Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Countdown to 2020: Most Popular Recipes

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


Today's category is all about the Most Popular or Readers' Faves from our blog in 2019. I think it's a great way to end the year with a bang. We get to share the recipes that were huge successes during the year and I feel like you never know what will show up on the list.
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Monday, December 30, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - December 30, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Dec 30, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

We are back from Florida and ready to dive back in to a "normal" week at home. The kids are out of school, of course, and NYE is tomorrow, but otherwise a pretty normal week. We're having a few old favorites before Nick heads out for army training, so I'm excited about all of that! I'm definitely ready for the start of a new year. I hope you all have a prosperous and wonderful 2020 ahead of you.

Monday - Bacon Cheese Spread
Tuesday - Snickers Chex Mix, Jalapeno Popper Chicken Egg Rolls, Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites, Caprese Fundido, Hot Bean and Cheese Dip
Wednesday - PB&J Muffins // Egg Roll Soup
Thursday - Pork Schnitzel Sandwiches
Friday - Fried Pickle Burgers
Weekend - Mexican Egg White Omelet // Slow Cooker Pork Roast // Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Blondies

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!



Countdown to 2020: Best Crockpot Recipes

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


Another wonderful day full of the best best recipes of the year and today is one of the best days (do I say that every day? possibly!) because it is all about the crockpot and Instant Pot recipes. I've been eyeing Instant Pots lately, so maybe I will end up with one, but I couldn't live without my crockpot!
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Countdown to 2020: Best Desserts

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


This is another day of the countdown that I'm really excited about because I love sweets. I have been making fewer and fewer desserts these days but I still love to save as many recipes as I can. Don't forget to stop by all the blogs below and see what recipes made their best dessert lists!
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Countdown to 2020: Best Main Dishes

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


This day of the Countdown is always the hardest for me because I primarily make main dish recipes. It's also one of my favorites because I can continue to hoard more main dish recipes when my blogging friends share their round ups of main dish recipes :)
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Friday, December 27, 2019

Countdown to 2020: Best Breakfasts

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


It's time to share the best breakfast recipes of 2019 - this is probably one of the areas where I am most interested in seeing the recipes but also most likely not to ever make them. Because I am not a morning person at all.
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Countdown to 2020: Best Appetizers and Snacks

It's time to share the best recipes of 2019 to ring in the new year!


I hope everyone who celebrated Christmas (and even those who don't) had a wonderful beginning of the week. I'm always so excited when the Countdown starts each year and this year is definitely not any different. We have the same schedule as previous years starting out with the appetizers and snacks today!
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Friday, December 20, 2019

Breakfast Crunchwraps

This crunchwrap is the perfect breakfast meal with chorizo, eggs, and hashbrowns!


My household consumes a lot of crunchwraps. We don't really get them from Taco Bell a lot, I make them homemade at least once a month. That doesn't seem like it's that often really, but we don't eat the same thing within the same year very often - just our absolute favorite foods. When I stumbled across this recipe for a breakfast version, I knew my family would lose their minds!

It's not too much more work than if you were just making sausage, hashbrowns, and eggs and it's actually pretty easy to make the crunchwraps. I have my preferred method which is slightly different than the original recipe. I think having the cheese on top with an opening helps to really glue the whole thing together. It took me some trial and error testing to figure out how to best get the crunchwrap into the pan without losing all the inside stuff, but once I figured that out...crunchwraps were a breeze. I place a spatula upside down onto the top of the crunchwrap and hold it in place. I flip the crunchwrap upside down over the pan and place it so the spatula is touching the pan. Then I quickly but carefully pull the spatula out. The cheese gets nice and crunchy and helps with the structural integrity of the crunchwrap.

This breakfast version is out of this world! I don't have it pictured, but we ate ours with salsa and sour cream, but you could do a whole slew of toppings or fixings with it.


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies #FantasticalFoodFight

Welcome to another Food Fight! Fantastical Food Fight is a group of food bloggers who will get a theme or ingredient each month and make some sort of variation for it. It could be traditional or nontraditional and can be found in a cookbook, on a blog, or be a blogger's own creation! For more details, check out this page.

This month's Fantastical Food Fight theme is COOKIES. During the holiday season, I can't help but want to make all the cookies and eat all the cookies. It's just the perfect time of year for it. If you follow me on Facebook, I've been sharing tons of cookies recipes each day. So I am definitely looking forward to seeing all the recipes that will be shared today.


My cookies are these fantastic little chocolate chip cookies that aren't really little at all. These are some chonkin cookies and I love them so much because they are stuffed with Rolos and topped with sea salt. I seem to make a lot of cookies that have a chocolate and caramel combo topped with sea salt during the holidays and I'm not quite sure why. It just always works out that way. I love love these cookies. Because they are large and in charge, they stay nice and soft and gooey. Fabulous through and through. The only bad part is that a dozen of them don't last very long at all.



Monday, December 16, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - December 16, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Dec 16, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

This week seems like it's about to be all comfort foods and I'm so ready! It's our last hurray before no meal plan, flying by the seat of our pants next week - which to be honest, is NOT for me. I am trying not to stress. :)

Monday - One Pot Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta
Tuesday - Copycat Crunchwraps
Wednesday - Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins // Chicken Alfredo Soup
Thursday - Grilled Jalapeno Popper Tuna Melts
Friday - Dill Pickle Pizza Copycat
Weekend - Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Friday, December 13, 2019

Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes

Perfect vanilla cupcakes with a white chocolate ganache filling, tart cranberry frosting, and sparkling cranberries!


Hear me out on this little "story"...when I was a kid, I had only experienced cranberries through the jellied cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. I just assumed that I didn't like cranberries. As an adult, I have tried new foods and foods that I previously thought I didn't like to see if I changed my mind. So now that I know I like cranberries, I'm trying to make all the cranberry things. These cupcakes are so great because they have the candied cranberries AND a white chocolate ganache filling. Honestly, what more could you ask for for a festive holiday treat?!



Monday, December 09, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - December 9, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Dec 9, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

I'm ready for this week and I think it's mostly because of the poke cake. I don't think I'm going to have much of an opportunity to make a lot of Christmas foods what with me not planning ahead since Thanksgiving was so late in November. I'm trying to get at least a few treats in before Christmas week.

Monday - Turkey Parmesan Pasta
Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas with fixings
Wednesday - Swirled Nutella Muffins // Mexican Meatball Soup
Thursday - Cheesecake Factory Cashew Chicken Copycat
Friday - Five Guys Little Style Burgers
Weekend - French Vanilla Chai Cinnamon Rolls // Melt in Your Mouth Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken // Peppermint Poke Cake

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Friday, December 06, 2019

Loaded Blackened Chicken

No boring chicken dinners - load it up with the best seasoning mix, cheese, bacon, and onions!


Out of the many chicken dishes I've had lately. This is definitely one of the tops. I didn't know you could just buy blackening seasoning but it's one of my favorite mixes ever. If you want to make your own, I recommend this Best Ever Blackening Seasoning from A Spicy Perspective.  The rest is just the perfect storm of deliciousness that is onion, bacon, and cheese.


Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Pancakes

These pancakes are perfect for the winter season - and especially Christmas morning!


For the first time in a long time, I don't have a plan for Christmas morning breakfast. Sometimes I wake up really early and make cinnamon rolls. I've made donuts and casseroles. Last year, I made these pancakes. They were a huge hit and super quick. The kids enjoyed them after opening presents and I have to say that they were pretty fantastic. All the elements work together so well!


Monday, December 02, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - December 2, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Dec 2, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

December is going to be a crazy busy month with lots of school activities, doctor appointments, and then traveling in the end of the month. I tried to pick a lot of recipes that were easy, quick meals. I'm also trying to stick to the new diet where I'm not only counting calories but trying to limit red meat and eat lots of foods that are good for my cholesterol level. I've seen some improvement over the last few months with the change.

Monday - Four Cheese Garlic White Cream Pasta with Chicken
Tuesday - Carne Asada Street Tacos
Wednesday - PB&J Muffins // Chicken Pot Pie Stew
Thursday - PF Chang's Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Friday - Spicy Chicken & Jalapeno Pizza
Weekend - Blueberry Cornbread Muffins // Sunday Meatloaf // Butterscotch Pie

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

Friday, November 29, 2019

Candy Cane Crinkles

The perfect peppermint cookie for the winter season that just melt in your mouth!


Every year, the kids and I choose a cookie recipe off my cookie board on Pinterest to make for Santa. Even though my big kids are of the "knowing age", they still love this tradition and are really excited to continue it with their little brother who will have his first big Christmas where he understands what is going on other than just presents. I think we're going to have his first visit to Santa which will be really exciting.

I'm not sure what cookie we will make this year, but last year, these Candy Cane Crinkles were the chosen cookie for Santa. They are buttery and melt-in-your-mouth with the cool bite of peppermint. They don't look like anything more than sugar cookies, but they are so fantastic. Don't underestimate them! Also, I don't know if every place will carry them but I discovered crushed candy canes at my local grocery store (Kroger) this past week and I was so excited. Crushing candy canes is one of my least favorite tasks to do and I love that they now have precrushed candy canes! Perfect for cookies!


Countdown to 2020 [All the Details]

It's almost time! The end of the year is upon us and that means I am once again hosting the Countdown - this year, the Countdown to 2020. It's my sixth year hosting - it's so much fun. If you are a food blogger, keep reading :)

From December 26 until January 1, food bloggers will share their best recipes posted in 2019 to bring in the new year. Each day has a different category and bloggers are not required to join in for all the days if they don't want to. Each day a blog hop will open at 12:00am EST and close 36 hours later. The first day of January is the Wild Card category, which means you get to choose what category you want to share. It can be YOUR favorite recipes posted in 2019, underrated gems from 2019, recipes you want to try in 2020, best beverages of 2019, etc. It's totally up to you!

If you have any questions, please email me at fantasticalsharing1 at gmail dot com. I'll see you back on the 26th for the first Countdown to 2020 post all about the best appetizers and snacks recipes of 2019! Sign up for the mailing list is below the image at the end of the post.

Please feel free to post on your blog about the Countdown or share the button on your sidebar or one on your social media. To save, right-click and upload from your computer, tablet, or phone. Do not copy/paste.

Sign up for the mailing list: here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

BLT Deviled Eggs

Spruce up those deviled eggs with a little BLT fixings!


Y'all. Is it just me or is romaine lettuce always being recalled and linked to e. coli? I feel like I am always reading about another outbreak and it kind of drives me nuts because I eat romaine lettuce a ton. The original recipe for these deviled eggs calls for romaine, but when I made them last year (yes, last year), romaine was recalled and I settled for spinach which isn't as pretty to photograph. The flavors are that of a lovely BLT sandwich but kind of also remind me of egg salad sandwiches, so it's like a combination of the two. I have to say, didn't hate that at all! :)


Monday, November 25, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - November 25, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Nov 25, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

I am so happy it's Thanksgiving. Halloween is my favorite holiday and then I always go back and forth between Thanksgiving and Christmas as my next favorite holiday. Thanksgiving is such a good holiday. Lots of food and being thankful for everything we have. It's just a nice, comforting holiday. I'm bringing a few sides and a variation of pumpkin pie for dessert.

Monday - Kicked Up Sausage Alfredo
Tuesday - Grilled Salsa Verde Chicken
Wednesday - Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes // Cheesy Ground Beef Enchilada Chili
Thursday - Thanksgiving - Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin, Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars
Friday - Copycat Guberburgers
Weekend -x

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!


------------------------------

don't miss a thing. follow fantastical on:
facebook | pinterest | bloglovin

Friday, November 22, 2019

Mutti's Sauerbraten

This German-style red wine and clove marinated beef roast is absolute perfection with gravy on top!


When we were introduced to German food, my family fell in love. I've been trying to find authentic German recipes online and I believe this pot roast is pretty authentic. Sauerbraten is a marinated roast and I have to say that it turned out so tender and the spice mix was incredible. I will also say that as a child, I really didn't eat gravy and I still really don't care for it. However, for some reason, the recipes I've been making lately with gravy that goes on the meat have really won me over. This one in particular was rich but really brought out the flavors of the marinade - which by the way has red wine in it. So it's really the best. You can serve this up with sauerkraut or red cabbage or potato dumplings. We did buttered gnocchi, which is Italian, but that's what I wanted with it. :)


Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Chocolate Pecan Pie #FantasticalFoodFight

Welcome to another Food Fight! Fantastical Food Fight is a group of food bloggers who will get a theme or ingredient each month and make some sort of variation for it. It could be traditional or nontraditional and can be found in a cookbook, on a blog, or be a blogger's own creation! For more details, check out this page.

This month's Fantastical Food Fight theme is PECAN PIE. November is Georgia Pecan Month and although I could have gone the easy route and just picked pecans for the ingredient, I decided to make it all about pecan pie with the big holidays coming up in the US where pecan pie is the major dessert. No time like the present, right?! Here's the thing...this is definitely not my month. I don't like pie very much and pecan pie is probably my least favorite pie. But here we are...it's Pecan Pie Food Fight month!


With all that being said, this is the second pecan pie recipe to hit the blog and again, I did try it to see if my mind could be changed by a different recipe. The first pecan pie was a butterscotch pecan pie and I thought maybe I would enjoy that but it was a bust for me - Nick loved it. This go-around I figured I would have more of a chance of enjoying the pie because it's chocolate-based. It was still a bust. However, I get to post this with the approval of Nick and my daughter, Cami. Both of them gladly taste-tested and split the pie between the two of them (over the next week - not in one night haha). They said it tasted like rich chocolate pudding and pecan pie had a baby. So I'm just going to take their word for it. It was an easy recipe to make and it looks beautiful!


Monday, November 18, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - November 18, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Nov 18, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

This week should be lots of yummy yummy veggies and I cannot wait. It's my kinda week! :)

Monday - Chicken, Bacon, and Brussels Sprout Mac and Cheese
Tuesday - Easy Grilled Steak Burrito Bowls
Wednesday - Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins // Mexican Street Corn Soup
Thursday - Chinese Green Beans with Ground Turkey over Rice
Friday - Cheeseburger Pizza
Weekend - Quick Easy Cinnamon Twists // Chicken Alfredo Zucchini Roll Ups // Butterscotch Pie

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!


------------------------------

don't miss a thing. follow fantastical on:
facebook | pinterest | bloglovin

Friday, November 15, 2019

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

This classic appetizer is easy peasy with only four ingredients!


I don't remember when I came across this recipe but I was so excited because it had been so long since I had had this little appetizer. I remembered them fondly from my childhood. I feel like they were a staple at every holiday. I didn't realize they were made with pancake mix nor did I realize they were made with only four ingredients!


Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Spicy Pepperoncini Chicken Noodle Soup

This chicken noodle soup will knock your socks off with its little kick from the pepperoncinis!


Since I figured out that I liked chicken noodle soup as long as it is homemade, I've been more willing to try out new recipes. We really enjoy pepperoncinis as a family, so I figured this recipe would be a keeper for sure. We all really enjoyed the heat and the little bit of pickley flavor to chicken noodle soup :)


Monday, November 11, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - November 11, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Nov 11, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

One Pot Spaghetti is one of the most popular recipes I've posted on my blog and I don't make it enough when it's spaghetti night but I had to do it this month. Just had to! I've been on a Greek food kick lately too and just want tzatziki sauce all the time.

Monday - One Pot Spaghetti
Tuesday - Queso Smothered Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday - Mini Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Muffins // Wendy's Chili
Thursday - One Pot Baked Greek Chicken Risotto
Friday - Crunch Burgers
Weekend - Graham Streusel Coffee Cake // Turkey Parmesan Meatballs // Soft Baked Reese's Pieces Butterscotch Cookies

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

------------------------------

don't miss a thing. follow fantastical on:
facebook | pinterest | bloglovin

Friday, November 08, 2019

White Chicken Chili Dip

There is nothing better than chili except chili in dip form! Dip vegetables, crackers, pretzels, and more into this delicious appetizer.


When I was first out on my own, I learned how to make white chicken chili from my mother-in-law and we had it ALL. THE. TIME. We don't eat it much anymore but I saved this recipe because I knew we would love it and chili in dip form sounded amazing! This is a little different than the white chicken chili I make - I don't do bell peppers or corn in it, but I think that's what makes this so darn good and obviously different enough to be a dip and not the actual chili. But I'm not gonna lie, I kinda want to add corn and bell peppers to the chili recipe because this kinda blew my mind and the two ingredients really just fit with the white chicken chili flavors!


Wednesday, November 06, 2019

White Bean and Collards Soup

This soup has greens and beans...and barbecue sauce - it's a little sweet with a smoky flavor and oh so good!


I was all over this recipe when I found it because ham/bacon and bean soup is my favorite soup and this one has COLLARD GREENS. I was born and raised in Minnesota. So I did not grow up eating Southern food at all. The first time I had greens was in New York when we did a Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's battles from his unit and I'm obsessed. I love collard greens so much. I was intrigued by the barbecue sauce and I believe I used the spicy kind from Sweet Baby Rays. It adds a little sweetness and some smokiness to the soup which I found to be very satisfying. All-in-all this soup was definitely a keeper!


Monday, November 04, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - November 4, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Nov 4, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

This week is exciting because I'm looking forward to making a little copycat that my husband had in the San Diego airport in October. He had a flatbread with beef and chimichurri but he sent me the menu with another flatbread that had goat cheese on it and I'm dying to try it!

Monday - Creamy Chicken Pasta
Tuesday - Turkey Taco Salad
Wednesday - PB&J Muffins // One Pot Cauliflower Chowder
Thursday - Asian Turkey Meatballs over Easy Thai Noodles
Friday - The Plato's Flatbread Copycats
Weekend - Blueberry Cornbread Muffins // Baked Chicken with Tomatoes, Basil, and Red Chillies // Caramel Drizzled Pumpkin Poke Cake

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

------------------------------

don't miss a thing. follow fantastical on:
facebook | pinterest | bloglovin

Friday, November 01, 2019

One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Baked Parmesan Chicken

Crunchy baked parmesan chicken over a bed of one pot garlic parmesan pasta for a divine dinner!


I adore one pot meals and was so gung ho about trying the One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta because I love pasta and it's rare that a main dish doesn't have garlic in it. This is in my wheelhouse. I decided to double up and try another recipe I had hoarded that I thought would fit really well with this pasta. I was totally right and if you time it correctly, your chicken finishes baking as soon as you finish the pasta. The crunchy baked chicken is fabulous with the pasta. Really happy with the combination and if you try it, please let me know how you like it!


Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Beef Stroganoff Soup

This version of beef stroganoff in soup form is lovely when you're feeling beef stroganoff but want something to sit lighter in your belly.


So yes, this is beef stroganoff soup, but also it does not have any mushrooms in it because the only person who eats them is Cami. I will eat them and won't make too much of a fuss, but I prefer to omit them if I am making something that calls for mushrooms. I love this soup because it's a lighter version of beef stroganoff and that's really nice sometimes when you don't want something to sit something so heavy.


Monday, October 28, 2019

Menu Plan Monday - October 28, 2019

Menu Plan Monday for Oct 28, 2019 // What I'm making this week #menuplanmonday #mealplan

How is it already Halloween?! I've gotten a little bit of changes coming in November where I will be doing more turkey than beef in an attempt to eat slightly healthier without having to change the way I meal plan too too much.

Monday - Sausage & Pea Pasta
Tuesday - Slow Cooker Cheesy Enchilada Quinoa
Wednesday - Healthy Sticky Cinnamon Roll Batter Oatmeal // Hashbrown Potato Soup
Thursday - Tuna Melts
Friday - Copycat McDonald's Burgers
Weekend - French Vanilla Cinnamon Rolls // Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf // Chocolate Pecan Pie

What are you having for dinner this week?
Feel free to leave a link to the recipe in the comments!

------------------------------

don't miss a thing. follow fantastical on:
facebook | pinterest | bloglovin

Friday, October 25, 2019

Amazing Pecan Cobbler

Pecan pie has nothing on this Amazing Pecan Cobbler!


I have never really liked pecan pie. I think it's way too much sugar and that's coming from someone who loves sweets. However, it's my husband's favorite pie and that means every once in a while I will make him one because I love him. Sometimes he'll make a compromise and we pick out a dessert that is similar to what he wants but something I will eat. Because he definitely won't eat a dessert all by himself! Our compromise last year for the holidays was this pecan cobbler. It has the flavors of pecan pie but without being so overly sugary. I personally love cobbler and it's one of my favorite types of dessert, so I knew I would love this recipe. We ended up loving it so much that I made it for Thanksgiving AND Christmas.