Food Fun Family

Chippokes State Park: The Founders District

Lolli — Thu, 27 May 2021 12:32:07 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Founder’s District. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living on the East Coast for the last 25 years has been a fascinating journey for me. I grew up on the West Coast and learned about missions and the Gold Rush and the Oregon Trail in school. Early American history seemed so “foreign” to me that it might as well have taken place in another country.

It has been interesting to raise my own kids in a totally different part of the country, with new-to-me things to discover and explore. I have come to love this area – the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) as locals like to call it – and the rich history that this land is home to.

Just this past year, I was thrilled to discover that I have ancestors who lived in Jamestown in the early days of American history.

Years ago, when my mom was visiting us in Maryland, we drove down to Virginia to visit Historic Jamestowne and the surrounding sites. Little did I know during that first visit to Jamestown Settlement that there was so much more to explore right in the same area. In fact, there are eight amazing destinations in The Founder’s District, each with something unique to learn and enjoy.

Jamestown Settlement
Colonial Parkway/Colonial National Historical Park
Historic Jamestowne
James County Marina
Chippokes State Park
Jamestown- Scotland Ferry
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Today, though, I want to feature Chippokes State Park, which is at the top of my list for places I want to visit with my family.

Chippokes State Park is one of the oldest continuously operated plantations in the nation. Established in 1619 by English Captain William Powell, a Lieutenant Governor of Jamestown, this 1,400-acre farm located opposite Jamestown Island, has been the site of an active agricultural operation for nearly four centuries. Powell named the plantation after Choapoke, an Algonquian Indian Chief who was friendly to the English settlers in Jamestown.

Since moving to our farm in Maryland a year and a half ago, I’ve become even more fascinated with the type of farming that built our country. I also love being outdoors and exploring the beauties that this area has to offer.

At Chippokes State Park, families can take advantage of modern recreational activities (like an Olympic-sized swimming pool, hiking, biking and horseback trails, and gift shops) as well as enjoy a glimpse into life in the colonial days. The park has a campground and four overnight cabins that allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds.

So pack a picnic for a day trip or grab your tent and sleeping bags for a family weekend getaway and see all that Chippokes State Park and The Founders District has to offer.

Carrot Cake Waffles

Lolli — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 03:36:35 +0000

One of the main differences in our house over this past year is the change we’ve made in our breakfast routines. None of us have touched a box of cereal in months, and no one is missing it!

Thanks to our 17 laying chickens and ducks filling our kitchen with fresh eggs daily, along with the fact that we have nowhere to rush off to in the morning (leaving us with extra time to cook), we’ve been making hot breakfasts every morning. French toast with homemade buttermilk syrup, omelettes with cheese and chives and topped with hot sauce, a bowl of oatmeal filled with a chopped apple and some raisins….the possibilities for breakfast are endless!

Whether it’s a quick egg on a piece of toast or something a little more elaborate, like these carrot cake waffles, we’re loving eating a hearty, warm meal every morning.

Although I love a good, loaded carrot cake, my teens tend to like a waffle with a smoother texture. One of my favorite tips (for this recipe as well as ANY recipe that calls for chopped nuts) – throw your nuts in the blender and chop them up FINE. That way, you get the flavor of the nuts without the chunks of nuts. I also use pecans and walnuts nearly interchangeably, so whichever you have on hand should work.

Another “suggestion” from the kids….the raisins are optional. Ha! Or you can leave them out of the waffles and just sprinkle them on top.

These waffles are absolutely delicious topped with some vanilla ice cream, but not everyone is going to want ice cream with breakfast. I love to top my waffles with my homemade syrup (recipe coming soon!) and some whipped cream (which seems to be tolerated better than ice cream with breakfast foods…hmm!), but I’ve been eager to try some type of cream cheese glaze, since I often eat my carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I’ll let you guys know if I end up trying it out…and I hope you’ll do the same.

Ok, who’s ready for the recipe?

Carrot Cake Waffles

Ingredients

3 large eggs, separated
2 tablespoons sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ cups finely grated carrots
1 cup raisins
½ cup walnuts, chopped (I prefer finely chopped nuts)
2 cups milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Using a stand or handheld mixer, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, adding in sugar towards the end.
2. Combine remaining ingredients (including egg yolks) in a separate bowl and stir together, making sure to not over-stir. Fold in the whipped egg whites, until just incorporated.
3. Cook in waffle iron according to waffle iron instructions.
4. Top, as desired, with whipped cream, nuts, fruit, berries, syrup, etc. Or all of the above! Or go all out and top with ice cream. You really can’t go wrong.

This recipe makes 6-8 waffles, depending on the size of your waffle iron.

If you make these carrot cake waffles, let me know how you like them!

Yield: 6-8 waffles

Carrot Cake Waffles

Love carrot cake as much as I do? Whip up some of these delectable carrot cake waffles to enjoy that delicious flavor any time of day!

Ingredients

3 large eggs, separated
2 tablespoons sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ cups grated carrots
1 cup raisins
½ cup walnuts, chopped
2 cups milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Using a stand or handheld mixer, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, adding in sugar towards the end. Set aside.
Combine remaining ingredients (including egg yolks) in a separate bowl and stir together, making sure to not over-stir. Fold in the whipped egg whites, until just incorporated.
Cook in waffle iron according to waffle iron instructions.
Top, as desired, with whipped topping, nuts, fruit, berries, syrup, etc.

Garden-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing

Lolli — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 01:57:16 +0000

It’s the time of year when gardens are bursting with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers (and lots of other garden vegetables)! We probably have upwards of 100 tomatoes on the vines in the backyard right now, and my mouth waters just thinking about eating all of those vine-ripened tomatoes. I look forward to this time of year all year long.

Cucumber Tomato Salad is one of my favorite classic garden salad varieties, and this one is made even better with a simple vinaigrette dressing. This recipe is a perfect side-salad size to serve with dinner, but can easily be doubled if you’d like to make a larger salad. I’ve also had very good luck eating this salad the next day. Unlike leafy salads, this stores very well in the fridge!

Do you have a vegetable garden? What are your favorite garden veggies to grow?

Cucumber Tomato Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients:

2 cucumbers
2 medium tomatoes
½ white onion
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic
? teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Slice cucumbers and cut into quarters. A lot of people prefer to peel the cucumbers first, but this recipe works perfectly fine if you want to leave the peel on.
2. Cut tomatoes into bite sized pieces.
3. Peel onion and cut in half. Set one half aside.
4. Slice the onion half and and cut each slice in half, breaking apart all slices.
5. Add cucumbers, tomatoes and onion to a bowl. Pour in wet ingredients and spices. Toss well.

6. Alternatively, you can prepare the vinaigrette dressing first by mixing wet ingredients and spices, then pouring over cucumber mixture.
7. Chill for an hour, then serve.

You can add more or less of the cucumbers, tomatoes, or onions according to your taste. This salad is very versatile and always a hit!

Yield: 2-4 servings

Garden-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing

Prep Time 10 minutes 5 seconds

Total Time 10 minutes 5 seconds

Ingredients

● 2 cucumbers
● 4 roma tomatoes
● ½ white onion
● 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
● 1 tablespoon olive oil
● 1 teaspoon oregano
● ¼ teaspoon garlic
● ⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Slice cucumbers and cut into quarters. A lot of people prefer to peel the cucumbers first, but this recipe works perfectly fine if you want to leave the peel on.
Cut tomatoes into bite sized pieces.
Peel onion and cut in half. Set one half aside.
Slice the onion half and and cut each slice in half, breaking apart all slices.
Add cucumbers, tomatoes and onion to a bowl. Pour in wet ingredients and spices. Toss well.
Alternatively, you can prepare the vinaigrette dressing first by mixing wet ingredients and spices, then pouring over cucumber mixture.
Chill for an hour, then serve.

Doolittle Activity Sheets

Lolli — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 14:57:54 +0000

Doolittle is now available to own or stream at home! I’m excited to share these fun (and free!) Doolittle Activity Sheets. No compensation has been received or this post, but Amazon affiliate links have been utilized so you can add this movie to your home theater. Thanks for your support!

Spend your next movie night with DOLITTLE! Whip up some Yoshi Marshmallow Pops, print and fold your own popcorn bucket, and even play movie bingo! Download it all now at http://bit.ly/DolittleActivitySheets DOLITTLE is now available on Digital. Arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD & On Demand April 7!

About Doolittle

He’s not just a people person! Universal Pictures Home Entertainment reignites a classic character, as Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers: Endgame, Sherlock Holmes) stars in DOLITTLE, available NOW on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand. Own the movie all the animals are talking about and go an epic journey with a hilarious always cold bear, an anxious gorilla, a lovable giraffe, a ferocious tiger, and more! Fly behind-the-scenes with Robert Downey Jr. and the star-studded cast to explore the wild world of DOLITTLE.

The adventurous tale is brought to life with an all-star cast that includes the voice talents of Academy® Award winner Emma Thompson (Last Christmas, Late Night), Academy® Award winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, “Mr. Robot”), Selena Gomez (“Wizards of Waverly Place”), John Cena (“WWE”), and Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and more. The film is directed by Stephen Gaghan (Syriana) and produced by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey.

Robert Downey Jr. electrifies as the man who could talk to animals: DOLITTLE. After losing his wife, he hermits himself away behind the high wall of his manor but is forced to set sail on an epic adventure when the queen falls gravely ill. Helping Dolittle in search of a rare cure are his rambunctious animal friends—including Chee-Chee (Malek), an anxious, self-conscious gorilla; Dab-Dab (Octavia Spencer, The Help), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck; the bickering duo of cynical, neurotic ostrich Plimpton (Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick, “Silicon Valley”) and chilly-but-chill polar bear Yoshi (Cena); as well as a headstrong parrot named Polynesia (Thompson). Catch incredible bonus content that you can only see on the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital release showcasing the making of the film and insight to all the cast.

BONUS FEATURES

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY, DVD AND DIGITAL:

TALK TO THE ANIMALS – Dolittle is surrounded by a motley cast of characters. Take a peek at all the fun the cast had giving each of the animals their unique voice.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. & HARRY: MENTOR AND MENTEE – Acting opposite a legendary actor like Robert Downey Jr. can be an intimidating experience, but Harry Collett handled it like a pro. See the unique bond the two actors formed on-set, and how Downey took the film’s young co-star under his wing.
BECOMING THE GOOD DOCTOR – See the process of how this team of talented artists brought this film to life, and how Robert Downey Jr. transformed into the iconic Dolittle.

ANTONIO BANDERAS: PIRATE KING – Antonio Banderas discusses what attracted him to the project, his experiences working with Robert Downey Jr., and what he brought to the role of King Rassouli.
THE WICKED DR. MÜDFLY – Who is the nefarious villain Dr. Blair Müdfly? Michael Sheen dives into his character’s motivations for being Dolittle’s foil.
A MOST UNUSUAL HOUSE – It takes a special home to accommodate humans and animals alike. Explore the unique rooms and modifications that allow Dolittle to house anyone or anything – big or small.

Frozen 2 Activity Sheets (Free Printable Fun for the Kids!)

Lolli — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 19:05:23 +0000

How many times have you and your kids watched Frozen II during the last few weeks? Frozen II was officially our first family movie after the announcement that schools were closed, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. (Amazon affiliate links are used within this post)

I’m excited to share these Frozen 2 Activity Pages, including games, coloring pages and mazes. SO MUCH FUN! Simply click HERE to download the PDF file and then save to your computer. Print off as many copies as you’d like. We all need a few fun activities to keep the kids engaged and entertained right now!

FROZEN 2 is currently available on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download and can be streamed on Disney+

About Frozen 2

Frozen II Answers so many questions from Frozen!

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? The answers are calling her but also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough. From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—and featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Get your copy on Amazon today!

Have you seen Frozen 2 yet? If you haven’t, definitely make it a priority. The songs, the story, the animation…it’s all SO good for kids and adults of all ages.

Instant Pot Cranberry French Toast

Lolli — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 02:57:17 +0000

The holidays may be over, but I am still enjoying the classic scents and flavors of the winter. In fact, I have a pot of orange, lime, cranberry, and cinnamon stick potpourri simmering on top of my wood stove as we speak.

I had this recipe post all set to share before Christmas, but I’ve been having some pretty major website issues. My site was finally successfully migrated to a new host, and for the first time in months I can upload photos to my site, log in without using a backdoor trick I figured out….it’s a happy day!

Ok, now on to that recipe I wanted to share with you guys over a month ago! Luckily, delicious breakfast recipes don’t have a “season,” right?

Instant Pot Cranberry French Toast

Ingredients

2 cups fresh cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar, divided
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
4 tbsp butter, melted
2 cup whole milk
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
zest from 1 large orange
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Loaf of day-old Challah bread, cubed

Directions

1. Spray a 7inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray

2. Cover the bottom with parchment paper

3. Using a medium sauce pan, bring cranberries, orange juice, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

4. Cook until the berries have popped and thickened slightly about 5 minutes. Remove from heat

5. Pour the cranberries into the springform pan

6. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and 1/2 cup sugar.

7. Add milk, beaten eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Mix in cubed bread.

8. Let rest until the bread absorbs the milk, stirring occasionally.

9. Spread bread mixture on top of cranberry sauce in pan.

10. Pour 1 cup water into the pressure cooker pot and place the trivet in the bottom.

11. Cover springform pan with foil and place on top of the trivet.

12. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and set the timer for 25 minutes. When beep sounds, turn off pressure cooker, and do a quick pressure release to release the pressure.

13. When valve drops carefully remove lid.

14. Remove dish from and place onto the counter to cool completely.

15. Top with whipped cream and serve warm. Enjoy!

Instant Pot Cranberry French Toast

Ingredients

2 cups fresh cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar, divided
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
4 tbsp butter, melted
2 cup whole milk
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
zest from 1 large orange
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Loaf of day-old Challah bread, cubed

Instructions

1. Spray a 7-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray.

2. Cover the bottom with parchment paper.

3. Using a medium sauce pan, bring cranberries, orange juice, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

4. Cook until the berries have popped and thickened slightly about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

5. Pour the cranberries into the springform pan.

6. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and 1/2 cup sugar.

7. Add milk, beaten eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Mix in cubed bread.

8. Let rest until the bread absorbs the milk, stirring occasionally.

9. Spread bread mixture on top of cranberry sauce in pan.

10. Pour 1 cup water into the pressure cooker pot and place the trivet in the bottom.

11. Cover springform pan with foil and place on top of the trivet.

12. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and set the timer for 25 minutes. When beep sounds, turn off pressure cooker, and do a quick pressure release to release the pressure.

13. When valve drops, carefully remove lid.

14. Remove dish from pressure cooker and place on a hot pad on the counter to cool.

15. Top with whipped cream and serve warm. Enjoy!

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Movie Review

Lolli — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 06:00:07 +0000

I was invited, along with my husband and a theater-full of local press, to see an early screening of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in theaters across the US!

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Trailer

ABOUT Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once again to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the riveting conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.

The film stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, with Ian McDiarmid and Billy Dee Williams

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan. Callum Greene, Tommy Gormley and Jason McGatlin serve as executive producers. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was written by J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio.

Spoiler-Free Thoughts on The Film

Apparently, my husband and I have unpopular opinions when it comes to Star Wars movies. Dale was raised on the original Star Wars trilogy movies. He knows those movies backwards and forwards. He has some STRONG opinions about what excellent examples of cinema they are, especially since they were made in an age without the high tech special effects that we have today.

And as huge of a Star Wars fan as he has always been, he has NOT been a fan of the modern additions to the Star Wars saga. I’ll leave it at that.

Daisy Ridley is Rey in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

He and I have, however, really enjoyed the side stories, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In other words, we tend to love the movies that aren’t received as well critically. but I know we’re not alone.

What I’m getting to is that we both agreed that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was the best of the modern Star Wars saga movies. There were many elements in the movie that made it feel more like the original, the action was excellent, the special effects were very well done (I was especially impressed with how they handled Leia in this film!), and over-all I thought it was a great way to end the saga.

Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca and Billy Dee Williams is Lando Calrissian in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

Was it a perfect movie? Not by a long shot. Was it entertaining? Heck, yeah.

The thing that I noticed as we were making the hour-long drive back home from the screening theater is that the movie made me THINK. I noticed the symbolism more with this movie than with any of the previous movies, and I felt like you could write thorough college-level papers examining the parallels and lesson to be learned from the script.

Family-friendly?

Parents often ask how child-friendly PG and PG-13 movies are (note: this movie is rated PG-13). As expected from a Sci-Fi action movie like this, there are plenty of duels and fights, possible scary-looking characters, and intense action, but nothing that you wouldn’t expect. If you’ve seen the other Star Wars movies with your kids, then this will fit right in.

Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca, Oscar Isaac is Poe Dameron, Daisy Ridley is Rey and John Boyega is Finn in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

LUCASFILM

Website: StarWars.com

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/StarWarsMovies

John Boyega is Finn and Naomi Ackie is Jannah in STAR WARS; THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.

Hashtag: #TheRiseOfSkywalker

PS – Please be patient with me as I iron out some technical difficulties I’m having with my blog, including the inability to add new images to my blog (luckily I can use round-about ways to add photos from another website for now). Additionally, my Facebook page was stolen and I no longer have control of it. I am trying to regain access, but in the meantime I’m looking for other methods to share my content. If you feel like sharing this, I’d love the support! Thank you!

Spider-Man: Far From Home – Add It To Your Home Collection!

Lolli — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 01:22:47 +0000

Many thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for sending me a review copy of Spider-Man: Far From Home to add to our own home entertainment collection. All thoughts about the movie and bonus features are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used to link to the product should you be interested in getting a copy to add to your collection, too.

It’s not very often that I see a movie in the theater more than one time. But I enjoyed Spider-Man: Far From Home so much that I saw it not once, not twice, but FOUR times in the theater. And amazingly, I was still just as excited to see it again when it came out on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD this week.

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, I suggest that you head out to the store or click on over to Amazon to buy it ASAP.

If you haven’t see the movie yet, here’s a little blurb about what to expect from the latest installment.

About Spider-Man: Far From Home

Tom Holland returns as everyone’s favorite web-slinger in SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, the next chapter after Spider-Man: Homecoming. Our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plans to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks! Spider-Man and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) join forces to fight the havoc unleashed across the continent but all is not as it seems.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME stars Tom Holland (Spider–Man: Homecoming) as Peter Parker, Samuel L. Jackson (Spider–Man: Homecoming) as Nick Fury, Jon Favreau (The Lion King) as Happy Hogan, Zendaya (“Euphoria”) as MJ, and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as Mysterio.

Jake Gyllenhaal is Mysterio in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.

And now…my absolute favorite thing about adding movies to my home collection: all the bonus features! Yesterday, I sat down in front of the TV and watched all of the bonus materials. So. Much. Fun.

My favorite bonus feature is always the gag reel and bloopers. I love seeing how the cast interacts with each other and all of the fun they have together when making the film. My kids loved hearing Tom Holland revert to his normal British accent when he came out of character to laugh or tease a fellow actor.

I also enjoyed seeing the clip highlighting the stunts found in Spider-Man: Far From Home. My admiration for Tom Holland grew by leaps and bounds (pun intended). I couldn’t believe the athleticism and skill that he displayed by doing most of his stunts on his own. Wow.

What are your favorite bonus features to watch?

Bonus Materials Include:

Suit Up: The suit doesn’t make the hero – but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter’s different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.
Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film’s illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they’re also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.
It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.
Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!
The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.
Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei’s reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.
The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.
The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.

MJ (Zendaya) catches a ride from Spider-Man in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.
Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!
Select Scene Pre–Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the film
Gag Reel & Outakes
Never-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended Scenes

Angourie Rice, Jacob Batalon and Zendaya in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Grab your copy of Spider-Man: Far From Home today!

Connect with Spidey:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spidermanmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spidermanmovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiderManMovie/
Hashtag: #SpiderManFarFromHome

Coca Cola Spicy-Sweet Mixed Nuts

Lolli — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 02:08:07 +0000

This post has been sponsored by The Coca-Cola® Company and SheSpeaks.

Are you ready for football season? Do you love hosting or attending football parties with your friends and family? Mixed nuts were always served for get-togethers at our house when I was growing up. Nuts are a delicious, filling snack and a big hit with guests and especially for game day parties.

As I was thinking of a recipe to make for our upcoming fall football get-together, I couldn’t think of anything better than sweet and spicy mixed nuts. They’re delicious to eat, easy to make, and they store easily (so that I can make them ahead of time and save my sanity on game day!).

I love that this recipe has just the right amount of sweetness, thanks to Coca-Cola® and a touch of honey, paired with the perfect amount of cayenne pepper to spice things up. Don’t be intimidated by the pepper, though! These nuts are still mild enough for the kids (and those with sensitive taste buds) to enjoy while they cheer on their favorite team!

The great thing about this recipe is that it not only uses Coca-Cola® as one of the star ingredients, but it pairs perfectly with a glass of ice-cold Coca-Cola®. I picked up cases of Coca-Cola® Mini Cans at Sam’s Club during my most recent trip there…because I can never have too much Coca-Cola® at my house, especially when I know lots of people are going to be coming over.

I let Sam’s Club take the stress out of preparing for my game day parties. I’m totally hooked on Scan & Go. I scan items with my phone (via the app) as I shop throughout the store. When I’m done shopping, I can pay on my app and skip the check out lines completely. It saves me a ton of time! You can also use Club Pickup. Just order online and Sam’s Club will have your items ready for you in-store, where available. This is a great option when purchasing a variety of Coca-Cola® beverages.

Quick tip: I used a Coca-Cola® Mini Can in this recipe. Each mini can has about 1 cup of Coca-Cola®. I happily drank the second half of the can while I was preparing the recipe. However, you could easily double the recipe and use the entire mini can. If you double the recipe, I recommend splitting the nuts between two cookie sheets so that the nuts bake evenly.

Ok, enough of my chattering. Let’s get to this yummy recipe!

Coca Cola Spicy-Sweet Mixed Nuts

Ingredients:

½ cup Coca-Cola
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon coarse salt
3 cups of nuts (I used one cup each — peanuts, cashews, and pecans — because those are my favorites, but you can use your favorite variety)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

2. Toss the nuts together in a medium mixing bowl; set aside.

3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook Coke, honey, and butter, stirring frequently, until liquid is slightly reduced and starts to thicken (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in spices.

4. Pour hot glaze over the mixed nuts and stir to coat evenly. Gently pour the nut mixture onto the parchment paper and spread evenly over the cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring once during cooking. Keep an eye on the nuts during the last few minutes to ensure that they don’t burn. Remove nuts to a bowl or a cool plate immediately before they harden on the cookie sheet.

6. Let nuts cool completely. Store in a closed container.

PS – While the nuts are cooking, prepare a feast for your olfactory senses. Your house is going to smell amazing!

What are some of your favorite game day recipes? Do you love preparing main dishes, appetizers, or sweets? Personally, I love football parties that have them all. Variety is good!

Toy Story 4 Movie Review #ToyStory4

Lolli — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:25:00 +0000

I know you’ve been counting down the days. I’m sure you’re just as excited as I am to say that Toy Story 4 is finally here!! The family and I were thrilled to be able to catch a screening of the newest Toy Story movie a few days before it was released in theaters. Although our tickets were comped, all thoughts about the movie are our own.

ABOUT “TOY STORY 4”:

Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So, when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts).

LOST AND FOUND – In Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Woody is reunited with his long-lost friend Bo Peep, who’s been on the road for years. She’s become an adventure-seeking free spirit whose strength and sarcasm belie her delicate porcelain exterior. Featuring the voice of Annie Potts as Bo Peep, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”), and produced by Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”) and Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” ventures to U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.

How Our Family Reacted to Toy Story 4

I remember when we saw the original Toy Story in theaters. My husband and I were shocked that the story line was so captivating. We were expecting a fun family movie, but what we got was a deeply touching, thoughtful, and totally hilarious film that everyone in the family could appreciate.

AND BEYOND – Buzz Lightyear is back on the big screen in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” joining Woody and the whole gang on an eye-opening road trip that takes them to unexpected places, including a carnival. Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

It’s rare for a second or a third movie in a franchise to come anywhere close to the first when it’s as good as Toy Story was. Second and third time around, I went to the movie theater expecting to be let down…at least a little. And yet, Woody and Buzz and all of their friends never let me down.

This movie was the same for me. Dare I say even better? Toy Story 4 exceeded my expectations (and at this point my expectations are pretty high when it comes to Toy Story). I laughed, I cried, and I felt like I was back with old friends.

HANGIN’ AROUND – In Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Buzz Lightyear finds himself among a host of carnival prizes—including Ducky and Bunny, who’ve been waiting a long time to be won. They aren’t exactly welcoming to the Space Ranger—the odds are already stacked against them, and who needs that kind of competition? Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, Keegan-Michael Key as the voice of Ducky and Jordan Peele as the voice of Bunny, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

My husband’s reaction was the biggest shock for me. While I tend to enjoy a movie for its entertainment value (and don’t get too critical unless it bores, offends or creeps me out), my husband is a “critical” movie critic. He likes to tear movies apart for their flaws.

He found none. He laughed throughout the movie and could not stop singing its praises as we walked out of the theater.

I think all families that have seen the previous Toy Story movies should see Toy Story 4 in theaters. Yes, I do recommend watching the first three movies if you haven’t already. I loved that there was a quick “refresher” sequence at the beginning of Toy Story 4 so everybody knew where the movie was starting.

One word of warning: some young children might be scared by the ventriloquist dummies (they are creepy!) but otherwise there is nothing in the movie that stood out to me as something to keep young kids away from.

GABBY GABBY – In Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Woody finds himself in Second Chance Antiques, home to an adorable, talking pull-string doll from the 1950s and her crew of voiceless ventriloquist dummies. Unfortunately for Gabby Gabby, a manufacturing defect in her pull-string voice box has left her sounding anything but adorable. Christina Hendricks lends her voice to Gabby Gabby. “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.
©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Did you know?

“Toy Story,” originally released on Nov. 22, 1995, was the first fully computer animated feature film and the highest grossing movie of the year. It was nominated for three Oscars® and two Golden Globes®.

“Toy Story 2” is the first film ever to be entirely created, mastered and exhibited digitally. It was also the first animated sequel to gross more than its original, breaking opening weekend box office records in the U.S., UK and Japan, becoming the highest grossing animated release of 1999. It won the Golden Globe for best motion picture – comedy or musical. It won a Grammy® for best song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media (Randy Newman, “When She Loved Me”).

THREE-IN-ONE – He’s not a fork. He’s not a spoon. And most of all, Forky is not a toy! At least that’s what he thinks. Bonnie created him from an assortment of supplies Woody’s retrieved from the kindergarten trash can. So, it’s no wonder Forky feels strongly that he’s trash and not a toy. Featuring Tony Hale as the voice of Forky, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Released in 2010, “Toy Story 3” won Oscars® for best animated feature film and best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original song (Randy Newman/“We Belong Together”). The film also won a Golden Globe® and BAFTA for best animated film. It was the second Pixar film to be nominated for the best picture Oscar. It’s also Pixar’s second highest-grossing film of all time behind “Incredibles 2.”

Toy Story 4 FUN!

Enjoy these fun activity sheets. Print as many as you’d like for personal use. Simply click on a photo you’d like (don’t right click) to download the full sized PDF file to your computer, then print away!

Connect with Toy Story 4

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