Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Banana Nutella Crescent Cups

Try these Banana Nutella Crescent Cups for an easy snack during the busy holidays.

The other day I stopped and thought about how fast this past year has gone by. Each year seems to go faster and faster too. We had people tell us when our children were younger that it would go by in the blink of an eye. When you are in the middle of toddlers, that concept seems foreign. Now that all of our kids are teenagers I understand what they were trying to tell us.

This month we were busy with going to parties, doing dinner with friends, and packing up our house for a major move. And then there were the kid's winter activities like going to winter choir programs, making party treats, and buying party presents. With all these activities going on, I tend to keep easy treats on hand for our kids to snack on during the day like these chicken and broccoli pizza rolls.

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Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone who has been part of the BruCrew family this year. We are so thankful for all of your support as we have shared dinners and desserts from our kitchen along with fun stories from our life.

We hope all of you are able to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones who are near and far. Hopefully you will also enjoy some delicious treats and goodies. Remember there are only a few more days until those new year diets kick in. So until then grab a cookie for each hand. [Read more...]

Triple Chocolate Cookies

Hiding a chocolate candy bar inside these Triple Chocolate Cookies is always a fun surprise. Heat each cookie in the microwave to enjoy a molten chocolate center.

Well, we made it to the last few days before Christmas. Do you have all your shopping and decorating done? I have to confess that this year I'm a little behind. Yes, we still have to do most of our present shopping.

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the crowds, but I usually go shopping with my husband, and we have not had time to shop together yet. If we can get all our stuff done quickly this morning, maybe tonight would be a good night to head out.

Do you have all your cookie baking done too? I sure hope not because these triple chocolate cookies are a fun and amazing cookie to bite into. [Read more...]

Apple Cranberry Coffee Cake

Fresh fruit, crumble, and a drizzle of glaze make this Apple Cranberry Coffee Cake an impressive coffee cake to share at breakfast.

*This post was sponsored by Crunch Pak apples. I am partnering with them as a blog ambassador creating delicious apple recipes.

Can you believe that we are down to one week until Christmas? Ok, that totally just freaked me out when I wrote that. I always think that I'm going to be on top of things when December gets here, but in reality I'm still scrambling to get things finished up.

Cards were ordered two weeks ago, but they are still sitting here waiting for addresses and stamps. There are presents to buy and wrap for our kids and family. Good thing I waited until a week before because it's not going to be crazy in the store now, right? What was I thinking?

Oh, and let's not forget about packing up anything and everything we have accumulated over the years. Moving over the holidays is not the best idea we have had, but it had to be that way, so we are rolling with it. That just means I had to make all my holiday desserts a month early this year. At least I'm ahead on one thing... [Read more...]

Chocolate Mint Truffle Snowball Cookies

These Chocolate Mint Truffle Snowball Cookies have a fun hidden candy center inside. Adding a chocolate coating and sprinkles will make them stand out on the holiday cookie trays.

Our winter has been very mild so far this year. We are talking 50-60 degrees mild. Totally strange for a midwest winter, that for sure.

Although, you will not hear me complaining at all. I'm not a winter/cold weather fan at all. The only day I am cool with snow is on Christmas day. There is something so relaxing about a white Christmas morning. After that it can melt and stay away until next year. Yes, I'm a snow grinch!

My husband was singing about dreaming of a white Christmas this morning on the way home from the gym. Nope, not me. The only snow I dream about is in the shape of a cookie. These Peppermint Snowball Cookies are on my holiday baking list every single year!

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Chocolate Peppermint Wafers

These no bake Chocolate Peppermint Wafers are an easy treat to make and share with friends at all your holiday parties.

Hi, my name is Jocelyn, and I cannot stop with the peppermint. Seriously, nothing is safe in our kitchen! I have been dipping and peppermint-ing all the things! My family is starting to look at me like I'm a crazy woman. Ok, that might be true...

Adding peppermint is just how I am celebrating the holidays this year. This month we are packing up to make a major move, so we are not decorating anything because everything is in boxes. It doesn't feel like much of a holiday month right now. Maybe a few more mugs of peppermint mocha hot chocolate will help!

My way of making our house feel holiday ready is to keep the peppermint goodness flowing out of the kitchen. I may have started in the middle of November and haven't stopped yet.

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Red Velvet Donuts

These Red Velvet Donuts with a sprinkle of candy canes are a fun and festive holiday breakfast treat. Go ahead and make them for Christmas morning.

As I was growing up, one of my sisters and I had a pact every year. If we knew what the other one was getting for Christmas, we would spill the beans to each other. Of course, we knew where our mom hid the presents, too, so we would sneak around and see what we could find in her closet and drawers.

I'm pretty sure if my mom had wrapped presents early, I would have slit the tape to look inside and then taped it back up. Yes, I'm a snoop. I think she knew the kids were not to be trusted, so she never wrapped our presents until the night before.

We have also done this "tradition" of wrapping gifts the night before with our kids. There is something magical about coming out to packages all around the tree on Christmas Day. Plus, I know my kids are just as sneaky as I was growing up, so there is no way I am putting packages out early for them to figure out.

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Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate

Sipping on a big mug of Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate is a delicious thing to drink in the winter. Chocolate, coffee, and peppermint swirl together and make you feel warm and toasty, no matter what it is doing outside.

One thing that I have been doing with my daughter since she was younger is a coffee date. We used to go for coffee and shopping more often, but she started expecting it, and all those coffees start to add up over time.

Now I randomly choose a night every few months, and she is surprised when we go for a cup of coffee and some quality shopping time together.

Shopping and coffee time is definitely the way to my daughter's heart. I'm so glad she enjoys the same things I do. It makes mother/daughter bonding so much easier for both of us. Just the other day she said she wanted to take me out for coffee. I can't wait for that date! Yay for her getting old enough to pay!

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Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cookie Cups

Hiding little cookies inside these Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cookie Cups will get smiles from everyone this holiday season. Chocolate and peppermint is a combo that everyone is sure to love.

*This post was sponsored by the J.M. Smucker Company. I am partnering with them this winter as a brand ambassador creating recipes from products they send me.

These easy Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cookie Cups have a hidden cookie center and are topped with peppermint frosting and candy pieces. Great holiday treat!

Peppermint and chocolate treats are still going strong in our kitchen. I'm not tired of them yet, but I think I'm getting a few looks from my family when they see all the peppermint pieces on everything. I suppose I should make another batch of these Eggnog Sugar Cookie Bars to keep them off my case.

Putting peppermint in everything totally keeps me in the holiday spirit though. Does anyone else feel that way about that festive red and white candy?

Let's just say I hope you are as excited for peppermint treats because I have a lot of delicious ones to share with you this month. Seriously...a lot. I hope you are ready!!!

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White Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cake

This White Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cake is loaded with cookies and peppermint candy cane pieces. It is an easy cake that looks impressive. Show off your baking skills at all the holiday parties with this awesome treat.

Falalalala...it's time to peppermint all the things. And I do mean all the things!!! As soon as December hits, I can't wait to add candy cane chunks to EVERY.SINGLE.THING that I bake in our kitchen.

Yes, I'm kind of obsessed with peppermint everything right now! I hope you don't mind, but I have quite a few treats to share this month with my beloved flavor.

And I realized as I was looking through all the things I made so far, that I paired most of these treats with Oreo cookies. It's apparently a flavor combo I can't stop making. I mean these Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies are still going strong, so why not, right? I hope you are ready for some peppermint cookie goodness!!!

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