Archives for April 2015

MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron Party #AvengersUnite #CollectiveBias

April 24, 2015

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

MARVEL's The Avengers: Age of Ultron Party from LoveandConfections.com #AvengersUnite

MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters in one week and I am SO excited for it. Before Toddler L&C was in the picture, I was definitely one of those waiting in line to see a midnight movie on opening night kind of girls. Now, it’s a bit different and I may not get to see the midnight showing, but you better believe I will be there opening weekend.

I wasn’t a big comic book fan growing up, and it wasn’t until Mr. L&C, my then boyfriend, got me hooked on all things MARVEL. He worked at a comic book store, regularly read comics and we shared our love of the MARVEL movies: Iron Man 1, 2 & 3, Thor & Thor: The Dark World, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger & Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers.

To celebrate the upcoming movie, I hosted a MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron party and was able to purchase my party items at Walmart. My friends and I are kids at heart, so they definitely loved dressing up in the MARVEL masks and accessories.

Don’t forget to check out Super Heroes Assemble which is available in the iTunes and Google Play store! With Super Heroes Assemble, turn your phone into a portal to exclusive Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron content. Keep up to date with the latest movie and behind-the-scenes action. Plus, scan Avengers displays at Walmart and Walmart.com to become your favorite Avenger, explore a Hulkbuster training facility in a cool 360 degree interactive space and to bring Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron characters to life with augmented reality.

Even Baby L&C, who wore the Hulk’s signature colors, got in on the fun and loved playing with Thor’s Hammer. Mr. L&C dressed like Captain America, and I wore Iron Man’s signature red and golden yellow colors.

I wanted to create something original for my party and thought a fun backdrop would be great. Mr. L&C and I created a color-blocked wall featuring the MARVEL heroes. We used their signature colors, logos, emblems and pictures and it turned out awesome!

The squares are 12×12 scrapbook paper that I attached print-outs to with double-sided tape. Those squares were then arranged and taped from behind using packing tape. This backdrop is so awesome, I think we are going to keep it hanging up for a while!

Food is always a huge part of my parties – I’m Italian and love to feed people! I used some Avengers party plates and cups we found at Walmart, which went perfectly with all the decorations. We had subs, pasta salad and veggies with hummus. The real treats were the Captain America Gelatin Dessert Cups, Hero Cupcakes, and Hulk Punch.

The dessert cups are perfect for a MARVEL party and can also be used for a patriotic party for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. The Hero Cupcakes were a mix of chocolate and vanilla, and the frosting was colored like Captain America (red, white and blue), Iron Man (red and yellow) and the Hulk (green and purple).

The Hulk Punch had the perfect green glow for my MARVEL party. It tasted delicious and has Ginger Ale, Pineapple Juice and Lime Drink Mix in it.

Most of our friends had seen the Iron Man and Thor movies, so we opted to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Of course, we had to have snack food, so I purchased some Avengers branded Dr. Pepper Cherry, Cheez-Its, Doritos and Kellogg’s Fruit Snacks.

Everyone enjoyed the food and movie. We all can’t wait to see the new MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron in theaters on May 1st!

I have showed you how we are preparing for MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron release with my party plan! What are you planning to do with your friends and family?

Captain America Gelatin Dessert Cups
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield: 25-30 mini dessert cups

Captain America Gelatin Dessert Cup Ingredients:
– 1-3 ounce box Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert
– 6-8 ounces Whipped Topping
– 1-3 ounce box Cherry Gelatin Dessert
– Plastic Dessert cups

Captain America Gelatin Dessert Cup Directions:
1. Prepare the Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert according to the package directions. Divide it evenly among 25-30 small dessert cups using a small ladle. Let it set in the refrigerator a minimum of 3 hours.
2. Place whipped Topping into a piping bag and pipe a thin layer on top of the solid blue gelatin in the dessert cups. Using a spoon or small offset spatula, smooth the layer so it completely covers the bottom blue layer and there are not holes. Freeze the dessert cups for 1 hour, or until the Whipped Topping is firm.
3. Prepare the Cherry Gelatin Dessert according to the package directions. Carefully divide it evenly among the dessert cups using a small ladle. Let it set in the refrigerator a minimum of 3 hours before serving. Enjoy!

Hulk Punch
Adapted from Betty Crocker
Click here for a printable recipe
recipe can be doubled for larger parties

Hulk Punch Ingredients:
– 1 cup Granulated Sugar
– 1 package Lime-Flavored Unsweetened Drink Mix (.13 oz)
– 4 cups warm Water
– 23 ounces Pineapple Juice
– 2 cups chilled Ginger Ale

Hulk Punch Directions:
1. In a large pitcher, stir together the Sugar and Lime Drink Mix. Add in the warm water and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
2. Add in the Pineapple Juice and Ginger Ale and stir to combine. Chill for at least 3 hours before serving. If necessary, stir again right before serving.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Thank you David, Jessica, Doug, Theresa, Josh, Tyler, Jordan and Laura for joining in on the fun – hope you had a blast celebrating The Avengers with me!

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta #HillshireSausage #Spon

April 23, 2015

#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.

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta is easy to prepare, delicious and quick to clean up – perfect for a weeknight meal!

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta from LoveandConfections.com #HillshireSausage

One-Pot meals are great for a busy weeknight, especially if you have a family to feed. Lately, Toddler L&C has been getting into everything and always wants to be right underfoot. It gets a bit difficult to make dinner when there is a 16-month old sitting on your feet in front of the stove. This one-pot meal is made in under 30 minutes, tastes delicious, and gives me more time to play with the Toddler.

I like to vary our weeknight meals. We usually have some form of Mexican or Hispanic dishes every 7-10 days. Tacos, Enchiladas, Black Beans & Rice, an a bunch of different meals are always on our menu. I also keep chicken breasts, cutlets and tenderloins in the freezer to have on hand. Sometimes, though, I forget to thaw them and get in a rut when it’s close to dinner-making time. I like having Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage on hand in the refrigerator, because it helps me make a quick meal without worrying about thawing some protein.

Mr. L&C loved this dish! He loves almost any kind of sausage: Italian, Kielbasa, Smoked, Breakfast. You name it, he’ll eat it. The Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage has a great flavor and complemented the greens perfectly. I gave it a little twist by adding some Grape Tomatoes to the pasta. The dish was so flavorful and when topped with some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese makes it out-of-this-world. Don’t forget to check out Sausage So Simple for more recipe inspiration.

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta
Adapted from Kevin & Amanda
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield: 4 servings

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta Ingredients:
– 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil
– 1 & 1/4 cup diced Sweet Onion
– 1-14 ounce Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage
– 1 teaspoon minced Garlic
– 2 cups Chicken Broth, low-sodium
– 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
– 8 ounces Mezze Penne Pasta
– 1/2 teaspoon ground Black Pepper
– 30 Grape Tomatoes, halved
– 1-5 ounce bag of Baby Spinach, Chard and Kale Salad Mix
– Parmesan Cheese, optional topping

One-Pot Sausage, Spinach, Chard and Kale Pasta Directions:
1. Place Olive Oil in a medium-large skillet with high sides and heat on medium-high. Place Onions and Sausage in skillet and cook until the onions are light brown. Add in the Garlic and cook, while stirring, for half a minute.
2. Add in Chicken Broth, Heavy Cream, Pasta, Pepper, Tomatoes and Spinach-Chard-Kale Mix. Stir to combine, making sure the pasta is submerged in the liquid. Bring it to a boil, then cook, covered, on low for 15 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Remove from heat, remove lid, and let it sit for a minute before serving. Top with Parmesan Cheese. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal

April 22, 2015

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal is an easy and delicious way to start your day. With 4 simple ingredients you have a protein-packed breakfast or snack waiting for you!

This post is sponsored by Premiere Protein. All opinions are my own.

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal from LoveandConfections.com #MyGoodEnergy #TeamPremier #ad

I didn’t used to eat breakfast much while in high school or college. I either grabbed a small bite while on my way to school or skipped it altogether. Eating breakfast really is the best way to start your day. I now love eating breakfast, especially since Toddler L&C and I eat together every day.

I love making new and different breakfast items and while I do like oatmeal, it’s in the upper 80s at least every day, so hot oatmeal for breakfast is out of the question. That’s where overnight oatmeal comes in. Overnight oatmeal is a new-to-me concept and I am head-over-heels in love with it. You can make any flavor combinations and they are absolutely delicious. I added Chia Seeds to my oatmeal because of all the great benefits from them as well.

Premier Protein sent me some of their shakes and I knew it would be the perfect addition to my morning oatmeal. Premier Protein has 30 grams of protein – including all the essential amino acids, 160 calories, 1 gram of sugar, 24 vitamins and minerals, is low fat, and an excellent source of calcium. To find out more about Premier Protein and all their products, click here.

You might be skeptical, like I am when trying most protein shakes, because some of them have a lot of sugar, taste chalky, and don’t have as much protein as you would like. Premiere Protein blew me away – it tastes great. Mr. L&C has been running with a friend and helping him train for Tough Mudder Florida 2015. He took one of the Premier Protein shakes and was really surprised that it tasted that good and had more protein than what he had been drinking after his runs.

The Vanilla Protein Shake and Chocolate Protein Shake are great on their own, and even better in smoothies and overnight oatmeal. I haven’t tried the Strawberries ‘n Cream or Mixed Berry Shakes, but I bet they are just as delicious! I can’t wait to create some more overnight oatmeal creations and smoothies.

Premier Protein also sent me some Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars to try out as well. They have 11 different flavors including Dark Chocolate Mint, Double Chocolate Crunch, Peanut Butter Crunch, White Fudge Raspberry, Yogurt Peanut Crunch, Chocolate Caramel Fiber, Chocolate Mint Fiber, Cookies ‘n Cream Fiber, Honey Caramel Fiber and Peanut Butter Caramel Fiber. Don’t they sound delicious and certainly not like those other protein bars? Don’t forget to join the Team Premier Advocate Program!

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable link
Yield: 2 servings

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal Ingredients:
– 1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
– 3 tablespoons Black Chia Seeds
– 11 ounces Premier Protein Chocolate Shake
– 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Overnight Chocolate Chia Protein Oatmeal Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and set in refrigerator overnight. Once ready, you can eat it cold, or microwave it to take the chill off. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Chocolate Tres Leches #FWCon

April 16, 2015

Chocolate Tres Leches is a delicious spin on the classic dessert. Moist chocolate cake is soaked with three different milks, topped with whipped cream and garnished with chocolate curls – chocolate perfection!

Chocolate Tres Leches from LoveandConfections.com

While I do like cake, it isn’t always my first choice for desserts. I have made my fair share of all different types of desserts: tarts, bread puddings, ice creams, etc. I often make cake, but my weakness tends to be frozen sweets. This cake, on the other hand, is one that I gravitate toward. I love how moist it is and it’s the perfect amount of sweetness. This recipe is great as a large cake, or you can even make it into individual servings.

I put my own spin on the traditional tres leches and made a Chocolate Tres Leches for the Dixie Crystals Chocolate Dessert Recipe Contest for this year’s Food & Wine Conference. The Food & Wine Conference is a 3-day event at the beautiful Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Spa, here in Orlando, Florida. Food Bloggers, Chefs, Business Owners, Brands and Media Professionals all gather for sessions, demonstrations, food, wine and fun.

I had an incredible time at last year’s Food & Wine Conference. I learned so much and am extremely excited about this year’s conference as well. We would love to have you join us, too! You can use the promotional code FWC15millt for a $50 discount off the full conference pass. Please be sure to follow and like the Food & Wine Conference on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+ to keep up-to-date on all conference happenings, announcements and updates.

Register for the Food & Wine Conference here and don’t forget to use FWC15millt for a $50 discount off the full conference pass.

Chocolate Tres Leches
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Chocolate Tres Leches Ingredients:
For the Cake:
– 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
– 1 & 1/2 cup Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
– 4 large Eggs, room temperature
– 1 cup Greek Yogurt
– 6 ounces Semisweet Chocolate, melted
– 2 teaspoons Madagascar Vanilla Extract
– 2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
– 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
– 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
– 3 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
– 1 teaspoon Espresso Powder
– 1/2 teaspoon Salt
– 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

For the Milk Mixture:
– 12 ounces Evaporated Milk
– 14 ounces Sweetened Condensed Milk
– 8 ounces Half & Half

For the Topping:
– 1 & 1/2 cups Heavy Cream, very cold
– 2 cups Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar, sifted
– 1 teaspoon Tahitian Vanilla Extract
– Chocolate Curls for garnish (optional)

Chocolate Tres Leches Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350F. Prepare a 9×13 pan with baking spray and set aside. If using individual ramekins, prepare those with baking spray and set aside on a sheet tray with sides.
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the Butter and Sugar until light and fluffy. While the mixer is on low, add the Eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to insure everything is incorporated. Add in the Greek Yogurt, Melted Chocolate and Vanilla Extract and mix to combine.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Cocoa Powder, Espresso Powder and Salt. Add it into the liquid mixture, while on low, alternating with the Vegetable Oil.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan or ramekins and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Make the Milk Mixture while the cake cools.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk the Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk and Half & Half together. With skewers, poke holes all over the cake, making sure you go all the way through to the bottom of the pan. With a ladle, spoon the milk mixture over the cake, trying to get as much as possible into the holes. It looks like a lot of milk, but the cake will absorb everything. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate a minimum of 6 hours, preferably overnight.
6. 30 minutes before making the topping, place the bowl and whisk attachment from your stand mixer into the freezer*. Whip the Heavy Cream on medium-high, until it starts to thicken and form soft peaks. Add in the Vanilla Extract and combine. Slowly add in the Powdered Sugar while the mixer is on low. Once it is incorporated, mix on high to whip until firm peaks.
7. Remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread the whipped topping on with an offset spatula.** Sprinkle the top with Chocolate Curls. Enjoy!

*Heavy Cream whips better when cold. To insure a good whip, it is best to chill the bowl and whip attachment before it is needed.
**The cake needs to remain refrigerated and covered because of the whipped topping. If necessary, use toothpicks on the cake so the plastic wrap does not touch the whipped topping. If not serving immediately, store in the refrigerator and do not put the Chocolate Curls on until right before serving.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: I am an ambassador and on the planning committee for the Food & Wine Conference and will receive a commission if you use my discount code to purchase a ticket. This recipe was created as an entry for the Dixie Crystals Chocolate Dessert Recipe Contest. The Dixie Crystals Chocolate Dessert Recipe Contest runs from March 30, 2015-April 17, 2015. Contest entries are equal opportunity for all Food and Wine Conference participants, and I receive no advantage for being an ambassador or committee member.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs, Hushpuppies and #Giveaway

April 13, 2015

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are moist, delicious and easy for any night of the week. Easy to bake Hushpuppies are a perfect side dish, plus enter my giveaway for $50 Visa Gift Card.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs from LoveandConfections.com

Barbecue Ribs are absolutely delicious! Homemade ribs are easier than you think and you don’t have to go out to a restaurant to enjoy that fall-off-the-bone goodness. These babies were one of the things I wasn’t allowed to have when I was younger because of braces. My parents sometimes gave me “contraband ribs” but not often. I love cooking these ribs, because the house smells absolutely delicious. You can’t have ribs without some amazing side dishes too, like macaroni ‘n cheese or hushpuppies!

I had never tried hushpuppies until my parents moved to North Carolina. We really didn’t have them available while growing up in Miami. Hushpuppies were a completely new food to me, and I had to try them to see what they were all about. My parents took me to their local restaurant that serves barbecue, fried chicken, Brunswick stew and hushpuppies. I instantly fell in love with them. Every time I visited my parents, I requested we go for some Brunswick Stew and Hushpuppies. I loved them so much, I even had them at Mr. L&C and my rehearsal dinner.

Fast forward a couple years and I had a “moment“. You know, one of those, I know what I’m thinking but can’t articulate it properly moments. Well, I wanted some hushpuppies to go along with lunch and didn’t actually say I wanted hushpuppies, just that I wanted to go to a certain restaurant. My family and I headed to this restaurant and as soon as we arrived and I saw the menu, my heart sank. I had my “moment” and mixed up the restaurant names, so we went somewhere that hushpuppies weren’t on the menu. It was also across town, so we couldn’t drive and get some hushpuppies. I learned my lesson, and my family still jokes with me about it anytime I want some hushpuppies.

Photo from Savannah Classics

Lucky for me, and for you, you can find hushpuppies in the frozen section of your grocery store. Yay! I can now easily bake them at home. Don’t forget to save some of that barbecue sauce for dipping the hushpuppies too! If you would like to try some Savannah Classics Original, Sweet Corn, or Jalepeno Hushpuppies yourself, enter for a chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card below. Also, please visit their Facebook page for coupon offers to “Get Pupped”!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
A Love and Confection original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Slow Cooker Barbecue Rib Ingredients:
– 1-2 slabs of Baby Back Ribs
– 1-2 cups of Barbecue Sauce

Slow Cooker Barbecue Rib Directions:
1. Place Ribs into the slow cooker, standing on their ends. If necessary cut slabs into smaller pieces to fit inside. Pour 1/2 cup of Barbecue Sauce over ribs, cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, flipping halfway through, and adding another 1/2 cup of Barbecue Sauce.
2. Heat oven to 350F. Carefully place ribs onto foil-lined baking sheets with sides. Brush on 1/2-1 cup of the remaining barbecue sauce and bake for 10-15 minutes, until you have a nice, caramelized crust on top. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: I was provided with samples of Savannah Classics Hushpuppies. Savannah Classics is providing the gift card for giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. Savannah Classics is located in Savannah, Tennessee and available in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store in 21 states.

Meyer Lemon and Strawberry Parfait

April 3, 2015

Meyer Lemon and Strawberry Parfait is a delicious and delightful way to start your day!

Meyer Lemon & Strawberry Parfait from LoveandConfections.com

A couple weeks ago, I posted about some amazingly luscious and delicious Meyer Lemon Curd. I am still dreaming about it. Meyer Lemon season is gone, and I wish I had more of this stuff stashed away. I usually just dig in with a spoon, but sometimes I enjoy mixing it with yogurt and creating parfaits.

Recently, breakfast has needed to become easier. Toddler L&C is very active and most mornings my coffee is barely enjoyed while hot and often doesn’t get remembered until it’s cold a few hours later. That’s where this parfait comes in. If you make the Meyer Lemon Curd the day before, you can whip up a delicious breakfast in no time. Easy and delicious breakfasts are the perfect way to start your day!

Curds are one of my favorite things to make because they are so luscious and full of flavor. You can use curds in parfaits, to flavor ice cream, or just eat it with a spoon – not that I have ANY experience in that what.so.ever. This parfait is exceptionally delicious, because it combines my love of meyer lemons and strawberries. If meyer lemons are not in season, you can always use regular lemons for the curd, it just won’e be as sweet.

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Meyer Lemon and Strawberry Parfait
A Love and Confection original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Meyer Lemon and Strawberry Parfait Ingredients:
– 1/4 cup prepared Meyer Lemon Curd
– 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt
– 1/4 cup Granola
– 2-4 Strawberries, sliced plus more for garnish

Meyer Lemon and Strawberry Parfait Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix the Meyer Lemon Curd and Greek Yogurt together. Use a parfait glass or bowl and layer the lemon/yogurt mixture with the Granola and Strawberries, beginning and ending with the yogurt mix. Keep refrigerated if not eating immediately. Can be refrigerated up to 8 hours, but the granola might not be as crunch. Enjoy!

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!