Author: rickiloves

Welcome to my blog, I'm Ricki! I always wanted to share my love for fashion and beauty and a few other things so I finally took the leap and did it! I am almost 40, a wife, mother of 4 and work in progress! I hope to show you with all that life brings your way, you can still be stylish and beautiful! No matter your age, shape, size, budget or imitations I hope to show you that you can always be the best version of you!

Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Recipe: French Onion Meatballs

I wanted to share this easy slow cooker meal on the blog! I timed myself and it only took me 5 minutes (not counting cutting the onions but you can buy some frozen from the grocery store too!) to dump everything and go! This was easy and flavorful and can even take the leftovers and add to bread with some cheese for a delicious sandwich! Hope you enjoy!

French Onion Meatlballs

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen meatballs

2 cans French onion soup

1 large onion thinly sliced (optional)

4 tablespoons of butter

1/2 packet of au jus gravy mix

1/4 -1/2 packet of ranch fry mix (this can be salty, you can add some and then add more if needed)

2-3 cups of beef broth 

Directions:

Add meatballs, onions, soups and seasonings to the slow cooker and mix. Add butter and broth and then set on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours (depending on your slow cooker)

Serve with mashed potatoes or rice and veggies or on a bun for easy sandwiches. Enjoy!

Nothing Bundt Cake White Chocolate Raspberry Copycat Cake!

Hi ya’ll! There is no long caption or anything I need to write about this cake. Just bake this cake! I have made it 2x in 2 weeks so if that doesn’t tell you how good it is I don’t know what else to say!

White Chocolate Raspberry Cake (w/ a cake mix)
Notes: This cake is very moist, almost will appear wet because of the raspberries. We loved it but if you don’t like that you can reduce the amount of raspberries or you can use raspberry preserves. Also chop up your chocolate chips!

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 c water
1 box white chocolate instant pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup raspberries
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 c white chocolate chips chopped

Add 3/4 c raspberries to a bowl with tablespoon of sugar and lightly mash and set aside. Add the rest of the ingredients to a bowl and mix until combined (do not over mix). Spray or grease Bundt pan generously and add half the batter. Then add a layer of the raspberry mixture or preserves and swirl in. Then add the rest of the batter. Bake at 325F for 50-60 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick comes out mostly clean (again this cake is very moist!). Frost with whatever frosting you like, I used cream cheese. Top with additional raspberries and enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Granola

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

This is better than the berries

Hi y’all! If you know me you know I’m OBSESSED with 2 things, chocolate covered strawberries AND granola. I would BE granola if I could😂. I thought about combining the two and the result was better than I imagined! This stuff is so good. Fun fact I thought about selling my granola because it’s that good. I would have some regular flavors and then a flavor of the month like ice cream. This would definitely be the flavor for the month of February!

Here’s how the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of chocolate chips) I used a mixture of milk and dark chocolate)
  • 1 bag freeze dried strawberries
  • Chocolate candy melts (optional)

Before the oven

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a Silpat.
  • Stir together the oats, pecans, cocoa powder and brown sugar in a large bowl.
  • Melt the coconut oil and then whisk in the honey and vanilla while still warm. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is coated.
  • Pour the mixture evenly on the prepared tray. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely.
  • Add the chocolate chips and freeze dried strawberries to the cooled granola.
  • Melt candy melts and drizzle all over granola. Then let chocolate set. You can place in fridge for a few minutes but don’t forget about it.
  • Break up granola and stores in a tightly sealed container.

I bagged this up in these little bags and added a heart sticker from Hobby Lobby to gift to my loved ones. This is the perfect Valentine treat! Hope you enjoy

Love Ricki

Semi-Homemade Red Velvet Cake

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Hi y’all! I recently posted on Instagram my Doctored Cake Mix Red Velvet Cake Recipe and I wanted to share the recipe here for you all!

Here’s how to make it:

Red Velvet Cake
1 box of German chocolate cake mix (I’ve only used Betty Crocker for this but I’m sure Duncan Hines will work too)
1/2 cup of Buttermilk or make your own
1/4 cup oil or 1 stick of melted butter
3 eggs
1 cup of sour cream
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of red velvet emulsion (optional)
1/2 to 1 bottle of red food coloring (they usually come in 1 oz size)

Preheat oven to 350 (I personally bake my cakes at 325 but my oven baked faster so know your oven) To a bowl or stand mixer combine cake mix, buttermilk, and oil. Then mix in eggs one at a time just until combined. Add flavorings, food coloring and sour cream. Mix until incorporated (try not to overmix if you think you may over mix do it by hand or else your cake will be tough). Pour in pans and bake for the time according to pan size you are using on back of box. Frost with cream cheese frosting on previous video. Enjoy!

My favorite Bundt cake pans

Love Ricki