Grilled Hot Wings + 6 Tips to Make Your Summer Cookout a Success

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

Summer time is party time!  My husband and I love to have cookouts during the summer, and we are sort of famous for our last minute impromptu get-togethers, featuring my husband’s grilled masterpieces, and my amazing sides and desserts.  Today I’m excited to offer you an easy but unique recipe for your next cookout, plus tips to make your summer cookout a success from prep to clean up.

 

Party Time Clean Up Essentials

When it comes to parties, most people focus on the food first and then the decorations, but you must not forget other essentials like plates, cups, eating utensils, and of course, something to help guests to clean their hands.  VIVA® Vantage® Big Roll Paper Towels come in a convenient 6 pack that is perfect for your party.  I love putting out a roll of paper towels, because it is easy, convenient, and cost effective.  Also, in the event of a spill, you just grab a roll and get to cleaning!

Paper towels can also be a big help for cleaning as you go before your party begins.  Just wipe down tables and counter tops as you work, so the messes don’t add up!  Then after the party is over, I like to grab my favorite spray cleaner and a roll of paper towels for quick clean up!

New Kleenex® Wet Wipes Gentle Clean are also a convenient product to have on hand.  These are safe to use on hands and your face.

Summer parties are often outdoors, which means no sink is immediately available, and so it’s great to offer guests some wipes for personal clean up (especially if you are serving a messy food like ribs, wings, or ice cream).

I recommend placing a package of Kleenex® Wet Wipes at the center of each of the tables where people will be eating, as well as an additional package next to your messiest foods, which may require the use of the wipes (ie – right next to your tray of hot wings).

You can find both of these products in the bath tissue, facial tissue and paper towel aisle at your local Kroger.  I used my Kroger Plus card and was able to save $5 on the VIVA® Vantage® Big Roll Paper Towels 6 pack!

The Kleenex® wipes found on the facial tissue aisle.  I actually found them on the same aisle as the paper towels.  I found them at the opposite end of the aisle, in between bath tissue and facial tissue.

Place Non-Food Essentials in One Place

I have been to so many parties and get-togethers where everyone appears lost!  Where are the plates?  I can’t find the cups!  I forgot to get a paper towel. Where are the forks?  The confusion can be solved rather easily, by placing all of these essential items at the end of your buffet, all together in one place.

Fun Theme

Even the smallest party can be made more fun with a few decorations.  My stepson recently graduated high school and will be leaving in August to join the army, so for his upcoming party, I would use some simple red, white, and blue decorations.  I LOVE patriotic decorations to begin with, so this is an especially fun theme for me.  Plus, with Memorial Day and the 4th of July being summer time holidays it is very easy to find paper plates, balloons, tablecloths, and other fun decorations and party favors to go with this theme.

Make Ahead Menu Items

To shorten prep time and make less mess on the day of your party, choose a few make ahead menu items.

  • Casseroles that can be mixed up the night before and simply warmed in the oven the next day are great.
  • You can also make salads the night before. (We always make our potato salad a day ahead!)
  • No bake desserts are also great for this, as well most other desserts from homemade cookies to pies and cupcakes.

Unique Menu

Think outside the box when planning your menu; just a few unique menu items can take your menu from bland and basic to original and full of flavor.

Right now we are brainstorming party ideas for Noah. My husband and I LOVE to do cookouts, and we also love doing appetizer parties, so my idea is to do a combination of the two.  I’d like to serve hamburgers and hot dogs (because it is easy and everyone loves it), but I also want to throw in some of our favorite appetizers like hot wings, sausage balls, and buffalo chicken dip.

You could also add a few appetizers to your menu if your are having a fish fry.  Or offer up veggie kebobs alongside your grilled steaks or barbecue chicken.

Fresh fruits and salads are also great additions to your backyard barbecue, and of course, you never want to forget the dessert!

Fire Up That Grill!

If you’re serving appetizers at your next cookout, I have a simple, yet unique recipe.  Where I live hot wings are not typically served at a barbecue.  They are usually reserved for tailgating parties and holiday parties, so just having them at a summer party is an interesting menu twist for us.  And if that’s not enough, these wings are GRILLED!  Usually when people think of wings, they think of wings fried in a fryer.

Grilling your wings will add extra flavor that frying just won’t do, and because you aren’t using any oil, and the fat from the wings drips down into your grill, your wings will actually be a lot more healthy!

 

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 Sweepstakes!

Enter the #MakeYourSummer Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Kroger gift card or a NASCAR experience!

  • No Purchase Necessary. The #MakeYourSummer #Sweepstakes begins on June 11, 2018 at 12:00:00 AM ET and ends on July 23, 2018 at 11:59:59 PM ET.
  • There are multiple Entry Periods during the Sweepstakes. Legal residents of the 50 US/DC only, 18+.
  • Void where prohibited. By participating, you agree to the Official Rules at https://makeyoursummerrules.pgtb.me/MRsDsl.
  • All shared entries should include: #MakeYourSummer #Sweepstakes. Ends 7/23/18. See rules at https://makeyoursummerrules.pgtb.me/MRsDsl.

Do you love cookouts and summer parties? Visit the Make Your Summer Social Hub for more unique grilling inspiration.  And as always, I invite you to join the conversation by commenting on today’s post!

Tailgating with Tony’s Pizza + Sausage & Cheese Pinwheels

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

Football season is in full swing, and that includes high school football!  Even though it’s been “a few” years since I was in high school, I still enjoy rooting for the home team, and my husband played football in high school so he is always happy to watch anyone play.  Our son has also been in marching band, so we’ve enjoyed going to the football games to see him play, and while we’re there it’s a great chance to check out the game and enjoy ourselves.

One thing that’s changed since I was in school is the pre-game festivities.  Much like they do at colleges, people now tailgate, spirit parades, and other fun activities.

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I love homegating and serving food for football games.  For a high school game, I think it’s just as fun to serve up a few appetizers for family and friends to enjoy before attending the big game.

The other day we had a nice spread of food. I made a few appetizers, and our main dish was Tony’s pizza.  I purchased Tony’s® Pizzeria Style MEAT-TRIO® Pizza and Tony’s® Pizzeria Style Cheese Pizza.  Their pizzas feature 100% real mozzarella cheese and sauce made from real tomatoes, and their pizzas bake up in about 20 minutes, making them ideal for you tailgate or homegate parties!

 

You can find Tony’s pizza in the freezer section at Walmart.  Look for all their delicious varieties:

  • Tony’s® Pizzeria Style Pepperoni Pizza
  • Tony’s® Pizzeria Style Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza
  • Tony’s® Pizzeria Style Cheese Pizza
  • Tony’s® Pizzeria Style Supreme Pizza
  • Tony’s® Pizzeria Style MEAT-TRIO® Pizza

I like baking these pizzas as a main dish, and it’s also fun to slice the pizza into many smaller pizzas in order to serve “finger food” size portions.  Tony’s pizza is also very affordable, and because it’s so quick to make you can always stick extra pizzas in the oven if you have last minute or unexpected guests arrive.

Ibotta Offer!  You can also get $1 cash back off your pizza purchase with Ibotta.

Sweepstakes!  Right now you can also enter to win great prizes and up to $3000 for your local high school from Tony’s pizza.  Check it out!

#WinWithTonysPizza #Sweepstakes – Walmart (9/19 to 10/17)

I also made a few appetizers to go with our pizza.  It was basically an entire table full of man food!

One of the appetizers I made to go with the pizza was a platter of Sausage & Cheese Pinwheels.  This is a very easy appetizer that you can make in under 20 minutes.  The bite-sized portions make it very easy to serve and eat at a tailgate.  And the hearty ingredients are real crowd pleasers.

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Do enjoy Friday night football?  Do you have a son who plays for the home team or a daughter who cheers on the sideline?  If so, I’d love to hear how you celebrate and show your home town pride!  Leave a comment on this post or join the discussion on social media.

Also, be sure to check out these fun tailgating ideas!

 

Orange Shortcake Parfait

Do you have kids who always seem to be hungry for an after school snack?  Or do YOU always find yourself rummaging through the kitchen for something to snack on?  If you’ve answered, “Yes!” to either of these questions, then today’s post is for you!  When it comes to afternoon snacking, you don’t have to settle for the same boring and bland foods.  You’ll actually find it’s amazing what you can do with just a few simple ingredients on hand.  You just have to get a little creative!  Today I’m sharing a recipe for a quick Orange Shortcake Parfait.  You can make these for your hungry little ones in about 5 minutes, or make an entire round of parfaits for your next party!

The other day, I made a couple of pound cakes!  I LOVE pound cakes!  They are so simple, yet so good!  And while I love the plain pound cake, it’s also a versatile dessert that you can change up with a little frosting, glaze, or fruit.  If you’ve got leftover pound cake on the counter and a little fruit on hand, you can easily make a shortcake parfait in a about five minutes.  In our post today, I’ve used a simple fruit cup of mandarin oranges and a little whipped topping to make an Orange Shortcake Parfait.

Substitutions

Of course, you could very easy substitute in another fruit cup like pineapple, or use fresh fruit like strawberries or bananas to make any kind of shortcake you like.  No whipped topping on hand?  No worries!  Just substitute in another ingredient, such as vanilla pudding.  And if you don’t have happen to have any cake on hand, look for other items in your kitchen that could be the base of your buffet:  crumbled up cookies, snack cakes (ie – Twinkies), other leftover cakes and breads, cinnamon rolls, and even leftover biscuits.

Not Just a Snack

And if you’d like to go beyond a quick 5 minute snack for you or your kids,  consider using a whole pound cake to make parfaits for an entire room full of people!  Party guests will love this dessert, and you’ll love how quick and easy it is to make.  Not to mention, it is a very cost effective dessert that looks great on your party buffet!

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Do you ever use leftovers or odds & ends to make the perfect snack or dessert?  I’d love for you to share your ideas with me!  You can share your ideas in the comments, link up your recipe at our Friday Favorites party, or tag Simply Sweet Home in your social media post!

 

Mexican Pizzas

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

The countdown to back to school is officially on.  Next week we are going to pay our son’s class fees so that he can get his school schedule, and then we’ll be buying school supplies and shopping for new clothes.  And even though we’ve still got a couple of weeks to go, I’m already thinking of menu ideas for all those back to school weeknights.  If you read my blog regularly or just look at the title, you will know that I embrace simple solutions, and that includes simple meal ideas.  Simple meals made with simple ingredients not only save me a lot of time and hassle, but they make my family happy.  And the great thing about some of our favorite meals, is that I can easily change them up to create all new favorites!

One of my son’s favorite meals is tacos.  I think he would eat tacos every single day if we would let him!  While I don’t want to cook tacos every night, I do enjoy coming up with similar alternatives to tacos such as quesadillas and Mexican Pizzas!  Today I’m going to show you how we make our Mexican Pizzas, and I’ve also got some coupon deals on Campbell’s products like Pace Chunky Salsa! [Read more…]

Time Out for Mom with OREO Thins

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

Time out for Mom with OREO Thins

“Okay! Time out!”  As chaos began to ensue in the middle of what was an ordinary day just five minutes ago, have you ever found yourself yelling this very phrase to your kids?”  Or have you, perhaps, ever put your child in a place known as “time out” when they did something wrong.  If you can say yes to either of these questions, then you know all too well how stressful being a parent can be.

And this chaotic scene is just one moment in your day.  There are also other activities to look forward to.  They range from cooking and cleaning to carpooling, and from going to your job or working your home based business. While this is all part of being an adult and a parent, it seems almost impossible that you wouldn’t feel a little bit of stress and pressure, trying to tackle this list each day. [Read more…]

5 Make Ahead Meals & Snacks for Back to School

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

5 Make Ahead Meals & Snacks for Back to School

It’s July, and although we’re just right in the middle of summer, back to school season is on my mind!  As a mom, along with buying all the school supplies and getting everyone organized for the New Year, I also have to keep everyone fed.  Aside from dinner, I have to think about breakfast, school snacks, lunch, and after school snacks.

One way I save myself a lot of time and frustration is by meal planning and making meals and snacks ahead of time.  For this, I turn to Ziploc® brand products. Today I am sharing 5 make ahead meal ideas.  These meals are quick, easy, affordable, and Ziploc® brand products make them very portable.

[Read more…]

Friday Favorites – Week 327 – With Frozen Treats

Hello everyone. Welcome to this week’s Friday Favorites party. Since we’re jumping in to July this weekend, and since it’s incredibly hot here, I thought there was no better time to feature some delicious frozen treats!  And guess what, these frozen treats are the better for you kind, so you can indulge without the guilt!  Enjoy! And to all of those here in the U.S. I have you have an awesome 4th of July weekend!

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Orange Ambrosia Salad and Freschetta Pizza

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RealTasteForRealLife #CollectiveBias
Orange Ambrosia Salad and Freschetta Pizza

Each week as I meal plan and prepare the week’s shopping list, I always like to plan for one or two easy dinner nights.  These are days when I either don’t feel like cooking, or we have a full schedule for the day and just don’t have the time for cooking.  But even when we’re having easy dinner nights, it’s still nice to serve high quality foods.  Enter Freschetta Pizza! [Read more…]

Pina Colada Dip and Summer Snacking with Outshine® Fruit Bars

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

Pina Colada Dip and Summer Snacking with Outshine Fruit Bars

The weather is perfect where I live right now.  I’m so excited to break out my summer clothes and enjoy summer activities, but I’m even more excited to enjoy a little summer snacking.  If you know me, you know that I love nothing more than indulging in sweet treats, especially frozen treats.

 Outshine® Fruit Bars are a frozen treat for the whole family, and Moms can feel good about serving them to kids and enjoying them for themselves.  Today I’m going to tell you a little bit about these yummy frozen treats, and I’ve got a recipe and a sweepstakes for you. Let’s get to it! [Read more…]

Ranch Pizza & Tips to Freshen Up Your Spring Menu (+ A Giveaway)

This post is sponsored by Naturally Fresh® Brand Dressings. The opinions are my own. #NaturallyFreshRecipe

Ranch Pizza and Tips to Freshen Up Your Spring Menu

In the winter time, I love my soups, casseroles, and comfort foods, but I love the opportunity that spring time brings to freshen up our menu! We get to embrace fresh ingredients, eat a little lighter, and enjoy new things.  Today I’m sharing tips on how you can join me and freshen up your menu this spring, and I’ve got a quick and easy recipe for fresh Ranch Pizza! [Read more…]