Food Sarah Holland Food Sarah Holland

Spicy Chocolate Bourbon Pops

These popsicles were inspired by Kentucky bourbon and Texas heat. I created the recipe last summer for A Southern Fairytale blog but thought they deserved a repost as the temperature starts to rise! 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups half and half
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Instructions

  1. Place chocolate, orange zest, cayenne pepper, bourbon, and dark brown sugar in glass bowl.
  2. Bring half and half to a simmer over medium heat.
  3. Pour the heated half and half over ingredients. Whisk until chocolate has melted and everything is well combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
  5. Freeze until firm, usually several hours or overnight.
Featured
Nicholas's Freezer to Crockpot Meals
Food
Nicholas's Freezer to Crockpot Meals
Food

One of Nicholas's New Year's resolutions was to try freezer meals. He'd prepped meals for the week on and off through 2015 and wanted to see how it would work to prepare an entire month's worth. Then, we could just pull a meal from the deep freeze, throw it in the crockpot, and on a busy day dinner would be waiting for us.

Read more →
Food
Food
How to make snow cream
Food
Read more →
Food
Current Events, Food, Parenting
4 Reasons Kids Don't Need Cake
Current Events, Food, Parenting

A school district in Boone County, Kentucky recently received a great deal of media attention. There were no new test scores or viral videos or even school violence. No, the district got a lot of attention for a new rule.

While revising the district’s wellness policy, the Boone County school district decided ban food from birthday celebrations.

That’s right. No more cupcakes. No more ice cream. No more frosting or sprinkles or icing.

And, let me tell you, people are in an UPROAR.

Read more →
Current Events, Food, Parenting
Food
5 Ways To Celebrate Bourbon!
Food
Read more →
Food
Food
Roasted Summer Vegetable Penne
Food

I love to eat. I live to eat. I truly believe it is one of the fundamental joys of life.

Only one problem, I do NOT love to cook. I like to bake. I like to make a warm breakfast for my family. I like to make popsicles and cocktails and all manner of optional treats. 

But cooking? No thanks.

Read more →
Food
Food
Spicy Chocolate Bourbon Pops
Food
Read more →
Food
2277886855_561698cdcf_o.jpg
Food
Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!
Food
Read more →
Food
Food
Happy Chocolate Cake Day!
Food

What an amazing day! I'll be the first to admit that some of these "holidays" are silly. Do we really need a Humiliation Day? (January 3 in case you were wondering.)

But Chocolate Cake Day!?! THAT I can get behind.

Read more →
Food
breakfast.jpg
Food
Eat breakfast. Lose Weight.
Food

In August of 2012, my family and I took the Whole30 Challenge. For 30 days, we ate real food - no sugar, no alcohol, no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no white potatoes - just healthy meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oils. (Here's what we ate.)

In 30 days, I lost ten pounds. Over the course of the next two months, as I learned how to incorporate some of those prohibitions back into my diet (and discovered ibuprofen makes me sick, sick, sick to my stomach) I lost another 10 pounds.

I have maintained that weight loss for over a year.

Read more →
Food
spicychocolatebourbonpops.jpg
Food
Sharing at A Southern Fairytale
Food
Read more →
Food
Read More

My podcasts

Subscribe to my weekly email

Featured
image.jpg
Parenting, The Science of Parenting
The science of parenting: Is it safe to play outside?
Parenting, The Science of Parenting

In this series, I’m examining the science of parenting. In Part One, we discussed the the importance of the quality - not quantity - of time we spend with our kids. In Part Two, we looked at the science on what types of activities can be considered quality family time. In Part Three, I look at how our children spend their time, our perception of those activities, and what the science actually says. 

Last week, I took the boys to our local park after school. I had just read an editorial making a strong case for free-range parenting. This quote in particular left me wondering if I give my own children enough opportunities to explore.

Read more →
Parenting, The Science of Parenting
Parenting, The Science of Parenting
The science of parenting: What does "quality time" mean?
Parenting, The Science of Parenting

In part one of this series, I discussed a recent study that found increased maternal time was not necessary for happy kids. In fact, it was the quality of time - not quantity of time that counts. In this post, I ask what does the science say about quality time?

I'll never forget a conversation I once had with a close friend about being a work-at-home mom. She was bemoaning the hours she spent during a recent snow day keeping her kids entertained by playing My Little Ponies.

I was sympathetic to her plight but told her I couldn't really commiserate. 

"I don't really play with my kids," I told her.

Read more →
Parenting, The Science of Parenting
Current Events, Parenting, The Science of Parenting
The science of parenting: How much time should I spend with my kids?
Current Events, Parenting, The Science of Parenting

At least once a week, I have the same conversation. I’ve had this conversation with working moms and stay-at-home moms. It is usually during a meeting or other week night obligation and it always begins with a mommy friend expressing guilt about being away from her kids.

Despite encouragement and reassurance that her kids are fine, I always get the same response, “I just feel like I should BE there.”

Read more →
Current Events, Parenting, The Science of Parenting