This post was sponsored by Noggin as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
School is officially out for the summer in our area, and I’ve got two little girls on my hands who are very excited about kicking off their summer vacation! My oldest daughter just completed Kindergarten and is absolutely thrilled to be promoted to first grade. While the 2020-2021 school year looked very different for kids across the globe, I’m super proud of how my girl faced those challenges and excelled in learning. Our biggest goal from this school year was learning to blend letter sounds and put them together to read words, and my girl has been crushing her goals and become a truly stellar early reader!
My girls were born into a world of incredible technology. They’re no strangers to having screen time on tablets, phones and occasionally computers. However, I’ve always made a very earnest effort to be very selective about what kind of material they view on said screens, as well as limiting the amount of time they’re spending on those devices. I know that interacting with technology and using devices with screens is always going to be a part of their lives, so I feel it’s important to show them how to develop and maintain a healthy relationship with screen time and how they can use technology to feed and fuel their growing noggins in some pretty powerful ways!
Going into this summer, I knew it was going to be crucial for my newly promoted first grader to keep her brain working and interacting with material that would not only help her maintain the new reading skills she’s learned this past year, but to also encourage growth with her reading so she can enter the new school year in the fall as a more confident and polished reader. While we have a ton of tangible books we plan to dig into over the summer, my daughter loves to read and interact with learning games on her tablet and on my phone.
My husband and I are pretty choosy when it comes to apps we let our children use. While we’ve purchased and utilized several learning apps over the years, my girls far and wide have preferred Noggin over all others. Noggin gives them the unique opportunity to interact with characters they know and love from their favorite shows on Nick Jr. The Noggin app is very user friendly and intuitive for not only a 6 year old to be able to navigate, but our 3 year old can also freely use the app with very little assistance needed. Not only does the Noggin app have interactive games to promote learning and literacy, it also has a built in feature to be able to watch full episodes of their favorite Nick Jr. tv shows, short clips, music videos to dance and sing along to, and an entire section dedicated to reading eBooks and story time. I have so much peace of mind letting my girls spend their allotted screen time exploring the Noggin app because I know they’re exercising their brain and learning new skills along the way.
Free Trial:
If you’re ready to join in on the fun, you can take advantage of a FREE 60-day trial of Noggin – available until June 30th, 2021!
Click here to start your free trial of Noggin!
Noggin thus far has been an incredible tool that is allowing us to have the ultimate smart-kid summer, and I especially love watching them learn and have fun alongside their favorite Nick Jr. characters! If you’re curious about Noggin and think it would be a great match for your child or a child that you know, make sure you take advantage of the extended 60-day free trial, available until June 30th, 2021!
What do you get a man that has just about everything? I always find myself scratching my head and asking myself this every year right before Father’s Day. My husband is a hard working man and the father of two little girls. He works tirelessly and loves endlessly, so picking out something special for him to celebrate his role as a father is important to me. He deserves the world, but I’m convinced if he tried to fit one more thing in that workshop of his, the room would bust at the seams and we’d have a big mess on our hands. He’s the king of gadgets and gizmos, and if he doesn’t have it in his shop, I can almost guarantee he’s got a part for it. And if you were to simply ask him, “Is there something special you’d like for Father’s Day?” he’d shrug, say he doesn’t know and that he doesn’t need anything. That’s always really helpful.
Even though I don’t usually receive a whole lot of clues about what the man wants, I’ve known him long enough to know that starting the day with a really nice breakfast is always guaranteed to make him smile. This tall stack of Bourbon Bacon French Toast is a Father’s Day favorite in our house, and the crispy layers of bacon paired with the bourbon or whiskey infused syrup make a really delicious combination!
I don’t know many people that don’t perk right up when they hear bacon sizzling in a pan. I use thick cut bacon in this recipe and make sure to cook extra in case there are any leftovers to enjoy the next morning. Bacon seldom makes it to the next day in our house, though. We really love bacon around here. I also selected an artisan bread that was thick, fluffy and had a beautiful crust on the outside. It soaked up the egg mixture perfectly without making the bread too soggy.
In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk together until well combined.
Preheat skillet or griddle to medium-low heat
Preheat oven to 350° F
Submerge 1 piece of bread into batter and allow to soak for about 30 seconds
Carefully remove bread and place on griddle. Cook for about 1 minute on each side
Set cooked french toast on a baking sheet. Once all french toast is cooked, place baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 12-15 minutes, or until french toast has become lightly golden and crispy around the edges
Layer pieces of cooked bacon throughout the stack of french toast when plating.
Combine 1/2 cup syrup with 1 Tbs bourbon and drizzle over pancakes. Serve immediately and enjoy!
My husband prefers his French toast to be crispy on the outside, so I always pop them in the oven for about 15 minutes after I cook them on the griddle. This is optional, but it gives it a nice touch! You can also change up the amount of bourbon in this recipe or leave it out all together depending on taste preferences. I added a little whiskey to the egg batter, plus added a smidge to the syrup to give it a nice flavor. The amount in this recipe gives a pretty subtle flavor, so you can tone it down or turn it up as you please.
Father’s Day falls on June 20th this year, so don’t forget to mark your calendars! Go ahead and stock up on the bacon and bread a few days in advance so you can sizzle up a nice tall stack of Bacon Bourbon French Toast for Father’s Day breakfast! Even if the father in your household is indecisive about what he wants for his big day, I can almost guarantee he wouldn’t be sad about sitting down to a plate of this French toast!
Old fashioned egg salad isn’t for everyone. I totally get that. For me, egg salad falls into my “trust issues” category when it comes to food. I love egg salad, but I don’t love everyone’s egg salad. I’ve been to too many potlucks where I bit into a tiny triangular egg salad sandwich, only to find that whoever made it put something crunchy in it, like raw onions. The audacity.
I’m teasing, of course. I know the way that I prefer my egg salad is not the same way that others might prefer it, but this particular post is to tell you about my absolute favorite way to eat egg salad, as it may be a little unconventional to some. If you want a sure fire way to hit a home run with your egg salad, you’ll need two things:
Cream cheese + Bacon
Real bacon. Not those artificial bacon bits. You’ll start with boiling your eggs, peeling and then separating the yolks from the whites. While the eggs are boiling, go ahead and get your bacon cooking. You’ll want to make sure when cooking your bacon that you don’t cook it to a crisp. You want the bacon to still be a little soft. It’s all fun and games until someone breaks a tooth hitting a piece of overcooked bacon in their egg salad. To quickly chop the bacon, I turn to these trusty herb shears to get the job done. If you don’t have a pair of herb shears in your kitchen, I highly recommend them!
Using a hand or a stand mixer, combine cooked egg yolks, softened cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Next, add in mayonnaise, sweet relish and a little salt and pepper to taste. Next, fold in the bacon pieces and diced egg whites. Cover and chill for about an hour before serving. Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!
(Note: This recipe is doubled to feed a larger crowd. Feel free to reduce the ingredients as you see fit.)
My favorite way to eat this Cream Cheese and Bacon Egg Salad is on a fresh croissant from the grocery store bakery. You can usually find them fresh daily in 4-6 count packs. I also like to add a little lettuce to mine. Sometimes, though, I just prefer it with club or Ritz crackers. You can’t go wrong either way!
Are you a fan of egg salad? (And completely out of curiosity – do you like onions in it? No shame, no shame!) If you’ve never tried egg salad with cream cheese and real bacon pieces in it, definitely give this Cream Cheese and Bacon Egg Salad a try! It’s a staple in my house during the summer months when sandwiches are on our lunch menu nearly every day!
This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ItsThePerfectMatch #PerfectSnackMatch
I’ll never forget the chills I felt and the excitement that filled the air as I walked down the street just hours before the huge soccer match took place. I was a young teenager on a European tour and was doing a homestay with a family at the time. The country I was visiting had their country’s flags pridefully hanging from every possible place they could. Chit chat on the street was only about futbol, or soccer as we know it here in the states. That evening the family tuned in to the match on TV, and our eyeballs didn’t move off of that television for one second.
The place I was staying was in the countryside. There were other houses nearby, but they were still a good distance off. The moment the announcer declared our team the winner, that entire countryside came alive. I could hear families erupting with joy, excitement, and overwhelming pride for their country and the men on the field who led their team to victory. It was such a cool experience to be able to share those moments in another country, and from that moment on my love for soccer became very real.
I love to catch soccer matches on TV as often as I can, and my oldest daughter has begun to take a serious interest in the sport. To help cultivate her budding interest, I decided to host a little soccer soirée for my family to enjoy while we catch UEFA Champions League matches on TV. I decorated a dedicated area in our home with a few decorations and a variety of game day snacks and treats that my daughter emphatically said were #goalworthy. To kick off our snack station on a winning note, I stopped at my local Publix to grab a few must-haves to make our soccer party a success.
Make sure you take advantage of the exclusive Pepsi offer at Publix to kick off your winning game day celebration!
Currently you can find specially marked Pepsi products with UEFA Champions League packaging stocked at your local Publix, and it was the first thing to go into my shopping cart as I was picking out our snacks. Pepsi has also released a fantastic new flavor, Pepsi Mango that’s a fun addition to kick up your game day a few notches. Pepsi and mango paired together is a winning match, and my family loves to treat ourselves to it while we watch the game!
When planning a soccer themed party, I kept the menu pretty basic, but made sure to elevate the snacks a little by using black and white colors to match traditional soccer balls. A simple boxed cake mix became the cutest little soccer themed cupcakes with icing piped on to look like grass, and a bag of pretzel rods were transformed into party pretzels using a little white melting chocolate with black sprinkles and chocolate drizzled on top!
My children have a set of small practice goals they love to play with outside, and much to my delight they were small enough to use as a tabletop decoration. I stationed the potato chips and dip inside the goal, and I layered a strip of artificial turf underneath like a table runner to give the table a simple soccer field feel. You can typically find artificial turf in rolls for cheap at your local hardware store! For savory snacks, I sliced rounds of summer sausage, cheese and pepperoni and arranged them on a tray with a few crackers. Pro tip: If you have any older trophies from years past, dust them off and use them as serving bowls!
While shopping at Publix I also spotted a few chocolate cream cookie sandwiches that had a green filling in the middle. I knew these would be perfect for a soccer themed party. I used some of the leftover melting chocolate from the pretzel rods and dipped the cookies in to give them a soccer-feel.
I also spotted square shaped pretzels, which look like miniature soccer nets to me. I drizzled a little bit of melted chocolate on them, too, and they were a total hit with all of the soccer-loving fans in our house! I lined the corner of the serving table with chilled Pepsi cans, a bucket of ice and party straws. I also cut a small section of artificial turf and used a little bit of craft paint to make a soccer field! I love the idea of doing something similar to make placemats for a soccer-themed tablescape!
I also sprinkled the table with specially marked UEFA Champions League Pepsi cans for extra decoration. My family has always loved drinking Pepsi, and I especially love that as a proud partner of the UEFA Champions League, Pepsi aims to enable fans to get closer to the sport of soccer, the tournaments and the players. In 2021, Pepsi is also continuing to empower the Hispanic community to unapologetically enjoy futbol by bringing fans closer to the most exciting matches, teams and players.
If you’re a fan of soccer and tune in to UEFA Champions League matches, grab a case of specially marked Pepsi products and game day snacks from your local Publix! Making a #goalworthy snack bar or tablescape is very easy to do, and it adds a layer of excitement to the viewing party while watching the game at home! When my daughter walked in the room and saw the soccer decorations, I could see excitement light up her eyes, just like it did when I was a teenager visiting Europe.
This post was sponsored by King’s Hawaiian as a part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
What makes a sandwich a truly good sandwich? Is it the quality of the ingredients? The combination of ingredients? Perhaps it’s sticking to the basics and not veering too far from the way it’s always been made, or maybe it’s adding a twist to a classic dish to elevate it and make it feel new. For me, the answer to that question lies somewhere in between all of those notions, but one thing is for certain; it always starts with the bread.
I’ve been a huge fan of KING’S HAWAIIAN® Bread since the moment I first sank in teeth into one of their delicious sweet rolls many years ago. If I’m being honest, I could eat half a pack of sweet rolls for a meal. That’s how good they are! So when I spotted their Original Sliced Hawaiian Sweet Bread on the shelves at my local Target, I filled my shopping bag with multiple loaves. Previously I had only had KING’S HAWAIIAN® rolls and slider buns, so the idea of making one of my favorite sandwiches and enjoying it between two beautiful pillows of sliced Hawaiian Bread sounded pretty amazing to me.
The panini press in our house gets a lot of love. There are few things I find quite as comforting as a hot sandwich filled with tender meat, gooey cheese and toasted buttered bread. With St. Patrick’s Day fresh on the brain this month, I whipped up these Corned Beef Patty Melts with a little bit of a twist. Traditional corned beef patty melts, or Reuben sandwiches are made with sauerkraut, but I love to add a fresh element to mine by using angel hair cabbage for an added crunch. Rye bread is also typically used when making Reubens, but making them with KING’S HAWAIIAN® Bread really took this sandwich to a whole new level!
Making hot sandwiches using KING’S HAWAIIAN® Bread has been a great way to warm up as the cold of winter begins to exit out area and spring arrives. It’s absolutely irresistible any way you slice it, and I truly believe every sandwich is better when you make it with KING’S HAWAIIAN® Bread!
If you’re looking for a simple and satisfying sandwich melt to sink your teeth into, here’s a printable version of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!
fresh angel hair cabbage or sauerkraut if preferred
Russian or Thousand Island for serving
Instructions
For Corned Beef Brisket:
Using a pressure cooker, add corned beef, onion, seasoning packet and 2 cups water to pressure cooker, seal properly and cook on high pressure for 1 hr 30 minutes
Allow pressure to release naturally, then remove corned beef brisket onto a serving plate and allow to rest before cutting. Be sure to cut the brisket diagonally against the grain to avoid the meat becoming stringy.
For the Sandwich:
On a slice of Sliced Hawaiian Bread, smear a thin layer of either Russian or Thousand Island dressing, followed by a slice of swiss cheese, corned beef, cabbage (or sauerkraut) and another piece of bread.
Lightly butter the outside of the bread and place in a panini press or cook in a pan on the stove until the bread is golden and toasted and the cheese is melted
Serve immediately with chips, a pickle and a little extra dressing for dipping
What makes a sandwich truly great in your eyes? Is it the ingredients? Is it the bread? Maybe it’s somewhere in between. Next time you’re at Target, swing by the bread aisle and grab a loaf or two of KING’S HAWAIIAN® Original Sliced Hawaiian Sweet Bread to elevate all of your sandwiches to a new level! Also be on the lookout for new Honey Wheat Sliced Bread when it launches at Target this coming April!
This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #sweetnessrevolution
We’re finally rounding the corner on our final weeks of winter, and each day when I go outside I can feel the warmth and promise of spring on my skin. Spring is such a glorious season filled with growth and newness, and one of my favorite ways to celebrate the arrival of spring is to support local farmers as they bring out their bundles of fresh produce grown in our area.
There is something so euphoric about sinking your teeth into a fresh, plump, and juicy strawberry. One bite sends me daydreaming of all the glorious fruits my family will be enjoying as we march onward into spring and summer. This weekend when I was reaching for my carton of strawberries in the refrigerator for a little pick-me-up snack, I had a pretty sweet idea for a way to “level-up” my love for strawberries with simple and decadent dessert – these no-bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Trifles!
No-bake cheesecake trifles are a simple dessert that requires minimal effort, so they’re easy to whip up, easy to serve, and fun to eat! I start with a bottom layer of cubed brownies, followed by a layer of cheesecake filling, topped with fresh strawberries, a simple strawberry compote, and a smidge of whipped cream on top! My not-so-secret weapon to making this dessert extra delicious is Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener in the brownies and strawberry compote, and Truvia® Sweet Complete® Confectioner’s Sweetener in the cream cheese filling. You can find both of these products online or in-store at your local Publix!
Perhaps one of my favorite things about using Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated Sweetener in my baking is that it measures cup-for-cup with sugar for replacement in any recipe. It’s sweetened with stevia, is Keto-friendly, and contains zero calories per serving, making it a perfect option for sweetening your coffee, tea, or baking and browning in your favorite treats!
For the base of these Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Trifles, I started with making a delicious brownie sweetened with Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated Sweetener and just 1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips to keep the sugar content of the brownies relatively low. I love using this brownie recipe when creating layered desserts because they make a firmer brownie instead of one that is super gooey and fudgy, making them perfect for dicing into cubes and maintaining their structure when layering cream cheese on top!
Once the brownies were out of the oven, I allowed them to cool before cubing. I then added a small handful of cubed brownie pieces into the bottom of a small serving jar. To make the cream cheese filling, I combined two 8 oz packages of softened cream cheese, 1 1/2 cup Truvia® Sweet Complete® Confectioner’s Sweetener and 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extra and blended until smooth and creamy.
Truvia® Sweet Complete® Confectioner’s Sweetener also measures and sweetens just like regular confectioners sugar in all of your favorite recipes, making it a perfect option if you’re looking to reduce the amount of traditional sugar used in your recipes. Once the cream cheese mixture was complete, I added it into a piping bag and piped a thick layer on top of the brownie pieces in the serving jar.
Next, I diced a small handful of fresh strawberries to add on top of the layer of cheesecake filling. The “icing on the cake” is this simple strawberry compote I whipped up to pour on top of the fresh strawberries. I make this same strawberry compote frequently on the weekends to serve on top of pancakes, waffles, and fresh pound cake!
To make the compote, simply add 2 cups fresh diced strawberries into a saucepan, followed by 1/2 cup Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated Sweetener, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 12-14 minutes, making sure to stir frequently. This process will break down the sugars in the strawberries, making a thick syrup-like concoction that pairs perfectly with these Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Trifles!
Once you layer a little strawberry compote on top, you can garnish the dessert with a little whipped topping if you like! Here’s a full version of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try:
Preheat oven to 350°F and spray an 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter completely and whisk in 1 cup Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated Sweetener
Add in eggs and vanilla and whisk thoroughly
Fold in melted chocolate
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in flour, cocoa powder and salt until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Pour into greased baking pan and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting into cubes to assemble strawberry cheesecake brownie trifles.
For Cheesecake Filling:
Using a mixer, beat together all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer mixture into piping bags and pipe a thick layer on top of brownie pieces in the serving jar
Set in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow the mixture to firm back up before adding the next layer.
Dice about 2 cups worth of fresh strawberries and add a handful on top of the cheesecake filling in each serving glass.
Strawberry Compote:
Add only 2 cups worth of the diced strawberries to a medium saucepan and add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and allow to simmer 12-14 minutes, being sure to stir occasionally. Sauce will gradually thicken and become syrup-like.
Remove from heat and allow to cool briefly
Add remaining 2 cups of fresh strawberries on top of the layer of cheesecake filling, followed by a spoonful of strawberry compote.
Next time you head out to your local Publix, make sure you grab this money-saving coupon! Right now, you can save $1.50 on any ONE (1) package of Truvia® Stevia Sweetener. Offer valid 3/18 – 4/15.
These Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Trifles are the perfect way to ring in the spring season, and swapping out traditional sugar and replacing it with Truvia® Sweet Complete® Sweeteners makes for a winning combination in my book! You can find both Truvia® Sweet Complete® Granulated Sweetener and Truvia® Sweet Complete® Confectioner’s Sweetener in the baking aisle at your local Publix, so be sure to grab that coupon before your next shopping trip!
What will you be sweetening this spring with your Truvia® Sweet Complete® Sweeteners? Leave a comment below and share the love!
I received the mentioned products in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed below are 100% my own. I only promote what I truly love!
Our sweet little Laken has had quite a busy month. Last week she had surgery on her eyes to correct a muscle issue that we first began to see signs of back in August of 2020. The procedure was outpatient and she came through it with such resilience. We are so grateful that the surgery was a success, and we’ve been spending her recovery time with lots of snuggles and story reading.
Before her surgery, I received a copy of this Personalized Encyclopedia for Kids from In The Book. In The Book is a personalized book publisher that has a wide variety of books for all ages, and all books have the option of being customized with the name(s) of your loved ones. When I was a child, my parents purchased a custom made book for me that had my own name tucked within the pages, and it brought me such delight as an early reader to see my name featured in the story. When I discovered In The Book, I was thrilled by the idea of creating something very similar for my own child.
I selected the Personalized Encyclopedia for Kids because my daughter is at a stage where her curiosity is truly beginning to bloom, and as she’s learning her letters, I thought this book would be an excellent tool for discovering and learning about a wide variety of topics that being with each letter of the alphabet. The book is very colorful, packed with beautiful imagery and features her name on the cover and on every single page inside the book. She loves spotting her name on each page, and the grin on her face each time she does melts my heart every time!
Many of the books available at In The Book also offer the option to add a special message to the recipient at the very beginning of the book, and some also offer the option of adding a photo of the child to the back page! In The Book also has exclusive Disney licensing, and their variety of books featuring everyone’s beloved Disney characters is absolutely fantastic!
There is also a category on the In The Book website featuring books for grown-ups, with numerous options for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Anniversary gifts, customized Bibles and so much more!
GIVEAWAY ALERT:
If you’d love to snag your own personalized copy of the Encyclopedia for Kids from In The Book, hop on over to my Instagram page to enter for your chance to win! The giveaway will run from 3/9/21 – 3/16/21. The giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over and is not affiliate with Instagram. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm CST on 3/16/21.
If you’re looking for a unique or personalized gift for a child or adult, be sure to swing by In The Book and browse their selection of personalized books for all ages! There’s even a current discount code for 20% off your purchase when you use code BOOK20 at checkout! I’d love to hear which book from In The Book you’d love to have in your own personal collection. Leave a comment below and share your favorites!
St. Patrick’s Day has been heavy on my brain for the last few weeks, and last weekend I decided to do a little fusion of Irish and Asian cuisine when I made these scrumptious Corned Beef & Cabbage Egg Rolls! They’re very similar to a classic reuben, only wrapped up and fried to golden perfection and dipped in a little thousand island!
Y’all already know how I feel about egg rolls. You’ve seen them quite a few times here on Southern Made Simple! (Cajun Dirty Rice Egg Rolls, BBQ Egg Rolls, Taco Egg Rolls, Sweet Potato Casserole Egg rolls – just to name a few!) I’m not sure what my fascination is exactly, but I just can’t get enough of them. They’re a great appetizer that you get to eat with your hands, and honestly what’s not to love about that?!
Usually during this time of year you can find corned beef brisket for a pretty good price in the supermarkets. My friend Kathleen over at Grits and Gouda has a wonderful and simple tutorial for how to cook your corned beef in the Instant Pot, which is exactly how I cooked mine to make these corned beef & cabbage egg rolls!
To make these egg rolls, simply prepare the brisket and allow it to cool. Shred the brisket as finely as you can, then layer a small amount onto an egg roll wrapper, followed by a layer of shredded swiss cheese and then a layer of shredded angel hair cabbage. Roll it all up, drop it in the fryer for a few minutes and voila!
Here’s a printable version of the full recipe if you’d like to give it a try:
3-4lbsCorned Beef Brisket + seasoning packet included with corned beef
1mediumonionsliced
2cupswater
For Egg Rolls:
1packageegg roll wrappersyou can find these in the produce section
1bagshredded angel hair cabbage
2cupsshredded swiss cheese
Shredded corned beef brisket
Thousand Island for dipping
oil for frying
Instructions
For Corned Beef Brisket:
To prepare the corned beef brisket, I use my Instant Pot. Place brisket inside Instant pot and pour water, seasoning packet and onion on top. (If you don't want to use an Instant pot, prepare the brisket according to package instructions if available)
Secure lid and make sure the valve is set to seal.
Set Instant Pot to manual high pressure and cook for 1 1/2 hours
Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for roughly 15 minutes, then do a quick release.
Remove brisket to a cutting board or large plate and allow to rest until mostly cool.
Shred the brisket with a fork, and then use a knife to cut the shredded meat into smaller portions to make wrapping in an egg roll wrapper easier.
To Assemble Egg Rolls:
Preheat oil in deep fryer to 350 F
Lay egg roll wrapper sideways with one corner pointing towards you.
About 1/4 of the way up the egg roll wrapper, layer a small portion of shredded corned beef, followed by shredded swiss cheese and then shredded cabbage. Be careful not to overfill. Roll the wrapper carefully, tucking in sides midway through the roll. Seal edges with either water or an egg wash.
Start by frying just one egg roll at a time - submerge egg roll in preheated oil for 4-5 minutes, turning once during cook time.
Remove from oil and transfer to wire rack to drip off excess oil. Cut into egg roll to make sure it is fully cooked all the way through. If not, adjust your cook time slightly.
Fry remaining batch of egg rolls and serve with Thousand Island sauce or your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
If you have extra egg rolls left over, I’ve found that they reheat best when popped in an air fryer for a few minutes. I like to dip mine in thousand island dressing, but Russian dressing or even a BBQ sauce would be a great option! While this dish isn’t truly an Irish dish, it’s still a fun little twist on the classic Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage dish, and it’s a perfect appetizer to serve for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
Looking for a few more St. Patrick’s Day inspired dishes? Here’s a few you might like!
These Bailey’s No Bake Cheesecake Trifles are a wonderful way to ring in St. Patrick’s Day! With a hint of Bailey’s Irish Cream and a few sprinkles on top, what’s not to love?
Earlier last week I shared a scrumptiously indulgent breakfast using traditional Irish Soda Bread and transformed it into a bread pudding using Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur. St. Patrick’s Day is something I’m leaning a little more into these days. I’ve been finding so much joy and value in learning about my heritage and Irish culture, and my favorite ways to do that are through music and food.
And speaking of Irish music, I highly recommend giving the song The Rattlin’ Bog a listen. It’s a classic Irish song that’s been around for what seems like forever. Be warned – it’s insanely catchy, so you might get it stuck in your head for days. My kids have been bouncing off of the walls for days chanting it. 😉
Since I had the bottle of Bailey’s on hand from my previous recipe, I decided to give it a whirl in a no-bake cheesecake dessert. No bake cheesecakes are my jam. I especially love serving them in these small little parfait jars that I found on Amazon. They’re a perfect small-sized portion for an indulgent treat such as these!
I start with a layer of crushed ginger snaps. You can use crushed graham crackers, but I really love the bite of ginger paired with the liqueur. The cream cheese mixture is simple – 2 bricks of cream cheese, 1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar and 1/4 cup Bailey’s. Spoon a small amount of gingersnap crumbs into the bottom of the serving glasses. Then pipe the cream cheese filling into the jars and set in the refrigerator for a bit to firm back up. Top with whipped topping and a few sprinkles and you’ve got a sweet St. Patrick’s Day treat!
Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!
How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Do you have a favorite way of celebrating? Will you be adding these Bailey’s No Bake Cheesecake Trifles to your menu? Leave a comment below and share the love!
Growing up right next door to the peanut capital of the world in the wiregrass region of Alabama, I’m no stranger to the importance of peanuts and the impact they have had in our great state. I am the proud granddaughter of a peanut farmer who farmed peanuts in Dale County for over 65 years, starting at the young age of 13. My hometown of Enterprise, AL has a statue seated in the center of downtown dedicated to the boll weevil, which crippled the cotton industry and forced farmers to turn to peanuts in order to keep their farms and families alive. The growth of peanut production had a profound impact on the economy, and now approximately half of all peanuts produced in the United States are grown right here in Alabama.
March 1st kicks off National Peanut Month, and what better way to celebrate the crop that turned our state around than with a peanut-themed snack board filled to the brim with all sorts of peanut concoctions and confections! My family loves to make snack boards on the weekend and graze on them all throughout the day. Making a peanut-themed snack board is perfect for getting a good dose of protein and many other nutrients. Peanuts are actually considered a superfood as they deliver superior health benefits in a very small serving. In fact, studies have shown that small amounts of peanut consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Grabbing a handful of lightly salted peanuts to snack on is an excellent choice for your health, and indulging in the goodness of creamy peanut butter cup or peanut butter cookie is certainly good for the soul!
Included in my peanut-themed snack board are peanuts served 4 ways: boiled, roasted, sugar roasted and parched. Each way is deliciously different from the next, and it offers a little something for everybody to accommodate their taste preferences. Boiled peanuts are certainly the way to my heart and will always take first prize in my book, but sugar roasted peanuts come in at a respectable second.
Also included in my peanut-themed snack board is an assortment of peanut goodies, such as peanut butter cookies, peanut butter cups, peanut butter flavored cereal, various peanut candies and a small bowl of peanut butter to spread on graham crackers. Adding a small bowl of jelly to the board is also a fun idea and allows snackers to make their own mini PB&J crackers!
I’ve always felt that peanuts are a part of my DNA. There’s just something so euphoric about pulling fresh peanuts off the vine, cracking open a parched peanut at a ball game, or dropping a batch of green peanuts into a pot to boil. I’ll always remember the amazing smell of the peanut mills driving through my hometown growing up, and I’ll always be grateful for the impact they had on my grandfather’s family as the years went on.
Throughout the month of march, I encourage you to intentionally incorporate peanuts into your diet and to scope out ways to support local farmers and purchase peanuts grown right here in Alabama. It may not be harvest season, but you can still shop local and benefit Alabama farmers by visiting your local co-op to find a variety of peanuts to stock your own peanut-themed snack board!
