It’s that time of year.

And no, I’m not talking about the holidays, though it is definitely that time of year as well.
The time of year I’m talking about is cold and flu season.
I’m SO over it!

Things are going around, so be sure to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and definitely be good to yourself. You can do this by making this Apple Oatmeal and enjoy a bottle of Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk!

We went back to Rhode Island for Thanksgiving and had an absolutely wonderful time with family and friends. Soon after we arrived home, I came down with the sniffling-achy-stuffy-head-etc-fever kind of flu and am ready to kick it to the curb already.

When I’m sick like this I want my mommy. I want to veg on the couch under a blanket. I want the family to take care of me. When I’m up to eating, I want comfort food to warm my insides. When I want a drink, it’s lots of water. It’s me time, darn it!

Yesterday morning, this Apple Oatmeal paired with the Original Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk was just what the doctor ordered. The oatmeal warmed my insides and the Cold Brew Coffee and Milk gave me the energy I needed to finish up some work because it contains 2X the amount of caffeine of regular coffee, and is smoother and less acidic. It’s 100% Colombian coffee combined with the great taste of Shamrock Farms Milk.

When we moved to Arizona in 2002, I quickly became familiar with Shamrock Farms dairy products, seeing them in the grocery stores. They’re a brand I’ve come to know, trust and use regularly. I like that their milk is free of any artificial growth hormones and sourced from local farms.

You can find their Cold Brew Coffee and milk in the coffee/juice refrigerated section of your Albertsons, Bashas’, AJ’s Fine Foods, Safeway, Sprouts and Quik Trip. Try any one or all of their three varieties – Original, Mocha and Vanilla.

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For information on their products, farm history and recipes, visit Shamrock Farms!

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I’m especially psyched that Shamrock Farms came out with their Cold Brew Coffee and Milk. Being a Rhode Islander, coffee milk was a staple growing up. While coffee syrup isn’t readily available in Arizona as it is in Rhode Island (after all, coffee milk IS the official state drink!), Shamrock Farms has given me the next best thing! I love that I can now enjoy one of my favorite beverages any time of day.

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Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk with Apple Oatmeal

This Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk with Apple Oatmeal is a delicious breakfast combination. Enjoy the three NEW flavors of Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk at breakfast or any time of day. It pairs perfectly with a warm bowl of Apple Oatmeal in the morning!

Author Lynne Feifer

Ingredients

• ½ cup instant oats
• 1 cup milk
• ½ apple peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• Additional chopped apple chopped walnuts and raisins for topping, if desired.

Instructions

• In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium heat.
• Bring to boil and cook until thickened.
• Serve with additional chopped apple, walnuts, or raisins.

If you like this Apple Oatmeal recipe then you’ll probably enjoy…

Cherry Oatmeal Muffins

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

And try this Denver Scrambled Breakfast Braid, too!

Take a look at these delicious oatmeal recipes from my fellow bloggers…
Blueberry Chai Oatmeal from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal from Around My Family Table
Tropical Coconut Oatmeal from Emilie Eats
Quick Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal from Five Heart Home
Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal from Food Faith Fitness

Check out these great videos for some delicious breakfast ideas!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shamrock Farms. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Shamrock Farms Cold Brew Coffee and Milk and Apple Oatmeal appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.

When life becomes a little too hectic and you start to feel overwhelmed, take care of YOU. Relax and take time to enjoy life with Folgers. Enjoy your morning or afternoon cup of coffee in no time with Folgers instant coffee.

Summer’s almost upon us.

Depending on where you live in the country, school’s either finished or nearly there and the “lazy days” of summer will soon be here.
I don’t know about you, but there were times over those few hot months when our kids were little that life seemed just as hectic as the rest of the year.

Yes, there was the break from homework and the after school activities, but the swimming lessons, play dates and day trips to keep them occupied kept us very busy as well! Sprinkle a few family trips hither and yon amongst it all and sometimes I didn’t know if I was coming or going.

Life’s become a bit simpler now that they’re all young adults, and I’m able to have a bit more “me” time with a few less people needing mom’s undying attention. Ok, so Kurt (my husband) is not included in that as he still needs more than any of them did. He’s still a work in progress. 😉
And then I find myself missing those crazy days when they were little. I’d strap them into their car seats to go where ever, we’d all sing to the children’s tapes in the cassette deck, dinner was typically late because we moms would be outside socializing while watching the kids, and there were always toys…all…over…the…house.
Yeah, those were the days. Just as the song by Trace Adkins says, “You’re Gonna Miss This”, I do. I tear up every time I hear that it because it’s true.

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Now that the kids are older, we have a different relationship. I’m still their mother and will always be first and foremost, but it’s nice to relax and hang out with them, talking about life over coffee and a muffin.

There are still those times when I’m feeling like I need to decompress and take care of myself because of course, life still has stresses, but I make it a point to do that. I need to ensure there’s enough of me to focus on everyone else.

Yet, occasionally it becomes a little more difficult to have that “me” time that I’m used to first thing in the morning when I stand in front of the coffee maker only to discover that it needs to be descaled.
Ain’t nobody got time for that! I need my coffee, darn it!

Descaling a coffee machine is not a morning priority and that’s where my time with Folgers instant coffee comes in. Fortunately, it doesn’t let me miss a beat. I like having the time to myself, the stillness of the house, the time on my computer to check my emails, and schedule a few posts on Facebook while enjoying my first cup.

Then on the days that I’m writing my posts, I’ll take an early afternoon break with a cup of Instant Coffee to clear my head and do a little reading or catch up on my magazines.
I enjoy my “Me” time and I hope you do as well.

Take a look to see all the different Folgers Recipes so you can start planning your “Me” Time, too!
In this day and age where so much is available to us in an instant, and many of us have that need for instant gratification, it’s nice to know that a coffee company that’s been around for more than 150 years will continue to be by our side for years to come.

I give you BIG baking hugs and muffins!

The post Me Time with Folgers appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.

Can you believe it, this year is FLYING!!
If you haven’t already started planning next month’s holiday menu, I’ve got more than 25 Thanksgiving recipes from some of your favorite bloggers. From drinks to dessert you’re sure to find something new to feed your guests. Heck, even the bird is included!
Start by pinning the image below and then take a gander (haha, get it, bird-gander. Ok, I’m done.) at all of the lovely dishes below! Enjoy!
Oh, and here’s a napkin should you start drooling. 😉

Green Bean Casserole

Frozen Cranberry Salad

Pecan Pie Truffles

Praline Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Brown Bag Turkey

Mashed Potatoes

Potato Rolls

Caramel Apple Slab Pie

Krissy’s Sweet Potato Casserole

Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic and Lemon Pan Sauce

Crock Pot Cranberry Cider

Individual Apple Pies

Southern Style Green Beans

Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

Bourbon Maple Glazed Carrots

Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots

Apple Bacon & Cheddar Cheese Stuffing

Herb Roasted Turkey

Pear Pomegranate Candied Walnut Salad

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Crockpot Three Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

Cornbread Sage & Onion Stuffing

Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin

How to Brine a Turkey

Homemade Caramel Apple Pie

Perfect Smoked Turkey

Cranberry Walnut Bread

Hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up. We’ll be back next month with another one from all these fabulous bloggers, so be sure to watch for it!

I give you BIG baking hugs and muffins!!

The post 25 Thanksgiving Recipes appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.

Here are more than 20 Halloween treats to feed your ghosts and goblins this year. There’s something for everyone, so no one will leave the party hungry!

It’s almost Halloween! Can you believe it??
And then you know how the next few months fly by and BAM! –  all of a sudden it’s the end of the year.

 I think you’re going to love the selection of goodies we’ve got for you this month. Some are creepy and some are creepily cute, if that’s possible. 😉
There’s a great assortment from a very talented and creative bunch of bloggers, so I’m sure there’s something to please everyone at your party or get together! Have fun trick-or-treating and stay safe!

Halloween Snack Mix

Spooky Spider Brownies

Halloween Bundt Cake

Mummy Pops

Candy Corn Sugar Cookie Bars

Spiderweb Cookie Cake

Frankenberry Krispies

Oreo Spider Cookie Sandwiches

Mini Pumpkin Ghost cakes

Dirt Cupcakes

Halloween Snack Mix

Candy Corn Pudding Pops

Brain Cheeseball

Vampire Cocktail

Edible Earwax on a Swab

Monster Cupcakes

Halloween Chunky Cheese Dip

Halloween Mummy Oreo Truffles

Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats

Pizza Mummy Braid

Monster Mash

Jack O’Lantern Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Peppers

Candy Corn Poke Cake

Halloween Meringues

Sweet and Smokey Barbecue Chicken Chili

Skull Confetti Cakes

The post 20 + Halloween Treats appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.

Last month we had No Bake Energy Bites before we went walking with our Omron Wireless Tracker. Today, I present to you an Easy Fruit Smoothie!

I have to say that it is a welcomed respite making and posting foods that do a body good when I’m so very used to posting sweets and desserts.
I like change.
Actually, I only like change when I can control it. haha
My blog is something I control. That I like.

I also like that I can control how much or how little exercise I do. Of course, more is better because it gets your heart pumping, clears your mind, rids you of toxins and is just so doggone good for you!
I’m very happy that I was able to take part in this #WalkOutWednesdays challenge. How did you do? Did you exercise more than you usually do? I did!

This Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker (HJ-327T) from Omron Wellness.com is really such a handy little device and is a fraction of the cost of other trackers.
Using this motivated me to get outside and walk. I have to admit that there were a few days I forgot it and had really wished I’d remembered to stick it in my pocket or hook it to my shorts, especially that one day that my daughter and I walked around and around the mall. It would have been interesting to see how much ground we covered shopping. Next time, definitely.
One of the other days I walked the most, I completely forgot to download the data. I have no idea why I’d forgotten, just too tired, I guess, but I realized the next day. I missed about 9,000 steps, too. So, that is one thing I wish the tracker would do – automatically download at 11:59 pm when the human brain doesn’t remember.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with both the tracker and the app. I’ll definitely continue to use it and do recommend it. It’s pretty cool to see at the end of each day how far you’ve walked. Even here around the house before I went for my actual walk, I was surprised how far I went! I suppose doing housework and walking from room to room is considered exercise, too! I just need to do more of it. 😉
I was happiest when the walks were longer and I was able to spend my time outside with my Mr., enjoying the sunshine, nature and our time together.

I definitely recommend downloading your data each night. Take the tracker out of your pocket and set it and your phone on your bedside table before you get ready for bed. That way when you crawl into bed, you can start the download and it takes less then a minute.
You just need to remember to do it. It doesn’t happen automatically and the tracker will reset to 0 at midnight, so don’t do what I did and forget.

Below is the screen you see when you access the Omron application before a download. You can see below the grid that it keeps track of Aerobic steps, calories burned, and miles. On the tracker itself, you’ll be able to see this information each time you tap the screen. In the application,  you’ll be able to keep track of the amounts and distance for the day, week, month and year.

To start the downloading process on an Android, all you need to do is tap the sync icon in the upper right corner and it will begin “talking” to the tracker. Make sure your Bluetooth is on for this, otherwise nothing will be transferred.

Below is what I completed halfway through one of my days.

In the picture below, is the total (remember minus the 9,000 give or take that I didn’t upload that one day and the day at the mall  😉  ), I’ve done since my first post about the Omron Alvita Wireless Tracker. Pretty cool, hunh?

Staying active and eating food with good nutritional value is important for our bodies. Yes, I post a lot of desserts here on the 365 blog, but that’s ok. You just need to remember that moderation is the key and it’s ok to treat yourself once in a while.
Walk a little further tomorrow. Park in the last row at the grocery store instead of parking closest to the door, but be careful and be aware of your surroundings. You might meet a guy like I did the other day who said, “It’s a pretty day out today.”
I said, “Yes, it is.”
He responded, “It’s pretty like you.”
Okay, I’m getting in my car quickly. Buh-bye. See you later. And I couldn’t walk away fast enough.

Print

Easy Fruit Smoothie and the Omron Alvita Wireless Tracker

Author Lynne Feifer

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups frozen blueberries and strawberries
• ½ cup Greek honey vanilla yogurt
• ½ cup fresh spinach chopped
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

I rate everything I make on a scale of 1 – 4 and this Easy Fruit Smoothie is wicked easy and wicked good! Yes, I’m a New Englandah. I say wicked.
There’s fruit, yummy Greek yogurt for some extra protein, spinach and even chia seeds to give you an extra boost!
And did you see the directions to make this thing?? Just throw everything in the blender and you’re done! Drink. Enjoy!

Be sure to check out the Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker (HJ-327T) at Omron Healthcare to see what it can do for you! There’s also a video to help you get started.
So, make dates to walk with a friend. By doing so, you’ll stay motivated and will have accountability. It’s much easier and more fun to stay on track that way. I look forward to my daily walks and I hope you do, too!

I give you BIG baking hugs and muffins!!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Omron. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Easy Fruit Smoothie and the Omron Alvita Wireless Tracker appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.