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Life-Altering Spinach Artichoke Dip

This Life-Altering Spinach Artichoke Dip is heaven on a cracker, baguette, or by the spoonful. With just seven simple ingredients, you can make this cheesy, creamy, spinach-y, artichoke-y, restaurant-style dip at home!

I tend to have a flair for the dramatic. I don’t hide that fact and I kind of really love it. My life, my stories, my everything is just a little more fun because of my love for dramatic tales. However, when I tell you that this Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is life altering, believe you me, I’m not being dramatic…at all! It’s just that good!

Life-Altering Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

You know that fancy-pants restaurant spinach artichoke dip you get when you go out? Yea, that’s got nothing on this. NOTHING! OK, maybe something, but this is so much better. Plus, you only need seven ingredients and a little bit of time to make this version…so there’s that too. I’m calling this a win and I want you to join my team. Stay home, save money, wear your jammies while you ~~gorge~~ eat your restaurant-style dip at home. No judging here!

Whether you’re tailgating, just enjoying a day of appetizers and small bites instead of a big meal, or headed to a pot luck, this recipe is for you! All of this cheesy, creamy, spinach-y, artichoke-y goodness dipped on a cracker or smeared on a baguette is simply irresistible. Plus, spinach + artichokes = healthy snacking, no? Maybe not, but it’s OK to treat yourself from time to time and this is the treat I choose!

Life-Altering Spinach Artichoke Dip

Author: Christy

Recipe type: Dip / Party Food

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Ingredients

2 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 10-oz box/bag frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and liquid removed
8 oz (one block) cream cheese, softened
⅔ cup sour cream
2 tbsp light mayo
2 tbsp minced garlic

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
In a large bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, artichokes, and spinach. Stir to combine making sure to break up the spinach to avoid clumps.
Add softened cream cheese and stir to combine completely.
Stir in sour cream, mayo, and garlic.
Transfer to an 8x8" or round clear baking dish and bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the top is starting to brown.
Serve with your favorite crackers, pita chips, or baguettes.

That simple, that good, and no need to get dressed up or spend a lot of money. Enjoy this dip for all of the special (or not so special) occasions in your life. When you serve this Life-Altering Spinach Artichoke Dip, every day’s a party. Enjoy!

Nutty by Nature Caramel Snickers Cake

By Christy Leave a Comment

Just like the movie, The Nut Job 2, this Caramel Snickers Cake is nutty by nature! Fluffy white cake covered in white frosting, slathered in caramel sauce, then topped with Snickers Minis. The surprise Snickers crunch in the middle makes this cake a must try! Oh yea, and I should tell you, I did receive a full party pack from Team Click to facilitate this post.

Did you love the movie, The Nut Job? My kids did and that’s why we were so excited to host an at-home viewing party with the release of The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature! Taking down the Halloween decorations was a little depressing so throwing a little viewing party was in order to lift our spirits, which of course, it did. AND…what’s a party without some themed food, right? In order to keep with the theme of this fan favorite, I decided to use up some of that leftover Halloween candy (OMG there is SO much of it!) and make this Nutty By Nature Caramel Snickers Cake. This is a simple, light and fluffy white cake with white icing, caramel sauce, and chopped up Snickers bars. While the kids were watching the movie…I got to mixing, baking, and chopping.

The kids loved the movie and I enjoyed listening to the laughter from the other room. I’m looking forward to watching it myself (which is why, as a busy mom, I love owning movies on Blu-ray)! So, in a nutshell (pun intended), if you want to know what you’re in for, here’s a brief synopsis of the movie:

Surly Squirrel and the gang are back, returning to Liberty Park after they are forced to leave their easy life at the nut store. Getting back to nature is the last thing Surly wants to do, but when a greedy mayor decides to destroy the park to build an amusement park, Surly and his ragtag critter friends must band together to save the place they call home.

Speaking of busy moms, movie nights are my ~~lazy~~ simple way of showing my littles that I love them without doing a lot of work. I enjoy taking the time to make them homemade, themed treats, and the time we spend together as a family – either watching the movie or making the treats – is priceless. If you haven’t already, you really need to see The Nut Job 2, and you really need to own it. Lucky for you, it’s already available on digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment or you can wait to pick up your copy at your local big box store on November 14, 2017 on Blu-ray and DVD. Up to you! Now…let’s get back to this Caramel Snickers Cake!

Caramel Snickers Cake

Author: Christy

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

For the Cake:!
1 box White Cake Mx
Ingredients needed to make cake using whole milk instead of water
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 cups Snickers Minis, roughly chopped
For the Frosting:!
2 tbsp Whole Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 cups Confectioners Sugar
2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping (more or less as desired)

Instructions

For the cake:
Prepare cake mix according to instructions using milk instead of water and adding in the extract. Bake according to package instructions. Set aside and let cool on rack prior to assembling double layer cake.
For the frosting:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and beat on medium until you get the desired consistency.
To assemble:
Place one cooled cake (flat side down) on your platter and frost and cover the top with caramel, then chopped Snickers.
Place other cake half on top (flat side down) and frost the entire cake.
Drizzle as much, or as little, of the caramel syrup over the cake allowing it to go down the sides, sprinkle with the Snickers chunks, and garnish with Snicker Mini halves on the bottom if you'd like (as shown in the photo).

You really need to make this Caramel Snickers Cake. One, because it’s so simple – and two, because your kids will love it. You also really need to make family movie night a regular thing if you don’t already. It’s economical, fun, and a well-needed bonding experience that you can easily fit into your busy schedule. The Gossett household highly recommends making The Nut Job 2 the star of your next movie night (which should be soon!). Want to find out more about the movie and the release? Follow along on Facebook and Instagram. Enjoy!

D2 Coconut Water Fresh Fruit Pops

By Christy Leave a Comment

Gather as a family, watch Descendants 2, make Coconut Water Fresh Fruit Pops, and just enjoy some down time for a change! Oh yea, and I should tell you, I did receive a full party pack from Team Click to facilitate this post.

We loved the first Disney Descendants movie and we couldn’t wait for Descendants 2 to come out. The minute it did, I knew we needed a movie night so a movie night we had…with healthy popsicles and all. Because that’s how we roll. But don’t get me wrong…I didn’t do the the whole “I’m the perfect mom with healthy snacks and stuff” thing…we had wigs, and dancing…and we stayed up way too late. But we did have healthy popsicles (more on that later), so there’s that.

We put in the movie, we put on the wigs, we donned the hats, wore the necklaces…and we partied like Disney stars.

It was a fun night!

Descendants 2 Movie Synopsis

The story deepens in the music-driven sequel to the global smash hit, Descendants, as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s most infamous villains try to find their place in idyllic Auradon.

When the pressure to be royally perfect becomes too much for Mal, she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town.

You’ll need to watch the movie, available today (August 15, 2017) at retailers near you, to find out how the story plays out!

D2 Coconut Water Fresh Fruit Pops

Although the kids absolutely loved the movie, the star of the show for them was the healthy popsicles. Just coconut water and lots and lots of fresh fruit; not even a teensy bit of sugar…and they loved them! Of course, these popsicles followed the color theme of our party…Mal (purple), Evie (blue), and Uma (green), so they were the perfect way to celebrate our watch party. As an added bonus, I was able to use my latest exotic fruit find, rambutan, in the ice pops as a natural sweetener. If you haven’t tried rambutan yet, you totally should!

D2 Coconut Water Fresh Fruit Pops

Author: Christy

Recipe type: Dessert/Snack

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 4 hours

Total time: 4 hours 5 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

Popsicle molds
1 cup pure, unsweetened coconut water
½ cup purple grapes, halved
½ cup blueberries
½ cup honeydew, chopped into small pieces
2 rambutan, peeled and chopped into small pieces

Instructions

Layer fresh, chopped fruit into popsicle molds.
Fill with coconut water; it won't take much, this just holds the fruit together and adds extra health benefits.
Insert popsicle sticks.
Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.

What are you waiting for? Savor the dog days of summer with a great movie the whole family can enjoy. Whip up some healthy themed snacks and just enjoy some old-fashioned together time. Remember, you can head to your local retailer to pick up your DVD copy of Disney’s Descendants 2 today, and while you’re there, pick up your party supplies to make the most of your evening. Enjoy yourselves and you can just thank me and Team Click later!