Home Cookin'

How to Make a Kid Friendly Charcuterie Board

January 8, 2021 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LANDOFROSTLUNCHES

As we’re marching onward into the new year, I’ve been reflecting on many of the changes and transitions my family made during the previous year. One of my goals for 2021 is to find ways to make those transitions we made feel a little more seamless in our daily lives, particularly the large transition of moving from traditional school to homeschool for my oldest daughter. Keeping a semi-flexible schedule and daily routine is important for all of us in the house, but keeping things fresh, fun and interesting is a top priority when it comes to not only school work, but preparing our meals as well.

One way I’m changing things up this year is letting my oldest daughter be much more hands-on in the kitchen during lunch time. While we aren’t ready to dive right into cooking with precise measurements, cook times and ingredients just yet, I still want her to become familiar with putting balanced meals together and show her that she can use her creativity in the kitchen just like she does in the classroom. One of our favorite ways to do that is to create kid friendly charcuterie boards filled with a balance of interesting colors, textures and wholesome goodies to fuel us through lunch and snack time!

Traditionally, charcuterie boards feature cured meats, dried fruits, cheeses and nuts. However, the beauty of creating charcuterie boards or “snack” boards is that there truthfully isn’t a wrong way to do it. The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can add to your own board! Because we love to make these boards to serve for lunch and then to munch on later in the afternoon for snack, I love to add fresh meats, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, a variety of cheeses and crackers.

One piece of advice that I feel is important when creating a charcuterie board with your children – listen to their cues when it comes to filling up the serving platter. If your child is easily over stimulated, scaling back on the variety of foods you include may be a good idea. On the flip side, you may have a little one who wants ALL the snacks, and that’s okay, too! Creating a charcuterie board is a great way to learn about the food pyramid and all of the different food groups. Let them pull things from the pantry and refrigerator that they truly love, all while showing them how to incorporate healthy and balanced options onto the board!

At the beginning of the week, I always make out my Publix shopping list and try to make sure I have plenty of fresh produce and other ingredients to build a charcuterie board on hand. In addition to fruits and veggies, I love to keep a variety of Land O’ Frost® premium meats on hand – particularly Land O’ Frost® Premium Meat Oven Roasted Turkey Breast and Land O’ Frost® Premium Meat Old World Style Black Forest Ham. These meats are a go-to staple for my family as they’re a healthy and affordable protein, contain no added hormones, no artificial flavors, and no by-products. Plus, Land O’ Frost is a family owned company, and I love having a large variety of products and flavors to choose from while shopping at my local Publix.

To add a little “pizzazz” to our charcuterie boards, I taught my daughter how to fold the meat accordion style and keep it in place using toothpicks. Not only was this a fun way to make our board look extra pretty, but it was also a great tool for improving her hand-eye coordination! We used cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of cheese slices, and this can also easily be done with the slices of meat on the board.

Here are a few of the things we added to our board to give you some ideas for how to create your own kid friendly charcuterie board:

Fresh Fruit (grapes, strawberries, blueberries)

Dried Fruit (raisins, yogurt covered cranberries)

Meat (we use Land O’ Frost® Oven Roasted Turkey Breast and Old World Style Black Forest Ham)

Nuts or granola

A variety of cheeses

Fresh Veggies (carrot sticks, broccoli, etc.)

Fruit Dip or Veggie Dip

Crackers or pretzels

Cured Meats (if your children are into it. We chose pepperoni!)

We’re looking forward to getting really creative in the kitchen in 2021 and perfecting our charcuterie board skills while learning about the importance of making mealtime balanced and fun. Next time you’re making your grocery list, make sure you swing by your local Publix to pick up all of your charcuterie boards needs, including Land O’ Frost premium meats to make your charcuterie board complete!

What things are you looking forward to in 2021? What are some of your favorite things to add to a charcuterie board? Leave a comment below and share your ideas! Happy New Year, friends!

2 Ingredient Fruit Dip

January 6, 2021 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This 2 ingredient Fruit Dip is so simple, sweet and versatile! It’s a must-make if you love to make charcuterie or snack boards, and it also makes an awesome topping for pancakes, French toast, etc.!

Charcuterie and snack boards have grown tremendously in popularity over the last 2-3 years it seems, and I am absolutely a fan of the craze. Not only are they a beautiful and an aesthetically pleasing way to serve finger foods for a gathering, but they’re also a perfectly acceptable way to transition snacks into a meal when cooking is the farthest thing from your mind. When I break out the giant serving platter and start pulling snacks out of the pantry and fridge, my family knows that this mama isn’t cooking anything else the rest of the day.

You may recall some of the charcuterie boards I’ve done in the past. My Halloween Charcuterie Board is a favorite of mine, and I also have a Sweet & Savory Charcuterie Board, a Spring-themed Charcuterie board and the Ultimate Summer Charcuterie board on the blog if you’re looking for a few ideas when creating your own. I love to incorporate a mix of both fresh and dried fruits on the boards I create, and I love to have a dip to serve alongside the fresh fruit or to smear on top of crackers.

Making a fruit dip is super simple, and this 2 Ingredient Fruit Dip is a go-to for me when making charcuterie boards. All you need to whip up this dip is a container of whipped topping and a container of strawberry (or whatever flavor you prefer) cream cheese!

Here’s a free printable copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try:

Print Recipe

2 Ingredient Fruit Dip

Ingredients

1 8 oz container Cool Whip thawed
1 8 oz container strawberry cream cheese spread softened

Instructions

Using a hand or stand mixer, combine thawed whipped topping and softened cream cheese and mix until smooth and there are no chunks of cream cheese left.
Serve immediately and refrigerate any leftovers.
Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

If you want to lighten this dip up just a bit, you can swap out the whipped topping with a sugar free variety, or you can even make your own from scratch!

This recipe will make more fruit spread than you’ll need for a charcuterie board, so my favorite thing to do with the leftovers is to serve it on top of French toast, pancakes or smeared over a bagel of piece of toast for breakfast.

Looking for more Charcuterie Board Inspiration? Check out these posts right here on Southern Made Simple!

Spring Charcuterie Board | Ultimate Summer Charcuterie Board | Sweet and Savory Charcuterie Board | Halloween Charcuterie Board

Sugar Roasted Peanuts

December 29, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Peanuts! Get your peanuts! Sugar roasted peanuts are a scrumptious snack that are very easy to make, and if you package them up and tie a ribbon around them, they make a wonderful treat to share with a friend! Growing up right next door to the peanut capital of the world, peanuts have always played a significant role in my life and the community that I was raised in. As the granddaughter of a peanut farmer, I’ve learned quite a bit over the years about the economical importance this tiny nut has had not only on my own family, but on the state of Alabama as a whole. They’re arguably one of the most important crops grown on American soil, and they’re loaded with important nutrients that just might surprise you!

During peanut harvest season in the early fall, I shared my recipe for Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts – which are a true southern delicacy that most folks around here just can’t get enough of. I’ve even been known to eat them for breakfast, truth be told. While boiled peanuts are undoubtedly my favorite way to snack on these lovely little legumes, these sugar roasted peanuts come in at a close second.

Most people know that peanuts are a great source of protein, but did you know that incorporating a handful of peanuts into your daily diet can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and promote healthier cholesterol levels? (You can read more about the health benefits of peanuts here.) Peanuts are actually classified as a superfood, which further proves that not all heroes wear capes! 😉

These sugar roasted peanuts, or “candied peanuts” are vey easy to make. In fact, I use the same recipe when making my Sugar Roasted Pecans! I frequently make these around the holidays or for special occasions, but they’re great to make and eat any time of year. I love to add them to charcuterie boards, too! Here’s a free printable copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe

Sugar Roasted Peanuts

Ingredients

1 16 oz container unsalted dry roasted peanuts
1 egg white
4 tsp water
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1 cup white granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 250 F
Line baking sheet with parchment paper
Using a mixer, beat egg white until frothy. Add in water and vanilla and continue mixing
Stir in cinnamon, sugar and salt
Add in peanuts and coat with egg mixture completely using a large spoon
Spread the peanuts evenly on to the baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, being sure to stir every 15 minutes
Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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The photo below is of my 2 year old daughter sneaking a peanuts while I was trying to photograph them. She crawled up in my lap while the camera was still in my hand, so I kept snapping photos to capture the sweet moment!

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these other peanut favorites found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts | No Bake Peanut Butter Pie | Peanut Butter Fudge | Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats | Peanut Butter Corn Flake Candy

Venison Sausage Balls

December 27, 2020 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

We’re currently in the heart of deer season here in south Alabama, and my husband has been in the woods quite a bit lately trying to make sure our freezer is stocked with venison to last us a full year until next year’s deer season begins. These venison sausage balls are a quick, simple, no-fuss and no-fail appetizer that I love to whip up any ol’ time, but especially on game days when college football is on the big screen.

These sausage balls only call for a handful of ingredients, and they take about 15 minutes to cook all the way through in the oven. My husband loves to eat them by themselves, but I personally love to dip them in a little bit of pepper jelly or drizzle a smidge of syrup over them to give them a bite of sweetness. If I’m lucky and there’s any leftovers the next morning, I love to pop them in the microwave and have them for breakfast!

While this recipe calls for ground venison sausage, you can easily adapt this recipe to use pork sausage. If you want to spice things up a tad, spring for a spicy sausage blend instead of using mild! I use a combination of shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella in the mixture because I believe the mozzarella adds in a little extra moisture to keep them from feeling dry. You can experiment with different cheeses if you so choose, and even add in a little creole or cayenne pepper to give them so extra flavor!

To make sure my sausage balls are even in size so they will all cook evenly, I love to use a click-release cookie scoop and plop them right on top of the baking sheet without getting my hands dirty. If you happen to have any leftovers, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for 4-5 days, but they’ve certainly never lasted that long in my household!

Here’s a free printable copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups Bisquik baking mix
1 lb ground venison or ground pork sausage
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2/3 cup whole milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 F
Using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and blend until well combined
Use a cookie scoop or your hands to roll out dough into ping-pong sized balls and place on a greased baking sheet
Bake for 15-17 minutes
Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

Looking for more great venison recipes? Check out these recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

And while you’re at it, check out this roundup of other amazing venison recipes!

Do you have a favorite venison recipe you’d love to share? Or maybe a favorite game day (or any day) appetizer that’s your go-to this time of year? What would you pair with these venison sausage balls? Leave a comment below and share the love!

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes

December 17, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Southeastern Mills as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

For me, holiday cooking and baking is all about bringing out those family favorite recipes that exude comfort and nostalgia. Especially during a year that proved to be quite trying and difficult, I believe we all could use a little more comfort food to help warm our spirits and fill our bellies with goodness as we near the end of this year. Some of my absolute favorite comfort foods that we love to eat near the holidays are cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, freshly carved turkey and a little gravy to go with it all.

And for those holiday feasts where comfort foods are often in abundance, sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge to “spruce” up the leftovers and enjoy them in a new and exciting way. Personally, I’m not a big fan of leftovers. I’ll eat leftovers once, maybe twice, and then I’m ready to move on, even if it is some of my favorite comfort foods. After Thanksgiving this year, I got a little experimental with our leftovers and created the ultimate holiday comfort food dish…with a twist. These Turkey and Dressing Loaded Baked Potatoes are a perfect portion of pillow-soft buttery baked potatoes, topped with homemade cornbread dressing, turkey, brown gravy and a smidge of cranberry sauce on top. Truthfully, I may never want these classic holiday dishes any other way now!

Cornbread dressing is a popular side dish in the southern portion of the United States. While others enjoy “stuffing” during the holidays, my family prefers cornbread dressing made with Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix. I keep a variety of Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes on hand at all times. The made from scratch quality you find in Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes make meal prep easy and convenient any time of year, but especially right here at the holidays. The cornbread dressing made with Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix is a star ingredient in these loaded baked potatoes, and I love the that I’m able to simply mix, bake and enjoy perfect cornbread every time I pour the batter into a skillet. Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes are the perfect complement to any meal, and they can be used in so many unique and non-traditional ways!

When making cornbread dressing, you’ll want to make your cornbread a day or two in advance. You’ll start by preparing two packages of Southeastern Mills Cornbread mix according to package instructions. Allow it to cool completely, then crumble into very fine little pieces inside a gallon sized resealable bag. Seal it up and set it aside until you’re ready to prepare the dressing.

Freshly carved turkey is my favorite thing to serve alongside dressing, and pouring a little Southeastern Mills Roast Turkey Gravy Mix on top is like the icing on the cake. I love to serve gravy on top of mashed potatoes as well, so including it in these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes to achieve the ultimate comfort food just felt so right.

Making these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes is as easy as 1-2-3. You’re basically just layering up those classic holiday dishes and using the potato as the vessel. You’ll start with a baked potato. You can bake them in the oven, or cook them in an instant pressure cooker to speed up the process a little bit. Once your potato is cooked, add a little salt and butter if you like.

Next, spoon in a little bit of cornbread dressing, and use a fork to gently incorporate the dressing a little into the potato. Then, shred some turkey and add it on top of the potato. As I mentioned earlier, this is a really great way to get creative with holiday meal leftovers if you’re looking for a fun and delicious way to jazz up the giant turkey you prepared for the holidays!

Finally, it’s time to top the potato with your favorite turkey and dressing toppings. Some people prefer gravy, other people prefer cranberry sauce, and then there are those people (I’m raising my hand high over here) that love to add both! The Roast Turkey Gravy Mix from Southeastern Mills was the perfect touch to top off these baked potatoes, and taking that first bite into this unconventional baked potato was truly comfort food at its finest!

If you’d like to jazz up those holiday leftovers like I did, or if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to serve up traditional holiday menu items, you can find my recipe for these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes, including the cornbread dressing below!

Print Recipe

Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

For Cornbread Dressing

2 packages Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix prepared
6-8 slices white sandwich bread gently torn into thumb size pieces
2 large yellow or white onions very finely chopped
1 bunch celery both ends removed and very finely chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 26 oz family size can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Tbs rubbed sage
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For Baked Potato

3-4 large russet potatoes baked
2-3 cups cooked shredded turkey
1 package Southeastern Mills Turkey Gravy Mix prepared
Cranberry Sauce if desired

Instructions

For Cornbread Dressing

Prepare cornbread according to package instruction and allow to cool completely
Crumble cornbread into very fine pieces and seal in a sealable zipper bag and set aside over night
Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
Combine very finely diced onions and celery in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the top of the onions and celery
Boil until the celery is good and tender, or to your liking. Do not drain. You'll use the broth off of the vegetables in the dressing.
Transfer crumbled corn bread to a very large mixing bowl and place torn white bread right on top - do not stir in
Pour onion and celery mixture over cornbread, followed by the can of cream of chicken, 2 cups chicken broth, and your seasonings.
Pour into greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until bubbling and a nice thin crust has formed around the edges. Serve immediately

Assembling Baked Potato:

Layer prepared cornbread dressing, shredded turkey, Southeastern Mills Roast Turkey Gravy and cranberry sauce (if desired) and enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

Do you have a favorite way to jazz up holiday leftovers? Incorporating Southeastern Mills gravy and baking mixes into your holiday meals is a great way to elevate your meals with a made-from-scratch quality, so be sure to keep an eye out for them during your next grocery store run!

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

December 11, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

The house is quite as I’m sitting here typing this, sipping my coffee. My children are nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of every single toy they circled with a red crayon in the Target Christmas Catalog dance in their heads. The aroma coming from the kitchen is slowly creeping its way throughout the rest of the house, and I can hardly wait to sit down at the table with my family and a bowl full of this Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole. Oh, if only I could capture the scent of this dish in a candle. It smells exactly like Christmas, and not the candy-cane or evergreen tree scent so many people try to make it. It smells like true homemade holiday magic, and the smell isn’t even the best part!

French toast casseroles are pretty popular around here. I make them for my family quite a bit. I’ve made Strawberry French Toast Casserole, Mixed Berry French Toast Casserole, and I’ve even made a Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole, but there’s just something about this gingerbread version that really steals the show. Personally, I’m a huge fan of molasses and ginger together. Gingerbread in general gives me those warm-fuzzy Christmas feelings, and adding a little powdered sugar and maple syrup on top? Honey, that’s some sho’ nuff certified goodness.

I typically use a loaf of Italian bread from the bakery at my grocery store to make any french toast casserole. Walmart always sells their loaves for $1 each, which is much cheaper than what you’ll find down the bread aisle! I simply slice the bread into thumb-sized pieces and toast them in the oven for about 15 minutes. Next, I whip up the egg mixture with a variety of spices typically found in gingerbread. Of course, molasses and ground ginger are a must in this recipe. I recommend using a milder version of molasses over blackstrap for this recipe. Then, pour the egg mixture over the bread crumbs, cover, and refrigerate overnight for best results before baking.

Try not to get too hung up on the “overnight” part of this recipe, though. If you don’t have that kind of time, don’t worry about it! You can certainly pop it into the oven right away if you need it in a hurry. It’ll still be fabulous, I promise! 😉

The cinnamon sugar crumble on top is probably my favorite part of this recipe. It gives a slight crunch that soaks up the warm syrup perfectly. Here’s a copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

For French Toast Casserole

1 loaf Italian bread cubed
8 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves

For Crumble Topping

1 stick cold salted butter cubed
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions

Cube loaf bread into small pieces and toast in over at 300 F for 15 minutes
Remove from oven and pour bread cubes in a greased 9x13 casserole dish
Preheat oven to 350 F
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, molasses, vanilla and spices
Pour egg mixture over the bread. Cover dish and set in refrigerator overnight or for at least 4 hours. See note.
Bake for 20 minutes, then add topping and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
Serve with maple syrup and/or powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Notes

For best results, allow bread mixture to set in refrigerator overnight or for a few hours before baking. However, baking at this point will be fine as well if you are in a hurry.

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

What do you love to make for breakfast during the holidays? Leave a comment below and share the love!

Looking for more recipes similar to this Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole? Check out these favorites found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Strawberry French Toast Bake | Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake | Mixed Berry French Toast Bake | Molasses Cookies | White Chocolate Drizzled Gingerbread Stars

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

December 9, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Do you have a really good, classic, no-fail and dependable chocolate chip cookie recipe that you love to reach for when a cookie craving comes along? If not, allow me to introduce you to the new love in your life. Seriously. These Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are lightly crispy on the outside, perfectly soft and chewy on the inside and have an irresistible buttery and brown sugar flavor with the perfect chocolate chip-to-cookie ratio. I may be tooting my own horn a little bit here, but I’d say these chocolate chip cookies are pretty darn close to perfect.

Chocolate chip cookies are the most googled cookie recipe of all time, and that holds especially true during the holidays. Many folks are grasping at things that bring them comfort and joy during this time of year, and that means savoring classic recipes that they know are good. And honestly, I think chocolate chip cookies would even bring the Grinch himself a little bit of joy and happiness. I’ve never seen a grumpy person with a stack of cookies and a glass of milk in their hands. 😉

The base of this recipe may look a little familiar to you, as it’s the same dough that I use in my Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies that I shared just a few weeks ago. It’s my go-to cookie dough for just about any cookie, especially ones that I really want to have that soft-batch bakery feel.

Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup salted butter room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbs vanilla flavoring
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp corn starch
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer, combine butter, white sugar and brown sugar
Add in vanilla and egg and mix until incorporated
Slowly add in flour, baking soda and corn starch and mix until soft, thick dough forms
Add in chocolate chips and stir until just combined
Refrigerate 1 hour or longer (Don't skip this step!)
Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or use a non-stick silicone baking mat
Once dough is thoroughly chilled, roll or scoop into 1 1/2-2 inch balls and place an inch or more apart
Bake for 10-11 minutes. *Cookies will appear undercooked when first removed from the oven. Do not cook any longer - the cookies will continue to set while left to cool on the cookie sheet.
Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

By the way, here’s a few of my must-haves in the kitchen when it comes to baking cookies. There’s still time to let Santa know about these items if you’re adding them to your wish list!

When these cookies first come out of the oven, they’re going to look a little undercooked. That’s exactly what you want them to look like. I promise. They’ll continue to cook a little while they’re cooling on the cookie sheet, and the texture will be everything you’ve ever wanted a cookie to be. You’ll definitely be going back for seconds and thirds. And then you’ll go back for another one to dunk into your coffee the next morning. I’m just speaking from experience here. 😉

If you like this recipe for Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, be sure to check out these other great recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies | Molasses Cookies | Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies | Soft Batch Candy Corn Cookies | Strawberry Milkshake Cookies

What types of cookies will you be baking during this holiday season? Do you like to try new-to-you recipes, or do you prefer to stick to the classics? Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite kinds of cookies. I always love to hear what’s cooking in your kitchen!

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

December 3, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Since we put up our Christmas tree and decorations last week, we’ve been spending a lot of family time watching kid friendly Christmas movies almost every night. We turn all of the lights in the house off except for the tree, lighted garland and a few flameless candles, and my two girls have been absolutely mesmerized over the new ambiance that the Christmas lights bring. Even though our girls are very young and their attention span can’t last the length of the movie, we still enjoy the time we spend together. I’ve also enjoyed making a special treat for us to munch on while we all curl up together and watch. Popcorn is always a must when watching movies, and I love to zhoosh it up a bit and make it feel a little more Christmas-y. This White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn is the perfect blend of sweet and salty, and has been the perfect movie snack for us all to enjoy while watching the big screen!

When I was in college, I worked at the local movie theater for about 2 1/2 years to help pay for my wedding. During that time I sort of had a love-hate relationship with popcorn. Sure, freshly buttered popcorn smells absolutely amazing, but for the entirety of those 2 1/2 years I smelled like popcorn too. My clothes, car, even my bedroom smelled like popcorn. I had to nearly crawl inside the giant popper each night to disassemble and clean the machine, and you would be amazed at how quickly that “extra butter” can get all over everything.

So all that is to say, I never really popped popcorn very much after I left my job there. Popcorn was my supper many a night when I was working late, and I always felt that I had had my fill of it. But every now and then I circle back around to it, and adding fun toppings like melted white chocolate and crushed peppermint candies makes this snack irresistible!

If you find yourself curling up on the couch this season to enjoy your favorite Christmas movies, here’s a few of my favorite things to cozy up with on movie night!

And if you want to spruce up your popcorn and make it feel a little more festive, here’s a free printable copy of the recipe for you to try!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

2 bags buttered popcorn popped
1 8oz bag Wilton White Chocolate Melts
1/8 tsp peppermint extract
1 tsp fine red sugar sprinkles (feel free to add more or less!)
10-12 peppermints crushed

Instructions

Pop popcorn according to package instructions, set aside
In a microwave safe bowl, pour in chocolate melts and microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted
While chocolate is melting in microwave, carefully crush peppermints
Pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl and pour melted chocolate, crushed peppermints and sprinkles and stir until well coated
Pour popcorn onto a baking sheet and spread out to dry
After about 15-20 minutes, the chocolate should be dry and the popcorn is ready to eat. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

And if you’re looking for a bit of a different flavor profile for your popcorn on movie night, check out these recipes for Caramel Apple Bourbon Popcorn and Smokin’ Sriracha Popcorn!

Are you enjoying watching holiday movies this Christmas season? What are some of your favorite movies and snacks to enjoy? I’m always looking for a good recommendation! Leave a comment below and share the love!

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

November 28, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This recipe for Cranberry Banana Nut Bread is one of my favorite things to bake during the holiday season. When it’s sweet aroma fills my kitchen as it’s baking, it has a special way of giving me those warm and fuzzy feelings that only the Christmas season can bring. The tartness of the cranberries paired with the sweetness of the bananas makes a wonderful combination, and it’s absolutely delightful with a pad of butter smeared on top and a cup of coffee to go with it!

Little known fact about me: I do not like bananas. At all. You won’t ever find a banana pudding recipe or a banana cream pie here on Southern Made Simple. Even their smell bothers me. I have to turn my head away when I’m peeling one for my daughters to eat. Banana flavored things such as pudding or candies are also a hard pass for me. However, oddly enough, the one exception to my strange distaste for bananas is banana nut bread. And I don’t just like banana nut bread, I love it.

And when I get lucky enough to have a few bananas on the counter that my daughters are no longer interested, I know exactly what I’m going to make with them. Cranberries freeze decently, so this time of year when the grocery stores have plenty of them on hand, I like to buy extra and keep them in the freezer so that I can pull them out and bake with them throughout the first few months of the year.

This cranberry banana nut bread is perfectly moist with golden brown edges that have the perfect amount of “crunch.” This bread is great to bake and give to a loved one during the Christmas season, and it also freezes and thaws nicely if you’d like to bake extra!

Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try:

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Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas mashed
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F
In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter and sugar
Add in mashed banana, eggs, yogurt and vanilla and stir until just combined
Add in flour, baking soda and salt and stir until just combined - do not over stir
Fold in cranberries and nuts
Pour batter into a greased 5x9 loaf pan
Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle of bread comes out clean

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Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to find more recipes featuring cranberries! If you’ve got some leftover from Thanksgiving, this bread is a perfect place to put those berries to good use!

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these other great recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Are you doing any special holiday baking this season? If so, I’d love to hear what you’ve got cookin’ in your kitchen! Drop a comment below and share what you’re making for the holidays. I hope you and your family truly have a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas season!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

November 17, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing is a true southern staple dish to serve during the holiday season. Made with homemade cornbread from scratch, this recipe makes coming home for Thanksgiving even more spectacular!

It’s absolutely not a certified southern Thanksgiving dinner unless there’s a big pan of homemade dressing sitting next to the turkey. Cornbread dressing is comfort food at it’s finest, and it’s always served with either a spoonful of cranberry sauce or a drizzle of gravy right on top. Truth be told, I think the dressing is more of the star of the Thanksgiving feast than the turkey is. I may not go back for seconds for the turkey, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be getting a second helping of dressing!

I was always taught to make my dressing with day-old cornbread. It’s not imperative that you do that, but using day-old cornbread is preferred by many as old cornbread soaks up more of the broth and produces a better texture and consistency in the dressing. All that is to say – don’t skip this part! If you’re serving this for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll want to make sure you plan ahead and get that skillet of cornbread in the oven the day before. You’ll also want to make sure you have about half a loaf of white bread on hand that is also a few days old. This recipe calls for thumb-size pieces of white bread to go with the day-old cornbread to help really lock in the moisture in the dressing.

Despite what many people may believe, dressing and stuffing, in my opinion, cannot be used interchangeably. Even though there are many similarities, traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing is different from “stuffing” for a few reasons. Stuffing is typically known to be a bit herbier, with sage being the stand-out herb used. While many dressing recipes do call for sage and other seasonings (such as this recipe,) you’ll frequently find that many omit the sage all together. Stuffing also typically uses larger chunks of bread, while cornbread dressing uses a very finely ground cornbread as its base. Dressing is usually more moist while stuffing tends to be a bit drier, and then of course there’s the whole “stuffing it inside a turkey” thing. While I think the practice of literally stuffing the bird is fading out a bit, cornbread dressing is never stuffed inside a turkey where as stuffing traditionally is.

My grandmother’s signature in her dressing was adding just a smidge of nutmeg. It’s not anything that really stands out in the dish, but I love adding it in because that’s exactly what she did. I never got to sit down and have a Thanksgiving dinner with her, but I’d like to think she’d be proud that I add in the nutmeg in memory of her.

Are you ready to make a big ol’ helping of southern cornbread dressing? Here’s everything you’ll need to get started:

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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients

Cornbread:

2 cups self-rising cornmeal
5 eggs
1 1/4 cup whole buttermilk
1 Tbs canola or vegetable oil for greasing the skillet

Cornbread Dressing:

Crumbled day-old cornbread
6-8 slices white sandwich bread gently torn into thumb-size pieces
2 large yellow or white onions very finely chopped
1 bunch celery both ends removed and very finely chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 26 oz family size can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Tbs rubbed sage
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

For Cornbread:

Preheat oven to 400 F
Pour oil into iron skillet and roll oil around thoroughly to ensure the entire pan is coated with oil
In a large bowl, combine corn meal, eggs and buttermilk and stir
Pour batter into greased skillet and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until it's just lightly golden on the top and around the edges. Don't overbake!
Crumble cornbread very finely, making sure there are no chunks larger than the size of your pinky nail.
Cover crumbled cornbread and set aside for a day or overnight.

For Cornbread Dressing:

Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
Preheat oven to 350 F
Combine very finely diced onions and celery in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the top of the onions and celery
Boil until the celery is good and tender, or to your liking. Do not drain. You'll use the broth off of the vegetables in the dressing.
Transfer crumbled corn bread to a very large mixing bowl and place torn white bread right on top - do not stir in
Pour onion and celery mixture over cornbread, followed by the can of cream of chicken, 2 cups chicken broth, and your seasonings.
Pour into greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until bubbling and a nice thin crust has formed around the edges
Serve with turkey, cranberry sauce and all of your favorite fixin's!

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If you have ample leftovers, dressing will freeze well so you can enjoy it again later! Just add a little chicken broth to liven it back up, warm all the way through and enjoy all over again!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Do you prefer cranberry sauce or gravy on top of your dressing? Leave a comment below and share the love!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

If you’ll have little ones running around the house during Thanksgiving this year, be sure to take a look at these fun Thanksgiving Themed Snack Crafts for them to make and share!

Home Cookin'

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LANDOFROSTLUNCHES

2 Ingredient Fruit Dip

Ingredients

Instructions

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Looking for more Charcuterie Board Inspiration? Check out these posts right here on Southern Made Simple!

Spring Charcuterie Board | Ultimate Summer Charcuterie Board | Sweet and Savory Charcuterie Board | Halloween Charcuterie Board

Sugar Roasted Peanuts

Ingredients

Instructions

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Ingredients

Instructions

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

This post was sponsored by Southeastern Mills as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

For Cornbread Dressing

For Baked Potato

Instructions

For Cornbread Dressing

Assembling Baked Potato:

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Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

For French Toast Casserole

For Crumble Topping

Instructions

Notes

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Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

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Ingredients

Instructions

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Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients

Instructions

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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients

Cornbread:

Cornbread Dressing:

Instructions

For Cornbread:

For Cornbread Dressing:

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Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

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