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Update, Recipes & Inspiration

May Messy Mommies Newsletter

5/7/2022

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Welcome to our Messy Mommies Newsletter! 
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 4 May, 2022

We are ready for May flowers! And, the Kentucky Derby! And, Mother’s Day! We hope the stormy weather of April is fading away and that flowers are blooming in your neighborhood! Congratulations to Elizabeth from Kansas for winning our April Messy Mommies Instagram giveaway of an Amazon gift card and gardening set! We loved seeing your favorite flowers including gardenias, tulips, roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, and more!

Do you have your hat ready for watching the Kentucky Derby today? The Kentucky Derby is such a fun event and we love cheering on all of the horses! We love a good Kentucky Derby hat and we love a good Kentucky Derby cocktail! At the end of April we highlighted the fabulous sustainability work of Maker’s Mark for Earth Month on the blog! Maker’s Mark is inspiring with how they are caring for our planet and we are impressed with their American White Oak research repository! The American White Oak bourbon barrels at Maker’s Mark are so cool and inspired us to pick-out a fun Kentucky Derby cocktail for our Messy friends -
​the Kentucky Buck! 
​
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Maker's Mark Kentucky Buck
2 parts Maker's Mark Bourbon
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
2-3 whole strawberries, hulled
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Ginger beer 
​Fresh strawberry for garnish

How to make a Maker's Mark Kentucky Buck:
Muddle strawberries in a shaker.
Add Maker's Mark, lemon and bitters and shake.
Strain into an ice-filled glass.
​Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with a strawberry.
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Happy Mother’s Day! How are you celebrating? We are working on brunch plans and will hopefully be planting some flowers! We love to celebrate our amazing moms, all our friends that are doing an incredible job with kids, pushing through the pandemic, and juggling careers and activities, and all of the fabulous gals that serve as mom figures in our lives! 
​

Are you looking for a fun gift to suggest to your husband? How about tickets to Ravina? Did you see that Sting is playing at Ravina in August?! Check out this cute picnic basket with a removable lid that also serves as a tray! We also love a cute picnic blanket! 

Mark your Calendars
May 15 is National Chocolate Chip Day!
May 20 is Pick Strawberries Day!
May 21 is National Waiters and Waitresses Day!
May 25 is National Wine Day! ​ 

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPES

This month we have two recipes for you to try! They would be perfect for any spring gathering, but great for your Kentucky Derby celebration!
Run for the Roses Cheesecake 

Preheat oven to 375°F degrees. 
​Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup of sugar 
1/4 teaspoon salt
In a small bowl, mix the cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and salt together until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and cool the pan on a cooking rack.
Reduce oven to 350°F
3 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 teaspoons rose water
1 pound of strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Put one cup of water in a baking dish and place in the lower third of the oven. This will create a sauna effect for your cheesecake to bake in and help prevent the top of the cake from cracking.
Beat the cream cheese with a stand mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix until just combined, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and 3 teaspoons rose water and mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour the filling into the crust. Place on the middle oven rack (above the water bath) and bake until the center is just set but still jiggles, about 35 minutes. Turn off the oven; let the cheesecake cool with the oven door slightly open, 1 hour. Remove from the oven, cover and refrigerate until cool, about 4 hours. Meanwhile, combine the strawberries, honey, lemon juice and the remaining 1 teaspoon rose water in a bowl. Cover and set aside while cheesecake cools. Slice the cheese cake, top each piece with the strawberry mixture and enjoy as you watch the horses run for the roses at the Kentucky Derby!

 Bourbon Balls                   
Keeping with our Kentucky theme, we are sharing a family favorite bourbon balls recipes! Meg shares her Aunt Monica's recipe and memories she has of being a kid trying the bourbon balls. Apparently Meg, her siblings, and cousins would stuff these bourbon balls in their mouths when the adults were busy chatting it up after Christmas dinner. While bourbon balls may be an acquired taste, the story Meg tells of her younger self thinking these would have a sweet chocolate flavor makes it a recipe worthy of sharing.  We think these are the perfect treat to share with friends as you watch the Kentucky Derby!!
Ingredients 
3 cups vanilla wafers, finely crushed
1 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped 
1 cup confectioners' sugar 
1 ½ tablespoons cocoa        
3 tablespoons light corn syrup 
½ cup bourbon or rum
Additional confectioners' sugar 
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together corn syrup and bourbon until blended. Combine the wafer mixture and bourbon mixture and shape into one-inch balls.  Roll each ball in the additional confectioners' sugar. Cover and chill before serving. 
THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
May has finally turned to sunshine and we are stopping to smell the flowers! Messy dad, Matt recently talked at a family gathering about how sometimes we can be grumpy from being stuck in traffic, from work, and other things. Or, we can lean into being happy and finding joy in the little things. So, for this month’s inspiration we are all about smelling the flowers and finding joy in their beauty! 
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Check out the incredible Richardson Adventure Farm and Tulip Festival in Spring Grove, IL! More than 600,000 tulips of 30 different varieties have been planted at the Richardson Farm and tulips are starting to pop! While touring the gorgeous tulips around their private lake you can also enjoy food trucks, beer and wine! There is plenty of free parking and live music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Friendly dogs on a leash can also enjoy the beautiful flowers and there are free games for the family to play during your visit.
Thanks for reading our Messy Newsletter and for being a part of our Messy Mommies squad! 
XOXO, The Messy Mommies

Please note that the Messy Mommies are an Amazon Affiliate partner and we receive a small commission from purchases from our links. Thanks for supporting the Messy Mommies!

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April Messy Mommies Newsletter

4/8/2022

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Welcome to our Messy Mommies Newsletter! 
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 3 April, 2022

As we write this, the skies are cloudy and the weather forecast calls for rain, rain and more rain (there also may be a few snowflakes in the mix)! With the hope that April Showers bring May flowers, we are using this time to plan and make this the best spring season. 
We kicked off spring with a lovely get-together last week hosted by our wonderful niece, Molly. Thank you, Molly! 

Molly has inspired some great family get-togethers over the winter, and this latest gathering did not disappoint. While there was a fun twist to this Spring Tea, some elements of an English High tea were celebrated!  We definitely had an abundance of scones, tea sandwiches and cake, but we filled our teacups with bubbly! You can find the recipes for our scones and tea sandwiches on our instagram as well as on our blog. However, if you are looking for an easy way to bring your family or girl friends together for tea, you can order tea takeout at Vanille Patisserie located in Chicago or make a reservation at Pekoe and Bean in Tinley Park for a full tea experience. And if you aren’t sure about drinking tea with your pinky up or down, you may be interested in knowing that etiquette expert Emily Post was "adamantly opposed" to crooking one's pinky, because she thought "it was improper and rude." So there you have it!
If you find yourself waiting in anticipation for spring daffodils and tulips to make their appearance, you may also be thinking about what plants and flowers you want to plant once the weather warms up. My dad always advised me to plant after Mother’s day in the Chicagoland area due to the chance of a freeze through mid-May. While I do follow his advice, that doesn’t stop me from planning what I will get for our garden containers. My all time favorite flower is the gardenia. The blooms from the gardenia bush are so aromatic and it is such an easy flowering plant to care for. I also love that the flower symbolizes hope and the start of something new. Show us your favorite flowers on Facebook and Instagram! 
I so look forward to the day in May when I head to Gethsemane Garden Center to select some of my favorite plants and flowers for our garden containers! We have been going to this iconic Chicago garden center for years and their flowers are gorgeous! Meg likes to zip over to The Fields on Caton Farm which is ranked as one of the most memorable garden centers in the Midwest. In the meantime, I’m planning a few outdoor excursions!  You may find inspiration for not only your garden, but maybe for starting something new. Below are a few of the places that are off the beaten path but promise to be a great spring adventure.

Allerton Park and Retreat Center located in Monticello, Illinois.  It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from Chicago and is considered one of the seven wonders of Illinois.  It was donated to the University of Illinois in 1946. This destination is on the top of my list for areas to visit this spring. Not only are there beautiful gardens, but it includes 100 acres of woodland and prairie areas, a mansion and reflection pond, a 10-acre meadow, formal sculpture gardens, hiking trails, a cafe and several lodging facilities. 
Looking for a little inspiration for your garden? Consider making a reservation to attend The Garfield Park Conservatory’s 2022 Spring Flower Show, “Knock Knock.”  Beautiful blooming flowers, including tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, and hyacinth, will be featured this year. Doors from the Rebuilding Exchange will hang among the blooms. There will also be an abundance of knock knock jokes throughout the Show House. The Spring Flower Show runs through May 8, 2022. We love that there will be jokes! Our friends over at @brueck_creative shared this joke: “Why did the bunny not have her library card renewed? Because she turned in her books a hare late!” Check out @brueck_creative for super cute placemats, gift tags and more on Instagram and Etsy!
And while this has nothing to do with gardening, it may inspire starting something new. A visit to The Forge in Lemont, Illinois provides ample opportunity for outdoor fun. One of the Messy Mommy kids went ice skating with her friends on the coldest day of the year this  January. Laser tag was also enjoyed and highly recommended by this group of teens. They all had a great time and staff members at The Forge were super helpful and friendly. If you aren’t into laser tag but want to enjoy the outdoors, check out Easter Saturday at the Forge. From zip lines, to aerial rope climbing, to axe throwing, to running and biking trails, and so much more - this adventure park looks like fun for the whole family!

Mark your Calendars
April 22nd Jelly Bean Day - According to Jelly Belly, a popular jelly bean manufacturer, the most popular jelly bean flavors include cherry and buttered popcorn. If the Easter Bunny didn’t bring you any jelly beans, today is the day to go out and treat yourself!
April 28th Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day - If you’ve been working remotely due to the pandemic, your kids have probably learned a lot about your job! If you are finally able to be back at your workplace, this may be a great time to take your daughter or son to work with you.

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPE
This is one of our favorite cake recipes! We just enjoyed this at our tea - Molly did an outstanding job making this show stopper! This would be the perfect dessert for your Easter or Mother’s Day celebrations!
Blueberry-Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting 
Ingredients 
2 cups plus 6 tablespoons cake flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 teaspoon salt 
3 cups fresh blueberries 
1 cup whole milk 
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
4 large eggs 
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch round cake plans. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, butter paper and dust pans with flour. Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Put fresh blueberries in a large bowl, add one tablespoon of flour mixture and toss to coat. Set remaining flour mixture and blueberries aside. 
Stir together whole milk, vanilla and grated lemon peel in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in another large bowl until light and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture in three additions each, just until blended. Fold in blueberries. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. 
Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on cooling racks 10 minutes. Run knife around pan sides to loosen. Turn cakes out onto racks to cool completely. Peel off parchment paper. 
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting 
Ingredients 
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature 
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
4 cups confectioners’ sugar 
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Mix in lemon peel and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until just firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes. 
Transfer one cake layer to a cake plate. Spread 1 cup frosting over the cake layer. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with a third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. 
While you are working on Easter and Mother’s Day menus, keep Messy Mommy Treva Jones in mind! Treva can help you spice up your recipes with wonderful Tastefully Simple products! Message Treva on Facebook or Instagram to place an order! 
​
THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
The weather is warming up and we plan to spend more time outside! Maybe you are like us, and plan to focus on fitness walks or maybe even run a 5K! Let’s get motivated and update our playlists! We were inspired by the music honored on last week’s Grammy Awards Show and have a few ideas for an upbeat playlist. Three time Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo is definitely one to listen to! Her debut song, Drivers License, is a power ballad that will add some pep to your step and maybe bring back some memories of when you first got your driver's license or had your first crush! 
One of my all time favorite Grammy Award winners is Sheryl Crow, winner of nine Grammy Awards! Several of her songs appear on my current workout playlists, but If I had to pick my ‘walk-on song’ for this spring season, Soak Up the Sun tops my list! Best line….”For every time I feel lame, I’m looking up!”
Meg’s ‘walk-on song’ would be Firework by Katy Perry and loves the lines, “If you only knew what the future holds, After a hurricane comes a rainbow, Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed, So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road.”
What’s your ‘walk-on song’?! E-mail us your ‘walk-on song’ and we’ll create a Messy Mommies ‘walk-on’ song playlist! We can’t wait to see what songs baseball players pick as they take the field this season! 
Thanks for reading our Messy Newsletter and for being a part of our Messy Mommies squad! 
XOXO, The Messy Mommies
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March Messy Mommies Newsletter

3/7/2022

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Welcome to Vol. 2 of our Messy Mommies Newsletter!
Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!!
Vol. 2 March, 2022

We’ve missed you all and are back to welcome the coming of spring. While the saying of March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb is often true with our Chicago area weather, we have been pleasantly surprised by sunny skies, albeit somewhat cold days. There is lots to be hopeful for in the days ahead so read on for ways to welcome spring. Break out a bright colored table cloth, pick up cheerful flowers, and put a bowl of lemons on the counter! Time for some sunshine!
March is Women's History Month, and this year's theme set by the National Women's History Alliance is "Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” We are inspired by the thousands of women from Ukraine that are being brave to care for and protect their children.

Check out how Big.Fat.Cookie is helping support Ukraine. This inspiring female baker and entrepreneur shared on Instagram, “My grandfather Lou was born in Kiev, and came to the United States as a 9 year old boy. Supposedly he traveled alone, but I always questioned that part of the story. As a baker, cookie maker and a Jew, I asked myself and my team ‘what can we do to help?’ We decided to do what we do best.” Big.Fat.Cookie in Chicago is making Hamantashen which is a symbolic sweet cookie eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Profits will be donated to World Central Kitchen and the Polish Humanitarian Action. They are joining other bakers around the globe to show solidarity for the people of Ukraine. #HamantashenforUkraine.

Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, the owner of the Door County Candle Company created a special yellow and blue Ukraine Candle. She is 100% Ukrainian and is very proud of her heritage. We love how Cristiana is shining a light of hope and quickly created this special hand poured candle. And, 100% of profits from the Ukraine Candle will be donated to Razom for Ukraine, a Ukrainian 501 (c)(3) organization. 

Mark your Calendars
Spring Forward - adjust your clocks Saturday Night, March 13th! (The official spring forward time is Sunday, March 14th at 2am). 
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a national holiday celebrated this year on March 17, 2022. Every year, millions of people write or tell a young person in their life why they matter and what makes them amazing. This holiday was founded in 1997 to encourage and inspire young people nationwide.

We think Audrey Scanlan, our Messy friend Amy’s daughter, is amazing! Audrey learned how to make the delicious Polish Paczkis from her grandmother. We recently had a family get together and Audrey made us Paczkis! This was so thoughtful of Audrey and helped us celebrate a special day. The Paczkis were so good and we were so impressed with her baking skills. We also love that Audrey learned the recipe from her grandmother and is carrying on a special family  tradition. You can make Paczkis with your kids too! Audrey uses the Polish Paczki recipe from the Jenny Can Cook blog! Thank you Audrey! You are amazing!

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPES 
With both St Patrick’s day and spring approaching, we want to share a couple of recipes to celebrate the season. Our Messy Friend, Laura Hansen’s husband makes Irish Soda Bread this time of year and wanted to share with you his family recipe. Tim grew up watching his mom and aunts make the Irish Soda Bread. While his mom and aunts have passed, he wanted to carry on this special family tradition and has perfected his recipe over the years. We love that Tim is keeping this tradition alive and what a great way to honor his heritage! Tim shared this story with us about the family recipe:

“Grandma Harrity (née Kelly) arrived in the United States, via Ellis Island, shortly after WWI from the town of Newport, County Mayo Ireland.  Given the history of famine in Ireland, often times the recipes used in traditional Irish food was driven off of expense.  Irish Soda Bread was an inexpensive way to feed ones family in Ireland.  Grandma Harrity brought this recipe with her from Ireland and has made this bread for all of our family holiday gatherings and taught each of her three daughters how to make it.  It has been passed down to the cousins and the tradition continues to be shared throughout the family in particular on St Patrick’s Day and during Lent.  I hope you enjoy this bread and celebrating it with family and friends.” - Tim

Traditional Irish Soda Bread by Tim Hansen
Plain or with Raisins
  • Ruber spatula
  • Large bowl
  • 12” cast iron skillet
 
Ingredients:
  • 6 cups flour
  • 5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 4 tablespoons caraway seeds
  • 3 tablespoons softened butter
  • (optional) 1 box of raisins (12-15 oz)
  • 1 quart of buttermilk
 
Instructions:
  • sift 2 cups plain flour into a large bowl
  • sift additional 2 cups of flour into bowl
  • add dry ingredients (ex- raisins); mix
  • sift 2 cups of flour into bowl
  • add softened butter; crumble into bowl
  • add caraway seeds
  • raisins/(optional)
  • begin adding buttermilk; add half
  • begin mixing in the bowl with spatula
  • add remaining buttermilk and mix with spatula
  • add additional flour while mixing/kneading dough (2-3 minutes) til dough is somewhat dry/not sticky
  • prepare the cast iron skillet with a dusting of flour on bottom and sides of the skillet
  • place dough into the skillet and make a cross imprint with a knife at the top of the dough
  • bake the bread at 350 degrees for 1 hour
  • after 1 hour turn temp down to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 30 mins
  • remove bread and cool on a rack right out of the oven

With spring upon us, who isn’t looking for a quick, easy to make, tasty and filling meal? This recipe was shared in Martha Stewart’s Food Magazine over 20 years ago and has been enjoyed by our family for years. It’s the perfect quick meal!
Red-pepper and Herb Ravioli 
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
  • Salt
  • 18  ounces fresh cheese or spinach ravioli
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley)
  • 1 tablespoon minced chives (or scallions/green onions)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • In a small saucepan, heat oil over low heat for 3 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, and cook for 2 minutes. Set aside.
  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook ravioli according to package instructions. Drain, and return to the warm pot. Gently toss ravioli with flavored oil, chives, parsley, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.​


THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
Spring is such a hopeful time of the year! We are making plans to celebrate the holidays of St Patrick’s Day & Easter as well as gear up for our kids' spring sports. Here are some things we think you will enjoy.
Who wouldn’t want a green St Patrick’s Day Mustache St Patrick's Day Mustache to celebrate on March 17th. These are fun for both kids and adults and will definitely keep the leprechauns away!
This adorable Bunny Deviled Egg Tray by Mud Pie will look great on your Easter Table. 
Mud Pie also sells this stylish Deviled Egg Tray that can be used year round.
The GCI Outdoor Collapsible Rocker will take you from camping trips, to outdoor soccer games, spring regatta season and make outdoor summer concerts and picnics a joy to sit at. It may be a bit of a splurge, but it’s sturdy, foldable and easy to carry.
Please note that the Messy Mommies are an Amazon Affiliate partner and we receive a small commission from purchases from our links. Thanks for supporting the Messy Mommies.
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November Messy Mommies Newsletter

11/10/2021

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Welcome to our Messy Mommies Newsletter! Thanks for being a part of our Messy squad!
​We miss seeing you all on Zoom! Happy November!

Vol. 1 November, 2021

Be Kind!

Tony and I are late to watching the funny and inspiring Ted Lasso Apple TV+ series and it is fantastic. We are now on to season 2 and just watched the 4th episode, Carol of the Bells which has a great Love Actually vibe. For months people have been telling us that we need to watch this clever, witty show. Ted Lasso had an impressive 13 Emmy nominations and won 7 Emmys including Outstanding Comedy Series. I can see why. This is a show all about kindness and we can all use more kindness these days! So, in honor of Ted Lasso, we hope you will join the Messy Mommies in celebrating World Kindness Day on Saturday, November 13! 
You could give toys to a holiday toy drive or donate to a local food pantry. You could call to check in on family and friends or send cards to a nursing home. You could make thank you notes for health-care workers or buy coffee for the person behind you in line. You could post a “believe” message on social media or say hello to people while going for a walk. You could smile at people at the pub. You could give someone a favorite book or bake biscuits for others. Every kind action, big or small, helps spread kindness and makes our world a better place! You can find more information on the Inspire Kindness website! Thanks for joining us for World Kindness Day! 

THIS MONTH’S
RECIPES 
There was so much excitement around Halloween this year and while stores are gearing up for Christmas, let’s not forget about two very special holidays that are just around the corner! Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving are upon us and this is the perfect time to celebrate and be with the ones we love. Many of us missed the opportunity to celebrate with extended family and friends last year, so this November may be extra special for us as we look forward to gathering with our people. 
Meg and I have two RETRO recipes to share that we have enjoyed throughout the years. Bourbon balls are great for any occasion, but we think it will be a perfect way to greet your Friendsgiving guests and our Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without the Strawberry Pretzel Salad, although it can easily be argued that this dish is a dessert!

Bourbon Balls
This retro treat has been enjoyed for years and while it may be an acquired taste, you will definitely enjoy these this holiday season. Meg’s Aunt Monica brought these to many gatherings. Enjoy!
RECIPE
3 cups vanilla wafers, finely crushed
1 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 ½ tablespoon cocoa
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
½ cup bourbon or rum
Additional ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, sift into a small bowl.
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together corn syrup and bourbon until blended. Combine the wafer mixture and bourbon mixture and shape into one-inch balls. Roll each ball in the additional confectioners’ sugar.
Cover and chill before serving.
I love to use a small cookie scoop to shape the bourbon balls. Click here for one of my favorite kitchen gadgets, the cookie scoop!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This gives new meaning to what many of you think of as salad! I first experienced this treat at my mother-in-law's house on Thanksgiving over 25 years ago. Everyone who knows Bev has asked her to share this recipe. It has been passed around and shared at many gatherings over the years.. This recipe would not appear in a healthy eating magazine, but it is definitely something to splurge on during the holidays and special family gatherings.
Crust:
2 cups crushed pretzels
1 ½  sticks melted butter
¼  cup granulated sugar
Combine above ingredients and spread in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.
Filling:
1 (8 ounce ) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping, thawed
With a hand mixer, combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Evenly spread the filling over the pretzel crust making sure to spread to the edges of the pan.
Topping:
1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin mix
2 cups boiling water
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen, sliced strawberries
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water, add strawberries (do not thaw) and stir until strawberries are well distributed. Cover filling with topping. Chill 4 to 6 hours before cutting into squares to serve.
This awesome brownie spatula makes it easy to serve this dish without losing any of the pretzel crust.

THIS MONTH’S
INSPIRATION
Messy friends, are you looking for some inspiration as you think about the holidays? We love how Advent calendars have exploded into fun options for people of all ages! Check out these fun ideas!
15 Best Alcohol Advent Calendars to Countdown to Christmas 2021
Williams-Sonoma Advent Calendars 
Friends TV Show 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
Fidget Advent Calendar with Sensory Toys
Please note that the Messy Mommies are an Amazon Affiliate partner and we receive a small commission from purchases from our links. Thanks for supporting the Messy Mommies.


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