Archives for 2015

Top 10 Recipes for 2015

December 31, 2015

2015 is nearly at an end and I had a great year at Love and Confections. Here is a list of the 10 most popular recipes this year as well as a recap of all the wonderful events I attended or hosted in 2015.

2015 was a busy year here at Love and Confections headquarters. I am blogging full-time and loving it. This past year, I worked with some great companies, like Stonyfield Yogurt, Bob’s Red Mill, Dixie Crystals, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla and so many more! I am grateful for all the experiences over the past year and I hope to continue to grow the blog in the next year to come.

My first big event of the year was the inaugural #VanillaWeek. I gathered 12 bloggers to celebrate our live of vanilla. We created some amazing recipes like Vanilla Macarons, Vanilla Bean Ladyfingers, and Vanilla Bean White Hot Chocolate.

May was busy with the 3rd annual #Brunchweek. I had so much fun working with this group of 30 bloggers. Over 115 delicious brunch recipes were created and we had an amazing giveaway! Some of my favorite recipes were my Lemon Blueberry Crepes, 60 Minute Cinnamon Rolls, and Whiskey Walnut Tart.

The first half of the year kept me busy by being on the Food & Wine Conference planning committee. The Food & Wine Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort & Spa in July was spectacular. A great group of bloggers attended and I cannot wait for Food & Wine Conference 2016!

August was filled with fun days at the splashpad with #ToddlerLnC and a family beach vacation. ToddlerLnC had an amazing time at the beach and loved playing in the sand and water. I look forward to our yearly beach vacation and love watching her experience new things.

Late September was #pumpkinweek with 19 bloggers. I loved all the festive pumpkin recipes, especially my Pumpkin Butter, Pumpkin Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup, and Pumpkin Almond Croissants. During the Fall, I also had a chance to attend The Americas Cake and Sugarcraft Fair, a Honey Nut Cheerios Living Billboard event and The Taste of Dr. Phillips.

December was eventful and full of love, family and friends. I can hardly believe that#toddlerlnc just turned 2! We had a fun Sophia the First themed party for her that family and friends attended. A few days after that, Mr l&c and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We visited family in North Carolina for Christmas and are planning a small get-together with friends tonight for New Year’s Eve. I hope you and your family have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

1. DIY Glitter Wine Glasses and Flatbread Pizzas

2. Blueberry Sangria

3. Vanilla Bean Tiramisu

4. Candy Bar Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake

5. Pumpkin Cobbler

6. Black Velvet Spider Cake

7. Strawberry Daiquiri Pie

8. Lemon Ricotta Bundt Cake

9. French Vanilla Eclair Cake

10. Skinny Mexicorn Dip

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake #NaturallyCheesy

December 28, 2015

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

With New Year’s Eve upon us, an easy and delicious recipe like my Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake, using Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, is perfect for a night of celebrations.

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake from LoveandConfections.com

I love throwing parties, especially themed ones. New Year’s Eve is full of celebration, and the food should reflect that. Fun and fabulous recipes should always be on the menu, but they should also be stress-free. I start my menu prep with a grocery list and head to Walmart for my ingredients. Make sure you use the coupon for $1.00 off two Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese (valid 12/13/15-2/13/16)

We are a Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese loving house and always have a block available in my refrigerator. I use the 8 ounce packages quite often in my baking and cooking. It make recipes that much more delicious, and I knew it would be the perfect ingredient for my Crepe Cake. Pre-made crepes are readily available in stores, but my easy Crepe Recipe is great if you want to try making them on your own.

The Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake can be customized too. If you prefer strawberries or any other jam, you can use that. You can also flavor the cream cheese frosting with extracts or spices. A drizzle of chocolate or even a chocolate ganache frosting would also be perfect on top!

You can find more awesome holiday recipes using Kraft products here! Also look for other great savings on Kraft Heinz products. You can save up to $13 this holiday season!

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake

A Love and Confection original recipe

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake Ingredients:

– 36 Crepes, cooled

– 16 ounces Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

– 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar, sifted

– 1/2 cup Heavy Cream

– 12-14 ounces Seedless Raspberry Jam

– Powdered Sugar and fresh Raspberries for garnish, optional

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Crepe Cake Directions:

1. Using my Crepe recipe, make the crepes and cool to room temperature.

2. Using your stand mixer, or hand mixer, beat the Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese until smooth. Add in the Powdered Sugar and beat until smooth, making sure to start out slow so the sugar does not get everywhere.

3. Switch to the whisk attachment and add in the Heavy Whipping Cream and whip until just combined and fluffy.

4. Layer the Crepes, Cream Cheese Frosting and Raspberry Jam in alternating layers (Crepe, Frosting, Crepe, Jam, Crepe, etc.) until you use all the crepes, leaving the last one on top plain.

5. Refrigerate until needed. Before serving, dust with Powdered Sugar and garnish with fresh Raspberries. You could even drizzle it with some melted chocolate for an even more delicious cake! Enjoy!

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond #muBARista

December 18, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #muBARista #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond from mü coffeehouse cocktails is the perfect drink for happy hour and holidays!

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond from LoveandConfections.com

I love a good cocktail, and mine tend to be on the sweeter side. Creamy and delicious is definitely a plus and one of my favorites is a Toasted Almond. Traditionally made with Amaretto, Coffee Liqueur, and either Milk or Half and Half, it is a delicious coffeehouse inspired cocktail that I made even better with mü coffeehouse cocktails.

I even created an easy DIY Jingle Bell Cocktail Sticks. Since the bell is a bit heavy, I added a piece of chocolate to the stick (and who can deny chocolate) to help weigh it down. Chocolate goes perfect with coffeehouse flavors and my girlfriends will love the sweet treat with their drinks. If you make a fruity holiday drink, add a piece of fruit that pairs well with the flavors. Also, if you’re heading a holiday party this year, head to Publix and grab a mü coffeehouse cocktail as a host/hostess gift.

Creamy Coco Cappuccino was the perfect addition in my Toasted Almond and I cannot wait to try more of the 4 available flavors – Creamy Vanilla Latte, Creamy Chocolate Chai and Creamy Espresso Macchiato. “Coffee Break Meets Happy Hour” with mü coffeehouse cocktails, which are ready to drink, great when poured over ice, or even blended to frothy perfection. Just like your favorite coffeehouse drinks, these coffeehouse inspired cocktails are creamy and offer a “kick” with 13.9% ALC. They are available at Publix and other retailers, and have a $2 instant coupon available on the bottles.

What is your favorite coffeehouse cocktail? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to try mü coffeehouse cocktails this holiday season!

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond

A Love and Confections original recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond Ingredients:

– 8 ounces mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Coco Cappuccino

– 8 ounces Amaretto

– 8 ounces Heavy Cream

– Ice, optional

Creamy Coco Cappuccino Toasted Almond Directions:

1. In a pitcher or carafe, combine the Creamy Coco Cappuccino, Amaretto and Heavy Cream. If making ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator until needed (up to 2 hours).

2. You can serve it chilled as-is, or pour over ice into serving glasses. Please enjoy responsibly.

Here is some fun barware and cocktail accessories for this recipe:

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

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‘Tis the Season for a @Blendtec Giveaway!

December 3, 2015

It’s nearing holiday time and I know you would love to win a Blendtec Blender!

Blendtec is generously providing the blender for this amazing giveaway.

I had the opportunity to be a contributor on Brianne’s blog Cupcakes & Kale Chips this past year. I blogged a couple recipe, including Gluten Free Blackberry, Blueberry and Cherry Crisp and Homemade Pumpkin Pie Pudding.

She created a delicious looking Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme using her Blendtec and I definitely have blender envy. I always end up burning out blenders, or they don’t blend correctly. Enter below for your chance to win a Blendtec 725 & Twister Jar (over $750 value) and don’t forget to check out Cupcakes & Kale Chips’ Whipped Cauliflower Gratin!

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. Winner will have 48 hours form being notified to respond with their shipping address in order to claim the prize. Otherwise a new winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wanderlust Wednesday – Napa Valley, California

December 2, 2015

Wanderlust Wednesday – places I have visited or on my travel wish list.

Picture from here

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Gift Guide for the Fashionista

November 25, 2015

Looking for a gift for that special lady in your life? Take a peek at this Gift Guide on clothing and accessories that is sure to be on any fashionista’s wish list!

It’s the season of giving, and today’s post is from a guest blogger that is near and dear to my heart – my sister, KB. She is my fashion guru, and oftentimes gets pictures texted to her for input when I am out shopping. Hope you enjoy this gift guide round-up and be sure to check out her blog as well – Peonies and Pearls.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

I’m Katie, blogger of Peonies and Pearls, and have been so kindly asked by L&C to give some recommendations of gifts for the ladies in your life for this upcoming holiday season. If you’re like me and are drawn to clothes, shoes, and fashion accessories in any store, you’ll love these options and prices too!

First up are some selections of clothes:
It’s sweater weather here, so I love to snuggle up in over-sized, soft sweaters and cardigans.

1. Lou & Grey Cocoon Sweater. One of my favorite brands these days. They have such a relaxed vibe.

2. Hinge Marled Long Open Front Cardigan

3. J.Crew Tunic Sweater – always a winner.

Splurge:

Club Monaco Cristina Cashmere Wrap. (It’s on sale!!)

For those ladies who love sparkle:

1. Bauble Bar Tundra Stud. Love the structured look

2. J.Crew Crystal Venus Flytrap Earrings. So dainty and feminine.

3. Kate Spade Bourgeois Bow Stud. Perfect for all your holiday parties and best part is they’re on sale!

Splurge:

Dana Rebecca – Sylvie Rose Diamond Bar Earrings. Diamonds really are a girls best friend!

For the shoe queens:

1. Sole Society Angie Booties. Pair with skinny jeans and a long cardigan for day or night.

2. Nordstrom BP Trolley Booties

3. TOMS Leila Booties in castle rock grey suede. So excited Toms made these!

Splurge:

Frye Reina Bootie. This brand is tried and true and will get better with time.

Hope you enjoy some of my gift giving suggestions. Happy ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’ shopping!

– Katie

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Easy, Delicious and Stress-Free Holidays with @WholeFoods

November 21, 2015

Whole Foods has delicious options and can help take the stress out of holidays.

I was recently invited by my local Whole Foods to a Holiday Tasting. The spread was amazing, and they featured various items for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. You can even order everything online! There are two more days to order, so don’t hesitate. They have everything from Appetizers, Main Course, Sides, Desserts, and even beautiful Flowers for table decorations. Even if you already have your Thanksgiving meal planned, Whole Foods can help with all your holiday events!

I was able to taste a few appetizers, like their Smoked Salmon Platter and Blini with Caviar. Whole Foods also has a Cranberry, Walnut and Fig Stuffed Brie that was my favorite item of the night – it was absolutely delicious and will be making its way to my holidays this year! They also have Cheese Platters and Crudités, which are also perfect starters.

Turkey, Ham, Standing Rib Roasts, and even Turduckens are some options from the butcher. A variety of sides are also available, including the traditional Green Bean Casserole, Herb Stuffing, and Mashed Potatoes. Some other options are Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Macaroni & Cheese, Butternut Squash Risotto, Roasted Harvest Vegetables, Cranberry Orange Relish and Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes.

Even though we get “stuffed” from Thanksgiving dinner, there is always room for dessert, and Whole Foods has that covered too. Apple, Pecan and Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Cheesecake and Tiramisu are among a few delectable options from the Bakery. The Bakery also has Sweet and Savory Breads – like their Cranberry Walnut Hearth Bread.

All-in-all, Whole Foods is definitely the place to go when you need a delicious holiday meal. Don’t forget, you can order online for two more days! Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: I was invited by Whole Foods Orlando to a Holiday Tasting where they featured a sampling of their Holiday Menu items. All opinions are my own. Unless noted, images provided by Whole Foods Orlando.

Tips and Tricks for a Sick Day with a Toddler #FightFever

November 17, 2015

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

Sick days are no fun, especially when you are nearly two years old. Here are some tips and tricks to brighten up a sick day with a toddler.

November has definitely been a month to remember. #ToddlerLnC got Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease while we were visiting my Mom for Halloween. She had some little red spots on her hands and when we checked, she had spots and blisters in her mouth and on her feet too. As soon as we got home, I took her to the pediatrician who confirmed it was HFMD. She told me to give her Children’s Advil® for discomfort and fever.

What I didn’t realize is how contagious Hand, Foot and Mouth is. A few days later, I showed signs of it as well. I think (and hope) that it is worse in adults than children, because I was miserable and wouldn’t want her to go through that. The Toddler was on the mend, thankfully, and I just needed to take care of myself too.

Whenever she is sick, I try and keep her comfortable and happy. I have a little checklist of items and activities that we do, so she can have fun, even while not feeling good. Children’s Advil® from Walgreens is always in our medicine cabinet. The Toddler loves Grape flavor, but I’m sure when she is older she might like some of the other tasty Sugar-free Dye-free flavors, like Berry, Bubble Gum, Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch and Dye-Free White Grape. I remember, as a kid, having the Children’s Advil® Grape Chewables easy-to-swallow tablets, because I liked them better than liquid at that point. When my toddler has a fever, I want effective relief that I can count on. Children’s Advil® helps bring her fevers down, keeps them down longer with less medicine than Children’s Tylenol®, and gives relief, for both her and me.*

Sick Day Activities for a Happy Toddler:

Forts/Tents – we love building forts and the toddler loves playing hide-and-seek in them.
Coloring – crayons and coloring books are one of our favorite activities. It helps her learn the color names and fine motor skills
Puzzles & Books – these are two of her favorite things. She is so smart and loves her shape puzzles. She has her very own bookshelf with her favorite books, so she can grab them anytime and look through them – or bring one to Mommy or Daddy to read to her.
Bath Time – sometimes a little extra bath time makes her feel better, especially when we have fun bath toys to play with like foam alphabet letters.
Make Music – we make music with everything. She has some musical instrument toys, like bells, drums, and a piano, but we also use bowls, spoons, and anything else she can find. She loves listening to and making music.
Busy Books, Sensory Bins, and Crafts – a great resource and one of my favorite blogs is The Educators Spin On It, run by my friends Amanda and Kim. They have so many great ideas for children of all ages on their blog.
Cuddles – a necessity when sick, because cuddles make everything better!

Tips & Tricks

Rest, rest, rest – she normally has a set sleep/nap schedule, but when the Toddler is sick, that goes out the window. She needs rest to get better, so she naps and sleeps a bit more, and doesn’t do any strenuous activities.
Food – a lot of times, she doesn’t want to eat much, or at all, when she isn’t feeling good. I make sure we have some fruit and veggie pouches because I know she loves them and can get good nutrients from them too. Depending on her illness and what her pediatrician says, I also make her smoothies. She loves all kinds of smoothies and it cheers her up when I pull the blender out
Hydrate – I make sure she has a sippy cup of water available at all times. Depending on her illness and what the pediatrician says, sometimes she can have milk or juice mixed with water.
Ice Pops – if she has a sore throat, she loves Ice Pops. Homemade Ice Pops are great, but if you don’t have the molds or time, store bought is okay – I try and get the 100% fruit with no added sugar ones.
Humidifier – if needed, we plug in her humidifier at night, to help her sleep better.
Children’s Advil® – we always keep Children’s Advil® on hand in case of a fever, teething, or cold.

What are your go-to sick day activities and what is your child’s favorite Children’s Advil® flavor?

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please, always, consult your child’s pediatrician with concerns and questions. Always read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Children’s Advil®. Refer to and only use the dosing device and information that comes packaged with Children’s Advil®. If known, dose child based on weight, as this is the most appropriate method. If weight is not known, use age.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

November 11, 2015

The holidays are just around the corner and I am sharing one of my favorite holiday traditions with you today – our Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes with insights for this post provided by GE Cafe™ Series. All opinions are my own.

Feast of the Seven Fishes from LoveandConfections.com

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes. As long as I can remember, my mother or grandmother have hosted Christmas Eve dinner and carried on this tradition. I grew up with the kitchen being the heart of our home. Not only did I learn to cook there, but my sister and I also did our homework at the kitchen table, we ate family meals together, and had parties where everyone gathered in the kitchen.

For the past few years, I have helped my mom with the preparation and cooking, and I even hosted Christmas Eve at my house last year. We prepare and gather food days before and plan out a detailed menu. Christmas Eve is no small celebration and we usually have between 12 and 30 family and friends joining us for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. When there is that many mouths to feed, every burner on the stove, both ovens and the microwave are constantly going.

My dream kitchen would have the GE Cafe™ Series of appliances, so I could create a wonderful Christmas Eve Feast for my family and friends. I love the look and design of the restaurant quality appliances made for the home cook. GE Café™ Series Cooktops have each burner specialized for precise boiling, simmering and searing, which is key in making meals with maximum flavor. There is even a griddle system for grilling, searing or stir-frying. I can see myself using that for Christmas morning French toast.

Our Christmas Eve menu usually consists of an Antipasto, Shrimp Cocktail, Stuffed Calamari, Lobster Ravioli, Crab Legs, Clams Oreganata, Mussels Marinara, and Tilapia – for anyone who doesn’t want shellfish. Of course, there is also Spaghetti and my grandmother’s Sauce recipe, because those cannot be left out. It is a true feast and everyone raves about our Christmas Eve dinner.

My mom has hosted her fair share of parties and has passed on a few tips throughout the years. One of the best tips that I learned from my mom, and still use for every party that I host, is to label my platters and dishes. I gather all the platters, bowl, serving utensils, pots and pans that I will be using and label them with sticky notes. By doing that, I won’t be scrambling last minute to figure out what goes where and what pot to use.

After the feast comes dessert. In addition to cookies and sfogliatelle, my dad and I have a tradition of baking Italian Cheesecakes on December 23rd. These cheesecakes are different than regular cheesecakes, because they use ricotta and are more dense and less sweet. In the past, we have gone a bit overboard with the cheesecakes and made 3-4 of them. This wouldn’t normally be a problem, but they have to bake, then sit overnight in the oven without opening the door. If I had a GE Café™ Series double oven I would jump for joy when needing to bake our cheesecakes, because I wouldn’t have to worry about needing the oven for something while the cheesecakes are resting.

The GE Café™ Series French-Door Oven is on my Christmas wish list. Did you know their refrigerator has a K-Cup brewing system too? What GE Café™ Series of appliances would you want in your kitchen? Also, take a peek at the GE Café™ Pinterest Board for more ideas and holiday tips. Have a good holiday season and I hope you are inspired to take food further and create your own Feast of the Seven Fishes with the power of GE Café appliances.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Insight for this post was provided by GE Cafe™ Series. All opinions are my own.

One-Pot Pasta Party #HolidayPairings

November 10, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayPairings #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

One-Pot Pastas are an easy approach to holiday entertaining. Even though it is one-pot, every guest can customize their add-ins, so vegetarians, meat-lovers and every body in between will love their dish. Add a great Antipasto display with Pepperidge Farm Crackers, Pepperidge Farm Cookies and a variety of wine to create the perfect party.

One-Pot Pasta Party from Loveandconfections.com #HolidayPairings

The holidays are approaching fast and everyone is getting in the spirit. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and quickly after that, Christmas. I love being able to spend time with my girlfriends around the holidays, but since we each have families and other activities, it sometimes becomes difficult to get together.

I decided to throw a Pasta Party for my friends as a holiday celebration. Growing up, my Mom would prepare a pasta buffet, with different sauces, proteins, and veggies. Then, we would pick and choose what we wanted in our pasta and she would saute it for us. A Pasta Party is great to feed a crowd, and even better that each pasta dish can be personalized.

Barilla Pronto Pasta made it even easier because I was able to cook the pasta and sauce in one pot and cut my time in half. Barilla Pronto Pasta does not need to wait for the water to boil and there is also no need for draining. With the add-ins prepared in advance, this Pasta Party was a breeze and everyone enjoyed themselves. It comes in 5 delicious shapes – Penne, Spaghetti, Linguini, Rotini and Elbow. I can’t wait to make more one-pot dishes and have so many ideas for easy weeknight meals.

When hosting a party, I usually have appetizers as well. My Antipasto Tray is always a hit. Genoa Salami, Bocconcini (Mozzarella Pearls), cubed Havarti, Marinated Mushrooms, Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Olives were on this specific tray. You could also use Giardiniera, Roasted Peppers, and a variety of other meats and cheeses. The Pepperidge Farm Cracker Trio is a great accompaniment to the Antipasto Tray, especially since it is a variety of crackers that everyone is sure to love.

Antipasto tips:

have a variety, but keep it simple
marinated vegetables, meats, seafood and cheeses are good choices
appearance and fragrance is important so have a variety of flavors and colors on the plate
antipasto plates can be vegetarian too
roll or fold sliced meat for an interesting presentation
be careful of olives with pits, I prefer pitted olives for my trays
pair with Pepperidge Farm Cracker Trio or some crusty Italian bread
have fun creating it!

Having a variety of wine on hand is key for a party. For this pasta party, I chose two Constellation Brand Wines – Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir and The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend. Walmart has a good selection of premium wines at a great price.

If you are interested in more holiday tips as well as wine tastings, and Barilla and Pepperidge Farm demos at your local Walmart during November and December, visit Simple Entertaining for details and more delicious ideas. Don’t forget to head to Walmart as your go-to place for holiday prep and entertaining. The pasta dishes and mix-in dish sets seen in my photos are from Walmart too, and perfect for parties.

Dessert cannot be forgotten, and I used Pepperidge Farm Classic Cookie Collection as our end of meal treat. My great-grandmother always had a variety of Pepperidge Farm cookies on hand and every time I have some, it brings back such wonderful memories that I am able to share with family and friends. Since I grew up eating Pepperidge Farm cookies, the variety in the Classic Cookie Collection was the perfect, delicious and easy choice for my holiday party.

I hope you have a great holiday season. Be sure to check out more holiday entertaining ideas on Simple Entertaining. What are your favorite holiday recipes, tips and tricks?

One-Pot Pasta Party
A Love and Confections original recipe
Serves 4-6

One-Pot Pasta Ingredients:
– 1 box Barilla Pronto Penne Pasta
– 3 cups Water
– 1 & 1/2 cups Barilla Traditional Sauce
– Diced Chicken
– Sweet Italian Sausage, sliced
– Roasted Broccoli
– Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
– Sauteed Mushrooms
– Sauteed Zucchini
– Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

One-Pot Pasta Directions:
1. Prepare the add-ins in advance, so your party is a breeze. Once it is time to make the pasta, place mix-ins in bowls or ramekins, so your guests can easily add them.
2. Following the instructions on the back of the Barilla Pronto Penne Pasta box, place Penne and Water in a 12-inch saucepan and cook on high for 10 minutes.
3. Add in Barilla Traditional Sauce and cook another 1-2 minutes.
4. Have everyone in the party add their mix-ins to each of their dinner bowls, so it’s easier to keep track of who chose what mix-ins. One by one, saute the mix-ins with a portion of prepared pasta, in a small skillet. Place back into each of their bowls for individualized one-pot pasta dishes. Top with Parmesan. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS