Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe

This post and giveaway is created in partnership with Hamilton Beach. All opinions are mine alone.

A tasty appetizer for New Year's or game day that's full of cheesy, garlic goodness! Turn the leftovers into a hot dip for an at home movie or date night!

Hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a very Happy New Year!

It was great for our family! We had two Christmas celebrations on Christmas day and spent the day at home on Saturday baking Christmas goodies and eating appetizers!

17 Delicious & Unique Recipes for Butternut Squash

Need some tasty ideas to use butternut squash? Look no further! You can find pastas, dessert, soups, salad and more!

Happy Holidays everyone!

I just want to thank each and every one of you who follow my blog, visit my posts and shares my recipes!

I couldn't do this without all of your support and it means so much to know so many families enjoy cooking the food via the recipes I share!

Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Walnut Shortbread Cookies Recipe Plus 5 Best Holiday Chocolate Recipes!

This post contains affiliate links. HECR earns a small commission from purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

A delicious and buttery cookie that's great for cookie exchanges, holidays or even an after school snack!

December 1st... already?

It really doesn't seem like it at all. The weather in Minnesota has been in the 30's and 40's since last week, and we've pretty much been getting rain and sleet instead of snow. We did have a snowstorm a couple weeks ago, but that snow is long gone.

50+ Unique and Delicious Cream Cheese Recipes You Have to Make!

This post contains affiliate links. Hot Eats and Cool Reads receives a small referral commission at no cost to you. Thanks for the support!

A wide variety of tasty recipes that use cream cheese! You can find appetizers, desserts, meals and so much more! Great for the holidays or any day of the week!

Welcome to this fabulous line up of recipes that use cream cheese!

With the approaching holidays, cream cheese is usually on sale, so this is the best time to try out some of these recipes from Hot Eats and Cool Reads and some of my blogger friends!

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies Recipe (No Peanut Butter)

Easy and delicious! These classic oatmeal chocolate no bake cookies are made without peanut butter and still just as tasty! Great for the holidays or as an everyday snack! 

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

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Book Review: The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Okay... who else loves Jodi Picoult?

I'm a little late to the game with reading this book, but maybe some of you haven't read it yet either!

I usually pick up all of my books at thrift stores, garage sales or my local library book shop, so most of the time I don't read books until years after they are released.

Roasted Turkey and Stuffing Noodle Soup Recipe

This soup is a perfect way to use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing! Pure comfort food and SO delicious! Also great with chicken instead of turkey!

Roasted Turkey and Stuffing Noodle Soup

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Individual Candy Corn Fruit Salad Dessert Recipe #SundaySupper

This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

The perfect fruity dessert for any Halloween celebration! The kids love it, and even the adults too!

Halloween is seriously one of my favorite holidays!

I love getting the kids dressed up to trick or treat, carving or decorating pumpkins and making fun Halloween themed foods for snack or dinner the weekend before the holiday to celebrate.

[ad] Creamy Parmesan Garlic Buffalo Wing Dipping Sauce Recipe

This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GameTimeHero #CollectiveBias

A delicious dipping sauce that's great for any wings, especially buffalo! Ready in less than 10 minutes and perfect for a game day snack!

Football season is off and running! Game days have been extremely busy around here, so we haven't had much time to sit down and watch the game except for a few minutes here and there.

We were in AZ a couple weeks ago, and this past weekend we were at my sister's new but old house helping her paint the exterior! She bought a 1900's farmhouse and is restoring it, so she needs all the help she can get.

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Sausage, Apples and Onions Recipe plus 10 Other Apple Recipes

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A delicious fall comfort food that's delicious served with mashed potatoes or rice! The slightly sweet and savory combo is a wonderful dinner option!

I love fall! My favorite things about fall are apple everything, comfort foods, sweatshirts, cool weather and the leaves changing color!

When it comes to apples, I love fresh apple cider, and also making both sweet and savory recipes using apples.

Cheesy Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Mars, Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #BensBeginners #UncleBensPromo #CollectiveBias

A delicious and family friendly casserole! Perfect for those busy weeknights or even Sunday dinner!

I'm all about adding educational opportunities anywhere I can for my family, especially in the kitchen. I love that the kids are learning, but yet they don't even realize it!

Measuring is great for math practice, cooking is a wonderful life skill, and also the foodie knowledge and learning about new and different foods!

Homestyle Creamy Chicken and Spinach Noodle Soup Recipe

Such a great comfort food for fall and winter! This soup is packed with tons of vegetables and is so delicious! Plus, the addition of cream cheese makes this soup extra wonderful!

It's fall in Minnesota, and that means it's soup weather! Woo-hoo!

I was in Arizona for a food blogger conference and short vacation last week and weekend and it was around 100 degrees. I'm a true Minnesota girl and couldn't wait to get back to the 60-70 degree temps here! 100 is a little too warm for me, even with it being a dry heat.

Cheesy Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom Noodle Casserole Recipe

Pure comfort food that the whole family will love! Great freezer meal too!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far!

It's been a slower week for us, but we're gearing up for a busy weekend! My daughter is off to Girl Scout camp tomorrow with her troop, and I have work events both Saturday and Sunday!

Blackberry Coca-Cola Recipe plus Family Pizza Combo at Sam's Club

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #FamilyPizzaCombo #CollectiveBias

A fun and fruity DIY syrup to make your own Blackberry Coca-Cola at home! Perfect for any celebration, sports game or even movie night!

Summer's winding down to an end! Pretty soon the leaves will be falling and we'll all be bundling up in warm, comfy clothes. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year and I cannot wait for the weather to cool down.

With the cool weather comes football season!!

Riz Gras aka Fat Rice with Chicken Recipe

A delicious chicken and rice dish traditionally from Burkina Faso! So flavorful and also great with beef or lamb!

Hey everyone! I'm back with a fabulous recipe today!

It's been a busy few weeks and I haven't been able to post regularly due to that busy schedule, but I'm making up for it with today's recipe!

Common Ground "Field to Fork" Farm Dinner at Thalmann Family Farm in Plato, MN

Awhile back, I received an invite in my inbox for a farm dinner. I thought it sounded like a fun event and even though it was an hour and a half drive from my house it seemed worth the drive for a fun experience!

Common Ground Minnesota and Thalmann Family Farm were our hosts for the evening!

Common Ground is a group of Minnesota farm women who talk about all things farming and food. They share their personal experiences about conventional and organic crops, livestock and produce.

Mini Tortellini Kabobs with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToSchoolReady #CollectiveBias

A light and delicious appetizer that's perfect for any Italian themed meal! The bold and tangy flavors are sure to satisfy any appetite!

It's back to school at our house today! My daughter is starting 4th grade and I'm shaking my head wondering where did the time go? We've spent the last week washing her uniforms and planning lunches!

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken with Pasta Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellSavings #CollectiveBias

A flavorful, easy and budget friendly recipe the whole family can enjoy! Serve over pasta with a salad and garlic bread for a complete meal!

Back to school is right around the corner for our family!

My daughter starts 4th grade on August 10th! With back to school, I'm always searching for easy meal options for those busy school nights.

Sparkling Sorbet Floats Recipe

A refreshing and delicious non alcoholic beverage that the whole family can enjoy! Perfect for hot days, or serve at your next party! Even the kiddos birthday parties!

Remember that Blueberry Rhubarb Sorbet I made last month?? Today's recipe uses that, along with some fresh fruit and lemon lime soda for an amazing, kid friendly beverage!

Blackberry Banana Quick Bread Recipe

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Great for breakfast or snack! Perfect for using ripe bananas and delicious with the bites of fresh blackberries!

Banana bread is one of those comfort foods from my childhood! I always looked forward to the rare day when we had ripe bananas and my Mom whipped up a batch of homemade banana bread.

Now, I look forward to doing the same for my daughter! I just can't make plain banana bread though.

Beefy Black Bean Enchilada Bake Recipe

A delicious family friendly and budget friendly Mexican meal! Great for weeknights and leftover for lunch!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July! I decided to take a break and skip posting over the holiday weekend!

We took a fun trip to Mankato to visit my sister for part of the weekend! It was a blast!

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton plus Giveaway!

This post is brought to you in partnership with Redhook!

I'm back with another bookish post for you today! Yay!

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton!

It's an edge of your seat thriller and you can enter the giveaway for a chance to win a hard cover copy for yourself!

Thriller books are a favorite of mine and I just started reading my copy of this last night! I made it to page 70 in the first sitting and so far it's an interesting and easy read!

I'm sure I'll be done within the next couple days, and I'll come back and add my thoughts about the rest of the book!

You can find Baby Doll in stores on July 12th and pre-order your copy online today!

Thanks to the publisher for the giveaway in this post! You can enter in the widget below to win a hardcover copy of the book for yourself!

I know I love free books, so I hope you'll enter for a chance to win! Good luck!

Entry-Form

About the book:

Escape was just the beginning.

Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison.

Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.

This is what happens next... to Lily, to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter—and to her captor.

For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.

For more info or to purchase the book click here!

About the author:

*credit: Heather Overton*

A tense, unique psychological thriller, Baby Doll is a remarkable first novel from TV writer Hollie Overton, who has worked Cold Case, The Client List, and the new Shadowhunters on ABC Family.

Debut author Hollie Overton was raised by her single mother, and Hollie—an identical twin herself—draws on her unique childhood experiences for her first novel, Baby Doll.

Overton's father was a member of the notorious Overton gang in Austin, Texas, and spent several years in prison for manslaughter. Hollie is a television writer and resides in Los Angeles.

Learn more:

Visit Hollie Overton’s official website here!

Follow Hollie Overton on Twitter here or Facebook here!


Other posts you may enjoy:

No Bake Creamy Strawberry Pie Recipe plus 9 Other No Bake Desserts!

Perfect summertime dessert! Also great with peach, orange, raspberry, lime, lemon and cherry!

Summer is my favorite foodie time of the year!

We are HUGE berry lovers at our house, and the abundance of fresh garden berries is my idea of heaven!

Tuna, Rice and Veggie Burger Recipe

Budget friendly and delicious! These burgers are SO easy to make and are great for lunch or dinner!

Happy Monday evening, or for those of you who are email subscribers... happy Tuesday morning!

I hope the week is going great so far for all of you!

Cheesy Ham and Green Olive Pizza Dunkers Recipe

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

An easy lunch for the kids or appetizer for any occasion! Customize for even the pickiest eaters with any ingredients you like!

Our summer vacation has finally started!

My daughter goes to a school that's considered year round, so we only have about 6 weeks off during the summer before we head back to school in August!

Book Review: Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Y'all have no idea how happy I am to be typing this post!!

Finally after a couple years, I'm able to squeeze some reading time back into my life again! What does that mean for you? BOOK REVIEWS! Let's get the "Cool Reads" back into Hot Eats and Cool Reads again!

31 Easy and Delicious Italian Recipes

This post contains affiliate links! Thanks for your support!

It's no secret. I'm a pasta lover. Well, anything Italian to be honest!

My love of Italian food first came from my Mom's stuffed shells recipe she made growing up. The sauce is flavorful and it makes enough to feed the whole family, and the neighbors too!

Today I'm reintroducing my version of Mom's stuffed shells with updated post and photos! Still the same great recipe, but prettier!

Cheesy Spinach Rice and Orzo Recipe

A delicious and easy side that's great served with chicken, beef or fish! Tons of flavor and ready in less than 20 minutes!


Cheesy Spinach Rice and Orzo

I recently started a new job at a really great non-profit called Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota!

Blueberry Rhubarb Sorbet Recipe

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Amazingly delicious spring or summertime treat! Perfect for those hot days when you need to cool off! Add to soda or wine for a delicious beverage!

Rhubarb season is close to winding down, but there's plenty of time to squeeze in another rhubarb recipe, or two!

I'm not much of an ice cream fan. Popsicles, freeze pops or sorbet are more my style! I've never actually made homemade sorbet from fresh fruit like this before, so I was very excited to see how it turned out!

Pineapple Avocado Salsa Recipe

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A fresh and delicious combo of sweet and savory flavors! Great with chips or a topper for tacos, shrimp, chicken or fish! The perfect addition to any Mexican themed meal!

We're expecting our first 90 degree day of the summer this weekend here in Minnesota! Since the weather will be feeling a little tropical, I figured what a better recipe to post than a fruity, savory salsa recipe!

I first made this recipe back in February with my Shrimp Sliders! It was a big hit then, so I decided to post just the salsa recipe for those of you who want to use it with tacos, chips or anything else!

Rhubarb Dump Cake plus 14 Other Fantastic Dump Cake Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support in keeping recipes free!

Who doesn't love an easy and delicious dump cake for dessert?

I can't believe I'm coming up on my 5 year blogging anniversary. Where does that time go? I honestly have no idea!

Four years ago, I blogged our family favorite Rhubarb Dump Cake recipe. 

Back then, my pictures weren't the best, so this recipe was due for a much needed update. 

Since rhubarb season is in full swing here in MN, I thought it would be a perfect time for a revamp!

Watermelon Mint Mojito Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links! Thanks for your support!

A refreshing adult summer beverage perfect for any occasion including ladies night, BBQ's and date night!

It's finally starting to feel like summer in Minnesota! Woo-hoo! What makes me the most excited about this time of year is all the amazing fresh fruit at the grocery store!

Balsamic Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe

Pure comfort food that's perfect for Sunday dinner! Tons of delicious flavor and easy to prepare!

Up until today, it's still been pretty cold and rainy in Minnesota! It's been iffy on whether we can BBQ or not, so when in doubt, make a comfort food recipe like I'm sharing today!

Comfort food is simply the best.

When I think of comfort foods, it's usually a meat and potatoes kind of meal, or pasta. Pasta is defintely at the top of my comfort food list.

Meals like this are usually made for Sunday dinner at my house, but this recipe would also be great for a weeknight meal too.

While the chicken is roasting, you can prepare the sides and even a quick dessert!

Fresh Strawberry and Peach Salsa Recipe

Fresh, fun and delicious! The sweet and savory flavors in this salsa are amazing! It's so perfect for spring and summer and is super easy to make!

Hey everyone!!

I'm back with my blogger friends to bring you another round-up of amazing recipes! Remember last month's chicken recipes and the lemon recipes from the month before? Well, this month we have some fabulous strawberry recipes! Make sure to scroll down after my recipe to check them out! There's a great selection and something for everyone!

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Tacos Recipe

This easy crock pot taco recipe is unique, tasty, uses pantry and fridge ingredients and is a budget meal. Use this creamy chicken for burritos, tostadas, taco salad, enchiladas, taquitos and more! 


Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Tacos

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Restaurant Review: Quarks American Bento in St Cloud, Minnesota

Thanks to Quarks American Bento for sponsoring this post. As usual, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello everyone! I'm SO excited to introduce you to an amazing restaurant located right in my city, St Cloud!

If you've been with me for awhile, you know I'm all about fresh ingredients, especially vegetables! St Cloud is kind of known as a chain restaurant city and restaurants like Quarks American Bento are few and far between. In fact, there's really nothing like this in St Cloud at all. It's defintely a gem and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Quarks American Bento is a fast, casual restaurant that focuses on healthy food that's prepared fresh, right in front of you! The ingredients are basic, fundamental building blocks of what your body needs. Healthy meal, healthy diet and a healthy way of life! Quarks is the 1st of it's kind and it's set up to eventually expand and franchise!

Tomato and Spinach Balsamic Orzo Recipe

An easy to make meatless main dish or side! Tons of flavor and fresh ingredients!

It's no secret. My nine year old, Ella is a super picky eater. Even though she's picky, I can't complain a whole lot. She dislikes pizza, chips and other foods that kids usually love, and loves fruits, veggies, salads and pastas. Dinner is a struggle, so we decided to get in the kitchen and start cooking together.

Basil, Chicken and Hard Boiled Egg Macaroni Salad Recipe plus 7 Other Amazing Chicken Recipes

A delicious side to any meal! Also perfect for lunch, BBQ's or picnics in the park!

Happy spring everyone! Spring makes me think of picnics and BBQ's! Although it's still a little cold to be doing both of those activities, I have an amazing pasta salad recipe to share for now, or when it's nicer outside! I also have seven other delicious chicken recipes from my blogger friends and you can find links to those after my recipe! After last month's theme of lemon recipes, chicken was the perfect choice for this month's theme!

Ground Beef and Green Bean Stroganoff Recipe

Easy comfort food meal that's delicious and ready in less than 30 minutes! Great for busy weeknights!

I'm back! I took a little blogging hiatus after traveling these last couple weeks! The break was much needed and now it's time to get back to business!

Traveling Fun... Lolo's Chicken & Waffles Restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona

It's been a long time... but I'm super excited to announce Restaurant Reviews are back! In addition to recipes and books, I'm also bringing back restaurant posts and adding some travel posts as well!

First up is Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles! I recently visited Phoenix with my boyfriend and this amazing restaurant was our first foodie stop! I'm a huge soul food lover, but there's not a lot of it to be found in Minnesota, especially good, authentic soul food!

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Balsamic Shredded Pork Sandwiches Recipe

A sweet and tangy recipe that's perfect for lunch, dinner or even potlucks! So simple and tasty!

I must confess. I have a huge obsession with balsamic vinegar. Well, any vinegar really, but especially balsamic. Tonight for a snack, I sliced some grape tomatoes, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and topped with some Trader Joe's Balsamic. Oh so good. Balsamic reduction is even better, but I'll use it right out of the bottle when I don't have extra time. My sister Shantel and I would even drink it by the spoonful. I'm so serious! Haha!