Sharing my favorite holiday sweet treat!

Mine is Christmas Trash {AKA puppy chow or muddy buddies}, but if I’m being honest this recipe is THE.BEST! I look forward to making it every year!

Grab a buddy, cue the Christmas music, and pop some bubbly! Your house may or may not turn into a winter wonderland. It’s the perfect homemade gift for friends, coworkers, hosts, and even your favorite mailman!

Christmas Trash 

Ingredients:

2 large boxes of Golden Grahams Cereal

24oz of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

5C of Salted Mixed Nuts

4C of Creamy Peanut Butter

2 Sticks of Butter

2tsp Vanilla

4+ boxes of Powder Sugar

Instructions: 

Melt the chocolate chips, butter, peanut butter and vanilla on medium heat until creamy.

Pour Golden Grahams and mixed nuts in a bowl and stir.

Pour the chocolate mixture over the Golden Grahams and mixed nuts and coat evenly. 

Pour the combined mixture into a large brown paper bag and coat with powered sugar.

Let cool and enjoy! Xx

What’s your favorite holiday treat?

Happy Holidays!

Inspired, Maryashley

The post Christmas Trash – Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Mix appeared first on Simply Maryashley.

Putting together a cheese board may be one of my favorite things! Maybe it’s the creativity, colors, textures, flavors or maybe it’s because I’m enjoying some wine with it? Whatever it is, it’s my favorite!

A cheese board is the perfect addition to any happy hour, girls night, game night, or an appetizer for a party or holiday dinner! I love how people gather around a cheese board and strike up conversation!

So let’s dive into how to create the perfect cheese board. I always shop at my local Trader Joe’s for all of the goods.

Let’s dig in! 

I first start with picking 5 cheeses. I like to have an odd number and a mix of soft and hard cheese. My absolute favorites are Camembert, White Stilton with Cranberries, Creamy Toscano Cheese, Chevre with Honey, and Goat Milk Gouda. 

I add at least one meat option. My favorite is prosciutto. 

To add some color and texture I love adding fresh and dried fruits, sweet and spicy nuts, olives, chocolate, dried figs, pomegranate, red grapes, apples, pears, and a honey or jam.

I finish by adding the crackers. My favorites are the Raisin Rosemary Crisps and Multigrain Pita Bite Crackers.

Once your done let it sit out for an hour before you enjoy with friends and family!

What You Will Need 

Cheers, Maryashley

The post Perfect Cheese Board appeared first on Simply Maryashley.

Thanks to Amy Poehler, there is an unofficial/official holiday called Galentine’s Day. It falls on February, 13th each year and it’s an excuse to grab your best girls and celebrate!

Show them how special they are by hosting the perfect Galentine’s Day Happy Hour! I had everyone come over after work to enjoy sparkling rosé topped with cotton candy, dark chocolate covered strawberries, brownies (gluten free and vegan), cookies (gluten free and vegan), and an enormous cheese board!

We had the best time giggling, catching up, and celebrating our friendship! I mean, who doesn’t want an excuse to hang out with your besties?

Want to throw a Galentine’s Day party? I’ve included the recipes I used below. Enjoy!

Print

DOVE Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Course Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 bag DOVE Dark Chocolate squares
• 1 bar White chocolate
• 2 boxes Strawberries
• Sprinkles

Instructions

• Wash and dry the strawberries.
• Unwrap the bag of DOVE dark chocolates and place them in a microwave safe bowl.
• Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating.
• Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and set aside.
• Once the chocolate is melted throughout it’s time to dip. Hold the strawberries by the green stem and swirl around in the chocolate until each side is evenly coated.
• Place on the wax papered cookie sheet and repeat.
• Add a swirl of white chocolate or top with sprinkles.
• Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm. 

Print

Raw, Gluten Free Brownies with Almond Butter Frosting

Recipe from Laura Lea Balanced

Course Dessert

Keyword Brownies, Gluten Free, Raw

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups Raw Walnuts
• 2 1/2 cups Pitted Medjool dates
• 8 tbsp Raw cacao
• 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt, plus more for sprinkling

Almond Butter Frosting

• 1/3 cup Almond butter
• 4 tbsp Maple syrup
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
• cacao nibs and sea salt for garnish

Instructions

• Line an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick parchment paper, leaving an inch or so overhanging the sides.
• In a food processor, combine all brownie ingredients and process until it forms a sticky crumble. You don’t want to over-process, or some of the oil will start to leak out and it may get chewy. You just want to be able to pinch the mixture in your fingers and it sticks. 
• Press brownie mixture into your lined dish and press into an even layer. To get nice edges, you can fold the parchment in and run your finger along the edge.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together all frosting ingredients. Pour over brownies in an even layer, then place in the freezer on a flat surface. Sprinkle on extra sea salt and cacao nibs, if using. 
  

  Freeze for at least 30 minutes before removing and slicing. I personally don’t cover the dish for these 30 minutes but you can! Brownies will keep tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer 2 months. Enjoy!

Print

Gluten Free Cookies

Recipe created by Food Babe 

Course Dessert

Keyword chocolate chip cookies, Gluten Free, low sugar

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 20

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup Coconut sugar
• 1 Large egg
• 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup Almond flour
• 1 1/4 cup Old fashioned oats
• 1/2 tsp Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup Raw cacao nibs

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F
• Place the coconut oil, sugar in a bowl and stir until well combined. I use my KitchenAid Mixer 
• Add egg, vanilla extract and mix for another minute.
• Add rest of ingredients and stir 
• Place dough mixture in freezer for 10 mins
• Use an ice-cream scoop to scoop out dough and press each cookie on a Silpat lined baking sheet. 
• Bake for 15 mins 
• Serve cookies warm or cold. I’ve been making these cookies for years now and they are a crowd pleaser. Enjoy! 

Inspired, Maryashley

The post Galantine’s Day Happy Hour appeared first on Simply Maryashley.