Tag Archives: fall

12 Lattes Worth Making this Morning

As if we needed another reason to love fall, the cool crisp weather is perfect for indulging in all kinds of delicious lattes. Whether you’re holding out for the peppermint mocha latte or you’re all about that basic PSL life, there’s no need to spend your bills on the ‘bucks anymore…craft your own lattes right from the comfort of your own kitchen with these 12 latte recipes worth making this morning!

latte-recipes

12 Lattes Worth Making this Morning

Salted Caramel Latte
salted caramel

Peanut Butter Cup Latte
peanut butter

Chai Tea Latte
chai

Pumpkin Spice Latte
pumpkin spice

French Press Latte
coffee

Vanilla Turmeric Latte
vanilla

Rose Lavender Honey Latte
rose lavender

Chamomile Tea Latte
chamemoile

Chestnut Latte
chestnut

Eggnog Latte
eggnot

Peppermint Mocha Latte
peppermint

Gingerbread Latte
gingerbread

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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12 Scent-sational Soaps for Fall

Fill your house (or at least your bathroom) with the scents of fall. With these handmade soap recipes, you can create a fall oasis right in the comfort of your own home.

Combining favorite fall ingredients, like oatmeal, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and coffee, these 12 handmade soaps also make wonderful hostess gifts for Thanksgiving or any other fall family gathering!

12 Scent-sational Soaps for Fall

soaps-for-fall

  1. DIY Pumpkin Soap
  2. Orange and Comfrey Shey Butter Soap
  3. Melt and Pour Cinnamon Soap
  4. Apple Cinnamon Soap
  5. Easy Pumpkin Spice Soap
  6. Apple Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Soap
  7. Melt and Pour Orange Soap
  8. Melt and Pour Coffee Soap
  9. Green Apple Soap
  10. Honey and Oatmeal Soap
  11. Orange Soap
  12. Oatmeal Raisin Soap

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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12 Garlands for the Whole Year

Be ready for every holiday and season with these 12 Garlands for the Whole Year. From New Year’s Day decor to garlands you can have up from fall through the winter, these seasonal decorations are great for beginning crafters and decorators!

12 Garlands for the Whole Year

garlands

January

january

February

february

March

march

April

april

May

may

June

june

July

july

August
This garland is made of pool noodles! What a fun idea! Dress up your pool party with this fun, waterproof decoration!

august

September
Dried apples make a festive garland you could use all the way through the fall and winter. Use it on your Thanksgiving table, too for a festive touch.

september

October

october

November

november

December
This one doesn’t have a tutorial, but it’s pretty easy to figure out! Some fake snow, some little fake trees, and a garland of plastic lights and you’re set to go!

december

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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15 Cran-tastic Cranberry Recipes

For as long as I can remember, my favorite part of our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals was almost always the cranberry sauce.  I don’t know why…probably because my dad made it from scratch and it just made everything taste 1,000 times better, but I’m a sucker for those little tart berries!

And though they pack a big punch, cranberries are actually delicious in basically any type of food.  Combine them with cream cheese, goat cheese, or orange zest for a zing of flavor…bake them into cakes, muffins, cookie bars, or add them to smoothies and oatmeal.

If you love cranberries, you’re going to love this collection of cran-tastic cranberry recipes.  From simple cakes and cheesecakes to adventurous pancakes, sweet rolls, donuts and even ICE CREAM, these recipes are sure to become holiday favorites!

15 Cran-tastic Cranberry Recipes

cranberry-recipes

  1. No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake
  2. Cranberry Shrub
  3. Bacon Cranberry Cheese Tartlets
  4. Cranberry Orange Dutch Baby
  5. Cranberry Cream Cheese Crumble Bars
  6. Orange Cranberry Relish
  7. Frozen Cranberry Spice Cocktail
  8. Cranberry White Chocolate Scones
  9. Chocolate Cranberry Cake
  10. Andouille Sausage Appetizer Bites
  11. Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
  12. Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls
  13. Cranberry Cherry Ribbon Cookies
  14. Cranberry Ice Cream
  15. Cranberry White Chocolate Donuts

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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Coconut Curry Chicken

When I go out for Thai food, there are two buzzwords that usually draw me in to trying a new dish…coconut and curry.

While I’m not a huge fan of spicy food, there are times when I just need a hot bowl of curry in my life…and even better when it’s seasoned with creamy coconut milk.

curry-chicken

This amazing chicken recipe is the best of both worlds.  It has delicious curry flavor and a creamy coconut tomato sauce, and the heat can be adjusted to your liking.  The recipe as is has practically no heat from spices, but you can easily add Thai chilies or chili paste to up the heat of this curry dish.

Serve it with rice or a big ol’ slice of naan for a delicious meal that’s perfect for this cool pre-winter weather!

Coconut Curry Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 1 package chicken tenders (about 6-8 tenders should work)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 1 onion, chopped and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 (14 oz.) can coconut milk
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions:

Cut chicken tenders into small bite-sized chunks.  Season with salt and pepper.  I also added a little curry powder to the chicken, just because I love it!

Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat.  Add oil and curry powder.  Heat curry oil for 1 minute.

Add chicken to oil, followed by onions.  Cook 7-10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle and the juices run clear.  Add chopped garlic.  Cook an additional 1-2 minutes.

ENJOY THE SMELLS.  This dish smells AMAZING as it cooks.

Add the coconut milk, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar.  Stir to combine.  Turn the heat down to medium low and cover the pot.  Let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30-40 minutes.

Serve as is or over a bowl of rice.

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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14 Ways to Hygge Your Thanksgiving

Last week we talked about how to embrace the Danish lifestyle of hygge.  Are you a convert yet?  If not, today’s post might do you in!

how-to-hygge-thanksgiving

Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are basically hygge by nature.  Comforting food, spending time with family and friends…all the things you probably love about Thanksgiving and Christmas are the very definition of hygge.

If you’re looking for creative and easy ways to bring hygge into your home this Thanksgiving, you don’t have to try very hard.  These 14 clever and rustic ideas are great for giving your home a comforting, warm, hygge feel that will make guests all the more thankful!

14 Ways to Hygge Your Thanksgiving

DIY Leaf Bowl

bowl

Printable Napkin Holder

napkin rings

Fabric Pumpkins

fabric pumpkins

Gold Painted Pumpkins

painted pumpkins

Heart-Stamped Leaves

leaf hearts

Copper Striped Candles

copper candles

Knit Coaster

knit coasters

Stuffed Fabric Pumpkins

hat pumpkins

Gold Dipped Candles

gold dipped candle

Leaf Place Holders

placecards

Gourd Candles

votives

Gratitude Sphere

thankful globe

Knit Leaves

knit leaves

Felt Garland

felt garland

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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Gnocchi with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

You want to know the secret to amazing Brussels Sprouts?  A CAST IRON SKILLET.

And bacon…bacon always…but cast iron for sure!

This Gnocchi with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts dish is so rich and creamy and perfect for a cool fall or winter night.  It truly can be made and ready to go in about 30 – 45 minutes, so it’s great for a last-minute weeknight dinner (and tastes even better for lunch!).

pasta-main

I used those little frozen Brussels Sprouts for this recipe because they’re much smaller than the fresh ones, but you can easily use fresh sprouts, too.  Just cut them into smaller pieces before putting them in the skillet.

Gnocchi with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

  • 1 package gnocchi, cooked and drained
  • 2 cups frozen Brussels sprouts, cut in half (you can also use fresh!)
  • 5 strips bacon, diced
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup white cheddar cheese, grated
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions:

Place bacon, onions, and Brussels sprouts in cast iron skillet and heat over medium low heat.  Continue cooking until onions turn translucent and sprouts start to caramelize.

Look at this deliciousness.

pasta2

Add garlic and continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes.

In a saucepan, add cheese, milk, butter, flour, and nutmeg with the cooked gnocchi and heat on medium low heat until all ingredients combine and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.  Fold in bacon-sprouts mix and serve!  Season with salt and pepper to taste and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Meanwhile, add cheese, milk, butter, flour & nutmeg to the pot with the cooked gnocchi and heat on medium-low until the cheese melts. Then fold bacon-veggie sauté mixture into the pasta. Enjoy!

pasta1

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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Hygge Week: Danish Curried Meatballs

Happy Hygge Week!

It’s time to get cozy…time to forget about the fact that it’s Monday and to just find your happy place.  It’s time to dig out your woolen socks, wrap yourself in that thick-knit blanket you bought on Etsy when those were a thing, and sip a hot cup of tea, coffee, milk chocolate or cider as you read or listen to your favorite jazz record.  It’s time to hygge.

I first heard about hygge on NPR when the author of The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking, was interviewed after the word “hygge” was named the Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2016.  He spent about 10 minutes trying to explain how to say “hygge” (it’s pronounced HOO-gah), then went into explaining the idea behind this Danish lifestyle.

Roughly translated to mean “cozy”, hygge is a lifestyle concept.  It’s about making your atmosphere cozy, about building in elements of togetherness, savoring simple pleasures, and encouraging yourself to embrace relaxation.

Think about the ultimate cozy afternoon…a storm brewing outside…a big blanket on your feet…a fire raging while you read your favorite murder mystery book…this is all hygge…and it’s amazing.

After hearing about hygge on NPR, I stored it away in my brain and meant to come back to it, but honestly totally and completely forgot about it…that is until one of my dear friends suggested I read this book called, The Little Book of Hygge and write about it on The Hobbee Hive…and here we are!  Thanks, Bridget!! ❤

My husband read The Little Book of Hygge first and was instantly hooked.  I read it after him and also fell in love with this lifestyle.  We immediately began incorporating hygge into our life…being more present at home, cooking delicious meals together while listening to jazz music, even removing the TV from our living room to encourage more discussion and togetherness with friends and family.

Hygge has become such an important part of our lives that I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you!  I wanted to wait until the fall/winter to make it easier to embrace hygge, as it is harder (but not impossible) to be hygge in the warmer months.

And there’s no better way to experience a full hygge experience than with a rich, delicious, stick-to-your-ribs comfort meal!

curried-meatballs

Pulled right from The Little Book of Hygge, this meatballs recipe is so delicious and will make your home smell AMAZING.  Turn on some Sarah Vaughn and let yourself embrace the night with this tasty and comforting hygge recipe!

Danish Curried Meatballs

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs or 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 egg
  • 2 finely chopped onions
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4½ lbs. ground pork
  • 4 cups beef stock

For Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 heaping tablespoons mild yellow curry powder
  • 1 large chopped onion
  • 1 large chopped leek
  • 5 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Place the breadcrumbs or flour with the egg, onions, garlic, salt and pepper in a big bowl and mix well. Add the pork, mix it again and leave in the fridge for one hour.

Using a spoon, form the mixture into the meatballs. Boil a pan of water, add the beef stock and the meatballs and let it simmer for five to ten minutes (depending on the size of the meatballs). Remove the meatballs from the liquid, but retain it.

Melt the butter in a pot, add the curry powder and let it brown for a couple of minutes.

Add the chopped onion and leek and let them, too, brown for a couple of minutes. Add flour, and mix well. Then add some of the cooking liquid, little by little, stirring until the sauce thickens. Add the cream and the meatballs and simmer for about 12 minutes.

meatballs1

Garnish with parsley and serve with rice, noodles, or garlic mashed potatoes, like I did!

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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12 Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes

When the wild fall winds blow and the rain pelts your window, there’s nothing better than sinking into your couch with a hot bowl of something tasty from the slow cooker.  I love using the slow cooker in the fall.  When I get home at 5:00 pm and it’s already pitch black outside, there’s absolutely no part of me that wants to cook dinner…so having dinner cook as I work throughout the day is the perfect solution!

This is a collection of some of my favorite slow cooker recipes.  Great for fall and winter, these slow cooker recipes are sure to become seasonal staples you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again!

12 Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes

slow-cooker-recipes

  1. Slow Cooker Steak Diane
  2. Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
  3. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
  4. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
  5. Slow Cooker Apple Rhubarb Crisp
  6. Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
  7. Slow Cooker 5-Cheese Macaroni
  8. Slow Cooker Ramen Bowl
  9. Slow Cooker Lasagna
  10. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
  11. Slow Cooker Thai Beef Stew
  12. Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Cider

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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7 Day of the Dead Crafts

YOU GUYS…have you seen this preview for Pixar’s new film, Coco?

DOESN’T THIS LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING?

Besides the fact that I love almost everything that Pixar does, I cannot wait to see their interpretation of this Dia de los Muertos story.  The color palette alone is reason enough to check this film out, but I have a feeling the music, the plot, and the overall message about death and remembrance will help this film go down in Pixar history as one of the greats…fingers crossed, at least!

day of the dead crafts

I’ve always been fascinated with the sugar skulls and other decorations that make Dia de los Muertos one of the most ironically colorful holidays in existence…and if you want to add a little color to your Halloween décor this year, be sure to check out these 7 sugar skull-inspired Day of the Dead Crafts!

7 Day of the Dead Crafts

Felt Day of the Dead Doll

felt-doll

Day of the Dead Garland

day of the dead garland

Sugar Skull Perler Beads

perler beads

Sugar Skull Painted Rocks

painted rocks

Day of the Dead Planters

day of the dead planters

Day of the Dead Lollipop Wrappers

day of the dead lollipop wrappers

DIY Painted Skull

diy painted skull

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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