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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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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