One of my favorite ways to enjoy the holiday season is by baking yummy treats for my family. I am a big fan of baking anything with pumpkin — pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and my personal favorite, pumpkin muffins. The combination of pumpkin and warm spice wrapped up in a soft, moist muffin is my idea of the perfect treat, especially when enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. Yum!

I make pumpkin muffins all throughout the holiday season. My family goes crazy for them, so I’m not sure why I don’t make them all year long. I guess it’s because it’s a fall/holiday tradition, so it gives us something to look forward to this time of year. After making them a bazillion times over the years (not really, but close) and I’ve finally come up with the perfect recipe.

Pumpkin muffins are amazing on their own, but I discovered that they are even more delicious when topped with a vanilla chocolate glaze and shredded coconut. The flavors of pumpkin, warm spice, white chocolate, and sweet coconut combine to create the most delicious treat.

I made a batch of these Coconut Pumpkin Muffins and my kids and hubby devoured them in no time. They are big and fluffy, super soft and moist, and most importantly, full of flavor. If you are like my hubby, and you’re not sure if you like coconut, I encourage you to give them a try. You only use a little bit of coconut, so the flavor is very mild. They are seriously so yummy!

What makes these muffins even more amazing is they are made with organic pure pumpkin. Whenever possible, I like to use organic products in my recipes because it’s better for you, and in my opinion, organic simply tastes better. I’ve also learned that it’s really not that much more expensive to eat organic when you use brands like O Organics® available in Colorado exclusively at Safeway — one of my favorite places to shop for organic food. The quality of O Organics products is amazing and they taste great.

Enjoy these Coconut Pumpkin Muffins for breakfast, as a snack, or better yet, make a double batch and serve them at your next holiday party or get-together. Your family and friends will go crazy over them!

Coconut Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate Glaze

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 23 minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes

Want to kick your pumpkin muffins up a notch? Make these Coconut Pumpkin Muffins featuring a shredded coconut and a white chocolate glaze. They are soft, moist, and full of flavor! Perfect for breakfast, snack, or holiday treat.

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Ingredients

For Muffins

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz) O Organics 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Topping

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp milk or cream
• 2 tbsp O Organics Shredded Coconut

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk to combine.
3. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin puree, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine. 
4. Pour bowl of wet ingredients into bowl of dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (an ice cream scoop works well for this). Bake 23-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before removing from pan. 
6. In a small microwavable bowl, microwave white chocolate chips and milk/cream for 30 seconds. Continue to microwave for 30-second increments, stirring between microwaving until mixture is smooth and creamy. If too thick, add a small amount of milk/cream. Drizzle over muffin tops and sprinkle with coconut.

Safeway makes healthy eating easier with a wide variety of high-quality, affordable O Organics products, including everything you need for your favorite holiday treats. You can also find O Organics at all of the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Express, United and Carrs/Safeway. Visit here to find meal prep tips and holiday recipe ideas!

Safeway is a one-stop shop for all of my holiday baking needs, with more than 400 USDA-certified O Organics products in nearly every aisle. I love shopping at my local Safeway because I always receive great service. I also love the extra savings I get with the just 4 u savings tool which is available within the Safeway app!

Click here to find a store near you and discover more meal prep tips and recipe ideas.

Want to pin this Easy Pumpkin Muffin Recipe for later?

Hover over the image below and click the “Save” button in the top left corner to save it to Pinterest.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway.

Coconut Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate Glaze appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

Fall is truly wonderful in Colorado. Besides the beautiful, changing scenery, the weather is perfect. The air is crisp, yet not too cold, thanks to mostly sunny days. It’s the quintessential time of year to get cozy with a warm cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the flavors of the season.

When I think of fall flavors, I think of pumpkin spice, caramel, maple, vanilla, and honey. They are warm, comforting flavors found in so many wonderful fall treats, like my amazing homemade pumpkin muffins. They pair perfectly with a cup of coffee or Celestial Seasonings tea!

I’ve been enjoying Celestial Seasonings herbal tea for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my dad would make me a cup of Sleepytime before bed. The soothing herbal blend of chamomile, spearmint, and lemongrass would help me wind down at the end of the day. I still love it today, and now my kids do too.

For over 40 years, Celestial Seasonings has been dedicated to sustainability That’s why they package their teas in natural fiber, pillow-style tea bags that don’t need a string, tag, staple or individual wrapper. Doing this saves more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills each year!

I’ve tried just about every flavor of Celestial Seasonings tea (I’m kind of obsessed!), so I was excited to pick up some new flavors for fall. While at Walmart the other day, I grabbed Vermont Maple Ginger, Honey Vanilla Chamomile, and a family favorite, Sleepytime.

The Vermont Maple Ginger herbal tea pairs perfectly with my homemade pumpkin muffins. It’s all the best flavors of fall wrapped up in a warm and cozy treat!

These pumpkin muffins quite simply are the BEST! They are soft, incredibly moist, and full of flavor. The key to them being so delicious is using 100% pure pumpkin (organic tastes best) and coconut oil. Try out my recipe below, and if you want to kick them up a notch, try my Coconut Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate Glaze. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

The Best Pumpkin Muffins

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 23 minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz) 100% pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk to combine.
3. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin puree, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
4. Pour bowl of wet ingredients into bowl of dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (an ice cream scoop works well for this). Bake 23-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before removing from pan. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 237mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Cozy up with Celestial Seasonings tea this fall! Enjoy the great taste, unique blends, and affordable price at your local Walmart. Click here to order your favorite flavors online.

The Best Pumpkin Muffins appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

Unlike your typical hot dog topped with ketchup and mustard, the New York Hot Dog is topped with sauerkraut, onion sauce, and spicy brown mustard. To say it’s packed full of flavor is an understatement!

The secret to the New York Hot Dog being so delicious lies in the onion sauce, a sweet and tangy combination of sautéed onions, ketchup, cinnamon, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.

With NCAA March Madness underway, I teamed up with Bar-S to share my New York Style Hot Dog recipe. I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make, especially for a crowd.

To make your own New York pushcart hot dogs, you’ll need to pick up a package of Bar-S Beef Jumbo Franks or Bar-S Beef Bun Length Franks.

You’ll also need onions, sauerkraut, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, hot dog buns, and pantry essentials such as olive oil, ground cinnamon, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.

If you have homemade sauerkraut that is a bonus — if not, simply grab a can at the grocery store and that will work just fine.

Follow the recipe below and in just 30 minutes, you’ll have delicious New York Style hot dogs.

If you’re planning on feeding a crowd, simply double or triple the recipe. You can boil the hot dogs ahead of time and keep them warm in a slow cooker until you’re ready to serve them.

New York Style Hot Dog Recipe

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Featuring an all-beef hot dog, sauerkraut, onion sauce and spicy brown mustard, the New York Pushcard Hot dog is delicious and full of flavor. A must try!

Print

Ingredients

• 6 jumbo or bun length beef hot dogs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sauerkraut
• spicy brown mustard, to taste
• 6 hot dog buns

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft. Stir in the cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne pepper and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add ketchup and water and stir until well combined. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. While the onion sauce is cooking, boil hot dogs for 5-6 minutes over medium-high heat.
4. Put hot dogs in buns and top with sauerkraut, onion sauce and spicy brown mustard.
5. Enjoy!

Notes

Cooking for a crowd? Simply double or triple this recipe! You can boil the hot dogs ahead of time and keep them warm in a slow cooker until ready to serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 364Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 850mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 3gSugar: 11gProtein: 11g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

What are your favorite hot dog toppings?

I partnered with Bar-S Foods to bring you this post. All opinions are my own.

New York Hot Dog Recipe appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

Summer is officially here! Say hello to longer days, warmer weather, backyard parties, and delicious summer recipes. This is by far my most favorite time of year and for good reason. I love the heat, and being the foodie that I am, I love finding new recipes to share with my family and friends to enjoy at our summer get-togethers.

I don’t have a lot of time to spend meal planning and creating recipes, which is why I am so happy to have discovered Grab.Go.Wow from Walmart. It’s an online and in-store destination for product and recipe ideas that will save you time and money. If you’re short on time and want great taste with little effort, this will make meal planning over the summer a breeze!

With the 4th of July right around the corner, I’ve been looking for delicious desserts to share that are not only festive but also easy to make. This Wave Your Flag Cheesecake that I found on Grab.Go.Wow is going to be perfect!

Featuring prepared pound cake topped with strawberry JELL-O, fresh strawberries, and blueberries, and a delicious Philadelphia Cream Cheese and COOL WHIP topping, this cake is sure to be a hit at your next Fourth of July party, BBQ, or summer get-together. It’s so yummy and patriotic!

This past weekend we got together with family and friends for dinner, so it was the perfect time to test the recipe out before the Fourth of July. I stopped by my local Walmart to purchase all the recipe ingredients and was impressed with how easy it was to find everything I needed. I was able to whip up the recipe with little effort and was really happy with how nice it turned out!

Everyone loved the cake and raved about how delicious it was. Even I enjoyed it and I’m not usually a huge sweets person. The combo of fresh fruit, pound cake, JELL-O, and creamy topping makes for the perfect summer dessert. It’s one recipe you will want to make again and again, no matter what time of year it is!

Fourth of July Wave Your Flag Cheesecake

Yield: 20

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

This Wave Your Flag Cheesecake is delicious and simple to make. It's great for the Fourth of July or any time you want to serve an all-American dessert that is red, white and cool!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Topping, thawed
• 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
• 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 pkg. (10.75 ounce) prepared pound cake, cut into 10 slices
• 4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• Ice cubes
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 1/3 cups blueberries, divided
• 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

1. Slice 1 cup strawberries and halve the rest.
2. Add boiling water to gelatin in large bowl and stir until dissolved.
3. Add ice to cold water to make 2 cups, add to gelatin and stir until melted.
4. Refrigerate 5 mins or until slightly thickened.
5. Line bottom of 13x9-in baking dish with pound cake.
6. Stir sliced strawberries and 1 cup blueberries into gelatin, then spoon over cake.
7. Refrigerate 4 hours or until gelatin is firm.
8. Whisk cream cheese and sugar together in large bowl, then stir in COOL WHIP.
9. Spread over gelatin and decorate with strawberries and blueberries.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Want to save this recipe for later? Hover over the image below and click the Pinterest icon to save it to one of your boards.

Wave Your Flag Cheesecake – An American Flag Cake Recipe appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner! Do you have any fun plans? We always get together with family and friends and have a big party filled with tons of food, music, and of course, fun. My favorite part is all of the yummy food!

We like to grill on the 4th and have plenty of sides and fresh appetizers to munch on. My go-to appetizer for parties is a meat and cheese board — more properly known as a charcuterie board. This year I’m kicking it up a notch and giving it a patriotic flair!

What is a Charcuterie Board?

Charcuterie [shaar·koo·tr·ee] is a French word meaning “delicatessen.” It is often used to describe cold cuts of meat. A charcuterie board is typically a wooden cutting board topped with deli meats and cheeses, fruit, vegetables, nuts, spreads, crackers and more.

How Do You Make a Charcuterie Board?

The great thing about a charcuterie board is there is no right or wrong way to make it. You can keep it simple with cold cuts of meat and cheese, or you can go all out with a large spread of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives, crackers, bread, and even chocolate.

Once you’ve decided on the foods you’ll include, simply arrange them on a large wooden cutting board (or serving tray, baking sheet, etc.) however you’d like. You can randomly arrange the foods or you can group them together by category. Get creative!

I like to make sure the meats and cheeses are pre-sliced for easy serving, but you could also place whole blocks of cheese with a cheese knife available for slicing.

How to Choose Your Meat and Cheese for Your Charcuterie Board

When it comes to choosing your deli meat and cheese, I recommend Primo Taglio premium hand trimmed meat and naturally aged cheese, available in the deli department at Safeway.

Primo Taglio products are made with the finest ingredients, using traditional, time-honored preparation methods, and no artificial flavors or colors, or MSG**. Many of the Primo Taglio meats use whole muscle meat with no binders or fillers and Primo Taglio cheese uses the highest quality milk and old world recipes, which can be naturally aged up to 2 years.

Not only are Primo Taglio products great quality, but they are also a great value. My family loves them!

Make a Patriotic Charcuterie Board

I wanted to get creative with my charcuterie board for the Fourth of July, so I arranged my red, white, and blue foods (meat, cheese, fruits, veggies, and crackers) on my board to look like an American Flag.

I used blackberries and blueberries for the blue, and raspberries, red bell pepper, Primo Taglio Prosciutto, and Primo Taglio Italian Dry Sliced Salame for the red stripes.

For the white stripes, I used cauliflower, sliced Primo Taglio Parmesan Wedge, and sliced Primo Taglio Fresh Mozzarella Log.

I topped off my patriotic charcuterie board with fun American Flag toothpicks for guests to use to pick up their bite-size snacks.

Save on Primo Taglio Products

Primo Taglio products are made with the finest ingredients featuring a wide assortment of items, and are available in Colorado exclusively at Safeway stores and at all of the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, and Carrs/Safeway.

Discover savings on Primo Taglio® items with just for U®. Save up to $2 on Primo Taglio meat and cheese when you load the Primo Taglio coupons available in your Safeway app. Offer is valid for a limited time.

Patriotic Charcuterie Board - An American Flag Appetizer

Yield: 5-7

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This American Flag Meat and Cheese Board is a patriotic-themed charcuterie board that is perfect for the Fourth of July or any time you want to serve a red, white, and blue appetizer. Featuring Primo Taglio® premium meats and cheeses from Safeway, it is delicious and simple to make!

Print

Ingredients

• Variety of Primo Taglio deli meats (Dry Salame, Genoa Salame, Proscuitto, Pan Roasted Turkey Breast, Ham off the Bone)
• Variety of Primo Taglio deli cheese (Parmesan Wedge, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella Log, Brie, Manchego)
• Variety of fruit that is blue and red (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, grapes)
• Variety of vegetables that are red and white (red bell pepper, tomatoes, cauliflower, jicama)
• Crackers, chips, and/or sliced French baguette
• Sweet and/or savory spreads or dips

Instructions

Once you've decided on the foods you'll include, simply arrange them on a large wooden cutting board (or serving tray, baking sheet, etc.) in the shape of an American Flag.

Start by making a square of your blue food items in the top left corner. Then alternative your red and white food items in rows, starting in the top right corner. Finish by placing dips/spreads in bowls and placing on the side.

Get creative! You can make your board as big or as small as you'd like. The one I made feeds about 5-7 people.

Looking for a yummy Fourth of July dessert? Make this American Flag Cake!

** With the exception of some classics like American cheese and certain value meats.

Patriotic Charcuterie Board | American Flag Appetizer appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

The temps have been heating up here in Colorado, so I’ve been avoiding using my oven as much as possible. My husband has been grilling just about every night, which has been awesome. Our house stays cool and I get a break from cooking!

I’m not completely off the hook, however. While my husband takes care of grilling the meat, I usually whip up a simple side dish. My go-to is a fresh garden salad, but lately, I’ve been switching it up with this Mediterranean-style cucumber salad.

The combination of cucumber, tomato, red onion, olives, parsley, and feta cheese mixed with a homemade greek dressing is delicious and refreshing, especially on a hot summer day. It’s gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, and kid-approved!

The best part is this cucumber salad is simple and inexpensive to make, especially when you shop for the ingredients with the Ibotta app, my favorite app for saving money on groceries!

Over the past few months, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite ways to save with Ibotta. The app is free and super easy to use and I love that you don’t have to clip any coupons! Simply add offers to your account to earn cash back on your in-store or online purchases.

The awesome thing is you can use the Ibotta browser extension to earn cash back on your grocery pick-up and delivery orders at stores like Walmart and Target. It saves me so much time and the extra cash back is always nice!

How to Make Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

This tomato cucumber salad is quick and easy to prepare. You will need the following ingredients: red onion, mini cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, parsley, feta cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Start by dicing up the vegetables and combining them in a large bowl with the olives.

Next, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the vegetables and toss to coat.

Cover and place in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes to an hour. Sprinkle with parsley and feta cheese just before serving. Enjoy!

How Do I Store the Cucumber Salad?

You can store any leftover cucumber salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I Eat the Cucumber Salad Warm or Cold?

This cucumber salad is best served chilled and is the perfect refreshing salad for a hot summer day!

Is this Cucumber Salad Keto, Low-Carb, and/or Gluten-Free?

If you’re looking for a gluten-free, low-carb, keto cucumber salad, this one is perfect! Nutrition information is included in the recipe below.

Easy Mediterranean Style Cucumber Salad

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

This Mediterranean-style cucumber salad is the perfect side dish for summer! Light, fresh, and full of flavor, it is quick and easy to prepare. Serve it at your next family get-together, potluck, or barbecue. Keto-friendly and gluten-free.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 4 mini cucumbers OR 2 English cucumbers, diced
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 (6 ounce) can of large black olives
• 1 cup parsley, chopped
• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all of the vegetables in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together. Pour the lemon mixture over the vegetables and toss to coat all of the vegetables in the juice.
3. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to an hour.
4. Sprinkle with parsley and feta cheese just before serving.
5. Enjoy!

Notes

To make this recipe for a crowd, simply double or triple the ingredients.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 131Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 278mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Before heading to the store to buy everything you need to make this cucumber salad, make sure you download the Ibotta app or install the Ibotta browser extension to load offers to your account and earn cash back on your purchase!

This post is sponsored by Ibotta. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

Easy Mediterranean-Style Cucumber Salad appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

We are planning on stopping at some fun places along the way, including The Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota.

The last time I visited the Black Hills & Badlands I was a teenager, so I am really looking forward to going back with my kids.

They love the outdoors and traveling just as much as my husband and I do, so it will be fun to explore and learn more about the area with them.

We are excited to see Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and all the beautiful wildlife and scenery that encompasses the Black Hills and Badlands.

Top Reasons to Visit the Black Hills & Badlands

If your family loves the outdoors, the Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota is the perfect place to visit. It’s home to beautiful scenery, an abundance of wildlife and plenty of outdoor adventures.

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

The landscape of South Dakota is truly one-of-a-kind.

The Black Hills & Badlands region has rugged, yet strikingly beautiful badlands (a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water), beautiful pine forests, rolling prairies, and fresh mountain lakes.

There are even underground caverns and two of the world’s largest caves — Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Monument Park.

MOUNT RUSHMORE

It is a no-brainer that everyone needs to visit Mount Rushmore at least once in his or her lifetime.

The magnificent mountain carvings featuring America’s most prominent U.S. presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt — can be seen from the road or you can hike up for a closer look.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

Sculpted to represent Crazy Horse, a famous Lakota warrior, the Crazy Horse Memorial is the largest mountain carving. It’s still in progress, but definitely a sight to see. It’s going to be incredible once it is all finished!

ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE

Perhaps one of the best reasons to visit this area is to see the fascinating wildlife — free roaming buffalo, bugling bull elks, bighorn sheep and begging burros.

There’s also prairie dogs, deer, antelope and the rare black-footed ferret.

A great place to see wildlife is Custer State Park, home to large herds of buffalo that roam freely.

Keep in mind that the wildlife is wild and you should keep your safe distance.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Besides admiring the pretty scenery, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming and biking.

You can even take an ATV tour, Buffalo Jeep Safari Tour or Cave Tour.

South Dakota promises a memory, no matter where you go or what you do. 

I encourage you to visit the Black Hills & Badlands to Find Your Great Place and experience the Wildlife this summer. You won’t regret it!

Check out the Black Hills & Badlands website to learn more, grab coupons and even print your own road trip itinerary!

Why You Need to Visit the Black Hills & Badlands this Summer appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

Right now when you sign up, you can get a free full-size Pepto Herbal Blends sample (while supplies last), plus P&G will make an automatic donation to support your favorite cause at no cost to you!

Sign up for the P&G Good Everday Rewards Program

Head on over to PGGoodEverday.com to create an account and choose a cause to donate to.

Some of the causes you can choose to donate to are:

• Feeding America
• Matthew: 25 Ministries
• Always #EndPeriodPoverty
• Dawn Saves Wildlife – The Marine Mammal Center 
• Dawn Saves Wildlife – The International Bird Rescue
• Tide Loads of Hope
• Safeguard America
• Children’s Safe Drinking Water

About P&G Good Everyday

The P&G Good Everyday Rewards Program was launched a couple of years ago to help you earn rewards, save money with coupons, and support your favorite causes.

When you engage in the program by taking surveys and scanning receipts featuring P&G products, you earn points that you redeem for sweepstakes entries, gift cards, and more. On top of that, P&G will make an automatic donation to support your favorite cause at no cost to you. 

You can also visit the P&G Good Everyday website to print coupons for savings on the P&G brands you love, learn about P&G causes and partnerships, and read inspiring articles.

How to Earn Points with P&G Good Everyday

You earn points by scanning a shopping receipt that includes your recent P&G brand purchases, taking surveys, and referring friends. You will earn points and P&G will make a donation to a cause of your choice.

Here are some examples of how you can earn points:

• Sign up = earn 25 points + 1 donation to a cause of your choice
• Scan 1 receipt = earn 50 points for every P&G product purchased + 1 donation to a cause of your choice
• Take a survey (2-4) questions = earn 25 points + 1 donation to a cause of your choice

How to Redeem P&G Good Everyday Points

You can redeem your points for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, coupons, and cause donations. Simply go to your account profile page and click “Redeem Points” and then select how you want to use your points.

Here are some examples of what you can redeem your points for:

• $5 Starbucks Gift Card – 750 points
• $5 Dunkin’ Gift Card – 750 points
• $150 P&G Prize Pack Sweepstakes Entry – 50 points
• Provide 10 meals for people in need – 100 points

How to Print P&G Coupons

Another advantage to signing up for P&G Good Everyday is the opportunity to print coupons for your favorite P&G products.

To print coupons, simply go to PGGoodEveryday.com and click on the “Coupons” tab. Then click “Add to basket.” Repeat for all coupons you wish to redeem. When done, click on the basket icon and click “Print Coupons.”

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Magic Cookie Bars, also known as Hello Dolly Bars, are layered cookie bars that combine chocolate chips, peanut butter morsels, coconut, and a delicious caramelized crust.

What sets these Easter Magic Bars apart from traditional magic bars, is the bright pink crumb crust. It makes these bars festive and bright while adding a nice hint of tart to a traditionally super sweet dessert!

How to Make Easter Magic Cookie Bars

These magic cookie bars are super easy to make! Follow along below or grab the printable recipe at the end of this post.

Easter Magic Cookie Bars Ingredients:

• 20 pink wafer cookies (1 – 7 ounce package)
• 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 2 cups shredded or flaked coconut
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 – 10 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not condensed milk, not evaporated milk)
• 1-2 cups mini Easter eggs (candy-coated chocolate eggs)
• 1 cup pretzel sticks, chopped
• 1 cup mini peanut butter morsels (I used Nestle Tollhouse Spring Easter Basket Morsels and More. You can use this mix or the mini Easter eggs, pretzel sticks, and peanut butter morsels instead).

Easter Magic Cookie Bars Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Crumble the pink wafer cookies using a food processor. Mix melted butter into the crumbs.

Pour the crumbs into a parchment-lined 8×8 baking pan. Then press the crumbs down, making a crust.

Sprinkle on the coconut, then the chocolate chips.

Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top evenly.

Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and toss on the mini Easter eggs, pretzel pieces, and mini peanut butter morsels. Press these in softly so that they stick.

Allow the bars to cool completely and then cut into squares.  

Common Questions About Magic Cookie Bars

Do I need to refrigerate magic cookie bars?

No, they may be stored at room temperature for 4-5 days. However, if it is really warm in your home, you may want to store them in the fridge where they will keep for up to 1 week.

Can You Freeze Magic Cookie Bars?

Yes, they will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just be sure to place parchment paper between the layers or they will stick together. 

Can I use condensed milk or evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? 

No, neither of those will work in this recipe.  

I don’t have pink wafer cookies – what else could I use? 

This recipe works really well with graham cracker crumbs. Use 1 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs and increase the butter to 5 Tablespoons.  

Could I add nuts to magic bars? 

Yes, this is especially good with chopped walnuts. Just add a cup between the coconut and chocolate chips. 

Easter Magic Cookie Bars

Yield: 16

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

These Easter Magic Cookie Bars are the perfect Easter dessert! Not only are they colorful and fun, but they are also delicious and easy to make. Your whole family will love them!

Print

Ingredients

• 20 pink wafer cookies (1 - 7 ounce package)
• 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 2 cups shredded or flaked coconut
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 - 10 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not condensed milk, not evaporated milk)
• 1-2 cups mini Easter eggs (candy-coated chocolate eggs)
• 1 cup pretzel sticks, chopped
• 1 cup mini peanut butter morsels (I used Nestle Tollhouse Spring Easter Basket Morsels and More. You can use this mix or the mini Easter eggs, pretzel sticks, and peanut butter morsels instead).

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Crumble the pink wafer cookies using a food processor or blender. Mix melted butter into the crumbs.
3. Pour the crumbs into a parchment-lined 8x8 baking pan. Then press the crumbs down, making a crust.
4. Sprinkle on the coconut, then the chocolate chips.
5. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top evenly.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and toss on the mini Easter eggs, pretzel pieces, and mini peanut butter morsels. Press these in softly so that they stick.
8. Allow the bars to cool completely. Then cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Baking Adjustments:

You may also bake this in a 9x9 pan.  

You may adjust the serving sizes according to how many rows and columns you cut. 

Storage Instructions:

Place these bars into an airtight container. They may be stored at room temperature for 4-5 days.  If it is really warm in your home, you may store them in the fridge. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just be sure to place parchment paper between the layers or they will stick together.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper for Slicing, Shredding, Mincing, and Puree, 8 Cup, Black
• 
  Nordic Ware - 47500 Nordic Ware Naturals Aluminum Commercial 8" x 8" Square Cake Pan, 8 by 8 inches, Silver

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 368Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 256mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 3gSugar: 26gProtein: 11g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Easter Magic Cookie Bars Recipe appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.

The combination of milk, vanilla ice cream and Whoppers creates a yummy treat. It makes the perfect afternoon indulgence, especially on a hot day.

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and would be fun to serve at parties or holiday get-togethers. It’s also a great way to use up leftover Easter candy!

Simply combine your favorite vanilla ice cream, milk, and Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs in a blender and blend until smooth. If you can’t find the robin eggs, you can substitute them with any variety of Whoppers.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Whoppers Robin Eggs Milkshake

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Just in time for Easter, this Whoppers milkshake made with Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. The combination of milk, vanilla ice cream and Whoppers creates a yummy treat.

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup Milk (any variety)
• 2 Large Scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream
• Handful of Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs (or any other Whoppers variety)
• Whipped Cream

Instructions

1. Combine milk and ice cream in blender and blend until smooth.
2. Add a handful of Whoppers and pulse 5-6 times until the candy is broken into little pieces.
3. Check thickness. Add more ice cream if needed.
4. Pour into your favorite glass and top with whipped cream and more crushed Whoppers. Enjoy immediately!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 555Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 275mgSodium: 418mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 21g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Make sure you check out my Kit Kat Milkshake recipe too!

What’s your favorite kind of milkshake?

Whoppers Robin Eggs Milkshake appeared first on The PennyWiseMama - Colorado Family Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator, and Photographer.