Fall Drink and Snack Pairings with SkinnyPop!

There is nothing quite like autumn in New England!

Well, except this year, when autumn in New England means extreme humidity and mid-summer temperatures...

Then again, that hasn't stopped me from setting out mums and pumpkins on the front porch, going apple picking, and enjoying as many fall drinks and baked goods as possible!

As for everyday snacking, my husband and I always have a bag or two of different SkinnyPop popcorn in our pantry for munching on no matter what time of day it is. My favorite flavors are Sea Salt & Pepper and Aged White Cheddar. SkinnyPop popcorn is full of flavor and incredibly satisfying while still being a light snack you can feel good about all day long.

No matter what fall drink you love, SkinnyPop has a drink and snack pairing that you'll be enjoying straight through Thanksgiving and beyond! These five fall-inspired drinks make my mouth water, and I am even more excited that SkinnyPop has paired each drink with the perfect flavor of popcorn!

I am most excited to mix up a batch of Autumn Pear Mojitos to serve alongside SkinnyPop's Sea Salt & Pepper popcorn. Pears add a slightly sweet and autumn-inspired twist to a classic mojito, and you can really pump up the flavor by adding a pinch of cinnamon to the muddled pears and mint. The refreshing cocktail will quench your thirst while also bringing out the flavor of the pepper - a win-win!

Be sure to pin this post so you can always have delicious cocktails to pair with your favorite popcorn flavors! Enjoy responsibly :-)

Crockpot Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

It's 80 degrees in the middle of September, but soon enough Fall will be here for good and we will need as many Crockpot recipes as we can get our hands on. And I have a real keeper here!

This Crockpot Turkey Sweet Potato Chili is a deliciously lightened-up version of an old classic. It cooks low and slow all day long so that when you get home, you are greeted by a big pot of happiness and your home is guaranteed to smell of amazing fall flavors!

We will start by browning a diced onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil - and honestly, is there any better way to start a dish? Lean ground turkey joins the party next until it's cooked and crumbled, and that's all we need to do before throwing everything into our slow cookers. Dreamy, right?

Along with our turkey we need, not surprisingly, a peeled and diced sweet potato to join the Crockpot party. Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, white beans, and chopped bell peppers are very necessary. To keep the chili interesting, spice things up with the classics--a bunch of chili powder, paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes and oregano--plus a few dashes of something a little different--cinnamon! Trust!

What do I love about this chili? Well, it's easy. Super duper easy as any Crockpot meal should be. The turkey and sweet potatoes become incredibly tender and just melt in your mouth. The chili spices along with the cinnamon and tomato paste are warming and comforting. Extra bonus: this recipe freezes beautifully so you can make a batch ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for a day when you need a tasty meal in a hurry.

It may still be hot outside, but this chili is going to keep you warm and happy on the inside. So let's break out those slow cookers and get cookin'!

Ginger Mojitos

I think Monday is as good a day as any to talk about a new cocktail. I see no reason why a drink this refreshing has to wait until Thirsty Thursday, on account of I'm thirsty right now.

Today, we are talking about Ginger Mojitos. Doesn't that just sound so right!? Ginger and mint and lime often find themselves together in Thai cuisine, so the pairing already makes perfect sense.

The base of these mojitos is a ginger simple syrup (we've done that before: see here), ginger liqueur, and all the basics of a mojito, particularly loads of lime juice and fresh mint (in my case, straight from the garden because that's just how adults do).  As with any mojito, these are best enjoyed super cold, so I whipped them up first in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice then served in high ball glasses with even more ice. They are easy to guzzle and even easier to enjoy.

An infused simple syrup is incredibly--yes, I'm going to say it--simple to make. All you need is one cup of sugar, one cup of water, and whatever you want to infuse it with! In this case, that includes a knob of ginger, peeled and minced. The spicy ginger compliments the sweetness of the syrup plus the natural sweetness of the mint. A little tang from freshly squeezed lime juice, and please, please be sure it's freshly squeezed, and the perfect cocktail is born!

Cheers to Monday!

Zucchini Bread

I know what they're saying. Summer is almost over. Back to school is in full swing. I ate pumpkin spice Cheerios with pumpkin spice coffee for breakfast. I had a pumpkin beer yesterday.

But this recipe cannot wait until next summer. There's still plenty of zucchini at the farmers market and grocery store. Even if it isn't the prettiest zucchini, it will still make an AMAZING loaf of Zucchini Bread.

This bread is so simple to make, but it is certain to impress. Loaded with zucchini, cinnamon and sweet vanilla extract, it's everything you could want whether it's for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. In my mind, zucchini bread is banana bread's far superior cousin. The zucchini is not nearly as heavy as banana, both in texture and in flavor, and thanks to the extra water in the summer squash this bread stays fresh and moist for days and days!

I can promise you that wherever you take this bread, everyone will be begging for the recipe! Might I recommend it for your Labor Day barbecues or to bring as a thank you for your next overnight host?

After making this bread many, many times, I have a few tips for you to make this as delicious as possible!

- This bread requires quite a bit of zucchini, so I find a food processor with the grater blade is the fastest and most efficient way to grate it.
- I have used the small grate and the large grate, and although the flavor is just wonderful either way, I prefer the texture of the finer grate.
- I like to make this in one big 10 inch/1.5 pound loaf pan. This requires a little extra cook time depending on your oven. Another alternative would be to cook this up in 2 smaller (8.5 inch) loaf pans instead. Be sure to check the done-ness about 10 minutes sooner to ensure the edges don't get overcooked.
- To remove as much excess moisture as possible, sprinkle the grated zucchini with a pinch of salt and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Using 2 paper towels, press out as much water as possible and drain.

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I have your new favorite dinner recipe, right here!

There's no oven involved (but we do get to break out our slow cookers!), every bite is packed with flavor and texture, and this recipe is so super simple! It's a win/win/win.

These Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps are bursting with sweet. sour, and spicy Asian flavors. It's like drippy teriyaki chicken meets fresh and crunchy spring rolls, all tucked together in a piece of fresh, tender bib lettuce. They are light yet satisfying - a perfect summer meal or appetizer! Let's walk through it all...

It all starts with the most unbelievable teriyaki chicken, which we whip up with very little thought thanks to our Crockpots. It starts with chicken breasts and chopped onions layered in the bottom of the pot, doused in an amazing teriyaki marinade. The marinade is quite simple and packed with tasty ingredients you probably already have on hand - teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, garlic and ginger. After 4 to 5 hours cooking on high, we simply shred up the chicken, thicken the sauce with a bit of cornstarch, and pile it high on our wraps!

Besides the lettuce, I love adding a handful of vermicelli rice noodles to each leaf of lettuce. The rice noodles soak up the glorious sauce from the chicken and give the whole dish a little more oomph. To finish up, we just need a few simple fixin's. I'm partial to cilantro leaves, sesame seeds, and a squirt or two of sriracha.

Now, this dish...sure, it's a little messy. Your fingers are going to get sticky and you may get teriyaki sauce all over your face. But trust me - for a dish this delicious, it's worth it!

5-ingredient Mocha Latte Popsicles

Summertime and the living's easy.

And hot. It's very hot.

Now, I admit. I am not one who knows how to deal with the heat well. I don't like being hot, I hate the feeling of being sweaty and uncomfortable. I also hate bugs. I am just so pleasant to be around this time of year!

To help with my aforementioned issues with summer in general, I made us super-simple, super-refreshing, creamy and energizing popsicles! They are 5-ingredient Mocha Latte Popsicles to be exact, and I just love them so much! Homemade popsicles are the best way to keep cool in this summer heat, with seemingly endless tasty combinations to make. Plus - absolutely NO cooking is involved...no hot oven, no open flames on the stovetop, thank goodness!

The base of this recipe is a can of that magical ingredient called sweetened condensed milk. If you've ever made key lime pie, you've likely encountered this luxuriously decadent liquid. Nothing can compare to it. It'll add just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess we need to replicate the "latte" portion of this popsicle. Next, we will whisk, whisk, whisk some good, old fashioned chocolate syrup into a cup of strongly brewed coffee...that's the "mocha"! Do you see where I'm going with this?

So, there's sweetened condensed milk, coffee, and chocolate syrup...that's 3 ingredients. To tie everything together, we will add a bit of milk and some pure vanilla extract for a gourmet touch. That's right, that's all you need for this beautiful pops! I'm going to guess you probably have everything you need stashed away in your pantry or fridge, so what are you waiting for? It's popsicle time!

Key Lime Pie Doughnuts

IT'S NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY!!(!!!!!)

Have you had a doughnut yet today? Calories do NOT count today, so I say...

...treat yourself!

I have been thinking about these Key Lime Pie Doughnuts for a long time, and the final product is even more magical than I could have imagined. All the flavors of key lime pie, but in adorable, bite-size breakfast packages!

The cake itself is soft and tender, with a big crumb and irresistible sweetness. I start by rubbing lime zest into granulated sugar. This is great little baking trick that releases the oils in lime zest and distributes it throughout the whole cake. In addition to flour, I also whisk in graham cracker crumbs. A big, buttery graham cracker crust is THE most important part of a key lime pie, so I knew it had to be incorporated into these doughnuts. Vanilla yogurt will not only keep our doughnuts moist, but it will also add a tangy sweetness that compliments the tart lime flavor. I mean...what is not to love?

OH right, I almost forgot. All good doughnuts MUST have a glaze. For these, a thick and zesty lime glaze, packed with fresh lime zest and a big squeeze of lime juice, topped with even more crunchy graham cracker crumbs! Yay!

These doughnuts are just so delicious and I am sure you will love them! They are fresh and tangy, sweet and tender. Perfect for breakfast, of course, but also amazing as a snack or dessert! They are ooey and gooey, exactly as a good doughnut should be.

Happy Friday! And more importantly, Happy National Doughnut Day!