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For my February baking experiment, I tried Frosting & Fettucine’s recipe for Super Chewy Coffee Cookies. Like most of my baking inspiration, I came across this recipe on Pinterest. It caught my eye since I already had a jar of King Arthur Espresso Powder in my pantry, patiently waiting to be used.
As promised, these cookies turned out wonderfully chewy and with a nice espresso flavor. Contrary to what most cookbooks advise, I always use salted butter in my baking. That is just what my Costco carries, and I think that extra edge of salt brings a nice edge to sweets.
This recipe only called for one tablespoon of espresso powder, so I have plenty left for other recipes. Do you have a favorite recipe that uses espresso powder?
If only world peace could be achieved through cookies. Nevertheless, this recipe for World Peace Cookies was fun to try out.
These cookies involve rolling the dough into cylinders and cutting them into 1/2 inch rounds. My tip would be to keep each cylinder of dough in the refrigerator until you are ready to cut and bake right away. I cut the second cylinder and let the rounds sit at room temperature while the first tray was baking. As a result, the second tray of cookies spread out more. They tasted just fine, but I liked the look of the first tray better.
This recipe originated with Pierre Herme, which Dorie Greenspan then published and Smitten Kitchen then blogged about. I used mini chocolate chips as suggested by Smitten Kitchen. I like how these cookies can be made ahead and frozen, either baked, or as logs of dough. Two thumbs up!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Have you tried Ritter Sport chocolate? These premium chocolate bars frequently appear in our family’s Christmas stockings. I like how each individual square bar feels hefty in the hand. Plus, the flavor combinations (which are each assigned their own colorful packaging) are unique and tasty. I especially enjoy Milk Chocolate with Cornflakes and Milk Chocolate with Butter Biscuit & Cocoa Creme.
Ritter Sport has been around since 1912 and is based in Waldenbuch, Germany. I am not sure where the name “Ritter Sport” comes from, but it is memorable. One way in which Ritter Sport ensures the quality of their chocolate is that they started their own sustainable Cocoa Farm in Nicaragua, which is quite impressive!
These miniature size Ritter Sport chocolates are so cute and a nice size for a little snack break or post-meal treat. Which flavor is your favorite? Remember to look for Ritter Sport the next time you are in the chocolate aisle, especially during the holidays.
Disclosure: Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
Watching movies with my family is one of my favorite ways to get in the holiday spirit. Journey to Bethlehem is a new movie coming to theaters on November 10th. This movie musical delivers the true story of Christmas in a highly entertaining format.
Journey to Bethlehem is a faithful re-telling of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. This movie hits just the right notes of drama, joy, comedy and reverence. In addition, throughout the movie, the characters burst into catchy pop songs that captivate the heart.
I would imagine it was difficult to cast Mary and Joseph for this film. However, I think they found two excellent actors who are perfect for their roles. I was surprised to learn that Milo Manheim is the son of Camryn Manheim. I guess acting runs in the family.
The performance I was most looking forward to (aside from Antonio Banderas as King Herod), was that of Joel Smallbone, who plays King Herod’s son. Smallbone is one of the two brothers who make up the popular Christian group For King & Country. We had the pleasure of attending a For King & Country concert last year, and there was a definite theatrical element to their performance. Therefore, it was not surprising to see Smallbone’s solid delivery in his role as a conflicted son of the king. (Lecrae also does an amazing job as the angel Gabriel).
The three wisemen did a wonderful job of bringing some levity to the story. Even though the movie portrays them as “three wise guys”, it also shows what an important role they had in pointing the way to baby Jesus.
Buy Tickets Today to See Journey to Bethlehem
Buy tickets here to see this family-friendly and uplifting film in theaters opening weekend, beginning November 10th!
Journey To Bethlehem Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win two tickets to see Journey To Bethlehem in a theater near you.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I love a good word game. From Bananagrams to crossword puzzles to my beloved Speak & Spell (RIP), words games have always been at the top of my list. Today I am reviewing two classic word games from Winning Moves that also serve as excellent travel games: Scrabble To Go and Big Boggle. Both of these games have mass appeal and can easily be transported to your next holiday get together or vacation.
Sometimes you need a game that you can set up, play a few rounds, and continue at a later time. Scrabble To Go answers that need with a smartly designed gameboard with snap-in letter tiles.
As you can see from the package, this game is designed for 2-4 players and is recommended for ages 8+.
This version of the game comes with mini “shelves” that have a flip top to keep the tiles in place.
These shelves then snap into place behind the gameboard.
The snap-in tiles fit snugly in the game board and will not slide out of place.
I really appreciate that all of the game parts fit into this nifty zippered carrying case. I wish more games were available in such a neat format.
Big Boggle is another convenient word game to play when you don’t have a lot of time. After all, the included timer makes each round last only three minutes! (As an aside, isn’t an hourglass sand timer so quaint when everyone is accustomed to using the timer on their phone or smartwatch?)
The rules for Big Boggle are quite simple. It can be played with two or more people and is recommended for ages 8+.
Again, since everything is contained in the blue box, Big Boggle is an easy game for fun on the go.
Disclosure: Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
Before watching Route 60: The Biblical Highway, I had never heard of this important highway that spans across Israel. Route 60, also known as the “Path of the Patriarchs,” is 146 miles. The road begins in Northern Israel in Nazareth and ends in Beersheba. David Friedman and Mike Pompeo do an excellent job of narrating this film. They provide the historical context of how this road played a significant part in the stories of both the Old and New Testaments. It is neat to see the actual physical setting of many stories from the Bible.
As Friedman and Pompeo walk along parts of Route 60, there is a striking juxtaposition between some of the seemingly unchanged landscapes and the more modern cityscapes. It is difficult to imagine Abraham, Jacob, King David and Jesus walking along the same dirt road that is now a highway populated with cars. Route 60 provides an intriguing look into how this road connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians. I think history buffs would be especially interested in this film.
Buy tickets today to see Route 60 in theaters ONLY on 9/18 & 9/19!
Purchase tickets to see Roue 60: The Biblical Highway at a theater near you here.
Route 60 $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of Route 60: The Biblical Highway.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Briarcliff Entertainment, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
I am a fan of movies based on true stories. If it has a sports theme, even better! The Hill is an inspirational baseball movie based on a true story that will be released in theaters starting August 25th. I had the opportunity to watch a sneak preview, and this movie inspires viewers to follow their dreams while pulling at their heartstrings.
The Hill is based on the incredible true story of a boy named Rickey Hill who had a dream of being a professional baseball player. Rickey held onto his dream despite having to wear braces on his legs due to a degenerative spinal disease. Another even greater obstacle in Rickey’s way was a strict and stubborn pastor-father, played by Dennis Quaid. Ricky’s father refused to support his son’s dream in an effort to protect him and because he thought his own plans for his son to follow in his pastoral footsteps were the best.
The child actors in this film were phenomenal, and I was immediately pulled into the characters’ lives.
It has been a while since I have seen Dennis Quaid in a movie, but he does an excellent job of playing a conflicted father.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of The Hill. (The winner will need to respond to my email notification within 24 hours to claim the prize.)
Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Les Bannetons de Charonne
When I researched the available breakfast options near our Airbnb, the closest was Les Bannetons de Charonne (literally across the street). This place received mixed, and somewhat negative reviews, but I still wanted to try it due to its sheer convenience.
There seemed to be a light, but steady stream of customers, which I took as a good sign. The smell of freshly baked goods wafted into the street corner.
I attempted to use a couple of French phrases while ordering, and the older woman behind the counter smiled and said “good”!
I brought back plain, chocolate and raspberry croissants to eat for breakfast. They were so light, it did not feel like we were consuming tons of butter-haha. The prices were quite reasonable compared to specialty bakeries around here (e.g. the raspberry croissant was 1.40 euros).
There was a small learning curve, but we successfully navigated the Metro around Paris. Once we bought the Navigo Easy Passes at a station with a live attendant, it was easy to track/refill all of our passes via the app. One tip is that you only have to tap your card when entering a station, not on the way out.
The Musee d’Orsay was originally a train station (Gare d’Orsay) that opened in 1900. In preparation of our visit, my son read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. We also watched the movie Hugo, which is based on the book. The story is set in Gare d’Orsay, and it was neat to recognize parts of the building.
The sparseness of this painting made me do a double-take.
Doesn’t Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles remind you of Goodnight Moon? I did a Google search about there being a connection, but was unable to find anything that mentioned it.
Always exciting to see a Monet.
Cool-looking restaurant
Gosselin Saint-Germain: A Great Lunch Near Musee D’Orsay
After an art-filled morning, we were ready to fill our stomachs again. I found a boulangerie called Gosselin Saint-Germain that is a quick walk (<5 minutes) from Musee d’Orsay.
Such an enticing display case!
Since there was no seating, we had an impromptu picnic next to the Seine, which was nearby.
We had a little dilemma regarding dessert because everything looked so delicious, but we also had to be careful of the kids’ nut allergies. I had a pocket-sized card explaining their allergies to the woman behind the counter, but the language barrier did not leave me feeling too confident about her suggestions. We settled on eclairs (coffee, vanilla and chocolate), and they ended up being a tasty and thankfully nut-free choice.
Disclosure: Many thanks to The Hiding Place LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
Have you heard the incredible true story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family hiding hundreds of Jewish refugees during World War II? The Hiding Place film, only in theaters for a special release on August 3 & 5, is a faithful retelling of how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
We have a copy of The Hiding Place in our home library, so I was especially excited to learn more about this theatrical release!
The Hiding Place is an inspiring family movie because it shows how faith, hope and love can triumph over evil. The Ten Boom family’s willingness to risk it all makes you question how strong your own beliefs are and whether you would be willing to put those beliefs into action if it meant risking your life.
The Hiding Place film is a cinematic presentation of a stage performance adapted by A. S. Peterson, and directed by Matt Logan. The art and stage direction is impressive. Watching this film feels like you have a prime seat for a live performance.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of The Hiding Place Film! (The winner will be notified by email and must claim prize within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen).
One of the most exciting new products I discovered at this year’s Expo West was The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips. As long-time readers know, I am continuously on the hunt for allergen-friendly snacks that contain natural ingredients. The Froot Thief checks off all of my boxes, and I cannot recommend them enough!
The tagline on The Froot Thief packaging is “No added nasties!” and they mean it. The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips are vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO. They are free of all the major allergens and contain no added sugar.
The Froot Thief is a snack that you can feel good about packing in your kids’ lunch; each serving contains one cup of fresh fruit!
The individually wrapped packets make these snacks perfect for packing on-the-go. My kids (and my husband and I) all loved the fruity flavor and chewy consistency. It is similar to a fruit snack, but in the shape of spaghetti, if that makes sense.
Where To Purchase The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips
Currently, The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips are available for purchase online. I will definitely be on the lookout for them at Costco, where they are coming soon.
The Froot Thief Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win 100 packets of The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips!
