Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a family-favorite addition to so many special occasion meals and you’ll always find a large casserole dish with it’s sparkling red, strawberry filled top on the buffet for Easter, Southern reunions, and all throughout the summer. It is loved by so many and is always one of the first things to disappear.

Sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy, it has so much going for it that it is always a definite hit!

There are so many versions of Strawberry Pretzel Salad served here in the south that I have no idea who invented the first version, but oh my goodness am I ever so thankful! It’s one of those dishes that goes with so many meals and works easily on the side – because, you know, it does have “salad” in it’s name – or as a dessert.

Here’s how I made it.

 
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:280]

Be sure to make it soon for your family! I promise, it will be a hit!

Enjoy!
Robyn xoxo

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Post Categories: 30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Cooking, Cooking Style, Desserts, Easter, Fruit Desserts, Holiday, July 4th, Recipes, Shower, Southern Favorites, Tailgate Recipes, Valentine's Day
Post tags: Cooking, cream cheese, pretzels, strawberry

Some of my best conversations with Little Buddy happen either when we’re driving in the car or at night after I’ve tucked him into bed and the lights have been turned out. That’s when we talk about dreams, the day’s activities, tell silly stories, or even just sit and sign for a little bit.

I’m not usually the one doing the singing, but I’m happy to hum along. I’m more of the designated hummer in our family.

The other afternoon as Little Buddy and I were driving around town running errands, we started talking about baseball, football, and a few other activities he enjoys every year. The more we talked the more I recognized he had not yet developed the same insecurities I had at his age. The concept just isn’t there.

I’m not sure if it is because we homeschool or if it is just ingrained in his personality to have such confidence and willingness to try new things.

At his age, I felt awkward because Mama had taken me to the “beauty shop” for the “in” Dorothy Hamil hairstyle. Going in to the beauty shop my hair was almost to my shoulders, but when I came out, my layered hair held no resemblance to the famous skater. I was completely insecure with my new do and was a bit more prone to sit on the side during activities instead of bringing attention to my new hairstyle if I participated. In my mind, it made perfect sense to wait until my hair was just “perfect” before I did so many activities.

Now, I realize I shouldn’t have let a ridiculously bad hair cut stop me from participating in various activities, but am still a bit prone to sitting on the sidelines from time to time.

Whether homeschooling or his personality deserves the credit for Little Buddy’s confidence and security in himself, I’m just thankful and happy to celebrate the joy of his participating!

He inspires me to do the same.

Mingle Monday

Are you ready to mingle? You’re welcome to share a favorite thing you’ve made – craft, sweet treat, meal, photograph, or even decor. I look forward to seeing all you’ve made!

How to participate {Easy as 1-2-3!} :

1. If you have a blog, simply add the permalink to your post. Do not add the link to the homepage of your website. If you don’t have a blog, don’t worry, add a link from your Facebook page, Instagram, or Flickr of your photograph.

2. Include a link in your post to addapinch.com to share all of the great ideas linked up with your readers, if you have a blog.

3. Select the photo you wish to link to your site and include the title of what you are sharing! Add a Pinch is family-friendly, so please be sure the links you are sharing are as well. I reserve the right to delete any links as I determine necessary.

© Robyn for Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: Blogging, Living, Mingle Monday
Post tags: inspirational, Living, Mingle Monday, motivational, Parenting

Do y’all remember those Peanut Butter Cookies that I shared with you earlier this week? Well, I really think you need to go make that dough right about now, because I am about to share with you one way to take them over the tip top! Make them into Peanut Butter Chocolate Lava Cookies.

Oh yes!

If you have an addiction to peanut butter and chocolate like I do, then these need to be in your life immediately.

I actually made them two ways. I made them in my mini muffin pan by place a scoop of cookie dough into the bottom of each of the indentions of the muffin pan. Then, I pressed one square from a mini Hershey bar into the center of the cookie dough.

Next, I topped it with another scoop of cookie dough, making sure to press the dough to completely encase the chocolate in the cookie dough center.

I also made them as large cookies on a baking sheet. These are larger than the mini muffin size cookies and I used two squares of the chocolate bar in the center of the cookie.

Both were amazing, so you can make these anyway that you’d like – just be sure to make them!

Here’s my recipe.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:279]

Make these soon and then let me know how much you love them!

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Robyn xoxo

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Post Categories: 30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Chocolate, Cookies, Cooking, Cooking Style, Desserts, Holiday, Recipes, Tailgate Recipes
Post tags: chocolate, Cooking, peanut butter

Today, because it is Thursday and because I love you, I thought it would be fun to give away a few subscriptions to one of my very favorite magazines ever. I’ve been pouring over issues of Southern Living since I was a little girl when we’d rush to the mailbox for my Mama to bring in her favorite magazine after the mail man would stop by our house.

Always filled with the latest decorating tips, gardening advice, and our most-loved recipes, Southern Living has always been the iconic magazine here in the South.

So, regardless if you are a Southerner by birth, choice, or you just enjoy all of the deliciousness included in every issue, this magazine is definitely for you.

Okay, now to the giveaway.

Southern Living Magazine Giveaway

I’m giving away subscriptions for one year (13-issues) to FIVE lucky members of the Add a Pinch community for Southern Living magazine.

Here’s how you enter.

Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite thing about the South.

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to Add a Pinch by email.

2. Join the Add a Pinch community on Facebook.

3. Follow along for all the inspiring pins on Pinterest.

4. Tweet about this giveaway ::

Enter to #win 1 of 5 subscriptions to @Southern_Living from @addapinch bit.ly/winsthrnlvng

— Robyn Stone (@AddaPinch) February 23, 2012

That’s five possible entries per person! Be sure to leave a comment for each entry as each comment only counts as one entry.

This giveaway ends Monday, February 26th at midnight Eastern. I will randomly select each of the five winners and contact via email and announce on this post. Winners will have three days to respond before another winner will be selected.

Good luck!

Love ya,

Robyn xoxo

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Post Categories: Favorite Things, For Her, Gifts, Giveaway, Living
Post tags: decorating, Giveaway, homemaking, inspirational, Living

Warm peanut butter cookies and a cold glass of milk are a perfect little treat in the afternoons when you just want a little something sweet. They have always been one of my husband’s favorite cookies, so when I started pulling out all of my ingredients to make them, his eyes got just a little bit wider as I told him I was making his cookies. I think I may have earned a few brownie points.

Now, you can easily add any mix-ins you’d like to these cookies: chocolate chips, chopped salted peanuts, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, you name it. But honestly, you really, really need to try these cookies just right by themselves at least once. They are absolutely the best peanut butter cookies I’ve ever eaten. Hands down!

Here’s how I make them.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:278]

I think you need to make a batch of these soon!

Love ya,

Robyn xoxo

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Post Categories: 30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Birthday, Cookies, Cooking, Cooking Style, Desserts, Holiday, Recipes, Simple Recipes, Tailgate Recipes
Post tags: Cooking, peanut butter

Every year when we visit Daytona for the NASCAR race, we like to take little “field trips” to learn more about the area. We usually have a stop planned for our little side excursions, but we also like to just get in the car and drive to discover something new. Through the years, we’ve found favorite spots and activities like our eco tour in St. Augustine, the walk on the beach in Amelia Island, a trip to Kennedy Space Center, driving on Daytona Beach, and a few others.

This year, we made a short drive to Ponce Inlet for lunch and a visit.

The area has the best of both worlds with the beach on one side and the inter coastal waterway on the other. We spent most of our time along the waterway.

It was so relaxing to watch the fishing boats as we walked along the pier.

After a leisurely walk around the pier, we were ready to enjoy our lunch inside.

The restaurant Down the Hatch had actually been recommended to us by family who had eaten there before. Let me just say, if you are ever in the area of Daytona – you have got to go! It is so worth the 20 or so minute drive the coast to visit Ponce Inlet for lunch at Down the Hatch. Their Southern Clam Chowder was out of this world delicious!

I don’t think I can live without it until next year when we come back!

Down the Hatch

4894 Front Street
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

Be sure to grab a table by the window and watch for the dolphins as you enjoy your lunch.

One of the tallest lighthouses in the United States is also located at Ponce Inlet. Climbing to the top is a great excuse for revisiting the area so that no one thinks I’m just coming for the chowder.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

931 South Peninsula Drive
Ponce Inlet, Florida 32127

http://www.ponceinlet.org/

Do you like to just get in the car and drive when you travel? Where have you discovered lately?

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Post Categories: Guides, Traveling
Post tags: Florida, Lighthouse, Restaurants, Traveling

Succotash is a dish that always makes a welcome appearance on our table. Full of the delicious traditional vegetables of lima beans, corn, butter beans, I step it up even further by adding bacon, onion, garlic, and hominy for a recipe my family thoroughly enjoys.

My succotash recipe definitely elevates a standard weeknight meal with tons of creamy vegetables that my whole family loves.

Succotash has always been a summertime favorite with vegetables fresh from the garden or farmer’s market, but now I also enjoy making it with frozen, canned, or dried beans so that I can enjoy this favorite dish year round.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:277]

When I make succotash, I always make a large skillet full of it just so I can have plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week. It is absolutely scrumptious!

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Post Categories: All Recipes, Cooking, Easter, Holiday, Recipes, Sides, Southern Favorites, Thanksgiving
Post tags: bacon, beans, butterbeans, Cooking, corn, herbs, lima beans, onion, thyme, vegetables

As my Grandmother would work in her home, she normally had the radio or a record playing. The music would vary from classic bluegrass tunes, to gospel greats, to good ole country songs. She’d hum or sing along to the infectious tunes and encourage my sister and me to dance around and sing as we helped her during our summers. Her ottoman became the stage and the feather duster transformed itself into our microphones. I’m not sure how much cleaning we would accomplish, but we definitely had a great time.

One of our favorite songs she’d play over and over was “Keep it on Sunny Side,” by The Carters. I hadn’t heard it in years, until this weekend when I heard it playing. If you’ve never heard the song, or if it has been a while, I’ve included the lyrics for ya.

Keep on the Sunny Side Lyrics

by Ada Blenkhorn, 1899

Well there’s a dark and a troubled side of life. There’s a bright and a sunny side too. But if you meet with the darkness and strife, The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life. It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way, If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Oh, the storm and its fury broke today, Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear. Clouds and storms will in time pass away. The sun again will shine bright and clear.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life. It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way, If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life.

Let us greet with a song of hope each day. Though the moments be cloudy or fair. Let us trust in our Saviour always, To keep us, every one, in His care.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life. It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way, If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life.

If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life.

Aren’t those lyrics beautiful?

I think I’ll start listening to it more often.

I also created a printable that I’m going to frame for my house!

Would you like one?

I made it in a few different colors so you can pick your favorite.

Just click on the link below the thumbnail of the color you’d like to download and print for yourself.

Sunny Side Printables for You

Click Here for Mustard Printable Download

Click Here for Green Printable Download

Click Here for Blue Printable Download

Click Here for Tangerine Printable Download

I hope y’all enjoy these as much as I know I will. This is my first download that I’ve done like this one, so let me know if you have any issues or even if it goes great!

I hope y’all have a great week!

Mingle Monday

Are you ready to mingle? You’re welcome to share a favorite thing you’ve made – craft, sweet treat, meal, photograph, or even decor. I look forward to seeing all you’ve made!

How to participate {Easy as 1-2-3!} :

1. If you have a blog, simply add the permalink to your post. Do not add the link to the homepage of your website. If you don’t have a blog, don’t worry, add a link from your Facebook page, Instagram, or Flickr of your photograph.

2. Include a link in your post to addapinch.com to share all of the great ideas linked up with your readers, if you have a blog.

3. Select the photo you wish to link to your site and include the title of what you are sharing! Add a Pinch is family-friendly, so please be sure the links you are sharing are as well. I reserve the right to delete any links as I determine necessary.

© Robyn for Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: Blogging, Crafts, Free Printables, Living, Mingle Monday
Post tags: inspirational, Living, Mingle Monday, motivational, printables

This week, I wanted to prepare the Pork and Mushroom Quesadillas for a quick-fix lunch. I played with ingredient combination a bit to make sure each person’s quesadilla included ingredients they would enjoy, which made this lunch disappear nearly as quickly as it was prepared.

The quesadillas were made using pork sirloin cutlets which cut relatively quickly for a stir-fry or for including in wraps and recipes like this quesadilla. As I quickly prepared it, I thought of all the traditional chicken recipes that I could easily use cooked pork sirloin cutlets.

Here’s how I prepared the quesadillas.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:276]

Be sure to check out all of the other recipes featuring pork during the Good and Good for You Challenge.

Giveaway

** Congratulations to comment #10, Denise B. **

And now to the giveaway.

The National Pork Board and Publix are giving away the following to one member of the Add a Pinch community to help you get started with the Good and Good for You Challenge!

• 8 $5 pork coupons
• Water bottle
• Reusable grocery bag
• Meat thermometer
• Pedometer
• Recipe book

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite meal using pork. The comments are the official entry, there is no purchase necessary, void where prohibited. The contest ends Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:59 pm Eastern. The winner will be announced on Saturday, February 25th.

Disclosure: I am working with the National Pork Board, Publix, and The Motherhood to bring you great recipes using pork and help promote the Good and Good for You Challenge. While I did receive compensation, all opinions are always my own.

© Robyn for Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: All Recipes, Pork, Recipes, Simple Recipes
Post tags: Cooking, mushrooms, onion, pork

I love a good manicure. You know the kind where your hands look and feel amazing, your polish is perfectly applied, and a top coat that you slick on that keeps your nails looking their best for a week or two at least.

I’m rough on my hands – nails included.

I tear open bags with my hands instead of using scissors like my mother tells me I should, usually poking my thumb nails in if the bag is a little harder than normal to open.

When I’m playing with Little Buddy, I’m prone to pry little Legos apart with my nails so that I don’t look like a total pansy of a Mama. It only took one exasperated look to no longer ask him to help me so I don’t break a nail or mess up my nail polish.

I can’t remember the last time I wore gloves when washing dishes or cleaning around the house, so I am constantly applying hand cream to undo any damage from detergents and cleaners. And just don’t get me started on gardening!

My nails just have never been really strong either. They split, crack, peel and break really easily. After writing this, I’m really starting to see why!

But, I found a product a few months ago that I absolutely love and knew that you would want to try it, too!

It’s a combo set of Rock Hard base coat and then Rock Top Coat.

I haven’t found any base and top coats that I love so much as I do these. They have made an amazing difference with the strength of my nails, but I’m also extremely impressed with how long my polish lasts!

As Little Buddy would say, “Impressive. Most impressive.”

I just say the makers deserve a few brownies!

I bought my base and top coat at Sally Beauty, but here are the links on Amazon:

European Secrets Rock Top Coat

European Secrets Rock Hard Hardener & Basecoat

© Robyn for Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone, 2012. | Permalink | All Rights Reserved. Add to del.icio.us
Post Categories: Beauty, Fashion and Beauty, Favorite Things, Living
Post tags: beauty, Living