home made game day brownie bars

Home made bars

I love brownie recipes and I’m dubbing these “all but the kitchen sink” home made bars, because they have almost everything in them, but the kitchen sink! These little bites are sweet and savory all rolled into one. You’ve got your chocolate, your pretzels, your popcorn, your potato chips… wow! So when Lauryn Cohen of Bella Baker sent these over I knew I had to share.

Here’s Lauryn’s complete Half-Time Snack Brownie recipe:

  •  12 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces semi sweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp butter, room temperature, cut into 4 pieces
  • Potato Chips
  • Thin Pretzel Sticks
  • Regular popcorn (not kettle corn flavored)

 And her easy how to steps:

  1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter a 9×13 glass baking pan.
  2. Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl, top with the chopped chocolate. Microwave for 45 seconds, then remove and stir vigorously with a whisk until the ingredients are just melted – you don’t want them to get so hot that the butter separates. Microwave for another 30 seconds if needed to melt the chocolate completely. 
  3. With a whisk, stir in the sugar. Whisk in the eggs one by one. Add the vanilla extract and whisk vigorously to bring the batter together and give it a shine before gently stirring in the salt and flour; stir only until incorporated. Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top with the rubber spatula.
  4. Bake the brownies for 30 to 33 minutes, or until the top is dull and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (The tip of the knife may be a touch streaky.) Transfer the pan to a rack and cool to room temperature.
  5. While they are cooling, make the ganache. Put chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring heavy cream to a boil. Once heavy cream has reached boiling pour half the heavy cream over the chopped chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds, then gently stir chocolate and cream together with a rubber spatula in a figure eight motion. Pour remaining heavy cream over chocolate and continue to gently stir. Add butter, one piece at a time, until ingredients are fully incorporated and ganache is smooth and glossy.
  6. Pour ganache over brownies, and smooth with rubber spatula to completely cover top of brownies. While ganache is still wet, sprinkle potato chips, pretzels and popcorn on top. Refrigerate brownies for one hour until ganache has set before cutting into squares.

You can find more of Lauryn and her Game Day fare at Bella Baker.

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate! 

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easy football brownie finger food recipe

Easy Football Party Brownies

Hosting a party this Game Day?! Make these football brownies. They’re super easy, fun and you’ll look like a superstar. It’s a win – win… no matter who wins. {grin}

For this little finger food recipe, you’ll need:

  • Brownie box recipe (I use Duncan Hines Chewy Brownies so my little one with with dairy allergies can enjoy them too)
  • Cream cheese icing (I use Pillsbury Cream Cheese icing, again, no dairy)
  • Resealable bag, with a corner snipped off
  • Butter knife

And here are the easy steps:

  • Bake your brownies as directed.
  • Allow them to cool completely.
  • Cut out football shapes with a butter knife, keeping them fairly close together so that you can limit waste (like there would be waste!).
  • Place on your serving platter (TIP: Line platter with wax paper or food safe liner as shown so that your party finger foods come up easily)
  • Spoon icing into resealable bag, snip corner and pipe on four lines

For more party finger foods, visit my 8 Super Bowl party ideas for the Big Game! And download my free Game Day printables in 2013 Super Bowl colors. Enjoy!

And as always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

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decorating a Valentine heart cake

Valentine Heart Cake

Does your Valentine love cake?! Silly question I know… everyone loves cake! Well, can you decorate a cake? Can you decorate a cake with hearts? With these cake decorations you can!

Make a super simple marshmallow heart Valentine cakeI made this one for my 16th wedding anniversary and it was a hit with both the hubby and the kids.

It looks like I put tons of work into it… but I didn’t. Come read how I decorated this heart Valentine cake in only minutes! {grin}

Want to see a few of my other easy cake decorating ideas:

And as always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebooksign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (never miss an idea, giveaway or free printable!), follow us on twitterpinterest and on instagram at @thecelebrationshoppe.

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mini toast pizza appetizer

Mini Toast Pizza

Mini toast pizzas are one of my all time favorite appetizers and party snack foods. My mom made them for a gathering she was hosting once when I was little and they’ve been around ever since! This year I’ll be making them for my Game Day party!

To make Mini Toast Party Pizzas you’ll need:

  • Ground beef, cooked and strained
  • Ground sausage, cooked and strained
  • Original pizza sauce
  • Cheddar, Sharp and Mozzarella and Provolone blended
  • Minigrill Mini Toasts from World Market (or mini Pumpernickel from your grocer bakery)

And the simple how to steps for Mini Toast Party Pizza:

  • Blend your cooked meats and pizza sauce in a pan and bring to a simmer
  • Add a small amount of your cheese mixture allowing it to melt
  • Top mini toasts with mixture
  • Drizzle remaining cheese on top

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

 Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebooksign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (never miss an idea, giveaway or free printable!), follow us on twitterpinterest and on instagram at @thecelebrationshoppe.

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bacon and chocolate popcorn

thecelebrationshoppe.com-bacon-and-chocolate-popcorn-recipe

Yep… you read the title right. I’m making bacon and chocolate popcorn for our Super Bowl party this year and likely for every Game Day thereafter. And maybe for a few movie nights in between too. We like it that much!

bacon-chocolate-popcorn-recipe

And the best part, bacon and chocolate popcorn is super simple to make. You’ll need:

  • 6 cups of air popped popcorn
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate melts (available at your local grocery or craft store with a baking section)
  • J&D’s Bacon Salt
  • Wax paper

And the simple steps for Chocolate Bacon Popcorn:

  • Spread your popcorn on the wax paper (you’ll likely need to do this in 2-3 batches)
  • Place your chocolate melts in a resealable plastic bag (snipped on one end) or in a small glass bowl and heat in the microwave in 8 second intervals, three times, or until melted
  • Drizzle chocolate over popcorn
  • Before chocolate cools, shake on J&D’s Bacon Salt to your desired taste.

Bacon and Chocolate Popcorn Recipe

If you’d like my free Game Day party printables, you can find them here. As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebooksign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (never miss an idea, giveaway or free printable!), follow us on twitterpinterest and on instagram at @thecelebrationshoppe.

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s’more brownie bars

Over the holidays I attended a little New Year’s Eve soiree and took s’ more brownie bars as a sweet little treat. Super easy to make and completely kid and adult approved.

Channeling my best Sandra Lee, here’s the semi-homemade recipe:

  • Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Brownie mix (I used this one because it’s dairy-free for my little guy) + ingredients on the box (egg, oil, water)
  • Graham crackers
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Chocolate chips (I used Trader Joes chocolate chips because again, dairy-free for my little guy)

Simple baking steps:

  • Prepare brownie mix as recommended on the box.
  • Line a shallow baking pan with graham crackers.
  • Spoon brownie mixture about 1/2 inch deep over entire cracker base, leaving a bit of a lip between the brownie and the edge of the pan. It will rise and fill that space.
  • Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes, or until toothpick pulls out wet but lumpy. Don’t over-bake!
  • Add mini marshmallows to cover entire top of brownie and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
  • Bake for another 4-5 minutes at 350.
  • Allow to cool and cut into squares with a  damp knife.

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebooksign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (never miss an idea, giveaway or free printable!), follow us on twitterpinterest and on instagram at @thecelebrationshoppe

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easy cinnamon roll waffles

Okay… I’m still very much in vacation mode. I’m slowly making my way back, but in the meantime I thought I would share a fabulous and easy recipe for cinnamon roll waffles with cream cheese glaze. These are so good it’s a bit dangerous to my after Christmas resolution… you know… to stop eating sweets until New Years. Don’t fib! You know you all make that same one so you can fit in your New Year’s Eve dress {suspicious grin}.

This cinnamon roll waffle recipe is from Pillsbury. My youngest has food allergies and we eat Pillsbury Crescent Rolls every week. So naturally I get their regular newsletter and just a few days ago I got this little goody in my inbox. How genius is this cinnamon roll waffle recipe?! Oh my!

You can find the full cinnamon roll waffle with cream cheese glaze recipe at Pillsbury.com, along with so many other delish ideas. If you have a little one like me with severe food allergies, you’ll need a few substitutions, but it’s worth it. 

I’ll be back to my normal antics tomorrow. Until then, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you try this easy waffle iron recipe!

And as always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!!

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easy & moist pumpkin muffins


This weekend I baked, I crafted, I enjoyed my family. It was wonderful! And this morning, I’m sharing a recipe for these super simple and oh so yummy pumpkin muffins that we snacked on.

You’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened (use Smart Balance vegan if you have a child like me with dairy allergies)
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup pumpkin, packed solidly
  • Cream cheese icing

Easy steps for 12 muffins:

  1. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg; set aside.
  2. Whip butter until light; beat in honey, egg and pumpkin. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until blended.
  3. Spoon into a greased (or into baking cups if you prefer) muffin tin.
  4. Bake at 350°F for 2o to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  5. Remove muffins from pan to wire rack to cool.
  6. Pour cream cheese icing over muffins (You could make your own from scratch, but I used Pillsbury cream cheese icing slightly heated in the microwave.) {grin}

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate! Enjoy!

Oh, and this fabulous gray cake plate is from Target. I caved when shopping on Friday and then justified my purchase by using it in this shoot… {smile} Happy Monday!

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11 apple-licious recipes


It’s officially fall and in Ohio, that means it is apple harvest season! {huge grin}

We packed up the kiddos and hit a local apple orchard to enjoy the plenty that nature offers! I decided that a girl can only make so many apple pies, so I began my search for creative recipe ideas for my harvest bounty. What I found was this delicious… I mean apple-licious… collection of recipes!

Since my children all love apples, I really wanted to find a healthy treat to pack for everyday snacks and lunches. Number one in my collection is perfect!

1) The Kitchn has just the thing with these allergy-friendly healthy apple muffins.

Other kid-approved treats… and one for me under the guise of a salad! {wink}

2. Oatmeal Apple Pie Bars via Once a Month Mom

3. Caramel Apple Salad via The Grocery Cart Challenge

4. Apple Peanut Butter sandwiches via Fun & Food Cafe

5. Apple-Pear salad with Lemon Poppyseed dressing via MyRecipes

And a few more mouth-watering temptations:

6. Harvest Apple and Herb stuffing via A Pretty Life in the Suburbs (I promise this will be at my Thanksgiving table! I love the combination of sweet and savory.)

7. No-Fry Chocolatey Apple Beignets via Kraft Canada {yes, it’s chocolate-YUM!}

8. Apple Blossoms via Rock Recipes

9. Pumpkin Apple Dessert pizza via VeryBestBaking

10. Apple Ricotta Brunch Biscuits via Pillsbury

11. Caramel-Apple Shortcakes via Pillsbury

As always, we hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and CELEBRATE! Enjoy!

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pumpkin butter recipe + free printable!


Happy Monday everyone! There is a little hint of fall here in the Mirabelle Creations kitchen and I’m giddy! The mornings and evenings in my part of Kentucky have actually been down right chilly lately. And, I’m ecstatic! Over the last few months, my kitchen has been teeming with fresh tomatoes, corn and beans, but now that cool weather has arrived, I’ve shifted to thinking about apples and pumpkins.

My daughter’s favorite fall dessert is pumpkin pie and this fall weather prompted me to make some Pumpkin Butter for her. The spices added to this treat are the same spices added to pumpkin pie, so it has all of the flavor, without all of the fat!

It’s fantastic spread on toast and muffins, over waffles, stirred in ice cream, paired with fresh apples, or over cheesecake. As a bonus, cooking this light treat makes your entire house smell delicious!

Pumpkin Butter also makes a great hostess gift or party favor. As I entertain and attend gatherings through the fall months, I’ll keep extra jars on hand to share with friends.

And to dress up the half pint jars, I designed a “homemade” label and added some tan cotton fabric over the lid with jute twine wrapped around the lid.

Download your FREE Homemade Pumpkin Butter label!

Print them on a full sheet of white adhesive labels (available at your local office supply store) and punch them out with a 2.5″ circle punch or you can trim them out with scissors. Or, you could also print them on card stock, cut them out in squares and tie them to the jars. Either way, your guests and hosts will be delighted with this lovely and tasty little gift! 

Pumpkin Butter recipe

  • 1 (29 ounce) canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup of apple juice
  • 1 cup of light brown sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Place pumpkin, apple juice, light brown sugar, the insides of vanilla bean, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large saucepan. Stir with a whisk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 30-40 minutes. Fill 4 half-pint jars with mixture. Store in refrigerator.

One important reminder about this Pumpkin Butter: it must be refrigerated. Unlike apple butter, which is acidic, this butter does not have a high enough acid content to store outside of the refrigerator. That said, you should easily be able to enjoy the Pumpkin Butter through the fall, as long as you keep it refrigerated.

As always, we hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebook, sign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (a box in the right-side navigation bar), follow us on twitter, pinterest and on instagram at @thecelebrationshoppe

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