Archives for January 2017

Chipotle Ranch Dip Taco Bar #StonyfieldBlogger

January 31, 2017

Chipotle Ranch Dip Taco Bar is the perfect appetizer or party food. Create your perfect layered dip with all your favorite toppings, and Stonyfield Yogurt’s newest product – Double Cream.

Chipotle Ranch Dip Taco Bar #StonyfieldBlogger from LoveandConfections.com

Stonyfield Organic has a new product and I am so happy to be able to share it with you and partner with Simply Organic to showcase Stonyfield’s Double Cream Plain Yogurt. You can use the yogurt in place of sour cream, cook with it, and use is in place of half the butter or oil in recipes. It is so versatile and sure to be a staple in your kitchen.

Dip bars are always a big hit at parties, and this Chipotle Ranch Dip has quite the kick, but the Double Cream balances it really well. I love having lots of different toppings to choose from, like tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, and black olives. I personally love chips, but you can use crackers or pretzels – whatever is your favorite dip vessel.

Chipotle Ranch Dip Taco Bar

By Love and Confections
Published 01/31/2017

Chipotle Ranch Dip Taco Bar is the perfect appetizer or party food. Create your perfect layered dip with all your favorite toppings, and Stonyfield Yogurt’s newest product – Double Cream.

Ingredients

Simply Organic Chipotle Ranch Dip Packet
2 cups Stonyfield Organic Double Cream Plain Yogurt
sliced black olives
shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
diced tomatoes
chips

Instructions

Combine Chipotle Ranch Dip and Double Cream Yogurt. Following package directions, refrigerate. Serve with toppings.

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

I have an ongoing relationship with Stonyfield Yogurt as a recipe developer and brand ambassador. I receive product, coupons and/or compensation for posts featuring their products. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. As always, all opinions are my own.

Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer

January 24, 2017

Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer is sweet, tart, and a great non-alcoholic party drink. Make it extra pretty with some fresh mint and cute straws for someone special!

Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer from LoveandConfections.com

It’s strawberry season in Florida and I am loving it. I have been posting quite a few strawberry photos recently on Instagram, and can’t wait to get in the fields to pick. Until then, I decided to create a refreshing drink, perfect for any occasion – Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer.

Most people associate spritzers with being an alcoholic drink, but my mocktail is just as good. Sweet strawberries blended with lemon-lime soda are mixed with pink lemonade concentrate and more lemon-lime soda. Garnish with some fresh mint, strawberries and a cute straw, and you are ready to party!

I love being surprised with little gifts and treats, so I surprised my Sister for National Compliment Day. In addition to enjoying these Strawberry Lemonade Spritzers with her, we also indulged in some Hand-Dipped Champagne Strawberries and Cake Truffles, compliments of Shari’s Berries. She works really hard as a Physician Assistant, and nothing says “I love you” like some chocolate covered strawberries. I know these definitely brightened her day.

Go ahead and compliment someone today. Say or do something nice to someone – you never know how much they might need it. Hope you have a great day and enjoy a Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer!

Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer

By Adapted from Taste of Home
Published 01/24/2017
Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer

Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer is sweet, tart, and a great non-alcoholic party drink. Make it extra pretty with some fresh mint and cute straws for someone special!

Ingredients

10 ounces strawberries, fresh or thawed from frozen
2-liter lemon-lime soda
1 – 12 ounce can frozen pink lemonade, thawed
mint and strawberries for garnish

Instructions

In a blender, process strawberries and 1 cup lemon-lime soda until pureed. Combine pureed strawberries, remaining lemon-lime soda, and pink lemonade in pitcher. Distribute between glasses. Garnish with mint and strawberries.

Yield: 8 drinks
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 05 mins.

Total time: 5 mins.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary box of strawberries and truffles for both myself and a friend. All opinions are my own.

Pay It Forward for Cocktails and Chemo #StonyfieldBlogger

January 6, 2017

Happy New Year. Paying it forward is the perfect way to a fresh start, and Stonyfield Yogurt helped me pay it forward for the Cocktails and Chemo Foundation!

Pay It Forward for Cocktails and Chemo #StonyfieldBlogger

As a new year begins, people are starting fresh after a holiday season filled with family and fun. A lot of folks also choose to give back during the holiday season. Whether you volunteer, donate food, time or money, every little bit is worth it.

I have loved working with Stonyfield Yogurt this past year and they gave us the opportunity to pay it forward by giving us a $50 gift card to use for a charity of our choice. Some bloggers bought food for food banks, others donated it to pet shelters or childrens’ homes. Every little bit helps!

I chose the Cocktails and Chemo Foundation to pay it forward. Cocktails and Chemo is run by a remarkable woman, Amanda Clark. She and her husband, Joe, started the Cocktails and Chemo Blog to document his journey of Colon Cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, death, and now documenting life as a widow and raising their adorable daughter, Mira Joey.

The Cocktails and Chemo Foundation’s mission is to create a support network for the often forgotten caregivers of cancer patients by providing one-of-a-kind care packages. It is dedicated to caregivers.

The Foundation sends care packages to caregivers all across the country, they sponsor “Stay Glam” nights at salons welcoming loved ones in for a night of pampering, and their greatest accomplishment is giving grants to caregivers who are forced to leave their jobs to care for a sick loved one.

A caregiver can be a spouse, parent, brother or sister who is caring or has cared for someone who is struggling with a long term illness. Their goal isn’t to cure cancer, but instead to give hope and a little boost to the people who need it the most.

Amanda is such a warrior and I admire her so much. Cocktails and Chemo is close to my heart. I have lost family and friends to cancer, but also because Mira is the same age as ToddlerLnC – they were born days apart. Our whole Orlando community rallied behind them and are still #JoeStrong. I can’t imagine what their family has gone through, and am so amazed at the good that has come out of it. They are helping and inspiring families every day .

The Cocktails & Chemo Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations, not just monetary, are always helpful and you can find out how to help here. There is also a great option to donate through Amazon Smiles. Simply go to Smile.Amazon.com and choose Cocktails and Chemo Foundation. A portion of your Amazon purchase, at no additional cost to you, will be donated to the Foundation.

I hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year. Let’s pay it forward and start this year off right!

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

I have an ongoing relationship with Stonyfield Yogurt as a recipe developer and brand ambassador. I receive product, coupons and/or compensation for posts featuring their products. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. As always, all opinions are my own.