Italian Style Buddha Bowl

This easy to make Italian Style Buddha Bowl is a protein packed, family pleasing weeknight dinner idea...

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Birds Eye® through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Birds Eye®, all opinions are my own.

I have to admit it, folks. Sometimes it is a struggle to get more protein and whole grains into my and my family's diet. I try, but sometimes convenience wins out and pizza gets delivered or a trip through the fast food drive-thru happens. 

It's not that I don't want to make sure that my family is eating healthier and getting all the good stuff that they need to grow and power them through their day. But there are days when I just run out of time or energy, and oftentimes both of those things happen at the same time. 

That is why I was so glad to recently discover Birds Eye® Protein Blends at my local grocery store! These quick and easy to make Protein Blends side dishes come in four delicious flavors- Southwest Style, California Style, Italian Style, & Asian Style. 

Since Italian food is a favorite in my home, I grabbed the Birds Eye® Protein Blends Italian Style and started brainstorming a quick and tasty way that I could use it to get more whole grains, protein, and veggies into my family's diet more often. This fresh and healthy Italian Style Buddha Bowl was the family pleasing end result! :)

It starts with the Birds Eye® Protein Blends Italian Style, a delicious side dish packed with a blend of whole grains, lentils, spinach, broccoli, white beans, & a tasty sauce. Then I filled the rest of the bowl with fresh baby arugula, whole wheat penne, ripe grape tomatoes, olives, and crunchy sliced almonds. Finish it off with a drizzle of oil & vinegar or your favorite light Italian dressing, and a healthy dinner is served in minutes... 

Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip

This bold & oh so cheesy Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

We do a lot of entertaining around the holidays and New Year's, and we also attend quite a few holiday parties and get-togethers. I love having a handful of go-to appetizer recipes on hand that are easy to make and perfect for sharing. 








Although you can never go wrong with a classic platter of assorted cheeses, olives and crackers, what's a party without the dip? I always include a crowd-pleasing, tasty dip of some sort in just about every one of my holiday party menus -- the cheesier the better.








This Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is a delicious twist on a classic spinach artichoke dip. The spinach is swapped out for tender shrimp, and the traditional, more mild Parmesan is replaced with flavorful and robust Asiago cheese. 

This bold, creamy and oh-so-cheesy dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls

These Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

It is hard to believe that another year is almost done and over with. This has been such an incredible year for Frugal Foodie Mama, and I first and foremost want to thank all of you out there who come back day after day to read what I have to say, grab my recipes, pin them, share them, and just be a part of this little food blogging dream of mine. 

Without you all, this dream of mine wouldn't even be possible. So THANK YOU. :) 

I am determined to make 2016 another fabulous year for this little space of mine, so stay tuned. There is so much more good stuff coming your all's way very soon.

But let's talk New Year's Eve for a second, shall we? I have never been much for partying it up and painting the town for this big night. I have always loved staying at home with the ones that I love to ring in the new year. 

But we always try to make it a special night with lots of delicious finger foods, plenty of bubbly (sparkling grape juice for the kiddos), and watching the ball drop at midnight (for those of us who make it til then, lol.). ;) 

I have always been a sucker for all things sweet & savory, so when Blue Diamond sent me their new Honey Roasted Almonds to try out in a recipe I knew I wanted to make a little something for New Year's Eve. 

Cheese balls have always been a favorite with my family, so I decided to turn one of our favorite creamy appetizers into the perfect finger food- these Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls! 

These mini cheese balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey-roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...

Apple-Pear Pomegranate Puff Pancake

A thick buttermilk pancake is studded with juicy pears, sweet apples, and jewels of pomegranate seeds & baked to a golden brown in your cast iron skillet in this Apple-Pear Pomegranate Puff Pancake...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Want to know the quickest way to make pancakes that will feed the whole family? Bake up a delicious puff pancake in your trusty cast iron skillet! :) 

While I love making stacks of homemade pancakes for my family, let me be honest for a second- it gets a little time-consuming standing there flipping pancakes. 

Christmas morning is just one of those mornings when you do not want to be stuck in the kitchen any longer than you have to, am I right? 

I mean, there are presents to open, and warm mugs of coffee and cocoa to be sipping on, and everyone knows that A Christmas Story is playing ALL day on TBS. Who wants to miss Ralphie modeling his pink nightmare bunny PJ's because you are standing over a hot griddle? ;)

This Apple-Pear Pomegranate Puff Pancake is my lazy Christmas morning solution for you all. You just bake up one giant pancake, cut it into slices, and voila! 

Christmas morning breakfast is ready, and everyone gets to eat at the same time. I must admit that this was my first time making a puff pancake, and now I want to kick myself for waiting so darn long to give it a go.

A giant buttermilk pancake studded with juicy pears, sweet apples, and jewels of pomegranate seeds- how could you possibly go wrong with this on Christmas morning? :)

Gingerbread Oreo Fudge

Requiring just 4 simple ingredients & your microwave to make, this Gingerbread Oreo Fudge is the perfect last minute holiday treat...

Gingerbread happens to be one of my favorite flavors of the holiday season. And surprisingly up until last week, I didn't have a single gingerbread recipe on the blog. But I am working quick to catch up by sharing my second gingerbread recipe with you all in less than a week- this easy-to-make and festive Gingerbread Oreo Fudge.

The inspiration for this fudge started in the holiday aisle of my local Target. Isn't that where all food bloggers find recipe inspiration? ;) I first spied the Gingerbread Oreos on an end cap, and I knew I had to grab a pack to take home. Then I saw a pack of the cutest gingerbread men icing decorations from Wilton, and the wheels began to turn very quickly. 

Why not make a fudge chock full of my favorite Christmas flavor & decorate it with these tiny gingerbread men? 

Requiring just 4 simple ingredients & your microwave to make, this Gingerbread Oreo Fudge is the perfect last-minute holiday treat...

10 Gorgeous Salads for Your Holiday Dinner

Brimming with seasonal fruits & veggies, these 10 Gorgeous Salads for Your Holiday Dinner will be a bright & fresh addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table... 

I just love a big traditional holiday dinner with all the fixings- ham, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, the works. But I also like to change things up a bit and add a fresh & bright salad to my holiday dinner table. 

I know that salad might not be the first dish that comes to mind for most when you think of Thanksgiving, winter time, and Christmas, but there are so many seasonal fruits and veggies that are at their peak this time of the year. 

I perused some of my favorite food blogs & gathered up 10 gorgeous winter salads chock full of kale, persimmon, pomegranate, spinach, oranges, whole grains, pears, squash, beets, and so much more. :)

Not only are each of these salads packed with in-season ingredients that you shouldn't have any trouble finding at your local grocery store right now, but they are all full of gorgeous colors and bright flavors. A feast for the eyes and the stomach!

Brimming with seasonal fruits & veggies, these 10 Gorgeous Salads for Your Holiday Dinner will be be a bright & fresh addition to your holiday dinner table... 

Cranberry Orange Creamsicle Floats

Fresh cranberries & oranges give a classic ice cream treat a festive holiday twist in these Cranberry Orange Creamsicle Floats...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of AMP AGENCY. The opinions and text are mine alone.

It is safe to say that my family and I do quite a bit of entertaining during the holiday season. Whether it is a cookie baking get-together, a little informal shindig with friends, or a full blown Christmas dinner, our home is always full and busy each weekend of December. 

No matter the reason or theme of the holiday get-together, one thing is definitely guaranteed- everyone will get thirsty at some point. 

That is why I made it a point to head to my local Walmart early on in December and stock up on some of everyone's favorites in 2 liters and 0.5 liter 6packs - A&W®, 7UP®, Canada Dry®, Sunkist®, Sun Drop®, RC Cola®, & Squirt®.

One of my favorite festive flavor combinations for the holidays is cranberry and orange, so I decided to whip up an easy and creamy float perfect for the holidays using the Sunkist®. I mean, who doesn't love an ice cream float? ;) 

I used fresh cranberries and oranges in a simple, no churn ice cream recipe to create these delicious & refreshing Cranberry Orange Creamsicle Floats...

Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars

With warm chai spices and a touch of molasses, these Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars are sure to quickly become a new classic cookie for your holiday baking...

Last week I shared with you all a recipe for a DIY Chai Spice Mix. And now I am giving you a holiday perfect recipe to use that spice mix in- these simple Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars. :) 

I actually baked up these gingerbread cookies a couple of weeks ago to pack up & send off to the three fellow food bloggers I was matched up with for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. This was my second year participating in the swap, but the swap itself is in its fifth year now. 

Basically, it is a fun way to have a holiday cookie exchange with other food bloggers from around the country and to raise donations and awareness for Cookies for Kids' Cancer. You get 3 different dozen homemade cookies delivered right to your door, and you get to support a worthy cause at the same time- that is a win-win in my book. :)

I adapted this Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars recipe from Allie's (Baking A Moment) recipe for Gingerbread Cookies That Don't Spread in the Oven. As soon as I came across her recipe, I knew I had to base my gingerbread recipe from hers. 

Most of you are probably all too familiar with gingerbread men who become puffy, inflated, & spread out of shape as they are baking. I made a few tiny tweaks to Allie's recipe, but these cookies held their shape as you can see from the photos. 

With warm chai spices and a touch of molasses, these Chai Spiced Gingerbread Stars are sure to quickly become a new classic cookie for your holiday baking...

Snowball Donut Hole Bouquet

Create an easy & festive edible centerpiece for your holiday breakfast table with this Snowball Donut Hole Bouquet...

This post is a sponsored campaign on behalf of Teleflora and Millennial Blogs.

In case you all haven't been keeping track, we are just 11 short days from Christmas. I can happily claim that most of my holiday gift shopping is done. We wrapped up a majority of our cookie baking over the weekend. 

The tree is trimmed. The stockings are hung. Now I am all about focusing on adding the extra finishing touches to make sure this coming Christmas is just as special (if not more so!) than the last.

One way that I like to easily do that is by ordering and having a fresh festive floral arrangement from Teleflora delivered right to my front door. About a week ago I ordered the Send a Hug Open Sleigh Ride bouquet. I just couldn't resist the super cute sledding snowmen! :) 

Being the frugal foodie that I am, I love finding ways to repurpose a fresh floral arrangement and its vase. The little snowmen served as the inspiration for this Snowball Donut Hole Bouquet. 

Once the flowers start to fade, you can simply remove and then replace them with powdered sugar donut holes (aka, snowballs) on colorful paper straws. Voila! You have an easy & cute edible centerpiece for Christmas morning or a holiday weekend brunch... 

Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham

This easy to make Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham is slow cooked all day in a simple & flavorful glaze...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

When it comes to entertaining and hosting a crowd during the holiday season, my slow cooker becomes my best friend. I can start one dish in my trusty slow cooker while I work on other dishes on my stove top and in the oven. It's almost like having an extra set of hands in the kitchen. 









Often I make the main dish in my slow cooker like I did with this Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham. The glaze itself comes together easily in just minutes, making the prep for this flavorful and juicy ham almost effortless...