Easy Christmas Punch Recipe

I can still remember the first Thanksgiving I made this, I immediately fell in love.

It isn't very sweet which was perfect for me because I'm not a big fun of extra sweet drinks (if you love sweet though feel free to add in about 1/3 cup sugar with the cranberry juice then mix and dissolve before adding in the soda).

It really has the most delicious blend of flavors. The combination did seem strange to me at first with ginger ale, cranberries, pineapple juice and the secret ingredient of almond extract but truly it just works!

I mean just think about all the tasty foods that use almond extract - Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies, our absolute favorite Birthday Cake, this Banana Almond Flax Smoothie, and those irresistible Almond Poppy Seed Pancakes.

Almond extract makes everything good! It add such a unique yet perfectly warm and welcoming flavor and it just brings so much to this punch.

After one sip you'll see what all the hype is about. It will likely become a new staple holiday family tradition!

Also this year with smaller gatherings you can definitely half the recipe if needed. Or just serve the leftover the next day like we do. It's a bit flat but still so tasty.

Easy Grilled Chicken Kebabs!

I first shared these chicken pineapple kebabs four years ago, but every summer they're still a reader favorite so I decided to re-share them in case you've been missing out. Have you tried them yet?

Kebabs Video

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I mean, who doesn't love a tasty kebab recipe? And what better entree to serve on a warm summer day than these Hawaiian chicken kebabs? One bite of these will leave you craving more!

You will love the light sweetness and bright tang here paired with the pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion. And the chicken turns out perfectly flavorful and tender thanks to the simple chicken kebab marinade.

Threading everything onto the kebabs may take a little effort, but it's well worth it! These are so fun for summer parties or an exciting island-inspired weekend dinner.

It's a flavorful chicken dinner to switch things up and one the whole family can agree on!

The Best Wassail Recipe!

This warm, spiced apple cider punch is one of the best ways to enjoy a chilly day! It's sweet and tangy and perfectly bright and refreshing.

It's made with 100% juice and a hint of honey so it's a drink you can feel fine about enjoying. And kids love it too!

I've had many different versions of wassail a lot of which I found too tart or over-spiced, this is the version I love best!

What is Wassail Anyway?

Generally Wassail is a spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve. Many versions though here in the U.S. are alcohol free, as is this one (though if preferred you could add vodka or rum).

Ingredients You'll Need for This Punch

• Apple cider
• Orange juice
• Pineapple juice
• Honey
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cloves

Tips when selecting ingredients - use not from concentrate juices and real apple cider (the kind generally found in the produce section with floaties in the bottom).

How to Make Wassail

• In a large pot stir together apple cider, pineapple juice, orange juice and honey.
• Add cinnamon sticks and cloves (if you don't want to strain later on put spices in cheesecloth and tie).

• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer 30 minutes.
• Strain and serve warm.

Garnish if Desired

You can cook a few apple slices with it but I prefer not to cook oranges slices in the punch because it can add a bitter flavor from the white pith. But if you wait to add the oranges slices add it at the end it won't really add bitterness.

Garnishing Ideas:

• Apple slices (look for the pretty red Galas)
• Mandarin oranges slices (use quartered slices for individual servings)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Fresh cranberries

Can I Make It in the Slow Cooker?

You can definitely make this in the slow cooker as well. Just add ingredients to a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker, cover and cook on low 4 hours. Set to warm setting for parties to keep it heated.

Can I Reheat It?

If you didn't finish off the whole batch you can just chill whats left and rewarm later (either in the microwave, stovetop or slow cooker).

More Drink Recipes You'll Love

• Christmas Punch
• Hot Chocolate
• Butterbeer

How to Make Pineapple Cake  

To make this cake, you'll follow the standard cake-making instructions: Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whip butter and sugar, then mix in eggs and vanilla. Then, you'll rotate mixing dry ingredients with wet ingredients (which here is that concentrate and crushed pineapple mixture).

Then bake it in the oven until cooked through, and let it cool completely. Then bring on that ultra decadent, super fluffy, whipped vanilla buttercream! And if you aren't a fan of coconut, you can skip it, but I liked the added flair.

The secret to my pineapple cake is pineapple juice concentrate. I made three pineapple cakes until I figured out the trick on the third attempt. The concentrate has at least 3 times the flavor as the juice from the can, so it kind of seems like a no-brainer for this cake batter.

Healthy Strawberry Mango Peach Smoothie

There's just something about this combination of fruits that works so well together, each one perfectly complementing the other. The bright flavors of the peach mango smoothie will leave you craving more all summer long!

Everyone in my family loved this healthy smoothie and it's one we'll make again and again. It doesn't get much easier than fruit smoothies, and they're a great way to pack fruit into your diet.

Normally I'm always adding Greek yogurt and almond milk to smoothies to make them more filling and creamy, but this time around I went with juice and I actually liked the juice version more than the yogurt/almond milk version. It gave it a nice natural sweetness and kept it fruity.

I love how this peach smoothie makes a tasty breakfast or a good midday snack. It's a great way to get some of that recommend daily fruit intake, smoothies are the best way for me to get my kids eat eat lots of fruit.

I love how smoothies taste like a treat but they are packed with vitamins and nutrients. In other words, I guess I should start skipping that after-dinner cake and opting for another smoothie instead!

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

I love these so much because they are just one of those good old-fashioned recipes like your mom or grandma used to make, but rather they're made into cupcakes!

I could eat three of them in one sitting no problem, which is why I'm making them again tomorrow for the second time this week!

I'm having family over for a ham and potato dinner (my mom makes the best ham gravy) and I thought these would be the perfect finish for that meal. Pineapple and ham just go together, right?

How To Make Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

Easy to Make Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

These are actually really easy to make, they require a few steps but they go pretty fast, especially with an electric mixer.  It's worth the extra steps, I promise.

Whatever you do though, don't leave off the maraschino cherries. It just wouldn't be the same flavor without them.

You can usually find the cherries either by the canned fruit at the grocery store or by the ice cream cones.

My kids go crazy for the things (oh, and me too). I have to hide them when I buy them or it's like the first thing they ask for every day.

Smart kids, I mean how could your day go wrong when you start it out with a maraschino cherry? The finer things in life.

Scroll below the recipe to see the instructions for making these cupcakes!

Ingredients for Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes

• Large eggs
• Pineapple Slices (you can use crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits, but it's messier)
• Yellow Cake mix or Pineapple cake mix if you can find it
• Finish with a dollop of vanilla ice cream (optional)

More Delicious Cupcake Recipes to Try

• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Coconut Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream Frosting
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting
• Pistachio Cupcakes

Pan Seared Salmon with Sweet and Sour Sauce

I'm loving skillet salmon lately, it has the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavor. And that crispy crust you get on the exterior of the salmon is just dreamy, not to mention it's one of the quickest ways to cook salmon.

I actually made this sweet and sour salmon last week and I'm making it again tonight for dinner because we all loved it so much! Winner winner salmon dinner.

I love how easy it is, and don't even get me started on that homemade sweet and sour sauce! It has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, it's the perfect consistency and it highlights the salmon perfectly.

Bonus: you can also use this sweet and sour sauce recipe for grilled chicken or coated and fried chicken pieces. If you really love sauce and you want more for veggies and rice, I'd recommend doubling the recipe.

It just snowed outside, for like the 50th time this winter (okay maybe 20th, I tend to exaggerate sometimes), so instead of dreading the cold I'm just sitting inside in the warmth and eating this island-inspired salmon and pretending I'm somewhere tropical, and then I'll finish it off with some hot cocoa.

Pineapple Mango Lemonade

Every year there are a few things on the summer to-do list that are a must and for me making homemade, fresh lemonade is one of them!

Last year I shared recipes for Watermelon Lemonade, Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade, and Sparkling Honey Limeade.

It is Hawaiian Foods Week after all, so what better way to celebrate this year than with a large pitcher of this pineapple mango Lemonade—the perfect summer drink!

I always love having an excuse to celebrate and I absolutely love Hawaiian food so my family and I will be having our own little backyard luau. I'll be serving this lemonade with Hawaiian BBQ pork sandwiches and I'm thinking some kind of Hawaiian slaw or macaroni salad will be the perfect side dish.

And for dessert, I think the perfect way to end the night would be with these Pina Colada Cupcakes!

Now I just need to track down some tiki torches at a local store because what's a luau without tiki torches? Oh yes, and another must are straw skirts! I love parties like this that make it feel like a mini vacation at home!

Ingredients and Substitutions for this Mango Lemonade Recipe

Adjust your ingredients to find what you like best!

• Strawberries
• Simple Syrup for a sweeter taste
• Lime Juice to make it a mango limeade
• Fresh mango, mango puree, or mango pulp
• Peaches
• Green tea
• Ginger for spice
• Fresh mint leaves
• Coconut water
• Spike your mixture with rum or vodka
• Blend with ice cubes to make a slush or smoothie

More Pineapple Recipes You'll Love

• Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
• Pineapple Cake {From Scratch}
• Piña Colada Cupcakes
• Pineapple Coconut Thumbprint Cookies
• Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken

Piña Colada Cupcakes with Pineapple and Coconut

Since summer isn't coming quick enough let's just make these Pina Colada Cupcakes and pretend it's summer. Okay? Great!

It's always about this time of year that I crave the warm sunshine and beach days again. So, since I can't force it I just fake it with food instead, then I sit and enjoy these on my couch...with a kiddie pool in the house and all my brightest lamps and my sunglasses and flip flops on.

Only kidding, but it's about getting to that point. I'm totally ready to be out of hibernation though.

But don't you just love foods like this that you can enjoy all year round that give off those summer vibes?