Archives for March 2015

Pressed Cuban Sandwich #HillshireNaturals #spon

Pressed Cuban Sandwiches are one of my all-time favorite sandwiches. The Cuban bread gets a little crispy from the panini press, smeared with just the right amount of mustard, moist and juicy pork and ham, cheese and pickles round it out into a mouthwatering meal.

Pressed Cuban Sandwich from LoveandConfections.com


I grew up in Miami, and even though I am not Cuban, I LOVE Cuban food – yes, so much that it needed to be in all caps! I could seriously eat it all, morning, noon and night. One of the most delicious breakfasts is Tostada Cubana – Cuban bread that is sliced, pressed and buttered, then you can dip it into your Cafe con Leche – simple and amazing.

Pressed Cuban Sandwich from LoveandConfections.com

Croquettes and Pastelitos are perfect any time of the day. Cuban Sandwiches, Pan con Bistec, and Medianoches are perfect for a lunch break along with an order of Mariquitas or Yuca Fries. Dinner can be Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja, or Churrasco and of course Maduros, Black Beans and Rice. I am seriously hungry right now!

Pressed Cuban Sandwich from LoveandConfections.com

Let’s get back on track. I was craving a Cuban Sandwich a couple days ago and decided to make one with my panini press. Hillshire Farms Naturals lunchmeats were the perfect option for my sandwich. The ham tasted great, with a little bit of sweetness, and perfectly complimented my shredded pork. Instead of the usual sliced pork, I used some shredded pork that I had made the night before for barbecue (barbecue sauce left off, of course). I made a sandwich for Mr. L&C and my Dad, who each had Swiss Cheese. I chose White American because I like that flavor better – I know, not the traditional cheese, but I like it.

Pressed Cuban Sandwich from LoveandConfections.com

I was very surprised, but Toddler L&C loved the Cuban Sandwich. She kept coming up to me and taking bites off of mine. She loves pickles and cheese, but I didn’t know how she would do with the mustard and ham. She loved it so much that she had Hillshire Farm Naturals Ham the next two days during lunch – which made this Mommy very happy.

Hillshire Farm Naturals lunchmeats are crafted to be both 100% natural and 100% delicious, which is why they will provide a 100% refund for every package of meat that a consumer is not satisfied with – that is some seriously good customer service! The lunchmeat is always select cuts of meat and slow roasted in their own juices, creating a natural goodness. There are also no artificial ingredients or preservatives as well as no added nitrates or nitrites. You can learn more about Hillshire Farm Naturals here.

Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram}

Pressed Cuban Sandwich from LoveandConfections.com

Pressed Cuban Sandwich
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Pressed Cuban Sandwich Ingredients:
– 1 large Loaf of Cuban Bread
– Butter, room temperature
– Mustard
– Dill Pickle Slices
– 1 package Hillshire Farm Naturals Honey Roasted Ham
– Prepared Pulled Pork
– Swiss Cheese slices

Pressed Cuban Sandwich Directions:
The amount of ingredients is your own personal preference.
1. Heat your panini press according to manufacturer’s directions.
2. Slice Cuban Bread into 6-8 inch sandwich pieces, then slice each piece in half horizontally. Spread a thin amount of soft Butter on the bottoms of the sandwich before you build them.
3. Spread a thin amount of Mustard on each open-faced sandwich. Place a piece of Cheese on the bottom half. Place Hillshire Farm Naturals Ham Slices on the bottom half, followed by the Pulled Pork, then pickles and another slice of Cheese. Replace the top of the sandwich and spread with Butter.
4. Heat in the panini press until the sandwich is heated throughout and the cheese has melted. Slice in half and enjoy!

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

M&M’s Crispy Bark #CrispyComeback

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

M&M's® Crispy Bark by LoveandConfections.com


M&M’s® Crispy are Back! I am really excited about this blog post! I fell in love with M&M’s® Crispy when they first debuted a few years ago. Ever since, I have been hoping for a comeback and am so happy they are here. I decided to celebrate with some easy and tasty M&M’s® Crispy Bark – crispy, crunchy, and chocolate deliciousness.

M&M's® Crispy Bark by LoveandConfections.com

If you’ve never had a M&M’s® Crispy, you need to visit CVS and go ahead, treat yourself. They are back by consumer demand and I couldn’t be happier. M&M’s® Crispy is a delicious milk chocolate with crispy rice center and only 180 calories per serving! If I had no self-control, I might eat an entire large bag in 1-2 sittings. Thank goodness M&M’s® Crispy comes in individual bags too! I can grab a bag and pop it into Toddler L&C’s diaper bag so I can have a snack on the run. Also, CVS  has a coupon available for M&M’s® Crispy – click on “Deals” then “Printable Coupons”

M&M's® Crispy Bark by LoveandConfections.com

As a mom to a toddler, I always have snacks in my diaper bag for her. When she first started getting teeth, she loved those little stars that dissolved in her mouth. She moved up into fruit bars, organic cheese crackers, cereal and fruit & veggie pouches. I usually double check to make sure that I have everything I need for her before we leave the house. Believe me, it isn’t a good thing when Mommy forgets some snacks or her sippy cup with water.

M&M's® Crispy Bark by LoveandConfections.com

I usually eat my meals with her, but sometimes timing is off and I either eat before or forget to eat. It’s pretty bad when you don’t have snacks for the toddler, but Moms need snacks too. I learned the hard way that I need to keep something in her diaper bag for me also. Individual bags of M&M’s® Crispy fit perfectly into the side pouch of her diaper bag. I also like bagging up other snacks and chocolate bark is one of them.

M&M’s® Crispy big bags are available in the candy aisle and the individual packs are located underneath the registers at the front of the store.

I bought a big bag of M&M’s® Crispy so could make some chocolate bark. M&M’s® Crispy Bark is great because I can have it as an afternoon snack, in the car between errands, or as a treat at night after dinner. Bark is so versatile and I love that you can add almost anything to it – flavors, toppings, etc. – and it is really easy to make too.

 Be careful, because little hands want to have some M&M’s® Crispy too!

 Gather all your ingredients.
 Chop the milk chocolate almond bark.
 Create a double boiler for the chocolate – making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl.
Spread the chocolate in your prepared pan, top with M&M’s® Crispy and refrigerate until set.

M&M’s® Crispy Bark
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

M&M’s® Crispy Bark Ingredients:
– 9 ounces Milk Chocolate Almond Bark
– 4 ounces M&M’s® Crispy candies

M&M’s® Crispy Bark Directions:
1. Chop Milk Chocolate Almond Bark and place into a bowl. Create a double boiler by filling a small pot with some water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the chocolate bowl. Heat the water, then turn to low and place the bowl on top of the pot.
2. With a silicone spatula, stir the chocolate so it does not burn, being careful because the bowl will become hot.
3. While the chocolate is melting, prepare your 9×13 pan by placing parchment paper inside, making sure it overlaps so you can pull the chocolate out once it has set.
4. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment once it is completely melted. Use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle on the M&M’s® Crispy candies and press in slightly. Refrigerate for 10-20 minutes, or until set. Cut or break into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to one week. Enjoy!



Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie #McCafeMyWay

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

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie from LoveandConfections.com


A Breakfast Coffee Smoothie, made with frozen bananas, yogurt, McCafé Coffee Pods and coffee ice cubes, is the perfect accompaniment to start your day! I love smoothies because there are so many different options to choose from – fruity, green, chocolate, coffee – the possibilities are endless. What’s even better is having my smoothie ingredients prepped the night before so all I have to do is wake up and blend them together.

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie from LoveandConfections.com

Some mornings don’t always go as planned. I would love to say that I always have a nice, hot cup of coffee in the morning while eating breakfast. When you have a 15-month old rambunctious little girl, a hot cup of coffee doesn’t always happen. I brew myself a cup of McCafé coffee for breakfast and usually come back an hour later realizing I only was able to drink half before I had to leave it and the coffee got cold.

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie from LoveandConfections.com

I sometimes enjoy a hot cup of coffee as “me time” if she happens to take a morning nap, but some days I want the coffee bright and early. This breakfast coffee smoothie is great because I am able to prepare everything the night before, so I don’t have to worry if Toddler L&C decides she needs to be read her favorite story 5 times in a row right now, or she wants take every toy out of the toy-box before 8am.

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie from LoveandConfections.com

You can find McCafé in the coffee aisle in your local Walmart. McCafé is available in 8 flavors, so you have lots of options to choose from. Brewing options are either premium bags or coffee pods. I don’t know what I would do without my coffee pod brewer. McCafé Coffee and Pods are made with 100% Arabica Beans, so you know it is good quality coffee – which is what this Momma needs in the AM. The beans are harvested from rich soils and mountainous regions of the foremost coffee-growing areas of the world.

I love trying out new coffee pod flavors and mixing it up. McCafé tastes great and I can’t wait to try all 8 flavors in my morning routine. The French Roast is a nice, smooth, bold and dark flavor – the perfect compliment to my morning smoothie. To help boost the coffee flavor in my smoothie, I brewed some McCafé French Roast the night before, let it cool to room temperature, and poured it into an ice cube tray to freeze overnight. These coffee cubes are a great way to get some extra coffee flavor into your smoothies. If you want to brew yourself a McCafé Iced Coffee, don’t water it down by using regular ice cubes. Instead, use the coffee cubes to keep that great coffee flavor and chill your drink to icy perfection.

A delicious cup of (hot) freshly brewed coffee – what you don’t see is a toddler grabbing at the placemat, trying to pull it off the table… 
Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram}

Brew 2 McCafé Coffee Pods the night before, cool to room temp and freeze in an ice cube tray.

Gather all the ingredients for the smoothie.
Blend together until smooth with a stand or immersion blender.

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie
A Love and Confection original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield 2 smoothies – can be halved if necessary

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie Ingredients:
– 8 Coffee Ice Cubes, prepared the night before
– 1 Banana, peeled and frozen the night before
– 1 cup of brewed McCafé, chilled the night before
– 1 cup Vanilla Yogurt
– 1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
– 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Breakfast Coffee Smoothie Directions:
1. The night before, brew 2 cups of coffee, cool to room temperature and freeze in an ice cube tray. Peel and wrap a banana and freeze. Brew 1 cup of coffee and store in the refrigerator overnight.
2. In a stand blender or with an immersion blender, mix together the Coffee Ice Cubes, Banana, Coffee, Vanilla Yogurt, Cocoa Powder and Vanilla Extract until smooth. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema #DelimexFiesta

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

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema from LoveandConfections.com


Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema are the perfect additions to any fiesta. I love different toppings and dips for taco bars. The more the better, because I can mix and match and choose which topping goes best with a certain dish. Taco bars are a great option when feeding a crowd, especially for parties during college basketball season, because there are so many options for guests to choose from. Queso and salsa are a must, but homemade guacamole is the best. Also, if you want to try something different with your tacos, Cilantro-Lime Crema is the way to go.

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema from LoveandConfections.com

For future taco night or basketball parties, Delimex Taquitos, Tacos and Tamales will probably make an appearance. Since college basketball is on television, it’s fun to watch, but sometimes I miss the games while cooking dinner. I made some Delimex Tacos and Taquitos and they cooked in less time than it took me to make both the guacamole and crema. They can easily be found in your local Walmart frozen food section. Delimex even has a coupon that you can print through April 7th, for $1 off any two (2) Delimex Frozen Taquito products (excluding frozen fruit taquitos) at Walmart.

Click for link to coupon

My family and I love “Mexican Miercoles” – we did “Taco Tuesday” before it was a thing, and gave it a cooler name. 😉 Whether we went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, or stayed in and cooked, it was all about being together. The guys would sometimes grill the meats, we made homemade fillings and side dishes, but one constant was guacamole! My Uncle makes THE best guacamole, and this recipe is adapted from his.

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema from LoveandConfections.com

I decided to try something new for a topping and came up with the Cilantro-Lime Crema. We love cilantro-lime rice and I often make it when we have taco night, so that’s where the flavor profile came from. Cilantro and lime are great together and with the Greek Yogurt and Sour Cream, it blends perfectly. I will definitely be making some more tacos and salads soon, so I can have more of this delicious crema.

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema from LoveandConfections.com

Delimex made taco night a breeze. I shared some of my favorite recipes and I’d love to hear your favorites. Be sure to check out more delicious recipes at Kraft.com and head to Walmart to grab some game-day Delimex!

Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram}

Gather ingredients for Guacamole.

Place all ingredients into a bowl and use a pastry cutter to combine. 
You want a chunky guacamole, so this tool is the best way to achieve that. 
Gather ingredients for Crema and blend together until smooth.

Homemade Guacamole
Adapted from a Love and Confections family recipe
Click here for a printable link

Homemade Guacamole Ingredients:
– 2 ripe Haas Avocados
– 1 medium Tomato, diced and seeded
– 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed Lime Juice
– 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
– 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
– 1/2 teaspoon Salt
– 1 tablespoon finely chopped Cilantro
– a few dashes of Hot Sauce (optional)

Homemade Guacamole Directions:
1. Slice the Avocados in half and remove the pits. Using a spoon, scoop the avocado meat into a medium bowl. Dice the Tomato and add it into the bowl, making sure to discard the seeds, otherwise your guacamole will be too watery.
2. Add in 1 tablespoon of Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Cilantro and Hot Sauce. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the ingredients together. You will want a chunky guacamole, so these tools are the best for that and not a food processor.
3. Serve immediately. Guacamole is best when served right after making, but can be refrigerated up to 8 hours. It will start to darken in color, so make sure to press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to help prevent oxidation. Enjoy!

Cilantro-Lime Crema
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable link

Cilantro-Lime Crema Ingredients:
– 1 cup Greek Yogurt
– 1/2 cup Sour Cream
– 1 teaspoon chopped Garlic
– 2 tablespoons finely chopped Cilantro
– Juice and Zest from 1 Lime
– 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Cilantro-Lime Crema Directions:
1. Using a stand blender or immersion blender, combine all the ingredients until completely mixed. Keep refrigerated until needed. Can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cilantro-Lime Crema is great for topping tacos, salads and grilled meats. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Hormel Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites #PepItUp

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

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com


Wontons have been on my mind for some time. Those lovely little wrappers can be stuffed with so many different fillings and either baked or fried to perfection. While working with Hormel Pepperoni, I knew wontons were at the top of my pepperoni recipe ideas list. Add in a little pesto, mozzarella, spices and cream cheese to create a fabulous snack or appetizer for any occasion.

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com

Some areas of the country are still getting snow, but our temperatures have been in the 80’s most days. Spring is here and I am enjoying it before the Summer temperatures set in. Spring is all about new growth and I have decided to grow my own basil! You might be wondering why this is a big deal. Well, I don’t have a green thumb – it’s more of a black thumb. I can’t keep plants alive. I either forget I have them and don’t water, or sometimes I water them too much. This Spring I will try, again, to grow something – Basil.

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com
Mom’s Basil plant when it was “little”

My Mom has a basil bush that grows huge every year – at least four feet high and very full. It is really impressive. I absolutely love cooking with fresh herbs and basil is one of my favorites. Once, she had so much basil that needed to be used before the weather changed that she had a pesto-making party. Pesto is such a great idea if you need to use up some basil, and it freezes really well, too.

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com

I decided to do something less traditional with my wontons and filled them with a cream cheese-mozzarella-pesto-pepperoni mixture and they are delicious! The wontons got nice and crispy – I love a good crunchy snack – and were the perfect savory bite. They can even be dipped in homemade (or jar) marinara sauce for some extra delicious flavor. These Pepperoni & Pesto Wontons are definitely going to make an appearance at my next party.

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com

I’ve shared my unique Hormel Pepperoni recipe with you. I’d love to hear how you use pepperoni. Leave a comment sharing your most creative use of pepperoni in your family’s favorite recipes. For more great pepperoni recipes, check out Hormel Foods on Facebook and Twitter.

Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram}





Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites from LoveandConfections.com

Gather ingredients for filling.

Mix filling and fold in pepperoni

Gather ingredients for wonton bites – prepared filling, wonton wrappers, egg-wash, olive oil & parmesan
Fill wontons, then using egg-wash, seal into little packages and place on prepared baking tray.



Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites
A Love and Confection original recipe, Inspired by Damn Delicious
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield: 35 Wontons

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites Ingredients:
– 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
– 4 ounces finely shredded Mozzarella Cheese
– 3 tablespoons prepared Pesto
– 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
– 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
– 1/4 teaspoon Salt
– 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
– 2 & 1/2 ounces Hormel Original Mini Pepperoni
– 35 Wonton Wrappers
– 1 large Egg
– 2 teaspoons Olive Oil (optional)
– 1 ounce shredded Parmesan Cheese (optional)
– Marinara Sauce for dipping (optional)

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375F. Spray 2 sided sheet pans with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Place the Cream Cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Pesto, Garlic powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Black Pepper in a medium bowl and combine with a hand mixer or use your stand mixer.
3. Fold in the Mini Pepperoni with a spatula so you do not break them apart. Prepare a station with the cream cheese mixture, Wonton Wrappers and Egg. Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk it with a fork to create an egg wash.
4. Spoon 1/2 tablespoon sized portions of the mixture into the center of the Wonton Wrappers. Using your finger, wipe all four edges with the egg wash and bring the points up to the center to create a package. Seal the sides of the wonton wrapper together by squeezing them gently and forming an “X” on top. Place the sealed wontons on the baking trays. Optional: brush the tops with Olive Oil then sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
5. Bake one tray at a time, turning halfway if necessary, for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with Marinara Sauce for dipping. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Palm Sunday Easter Bread

Palm Sunday Easter Bread, or Pane di Pasqua, is a yeast bread decorated with beautiful dyed eggs, and colorful sprinkles. It has just the right amount of sweetness and looks gorgeous displayed on your Easter table.

Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com


Easter Bread is one of my favorite family traditions. We used to make it with my grandmother every year. She would come to our house, and her and my Mom would make a bunch of loaves for the week before Easter. Since it was Palm Sunday, my grandfather was busy at work making us all basket-weave crosses from the palm fronds we received at church.

Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com

I would sit there and watch my grandmother knead and make the dough, then while it was rising, sit and watch my grandfather make the crosses. He showed me how to make them, then when he was done, we each had a cross for our rooms. When it was time to form the bread, I would watch my grandmother, who was about five feet, rolling the dough out on the table, swiftly but gently. She would either braid it into a loaf or twist it into rings and place our dyed eggs into the loaves before their final rest.

Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com

I would always try and pick the prettiest eggs for the Easter Bread, even though they smear and sometimes get splotchy during baking, I still had to make the prettiest eggs for the bread. When I baked Easter Bread this year, I picked out the prettiest eggs and smiled to myself when the colored splotchy streaks appeared after baking.

Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com

The house smelled fantastic this past week when I baked my loaves. It brought back so many memories of baking with my grandmother and mother. I am so grateful they instilled this tradition in our family and can’t wait until my little girl is old enough to help me make Easter Bread too. Toddler L&C is 15 months old, so she was able to eat this year’s batch for the first time. She tried a warm, fresh piece of bread and instantly loved it! Maybe next year she will be able to have a little apron and get messy in the flour with me too.

Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com

Palm Sunday Easter Bread – Pane di Pasqua
A Love and Confections’ Family Recipe
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield: 1 large, 2 medium, or 4 small rings or loaves

Palm Sunday Easter Bread Ingredients:
– 7 large Eggs, divided
– 2 packets Active Dry Yeast
– 1 cup Warm Water
– 6 & 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour, divided
– 3/4 cup Shortening
– 2 tablespoons of fresh Lemon Juice
– 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest
– 1 cup Granulated Sugar
– 1 teaspoon Salt
– 1 tablespoon Milk
– Colored Nonpareil Sprinkles

Palm Sunday Easter Bread Directions:
1. Dye 5 uncooked eggs and set aside. (optional). If you choose not to use eggs, you only need 3 for this recipe.
2. In a small bowl, soften 2 packages of Active Dry Yeast in 1/2 cup of Warm Water and let it stand for 5-10 minutes until it bubbles up.
3. In a medium-large bowl, add 1/2 cup Warm Water and 1 & 1/2 cups sifted Flour. Once yeast is proofed, add it to the flour and water and mix well until very smooth. Cover the bowl with waxed paper, followed by a tea towel, and let it rest for 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours, until it has nearly doubled in size.
4. In the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment and near the end of the first rest, cream the Shortening, Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest until the shortening is soft. Gradually add in the Sugar and Salt and cream until it is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
5. Beat 2 Eggs and 1 Egg White (reserve the yolk for the egg-wash) until thick and frothy. Add the eggs into the shortening in thirds, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each addition.
6. Add the dough from the first rise into the shortening and mix well. Measure 4 & 1/2 cups of Flour and add 1/2 into the dough, starting on low and increasing until you have a very smooth dough. Repeat with the rest of the Flour. Once incorporated, knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface and if necessary, add in up to another 1/4-1/2 cup of flour.
7.  With cooking spray, grease a bowl large enough for the dough to double. Shape the dough into a smooth ball and place it into the greased bowl, turning it once to bring the greased surface to the top, insuring that the entire dough is greased. Cover the bowl with wax paper and a tea towel, and let the dough rise until doubled – about 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours.
8. After the dough has risen, punch it down with your fist. Divide dough into 4 equal balls (if you are making 4 small rings). Cover with the wax paper and let the dough rest for 10 more minutes.
9. Cut a dough ball in half and with your hands, roll each ball into a rope about 18 inches long and 1 inch thick. Using the two pieces of dough, overlap them to form into a loose braid, then form that into a ring. Place a dyed egg into the middle of the ring and place on a greased sheet pan with sides. Repeat with the other dough balls. Do not have more than 2 rings per sheet tray. Cover the dough rings with wax paper and a towel and set aside in a warm place until the dough has doubled, about 20-30 minutes.
10. Heat the oven to 350F, with racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven. In a small bowl, whisk together the Egg Yolk and Milk. Bake the rings for 10 minutes, then take out and quickly brush each with the egg-wash followed by Sprinkles. Return the bread to the oven to bake an additional 30-40 minutes or until the bread is golden brown, flipping the sheet trays so they bake evenly, halfway through. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!


Palm Sunday Easter Bread - Pane di Pasqua - from LoveandConfections.com
Two of my favorite bread-making tools – a bowl scraper and a bench scraper.

         



Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram} 



Here are more Springtime treats from #SundaySupper:
Beverages

Appetizers

Sides

Entreés

Desserts

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. If you purchase through these links, I receive a small portion of the cost, which helps run this website.

Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It #MVCheezIt

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

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com


While everyone is gathering to watch the college basketball games and cheering on their favorite team, these parties are really all about the food. I love appetizers, but sometimes I want something more filling than just finger food. Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It is a great way to use my favorite snack and kick it up a notch. Ooey gooey, warm melty cheese mixed with macaroni, then baked with a crunchy Cheez-It topping – yes please! Forget who just scored, this Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It takes home the title.

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

Dips, drinks, and other goodies always make their way into my shopping cart when I am at Target before game-day. I usually meander through the aisles, but I always end up in the “Snacks, Chips, Cookies and Crackers” aisle to stock up. That’s where I picked up a box of Original Cheddar Cheez-It Grooves and Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers. Both were delicious additions to my recipe today – they gave it a nice crunch and cheesy bite!

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

If you have a competitive side, like me, then I’m sure you already have printouts waiting to go. Mr. L&C and I always have a friendly competition when it comes to watching the basketball games. We each pick out our favorites, assign point values and tally up scores to see who ultimately wins. Don’t forget to enter the Most Valuable Cheese Contest. It takes place from February-April 2015. You can vote on your favorite flavors and varieties from six popular Cheez-It flavors and play games for a chance to win $10,000!

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

If wanting a delicious dish isn’t enough to get your taste-buds going, then this deal will – Cheez-Its are on sale at Target, 3/$8. If you use Target’s Cartwheel app you can also save an additional 35% off this sale price when you buy 3 varieties of Cheez-Its.

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

Measure out your Cheez-Its and, with a food processor, pulse them into crumbs and small pieces.

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com
Shred your blocks of cheese with the food processor. Blocks of freshly-grated cheese melt better in the cheese sauce than pre-shredded cheese.

Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

Make roux, then whisk in milk, followed by the cheese after it thickens. Boil the pasta while you are making the cheese sauce.
Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

Once everything is mixed together, melt the butter, mix with remaining Cheez-It crumbs and seasoned breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over top. Bake in the oven and enjoy!
Macaroni 'n Cheez-It from LoveandConfections.com

So… which Cheez-Its varieties are you going to choose for game time?



Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram} 



Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It Ingredients:
– 1 cup Original Cheddar Cheez-It Grooves, crushed
– 1 cup Cheez-Its, crushed
– 16 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese block
– 8 ounces Colby Cheese block
– 4 tablespoons Butter
– 4 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
– 2 & 1/2 cups Whole Milk
– 1 pound Elbow Macaroni
– 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
– 1/2 cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs

Baked Macaroni ‘n Cheez-It Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease the sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with spray and set aside.
2. While completing the next few steps, follow the instructions on the pasta package, bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta, then drain it and return the the pot.
3. Pulse the Cheez-Its Grooves and Cheez-Its in a food processor until crumbs form and set aside.
4. Shred the blocks of Sharp Cheddar and Colby Cheese with the food processor and set aside.
5. In a medium saucepan, heat the 4 tablespoons of Butter until it melts. Add in the Flour and whisk until there are no more lumps (a roux). Heat the Milk in the microwave until it is slightly warm, then slowly pour into the roux while whisking constantly. Whisk until the sauce thickens. Add in the cheese and switch to a heatproof spatula to stir until it is all melted.
6. Pour the Cheese Sauce onto the pasta and add in half of the pulsed Cheez-Its. Stir to combine and pour into prepared baking dish.
7. Melt 2 tablespoons of Butter, then mix with Breadcrumbs and remaining Cheez-It Crumbs. Sprinkle over the entire top of the Macaroni ‘n Cheese.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and hot throughout. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups #SnackPackMixins

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

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups from LoveandConfections.com


Easter is just around the corner and Spring is in the air! I love holidays because family gathers, we eat a great meal, and I get to decorate. I love decorating for every holiday, Easter especially, because we get to dye eggs, bake Easter Bread and have all sorts of good desserts. These Snack Pack Pudding Cups are perfect for a cute (and easy) Easter dessert.

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups from LoveandConfections.com

While I love making layer cakes and tarts, not all holiday desserts have to look like they came out of a pastry kitchen. I may have every intention of making desserts like that, but with Toddler L&C on the loose, my pastries don’t always happen. That’s why I love being able to make cute desserts from items I find during a Walmart shopping trip.

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups from LoveandConfections.com

Easter candy is a great way to liven up your Snack Packs. Just pull the easty-to-open lid, add some candy and you have a special treat. There are so many decorating options that you can make personalized desserts for everyone at Easter. You can find these Snack Packs at a special display in your local Walmart. The display even has some recipes available for you to take home with you. What would you put in your Easter #SnackPackMixins ?

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups from LoveandConfections.com

Gather all the ingredients you need to make the layered Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups.

Melt the chocolate and peanut butter and mix into the shredded wheat.
Scoop the mixture into paper cups and use the back of a wooden spoon to create the center.
Crush the Grahams and Nilla Wafers

Place pudding into a piping or plastic gallon bag for filling cups

Alternate layers of pudding and cookies. Use Nilla Wafers for Vanilla Snack Packs and Chocolate Honey Maid Grahams for Chocolate Snack Packs

Follow Love & Confections | Terri T. Miller’s board Easter & Spring on Pinterest.

You can find Snack Packs in the baking aisle of your local Walmart!

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups
A Love and Confection original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups Ingredients:
– 4 large Shredded Wheat Biscuits, crushed
– 6 ounces Chocolate Chips
– 1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
– 6 Snack Packs
– 40 Mini Nilla Wafers, crushed
– 4 Chocolate Honey Maid Grahams, crushed
– Candy Bird Eggs

Bird Nest Easter Pudding Cups Directions:
1. Crush the Shredded Wheat Biscuits into a bowl. Melt Chocolate Chips in the microwave for 1 minute, stirring after every 20 seconds. Add Peanut Butter into the chips and heat for another 15-45 seconds, stirring after every 15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat. Line a cupcake tin with wrappers.
2. With a spatula, mix the Chocolate-Peanut Butter mixture with the Shredded Wheat until completely combined. Scoop into the cupcake tin and create a center with the end of a wooden spoon. Refrigerate until hard.
3. Place the Nilla Wafers into a plastic sandwich bag and crush. Place the Grahams into a plastic sandwich bag and crush. Scoop Pudding into piping bag or plastic gallon bag. Alternate layers of pudding and cookies. Place the Bird Nest on top and garnish with Candy Eggs. Enjoy!

Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram} 

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie for #PiDay

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie is a family favorite – easy to make and full of flavor!

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from LoveandConfections.com


Welcome to Pi(e) Day! Pi Day is celebrated every March 14 by math fans around the world – and also bakers and pastry chefs. Pi is an non-repeating, infinite number represented by the Greek letter π, and used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Today, March 14, 2015, is an extra special Pi Day, because at 9:26:53 AM it creates the “Pi Moment of the Century”. The first ten digits of Pi are 3.141592653 (3/14/15, 9:26 AM and 53 seconds). This exact date and time happens once every hundred years – a once in a lifetime moment for most of us. How cool is that? Today, 20 Food Bloggers have gathered and want to celebrate the fun of Pi by creating their own sweet and savory pies to share with you. Hope you have a delicious day!

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from LoveandConfections.com

[Nerd Alert] I have a huge love of Pi. Don’t ask me why, it might be my competitive nature. When I was in high school, one of our teachers knew 45 decimals of Pi. I decided to try and learn more to beat his number. To help me learn, I created a Pi Necklace, where every color bead represented a digit 0 through 9. (example, red=0, white=1…) I learned new digits of Pi in sets of three and every time I learned new numbers, I added to my necklace. I made my necklace over the course of a few weeks.

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from LoveandConfections.com

We decided to host Pi Day at school and have a bake sale of nothing but pies. I don’t know how we managed it, but we thought it would be fun to pie teachers in the face and were surprised a few of them said yes. It was quite entertaining being able to smash a whipped cream pie into your teacher’s face. I had finished memorizing Pi and did, in fact, beat the number of my teacher. I know 56 decimals of Pi by memory and can recite them still to this day.

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from LoveandConfections.com

For Pi Day, I decided to make one of my all-time favorite pie recipes, one that my Grandmother used to make for me (minus the alcohol). I always loved the smell of this pie because the strawberry scent permeates the house. It isn’t from scratch, it uses a pre-made pie shell, but that’s how she did it and that’s how I intend to keep it. Whenever I think about this pie I think about her and wish she were here to have a slice with me.

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from LoveandConfections.com



Strawberry Daiquiri Pie
Adapted from Bacardi
Click here for a printable recipe

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie Ingredients:
– 1-3 ounce box of Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding & Pie Filling
– 1-3 ounce box of Strawberry Gelatin Dessert
– 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
– 2 large Eggs
– 2 & 1/2 cups Water, divided
– 1/2 cup Dark Rum (optional)
– 8 ounces Whipped Topping, thawed and divided
– 2 prepared Graham Cracker Pie Crusts or 1 Extra-Serving Graham Cracker Pie Crust*
– Strawberries for garnish (optional)

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, combine the Vanilla Pudding, Strawberry Gelatin, Granulated Sugar, Eggs and 1/2 cup of the Water. Whisk to combine. Over medium heat, whisk in the remaining Water and bring to a full boil.
2. Take off the heat and using a sieve, strain into a clean bowl to insure no overcooked egg gets in your pie. Whisk in the Dark Rum and refrigerate for 1.5 hours.
3. Once chilled, fold in 6 ounces of Whipped Topping. If it is not smooth, you can lightly whisk the mixture. Pour into the prepared Pie Crust and refrigerate until set.
4. Garnish with remaining Whipped Topping and sliced Strawberries and enjoy!

*If you use the Extra-Serving Pie Crust, not all the filling will fit and you will need to place the rest in a small container to refrigerate.

Let’s connect! Follow me on {Pinterest} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Instagram}

Enjoy a slice from the Pi(e) Day Bloggers: