A Honey of a Pot Roast

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. 

 

 

I hope you all had a lovely and relaxing Christmas! We scaled back a lot on the gatherings this year and made it a point to keep the month of December as stress-free as possible. We didn't bake any cookies or host our traditional family breakfast. I bought most gifts online and opted for gift bags instead of wrapping paper. And, I didn't even put up a tree at home. After nearly 30 years of sticking with the same routine, I decided to shuck tradition for once and just exist in my own space. And it was glorious. But, the one thing I didn't skip out on was our annual Christmas Eve dinner. We spend every Christmas Eve with my mom and I am always tasked with bringing the main course meat for dinner. I usually make a prime rib or something similar, but keeping with the theme of simplicity this year, I opted to bake A Honey of a Pot Roast from Golden Blossom Honey instead.

 

 

I honestly chose this recipe because there were minimal ingredients and it looked pretty effortless as far as prep went, both of which were really important to me this year. Plus, even though there weren't many ingredients or steps in the recipe, it still sounded flavorful. I decided to toss some potatoes and carrots into the pan halfway through cooking to make this a true one pan meal. I was so impressed with the final result and how everything cooked to perfection with ease, I will more than likely stick with this roast for any other holiday dinners that I'm tasked with bringing the meat dish to. It will make a nice feast for New Year's, or thinking ahead, for a special Valentine's Day meal. Or, simply for a lazy Sunday dinner. It's great for holidays or for easy family days at home. I love a recipe that can swing both ways, between holidays or quiet family days, this roast works for all. 

 

Ingredients

4 lbs. beef chuck roast or other suitable cut for pot roast

1/2 package onion soup mix

3 Tablespoons water or dry red wine

1/2 cup tomato juice

2 Tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY

1 bay leaf

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE 

 

 

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey, and be sure to Pin It on Pinterest! 

   

Did you have a busy or mellow holiday season this year?  

Holiday Fig Roll ~ Let the Baking Begin!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned products courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


I don't know about you, but I am ready to slide into holiday baking season full force. I always feel like there's an extra magical element to baked goodies this time of year, and love being in the kitchen whipping, mixing, and blasting holiday music while the scent of Christmas treats fills the air. Our social calendar is pretty much booked for December, and we all know that I can't arrive at a party or festive dinner empty handed. I usually do chocolate chip cookies because they are universally loved. I mean, who doesn't love a chocolate chip cookie? But, sometimes you want to bring something that shows you put a little extra effort into your baked goods, and that's where this Holiday Fig Roll recipe from Golden Blossom Honey comes into play.
 

This recipe does require a little planning on your part, since the dough needs to be chilled for at least 8 hours, but trust me, this recipe is sooooo worth it! If you're a fan of Fig Newton cookies, you're going to love this this fig roll. It knocks the Newtons right out of the water. And, if you put some mandarin oranges or a small glass of holiday flowers in the center, it looks exquisite on the holiday table. It's definitely a recipe that will impress.

Ingredients

Dough:
3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Filling:
2 cups dried Calimyrna figs, stemmed, found in the bulk section of the supermarket
1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg white, lightly beaten
Glaze:
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What are some of the baked goods you're planning to make this holiday season?

Holiday Gift Guide for Teen Girls 2018

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. While they do not cost you to shop through them, this blog does earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. 


It's that time of the year again. With the help of her sister and girlfriends, Allison has compiled a list of her top gift guide picks for the 2018 holiday season. These are items both of my girls feel would be well received among teen through college aged girls.

 1. KiiPix Instant Smartphone Picture Printer 2. JBL Go 2 Portable Speaker 3. Fujifilm InstaX Mini Film 4. Color Changing Cinema Light Box 5. Mini Cruiser Retro Skateboard

1

 1. Mochi Ice Cream Making Kit 2. Riverdale Throw Pillow 3. Pop-culture Sculpted Candles 4. Milk and Honey Book 5. Elwood the Unicorn Cereal Bowl

 1. Lighted Makeup Mirror 2. False Eyelashes 3. Jaclyn Hill Morphe Eye Shadow Palette 4. Tarte Memaid Makeup Brushes 5. Orbits Eye Stones 6. Tarte Rain Forest of the Sea Eye Shadow Palette 7. Aromatherapy Shower Melts 8. Ouai Anti-Frizz Sheets

 1. prAna Permafrost Half Zip Hoodie 2. Fleece Lined Socks 3. Velvet Scrunchie Set 4. Cuddl Duds Soft Throws 

STOCKING STUFFERS

1. Gemstone Nightlight 2. Neon Rose PopSocket 3. Let Me Sleep Mask 4. Heart Rhinestone Ring Set 5. Birthstone Mineral Soaps 6. LUSH Sugar Plum Fairy Lip Scrub 7. Do You Look Like Your Dog Card Game

Additionally, we received a copy of Adventures in Petlandia, a hand illustrated storybook featuring adorable caricatures of your pet. While at first glance we thought this was going to be a book for the younger set, Allison, who will be 15 next month, loved seeing our boxer Rocky illustrated into the book having big city adventures. Of course, these books would also be fabulous for the younger family members, they work for teens too. Since each book is personalized specifically towards your pet, orders need to be placed by 12/10 to ensure delivery by Christmas.

We hope this gift guide for teen/college aged girls helps you pick the perfect gift for your loved ones stress-free this holiday season!

Holiday Spice Cookies for Santa

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Throw your hands in the air, Christmas cookie baking season is here! We all know that a balanced diet for Santa is two cookies in each hand, so let's get down to business and whip up a batch of these Holiday Spice Cookies from Golden Blossom Honey. This cookie offers a hit of all of the spices that scream Christmas, so if you love nutmeg, cloves, allspice and a hit of molasses, this recipe is for you. 

There are several ways you can shape these cookies. They can be done as traditional rolled cut out cookies, or you can do what I did and just make them into little balls, then flatten them into cookie shapes with the bottom of a sugar coated glass. Once baked and cooled, splash some glaze on the top, tie a stack up with bakers twine, then you have a delicious hostess or cookie exchange gift. 

With the second half of the dough, I made holiday thumbprint cookies by pressing a well into the centers then filling them with strawberry jam and chopped walnuts before baking. Honestly, I prefer the jam filled version of this cookie because you can really mix up the flavors with different fruity jams and jellies. 

Any way you make them, they bake up soft and chewy. These cookies would be delicious to snack on next to a warm fire and served with a steaming mug of hot cocoa. I am sure Santa would agree.

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/2 cup molasses
3 tablespoons rum
3/4 cup shortening, such as Crisco
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 1/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

Have you started your cookie baking this season yet?

Make Every Moment Count With JORD Watches

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


This time of year, we can really feel the pinch when it comes to how many minutes we have to spend in a day. For many of us, there doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done. On top of our normal daily routines, we now have to fit in holiday chores as well. Gifts need to be bought, decorations need to be put up, cookies need baking, and most importantly, we need to make sure we slow down and focus on what really matters- spending quality time with our loved ones. If there's one thing that we all have in common, it's how much time we have to spend in a day. What we do with our time is uniquely up to us, so shouldn't we make every minute and moment count? To help me stay on task every day, I rely on my new JORD Watch.

JORD Watches offer exquisitely gorgeous, hand-crafted timepieces made from raw material and a refined design, with each timepiece being molded after a modern lifestyle. What I love about my watch is how versatile it is. I can dress it up for a night out on the town, or pair it with my favorite chunky sweater and blue jeans for a more casual look. Either way, the watch adds a touch of class to any outfit I throw on each day.

Because JORD is run by artists, designers, marketers, and minders who value sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living, you know the timepiece you select is not only going to be beautiful, but also made with the utmost quality and care. 

My JORD Watch is Koa & Burl from their Fieldcrest Series. Koa wood is native to Hawaii and is known for its deep, rich colors and varied grain patterns. It is highly regarded for its beauty, as you can see from my photos. It's so pretty, isn't it?

My  husband was even quick to give compliments the first time he saw me wearing it. "That's one good looking watch!" he said. I wholeheartedly agree.

 JORD offers timepieces for both males and females, so if you are stumped on what to buy that hard to buy for person this year, I would highly recommend any of the wooden watches from JORD.

Ladies Wood Watch  


Here's a special deal just for my readers. Right now you can save 25% off any JORD watch by using code theresasmixednuts at checkout. Additionally, JORD is giving one of my readers the chance to win $100 off any JORD Watch of their choosing! Winning would be a great way to make those holiday dollars stretch a little further, right? ENTER HERE NOW! Good luck!

How are you making every moment count this time of the year?

Wood Watches by JORD

Spread Love, Not Germs

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

You all know that my oldest daughter Mariah started college this fall. She's always been a huge lover of science, so she's working towards a degree in biochemistry with the hope of working in drug research and development once she has graduated. She likes to solve puzzles, so studying how the human body reacts to microbes, then finding ways it benefits the body or breaks it down is quite fascinating for her (No, she didn't get the love of science from me. I was horrible at it!) 

Now that the holidays are here, I am trying to knock out my gift shopping. If you know Mariah, you know that she is super hard to buy for. I've gotten to the point where I pass on the gift buying responsibilities for her to my husband every year. However, this year I found gift ideas that I know she is going to love- GIANTmicrobes. 

GIANTmicrobes offers a collection of hilarious and educational toy viruses, diseases, human body cells, and other organisms that make a great gift, stocking stuffer, or even White Elephant gift for your family and friends this holiday season. Send a subtle hint to your uncle with the Bad Breath plush, delight your nephew with Booger, send the new flame of your ex Chlamydia to give yourself a little giggle, and send that ex a Brain Cell or two:

 Or, be nice and give your current flame Kissing Disease, Sperm & Egg, or even your Heart.

I think Mariah will get a kick out of Common Cold since she is studying disease. While a real cold bug is no fun, I actually think this little guy is kind of cute. 

I am actually saving Tooth for my nephew since he will be losing his baby teeth soon. It has a little zipper pouch on the back of the plush where you can tuck away a lost tooth for the Tooth Fairy to come collect and leave behind a coin or two.

Each of these little critters are inspired by the invisible microscopic world and come with educational facts, so children and adults can both can learn more about the invisible life that we are surrounded with every day. 

GIANTmicrobes plush are hilarious and make a fun little gag gift, but they do have other items to choose from also, like jewelry, socks, candles, coasters, cups, and key chains. If you can think of a germ or disease, they more than likely have a plush for it. I mean, I'd rather have someone spread the love through plush and not pass along actual germs, right? This is such a fun way to show someone you care. Or don't. 

You can find all of the cute little critters shown here, plus many more by visiting GIANTmicrobes (if clickable link doesn't work, you can find them at www.giantmicrobes.com). Sprinkle the germs all around this holiday season. Your family and friends will love them :)

What microbe would you gift your loved one (or not so loved one?)

 

Stuck On You! Personalized Goodies Make Great Gifts!

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Can you believe that there are only 9 weeks until Christmas? 9!!! That's a little closer than I would like it to be. I am usually really good about starting my holiday shopping early in the year so I can have it all done before Thanksgiving, but I am falling way short this this year. I haven't even made a scratch in my gift list yet, and that really bothers me. Right now I am focusing on getting all of the kids in my family knocked out of the way, so I decided to start with my 9 year old niece. She's really into artsy things these days. Drawing, coloring, and things of that nature, so when Stuck On You approached me with some holiday gift ideas, my focus shifted a bit towards some of their personalized products. I mean, what little girl doesn't love to see her name on cool stationary products? How many hours did we all spend in school doodling our name all over our notebooks? More than I care to admit, that's for sure! As I was digging through their extensive list of personalized products, my eyes popped when I found a Unicorn Notepad that I knew she was going to love!

This 50 page notepad has a spiral bound top for easy page flip through, and each page is personalized with the child's name. If your kid isn't into unicorns? No problem! There are more than 10 other original designs to choose from, ranging from robots to cars and even flamingos. 

If you know me, I think personalized gifts are the bee's knees, so Stuck On You is the perfect stop for me this holiday season. They have an extensive product lineup, including planners, calendars, journals, bento boxes, backpacks, waters, and more that can all be customized for your gift recipient or even yourself! If you love personalize products as much as I do, you're going to want to stop by Stuck On You for your holiday gift giving needs. 

WIN IT!

Two lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts readers are going to win a Personalized Stuck On You Notebook with their design of choice. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents (no P.O. Boxes will be accepted) and runs through 11/3. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning email before a new winner is select. Please enter on the giveaway widget below.

 

Entry-Form

Hamming It Up This Christmas

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Confession: I have never hosted a Christmas dinner in my home. I have cooked a big portion of the meal and have transported it to another family member's house, but never have I had to deal with the bustling of extra company on the holiday. We always spend Christmas Eve at my mom's, and the day of at the in-laws, and somehow Christmas breakfast with the extended family kind of just became my job, passed along from my sister-in-law. That's usually done the week before the big day, so we'll be hosting that this weekend. Another confession: I actually like that I won't be dealing with the pressure of having company at my home Christmas day. After being dragged out of bed at unholy hours, watching my floor become littered with paper, ribbons and bows, then having to open toy packaging that I am sure Satan himself pieced together (seriously, have you ever tried to pry a Barbie out of the box without a minimum of 10 different tools to get the job done?) the idea of rushing to clean, cook, then look halfway presentable before company comes strolling in does not appeal to me. At all. So, I would like to take a minute to give a shout out to my mom and mother-in-law for hosting the holiday meal. Thank you for saving my sanity!

Both dinners we'll be attending this year will be served with the traditional holiday ham. Since I am in charge of the main course for my mom's house, I wanted to do something a little less traditional this year and try using Golden Blossom Honey Mustard to add an extra kick of flavor to the meat. I did a test run of this Holiday Ham over the weekend, and it was a success! 

 
Simple, juicy, delicious. I also skipped out on traditional mashed potatoes and served it with steamed baby new potatoes. I did cheap out on prep and used some frozen dinner rolls to round out the meal, but hey, even weekend meal prep has its time limitations. 

Ingredients

1 (5-6 pound) cooked ham (shank or rump portion)

Glaze:
2 cups apple juice or cider
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup Golden Blossom Honey Mustard
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, divided
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

  

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What are you serving for Christmas dinner this year?

Christmas Fans Love Bronner's Winter Wonderland!

For over 10 years, Jason has been itching to go to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. If you haven't heard of it before, it's a massive (and I really mean massive!) store focusing on... you guessed it- all things Christmas. It's over 5 hours one way for us to drive, and I wasn't making a 10 hour round trip drive just for a visit, no matter how cool this store sounded. But on our drive home from Mackinac Island this summer, we were going right through Frankenmuth, Michigan. This opened up the perfect opportunity to see what the fuss was all about.

Even though we visited in the dead of summer, the drive up to the building was quite magical. The landscaping is all Christmas themed, which made us feel like we were heading right into a holiday wonderland. The streets are lined with fun Christmas ornaments and statues, and the poles are decorated in wreaths and bows. For a minute, we forgot that it was scorching hot that day and allowed ourselves to be sucked into the whole holiday vibe. Plus, it didn't hurt that Jason had the air conditioner blasting on ice cold.

Once inside, it's a Christmas lover's dream. You'll find anything and everything related to Christmas here. Ornaments, trees, stockings, figurines... you name it, they have it.

While most of the store is Christmas oriented, my Halloween loving heart was immediately drawn to their Halloween section. You can also find a few other holidays featured in Bronner's, like Easter and Thanksgiving.

The store is so huge, there's even a little dining area so you can refuel for some more power shopping. 

I love how they don't miss a beat, making sure every touch of the store is holiday themed. Even the Coke machine is Santa!

There are lots of places to stop for fun photo opps too!

Be sure to grab a few snaps with the oversized holiday statues on your way out!

What holiday items would you shop for at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland?

Mom's Secret Holiday Banana Pudding #ShareTheHoliday

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


Do you have any recipes that are staples in your holiday traditions? My mom and I were discussing this the other day, and for me, it's chocolate chip cookies. They are my most requested cookie for Christmas, and I've made them so much, I no longer need to look up the ingredients. I know it all by heart. For mom, it's her banana pudding. When we think of our holiday meal at mom's, banana pudding is one of the first things that comes to mind. She makes a batch for Christmas dinner each year, plus makes additional to send home with Jason and my sister because it is just such a beloved dessert.  

When you host holiday dinners, you know that there's usually leftovers. Moms always want to send their kids home with full bellies plus pack away some of the leftovers for the kids to enjoy later. I think my mom quickly learned that packing the leftovers and her gift of additional banana pudding in her every day dishware was a bad idea. When you're sending your good dishes out the door with 4 different kids, chances are, you aren't going to see those dishes again for a really long time, if ever. Her solution was to stock up on Rubbermaid TakeAlongs. 

I honestly can't remember a Christmas that Rubbermaid hasn't been included in our festivities. I always use the rectangular food storage containers to securely house my cookies and cupcakes, and mom always chooses the round ones for her banana pudding gifts. Every time I picture mom's banana pudding, I always imagine it in colorful Rubbermaid TakeAlongs topped with a holiday bow.

Rubbermaid TakeAlongs are the perfect vessel for holiday food storage and gift giving because the Quik Clik Seal™ keeps food secure and prevents spills. The soft lid grips the container tightly for a great seal, but also has a large tab that makes for easy opening. Additionally, the containers are microwavable, plus top rack dishwasher and freezer safe, making them no fuss, no muss. And, since they are so inexpensive, mom doesn't have to worry about not getting them back. I'm pretty sure my siblings have a nice collection of Rubbermaid TakeAlongs in their kitchens, courtesy of mom's cooking.

It's funny, my mom has shared every one of her recipes with me over the years, but I think it's been kind of an unspoken rule to not ask for the pudding recipe, because making that each year is just her thing. But, this weekend I did the unthinkable and did just that. I firmly believe that if I weren't mom's favorite child (we all think we are, right?) she probably wouldn't have handed it over. But, she did, and now my holiday gift to you is her secret banana pudding recipe. 

Don't EVER insult mom by asking if she makes her pudding with a box mix. Nope. It's all from scratch. You start with a base layer of vanilla wafer cookies in your Rubbermaid TakeAlongs. Top those with some banana slices. Next, add on the homemade pudding. Repeat with one additional layer. Then, you want to make it look presentable for gifting, so you top the last layer with some crushed wafers, add on a few full sized wafers and banana slices. Place the lid on the container, top with a holiday bow, and you are all set. 

Author: Theresa M.print recipe

Mom's Secret Banana Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups milk
• 1 whole egg
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5-6 bananas, sliced (not overripe)
• 1 box vanilla wafer cookies

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium sized bowl, with an electric or stand up mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the milk, egg, egg yolks, flour and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla.
2. Layer the bottom of a Rubbermaid TakeAlongs container with vanilla wafer cookies. Top with sliced bananas, then with a layer of the pudding mixture. Repeat these layers one more time.
3. Chill banana pudding in the refrigerator. Will keep in a refrigerated, airtight container for 5 days.

http://www.theresasmixednuts.com/2016/12/moms-secret-holiday-banana-pudding.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

Rubbermaid TakeAlongs are available in limited edition red, green and prints for the holiday season. You can find them in stores from 10/29-12/24. I found mine on the end cap of the food storage aisle at my local Walmart.

Be sure to check out ShareTheHoliday.com to see how others are using Rubbermaid TakeAlongs for their holiday meals and snacks. Also, get inspiration on how to dress up them up with ribbons and bows for gifting to your family and friends this Christmas. 

What are the staples in your holiday meals each year? Do you like to give or receive food gifts at Christmas?