Party Food: Antipasto Kebobs

Antipaso Kebabs

I’m always looking for good party food! Simple things. Especially something I can prep the day before. I recently made these Antipasto Kebobs for a baby shower, and they were so pretty and easy to make! The kebobs were fairly quick to assemble; not a ton of prep time was needed, which is a must when you are trying to throw a party and have a ton to do.

I took everything out of the packaging and made an assembly line. Make sure to prepare the tortellini in advance and marinate in the balsamic dressing for at least an hour or even overnight. You can even dress with a little balsamic drizzle after plating! Your guests will love them. Enjoy!

Antipasto Kebobs

Ingredients

  • 1 9 oz package of Three Cheese Tortellini, cooked to package directions
  • Grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 can Medium or Large pitted Black Olives
  • 1 5.75 oz jar Green Olives (or pimento stuffed olives)
  • 2 12 oz containers of marinated mozzarella balls
  • 30 slices of Salami, cut in half
  • 1 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
  • Skewers

Instructions

  1. Place the cooked tortellini in a bowl or large gallon freeze bag. Pour the salad dressing over the top and marinate in the fridge for a few hours (I did mine overnight). Drain the pasta. Place one of each item onto the skewer using the pointy side. They can be made a few hours in advance. Just cover tightly and place in the refrigerator.
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Source: The Hungry Housewife


The Best {Slow Cooker} Hot Cocoa Recipe!

The Best Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa Recipe and Hot Cocoa Bar!

Photo credit: Judith Maroudas Photography

I recently threw a baby shower and wanted to have a Hot Cocoa Bar. I scoured the internet and Pinterest to find a good recipe. I found this great one from Mandy’s Recipe Box and it did not disappoint. Everyone loved it, especially when we customized it with our favorite toppings!

The Best Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa Recipe and Hot Cocoa Bar!

We had whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, peppermint mallows, and french vanilla mallows. I also put out peppermint candy candy sticks and chocolate hazelnut piroulines to use as stir sticks! See the full recipe below. I hope you enjoy it!!

Best Hot Cocoa Recipe

Best {Slow Cooker} Hot Cocoa

Yield: Serves 8-10

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 c. milk chocolate chips
  • 6 c. milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. Ladle into mugs; serve warm.
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Disclaimer: The Marshmallow Studio and Jet-Puffed provided the marshmallows for this post at no cost to me. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup

What’s better than warm soup and hot crusty bread in the winter time? This Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup is sure to please. It’s one of my favorites! If you want to take it over-the-top delicious, add shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits and green onion on top for a “loaded” potato soup!

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 (20 oz.) bags frozen shredded hash browns
  • 3 (14.5 oz.) cans chicken broth
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • salt & pepper (to taste)
  • 1 (8oz) package cream cheese
  • Toppings: shredded cheese, bacon bits, green onion, sour cream (if desired)

Instructions

  1. Combine everything except the cream cheese into the slower cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add in the cream cheese in chunks and stir well until combined. Serve with cheese, bacon bits, and green onions for garnish if you'd like!
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Slow Cooker Potato Soup

 


Christmas Breakfast Ideas

Christmas is all about family, and one of our favorite family traditions is to make something cute and creative on Christmas morning for the kids. The kids will love Snowman Pancakes, Strawberry Santas and Christmas Tree Waffles, but sometimes you also need to feed a crowd on Christmas Day, so there are also some delicious casseroles that are perfect for a large family or a when you need to cook for that Christmas crowd. Make a new tradition and enjoy these Christmas Breakfast Ideas for your family!

Snowman Pancakes - Christmas Breakfast IdeasSnowman Pancakes
Add batter in two circles that are touching, one smaller than the other. Once flipped over, add chocolate chips or blueberries for the eyes, nose and buttons, then add bacon for the scarf. To really make it come to life, add marshmallows below to make it look like it’s snowing. Something any kid would love! (source: A Little Lovliness)

Strawberry Santas - Easy Christmas Breakfast IdeasStrawberry Santa Bites
(source: Foodista)

Overnight Coffee Cake - Christmas Breakfast Ideas

Overnight Coffee Cake
(source/recipe: Balancing Beauty & Bedlam)

Christmas Tree Pancakes - Easy Christmas Breakfast IdeasChristmas Tree Pancakes with Star Fruit
(source:  Midstate Mills)

Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole - Easy Christmas Breakfast Ideas Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
(recipe/source: Bran Appetit)

Christmas Tree Waffles - Easy Christmas Breakfast IdeasChristmas Tree Waffles
(source: Rutherford Family Happenings)

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake - Easy Christmas Breakfast IdeasButtermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake
(recipe/source:  Alexandra Cooks)

Reindeer Pancakes - Easy Christmas Breakfast IdeasReindeer Pancakes
(source: The High Heeled Hostess)

Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole - Christmas Breakfast IdeasChristmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole
(source/recipe: AllRecipes.com)

Reindeer & Snowman Donuts - Christmas Breakfast IdeasReindeer & Snowman Donuts
(source: Love From The Oven)

Cranberry Almond French Toast CasseroleCranberry Almond French Toast Bake
(source/recipe: Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke)

Christmas Brunch Casserole

Christmas Brunch Casserole
(source/recipe: My Daily Moment)



Hot Cocoa Cookies

I was looking for some cookies to make for a Christmas Cookie Exchange and I came across a recipe for Hot Cocoa Cookies that I thought would be perfect. I wanted something that would be festive, but also something I thought everyone would enjoy. My friends know that I have a love for All Things Peppermint, but I know that not everyone does. These Hot Cocoa Cookies screamed holidays and had the cuteness factor! Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the cookie exchange because I came down with a cold, so I decided to make  the Hot Cocoa Cookies for my kids’ preschool teacher gifts the following week instead.

Hot Cocoa Cookies | The Pretty Party Shoppe

The recipe calls for regular white marshmallows, but since our friends over at The Marshmallow Studio and JET-PUFFED Marshmallows sent us a bag of Holiday Mallows , I thought they would be perfect to use instead! There are green Christmas trees and red stars all in one bag. Instant holiday cuteness!

Jet Puffed Holiday Mallows

When the cookies come out of the oven, you add a marshmallow on top. If you have the regular white ones (cut in half), you would add those cut side down. Then put them back into the oven for 2-3 minutes to melt the marshmallows. Below are my cookies after being baked for just over 2 minutes – slightly poofy! Keep an eye on them, you don’t want to overcook them. Otherwise the marshmallows will puff up too much and I think they loose their marshmallowy goodness then. Yes, that’s a word.

Hot Cocoa Cookies Baking

After they come out of the oven the second time, you quickly drizzle them with the icing and a couple dashes of holiday sprinkles. Perfect for the kiddos to help with! Make sure that the icing is slightly loose, but not too loose. Just enough to pour and it spread out. Here are my cuties! What do you think?

Hot Cocoa Cookies | The Pretty Party Shoppe

Hot Cocoa Cookies

Yield: 50 small cookies

Ingredients

  • For the cookies:
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 25 (apx.) large marshmallows (or half a bag of Holiday Mallows)
  • For the icing:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Assorted sprinkles!

Instructions

  1. Make the cookies:
  2. In a medium saucepan (or in a microwave safe bowl, using 50% power), melt the butter and chocolate, stirring frequently. Once melted, set aside to cool slightly.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla on low speed until well combined.
  5. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and blend until just combined.
  6. While mixing, add the flour mixture slowly and blend until just combined.
  7. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then cover the dough and refrigerate about 1 hour. If making the dough a day ahead, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before shaping.
  8. Preheat oven to 325*F. and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat type liner. Use a tablespoon (or a tablespoon sized cookie scoop) to scoop the dough, then roll the dough in your hands to create balls. Arrange the balls about 2 inches apart on your baking sheets, then flatten slightly. Bake cookies about 12 minutes.
  9. While the cookies bake, cut the large marshmallows in half (crosswise). When the cookies have baked, remove from oven and press one marshmallow half (cut side down) into the center of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven and bake another 2-3 minutes. Allow the pan of cookies to cool a few minutes, then transfer cookies to cooling rack.
  10. Prepare cookie icing by combining all ingredients in a medium bowl and mixing together with a whisk. Place wire cooling rack (with cookies on it) over a baking sheet (to catch any excess icing). Spoon a small amount of icing onto the top of each marshmallow, and use the back of the spoon to spread it a bit. After icing just a couple cookies, top with sprinkles before the icing dries.
  11. Allow icing to set up about 30 minutes before serving.
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Recipe source: Cookie base adapted from Rachael Ray, final cookies by Glorious Treats.

Disclaimer: The Marshmallow Studio provided the marshmallows for this post no cost to me. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Our family has been making Broccoli Cheese Casserole for over 30 years! I was first introduced to it by my Aunt Barbara 30 years ago during our yearly Thanksgiving get together. As a small child, broccoli was of course not on the top of my list of favorite foods, but this dish won me over with it’s cheesy deliciousness.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole

We don’t make it up north for Thanksgiving anymore unfortunately, but I have continued the tradition of making this yummy Broccoli Cheese Casserole for Thanksgiving and Christmas every year for the last 10 or 11 years. It’s a family favorite, and it just doesn’t feel like a holiday meal without it! Even our kids will eat it, so you know it’s good!

Beat the eggs in a large bowl first, then all all of the other ingredients (except the broccoli and crackers). Stir until just combined.

BroccoliCheeseCasserole2

Layer the broccoli in a 9×13 baking dish. Or, if your bowl is large enough, you can stir it into the mix first!

BroccoliCheeseCasserole3

Spoon mixture over the frozen broccoli.

BroccoliCheeseCasserole4

Spread out mixture until the broccoli is completely coated.

BroccoliCheeseCasserole5
Sprinkle the Ritz crackers all over the top. You want them to be crushed finely like breadcrumbs, but they do not have to be completely crushed. Texture is good. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for about 15 minutes more or until the middle is completely cooked through.

BroccoliCheeseCasserole6

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for about 15 minutes more or until the middle is completely cooked through. Enjoy the cheesy goodness!

BroccoliCheeseCasserole7

I hope you will add Broccoli Cheese Casserole to your family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I think it will become a favorite for your family too. Enjoy!

Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Ingredients

  • 2 bags frozen broccoli florets (12.6 oz. each)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10 3/4 oz.)
  • 1 half pint of sour cream (8 oz.)
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 small onion, finely diced (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. pepper
  • Ritz crackers, crushed (or breadcrumbs)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add all of the remaining ingredients (except crackers) and mix well.
  3. Grease a 13x9 pan (or 2 smaller ones) and pour in mixture.
  4. Lightly sprinkle crushed crackers or breadcrumbs all over the top and cover with foil. (I used half a row, approx. 15 crackers. Place in a zip top bag and crush.)
  5. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes, remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes, or until the middle is completely cooked through.
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Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies

I was planning a little Halloween party for my daughter and wanted to come up with a few treats that both kids and adults would like. One of my favorite sweets are Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow… aka Reindeer Food at Christmas time). Because I love Fall so much, I decided I had to make Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies for the party. I’m mildly obsessed with All Things Pumpkin, in case ya didn’t know.

Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies

There are lots of fall-like muddy buddy recipes floating around, but I found one I liked from Sally’s Baking Addiction and wanted to give it a twist. My friends over at The Marshmallow Studio and Jet-Puffed Marshmallows had just sent me Pumpkin Spice Mallows, so I thought it would be the perfect addition! I also added candy corn… well, because they’re awesome.  And what kid doesn’t love candy corn? It was the perfect duo to mix in!

Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies

Before I did anything else, I of course had to taste a sample (Or two. But who’s counting?) of the marshmallows. Exactly as I expected, they tasted just like pumpkin pie! They were the perfect fall bite, not too overpowering with spices. Plus, who can resist their cute little pumpkin shape.

This recipe was so easy, it comes together in just about 5 minutes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! And whatever is leftover, if that’s even possible, your husband will eat it the next day.

And not tell you.

And you will be sad.

So, do yourself a favor and double the batch. This stuff is addicting!

Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies

Ingredients:

  • 13.5 oz box Cinnamon Chex Cereal
  • 12 oz bag orange Candy Melts
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 cup Confectioners’ Sugar
  • Candy Corn
  • Pumpkin Spice Mallows (I used 1/2 a bag)

Directions:

  1. Pour cereal into a large bowl.
  2. Pour bag of candy melts into a small, microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring each time until completely melted. (should take about 1 1/2 minutes) Do not over heat! Once they are completely melted, stir in the pumpkin pie spice. Dump the mixture over the cereal and mix gently to incorporate.
  3. Add in the candy corn and marshmallows and continue to stir until everything in nicely coated. (*This is where you can add in anything you have on hand! Try: pretzel sticks, M&M’s, etc.)
  4. Dump the mixture into a gallon ziploc bag and add the confectioner’s sugar. Seal tightly and….shake, shake, shake!
  5. Add extra candy on top for garnish, if you’d like.
  6. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 1 week.

Pumpkin Spice Marshmallow Muddy Buddies

What? You’ve never heard of Muddy Buddies? Well, you’ve been missing out on all kinds of  deliciousness! It all started here. Go make some!

Enjoy!

Katie from The Pretty Party Shoppe Blog

Disclaimer: The Marshmallow Studio provided the marshmallows for this post at no cost to me. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Mini Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

It’s the first day of Fall, and I am now officially in my “happy place”. I decided to start it off by making a pumpkin recipe with my sweet 4 year old daughter. She loves to help her mommy, such a lucky one I am.

Mini Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins | The Pretty Party Shoppe

I came across this yummy looking recipe from Inside BruCrew Life and had to give it a try.  I’m a crazy lover of pumpkin… I even dedicated an entire Pinterest Board to All Things Pumpkin. Can you say YUM-O? These little muffins hit the mark – super pumpkiny (is that a word?) and dense, plus a bit sweet with the cinnamon sugar glaze on top. I have about a half can of pumpkin left…. what shall I make next? I can’t wait to do some more baking. Enjoy!

Mini Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

  • For the Muffins:
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • For the Glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 5 teaspoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, beat the oil, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and pumpkin until creamy.
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Slowly add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
  4. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
  5. Spray a mini muffin pan with non stick spray. Fill the cavities almost full.
  6. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes.
  7. Let cool 2-3 minutes in the pan. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Stir together the powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon. Dip the tops of the muffins in the glaze and let set. Makes 24 mini muffins.
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Recipe from Inside BruCrew Life.