Ingredients:

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 12 ounces chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Red food coloring
• Whipped Cream Vodka
• Whipped topping or marshmallows, optional

Directions:

• Heat the milk and sugar on the stove until the sugar is dissolved and the milk is steaming.
  • You don’t want it to boil and scald, so once you get lots of little steamy bubbles around the edge of the pot, it’s hot enough!
• Take it off the heat and add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract.
• Whisk until melted.

• Add red food coloring to give it the red velvet look.

• For the adults, add a shot of vodka into your hot cocoa.
• For the children, top with whipped topping or marshmallows!

Notes:

• You know I always go for the special dark chocolate for my chocolate chips!

As always we ask that you please enjoy our recipes responsibly. Don’t ever drink and drive. Enjoy some delicious Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with your family this weekend!

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Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Baby Potatoes
• Spice Mix
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Garlic
  • Onion Powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
• Olive Oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Make a spice mix from the smoked paprika, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper.
• Rub the chicken with olive oil and the spice mix.
• Put the potatoes on a pan and drizzle with olive oil.
• Place the chicken on the pan.
• Bake for an hour or until the internal temp of the thickest part of the breasts are at least 165 degrees.
• Remove from oven and let items rest for 10 minutes.
• Serve & Enjoy!

Notes:

• I love a good one pan meal and this is no exception.
• You can use whatever spices you want to create your spice mix.

Now that we have everything plated up, I let the boys in on a little secret…we are going to eat with our hands! They totally flipped and I may have just become the coolest mom ever!! As a reminder…make sure you have LOTS of napkins ready to go! You are going to need them!

Next up, I made a delicious spiced wine for the adults. This is super easy to make and a tasty adult beverage to SPICE the fun fare up a bit!

Ingredients:

• Red Wine
• 2 Cups Pomegranate Juice
• Orange Zest
• Sliced Oranges
• Knob of Ginger
• Cinnamon Stick
• 1/4 – 1/2 Cup Sugar (optional to taste)

Directions:

• In a large stockpot, combine all ingredients.
• Simmer the spiced wine for 30+ mins.
• Pour into your favorite wine glass.
• Enjoy!

Notes:

• You can let this simmer all day as it smells amazing!!!
• I LOVE my Rachel Ray stockpot and I know you will too!

We had a blast eating dinner with our hands and laughing our heads off while going through a TON of napkins. Maybe next time we’ll add some good old fashioned jousting after dinner. So, to all me Lords and me Ladies, we hope you will all enjoy this savory fare with your family and friends!

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Ingredients:

• 1 large bottle of white or rosé  wine.
• 1 cup of white grape peach juice or peach nectar
• 1/4 cup of peach schnapps or liquor (optional)
• 3 peaches
• 1 cup of frozen raspberries.

Directions:

• Slice your peaches fairly thin.
• Add everything to your pitcher.
• Let it chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Notes:

• For the wine, I used a white zinfandel (that’s actually a pretty blush color).
• If you want to try a variation, use white peaches or nectarines, which work great in this as well!
• You can use fresh berries, but I like that the frozen ones work as fruity ice cubes in my drink!
• If you don’t have a pitcher, you could a giant mason jar!
• If you have leftover wine, just add it to the sangria as you drink it and make room in the pitcher.

This sangria is light, summery sweet, and oh so delicious! It doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty to look at as well. I hope you make a big batch and enjoy it as you lounge at the pool or get together with friends this weekend. It’s the perfect party drink! As always, PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• Splash of Pineapple Rum
• 2 oz. Lemon-Lime Soda
• 1 oz. Blue Curacao

Directions:

• Fill your glass with ice.
• Add 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• Add a splash with a splash of Pineapple Rum.

• Top it off with 2 ounces of lemon lime soda.
• Add 1 ounce of Blue Curacao.
• Stir.

• Add a fresh fruit garnish if you’re feeling fancy and pretend it’s a warm beautiful day on the beach.

Notes:

• This cocktail is also great with white rum or vodka and lime or citrus rums or vodkas.
• For the non-alcoholic version, I used a Blue Curacao syrup! Top your lemon lime soda with the syrup. You can even add a 1/2-1 teaspoon of coconut extract for a yummy tropical flavor!

This is such a tasty and festive drink for the summer. It helps you escape to the beach, even if one isn’t anywhere close to where you are! So, hold your glass high and say, “Cheers for an Ocean Breeze!” Enjoy this concoction, but, as always…please drink responsibly!

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ice
• 1/2 cup (or a small can) Pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup Cream of Coconut
• 1 ounce Coconut Rum
• 1 ounce White Rum
• Maraschino cherries for garnish, optional

• Pour everything in the blender with the ice.

• Start mixing until a nice slushie consistency!

• The crushed pineapple add extra sweetness and texture. So tropical and yummy!
• Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
• Extra points if you have little drink umbrellas.

Notes:

• Leave out the rum if you’re making virgin Pina Coladas.
• These make great after school or Spring Break snacks.
• Just top yours with a shot of rum and you’re good to go!
• Sit back and pretend you’re on a beach somewhere warm!

I love topping mine with maraschino cherries. YUM. I’m gonna spend the weekend sitting in the backyard wishing for some warmer weather!

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The first step in the recipe is making a Blackberry simple syrup. Don’t worry, it sounds much fancier than it is. A simple syrup is just an equal ratio sugar/water solution that’s simmered on the stove. A lot of drinks call for a simple syrup because the sugar is already dissolved and the syrup blends easily to any cold drink you’re preparing.

Blackberry Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1.5 Cups Fresh Blackberries
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar

Directions:

• In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients.
• Simmer until all of the sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool.
• Strain blackberries from the syrup.

Now your blackberry simple syrup is ready to go for your favorite drinks or even as a replacement for regular syrup for your pancakes and waffles! I just know you will enjoy this as much as my family!

Blackberry Whiskey Limeade

Now for the grand finale! You’ll need your favorite whiskey. The smoothness of whiskey goes really well with the sweetness of the blackberry syrup and the tartness of the limeade. Plus, it is such an easy recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Blackberry Simple Syrup
• 1 oz. Whiskey
• 2-3 oz. Limeade
• Limes (sliced) and blackberries for garnish (optional)

Directions:

• Fill glass full of ice.
• Add blackberry syrup.
• Add whiskey.
• Top with limeade.
• Stir to mix.
• Garnish with fruit (optional).
• Enjoy!

Not only is this a gorgeous drink, it’s absolutely delicious. This may be one of my favorite adult beverage recipes! Be careful though, they are deceptively potent. Please drink responsibly! Enjoy a batch of these Blackberry Whiskey Limeades at a relaxing afternoon with friends!

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Ingredients:

• Cup Hot Black Coffee
• Hazelnut Syrup or Sweetener
• Whipped Cream
• 1 oz. Irish Whiskey

Directions:

• Pour a cup of coffee filling your cup about 3/4 full
• Add your Hazelnut Syrup or sweetener
• Pour Irish Whiskey
• Stir
• Add Whipped Cream

Notes:

• Wanting a creamier coffee? Consider add in Bailey’s Irish Cream to your coffee before the whipped cream to add an even more fantastic flavor!

It’s almost too pretty to drink! Almost…

This is a great cup of coffee to enjoy on a lazy Saturday or after a big dinner. As always, this delicious concoction is to be enjoyed by our readers who are at least 21 years old. Always drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive.

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Ingredients:

• Eggnog
• Spiced Rum
• Coffee Liqueur
• Spices such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom (optional)

Directions:

• Simply add a 1 ounce shot of the spiced rum to your glass.
• Top with a 1 ounce shot of coffee liqueur.
• Add your eggnog.

• If you’re making a pitcher or punch bowl, add 1/4 cup of rum and a 1/4 cup of coffee liqueur to 1 quart of Eggnog.
• Stir to combine.

• Top each glass with a sprinkling of spices to add a little extra holiday cheer.
• I used cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s so delicious!

• My husband wandered in while I was testing this recipe and insisted on his own glass. We both approve whole heartedly of the Spiked Eggnog! Now I have to buy more to celebrate National Eggnog Day this weekend!

This recipe is really simple and REALLY delicious. It definitely puts me in the holiday spirit! As always, we ask that you please enjoy responsibly. The holidays are a time to come together and celebrate. NEVER drink and drive.

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Peppermint White Russian

• 1 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz Smirnoff Vodka
• 1-2 oz Bailey’s White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
• Half and Half, if desired

Over ice, add the Kahlua and vodka and stir to combine. Top with the Bailey’s coffee creamer. Add the half and half, if using. I decided to get a little fancy and top my Peppermint White Russian with whipped topping and mini candy cane. Holiday spirit and all that! No one can accuse me of being a grinch!

This might be my new favorite cocktail! Come to think of it, I think I say that about all of my cocktails. This one is for sure Christmas-y and delicious. I love the hint of peppermint flavor the coffee creamer gives to the drink. This white Russian would work with so many different coffee creamer flavors! I made one last month with Pumpkin Spice that was AMAZING! I think I might try an Eggnog or Sugar Cookie flavor next. I’ll be keeping an eye out to see what special holiday flavors my local Commissary has to offer! As always, we ask that you please enjoy responsibly!

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Ingredients:

• 1-2 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream,
• 6-8 Fresh Raspberries
• Crushed Ice
• Additional Raspberries for Decoration

Directions:

• Toss 6-8 raspberries in the bottom of a glass.
• Muddle together.

• I used a wooden spoon handle to muddle my berries.

• Add crushed ice on top of the berries.

• Top with Bailey’s.
• YUM!

• It’s pretty too! These drinks are fantastic to have with some Christmas cookies while wrapping presents.

• Top with a couple raspberries for decoration if you feel like it. So fancy!

Notes:

• Muddle is just a fancy word for smash ’em up.
• It doesn’t have to be crushed ice. Crushed ice is just my favorite. You can certainly use whatever ice you prefer!
• It’s so easy and so refreshing. It’s like a drink and dessert all in one. A super delicious dessert! The tart berry cuts through the sweetness of the Bailey’s and balances the flavors perfectly.

That’s it, folks! So easy and SO yummy. The fresh raspberry really makes this drink amazing. Plus, it’s super easy to make!

This recipe is to be enjoyed by those 21 years and older. Please drink responsibly!

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