Happy Birthday, America!

We all always love a reason to celebrate and what better day than the birthday of our country! BBQs, fireworks and summer weather always make this holiday so fun. We hope you have a very happy, safe and fun 4th of July, no matter where you are. Enjoy this time with your loved ones and celebrate! 

5 Great Lipsticks for Valentine’s Day

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! If you like getting all dolled up for a night on the town with your sweetie, you’ll need a festive classic red or pretty pink lipstick to complete your look. Check out these tried-and-true colors:

MAC Lipstick in Russian Red

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Tarte LipSurgence Matte Tint in Lucky

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CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor in Siren

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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire and Ice

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Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Plushest Punch

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Health: How To Detox After The Holidays

If you're like me, you let your normal eating and workout habits relax a bit during the holidays. With the hectic schedule, good food and abundance of sweets around it's hard not to stray a bit. 

Worrying about what you ate and the workouts you didn't do doesn't help you at all -- in fact it can add a lot of unnecessary stress causing you to gain even more weight. The key is to indulge a bit and then get right back on track once the holidays are over. Here are a few tips on how to detox:

1. Don't make an unrealistic goal or New Years Resolution you know you can't and wont keep. Instead focus on small attainable goals such as doing some form of physical activity 3-4 times a week, adding more fruits and veggies into your diet, limiting sweets to a few treats a week, etc. This way you won't be beating yourself up at the end of February when you've already blew that crazy goal you set. 

2. Get back to basics. Remember how good you were eating before the holidays? How about the set workout dates you had on your calendar? Get back to that. Don't restrict yourself too much or a binge will likely follow. Instead, follow your healthy clean eating habits from before and slowly wean off of bigger portions, heavy foods and sweets. Slowly work up to your fitness routine by adding a little more weight each time you hit the gym or 10 more minutes of cardio. You'll be amazed at how good you'll feel once you're back on track. 

3. The little things really add up. Sitting on the couch? Grab a pair of hand weights and do mini exercises during commercial breaks. You'd be amazed what 5 minutes at a time can slowly do to your body. It's good to get the blood flowing and you'll likely be less motivated to snack on unhealthy eats while watching TV. 

4. Feel hungrier after your holiday binging? Drink a big glass of water and wait 5 minutes. Sometimes you're really just thirsty and need some H2O instead of food. If you still feel hungry, grab a healthy snack and eat slowly. This will help your stomach signal you when you're full so you don't overeat. 

5. Most importantly, don't beat yourself up. The holidays are meant to indulge a little and you'll be back on track in no time. 

What tips do you have to get back on track after the holidays? Do you let yourself indulge or stick to your normal eating and exercise routine? 

Holidays: Side Dish Recipe

For Christmas Eve this year, I was supposed to head over to my cousin’s house. Unfortunately, she came down with the flu and plans were canceled. Instead of completely canceling the festivities, I’ve been thrown into hosting duties! 

I’m going to be making a fairly traditional dinner, including ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, peas and carrots, stuffing, cornbread muffins, pie, and more. If you’re looking for a little last minute inspiration for your holiday dinner, here’s a recipe I’ll be making:

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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What you’ll need:

• 2 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes
• 4 peeled garlic cloves
• 5 tablespoons of milk
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Butter, to taste (optional)
• Sour cream, to taste (optional)

How to do it:

1. In a large saucepan, boil enough water to cover the potatoes, garlic and salt. Totally up to you if you want to leave the skin on the potatoes.
2. Cook the potatoes, garlic and salt until the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and drain.
4. Beat the mashed potatoes and garlic with an electric mixer on low speed.
5. Add the olive oil.
6. Slowly beat in the milk.
7. Optional: add a bit of butter and/or sour cream to make the potatoes creamier. Top with traditional gravy or make the potatoes even more decadent by adding shredded cheese.

If you’re on your own to cook dinner for your family (like I am), don’t try to do everything yourself! Pick a few dishes that you will make from scratch and then decide on the ones that could be bought or are pre-made so they can be popped in the oven. And, it’s pretty standard to ask your family to help contribute by bringing a side or dessert.

Enjoy!

Queso Blanco Recipe

 

So I know we like to promote health on this blog but sometimes an amazing recipe comes along that is too good not to share. I've been making this queso blanco for most parties and events lately and it's always a big hit. Who doesn't like cheese? And don't get me started on tortilla chips, I could eat my body weight in them easily. I just whipped up a batch last night for my company holiday party potluck and I'm planning on bringing another batch to a party this weekend. It's very easy to make and very hard to mess up -- my kind of recipe!

 

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What you'll need:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped white onion
1 large diced jalapeno with the seeds and stem removed
16 ounces white American cheese, shredded or cubed
4 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
3/4 cup cream or half-and-half
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel
1-2 roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
1 small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped

 

What to do:

Heat the oil in a saute pan. Cook the onion and pepper until softened and reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cheeses and 1/2 cup of the cream. Stir until mostly melted. Add the can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, the diced tomatoes, cilantro, and additional cream a little at a time until you reach desired consistency.

 

Tips: I had to buy the white American cheese at the deli counter and then cut it up into cubes. I couldn't find it anywhere else! Also, leave some of the jalapeno seeds in and add a little more white onion if you want a kick. I bring it over in a crock pot and let guests enjoy it all evening.

Do you have any recipe favorites you bring to parties? We'd love to hear them! Let us know if you make this and how it turns out.

 

 

The Perfect DIY Co-worker Gift

Each year around this time, my workplace gears up for the holidays. There’s a company holiday party, department parties and co-worker gift exchanging. Typically within my department, each person gives something to everyone. Since it gets pricey to buy gifts for everyone, this year I’ve decided to go the DIY route.

This year my co-workers are getting chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting! And of course, I had to add some holiday decorations. I purchased the supplies, including sprinkles, decorations, liners and cupcake boxes (each holds four cupcakes) at Michael’s. I also attached a hand written note to each box. For under $20, I am able to give homemade treats to 11 of my co-workers! 

Here are some pictures from my fun night of baking:

Got any great DIY gift ideas? Share in the comments!

Holiday Gift Guide for Her

 

 

1. Sephora Prestige Luxe Brush Set - $125 - I'm always in need of new brushes and this set has all of the necessities.

2. Minnetonka Cally Slipper from Urban Outfitters - $38 - It's freezing on our tile floors -- these slippers would be perfect for walking around the house.

3. Staring at Stars Foil Boucle Eternity Scarf from Urban Outfitters - $34 - How cute is this scarf? I own so many that I've lost count but this one is very different from all the ones in my collection.

4. Mark Jacobs Pouch in Rose Gold from Target - $69.99 - This bag would be perfect for a night out.

5. Pink Champagne Glass Drop Earrings from Etsy - $27.50 - I love glass drop earrings and this color is perfection.

6. True Love Ring from Etsy - $27.50 - This ring is so adorable.

7. Wool-Angora Gittens from J. Crew - $22.50 - Texting with gloves are always a challenge. The solution? These Glittens!

8. LC Lauren Conrad Lurex Heart Sweater - on sale! $19.99 - I've been eyeing this sweater forever and it's finally on sale! I love the hearts :)

9. In Bloom by Jonquil 'Flirty' Pleated Camisole $ Shorts Set - $60 - Cute pajama sets are always a great gift.

10. Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS Watch - 129.99 - For the active woman in your life, this running watch is perfect!

Do you have any gift ideas for her that you'd like to share? Leave them in the comments!

 

 

Health & Nutrition: Spaghetti Squash Recipe

 

I've seen spaghetti squash at the store before but never knew how to make it and didn't know you could actually eat it as a pasta substitute. Well folks, I'm happy to report that in fact, spaghetti squash can be used in place of spaghetti. After this past week of indulging in Thanksgiving festivities I bring you this recipe at the perfect time. How do you make it, you ask?

 

Well it's simple. Cut your spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove the strings and seeds. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place your squash (cut side up) in a baking dish. Cook for 35 minutes or until your squash is tender.

 

Now comes the fun part -- take a fork and scrape along the squash to get "noodles". You will be shocked at how much you can get from just one side. Repeat for the other half.

 

 

 

Garnish with some olive oil, crushed black pepper and fresh Parmesan cheese. I added some pesto to mine and it was delicious. I didn't miss the normal spaghetti at all!

 

 

Have you made spaghetti squash before? What did you think? Let us know if you try this!

How To Stay Fit Over the Holidays

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The holidays are all about eating—big dinners, piles of desserts work parties, LEFTOVERS. It’s so hard not to overeat when you’re constantly being bombarded with all sorts of delicious food. It’s not even like you have to go looking for it—it’s just there!

Think it’s impossible not to gain weight toward the end of the year? Read on for a few tips.

Pick your spots: This is so important. Some people have multiple family parties, work parties, get-togethers with friends, etc. If you eat everything you want at all these events, you’ll be sorry later. I choose where to indulge, and no, it’s not at every party. For me, I’d rather splurge a little at my big family dinners than anywhere else. So, at work parties I take very small portions and even avoid some of the calorie-laden options. At the office food seems to magically appear in the kitchen for all to partake—I just don’t take any. If you get tempted at the office, bring your own snacks or treats. If you can, just avoid the areas where food is set out so you don’t see what’s available.

Up your workouts: This might sound a little counterintuitive since the more you work out, the more you need to eat, but hear me out… When I am consistently going to the gym and putting in so much effort to strength train, I don’t have the desire to binge eat at holiday parties. If you make your fitness a priority, you won’t want to wreck all your work by overeating during the holidays. For me, working out more makes me want to eat healthy. If it’s not possible for you to work out more since it’s such a busy time of year, try to maintain what you’re already doing and squeeze in pockets of exercise at home.

Don’t skip meals: The worst thing you can do before a holiday party is not eat all day. I’ve done it before—I arrive to a Thanksgiving dinner not having eaten anything during the day and I overeat and pay for it later with an achy stomach. If you’re heading to a party in the afternoon or evening, get up and eat a breakfast high in protein. The protein will help you feel satisfied and you won’t have to go through a half day with a growling stomach.

Control your portions: When there are so many great food options at holiday parties, it’s hard not to take some of everything. When I make a plate at a holiday party, I take a small portion of all the foods I want to eat and choose one (yes, only one) dessert to have. This way you get a taste of almost everything that’s available. And if you do skip some side dishes (or desserts) during the meal, you can always take some home with you.

Limit your leftovers: Okay, so you made it through the meal by not overeating. Then before you leave your party you get handed a giant container full of leftovers. Now what? If you can, ask to pack your own leftovers so you can control how much food you’re taking home. If that’s not possible, ask to take home less food than your host is offering. If you’re the host, you can prevent having a mountain of leftovers by getting an accurate head count of who plans to attend your shindig and prepare enough food to serve everyone plus a small take-home bag for each person.

Indulge, a little: Though I try to eat healthy and maintain a good diet, it’s just not realistic for me to cut out every single kind of junk food. The more I tell myself I can’t eat something, the more I’m going to want to eat it. So, indulge just a little over the holidays. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed and you shouldn’t totally deprive yourself. Just make sure you’re watching how much you eat and keeping up with your fitness routine.

Bottom line: Remember that it’s a lot easier to practice portion control and stay consistent with your workouts than it is to try to drop a few pounds after the holidays! 

Cherry Pie Recipe

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Looking for a dessert to bring to a holiday party? This cherry pie recipe takes a while to prep and cool, but it’s really easy to make and tastes great. Here’s how to make it:

What you need:

• 2 pounds of cherries; pitted and halved (get fresh cherries – it makes the pie so much better!)
• ½ cup of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• All-purpose flour for rolling 
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon of water
• 1 tablespoon of turbinado or sugar
• Pie dough
• Aluminum foil
• Parchment paper
• Pizza roller
• Kitchen shears
• Pastry brush
• Pie dish

How to make it:

1. If you listened to my advice and got fresh cherries, the first thing you need to do is pit and halve them. This takes a while, but trust me, it will be worth it. Set the cherries aside in a bowl.
2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and put the rack in the lowest position.
3. I typically buy pre-made pie crust. If you make it from scratch, do that after you pie and halve your cherries. Lay parchment paper on your counter and sprinkle flour over it. Roll a 14-inch round of dough. Gently lay the dough onto your pie dish and press onto the bottom and sides. Make sure not to stretch the dough at all. If the dough overhangs the pie dish, that’s okay for now.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice and sugar. Toss the mixture until all the cherries are coated. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
5. Roll another 14-inch round of pie dough on floured parchment paper. Using a pizza cutter, cut the rolled pie dough into 8 half-inch wide strips. Discard the shortest two. Weave the strips on top of the pie to form a lattice. Not sure how to do this? Click here. 
6. Once you’ve finished your lattice pattern, use kitchen shears to trim all the overhanging dough so that only 1 inch is left hanging over the sides. Tuck the lattice strips under the rim of the bottom crust and press to seal it together. Use a fork and gently press the edge all the way around to make a crimped effect.
7. In a small bowl, mix an egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water. Using a pastry brush, brush the mixture onto the top of the pie crust. Use 1 tablespoon of sugar to sprinkle all over the top of the pie.
8. Bake the pie for about 60 to 70 minutes, or until you can see the cherry filling bubbling all over. Tent with foil when the crust starts to brown, at about the 40 minute mark. Not sure how to do this? Click here. 
9. When the pie is finished baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool until it is room temperature, or for about 3 hours.

Enjoy! 

Cheesecake Recipe for the Holidays

I know we like to share healthy recipes on this blog but in the spirit on the holidays I couldn't resist sharing my all time favorite cheesecake recipe. Beware: this is not healthy at all but it's seriously delicious.

 

 

The Best Cheesecake You'll Ever Taste Recipe

You'll need:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1 stick butter

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup heavy cream

 

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. If you can't find graham crackers already in crumb form (like me) you'll need to crush those bad boys up. I used a package and a 1/4 of graham crackers to get 2 cups of the crumbs. I put the graham crackers in a ziplock bag and sealed it (this is very important unless you want crumbs all over your kitchen) and I used a rolling pin to create small crumbs. This takes a lot of elbow grease so be prepared for a workout while doing this.

3. Mix the crumbs and 3 tablespoons of sugar together and melt the butter and stir into the crumb mixture. Press the mixture into the bottom of a greased (I used more butter) 9-inch round, springform cake pan. Set aside.

4. Using an electric beater, blend the cream cheese and the remaining sugar together until creamy, wiping down the sides of the bowl and the beaters with a spatula to incorporate all of the cheese.

5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

6. Add the vanilla and lemon juice to the cream, then slowly stir into the cheese mixture.

7. Put the prepared round cake pan into a slightly larger rectangular pan.

8. Pour the cheese mixture into the round cake pan.

9. Set both pans in the oven and fill the rectangular pan with water, half way up the sides of the round pan. It's important not to put any water into the rectangular pan until it's in the oven. I didn't do that the first time and water went everywhere. Lesson learned.

10. Bake until firm and golden brown, approximately 55 to 60 minutes. I'm not sure if it's my oven but I had to leave it in for 10-15 minutes extra to get the top of the cheesecake to be golden brown. Make sure to check on it every 5 minutes or so.

11. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

12. Enjoy. It may not be healthy but it sure is delicious. 

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

Can you believe Thanksgiving is less than one week away? Me either! 

I usually don’t host Thanksgiving, but for the people who do (or for those of you who want to bring something fun to your gathering), why not a perfect Thanksgiving-inspired cocktail? Check out these great recipes:

Spiked Apple Cider (makes 8 servings)

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What you’ll need:

• 2 quarts apple cider
• 1 cup apple brandy
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon curry powder

How to make it:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large pot over high heat, then simmer. Lower the heat and keep warm. Strain and serve.

Pecan Pie Martini (makes 4 servings)

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What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• Ice cubes
• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) vodka
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make it:

1. Place your brown sugar and chopped pecans on two separate plates. Dip your martini into a bit of corn syrup, then into the brown sugar and pecans. Repeat with all glasses.
2. Place ice inside a cocktail shaker, then add 1/4 cup vodka, 1/4 cup corn syrup and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Strain into 2 glasses. Repeat with the remaining items.

And one for the kiddies, or those not consuming alcohol:

Kiddie Cocktail

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What you’ll need:

• 6 ounces of 7UP or Sprite
• 1 ounce of grenadine
• Lime wedges
• Cherries
• Curly straws or umbrellas

How to make it:

1. Pour the 7UP or Sprite over ice. Add the grenadine and stir.
2. Garnish with a lime wedge, cherries and decoration.

Have fun!

Zombify Yourself for Halloween!

Happy Halloween! This is such a fun holiday. Because I love makeup, it’s the time of year when I can take things to the extreme. If you love playing around with makeup and need a last minute costume idea, let me show you how I turned myself into a zombie last Halloween.

In terms of clothes, the options are really limitless. You could find something at a thrift store—you could dirty up the items or cut holes in them. I went for a flannel dress with some ripped up black leggings. 

Warning: You might scare small children. I again apologize to Amanda's niece!

Now, onto the makeup…

All you’ll need is some cream makeup in various colors (white, gray, black, red, green, purple), regular liquid foundation, makeup sponges, makeup brushes, tweezers, toilet paper (yep!), fake blood, liquid latex and a hair dryer. The cream makeup and liquid latex could be found at any Halloween superstore, like Party City. Just a warning—when you buy supplies at a Halloween store they are most likely going to be of low quality. They will still work, but the cream makeup will be a little difficult to work with and the liquid latex may be too thin. The fake blood from superstores is usually way too thin and doesn’t stay put. If you want to do the zombie look right, try buying your supplies in advance from a good special effects store online like bennyemakeup.com or graftobian.com.

As you can see, I used some lower quality products and they dried out!

Here’s how to achieve some really cool zombie gashes and wounds:

1. Plan out where you want your wounds and how large you want them to be. 
2. Tear a few pieces of toilet from the roll and pull them apart so they are only one-ply. Set them aside. 
3. Start by applying a thin layer of liquid latex with a makeup sponge (DO NOT use your makeup brushes) where you want your wound. Before it dries, take a one-ply piece of toilet paper and press it on the latex. If this doesn’t cover the entire surface of the latex, grab another piece and cover the rest. Tear off the excess around the edges and discard them. Use your hair dryer for a few seconds to dry out the area a bit.
4. Add another layer of latex on top of where you just applied the first piece of toilet paper. Immediately take another piece of toilet paper, press it on top and tear off the excess. This time when you apply, don’t apply it perfectly, try to wrinkle it up a bit so it doesn’t lay perfectly flat against your skin. You’re going for open wounds here—you don’t want it to look nice and smooth. Use your hair dryer again to dry it out.
5. Add a third layer (I’d recommend a fourth layer if you have the time). Again use your hair dryer to dry the area.
6. Repeat this same process everywhere that you want a wound to appear. Just a warning—if you place a wound somewhere on your body that has hair (like your arm), it WILL hurt when you remove everything at the end of the night. I learned this the hard way. 
7. Once you are finished placing all your fake wounds, it’s time for makeup. The first thing you'll want to do is darken up your eyelids and area around your eyes. You can use some regular black, dark purple and dark brown eyeshadows for this.
8. Then mix your regular liquid foundation with some white cream makeup. The goal is to pale out your skin to give yourself a gaunt look. Make sure to apply this on your neck, chest and arms if they are exposed. It’s important to cover anywhere you placed your fake wounds.
9. Next, mix some gray and green cream makeup. Use a sponge to blend a bit into your skin. This will help make you look sickly. Make sure to cover your fake wounds. Do the same with a blend of purple and gray cream makeup, but this time only add a little to your fake wounds. This will help create a bruised effect only in those areas.
10. Now it’s time for the fun part. Use a pair of tweezers to gently start picking at the center of the layers of toilet paper and latex. You want to create a small hole. Once you’ve done that, make the hole bigger with your fingers and tear off a bit from the center so that the edges are jutting forward. Do this for all fake wounds.
11. Now it’s time to bring those wounds to life. Using a small makeup brush (eyeshadow brushes are ideal), take some red cream makeup and color your skin inside the fake wounds. Using a separate brush, take a little black cream makeup and color on top of the red cream makeup you just applied. You want it to look very dark red.
12. Add some fake blood around the edges of all the wounds and at the edges of your mouth.

And you’re done!

A few more fun tricks: 

• Apply several layers of liquid latex to your skin (making sure to let each layer dry first). Pick little holes in the latex with a pair of tweezers to create an effect like the skin is decaying and tiny pieces are falling off. And of course, use makeup to color the area. This effect could also be used to make the skin look like it has been severely burned.
• If you do very thin lines of liquid latex on your skin and build them up to be nice and thick, you will achieve the look of raised scars, which can also look very cool for your zombie costume.
• Don’t want to go through all the trouble of creating your own zombie wounds? Just buy some pre-made gashes at your local Halloween superstore, secure them to your body with liquid latex and add some fake blood. All done! This method is a lot quicker, but I think the DIY method looks more authentic.

Did you go for a zombie look this Halloween? Share in the comments!

Labor Day Party Food Ideas

Happy Labor Day! Today marks the winding down of outdoor parties, beach days and driving with the windows down. I adore summer and am always sad to see it go, but this unofficial end of summer does bring plenty of opportunities to get outside and really enjoy the gorgeous weather before winter rolls in.

If you’re planning to attend a Labor Day barbeque, check out these great ideas for appetizers and dessert. I’m not going to pretend to know anything about grilling, but dessert and appetizers I do know! Here are some of my favorites that are pretty quick to whip up:

Homemade Chips and Fruit Salsa

This takes a bit of prep time, but it’s delicious, totally worth and really easy to do.

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Start by picking four or five different fruits. My favorite combination for this recipe is pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, mango and kiwi. Dice the fruits into small pieces and combine them in a bowl. Before adding the really juicy fruits, like pineapple, you may want to press a paper towel on them before mixing otherwise the juice from that one fruit can dominate. Squeeze either some lemon or orange over the top, add a bit of sugar and fold everything together. Cover and refrigerate.

In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ cup white sugar and a tablespoon of cinnamon. You’ll have to eyeball this a bit – if you are a fan of cinnamon, you can add more. Set this aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Open a package of 7-inch flour tortillas. Lay one on a cutting board. In a small mixing bowl, melt a few tablespoons of butter so that it is a completely liquid consistency. As soon as you’ve heated the butter, dip a basting brush into the butter and brush it over one side of the tortilla. Immediately take a few pinches of the sugar/cinnamon and sprinkle it over the butter. Make sure you spread it evenly over the tortilla. Using a pizza cutter, cut the tortilla so that you’ve made eight triangular pieces. Immediately transfer these to a baking sheet. Repeat this process until you’ve made enough triangles to fill one baking sheet. When you’ve done that, bake the tortillas for about seven minutes. You’ll need to watch – you are looking for the chips to be light golden brown. Try to do this process quickly and make all the chips you need – the chips are much better when they are a few minutes out of the oven.

Bruschetta

Bruschetta couldn’t be simpler to put together and it’s something that usually impresses. 

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Dice several Roma tomatoes and make sure to remove the seeds. Mince some garlic and basil and mix it in with the tomatoes. Add a little salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar to taste. Refrigerate the mixture for at least one hour. When you are ready to serve, slice some store-bought French bread diagonally so each piece is approximately ¾ inch thick. Lay the slices on a baking sheet and scoop some of the tomato mixture on top of each slice. You could go one step further and add some Parmesan cheese or shredded mozzarella on top. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until the bread crisps and/or the cheese on top melts. Another option is just to crisp up the bread in the oven and scoop the tomato mixture on afterward.

Cupcakes 

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There are plenty of recipes out there for cupcakes and lots of store-bought mix options, so I’ll just share one quick tip on making the cupcakes for your party a little healthier. If you go with a store-bought mix, instead of adding the oil, eggs, water and any other wet ingredients the mix calls for, just add one can of pumpkin. I know how strange this sounds, but trust me. Once you mix that in, bake as directed. The cupcakes won’t come out as smooth on top, but they’ll be a little better for you! 

Have a happy and fun-filled Labor Day!