Baked Sweets and Treats

12 Delicious Cookie Recipes to Bake for Santa

 

I hope everyone is ready for Santa’s visit tonight! I know it’s a super busy time cooking, wrapping gifts, entertaining and of course baking. We all know how much Santa loves milk & cookies. Here we’re serving up a batch of our favorite cookie recipes that you can pretty much make on the fly. Wishing you all a gorgeous, very Merry Christmas Eve!

 

Chocolate Candy Cane Butter Cookies recipe | marlameridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Chocolate Candy Cane Butter Cookies

Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe | marlameridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

White Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

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Holiday Whoopie Pies

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bacon Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bacon Cookies

Matcha Shortbread Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Matcha Shortbread Cookies

Frosted Holiday Star Sugar Cookies | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Frosted Holiday Star Sugar Cookies

Soft Pumpkin Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Peanut Blossoms Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Peanut Blossoms Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sweet Potato Cookies | Gluten Free & Vegan Recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Vegan Sweet Potato Cookies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies

Hot Cocoa Cookies recipe | MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Hot Cocoa Cookies

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~ Marla Meridith

Christmas

Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon

We’ve been experimenting with all kinds of delicious & hearty fare over here. This Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon gets the highest ratings all around. I’ve been working with Pork Be inspired this season to bring you exciting new recipes that all use a very special ingredient…pork! In this recipe, we’ve braised a pork shoulder roast with veggies, white wine & broth. Then combined it with bowtie pasta & bacon to make an extra special dish. This time of year as the temps dip, my family craves meals like this. Once you have the pork in the oven you can forget about it for a few hours. Which leaves you time to scurry around the house doing all those other chores that need to get done! By the way, while this is braising your house will smell amazing!

 

Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon recipe @PorkBeInspired #porkbeinspired on MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

So what exactly is braising anyways? Great question! Braising is a great cooking method for tougher/fattier cuts of meat. You gently cook the meat in a liquid over the course of a few hours with a low temperature. The result is a full flavored, very tender meat. I suggest you try it today if you haven’t yet!

I added bacon to this recipe for even more flavor. I like mine extra crispy. Try our Perfectly Baked Bacon recipe to get your bacon right all the time!

Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon recipe @PorkBeInspired #porkbeinspired on MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

When we roll in from long days skiing the slopes here in Telluride we crave hearty, warming, healthy and delicious meals like this. I cooked this for a group I backcountry skied with the other day & they flipped! Thank goodness this is a big hit with my kids too. My VERY active kids who get super hungry out there on the rink & the snowy peaks.

We LOVE living in Telluride, Colorado! MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith ) #travel #telluride

We LOVE living in Telluride, Colorado! MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith ) #travel #telluride #ski #snowboard

Make every occasion extra special with delicious recipes like this. Looking for more creative ways to cook with pork? Have I got the answer for you!

Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon recipe @PorkBeInspired #porkbeinspired on MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Check out the Pork Be inspired Facebook bot. We’ve used it quite a few times to help us find recipes with pork as the star ingredient. All you need to do is visit their Facebook page & message the bot. It will help you find recipes to match whatever moment is on your agenda & whatever type of pork you’re craving! They have made the Facebook bot very user friendly & sensitive to our busy life schedules. For more inspiration – from now to New Year’s Day and the new year, appetizers to desserts – follow PorkBeinspired.com on Facebook and click “message” to talk to the Bot, or visit www.PorkBeinspired.com to discover new pork recipes.

 

Here’s the Recipe for the Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon

Bow Tie Pasta with Braised Pork, White Wine and Bacon recipe @PorkBeInspired #porkbeinspired on MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

 

 

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~ Marla Meridith

MM

Buffalo Popcorn with Maple Pecans

Buffalo Popcorn with Maple Pecans. A sweet + salty snack. MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Looking to spice things up for the holidays? Look no further than this crunchy, irresistibly munchy Buffalo Popcorn with Maple Pecans. If you are a fan of buffalo sauce, then is this the snack for you! Beware, it’s difficult to stick to one handful of this sweet + salty treat. Serve this snack at any of your get togethers & I guarantee you guests will beg for the recipe. Before you tell them whats in this…ask them what they think the secret saucy ingredient is. Hope you have some great weekend plans lined up, we have hours booked on the ski slopes here in Telluride, CO. You can bet we’ll be munching on this popcorn for Aprés too!

Why the “dinner milk” wine bottle in the photos? Because MM teamed up with California Milk this holiday season to show you that a chilled glass of milk can be used for any special occasion!

Continue reading “Buffalo Popcorn with Maple Pecans”

~ Marla Meridith

MM

Peppermint Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Peppermint Chocolate Covered Strawberries. A delicious holiday treat! MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Chocolate Covered Strawberries are always the biggest hit at parties and celebrations…add some crushed candy canes to them and you have the ultimate holiday treat! These take just minutes to put together, but they are typically the most elegant dish on a dessert table. I’ve always noticed that people reach for these beauties before anything else.

My son just celebrated his b’day and wanted me to bring a homemade treat to his classroom. What did he ask for? These strawberries. We can all credit him with this creative take on a classic. The peppermint adds so much to these berries. Every single kiddo was smitten & I bet you will be too! XO

Continue reading “Peppermint Chocolate Covered Strawberries”

~ Marla Meridith

Baked Sweets and Treats

Holiday Whoopie Pies

 

Let’s have some fun with baking, shall we? Here at MM we are all about making life easier, especially during the hectic holiday season. That’s why we are bringing you these super delicious & simple to make Holiday Whoopie Pies. You don’t even need to measure (unless you want to make your own buttercream) No need for your mixer either, or even dirtying too many bowls. This is a no brainer holiday treat that your kids will LOVE to help you with. Make sure to have all kinds pretty gel colors on hand, the more the better to achieve these festive colors! You will also need Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough, that you can find in most markets.

 

This DIY is super simple, even for newbie bakers. Spend some magical time in the kitchen together this season & bake these delish whoopie pies.

 

Holiday Whoopie Pies, a super easy treat to make for the holidays! @pillsbury #ItsBakingSeason MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Serve these up at holiday parties, kids of all ages will be smitten.

Holiday Whoopie Pies, a super easy treat to make for the holidays! @pillsbury #ItsBakingSeason MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

It’s perfectly OK to have smart holiday hacks on hand for when time is tight. Try enjoying the holidays this year instead of stressing them.

Holiday Whoopie Pies, a super easy treat to make for the holidays! @pillsbury #ItsBakingSeason MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

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Disclosure: MM developed this post & recipe to help promote the Pillsbury Holiday Baking Campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Holiday Whoopie Pies, a super easy treat to make for the holidays! @pillsbury #ItsBakingSeason MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

 

 

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~ Marla Meridith

Christmas

Gingersnap Icebox Cake with Maple Whipped Cream

Have you ever made an Icebox Cake? I can’t begin to tell you how easy & delicious they are. It’s simple to customize the flavors too, depending on what you have on hand. It’s been hustle bustle crazy busy over here. Every time-saving holiday baking, wrapping, shopping and entertaining suggestions are ALWAYS welcome!  This Gingersnap Icebox Cake with Maple Whipped Cream might just help you out when time is tight. You can bake your own gingersnap cookies if you have that kind of time. Or, don’t fret if you need to purchase your favorite cookies at the store. The one thing I always suggest you make from scratch is the whipped cream (cookie purists, please don’t scream)

 

See how easy it is to make this cake! Watch my Facebook Live demo here.

 

Continue reading “Gingersnap Icebox Cake with Maple Whipped Cream”

~ Marla Meridith

Christmas

Coffee Rubbed Ribeye Steak

Coffee Rubbed Ribeye Steak with @Folgers Get this delicious recipe on MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith ) #ad

There’s something super exciting about taking a familiar ingredient (coffee) and reinventing the wheel ~ using it in unexpected ways. I’ve partnered with Folgers® to bring you mouthwatering recipes that will help you think outside the box when it comes to ways to use coffee. Sure we all love to drink our java, but there are many creative ways you can use it as an ingredient in your favorite recipes.

This Coffee Rubbed Ribeye Steak is crazy delicious & very simple to prepare. Have you ever made your own spice rub before? This one can be used on your favorite cut of steak, but would also be tasty on pork or chicken. The rub takes just a minute to put together & the steak just a few more minutes to cook. Giddy up!

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~ Marla Meridith

MM

Ever Have One of THOSE Days? {$100 VISA Gift Card Giveaway!}

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Ever have one of those days? You wake up feeling pretty awesome. The you go take a visit to the mirror. All of a sudden a great day becomes more of a freak show. You have a little visitor on the edge of your mouth. It starts to burn & then aches something awful. Not fun. Who wants their beautiful face to be taken over by an unsightly beast? No one I know. Let’s debunk some myths here guys. That’s right, let’s get to the bottom of…..cold sores.

Hey, stuff happens sometimes when we least expect it. The great news is…you can Fight with Medicine, not Myth!   Take a tiny tube of Abreva® with you when you travel. Tuck some in your makeup bag and medicine cabinet.

Continue reading “Ever Have One of THOSE Days? {$100 VISA Gift Card Giveaway!}”

~ Marla Meridith

DIY, Printables, and Crafts

Pretty Satchels Advent Calendar

Pretty Satchels Advent Calendar DIY Craft. Make the countdown to Christmas more fun! MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Looking for a last minute countdown to Christmas? I came up with this idea while driving my kids to school. So many creative ideas flood my mind early in the morning! After kiddo drop-off, I dashed home and put this together in no time at all. My kids are super excited to open their first pretty satchel today after school. This is a quick and simple DIY craft that makes the days leading up to Santa’s arrival tasty fun. You only need a few supplies to make this happen!

Continue reading “Pretty Satchels Advent Calendar”

~ Marla Meridith

Chocolate

Decadent Drinking Chocolate

Toss those cocoa powder packets and make this Decadent Drinking Chocolate! For chocolate lovers. MarlaMeridith.com ( @marlameridith )

Could there be anything more fabulous than melted chocolate that you can drink from a cup? I think not. This hot chocolate isn’t just any quick fix cocoa. This my friends is a drinking chocolate. This is how the French prefer their hot cocoa. Not watery at all. This is rich, thick and truly satisfying for purist chocolate lovers. It’s just a bit thinner than ganache, it’s drinkable. Decadent Drinking Chocolate.

All you need is a little bit for big satisfaction. It hits your tongue like sweet velvet and coats your soul with good old fashioned winter decadence. Sip this by the fire with your loved ones. Adults, you can add a splash of your favorite liqueur. We love a little hit of smoky bourbon. Ditch those powder packets and dive into this. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Decadent Drinking Chocolate”

~ Marla Meridith

MM

Introducing SMARTMADE ™ by SmartOnes(R)!

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Sometimes we are at the mercy of time when it comes to our hunger. It’s always fun to get into the kitchen to cook, but when time doesn’t allow & it’s time to fuel up, other options need to happen. Thank goodness SMARTMADE ™ by SmartOnes (R) has just hit the grocery store shelves. It’s so nice to know there that there is a totally delicious option for us in the frozen food section of the markets. I’m super picky about the food I eat; I love to cook (as you all know!) but I want all my food to be real, simple & cooked with healthy methods – grilling and roasting being my favorites. Compromises sometimes need to happen in life, but great taste is always in style!
Continue reading “Introducing SMARTMADE ™ by SmartOnes(R)!”

~ Marla Meridith

Appetizers

Best Ever Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

 

Hope you all had a delicious & fun Thanksgiving! Now it’s time to turn on your favorite show (we’ll be watching Crown on Netflix), chill by the fire and enjoy all those leftovers! These recipes make the most of the turkey, sides, sauces. All you need is a little imagination (we are here to help with that) and lots of leftovers. Enjoy this down time with friends & loved ones. Because you know what’s right around the corner….the Christmas rush. Not to worry there either, here at MM we are on the fast track to bring you all kinds of creative holiday recipes & crafts.

 

In the mean time, all these recipes can be found here.

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Turkey Greek Salad | MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Turkey Greek Salad

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Pepper jack, Turkey, Cranberry Grilled Cheese | MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Pepper Jack, Turkey and Cranberry Grilled Cheese

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Turkey, Couscous, Veggie Soup | MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Turkey & Veggie Couscous Soup

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Sweet Potato Ravioli | MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Buttery Shallot Sauce

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Try these pastries! MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Thanksgiving Leftovers Hand Pies

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Try this Turkey Bolognese! MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Turkey Bolognese Pasta

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Try this Sesame Noodle Bowl! Meridith.com @marlameridith

Sesame Noodle Bowls

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Try this Turkey & Brussels Sprouts Frittata! MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Turkey & Brussels Sprouts Frittata

 

Best ever recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers! Try these Quesadillas! MarlaMeridith.com @marlameridith

Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadillas

~ Marla Meridith