desserts Archives - TaylorMade

Grinch Munch Popcorn

December 12, 2016 By Taylor Leave a Comment

I can’t believe we are 13 days away from Christmas! For some reason this year, the Holidays really crept up on me! I felt like this last year but it really had nothing on my current status haha! We are super busy, I think that comes with having kids that are getting older. Each one of them have more and more functions…. super fun and kind of exhausting. Ha! We are currently in the last week of school over here and you know what the means… field trips, parties, book exchanges, jammie day, and teacher/class gifts.

I have the teachers covered. All of the kids have amazing teachers this year who go above and beyond so we are getting them gift cards to their favorite restaurants. But… that leaves me with class party treats. I came across this Grinch Munch Popcorn from Imperial Sugar and I actually gasped at how perfect it was! Imperial is an amazing resource if you are looking for last minutes gifts (like me haha) that your kids can help with or just for fun crafts to do together over Christmas break. This treat is super cute and yes, it is sweet, but I think popcorn is a pretty decent snack that kids actually love. This one is super simple but pretty, so people will think you went to more trouble than you actually did haha!

You Need:

-Popcorn Kernels

-Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar

-Vegetable or Coconut Oil

– Sea Salt

-Green Food Coloring

– Christmas Sprinkles/Non-Pariels

Start by heating up 1/4 c of oil in a skillet or dutch oven with a lid. I like to use coconut oil with popcorn, but vegetable will work fine too. Put 2-3 kernels in the oil and when they all pop you know the oil is ready.

When the oil is ready, add in 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, 1/2 cup of Imperial Granulated Sugar, and green food coloring. Remove from heat, add lid and wait about 30 seconds.

Put back on heat and watch carefully (so you don’t burn the sugar) cook for 4-5 more minutes or until the popcorn pops slow down :) Add your Christmas sprinkles or non-non-pariels and sea salt.

This batch I made was huge so I bagged some up for the class party and my kids all had a really festive after school snack! This would also make a super cute girlfriend or teacher gift in a cute bag with a custom tag, So may options! Be sure to check out Imperial Sugar for more Christmas Recipes, and Holiday Crafts with kids. Imperial is also hosting a Holiday Baking Bonanza Contest with tons of amazing foodie loving prizes. Check that out HERE. Happy Holidays everyone!

Vampire’s Blood White Hot Chocolate

October 16, 2016 By Taylor Leave a Comment

It’s mid-October… my favorite time of the year. Apparently I’m not the only one. My son was bouncing off the walls a few days ago and I asked him why he was acting so wild… he said he can’t help it because all of this favorite holidays are coming up and he is just so excited :) I don’t blame him. We are getting very festive around here, we decorated the mantle, visited the pumpkin patch and have started watching Halloween Movies! When I came across this recipe for Vampire’s Blood White Hot Chocolate from Imperial Sugar I knew I had to make some! I love to browse Imperial Sugar’s site around the holidays because they have a ton of crafts, printables and recipes that you can make WITH your kids. This one was super fun and easy!

They have the recipe on their site (with exact amounts HERE) but this is pretty much all you need:

Half and Half
Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
Vanilla
Whipped Cream
Strawberries
White Chocolate
Red Food collating (optional)
Salt

The Strawberry Syrup is made from strawberries, sugar, water and red food coloring. I added a squeeze of lemon juice because I like to add lemons to everything :)

Then you bring that to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes, until the strawberries break down. Strain the strawberries out and pour the syrup into an airtight container. This was the kids favorite part! Then they started listing all of the things they would put this on haha!

The White Hot Chocolate is so simple… white chocolate, sugar, vanilla, half and half and a pinch of salt. This took no time at all to melt together, make sure not to let it boil! Once it’s smooth just pour it into your mug!

Top with whipped cream and drizzle with strawberry sauce! This would be the hit of any party! Be sure to check out Imperial Sugar for more recipes and festive ideas. They are also having a giveaway for KitchenAid Stand Mixer so go check it out! Happy Halloween everyone :)

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn

October 20, 2015 By Taylor 1 Comment

It’s finally fall! My favorite season full of pumpkins and parties and costumes and crafting! Today I have the pleasure of sharing a tutorial from Imperial Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn in Stuffed Paper Pumpkins! It’s fun, kid friendly and delicious. Imperial Sugar has a ton of fun edible Halloween crafts to make with your kids so check them out HERE. As usual, my boys did most of this project alone, I just was the supervisor ;)

We made the homemade Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn together in the kitchen then we decorated pumpkin faces and stitched them up. These would make a fun gift but we just kept them for ourselves!

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil (or canola)
2/3 cup popcorn kernels
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoons Imperial Sugar Cinnamon Sugar Shaker (this wasn’t available at my grocery store yet so I mixed my own but I’m excited to find the shaker!)
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

Directions for the Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn:

1. Add the coconut oil and three popcorn kernels to a large pot with a tight fitting lid. Cover and cook over medium-high heat until all kernels pop. Take the three kernels out of the pot.

2. Add the rest of the popcorn kernels. Cover and take the pot off of the heat. Wait 30 seconds. Put the pot back on the heat.

3. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally until the popping slows down. After about 2 minutes, take the lid off of the pot. This lets the steam out and keeps the popcorn crisp.

4. While the popcorn is popping, melt the butter.

5. Pour over the popcorn and sprinkle with salt and cinnamon sugar. Toss until completely coated. You could also do this in a large paper bag. Let cinnamon popcorn cool completely.

Supplies for Treat Bags:

Colored yarn or string
Hole punch
Heavier weight brown craft paper, colored paper or white paper (we used orange cardstock)
Scissors
Colors, markers or colored pencils (optional)

Directions for Treat Bags:

Print out the Pumpkin and Apple Stuffed Paper Bag Patterns. You can print directly onto brown craft paper or you could use colored paper, or white paper that you hand color. Choose a heavier weight paper if your printer will allow it, as super thin paper will tear when stitching up the sides. We used orange cardstock then decorated them like jack-o-lanterns.
Cut out the pattern. Use a hole punch to punch holes where indicated.

Remaining Directions:
While popcorn is cooling, begin stitching up your paper patterns. Using colored yarn, stitch the front and back pieces together. Tie a knot in both ends of the yarn to keep it from coming loose. We started from one side (at the bottom) then went around to the other side across the top then stopped.

Leave the bottom part of the pattern open. Before sewing it entirely closed, fill with Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn.

Once it is full, stitch up the bottom of the stuffed paper bag and tie off ends of yarn. Cut off any excess yarn. Now you have a fun treat to take to your party, give to a friend or eat!

When ready to eat, just tear the stuffed paper bag open and enjoy.

This post was sponsored by Imperial Sugar but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Peach Punch Popsicles

August 25, 2014 By Taylor 1 Comment

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Del Monte, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #DelMonteBTS http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

It’s the end of August so you know what that means… Back to School time! I’m having some serious mixed emotions about it this year. My boys are still in a pre-school program that I love and they do to. Last year they went 2 and 3 days but this year they will both be in school 4 days a week. Don’t get me wrong, they need it and I do too, they are starting to get a little stir crazy and we are ready for the routine. But, I have loved this summer and I will never forget the summer baby sister was born and we spent time learning all about our new baby… we are going to miss our crazy boys around the house, it might get too quiet.

I know that one thing will stay the same… the need for an after school snack. My boys always come home so starving! They wear them out at school :) It will be warm here in Texas for a few more months so we love to make homemade popsicles as an after school snack. My secret ingredient? DelMonte fruit squeezers! My kids LOVE them and ask for “squeezers” daily (and because they can’t read yet they don’t know they have hidden vegetables hehe).

These popsicles are so easy that my 3 and 5 year old boys can pretty much make them! Peach happens to be our favorite flavor around here so I picked up the peach mango DelMonte Squeezers from WalMart and a box of the strawberry too. For these Peach Punch Popsicles I used:

a whole peach mango squeezer

about 3/4c 100% real fruit punch

a little fresh squeezed orange juice

And we froze them to perfection :) My oldest son has declared these his new favorite flavor…. they are so, so good!

Fruit squeezers are also an easy and healthy favorite inside their lunches so we stocked up this past weekend! Right now select Walmart Superstores are running a back-to-school photo special. You can bring in or upload any photo and receive a free 5×7 photo. When you pick up your photo you will receive a coupon for $1 off the purchase of (2) Del Monte 4-pack Fruit Cups or (2)Fruit Burst Squeezers. The offer is available from 8/1 to 9/13 while supplies last.

Is anyone else feeling bittersweet about this school year? I know that in no time we will have the hang of it and it will be the new normal but sometimes this growing up thing is hard… especially for moms ;)