• Dessert,  Entertaining,  No Bake,  Pie,  Seafood

    Key Largo: Onion Crusted Yellowtail & Key Lime Pie

    This is a contributed post as a special feature to Lemon-Sugar.com.  It includes a contributed recipe from Chef Bobby Stoky, but also a Lemon Sugar original: Key Lime Pie!   Enjoy!  The Florida Keys is home to five districts, each with their own personality and attractions that make visitors feel like they are a world away. Growing up around fish, Chef Bobby Stoky quickly learned how to do it all, from catching to cleaning and even cooking them. In the summers he would dive for lobster and in…

  • Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Quick,  Side Dishes

    Easy Pizza Dip

    With the big game coming up this weekend, I’m sure many of you are in planning mode, too.  Around here, we’re all making lists of our favorite game-day treats, shopping for ingredients and definitely looking forward to snacking – maybe more so than the game itself.  It’s a tradition in our family to gather at my parent’s house for the game – and since our team hasn’t been in the Super Bowl for many years, it’s become all about the food (and the commercials, right?)…

  • Appetizers,  chocolate,  Entertaining,  Peanut Butter

    Firecrackers & Football Cookies

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScoreMoreFans#CollectiveBias Can you believe the big February football game is almost here again?  I mostly can’t believe it because January just flew by – which is really ok because as you know, I’m not a winter kind of girl – I’m counting down the seconds until warm weather. I really shouldn’t complain about this time of year though, because it’s actually pretty fun.  With all of the football…

  • Beverages,  chocolate,  Cinnamon,  Dessert,  Entertaining,  Ice Cream,  Party Food

    Fried Ice Cream Boats & A Football Party

    YOU GUYS!  How CUTE are these little fried ice cream boats?  Even though it’s exactly zero degrees outside right now, these were still a welcome treat at our family gathering this weekend! It’s been a good sports year  in Kansas City.  Our beloved Royals (finally) won the World Series, and the Chiefs (finally) won a playoff game.  My family decided to gather to celebrate the big football game, so I thought I’d share some of our quick and easy party tips with you. Ice cream…

  • Appetizers,  Beverages,  Breakfast,  Entertaining,  Lemon

    Champagne Brunch with KORBEL

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of KORBEL California Champagne for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Last week I hosted a small brunch for some friends who were passing through town for the holidays.  Nothing big, but I wanted to have a few dishes for them to nibble on and some delish champagne cocktails to go with. I kept it simple with a fruit tray, a few pastries from a local bakery and then added in a couple of my…

  • Christmas,  Cookies,  Dessert,  Entertaining,  Holiday,  Quick

    Chocolate Dipped Holiday Cookies

     This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NestleHolidayBaking #CollectiveBias My daughter had a couple of friends over last weekend to play for a few hours for a “BFF Gift Exchange,” and because she’s just like her mother, she wanted to decorate for her party and create a dessert table to display our cookie creations.  The girls had pizza for lunch and we made some chocolate covered cookies with fun decorations for dessert.  It’s a quick and…

  • Entertaining,  Kids,  Party Food

    #DoubleDigits: A 10th Birthday Party

    So, Maddie turned 10 earlier this month. I only cried once.  Okay, maybe twice.  But even at that, I feel pretty good about myself.  That feels like an accomplishment. 10 years, you guys.  How do I have a kid that is 1o YEARS OLD??  She’s asking for iPhones and laptops and wants to redecorate her bedroom because it’s too babyish.  HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? Oh, and the theme for her birthday party? Hashtag Double Digits. As in, #doubledigits. As in, my 10 YEAR OLD knows…

  • Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Side Dishes

    Jalapeno Popper Fillo Bites

    Game Day! Doesn’t it seem like every day this time of year is spent prepping for, planning for, looking forward to or participating in some sort of game day? Whether it’s your kids, your favorite team (Go Royals!) or just an excuse for a social gathering, there is just always something going on.  If you happen to be hosting or attending a game-day gathering soon, this recipe MUST be on your radar! I’ve raved before about Athens Mini Fillo Shells.  They really are lifesavers!  I…

  • Cake,  Cherry,  chocolate,  Dessert,  Entertaining

    Black Forest Pound Cake

    You know what a grown-up dessert is, don’t you?  My desserts get that label simply when my kids won’t eat them – usually because they aren’t sweet enough, or they have nuts or unfamiliar ingredients.  (Or booze, but that’s captain obvious, right?) This one is a grown-up dessert.  The chocolate is dark, it’s rich but light, and the sweetness comes from the whipped cream and cherry sauce. My kids did the “we’re gonna act like we like this so we don’t hurt your feelings” face…

  • Beverages,  Entertaining,  Quick,  Smoothie,  Summer Favorites

    Instant Party with BACARDI® Mixers pt 2

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BACARDI® Mixers for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. You guys, we had so much fun at our #instantparty last weekend!  Because there is ALWAYS a reason to celebrate, it wasn’t hard to determine that a housewarming was the perfect excuse. My reason to party?  My dear friend Dawn has a beautiful new home and a lovely pool! Girls night slash pool party! I came armed with a cooler, chock-full of BACARDI® Mixers.  Using the Strawberry…

  • Beverages,  Entertaining

    Instant Party with Bacardi Mixers pt 1

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BACARDI® Mixers for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.   You know by now that I love to entertain and host parties so I’m always looking for a reason to celebrate.  Like the old adage “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” there is always something to celebrate – and it’s not terribly difficult to find it if you just look.   For instance, last week my husband and I were celebrating the last week of softball.…

  • Cinnamon,  Dessert,  Entertaining,  Ice Cream,  Nuts,  Other Desserts,  Party Food,  Pie,  Summer Favorites

    Mini Apple Crumb Sundaes

    I’m not sure that ANYTHING screams summertime dessert more than apple pie.  But even more, apple pie with ice cream?  Not much better than that.  And while I love a good pie, they can really be a major undertaking – from the crust to the filling to crossing your fingers that they set up like they’re supposed to – that’s a lot of dessert-stress that sometimes I just don’t want to deal with. I hosted my extended family gathering for the 4th of July this…