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Let's Mingle Blog

Easy Entertaining for Everyday Celebrations

Archives for September 2015

Sweet Stops: Ruby Snap

Sep 30 2015 by Leave a Comment

Sweet Stops: Ruby SnapThese posts may become one of my very favorites here on the blog. An excuse to travel around the city and eat my favorite sweets and desserts…? What’s not to love about that?!

If you’ve been following along for a bit, you’ll know that I’ve started a new series on the blog titled “Sweet Stops”, a monthly trip to a local sweets/treats/heavenly place here in Utah, where I share my favorites with you guys.

Today marks stop number 2! (Catch my first trip here).

If you’ve been to Salt Lake City before, you may have heard rummblings of a local cookie joint that’s too good to pass up. A retro throwback to pin-up’s of the past (and a sassy one at that!) Ruby Snap packs the flavor, charm, and spunk of those gals you admire from across the room and secretly wish they were your new best friend, but in cookie form, of course.

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Caramel Ice Cream Baked Apples

Sep 29 2015 by 5 Comments

Caramel Ice Cream Baked ApplesI know I’ve mentioned it many times already, but this week officially kicks off my favorite month of the year by far. OCTOBER!

Time to usher in the ghosts, ghouls, pumpkins, candy corn, and caramel apples.

Let’s take a moment to talk about caramel. First off, I realize that I might have a different view on this, but I pronounce it care-a-mel. What about you guys? I think it’s an east coast thing. But, come on, there’s an “a” in there, right?!

Caramel Ice Cream Baked ApplesOk, back to caramel apples…the perfect combination that just screams fall. I make a batch every single year before halloween and plan to do the same thing again this year. (Watch out for a future blog post 😉

I’ve been sharing a new ice cream recipe once a month for the last little while and continue to keep this trend going until I have a full year under my belt. So how could I make a twist on a classic halloween dessert with ice cream?

By making caramel ice cream baked apples, of course!

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Homemade Apple Cider

Sep 23 2015 by 4 Comments

Homemade Apple Cider RecipeToday is the first day of Fall and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

It’s definitely my favorite season by far. Crisp evenings, crunchy leaves, pumpkin flavored everything, and Halloween!

One of the things I missed out on last year, was picking fresh apples at an orchard. It was on my bucket list for the season, but I waited too long and missed out. For future reference, the middle of October is too late!

Homemade Apple Cider RecipeThis year, I wasn’t about to let that happen! There are waaaaay too many things I want to make with them 😉

One of the most popular drinks of the season (Cough, cough, the pumpkin spice latte) seems to take center stage over the next few months, but I feel like there are a few drinks that lose the limelight and shouldn’t!

Homemade apple cider is one of them and a perfect excuse to take a trip to the orchard for too!

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Salt and Vinegar French Fries

Sep 18 2015 by 2 Comments

Salt and Vinegar French FriesI’m definitely a sugar girl through and through, but there is one kind of salt that I can get down with. French fries.

There’s just something about deep fried potato wedges that speak to my inner food obsessed self.

Salt and Vinegar French FriesAnd potatoes are a vegetable, so that’s good, right? They’re pretty much one of the 5 food groups. So, yep, I approve.

But I couldn’t just leave my fries plain. I’m from Canada, so you know I had to get a little crazy and add some vinegar with mine.

Fries without vinegar in Canada are like a sin. We have ketchup (and fry sauce in Utah). In Canada, they serve your fries with little packets of vinegar. So funny, but delish nonetheless.

These salt and vinegar french fries are the perfect mix of crispy, vinegary, salty goodness. Perfect to serve for game day, with burgers on the grill, or just for a snack.

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DIY Fresh Floral Cake Topper

Sep 16 2015 by 8 Comments

DIY Fresh Floral Cake TopperOne of my very favorite things is cake. Homemade or store bought, I’m not picky.

I might have even been known to take a trip to the local grocery store to buy myself my very own cake. For no reason. This may have happened on multiple occasions too. (No, I don’t eat the whole cake. And come on, no judgement).

Another one of my favorite things is giving a normally boring store bought cake a pretty little makeover.

We’re now combining cake and a makeover. What is better than that?!

If you need to make a cake for a party, birthday, or get together, I am all for a homemade cake, but sometimes it’s easier and such a time saver to order from your local bakery or grocery store instead. Plus, you have some insurance for if those cake skills of yours end up lacking on the day of the party. 😉

And did you know that you can order a plain white cake (or any color) from the bakery? You don’t have to order one from those party books!

You can dress up a plain cake with a fun topper (like this one I shared here), but it’s just as easy to create a really memorable and gorgeous topper with fresh flowers, like the pros!

Today, I’m going to show you how to create a DIY fresh floral cake topper using only $10 worth of pretty blooms!

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DIY Chair Swags

Sep 14 2015 by Leave a Comment

DIY Chair SwagsWe’re back to another Monday morning, but it was a really fun weekend for me. Did you guys have any fun plans?

I didn’t do much, but football officially started this week and I couldn’t be more thrilled. (Go Ravens!)

I really got into the game a few years ago, and just love the time of year it reminds me of. No, not the snow. But Fall!

Chilly days cooped up inside with lots of snacks, comfy clothes, and really, what’s better than lounging around all day on Sunday?! Not much.

With football kicking off, it’s crazy to think that the Superbowl (and 2016) are right around the corner! This year has seriously been flying.

Today’s DIY would be PERFECT for game day, but can really work for anything!

I’m sharing the how-to for these super easy DIY chair swags to amp up the tablescape at your next event or get together.

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Dr. Pepper Soda Floats

Sep 10 2015 by Leave a Comment

Dr. Pepper Soda FloatsDr. Pepper is my jam.

We have a love/hate relationship, becauce I try to stay away from soda as much as I can (who drinks water?!), but I always find myself running back to this staple in my liquid repitoire.

There’s just something about it.

Most people’s soda vice (including my husband’s) is Diet Coke, but I just can’t do it.

It doesn’t help that little flavored soda shops are popping up all over Utah these days. They mix up the perfect blend of unique flavors and flavor combinations with my favorite drink and have me wanting to try them all. Thanks a lot guys!

What I can thank them for is the inspiration to create my own take on a Dr. Pepper soda float to share at my home events and get-togethers!

And today, I’m sharing it with you guys!

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Fried Chicken and Pumpkin Waffle Tacos

Sep 8 2015 by Leave a Comment

Fried Chicken and Pumpkin Waffle TacosIt’s officially the beginning of another work week.

I’m never going to complain about a long holiday weekend, but this one seemed unusually short. It felt like any other regular old two day weekend to me. The older I get, the faster time passes by, and it doesn’t make any difference if it’s a two or three day weekend. Go figure. Hopefully your weekend passed by a lot more slowly than mine did!

In other news….Yay! It’s Taco Tuesday!

With fall weather breathing down my neck, I figured the best thing to do was embrace it with open arms and surround myself with pumpkin everything. And tacos are no exception.

And I couldn’t just make any old batch of tacos. Absolutely not. I had to throw a little bit of fun in there.

So what did I make…? Fried chicken and pumpkin waffle tacos!

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