These snowy cupcakes are a must for your dessert tray this Christmas! They’re really easy to make since you can use cake mix and ready-made frosting. Give them a try and we’re sure that you’ll have the most unique cupcakes on the block!

What You’ll Need:

1) A box of white cake mix

2) 2 containers white frosting

3) Cupcake liners

4) 2 bags of cocoa candy melts

5) 1 bag white candy melts (you can also use white chocolate)

6) Sparkling sugar

7) Granulated sugar

8) Ziploc bags

9) Sheet protectors

10) Tree clip art (there’s tonnes on Google!)

11) Cooking spray

Step #1:

Print out your tree clip art, making several copies of it on one page before printing. Insert your printed clip art into a sheet protector. Grease with a spritz of cooking spray.

Step #2:

Melt the brown candy melts in the microwave. Place the melted candy melts in a Ziploc bag and snip off the corner. Pipe the candy melts along the tree design until the image is filled. Don’t worry about it being perfect!

Step #3:

Leave the trees to harden. During this time, bake your cupcakes according to package directions.

Step #4:

When the trees have hardened, it’s time to add the snow! Melt the white candy melts and place them in a Ziploc bag, snipping off the corner. Pipe the candy melts randomly on the branches.

Step #5:

Before the candy melts have hardened, sprinkle the white areas with sparkling sugar. Allow the candy melts to harden completely.

Step #6:

Frost your cooled cupcakes with white frosting and dip them into the sparkling sugar and granulated sugar mixed in a small bowl.

Step #7:

Remove the chocolate tree carefully from the sheet protector. Insert the tree into the frosting on the cupcake. If the tree needs extra support, you can insert a toothpick into the cupcake to hold it up.

Photos: Not Your Momma’s Cookie.

These will be the best French fries you’ve ever had! They’re double-fried and super crispy! Serve them up alongside some juicy hamburgers, and don’t forget the dip! We highly recommend Tzatziki dip, because it’s light, although delicious, and won’t overwhelm the fries. The secret to crispy fries is soaking them in water beforehand. Now that you know this trick, you’ll never want to go back to the old way of making French fries again! Take a look at the recipe below!

Crispy Double-Fried French Fries

Photos: Cooking on the Weekends, Damn Delicious, The Epoch Times.

Cereal isn’t just for breakfast anymore! You can make tonnes of tasty desserts with it! Cakes, donuts, cereal bars, the list goes on! We’ve rounded up 10 of the best cereal dessert recipes you won’t want to miss!

1. Cereal-Topped Donuts

These donuts are perfect for a brunch dessert that is sure to satisfy kids and adults alike! Top them with your favorite cereal and a vanilla glaze.

Recipe here.

2. Magically Delicious No-Bake Ice Box Pie

This magical pie is made with a Lucky Charms crust, cream cheese, whipped cream, and marshmallow fluff. Perfect for a kid’s party, this whimsical pie will have everyone reaching for seconds!

Recipe here.

3. Court-side Crunch 7 Layer Bars

These crunchy bars are full of pretzels, peanuts, dried cranberries, rice cereal, and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. All the ingredients are then topped with condensed milk and baked in the oven. Keep these tasty bars on hand for school snacks, or eat them during the big game!

Recipe here.

4. Rice Krispie Treat Cupcakes

These Rice Krispie cupcakes are so adorable, they would be perfect to serve at a birthday party, or a baby shower! Check out the recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients!

Recipe here.

5. Frosted Flakes Macarons

Although it doesn’t look like it, these Macarons are made of Frosted Flakes! They look complicated, but are super easy to make! Don’t forget the buttercream center – it’s to die for!

Recipe here.

6. Fiber One Crunchy Fudge Cookies

This delicious cookie is made with a brownie mix and high-fibre cereal. If you’d like a dessert that’s more on the healthy side, this is for you!

Recipe here.

7. Rice Krispie Treat S’mores

These S’mores have a tasty marshmallow filling, and are made in only a few easy steps. Made in less than an hour, it’s the perfect last-minute dessert for any occasion!

Recipe here.

8. Puppy Chow Krispie Treats

Rice Krispies, peanut butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips come together in this irresistible treat. This recipe requires no baking, making it a snap to prepare.

Recipe here.

9. Lucky Charms Ice Cream

If dry cereal desserts aren’t your thing, this one is for you! This homemade ice cream is great for hot summer days with the kids.

Recipe here.

10. Nutella Crunch Ice Cream Cake

There’s nothing better than adding Nutella to desserts, and cereal desserts are no exception. This ice cream cake is great for get-togethers or a party when you want a no-fuss dessert. Can you believe this whole cake is made with only 3 ingredients?!

Recipe here.

When planning meals for a picnic, it’s important to choose something that is easy to make and hassle-free. We love classics like fried chicken and potato salad for a picnic! Other dishes to add to your picnic menu that are sure to be a hit are deviled eggs and pasta salad. For sandwiches, try herbed cucumber and radish tea sandwiches. They’re perfect for vegetarians, and are really light, too! So, get out your pen and paper and jot down these delicious recipes!

Pasta Salad with Peas and Pesto

This pasta salad is packed with flavor with a pesto dressing and green peas. Lemon juice and scallions brightens it up.

Ingredients

Pesto

1. 1 cup fresh basil or mint (or both), and more for garnish
2. 1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped
3. 3 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts, and more for garnish
4. 1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
5. 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
6. 1/3 cup olive oil
7. salt and black pepper

For the salad

1. 1/2 pound gemelli pasta, cooked, drained and cooled
2. 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
3. 1/2 cup chopped scallions

Instructions

1. For the pesto, combine the herbs, garlic, cheese, nuts, and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until finely chopped. While the machine is running, slowly add the olive oil.
2. In a serving bowl, combine the pasta and peas. Add the pesto and stir to coat. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice if needed.
3. Garnish with chopped nuts, scallions, and chopped herbs.

Classic Crispy Fried Chicken

A picnic staple, this fried chicken will be the most flavorful you’ve ever tried! Soaking the chicken in buttermilk beforehand keeps it juicy, and the Tabasco sauce gives it an unexpected kick.

Ingredients for the buttermilk marinade

• 4 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp Tabasco sauce
• 2 tbsp honey

Ingredients for the chicken

• 2 small chickens, cut into pieces
• 2 quarts vegetable oil
• 4 cups flour
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 4 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tsp ground celery seed
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. To make the marinade, whisk the buttermilk, cayenne, salt, pepper, Old Bay, Tabasco, and honey in a large bowl.
2. Place the chicken pieces in the bowl and submerge them in the marinade. Cover and put in the fridge. Allow to marinade for at least 12 hours.
3. When the 12 hours have passed, take the chicken out of the fridge and let it come up to room temperature, still in the marinade. This will take about 45 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 200 F and heat the oil in a deep pot or a deep-fryer over high heat. Oil should be 3 inches deep, and hot enough to start popping.
5. While the oil is heating up, combine paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, Old Bay, cayenne pepper, celery seed, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Pour half the mixture in another bowl and set aside. Add the remaining half of the spice mix to flour to the large bowl and mix well.
6. When the oil is hot, put a piece of chicken into the dredging flour bowl and cover with flour until coated. Do the same with all the chicken pieces until there isn’t any more space in the bowl.
7. Fry all the chicken pieces for 8 minutes, until golden brown. Take the chicken out and place it on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the spice mix.

Herbed Cucumber Radish Tea Sandwiches

These classic tea sandwiches are perfect for vegetarians, are they’re really light, too! Crunchy radishes and cucumber combine perfectly with flavorful herbed Greek yogurt.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped dill
• 2/3 cup finely chopped chives
• 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper
• 12 thin slices white sandwich bread, crust removed
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 6 radishes, thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup pea shoots
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine yogurt, dill, chives, lemon juice, and Worcestershire. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Spread about 1 tbsp of the yogurt mixture over the butter.
3. Top 6 slices with cucumber and radish slices.
4. Top vegetables with 2 tbsp pea shoots, then cover with the remaining yogurt-spread slices.
5. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.

Delicious Deviled Eggs

For the very best results with these deviled eggs, use a good olive oil. Also, if you use eggs that are a few weeks old, they’ll peel easier than very fresh eggs.

Ingredients

• 1 dozen large eggs
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• up to 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp Frank’s Red Hot sauce
• salt and black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• crushed red pepper or hot paprika
• crunchy sea salt

Instructions

1. Boil eggs and peel them. Slice each egg in half lengthwise.
2. Place all yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, half of the vinegar, and hot sauce in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
3. Add Pick 12 of the best looking egg white halves and set them aside.
4. While the food processor is still running, slowly drizzle in 2 tbsp of olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and remaining vinegar to taste. Transfer the yolk mixture to a zip-lock bag. The filling and the egg white halves can be stored in the fridge overnight prior to serving.
5. Cut off the corner of the zip-lock bag and fill the egg whites, overstuffing them.
6. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil, and sprinkle with black pepper, crushed red pepper, and sea salt. Serve immediately.

Classic Potato Salad

A must for every picnic, this potato salad is creamy and full of flavor. It’s the perfect make-ahead salad that’ll save you time. Plus, making it ahead of time allows the flavors to marinade!

Ingredients

• 4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• salt and black pepper
• 1/4 cup sugar, divided
• 6 tbsp rice wine vinegar, divided
• 1 cup finely diced celery
• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions, green parts only
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped dill pickles
• 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
• 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

Instructions

1. Add water to a large pot. To the water, add 2 tbsp salt, 2 tbsp sugar, and 2 tbsp vinegar. Bring to a boil over high heat and reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet. Spread them out evenly and sprinkle them with 2 tbsp vinegar. Allow to cool to room temperature.
3. Combine the remaining sugar, remaining vinegar, onion, celery, scallions, parsley, pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Add in potatoes and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or up to 3 days before serving to allow the flavors to intensify.

Photos: A Calculated Whisk, Serious Eats, Martha Stewart, Good Life Eats, Cooking Whims, Pinch My Salt, Food LVE.

These sangria recipes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and will have your guests begging for more! Fizzy champagne and sweet fruit are a few of the ingredients in these recipes that will make your sangria the life of the party. Read the recipes below!

Champagne Sangria Punch

Ingredients

• 1 bottle sweet Riesling or Moscato
• 1 orange, sliced
• 4 kiwi, peeled and sliced
• 1 pomegranate, seeded
• 1 bottle Brut Champagne or sparkling wine
• 1-1/2 cups orange juice

Instructions

1. Pour the wine into a pitcher or a punch bowl. Add orange slices, kiwi slices, and pomegranate.
2. Refrigerate for 2-24 hours.
3. When ready to serve, add champagne and orange juice and serve over ice.

Pear and Apple White Sangria

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Moscato wine
• 1/2 cup lemon liqueur
• zest of 2 lemons
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored, halved, and thinly sliced
• 1 pear, cored, halved, and thinly sliced
• 1 can (12 ounces) seltzer

Instructions

1. In a pitcher, add wine, lemon liqueur, lemon zest, and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add apple slices, pear slices, and lemon juice to the pitcher and mix.
3. Place the pitcher in the fridge for 4 hours.
4. Before serving, top off the sangria with seltzer.

White Strawberry-Lemon Sangria

Ingredients

• 2 lemons, thinly sliced
• 1 apple, cored and sliced
• 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 1/2 cup rum
• 4 cups lemon-lime soda

Instructions

1. Add lemons, apples, and strawberries to a pitcher.
2. Add in wine and rum.
3. Cover and place in the fridge for 4-5 hours.
4. Before serving, add lemon-lime soda and serve over ice.

Pineapple Sangria

Ingredients

• 3 cups pineapple juice
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 cup pineapple soda
• 1 bunch fresh mint, chopped
• 1 orange, sliced

Instructions

1. In a pitcher, add juice, brandy, wine, pineapple, and soda. Stir and add ice.
2. Pour into wineglasses and garnish with the mint and orange slices.

Watermelon Sangria

Ingredients

• ¼ a medium-sized watermelon, cut into small chunks
• 1 bottle blush wine
• 1 cup vodka

Instructions

1. 24 hours before you plan to serve, put all the ingredients in a pitcher. Stir and put in the fridge.
2. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice and chilled watermelon chunks. Pour the sangria over the ice and fruit.

Photos: Iowa Girl Eats, Love Grows Wild, Kitchen Treaty, Erin’s Food Files, G Free Foodie, Ask Missa.

We love using home-made cleaning solutions! The store-bought chemicals can irritate your throat and nose, and they’re not safe to come into contact with your skin, either. Using only a few simple and cheap pantry ingredients, you can create your very own cleaning solutions for cheap. Give the environment (and yourself!) a break and try these recipes.

White Vinegar

Vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits. Although it’s a tough acid, it’s gentle enough to use on hardwood floors. White vinegar is also a natural deodorizer, and absorbs odours instead of masking them. If you’re worried about the smell, it goes away completely when the vinegar dries. If you have sensitive skin, vinegar is great as a fabric softener. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle instead of regular fabric softener. For hard water deposits on your showerhead, simply place 1/2 cup vinegar in a sandwich bag and tie around the showerhead with a rubber band. Allow it to sit overnight and rinse in the morning. If you’re looking for an all-purpose spray cleaner, simply mix 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. This is great for countertops, backsplash areas, and floors.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has a mild abrasive action and has natural deodorizing properties. It’s a great replacement for harsh store-bought scouring powders. Sprinkle baking soda on your sponge for bathtub rings, vanity units, or removing food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tough stains and grime, make a paste of baking soda and water and leave it to stand for 10-20 minutes until the deposits have softened and can be removed easily. To keep drains running smoothly, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and a little hot water to wash the baking soda down. Allow it to sit overnight, and don’t use it on blocked drains.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is great on windows, mirrors, and hard-surface ceramic tiles. It’s also good to put it into a spray bottle and spray on points of contact to kill germs (door handles, steering wheels, toilet handles, toilet seats, etc.).

Ammonia

Ammonia is a strong window and all-purpose cleaner, and it’s stronger than vinegar. For a tough cleaning solution, mix 1 tbsp ammonia, 1tbsp dishwashing liquid, and 2 cups of water.

Photos: Trusper, Modern Survival Online, Good Ideas and Tips, Kendricks Stationers, DIY Life.

To make your own glass cleaner all you need is a few common household products. So, grab an empty spray bottle and ditch that store bought spray in favour of these eco-friendly recipes!

1. Mix equal parts water and vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Spray down any glass surface and wipe clean with crumpled newspaper.

2. Mix 2 cups warm water, 1 tbsp corn starch, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/2 tsp dish soap. Shake well before use.

3. Mix 2 tbsp of borax and 3 cups of water. Spray on windows and wipe away with a clean cloth. Rinse off the solution with equal parts water and vinegar.

4. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to 1 quart warm water. Spray and wipe dry.

Photo: Snapguide.

More and more people are turning to all-natural cleaning products to clean their home. They are non-toxic, lack any harmful chemical smells, and only cost pennies to make!  If you or anyone in your family suffer from allergies, bronchitis, or asthma, reducing harmful chemicals in your home can help.  Here are six recipes you can make from items found in almost any household:

1. All-Purpose Cleaner

Add 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 a gallon of water and mix well. You can use this for windows, mirrors, and water deposit stains.

2. Air Freshener

Add 1/2 cup of vodka, 1/2 cup of water, and 8 drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle and shake well. Spray 3-4 times in areas that need freshening.

3. Stain Remover

Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray directly on stain. Leave it for a few minutes, then clean it with warm soapy water.

4. Bathroom Mold Killer

Add one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) to 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on mold and wait at least an hour before rinsing.

5. Disinfectant

Mix 2 tsp borax, 4 tbsp vinegar, and 3 cups of hot water. Wipe on with damp cloth or use in a spray bottle.

6. Rust Remover

Sprinkle a little salt on the rust along with a squeeze of lime juice until well soaked. Leave it for 2-3 hours and rinse with a damp sponge.

Photos: Cleaning Dolls, The Happy Housewife, Ciulla Assoc.