Search Results for: pumpkin bars

Pumpkin-Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

October 16, 2019 By Jocelyn Brown 54 Comments

I love pumpkin and I love granola bars. So last week, I made my Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars and I started thinking about other flavors I can incorporate in a granola bar. And since it’s fall, I wanted to make something with pumpkin again.

So this past weekend, I came up with this new recipe: Pumpkin-Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars incorporating my family’s favorite morning cereal.

I was amazed at how these granola bars turned out! There’s sweetness from the honey, chewiness from the almond and walnuts, a hint of chocolate and cinnamon, and a bit of crunch. The pumpkin puree makes these granola bars perfectly moist too!

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

October 31, 2016 By Jocelyn Brown 23 Comments

This post was sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

I’m so excited about today’s post! I love recipes that incorporate my favorite ingredients and this one ingredient is not only a favorite, it’s also a staple in our house: Old Fashioned Quaker Oats!

So, before I share my latest recipe, let’s talk about oats first.

Oats are versatile. I mean, you could literally use this grain in so many ways – from sweet to savory oatmeal dishes and everything in between! In our family, we love pairing it with our favorite fruits in the morning or as an ingredient in our morning pancakes and lately, in these pumpkin oatmeal bars!

Here’s my reality and I’m sure most of you can relate to: I know how important it is to fuel ourselves with foods that offer good nutrition. But with the busy schedules we have, it can sometimes get challenging to incorporate the healthy whole ingredients in every food we eat. What I love about Old Fashioned Quaker Oats is that it’s very easy to prepare yet, it’s a wholesome hot cereal that provides lasting energy throughout our hurried mornings!

And now that we’re enjoying this beautiful Fall weather, I thought it’s the perfect time to make something delicious that can be enjoyed by everyone! And let me tell you, my friends. This recipe is easy as 1-2-3! It’s basically “mix, pour and bake” it literally took me under 10 minutes to put together and off to the oven they went!

These Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip bars came out so good and they’re just perfect as a Fall breakfast or mid-day snack! The pumpkin puree balances out the dry texture of the oats, along with the other ingredients. They’re chewy, delicious and moist and the sweetness is just right. (Yes, even with the chocolate chips!)

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Pumpkin Trivia – 30 Fun Facts About Pumpkins You Never Knew

October 13, 2020 By Jocelyn Brown 49 Comments

How well do you know about pumpkins? Here are 30 fun facts about pumpkins or pumpkin trivia to learn more about this Fall favorite fruit!

It’s pumpkin season! Those pretty orange globes are popping up on doorsteps everywhere. But how much do you really know about pumpkins? Sure, you probably know that they are in season in the fall, they are typically orange and they are available in all different sizes but there are many other fun pumpkin facts that you may want to learn.

Here are my favorite 30 facts about pumpkins that will help prepare you for any pumpkin trivia night this fall!

1. Pumpkins can be huge

The typical pumpkin that you use for carving weighs around 12-18 pound However, the largest pumpkin ever grown was 2,582 pounds! It was grown in New Hampshire and the man who grew this massive gourd won $6,000 for his first place pumpkin.

2. Pumpkins are gourds

Pumpkins are actually classified as gourds. Other members of the gourd family include cucumbers, watermelons, zucchini and honeydew melons.

3. Pumpkins can grow in a lot of places

Pumpkins are native to Central America, Mexico specifically. However, they are now grown on 6 continents and most likely turning ripe right about now on a farm near you!

4. Pumpkins are old

Pumpkins have been around for at least the last 5000 years. Archeological evidence suggests that pumpkins have been cultivated since around 3500 BC making it one of the oldest known crops in the Western hemisphere.

5. Pumpkin was “pepon”

The word pumpkin came from the Greek word “pepon” which means “large melon”. The French word for Pepon is “pompon” which American settlers morphed into pumpkin.

6. Lots of pumpkins!

The US produces about 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins each year. Many of these become pumpkin puree or other food sources. Of course, a lot of those pumpkins will grace Thanksgiving tables across the country!

7. Pumpkins take time to grow

You may not be thinking about pumpkins in May, but if you want one to grow by October, you should start planting in the spring! Pumpkin seeds take about 90 to 120 days to grow so those plants need to start sprouting by June to have a perfect orange pumpkin in the fall.

8. The Pumpkin Capital

Morton, Illinois is the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world. This is also the home of the Libby company which is a pumpkin powerhouse of the food industry.

9. The Irish started the pumpkin carving trend

People of Ireland traditionally carved turnips to ward off evil spirits. When the Irish immigrated to the US, they found that it was a lot easier to carve pumpkins. Thus, the tradition of carving pumpkins began!

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Nature’s Bakery Pumpkin Spice Fig Bar

September 16, 2020 By Jocelyn Brown 37 Comments

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Nature’s Bakery. All views and text are my own.

It’s back to school time and no matter what that looks like for you and your family this year, eating healthy is essential. If your kids are going to school, they will need wholesome sources of energy to help them power through those long days. If your kids will be learning from home, they still need to eat a balanced meal in order to absorb all that new information they are acquiring. Now more than ever, you want your family to have nutritious, delicious and beneficial food options to keep them on a healthy track.

Back to school season also means that fall is in the air. The school buses come and then the temperatures start to drop. Sweater weather has arrived! Apple picking season is here! Maybe a socially distanced hayride is in your future! And, that also means the arrival of my favorite flavor- pumpkin spice! I am definitely one of the many people who anticipates “pumpkin spice season” all year long. I gladly admit that I will be sipping on my pumpkin spice lattes and grabbing everything I can find that is pumpkin flavored on the grocery store shelves.

The other day, I was shopping at my local Target (mask on, following those aisle arrows!) and I was daydreaming about pumpkin spice while also thinking about what my kids need for school. I was in the granola bar aisle and went to grab a box of Nature’s Bakery fig bar when there it was – a new flavor of bar. You guessed it — PUMPKIN SPICE! Nature’s Bakery Pumpkin Spice Fig Bar snack bars were fully stocked and ready for me to load my cart with multiple boxes of this new treasure.

Do I sound a little crazy? I’m not! And here is why…

Nature’s Bakery is a family owned company that makes incredible, soft bars that are made with wholesome ingredients like sun-ripened fruits and hearty whole grains. They are truly a snack bar that you can feel good about eating. My kids have been eating them since they first came on the market and I can never keep them in my house for long- they disappear as soon as my kids find out I bought a new box! However, I don’t mind at all. Since all of the bars are made with real fruit and whole grains (even the double chocolate brownie bars are made with dates and whole grains!), I let my kids enjoy as much as they want. And you can guarantee that these bars are going right into their backpacks this school year! The Nature’s Bakery Bars are conveniently packaged making them the perfect, individually wrapped on-the-go snack.

So I am already a huge Nature’s Bakery fan and now, I had found the holy grail of nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free and GMO free bar- the pumpkin spice version! I grabbed a few boxes and headed home to give them a try. Okay, okay, I couldn’t wait to get home, I used some quick hand sanitizer and opened a pack right in the car (the bars don’t crumble, melt or break so they are actually quite a neat treat for a car ride). One bite and I was hooked. These wholesome, soft-baked snacks has the taste of pumpkin pie goodness with hints of cinnamon, sweet nutmeg, and real pumpkin.

When I got home, I gave my kids the Nature’s Bakery Pumpkin Spice Fig Bar and they agreed that this was the new fall-favorite snack. I now know exactly what I will be serving for breakfast on busy school mornings. I also know what will be packed in my kids bags for a midday school snack. And I also know what I will be eating as I write my next blog post- Nature’s Bakery Pumpkin Spice Fig Bar for the win!

If you are a pumpkin lover like me and looking to start this fall school year off right, I highly recommend heading to your local Target to pick up a box of these amazing pumpkin spice snack bars. If you can’t find them at your Target store, you can order online at naturesbakery.com and have them delivered right to your door (perfect for social distancing and quarantine scenarios!). Nature’s Bakery is helping to make life a bit easier! And, in addition to pumpkin spice, you can find more flavors and products for everyone in your family. These snacks taste good and are good for you. Grab some of these today and enjoy the incredible, amazing flavors of fall- welcome back to school and welcome back to pumpkin spice season!

Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cupcakes #SweetenTheSeason

November 19, 2015 By Jocelyn Brown 7 Comments

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

There’s no doubt that pumpkin is the classic Fall flavor. You see it in so many Fall-inspired dishes, drinks and desserts nowadays it’s pretty amazing what you can actually create in the kitchen with it.

I especially love pumpkin in desserts! So when I was offered the opportunity to bake something with chocolate and marshmallow, I immediately thought “add pumpkin and spiced pumpkin flavor to that!“ 🙂

For this recipe, I was tasked to pick three main items for my recipe from the Kraft brand (one of my top favorite and trusted food brands) to make my dessert recipe.

To do that, I went to my local Walmart where they have the huge Holiday Bake Center strategically located in the center aisle of the store, right across the baking section. I already love shopping at this store because I know I spend less on just about anything I buy there, especially grocery items and baking products. I absolutely dislike walking around a huge store looking for items I need, so the Holiday Bake Center at Walmart is a nice touch and makes looking for holiday baking items quicker and a lot easier!

For my recipe, I picked three items: BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bar, JET-PUFFED Pumpkin Spice Mallows – 8oz., JET-PUFFED Marshmallow Creme- 7oz. It took me a few minutes to find all of these items at Walmart because they were all in the Holiday Baking Center section. Ease + budget-friendliness: win!

Anyway, back to my recipe. So, what I love about these cupcakes is that they are not overly sweet! The batter came out moist and flavorful with pumpkin puree, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and semi-sweet chocolate baking bars. All the spices and flavors blended in perfectly together! I admit, I’ve made pumpkin cupcakes before with chocolate chips, but not with the semi-sweet chocolate baking bar yet. It was something I wanted to try and I’m glad I did – I’m happy with the final results!

The marshmallow frosting is fluffy and not too thick either and it’s easy to pipe on with your favorite frosting piping tip, or simply slathered on with a knife. I did mine with one of the piping tips from my Ateco cake decorating set.

So, if you like pumpkin spice and pumpkin flavors in your dessert, you’ll totally love these Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cupcakes (a mouthful, I know) — perfect for any Fall gathering or any time of the year!

[ultimate-recipe id=”14837″ template=”default”]

So what are you making for dessert this holiday season? I’d love to know what pumpkin holiday recipes you’re making! You can check out more recipes at Kraft.com!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares (Thanksgiving Dessert)

November 17, 2013 By Jocelyn Brown 2 Comments

I invited Nikki over at SuperNova Mom blog to guest post and make Hip Mama’s Place readers a yummy Thanksgiving dessert and she chose Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares from Martha Stewart.

Here is her recipe article …

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares Recipe

Hey there all you fabulous people! My name is Nikki and I’m so excited to show you this delicious treat that is perfect for your turkey day! The best thing about it is that it is SUPER easy with minimal ingredients and it’s pumpkin.. who doesn’t love pumpkin? Oh yeah, don’t forget the chocolate. Mmmm, chocolate. Alright, enough chatter from me.. here’s the recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspooon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

STEP 1:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt;set aside.

STEP 2:

With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

STEP 3:

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.

STEP 4:

Lift cake from pan (using foil as an aid). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares.

I absolutely loved making this recipe and loved eating it even more! Let me know if you end making it for your Thanksgiving spread, or even if you just make it for a delicious snack! Happy Thanksgiving!

*About Nikki: A former AOL Content Manager, Mommy Blogger Nikki Johnson is a Cake Designer, Social Media Community Manager and runs a dessert business from her home. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two kids.

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About the Author: Jocelyn Cañasa-Brown is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Hip Mama’s Place was nominated for Parents 2011 Best All-Around Mom Blog and named one of the Highest Rated Blogs and Sites on Nickelodeon ParentsConnect for the Washington, DC area. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

November 2, 2020 By Jocelyn Brown 54 Comments

Cinnamon sugar coated and baked – not fried, these yummy apple cider donuts will become a fall favorite sweet treat in your house! Quick and ready in under an hour, these fall-inspired donuts are also perfect to serve with homemade apple cider.

Do you feel like you are missing something this fall season? I was definitely feeling this way the past few weeks. Maybe it is the ongoing pandemic or maybe it’s the abnormally warm weather we have been having but it just didn’t seem quite like fall. Until I discovered apple cider donuts.

My sister actually turned me on to this amazing fall treat after she had a few donuts at a local farm. Of course, being the foodie that I am, I had to immediately find out how to make apple cider donuts of my own. Cider, cinnamon, fresh baked goods…what could be more fall-y?!? I got right to work crafting the perfect make-at-home apple cider donut recipe that could rival any farm stand treat.

I use to be intimidated by donut recipes. They always seem to require so much time and also I’m not a huge fan of deep frying foods at home. However, donuts can easily be baked in your oven rather than fried in oil. And, when you make cake-style donuts, there is no yeast or rising time involved- much easier! Apple cider donuts are traditionally made this way so they are perfect for creating in your own kitchen. They will also make your whole kitchen smell heavenly as they bake!

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST APPLE CIDER DONUTS

To make the donuts, you start by boiling apple cider to help it reduce. This means the flavor will be more concentrated without the excess water in the cider. The sugar and butter in the recipe are creamed together and then the eggs, buttermilk and cooled cider are added to the bowl.

The dry ingredients are mixed in to the wet ingredients and then the batter is done! Simple, right? It is the same mixing method as most muffin or quick bread recipes so you are likely already familiar with these steps.

The batter is scooped into a greased donut pan, filling each ring about half way. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can definitely use this same recipe to make “donut muffins”. Fill a mini muffin tin with the batter instead and then continue on with the recipe as written. However, to get the full apple cider donut experience, you may want to invest in a donut baking pan. You’ll use it a lot, I promise!

After the donuts have baked, they are dunked in melted butter and dipped in a cinnamon sugar mix. Coat the donuts completely in the fall flavored cinnamon sugar to get maximum deliciousness! The cinnamon sugar mix can be made even more delicious by using apple pie spice in place of the plain cinnamon. You can find apple pie spice in most grocery stores and it will give your donuts even more seasonal flavor. You may even want to try pumpkin pie spice for a fun mix of apple cider and pumpkin flavors- could these donuts be any more fall-perfect?

If I am going to splurge on a donut, I want it to be totally over the top. That is why I also drizzle my donuts with some of the glaze after dipping them in the cinnamon sugar. Of course, you can opt to just use the glaze instead of the cinnamon sugar too. Both ways work! Both donuts will be incredibly tasty. You should probably make them both ways just to see which you like more.

Enjoy the donuts while they are still nice and warm. They are guaranteed to make it feel more like fall and your house will smell amazing while baking them too! You should definitely give this recipe a try and taste it for yourself. One bite of this delicious baked apple cider donuts and you will know that fall is here! And while you’re here, check out my homemade apple cider recipe too – a perfect fall drink to pair with these yummy fall-inspired donuts!

Enjoy!

OTHER FALL SWEET TREATS TO TRY:

CARAMEL SLICE RECIPE

CARAMEL CRUNCH NO CHURN PUMPKIN ICE CREAM

HONEY APPLE MUFFINS

MINI PEACH CRISPS

PUMPKIN OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

PUMPKIN ALMOND CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS

S’MORES CARAMEL POPCORN

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

★★★★★

5 from 27 reviews

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 18 donuts 1x

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup apple cider
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
½ cup buttermilk
3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ** see notes
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
*For the Coating:
Cinnamon Sugar: 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon plus ½ cup unsalted butter, melted for dipping
Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, 1 tablespoon apple cider

Instructions

1. Add apple cider to small saucepan
2. Bring to boil over medium high heat and cook until reduced to ¼ cup, about 10 minutes
3. Cool completely
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
5. Coat donut pans with non-stick cooking spray
6. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until combined
7. Add eggs and mix until well combined
8. Add buttermilk and reduced apple cider and mix until well combined
9. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices
10. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until combined
11. Fill donut pan about ½ full ** see notes
12. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned
13. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes
14. Remove from pan
15. Combine cinnamon sugar coating or glaze in a medium bowl ** see notes for glaze
16. Melt butter in microwave safe bowl and cool slightly
17. Dip donuts in cooled butter and immediately coat both sides with cinnamon sugar mixture and set on a wire rack
18. Serve warm or room temperature
19. Store leftovers in airtight container

Notes

1. You can substitute 1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice in place of cinnamon and nutmeg
2. Donut pan – to make filling the donut pan easier, use a plastic decorator bag or resealable bag
3. If you want to glaze the donuts, make this Glaze recipe: Add powdered sugar to medium bowl, add milk and juice and whisk until smooth
Add additional liquid if the glaze is too thick. Dip donuts top side down into glaze and place on a wire rack to drip off excess.

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DIY Painted Candy Corn Mason Jars

September 20, 2020 By Jocelyn Brown 37 Comments

I was just looking at the calendar and I can’t believe we’re already almost halfway through October. Golly, where did time go? I’m not even done decorating for Fall and here I just got a new catalog in the mail from my fave online home decor store enticing me with all sorts of shiny, sparkly holiday goodies for our home. Well, if you love that store like I do, you know what I mean. I must have spent at least a good full hour just browsing through their catalog today, lol.

Speaking of holidays, besides making my house smell awesome and baking yummy pumpkin sweets, I also love decorating the house for Fall and Halloween (besides Christmas) and lately I’ve been obsessing over those cute DIY painted mason jars . So I decided that for Fall, I’ll make my own candy corn mason jars. I’ve put it off for a while due to other higher priority commitments, so I’m so glad I’m finally done with them and I can share my tutorial with you today!

I love how these mason jars turned out!

What You’ll Need:

3 (1 quart) size mason jars
3 bottles of chalk paint (white, orange & yellow)
foam paint brushes
twine
painter’s tape
paper plates
ruler
[Read more…]

Tasty Desserts for Each Season

May 17, 2019 By Jocelyn Brown Leave a Comment

If there’s one thing on this planet that people look forward to after dinner, it’s a sweet treat. And hey, if sweets aren’t your thing that’s fine. Take a look to see if there is anything here that would be something you could make for a loved one. Because remember, in the end, what says you care more than a homemade dessert from your kitchen? So go forth and explore these awesome spring treats.

Hopping to it in Spring

Springtime is associated with color and what can be better than incorporating that into your sweet treats? Using a variety of pastel colored glazes on cookies, donuts or eclairs can really bring in the compliments. Or, you can go the bunny route and make a festive carrot cake flavored roll for friends and family to enjoy. Another great springtime dessert item would be a lemon bar. The combination of sweet with a zing of tartness can satisfy large audiences with minimal effort on your part. If you are feeling really adventurous, you can whip up a cobbler with the fruit of your choice or a lemon cheesecake, which is smooth and creamy. For something a little crunchy, try these Easter bunny marshmallow popcorn bars. They are a sweet treat the kids will love eating.

Beating the Summer Heat

Oh summertime, that glorious season when the beach calls your name, a tan is imminent, and a cool, refreshing treat awaits. Traditionally with summer, the idea of ice pops and ice cream come to mind but these treats don’t have to be store bought. Don’t worry about sweltering in your kitchen because baking is off the table. These 40 easy no-bake desserts will have people asking, “How did you make that?!”

One easy route to go is to purchase some reusable pop molds, puree your favorite fruit, combine the puree with your favorite yogurt, fill the molds and freeze them. Or, you can go the layering route to add a cool visual effect to impress your friends and family members before these frozen delights are devoured. If you’re looking to wow people at your next backyard BBQ, try making homemade banana split ice cream. It’s not the traditional approach since all of the toppings will be incorporated into the ice cream mixture, but that makes it even more enjoyable.

Fall and Winter Sweets

Ask anyone what dessert they associate with fall and you’ll get a resounding “Pie!” as a reply. Getting right to the good stuff, here are the best Thanksgiving pies you can serve in your home or bring to a holiday dinner party. Sweet potato, pumpkin, chocolate, and apple pie are all awesome desserts to make yourself. While each of these options has their own challenges, making any of these fall-themed pies will surely garner you some awesome praise once the fork has hit the plate for the last time.

For the family that likes to stay active, what can be better than going outside with the family in warm sweaters and beanies you picked up from https://www.shirtspace.com/columbia and throwing around a football before retreating back inside for some warm cider or hot cocoa and a delicious slice of utterly sweet German chocolate pecan pie? If that is too sugary for your liking, maybe a smooth buttermilk pie is more your style. And if you wanted to eliminate slicing pie all together, making individual apple or strawberry rhubarb hand pies is an alternative to consider.

Get in the kitchen and be the star of your next gathering with a pie or two or several mini pies for everyone to enjoy.

Hanging around people you love while enjoying great food goes back to the dawn of time. So make it a joyous occasion with a sweet treat people will enjoy sinking their teeth into.

This is a collaborative post. All text and opinions are my own. Image courtesy: Canva.

10 Ways to Spend Quality Time with Your Family + Honey Bunches of Oats® + A Chance to Win a Nintendo Switch Console and the New Super Mario Odyssey Video Game Prize Pack!

October 17, 2017 By Jocelyn Brown 23 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Post Consumer Brands. All opinions are entirely my own.

Family time is one of the most important things that we sometimes forget all about in our daily lives. It’s not all that difficult to find things to do to bring everyone together, so check out some of these cool ways to do just that.

1. Eat dinner together. Dinner time is the best time to catch up from the day, around the dinner table. Make sure dinner becomes a routine each night and then everyone will look forward to not only a good meal, but quality time together.

2. Plan a weekend trip. One of the best ways to get everyone involved in family time is to plan a fun weekend getaway. It can be something simple like a local campground or even just a day trip to an amusement park. Either way, get the kids’ input and build excitement for the trip.

3. Do household chores together. Now we all know that chores can cause a lot of grief among the kids, but go ahead and rally everyone on a Saturday and get them done together.

4. Plan a family game night. Once a week, after dinner, let one person decide what board game or video game you will play together as a family and make a night of it. This is one of the best ways to encourage interaction and open conversation, not to mention a little bit of competition!

We recently got our twelve year old son a Nintendo Switch and we love it! Nintendo Switch combines the power of a home console with the mobility of a handheld. So you get more time to play the games you love, however you like.

The system comes packaged with the main unit, left and right Joy-Con with a Joy-Con wrist strap for each. Therefore, it’s a multi-player experience right out of the box for your kids and the whole family!

At the end of the article, I’ll let you in on some exciting news on how you and your family can win a Nintendo Switch Console + New Super Mario Odyssey Video Game Prize Pack!

5. Volunteer together. There is no better way to spend time together than giving back to a great cause. Find something that your kids are passionate about, and sign up for a few hours of volunteering together as a family.

6. Try a new recipe. A super fun way to get everyone together is to feed them with a new treat. Baking is a simple way to bring the family together and get the kids involved as well.

We made these delicious Pumpkin-Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars with Honey Bunches of Oats® with Almonds.

My whole family loves this cereal for breakfast! It’s the perfect combination of crispy and sweet flakes, plus crunchy clusters, plus a touch of honey. The mix of flavors in this cereal is simply delicious!

If you want the full recipe for our Pumpkin-Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, go here.

7. Get active. Make exercise fun by setting up an obstacle course in the backyard on a sunny afternoon. Or get everyone on their bikes for a nice, long ride. Another great idea is to check out the local recreation center for a low cost place for tons of things to do year round.

8. Go for a hike or walk. Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors together as a family. Head to your local park, or if you are lucky enough to live near a National Park with trails then that is the perfect way to spend the day. Pack a picnic and explore together.

9. Plan a movie night. This is sure to please everyone because who doesn’t love to cuddle up with a good movie and all your favorite snacks. Pick a night where each family member gets to choose the movie and get the popcorn ready!

10. Try a new hobby together. There are so many hobbies and things to do that if you can find something that everyone enjoys together this can be a super way to create bonding time. Try planting a garden or taking up a new sport such as tennis as a family. Getting everyone on board is the key so toss around some ideas to see what interests the family.

It’s important in our busy lives to spend quality time together, but it can be difficult these days with our busy schedules. But it isn’t difficult to plan and take the time to bond as a family. Get the conversation going with your family and try a few of these activities so you can make some great memories for years to come.

*Win 1 of 500 Nintendo Switch Console + New Super Mario Odyssey Video Game Prize Pack!

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We love the Super Mario Kart game for our Nintendo Switch. But we are excited about the release of Super Mario Odyssey on October 27!

With Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch, you’ll embark on a captivating, globe-trotting adventure with Mario as he uses his incredible new abilities to collect Moons so you can power up your airship, the Odyssey, and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!

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20 Easy & Delicious Breakfast Slow Cooker Recipes

December 7, 2016 By Jocelyn Brown 94 Comments

Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, but this list is going to have the whole family drooling over these dishes and begging for more! You’ll find everything from cheesy potato breakfast casseroles to the healthy goodness in the fitness energy bar recipes. The scents, tastes, and mom-pleasing ease of preparation will have you hooked on all or most of these fabulous slow cooker recipes for sure!

Check them out and see which are your favorites!

Slow Cooker Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole

Taking the time to share about all these great recipes is making this gal really hungry with all these amazing choices to create and enjoy. One of the tried and true recipes is this Tater Tot Casserole which combines a handful of common household spices, some heavy cream, and the obvious ingredients of tater tots, sausage, and shredded cheese. Talk about an overnight sensation! Throw them all together and let them cook on low overnight for a delicious breakfast the whole family will enjoy. Recipe via Slow Cooker Gourmet

Slow Cooker Breakfast Quinoa

Grab your quinoa and let’s get cooking – slow cooking that is! With only 5 minutes prep time and about 2-3 hours cook time, This makes a good sized, tasty breakfast that yields about 5 servings. Recipe via My Whole Food Life

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

A tantalizing breakfast for the family who’s always on the go this holiday season! Just layer the ingredients the night before and set the crock pot on low for 8 hours. Get your beauty sleep and you’ve got yourself a wonderful, hearty breakfast to start your day off right. Recipe via Iowa Girl Eats

Slow Cooker Cheesy Breakfast Potatoes

The green onions chopped in this one sound like a super way to pack a little crunch and a lot of flavor to the recipe. You can choose your favorite traditional sausage and layers of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses to make it out of this world! Recipe via Damn Delicious

Slow Cooker Italian Breakfast Casserole

Calling all Sunday morning brunch fans! Got a group getting together at your place or just need a great meal to feed the family? You’re in luck. This powerful ingredient combo is high on the “aim to please” list. Recipe via The Seasoned Mom

Slow Cooker Breakfast Enchiladas

Is it a breakfast for dinner kind of day? Never fear, the slow cooker recipes are here! Just pour in the ingredients and let them cook on low for about 7 hours. You now have a flavorful meal worth drooling over. Some of the unique ingredients in this meal include tortillas, salsa verde, ground turkey or chicken sausage, and sweet potatoes among others. Recipe via Slow Cooker Gourmet

Slow Cooker Overnight Short Rib Breakfast Hash

Can it get any better than this? Boneless beef short ribs, potatoes, herbs and spices, and a red bell pepper? Combine that with a few other minor ingredients and you’re well on your way to taste bud paradise. Recipe via The Stay at Home Chef

Breakfast Stuffed Peppers: Oven or Slow Cooker

45 minutes in the oven, or just 3-4 hours in the slow cooker and your breakfast of champions awaits! If making it in the slower cooker, they recommend lining it with foil first for this particular recipe. Makes clean up time easier though! Recipe via The Recipe Rebel

Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal Cinnamon Apple

Ready to have some fun surprising the family or special guests sleeping over? After everyone goes to sleep, slip out and throw these simple ingredients together in the crock pot to place on an obvious part of the kitchen counter where it is accessible to all. Let it cook on low overnight and watch the smiling sleepyheads come toddling out towards the amazing smell of the Oatmeal Cinnamon Apple! Best of all this tantalizing goodness makes enough to last a whole week! Recipe via The Fitchen

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Here’s a fun recipe that puts a little twist on things as it calls for crescent rolls to add to the mix. Sounds like a scrumptious combo to me! This recipe only calls for 2-3 hours of cooking time too! Quick, tasty, and healthy too – what a grand way to be. Recipe via Slow Cooker Gourmet

Slow Cooker Overnight Casserole: Blueberry and Vanilla Quinoa and Oats

Tempt their tummies with a splash of blueberry and vanilla mixed with healthy quinoa and oats for breakfast! Filled with hearty goodness to give you each a pep in your step, this crowd pleaser can’t be beat! Add in your brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, steel cut oats and few other ingredients and you’ve got yourself a meal fit for a king. Recipe via Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Recipe for Slow Cooker Blueberry

All I can say for this recipe is wow. What an alluring combination of flavors all coming together in one place. The scent in the home while it is cooking has to be incredible! Putting together a naturally sweet morning meal made of quinoa, blueberries, coconut, almonds, coconut milk and honey makes for one happy mouth and tummy! Recipe via 365 Days of Crockpot

Slow Cooker Peach Oatmeal

Savor the flavors of juicy peaches, sprinkled with some pecans, and cinnamon to add just the right touch to this already healthy and rewarding breakfast. Allow about 8 hours overnight for the meal to cook on low, and you’ll have a super healthy breakfast that teases the taste buds and lasts for days after. Recipe via Yummy Healthy Easy

Slow Cooker Sausage and Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Devouring their breakfast is something all moms love to see, but wait until they get a taste of this mouth-watering morsel of awesomeness! Sausage and eggs, with hashbrowns to boot – that’s what can put a smile in their step before they’re off to school. This recipe calls for about 15 minutes of prep time putting together all the layers, but it’s going to be oh so worth it! Yum! Recipe via Neighborfood Blog

Slow Cooker Quinoa Breakfast Casserole With Tomato and Spinach

Zesty flavor comes a calling when you add grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese, quinoa, spinach leaves and a variety of other ingredients to create this masterpiece of slow cooker delight. It’s really not a tough combo to make at all. Once all the ingredients are in the slow cooker, just cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours until the edges appear set and the eggs are slightly brown. Recipe via Slow Cooker Gourmet

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Food & Travel: Chocolate History Tour and Halloween Fun in Colonial Williamsburg

November 7, 2015 By Jocelyn Brown 31 Comments

I have had the most amazing Halloween weekend and I’m so excited to tell you all about it!

I was once again invited to meet up with four other awesome bloggers to experience history and chocolate for the American Heritage Chocolate (remember the first one?). Only this time, I got to explore one of our family’s favorite places to visit in Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg! 🙂

I drove myself to Colonial Williamsburg which is only about a 2.5 hour drive from our house. My family and I have been there numerous times before, but I was still really thrilled to participate in this trip! I love Colonial Williamsburg and I welcome every chance to explore this beautiful, historic place anytime!

I checked in at the Williamsburg Lodge on the day I got there. If you ever want to immerse yourself in the colonial Virginia period, start your experience by staying at this cozy, comfortable hotel decorated beautifully in colonial-style fashion but without sacrificing modern amenities! It’s got an on-site restaurant, a bar and lounge, fitness center, pool, spa, gift shop and is conveniently located walking distance to all the popular restaurants, shopping and outdoor entertainment in Colonial Williamsburg. I enjoyed my stay at this hotel and will stay here again in a heartbeat! Note: the goody basket and chocolates were courtesy of American Heritage Chocolate exclusive for this trip. 🙂

I met up with my blogger group, our trip coordinator, Kelly L., and two representatives from the Colonial Williamsburg team and from our hotel, we walked to the King’s Arms Tavern for dinner. Dining at this rustic, colonial-themed restaurant was truly a one-of-a-kind experience! The servers here are dressed in 18th century fashion and the menu offers a good selection of traditional southern fare, desserts, and fine wine. I ordered the Beef Tenderloin which consisted of hand-cut beef tenderloin with herb rub, grilled served with molasses-butter, potato-leek patty and asparagus. It was a good size meal and I enjoyed it very much! I also had the Mrs. Vobe’s Peanut Soupe (named after Jane Vobe, the business woman who opened this tavern in 1772) which was a rich soup garnished with roasted peanuts and sippets. A glass of Pinot Noir completed my fine dining experience.. yumm!

Overall, the food and service was excellent and I totally loved the 18th century-style dining experience we had here!

For breakfast the next day, we ate at Traditions – the on-site restaurant at the Williamsburg Lodge. I’m not a big breakfast person but for the sake of this experience, I made a plate of bacon, sausage, spinach quiche, hash browns, a slice of French toast, a small bowl of fruit and of course, a cup of coffee and orange juice! It was a great breakfast that got me through an activity-filled morning!

Our first stop after breakfast was at the Great Hopes Plantation, a living history site and is a must-visit when in Colonial Williamsburg!

The Great Hopes Plantation is a re-creation of one of the family farms that existed in Williamsburg at the time of the American Revolution in the 18th century. Here, we saw first hand how people in a farm in Colonial Williamsburg would have lived during that time. Our interpreter was very eager to show us around the farm and talked to us about the daily life of African American slaves, carpenters, and working farmers living rurally.

We saw how oxen were pulling logs and how people gathered firewood using an old fashioned saw.

I wanted to see how I would do with the manual wood sawing (that’s me on the right pulling the saw) and I’ll tell you, it was quite hard on my arms and I probably only did it for a minute! In moments like these, you appreciate the modern times, for sure! 🙂

We were also invited to watch a live cooking demonstration and learned about how women made their food. The women made venison stew and I admired the women’s dresses and how simple they lived their lives at that time. Part of me was imagining myself preparing my family’s food in this rustic kitchen, cooking our food over the hot fire and beaming with pride as I served the food on our family table. I have always been fascinated about how people lived in the 18th century and with this whole experience, I felt like I was actually being transported into that period of time. So awesome!

I admired the gardens where produce are grown. We were told that some of the local restaurants in Williamsburg get their produce here.

It was a remarkable experience witnessing how Virginians lived in a farm in the 18th century through the Great Hopes Plantation!
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New Limited Edition Cake and Cupcake Mixes for Fall from Duncan Hines + Sweet and Festive Fall Desserts {Recipes}

September 18, 2014 By Jocelyn Brown 3 Comments

I had an urge to go shopping for home decor today and the stores are just filled with everything Fall. From decorative candles, to wreaths to sweet treats, every item has got something in it that Fall is known for: pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon spice, apples, chocolate, caramel… Let’s face it. Fall is nothing without any of these!

That’s why I’m glad to tell you all about these new Duncan Hines Limited Edition Cake and Cupcake Mixes just in time to celebrate the beautiful colors and traditions of Fall!

Duncan Hines Limited Edition Autumn Velvets cake mix is a part of Duncan Hines’ new velvets line; the first in the baking aisle to extend velvet cake, beyond the traditional red velvet.

Whether it be a football tailgate, a spooky Halloween treat, or a festive cake at Thanksgiving, the new Duncan Hines® Autumn Velvets™ Cake Mix offers new and surprising possibilities to bake amazing creations to make any celebration fun and memorable! New Duncan Hines® Autumn Velvets™ Cake Mix is available now at limited retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $1.99.

Check out this recipe for Autumn Swirl Cake With Maple Spiced Frosting. I am totally going to try to make this for Thanksgiving dinner! 🙂

Duncan Hines Limited Edition Caramel Apple Cupcake mix offers at-home bakers the ease in creating bakery quality cupcakes minus the hassle or having to pay high bakery prices!

The Limited Edition Caramel Apple Decadent cupcake mix is a kit that includes everything to make your own delicious everyday or holiday sweet treat: apple cake mix, caramel frosting mix and a pastry bag to fill and top your cupcakes!

The Limited Edition Caramel Apple Cupcake mix is now available on grocers’ shelves in and will be available throughout the holiday Fall baking season. The Limited Edition Decadent Caramel Apple Cupcake mix has a suggested retail price of $3.29 and will be available at retailers nationwide.

Ready to try the Limited Edition Caramel Apple Cupcake mix? How about these Caramel Apple Cakies? Yummm!

And what’s a Fall celebration without everyone’s favorite dessert? By that, I’m talking about brownies! The new Duncan Hines Red Velvet Decadent Brownie Mix is a great addition to the popular Southern red velvet trend that also offers an exciting new way to enjoy brownies. The new Duncan Hines® Red Velvet Decadent Brownie Mix also includes an easy to use Cream Cheese Topping. In just a few quick steps, delight your family and friends with a decadent dessert that go above and beyond traditional brownies!

The new Duncan Hines® Red Velvet Decadent Brownie Mix is now available at retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $2.99.

I know I’ll never say ‘no’ to these Duncan Hines Red Velvet Glazed Cookies any day!

*WIN IT!

So, how would you like to win three (3) full size boxes (one box of each variety) of these new limited edition Fall cake and cupcake mixes from Duncan Hines? Just go on the Hip Mama’s Place Facebook page, “Like” our page, and then comment up answering the question posted there about “your most favorite Fall sweet treat”. I will pick two (2) winners after 12MN, EST on September 22, 2014. Open to U.S. addresses only, please. Good luck!

�*Hip Mama’s Place Disclosure: “My reviews and opinions are 100% my own. Duncan Hines provided me promotional products necessary to facilitate my review and giveaway“.

Don’t miss out on the latest fab deals, cool freebies, fun giveaways, delicious recipes, DIY inspirations and more! Subscribe to the Hip Mama’s Place email newsletter, Hip Mama’s Place feed reader, or simply “Like” Hip Mama’s Place on Facebook and/or follow Hip Mama’s Place on Twitter!

About the Author: Jocelyn Cañasa-Brown is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Hip Mama’s Place was nominated for Parents 2011 Best All-Around Mom Blog and named one of the Highest Rated Blogs and Sites on Nickelodeon ParentsConnect for the Washington, DC area. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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1. Pumpkins can be huge

2. Pumpkins are gourds

3. Pumpkins can grow in a lot of places

4. Pumpkins are old

5. Pumpkin was “pepon”

6. Lots of pumpkins!

7. Pumpkins take time to grow

8. The Pumpkin Capital

9. The Irish started the pumpkin carving trend

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST APPLE CIDER DONUTS

OTHER FALL SWEET TREATS TO TRY:

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