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Challah Bread Pudding Topped With Homemade Caramel Sauce

December 3rd, 2019December 2nd, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

This Challah Bread Pudding Topped With Homemade Caramel Sauce is a must make. This dessert recipe is sure to impress your guests and have everyone asking for seconds. While this post is sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, all opinions and the recipe are my own.

Challah Bread Pudding Topped With Homemade Caramel Sauce

Bread pudding is one of my husband’s absolute favorite desserts. He orders it whenever he sees it on a restaurant menu. There is just something about the decadent dessert that makes you feel like you are having a bit of comfort served on a plate. Traditions. Memories. So many of both are centered around food, and that’s why I guess they say that the kitchen is the heart of the home.

I have never made bread pudding before. Until now. I guess it was one of those recipes that you know has been enjoyed for years, so it must be complicated, right? Not really. Bread Pudding is actually relatively easy to make, and the effort you put in is oh so worth it.

I used Challah in my bread pudding recipe, Challah is a Kosher loaf of braided bread. It is a simple dough is made with eggs, water, flour, yeast and salt. Hanukkah is coming, so this would be an excellent dessert to serve at your celebrations. And if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, I still recommend trying this rich bread pudding recipe with Challah. Challah is dense, slightly sweet and a bit “eggy” making it the perfect bread for bread pudding. And french toast.

Hanukkah this year will begin in the evening of Sunday, December 22 and ends in the evening of Monday, December 30.

We all know that everyone has different holiday traditions and that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Some people celebrate Hanukkah, (the Festival of Lights) while others celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. Hanukkah has been celebrated since 165 BCE, and many traditions are included in the celebration.

The word Hanukkah is Hebrew and it means “dedication”. In this case, it is referring to the celebration of the re-dedication of the Holy Second Temple in Jerusalem. The celebration began at the behest of Judas Maccabeus in 165 BCE after the Jews triumphed over the Seleucid Empire and were to last for eight days. The eight days were to remind the Jewish people that even though the purified oil found in the temple was only enough to light the candles for one day, it lasted for eight days and nights.

There is one piece of Hanukkah tradition that you may be familiar with and that is the menorah. The menorah looks like a candelabra of sorts, with a spot for nine candles, and for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, a candle is lit. Some other traditional aspects of Hanukkah include playing with four-sided tops known as dreidels, exchanging gifts, singing songs, and eating traditional foods many of which are fried in oil.

Some of these traditional foods are latkes or fried potato pancakes, Matzo ball soup, sufganiyot or fried jelly-filled donuts, brisket, and Challah bread. Speaking of Challah bread, let’s get to my Challah Bread Pudding recipe, shall we?

You will need milk, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, chocolate chips, raisins, and of course, Challah bread. I had all the ingredients on hand besides the fresh Challah bread, so hopefully you do it. This easy bread pudding recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prep and about one hour in the oven. The easy homemade caramel sauce is ready in about 10 minutes, making this recipe easy and simply delicious to serve this Hanukkah or any day.

Now, here is my Easy Challah Bread Pudding and Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe. Be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Challah Bread Pudding with Homemade Caramel Sauce

This Easy Challah Bread Pudding with Homemade Caramel Sauce is perfect for a crowd! Delicious and easy to make, this recipe is a must try this season.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Setting Time10

Total Time1 25

Course: Breakfast or Dessert

Keyword: bread pudding, challah, challah bread, dessert, hanukkah, kosher

Servings:

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Oven

Ingredients

4 cups slightly warm milk I used skim
6 tbsp butter melted
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 eggs
1 loaf Challah bread
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup raisins

Homemade Caramel Sauce

1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 stick of butter
¼ cup milk I used skim
1 pinch salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°
Spray or butter bottom of 9x13 baking dish
Add one layer of the Challah bread on the bottom of the baking dish, you may have to customize your slices by cutting them slightly to make sure the whole bottom is filled
Sprinkle on half of the chocolate chips and half of the raisins
Add another layer of the Challah bread, following the same pattern of the first layer
Sprinkle on the remaining chocolate chips and raisins
In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla and melted butter
Slowly pour the milk mixture over the layered bread
Cover with aluminum foil
Bake for 50 minutes
Uncover and bake for an additional 10 - 15 minutes until middle is set and top is slightly brown
Allow to cool slightly before serving

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Add brown sugar, butter and milk to a small sauce pan
Bring to boil, stirring regularly
Allow to cook for 3 - 5 minutes
Allow to cool slightly to thicken
Drizzle on top of bread pudding
Enjoy!

Notes

You can store remaining caramel sauce in a jar or a container in the refrigerator. Be sure to cool before refrigerating.

I hope you enjoy this Easy Challah Bread Pudding recipe as much as we do!

Have you made bread pudding before? What is one of your favorite traditional desserts?

Looking for an after dinner cocktail to accompany this bread pudding recipe?

Try this Creamy Butterscotch Martini. The butterscotch pairs nicely with the chocolate in the bread pudding.

Be sure to check out Florida Milk for more dairy-licious recipes and follow on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

And while you are at it, check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow on me Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more FOOD WINE AND SUNSHINE.

Best Wine Apps For Wine Lovers

December 2nd, 2019April 7th, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Finding the right wine for the right occasion can be confusing, thankfully there are plenty of wine apps to help you out with all things wine-related. Discover the best wine apps for wine lovers.

Best Wine Apps For Wine Lovers

There seems to be an app for everything these days and wine is no exception! Whether you are just looking to learn more about wine, figure out what foods and wines pair well together, find new and exciting wines to try, or catalog your wine inventory there is an app out there just for you. That’s why I wanted to share some of the best wine apps out there, so you can quit searching and start sipping!

Here are some of the best wine apps that you need to try.

Vivino: Buy the Right Wine

The Vivino app has over 30 million users, making it one of the largest wine communities in the world! To use the app just scan a picture of the bottle of wine you are drinking or are interested in purchasing. You will be provided with user ratings of the wine, tasting notes, and food pairing suggestions. You will also receive an average retail price and with the most recent update notification of great deals on that particular bottle, and even the ability to purchase the wine from your phone.

Vivino also provides information about the grapes used in a particular bottle of wine, the region in which it is grown, and even a brief history of the winery that it came from. You can even see the winemakers tasting notes. The app stores the wines that you have scanned and uses your ratings to build a profile of wines that you might enjoy. You can also use the app to keep track of the wine bottles that you have at home.

Get the Vivino app in the app store or on Google Play.

Delectable Wine – Scan & Rate

The Delectable wine app also allows you to take a picture of the label on a bottle of wine and get ratings and descriptions of the wine. You can keep track of what your favorite wines are, and you can even get a top-notch wine education by following world-renowned sommeliers, winemakers, and critics. You can buy wine from your phone and have it delivered to your door. This app includes a journal where you can keep tasting notes of wines that you have tried, and unlike some other similar apps, this one works for beer and spirits too.

Get Delectable Wine in the app store or on Google Play.

CellarTracker

CellarTracker is an app that allows it’s users to keep up with their collections of wine, and the current value of each bottle of wine in the collection should they be interested in selling. In addition to that feature, the app also allows you to read and write reviews on your favorite wines. There is a label scanning feature that you can use to keep up with the wine in your cellar, and you can use it to read about wines you might like to try while you are out shopping and trying to pick a new bottle.

Get CellarTracker in the app store or on Google Play.

Wine Picker

Wine Picker is a different kind of wine app that will help you to pick out wine if you are already out at a restaurant. You can tell the app what restaurant you are at, plug in your budget, and what you would like to eat and the app will recommend several wines from the restaurant’s menu. You can also use the search in reverse where you pick out the wine you would like and the app will recommend food pairings based on your choice. If you are searching for a nearby restaurant that serves a specific wine the app can help you to find that as well.

Get Wine Picker in the app store or on Google Play.

Wine Events

Wine Events is a wine app that helps you to find wine tasting and food events in your local area. You can use the app to make reservations to events and you may even find some discounted tickets to certain events. If you travel you can use this app to find food and wine events around the globe. You will be able to filter events based on location and dates, so if you are looking for a special weekend wine getaway this may be just the app for you.

Get Wine Events in the app store or on Google Play.

Swizl

The Swizl app is not just for wine, but more for alcohol and entertaining in general. On the app, you will find the newest cocktail recipes, appetizer ideas, food and wine pairing suggestions, and savings. Yes, that’s right savings on the drinks you were going to buy anyway! Download the app, select the deals that interest you, and shop at your favorite store. Once you get home with your purchases snap a picture of your receipt, and your savings will be added to your Swizl virtual wallet in about 48 hours. When you get ready you can cash out via PayPal.

Get Swizl in the app store or on Google Play.

Just Wine

Just Wine is more than just an app, it is also a website and a community for wine lovers. Whether you are a novice or an aficionado, there is still something there for you. You can rate wines that you have tried, make notes about what you liked, discover new recipes, learn about specific wine growing regions, and even learn how to taste wines properly. Build your digital cellar, try out new cocktail recipes, and amuse your friends with wine trivia and fun facts that you learn from the app.

Get Just Wine on Google Play.

Wine-Searcher

The Wine-Searcher app helps you to find your favorite wines at the best prices. They offer a label scanning tool or you can type in the wine that you are looking for. You can use the app to learn about wine growing regions, grape varieties, specific producers, and even compare vintages. You can also use the app to find the best prices on other types of alcohol as well, including scotch, whiskey, gin, and tequila.

Get Wine-Searcher in the app store or on Google Play.

There are of course many more wine-related apps out there, but these are some of our favorites. All of the apps listed here are free, although some of them do offer in-app purchases or premium memberships. The Swizl app is particularly interesting because it helps you save money on alcohol, did you ever think you would see the day where there would be coupons for wine?!?

Do you have a favorite wine app? What would you say are the best wine apps?

Be sure to check out Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for fun things to do, healthy recipes, and more.

10 Top Things To Do In Key Largo

December 1st, 2019January 20th, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Key Largo is the first of about 1,700 keys that make up the Florida Keys. It is the northernmost Florida Key as well the largest. Here are 10 fun things to do in Key Largo, with or without kids.

10 Top Things To Do In Key Largo

Key Largo is the northernmost Florida Key, and it’s also the largest at 33 miles long. The island is mostly known as a diving hotspot, but it’s also home to botanical gardens, wildlife centers, and plenty of charter boats. If you plan to spend most of your trip to Florida outside, Key Largo is a perfect destination. Key Largo is a little less than an hour and a half from Miami, about 2.5 hours to Key West and it’s about a 5 hour drive for us here in Tampa.

As an island that thrives on tourism, Key Largo has no shortage of exciting attractions. Whether you’re visiting with your family or leaving the kids at home, you’ll find plenty of things to do here – even on a tight budget. Since there tends to be heavy traffic in the Keys, mapping out your itinerary before you arrive will make you better prepared for your trip. Consider adding some of these attractions to your Key Largo travel itinerary for a fun-filled vacation you’ll never forget!

Things To Do On Key Largo

Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

This bird rehabilitation center has two buildings: an avian hospital and a sanctuary for birds that can’t be released back into the wild. At the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, visitors can see over 40 bird species on a self-guided tour. You can also watch some animal feedings – at 8:00am and 2:30pm, the sanctuary’s interns feed the brown pelicans. The other location features the hospital, gift shop, and visitor’s center. Stop by to learn more about their work, and grab a cool T-shirt on your way out!

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is free, though the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary suggests a donation of $10. The sanctuary is open from sunrise until sundown every day, while the visitor’s center is open from 9:00am-5:00pm on weekdays.

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

The 90-mile-long Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail connects Key Largo to Key West. While you can use the trail as an alternative to driving between the Keys, it’s also a great place to bike, sightsee, or take a leisurely walk. There are even some paddling and fishing spots along the corridor!

When accessing the trail from Key Largo, start at MM 106. From here, the path stretches for 20 continuous miles, connecting to several state parks and sightseeing opportunities.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp State Park is an underwater park that’s home to the only living coral reef in the continental United States. You can explore the park by taking a snorkel tour, riding in a glass-bottom boat, or kayaking. If you’d rather stay dry, check out the 30,000-gallon aquarium at the Visitor’s Center!

The cost of your visit to this park will vary depending on which tickets you buy. Kayaks cost $12/hour, snorkeling tours cost $29.95/adult and $24.95/child, and scuba tours will set you back $75/person. All guests also have to pay an entrance fee of $8/vehicle or $2/pedestrian. Once you’re at the park, swimming in designated areas is free.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Walk through nature trails featuring over 80 protected species at this beautiful state park. Along the self-guided trail tour, you’ll find signs that talk about the birds, butterflies, and plants that thrive there throughout the year. If you’re into wildlife photography, don’t forget to bring your camera – snapping photos is one of the best reasons to visit this park!

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and the entrance fee is $2.50 per person. The trails are wheelchair accessible, and the park rangers are happy to provide tours if you call ahead.

Dolphins Plus Bayside

Also known as Dolphin Cove, this is the place to go to meet dolphins in Key Largo. Guests can book a wide variety of dolphin experiences, including a structured swim, shadowing a trainer, and helping a dolphin paint. After your once-in-a-lifetime encounter, you can meet some invertebrates at the new Touch Tank. Whether you want to get in the water or interact with the sea life from a platform, Dolphins Plus Bayside can accommodate you!

If you’re visiting Dolphins Plus Bayside with young kids (of if you’re pregnant), the Kissed by a Dolphin program is the best way to meet this attraction’s residents. Otherwise, be sure to read each program’s requirements before booking your experience. Each encounter varies in price, but the least expensive are the Kissed by a Dolphin and Painting with a Dolphin programs at $59/person and $80/person respectively.

Key Largo Parasail

Have you ever dreamed of going parasailing? Key Largo Parasail prides itself on rider safety, so new flyers can try the sport with confidence. You can also book packages that include jet ski rentals, yoga classes, and glass-bottom boat tours to fill your day with even more fun. Parasailing flights only last 8-10 minutes, but you’ll remember the adrenaline rush for years to come!

Parasail flights with Key Largo Parasail cost $75 for a single flyer or $65 per person for a tandem flyer. At least one flyer must be over 14 years old, and single flyers must weigh at least 180 pounds.

Miss Chief Fishing Charters

Even first-time fishers can enjoy themselves on Miss Chief’s air-conditioned charter boat. On your fishing excursion, you’ll head into waters teeming with the fish you’re hoping to catch – for a kid-friendly experience, choose a reef fishing tour. Bring a bagged lunch if you’re taking a full day or ¾ day trip!

While these charter boat trips start at $800 for a half-day journey, the trips are completely customizable. They also include your bait, licensing, gear, and tackle. When you catch a fish, the crew will even filet it for you.

Sundowners

This lively steakhouse on the beach offers a large menu of entrees, appetizers, and alcoholic beverages. Sometimes, you can catch a live musical performance as the sun sets around you, making Sundowners a perfect spot for a vacation date night. With burgers, sandwiches, and mac and cheese on the menu, your kids can eat here, too!

Our Place in Paradise

Admire the paintings, pottery, and other works on display at this art gallery in Key Largo! Our Place in Paradise features both local artists and artists from around the country, and you can bring their work home with you if you fall in love with a piece. Before your visit, check out their workshop calendar to see if any classes are being taught during your trip!

Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Café

Grab some fresh seafood from this top-notch market, or try some of their delicious café bites. All of the fish are processed on-site, so you can watch the lobster traps being set, catches being unloaded, and boats pulling in and out of the marina. When you buy food here, you know exactly where it’s coming from!

From animal encounters to strolls through the park, Key Largo has everything you need to create a dream Florida vacation. Even though it’s the closest Key to mainland Florida, you may not see a reason to venture further south. Once you visit, you’ll want to come back every year!

If you made the trip to Key Largo without the kids, there is an amazing adult-only resort that promises a majestic stay.

Bungalows Key Largo

Bungalows Key Largo is an all-inclusive adult only resort. Once you arrive the only thing you have to do is relax and enjoy. This bungalow style resort is in a botanical garden edged by the ocean, and is a few miles from the Gulf Stream. Included at the resort stay is drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), your meals (including fine dining experiences), any of the available water activities such as snorkeling and paddleboarding, fitness classes and in-town transportation. There are several pools onsite. All this luxury does come with a luxurious price tag though, rates start around $1000 per night.

Bungalows Key Largo is located at 99010 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037. You can call for reservations or questions at (866)-801-0195.

Have you been to Key Largo? What is one of your favorite things to do in Key Largo?

Make sure to visit Food Wine Sunshine for more Florida Family Fun and stay up to date with me Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

An Introduction to Burgundy Wines and Burgundy Wine Regions

November 29th, 2019January 5th, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

France produces many great wines from many outstanding wine regions. Learn more about Burgundy wines and the Burgundy Wine Regions.

The wines of Burgundy, France, can be traced to sixth-century monastic vintners. In Burgundy, thousands of growers produce small yields on tiny land parcels, the carefully managed vineyards produce great varieties of red and white wines.

The wines may be produced by the growers or by purchasers who blend and bottle under their own labels. Two kinds of grapes are used most often in burgundy wines: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Wine terminology is a mystery to many, the term Burgundy or Bordeaux tend to be considered as actual wine or grape types, when in fact they both refer to large wine regions in France. The Burgundy region is located a few hours southeast of Paris and continues south until the city of Lyon. There are predominate regions within Burgundy which are then divided into hundreds of appellations. Burgundy wines range from white to rosé and red and are most commonly made from the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes.

Burgundy Wine Regions

Chablis

Chablis is the northern most wine growing region in Burgundy and is famous for wines of of the same name ranging from Petit Chablis to Premier Cru and Grand Cru. Its white wine is one of the most famous in the world. Vineyards are located on the slopes of the River Serein. The Yonne valley in the Chablis region has been producing wine as far back as the 12th century, making the aging process indisputable for alteration. Chablis is produced singularly from Chardonnay grape producing a dry, crisp yet bold white wine that advances in quality as it ages in the bottle. The monks from the ancient Abbey of Pontigny planted the chardonnay grapes. They found advantage in the springtime cold of Chablis. They learned it would help yield the dry white wine.

Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune region in Burgundy is located between the towns of Ladoix in the North and Santenay in the south and boasts 5,000 hectares of vineyards. The village of Beaune is was the the ancient capital of Burgundy during the middle ages and remains as the political wine center of Burgundy today. The wines vary from “full, harmonious reds to great complex whites,” Burgundy Today reports. Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are planted. Here, wineries depend upon grapes raised hot summers and cold winters. Chardonnay in this district is aged in oak barrels to give it a rounder taste. The Côte de Beaune region produces some of the most famous white Burgundy including Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet. Red wines are mostly produced in the southern regions near Santenay and are lighter, more floral-scented and mature faster than the deep reds from the Côte de Nuits region.

I have been to Beaune and it was one of the most magical trips of my life!

Côte Chalonnaise

This wine-growing area offers wines from both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. There are 4,400 hectares of vineyards in the district. Chris Kissack, writing for the Wine Doctor, says that the region offers both red and white wines and produces them in a climate that is a microcosm of the whole of Burgundy.

Mâconnais is the most southerly area of Burgundy, located around the city of Mâcon. The wines are made to drink when they are still young. The chardonnay whites here are the best-known. The regional wines are predominately white made from the Chardonnay grape. The best known appellation in the Mâconnais region is Pouilly-Fuissé, a dry soft white wine. Wines from the region tend to be more affordable than most other Burgundy regions and are therefore one of the most consumed both in France and around the world.

Côte de Nuits

Moving south of Chablis in Burgundy is the region of Côte de Nuits. The region is located between the famous cities of Dijon and Nuits St. Georges and is long and very narrow, at some points as wide as 200 to 300 meters. The vineyards, too, are long and narrow. The Côte de Nuits region produces a variety of wines including whites produced from Chardonnay grapes and rosés and reds produced from Pinot Noir grapes. The region is most reputed for the deep red Pinot Noirs aged in oak barrels. The reds are deeply colored wines and have intense flavors. Three thousand hectares of Pinot Noir are planted in walled vineyards called clos. These are as old as 10th century. Here also are the 550 hectares of vines planted on the slopes of the Hautes-Côte de Nuits.

Beaujolais

The Beaujolais region, resting under the Côte de Beaune encompassing the villages of Mâcon to Lyon, predominately produces red wines made from the Gamay grape. Wines from the Beaujolais region tend to be light with high acidity and few tannins. Beaujolais is fruity and is meant to be consumed young; as such, it is among some of the least expensive and easily palatable red wines produced in France.

Côte Chalonnaise

South of Beaujolais is Côte Chalonnaise which is one of the largest regions in Burgundy resting between the towns of Chagny and Montagny. Côte Chalonnaise wines are predominately whites produced from Chardonnay grapes and reds produced from Pinot Noir, however, the region does produce Gamay and Aligoté for blending. The most famous Côte Chalonnaise wines are those produced in Mercurey, a small village to the north of the region. Mercurey reds are known for their full-bodied spiciness while the rare Mercurey whites are uncommonly meant to be consumed young.

Does red Burgundy still hold the lead in quality Pinot Noir?

For centuries the world looked to Burgundy and nowhere else for fine wines made from the Pinot Noir grape. Otherwise obscure village names became familiar, even sacred, to new world wine lovers. Names such as Chambertin, Corton, Vosne, Pommard, Meursault, Aloxe-Corton, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne. Wines from these villages and vineyards became among the world’s most sought after wines and prices soared.

Meanwhile, the rest of the wine growing world was playing catch-up. California was among the first regions to give the endeavor a try back in the 1960s, but with little success.

In the 70s certain vineyard sites and regions began to emerge as more likely than others to produce viable Pinot Noir fruit. These regions were cool by comparison and the most promising featured limestone soils (Chalone in the Gavilan Range, HMR west of Paso Robles). Good, but not great Pinot Noir wines began to emerge.

In the 80s we learned the importance of matching the right clones of Pinot Noir to specific vineyard sites. Pinot Noir is, perhaps, the world’s most mutable grape. There are 46 registered clones in France alone, compared to 34 Cabernet Sauvignon clones. It has mutated into Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio), and Auxerrois. Some contend that Chardonnay may be a distant relative.

In the late 90s and in the past few years we’ve seen a surge of success worldwide with this difficult varietal which the French have always considered their private province. New World winemakers have identified optimal vineyard sites, clones, and production techniques.

Have you been to Burgundy? France? Do you have a favorite French wine or California Pinot Noir?

Make sure to visit Food Wine Sunshine for more travel and wine tips and stay up to date with me Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The Magic of Disney at Christmas

November 21st, 2019December 21st, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Check out the things to see and do during the holidays at the Walt Disney World theme parks. Visiting the most magical place on Earth during the holidays is even more magical! Experience the Magic of Disney at Christmas. We’ll show you when to book, where to stay, and what to do during the holiday season to celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World. While I was hosted at one or more of the events listed below, all opinions and my love of Disney are my own.

The Magic of Disney at Christmas

Your favorite Disney theme parks deck the halls for Christmas, and some even have some special events to help you celebrate the holidays. If this is your first time, or your 100th time, visiting the Disney theme parks at Christmas you will not be disappointed. There is so much to see and do and who doesn’t want to celebrate the holidays with their favorite Disney characters? It’s almost time to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. We can’t think of a better place to do that than Walt Disney World. If you want to know how to celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll show you when to book where to stay and what to do during the holiday season.

So let’s just jump right in and talk about the decorations, special activities, and more at each of your favorite Disney theme parks here in Orlando Florida. Being such a short drive for us here in Tampa, we love to go over to Disney whenever we can, but I know many of you travel near and far to experience the magic of Disney at Christmas!

Seasonal Events at Walt Disney World

The main highlights of the holidays at Walt Disney World are Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a Magic Kingdom event which includes an exclusive holiday parade and Minnie Mouses brand new fireworks show; Festival of the Holidays, an Epcot experience that includes the Candlelight Processional, and various nighttime shows at the parks such as Awakenings at Animal Kingdom and Jingle Bell Jingle Bam!/Seasons Greetings at Hollywood Studios.

Animal Kingdom has new holiday enhancements this year including entertainment on Discovery Island. At Disney Springs there is a Christmas Tree Trail to explore, live entertainment and a Santa Claus meet and greet.

Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom is probably the most decorated of all of the theme parks and offers several spectacular Christmas events. Make sure that you walk down Main Street to enjoy all of the holiday cheer, it truly is a magical holiday transformation and at the end of Main Street, you will see the Cinderella Castle transformed.

Castle Dream Lights

Each night at dusk, Queen Elsa comes out to use her magical powers to turn the castle into a glistening ice castle featuring more than 200,000 white shimmering lights. This is the Castle Dream Lights show and while it is short and sweet, it is beautiful and if you have a Frozen princess of your own they will be in awe.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

On select nights in November and December, the Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The party features many of your favorite characters in their holiday best, special photo opportunities, special holiday-themed shows, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas parade, and free holiday treats around nearly every corner. This year’s party also includes Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show! The show is hosted by Minnie herself, and features many of your favorite holiday songs and is sure to leave you filled with Christmas spirit.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party does require additional tickets beyond just standard park admission, and the parties do sell out, especially the closer you get to Christmas. Tickets start at about $99 per person and you can purchase them for your desired night here. This year’s dates run from November 8th until December 22nd. If you would like to learn some tips to get the most out of your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party experience read my post.

Epcot

Epcot offers you the opportunity to explore holiday traditions from around the world. In addition to the beautiful international decorations, you can also get a taste of holiday meals, and stories and music from around the globe.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

This is one walk your kids are sure to enjoy! Pick up your Festival Passport and visit each of the five official cookie stroll locations. Cookies are around $2 each and once you have gotten all five stamps in your passport, be sure to stop by the Sweets & Treats Holiday Kitchen to receive a complimentary Santa Mickey Sugar cookie. You can read more about the cookie stroll and find a list of the official locations here.

Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season

This Joyful! musical celebration of the season incorporates R&B, Gospel, and holiday-themed songs. There are several performances each day on the Fountain stage at Future World. This energetic and moving show is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

International Festival of the Holidays

This festival is reminiscent of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival held each year, but with a seasonal twist. You do not have to purchase additional tickets to participate in the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Pick up your festival passport at the park entrance so that you can see where the thirteen holiday kitchens are located this year and what each of them will be serving.

This is your opportunity to taste holiday cuisine from around the world all in one place. The portion sizes for the International Festival of the Holidays are nearly full entree-sized, so you may want to visit several of the holiday kitchens and share a portion of the delicious offerings available. This year’s International Festival of Holidays begins on November 29th and runs through December 30th.

Story Tellers

All of the eleven countries featured at Epcot have storytellers that share some of the holiday traditions of the country that they represent. The storytimes are staggered throughout the day so that guests can have the opportunity to see them all. Here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect:

China: Performers ring in the Chinese New Year with a dance.
Germany: Helga tells the story of the first Nutcracker.
United Kingdom: Father Christmas tells all about holiday traditions in the United Kingdom.
Japan: A doll maker tells the story of the Daruma doll.
Italy: La Benafa tells of how Italians celebrate Epiphany.
The American Adventure: Listen to stories of Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hannukah, and Kwanza.
Norway: Sigrid offers up humorous stories of a mischievous Christmas gnome named Julenissen.
Mexico: A mariachi band and dancers share how they celebrate Fiesta de Navidad.
France: Pere Noel reads a letter about the magic of Christmas time from a little girl.
Canada: Here the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs tell visitors about how the holidays are celebrated in the great white North.
Morocco: Here a multi-cultural storyteller talks about holiday celebrations in this part of the world.

Chip and Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree

Purchase a map at one of the gift shops and then look around Epcot and see how many hidden ornaments that you can find. Mark the ones that you find with stickers on your map, and if you find all of them take it back to where you purchased the map for a special surprise. Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy the hunt!

Candlelight Processional

This is probably the holiday event that Epcot is most known for. Each night during the International Festival of the Holidays, November 29 through December 30, a celebrity narrator tells the Biblical story of Christmas. There is a full choir and a 50 piece orchestra performing along with the narration. The performance is held each night at the American Gardens Theater at 5 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:15 pm. You do not need an additional ticket for this performance. heck out the list of the celebrity narrators scheduled.

Candlelight Processional Dining package

If you would like a guaranteed seat at the Candlelight Processional, you may want to consider purchasing the Candlelight Processional Dining Package. You can purchase a package for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and have the peace of mind knowing that you have a guaranteed seat for the show later on. All dining packages include an appetizer, entree, and dessert, or a full buffet. Read more about the dining packages and find information about making reservations.

Epcot Forever

Epcot Forever is the new nightly fireworks, music, and laser spectacular that is held each evening at 10 pm. This new show is meant to pay homage to the past, present, and future of Epcot. Starting with a single spark of imagination and evolving into a dazzling display of lights and sounds that illuminate the night sky and celebrate where Epcot is today. There are also a few unique holiday additions and songs that are added to the display as the holiday season approaches.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This year there are some big changes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the holiday season. So let’s talk a little bit about what you will see!

Discovery Island

As you cross the bridge onto Discovery Island you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of a winter wonderland. Handcrafted decorations from their resident artists are everywhere and life-sized animal puppets including polar bears, and reindeer move through the island during the day and guests are welcome to interact with them. Once the sun sets the puppets head to bed, and the beautiful animal inspired luminaries and wire-framed bird-shaped lanterns are lit.

Asia

The residents of Anandapur have decorated the theater district with lanterns, glowing flowers, and other decorations to celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. The decorations, and performances give you an authentic taste of the culture and celebration.

DinoLand U.S.A.

Don’t forget to check out DinoLand U.S.A. because Donald Duck and all of his friends are ready to celebrate Christmas and they even picked out the decorations for their Dino Bash themselves. If you are there in the evening make sure to head over to the “Truck-o-saurus” for the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party and while you are there keep your eyes peeled for Chip and Dale. They will be hard to miss because they are wearing dinosaur costumes, with Christmas costumes on top of that!

Pandora- The World of Avatar

The expats who live on Pandora millions of miles away from home have decided to bring a little bit of Christmas into their lives. Look around, especially at the garland overhead to see what handcrafted décor they have made to help celebrate.

Tree Of Life Awakenings

Beginning about 30 minutes after sunset, and lasting until the park closes each evening the Tree of Life has Awakenings. These Awakenings consist of stories of winter and a lovely holiday-inspired musical score. As you watch the stories you may see some familiar animals from the Merry Menagerie puppet show as well. This is an inspiring way to end a visit to the Animal Kingdom.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is brimming with Christmas cheer too, with decorations and lights just as soon as you hit the entry gates. Once you enter the park you will see Hollywood Boulevard is all decked out for Christmas. There are many seasonal treats to be found throughout the park and many of your favorite characters are wearing holiday attire. Don’t forget to go see Santa in the back of the Once Upon a Time Store.

Sunset Season’s Greetings

The Sunset Season’s Greeting show starts around sunset each night on Sunset Boulevard and plays about every 15 minutes or so. There are projections, lasers, animated billboards, music, and even snow! The projections transform the Tower of Terror into the Hollywood Toy Hotel, and even a huge gingerbread house.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam is the show Hollywood Studios puts on at the end of the night on the Center Stage, but at this time of year it is holiday-themed with music, lasers, and projections, fireworks, and yes, even more, snow!

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Dessert Party

If you would like the guarantee of a great seat for the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam show and you have a sweet tooth you might want to consider a reservation to the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Dessert Party. While it is billed as a dessert party there are many filling appetizers as well, and of course, delicious holiday desserts. You will even get to mingle with a VIP holiday Disney character. This year the party will be held in a new location near the Echo lake and the huge Christmas tree there. Make reservations and learn more about the party.

As you can see, Disney has a LOT to offer as the holiday season approaches. All of the Disney parks get into the Christmas spirit and make an already fun-filled day even more magical. If you head to any of these Disney parks during the holidays it is sure to provide memories that last for a lifetime!

Holiday Extras at Walt Disney World

There are more ways to celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World, with a little more room in your budget. You can partake in the dessert party for Minnie’s fireworks or any of the other parks’ dessert parties. You can indulge in hard ticket festival events at Epcot, and you can even buy in-room celebrations from Disney Floral and Gifts.

When you are done visiting the Walt Disney World Parks, don’t forget that all the Walt Disney World Resorts are also decorated for the holidays! It’s completely free to ride the monorails from resort to resort, and the Christmas decorations are always magical. Would you expect anything less from Walt Disney World?!

Check out the Ultimate Disney Monorail Resorts Holiday Tour

And if you happen to be staying at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground over the holidays, make sure to take advantage of all the Christmas celebrations going on at the campground!

The Best Holiday Activities at Fort Wilderness Campground

When to Book for Holidays at Walt Disney World

The holiday season at Walt Disney World officially begins in early November. However, there are some other dates to consider for the full effect of this extra magical time of year. Festival of the Holidays and the Candlelight Processional come to Epcot on November 29. They run through to December 30. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom ends on December 22. The best times to visit Walt Disney World during the holidays are during the opening weeks of December, excluding weekends. However, if you are primarily interested in Mickey’s Magic Kingdom party, you would do well to attend earlier in November in order to shave a little bit off the ticket price and enjoy fewer crowds.

Where to Stay for Holidays at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World has plenty of gorgeous resort hotels to book during your holiday stay. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is an exemplary choice as it invokes the feeling of Christmas with its rustic architectural design, a warm hearth, and wooded surroundings. The holiday decor in the lobby further enhances the spirit of Christmas.

Other Deluxe resorts may be less prone to Christmas vibes, but go all out on decor. a prime example is the Grand Floridian, which is one of the most extravagantly festooned of all Disney resort hotels. The lobby traditionally displays a gigantic gingerbread house, which is an attraction unto itself. A temporary shop near the display sells holiday treats throughout the season. At Crescent Lake, you can enjoy the unique personalities of three seaside hotels each offering a distinct style of holiday decor.
You can be close to the holiday hustle and bustle of Disney Springs while enjoying a secluded reprieve in one of the more charming resorts, such as Port Orleans Riverside, or the Disney Vacation Club Villas at Old Key West, for larger family gatherings.

Have you been to the Disney at Christmas? Which Disney Park decorations and celebrations are your favorite?

Check out Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more fun things to do in Florida, recipes, and more.
Some of the above pictures are courtesy of Walt Disney World.

No Spoiler Frozen 2 Movie Review

November 20th, 2019November 20th, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Get ready to join Anna and Elsa on a dangerous journey to find out more about the past and secrets. Get ready to sing, smile and cry during Frozen 2. While I was able to attend a press screening of Frozen 2, all opinions are my own.

No Spoiler Frozen 2 Movie Review

When you think of Disney Princess sequels, do you love them all? I know that there are some out there that we weren’t totally impressed with, but Frozen 2 will melt your heart. While the setting itself is a bit darker, not just the story, but the actual visuals, you will still find yourself smiling, humming along, and deciding which songs will forever be stuck in your head.

Disney weaved together another unforgettable story that will touch the hearts of young and old in Frozen 2. The relatable characters (the ones we already know and love plus some new ones) reflected qualities that we all struggle with. They had the humor, romance, reflection of human impact, and the music. The unforgettable music. The music is definitely a very large part of this movie, and it’s incredible. But would you expect anything else for the Frozen sequel? Aren’t we all still singing Let It Go? 6 years later. Frozen 2 will pull at your heart strings as you see the adventure unravel and new characters emerge. Elsa and Anna will face epic challenges that will test their strength and bond.

And while you are getting sucked into a beautiful, yet challenging tale that only Disney can tell, be sure to appreciate the incredible animation. Be a part of Elsa’s ice powers and feel like you are walking the nature landscapes of Arendelle. Oh and the dresses, be aware parents, little girls everywhere are going to want these!

In true Disney fashion they had so many underlying themes that parents will love and appreciate. If you and your child loved Frozen, you will indeed love Frozen 2.

Frozen 2 | Official Trailer 2

If you couldn’t tell from the trailers, Frozen 2 is a bit darker, Elsa and Anna are working on uncovering family secrets and diving deeper into Elsa’s powers; why does she have them, what can she do with them. But it’s still a heart-warming family movie.

From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—and featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2019.

Will you be seeing Frozen 2 in theaters? What is one of your favorite Disney movies?

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What Causes Bubbles In Champagne?

November 20th, 2019February 13th, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Would you like a glass of champagne? There is nothing quite like a glass of bubbly. But what actually causes the bubbles in champagne? Learn now! Cheers!

What Causes Bubbles In Champagne?

Champagne. Not so much sparkling wine as a luxury force of nature. We all know that champagne bottles open with a bit of a pop and that the golden liquid within the bottle tends to be a bit lively and full of bubbles, to say the least. But where do those bubbles come from? What are the causes of bubbles in champagne?

Champagne’s fizz is caused by a two-stage fermentation process. A still wine is produced and finished in the normal way. Prior to bottling, however, a few grams of yeast and a few grams of sugar are added. This then causes a secondary fermentation process while the wine is stored, during which carbon dioxide is produced.

Anyone who has ever opened a bottle of coke will know that carbonated beverages tend to have a few bubbles in, although they rarely open with the same fearsome pressure as a champagne bottle unless someone has been shaking it. But then most carbonated beverages do not have yeast in as well to liven things up with a spot of alcohol. It is the fact that the secondary fermentation occurs after the bottle has been sealed that gives champagne its legendary effervescence.

But hang on. After the initial pop and froth (if you have opened the champagne bottle incorrectly) and poured the first glass, although there are bubbles galore in the champagne flute, an observant drinker will notice that there are virtually no bubbles visible through the thick green glass of the champagne bottle itself. Why would this be?

Simply, champagne bottles are sterile until the wine is added. Champagne glasses, however, are different beasts, full of fibers from being washed and dried over the years, full of imperceptible flaws in the glass, and often carefully etched by manufacturers. The tiny points of imperfection in the glass, whether they are caused by fibers or etching, act as nucleation points for the bubbles, which then trail vigorously up to the surface of the liquid to provide that trademark champagne fizz.

So, uniquely among your glassware, next time you are washing up the champagne flutes, you ought not to worry too much if there are a few threads from your dishcloth lingering at the bottom of each glass. It might not look classy, but it will add to the effect of the next slosh of champagne that pours into the slender container.

Do you like champagne? Did you know what causes bubbles in champagne?

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Holiday Traditions from Around the World

November 20th, 2019November 5th, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to celebrate the holidays in another country? Many holiday traditions are similar but not exactly the same as ours, enjoy these Holiday Traditions from Around the World.

Holiday Traditions from Around the World

The holiday season is about to begin! For people all over the world, the winter holidays remind us of great food, family, and our favorite holiday traditions. Every winter holiday is filled with nostalgic traditions that bring us together, but some are specific to certain regions of the world. Every culture has their own take on these beloved holidays, but many people are only familiar with their own country and culture’s ways of celebrating.

Let’s take a (virtual) trip around the world to learn about holiday traditions from outside of the United States and Canada. If you have any roots to the countries in this post, incorporate these traditions into your festivities this year!

Hogmanay in Scotland

The song, Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve in Scotland, as well as in other English-speaking countries. During the Scottish end-of-the-year celebration of Hogmanay, party-goers join hands and sings the tune to reflect on the importance of nostalgia and old friends. While you’re most likely to hear the song on New Year’s Eve in Scotland and England, it’s also played at weddings and graduations.

Another important Hogmanay tradition is “first-footing.” A person at a Scottish Hogmanay party is chosen to take the first steps into the host’s home – typically, a tall, dark-haired man. The first person to enter a host’s home at the start of a new year is considered to be bringing good luck into the household. Although the first-footer can be the party’s host, they must be outside at the stroke of midnight – walking outside and then back in doesn’t count as first-footing!

Sankt Nikolaus and Krampus in Germany

In Germany, Saint Nicholas is seen as even more important than Santa Claus! On Sankt Nikolaus Tag (Saint Nicholas Day), children clean and polish boots before placing them outside. In the morning, they’ll find small gifts and candies in their boots. German schools and Christmas markets also acknowledge the holiday, which falls on December 6^th.

Unfortunately for the naughty kids in Germany, Sankt Nikolaus has a mean sidekick: Krampus the Christmas demon. On Krampus Nacht (the night before Sankt Nikolaus Tag), parents would invite men dressed as Krampus into their homes to teach their misbehaved children a lesson. Nowadays, intoxicated men dressed up as Krampus simply chase unsuspecting people during an event known as Krampuslauf. The first week of December gets kids and adults into the Christmas spirit!

Las Posadas in Mexico

December 16^th marks the first day of Las Posadas, the 9-day Christmas celebration in Mexico. The ninth night is Christmas Eve, which is then followed by a midnight mass. The first 8 nights include pinatas filled with small gifts and candy for children. In some parts of Mexico, two children lead parades with family and neighbors as they go door-to-door seeking shelter. After singing and asking neighbors for a place to stay, a homeowner will agree to host the parade. As a token of gratitude, the children place figurines of Mary and Joseph in the host’s nativity scene, and everyone enjoys a feast at the host’s house.

A typical midnight mass in Mexico includes fireworks and church bells, and kids can expect Santa to leave them gifts at this time. It’s truly a celebration!

Hanukkah in Turkey

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights. The 8-night-long celebration includes candle lightings, greasy food, and sometimes gift giving. Contrary to popular belief, Hanukkah is not the Jewish version of Christmas. In fact, it’s actually considered a minor holiday! This holiday is celebrated worldwide, including in countries where Jewish populations are still oppressed.

While Judaism is most commonly associated with Israel, Jewish holidays are celebrated all over the world. Turkey acted as a sanctuary country for Sephardic Jews fleeing oppression in Spain. To honor their Spanish origin, Sephardic Jews in Istanbul sing a traditional song called Ocho Kandelikas. The song is sung in the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) dialect commonly used by Sephardic Jews. Greasy food is still a Hanukkah staple in Turkey, but some fried foods are given a Spanish twist.

Christmas in Kenya

Kenya’s climate doesn’t allow for snow on Christmas, so storeowners in Kenyan cities will place fake snow outside. Similarly, Santa can’t arrive by reindeer – after all, those are cold weather animals. Instead, Santa visits Kenya using other means of transportation, whether it be a camel, bike, or even a Land Rover. Kenyans don’t let their climate stop them from celebrating this winter holiday!

There will typically be a large Christmas meal, called the nyama choma. At this meal, people bring homemade bear, tribe-specific dishes, and barbequed meats. After the midnight mass, Kenyans spend the night caroling and partying. There’s oftentimes a morning Christmas service for those who couldn’t attend the midnight one, but you’re likely to be sleeping in after being up all night!

Shogatsu in Japan

This Japanese New Year celebration is the country’s most important holiday. Since each new year is considered a fresh start from the previous, all important tasks are handled before January 1^st. Throughout December, people attend bonenkai parties to forget about the year that’s coming to an end. Between January 1^st and 3^rd, millions of people visit shrines and temples, like the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Most importantly, shogatsu is meant to be a stress-free holiday. This means many businesses in Japan aren’t open for these few days.

Although some shogatsu traditions are becoming less popular, people still send out New Year’s cards to loved ones. They’re postmarked to be delivered on January 1^st, and some people send out dozens of cards!

La fête des Rois in France

On January 6^th, you can find street parades in France to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings. Bakeries in Paris (and the rest of France) typically sell flat, round pastries with a gold crown on top to represent the kings. The Epiphany is a day that people regardless of religion look forward to every year in France, since these pastries are delicious.

There are also quite a few French proverbs associated with Epiphany, many of which talk about the importance of snow during the holiday. In English, you may hear “Snow at Epiphany, the barns will be full” or “If the weather is clear on the night of Epiphany, the stream will be dry in summer.” It’s even more important to have a white Epiphany than it is for Americans to have a white Christmas!

Boxing Day in England

The day after Christmas is seen as an extension to the holiday in England. People typically take the day off from work, or they’re not required to come in. If Boxing Day falls on a weekend, the labor force doesn’t miss out on the day off – that Monday is then considered a public holiday, too!

Like the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, Boxing Day involves spending time with your family and some shopping. People also play sports on December 26^th, like football and rugby. It’s a fun holiday for everyone, even those who don’t celebrate Christmas!

No matter where you look, holiday traditions around the world have one thing in common: they bring people together. From religious services to parties to meals, every country finds a way to gather around loved ones for the winter holidays. Despite each country’s differences in food, activities, and the holidays that get celebrated, our Decembers and Januarys look more alike than we may have previously thought.

If you don’t have the budget to travel the world, but still want to experience holiday traditions from around the world, head to Walt Disney World here in Orlando Florida! Experience the magic of Christmas at Disney.

Have you ever celebrated the holidays in another part of the world?

If you aren’t able to travel the world to experience the different holidays traditions, Epcot here in Florida celebrates the holiday traditions from around the world. The cost to celebrate is just the price of your admission ticket and travel to Walt Disney World. Which is a tad cheaper than flying all over the world 😉

Make sure to visit Food Wine Sunshine for more fun things to do and travel tips and stay up to date with me Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

November 19th, 2019September 16th, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

This Homemade Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup will definitely warm you up. This soup recipe is a comforting meal that is easy to make and is full of flavor. While this post is sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, all opinions and the recipe are my own.

Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

There is nothing quite like a nice warm bowl of soup to help fight away the winter chills. I may live in Florida, but we get still cold! In fact, today it’s in the 60s and just about everyone I see is in jackets and sweatshirts. Including me 😉 So a nice warm bowl of soup is exactly what sounded good to me.

Soup is not only a comfort food, but it warms you from the inside out, making you just feel better overall.

With the holidays quickly approaching, I am guessing that just about everyone will have some leftover turkey that they would like to use in a delicious and creative recipe. Well, this creamy turkey and wild rice soup is it. It is ready in less than an hour, making this homemade soup recipe an option for an easy weeknight meal too.

You need minimal ingredients to make this easy turkey and wild rice soup rice, actually you may have many of them in your pantry and refrigerator. In fact, you may be able to use some other leftovers from that big turkey dinner.

You will need chicken broth, water, long grain rice, vegetables, salt, pepper, flour and milk. The milk is what will make this easy soup recipe deliciously creamy. I used skim milk, but you can feel free to use what you have in the refrigerator.

I used leftover turkey, and the flavor was perfect, but if you have leftover chicken or ham, go ahead and try it! Just make sure to come back and let me know what you thought. I am thinking they would both be a tasty variation.

This Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice soup quickly became a favorite in my house, dare I say that it reminds me of the creamy chicken and wild rice soup at Panera. Yes, I do dare 😉 In fact, my husband told me it was better! Talk about a compliment.

Hungry yet? Good.

Here is my comforting Turkey and Wild Rice Soup recipe. Be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

This Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup is the perfect way to use some Thanksgiving leftovers! Easy to make and absolutely delicious, make this soup recipe all season long!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Course: Lunch/Dinner, Soup

Keyword: comfort food, easy recipe, soup, turkey

Servings:

Calories: 156kcal

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Stove

Ingredients

1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic - minced
¾ cup diced celery
¾ cup diced carrots
½ cup diced mushrooms
2 cups diced/shredded turkey - leftovers work perfectly
1 box quick cook long grain wild rice
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
2 cups milk - I used skim
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
7 tbsp butter

US Customary - Metric

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a large pot over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in 1 tbsp of butter.
Once the onions start to get translucent add in the carrots, celery and mushrooms.
While the vegetables are cooking, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour.
Stir in contents of rice seasoning packet into the saucepan with the melted butter (NOT the rice).
Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by adding 1- 2 tablespoons at a time, to form a roux.
Whisk in milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until warm, 5 minutes.
Pour the broth, water and turkey into the larger pot with the vegetables. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice.
Stir the milk mixture into broth and vegetables. Cook over medium heat until heated through and the rice and vegetables are tender.
Enjoy!

Notes

This soup is delicious with a nice chunk of bread, or serve it in a bread bowl!

Nutrition

I hope you enjoy this Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup as much as we do!

Looking for a way to make this soup over-the-top? Serve it up in a bread bowl with the Hallmark Channel on. Talk about the ultimate cozy night in. Speaking of the Hallmark Channel, am I the only one out there that watches Christmas movies the moment they come on? I swear, I am addicted, and I don’t care how many reruns I have seen!

Have you made soup from scratch before? What is your favorite soup recipe?

Looking for a delicious cocktail recipe to keep you warm this season as well? This Creamy Butterscotch Martini may be served cold, but it is guaranteed to still warm ya up.

Creamy Butterscotch Martini

Be sure to check out Florida Milk for more dairy-licious recipes and follow on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

And while you are at it, check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow on me Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more FOOD WINE AND SUNSHINE.

Top Things To Do In Savannah For Under $10

November 18th, 2019April 4th, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

There are so many things to do and see in Savannah Georgia. Whether you are planning a stayaction, solo adventure or family vacation to this historic Southern City, be sure to add these affordable things to do in Savannah to your travel agenda.

Top Things To Do In Savannah for families

Top Things to do in Savannah for Under $10

Vacationers looking for a charming city to visit should strongly consider Savannah, Georgia. Savannah’s attractions are calmer than what you’d find in New Orleans, but less expensive than what Charleston has to offer. The coastal city is known for its beautiful public parks and antebellum architecture, making this a relaxing destination for all who visit. It’s also home to the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts organization. Low’s birthplace drives Girl Scouts from across the country to Savannah, so there are many attractions geared towards youth. Savannah is about 5 hours from Tampa, making it a fun road trip destination for us that live in Florida.

The first time I was in Savannah was a few years ago, I ran the Rock n Roll Half Marathon and the rest of my family did the 5k thanks to the Southeast Toyota family. Talk about an incredible way to see the city! Running through the historic streets of Savannah was absolutely beautiful. Actually the whole race was pretty darn incredible, from the people to the music to the concert series. We saw Fitz and the Tantrums…they really made our hands clap 😉

Here are things to do in Savannah for under $10, they offer an authentic Savannah experience without sending you over your vacation budget. Save your hard-earned money for the hotel and all that delicious food while you enjoy this Southern city on a budget!

River Street

The galleries and boutiques that line River Street used to house cotton warehouses. A scenic stroll on the cobblestone road will reveal historically significant structures, like the World War II monument and the Olympic Cauldron. Once you’ve browsed the shops and galleries, watch the ship sail by on the Savannah River!

River Street hosts festivals throughout the year, like the Savannah Bacon Festival and Christmas on the River. If you’ll be in town for an event, stop by and grab some food samples!

Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park is Savannah’s hotspot for events, recreation, and sightseeing. Within the park, you’ll find the Forsyth fountain, one of Savannah’s most recognizable landmarks. The 150-year-old fountain is a great spot for photos, which is why it’s often used as a backdrop for engagement photoshoots. If you’re lucky, you might catch a free movie or concert in the park. Even if no events are taking place in Forsyth Park, it’s an ideal place to relax or walk around.

If you’ll be in Savannah on a Saturday, check out the weekly farmer’s market that’s held in the park. This event only showcases local food, unlike other markets that also feature retail vendors. If you use EBT/SNAP benefits to purchase food, they’ll double your money!

Foxy Loxy Café

Head to this coffee shop/Tex-Mex restaurant hybrid for live music every Tuesday night, or join them on a Saturday for a fire pit. All of Foxy Loxy’s eat-in items cost under $10, including their cheese boards for just $6. Happy hour is from 5:00pm-8:00pm on weekdays. During that timeframe, lattes and Lone Stars are just $2 each!

Foxy Loxy Café hosts clubs and events regularly. Many of their events, such as their “Stich and Bitch” craft meetups are free.

Things To Do In Savannah Visit the Candy Kitchen

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

Located on Historic River Street this candy store has everything from pecans to pralines to taffy and much more. Feel free to ask for free samples of caramel corn, pralines and even nuts as you walk through this four-room candy-lovers paradise.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Savannah’s iconic cathedral is visible from the city skyline. Its 81 stained glass windows make the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist incredibly photogenic, which is why the staff offers donation-based tours of the building. For a suggested $3 per adult, you can see the active church’s artworks and learn about its history. There’s a reason why this cathedral has been dubbed the “Sistine of the South!”

Tours are not given on holidays or during religious services, including mass.

Leopold’s Ice Cream

This ice cream shop in Savannah has been a treasured dessert hotspot since 1919. Their rich flavors include classics and more unique creations, with tributes to local businesses and landmarks. While some of Leopold’s flavors are always available, others are seasonal exclusives. If you’re travelling with a Girl Scout in March or April, stop in for a scoop of Thin Mints & Cream!

A single scoop of ice cream costs $4.50. A child’s size is available for $2.95, as well as a hand-packed pint for $9.25.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery is a beautiful place to visit on a sunny afternoon. The 100-acre property is filled with flowers and greenery, along with monuments for many interesting people. Confederate soldiers, United States veterans, and those killed in the Spanish-American War are buried throughout the site.

The Bonaventure Historical Society provides free guided tours of the burial grounds at designated times. You can also download an app to guide you through the cemetery.

Cluskey Vaults

You will find these brick vaults on Factors Walk, right off of River Street. They have been there since 1842 and are said to have been used for stores, tombs and storage locations. You are able to walk through them and imagine what it was used for over 150 years ago. Some stay that they were used to hold slaves, but that has never been proven. Until recently, they were actually used for parking! The Cluskey Embankment Stores are one of the oldest historical structures still owned by the City of Savannah, predating City Hall, Police Headquarters, and the Thomas Gamble Building.

Ghost Coast Distillery

Take a free guided tour of a vodka distillery in Savannah. The 40-minute experience is family friendly, and includes a video presentation. Learn about Savannah’s alcohol history while discovering how Ghost Coast makes their drinks. Guests above the legal drinking age can sample some cocktails in the taproom, too!

If you like the drinks on tap, you can purchase bottles at the distillery. Take a taste of Savannah home with you!

Wormsloe Historic Site

Oak trees and Spanish moss surround this colonial estate that is used as a historical reenactment site. A museum on site displays artifacts from before the American Revolution, including some information on Georgia’s history. Walk along the interpretive trail to find the Colonial Life Area, where costumed actors sometimes partake in roleplay-type events.

Admission fees for the Wormsloe Historic Site are $10 per adult, $9 for seniors, $4.50 for youth ages 6-17, and $2 for children under 6.

Old Fort Jackson

This historical site will take you back to the early 1800’s, when the brick fort was used for military purposes. You’ll learn about what life was like for soldiers at that time, military communication, and drills. Make sure you visit while they’re firing the cannon!

Admission to Old Fort Jackson is $9 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-12.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Check out the antique ships and paintings depicting maritime life from centuries ago. Each replica tells a unique story about Savannah’s maritime history, with all models built to the same scale to give guests an idea of how large each ship was compared to the others. The museum has private gardens on site – they’re among the largest in Savannah!

Adults can visit the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum for $9. Students, military, and seniors enter for $7, while children under 5 enter for free.

If you are visiting over the holidays, be sure to check out the Boat Parade of Lights. There are over 40 boats that are all decorated for the holidays with lights and more to help bring in holiday cheer! The boats go up and down the river and you will notice all sorts of decorations along each side of the river. There isn’t a bad spot to view the Boat Parade of Lights…as long as you are by the water, and it’s completely free to watch!

We did one of the Haunted Ghost Tours while we are in Savannah, while it wasn’t under $10 is was definitely an unique way to learn more about this historic town.

Savannah is filled with beauty and history that’s waiting to be explored. Spending a few days in this quintessential city will give you a taste of Southern life. Whether you’re intrigued by the classy lifestyles or Confederate military history, Savannah has affordable attractions that’ll keep you coming back to Georgia for more!