Every year I try to start preparing for holiday celebrations earlier and this year is no exception. As I am appearing for the arrival of baby girl I am all about prepping and planning for all my holiday entertaining and gift-giving needs. Today I am sharing my some of my favorite products, tips and tricks to be the hostess with the mostess this holiday season.
Please note that I partnered with these brands and received compensation for sharing but I use and love each product mentioned. All ideas, opinions and creative input is my own!
Entertaining doesn't have to be tough, boring or unhealthy! First on my list is dessert, of course, because I love ice cream!!
If you follow me, you know Halo Top is my go-to ice cream because it is high in protein and each pint averages 300 calories so you can enjoy guilt-free. The best part is that Halo Top comes in 17 flavors including your traditional flavors like vanilla, chocolate, mint chip but they also have deliciously creative season flavors like we are using here. I took the Pumpkin Pie flavor and I am serving it alongside a freshly baked pie, the Cinnamon Roll flavor and created a delicious dish to share with cinnamon twists and last but not least mini apple pie jars with a scoop of Sea Salt Caramel on top! You can’t go wrong with this delicious creamy ice cream sweetened with all natural sweeteners. Halo Top is available at grocery stores and retailers nationwide and you can visit Halotop.com to check out all the flavors
Serve Halo Top Pumpkin Pie alongside a freshly baked pumpkin pie for a delicious traditional dessert with a pop of yummy flavor !
This one is my favorite for sharing with the ones you love!
Cinnamon Rolls a la Halo Top Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream
- Line a mason jar with pie dough (2 pie dough crusts to make 4 jars)
- Mix 1 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of cinnamon in a bowl
- Peel and cut 4 apples into small pieces
- Toss apples in sugar mixture until coated
- Fill each jar to the top with the apple mix
- Add a slab of butter to the top
- Cover with tin foil
- Bake at 350 for 30-25 minutes until the pie crust is golden brown
- Remove from oven, uncover and serve warm with a scoop of Halo Top Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream
Brunch can often be unhealthy but I have a few great recipes that will help you celebrate with big delicious flavor and stay healthy. I have a product that you need to be adding to your favorite meal not only through the holidays but every day for a nutrition boost. Amina Baobab is a 100% all natural superfruit powder that is vegan, gluten-free and contains 6x the vitamin c of an orange, 12x the fiber of apples and 2x the calcium of milk. Baobab fruit is the planet’s number one plant-based source of calcium and you can get 32% of your recommended daily fiber intake with just 2 tablespoons of baobab superfruit powder. For my holiday brunch menu, I am incorporating it into a few traditional menu items. I add it to fresh squeezed orange pineapple juice and my favorite breakfast dishes like french toast casserole. Keep in mind it has many uses in yogurt, smoothies, shakes and countless recipes.
Amina Baobab French Toast Recipe
- Melt butter in the microwave
- Pour butter in the bottom of a baking dish
- Line dish with 4-5 pieces of bread (depnding on the size of your baking dish)
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and Amina Baobab powder together in a bowl
- Pour 1/3 of the sugar mix on the bread and spread
- Add another layer of 4-5 pieces of bread
- Beat eggs, milk and vanilla together
- Pour half of the remaining egg mixture over bread
- Sprinkle 1/3 of the sugar mix on the bread and spread
- Top with another 4-5 pieces of bread
- Pour the reaming egg mixture over the bread
- Top with remaining sugar mixture
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or for 8 hours.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350
- Uncover and continue to bake for 15 minutes or until set and browned
I also plan on giving this healthy gift to friends and family as a healthier trail mix. Layer your favorite trail mix essentials in a mason jar, plus add small jars of syrup and coconut oil and gift with a bag of Amina Baobab. Get the full recipe on Amina Baobab's website!
To find more delicious recipes, nutrition information visit: http://www.aminabaobab.com/ or pick up a bag at your local Kroger in the natural food or nutrition department.
Ok, lets talk easy and creative gift giving!
I am huge advocate and fan of HelloFresh meal delivery service. My husband and I were going down the road of ordering out non-stop, eating unhealthy and spending way too much! Ever since starting HelloFresh earlier this year we are eating healthy, having fun cooking together and saving time and money!
For the young couples, empty nesters, or notorious takeout devotees on holiday shopping lists this year, this is a gift they will all be thankful for with no wrapping paper required. Give the gift of a cooking experience that will wow your friends with the opportunity to chop, zest, and sauté like naturals thanks to recipes that take just 30 minutes. Subscription gifts starts at $59. Find out more at hellofresh.com
HelloFresh’s next perfect gift is for the wine lover in your life. Sauté, simmer and sip with a monthly wine subscription complete with pairing suggestions, tasting notes, and flavor profiles. With wines from all over the world, the service allows subscribers to enjoy HelloFresh-selected wines on all occasions, from dinner parties to casual nights in. Subscriptions are $89.00 + tax per month and shipping is included. For more details visit hellofresh.com/wine
Last but not least HelloFresh just launched Tiny Tummies Kits. This goody bag of our favorite kid necessities helps you teach, guide, and inspire them to feel confident in the kitchen. They include:
- Little Cooks Color-Me-In Apron Set from HelloFresh
- Little Cooks Prep Tools (Nylon Plastic Knife, Silicone Mixing Spatula, Poly Spoon and Whisk)
- Little Cooks Chef Hat from HelloFresh
- Little Cooks Recipe Binder and Activity Pages from HelloFresh
For more information on any of these HelloFresh gifts, I mentioned please visit HelloFresh.com
I’ve been obsessed with the P-Touch Embellish ribbon and tape printer since I first discovered it at the Creativation Tradeshow earlier this year. P-Touch Embellish is a must-have crafting tool that prints personalized messages on a variety of different colored satin ribbons and decorative tapes in multiple patterns. I love this as a holiday gift for the party host or DIYer in your life who loves to add a special touch to gifts, parties and crafts. It’s also perfect to give to yourself to wrap and personalize your holiday gifts, create table settings and even family ornaments. Check out a few of my favorite crafts that I created with my P-Touch Embellish.
You can purchase your P-Touch Embellish for $59.99 plus accessories at Michael’s stores throughout the US or online. Visit ptouchembellish.com for inspiration!
Last but not least if you live in Atlanta or the surrounding area you must check out Atlanta’s best holiday gift market - Shoppe Holiday -- is back this weekend only, November 10th through 12th at the Cobb Galleria Center. Shoppe Holiday is three days of shopping unique artisan created gifts, pop-up shops from Atlanta’s top boutiques and new this year are 39 D-I-Y workshops from lifestyle experts and Etsy shop owners to prepare you for the holidays with cooking demonstrations, craft classes, entertaining tips and holiday decorations.
A few of my favorite exhibitors and their products: Anavi Designs, Jazzy Artz, Merging Metals, and Ecohome. If you can't make the event make sure to check out these vendors websites for easy online shopping!
If you live in Atlanta you absolutely must stop by Ecohome in Buckhead for amazing gifts, home decor and more! These this beautiful Alpaca Hair Stuffed Lion is one of their best sellers and will be taking home Baby Lily's nursery! They also carry these stylish silicon necklaces which double as a teething toy for babies!
Anavi Designs
Jazzy Artz
Merging Metals
We will have Chan & Anna on-site hosting workshops on Saturday and Sunday on Paper Flower bouquets and napkin rings and Chalk Painting gift and décor items! Make sure to sign up before classes fill up!
Shoppe Holiday Market is this weekend only. For tickets go to www.shoppeholiday.com and use promo code CRAFTBOX241 for a two-for-one ticket offer or CRAFTBOX5OFF for $5 off workshoppe packages.
I know that was a lot but I hope I was able to inspire you and help you get a jump start on holiday entertaining!
Please note that I partnered with these brands and received compensation for sharing but I use and love each product mentioned. All ideas, opinions and creative input is my own!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo- LL