fun halloween treats!

1. Silly Monster Parfait — As a fun surprise for breakfast or an after school snack on Halloween, make Silly Monster Parfaits to show kids that not all monsters are scary. Kids will love the silly treat, and for parents it's a healthy option to offset all the candy they'll be enjoying later that evening! To make them, start by layering yogurt, granola, and fruit (we used blueberries here). Then, top it off with teeth (cut from apple slices), eyes (made by using a toothpick to secure a blueberry inside half a grape, and antennae made from pretzel sticks.

2. Autumnal Charcuterie Board — For the sophisticated palette, and to mix it up from the typical sugary treats of the holiday, try a charcuterie board! It's always delicious and with enough variety to make everyone in your house happy! The full tutorial is right here...

3. Funny Spider Donuts — Meet the cutest spiders you'll ever lay eyes on! They make for a super fun snack for Halloween and a tasty treat to make with the kids. Either add "spider accessories" to your favorite donuts, or have a full baking adventure and make your own! Full tutorial right here...

4. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake — We finally have an excuse to put pumpkin in everything! Here's a delicious take on a bundt cake with pumpkin and chocolate chips. Hungry yet?  The recipe is right here...

5. Healthy Monster Muffins — Perfectly green and halloween-y, these smoothie muffins actually include fruits and vegetables. Get your kids (and yourself!) a delicious breakfast or snack for the days leading up to Halloween. The full how-to is right here...

{Photos by Lily Glass. Styling by Wilmarose Orlanes and Julia Wester, styling assistance and crafting by Jess Hong.}

Thai Coconut Rice Pancakes

One of my favorite street vendor treats I've had in Thailand (and also here in the States) is called Kanom Krok—Thai Coconut Rice Pancakes. It reminds me of my childhood growing up as a Thai-American kid. We'd have them at our local Temple when there were celebrations or festive events. So today, I'm sharing the recipe I use with you! This recipe is from the now out-of-print book, "It Rains Fishes" by Kasma Loha-Unchit and is my go-to for authentic Thai recipes.

Makes:
50-60 mini pancakes

You'll need:
-(3) 14 oz. cans of coconut milk
-1/4 cup + 1 Tbs. sugar
-2-1/2 Tbs. tapioca flour
-3 Tbs. uncooked white rice, ground with a food processor
-1/4 cup of dried unsweetened coconut flakes, ground with a food processor
-2 cups of rice flour
-2 tsp. sea salt
-2-3 Tbs. peanut oil (to oil the pan)
-Takoyaki or Ebelskiver pan

Bonus:
-1/4 cup fresh corn kernels
-1/4 cup cut scallions

Here's how:

1. In a small saucepan, add 1-3/4 cup of the thickest part of the coconut milk from each can. Heat on low and add 1/4 cup sugar to dissolve. Remove from heat. Once cool, add the tapioca flour. Set aside.
2. Combine the remaining coconut milk with the finely ground uncooked rice, the finely ground coconut flakes, rice flour, salt, and 1 Tbs. sugar. Stir and mix well until combined.
3. Heat the pan on the stove to medium heat (this will vary based on your stove but you'll get a feel for the best heat level after the first batch). Brush the peanut oil onto each little opening of the pan. 
4. Pour the salty coconut mixture into each indentation about 2/3-3/4 full. The batter should sizzle. Use something with a spout for easy pouring.
5. Add a small spoonful of the sweet coconut mixture on top, then add any bonus toppings if choose.
6. Cover with the lid from another pan and let cook for a few minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy and the top is still a tad moist.
7. Remove gently with a spoon and rest on a cooling rack for a couple minutes before serving and eating.

* This recipe can be modified to your liking on the sweetness level. The base layer is savory, while the top layer is sweet! I have tried others where they make the base layer sweeter than I did, so it's up to you. I love this version because the two layers mix together for a perfect balance!

Enjoy! They should be eaten while still warm. They mix crunchy, soft, sweet, salty, and creamy all in one amazing bite! Kids LOVE these, too. You can find a video of this recipe being made on my Instagram!

you deserve dessert...

You, yes YOU, deserve dessert today! You are surviving an unprecedented time full of worry, stress, angst, anger, annoyance, scary feelings, and everything in between. You are doing it! No matter if that looks like Pinterest-worthy crafts with your kids or your third time watching Tiger King. Maybe you have a living room covered with every toy or craft you own, or the cleanest and most organized house your've ever lived in. Because this is hard on all of us, and and we are all doing our best right now, we all deserve a treat (or two)! If you feel like treating yourself today, here are a few of our favorite recipes just for you!

A Neapolitan Cookie dipped in white chocolate and coconut.  Fresh from the oven - just for you!

This Funfetti Crepe Cake may look super fancy and hard to make but it doesn't even require baking! Plus, everything needed is available at the grocery store.

Here's a super fun Rainbow Icebox Cake we made with Molly Yeh 5 years ago! This one also requires no baking, and I love that you could make this in any size you want!

If you feel like sharing, you can make an entire platter of Mini Bundt Cakes with a delicious pastel icing coating that borders on perfection.

I love and appreciate each one of you and want you to be safe, healthy and happy...and your sweet tooth satiated!

{Photos by Lily Glass and Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, styling assistance and baking by Jess Hong.}

easy healthy-ish snacking tips...

If your house is anything like mine, our snacking has become an all-day activity being home so much! So if you're like me and want to make sure a few of those snacks are healthy-ish, here are few fun ideas to help...

1) Make a healthy snack (that doesn't seem healthy). We love cereal bark with yogurt, fruit and cereal (shown above) or make monster muffins. Both could be made for breakfast...or for a mid-morning snack! 

2) Keep "better' choices more easily available.  Put the candy in a drawer, and leave your fruit out on the counter. That way, when you're bored or between Zoom calls (or actually hungry), it's easier to grab a fresher option. To make it more fun, you can DIY your bowl, jar or tray. Check out the tutorial here...

3) Snack Kits - Something I'm trying this week is to put everyone's daily snacks out in the morning. That way the girls (and I) can see how much is left for the day (instead of constantly digging through the pantry). Everyone gets a little basket filled with some healthy and some fun snacks that they can eat whenever they want.  It's a fun way for the girls to be in charge and limits the number of snacks we have every day.

4) Make a snack mix full of healthy and fun stuff! Snack mixes are always fun because kids can help make them AND it can be truly whatever you want. I like a mix of 2/3 healthy and 1/3 fun...that way it's a fun mix of sweet and savory, carbs and protein that delivers a satiated appetite!

How are you handling snacks right now?  Share any tips and tricks with us below!

{Photos by Lily Glass and Casey Brodley. Styling by Wilmarose Orlanes and Julia Wester, styling assistance by Jess Hong.} 

my favorite non-boozy drinks!

I'm not much of a drinker (of alcoholic beverages)...maybe a glass of wine every so often, but I don't derive the same joy that most get from alcohol. I'd much rather have dessert or a tasty non-alcoholic drink! So today, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite non-boozy drinks that I simply LOVE...

Kimino Yuzu Sparkling Juice ($4) and Kimino Ume/Plum Sparkling Juice ($4) is perfectly sparkly, fruity, and tart without being too sweet. I love It with a meal or as a fun little afternoon treat.

Minna Sparkling Tea ($3) is a new favorite. It almost tastes like La Croix but with a tea essence instead of fruit. It's light and refreshing, and a surprisingly fun combo.

You either love kombucha or you hate it! The first time I tried it several years ago, I thought it was awful, but I've recently fallen in love with Healthade Kombucha ($4) and drink a few a week. It has a touch of tea for caffeine and feels very refreshing to have throughout the day.

Clevr SuperLattes ($28 for 14 servings) makes a great alternate to picking up a very expensive latte at your local coffee shop! It's easy to make it at home by just adding hot water AND it's dairy-free. I love mixing the Chai and Coffee versions together for a my own version of a Dirty Chai Latte!

When you need something just a little sweet, this Sangaria Milk Tea ($2) is a great afternoon pick-me-up!

Valentine's Day Inspo...

We love celebrating Valentine's Day! From sweet cards to tasty treats and everything in between, here are our ALL-TIME FAVORITE valentine ideas. If you're looking for some inspiration to tell all your family and friends just how much you love them, or if you need a fun idea that your little one can hand out to their classmates, keep reading... 

candy charcuterie for Valentine's Day...

I WANT CANDY! When we think of Valentine's Day, we think of lots of pink and red hearts, sweet treats, handmade valentine cards, and tons of candy! So today, we're showing you a super fun way to incorporate chocolate and candy galore with a fun sweet treat charcuterie board (aka our dream come true!). Check it out... 

my favorite frozen hot chocolate recipe...

If you're like me and adore chocolate-covered strawberries, you're going to LOVE this frozen strawberry hot chocolate! It's inspired by one of my favorite indulgent treats, is super decadent, and is perfect for all of your holiday parties. So, in partnership with KitchenAid, I've used the new K400 Blender to create a deliciously simple recipe that makes a rich frozen hot chocolate and blends in sweet strawberries for a fruity twist.

The KitchenAid® K400 Blender is ideal for recipes like this because it has an "Icy Drink" pre-set, so you can get the texture just right. You can also control the taste and texture for your exact recipe with the 5-speed dial. It's super quick (blending even the toughest ingredients!), which is extra handy when party prepping.

I love making things that put a twist on classic recipes to make it a bit unexpected and incorporate a dash of whimsy, so these are garnished in true Oh Joy! fashion. Check it out...

You'll need...
- 2 cups strawberries (hulled, whole)
- 1-1/2 cups chocolate milk (we used pea milk to make it dairy-free)
- 3/4 cups cocoa powder (we used unsweetened bc the chocolate milk adds sugar)
- 4 cups ice

For the toppings..
- whipped cream
- freeze-dried strawberries, crumbled
- chocolate shavings
- sprinkles
- shredded coconut

Here's how...
1. In the KitchenAid® K400 Blender, add ice, chocolate milk, hot cocoa powder, and strawberries.
2. Blend until fully mixed.
3. Pour into glasses and top with a dollop of whipped cream. Then sprinkle on any other toppings you'd like!

Whenever I whip up something special for a party (or even just for myself!), I like to add something unexpected. Sprinkles are usually a great way to do this because almost anything tastes even sweeter with some sprinkles on top. Plus, sprinkles add a fun shimmer for a festive statement, especially for the holidays! So, for this drink, we piled on the pretty (and delicious) toppings!

Have a glass (or two) with friends for a holiday party...it's perfect for both casual and more fancy gatherings! Enjoy!

{Photos by Lily Glass, Concept/Production/Styling by Julia Wester, Production Assistance by Jess Hong. Written by Joy Cho and Traci Michael.}

mini thanksgiving pies...

It's officially just one week until Thanksgiving! No matter what you've got planned for the day, these cute mini banana cream pies will fit in perfectly ;). They're super easy to whip up, but they look like we spent a lot of time in the kitchen making them, right?! Check it out...

there's no party like a (pop-up) ice cream party...

There's no party like an ice cream party! So today, in partnership with Blue Bunny, I'm showing you how to create an easy and pop-up ice cream themed soiree. Blue Bunny treats come packaged perfectly so they're easy to bring out anytime, anywhere (even to surprise your co-workers!), for instant fun. And because they're individually packaged and just the right size, it makes it easy for everyone to pick their favorite treat and dig in. We're even showing you an extra way to customize the party and give into the fun. Check it out...

Ice cream can be tricky to put out on display since it usually comes in one big tub, requires lots of scooping, and can melt quickly...BUT that's not the case with these treats! You can stack the soft ice cream Load'd Sundaes easily, stick multiple Mini Swirls in a cute cup because they're just the right size, and display the super indulgent Bunny Snacks in ice cream dishes (of course!). We used cake stands to create a tiered look and placed everything on a bar cart for a fun ice cream delivery cart around the office...

With any party, we want to make it extra special with lots of personal touches. So, we made these colorful napkin wraps! We made ours with ice cream-themed phrases that will help you give into fun alongside the Blue Bunny treats. And, we've created a template for you here if you want to use ours, too! Here's how to make them...

You'll need...
- Napkins
- Scissors
- Tape
- Paper to print on

Here's how...
1. Print out the template here!
2. Roll your napkin like we did above.
3. Wrap the napkin ring around, and tape closed.

Now we have an instant party and joy...and a fun afternoon surprise pick-me-up! No one can resist giving into fun when you make it easy and enjoyable for them!

{Photos by Lily Glass. Template Design by Angie Stalker. Styling by Julia Wester, styling assistance by Jess Hong.}