Ah, it’s December and OFFICIALLY holiday season. But let’s be honest, I think we all got into the holiday spirit a little early this year – we needed some extra sparkle in our lives and something to celebrate!
I am totally that person that reaches for the box of Christmas decor the day after Thanksgiving and is itching to head out to the tree farm, so, needless to say I am always a ‘gamer’ for early festivities and decorating. Aside from cheerful decor, bright lights, the smell of pine in the house and apple-spiced scented candles permeating through the home – my favorite thing about the season is all the yummy eats and drinks. The holiday season is my personal excuse to indulge a bit – reach for that slice of spiced apple cake, or sip on a soothing cocktail – and this year, more than ever, I’d say we all deserve it!
That said, below are my favorite recipes for ‘treating myself’ this holiday season. Trust me when I say they’re nothing short of sweet.
These are my FAVORITE. I love a good holiday cookie recipe, especially one that is easy. These are basically mini apple pies, with the most scrumptious soft texture and ooey gooey apple filling. Not to mention, they’re also gluten free!
Who said salads couldn’t be indulgent? Seriously.. this salad is so good, it’s more like a savory dessert! Feel free to get creative with toppings, and add your favorite nuts, goat or blue cheese and top it off with a drizzle of honey.
Ok – we’re just going to leave this one here. There’s almost no caption necessary. Bacon, apples, cheese, jalapeños..this combo is giving us all the holiday feels – need we say more? Just spread with apple butter and a sprinkle of sea salt and you’ll be in heaven!
Ah, the best part. Wash it all down with Spiced JUICI Apple Mulled Wine, a sprig of fresh rosemary and a cinnamon stick. Aromatic, sweet, spiced and full of classic holiday flavors.
There you have it, four of my top holiday recipe favorites that I hope you introduce to your family this season! Which one do you plan to try out first? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below. AND, make sure to head to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to enter our Eat, Bake, Love contest this week for another chance to win a special edition JUICI Caramel Apple Cheesecake, a cake decorating kit, and an Amazon Fire Stick so your favorite holiday movie can be playing in the background while you bundle up and bake! A winner will be selected this Sunday, 12/13.
‘Tis the season for cozy eats, warm drinks, entertaining and most importantly – taking a minute to reflect on the year prior and what we’re grateful for. I think we can all agree that 2020 has certainly panned out to be a year to remember, and while the holidays approach and the cool weather nears, what better way to celebrate the joys of this season than with an array of delicious snacks, soothing cocktails and our incredibly sweet JUICI apples?!
We partnered up with our friends at Camelbak on a fall spread of our dreams. Complete with an assortment of seasonal fall foods, an Apple Harvest Sangria and Spiced Apple Mulled White Wine all made fresh with our exclusive JUICI apples, AND..not to mention, kept perfectly temperate and stylish in these amazing Camelbak tumbler vessels (BRB – we are calling our friends to come join us!) Not only are these drinkware tumbler vessels stainless steel, sleek, insulated and virtually spill-proof – they are the perfect size and enhance any outdoor gathering with their convenience and effortless style (they also make the perfect gift!) Be sure to check out these JUICI apple cocktail recipes to whip up on your next fall outdoor adventure.
All drinks and eats aside – we realize it’s easy to get caught up in work, school, social media, etc. and one thing we hope to focus on this holiday season is slowing down and concentrating on what matters most. Savoring these sweet everyday moments as they come, remaining present and appreciative for what and who we have in our lives.
What are your annual holiday traditions and who do you spend it with? How does Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving usually look for your household? How do you plan to switch things up and get creative this year? What are you most grateful for now more than ever? We want to know!
One thing we know for sure, is that we are so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you following this journey with us – and we can’t wait to continue to celebrate the festive holiday season with no shortage of sweetness. Speaking of taking this journey with us, if you haven’t followed our new JUICI journey on Instagram, be sure to check it out and stay in-the-know on our latest updates.
Who knows, you may even be in for a sweet surprise later this week from us and our friends over at Camelbak as we show our gratitude for you 🙂 Be sure to head to our Instagram to learn more about how you could win a JUICI surprise!
It’s our final week of our Back to School Sweepstakes and we are so excited about this week’s school subject because honestly – it’s the most fun! (At least, we think the kiddos will agree).
Who says the school or work week should be all work and no play? Now more than ever for those of us cooped up working inside, teaching or parenting – there’s a need to pause, take a moment and get some fresh air, exercise and movement.
This week we’ve partnered up with our friends at Camelbak to bring the classroom outside this fall semester, while keeping wellness, hydration and healthy snacking in mind. Rather than setting up a homework station in the house, why not bring it to your local park, playground or even backyard? If it’s a pretty day and the sun is shining, we recommend bringing the books or tablet to your green belt to switch up the scenery, and for every 30 minutes of learning is 15 minutes of play time – whether that’s kicking around the soccer ball, playing catch, or swinging on the play set.
Maintaining a healthy work-school-parent life balance is a tricky one these days and we can sympathize with all parents, teachers and kids. One thing we know for sure is prioritizing ourselves, our health and keeping things ‘light’ and fun is so important during these times of change and uncertainty. Not only will it feel so good for our mental, physical and emotional self – but it will bring back a sense of normalcy to new routines in the household! PLUS – this can incentivize the kids to focus on their learning if they know some fun is just around the corner too!
Our favorite go-to snacks for outside learning?
Nothing beats fresh, healthy fruit like our sweet Starr Ranch Growers Honeycrisp apples. Bring ‘em sliced, paired with PB or whole in your lunch box!
Summer means the sun is likely shining and it is hot! Lightweight, durable, spill-proof and leak-proof – welove the Camelbak Eddy Kids Bottle and know our fellow parents will second this. Hydration is key to keep the kids fueled up for the classroom or their extra-curricular activities and sports, and what’s better than a BPA, BPS and BPF free bottle that won’t spill?! Not to mention – they’re adorable and come in so many different colors and styles.
Grab your greens! We love the idea of having produce on hand. Odds are, if it’s there and available, the kiddos will try it – and who knows – maybe even love it!
For ease and convenience of packing – opt for a small storage bin or basket around the house that you can easily fill up with some goodies for an afternoon at the park.
Get creative with your outdoor activities! Depending on the age of your littles, bring a board game, toys, soccer balls and sports equipment so you can make use of the outdoors and switch off between learning sessions.
There you have it! Round up the little troops and head outside to switch up the school week. Whether it’s taking a few hours to get outside to teach or interact with the kids, or just an intimate soccer practice at the end of the day – here’s our reminder to try to make the most of these moments and prioritize health, activity and overall wellness. Head on over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to enter to win your very own set of Camelbak Kids Eddy Waterbottles for your next outdoor outing, as well as a Kids Amazon Kindle Fire to make learning that much more fun this semester.
How was everyone’s long Labor Day weekend? Labor Day festivities truly are the last ‘hoorah’ of summer before it’s back to reality, and the fall semester kicks into full gear fast. If you’re a parent (turned teacher) or a full-time teacher and are looking for fun ways to engage the kiddos, we have a topic in mind that we think the littles will love!
We’re all getting extra creative with classroom ideas and daytime activities lately, and what’s more fun than playing – and learning – about food?! I love the idea educating our future generations about what they put in their bellies, and even how to grow it!
With apple harvest finally here, we thought it was only fitting to have an apple variety taste test experiment as part of our Back to School sweepstakes. If you’re looking to do this at home with your own kids, first start off by picking up your favorite Starr Ranch Growers apples at a store near you (at least 3 different varieties – meaning you can pick from varieties like honeycrisp, granny smith, gala, fuji, golden delicious, red delicious and more – totally your preference!) Grab a handful and place them in large bowls or baskets, and label each with the coinciding variety.
Next, make sure you grab a handy notebook and label a few different sections for the kids to follow along with – I personally enjoy analyzing things like flavor, size, color and texture, but feel free to add more to your liking! Also, be sure to have pre-cut slices ready to go so the taste testing can commence!
It’s so fun to assess the flavor profile of each apple – in this case we used gala, honeycrisp and granny smith – each so different in their own way. We found that Honeycrisp was the largest and sweetest with a vibrant red hue and a tinge of yellow, Gala was more of a muted red with subtle streaks of orange and yellow, fragrant and juicy, and Grannies were bold, green and extra tart! You can also compare the different sizes of each, count the little seeds, and even compare the different textures of the apples between the colorful skin and the sweetness inside. Have your little ones count their slices, make notes in their journal about their findings and decorate it with fun stickers so they too can become inspired for their very own garden one day!
There you have it – who knew a mini science experiment could be so fun (and delicious!) In fact, this week’s prize package is a William Sonoma DIY Garden Kit so the whole family can continue to become inspired about the food they eat, how to grow it – and who knows, maybe even plant their own apple tree one day. To enter to win, head over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers – good luck and have a great week!
This week we’re teaming up with Litehouse Foods on the yummiest time-saving recess snacks and let me tell you – there is no shortage of flavor in these! When we think of easy and simple, we think of fresh, whole ingredients and just a handful of steps (because who has time for more of that these days?!) No matter where you may be this semester, these will surely help sweeten up the week.
We created 3 different recipes that can double up as a daytime snack, breakfast, appetizer or sweet treat after dinner – all versatile and delicious enough even for the pickiest eaters!
If you’re anything like me, when it comes to snacking you may not have time to whip up something fancy, but don’t want to necessarily sacrifice flavor. I love a good parfait whether it’s for breakfast, or something a little sweeter for a mid-day pick-me-up – this Crunchy Caramel Apple Parfait is definitely for those with a sweet tooth (guilty!) If your little ones love snacking on apples and caramel dip – then they will LOVE this too. I love how creamy and decadent this Litehouse Foods Old Fashioned Caramel Dip is, and that you can use it in so many different applications. The mixture of this rich caramel with cool, creamy Greek Yogurt and crunchy Salted Caramel Granola and warm, sautéed Starr Ranch Growers apples is truly a dream team of ingredients and not to mention – easy.
Next, we whipped up this incredibly simple Maple Poached Pear Balsamic Salad with Gorgonzola Crumbles – honestly, need I say more? I personally love this salad for a quick lunch, dinner, or even appetizer dish to impress guests. It’s pretty to display, and has a scrumptious array of fall flavors between the creamy Litehouse Foods Gorgonzola Crumbles (I put these on everything), the crunchy toasted walnuts, sweet and tangy Starr Ranch Growers pears, and drizzle of Litehouse Balsamic Dressing and a hint of honey – DELISH. This is a fan favorite in my household and my go-to for those lazy days where I still want to feel good about what I put in my belly. If you’re a WFH parent, trust me when I say the littles at home will enjoy this recipe to help build an advanced palate of fun flavors – because who said lunchtime had to be basic?
My inner child may have come out when I made these Kids Dark Chocolate Caramel Apple Pops – these are essentially your everyday Caramel Apple but MUCH easier to eat (and portion controlled). These are great because they allow the kiddos to have fun and get creative with their toppings. Feel free to go beyond the toffee pieces and pecans and be BOLD. Next time, we’re adding coconut shreds or even crumbled short bread cookies – yum! Best part is, you can eat the leftover Litehouse Foods Caramel Dip Single Cups and sliced Starr Ranch Growers Granny Smith apples as you go..who’s in?
There you have it – a few of our favorite snacking options to sweeten up the school week. Whether you’re a parent with kids of your own and looking for EASY options on-the-go with just a handful of staple ingredients, want to help incorporate your little ones into your food prep routine, or a teacher or parent looking to simplify your own snacking routine – these are all for you!
For week 3 of our Back to School Sweepstakes, we’re giving entrants a chance to win their very own prize package equipped with some of these Litehouse Foods goodies, a box of fresh Starr Ranch Growers apples AND a Kids Amazon Kindle Fire to help make home or classroom learning that much easier. To enter to win, head over to our Instagram – winner will be announced 9/4 at 12 PST.
It’s week two of our Back to School Sweepstakes and we’re excited to announce that culinary class is not cancelled – in fact, we have a few awesome lunch ideas that you and your kiddos will love. The best part about these bento boxes is that they can accommodate even the pickiest of eaters, and adults can enjoy them too by using them as meal prep containers for the week.
We put together two bento box ideas in our household – the Garden Box and the Power Box – both scrumptious in different ways, with macro-nutrients depending on you (or your child’s) needs. I love both, and they can certainly accommodate a ‘food mood’ depending on what you’re craving!
What I personally love most about bento boxes, is that they’re a great way to experiment with what your little ones may like – maybe they’re not eating much of the cherry tomatoes, and maybe they’re digging into the apples and PB – good intel for next time! I also love that these make for great on-the-go snacking and can be shared with friends or family no matter where you are, and whatever is left over can be simply saved for later (great for reducing food waste too!)
Being a big snacker myself, I like to prep a bento the night before and snack on different sections throughout the following work day when the busy day gets away from me! I always like a nutrient-packed piece of fruit like an apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and lately I have been loving our Starr Ranch Growers apples with the Litehouse Creamy Cheesecake Greek Yogurt dip – this almost feels like dessert minus the guilt! Following my favorite fruits, I typically like various nuts, granola, and a handful of seasonal veggies.
A few of our favorite bento box combos to try at home:
Black beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, corn, shredded tortillas
Are you a fan of bento boxes? Do your kiddos love them too? To win your very own Pottery Barn Bento Boxes and a Kids Kindle Fire if you want to entertain the kiddos while you prep, head on over to our Instagram to enter to win! Winner will be announced 8/28 at 12PST on our Instagram stories. Good luck, and happy bento prepping!
It’s back to school season and gearing up for this semester may look and feel a little different for us all. Teachers are navigating new online education, parents are pivoting through this new protocol and familiarizing their kiddos, students and littles miss their friends and interacting with their teachers. And, for some, in-classroom learning may be continuing for now, with new guidelines that kids and their teachers are all exploring together.
We understand that no matter what the scope of back to school season looks like, that it’s new for us all, and now more than ever we’re here to comfort, inspire and bring brightness to households, everywhere. Because let’s face it, we could use a little bit of that!
Each week, we’ll be rolling out new Back to School with Starr Ranch Growers ‘School Subjects’ that parents, teachers and kids alike can get excited about! For our first week, we couldn’t help but think ‘A+ in Self Care’ would be fitting. Preparing for the school season can be stressful enough as you hop back into post-summer routines, and we feel that it’s important to take a moment now more than ever to unwind, soak in the final moments of summer, and give yourself some much deserved ‘TLC’.
That said, we’ve prepared the simplest, Soothing Spiced Apple Tea that can calm even the busiest of bees. With loose apple tea, cinnamon, sliced warm Starr Ranch Growers Granny Smith apples, and a splash of coconut milk – this tea is so easy and delicious, and you can enjoy it even with your littles, in the morning before you get your day started, or before bed to treat yourself and soothe. Over the next few weeks, we’re so excited to continue to share simple, time-saving recipes for the fall school season so you can continue to focus on self-care, family-time, and overall health.
A few of our favorite daily reminders for the busy back to school season:
Slow down and be present: It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day stresses, whether you’re patiently trying to share new technologies with your own kids, gear them back up for the classroom, or you’re a teacher yourself transforming your living quarters into a Zoom classroom, or even preparing for the return of in-class learning – all of these different scenarios are certainly stressful and new – try to slow down, don’t be hard on yourself, do your best and remember that you’re not alone!
Eat well, feel well: Snacking on fresh, whole options will keep the brain fog at bay, and keep you alert, focused and energized for all the school-day festivities. We love snacking on fresh sliced Starr Ranch Apples with peanut butter, or simply chopped over a simple green salad.
Stretch & Get Fresh Air: It’s easy to end up sitting inside all day, and whatever your circumstances could be – the kids may need to also let out a big burst of energy. Setting aside time for a walk, outside play time and activities will do wonders for keeping up your back to school stamina – and vitamin D will help keep spirits high!
How are you navigating this new back to school reality? Whether you’re a parent, teacher, our student of any age – we hear you, and understand even navigating these new challenges presented within our own families. Our goal and hope is to make the fall season a little bit lighter, brighter and sweet with new weekly recipes, back to school hacks and of course – giveaways! This week, we are featuring the Sweetest Self-Care Gift Box presented by Heart to Heart Gift Company.
Inside this special gift box you’ll find:
Rose Geranium Soap from Nicola Soaps
Granola from Happy Girl Granola
Sticker from Elyse Designs
Lemon S Cookies from CiCi’s Cookies
Creme Brulee Flowering Tea from PinkyUp
Eye mask from Payne and Comfort
Heart to Heart Gift Company is a curated gift box company based in Salinas, CA. Debbie and Amanda are a mother-daughter team who are passionate about combining two things they love: gifting and supporting local & small business. Gifting has always been a passion of Debbie’s, which she passed down to her daughter, Amanda. No event, milestone, or holiday is too small to be celebrated. They are also passionate about their community and showcasing the beautiful work that is done by local makers on the Central Coast. From a dinner party, new job, or birthday – they believe gifting should come from the heart, from the ribbon on top to each and every item in their boxes.
We are so elated to partner up with the ladies at Heart to Heart Gift Company for our week 1 giveaway! To enter to win, head on over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers and check out @hearttoheart_giftco while you’re at it! Contest Sweepstakes ends 8/21 at 12PM PST. We hope you have a wonderful and safe back to school season no matter where you may be!
Spending lots of time with your quarantine crew? Yeah..us too! While we’re all navigating this new reality, we may also be running out of things to do in the home, or ways to stay busy, or maybe ways to keep the little ones busy (did someone say all the above?) Whatever your reality looks like these days, we hear you – and we’re here to share some of our top picks for staying busy, productive and inspired.
That said, I thought it was about time to bake a cake! Because do you really need an excuse to bake a cake – especially these days? Honestly, I haven’t baked a layered cake in YEARS. I actually can’t even remember the last time I baked a cake in general– not even for a birthday (kind of sad, I know) I guess I am usually a ‘pie’ kind of girl, or even cupcakes – but I was feeling inspired at the challenge of baking a cake, AND getting creative with decorating one.
The best part about this is, you don’t have to turn into Martha Stewart to have fun with the process – go for the store-bought cake mix if that’s your thing. Invest your time and energy into the process of decorating the cake to your liking. Whatever you’re in the mood for – go for it – there are no rules and your kiddos will have a blast.
That said, I admittedly opted for 3 boxes of Cinnamon Swirl cake mix because this was a last-minute endeavor and I didn’t have the resources for a homemade base – again, work with what you have and don’t put too much pressure on yourself! I had a plethora of Starr Ranch Growers granny smith apples on hand because these are my favorite to snack on with some peanut butter throughout the week, so I went ahead and cored and very thinly sliced about 3-4 apple rings coated with cinnamon sugar and laid them on top of each frosted layer of cinnamon swirl cake. So inside instead of cake filling, there was cream cheese frosting and apple slices – YUM. This actually helped add another level of moisture to the cake that was so delicious, and who doesn’t love a warm baked slice of apple in each bite?!
To decorate the cake, opt for pretty flowers in the garden, greenery, more apples, or let the kids turn it into a full-on arts and crafts project – anything to keep them busy, creative and having fun!
Aside from baking a cake – here are a few other creative ideas for keeping the whole family productive that you can implement into your own home!
Challenge yourselves to meal prep EACH meal of the day together – participation and involvement from the little ones will make them feel so special when a part of this daily task.
Build a fort together.
Ride bikes, rollerblade, or simply carve out time to go on walks around the neighborhood to let out some pent-up energy and load up on some much-needed vitamin D.
Did someone say coloring books? Amazon has a ton of these – they’re so fun the adults will want to join in too.
Try out a new Pinterest recipe together.
Do a puzzle on the back-patio.
DIY s’mores on the stove.
‘Glamp’ in the backyard.
Make homemade no-churn ice cream and have a ‘build-your-own’ ice cream party.
Treasure-hunts around the house.
How are you and your family staying both productive and positive lately? What have been some activities that were a huge hit in your own household? Was it baking and decorating a cake together? Or perhaps painting a masterpiece? We want to know in the comments below!
It’s the final week of July, which means our Washington cherry season is coming to an end soon. Though the season may have started with some unpredictable weather patterns, we are overjoyed to have had another successful cherry season and we already can’t wait for next year!
To wrap up all the fun, we had to end our Chilled & Cherry Sweepstakes with a tried-and-true, forever-favorite combo: ice cream sandwiches! Because who doesn’t like ice cream AND cookies combined? We’ll wait… 😉
What I love most about this recipe is that it totally surprised me! I had this idea in mind to create Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches, but was nervous I was getting myself in way over my head! Truthfully, you just follow the same recipe for our No Churn Cherry Choco Ice Cream and then add in the addition of these scrumptious chocolate cookies, add a scoop to each cookie and voila – you have yourself ice cream sandwiches!
Not even just that, I was surprised at how clean they were to assemble, and how well they stayed put while I transferred them to my brother’s backyard birthday party 20 minutes down the road. Our family raved about them (and always bug me to ‘bring over the cherry ice cream’ now at every gathering we have!) They know and love this ice cream recipe, and all its summer-wonder. The cookies are just the cherry on top – no pun intended! I love using the Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa powder, and find myself using this as a staple in so many baking recipes.
With the Washington cherry season coming to an end, now is the time to get your hands on fresh cherries, to try out these recipes out and snack fresh on this sweet summertime fruit before the wait for next year’s season begins!
What’s been your favorite Chilled & Cherry recipe we’ve shared? Our FINAL giveaway closes this Friday at 12PM PST – to enter to win, head over to our Instagram post @starr_ranch_growers. Goodluck, and let us know if you try this recipe at home!
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