Mason Jar Beach Sand Pudding with Chocolate Shells

Nicole Hood — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 21:00:00 +0000

This month we were lucky enough to take a trip back home to Florida before Ava heads back to school. Ashton unfortunately had to work so my Mom came to Louisiana then drove to Florida with us. We had a fantastic end of summer vacation with my parents and made memories I will treasure forever. We explored Farmer’s Markets in both Pensacola and Destin, spent our afternoons playing at the splash park and having picnics, filled out bellies every night with local seafood, and, my favorite, enjoyed the beautiful Northwest Florida beaches.

My babies both love water and they are happiest at the beach and pool. Ava loves feeding the seagulls with her Papa, combing the sand for shells with her Oba, flying kites with her Daddy, and splashing in the warm ocean water! Stella, my happy baby girl, wasn’t too sure about the sand at first, but boy did she loves the water and the waves!

I just love the pictures I captured of my girls on the beach during our trip. They look so happy and carefree and I hope they always stay that way!

In honor of our Florida trip I made Beach Sand Pudding for my girls and I to enjoy on our final vacation days. The recipe was sent to me by my friend Jennifer last summer and I simplified it and made them in mason jars so they were perfectly portable for beach picnics! Add cute little chocolate shells on top and tie on a spoon and you are all set!

Sunset on Okaloosa Island with Papa.

My butterfly baby girl!

Stella wasn’t afraid to get messy! No surprise there.

Woah! Sometimes it’s hard to keep your balance!

Splish, splash! Ava {pretty much} got a bath!

Always the fashionista, Ava was all ready to scoop up some shells at Navarre Beach!

Stella loves her Oba and playing in the sand together is one of her favorite things!

Mason Jar Beach Sand Pudding with Chocolate Shells

Fills 4 4-6 oz mason jars

Ingredients

11 oz box Vanilla Wafer cookies
2 chocolate Oreo cookies {or 4-5 minis}
3.4 oz box Vanilla Pudding
2 cups milk
2 cups candy melts or melting chocolate

Instructions

In a large bowl, prepare pudding according to package. It should say to mix the packet together with milk until smooth.
Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the chocolate shells using a candy shell mold {found at Walmart}. I used pink and chocolate color candy melts. Melt according to the package in small bowls and fill candy molds. You can swirl the colors too!
Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden.
Then pop out the chocolate shells from the mold and set aside.
Next, add the vanilla wafers and the Oreos to a food processor.
Pulse until crushed and the texture and look of sand.
Layer pudding and sand in small 4-6oz mason jars {or you could do sand buckets too} starting with sand.
Top with a few chocolate shells.
Tie a wooden spoon on each jar with raffia and screw on lids.
Then you are all set to take your puddings to the beach!

Notes

Adapted from: http://manouvellemode.com/

In a large bowl, prepare pudding according to package.

It should say to mix the packet together with milk until smooth.

Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the chocolate shells using a candy shell mold {found at Walmart}.

I used pink and chocolate color candy melts.

Melt according to the package in small bowls and fill candy molds. You can swirl the colors too!

Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden.

Pop out the chocolate shells from the mold and set aside.

Add the vanilla wafers and the Oreos to a food processor.

I use 2 Oreos or 4-5 mini Oreos for this recipe.

Pulse until crushed.

It should be the texture and look of sand.

You can use any size mason jar you want.

I like the smaller personal size 6 oz ones.

Layer pudding and sand in mason jars {or you could do sand buckets too}.

Start with sand.

Add pudding.

Then repeat layers.

Top with a few chocolate shells.

Tie a wooden spoon on each jar with raffia and screw on lids.

You are all set to take your puddings to the beach!

Be sure to eat your chocolate first because it will melt fast under the hot sun!

My little beach babes loved their Beach Sand Pudding and their Florida vacation!

Can’t wait until we can visit again.

The post Mason Jar Beach Sand Pudding with Chocolate Shells appeared first on For the Love of Food.

Southern 7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar

Nicole Hood — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:32:00 +0000

I have always been a fan of 7 Layer Salads so when my friend Lora gave me her recipe, I couldn’t wait to make it at home. Most of the time this Southern salad is presented in a large glass trifle bowl so you can see the colorful {and tasty} layers. I didn’t have a trifle bowl but mistakenly thought a punch bowl would work. I tried….and failed. Future reference: punch bowls are waaaay too big {unless you want a salad for a big ol’

group}! So I compromised like I often do in the kitchen and used a mason jar. I have pretty glass mason jars in numerous sizes and I just love the idea of making personal salads in a jar! You can simply put the dressing in the bottom or top of the salad, seal with a lid, shake, and when you take the lid off you can eat right out of the jar. So cute for outside parties and picnics, right? Or you can always do as my husband did and pour right into a bowl {guess he wasn’t impressed with my pretty layers!}.

Hope you enjoy this 7 layers of deliciousness in a cute little jar!

Southern 7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar

Makes 6-8 mason jar salads (or one large 7 layer salad)

Ingredients

5 cups lettuce washed and chopped (I use romaine or butter lettuce)
8 slices thick cut bacon
1 yellow or red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper diced
2 cups frozen peas partially thawed
8 eggs hard boiled and peeled
1/2 cup mayo I like Duke's
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
mason jars 16-21oz work best for entree size or bowls for serving

Instructions

For dressing:

In a small bowl mix together mayo, sour cream, sugar, and pepper.
Chill until ready to serve.
Meanwhile cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to cool then dice into bite size pieces.
Dice eggs into bite size pieces with a knife or egg slicer.

To plate:

I like to serve mine in large mason jars (21oz) for presentation as an entree. But can also be arranged in bowls or a large trifle dish.
Add a couple spoonfuls of dressing in the bottom of the jar, top with chopped lettuce, onions, red bell pepper, peas, egg, and bacon. You can screw a lid on top of jar, shake, and then eat out of the jar or pour into a bowl and enjoy!

This is easily one of my favorite creamy Southern dressings! Perfect for potato salads, slaws, and 7 layer salads! Simply mix together equal parts mayo and sour cream (I did a 1/4 cup of each). I added a tsp of sugar and some black pepper (about 1/4 tsp). Mix and chill until ready to serve.

Fresh green salad adds a beautiful color, nice crunch, and of course it’s good for ya!

I use romaine or butter lettuce.

Time to add your other colorful additions. Frozen peas are a must! I also like to add vibrant diced red pepper and onions (I mixed red and yellow onion).

Hard boiled eggs are delish in this salad.

If making in a trifle bowl simply slice but if making in a mason jar I dice the eggs.

Here is my first version: in a punch bowl {I am adding a trifle bowl to my Christmas wish list!}.

Pretty but it didn’t even fill my massive punch bowl halfway!

Here’s my compromise: byebye trifle bowl hello mason jars! I added the dressing to the bottom then layered lettuce, onion, red pepper, peas, egg, and finally bacon.

*If you want to still make in a trifle bowl I think the dressing on top works best.

7 layers of deliciousness in a cute little jar!

I hope you like this tasty twist on a Southern favorite!

Comment below and let me know what you think!

The post Southern 7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar appeared first on For the Love of Food.

mason jar Archives - For the Love of Food

Mason Jar Beach Sand Pudding with Chocolate Shells

Mason Jar Beach Sand Pudding with Chocolate Shells

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Southern 7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar

Southern 7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar

Ingredients

Instructions

For dressing:

To plate: