#Frozen Treats with Mini Ice Cubes | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

neurodiverse-adulthood · 3 years ago

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Forbidden snacks unforbidden

Disclaimer: do not eat anything you are allergic, intolerant, or sensitive to! Moderate your diet according to your needs. Seek a dietician's help with this if needed.

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* = only taste safe-- not meant to be eaten straight but eating a little won't kill you

Bar soap: avocado, banana, mango, dried papaya, peach, pear, ice, cereal, cheese, peanut butter oat balls, giant pretzels/pretzel bites/pretzel bun, crackers, steamed rice cake, butter, flan, cake, chocolate bar/melts, candy melts, gum*, candy corn, freeze dried ice cream, popsicles, taffy, Charleston Chews, tootsie rolls, fondant, valentine heart candies, Rice Krispie treats

Bone, teeth, metal: white foods, silver foods, bone/tooth-shaped foods, ice, raw baby carrots, almonds, walnuts, other nuts, frozen fruit/vegetables, ribs, chicken legs, bone-in wings, T-bone steak, uncooked pasta, edible tree bark, edible skins/shells of some foods, pretzel sticks, cereal, cookie straws, candy canes, valentine message heart candies, Takis, hard candy, snowcone, suckers/lollipops, chocolate coins, Whoppers candy, frozen chocolate/candy, popsicles

Chalk, coal, makeup: Parmesan cheese, spices, seasoning, puffed rice cakes, cereal, powdered/icing sugar, edible sands, drink flavoring, ground up crackers/chips/cookies, Whoppers candy, smarties, sweet tarts, mints, freeze dried ice cream, sprinkles, fun dip, pixie stix, cotton candy, valentine message heart candies, mints

Cosmetic creams, whipped soap, spackle: yogurt, peanut/etc butter, cream cheese, sour cream, hummus, condiments, butter, thick drink, Nutella, frosting, whipped cream, ice cream, pudding, candy gel, marshmallow fluff

Dice, marbles, coins, trinkets: ice, polyhedral candy, frozen peas, frozen fruit, banana chips, other dried fruit, Kix/Cap'n Crunch/Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, other cereal, cheese cubes, snacks shaped like trinkets, mini pepperonis, seed beads, jawbreakers, Whoppers candy, jolly ranchers, candy shaped like trinkets, chocolate chips, Tic Tacs, mints, decorative sugar pieces, valentine message heart candies, sugar cubes, candy coins, candy legos/bricks, gum*

Dog/pet treats: foods cut into bone/fish/etc shapes, banana, blueberries, sweet potato, dried fruit, deli meat, fish, red meat, bacon, pepperoni, poultry, bread, pasta, crackers, Cheerios, Rice Krispies cereal, other cereal, human-safe dog treats, cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter oat balls, granola, jerky, Slim Jims, cooked bugs or worms, mints, gummies, sprinkles

Dough, clay, puddy: mashed potatoes, sweet potato, avocado, peanut/other butter, peanut butter oat balls, noodles/pasta, gravy, pancakes, fondant, yogurt dough, Kool-Aid dough, cocoa dough, peeps playdoh, Nutella dough, peanut/etc butter dough, warm chocolate, warm candy corn, taffy, egg-free cookie dough, ice cream, thick frosting, Charleston Chews, caramels, marshmallow fluff

Fabric, foam/sponge, slowrise squishies: peach, apple, pear, cucumber, watermelon, dried fruit, puffed rice cakes, Chinese steamed rice cakes, bread, pita bread, muffins, shredded jerky, giant soft pretzels, Rice Krispies, cake, donuts, pancakes/waffles, fondant, soft cookies, freeze dried ice cream, pop tart bites, cotton candy, marshmallow, dried apple

Glitter: cake luster dust, crushed/ground ice, warmed sugar, crushed/ground hard candy

Glitter bottles, potions, glowsticks, cleaning products: cake luster dust in any beverage, edible fluorescent colorant in any beverage, citrus juice, water with lemon, water with orange, water with grapefruit, water with other citrus fruit, dyed beverage

Inedible plants and flowers: lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, peas, carrots, corn, pumpkin, other veggies, watermelon, peach, apple, mango, banana, dragonfruit, pineapple, grapes, cherries, strawberries, other fruits, dried fruits, skins of some fruits/vegetables, mushrooms, seeds, nuts, herbal tea, dandelions, other edible flowers, herb seasonings, edible tree bark, breath strips, edible rice paper, edible sugar paper, edible money wafers, edible grass candy, cotton candy, gushers, wax bottle soda candies, decorative sugar pieces, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, shredded gum*

Jelly soap: peaches, other fruit, dried papaya, pumpkin, jelly/jam, gummies, Jell-O, agar, candy gel, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, gum*, edible/xylitol-based toothpaste*

Lava, liquid soap, molten glass, wax: hot drink, thick drink, soup, oatmeal, sauce, gravy, dip, dipping/nacho cheese, honey, nectar, jelly/jam, condiments, beverage flavoring syrups, soda/juice, syrup, pudding, caramel, melted candy/chocolate, melted butter, candy gel, edible/xylitol-based toothpaste*, fondant, milk duds, gum*

Lipstick, candles: cheese, Baby Bell cheese, butter, avocado, mango, dried mango, dried papaya, banana, raisins, pepperoni, pasta, gummies, wax bottle soda candies, candy melts, chocolate melts, frozen pudding, fruit rollups, gushers, marshmallow, fondant, starburst, candy corn, pudding, taffy, tootsie rolls, milk duds, candy buttons, jolly ranchers, Charleston Chews, candy gel, valentine message heart candies, caramels, gum*

Mochi squishies, silicone/rubber, fungi: peaches, pears, avocado, dried mango, dried papaya, mushrooms, eggs, beans, tongue, fish, medium red meat, other meats, dried fruit, noodles/pasta, dumplings, cheese, yogurt, Chinese steamed rice cakes, butter, seed beads, cheese curds, gummies, caramels, taffy, tootsie rolls, marshmallow, milk duds, Charleston Chews, candy gel, agar, gum*

Orbeez, animal eggs: eggs, peas, blueberries, grapes, baby tomatoes, peaches, acini di pepe/pastina, boba, dippin dots, gummies, Jell-O, agar, seed beads, mini marshmallows, gumballs*, candy buttons, milk duds, Kix cereal

Paint, ink, makeup, glue: soup, sauces, gravy, dip, peanut/etc butter, honey, nectar, syrup, caramel, condiments, cream cheese, sour cream, frosting, icing, whipped cream, ice cream, dyed beverage, pie filling, pudding, candy gel, melted candy/chocolate

Paper and cardboard: skins of some fruits/vegetables, iceberg lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, puffed rice cakes, Kix, Cheerios, Rice Krispies cereal, other cereal, breath strips, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, crackers, ice cream cone, pizzelle, fruit rollups, fruit by the foot, frozen chocolate, frozen pudding, freeze dried ice cream

Pills and medicine: ice, beans, nuts, seeds, frozen peas, frozen blueberries, corn, acini di pepe/pastina, rice, cereal, soda/juice, dyed beverage, empty gelatin/edible capsules, jellybeans, jolly ranchers, Tic Tacs, mints, Mike n Ike's, sweet tarts pills, nerds, gushers, smarties, sweet tarts, valentine message heart candies, sprinkles, small hard candies, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, fake blood capsules*

Pottery, ceramic, porcelain: nuts, seeds, ice, dried fruit, avocado, banana, cheese, puffed rice cakes, granola, cereal, pancakes/waffles, bread, crackers, pita chips, pita bread, uncooked pasta, uncooked Ramen, Ice Chips, ice cream cone, pizzelle, frozen chocolate/candy, frozen pudding, freeze dried ice cream, popsicles, cookies, Whoppers candy, smarties, sweet tarts, mints, chocolate bar, valentine message heart candies, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, hard candy, mints

Rocks, crystals, beads: nuts, seeds, ice, table salt, beans, tea, jerky bites, meat chunks, acini di pepe/pastina, couscous, cheese cubes, uncooked Ramen, popcorn, popsicles, crystallized honey, jelly/jam, frozen honey/syrup, dyed beverage, boba, mints, crushed crackers/cookies, chocolate rocks, crystal sticks, freeze dried ice cream, jawbreakers/gobstoppers, nerds, hard candy, decorative sugar pieces, Cheerios, other cereal, sprinkles, jellybeans, chocolate chips, candy legos/bricks, ring pops, dippin dots, crystal/rock sugar, sugar cubes, frozen chocolate/candy, jolly ranchers, suckers/lollipops, ring pops, gum*, Whoppers candy, dippin dots, valentine message heart candies, seed beads, candy necklace, candy bracelet, mints

Sand and soil: couscous, quinoa, rice, poppy seeds, other small seeds, Parmesan cheese, spices, seasoning, edible fake dirt, ground up cereal, ground up crackers/chips/cookies, brown sugar sand, flour sand*, Kool-Aid sand, crumbled cake, sugar, powdered/icing sugar, pixie stix, fun dip, ground up hard candy, crushed Whoppers candy

Sea glass, plastic, resin/rosin: ice, Ice Chips, uncooked pasta, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, watermelon, chips, pita chips, crackers, sorbetto/flavored ice, frozen honey/syrup, caramels, popsicles, breath strips, mints, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, jolly ranchers, fruit rollups, fruit by the foot, crystal sticks, crystal/rock sugar, fondant, clear suckers/lollipops, clear hard candy, crushed hard candy, mints

Slime, puddy: thick soup, thick beverage, melted/liquid cheese, sauce, gravy, jelly/jam, dip, yogurt, edible oobleck*, fondant, candy gel, Jell-O, Nutella slime, pudding slime, pizza slime, seed slime, syrup slime, psyllium slime*, starburst slime, chocolate slime (1-2-3-4-5), bubblegum slime, Kool-aid slime, milk slime, taffy, caramels, egg-free cookie dough, gum*, edible doughs, marshmallow fluff

Tide pods: seaweed water pouch/bubble/bottle, baby tomatoes, peas, grapes, blueberries, pb&j, Uncrustables, gushers, pop tart bites, gummies, mentos, wax bottle soda candies, jelly donut holes, Reese's, Jell-O, tide pod jello shots, tootsie pops, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*

Wood: ice, uncooked pasta, edible tree bark, edible tree bark tea, pine/tree tea, puffed rice cakes, granola, almonds, pine/tree nuts, other nuts, seeds, sunflower seeds with shell, poppy seeds, dried fruit, jerky, uncooked pasta, uncooked Ramen, chips, crackers, waffle cone, Kit Kat's, Twix, pretzels, pretzel chips, cookie straws, ochre, canned bamboo, canned sugar cane

Yarn, string, wire: spaghetti squash, pumpkin, shredded fruits/vegetables, grated fruits/vegetables, banana, pulled pork, celery, honey sticks, string cheese, shredded/grated cheese, noodles/pasta, Ramen, mozzarella sticks, jerky, hot pizza, shredded gum*, Spaghettieis, sour straws, nerds ropes, gummy worms, cotton candy, fruit by the foot, fondant strands, edible candy grass

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xbreezymeadowsx · 4 years ago

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A Telford Tea Party

A/N: Pure, unadulterated FLUFF. Inspired by my favorite thirsty Flanagan obsessed girls and what’s said in our chat.

Chibs x Reader

This has not been proofread and therefore may contain spelling or grammatical errors. Oops.

TW: Nothing should be triggering unless you hate daddies having tea parties with their little girls.

PREPARE YOUR OVARIES!

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(this gif just seemed appropriate somehow. Not mine, credit to the maker.)

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Dada... Chibs grumbled burying his face in his pillow. "Dada." He cracked one eye open and squint, scanning the bits of room he could see when a little face was suddenly taking up his whole view. "Daddy." The four year old girl said firmly, letting him know he wouldn't be going back to sleep. He smiled sleepily and moved an arm from under his pillow to tuck some of her silky brunette hair from her face. "Mornin', Tilly." He graveled. Her hazel eyes lit up and she giggled. "Goo monin'!" She smiled brightly. Chibs groaned as he rolled to his back again and stretched as his daughter knelt on the bed, the empty half of the bed. "Where's yer Ma?" He asked with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Da movie place." She told him. "Aun'ie Lyla as'ed her fo' sum'tin. Baby Mal wen', too." "Oh, okay." He thanked her for explaining it further. "Daddy, can we have a tea party?" She begged, giving him puppy dog eyes. "Do we hafta?" Chibs grumped. "Pweeeeeeease?" The little girl plead and clasped her hands in front of herself. He sighed, it didn't take much for the little one to get her way with him. "Fine." He huffed, scoffing at his lack of will power. "Lemme take a shower quick, okay?" "O'tay!" "Go ge' yer sissy an' set up in the playroom." He told her, tickling her side and making her squeal and jump off the bed. "BRINNNNAAAAAAA!!!" She hollered as she raced out the bedroom door. After showering and quickly dressing in black jeans and black SAMCRO t-shirt, Chibs went into the kitchen to grab a jug of sweet tea and tin of shortbread. However, as he turned the corner, he was greeted with the sight of his six year old standing on the counter next to the fridge, the four year old standing on the chair they'd pushed over there, and their six year old brindled shepherd mix Jameson prancing excitedly in place watching his little humans going after something near the treats he couldn't reach and hoping they'd knock the container down. The pajama clad girls- the pair looked nearly identical save for the elder being a head taller- froze in place and stared wide-eyed at him. "Sabrina Rose. Matilda Mae." Chibs said sternly, setting his fists on his hips. "Uh-oh." They gasped in unison. Chibs scooped them up and set them on the hardwood floor. "Couldn' wait ten minutes, eh?" He asked in amusement. He shook his head, chuckling and ruffled their long hair. He reached on top of the refrigerator and took the blue tin the girls had been after, handing it to his oldest. "I'll get the tea." Y/N opened the truck door and reached in to get the three month old out of his carseat as he babbled and waved his orange rattleball around. The neck of his green dinosaur onesie was covered in slobber and drool. "Yes, yes, yes. We're so happy, aren't we? Yes, we are." Y/N cooed as she picked the baby up and held under his butt as he leaned into her shoulder. "Auntie Lyla and the girls spoiled you, didn't they? I saw them sneaking you whipped cream. All that damn sugar's got you wound up." She slung the Harley Davidson diaper bag over her shoulder and grabbed the bag of groceries she'd picked up on the way home before heading to the front door. Once inside, she set the bags on the kitchen table and shift her son to her other arm. "Now, where's Daddy and the girls, huh?" She asked the baby. He looked at his mother curiously before letting out a shrill scream of joy. Y/N cringed. "Malcolm Robert Telford, you're gonna make my ears bleed." In the playroom, Chibs shift uncomfortably in his tiny, tiny pink chair. He would've liked to have sit on the floor, but his girls insisted he had to sit at the table like a proper gentleman. He watched Tilly- a sky blue fairy costume on over her pajamas including wings with an Anna from Frozen glittery tiara- pick up the little plastic pink teapot in the middle of the round white table and pour nothing into a mismatched tiny purple teacup in front of one of their guests. "Mo' tea, Mr. Bear?" She asked the large teal teddy bear. She turned to her other side and poured some into a large blue teacup for her sister's yellow lab, Jax. "May I have more tea, Daddy?" Brina asked in a horrible attempt at some kind of European accent. While her younger sibling was clearly a typical girly-girl, Sabrina wasn't. She, too, wore a costume dress but her's was black velvet with gold trim. She looked like a regal witch or vampire... if it weren't for the mini felt top hat and the headband that made it look like she had an arrow through her head. "Of course, sweethear'." He replied warmly and picked up the larger stainless steel teapot. Clinking came from inside from ice cubes sloshing around as he poured iced tea into her cup which was actually a black enamel camping mug. "Can I have a'nudder cookie?" Tilly asked sweetly, not bothering to fake an accent. "Haven' ya already 'ad three?" Chibs asked, raising an eyebrow and already knowing the answer. "Nooooo." His younger daughter trailed off not looking her father in the eye. Sabrina cackled at her sister's bad acting. Chibs pretend to wipe his face to hide his smirk. "How abou' we split one?" He compromised and picked up a shortbread from the Santa platter the girls had piled them on. Tilly nodded eagerly and held out her little plastic Disney Inside Out Joy dessert plate. Chibs broke the cookie in two pieces as even as he could and set one half on her plate and the other on his red Elmo face plate. "Daddy! Your hat!" Sabrina exclaimed realizing Chibs had taken it off at some point without them noticing. He reached up and felt his head. "Oh no! It's gone!" He cried, faking shock. "Someone stole it!" He shout, so clearly upset at this revelation. Tilly started frantically looking behind the plushies and lifting plates up as if the rainbow striped pinwheel hat would be hiding under them. Brina searched in the nearest toy chest, suspicious. The last two times the hat went missing, that's where it was. She slammed the lid shut hopelessly when her search came up empty. "Sissy, look'it!" Matilda ordered pointing a little index finger across the room. Chibs internally cringed and prayed the hat was destroyed by now. "Jamie, no!" Sabrina rushed the dog and began tugging the hat from him. He growled lightly and tugged back, wagging his tail and thinking she wanted to play. Unfortunately for the mutt, he'd done enough damage already that one more solid yank and the fabric seperated with an audible rrrrrrrip. The little girl flopped on her behind with a thump. "Bad dog!" She reprimanded him. Jameson spit out his half of the rainbow and whimpered, approaching the little girl and snuffling around her head. He licked her cheeks and she scrunched her shoulders, shrieking with laughter at his tickly whiskers and unable to stay mad at the innocent beast. "Wha's Daddy supposed to wear now? He needs a hat!" The young toddler declared before scurrying to the dress-up closet. Chibs whistled and called the dog off his daughter, her face having been slurped on enough. "Go lay down, ya mongrel." He chide goodnaturedly. He helped his daughter wipe her face off with a napkin. "I found a hat, Daddy!" Matilda proclaimed, emerging from the closet and holding something up triumphantly. Chibs face feel momentarily at the sight before changing his expression to something neutral. "Maybe no' tha' one, princess." He denied gently. The green plastic bowler hat was missing a chunk of hat and the white ribbon with four leaf clovers that usually wrapped around it was dangling over the edge of the rim like a graduation cap tassel. The little girl frowned and studied the hat. "I guess not." She agreed sadly and chucked it in the small trash bin between the girls' drawing tables. Seeing her sister on the verge of crying, Sabrina hurried over and ushered her back into the closet to help her find a more suitable hat. Y/N stood in the doorway watching her husband interact with their girls. Malcolm was quietly sucking on his thumb, head laying on her shoulder. It melt her heart every time she saw them all. Filip was always so good with his children and the girls had him wrapped around their little pinkies most of the time. He was stern when he needed to be, but honestly the girls were rarely brats. She swooned when she saw Matilda run to her father and hold up a plastic gold crown with colored jewel beads adorning it. Chibs gushed at how perfect the item was and scooped the girl up, standing her on his knees so she could place it on his head. Thrilled, Tilly set the crown atop his head and declared him king of the tea party. She hopped back to the carpeted floor as Sabrina joined her and the pair curtsied before their king. "Greetings, my liege." Chibs snapped his eyes up and found his wife and baby boy watching them from the doorway. A loving smile gracing Y/N's face. "Miladies," He addressed his daughters. "Look! Tis my Queen returned from her travels!" The girls curtsied to her. Y/N curtsied back with a soft giggle. "I do apologize for missing tea time. I needed to acquire more covers and a rash tincture for Prince Malcolm's royal fanny." Her daughters roared with laughter, falling to the floor in a pile of wiggly court jesters. The baby picked his head up and watched his big sisters before giggling sleepily. Chibs groaned as he stood. He pressed his hands to his lower back, leaning backwards to stretch his aching bones. He carefully skirt around the flopping sillies on the floor and held his hands out with wide eyes and big smile. "There's ma'boy!" He cheered. His smile threatened to split his face in two when he saw the baby boy excited to see him. Malcolm screeched and giggled, trying to fling himself from his mother's arms towards his father. "Hiya! Were ya good fer yer Mama?" He questioned in a voice he reserved for babies. "Didya go see Auntie Lyla? Was she filmin'?" He heard Y/N scoff as she fixed the little one's cotton shorts. "Ha! No. Say we didn't see any of that naughty stuff, Daddy." Y/N told her son to say knowing he'd just babble or blow a spit bubble instead. She looked to her husband as he kissed the light haired, blue-grey eyed bundle of joy all over his head and cheeks. "They were on lunch... brunch, I guess? when we got there. Everyone in robes, dirty bits hidden from innocent eyes." "Tha's a shame." Chibs joked earning a backhand on his free shoulder. He snickered and winked at Y/N before leaning in for a kiss. "Missed ya." He muttered against her lips. "Mm, you missed sleeping till noon." Y/N teased. "Tha', too." He agreed with a cheeky grin. "Daddy, can we go to the park?" Matilda asked, the girls' laughing fit having subsided finally. Chibs turned to his wife. Before Y/N could answer Malcolm started grunting, his face going red before the unpleasant sounds of a much needed diaper change filled their ears. "EEWWW!" The girls exclaimed, faces scrunched up in disgust. "We can go later, okay?" Y/N told them. "It's lunchtime now, then naptime." The girls started whining. "Hey, no whining." "No nap, no park." Chibs said, backing up his wife. The girls scowled, knowing it was too late to try to persuade him otherwise now that he showed he was with Mom. "Keep makin' tha' face an' it'll stick like tha'." He threatened, a sideways glance to Y/N who gave him a mischevious half-grin. "I'll ge' the lad changed an' down fer his nap." He told her, kissing her cheek. Y/N sighed softly, leaning into his lips. "Okay. We'll clean up in here and get lunch going." She decided, stepping aside to let the boys out of the room. "Come along, ya wee bug. We'll get a fresh nappie, read tha' book abou' a wee mouse an' a biscuit, play some o' tha' Celtic lullaby music ya love, an' have a bit o' dreamin'. Sound good?" Chibs spoke softly to his son as he moved down the hallway to the baby's room. Y/N turned to her daughters, taking out her phone and snapping a picture of the dressed up pair before smiling at them. "Shall we have chicken fingers for lunch?" She quiered. The girls nod enthusiastically. "Anything else?" "Neeps an' tatties!" Chibs called down the hallway. Y/N rolled her eyes, but the girls were already getting more excited. The girls loved her homemade mashed potatoes and turnips. "Alright, then. I think we have some mash leftover from dinner." She sighed. "Start cleaning and I'll get the chicken in the oven." She told the girls. "Okay, Mama!" They agreed as she turned and made her way to the kitchen. Once the food was warming up, she was jotting something down on the grocery list on the counter when the sounds in her house distracted her. Sabrina and Matilda were giggling with each other, toys and make believe sets were clattering here and there as the siblings no doubt were throwing everything haphazardly into random toy chests, the rumbles of Chibs' Scottish brogue float down the hallway as he read a bedtime story to their baby, and the sounds of yipping and collar tags jingling were heard from the living room as Jameson dreamed of chasing squirrels. Y/N breathed deeply and sighed, content. This was her favorite thing in the world. The sounds of home.

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olgagarmash · 3 years ago

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With Halloween coming up, the influx of candy in the grocery store aisles may mean temptation is lurking around every corner. While those sugary sweets might feel frighteningly detrimental to your healthy diet, you can whip up some equally satisfying but guilt-free homemade Halloween candy at home in little to no time at all!

Swapping your Halloween candy with these healthier alternatives will make the Halloween season much less spooky—at least when it comes to your health.

When it comes to simple Halloween candy, it doesn’t get much easier than four ingredients! These candy bites are made with corn flakes, peanut butter, brown rice syrup and chocolate chips. With the beloved combination of peanut butter and chocolate—plus just a bit of crunch—these bites have all the indulgence of a candy bar without the guilt. Get the full recipe here! >

There’s something about the classic combination of peppermint and chocolate that makes it a favorite Halloween treat for many. This simple recipe makes small “gem-sized” candy bites that have a hint of coconut, too. They’ll satisfy your sweet tooth while still clocking in under 100 calories per serving. Get the full recipe here! >

The combination of chocolate and raspberry has a decadence about it that really makes it feel like a gourmet treat! These chocolate raspberry cups are made using just four ingredients—frozen raspberries, chia seeds, coconut oil and chocolate chips. We also have lots of suggestions of healthy swaps to switch up the flavor and texture of these delicious treats. Get the full recipe here! >

If you’re someone who loves the flavor combo of mixing sweet with salty, then this is a fudge recipe you’ll have to try. Fudge is one of those desserts that seems difficult to make when in reality, there’s not much more to it than mixing! In little to no time at all, you can whip up a decadent treat to enjoy. Get the full recipe here! >

Chocolate peanut butter cups are perhaps one of the most beloved Halloween candies out there. But they’re also packed with sugar. Our version cuts down on the amount of sugar from the store-bought variety using just three ingredients—chocolate chips, coconut oil and peanut butter. They’ll still satisfy your sweet tooth but without completely derailing your healthy eating regimen. Get the full recipe here! >

Think bite-sized pecan pies that you can whip up with a handful of simple ingredients. Simply blend the ingredients, pop in the freezer to set and enjoy! The result is that decadent fudge taste and texture that makes it so craveable—all with the delicious appeal of pecan pie. Get the full recipe here! >

If you love pumpkin flavored treats, then this delectable candy is sure to become a new favorite. These truffle balls have a tasty filling made from pumpkin puree, cashew butter, maple syrup, blanched almond flour and pumpkin pie spice. The filling then firms up in the fridge before being dipped in its chocolate coating and once again heads back to the refrigerator to set. The end result tastes like a mini, portable pumpkin pie smothered in chocolate. Make these for Halloween or any other fall holiday; they even make a cute gift! Top them with chopped nuts or cacao nibs for some extra crunch. Get the full recipe here! >

At under 100 calories per serving, these chocolate pecan caramel bites are a healthier way to indulge your love of chocolate. They’re the perfect combo of pecans, caramel and Nutrisystem NutriChocolaty Wafers. Plus, they are simple to make and assemble. Get the full recipe here! >

If you’ve never made chocolate bark before, it involves melting chocolate, sprinkling in desired add-ons and spreading on a sheet pan to set in the fridge. Our chocolate bark recipe is super simple using just dark chocolate, orange zest and coarse salt for a tangy “salted orange” flavor. Break off a piece to satisfy your sweet tooth without getting your healthy eating plans off track. Get the full recipe here! >

These delicious snack bars use six simple ingredients, including rice cereal, cocoa powder, peppermint extract and chocolate chips, to whip up a gooey-chewy bar that is so satisfying to bite into and enjoy. It’s a great alternative to diving into the candy bowl and overindulging on sugar. Get the full recipe here! >

Here’s another delicious fall-inspired fudge recipe that’s incredibly simple to make. Just puree walnuts with coconut oil, maple syrup, maple extract and stevia (if desired), and pour into an ice cube tray to set. Besides being delicious, this fudge also packs in six filling grams of fiber and five grams of protein. That makes it a fudge you can feel good about. Get the full recipe here! >

If you love the flavor combo of mint and chocolate, then these brownie bites are your perfect indulgence! Instead of turning to the candy bowl, whip up these bite-sized brownies which have just 87 calories per serving. Avocado is the secret ingredient to making a creamy and healthy mint filling in these delectable treats. Get the full recipe here! >

Another mint plus chocolate combo, this peppermint cup recipes will yield 10 homemade candies that clock in at just 49 calories each. They’ve got the refreshing sweetness that you desire and they’re just the right size to pop in your mouth and curb your cravings. Get the full recipe here! >

No flavor quite summons the “fall feels” like pumpkin spice! And now you can enjoy it in a decadent fudge that is super easy to make and won’t put you in a sugar coma. Simply mix together some ingredients like almond butter and pumpkin puree, transfer to an ice cube tray and pop in the freezer to set! One piece of fudge is just 82 calories. Get the full recipe here! >

As we’ve said before, it’s hard to go wrong with the powerful flavor duo of chocolate with peanut butter! And unlike traditional candy bars which can be a diet disaster, these bars are actually made from healthful ingredients like dates, peanut butter, oats and even some Vanilla Nutrisystem Shake Mix for more protein and flavor. Get the full recipe here! >

Instead of grabbing a handful of syrupy-sweet candy corn, this parfait will get you into the Halloween spirit but without the empty calories. While it’s technically not “candy,” the sweet flavors and creamy cottage cheese are sure to satisfy your cravings and keep you full. It layers diced pineapple, orange and cottage cheese for a healthy snack with spooky spirit. Get the full recipe here! >

This creamy and decadent fudge has the fabulous flavors of chocolate and peanut butter. But it uses just peanut butter, unsweetened vanilla almond milk and some Nutrisystem NutriChocolaty Wafers, so you can indulge guilt-free. Simply mix up the three ingredients, spread in an ice cube tray and freeze to set. Get the full recipe here! >

Our Pumpkin Spice Bars are just as delicious as a store bought candy bar. They’re crispy yet chewy and filled with bursts of pumpkin spice flavor. At just 52 calories per serving, they are totally Nutrisystem-approved. Get the full recipe here! >

Apple picking season is upon us! We’ve lightened up the classic caramel apple so that you can enjoy it while you lose weight. These Chocolate Caramel Apples are super tasty and less than 100 calories. Before the chocolate and caramel hardens on the apples, we top them with crushed nuts for some extra crunch and healthy fats. Get the full recipe here! >

Dates are pretty much nature’s candy. We stuff them full of creamy almond butter and sprinkle on various toppings for a wholesome homemade candy recipe that you can feel good about. Get creative with your favorite healthy toppings, including chopped almonds, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and pomegranate seeds. Get the full recipe here! >

via Wealth Health

#IFTTT #Wealth Health

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sundaefundayla · 3 years ago

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HELLLOOOO FROM THE OLLIE SIDE!!!!!!!! ♪ 🎵

Hi!!!!!! I know this blog is deader than that lizard I killed last night (I’m sorry, mom!) but I wanted to poke my nose in anyways, to say hello! (And also because I just love to sniff around- I am a very good sniffer!!)

Oops. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Oliver Garden Braver, but you can call me Ollie. And I’m the official Dog of the Blog!

Anyways, I had my very first taste of ice cream the other day (well actually it was like a month ago, but my paws are too big to hit the tiny keyboard keys, and India was too busy never doing anything ever during her general surgery rotation), so this is coming to you late. But better late than never CUZ I LOVEEEE ICE CREAM!!! Even more than cream cheese and tomatoes combined, which are my two other favorite foods.

India & Jake (and Jake’s siblings Harrison & Courtney-ahhh!!! I met Courtney for the first time & Harrison got to see how much I improved since he first met me when I was 5 days home) took me to Big Bear, where we 1) went to my emporium and 2) got Ben & Jerry’s doggie ice cream!

India picked the Rosie's Batch Frozen Dog Treat With Pumpkin & Mini Cookies flavor, because she knows how much I love my daily dose of pumpkin! And ohmygourd!!!!! It was incredible!

They’ve truly unleashed (and I don’t use that word lightly; being unleashed is the best) something amazing here- my palate was very impressed by how seamlessly all the flavors blended together. Plus, it was cold, and I love cold stuff. It was even better than ice cubes, and I also really love ice cubes. Mom says she’s never seen me this happy before, except for maybe when I see India’s Ajja (her grandpaw)!! She recorded it for posterity because it was one of the best moments of my life, but tumblr won’t let her post a video - RUDE ! Just ask her to see it in person I guess.

India is also telling me right now that Ben & Jerry’s is super cool because they’re basically socialist, and you could almost taste the means of production being regulated by the community as a whole. (Not really, but a dog can dream- the k9-5 life is so hard on pets everywhere- we need a revolution.)

I can’t wait to have more ice cream again someday, and I am super grateful to Ben & Jerry for giving me this opportunity!

We are still a Salt & Straw family through and through though! I even rock my Saltie collar every single day, and maybe one day my dad will even make me Salt & Straw dog ice cream if they ever release a recipe! (I get so jealous when he makes it for mom, so I think it’s only fair- Salt & Straw, if you’re reading this, help a good boy out!! LOOK HOW CUTE I AM!)

But until then, maybe I’ll have to get myself some Ben & Jerry’s swag.

Love and licks,

DOTB (Dog of the Blog) 🐾

(Ollie)

ps. shout out to my soon to be new friend Emily, for inspiring my mom to finally help me write this!

#saltandstraw la icecream yum foodblog dog dogblog puppy dogoftheblog bigbear benandjerrys socialism

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cutshawsnidowoa · 4 years ago

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Is Mealtime Causing ‘Issues’?

The post Is Mealtime Causing ‘Issues’? by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

I adore Rusty, my spirited, young orange tabby — except at mealtime.

He transforms into a demanding, pushy, feed-me-now feline bully who has no qualms about attempting to push away my other cats, Mikey and Casey, from their food bowls and even trying to swipe kibble from my dogs’ bowls.

His mealtime mayhem caused Mikey and Casey to attempt to chow down quickly and, as a consequence, they vomited their meals, occasionally refused to eat and deposited runny stools in the litter boxes. So, to achieve calmness at mealtime, I now prepare all of my pets’ food bowls in the laundry room off the kitchen and with the door closed.

I bring out Rusty’s bowl first, and he excitedly follows me into the hallway bathroom where I place down his bowl and close the door. Next, I place food bowls for Casey and Mikey on two cat trees in the living room with them looking in opposite directions. Finally, I space out the bowls for my three dogs on the kitchen floor. After my pets have finished their meals at their own paces (and in peace!), I pick up and clean their bowls and open the door to let Rusty out.

Related: Make Mealtime Fun for Cats

Mealtime madness

Rusty’s antics are far from unique. Actions and attitudes at mealtimes can trigger stress-induced medical conditions or spur on unwanted behaviors in cats.

“Indoor cats can easily become stressed with any changes in their environment, such as a new pet addition, a change in the owner’s schedule or a change in feeding schedules,” says Dr. Jessica Herman, a veterinarian with Fuzzy Pet Health with a practice in Shelbyville, Kentucky. “Feeding cats is more than simply filling the food bowl once or twice daily. Feeding cats should be considered a part of their environmental enrichment.”

Stress at mealtimes can cause some cats to:

✤ Hide ✤ Lose their appetites ✤ Gorge their food quickly ✤ Drool ✤ Eliminate outside the litter boxes ✤ Claw couches ✤ Overgroom to the point of creating red, bald spots on their coats ✤ Fight with other pets in the home.

Medically, mealtime stress can cause such ailments as:

✤ Urinary tract infections ✤ Feline idiopathic cystitis ✤ Weakened immune systems ✤ Skin diseases

Solitary and small meals

Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant who operates The Cat Coach based in northern California, advises people to start thinking more like their cats at mealtime.

“While some people may enjoy gathering around a table, having large plates full of food and eating a big meal together, cats are solitary eaters who do not want to eat together and certainly do not like sharing food from one bowl,” she says. “They are hunters who prefer eating several small meals a day to being fed once or twice a day.”

Dr. Elizabeth Bales, a Camden, New Jersey-based veterinarian says that a cat’s stomach is about the size of a ping-pong ball. That’s why she is a fan of food puzzles, mini meals and even hiding food in a room for a cat to sniff out and find.

“Hunting multiple small portions throughout the day can eliminate what we call the ‘scarf-and-barf’ syndrome in cats,” says Dr. Bales, who is also the inventor of the Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder for Cats. “Cats want to hunt, catch, play, eat, groom and sleep — it’s what is known as the seeking circuit. But giving them one big meal a day denies them of this seeking circuit. In nature, cats spend about 80% of their waking hours hunting for food. ”

The type of food and its texture can also cause behavior issues in some cats.

“Cats are textural eaters, meaning they often prefer a certain texture to their food,” Dr. Herman says. “Changing from a loaf-type food to shreds may cause aversion to your cat’s food and cause him to skip meals. Some cats prefer kibble, and some prefer wet food. With a bit of trial and error, you will learn your cat’s specific preference.”

Photo: Angela Kotsellt | Getty Images

Don’t forget the water!

Place the water bowl far from the food bowl — and definitely far from the litter box. “No creature likes to eat or drink near their toilet,” says Dr. Bales. “Cats prefer to drink in a separate location from where they eat; if possible, provide water sources in different locations of the house for them. Some cats like water dripping from a faucet while others enjoy water flavored with tuna juice or low-salt chicken broth. Make sure no onions or garlic are in the broth’s list of ingredients.”

Certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn treats her cats to homemade chicken broth frozen in an ice cube tray in bowls far apart from each other.

Emotional Eating

“Cats can grieve over the loss of favorite people, cats and dogs they were closely bonded to,” Marilyn says. “Some will deeply grieve to the point of not eating after the loss. Stressful situations, such as remodeling, family conflicts and being rehomed can also cause cats to stop eating.”

Cats need steady food intake, so consult your vet if your cat does not eat for 24 hours. Kitty may need an appetite stimulant and a thorough exam.

Bottom line: Act like a pet detective to pick up subtle clues that may be causing changes in your cat’s eating habits and behavior in general.

“Cats are subtle,” Marilyn says. “Sometimes, the only indicator of a serious problem is how they approach their food. Your cat’s behavior around food can tell you a lot about their physical, emotional and psychological health.”

Featured Image: Photo: Lightspruch | Getty Images

Read Next: We’re Feeding Cats Wrong — Ditch the Cat Food Bowls and Change the Schedules

from Catster https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/is-mealtime-causing-issues via IFTTT

#Catster

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sunsetpools · 5 years ago

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Top 10 Pool Party Must-Haves!

It's not a party without these essential ingredients for fun. Take your next poolside bash to the next level with these Pro Tips.

The sun is shining and the temperature is just right to start planning your next pool party. But before you grab your suit and take the plunge, make sure you have the best aquatic accessories for an unforgettable fête. Make a splash at your next poolside get-together with this top 10 pool party ideas list.

1. FUN FLOATS: If you’re looking to make your backyard an oasis of social media-worthy moments, then you have to have pool floats and inflatable rafts. From flamingo floats to a donut, pizza and cactus floats, you can mix and match styles to whatever “floats your boat.” Not only are they photo-friendly, but they’re super comfy for lounging while chatting with friends or catching rays. You can also maximize convenience and relaxation with a drink float. These inflatable holders can keep your favorite beverages close by so you can soak up your drink while you soak up the sun.

Also, make sure you have personal floatation devices at the ready. Life vests, water wings, and kickboards are great for kids and inexperienced swimmers.

2. SPEAKERS AND A PLAYLIST: What’s a pool party without a playlist? (Well … it’s still a pool party, but it’s quieter and less fun.) Amp up the entertainment with wireless speakers; there are even waterproof, floating models that allow you to take your tunes into the pool. Bring surround sound to the party grounds by setting up a few speakers in different areas around the pool. This way, whether you are grabbing food, playing yard games or going for a swim, the music will be heard. A playlist has the power to set the tone of the party, so select your songs in advance and let the good times rock ‘n’ roll. When the sun goes down, make sure you party on respectfully and be mindful of your nighttime noise level.

3. POOL DECORATIONS: If you have a theme, don’t be afraid to go all-out with the décor. Decorations can be fun and really elevate your pool party. Colored straws, paper products, garlands, and lanterns can all help keep your party on-theme. Bring the Caribbean to your celebration with tropical accessories like paper drink umbrellas. Consider the time of day, too. If you’re having a night swim, for example, a little lighting can go a long way. Throw some glow sticks into the bottom of the pool or put them inside balloons that float on the pool’s surface for additional light and a funky ambiance. Decorations are important, but having the pool prepped is crucial, so make sure you check your pool chemicals in advance, skim the pool before guests arrive and have extra filters on hand to keep the water clean and ready for fun.

4. POOL PARTY AND LAWN GAMES: Games and activities are a surefire way to liven up any pool party. Plus, guests of all ages can get into the action. Water balloons and squirt gun fights don’t just have to be for the kids. Let your inner-child out for the day, get your hair wet and have fun! Pool games like poolside basketball, beach balls, and mini pool balls are all crowd favorites, too.

Or take a break from the water with lawn games like cornhole, badminton, Spikeball, bocce and more. Make sure you set up these games in advance so that guests know they’re available and don’t have to set them up themselves.

5. BIG TOWELS, COOLING TOWELS, DRY TOWELS … ALL KINDS OF TOWELS: Many guests bring their own towels to parties, but make sure you have plenty of extras just in case. Spreading out an extra-large beach towel or even an outdoor blanket can be extremely inviting and a great way to get groups of people together for some good ol’ fashioned chit-chat. Position it on the grass for comfort or on the edge of the pool for a cooling toe dip. You can even layer up your towels for maximum comfort! If it’s an unbearably hot day, consider grabbing cooling towels. If you’re in a lounge chair, use towel clips to get your towel to lay just right. Less fidgeting in your chair means more time to relax. And finally, make sure you have towel racks, or something that guests can hang their wet towels.

6. COOLERS: If you’re having a pool party and it’s hot outside, you’re probably going to want an ice-cold beverage in your hand, right? Right. Having a cooler is essential for the obvious: keeping your drinks icy cold. But here are some other cool tips to remember: Have at least two coolers — one for adult beverages and one for soda, water, and other drinks. If there will be kids at the party, don’t forget options like juice, too. There are coolers that actually float in the water so you can grab a drink without having to call fives on your float. They’re not just for drinks! No one likes warm watermelon. Eating chilled fruits, veggies, and other snacks after taking a dip in the pool can be beyond satisfying on a hot day. Keep coolers in the shade to help keep the ice from melting faster. Always have more ice than you think you’ll need.

7. SNACKS AND DRINKS: Pruney hands? No problem. Serve up smaller snacks that everyone can eat, no matter what the state of your fingertips. Keep paper towels or beach towels near the food station so guests can dry their hands before diving into the snack pile. Go for frozen fruit pops, veggie sticks, chips and dip, mini crescent dogs, or anything that doesn’t necessarily require a fork and knife. Grilled goodies that are easy to grab, like sliders or fruit and veggie skewers, are also pool party food favorites. You can also bring the pool party fun to the snack bar with themed treats like lifesavers or goldfish served in a fishbowl. And here’s a snack hack for you: cover your snacks with food cover nets to help keep the bugs at bay.

For thirst-quenchers who don’t like diluted drinks, try this: make ice cubes out of the same type of juice that’s in your juice drink or mixed drink, and your beverage won’t become weakened with water once it melts. You can also color code your drink cups or use a marker to write your name to help keep track of your beverages. And make sure to use plastic dishware near the pool to avoid broken glass (yikes!).

8. INSULATED CUPS: Lounge or play all day with a drink that’s icy cold for hours. Insulated bottles, tumblers, koozies or cups can help ensure your drinks stay as chill as you are. Plus, they come in a variety of colors and prints, so choose one that matches your vibe and you’ll always remember which one’s yours.

9. UMBRELLAS AND CANOPIES: Though you might have fun in the sun, make sure there’s a shady space for those who like to chill out. Umbrellas are great for smaller spaces or perched in the center of a dining table, while canopies can offer more shade to more people because they come in a variety of sizes. If wind is in the forecast, don’t forget to look into some canopy weight bags. Your guests aren’t the only ones who may need a bit of shade. Set up pop-up tables under your canopy to keep your food out of direct sunlight. Keeping your cooler under shade can also help prevent your ice from melting faster.

10. SUNSCREEN: Everyone should wear it, so make sure it’s readily available. Set up a “sunscreen station” which guests can easily locate and include a variety or SPF options. For a pool party, water-resistant sunscreen may be best. Make sure it’s applied as the label directs. Everyone should wear it, so make sure it’s readily available. Set up a “sunscreen station” which guests can easily locate and include a variety of SPF options. For a pool party, water-resistant sunscreen may be best. Make sure it’s applied as the label directs.

Source: DicksSportingGoods.com

#PoolPartyTips #PoolPartyIdeas #PoolContractorCapeCoral

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pestheart6-blog · 6 years ago

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Creepin' It Real-A Hallowe'en Party To End Them All!

Hello my pretties! It's time for this year's annual Halloween party and this year's was a doozy and the best yet! Held at a historic Cemetery Lodge the atmosphere was pure electric- from the wild thunderstorms above to the spooky 13 items to the party guests that dressed like it was the last hurrah! And check out some of these easy last minute Halloween food ideas for the big day tomorrow!

For the last 10 years worth of Halloween parties, it has never rained for my Halloween party - ever. But this year the rain would prove to be my nemesis as well as a blessing. If you were in Sydney at the time, chances were you were drenched in the rain or at least hiding from the flash foods and lightning.

It was all happening at Cemetery Lodge where I was holed up decorating and putting out food. There was a fire that blocked up the main street, the royal visit had closed off the harbour tunnel and the thunder grumbled outside the spooky little cottage.

"What if everyone cancels?" I said to Mr NQN. My phone buzzed constantly. Friends giving me weather updates-I'm sure trying to be helpful but only adding to the stress because I had been checking the forecast every 10 minutes myself.

Bloody eyeball punch

The messages read:

"Looks like rain...And thunder"

"We are running really late and Garth just dropped all the beers on the kitchen floor so now he has to clean it up"

"Headed your way! Had a bit of costume issue"

"I can't eat anything as I'm on an elimination diet" (that was an Elliott ;) )

Tarantula Cheese Ball

Voodoo doll hand pies

I pictured myself sitting in my outfit with Mr NQN at my side, just the two of us waiting for guests for an hour. But then people started arriving - early no less!

Werewolf cupcakes (recipe here)

Serpent Sandwich

Guests marvelled at lovely little cottage attached to cemetery. It was built in 1848 and was where the cemetery worker and his family lived-the side door is even where the bodies would be wheeled in to his office!

Ouija Board Cake (recipe here)

It has now been transformed into a cosy home by the lovely tenants and it is warm and full of colours. There's a community garden to the side and chickens that lay eggs as well as the world's oldest bunny.

Frog spawn drink

It has a kooky charm to it and I was honoured to have my party there. I transformed the space to become spooky with decorations from The Party People, my favourite party shop because their Halloween selection is incredible!

Face pie (recipe here)

Scared tacos

Food-wise, because I was warned that the oven was a bit dodgy, I kept to things that could be made ahead of time and didn't need to be heated.

Skull sandwiches that can be made and frozen ahead of time

Brain chocolate peanut butter truffles

I get so excited every year to make Halloween food that I have a little draft of items that I add to throughout the year. I've already got 3 Halloween food ideas for next year!

Marzipan teeth

This was my costume this year. I decided to match with an item that I had made and came as a voodoo doll. The added bonus is that the makeup was super quick to do and required just 5 minutes with eyeliner and eyeshadow. I drew on stitches with the eyeliner and made one button eye and I was done!

The first to arrive were the Day of the Dead family with Viggo, Louise and baby Henry. He was born on Halloween last year so we dubbed him Halloween Henry!

Then came Araluen and her daughter Aura who came as Miss Havisham and Estella. Araluen loves dress up and had most of the outfit already-the skirt she found at the local Vinnies shop!

Tuulikki arrived with them (by the way they caught a bus dressed like this and she reported no odd looks). She came as an eccentric witch. She, like her son Mr NQN hates photos and liked being behind a mask!

Oh and here is Mr NQN! He was a bit worried that nobody would recognise his costume. Can you guess who he is? Here's a quote to help you, "Oh hi Mark!"

My sometime vegetarian friend Laura came as a Day of the Dead skeleton and brought me some gorgeous dark red roses. She knows the way to my heart!

And then Ivy and Ryan arrived. I thought that they might come as Donald and Melania (because terrifying!) but she came as Carrie and he came as Pennywise with an absolutely terrifying mask that freaked out a lot of people. What is it about clowns?

Then JY and Ben arrived as Crazy Rich Asians-how inspired and current pop culture!

Then we had not one but two Egyptians arrive. The first was Tania who came as a regal Nefertiti. And then I got a message from Queen Viv. Now cemetery lodge isn't the easiest to find so I gave everyone a map and everyone found it just fine but you know who is going to be the person that gets lost finding it? Yup our dear Queen Viv.

"Lorraine, where are you?" she said worriedly on her voicemail. She entered wearing her home made mummy outfit that she made using strips of painting sheet. Hers was the outfit that everyone wanted to own and when she told people that she was taking it to the Salvos afterwards there was a mini stampede for who would get it.

One of the most spectacular entrances was Amaya, Laporello and their kids Jett and Finn who came as Star Wars characters. They always make such an effort for Halloween and I was so impressed at how much effort they had gone to. Finn's RED2 even had light up buttons and sound!

Nina and Garth were not too far behind. She came as a Evil Countess and he came as the Joker-because she loves anything Batman related and I think she liked the costume more than he did!

The last to arrive were Girl Next Door and Baz who came as Instagram hashtags. There were some notable absences-Miss America has started a new job doing shift work and he was upset that he couldn't make it because he was even more prepared with this costume than ever.

Others like Julie and Lou and her family couldn't come due to health reasons but I was so excited to have my nearest and dearest and most fun friends and family with me on the night.

Time really flew-it was as though it was going at warp speed. People devoured the food and talked-there is one common element to this Halloween party and that is everyone is so much fun and easy going and friendly. People that come alone still have a great time because everyone is so welcoming.

It then came time for Halloween charades, a tradition at these parties. We split into two groups and wrote our list of terrifying things which was a mix of horror films, current affairs and scary people (eg shirtless Putin riding on horseback). It was so much fun that JY started to get an asthma attack from laughing so much but Laura had a ventolin inhaler on her so that fixed it up straight away! Phew!

The Finn piped up. Could he have a go at charades? I think we might have a little ghoul in the making here!

Then the last hardcore people all adjourned to the nearby cemetery. It was perfectly still, traces of the earlier thunderstorm gone. It was deathly and surprisingly quiet given that busy King Street was just a couple of streets away. Laura took out star shaped sparklers and Tania told us stories about the first fleet graves that lay here.

It was almost midnight when Queen Viv said "I must disappear back into my crypt!" And with that we bid her and each of the party guests goodbye only to learn later that some of my gruesome party guests had to escape the cemetery by climbing over the walls (a sight which I would have loved to have seen!). Queen Viv reported the next day: "Passersby barely interested. So Newtown!"

And without further ado here are the recipes below!

So tell me Dear Reader, are you terrified of clowns? And could you guess Mr NQN's costume? And would you be scared if you saw someone scary climbing over a cemetery wall?

Brain Truffles

All Original Recipes by Lorraine Elliott

These were one of my favourite Halloween treats. They were easy enough to make but could sit shelf stable so they didn't always need to be refrigerated. I used cranberries as the sweetener instead of jam to make them shelf stable but also because the white chocolate was sweet enough as it was.

Makes a dozen brain truffles

Preparation time: 30 minutes plus chilling time

Cooking time: 20 minutes

700g/25ozs. pink candy melts

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Red icing gel pen

Silicone brain chocolate or ice cube mold

Step 1 - Melt the candy melts in a microwave at 50% power in 30 second intervals stirring. Spoon some into a brain chocolate or ice cube mold. Coat the inside thickly with chocolate as shown above. Chill until completely set.

Step 2 - Spoon in peanut butter and cranberries. Spread some chocolate on top and smooth over the top, making sure to remove any chocolate around the outer edge that may prevent them from coming out of the mold cleanly. If it is very hot where you are, you can always put it in the freezer between each step.

Step 3 - Place in the freezer for 15 minutes or until set. Unmold and repeat with the remaining chocolate and filling.

Pop out of the silicon mold

Ta-da!

Tarantula Cheese Ball

This cheese ball is super easy and effective to make and makes for great party food especially if you have vegetarians. You can use your favourite cheeses as long as you have a cream cheese base that will bind it all together.

250g/8.8ozs cream cheese (full fat, low fat isn't stiff enough)

50g/1.7ozs. gorgonzola dolce

1 cup cheddar cheese grated

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup poppyseeds

4 pipe cleaners for legs, cut in half

2 Pimento olive eyes

Crackers to serve

Step 1 - Blend all ingredients together until you get a smooth paste. Have a piece of cling film and empty out the cheese onto this and shape it into a ball. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes or so.

Step 2 - Place poppyseeds in a plate with a rim and remove the cheese ball from the film and roll around in the poppyseeds covering on all sides. Place on serving plate and add eyes and legs and surround with crackers.

Scared Tacos

These were a vegetarian and gluten free option that I also thought looked adorably cute. These are best made just before serving as the taco shells need to be heated in the oven but the rest can be made ahead of time. We served these around 8:30pm once people had snacked on the other food as I like brining out a hot option and everyone seemed to love them.

12 piece taco shell kit

Oil for frying

1 onion, peeled and diced

425g/15ozs. tin refried beans

salsa from kit

Taco seasoning from kit

Lettuce leaves

1 cup shredded Cheese

340g/12ozs. cherry bocconcini

Pimento olives, sliced in three for eyes

Step 1 - Heat oil in a frypan and then add the onion and saute until cooked. Add the refried beans, salsa and taco seasoning and stir until well mixed and cooked through.

Step 2 - Heat taco shells in the oven according to directions. Add some lettuce, refried beans and cheese to the taco. Then top with two cherry bocconcini eyes topped with sliced pimento olives.

Pâté Skull Sandwiches

Super easy and effective, not to mention delicious, these pâté skull sandwiches require minimum equipment and ingredients. These can be made a day or two ahead of time and then stored in a container and frozen. Thaw when needed.

1 loaf white bread

150g/5ozs. chicken liver pâté

A small amount of cranberry sauce or berry jam

Step 1 - Use a skull cutter to cut out the shape in the bread and divide into two even numbered piles of skulls. Use a large straw or an apple corer to cut out eyes in one half of the pile.

Step 2 - Spread the other pile of skulls with the pâté. Then spread the sauce around the eye area. Cover with the other half with the eyes cut out.

Slithering Serpent Bagel

This isn't a recipe so much as a guide as to how you might want to make this!

3 bagels, cut in half

Tuna salad or ham and cheese

Red capsicum forked tongue

Pimento olive slices and 2 slices cucumber for eyes

Step 1 - Arrange bagels in a S shape pattern alternating them but making the head at one end with 1/4 bagel. Top with tuna salad and ham/cheese and place olives for eyes and capsicum for the tongue.

Frog Spawn Drink

This drink was a real hit mainly because my friends are foodies and when I ask them if they like "slimy" things they answer yes. Basil seeds are similar to chia seeds-they swell up on cooking but the added advantage of these is that they look like eyes. This drink is similar to falooda which uses basil seeds. It's sweet, milky and delicious and I love the extra texture that the basil seeds give it.

1/4 cup basil seeds

500ml/2 cups water

500ml/2 cups milk

4 tablespoons matcha powder

Pandan extract

Sugar to taste

Buyer's tip: you can find these basil seeds at Indian and Asian grocery stores. They are called "wild starch pearl" but thankfully have a helpful pic. Pandan extract or flavouring can also be found at Asian grocery stores.

Step 1 - Firstly cook the basil seeds. Place them into a pot of boiling water and allow to expand for a couple of minutes. Drain and chill.

Uncooked basil seeds

Cooked basil seeds

Step 2 - Take 1/2 cup of water and mix with the matcha powder. Put the rest of the water and milk onto boil and then mix with the matcha mixture and some pandan extract. Dissolve sugar into this mixture (how much according to your taste). You can serve this hot or cold-I served it cold with the basil seeds on the side.

The pandan extract gives it the bright green colour

Eyeball Blood Cocktail

The real feature of this cocktail is the eyeball which is easily made with radishes. Keep the radish tail on so that it looks like the optic nerve that attaches the eyeball to the head!

500ml / 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled

100ml/3.5ozs. vodka

6 radishes

6 pimento olive slices

3 toothpicks, cut in half

Step 1 - Mix the cranberry juice and vodka together. Cut the ends off the radishes at the green end and cut out a hole to fit the pimento olives. Peel down the sides of the radishes.

Step 2 - Fit the olive into the hole and secure it with a toothpick and drop the eyeballs in the drink.

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/10/30/halloween-food-party-ideas/

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harborstock0-blog · 6 years ago

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Creepin' It Real-A Hallowe'en Party To End Them All!

Bloody eyeball punch

The messages read:

"Looks like rain...And thunder"

"We are running really late and Garth just dropped all the beers on the kitchen floor so now he has to clean it up"

"Headed your way! Had a bit of costume issue"

"I can't eat anything as I'm on an elimination diet" (that was an Elliott ;) )

Tarantula Cheese Ball

Voodoo doll hand pies

I pictured myself sitting in my outfit with Mr NQN at my side, just the two of us waiting for guests for an hour. But then people started arriving - early no less!

Werewolf cupcakes (recipe here)

Serpent Sandwich

Ouija Board Cake (recipe here)

Frog spawn drink

Face pie (recipe here)

Scared tacos

Food-wise, because I was warned that the oven was a bit dodgy, I kept to things that could be made ahead of time and didn't need to be heated.

Skull sandwiches that can be made and frozen ahead of time

Brain chocolate peanut butter truffles

I get so excited every year to make Halloween food that I have a little draft of items that I add to throughout the year. I've already got 3 Halloween food ideas for next year!

Marzipan teeth

The first to arrive were the Day of the Dead family with Viggo, Louise and baby Henry. He was born on Halloween last year so we dubbed him Halloween Henry!

Then came Araluen and her daughter Aura who came as Miss Havisham and Estella. Araluen loves dress up and had most of the outfit already-the skirt she found at the local Vinnies shop!

Oh and here is Mr NQN! He was a bit worried that nobody would recognise his costume. Can you guess who he is? Here's a quote to help you, "Oh hi Mark!"

My sometime vegetarian friend Laura came as a Day of the Dead skeleton and brought me some gorgeous dark red roses. She knows the way to my heart!

Then JY and Ben arrived as Crazy Rich Asians-how inspired and current pop culture!

Nina and Garth were not too far behind. She came as a Evil Countess and he came as the Joker-because she loves anything Batman related and I think she liked the costume more than he did!

Others like Julie and Lou and her family couldn't come due to health reasons but I was so excited to have my nearest and dearest and most fun friends and family with me on the night.

The Finn piped up. Could he have a go at charades? I think we might have a little ghoul in the making here!

And without further ado here are the recipes below!

So tell me Dear Reader, are you terrified of clowns? And could you guess Mr NQN's costume? And would you be scared if you saw someone scary climbing over a cemetery wall?

Brain Truffles

All Original Recipes by Lorraine Elliott

Makes a dozen brain truffles

Preparation time: 30 minutes plus chilling time

Cooking time: 20 minutes

700g/25ozs. pink candy melts

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Red icing gel pen

Silicone brain chocolate or ice cube mold

Step 3 - Place in the freezer for 15 minutes or until set. Unmold and repeat with the remaining chocolate and filling.

Pop out of the silicon mold

Ta-da!

Tarantula Cheese Ball

250g/8.8ozs cream cheese (full fat, low fat isn't stiff enough)

50g/1.7ozs. gorgonzola dolce

1 cup cheddar cheese grated

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup poppyseeds

4 pipe cleaners for legs, cut in half

2 Pimento olive eyes

Crackers to serve

Step 1 - Blend all ingredients together until you get a smooth paste. Have a piece of cling film and empty out the cheese onto this and shape it into a ball. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes or so.

Scared Tacos

12 piece taco shell kit

Oil for frying

1 onion, peeled and diced

425g/15ozs. tin refried beans

salsa from kit

Taco seasoning from kit

Lettuce leaves

1 cup shredded Cheese

340g/12ozs. cherry bocconcini

Pimento olives, sliced in three for eyes

Step 1 - Heat oil in a frypan and then add the onion and saute until cooked. Add the refried beans, salsa and taco seasoning and stir until well mixed and cooked through.

Step 2 - Heat taco shells in the oven according to directions. Add some lettuce, refried beans and cheese to the taco. Then top with two cherry bocconcini eyes topped with sliced pimento olives.

Pâté Skull Sandwiches

1 loaf white bread

150g/5ozs. chicken liver pâté

A small amount of cranberry sauce or berry jam

Step 1 - Use a skull cutter to cut out the shape in the bread and divide into two even numbered piles of skulls. Use a large straw or an apple corer to cut out eyes in one half of the pile.

Step 2 - Spread the other pile of skulls with the pâté. Then spread the sauce around the eye area. Cover with the other half with the eyes cut out.

Slithering Serpent Bagel

This isn't a recipe so much as a guide as to how you might want to make this!

3 bagels, cut in half

Tuna salad or ham and cheese

Red capsicum forked tongue

Pimento olive slices and 2 slices cucumber for eyes

Step 1 - Arrange bagels in a S shape pattern alternating them but making the head at one end with 1/4 bagel. Top with tuna salad and ham/cheese and place olives for eyes and capsicum for the tongue.

Frog Spawn Drink

1/4 cup basil seeds

500ml/2 cups water

500ml/2 cups milk

4 tablespoons matcha powder

Pandan extract

Sugar to taste

Step 1 - Firstly cook the basil seeds. Place them into a pot of boiling water and allow to expand for a couple of minutes. Drain and chill.

Uncooked basil seeds

Cooked basil seeds

The pandan extract gives it the bright green colour

Eyeball Blood Cocktail

The real feature of this cocktail is the eyeball which is easily made with radishes. Keep the radish tail on so that it looks like the optic nerve that attaches the eyeball to the head!

500ml / 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled

100ml/3.5ozs. vodka

6 radishes

6 pimento olive slices

3 toothpicks, cut in half

Step 1 - Mix the cranberry juice and vodka together. Cut the ends off the radishes at the green end and cut out a hole to fit the pimento olives. Peel down the sides of the radishes.

Step 2 - Fit the olive into the hole and secure it with a toothpick and drop the eyeballs in the drink.

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/10/30/halloween-food-party-ideas/

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unwritrecipes · 4 years ago

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Food 52 Ice Cream and Friends' Malted Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate-Covered Pretzels-Famous Fridays

Happy Friday! Woo-hoo! Not only is it practically June, with summer just around the corner, but there’s ice cream too! And not just any ordinary ice cream, no sir! Today we’re scooping into Malted Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate-Covered Pretzels. Yup, it tastes as fabulous as it sounds! I guarantee you are going to fall head over heels for it and the cookbook it’s from, Food 52 Ice cream and Friends: 60 Recipe and Riffs. Get out your cones and sprinkles, crank up your freezer and let’s get this Famous Fridays party started!

Guys, I’m so excited and not just about this ice cream and terrific cookbook—after a 2 month hiatus, Famous Fridays (aka FF) is back! If you’re new to the site, FF is a day I devote to a famous chef, cookbook, bakery etc.—someone who’s passionate about food, inspires me and often forces me to go beyond my foodie comfort level. I’ve got over 150 of them here on the blog—check them out when you get a chance and hopefully you’ll find some new ideas and inspiration too.

Speaking of new ideas and inspiration, I’m sure you all know and love Food 52 (seriously what did we do before that site?!!) and their compilation of frozen treats in the Ice Cream and Friends Cookbook does not disappoint! There are recipes for Two-Tone Fudge Pops, Chocolate-Hazelnut Baked Alaska, Lemony, Coconutty, Raspberry Ice Cream Sandwiches, Hot Honey Candied Walnut Ice Cream, Thai Tea Snow Cones and so much more. And all of the recipes are straight-forward and fairly simple, per the Food 52 way. Once you leaf through these happy pages, I just know you’re going to want to run to the kitchen and start “churning” them out! Lol!

Now who’s screaming for ice cream?!! Specifically, the malted vanilla chock full of homemade chocolate-covered pretzels kind?!! Okey-dokey, here we go—

Honestly, guys, this has become one of our favorites. The malt powder takes the vanilla to another level and the salty, chocolate-y crunch of the pretzels balances out the creamy sweetness.

Oh, and those chocolate-y pretzels? They’re a snap to make. All you do is melt dark chocolate, stir in a bit of butter and drop the pretzels in.

Once they’re nicely coated, you let them chill, chop ‘em up…

And pop a couple into your mouth—for taste-testing purposes, of course!

The custard for the ice cream comes together quickly and easily. Honestly, the hardest part is waiting for it to chill so you can churn it!

Which brings us to the subject of ice cream machines—I’ve said it many times before on here, but since it’s the start of a new ice cream season, I’ll say it again— I love, love, love making my own ice cream (and so does my crew) and I think everyone should own one. It’s rare that we buy ready-made frozen treats because the store-bought just can’t compare to homemade and you can make everything from splurgy ice creams to fairly healthy treats like sorbets and ices. Check it out here.

The machine I use is a DeLonghi—it's a self-freezing machine, which means you don't have to pre-chill the bowl. It’s a little bit pricey but you really don’t need to spend a fortune—lots of the lower priced models do a great job and if there was ever a summer to treat yourself, this is it!

Whew! Long post, so I’ll wrap it up quickly. Have a great weekend and enjoy something yummy (like this malted ice cream) with someone you love! Stay safe and I’ll be back next week with more as head into June together!

Food 52 Ice Cream and Friends’ Malted Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Makes a generous quart

You will need an ice cream maker for this.

Prep Time for pretzels”. 10 minutes, plus at least 30 minutes chilling time: Prep Time for Ice cream: 15 minutes, plus at least 8 hours to chill + churn time

Ingredients

For the chocolate-covered pretzels

8 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup salted pretzel sticks, broken into small pieces (or just break up larger pretzels or if you are in a bind, skip this step and just buy a bag of chocolate covered pretzels and break them up a bit)

For the ice cream

1 ¾ cup heavy cream

1 ¼ cup whole milk

½ cup sugar, divided

⅓ cup light corn syrup

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

⅔ cup malted milk powder (not ovaltine—I use the Carnation brand, sometimes it might be hard to find in stores, but you can order it online

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

The Recipe

1. To make the chocolate pretzels: Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. (You could also do this on the stovetop). Stir in the butter until the mixture is smooth. Drop the pretzel pieces into the chocolate mixture and stir so that they all get coated with the chocolate. Use a fork to lift the pretzels out and drop them onto the lined baking sheet, so that they are a little bit spread apart. Chill the sheet in the fridge for about 30 minutes, then peel off pretzels and use right away or store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 1 week

2. To make the ice cream: Add the heavy cream, milk, ¼ cup of the sugar, the corn syrup and salt to a medium heavyweight saucepan and whisk together. Place over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer, then turn to low.

3. While milk mixture is heating, whisk the egg yolks with the malted milk powder and the remaining ¼ cup sugar. Place a strainer over a medium bowl and set aside. Fill a large bowl with some ice cubes and cold water and set aside.

4. When milk mixture is hot, add a ladleful to the egg yolk mixture to temper it, whisking constantly. Repeat two more times. Then pour the egg mixture back into the pot with the remaining milk mixture and whisk together well. Now use a heatproof spoon or spatula to constantly stir the mixture over low heat until it coats the back of the spoon and has thickened to a custardy texture. Remove from the heat and immediately pour through the strainer set over the bowl. This will catch any pieces of yolk that might have gotten scrambled. Stir in the vanilla and place the bowl into the bowl with the ice and water to allow it cool down quickly. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and store in the fridge for at least 8 hours and ideally, overnight.

5. Churn the chilled base in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer container, fold in the chocolate covered pretzels and freeze.

Enjoy!

Note: Recipe adapted from Food 52 Ice Cream and Friends by the Editors of Food 52. I’ve made this with mini chocolate chips instead of pretzels and it was great too.

#Dark Chocolate #Butter #Pretzels #Heavy Cream #Whole Milk #Sugar #Light Corn Syrup #Kosher Salt #Egg Yolks #Malted Milk Powder #Vanilla Extract

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lindafrancois · 5 years ago

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Frozen Desserts: Kidney-Friendly Summer Treats

Summer is finally here, time to enjoy the sun, beach and grilling. It’s hot outside and it’s time to cool off with some delicious frozen desserts. Sorbets, flavored ices and slushies are a great way to address that sweet tooth. Check out Luscious Low-Potassium Frozen Fruit Treats or see some of the recipes below. These dietitian approved sweet treats will hit the spot and impress your guests. Created for those with chronic kidney disease or dialysis, they are not only satisfying to your taste buds but they are low in potassium and phosphorus too.

Quick Fruit Sorbet

Frozen Cranberry Dessert

Strawberry Lemonade Slush

Watermelon Summer Cooler

Strawberry Sorbet

In the mood for ice cream? Frozen treats like ice cream, milk shakes and other milk-based recipes are often times limited on a dialysis diet because they are high in potassium and phosphorus. So we have provided a collection of mouthwatering recipes that have low phosphorus ingredients to replace milk. Give them a try and let us know what you think!

Home-Style Vanilla Ice Cream

Non-diary Ice Crème Sandwiches

Tropical Ice Cream Sandwiches

Blueberry Cream Cones

Citrus Shake

Carbohydrates

Did we mention that these recipes can also be worked into a diabetes meal plan? There’s between 13 to 36 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Enjoy one of these irresistible frozen desserts while still monitoring your sugar intake this summer.

Fluids

Are you watching your fluids or on a fluid restriction? Sometimes this is challenging. Remember any frozen food that becomes liquid at room temperature counts as fluid. Monitoring portion sizes is key. You can also try freezing berries or grapes and enjoy them as mini ice pops. Or making mini flavored ice pops by adding lemon or lime to individual ice cubes.

Regardless of your preference, we have something for everyone to enjoy. Following your kidney diet may be easier than you think. So sit back, relax and enjoy a frozen kidney-friendly treat with a DaVita.com recipe. Download the newest Today’s Kidney Diet Summer Cooldown cookbook to have a whole collection of recipes to try his summer.

Additional Kidney Diet Resources

Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:

DaVita Diet Helper online meal planner and tracker

DaVita Kidney-Friendly recipes

Today’s Kidney Diet cookbooks

Diet and Nutrition articles

Kidney Diet and Nutrition Hub

Kidney Smart® Classes taught by kidney experts in your area

Blog Standard Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding our specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.

Frozen Desserts: Kidney-Friendly Summer Treats published first on https://dietariouspage.tumblr.com/

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moleasia4-blog · 5 years ago