White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

August 30, 2018August 29, 2018 / Jodi / 47 Comments

White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies.

Last weekend we went to a Hawaiian Lua Party and Pig Roast.

Hubby “signed me up” to bring a dessert.

I had fun searching for a new cookie creation that could tie into the theme.

I found a recipe at Delightfulemade that included coconut and macadamia nuts that I slightly adapted.

Not only did they suit the theme, they were DELISH!

Not wanting to go to the grocery store, I needed to improvise on white chocolate chips. I happened to have some White Chocolate Cupcake Hershey’s Kisses left over from something, so I chopped them up for the white chocolate chips. YUM!!!

Next time I make these, I might try toasting the coconut first to step it up even one more notch. (Let me know if you make and try toasting the coconut first!)

I know coconut is one of those things people typically LOVE or HATE.

Haters can hate, but lovers…. you’re gonna wanna make!

Here is the recipe:

White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

Servings: 5-6 dozen
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Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
2 8-oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
5 cups flour
2 1/2 – 3 cups chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips
2 cups sweetened, flaked coconut
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Directions:

Cream butter and cream cheese with electric mixer. Add sugars, and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and coconut extract mixing until combined.

Add salt and baking soda, followed by flour, mixing until combined. Add white chocolate, coconut and macadamia nuts to the batter, and mix until incorporated.

Chill dough for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Make golfball-sized balls of cookie dough. Place on baking stone or cookie sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven when beginning to turn golden brown. Press down on each cookie lightly to flatten. Cool for 10 minutes on baking stone before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Aloha!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

P.S. I am nuts about this adorable kitchen sign my DIL made for our McKinneyX2designs shop! Such a sweet gift for the bakers in your life!

Baked Brie with Candied Bacon

May 29, 2018May 28, 2018 / Jodi / 45 Comments

Baked Brie with Candied Bacon.

Need I say more?

Gooey, buttery, melted baked brie smothered with smokey bacon candied with brown sugar and maple syrup and balanced out with tangy rice vinegar, coarse black pepper and a few shakes of hot sauce.

This heavenly appetizer recipe really puts the crack in cracker.

If you are looking for the next must-have appetizer to make or take to a picnic or party, look no further. I can pretty much guarantee this will be a winner! It sure was with my family this past weekend.

Here is how I made it, adapted from a recipe found here.

Baked Brie with Candied Bacon

Ingredients:

8 oz wheel of brie cheese
8 slices thick bacon, diced
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 heaping Tbsp coarsely ground black pepper
4-5 drops Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (or your fave)
1 box water crackers (or your fave)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook diced bacon in a hot skillet until just crispy.

While bacon is cooking, stir together brown sugar, maple syrup, rice vinegar, black pepper and hot sauce in a small bowl.

Drain grease from bacon, and add sauce. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until thick and bubbly.

Place brie in small stoneware casserole or baking pan. Top with candied bacon. Bake 10 minutes or until brie is warm and gooey inside.

Allow to rest for 10 minutes or so. Serve with water crackers or your favorite cracker.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Merry Grinchmas Celebration

December 26, 2017December 25, 2017 / Jodi / 64 Comments

A Merry Grinchmas Celebration.

As I sit by the fire late Christmas evening – basking in the warmth and glow of a wonderful Christmas holiday spent over the past week or so with many of those I love most, I feel so grateful. The house is quiet, except for the dishwasher running, the fire crackling, and a holiday movie playing in the background.

I’m feeling peaceful and content.

There is nothing like the excitement leading up to Christmas, and I loved hosting three dinner parties three days in a row (and that’s not counting one the weekend before). But there is also something very special too about the days that follow Christmas….

The calm afterglow… The snuggling in… The nesting… Looking at pictures… Smiling at the memories.

Movies, books, leftovers, jammies…

Today, I want to share a fun party we had this past Saturday, the eve of Christmas eve, with our McHendy family.

My bestie, Jill and I decided we wanted to surprise our families with a theme, so we created a McHendy Grinchmas Celebration.

A Happy Whoville feast –

complete with Roast Beast (Beef Tenderloin),

Who Mash (Mashed Potatoes),

Grinch Greens (Sauteed Fresh Green Beans with garlic),

and Cindy Lou Who Salad (Crisp Greens, Tart Pomegranate Seeds, Crunchy Pecans, and Creamy Goat Cheese).

This feast was preceded by some fun appetizers earlier in the day, including Grinchy Green Deviled Eggs,

Grinch Santa Hats,

and a Tortilla Wrap Christmas Tree.

And it was followed by a tiered tray of Grinchmas Cookies,

and plenty of other sweet treats.

Each guest received a little favor bucket that included a green ornament with a tiny red heart and lime green and red candies,

as well as a Grinch beanie hat (which we all wore for a fun family photo – with the exception of hubby who wore a full furry Grinch onesie!)

The games planned took a different twist than intended, but ended up being just as fun!

There were sleigh rides and races,

I Spy the Who Hash,

and boxed games around the cleared dinner table.

Guests of honor

adorned the powder room and office doors.

And as we ate and played and talked and laughed and cried, we celebrated being family in every true, authentic sense of the word. And we reminded ourselves that “Merry Christmas doesn’t come from the store. Maybe Christmas perhaps is a little bit more.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Cheesy Bacon Ranch “Crack” Dip

November 25, 2017November 21, 2017 / Jodi / 43 Comments

Cheesy Bacon Ranch “Crack” Dip.

It’s party food time of year!

Time for dips and spreads, puffs and cups, hors d’oeuvres and crudites, balls and logs… Time for bits and bites in every color and shape and flavor.

When you are looking for an easy, crazy addictive, crowd-pleasing recipe, give this warm, cheesy, bacony, ranchy dip a go.

It’s sure to be a hit!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Crack Dip

Servings: a crowd
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Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese, softened (I used 1/3 Less Fat)
16 oz. sour cream (I used Light)
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb. bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (reserve a few for garnish)
2 Tbsp. (or one 1oz. envelope) Ranch Dressing mix

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients in bowl, reserving a bit of cheddar cheese and a few green onion slices for garnish.

Transfer dip to a pretty oven-proof serving bowl, fand back 20-25 minutes, uncovered until browned and bubbly.

Remove from oven, and immediately garnish with reserved shredded cheddar cheese and green onions.

Serve warm with tortilla chips, pretzel sticks, carrot or celery sticks, crackers, or your favorite dipper.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Wizard of Oz Party

November 5, 2017November 4, 2017 / Jodi / 86 Comments

A Wizard of Oz Party.

Yesterday, I shared a recipe for Butterscotch Haystacks that I mentioned I made for a Wizard of Oz Party. Today, I want to share some more of the super simple treats I prepared for our little group of 11 ADULTS who decided we wanted to watch the Wizard of Oz together.

I prepared a salami, cheese, and olive tray in the shape of the infamous Yellow Brick Road.

And oh what a joy it was to answer my cell phone at exactly the assigned start time of our little party to be asked to come outside…..

When I stepped out onto the porch in the dark and looked into the driveway, a group of seven silly, sweet friends had their arms linked together in a row and came skipping up to the porch singing, “We’re off to see the Wizard… the wonderful Wizard of Oz…” as if they were on the yellow brick road.

I knew we were in for a fun night! One friend dressed as a scarecrow and another in the “outfit” she wore when she saw the movie for the first time – jammies, a blanket, and pig tails!

We had Bugles “Tornadoes” to dip and munch….

along with Potato Sticks “Scarecrow Straw” and Cheese Curls “Lion Tails.”

There were Hershey’s Kisses “Tin Man Hats”

and bowls of Skittles and Dark Chocolate M&M’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

We gathered at the bar first for drinks and toasting to get the evening started, then made our plates and settled into comfy seats (some even on the floor) to watch the classic we had discussed weeks before talking about how scared, yet fascinated we were as children. (Notice even Charlie – peeking from front bottom right below – and his friend Gemma hunkered in.)

For almost two hours, we were mesmerized as if we were children, yet noticing so many more things as adults. We sang along and recited phrases. We laughed, we gasped, we recounted childhood memories…

It was a silly theme and reason to get together, yet somehow turned into a sincerely authentic experience…

Maybe I’m still on the Brene Brown buzz of vulnerability and courage to be oneself after reading her latest book, Braving the Wilderness, but I woke up the next morning (granted a bit fuzzy from a wee bit too much wine), but feeling completely joyous and connected and complete.

What would life be like without friends? I hope I never have to know.

And remember……….

“You’ve always had the power my dear. You just had to learn it yourself.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Butterscotch Haystacks

November 4, 2017November 2, 2017 / Jodi / 59 Comments

Butterscotch Haystacks

Butterscotch Haystacks.

It’s a cookie?
It’s a candy?
Not quite sure what you call it….
but it is a scrumptious little treat!

Does anyone remember these little gems from their childhood?

A simple mixture of crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and dry roasted peanuts make a treat that looks like a tiny little haystack and is just the right mixture of sweet and salty, crunchy and creamy.

I made these for a “Wizard of Oz” party, thinking they were just the thing to do with the leftover “straw” that fell out of Scarecrow.

There are a variety of ways people have made them through the generations…

With our without the peanuts… with or without the peanut butter.
Some add a bit of vegetable oil.
Some add a a mixture of chocolate and butterscotch chips.

How about you?

Here is how I made them.

And if you haven’t tried them, they are definitely worth a try! Super easy and super yummy!

Butterscotch Haystacks

Servings: approx. 3 dozen
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Ingredients:

1 12-oz. bag La Choy Chow Mein Noodles
2 11-oz bags Butterscotch Chips
3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts

Directions:

Melt butterscotch chips in a large microwavable bowl in microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds. Stir again. Add peanut butter. Microwave 30 more seconds, and stir well. At this point, mine is completely melted. Add 30 second increments if necessary according to your microwave’s power until all is melted and smooth. (If necessary, you can add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to create a smoother texture, but do not overcook or it will create a thick, gunky texture that will not work.)

Add bag of chow mein noodles and peanuts and stir gently until all noodles and peanuts are coated and ingredients are well combined.

Working relatively quickly before mixture cools, drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper or parchment paper. Allow to set for several hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or serve.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Brunch & Bubbly Bridal Shower

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017 / Jodi / 68 Comments

I had the joy and privilege of hosting a Brunch & Bubbly Bridal Shower for my bright and bubbly daughter-in-law to be this past weekend.

I had fun decorating and preparing for our girly party!

Thanks to Matron of Honor and beautiful sister, Laura, and loving, gentle mom, Pat for co-hosting with me.

(And a super special thanks to my BFF Jill for taking all of these photos as well as helping with anything else needed while I was busy hosting.)

Liz was surrounded by the love of her Mom and three sisters…

and there is another beautiful girl on the way to add to this gang!

First things first – the Bubbly!

and a toast to the bride-to-be.

Friends and family attended.

Families mingled meeting and getting to know each other…

and several generations shared in the joy and love.

New moms and great grandmoms…

and moms with babies on the way,

and moms who get to share ❤ .

Then there was brunch.

Where we served a buffet of Chicken Salad on Sliced Crostini, Crispy Veggies with Hummus, Fresh Fruit and Honey Walnut Brie, along with…

Mini BLTs served on Heart-shaped biscuits,

Loaded Deviled Eggs,

and a Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Candied Pecans.

Aunt Kathy made the MOST amazing cupcakes I’ve every tasted! Strawberry Lemon with Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting,

My friend, Pam who makes the most amazingly beautiful sugar cookiedoodles, made these gorgeous and delicious treats that we served along with my cookie pops.

The guests brought and shared amazing gifts for our newlyweds to be.

We played a few games. Pretty simple ones really… Like guess the number of corks and gave away prizes when a timer went off during gift opening.

Some sweet and funny stories were shared when guests filled out a “Mad Lib” story…

and then chose to share with the group.

And then the groom-to-be (my son, Nick) arrived with flowers, smiles, and a tight hug.

Favors of Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub were given to guests as a thank you before leaving.

A kiss and an “I love you” at the end of the day, but the beginning of a lifetime. (with a little bit of sweet granddaughter drool on my shoulder)

It was a great day to celebrate a great young lady!

Love you Liz!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Thanks Jill!

Party Supplies:
Toasting Flutes for Mimosa Bar
Juice Carafes for Mimosa Bar
Tissue Paper Tassel Garland
Tissue Paper Pom Poms
Tissue Paper Honeycomb Balls

Cake Pops! Tips for Beginners

March 8, 2017March 7, 2017 / Jodi / 58 Comments

Cake Pops! Tips for Beginners.

I adore cake pops!

Because… really… what could be better than a bite-sized morsel of cake dunked in chocolate? And then maybe adorned with sprinkles?!

They are delicious and pretty and cute; but until this past weekend, I had never tried to make them.

I wanted to practice for an upcoming event or two, so I read and researched and asked around and gave them a whirl this past weekend.

They are really not that difficult, but there are a few tricks to success. I thought I would provide a few tips that helped make mine turn out delicious and beautiful! At least that is the consensus I got from the party I took them to as “practice” pops.

To make cake pops, bake a cake mix – whatever you favorite flavor is. Then follow these tips for success.

Freeze cake – even if overnight. It allows you to plan ahead and also adds to the moisture of the cake. Simply place baked cake – crumbled, broken pieces, or all in one piece – in a large Ziploc bag in the freezer.
1 boxed cake mix makes approximately 3 dozen cake balls.
When ready to assemble, defrost the cake and crumble to fine crumbs with your hands in the bag.
Add only enough frosting (ready made works perfect) to add a bit of “glue” for forming and holding balls together. I used 1 heaping tablespoon – that is it! This allows your cake balls to truly taste like cake.
Scoop crumb mixture with a small scoop to form uniformly-sized 1 inch balls. Then roll with your hands to round ball.
Melt chocolate candy melts in microwave in a deep cup that is not too wide to allow for ease of dipping. It only takes 1 1/2 – 2 minutes.
Dip tips of sticks into candy melts and insert into cake balls.
Refrigerate or freeze for at least a half hour or several hours.
Remelt chocolate at 30 second intervals until desired consistency.
Dip cake balls on sticks into chocolate candy melts. Allow excess to drain.
Place on parchment paper if using with stick up, and sprinkle with jimmies or edible glitter.
Stick into styrofoam if using cake ball up and decorate as desired.
Make ahead up to 3-5 days if needed – no more than 7 days. (there are horror stories of moldy cake balls made too far ahead of time)
I found this site – Heavenly Cake Pops – to be extremely informative.

Have fun and enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Valentine Couples Camp Party

February 13, 2017February 12, 2017 / Jodi / 55 Comments

This past weekend, a gang of our bestie couple friends got together to celebrate love and friendship.

My McHendy “sister,’ Jill, and I collaborated to plan what we called “Valentine’s Couple Camp.”

Those of you that have been hanging around here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween for a while might remember our first Couple Camp Weekend Retreat that I posted about here.

Unfortunately, we missed a year… I guess weddings, babies, life… got us too involved. But when Jill called a couple weeks ago and said we should do another Couples Camp for Valentine’s Day, I was all in and offered to host at our home.

And so we did.

Bubby and Glenn were assigned appetizers, and boy did they rock the theme! Check out all the ways you can make food into hearts!

I created a special “Love Potion” cocktail to toast the beginning of our time together. I mixed 1/3 Grand Marnier Signature Collection No. 2 Raspberry Peach with 2/3 champagne and garnished with a fresh red raspberry. Yum!

Jill is our illustrious “camp” activities director. After a silly group photo,

Jill and I sent the rest of the gang to the bar, while we laid out the all the materials for everyone to create their own “Love Shack” out of chocolate graham crackers and candy (a Valentine gingerbread house of sorts). Everyone was given a flag to name their Love Shack and 20 pennies to distribute into shot glasses after everyone finished and presented their masterpieces to vote on the best.

We had some serious creativity going on. Check it out!

Hubby made his into “Camp Happy Beginning” reminiscent of the early days of love and not having much but feeling like everything is a rainbow …. or something like that… if you can imagine…

Mary made hers into “Mary’s Cozy Cottage” decorated with a comfy couch and chairs and a big colorful outdoor patio…

I was much busier laughing and taking pictures under the guise of “hosting” to focus too much on mine, but came up with this pretty lame “McKinney Love Shack.”

Bubby lovingly created the “McKinney B&B.”

and her Glenn created “Glen’s Gang Bang Getaway.” No explanation here. You can use your own imagination.

Jim cracked us up with his creation. Simple, but with a funny and politically-inspired statement. His “American” themed love shack had three characters involved… “I’m a Russian” on his way to the love shack, “Himalyan” in the love shack, and “He’s a Finnish” leaving the love shack…

Jill’s was a fabulous “Jill’s Sweet Shack” with a candy paved lane.

But Todd stole the show with his outhouse-themed love shack complete with cut out crescent moon doors.

We assigned Mary the entree knowing she would make all of our tummies happy, and she did not disappoint! In fact, we were so into her amazing stuffed shells, meatballs and spare ribs in homemade Italian sauce, I forgot to photograph it! Thankfully, she left a few for us to enjoy for dinner the next day, so I took a quick photo of our leftovers. Which, by the way, tasted just as magnificent! Thanks Mar!

I made a simple salad and sliced up some fresh bread to accompany Mary’s entree,

and we gave another toast to friendship!

I had fun preparing for our guests by tidying up the guest rooms,

including a quick convert of the nursery with an air mattress bed,

and placing heart-shaped Dove Red Velvet Chocolates on pillows.

I set the table with red plates and chocolate heart treats…

and even little heart shaped spoons!

Aren’t they adorable!

I was assigned dessert, so a chocolating I went. You already know about my chocolate-dipped wafer cookies and Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies which I had out, but I also made a bouquet of chocolate-dipped strawberries,

and the most amazing and simple No Bake Chocolate Ganache Cookie Crust Tart I saw on another blog.

I’ll share this recipe soon. It is seriously amazing and uses only a couple simple ingredients!

We talked the guys into playing Couples Scattegories and had fun staying up late drinking and talking until later than any of us ever stay up.

Hubby made omelets to order the next morning after we all awoke… later than we usually get up.

What a joy to have such wonderful friends to share time and our home with!

And quoting Jill from last time, I once again share:

“I recommend that all of our friends coordinate a Couple’s Camp weekend. Great fun. Lots of laughter. Many life stories shared. And the realization that life long friends and connections are priceless! So go make some memories!”

Thanks for the memories dear friends!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ‘n Cheese

December 27, 2016December 26, 2016 / Jodi / 32 Comments

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ‘n Cheese….

You want to get this in your belly! No joke!

Who can resist a yummy, cheesy, creamy, comforting homemade macaroni and cheese?

But add bacon….. and some sweet, buttery caramelized onions…. and oh dear lord!

Mix up you favorite cheeses. I used extra sharp cheddar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and fresh Mozarella. Tangy…. Salty and Nutty…. and Dreamy Creamy…. all in one dish!

I made this dish (adapted from Ree Drummond’s Fancy Macaroni) kind of on a whim at the last minute to serve with our Prime Rib Christmas Eve family dinner. I was going to roast some potatoes, but then decided to kick it up a notch! And boy am I glad I did. What a delicious hit this was!

Make this for your next special occasion. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

You can thank me later when everyone is ooooing and ahhhing and singing your praises.

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac 'n Cheese

Servings: a crowd
Print

Ingredients:

1 lb. Rotini or Macaroni or your favorite pasta shape
8 Tbsp Butter (1 stick)
2 Large Sweet Onions, cut in half & sliced thin
10-12 slices Bacon
1 Tbsp Bacon Grease (reserved)
1/4 cup Flour
2 cups Milk
1/2 cup Half and Half
2 Egg Yolks, beaten
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 cup Grated Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
6 oz Fresh Mozarella Cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook macaroni for 2 mins. less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Fry bacon until slightly crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve 1 Tbsp. grease.

Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a skillet. Saute onions for 10-12 mins. or until golden brown. Set aside.

Melt remaining 4 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. bacon grease in a large pot. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 min. Pour in milk and half & half, then cook for 3-5 mins.or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Beat egg yolks and drizzle 1/4 cup hot mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into sauce and cook for another min.

Add all cheeses and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings. Add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni, and stir to coat.

Pour into a baking dish and bake for 20 mins.

This decadent dish tastes great with with red meat and/or a green salad!

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

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the creative life in between

cherishing the moments and exploring my passion for creativity… through art, photography, food, and writing

party

White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

Baked Brie with Candied Bacon

Baked Brie with Candied Bacon

A Merry Grinchmas Celebration

Cheesy Bacon Ranch “Crack” Dip

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Crack Dip

A Wizard of Oz Party

A Brunch & Bubbly Bridal Shower

Cake Pops! Tips for Beginners

A Valentine Couples Camp Party

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ‘n Cheese

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac 'n Cheese

White Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

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Baked Brie with Candied Bacon

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Cheesy Bacon Ranch Crack Dip

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Butterscotch Haystacks

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Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac 'n Cheese

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