Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Creamy Blueberry Balsamic Salad Dressing

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 27, 2020 · 2 Comments

Enjoy this Creamy Blueberry Balsamic Salad Dressing on your salads all summer long. This homemade salad dressing recipe is easy to make and is loaded with blueberry goodness.

A few weeks ago our kids were all about eating lots of fresh fruit. We couldn't buy it fast enough. It seemed like as soon as we bought a box or two, the fruit would disappear right away.

Then last week we bought a few more boxes, and they just sat there. I guess the kids are over fruit for right now.

Before the blueberries went bad, I decided to get creative and make a spinach salad with a homemade blueberry salad dressing for dinner. It is officially my new favorite summer salad!!! ...

Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 22, 2020 · UPDATED May 29, 2022 · 6 Comments

A mug of this Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe is the ultimate treat to enjoy on a hot summer day! This sweet Dunkin copycat is easier and better than any coffee shop version. Use a salted caramel hot chocolate and coffee to give it a fun flavor.

Two glasses of Frozen Hot Chocolate with red straws and chocolate and caramel drizzles on top.

Hello, chocolate goodness! Frozen hot chocolate has become one of our new favorite summer drinks when it is blazing hot outside.

A few weeks ago my daughter and I went to Dunkin' Donuts for an iced coffee. She saw the frozen hot chocolate poster on the window and decided to try that instead.

One sip and she was instantly a fan of that sweet frozen drink. Instead of driving to the store and spending money all the time, I decided to show our girl how easy it is to make a copycat frozen hot chocolate at home.

Why This Works

You can also customize the flavors when you make it in your own kitchen. I made a plain frozen hot chocolate for my daughter and a fun jazzed up version for me. This salted caramel mocha was the inspiration for my drink.

Leftover coffee, some salted caramel coffee creamer, and a salted caramel hot chocolate packet made this the most amazing drink. It was so good.

Imagine a milkshake, slushie, and frosty all in one glass with a sweet and salty flavor!

...

4th of July Cookies

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 21, 2020 · UPDATED July 3, 2021 · 43 Comments

Add a plate of these fun-colored 4th of July Cookies to your holiday plans. Sprinkles and red, white, and blue M&Ms will make these soft and puffy fireworks cookies disappear in a hurry.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Fireworks Cookies

Cookies are a treat I like to keep on hand all the time for our hungry kiddos. So, I wanted to make another version of our popular cookies and cream cookies for a Fourth of July dessert this year.

We always have a few boxes of cake mix in our pantry, just in case we need to make a quick cake or cupcakes. However, most of the time, those cake mixes turn into cookies because they are so easy to mix up.

The bag of red, white, and blue M&M's and star sprinkles in the pantry were just the way to make these cake mix cookies a little more festive for Independence Day. The extra sprinkles on top gave them a fun and colorful fireworks look.

I love how every cookie looks different but has the same awesome taste. To change things up in these cookies and cream cookies, we used chocolate cream-filled Oreo cookies. Honestly, you can use any cream-filled cookie in this recipe.

...

S'mores Popcorn

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 19, 2020 · 30 Comments

A bowl of this sweet and salty S'mores Popcorn is a great snack to munch on while you watch tv with your family. Candy bars, marshmallows, and Golden Grahams make this chocolate covered popcorn so irresistible.

A red bowl on a blue and white checkered towel filled with lots of S'mores Popcorn

We have a rower in our garage gym that I have been reluctantly using. I say reluctantly because with all the sweets that keep pouring out of my kitchen, I need the exercise more than ever now.

I work out, then I eat Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies for lunch. The next day I work out, then I eat Blueberry Jelly Donut Holes for snack. See how vicious the cycle is?

I'm thinking the extra snacks are my downfall because the numbers on the scale are not moving. All this working out is only keeping me at the same weight.

My dang sweet tooth is sabotaging all my efforts to fit back into last summers shorts.

...

Peanut Butter S'mores Blondies

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 18, 2020 · 27 Comments

The swirls of marshmallow cream and fudge topping inside these Peanut Butter S'mores Blondies will satisfy all your chocolate and peanut butter dreams. Great blonde brownie recipe to make for summer picnics and parties.

I wish that I could FORGET about my peanut butter and chocolate love affair!!! I have a food confession for you! (hangs head in shame)

The other night I was working on editing some new photos when I heard the leftover Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting in the fridge calling out to me in a sweet sing songy voice. "Please come dip a spoon into my yummy, chocolatey goodness!"

What? You have never had chocolate frosting talk to you???? I'm guessing you've never heard from Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies either. I'm probably the strange one here.

...

Monterey Chicken Enchiladas

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 14, 2020 · 21 Comments

These Monterey Chicken Enchiladas are loaded with barbecue chicken, cheese, and tomatoes. This is a quick and easy dinner recipe that your entire family will enjoy.

A white plate on a red towel with two Monterey Chicken Enchiladas on it topped with green onions and tomatoes

My family has started to boycott sweets. I'm not sure I know who they are anymore!! I mean seriously, how can you live with me and not like sweets? This is boggling my mind for sure!

Ok, fine. I guess if you have sweets around 24/7, it can get pretty old. I still haven't gotten to that point of not wanting the sweets. Although, I'm pretty sure my jeans would love it if I could join the no sweets train a little more often.

Since the desserts I have been making have been going untouched, I need to get back to creating some more savory dishes. This family of mine insists that Dark Chocolate Layer Cake just doesn't work for dinner. So it's time to find some more dinner recipes that will get devoured.

...

Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treats

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 13, 2020 · UPDATED July 9, 2021 · 4 Comments

Bring a little magic into your home with these Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treats. You only need a few ingredients and a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter to make this easy Disney copycat recipe.

A close up picture of a M&M's Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treat on a stick held up in front of a plate of treats

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Do you know some adults who seem to love Disney more than their kids? I have to admit that I'm one of those people who absolutely loves going to the Parks.

Not everyone can head to the Parks at this time, so I am on a mission to recreate some of my favorite Disney snacks for all of us to enjoy at home.

Why Make Mickey Mouse Treats

Making your own Disney treats like a copycat Dole Whip or Mickey gingerbread is a great way to enjoy a little bit of Mickey Mouse fun with your family.

Now I realize that nothing beats eating the real thing in front of the castle at Disney World, but this copycat version of the Mickey shaped rice krispie treats is perfect when you can't visit.

They look and taste just like the ones you can purchase at Main Street Confectionery in Disney World and at Goofy's Candy Company in Disney Springs. Plus, you can use the same method to make these Disney bunny butt rice krispies for Easter! You gotta love a hidden Mickey treat!

...

Coconut Oreo Strawberry Shortcakes

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 11, 2020 · 41 Comments

These Coconut Oreo Strawberry Shortcakes will be the hit of every summer picnic. Strawberry shortcake is one of the most loved desserts for summer. Take that classic recipe to a new level with coconut and Oreo cookies and watch everyone dig in.

Strawberry shortcake is one of those summer desserts that makes just about everyone smile. Well, unless you are an alien or something. LOL!

Sweet biscuits topped with strawberries, homemade whipped cream, and milk. Yes, I just said milk. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not drowning my shortcakes in milk, just drizzling some over the top to soften them up a little.

Show me your hands if you like to add milk to the top of your shortcake stack. Ok, wait I can't see your hands, so you will have to leave me a comment if you are a milk fan too! ...

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 9, 2020 · UPDATED April 7, 2021 · Leave a Comment

A hidden lemon center and fluffy marshmallow frosting makes these made from scratch Lemon Meringue Cupcakes so fun and delicious. All the flavor of a lemon meringue pie in a cute portable size.

*This content is sponsored by Dixie Crystals Sugar. All opinions and ideas expressed are entirely my own.

A close up picture of the center of a lemon meringue cupcake sitting on a white doily on a yellow towel

I remember making lemon meringue pies for my dad all the time when I was a teenager. Making tall peaks with the fluffy meringue topping and then toasting them was always my favorite part of those pies.

Now that I think about it though, I honestly cannot remember the last time I made a lemon meringue pie. Usually, I make the Best Lemon Bars or this Lemon Strawberry Poke Cake if I'm in the mood for lemon treats.

In fact, I had not even thought about those lemon pies until a few months ago when I was choosing recipes to make for spring. One of the recipes on my list were these lemon meringue cupcakes. This lemon cupcake just yells spring, doesn't it?

...

Cherry Oreo Icebox Cake

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED May 8, 2020 · UPDATED June 26, 2020 · 27 Comments

This Cherry Oreo Icebox Cake has dark chocolate Oreos and no bake cherry cheesecake layered in a pan. It is a no fail dessert that is easy, delicious, and sure to disappear in minutes when you share it at summer parties or picnics.

There are certain desserts that just yell "eat me" when you see them. This happens to be one of those crazy good desserts that "talks" to me. Trust me, you will want to enjoy this one all summer long.

There is something about an easy icebox cake that is so perfect and delicious during the summer. During the hot and humid summer months here in Florida I live for easy no bake desserts.

Who wants to heat up the house when it's 95 degrees outside with 100% humidity. Am I right? All I want to do is lie on my pool float with endless cups of Raspberry Orange Slushies. ...

« Previous Page