Simple No-Bake Summer Cheesecake Treats

We've been having a scorcher of a summer here in East Tennessee. With temperatures in the 90s, my poor air conditioner desperately needs a break. So the thought of turning on the oven to bake up some summer sweets is not appealing. The good thing is, there are plenty of great no-bake summer treats to make for your family this season.

I don't know about you, but I like to have a little something sweet after dinner. I know desserts should be a sometimes food, but I just can't help it. I always seem to want some sort of sweet treat.

These great no-bake summer desserts are perfect because they are individually sized and you can make them in whatever size containers you like. The other thing I love about this treat is that you can completely customize it, depending on what flavors you're in the mood for.

Basically, it's a crust + a filling + a topping (and each one can be your choice!). Totally, DIY, totally delicious.

To start, you'll want to make a basic no-bake cheesecake. I based mine on a great recipe found here. Combine two 8oz packages of softened cream cheese with one and a half cups of powdered sugar. I used my electric hand mixer, but if you don't have one you can probably still do this with a little (or a lot) of elbow grease.

1) Start with Your Crust

First, you want to choose your crust. Graham crackers are the most popular option for traditional cheesecake, but there's really no cookie that won't work here. I made a couple different versions of this, some with graham crackers and some with chocolate sandwich cookies.

If you're using a dry cookie like a graham cracker you will need some melted butter or coconut oil to hold the crumbs together. For sandwich cookies or anything creme filled, there's no real need.

I used my food processor to pulse the cookies into crumbs.

2) Choose Your Filling

Next comes the filling. The base filling is the cream cheese + powdered sugar mixture, but here's where your creativity can go wild. Any and all sorts of delicious combinations are possible with this recipe.

One version I suggest you try is to add in some Cookie Butter cream cheese (a Trader Joe's product). It has a hint of ginger, plus a little cinnamon that almost makes me long for cooler temperatures of fall. This flavor would go great with a gingersnap crust by the way. 

Then, I also experimented with a chocolate no-bake cheesecake by adding in a few scoops of Belgian Chocolate Pudding (another great product from Trader Joe's). I'm sorry I don't have exact measurements, because I don't like to follow actual recipes...for this I went by taste. 

For my third option, I left the filling plain but you could incorporate anything you like....peanut butter, lemon curd, butterscotch syrup, salted caramel topping, chocolate fudge....the list could go on and on. 

3) Finally, Add Your Toppings

This is probably my favorite part of any dessert: the toppings. Again, there's no limit to what you can create here. 

From fresh fruit like strawberries, peaches or blueberries to something simple like cherry pie filling, your no-bake cheesecakes are just waiting for you to dress them up. 

Here are some combinations I recommend...

Chocolate cookie crumb crust + Chocolate pudding cheesecake filling + Marshmallows

Graham cracker crumb crust + Lemon curd cheesecake filling + fresh strawberries 

Mint cookie crumb crust + Pistachio pudding cheesecake filling + chocolate shavings

Peanut butter sandwich cookie crumb crust + Peanut butter cheesecake filling + blueberry compote

I hope this simple no-bake cheesecake treat helps you (and your kitchen!) stay cool this summer.

Happy sweet eating y'all! 

Fun with Coffee - Hosting a DIY Coffee Party plus a Simple Coffee Scrub

When I was growing up, my parents didn't let me drink coffee. My grandparents would allow me to have a cup when I visited their house, although it was probably mostly cream. I remember feeling so grown up while sipping from my piping hot mug.

As a teenager growing up in my small southern hometown, going to the coffee shop was a huge rite of passage. We had one coffee shop called the Magic Bean that was frequented by older teens and college kids. Of course, my parents forbid me to go there. So it wasn't until a more family-friendly coffee shop called Poet's opened up that I was able to experience the magic of coffee house coffee.

It wasn't until after I married my husband that I started drinking coffee every day. I always enjoyed the taste of it, but never got the process of brewing it quite down pat. Since I now have someone who makes it very well, I drink at least a cup or two each morning.

I love to entertain, but am always looking for unique ways to do it. And this is what got me thinking about how fun it would be to throw a DIY coffee party. It could be in conjunction with a book club meeting or other gathering, or you could just do a coffee party for coffee's sake. Either way, it's a simple and fun way to get together with friends and enjoy something we all love.

How to Host a DIY Coffee Party 

To throw your own coffee shop party at home, you'll need coffee and coffee accouterments. 

First, you might want to decide if you are going to serve hot or iced coffee drinks. Serving iced coffee might be easier since you can make more coffee ahead of time. Otherwise, you might be limited to one pot of coffee at a time. Unless you have a big industrial coffee brewing set-up, and then we're all coming to your house. 

Whether you like French press or drip, or even cold brew, you can host a coffee party that suits your taste. 

If you haven't tried cold brew, here's a great recipe. 

Once you've decided what coffee mix-ins you want to include, just set them up in a self-serve station so your guests can help themselves. 

Some possible coffee extras you might want to serve are: 

• Assorted flavored syrups (store-bought or make your own)
• Sweeteners (various types of sugar, honey, agave, etc)
• Different creamers (half & half, almond milk, whipping cream, and my personal favorite - sweetened condensed milk) 
• Cinnamon (or cinnamon sticks), Nutmeg or Pumpkin Pie Spice

Then let everyone go to town mixing and making all sorts of delicious creations. It might help if you provide some recipe inspiration, or make suggestions about different combinations to try. For inspiration, check out these 17 different coffee shop drinks you make at home.

One of my favorite coffee drinks is an authentic Italian treat, the Shakerato. I first heard of this delicious concoction while reading a magazine interview of Donatella Versace. She referenced it and said this was her favorite summer drink. I was intrigued and tried to recreate it based on her description, but finally found a great recipe online.

To make a Shakerato, all you need is:

• Brewed espresso
• Sugar
• Ice

Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker (or as I've used in a pinch, a Nalgene water bottle or some other jar with a secure lid). Shake it all up til you get some good foam. Pour into a stemmed glass and enjoy! 

For a great favor to give your coffee party guests, why not give them each a small jar of homemade coffee scrub? It's simple to make and has 4 basic, all natural ingredients. 

Simple 4-Ingredient Coffee Scrub

 

I've tried making a coffee scrub before, but this one is even easier than the recipe I used previously.

It only requires 4 simple, natural ingredients. I love it when I can make something that doesn't contain a bunch of stuff I can't pronounce.

To make this simple coffee scrub, you'll need:

• Coffee (finely ground)
• Coconut oil
• Coconut sugar (or another coarse sugar)
• Cinnamon

Each of these ingredients has great healing properties....from the antioxidants in coffee that fight free radicals to the mineral rich coconut oil, which soothes and moisturizes. Coconut sugar is grainier than granulated sugar, but you could use any sugar you like or happen to have on hand. Sugar in the Raw is another good option, although it might be too coarse if you want to use this scrub on your face. Did you know cinnamon has bacteria-fighting properties? 

Mix the dry ingredients together and then slowly incorporate the coconut oil. If the oil is in a liquid state, you run the risk of your sugar dissolving in it. You can also add more or less oil depending on your skin type. 

Recipe via.

Drink it Up: A Honey of a Cocktail

I had the most delightful cocktail recently while traveling and I just had to share! If you aren't familiar with the Fairmont family of hotels, they are pretty special. For example, did you know that Fairmont Hotels have rooftop honeybee hives?

Each property is different, but the Fairmont I've stayed in is located in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. The hotel welcomed 105,000 Italian honeybees to its roof in 2009 and the area is now buzzing with three honey beehives. Not only do the bees enhance the hotel’s culinary program, it also provides a way to foster educational opportunities with local school students.

This spring, about 10 public schools in DC will have their own beehives and students will have a chance to learn about beekeeping and harvesting honey as they experience it firsthand.

We need bees because they are responsible for pollinating more than 80 percent of flowering plants, fruits and vegetables. So it's neat to see organizations doing their part to help. And I did my part to help as well by purchasing the Fairmont Georgetown's signature cocktail "The BeeTini." A portion of the proceeds from the drink support the DC Junior Beekeepers initiative.

You should definitely make this lovely drink...or better yet, if you have the chance to visit DC, try one at the Fairmont!

Fairmont Georgetown BeeTini

- 2oz Finlandia vodka
- 3/4 oz Sauza Tequila
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz honey syrup spoonful of honeycomb
- Optional lemon or lime wedge

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice Shake for six seconds Strain while pouring into a martini glass Garnish with a spoonful of honeycomb A lemon or lime wedge may be added for more citrus.

Enjoy! (repeat as necessary!)

Simple Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes to Make

I love a delicious cocktail, but sometimes an event (or a person's lifestyle) calls for something non-alcoholic. There's no reason to think that just because alcohol isn't involved you can't serve unique and delicious beverages. This morning, I'm joining those folks at Knoxville's Fox43 to share three simple recipes for delicious non-alcoholic drinks. Check them out!

Simple and Delicious Non-Alcoholic Drinks

1) Power Tea 

This drink would be perfect for tailgating, especially while preparing to cheer on the Tennessee Volunteers. Even if you aren't a Vol for Life, you can still enjoy this tasty concoction. You might want to change the name though! 

Power Tea Recipe: 

Brew 1 gallon iced tea (I used Tazo orange flavored). Stir in 4 cups orange juice. Add 1 liter orange flavored sparkling soda. Stir together, serve with ice and enjoy. 

2) Mocha Madness 

For all those coffee lovers out there, this non-alcoholic drink might give you a little buzz...but caffeine is the only source of its spirit. To create it, brew a pot of coffee. While the coffee is still warm, sweeten it to taste. After it cools, stir in heavy whipping cream to your liking. Some people enjoy a darker coffee, while others enjoy a little coffee in their milk. To this, add two small scoops of mocha ice cream (or mocha gelato). As everything melts together, you get a wonderful mixture! 

This drink would be wonderful for your next book club or game night! 

3) Cheers Darling Hibiscus Mocktail 

This recipe was the simplest of all, but the drink is so refreshing! You start by placing a preserved hibiscus flower in the bottom of your glass. I tried several package stores as well as a gourmet chef's market before finally finding hibiscus at a local grocery store (The Fresh Market).

The blossoms come packed in syrup and sort of taste like raspberry. You can eat them, but I don't think I would. From here, just pour a carbonated drink of some kind over the flower. I used a hibiscus flavored sparkling soda (Onli brand, purchased at Publix). This makes the loveliest drink and so easy!

This could be great for a baby shower or bridal luncheon. Of course if you want to make a more adult version, you could top the hibiscus flower with champagne or another type of sparkling wine.

Cheers, darling! 

Simple & Delicious Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron

There's something so strong about the power of memory when it's tied to food. When I was growing up, I'd spent the weekend with my grandparents and my grandma always made waffles for breakfast on Saturday morning. She'd heat up her ancient waffle iron, make the batter and watch for the light to turn green so we'd know it was ready.

I'd sit at the table, anxiously awaiting the moment I could slather on a soft pat of butter (my grandma kept her butter on the counter top so it was always room temperature) and drown my waffle in Mrs. Butterworth's. I always secretly hoped the bottle would talk or wink at me like it did on the television commercials, but it never did.

When I finally got a waffle iron of my own, I was excited to try out my grandma's waffle recipe and see if I could ever make anything that tasted as good as I remembered. Today, I'm joining my pals over at Knoxville's popular morning news show Mornings with Fox43 and we're making waffles.

But these aren't your typical run of the mill breakfast waffles, in fact these aren't breakfast foods at all. I'm sharing recipes for food you can make in a waffle iron, including appetizers, main course and dessert!

Do you ever use your waffle iron to make nontraditional things?

Appetizers in a Waffle Iron 

Smoked Salmon Sweet Potato Stacks

This is a simple and delicious appetizer recipe you can make with just a few ingredients. The best part is that it seems sort of fancy so you can keep the supplies on hand and whip it up at the last minute if you need something to make for an impromptu gathering.

To begin, you'll need frozen sweet potato tots (you can also use regular tater tots if you can't find or don't like the sweet potato option). Place a handful of tots on the lower plate of a hot, greased waffle iron. Close the lid and let cook for 3-5 minutes. The time will depend on your waffle iron, so just be patient the first batch.

Once you have a sweet potato waffle, you can add the other layers. Smoked salmon topped with a dollop of creme fraiche with a sprinkle of dill. You could also add capers or substitute sour cream if you prefer. Super simple and oh so good. I used three tots per waffle so they'd be the perfect bite sized appetizers.

Pizza in a Waffle Iron 

Waffle Iron Pizzas 

This was probably the easiest of all the waffle iron recipes I came across. I didn't get a good picture of my finished waffle iron pizza, because we ate it before I could snap one.

To make pizza in a waffle iron, you first need some type of pizza dough. I used store-bought pizza dough in a can, but you could make your own from scratch or with a baking mix.

My waffle iron is kind of small so I ended up cutting the dough into four rectangles to make four smallish pizzas.

The dough will cook in a preheated waffle iron for a couple of minutes and then you're ready to add toppings. I used salsa, but you could also use marinara sauce. Then, top with cheese and whatever other toppings you like on pizza and pop it under your oven's broiler for a few minutes.

Using the waffle iron might seem like extra work for pizza, but the texture it created made the store-bought dough much better.

Dessert in a Waffle Iron

Carrot Cake Waffles with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

This was my favorite waffle iron recipe and I am not even that big of a carrot cake fan. It was just so good. Of the three recipes, this one is the most like a traditional waffle batter...but there's nothing traditional about it beyond that. It was the perfect texture, light and fluffy and not too sweet. You could definitely leave off the frosting and still enjoy this treat.

To make Carrot Cake Waffles, you'll need:

1 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c. oil
1/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 c. flaked coconut
1 c. shredded carrots

Mix the dry ingredients together and set aside. Then mix the wet ingredients and fold them into the dry. Stir it well, but it's okay if you have lumps.

Fill the center of your preheated, greased waffle iron plate with about a half cup of batter. This recipe made 5 waffles for me, but as I said earlier my waffle iron is fairly small.

For the frosting:

4 oz. softened cream cheese
2 T softened butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch salt

Mix this together well. You should probably use a mixer, but I was lazy and stirred it by hand. It still turned out fine. I put mine in a squeezable icing container so I could control the amount I put on each waffle. It was so good. I can't wait to make this again. It would be a great addition to Easter breakfast or brunch.

I came across some other interesting ideas while researching the information for this post. Did you know you can take cold pizza slices, fold them in half and heat them in a waffle iron? Apparently canned cinnamon rolls are also really good. I'm going to play around with other waffle iron recipes and I'll keep you posted! And if you have a tried and true waffle recipe, even if it's just for plain ol' waffles, I'd love to hear about it!

Snow Day Baked French Toast

The most beautiful snow passed through Knoxville last night and I woke up to a winter wonderland. I always hate to hear of anyone who has lost power or gotten stuck while traveling so I sort of don't want to revel in the weather too much....but it really was gorgeous to see.

After an early morning stroll around my neighborhood, I came home and decided to make something special for breakfast. French toast has always been one of my favorite morning treats and I tried this baked version so I wouldn't have to stand over the stove making one piece at a time.

I didn't follow any particular recipe, but it turned out great.

First, I sprayed a baking dish with non-stick spray and then I lined it with pieces of whole wheat bread.

For the egg mixture, I combined two eggs, about a cup of vanilla-flavored almond milk and two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk and poured it over the bread. Then I sprinkled brown sugar and cinnamon over the top.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. I probably should have used more milk...it was a little dry. But nothing some syrup couldn't fix.

Yum!

The snow is beginning to melt, but it was lovely while it lasted. I hope you are enjoying the day.

Simple Store-Bought Dessert with a Homemade Twist

Decadent, homemade desserts are a wonderful treat. But we don't always have the time (or in my case, the expertise) to create them. Today I'm appearing on Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 to share some simple ways to take store bought dessert mixes and give them a homemade twist.

1. Refrigerator Coconut Cake

This recipe is such a southern staple and you'll most definitely find it in your favorite church and community cookbooks.

All you need is a boxed white cake mix, prepared according to the directions on the package.

When the cake is still warm, poke holes in it and pour 3/4 of a can of sweetened condensed milk over it until all is soaked into the cake.

Then, frost the cake with whipped cream (Cool Whip) and sprinkle coconut on top. Easy peasy.

2. Honey Bun Cake 

This cake recipe is one my granny used to make for us all the time when I was growing up. It wasn't until later did I learn it's just a cake mix, doctored up.

You'll need:

1 deluxe yellow cake mix
4 eggs
8 oz. sour cream
3/4 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 T cinnamon
2 cups powdered sugar
4 T milk
4 tsp vanilla

Combine first four ingredients. Pour half of the batter into a well-greased 9x13-inch pan. Mix cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle half of it over the layer of batter. Add the rest of the batter and top with remaining cinnamon/sugar.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

Mix last three ingredients to make the frosting. Pour over cake when it's still warm.

**Note - For the segment, I used two 9x9-inch round pans because I wanted to stack them. The frosting turned out so much prettier on the round cake. I adjusted the baking time accordingly.

3. Sweetheart Cherry Chocolate Trifle 

For the final recipe, I wanted to do something chocolate. I decided to go with a standard brownie mix, prepared according to the package directions. Any brownies will do. Then I chopped them into 1-inch cubes.

I whipped up some white chocolate instant pudding and layered this in wine glasses with the brownies and cherry pie filling. It made a pretty dessert that you could serve your sweetheart on Valentine's Day or just enjoy by yourself. My original idea was to make this in a large trifle bowl, but it's always fun to get your own special serving of a dessert...especially when it's presented in a fancy way.

[image credit - coconut cake  by nsdis (contact)]

Quick & Easy Low Calorie Snack

I'm a foodie from way back. I was a foodie before the term even came to be. I've always loved food; talking about it, reading about it, making it, eating it. In college, my good friend Stephanie used to joke that two of her favorite things were eating and snacking, and I wholeheartedly agree with her.

I think snacking is great because sometimes I'm just not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. However, it can be challenging to come up with healthy snacks that aren't boring. During a recent trip to Trader Joe's, I stumbled on a product that I've decided is my new favorite snack. 

Trader Joe's British Style Crumpets, in the cinnamon variety. I always had a general idea of what a crumpet was, based on watching British movies or television. But I'm certain I've never had anything like this. 

The only product I can really compare it to is an English muffin, but crumpets are so much better! When toasted, crumpets are spongy and soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. 

At only 110 calories each, crumpets are delicious and filling. I've been enjoying them with Eden Organic Apple Butter, which adds about 40 calories for a perfect quick and easy 150 calorie snack option. 

All this talk of crumpets has me thinking about jolly England. I traveled there for the first time after graduating from high school and have been fortunate to visit a couple times since. Here is goofy, 18-year old me with one of the Buckingham Palace guards...like how we color coordinated our outfits? 

If you love snacking on apples, check out this post with a few great healthy apple products and recipes. Another healthy snack choice is oatmeal. I have a few suggestions for making oatmeal taste better, if you're so inclined. And if a sweet, not-so healthy snack is what you're craving, I insist you try my Ritz Cracker Candy...but trust me, you'll want to make a double batch. 

Do you have a favorite Trader Joe's product you'd like to share? I apologize to folks who don't have a Trader Joe's nearby...but maybe your local grocery store or bakery has a crumpet equivalent. If you have other ideas for how to enjoy these delicious items, please let me know! 

Fall Favorite: Simple Pumpkin Doughnuts

 by meantux (contact)

It's pumpkin mania this time of year with pumpkin-flavored everything in stores and restaurants. I love pumpkin just as much as the next guy (maybe more than!) so I wanted to share a favorite pumpkin recipe of mine: Pumpkin Doughnuts.

I'm also stopping by for a visit with my friends on Mornings with Fox43 and thought this recipe would be a fun thing to demonstrate. Deep frying on live television...it doesn't get more southern than that!

Pumpkin Doughnuts

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg

Blend first five ingredients together well. Combine remaining ingredients and stir into the dry ingredients until moistened. 

Now for the frying...this could vary depending on your preferred method. If you have a fryer, use that. Otherwise, use a tall-sided stock pot. A couple inches of vegetable oil in the bottom is all you will need. The secret here is low and slow. Bring the oil to medium-ish heat. Drop spoonfuls (or scoopfuls) of batter into the oil. The doughnuts will begin to float as they fry. Turn them over a few times so that each side is fully cooked. You might need to test one by poking it in the middle with a toothpick to see if it's done. If not, cook it a little longer in the oil. Transfer cooked doughnuts from the oil to a plate lined with a paper towel. 

When the oil has drained, transfer to a brown paper sack with a little powdered sugar sprinkled in it. Shake the sack until the doughnuts are coated evenly. Try not to eat just one. 

Fall Fun: Simple Ways to Enjoy Apples

 by Becky (aq) (contact)

Apples are one of my favorite things about fall. They really are nature's perfect fruit. I'm stopping by for a visit with Knoxville's Mornings with Fox43 today for a segment about apples.

Not only are they bountiful at stores, farm stands and farmers market right now, but today is also the anniversary of the birth of Johnny Appleseed.

Who else grew up listening to the classic Disney recording? This was a highlight of any visit to my grandparents' house during childhood.

 by Thomas Hawk (contact)

We've all heard the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and today I want to share some easy ways to enjoy the yummy apples that are available this fall.

Hillbilly Apple Dumplings

The first thing I want to share is a recipe I like to call Hillbilly Apple Dumplings. It's about as delicious as it is simple. I've seen several variations of the recipe, but I simplified it down where you can use 1:1 ratios for all ingredients. 

You'll need: 

• 1 large Granny Smith apple
• 1 can of refrigerated crescent rolls (8 oz)
• 1 stick of butter (or less)
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 can of Mountain Dew 
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Wash, core and slice apple into 8 pieces. Wrap one triangle of crescent roll dough around each slice. Arrange these in a 9x13 baking dish. Melt butter in a saucepan and add sugar and vanilla. Stir until lumpy (sugar does not need to dissolve). Pour the mixture over the crescent-wrapped apples in the pan. Pour Mountain Dew over the crescent-wrapped apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.

Simple Caramel Apple Cider 

 by elana's pantry (contact)

This recipe can hardly be called a recipe at all since it's just mixing store-bought ingredients. But come this time of year, I'm so tempted to pull through Starbucks for a Caramel Apple Spice drink. While it's fun to do that from time to time, it can get expensive so I'm sharing this idea to remind myself how easy it is to make this delicious drink at home. 

Begin with organic apple juice. Well, actually you should begin with store-bought caramel sauce. Spoon a little of it into a glass mug. Then, heat the apple juice on the stove top with a sprinkling of cinnamon. When it's warm, pour it over the caramel into the glass. Stir and enjoy. Now wasn't that easy and so much cheaper than a fancy purchased drink? 

Apple Tips and Products 

One of the best tips I've received for keeping apples from turning brown is to soak them in some type of soda water with citric acid. You can use lemon or lime juice, but sometimes if the apples are tart to begin with this only makes them more so. 

Any type of clear carbonated drink (think Sprite or Ginger Ale) would work, but you can go with a sugar-free seltzer water if you like. 

I also ran across this interesting sparkling drink that is flavored like Apple Cinnamon. It has citric acid so I guess it would work too. 

For cutting apples (especially if you cut large quantities), I recommend this tool. I got mine from Pampered Chef, but you can find these just about anywhere kitchen utensils are sold. It might seem sort of gimmicky, but it sure does allow you to save time. 

Another apple product I really enjoy is Sarabeth's Chunky Apple spread. It's the perfect level of sweetness and goes great on biscuits or toast.

Do you have an apple product or recipe you swear by? I hope you'll share it! And if you make my Hillbilly Dumplings, I dare you to eat just one. Happy Fall y'all! 

Celebrate Peach Month with Simple Drink Recipes

 by ulterior epicure (contact)

Peaches have always been one of my favorite fruits. They are so versatile, so delicious and so very southern. For this week's segment on my local Fox affiliate show 'Mornings with Fox43,' I'm sharing three simple and tasty drink recipes that incorporate peaches!

Each recipe begins with the same simple syrup made with fresh peaches.

Fresh Peach Simple Syrup

• 2 peaches
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer covered until the sugar dissolves and the peaches soften and become uniform in color. 

Remove pan from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. Refrigerate 8-12 hours or overnight. 

**You can separate the peaches from the simple syrup or use the mixture as is, depending on your drink recipe.

 by VlaD (DaV.) (contact)

The first drink I created is something I'm calling the "Rise & Shine." Sometimes I feel like the only person in America who doesn't like orange juice. I love fresh oranges, but I just can't stomach the juice. This drink begins with orange juice but the addition of the peach syrup plus La Croix peach/pear flavored seltzer makes it a perfect drink for brunch or just to enjoy with your breakfast. 

Rise & Shine 

• 1 part peach simple syrup
• 3 parts orange juice
• 1 can of La Croix Peach/Pear flavored sparkling water 

Serve over ice in a glass garnished with a slice of fresh peach and enjoy! 

**Note: Substitute champagne for the sparkling water to get instant peach mimosas! 

My next peach drink creation is one that is very near and dear to my heart: Peach Iced Tea. I should probably give credit where credit is due to fast food restaurant Pal's for my inspiration. I visited Pal's for the first time last weekend and their 'Peachy Tea' was so tasty, I wanted to recreate my own with all fresh ingredients.

I always use Lipton or Luzianne tea bags and while I never measure anything exactly, I usually use two tea bags per large pot of water.

 by .angels. (contact)

Classic Southern Peach Iced Tea

• 1 part peach simple syrup
• 3 parts brewed tea 

Mix together and serve over ice with a mint garnish. Enjoy! 

photo via Ocean Spray

Finally, I wanted to create an easy drink recipe that would be perfect for all these end of summer soirees we're trying to cram into our schedules before fall. 

Peachy Keen Mocktail (Cocktail)

• 1 part peach simple syrup
• 1 part Ocean Spray Sparkling Cran-Lemonade
• Optional Alcohol addition - Vodka or Gin 

This one combines peach simple syrup with Ocean Spray Sparkling Cran-Lemonade. It's as simple as that, but it's really delicious. You could even add Gin or Vodka to make a more spirited version. 

Enjoying a frou-frou drink with friends is fun, but it's easy to rack up a bar tab with just a couple of cocktails. There's no reason we can't indulge in some festive drinks at home that are simple to make and kind on the budget. I hope these recipes inspire you to do just that! 

Store-Bought Products with a Homemade Twist

This morning I visited my friends Abby Ham and Moira Kaye at Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 for my regular Southern Belle Simple segment. For today's installment, I shared tips and tricks to give store-bought products homemade flair! You can watch the segment below. For full details of the recipes I shared, read on!

Store-bought Dill Pickles with a Homemade Twist

I've been making these easy hot & sweet pickles for a few years now. The recipe came from my friend Shannon's sister-in-law's mom (I think)...isn't that how all good southern recipes are? Passed around from family to family, friend to friend? 

To make them, all you need is a jar of store-bought dill pickles, granulated sugar and crushed red pepper flakes. I prefer whole dills because I think they have better texture than the dill pickle chips. 

Pour the pickle juice out of the jar, but save it for later. Slice the pickles. Now put them back in the jar in layers, beginning with a layer of pickle slices plus a sprinkling of sugar and red pepper flakes. Repeat these layers until the jar is filled with pickles and then pour the juice back over the jar's contents. Replace the lid and refrigerate for a day or two. You'll swear these sweet & spicy pickles are homemade! 

Sweet & Savory Butter 

Flavored butter is so easy to make, yet it makes an average meal more special. As I mentioned in the segment, I love having herb butter at one of my favorite Knoxville restaurants, The Northshore Brasserie. 

To make flavored butter, simply decide what flavors you want to incorporate. For a savory option, I used fresh chopped garlic chives. For a sweet version, I added some Key Lime marmalade to room temperature unsalted butter. This tastes awesome on croissants and I'm sure would be wonderful on pancakes, scones or biscuits too. 

For the savory butter, you can use any herbs you like...basil, oregano, dill, thyme...the possibilities are endless! Try it on fish, potatoes or warm crusty bread. Your family and/or dinner guests will love you! 

Condiments with a Kick 

Finally, condiments! It's so easy to jazz up even the most boring condiments with a little creative ingenuity! Ketchup gets bolder with the addition of curry powder. For a sweeter option, mix peach preserves or even sweet onion jelly.

Mayo (or in the case of my segment, Vegenaise) is a great starter for all sorts of add-ins. Sriracha is my favorite...it's a perfect topping for sweet potato fries! 

I hope these ideas inspired you to think outside the store-bought box. It's easy to take everyday store-bought products and give them a homemade twist...with a little creativity! 

[fries image via  by stevendepolo (contact)]