Get the Party Started with HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays

Disclosure: I received free product in exchange for my honest review. 


Are you ready for some football? We sure are! We live really close to a major college, so it isn't a weekend around here unless we are either tailgating on campus or hosting a game day gathering with family and friends. No matter if we are out and about or at home, one thing that is always consistent with game day is making sure we have good eats stocked up on because football and food just go hand in hand. I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing big dishes for the game because I think game day food should be quick and easy. That's why I love HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays.

HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays offer a variety of pre-cut meats and cheeses that help take the stress out of party prep so I can spend more time focused on entertaining my guests and less time in the kitchen. One of my favorite things about the trays is that I can take them with me on the go for our tailgating adventures. The snap lid makes for easy opening and closing of the tray so it is super portable. There are even little spacers in the bottom of the tray to keep the meats and cheeses separated so I can sort the food ahead of time and know it will be ready for serving as soon as we arrive on campus.

 If I am hosting a game day party at home, we do like to provide our guests with an assortment of finger foods for snacking. HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays in either the Hard Salami & Pepperoni or the Honey Ham & Turkey for the star of the party table, plus cheese puffs, candies, and bottled waters. Then I'll add in some inexpensive football decorations and party favors to round out the spread.

Grab some printable game day water bottle labels HERE and HERE.

Even if you aren't into football like we are, HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays are excellent for other family get-togethers, picnics, dinner parties, holiday parties, and everything else in between. You can find HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays at Walmart and most major food retailers nationwide.

WIN IT!

One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win a coupon for a FREE HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Tray ($15 value!). The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.A. (No P.O. Boxes will be accepted) and will run through 12/13/17. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning email before a new winner is selected. Please enter on the giveaway widget below.

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Halloween Party 2015

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We hosted our annual Halloween party last weekend, and had a blast with all of our family and friends! We ate some yummy treats...

Recipe: Combine 1 8oz soften brick of cream cheese with 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese. Shape into balls. Stick 8  chow mien noodles in each ball for spider legs. Use black food coloring for the eyes. Set on top of round crackers to serve.

I used the Wilton Coffin Mini Nonstick Cake Pan and Wilton Skeleton Bones Candy Mold to make these brownies. Mash up some Oreos for grave dirt and top with Peeps. They were the hit of the party treats!

Did a little game playing...

And finished the night off with a few crafts...

All in all, it was another successful Halloween party!

Are you hosting a Halloween party this year? What are some of your favorite Halloween party games?

S'mores Tarts

S'mores. They are the official junk food of summer! I went camping for the first time when I was 5 years old. I remember my parents building up the campfire, then sending me and my sister out to find some sticks for the marshmallows we were getting ready to roast. I had never had a s'more, but looking over the ingredients, I knew I couldn't wait to try them. I speared my marshmallow, held it over the flame, watched it get good and black (because I was told the more cooked the better), then blew out the fire excited for my first bite. The marshmallow looked so good, I didn't wait for the chocolate and graham to come my way. I immediately bit into the marshmallow. OMG, YUCK! It was crispy, tasted like ash, and literally made me sick. As soon as I swallowed that marshmallow, back up it came. Along with everything else I ate that day. Needless to say, that was my first and only time ever eating a roasted marshmallow. I have never had a real s'more that was cooked by the campfire because I just can't move past that one experience from almost 30 years ago. However, I do LOVE the graham, chocolate, marshmallow combo. I've found some pretty creative recipes over the years that still get me a s'more fix. Like my S'mores Popcorn Balls and these tasty S'mores Tarts!

 Recipe:

6 Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crusts
1 box cook and serve chocolate pudding mix (3.4oz box)
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate
6 Kraft Jet Puff flat, rectangle marshmallows

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place pie crusts (keep in their foil pans) on a baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes).

In a medium saucepan, combine pudding mix and milk. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.

Increase oven temperature to broil. Spoon pudding evenly into prepared pie crusts, then sprinkle with chopped chocolate. Top each tart with 1 marshmallow. Broil tarts for 30 seconds, or until marshmallows are lightly toasted. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Jell-O Fish Bowl Fun

I know summer is winding down, but I figured with the upcoming Labor Day holiday, this would be a cute party treat to serve your littlest guests. I found this tear pad recipe on a Kraft display a few months ago. Since then, it has been a big hit with my kids!

Ingredients:

3/4 c boiling water
1 pkg (3oz) Jell-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
ice cubes
1/2 c cold water
1/2 cup Nilla Wafers, coarsely chopped
20 mini marshmallows, cut in 1/2
12 to 15 Swedish Fish


Directions:

Add boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl. Stir 2 minutes, until completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to cold water to measure 1 1/4 cups. Add to gelatin. Stir until water slightly thickens. Remove any unmelted ice. Refrigerate 15 to 20 minutes, or until set but not firm. Stir gelatin quickly to create "bubbles."

Place chopped cookies and marshmallows in 4 clear plastic cups. Cover with gelatin.

Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm. Top with candies just before serving.

 
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