Tag Archives: yummy recipes

Pajama Treats!

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 Compfight cc

Celebrate Dad with a Father’s Day Barbecue!

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!

Photo Credit: chrismar via Compfight cc

Rainy Day Weekend

by Amanda Palmer, The Pajama Company Editor

I love the rain, the sound of it hitting the windows or roof and the distant sound of thunder. It’s wonderful sound makes for a nice sleepy weekend.

Not everyone in my house likes the rain. My kids rather be outside playing so when we have weekends like this I think about all the fun inside things they can do. I call it Palmer Family Fun Day!

I made a great list of Rainy Day Activities you can do and I also have a fun recipe that you can either make as a dessert or lunch depending on the ingredients you use.

1.  Board Games – Nothing like pulling out board games and playing all your family favorites.

2.  Scavenger Hunt –  As mentioned in White Valentine’s Day & President’s Day Weekend you can use this scavenger hunt for days like these as well.

3.  Sock Puppet Theater –  Make your own puppets with socks you cannot find the mate to and then have a puppet show. There are so many different items you can glue on to a sock to make it look like any animal or character you choose. I also keep a kit of googly eyes, pipe cleaners and bits of yarn and fabric on hand for days like these.

4.  Peanut Butter/Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Modeling Clay – Yes this is the modeling clay kids can eat. All you have to do is mix 1 cup of Peanut butter/chocolate hazelnut spread, 2 cups confectioners sugar, 1/2 cup of honey and you have edible modeling clay. Of course you can portion it and color it for even more fun.

5.  Magazine Collage – This is a great fun way to recycle your old magazines. Give the kids a pair of scissors, a piece of construction paper, a little glue and a topic like (show me the things you like to do on a sunny day) and let the imagination go.

6.  Blanket and Pillow Fort – Take blankets and pillows and use coffee tables and chairs to make an ultra cool fort. I love doing this one and then “camping out” in the living room while we watch a movie. This is a good one to get the little ones settled down to take a nap.

7.  Dance Party – Play music and dance with your kids, this is fun to watch the little ones move to the music in their own special way.

8.  Sock “Snowball” Fight – This one my mother started with us. Pair some socks (the kids can help) and then simply have a snowball fight with the socks.

9. Decorate Shower Curtain – Purchase a clear/white shower curtain and permanent markers and let the kids design thier own shower curtain.

10. Read & Draw –  Read a story and then give the kids markers and paper and have them draw a unique ending to the story they just heard.

There you have it, 10 fun and interesting things to do so the kids won’t say the dreaded words “I’m bored”!

There is one more thing I am going to give you to do with your kids and that is cook. Nothing better than some comfort food on a rainy day. The best part this is a semi homemade recipe and depending on the ingredients you choose it can be sweet or savory…or you can do both and have real fun!

Pull Apart Pizza or Cinnamon Bread (You decide)

2 cans of refrigerated biscuit dough

1 Jar Pizza Sauce

2 cups of Mozzarella Cheese

1 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 package of Pepperoni

1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray

Or…

2 cans of refrigerated Biscuit Dough

1/2 cup  granulated Sugar

1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

1 cup Brown Sugar

3/4 cup melted Butter

Oil Bundt pan with oil or cooking spray and layer ingredients well, cook in 325 degree oven for 47 -52 minutes or until golden brown and not doughy any longer.

I hope I have given you a good list of things to do with your children on a rainy pajama day. The best part is you can do this on days that aren’t rainy and make every day a….