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Disclosure: This site contains sponsored posts, affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale) and is part of the Amazon affiliate program, but all opinions are strictly my own.

Butterfinger Bites {Review}

January 13, 2014 by 2 Comments
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Raise your hand if Butterfingers are one of the first things you pull out of the Halloween candy bucket.  Guilty.  The crunchy, flaky, buttery candy coated in chocolate is just so hard to resist.  And then put them into bite form, and I’m gone.
IMG_9208
Nestle sent me a bag of their Butterfinger Bites to review and create a recipe from, so we hit up AllRecipes.com and got crackin.  Or choppin’, rather.  The first step is to chop up a handful of these goodies.  The recipe I used called for 36 pieces chopped, but I didn’t use nearly that many.  I’m thinking more like 10-12, and I think that was certainly plenty.
IMG_9211
The candy by itself is almost too good to chop.  I love the higher chocolate-to-candy ratio, and the crunch is just right on these little guys.  Its not too much candy that you get pieces lodged in your teeth.
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This recipe, Butterfinger® Cookies, is super fast to put together.  Its literally a 10 min dessert to put together.   Take note of the ‘ungreased’ cookie sheet.  I used a basic ice cream scoop to form these balls.
IMG_9221
I probably cooked mine for 16 minutes vs. the 10-12 minutes recommendation.  They come out super soft, but harden quickly, so eat warm!
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So were they any good?  Delicious.  One of my all-time favorites.  I think that because I used the bites instead of full-size Butterfingers, there was a higher chocolate-to-candy ratio.
…
Look for these in your grocery store and see all the fun recipes you can make with Butterfingers!
…
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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Brownie Brittle {Giveaway} – CLOSED

March 2, 2013 by
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Do you have friends on Facebook who post a picture of every meal, every snack, every drink that they consume?  Do you yourself post a picture of every meal, every snack, every drink that you consume??  This is one of my Facebook pet peeves (that is clearly a first-world problem), but I was intrigued when a couple of my friends posted about the same treats within days of each other, all toting these snacks as their favorite one.

These friends were going crazy for Brownie Brittle and said that they were inhaling bags of them and couldn’t get enough!  As a chocolate-lover, I felt it my duty to try them out and report back.  Basically, I’m inhaling bags of them and can’t get enough.  🙂

walnut

“Like many brownie aficionados, Sheila is particularly fond of the crispy edges. In fact, on many an afternoon she would walk through the bakery gathering the brittle batter off the sides of the sheet pans as the brownies cooled in their racks. It had that same rich chocolate taste, but with an amazing crunch. That started her wondering: How could she create a whole pan of crunchy edges? Well, lucky for us, she figured it out! Now you too can satisfy your sweet tooth in a snap with Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle!”

toffee

I generally am a middle-of-the-pan brownie lover, and I will always make cake-like brownies instead of gooey brownies that give me nightmares about eating undercooked batter, but the crispness of the Brownie Brittle is my favorite part!  The brownie flavor is one-of-a-kind and is strong without being overwhelming.  The Chocolate Chip has a smooth cocoa flavor the whole way through, and the Toffee Crunch gives a zing of great toffee flavor.

chocolate chip

Although I loved eating these straight from the bag while watching Horton Hears a Who for our Dr. Seuss family date night tonight, I’m really interested to try out some of the recipes posted on the Brownie Brittle website.  My favorite is the strawberries dipped in either white or dark chocolate and then rolled in Brownie Brittle pieces.  YUM!  These Brownie Brittle Butterfinger Cookies also look like they’re calling my name:

butterfinger

Brownie Brittle is offering a 4-pack of a variety of their flavors to one Dandy reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

** This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only.

** The winner of this giveaway will be posted no later than the evening of Saturday, March 9th, and emailed within 24 hours. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

** This posting and giveaway were sponsored by Brownie Brittle, but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Scrumptious Holiday Desserts {Recipes Guest Posting}

November 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Invite Guests to Linger Around the Holiday Table: 3 Decadent Christmas Desserts

Holiday meals give every home cook a perfect excuse to bring out the richest flavors and heavy, hearty foods that people love. Whether you’re planning a ham, turkey, or even a goose as the centerpiece for your Christmas dinner menu, you need a variety of other mouthwatering dishes that invite everyone to indulge and enjoy the season. Delicious Christmas desserts are an essential part of your holiday table.

As you select your Christmas dinner recipes, don’t forget to pick out a complementary dessert to finish off the evening. Choose one of these three options that all bring in the rich flavors of the season. Any of these sweet treats will ensure that everybody leaves the dinner table content, and you may even have people ask you to make the desserts again after the Christmas season is over!

Moist and Chocolate-y Mousse

Rich, decadent chocolate mousse gives guests a reason to savor every bite of this mouthwatering dessert. The whipped cream and raspberries on top speak to the colors of the season, and you can even add a sprig of fresh mint to each serving to bring in the green. Perhaps the best part is that the mousse simple to make, requiring only 15 minutes of active prep time, which gives you plenty of time to focus on other parts of your Christmas dinner menu.

What You Need

  • 1-1/2 cups fat-free milk, divided

  • 2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

  • 1 pkg. chocolate instant pudding

  • 2 cups thawed whipped topping, divided

  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Make It

  • MICROWAVE 1 cup milk and chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min.; whisk until chocolate is melted. Add remaining milk and dry pudding mix; beat 2 min. Refrigerate 20 min.

  • WHISK in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping; spoon into 6 dessert dishes.

  • TOP with remaining whipped topping and berries.

Cranberry and Orange Trifle

Get out your best trifle bowl for one of the most stunning Christmas desserts you can make. It’s even pretty enough to take center stage on your holiday table. The bright flavors of cranberry and oranges mix with dense, buttery pound cake and rich vanilla pudding for a mouthwatering dessert to end your holiday meal. If you don’t have a trifle bowl, consider making individual trifles in dessert cups instead.

What You Need

  • 2 cups boiling water

  • 1 pkg. (0.6 oz.) cranberry flavor gelatin

  • 1 cup cold water

  • 2 pkg. (1 oz. each) vanilla flavor instant pudding

  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

  • 2 cups cold milk

  • 1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed

  • 1 pkg. (13.6 oz.) prepared fat-free pound cake, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained

Make It

  • ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Pour into 13×9-inch pan. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

  • BEAT pudding mixes, cinnamon and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Let stand 5 min. or until thickened. Stir in whipped topping.

  • REMOVE 1 cup gelatin cubes; set aside. Layer half each of the remaining gelatin cubes, cake cubes, oranges and pudding in 3-qt. serving bowl. Repeat layers; top with reserved gelatin cubes. Refrigerate 1 hour.

White Chocolate-Mint Cheesecake

Candy canes aren’t just for kids, and this easy Christmas dessert flawlessly incorporates the flavor of the season into a moist and rich cheesecake. You’ll have guests savoring every creamy bite and gathering graham cracker crust crumbs from every corner of their dessert plates. Make the cheesecake earlier in the day, or even the day before, to give you plenty of time to focus on your Christmas side dishes and main course.

What You Need

  • 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

  • 3 Tbsp. sugar

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

  • 4 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 4 squares white chocolate, melted

  • 4 eggs

  • 1 cup thawed whipped topping

  • 16 miniature candy canes

Make It

  • HEAT oven to 325°F.

  • LINE 13×9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Mix graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 min.

  • BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and extract in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream and chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

  • BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve. Top each piece with a dollop of whipped topping and candy cane.

Jennifer Williams works part-time as a bank teller. The remaining hours of her week are consumed by cooking, reading recipes, writing recipes, spending time with her daughters and – though not often enough – running the trails in a nearby park.

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{Guest Posting} Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

December 31, 2010 by 1 Comment
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Happy New Year’s Eve from Dandy Giveaway!  Can you believe that tomorrow it will be 2011?  Are you ready for it?  Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?  One of my big ones for this next year is to get more exercise and continue on my weight loss path.  Here’s a little tidbit that you didn’t know about the Tara, because I’ve yet to disclose this information on here…  :)   It’s actually my eleventh week on Weight Watchers and so far I’ve lost 22 lbs!  (Gasp I know!)  I’d be happy with losing just 10-15 more.  Then of course I plan on eating healthy and working out to maintain.  That all being said I’m really excited this week to feature Kendra from The Things I Love, because she is sharing a healthy breakfast option!  So welcome back Kendra!
 
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
This is the breakfast I ate everyday while I was on my diet. I actually still eat it every day!
I start out with 3 T oat bran and put steaming hot water on it until it is mushy like oatmeal. Then I add 1tsp butter. After that I measure out 8 oz {1 cup} plain yogurt, and put that on top. After that I mix in 1 packet of Stevia {0 calorie Sweetener} Then I add 8 oz of what ever fruit I want. Most mornings it’s a banana and frozen Costco blueberries, but lately I have been getting a lot of fresh produce. Some of my favorite things to add are blackberries, fresh strawberries, peaches and mangoes. It is a very filling breakfast, and I NEVER get sick of it!!
Since going off the diet if I don’t feel like oat bran I will do a 1/4 cup of granola
Yogurt is so good for you. Go hereand read about the benefit that it has for our bodies! I usually buy Mountain High or Cascadean farms plain yogurt at the health food store. If I buy flavored yogurt I try to steer away from light yogurt. It is usually sweetened with Aspartame, which is not very good for you. I have heard a lot of good stuff about Greek yogurt, but I haven’t tried it yet, but I will! I have also made my own yogurt but I will save that for another post!!
Have a wonderful day!!
 
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{recipe} In case you’re supposed to bring a treat tonight. And in case you procrastinated.

October 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Here’s a quick little number that you can totally pull out of your pantry {especially if you’ve already bought your Halloween candy} and your friends will marvel about your superstar treats. Whenever we go to a gathering, I am generally asked to bring a dessert — I guess that’s all I’m good for, huh?  I never get asked to bring a main dish — I like treats, ok?  Don’t judge me.  And because of my own craziness, I try to avoid repeats — so last week I found myself with 2 hours till departure time and still no treat.  I dug around my cupboards and came up with Butterfinger Fudge. 

You will need:

One pound of chocolate chips {equal to about 3 cups}

One 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

4 tbsp of real butter {1/2 a stick}

One bag of fun size Butterfinger {or any other candy bar you like/have on hand}

To make Butterfinger Fudge:

{1}melt butter, chocolate chips and stir in condensed milk

{2} crush candy bars — I used about 15; you can do more or less

{3} remove from heat, stir in candy

{4} pour into 8 x8 glass dish.  Quick tip: criss cross two pieces of parchment paper, leaving ends to overlap sides of dish.  This makes it easy to pop the entire square of fudge out and cut into perfect little squares.

{5} chill.  One hour is probably a minimum, 2-3 is better.

Enjoy!  For some reason people think fudge is tricky — it’s not.  Razzle dazzle your friends and family.

{I took this picture with my phone — sorry.  But in real life, it looks gooooood.}

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{recipe} The 5-10 Fajitas

October 27, 2010 by 2 Comments
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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I like to have dinner for my family on the table at dinner time.  So I make dinner for them every night -  a whole meal, with a main course, with a salad and vegetables on the side and even dessert.  NOT (somewhere my husband is laughing).  Truth be told, I’m the queen of “it’s 5:30 so what can I wrassle out of the fridge that could pass off as dinner?”  Sometimes it’s eggs.  Sometimes it’s pancakes.  But I do have a few meals in my pocket that I can usually come up with from whatever I have at home, or would require only one or two items a the store.  A family favorite is fajitas.  And even better — these are the  laziest quickest fajitas you’ll find around.   You’ll see why I call them the “5-10 Fajitas”:

You will need:

  •  Tortillas
  • Green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers — pick one or any combination, whatever you’ve got on hand
  • Onions — purple or yellow, whatever you’ve got
  • mushrooms — if your family likes ’em, if you have ’em
  • A bag of pre-cooked and seasoned fajita meat – I buy this at Kroger in the area by the hot dogs and lunch meat

Your first 5 minutes:

  • turn on your BBQ
  • prep by tearing 2 large rectangles of tin foil and lay flat on your counter, spray with cooking spray
  • slice up your veggies lengthwise
  • toss all your veggies into one tin foil and close it up, envelope-style
  • bust open that bag of pre-cooked fajita meat and put it  in your other tin foil, fold it up envelope-style

And then your 10 minutes:

  • place both tin foil envelopes onto your BBQ
  • call a friend, push your kids on the swing, look for ladybugs outside — however you want to kill the next 4 and 1/2 minutes
  • if you want, turn the envelopes over once or twice in that time
  • remove from BBQ – somewhere between 7 and 10 minutes is generally all it takes to heat the veggies and meat through (remember you are using pre-cooked meat, so it’s not a safety issue; you are simply re-heating now) 
  • get out your tortillas, sour cream, salsa, cheese — whatever you like, whatever you’ve got!
  • fill up your tortillas
  • feed your family a delicious, healthy and homemade dinner!

Hope you like ’em — what can you come up with in 15 minutes or less? Seriously, leave a comment and tell me — I’m always on the hunt for great quick dinners.

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{recipe} Donut Muffins from Our Family Treat

September 20, 2010 by 12 Comments
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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We are so excited to host a guest post from Brooks and Lindsay – rockstars in the kitchen!

Hi! Our names our Brooks and Lindsay. We blog over at Our Family Treat. It is a “food and fun blog” done by the two of us. Brooks is a sales manager full time, a part time student, and a full time dad. Brooks has family down south and spent two years in Italy, so he has a large culinary background. I (Lindsay) am a full time mom to three adorable kids. I also run an etsy shop, The Ciao Bella  Boutique, on the side, which keeps me busy! I started cooking when I was 8, and has become one of my favorite things to do. Not only is it healthier to eat at home but it brings great memories!

Our Family Treat is inspired by what sometimes is the only time we have together…. kitchen time.  Our recipes are mostly easy, always delicious, and provide us with plenty of memories that will last a lifetime. We have had so much fun sharing our ideas, that we have even started doing cooking classes at a local grocery store, and have even been on a local television show numerous times cooking.  We have so many recipes it is hard to pick a favorite. This Donut Muffin recipe has got to be our newest favorite. The cinnamon and sugar coating makes this muffin complete. We dare you to eat just one!

{Donut Muffins}

Makes 12 muffins
Ingredients:

1/3 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix together oil, sugar, egg and milk. Then add dry ingredients. Mix well. Grease muffin tin, and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes. While the muffins are baking mix together sugar and cinnamon in one bowl, and melt butter in another. When muffins are done cooking, remove from tin. Coat each muffin in butter and then in cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Enjoy! 

 

 

 Thank you so much to Our Family Treat for being our guest today — I know I’ll be trying a recipe of theirs or two (or three or ten).

I am a gal who loves any and all cobblers. All of them.   I am dying to make this Dutch Oven Peach & Mandarin Orange Cobbler.

Ummm, I think I could eat the entire bowl of this Gooey Popcorn.  By myself.  No, I’m positive that I could.

So be sure and stop by Our Family Treat to browse all of their deeeelicious recipes (and even a giveaway or two!)

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Country Bob’s ***ENDED***

March 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

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Ok so I’m not sure what part of the country you live in, but here in St. Louis it has been simply glorious outside! It’s just that time of the year… The flowers are blooming, the breeze is cool, but not too cold, and the sun is shining! Spring is here! Which means it’s also time to fire up the grill:
And have some yummy barbecue!
Recently one of the owners of Country Bob’s contacted me about doing a giveaway for them on Dandy Giveaway. I was excited to hear from them, because I actually know all about their great all purpose sauce! Country Bob’s all began in Centralia, IL…a town southeast of St. Louis. It was a family favorite in my home growing up and still is! We used it on burgers, chicken, and steak. It adds just the right amount of sweetness to the meal! When I left home I seriously went through Country Bob’s withdrawls. Yep it’s just that good! One day, after living in San Antonio for a few years, I was ecstatic to find Country Bob’s in the grocery isle!
Little did I know that I could have just ordered it online! Now that I’m back in St. Louis I’ve found that Country Bob’s is available where ever I shop. Which is a very good thing! I’m also glad that the owner sent me some bottles too! 🙂 Country Bob’s also has their very own brand of:
Seasoning Salt

Barbecue Sauce

Even an all purpose sauce that’s Spicy!
At Country Bob’s you can find cookbooks and gift packs:
Or apparel for the Country Bob’s fan!
So many options with Country Bob’s!
Two very lucky winners are going to get to try out some Country Bob’s for themselves: 2 bottles to be exact! That’s right 2 winners will be receiving 2 bottles each of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce! For the rest of you… ask for it at your store if it’s not already there! 🙂
***This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only***
There are 6 chances to win. Be sure and leave separate comments for each entry on this posting to enter. **If you qualify for all 6 chances then leave 6 separate comments**
Entry #1: Leave your name or email address in a comment.
Comment example, Dandy Smith
Entry #2: Become a follower of the Dandy Giveaway blog in the sidebar or if you are already a follower.
Comment example, Dandy Smith= blog follower
Entry #3: Know someone who loves to barbecue? Tell them about this giveaway and then tell us how you told!
Comment example, Dandy Smith=emailed, texted, and blogged about the giveaway
Entry #4: Become a fan of Country Bob’s on Facebook or if you are already a fan there.
Comment example, Dandy Smith=fan Country Bob’s on Facebook
Entry #5: Go take a look at some of the recipes on the Country Bob’s website and then tell us what sounds really yummy.
Comment example, Dandy Smith= Country Kabobs!
Entry #6: Follow Country Bob’s on Twitter or if you already follow there.
Comment example, Dandy Smith= Country Bob’s on Twitter
This giveaway will end tonight at 11:30pm EST. Be sure and check back tomorrow to see if you won!
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