Mouth Watering Meringue Cookie Recipes

If you need a special cookie to make, then let me suggest meringues! They are so much fun to bake and share, and there are so many ways you can make them! Who knew there were so many tasty recipes out there?! 

After looking up these recipes from some of my favorite bloggers, I knew I had to share these with you! Click thru the links to get the full recipe and start baking some tasty treats for yourself. While you are here you might want to check out some of my favorite cookie recipes.

Everyone loves these Golden Graham cookies! They are so easy to make and taste even better than Crumbl!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bar Cookies are perfect for a crowd.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies come from a cake mix and have a great crumb!

Now, onto these mouthwatering meringues!

Meringue Hearts by Centsless Meals

Christmas Tree Meringues by Sunny Little Kitchen

Christmas Kiss Chocolate Dipped Meringues by xoxo Bella

Chocolate Chip Matcha Meringues by The Unlikely Baker

Pink and White Meringues by Sugar Pursuit

Mocha Meringues by Honest and Truly

Mermaid Meringue Bites by The Typical Mom

Granny’s Meringues by Spend with Pennies

Simple Meringues by This Mom Is On Fire

Coffee Aquafaba Meringues by Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream

Hazelnut Meringues by Earth Food and Fire

Hershey Kiss Meringues by Ottawa Mommy Club

 Keto Snowman Meringues by Real Food RN

Meringue Pops by Fun Cookie Recipes

Strawberry Meringues by Fearless Dining

Which of these recipes would you make first? I think the snowman ones would be perfect to make and gift at the holidays! Aren't they the cutest?

You can find more cookie recipes here.

Happy Baking! 

Gorgeous Cranberry Cocktails: The Perfect Holiday Drink

Cranberries are a classic holiday ingredient, and for good reason. They're tart, sweet, and festive, and they make for delicious cocktails. Whether you're looking for a refreshing drink to enjoy by the fire or a boozy punch to serve at your holiday party, there's a cranberry cocktail out there for you. Here are a few of our favorite cranberry cocktail recipes:

Cranberry Gin Fizz by Cup of Zest

Chai Cranberry Bourbon Smash by Burrata and Bubbles

Cranberry Christmas Punch by Curry Trail

Smoked Orange and Cranberry Cocktails by Stef’s Eats and Sweets

Cranberry Orange Margaritas by Cooking with Curls

Cranberry Gin Cocktail by Baking Ginger

Christmas Morning Mimosas by Persnickety Plates

Poinsettia Mimosa by Limoncello Kitchen

Woo Woo Cocktail by Mom Foodie

Pineapple Cranberry Mezcal Margaritas by Gastronom

Apple Cranberry Mules by Made with Happy

Cranberry Hard Ginger Ale by Easy Party Cocktails

Cranberry Old Fashioned by Three Olives Branch

Cranberry Tequila Spritzers by Sustain My Cooking Habit

Cranberry Mojito Punch by Sugar + Soul

These are just a few of the many delicious cranberry cocktail recipes out there. So next time you're looking for a festive drink to enjoy, reach for some cranberries and get mixing!

Here are some additional tips for making the perfect cranberry cocktail:

• Use fresh cranberries whenever possible. They'll add a brighter flavor and color to your drink.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors. Cranberry juice pairs well with a variety of spirits, so have fun and try different combinations.
• Garnish your cocktails with fresh cranberries, citrus slices, or herbs for a festive touch.

With these tips in mind, you're sure to make delicious cranberry cocktails that everyone will love.

Find more favorite cocktail recipes here:

Sour Apple Margaritas

Haunting Halloween Cocktails

Sunflower Stamped Apples

 Kids are going to love this hands on art project that incorporates nature to make a fun print that looks great when displayed! It is easy, needs the most basic supplies and turns out to be so cute!  Make this apple stamping art project after a visit to the orchard, or just as a fun craft to do together.

Photo Credit: Sara Lehman.

Aren't these apples the cutest thing for little hands? All you need is a few colors of paint, a sheet of paper and a dried up sunflower head to make these with your kids. This is great for younger kids.

We visited the farmers market and purchased some sunflowers a few weeks earlier. After they had started to dry out, we plucked the petals off and were left with the heads.

Harp and I thought it would be fun to paint with them, so I grabbed a few bottles of cheap paint and some paper. This is what we came up with.

Supplies:

Paint in red, green and yellow

Paper Plate

Sunflower

Photo Credit: Sara Lehman.

Pour  paint onto a paper plate. You need about a quarter sized drop.

Press your sunflower head into the paint and press it onto the paper.

Repeat as desired.

Photo Credit: Sara Lehman.

Find more fun kids art projects here:
Pineapple Process Art
Christmas Tree Art
Cork and Button Apple Tree Art

Sunflower Stamped Pumpkin Patch Art

 

This adorable pumpkin patch art is great for kids of all ages! Made with simple supplies like paint, paper and a sunflower head, this is a great way to create art using nature!

Harper and I love to paint together. We have been crafting side by side since she was just a tiny toddler, strapped into a high chair for safety. We have painted pineapples, apples, baskets of fruit and even Christmas trees. We usually use corks to create our process art, but we had a bouquet of sunflowers that had seen better days, and well, inspiration hit.

We decided our fridge just had to have a pumpkin patch scene. We are all about creating refrigerator masterpieces . 

Supplies:

Orange paint

Green paint

A sunflower head

White paper

A paper plate

Pour orange paint and a small amount of green paint onto a paper plate.

Invite your child to press the sunflower head into the orange paint.

Encourage your child to press the sunflower onto the paper.

Use a stem, petal, or other small item to form the stem of the pumpkin with the green paint.

Allow the paint to dry, then

These were so much fun to make! And I think they turned out really cute! Harper was very proud of her efforts. Preschoolers can handle this project, as well as elementary aged kids like Harper. Your kids might also like to draw little pumpkin faces on these after they have dried.

I hope you get a chance to try this project with your family, it is the perfect project for a fall afternoon!

Find more fall ideas here.

What Should I Do With All My Seasonal Leftovers?

 Pexels - CC0 License

Well, eat them, of course! That said, it can be hard to know what to do with small elements of your leftovers if they’re all placed in little tubs and have no real purpose in a much larger recipe. Moreover, some ingredients can last longer than others in the refrigerator, and on top of this, you may or may not have had a traditional seasonal meal or set of meals over the festive period.

For this reason, understanding what to do with your seasonal leftovers can be a hard task. But don’t worry, in this post, we’ll discuss a few measures you can use to decide exactly that. Without further ado, please consider the following advice:

Make The Best Sandwiches Possible

You can make the best sandwiches with any leftover meats and vegetables from your holiday meals. There are countless alternatives for transforming your leftovers into mouthwatering sandwiches, whether you choose traditional options like turkey with cranberry sauce or more original combinations like ham and pineapple. Stuffing, roasted vegetables, and other softer foods can be delicious in between a fresh baguette purchased from a local barkery, so don’t think you have to slop everything into two small pieces of bread. 

Add your preferred sauces and toppings after layering your remaining components and you’ll really take it up a notch. Have fun, experiment, and use up those leftovers. For a crispy and tasty variation, you may also try grilling your sandwiches in a skillet. Sandwiches are a tasty and practical way to use up your leftover Christmas ingredients, and work no matter if they’re hot or cold.

Delicious Stuffed Pepper Soup

You can make a fantastic stuffed pepper soup with any leftover ground beef and vegetables from your holiday meal. Simply brown some onions and peppers in a pot, add the remaining vegetables and ground beef, and then toss in some broth and canned tomatoes. Alternatively, you can follow this stuffed pepper soup recipe which is utterly delicious and a real treat to both enjoy alone or share with the family. This way you can use up all of those smaller veggies you may have had beforehand and aren’t sure what to do with.

Make A Delectable Casserole

Making a nice casserole is a wonderful way to use up your leftover holiday supplies. You can make a filling and savory casserole that will feed a crowd out of any leftover vegetables, ham, or turkey. Turkey and broccoli casserole, ham and cheese quiche, and sweet potato and black bean casserole are all delicious and you’ll be asking for seconds in no time. Just arrange your unused ingredients in a baking dish, top with cheese or a creamy sauce, and bake the casserole until it is hot and bubbling. The good thing is that casseroles tend to improve in the refrigerator, so ironically you’ll have leftovers, but leftovers that are enjoyable and simple to eat this time around, as you’ve combined them into one delicious meal.

With this advice, you’re sure to turn all of your seasonal leftovers into an amazing meal we’ll be jealous of.

Homemade Boozy Butter Cream Candy

Last year, I made several tasty vintage candy recipes for the holidays, to the delight of my family. It was fun, but this year, I decided I wanted to do something different.  That is where these decadent butter cream cake vodka candies came into play. 

I made homemade butter creams last year, and they were so good that I didn't even offer the kids the chance to lick the bowl after I scooped them out. I hid in the pantry and enjoyed it myself. HA! So, this year, I started on the butter creams but decided to do something wickedly decadent. I added cake vodka to the mix. And Holy Cow, they were amazing!

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces of softened cream cheese

5 to 6 cups of powdered sugar

½ cup of cake vodka

For coating

½ teaspoon of crisco

4 ounces of almond bark or milk chocolate

Directions:

Combine butter and cream cheese until well blended.

Add cake vodka and blend for 30 seconds.

Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar and begin stirring.

Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and stir until you have a thick cream.

If needed, add the remaining powdered sugar.

You want to have a consistency that is very thick!

Begin scooping out the buttercream and dropping it on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Freeze the butter creams for 1 hour.

When the butter creams are completely frozen, melt the chocolate or almond bark with a ½ teaspoon of crisco over a double boiler.

When you can stir the chocolate smooth, remove from heat.

Working quickly, dip the butter creams into the melted chocolate, place them back on the baking sheet and put them back into the freezer for 15-25 minutes to harden the chocolate.

These are best stored in the fridge or the freezer until they are ready to be served.

 

These are an awesome and unique gift from the heart to share. They are sweet, have a little kick from the vodka, and will certainly offer a boozy treat that will set off the holidays just right for grown up friends.

As these are boozy, it would be a good idea to put a little warning on them before sharing. 

I am going to be serving these at my Christmas party; I think I will also make a batch in white chocolate.

If you like cocktails, check out some of my favorite recipes:
Night King Cocktails
15 Amazing Wine Cocktails
Bomb Pop Cocktails
Blueberry Vodka Lime Sorbet

How To Prepare The Perfect Christmas Dinner

 The 25th of December is such a special day for many families around the world, and that’s likely why it’s so popular to prepare a delicious festive feast to tuck in to with your nearest and dearest! 

Cooking up the perfect Christmas dinner can often seem like a mammoth task, and it can be tough to keep everyone around the table satisfied with their meal. However, this guide contains some of the best tips and tricks that you can make the most of to ensure you can whip up the most mouth watering meal that’s memorable for all of the right reasons!

So, what are you waiting for? Read on to discover more and start preparing your festive feast today!

Image Source - Pexels 

Start Prep A Few Days Beforehand 

Attempting to complete all of your cooking responsibilities on Christmas Day is no doubt going to be one of the worst decisions that you can make, as you need to give yourself more than enough time just in case anything goes wrong. Starting your prep a few days beforehand is the best way to go, as you can do all manner of chopping and creating before the big day. For example, you can get to work chopping and parboiling your vegetables and potatoes a day or two before, and simply pop them in the freezer ready to roast a few hours before your guests arrive. You can also create things like Yorkshire pudding mix or cake mix a day before too - just put them in a sealed container and leave them somewhere fresh! You’ll be so glad that you started your prep a few days earlier, as there’s nothing worse than running round your kitchen like a headless chicken with far too many tasks to complete! 

Cater For Every Diet 

Making the mistake of preparing one set meat for every single one of your guests could leave you in hot water, as there are so many different diet types and food preferences that people have in today's modern world. Putting in a little extra effort so that you can attempt to cater to a few different common diet types will always be a productive option, as those who eat them will massively appreciate you including their needs in your cooking! For example, you can prepare a batch of gluten free stuffing, or even make an eggless triple chocolate layer cake for dessert. There are lots of different recipes online that you can make the most of if you’re not too sure about different diet and their guidelines, and these will often contain some advice about how to minimize any contamination too - this is absolutely essential if you have any dinner guests who have allergies or intolerances, as you don’t want to make them poorly by accident. 

Figuring out how to prepare the perfect Christmas dinner has never been such a simple task when you can utilize some of the brilliant tips and ideas detailed in this informative guide! Good luck in your quest to prepare a magical festive feast.

How to Plan the Perfect Christmas Party: Some Top Ideas to Make Your Event Memorable

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and we are full of good cheer! There's nothing like a proper celebration of the season, and if you plan a Christmas party, you know very well that it needs to be as special as possible. And whilst you can always rely on Christmas traditions and the décor you used in celebrations past, there’s no reason to stop there. In fact, there are more ideas than ever – and they can certainly add a sparkle to your Christmas event. So here’s how to plan the perfect Christmas party: some top ideas to make your event memorable.

Select your venue wisely.

The first thing on the list would be to select your venue wisely. The venue, after all, can make or break your event – especially the most amazing event of the year! When selecting a venue, it's important to consider certain requirements, such as live music or a dance floor (and these are just the beginning). You also have to consider whether the space is what you need – so make sure you have your guest list (or at least an estimate of the number of people). It would also be wise to keep a few questions in mind, such as whether the venue has a sound system, when it is available, the booking terms and conditions, and whether it has parking. Does the venue have its bar and catering facilities?

Determine a theme

Why not determine a theme if you want to give your Christmas event that extra 'wow' factor? The theme will help you decide on other aspects, such as décor, food, entertainment and activities, and so on. Some themes are also more inspired than most, such as a winter wonderland, a Christmas jumper or pyjama party, a Christmas party with Christmas characters like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Santa's Elves, and more. Or you can celebrate in style with a Christmas carnival, and plenty of Christmas-themed stalls are available nowadays. Whatever theme works best for you, you could also seek help from fabulous party planners in Gloucestershire, like Oasis Events.

Decide on the décor

The decorations can add more ambience and personality to your event, but they can also be expensive, so take note of that. You can choose to create your décor (again, this would depend on the theme you are having), or you can rely on a professional to do it for you. If you decide to do your own thing regarding the décor, the best you can do is form a committee that will be in charge of it. This is one of the best aspects of having a theme – it can help you choose patterns, colours, and a motif much more easily. Plan ahead for the décor you need to hire from a vendor (like lighting).

Plan the entertainment

A Christmas party wouldn't be complete without the proper entertainment, so plan this wisely. You can go the traditional route with beloved Christmas games like charades, musical chairs, and musical statues. Or you can be more adventurous and have a game of Pictionary, wrap presents in a relay game, hold a Christmas-inspired treasure hunt, or have a game of Christmas bingo!

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

How to Save Money for Christmas

 

Photo by Joslyn Pickens 

When the Christmas season rolls around it is a time for gift-giving. However, before you go ahead and start spending, it is a good idea to try to save. 

With inflation rising, it's best to try to keep spending as minimal as possible. Here's a closer look at how you can control your spending this holiday season.

Create a Budget

The first step to saving money is to create a budget for the holiday season. First, write the names of all the people you want to buy gifts for and then decide how much money you want to spend on each of their gifts. 

This is an easy way to immediately control your spending. Once you have finished allocating the amount you want to spend, you can then calculate your expenditure. 

It might also be a lot more fun to try to fit the gifts you buy into the amount that you set for each person, instead of the other way around. Remember that getting gifts is simply a way to help us learn about the true meaning of Christmas. In the end, it's the thought that comes.

Use a Tracker

If you always have your phone with you a good idea will be to start using a tracker to keep your spending down this holiday season. It can be easy to say that you will think about how much you are spending in January. 

However, when January rolls around you will likely regret that you have spent so much. Getting an app on your phone to assist you with keeping track of your spending in real-time, is a good idea so that you can avoid regrets.

Start Shopping Early

One of the best things you can do is to start shopping as early as possible. The earlier you start shopping the less likely it is that you will overspend. 

Don't wait until the week of Christmas or the day before Christmas to start trying to find gifts. You are likely to end up having to buy things at more expensive prices. Take advantage of Black Friday deals and cyber week sales.

Combine Orders

If you decide to shop online you should consider combining your orders to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money. Buying all your gifts at one time and then getting them shipped out at once is the best way to avoid high shipping costs when you are purchasing gifts online.

Stay Off Your Credit Cards

Another thing you can do is try to stay off your credit cards during this time. Try to use cash instead. 

This is where making a budget becomes critical. You can then pull all the cash that you need at once.

Once that cash runs out your spending is done. Do not carry your credit cards with you when you go shopping. This will make it even easier for you not to use them if you run out of cash.

Set Up a Dedicated Christmas Account

If you typically have a lot of people you need to give gifts to at Christmas, you can set up a dedicated Christmas account. You can start putting funds in it from January so that at the end of the year you will have a good stash of cash ready to buy Christmas gifts. 

The good thing about having a separate account is that you get a debit card for that account. It helps you to separate your money. Even if you don't save in the account every month, you can decide on your budget for Christmas spending, put all the money into that account and then use your debit card. 

Shop All Year

Yes, you are trying to save money, but if you start your Christmas shopping a little bit every month by the end of the year you will already have a special gift ready for everyone.

Take advantage of all the sales that happen throughout the year and purchase something whenever you can. By the end of the year, you will have saved money and avoided the Christmas shopping rush.

Get the Gifts You Need

Getting gifts for the people you love at Christmas is critical. You don't want to disappoint anybody. However, gift-giving can rack up some very high bills. It's always a good idea to be as prepared as possible so that you can save as much money as you can for the new year.