow gear on and heading outside to play in the snow. 

Luckily her dad bundled up and joined her because even though I love Christmas and the holiday season, I have never been a big fan of the cold. In fact, if we could just have a couple days of snow right around Christmas day each year and that was it, I would be a happy camper for the rest of winter.

The how-to for these Snowman Pull-Apart Rice Krispies Treats that I am sharing with you all today is definitely more my speed when it comes to wintertime and snow. 

I mean, how can you possibly go wrong with a cute edible snowman the whole family can enjoy? And bonus points since you get to stay inside warm and cozy to make this kind of snowman... ;)

Red Velvet Molten Cakes

These easy Red Velvet Molten Cakes with an ooey, gooey cream cheese center start with a red velvet cake mix and are the perfect Valentine's Day dessert...

Okay.... I did it.

I dived right into the red velvet craze that always seems to be hitting the internet and showing up in Google searches in rapid fire around this time of the year.

I get it.

Red Velvet really is the perfect quintessential Valentine's Day dessert. ;)

In general, I can take red velvet or leave it.  

My husband loves red velvet- it ranks right up there with cheesecake for him. 

Some day I will have to tell you all the story about the year I decided to make this red velvet/cheesecake layered birthday cake -from scratch-  for my husband....  It was a logistical nightmare, but so crazy delicious.  ;)  Not pretty, but everyone raved about how amazing it tasted.

12 Perfectly Romantic Desserts for Two

From chocolate to cupcakes to cobbler, you are sure to find the perfect dessert in just the right portion size for a date night-in with these 12 Perfectly Romantic Desserts for Two...

Even though I put together this little round-up of delicious desserts with a certain upcoming romantic holiday in mind, I am here to tell you all that this collection of desserts for two isn't just for the love birds or romantic date nights at home. I mean, recipes for desserts for two can have so many other perfectly acceptable uses. 

Like, you have had a really long week. Like really long. And you want to splurge on a sweet treat, but find the idea of eating an entire pan of brownies or a dozen cookies a little ridiculous.

Or maybe you are in the mood for a sweet treat, but don't feel like having a ton of leftover cake or cobbler tempting you all weekend long. 

I mean, it is hard to let such tasty goodies just go to waste, right? 

Or forget the husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc altogether! How about a dessert perfect for a girls' night in with your bestie? 

So please banish the idea from your head that you must be part of a couple in order to truly appreciate and enjoy these 12 Perfectly Romantic Desserts for Two! ;)

I carefully collected these dessert for two recipes from some of my favorite food blogs to make sure there was a little something in here to please just about everyone's sweet tooth. 

From chocolate (because duh!) to cupcakes to cobbler, you are sure to find the perfect dessert in just the right portion size for a date night-in, to smooth over a rough week, or to round out that upcoming girls' night...