Category Archives: Yummy Recipe

Pajama Food: Comfort Food

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After a long day…maybe a particularly chilly day or a rough day at the office… sometimes all you want to do is get in your PJs and enjoy something really delicious.  Warm, hearty, stick-to-your ribs comfort food has a way of making all your cares fall away.

Here’s our round-up of yummy pajama-worthy recipes we’ll be indulging in this fall…dive in!

Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons from Damn Delicious

Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese from The Recipe Rebel

Chicken Noodle Soup from Tyler Florence

Pot Pie from The Pioneer Woman

Loaded Shepherd’s Pie from The Midnight Baker

Perfect Macaroni & Cheese from Martha Stewart

Sausage and Lentil Soup from My Baking Addiction

Shrimp and Grits from Bobby Flay

Or what about breakfast for dinner? We’ve got you covered here and here.

What is your go-to comfort food?  Share with us in the comments below!

Photo Credit: Nomadic Lass via Compfight cc

Five for Friday: Pajama Movie Night

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Fall weekends mean cozy nights home with tasty snacks and a great movie!

Salted Caramel Popcorn // Cookies & Cups

Boxercraft Plaid Flannel Blanket // The Pajama Company

Nutella Hot Chocolate with Hazelnut Liqueur // Saveur*

The Greatest 100 Movies of All Time // AMC

PJ Salvage Navy Dot // The Pajama Company

*Photo credit: Credit: Maxime Iattoni

Pajama Food: Waffles

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“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” – John Gunther

What’s a lazy PJ-clad Saturday or Sunday morning without a delicious and leisurely breakfast, right?

Cue up the coffee pot and heat up the syrup…today we’re talking waffles!  Waffles are so tasty with their crisp outside and chewy inside and nooks and crannies filled with syrup…fruit…butter…chocolate…whatever you love!  Is your mouth watering yet?

We’ve rounded up some awesome recipes to share with you!

Banana Bread Waffles from Mother Thyme

Belgian Cookie Dough Waffles from Dine & Dish

Dark Chocolate Waffles from I Bake He Shoots

Maple Bacon Waffles from Ashlee Marie

Churro Waffles from Chica Chocolatina

Vanilla Bean Blueberry Waffles by Something Swanky

Craving savory?  Joy the Baker has taken waffles to the next level with her Mashed Potato, Cheddar and Chive Waffles…perfect for a pajama movie night! Yum…

What’s your favorite way to eat waffles?  Tell us all about it in the comments below.

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Pajama Food: Donuts

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Donuts definitely fall in the category of yummy pajama foods!  There are so may varieties and who can resist a glazed or jelly filled delight with a delicious cup of coffee?  There’s no denying that they’re typically high in sugar, fat, and calories, but this doesn’t mean you can’t indulge every now and again, right?!

Go Local

Independent donut shops have popped up quite a bit in the last few years, and chances are you have a local donut place near you, so scout them out.  And, if you’re travelling, check out Travel + Leisure’s list of America’s Best Donuts for donut shops to visit in several cities!

Make Your Own

There are tons of creative and delicious donut recipes out there as well, so why not try your hand at a homemade batch!  Here are some great recipes…

Classic Glazed Donuts from Epicurious

Cookies ‘N Cream Donuts from Shugary Sweets

Donut Holes from Tablespoon

Vanilla Creme-Filled Donuts from Brown Eyed Baker

Lemon Glazed Blueberry Donuts from A Kitchen Addiction

Triple Chocolate Donuts from Style Me Pretty

Take the Krispy Kreme Challenge

If you’ve never heard of it, the Krispy Kreme Challenge is an annual charity race that takes place in Raleigh, NC, that started as a dare between a few NC State students.  It soon got national coverage with people coming in from all over the country.  As they say, the challenge “epitomizes the test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude”.  Its a 5 mile run, but halfway through participants are challenged to eat a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts, and then run the rest of the race.  Now that’s a challenge!

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Pajama Treats!

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Whether you are having an official Pajama Day, or you’re enjoying an evening lounging in your PJs, the right food is a MUST.  Of course, pancakes, waffles, and eggs are a natural fit for the pajama inclined.  But this time we’re talking super yummy stuff – comfort food, favorite snacks, and delicious desserts!

What else goes with comfy pajamas, chilling out, and a great movie (or maybe even a binge of a your favorite show), right?!

Well, we’ve got your round up for the perfect PJ splurge foods below.  Spoiler alert: if you’re on a diet and you don’t want to be tempted to cheat, you will want to stop reading right about now!

Nachos – This is my personal favorite food ever. If I had to live in my PJs eating nachos for the rest of my life, it would be ok by me. Some of my favorite recipes are here, here, and here. And just in case you need some extra queso, here you go.  It’s a staple!

Popcorn – It’s really easy to make really great popcorn at home, and I say forgo the microwave for the best popcorn.  Just take some popcorn kernels and a medium pan with a lid and follow the directions on the popcorn bag.  The best part is that you can season it any way you like it -as much or as little butter and salt as you like.  Here are a few awesome popcorn topping ideas.

Snack Mix – To me snack mix is the perfect combo of salty and sweet.  This one – Ooey Gooey Cereal Crunch Mix – will knock your socks off!

Brownies – If you’re not a baker, of course you can always pick some brownies at the local store or sweet shop. But if you’re ready to make a homemade batch this is your must try recipe: Salted Caramel Brownies. THE BEST. Just a little warning, don’t make if you’re home all alone!

Sundaes – I love ice cream sundaes because you can make them any way you want.  Here are some great ideas: Ice Cream Sundaes 3 Ways.  Ummmmmm…

Milkshakes – So easy to make!  You can make a milkshake by simply blending milk and ice cream together in your blender, and then adding in other  flavors, chocolate syrup, strawberries, you name it.  If you want to get more creative, here are 12 milkshake recipes. Yum!

Smores – You don’t even need a campfire, you can actually make this gooey treat right in your kitchen! Check out this recipe for Indoor Smores.

Photo Credit: craig.letourneau.photography via Compfightcc

Cheers to Friday!

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Happy Friday!

There’s something about Fridays during the summer…they’re just a little sweeter. The weather is warm and sitting back with a nice cool cocktail is the perfect way to cap off the week!

Whip up a round of this delicious summer cocktail, add some Island music and great company, and head outdoors!

Watermelon Vodka Cooler

3 pounds watermelon, rind and seeds discarded and the flesh cut into pieces, plus thin slices of watermelon for garnish
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

In a blender purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a very fine sieve set over a pitcher, discarding the solids. (There should be about 2-1/3 cups juice). Stir in the vodka, the Triple Sec, and the lime juice, pour the cooler into long-stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each drink with a watermelon slice.

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Oh, and we have some really fun Happy Hour inspired pajamas that we think are just the cutest! We can’t help but share our picks!

The Cat’s Pajamas “Happy Hour”

Be As You Are “Martini Girl”

Be As You Are “Peace, Love & Happy Hour”

Photo Credit: sweetbeetandgreenbean via Compfightcc

Recipe Credit: Epicurious

Pancake Saturdays

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Don’t you just love Saturday mornings? There’s nothing better than hanging out with family or friends on a Saturday morning and eating some delicious pancakes!  In your pajamas, of course!

When I was a kid I loved weekends when we would lounge around and my Mom would make pancakes and bacon on the griddle or my Dad would fire up his waffle iron.

Traditions like this are really fun.  They give you something to look forward to during the week and can help you feel more connected with your family.  Its a nice feeling to know that no matter how busy your week is, if nothing else, you’re all going to gather around the table on Saturday morning and have a meal together.

If you’re single or an empty-nester and don’t necessarily have family in the house, you can totally still enjoy Pancake Saturday with people that to you love.  Offer a standing invitation for friends, family, and neighbors to come over and join you for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Just tell them to stay in their pajamas, grab the mimosas, and head on over!

Here are some yummy pancake recipes to get you inspired to start your Saturday morning tradition!

We’ve shared it before, but here is a favorite Classic Buttermilk Pancake recipe again.

Red Velvet Pancakes with coconut syrup and blueberries.  Yum!

Oooooh, Pumpkin Pancakes.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Oreo Cookie Pancakes. Oh my!

Milk Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes

Blueberry-Flax Pancakes. Less guilt? Maybe.

Pancake Lasagna. This is on my must-try list!

So tell us, do you have any special traditions with family or friends?  Share with us in the comments below!

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Celebrate Dad with a Father’s Day Barbecue!

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Since Dad is often king of the barbecue, Father’s Day is the perfect time to turn the tables and throw him a backyard cookout for a change.

Relieve him of slaving over the hot grill and let him relax in the hammock with a cocktail or beer. You can even invite some other Dads over for a game of bocce ball!

To make your planning easy, we’ve put together some great recipes for a tasty and fun barbecue…

There’s such a variety of foods you can serve at a cookout, but think about what  your Dad really loves.  Is he a steak guy?  Does he love a juicy cheeseburger?  Or maybe he favors some grilled sausage and peppers?

If he’s not a big meat eater, focus on creating some really delicious salads and sides for him.  There are many tasty ways to grill veggies that he just may love.

Think about grabbing him some local beer, or make him his favorite drink!

Appetizers

Spicy Bacon Guacamole – Bacon compliments the avocado for a  delicious twist.

Pan-Fried Onion Dip – One of my personal favorites, the caramelized onions create great flavor.

Salt & Pepper Shrimp with Aioli – A tasty seafood option!

Main Dish

Perfectly Grilled Steak – Bobby Flay will make sure you know how to cook it just right!

Barbecue Chicken – A cookout classic.

Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Guava Glaze – A leaner meat option, and the sauce is sure to impress!

Grilled Kielbasa – Delicious paired with sauerkraut and onions.

Sides

Blue Cheese Cole Slaw – Blue cheese makes this cole slaw extra special.

Grilled Green Beans & Scallions – An easy way to grill fresh green beans.

Grilled Corn & Red Potato Salad – Bring some in-season corn into your potato salad.

Watermelon Pico de Gallo – Refreshing and tasty!

Barbecue Baked Beans – The perfect compliment to grilled meats and veggies.

Drinks

Homemade Lemonade – A great non-alcoholic option – there’s nothing quite like fresh lemonade!

Tom Collins – This refreshing gin drink is perfect for warm weather.

Dark & Stormy – Ginger gives this rum cocktail a nice kick!

Pimm’s Cup – Delicious with herbs and fruit, and the traditional drink of Wimbledon!

Dessert

Shirt-and-Tie Cake – Check out this adorable cake, and here are more creative dessert ideas here.

Root Beer Float – Dad will feel like a kid again!

Jack Daniel’s Salted Caramel Brownies – The name says is all…

Peach Pie – A classic pie favorite.

How are you spoiling your Dad this Father’s Day? Tell us in the comments below!

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Easy Mother’s Day Pajama Brunch

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Last week we talked about treating Mom to a Pajama Day.  But you can make her Pajama Day even more special by making brunch part of it. We know your Mom has made you breakfast a million times over, so she’ll love being served breakfast for a change! So tell her to relax in her pjs and prepare to be spoiled.

Here are 3 easy steps to making a delicious brunch for your Mom:

1. Pick a Main Dish

Waffles and pancakes and eggs, oh my! Deciding what to make can be overwhelming – there are so may tasty possibilities.  We’ve rounded up some of the best recipes here below to make it easy on you!

Pancakes – These are my absolute favorite pancakes. The buttermilk makes them light and fluffy.

Waffles – Check out this list of 25 waffle recipes and take your pick.

French Toast – Mmmmmm…Banana-Chocolate French Toast for the sweet tooth or a savory Baked Stuffed French Toast.  Need we say more?

Eggs Benedict – Impress Mom with this classic egg dish.  Its made of poached eggs, bacon or ham, and Hollandaise sauce.  Yummy! Here are step-by-step directions.

Egg Casseroles – Not a big cook or pressed for time? An egg casserole is the way to go.  Try Pioneer Woman’s Sleepin’ in Omelette. It’s one of the best and the great thing is that you can make it ahead.  I warn you, this recipe is delicious and totally worth it in my opinion, but not without guilt!  If you’re counting calories, here’s a lighter casserole recipe here.

Bacon – Brunch would not be the same without bacon, so even though its not a main dish, I think it deserves its own mention.  Follow Ina Garten’s Roast Bacon recipe for making it in the oven and you can’t go wrong.

2. Select your Beverages

Food is the first part, but what to serve Mom to drink is equally as important!

If you want to serve cocktails, Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s are always good options.

Fresh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice adds a nice touch.  And of course, don’t forget the coffee – a brunch staple.  Check out our tips on how to brew the perfect cup.

3. Decorate Your Table!

Make your table look special with a fresh bunch of tulips or some potted flowers.  Here are directions to create a Mother’s Day Balloon Bouquet as well.  You might even use a few photos of you and Mom and arrange them creatively around the table.  She’ll love it!

Take out the fancy wine or champagne glasses.  Even just to serve juice, they add some elegance than Mom will appreciate.

And, don’t forget pretty napkins!

Cheers!

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Pajamas and Shamrock Cupcakes

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by Amanda Palmer, The Pajama Company Editor

The title alone makes the day sound heavenly. I know that tomorrow is the actual day but I wanted to get this post out in case you are interested in making my yummy Shamrock Cupcakes for dessert (recipe is found below). But I must say a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the lovers of the Irish and Irish alike!

I am not Irish (Italian and German by blood) but my wonderful husband is, every year I make the “Irish Boiled Dinner” of cabbage and corned beef yes I know that it is really a New England Boiled Dinner. I do give it a little Irish twist I don’t “boil” the meal I actually cook it in a counter top oven roaster and instead of water I use a pint or two of dark stout beer. I also cook cabbage, potatoes, carrots and the corned beef.

Dinner is usually a casual event in my home. We sit at the table and discuss our day, but dress code for most of us is our pajamas (my husband works nights and is usually getting up from sleeping all day). I will use any excuse to wear pajama just because they are so comfortable, and my kids are the same.

The Pajama Company has these cute Munki Munki “Kerry’s Farm” Poplin pajamas that are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day (because the are green)

There are so many different styles of pajamas at The Pajama Company you can literally wear a pair every single day for a year (and I think still have some left over).

I do want to mention that it is Maternal Health Monday on St. Patrick’s Day so 10% of your purchase will go to  a very worthwhile cause. How can you not indulge and get a cozy pair of pajamas for you and the whole family.

Now for the delicious cupcake recipe that I love making for my family…the best part is it is semi-homemade so you are not slaving in the kitchen all day.

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Yield: Makes 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 (18.25-ounce) chocolate cake mix
  • 1-1/4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons creme de menthe OR 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon mint extract
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup mint chocolate chips
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons creme de menthe liqueur OR 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 24 muffin tins with nonstick baking spray containing flour and set aside.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, water, 2 tablespoons creme de menthe OR 2 tablespoons water plus mint extract, melted butter, and eggs. Beat on low speed until moistened, then beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide among sprayed muffin tins. Bake 20-25 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched with finger. Cool in tins 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, 3 tablespoons creme de menthe OR peppermint extract, and 1 cup powdered sugar until fluffy. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 cup heavy cream until smooth. You can tint the frosting green with food coloring if you’re not using the creme de menthe. Frost cupcakes with this mixture.

Store covered at room temperature.

I hope you enjoy!