Blog

Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

February 7th, 2017January 22nd, 2021

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

These Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders are the perfect addition to your Game Day menu! Tangy with a bit of heat, they are definitely a crowd pleaser. I am a proud CK Mondavi Ambassador, while this post is sponsored, my love for the wines and this recipe are 100% my own.

Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

When I think Game Day, I automatically think of Game Day appetizers. Delicious fingers foods that keep everyone coming back for more. All my friends and family love my Buffalo Chicken Dip, but I wanted to make something a bit more. Same familiar flavor profile, but better. So, I came up with this Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe. Tangy blue cheese, a kick with the hot sauce, and a crunch from the blue cheese broccoli sauce make these Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders a hit for Game Day…or any day 😉

I will admit it’s been awhile since I have made meatballs from scratch, I had forgotten how easy it was! You have to be willing to get your hands a bit messy, but you will have some outstanding meatballs before you know it.

For these healthy buffalo chicken meatballs, you only need a few ingredients, some seasonings, some onion, breadcrumbs and an egg. You simply mix it all together and roll your meatballs. I placed mine on a cooling rack for baking, if you don’t have one, be sure to use parchment paper or spray your baking sheet.

Once your chicken meatballs are prepped, toss them into the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, be sure they are cooked throughout.

While they are baking, make the hot sauce. To make the hot sauce for your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs you simply pour in the remainder of the hot sauce, 3 tablespoons of butter, and 2 tablespoons of CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc into a large pan. Bring the mixture up to a simmer. Since prepping the sauce only takes a minute or two, this is also a good time to make the blue cheese slaw for the sliders. Just add low-fat blue cheese dressing to your broccoli slaw until your desired creaminess is achieved. I don’t like super-soupy slaw, so I used less than half a jar, but you can do what works for you.

When the chicken meatballs are ready, you will add them to the sauce pan.

Be sure to coat each chicken meatball with that spicy saucy goodness!

Place the lid on and keep the temperature on low until you are ready to serve.

Assembling your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with blue cheese Sliders is easy, just cut your rolls in half and top with the prepped slaw and one deliciously spicy chicken meatball. Bam! So good. You can drizzle on extra sauce or even add some blue cheese crumbles if you would like.

Now, here’s my Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders Recipe, be sure to Print and Pin the recipe so that you can make them again and again.

Print Recipe

4.84 from 6 votes

Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

These Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders are the perfect addition to your Game Day menu! Tangy with a bit of heat, they are definitely a crowd pleaser.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Total Time40

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Keyword: appetizers, chicken, easy appetizer, game day, meatballs, spicy

Servings:

Calories: 173kcal

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Stove
Oven

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Chicken Meatballs

2 pounds ground chicken
1 egg
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp your favorite all purpose seasoning - I used Dust by VooDoo Chef
1/2 cup diced onion - I used red onion white would be fine as well
1 1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tsp wing/hot sauce - I used Frank's Original RedHot
2 oz crumbled blue cheese

Ingredients for the Buffalo Sauce

11 oz Frank's Original RedHot The remainder of the 12 oz. bottle of wing/hot sauce
2 tbsp CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc
3 tbsp butter

Ingredients for Blue Cheese Broccoli Slaw

10 oz Broccoli Slaw 1 bag
8 oz Lite Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

For serving

30 Party Rolls/Slider Rolls - I used the potato variety

US Customary - Metric

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Grease cookie/baking sheet or line with parchment paper or use cooling rack on top of cookie sheet

Instructions for Chicken Meatballs

Place all the ingredients into a medium to large size bowl
Using your hands gently mix all the ingredients together
Once the chicken mixture is well blended, use your hands to form 1 - 1.5 inch meatballs
Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet
Bake for 20 mins or until cooked throughout

Instructions for the Buffalo Sauce

While the meatballs are baking, add the remainder (approx 12 oz) of the wing/hot sauce, the butter, and CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc to a large pan
Stir and bring to a simmer

Instructions for the Blue Cheese Slaw

Combine the Broccoli Slaw and a half bottle of the Lite Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing (more if you prefer) in a medium bowl, refrigerate until ready to serve

Preparation Instructions

Once the meatballs are covered throughout, add them to the large pan with the sauce
Stir well to make sure each meatball is thoroughly coated in the buffalo sauce
Cover until ready to serve
Once ready to serve, cut the party rolls in half
Top each roll with the blue cheese broccoli slaw and a chicken meatball
Add more blue cheese crumbles and buffalo sauce if desired
Enjoy with the open bottle of CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc!

Nutrition

I hope you enjoy these Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders as much as we do!

The spicy sauce and tangy blue cheese all on a bun make these a winning appetizer for any gathering. And since you have that bottle of CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc open because we added to the sauce, I recommend pairing this Game Day appetizer with the rest of the bottle, of course! I love Sauvignon Blanc because it’s an easy drinking wine and pairs well with almost any food which is why its goes great with appetizers. So, it’s perfect to pair with these sliders and anything else you may be serving up!

What are some of your favorite Game Day eats? Chips? Dips? Pizza? We love those too!

CK Mondavi is the perfect game-day wine as it has amazing quality for the price. Here are two more suggestions to add to your wine menu for game-day (or any day!), Pinot Grigio and Moscato. Pinot Grigio is bright with balanced acid and pairs well with seafood, chicken and light sauces. It’s one of my favorite wines in the summer! If you like sweet wines, then Moscato is for you. It is a sweet and juicy wine and pairs well with spicy foods or fruit.

Which CK Mondavi Wines will you be serving with your Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders?

Learn more about CK Mondavi by checking them out online, and following on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

In fact, be sure to check out all the recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie Recipe

February 2nd, 2017February 1st, 2022

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

This Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and protein. Perfect for after workouts or to start your day.

Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie Recipe

It’s February and this is the first smoothie recipe I have posted this year. My morning smoothie is the last step in my “routine” that made me feel like I was officially “back on track.” Between a vacation last Fall, then the holidays, January needed to be a “Back on Track” month for me. Then, I tore the meniscus in my knee. Fabulous. Just fabulous. After a good week of not being able to walk right, I got off my bum and got to the gym. I feared that running and Jazzercise would mess up my knee again, and since it’s not 100%, I really want to be careful.

So, I am back to working about just about daily, and watching more of what I eat. And that means it’s time to get my body back on track with my smoothies. A smoothie is the easiest way to get in a huge dose of fruits and vegetables in one delicious meal. Add in some of the spices I have listed below and protein powder and you got yourself a Protein Packed Power Smoothie.

Here is everything I have in my Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie and why I selected each ingredient. As you can see, each item packs a nutritious punch.

Strawberries – They taste great and are loaded with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. As an added benefit, they are low-calorie and fat-free.

Blueberries – These blue beauties are loaded with antioxidants.

Blackberries – They are not only pretty and great tasting, but they are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and are rich in antioxidants. Blackberries have anthocyanins, which are the antioxidants that give blackberries their color which have been shown to reduce inflammation. Blackberries have also been known to help with skin, eye, bone, and digestive tract health.

Lemon – Lemons aren’t just for adding to your water! They are also loaded with vitamins, minerals, and contain flavonoids, which are composites that contain antioxidant and cancer fighting properties.

Carrots – They are linked to preventing cancer and giving you healthier looking skin, plus they give you vitamin A and aid in digestion.

Cucumbers – Since they are 95% water, they are great for rehydration. Cucumbers are also a great source of vitamin B, so that means they are a natural pick-me-up.

Cinnamon – Helps increase your metabolism. Need I say more? I add it into every smoothie I make.

Chia seeds – These little guys are nutritional powerhouses, I add them to every smoothie.

Turmeric – One of the main benefits is it helps with inflammation. So, if you work out a lot or have tired muscles, it’s great for you! I also add this to every smoothie.

Protein Powder – When my smoothie is a meal replacement for me and especially before a workout, I like adding in protein powder.

Now, here is my Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie Recipe, be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

4.67 from 3 votes

Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie Recipe

This Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and protein. Perfect for after workouts or to start your day.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Smoothie

Keyword: blackberry, protein shake, protein smoothie, smoothie, strawberry

Servings:

Author: Tracy

Ingredients

4 - 5 baby Carrots
4 slices of Cucumbers
3 - 4 Strawberries
Handful of 10 - 12 Blueberries
4 - 5 Blackberries
Half of a slice of Lemon - rind removed
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Turmeric
1 tsp. Chia seeds
Recommended amount of Protein Powder
4 - 6 oz of liquid - Skim milk almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Place all ingredients as listed into your favorite blending device
Blend until smooth
Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this Mixed Berry Smoothie as much as I do!

*Berry Tip* If you ever end up with more fresh berries in your refrigerator that you can eat before they start to go bad, freeze them! Frozen berries are great in smoothies (like this one and the ones listed below) and in…ice cream!

What is one of your favorite Protein Smoothie Recipes?

Check out all the delicious smoothie recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram.

Looking for more berry-delicious recipes?

Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich

February 1st, 2017April 12th, 2023

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

This Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich is a deliciously creative, yet easy, twist to the traditional grilled cheese. Make these jelly and cheese sandwich as an appetizer or a meal!

Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich

Yes, you read that right. Grilled Cheese and Jelly. Grilled Cheese, while absolutely delicious all on it’s own, is a classic that you can easily add flavors to to take it to a whole new level. A sweet delicious jelly or jam can make your grilled cheese say WOW.

A few months ago, I had a milestone birthday and my husband hosted a Wine Pairing Birthday Party for me and all our friends. He picked the wines and made various small plates and one of them were these Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwiches. Everyone was amazed on how good they were, and that he added jelly to a grilled cheese!

So, I decided I would share this simple deliciousness with you all as well, if you are looking for a finger food that is easy to make, and bound to impress, try these Grilled Cheese and Black Raspberry Jelly Sandwiches. Or, if you are just looking for a meal that will leave your tummy satisfied and happy, try this Grilled Cheese and Black Raspberry Jelly Sandwich.

Grilled Cheese and Blackberry Jelly Sandwich

Of course, you can substitute other jams or jellies, feel free to experiment and have some fun with them. I used a Sharp Cheddar Cheese from Cabot. I love Cabot Cheese and if you are adding something sweet to your sandwich, I think you need a cheese with an extra punch, and Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar is it. Again, feel free to experiment and play around with your favorite cheeses too.

Can I Use Homemade Jelly?

Yes! Making homemade jelly or jam is a labor of love in my opinion, but if you have it – use it! Just like I recommend experimenting with different cheeses, try different jellies too!

Tips for Making a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich is a classic comfort food that is easy to make at home. Here are some tips for making a perfect grilled cheese:

1. Choose the right bread. A good grilled cheese needs sturdy bread that will hold up to being grilled. Look for a bread that has a tight crumb and is not too soft.

2. Use fresh, high-quality cheese. The better the quality of the cheese, the better your grilled cheese will be. Look for a sharp cheddar or other flavorful cheese.

3. Don’t overdo it on the butter. You don’t need a ton of butter to make a great grilled cheese – just enough to coat the bread lightly. Too much butter will make your sandwich greasy and difficult to eat.

4. Get the grill/pan hot before you start cooking.

Use a Cast Iron Pan Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich

I made my sandwich in my Lodge Cast Iron pan, I bought my first one a few months ago and didn’t season it until just a few days ago! The cast iron pan gets hot and cooks evenly. “Everyone from Martha Stewart to Campfire Cook Johnny Nix considers Lodge Foundry Seasoned Cast Iron Skillets essential cooking tools. They are perfect for any cooking method from stovetop to oven.” And I agree with ya, Lodge Cast Iron!

Now, here is my Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich recipe, be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

4.72 from 7 votes

Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich

This Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich is a deliciously creative, yet easy, twist to the traditional grilled cheese. Make it as an appetizer or a meal!

Prep Time2

Cook Time3

Total Time5

Course: Sandwich/Appetizer

Keyword: appetizers, cheese, easy appetizer, entertaining, jelly, sandwich

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Stove

Ingredients

Sliced bread of choice – I used French Bread
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Black Raspberry Jelly/Jam
Butter

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Butter one side of the sliced bread
Place the bread, butter side down in a hot cast iron skillet
Place 3 – 4 slices of the cheese onto the bread
Add a spoonful of the jelly/jam onto the cheese
Put the empty piece of bread on top of the bread slice with the cheese and jelly
Flip if necessary
Once heated throughout, and cheese is ooey-gooey, remove from pan
Enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to experiment with different types of bread, cheese, and jellies/jams

I hope you enjoy this Grilled Cheese and Jelly Sandwich as much as we do!

We paired these delightful little grilled cheese goddesses with a Chardonnay at my Wine Pairing Party…just in case you need an excuse to open a nice bottle of CK Mondavi, Charles Krug, or Copain wine 😉

Have you ever added jelly to your grilled cheese?

Delicious Jelly and Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Be sure to check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream

January 30th, 2017March 11th, 2022

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

Chocolate and strawberries are always a delicious combination. This Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream Recipe is heavenly, and easy to make!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream

How delicious does that sound? Chocolate, strawberries, all in an ice cream that you can make at home in just a few minutes. I love buying berries, I use them in smoothies, put them in my salads, make my own fruit roll-ups, or just grab a handful when I need a snack. However, getting my family to eat them as regularly as me can be tough….unless there is chocolate involved of course. We love making chocolate covered strawberries at home, just toss those easy meltable wafers into the microwave and start dipping. Another one of my family’s favorite sweet treats is ice cream, so I decided I would combine the two. Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream. I challenge you to not eat it all yourself and share some. Oh man, it is so good.

It is crazy easy to make your own no churn ice cream. I mean, you just need a few ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep time. Yep, that easy. Then you toss it in the freezer and wait until that magical moment when you can eat it.

This Strawberry Chocolate No Churn Ice Cream recipe calls for very cold heavy whipping cream and a chilled pan, I suggest tossing both in the freezer once you are ready to start prepping. You can use frozen strawberries, (thawed at room temperature) or fresh strawberries when making this chocolate strawberry no churn ice cream recipe.

Now, here is my Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream recipe, be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream

Chocolate and strawberries are always a delicious combination. This Chocolate Covered Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream Recipe is heavenly, and easy to make!

Prep Time10

Freeze Time5

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Keyword: chocolate, dessert, ice cream, strawberry

Author: Tracy

Ingredients

2 cups frozen strawberries thawed at room temperature for about 10 minutes
One 14 oz can sweetened chocolate condensed milk
2 cups heavy cream very cold
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch fine salt
Mini chocolate chips if desired - for garnish

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Place a bread pan and the heavy whipping cream in the freezer
Pulse the strawberries in a food processor until you achieve small chunks
Add the chocolate condensed milk, vanilla and salt to the food processor
Pulse to combine
Pour the chocolate strawberry mixture into a large bowl
Whip the cream with a mixer on medium-high speed until firm peaks form, about 2 minutes
**To avoid splattering start with the lowest setting and work your way up to medium-high**
Fold about 1 cup of the whipped cream into the chocolate strawberry mixture with a rubber spatula until combined
Then fold the chocolate strawberry whipped cream mixture into the remaining whipped cream until well blended
Pour the delicious mixture into a chilled 9-by-5-by-3-inch metal loaf pan (if you have a smaller size, just make sure you have 2)
Gently sprinkle on mini chocolate chips and thin strawberry slices on top for garnish if desired
Cover and freeze
It will be ready to eat in about 4 - 5 hours. It will be slightly soft and scoopable
Enjoy!

Notes

If your no churn ice cream has been freezing for a few days, allow it to soften for a few minutes at room temperature so it becomes easier to scoop.

I hope you enjoy this Chocolate Covered Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe as much as we do!

*Berry Tip* If you ever end up with more fresh berries in your refrigerator that you can eat before they start to go bad, freeze them! Frozen berries are great in smoothies and in…ice cream!

Have you ever made no churn ice cream before? What is your favorite flavor?

Be sure to check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram.

Looking for more berry-delicious recipes?

15 Tips For Keeping Your Fitness Goals

January 26th, 2017January 19th, 2022

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

Staying on track with your fitness goals can be difficult. But with these 15 tips for keeping your fitness goals, keeping them will become more realistic. Learn how to accomplish your goals.

15 Tips For Keeping Your Fitness Goals

What are your Fitness Goals? They may not have been New Years Resolutions, maybe you made your goal last month, maybe you made it last year. My question is, did you keep your fitness goals? Did you meet them and make new ones? Did you kinda stop thinking about them after a couple weeks and are thinking about making some new fitness goals? Well, you aren’t alone, only 8 percent of people actually keep their resolutions come February.

EIGHT PERCENT.

For me, my healthy lifestyle journey took a turn back in October. I had a milestone birthday that got celebrated…a lot. Then my husband and I had a trip to Napa, then there came the holidays. I was still running and biking, but not daily. And there was all that food! Then POOF it was January. I decided to get back on the workout train, then I managed to tear the meniscus in my knee. Fun times. I am a runner, biker, and a Jazzerciser. Running and Jazzercise were not recommend for my knee, but sitting idle at home was not an option for me. I like wine and chocolate too much for that 😉

So, I did something that I haven’t done in over 12 years. I walked into a gym. I will openly admit that I was a bit nervous, even intimidated. I mean I haven’t touched a “machine” in forever! But I walked in like I knew what I was doing and casually tried reading the “how-to” pictures without thinking that everyone was staring at me like I was a dork and had no clue.

Truth is, no one was staring at me, in fact, if I had a question, there was plenty of people that were happy to help. By day 3, I actually felt like I had an idea of what I was doing and I felt that even though being in a gym was completely new to me, I was back on track with my fitness goals.

Do you feel like you need some help getting back on track with your fitness goals? Need some motivation to keep your fitness goals?

Well, I wanted to share a few tips for keeping your fitness goals.

Here are 15 Fitness Motivational Tips:

Set Realistic Goals – and don’t be afraid to change them if needed. I was supposed to run a half marathon in a few weeks. I can’t do that with my knee the way it is. So, instead I will walk a 10k with my friend and I will focus on different forms of cardio.
Make a Plan – You plan can be as simple as working out 4 times a week, or making sure to walk on your lunch break. But, have a plan.
Buy Workout Clothes – This is a commitment! Not only to yourself, but you are saying that this is something that I will invest a few hard-earned dollars in.
Work Out For A Reason – This is similar to goal-setting, but make sure you are working towards something. Better flexibility, more arm strength, better health, etc.
Drink More Water – We are made of water, you need to replenish it. Give coconut water a try too! Do you know how much water you should drink in a day to stay hydrated? Take half of your body weight, and that is how many ounces you should drink a day. So, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should drink 75 ounces.
Handle Those Cravings – Oh, this is a hard one for me. But, something to ask yourself when you just HAVE to have those potato chips or that chocolate bar is, Am I thirty? Tired? Before indulging, drink a glass of water and see if you still HAVE to have those treats.
Watch What You Eat – Remember the saying, you are what you eat? Try to give your body lots of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Try new foods – quinoa, smoothies!
Plan An Event – Not a party, but a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon etc. It gives you an actual date to work towards.
Try a New Workout – Whether it be a class, or going to the gym for the first time in 12 years. Trying something new can be a great motivator.
Get a Workout Buddy – Everything is better with friends! Or look into getting a trainer. Having another person holding you accountable is a huge help. I have the Lime Card Membership at YouFit and it let’s me bring a guest with me all the time, I love it!
Track Your Progress – Whether it be by the number on the scale, your BMI changing, your jeans fitting better, you just feeling better. Give yourself something to measure your successes.
Reward Yourself – Speaking of success…CELEBRATE IT! Maybe you lost 1 pound this week, maybe you skipped the fries at the fast food drive-thru, maybe you just had a GREAT DAY. Celebrate it!!! You have to take care of YOU and that means rewarding yourself now and again.
Keep a Food Journal – Writing everything you eat holds you accountable, which may point out where you eat more than you wanted to in a day. For me, it’s the snacking, it points out all the snacking I do 🙁 But those calories add up, and if I am accountable of what I am doing, I may stop.
Have Fun – Enjoy what you are doing! Go to a new class, try new machines, bring a book with you to read while you do cardio. If you are looking forward to your workout, you are more likely to do it.
Keep Trying – This is probably the one of the most important tips for keeping your fitness goals I have for you. DON’T GIVE UP. Keep trying. This is for YOU, and can only be done by YOU. So, keep trying.

I know I mentioned that I have just started going to a gym, and I am proud to say that I am really liking it! Do I miss running? Yes. I will be back outside as soon as I know it won’t hurt me, but I won’t be giving up the weights and routine that I have established at YouFit. I have convenience and classes available to me everyday, and my body is liking the new routine.

What are your fitness motivation tips?

While I did receive my membership at YouFit at no cost, all opinions are 100% my own.

Learn more about YouFit

Make sure to find Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest for more exercise tips and healthy recipes! And be sure to follow me on Instagram to see workouts and more exercise motivation.

Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

January 24th, 2017March 24th, 2021

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

Salad dressing is so easy to make at home! This Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing only has a few ingredients, but is loaded with flavor, make some today!

Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Did you know how easy it is to make your own salad dressing? In fact, I had all the ingredients for my Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing right in my pantry and refrigerator. In less than 5 minutes you can customize your own fresh salad dressing! I recently received a box filled with Fresh from Florida berries from Wish Farms, and while I love a sweet treat, I also love strawberries on my salad. But, when I looked in my pantry, I didn’t have any salad dressing that I thought would be good enough for a the spinach salad I was dreaming of. Spinach, strawberries, feta, crumbled bacon, and some carrots. Yum, just yum. French or Ranch dressing was not going to cut it. In fact, I wanted something light that would also bring out all the flavors in my salad.

A balsamic vinaigrette dressing would be perfect. So I made one.

After grabbing 4 ingredients and popping them in the food processor, I was ready for lunch in less than 5 minutes with a delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette strawberry salad dressing .

My Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is not only easy to make, but absolutely delicious.

This strawberry vinaigrette dressing makes plenty for your daily salad, and I actually plan on using it as a marinade for some chicken later this week. Yum, just yum.

Now, here is my Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe. Be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again. Because you will want to.

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Making your salad dressing is not only easy, but cost-effective! This homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette dressing is the perfect addition to salads.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Condiment

Servings: /4 cup

Author: Tracy

Ingredients

½ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh strawberries - you can also use frozen but thaw them first
2 teaspoons honey

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Put all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth
Enjoy on top of your favorite salad or as a marinade

Notes

Store in the fridge for up to four days

I hope you enjoy this Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing as much as we do!

Have you ever made your own salad dressing? What is your favorite salad dressing?

Here are a few of my other favorite homemade salad dressing recipes:

Homemade Fresh Mint & Peach Vinaigrette Dressing

Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Homemade Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing

For more berry-loving tips and recipes, visit Wish Farms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Be sure to check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

10 Reasons To Go To The Monster Jam

January 20th, 2017June 7th, 2019

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

The Monster Jam is one of our favorite events that rolls into Tampa. The Monster Jam is a family fun event and we always have a blast! Here our 10 reasons to go to the Monster Jam.

10 Reasons To Go To The Monster Jam

My family and I have been going to the Monster Jam here in Tampa for 6 years now. Every year it rolls into Tampa right around the time of my son’s birthday. Every year we give him the option of a birthday party or inviting two friends to the Monster Jam. Every year he picks the Monster Jam.

I will admit, that the first time I went, I was not excited about it. The noise, the dirt, the noise, the dirt….it really wasn’t my thing. But I left that night hoarse from screaming at all my fave trucks and saying that I would be coming along every year from then on. So, even if you think loud trucks driving around until they fall apart isn’t your thing, I recommend giving it a shot. You may just love it 😉

Now, here are 10 Reasons To Go To The Monster Jam:

If you like trucks, this is a no-brainer
It’s fun for the whole family – from the Pits to the show itself
The Pits – aka The Party in the Pits – has the drivers available for autographs!
The show is interactive – the drivers LOVE to hear the audience get involved
The Trucks – the trucks are AMAZING. At 250,000+ a truck, these babies are bound to impress
The Jumps
The Wheelies
The Flips
The CRASHES
The TRUCKS

Have you been to a Monster Jam? What was your favorite part of the Monster Jam?

While we did receive tickets for free to the show, our opinions are 100% our own.

Check out Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube. In fact, make sure to check out Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more Florida Family Fun!

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups

January 19th, 2017January 4th, 2021

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

This Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups Recipe is easy and you can feel good about feeding it to your family! With only a few ingredients, you will wonder why you ever got store-bought fruit roll ups before!

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups

My kids love fruit roll ups, I will buy them when they are BOGO at the local grocery store, but when I received a huge box of Fresh From Florida berries the other day from Wish Farms, I decided to do some cooking! Strawberries are naturally sweet and delicious, so I decided to make a simple sweet treat that the kids would love. Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups. You may have also heard the term, Fruit Leather, but if I told my kids the name was Fruit Leather, they wouldn’t be as interested 😉 So Fruit Roll Ups it is in my house.

You only need THREE simple ingredients to make these strawberry fruit roll ups, but I snuck in a fourth. Shh, don’t tell my kids, but I added in some carrots too! Carrots are also naturally sweet and delicious, so why not add in some extra nutrients?!

You simply use your food processor to blend together the ingredients, then pour it onto parchment paper or a silicon baking sheet that is lining your cookie sheet, and bake!

After 3 – 5 hours at 200 degrees, you will have your own Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups. They make for a great addition to the kids’ lunchboxes or when you are craving a sweet treat mid-day. Which happens to me just about everyday 🙂

Now, here is my Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups Recipe. Be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups

Making your own Fruit Roll Ups, as known as Fruit Leather is not only easy, but much better for you. Enjoy this Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups Recipe.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time5 5

Course: Snack

Keyword: easy recipe, healthy, snacks, strawberry

Servings: cookie sheet

Calories: 429kcal

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Food Processor
Oven

Ingredients

3 cups fresh strawberries you can use frozen just defrost them first
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ cup carrots - optional I had matchstick ones in my refrigerator so that's what I used

US Customary - Metric

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
Place all ingredients into your food processor
You should be able to pour the mixture, but it shouldn't be so watery that it will run off the baking sheet
Line rimmed baking/cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicon baking mats
Pour/spread the mixture evenly onto baking/cookie sheet
Place in oven and cook until firm - approx. 3-5 hours
Remove from oven and let cool
Cut into desired width and length strips
Roll up with parchment paper if desired, or keep separated with wax paper in an air-tight container
Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or two months in freezer
Enjoy!

Notes

If you choose not to add in the carrots - that's okay too! It will still be delicious and a healthier snack option that buying the ones in the store.

Nutrition

I hope you enjoy this Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather as much as we do!

For more berry-loving tips and recipes, visit Wish Farms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Be sure to check out all the delicious recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Looking for more berry-delicious recipes?

Easy Hairstyles For Teen Boys + The Products To Use

January 12th, 2017July 3rd, 2019

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

Easy Hairstyles For Teen Boys + The Products To Use

My son started middle school this year. Not only does that mean a new school, changing classes every 45 minutes, not only new teacher…but SEVEN, lots of new people to meet, tons more homework, but that also means it is important to him to look and feel his best when he walks out the door in the morning.

He now cares about making a good impression. But, since we haven’t mastered the art of time management in the morning yet, middle school starts an hour earlier than elementary, he needs to get ready quick. That’s why he keeps GRIT in his bathroom.

GRIT allows him to go from sleepy teenager to cool kid in under 5 minutes.

What is GRIT?

GRIT™ is a professional haircare line for men at an affordable value price. These products are easy to understand, easy to use and the assortment addresses the needs of all types of men and hair. The packaging is contemporary and masculine and the products feature masculine scents.

I will say that when I brought the products home, the first thing my son said was “Wow, mom, you got me the good stuff, thanks.” He was automatically drawn to the packaging. He loves that GRIT is easy to use and that is leaves his hair looking cool all day. I love that he can be ready and feeling good about his appearance in less than 5 minutes and that GRIT is priced affordably. Win-Win situation and mom scores a point 😉

Where do you get GRIT?

Great Clips. Learn more about GRIT haircare for men and where to buy it

With GRIT the man in your life can do more than just their hair – they carry several products! My son’s other favorite is the Body Refresh. It is a go-to spray that gets ride of unwanted odors. He started PE this semester, so this gives him that extra boost of confidence after class and heads back to finish his day. In fact, my husband now keeps one in his gym bag 🙂

If you are looking for affordable men’s haircare, GRIT is it. Find what you need at Great Clips.

Before you go, I also wanted to let you know that GRIT has an AMAZING giveaway going on right now over on their Instagram page. How would you like to WIN a Sony Playstation 4?! I know I would 🙂

Enter to WIN a Sony Playstation 4

Good luck!

What is one of your tips for getting Edgy and Easy Men’s Hairstyles in Less Than 5 Minutes?

Before you go, be sure to download the Great Clips Mobile App – check in online, no more waiting! Making it even easier to get those hairstyles for teen boys in your life!

Be sure to follow me, Food Wine Sunshine, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more helpful tips and delicious recipes!

Walmart Wellness Day – Free Health Screenings

January 11th, 2017February 2nd, 2021

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

Walmart Wellness Day is January 14th this year. You can receive FREE health screenings at all Walmart and Sam’s Club location on January 14th. While this post is sponsored, all opinions are 100% my own.

Walmart Wellness Day – Free Health Screenings

Learn more about Walmart Wellness here.

Walmart and Sam’s Club are celebrating Wellness Day, January 14th, by giving us FREE health screenings. All stores will be hosting Wellness Day, so you can go to whichever store is most convenient for you! That’s more than 5,200 locations participating, in Wellness Day, so be sure to stop in!

What is Wellness Day?

Wellness Day is all about YOU and your health. The Health Screenings will include free blood glucose, blood pressure, vision/hearing (where applicable), body fat, and more depending on the location you visit. Low-cost immunizations will be offered by licensed pharmacists at both Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Where do you go to get Free Health Screenings?

Walmart and Sam’s Club have teamed up to host free health screenings in more than 5,200 locations on January 14th. This joint effort will span 6 hours and is completely free (at Sam’s Club this not only includes members, but the public too).

What time is the Walmart Wellness Day taking place?

At Walmart on January 14th:

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
More than 4,600 locations – just head to the pharmacy
Screenings will include free blood glucose, blood pressure, vision, and for the first time body fat and body mass index
There will also be product sampling

At Sam’s Club on January 14th:

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
618 locations
Open to members and the public
Screenings will include free blood glucose, blood pressure, vision/hearing (where applicable), body fat, total cholesterol and HDL.

Why should you get your Free Health Screening?

Health screenings should be a priority for everyone. Health screenings focus on preventive care, and early detection, followed by treatment and management of the condition can result in better outcomes.

Over the course of 2016, Walmart and Sam’s Club collectively provided nearly half a million free health screenings to people across the county. That is an amazing statistic.

Do you need health insurance to get a health screening on Wellness Day at Walmart or Sam’s Club?

No, It is completely FREE. Did you know that 18.3% of Florida’s population lack that health insurance according to America’s Health Ranking? If you lack health insurance, you can still get your health screening.

Reasons To Get Your Health Screening:

Losing weight is the number one New Year’s resolution for a majority of Americans. Is it one of yours? By mid-January, nearly 30% of those resolutions will be abandoned, that is NOW, so go to your FREE health screening at Walmart or Sam’s Club on January 14th to help you get back on track. According to the CDC, more than one-third of adults in the US have obesity. Don’t be part of that one-third.