Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017

Calling all holiday foodies to enter the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017. Prizes and Giveaway. Find tasty recipes for the holiday season. #Recipe #Contest #Giveaway #MTCRC

Tis the season to indulge in great food for every occasion. With all the end-of-year celebrations and festivities, we are always being asked to bring a dish or goodie of some kind. So, why not share your recipes and be inspired by others? And even better, you can put on your competitive cap and have a chance at winning the recipe contest.

We have three prizes, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, so, bloggers, enter as many recipes as you would like among the various categories. You will find everything you need to celebrate the holidays with great taste.

EVERYONE is welcome to enter the GIVEAWAY! We have a $100 CASH Prize for the giveaway. That is above and beyond our recipe contest prizes. So, let’s have some holiday fun!

Sugared Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup Recipe

A Sweet and Tangy Recipe for the Holiday Season

To start off this yummy event, I am sharing my Sugared Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup. One recipe, two sweet and tangy holiday treats. This super easy Sugared Cranberries recipe also makes a delicious Cranberry Syrup. They are perfect for snacking, light and refreshing. They make a great takeaway gift for guests and are a fabulous addition to a holiday cookies and goodies exchange. Find the full RECIPE HERE!

Now, onto the contest and giveaway!

Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017

A big Thank You! to the co-hosts for supporting the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017, and making this event possible. Please check out their blogs and follow them on social media!

Lorelai – Life With Lorelai – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Alli – An Alli Event – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Emily – Domestic Deadline – Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Leanna – Of Faeries & Fauna Craft Co. – Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Audrey – That Recipe – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Jennifer – Satsuma Designs – Pinterest / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Ashley – Sweetpea Lifestyle – Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook

Jeannee – Centsably Creative – Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Kristen – The Road To Domestication – Facebook / Twitter

Lynn – Back To The South – Pinterest / Instagram

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this delicious recipe contest. With 548 recipes entered, this is a fantastic resource for your holiday cooking, as well as all year long. So, now, it is our pleasure to announce…

The WINNERS

3rd Place: $50 Prize

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe from Jenna @ The Urben Life

2nd Place: $75 Prize

Sour Cream Cookies Recipe from Kris @ Big Rigs ‘n Lil’ Cookies

…and drum roll please…

1st Place: $150 Prize

White Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle with Spiced Pears Recipe from Deb @ Just Short of Crazy

Check out the Winners of the 2017 Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest! #recipes #holiday #MTCRC

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Our GIVEAWAY WINNER is Michael Hurt — $100 PayPal CASH

Congratulations to ALL of our winners!

Recipe Contest Details:

Contest OPEN for Entries – October 15, 2017, through November 8, 2017.
One recipe from each category will be selected as a Finalist.
Finalists will be announced on November 10, 2017.
Winners (1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place) will be announced November 15, 2017.

Prizes:

All prizes paid USD via PayPal.
1st Place – $150
2nd Place – $75
3rd Place – $50

Rules for Recipe Entries:

Must be a Blogger to Enter.
Recipe must be linked to the direct blog post where the full recipe is published.
You may enter as many Recipes as you like.
You may enter in various categories. Be sure the recipe fits the category.
You must include your Email when linking recipes. Winners will be notified via Email.
If you are a winner, you must be able to accept prize via PayPal.
Recipe photos may be used for promotional purposes. All credits will be given to the original source.

Giveaway:

No Blog necessary to enter the Giveaway!
ENTER the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post!
Chance to WIN $100 USD PayPal CASH!!!

The Finalists

Congratulations to the finalists! One recipe was chosen from each category. These recipes have the chance of winning the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize! Good luck. The Winners will be announced on November 15, 2017.

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Check out the FINALISTS in the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest. #Prizes #Giveaway #MTCRC

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Look below to see all the recipes entered in the contest and be inspired for your holiday celebrating!

APPETIZERS

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SALADS & COLD SIDE DISHES

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HOT SIDE DISHES

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MAIN DISHES

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DESSERT

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COOKIES

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CANDIES

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DRINKS & COCKTAILS

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I’ve entered! Join the Merry ThanksChristmas #Recipe #Contest and #Giveaway! #holiday #MTCRC

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Giveaway!

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Thanks for having fun with us at the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017. It’s great to get everyone ready to celebrate the holidays with delectable food and drink. Happy Holidays!

What are some of your favorite recipes?

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Rum Punch – A Girls’ Night Favorite

This shop, Rum Punch – A Girls’ Night Favorite, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RumInTheSun #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

Your friends will love this fruity rum punch at your next girls’ night party. Refreshing, delicious, and pretty. Made with Bacardi Superior.

Fruity Rum Punch

A Girls’ Night Favorite

Getting together with my girl friends is something to which I look forward. We have such a fun and stress-free time on Girls’ Night. It doesn’t really matter if we just sit a round chatting, or if we are working on a charitable project, crafting, or playing games. What is always part of our time together is camaraderie, laughter, and great food and drink.

Today, I’d like to share one of our favorite recipes, Fruity Rum Punch. It is super easy to make and can be done one at a time or in a large batch — great for parties. This punch features Bacardi Superior, which is absolutely perfect for summer rum punches.

Msg 4 21+ Serve this delicious #BacardiSuperior Fruity Rum Punch for #GirlsNight! #RumInTheSun AD

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Fruity Rum Punch Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Ounces – Bacardi Superior Rum

2 Ounces – Orange Juice

1-1/2 Ounces – Pineapple Juice

1/4 Ounce – Grenadine

Squeeze of Lime

Orange (slices for garnish)

Lime (slices for garnish, and the squeeze)

Pineapple Chunks (optional garnish)

Directions:

Fill glass with the desired amount of ice cubes.

Pour Bacardi Superior Rum over ice.

Add Orange Juice, Pineapple, and Grenadine.

Squeeze a little Lime into the drink, and stir.

Garnish with Orange slices and Lime slices.

Notes:

This recipe serves one, but you can easily multiply the recipe to make a pitcher or punch bowl full. Enjoy!

You can switch out the Bacardi Superior for Bacardi Banana Flavored Rum to add another fruity layer to the drink.

Check out #RumInTheSun for more tasty recipes using rum, a fabulously versatile spirit.

Rum Punch Printable Recipe!

5 from 1 reviews

Rum Punch

Save Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Your friends will love this fruity rum punch at your next girls' night party. Refreshing, delicious, and pretty. Made with Bacardi Superior. Check out #RumInTheSun for more tasty recipes using rum, a fabulously versatile spirit.

from: Life With Lorelai

Type: Cocktail

Cuisine: American

Serves: 1 drink

Ingredients:

2 Ounces - Bacardi Superior Rum
2 Ounces - Orange Juice
1-1/2 Ounces - Pineapple Juice
1/4 Ounce - Grenadine
Squeeze of Lime
Ice
Orange (slices for garnish)
Lime (slices for garnish, and the squeeze)
Pineapple Chunks (optional garnish)
Add another layer of fruity deliciousness by switching out the Bacardi Superior for Bacardi Banana Flavored Rum.

Directions:

Fill glass with the desired amount of ice cubes.
Pour Bacardi Superior Rum over ice.
Add Orange Juice, Pineapple, and Grenadine.
Squeeze a little Lime into the drink, and stir.
Garnish with Orange slices and Lime slices.

Notes

This recipe serves one, but you can easily multiply the recipe to make a pitcher or punch bowl full. Enjoy!

3.5.3226

Girls’ Night Ideas

Looking for some great ideas for activities with your friends? Give these a try.

Outings:

Go to a Live Music Concert

Hit a local Street Fair or Festival

Go sing Karaoke

Right now, you can ENTER the Bacardi Summer Music Sweepstakes. Redeem an on-pack code placed on select Bacardi Superior bottles for $5 Live Nation Concert Cash®. With two codes you get $15 Live Nation Concert Cash®. You must be 21+ to enter. State exclusions apply. CLICK HERE for details and restrictions. WINNERS drawn DAILY!

Group Projects:

Organize a Locks of Love Cut-a-thon

Crochet hats for Knots of Love

Craft ornaments for a seniors’ home

Great Games:

Bunco

Catch Phrase

Taboo

Pictionary

Whatever you are doing, make the most of it with some great eats and drinks, like this Bacardi Superior Fruity Rum Punch!

Msg 4 21+ Summer #RumPunch w/ Bacardi Superior. Get the #Recipe! #RumInTheSun ENTER #Sweepstakes AD

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You can find more great recipe ideas and tons of fun with Bacardi Superior by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

So, do you have any great rum recipes or ideas for girls’ night?

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~Lorelai

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Beach Survival Kit For Summer Fun

This shop, Beach Survival Kit For Summer Fun, has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias

Find out the must haves for a beach survival kit perfect for great summer fun and sharing an ice cold Coca-Cola™ with friends!

Beach Survival Kit for Summer Fun

Share an Ice Cold Coke at CVS

Summer is here, and that means it’s time for some fun! We all have awesome memories of summertime adventures with family and friends. This year will be no different, so as the summer season gets underway, let’s share an ice cold Coca-Cola and make some memories.

Living in Huntington Beach, California, we love to hit the beach when the weather gets warm. Whether it is an all-day party or a spur of the moment trip with friends, we know exactly what to take, and CVS helps us put together the perfect Beach Survival Kit.

Making Memories

Over the years, we have enjoyed many events at the beach from family gatherings to birthday parties, to end of the season awards parties for baseball, soccer, and cross country. Sometimes, going to the beach is well planned and other times we go on the fly.

Some mornings, you wake up and the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the weather is gorgeous, and you know it’s time to hit the beach. You call your friends, or they call you. Walking along the beach with your girlfriend’s is a great way to knock off some of those 10,000 steps we are supposed to get daily. Listening to the waves crashing on the sand, smelling the salty air, and feeling the warmth of the sunshine–delightful. But sometimes, we like to turn it into a family event and bring the kids along for some summer fun.

Regardless, if the beach outing is well planned or spur of the moment, we always stop at CVS to pick up some snacks and ice cold Coca-Cola. CVS is not just a pharmacy, you can find almost anything there for almost any occasion. Grab hot dog buns and condiments for roasting wieners over the fire pit. Or how about deli meats and bread, fruit snacks, trail mix, crackers, and more. You can even stock up or replenish the items for your beach survival kit. Forgot your beach towel, T-shirt, flip flops? No problem, you can find these and many other beachy items on the shelves now (boogie boards, beach chairs, water shoes, swimming goggles, the list goes on).

Let’s make a Beach Survival Kit:

Here is a list of things we need in our kit, but feel free to add additional items to yours.

Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Sunglasses
Hand Sanitizer
Wet Wipes
Hair Bands
Flip Flops
Beach Towel
Hat
Zippered Bag
Coca-Cola

Share a Coke is back! This year, you can get the 20-ounce bottles featuring 1000+ first and LAST names on multiple Coca-Cola brands/packages such as Coca-Cola Classic, Coke Zero™, and Diet Coke®. It is the perfect ice cold refreshment for sharing the summer’s hottest moments. Save with your friends when you use your CVS ExtraCare card to receive the special pricing of 2 for $3. Don’t have an ExtraCare card? No sweat, it’s super easy to get one — sign-up online or in the store.

Beach Survival Kit – summer fun and sharing an ice cold Coke with friends! #AD #BestSummerMemories

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Go to CVS and pick up a quick couple of bottles of Ice Cold Coke to share with your friends, right away. Enjoy!

Check this out for more Summer Inspiration with Coca-Cola.

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Hosting A Perfect Dinner Party

Want to entertain your friends and family with ease and confidence? Then, read on… today, we are going to get the tips and tricks for Hosting a Perfect Dinner Party in this guest post from Emma Lawson.

Hosting a Perfect Dinner Party

Making Entertaining Fun and Easy

Nowadays, when people are always in a rush, a dinner party can be a real treat. Nothing is better than having all your friends at one place, eating homemade dishes, drinking, and laughing together. Such a lovely event can indeed make us much happier and even lower the levels of stress. However, many people think that throwing a perfect dinner party is a pain in the neck – very complicated and often frustrating. Well, this is so not true! If you are still skeptical about this – stay with us. Here are some of the most important tips on how to successfully host a perfect dinner party. Enjoy!

Hosting a Dinner Party can be fun and easy – Lear how NOW! #Entertaining #DinnerParty #Tips

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Stick to the Familiar Cuisine

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Even though it may be extremely tempting to prepare some exotic Taiwanese dish – trust us, that is not such a great idea. First of all, you probably won’t even pronounce its name properly, and what is more important, most of the ingredients will be unfamiliar to you. Cook something you are confident with.

Plan Your Time

This is a crucial step, particularly if you plan on having a dinner with multiple courses. This means that you will need the oven for more than one dish, so planning your timetable is always a good idea. Cooking for a larger group obviously takes longer than preparing a meal for two, so have that in mind – give yourself an extra hour or two in the kitchen, just in case.

Cook Smart

Source

This basically means that you should avoid dishes that require constant checking, stirring or flipping, especially when you are cooking for many people. The key lies in simplicity, and it is definitely smart not to complicate things too much. If you are a proud owner of all those electrical kitchen appliances that serve as a posh décor, now would be a good time to use them. Also, doing the hard work first is a good way to go. Besides that, you can always chop vegetables the evening before the party, as well as to bake desserts a few days before it.

Maintain the Balance

When planning the menu for your perfect dinner party, you should definitely avoid too many heavy dishes. Instead, just think about what goes together and prepare the dishes according to that plan. For example, if you decide on having a steak or fried chicken for the main course, it would be a good idea to choose a light dessert. You can also stick to the particular theme, such as Italian or Chinese cuisine.

Decorate Like a Pro

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All of us would agree that table decoration has a major role while planning on a dinner night, which is why it should be taken care of properly. Great presentation can turn even the simplest dish into the most special one, so take care of the finishing touches that will impress your guests. Take the whole event to the next level and do it classy – by choosing crystal glassware that will add a touch of glamour to the whole room. A vase or two filled with freshly picked roses will also enhance the overall atmosphere at the party.

All of the aforementioned tips are essential if you want to make it work, however, it is also very important not to take yourself, as well as the whole party, too seriously. The host’s mood actually sets the tone of the party, so give your best to be as relaxed as possible. If you are having fun, be sure that everyone else will, too. Good luck!

Throw a Dinner Party – Impress your friends with confidence and good times! #DinnerParty #Tips

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Do you have a tips or tricks to hosting a dinner party?

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