Food Fun Family

French Toast Wrapped Sausage Dippers

Lolli — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:11:09 +0000

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville. The opinions and text are all mine.

My kids start Spring Break tomorrow, which means that the next week and a half will be all about sleeping in, baking our favorite Easter treats, and getting ready for an epic Easter egg hunt. In the past, this week of Spring Break has also meant big cousin sleep overs and always ALWAYS lots of food to feed lots of hungry kids and adults.

Basically, this time of year is about food and family (and to go along with my website, a good dose of FUN, too). I love to remind my friends and readers that preparing delicious meals – whether they’re for an ordinary family dinner or a big holiday brunch – doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Satisfying, family-friendly foods can be basic, using ingredients you are probably already adding to your shopping cart, like Johnsonville breakfast sausage links and bread. Did you know that you can find Johnsonville breakfast sausage in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, next to the bacon? I love that the sausage links are fresh, not frozen, and that I cook them up when I’m ready to eat.

We love cooking hot breakfast foods for breakfast, brunch, and dinner. There’s really no “wrong” time to eat things like sausage and French Toast, right? I love eating my French Toast with a side of sausage, because the sausage cuts the sweet flavor of the French Toast just right. Plus, my kids and I LOVE dipping our sausage links in maple syrup (despite what my mom thinks, sausage is better with syrup!), so they really are the perfect breakfast foods to pair together.

This week, I not only prepared French Toast and Johnsonville sausage links together, but I meshed them into one fantastic crowd-pleasing menu item, perfect for your Spring brunch, breakfast-for-dinner meal, or weekend breakfast.

Have you ever tried wrapping your French Toast around sausage links? This was a first for us, but it won’t be a last! It was a total hit for the kids and adults alike.

French Toast Wrapped Sausage Dippers

Yum

French Toast Wrapped Sausage Dippers

Ingredients

12 oz package (14-count) Johnsonville breakfast sausage links (any flavor variety)
14 slices of soft, airy bread
3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Cook sausage links in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, turning to brown all sides. Remove sausage links from pan and set aside.
In a wide, shallow bowl, beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
Cut crusts off of each slice of bread so you're left with a crust-less square of bread. Gently press the bread down with the palm of your hand.
Place one sausage link on each slice of bread and roll the bread up around the sausage. Dip each sausage roll in the egg-milk mixture and place in the skillet. Repeat for each piece of bread and sausage link. Note: I used the grease from cooking the sausage, which was still in the pan, but you may opt to wipe out the pan and use butter or vegetable oil to cook the French Toast with. Your choice!
Cook over medium heat, turning to cook all sides, until golden brown.
Serve with syrup for dipping. No utensils necessary!

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Here are a few process shots, showing how easy these are to make for a gathering or for a simple family meal:

Delicious!

What are your favorite recipes using sausage links? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comment section below!

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville. The opinions and text are all mine.

Kings Dominion: Thrills to Fit Every Size!

Lolli — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 17:07:33 +0000

Today is our first day back to school and work from Spring Break – and it was a wonderful, relaxing, fun break that we all needed! To kick off our Spring Break week, I was able to take the family to Kings Dominion in Virginia. This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions and photos are my own.

When was the last time you took the whole family to an amusement park? My kids are the perfect age for enjoying a family day together at Kings Dominion and we had a blast! Spring is the ultimate season to head to Kings Dominion – the weather was perfect, the lines were shorter, and we were able to fit everything in to one day!

We’ve lived in the DC/MD/VA area for many years, and we’ve definitely visited Kings Dominion before, but it had been a while, so the park felt new to most of us. We set out with comfy walking shoes, fully charged phones, and sunglasses.

One of the first orders of business was to get a few souvenir cups (since we are planning on going back again before the season is over!). Kings Dominion offers 2 different types of souvenir cups – one cup can be refilled for free on the day of purchase and then any other visit refills are just a dollar. The other souvenir cup is a little pricier upfront, but you get free refills all season.

Our Favorite Rides at Kings Dominion

My 15-year-old son was drawn to all of the roller coaster rides – especially Intimidator 305 (which is the fastest roller coaster on the East Coast at 90 miles per hour). He told me that it made his Top 3 Roller Coasters Ever list! He convinced me to try it out with him near the end of the day, and I loved it…but I swear it was so fast I couldn’t even scream.

Can you believe that drop?

My 16-year-old daughter loved several of the roller coasters, but I think her favorite was Volcano. She had been to Kings Dominion with friends last summer and couldn’t wait to take the rest of the family on the ride.

The ride that we frequented the most was Backlot Stunt Coaster – that was my 10-year-old’s favorite ride, hands-down! I loved that it was thrilling but still kid-friendly (ie, no upside-down loops). He kept asking to go again (and since the lines were so short, we could!).

My 13-year-old loved the food and the getting a matching henna tattoo with her sister.

Benefits of Getting a 2016 Kings Dominion Season Pass

All day while we were in the park, I saw benefits of having the season pass – from free parking to discounts on food in the park. Here are a few of the reasons you should get a 2016 season pass:

Unlimited visits all season
Free parking
Early entry and ride times
10% discount on select food and merchandise throughout the park
Bring-a-friend days
Free admission to Dinosaurs Alive

What’s HOT at King’s Dominion

• Planet Snoopy – over nine acres of Peanuts themed fun – from rides and shows, to meeting your favorite Peanuts character. Planet Snoopy is perfect for younger kids and has SO much to offer for kids and families to enjoy together!
• Soak City – recently expanded and renovated, including a children’s play area for kids of all ages. We can’t wait to go back to enjoy Soak City during the summer!
• The all-new Delirium – new in 2016, this thrill ride will allow thrill seekers of all ages to fly through the air as they experience gravity-defying hang time.

After your park day is over, don’t forget to set aside time to enjoy in Richmond! My husband used to live in Richmond, and we used to drive down to Richmond ALL the time. We love it! Here are a few things to do in the Richmond, Virginia area.

Have you been to Kings Dominion? What were your favorite rides and features?

Get tickets HERE!
Kings Dominion on Facebook
Kings Dominion on Twitter: @kingsdominionva
Kings Dominion on Instagram: @kingsdominionva
#ThisIsYourKidsFun #KDFirstTimer

Spring Break at Medieval Times {BOGO Special}

Lolli — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 15:04:37 +0000

I am excited to tell my Maryland – DC – Virginia readers about a special Spring Break offer at the Maryland Medieval Times. I am even MORE excited that my family and I get to spend another exciting evening at Medieval Times dinner theater. Although we were offered tickets for my family, all thoughts are my own. Enthusiasm is 100% genuine.

It’s not common to find a family activity that is fun and engaging for the little kids, the teens, and the adults alike. But no matter how many times we go back to Medieval Times, we all have a blast.

This Spring, the Baltimore/DC-area Medieval Times is offering an amazing deal for families.

Medieval Times Offers Children Free Spring Break Special

Buy One Adult Ticket, Get another Ticket Free

Get one of the best deals of the season when you visit Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Baltimore Castle this Spring Break.

Purchase one full-paid adult admission and receive a second admission free. This offer is valid for all shows through ~~April 12, 2015~~. {This deal has been extended for blog readers ONLY through 5/3/2015!} Must mention or enter discount code BOGORB5 at time of purchase.

Call 1-888-WE-JOUST (935-6878) or visit www.MedievalTimes.com for information and reservations.

*This special offer is only valid at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Hanover, Maryland. May not be combined with any other discount. Certain restrictions apply. Plus tax and processing.

The Hike #WordlessWednesday

Lolli — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 02:48:12 +0000

The following pictures are from a little family outing that two of my kids and I took with some friends over Spring Break. I brought my big camera and then forgot all about the pictures once I got back home.

We call this place, simply, “The Hike.”

If someone in the family asks for clarification, we say, “You know, the hike. With the water.”

Someone recently asked me what this place was called. I had no idea.

We drove past a small parking area off the side of the road to Walmart and Target for years before we finally stopped to see what was beyond the parking spot…and why people would park there in the first place.

We discovered a whole new world beyond that unpaved parking lot. It has continued to be our special place – our escape from the world (and it’s right down the street from church!). It was fun to share it with friends.

What have you been up to lately? Link up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Spring Break Flash Back – PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:00:45 +0000

I am counting down the minutes before my kids head to Spring Break. I can’t wait! I’m trying to get things ready so that I can be out of the house as much as possible for the whole week.

I found these pictures from Spring 2009, when my kids were a few feet shorter. I am so excited to take the kids on this hike for the first time this year – it’s one of our favorite place in the world!

Spring Break Flash Back

I love the story behind this picture…Reese was wading in the creek when the current pulled her flip flop right off her foot. It got caught on the other side of the creek, and the water was too deep for her to reach it. Her big brother, Twizzler, volunteered to rescue the shoe. He was the hero of the day!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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Top 10 Spring/Summer Activities for Kids in Montgomery County, Maryland

Lolli — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:44:09 +0000

These top 10 Spring/Summer activities for kids in Montgomery County are brought to you by Montgomery Parks. Although I received passes for my kids to enjoy some of the fun that Montgomery Parks has to offer, all opinions are my own. Note: photos not marked with my Better in Bulk watermark are provided by Montgomery Parks.

I realize that those of us living in Montgomery County, MD are rather fortunate in terms of available recreational activities. I mean, we live down the street from the White House and historically rich Washington DC. But Montgomery County has so much to offer on its own. As my kids approach Spring Break this coming week, I’ve got a list of 10 amazing activities that kids of all ages can enjoy – from Spring through the Summer!

Which of these activities would your kids enjoy the most?

Top 10 Spring/Summer Activities for Kids in Montgomery County MD

• All Aboard! Hop on a Miniature train! Do you have any kids that are fascinated by trains? Did you know there are two miniature trains in Montgomery Parks? You can find one of the trains – just for little ones – at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda. The other miniature train is found at Wheaton Regional Park…where there is also a carousel (and I love carousels!). A ticket to ride either train or the carousel is just $1.75. They will be open for Spring Break starting April 12 – 21 as well as the following weekend, April 26 and 27. They open for the season in May. See the miniature trains schedule and more details at the Montgomery Parks website.

• Visit a Nature Center: Montgomery Parks’ four nature centers – Black Hill Nature Programs, Brookside Nature Center, Locust Grove Nature Center, and Meadowside Nature Center – have plenty of fun activities for kids of all ages to experience.

Activities include the Raptor Walkway at Meadowside Nature Center, the Outdoor Classroom at Black Hill Visitors Center with a pond, hummingbird garden, sandbox, monarch waystation and more; Live Animals at Brookside Nature Center including box turtles, a gray tree frog, two snakes, a salamander and more; or a naturalist talk and hike at Locust Grove Nature Center. Brookside Gardens also has 50 acres of beautiful plants, flowers and displays including an aquatic garden, a rose garden and even a children’s garden. I can’t wait to experience nature with my kids this Spring…with my camera, of course!

• Spring Break Camps: there are a variety of Spring Break camps available for kids 5 to 13 during Spring Break (April 14-21) including archaeology camp, Hooray for the Bay (all about the Chesapeake Bay), ice skating camp, Tennis “boot days” (available for individual days or for the whole week), and Spring Week in the Park, featuring sports, skating, arts and crafts, and more.

• Parent Tot Skate /Parent Tot hockey: Anyone who has tried to get their tots on the ice probably knows it can be a challenge. That’s why Wheaton Ice and Cabin John Ice have special parent tot programs that are just an hour long and provide admission for two with skates for just $3.50. More info at www.CabinJohnIce.com and www.WheatonIceArena.com

• Step back in time at historic sites: Several historic sites located in Montgomery Parks offer free guided tours throughout the season.

• Take a hike along a portion of the Underground Railroad at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park (tours are offered Saturdays April 5 through November 1 starting at 10:00 AM).
• Visit Kingsley Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse from 1893 in Little Bennett Regional Park, and learn what was different and what was the same when kids went to school over 100 years ago. An open house and guided tours are offered the first Sunday of each month (May 4 – November 2) from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.
• Oakley Cabin, a historic cabin located in the center of an African American community in the 1800s also has free tours the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, April 12 through November 1 from Noon – 4:00 PM.

• Spring Festivals for the Whole Family: Montgomery Parks has festivals the whole family can enjoy during spring and summer.

• “Save the Frogs Day,” – April 26, 12 – 4 p.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center
• “Family Archaeology Day,” – May 3, 10AM – 3PM at Needwood Mansion
• “Raptors Rule Festival” – May 4, 12 – 4PM at Meadowside Nature Center
• “Forest Friends Festival,” – May 10, 1 – 4PM at Brookside Nature Center
• “Bluebirds Forever Festival,” – May 18, 1 – 4PM at Black Hill Visitor Center
• “Kids’ Fishing Day,” – May 31, 8:30AM at Black Hill Boats and June 14, 8:30AM at Lake Needwood Boats

• Hike, bike and explore: Over 250 miles of trails (natural surface and paved) are available throughout Montgomery Parks for walking, hiking, running, biking and horseback riding. Grab the kids, the dog and head out for a day of nature and exercise.

• Pack a Picnic and Pick a Playground: Montgomery Parks is home to 291 playgrounds – you can search for a few parks close to your home on the Montgomery Parks website. We LOVE to hike and explore the trails around our town!

• Explore your inner monkey: Go Ape! ropes course is located in Rock Creek Regional Park for kids who are looking for adventure. There are various levels for beginners, intermediate and expert climbers and a variety of obstacles. Visit www.GoApe.com for hours and pricing.

• Camp out close to home: Little Bennett Campground offers 91 wooded campsites plus over 30 miles of trails and weekend activities such as family films under the stars, guided hikes and hayrides. There is even a camper-ready camping option for people who want to try camping but don’t have all the equipment. For $25 per night (plus the campsite fee) Montgomery Parks will set up your campsite with a four-person tent, two camp chairs, a propane stove and lantern.

Be sure to check back after our Spring Break for pictures of all of the Montgomery Parks fun that we were able to experience together!

Spring Break Change of Plans – Give Me Your Best Shot #PSF

Lolli — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:22:53 +0000

As Spring Break approached, I tried to come up with as many half-day outings as possible to keep my kids sufficiently entertained. I figured out how I could wake up early (but not as early as I do on school days) and get a few hours of work done before dedicating the rest of the day to making memories with my kids. And then, when the kids crashed in bed at night from all of the fun we’d had together, I would clock another few hours of work before my bed time.

It all sounded so good until the wee hours of the morning on Monday–the first official day of Spring Break. Not only was there a sizable snow storm on the way, but my oldest daughter was becoming increasingly sick and miserable. By 4:45 Monday morning, there was a blanket of snow covering everything…and we were checking in to the ER.

Six hours later, we were home again. Her dehydration was treated, she fell asleep, and the kids went to a movie with Dad so that I could catch a little sleep as well. By the time the rest of the family returned from the movie, I was ready to send KitKat back to the hospital. Her condition had worsened and she had developed a fever.

Long story short….we finally returned from the hospital a few hours ago. Four days, three nights, and one removed appendix later.

The week has been long. I can’t keep track of the days and I’ve spent too many hours on a chair, awake when I should be asleep, suffering alongside my 16 year old whose pain has been intense.

Luckily, my sister was able to stop by last night and take the rest of the kids to Pennsylvania for a few days so that we could focus our attentions on the one rather than worry about ruining Spring Break for the other four, stuck at home.

I’m exhausted. I don’t know when I’ll feel like myself again, or when she will feel like herself again. I want to get back to my normal, uneventful stuff behind the computer. I’m no good as a nurse.

I’ve been quieter than usual this week, only hinting to our hospital fiasco on Instagram and twitter, and I may continue to be quiet for a few more days. I’ll be joined by a few gracious friends who have agreed to guest post to fill in while I’m putting family first.

Who knew that appendicitis was so annoying?

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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