Weeknights, and let’s face it..even weekends can be stressful, between the wants and the needs of our families, time can be limited.  Of all the stressful and hurried things in life, meal time with our loved ones shouldn’t be one of them.  Getting a comforting, delicious, and nutritious home-cooked meal on the table can be a challenge, and taking some help can be the difference between dinner success and dinner stress…lol.

Thanks to Smithfield, that help is at your fingertips.

“As the largest pork producer in the world, Smithfield is uniquely positioned to deliver differentiated products to meet customer specifications—both domestically and abroad. Vertical integration is a key point of difference and a unique selling proposition for our products and brands, allowing us to drive changes through the supply chain.

Our vertically integrated platform assures the supply of consistent, high-quality, and traceable raw material. It also has enabled us to lead the industry in areas such as our sow group housing conversion and the production of ractopamine-free pork, which is important for export markets.

Smithfield has leading market shares across many packaged meats product categories. Access to the entire supply chain allows us to satisfy customer demands and adapt to changing consumer needs.”

In 30 minutes of prep-time or less, you can have that family of yours reaching for seconds, and even thirds.  And I’m not talking about your average meal, nope..I’m talking about a simple, yet fun and whimsical meal cleverly disguised as a tasty treat that will put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.  I’m talking about these adorable and scrumptious pulled pork cornbread ‘cupcakes’

Smithfield has done all the work for you with their hand-trimmed, seasoned-to-perfection Boneless Netted Fresh Pork Shoulder Roast that seems as though it was made for your slow cooker, and for the resulting luscious leftovers that come from it.  Smithfield Boneless Netted Pork Shoulder Blade Pork Roast offers juicy, mouthwatering flavor and is made from 100% fresh pork.  YES, that’s 100% ..no fillers, ALL flavor.  

When you set these fun and delicious ‘cupcakes’ onto your table, take a moment and just absorb the sweet smiles of your family and friends …in that moment YOU are a kitchen ROCKSTAR.  The warm and toasty cornbread serves as the perfect flavor combo to that rich, tender, and succulent pulled pork.  Some slaw on the side and take a bow~  🙂

Check out Smithfield across social as well: FACEBOOK > TWITTER 

What you’ll need:

1- Smithfield Foods Boneless Netted Fresh Pork Shoulder Roast >

…and, YES, you will have extra pulled pork, see what I did here, for a delicious ‘under 30 minute’ leftover recipe of “Pulled Pork Taquitos”~

1 box of cornbread mix, I used the honey variety..but any will work

1 cup of your fave BBQ sauce

A slow cooker

A cupcake pan and paper liners

Directions:

(I used a 7qt. slow cooker)

Fill the slow cooker approx. 1/2 way with water and add  in 1/2 the cup of BBQ Sauce.

Now, remove the netting from the roast, and gently place it down into the water.  Set your cooker accordingly (for your lifestyle) and cook the roast until it’s tender and falling apart….

Remove the roast, drain the liquid from the cooker and shred the pork…

..put the shredded pork back into the cooker, set it to low..and stir in the BBQ sauce, making sure to cover all the pork..add more sauce if desired.

While the pork is keeping warm, mix the cornbread batter according you the box instructions…

Fill the liners up approx. 1/2 way and top it with a generous scoop of the pulled pork…

Bake the ‘cupcakes’ at 350 degrees, for approx. 15 minutes, or until they’re golden, firm, and cooked through…

Let them cool for a few minutes, it’s a good time to admire their “wow” factor…

Then plate those fun and tasty babies up…

Serve them to all you love LOTS…

With some extra sauce..because, extra sauce!

And DIG IN!  ~Enjoy!  🙂

This is a post sponsored by Smithfield Foods, however all opinions and content are my own.

The post ~Pulled Pork Cornbread Cupcakes! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

Sometimes you just want a cupcake!  A simple, little, tasty treat of a cupcake that will leave you as satisfied as if you devoured ate an entire giant cake..OR Cobbler!

Not many cupcakes can do that, but this one CAN!

This little cupcake packs all the flavor punch of a huge, warm, and decadent Blueberry Cobbler!  The flavors are SO intense and so well balanced that this could change the way we make cobbler and/or cupcakes FOR>EVER! 🙂

Each cobbler cupcake is filed with Lucky Leaf Blueberry Pie Filling, which keeps the cake super moist and tender!  Then they’re topped with more pie filling and a crumbly cobbler layer, only to be  sprinkled with a loving dusting of powdered sugar..  they are TO. DIE. FOR!

Lucky Leaf pie filling comes in a tasty, wide variety of flavors.  They also have refreshing apple juice and ciders made from fresh-picked harvest apples, a healthy selection of apple sauce and other unique specialty fruit products, just perfect for baking.

~Check them out on FACEBOOK.. on  TWITTER,..  and on PINTEREST!

~The combination is one of a kind..make LOTS!

What you’ll need:

1 box of white or vanilla cake mix

1 cup of Lucky Leaf Blueberry Pie Filling..reserving some for the top.

The Cobbler Crumble:

1 cup flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter..softened

2 tbsp. chopped nuts of your choice

a small splash of water, if necessary to bring it together.

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix up the cake batter according to the box instructions…

Pour the batter into each of your cupcake liners about 1/2 of the way up and drop a tsp. of blueberry pie filling into the center of the batter…

With a fork, swirl the pie filling around so it’s even, and pretty…

Bake them at 350 for approx. 15 minutes.

While they’re baking, make the cobbler crumble but combining all of the ingredients until it’s a sand-like texture, set aside…

Take out the cupcakes and top them with a dollop of the blueberry pie filling and a sprinkling of the cobbler crumble…Then back into the oven they go for approx. 3 minutes, or JUST until the topping darkens just a little bit…

Let them cool for a few minutes..that fruit is HOT stuff…

NOW~  you can dig into the BEST Cobbler/Cupcake mash-up of ALL time!  ~Enjoy! 🙂

 *Products provided by Lucky Leaf, however all opinions are my OWN!

The post ~Blueberry Cobbler Cupcakes! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

My love affair with melted Ice Cream continues on with this latest creation, and I have to say..this could be the best thing that has resulted from my laziness yet!  Just to catch you up, it all started when I was too lazy busy to whip up a custard, so I did what any lazy busy person would do….I used melted Ice cream.

I made this French Toast and my life was forever changed!  It’s like..forget all that measuring, forget the violent mixing, forget the dirty bowls, forget that ‘sometimes cooking & straining  the eggs’ thing that’s just so weird to me…forget needing to know a single thing about creating a fluffy, light, non-curdled custard..just forget it!

The melted Ice Cream does all the work for you, and the best part > you do NOTHING!  Just let it melt a bit, which let’s be honest…probably melted a bit by now anyway, and POOF..you have Custard!  Not just any old Custard, you have the thickest, richest, creamiest and most flavorful Custard you’ll ever add to your baked goods!  Not to mention the flavors are ENDLESS!  Any Ice Cream you can imagine can and will become your next Custard!

These Cupcakes are not only delicious, but they have a flavor that’s all their own!  No one will be able to figure it out, all you’ll hear is: “Mmm..Oh my gosh, what’s in these?”  “Can you give me the recipe?”  “These are  SO amazing!”…and it goes on and on!   There’a creaminess to these Cupcakes and a moist, richness that only the Ice Cream can give!  Go make a quick batch and you’ll see!  🙂

What you’ll need:

One Box of Cake Mix..any flavor, mixed according to the box instructions..replacing the liquid with the ice-cream !  I used Spice Cake!

I cup of melted Ice Cream…any flavor!  I used Snickerdoodle!

Frosting for the top!

Sprinkles

A Cherry!

Directions:

In a large bowl mix together the cake mix according to the box instructions!

BUT>>replace the water with melted Ice Cream!

Mix it up until it’s smooth, and BOOM~~  your Cupcake batter is DONE!

Bake them according to the box instructions, let them cool…

Now frost them…

Sprinkle them…

Cherry them…

Serve them…

Be amazed by them!  ~Enjoy!  🙂

The post ~Ice Cream Batter Cupcakes! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

Is it weird that I took the time to experiment with cookies?  I’ve not done much with cookies, and thought it would be fun to come up with something simple, unique and DELICIOUS!  I don’t think any dessert can get much easier than these super stacked cookie cakes!

It’s fascinating how with a little time in the freezer, the cookies become one with the filling and literally morph into a scrumptious layered cupcake!  They’re tender, sweet and so different.  OH..and such a super cute crowd pleaser!

~You can do this with any of your favorite cookies!  Make a batch and taste the Mmmm!  🙂

What you’ll need:

A cupcake pan

Cupcake liners

Cookies

Cool Whip or any whipped cream!

You can also stir anything you’d like into the Cool Whip for crunch or texture and extra flavor, chocolate chips, nuts etc.  YUM!

Directions:

Ready for the easiest treat method EVER??  Are you ready??

Place a cookie into the liner, smear with whipped topping…repeat until it’s as high as you’d like!

Put them into the freezer for at least an hour so your hands stay as clean as possible as you’re devouring them!

NOW~ let the devouring begin…Get one into your lips fast, they don’t last long!  ~Enjoy! 🙂

The post ~Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

Stop what you’re doing~shut your office door, put your kids to bed, hang up that phone quit texting!

Let’s all take 5 minutes and become 8 years old again!  We’ll start simply by saying the words “Nutter Butter”…do you feel it??  Now…imagine that Marshmallow Fluff, swirled Peanut Butter combo sticking to your lips, that smooth, sweet union that has the power to instantly turn us into big children!

~NOW, you’re feelin’ it!  🙂

You could choose to grab a spoon and hide so no one knows that you’ve become a large man-child, OR you can do the socailly acceptable thing, and smear some on a Cupcake and eat it with pride. 🙂  Either way…you need this!

What you’ll need:

1 cup Marshmallow Fluff

1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

2 tbsp. OR SO..of Milk

An electric mixer, OR a food processor, OR patience and muscles!

Directions:

In a medium bowl fluff together the Marshmallow Fluff and the Milk, making sure it stays a thick but “frostable” consistency.  You’re just thinning it out a tiny bit so it’s workable!

Now..fold in the Peanut Butter..keeping it swirly and pretty!

Start frosting, dipping, scooping and/or licking…

Check your lips for evidence…get back to work! ~Enjoy! 🙂

The post ~Nutter Butter Frosting! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

Easter~~It’s not just for Church & Ham anymore..Oh, no!  Now you can get your drink on too!  No one will ever know that you’re partying it up on Easter Sunday, because your drink will be cleverly disguised as an adorable Peep Cupcake!

~Just look at how much fun these little guys are having..lol!

Pass these around and get that family fun started.  What kind of family gathering would it be if at least 2-3 Uncles and Cousins weren’t 3 sheets to the wind anyway?  ..BORING!  C’mon, it’s not fun until someone has mortified Grandma!

~Serve up a few of these Rum filled Cupcakes topped with Partying Peeps and wake up that Easter Sunday!  All of the kids will be looking for Eggs anyway..(hide LOTS of them..haha!)

What you’ll need:

1 box of Strawberry Cake Mix

Peeps..one per cupcake

1 Cup of Rum..to replace the water in the cake mix! (I Used Vanilla Rum and Cran-Cherry Rum)

1 container of white frosting

Malted Robin Eggs..1 for inside each cupcake, and a handful of crushed crumbs for the topping…

Directions:

Prepare the cake batter according to the instructions, but replace the water with the Rum!

Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 the way full and drop in one whole Robin Egg!

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes or until they’re firm.

While they’re baking, Crush up some Robin Eggs in a zip bag for the topping…

Frost them and sprinkle some Robin Egg crumbles on top…

Place the Peeps on top of the frosting in drunken & shameful positions…grab a few for you!

But don’t have too many or this could be you!  ~Enjoy:)

The post ~Drunken Peeps Cupcakes! first appeared on Oh Bite It.

Do you ever find yourself in need of a super unique & fun way to mislead someone?  Something with a huge “WOW factor” that kids and adults will totally fall for?  Well, these are your answer!  Talk about a delicious illusion, these sneaky little ‘melted’ cones look so real, it’s almost scary to touch them.

But even the idea of picking up a melty ice cream cone, didn’t stop one single person from digging right into them!  🙂

PERFECT for April Fool’s Day, these easy-to-eat, deceivingly delicious desserts are such a yummy way to pull one over on your closest friends and family…lol!

In a matter of minutes you can whip up a batch of these adorable edible fake-outs, and provide endless giggles & smiles, while you single-handely, ruin the trust of everyone in the room!

~Good times!  🙂

What you’ll need:

Ice Cream Cones..one per each smile you want to share!

Any Cake..already baked and still warm

Melting Candy Waferss work best (Hobby Lobby has SO many colors and flavors!)

Sprinkles

Wax Paper

At least a few people you’d like to fool!  🙂

Directions:

Bake up your favorite moist cake (I used a simple white cake for an authentic “vanilla ice cream” fake-out)

Melt the colorful candy chocolate Wafers..a.k.a. the ice cream!

While the cake is warm, scoop out an ice cream scoop sized ball of the cake, and smush it onto the cone with your hands.  Gently work it on there and show it who’s boss..lol!

Don’t make it a perfectly rounded scoop, so it looks more “melted”

Lay it onto some Wax/Parchment Paper, and drizzle the cake cone with the melty “ice cream” a.k.a.  melted Candy Wafers, one color at a time, I did pink first.  Kind of drizzle it so that it apears to be melting mess of a Cone, just puddle it up a little…

…and then do the same with the Chocolate!

While they’re still wet, sprinkle them with sprinkles!

Let them set up for a few minutes, and then serve up tons of wows & happiness!  ~Enjoy!  🙂

The post ~'Melting' Cake Cones! first appeared on Oh Bite It.