Living La Vida Holoka


Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

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This post is sponsored by McCain Potatoes but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Score a touchdown with your game day crowd with these Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries topped with cheddar, pulled pork, green onions, and coleslaw! This dish a definite win for fans of football food!


Here’s the deal – I might not be able to talk football, but I can definitely talk football food!  You’ve got to have some great finger food during the big game whether it’s sandwiches or a spread of frozen appetizers and snacks!  There’s nothing easier than pulling out your slow cooker the morning of the big game, cooking up some hot sandwich fillings, and then baking up frozen snacks for your crowd.  

One of the easiest hot sandwiches you’ll ever make in your slow cooker is pulled pork.  Serve them with a side of fries and boom – dinner’s done!  So I decided to take inspiration from one of the ultimate tailgating sandwiches and make some seriously loaded fries!  I mean, what’s better during game day than a pulled pork sandwich, a side of crispy fries, and a cold beer?  Putting it all together in one dish!


These Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries start with crispy McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries from Walmart.  Bake them in the oven or start them in the air fryer, like I did, for extra crispiness.  Then, load them up with shredded cheddar cheese, BBQ pulled pork, green onions, and a hefty spoonful of coleslaw!  

My tip to you is to make the pulled pork the night before.  We had pulled pork sandwiches for dinner and then I used the leftovers to make these loaded fries the next day!  So easy!  You could also swap McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries  for McCain Seasoned Curly Fries or McCain Extra Crispy Crinkle Fries.  


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Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless pork loin
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 12 oz. can beer
  • 18 oz. bottle barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bag McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese mix
  • 1-2 green onions, sliced
  • 3/4 cup coleslaw
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: splash of Tabasco

Instructions

  1. Place the boneless pork loin in the slow cooker.
  2. Add the garlic powder to the pork loin and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour the beer, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce over the pork loin. Add a splash of Tabasco sauce, if desired. Stir well to combine.
  4. Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. During the last hour, shred the pork with a fork and continue cooking.
  5. While the pulled pork finishes, cook the McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries according to package (I cooked them at 400º for 12-15 minutes in my air fryer).
  6. Add the fries to a large cast iron skillet. Top with shredded cheddar and pulled pork.
  7. Place the skillet back into the 450º oven for a few minutes, just until the cheese melts.
  8. Top with coleslaw and serve with extra barbecue sauce, if desired.
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The ultimate game day dish!

 
You could make the pulled pork with pork shoulder, but I always use pork loin. It’s a little more tender and I still get the same delicious results! I also recommend saving some of the barbecue sauce you made for the pulled pork to dip the fries into!  It came out really good!

If this isn’t ultimate game day food, than I don’t know what is!  Grab a fork (or just use your fingers) and dive into these Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries!  It’s definitely a snacking win!


Grab everything you need to make this game day dish at Walmart. You can find McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries, McCain Seasoned Curly Fries, and McCain Extra Crispy Crinkle Fries in the freezer section.

We love how McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries stay crispy, even loaded up with pulled pork and toppings!  They’re made with American pale ale, giving them an amazing flavor that’s perfect football food!

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What’s your favorite ultimate loaded fries recipe?

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

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 This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Skip the box of chocolate this Valentine’s Day and bake up a batch of these Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts instead!


It seems like I can’t go grocery shopping without seeing an entire aisle devoted to Valentine’s Day this time of year.  But there’s only one reason I keep venturing down these aisles – my husband.  Every year for Valentine’s Day, I buy him the same small box of chocolates.  It’s become a yearly joke between us. 

My husband loves Blue Nose Pitbulls.  So five years ago, when I stumbled across a box of chocolates with a couple of blue pits on it, I knew I had to get it for him.  He ended up loving it so much that he kept the cover of the box.  

Year after year, I kept seeing the same box of chocolates.  So every year, I’ve bought it for him.  This year, I haven’t seen that box of chocolates yet, but I’m determined to find it!  In the meantime, my permanent Valentine gets to help me test out recipes for Heart Day – you know, just in case that box of chocolates doesn’t show up this year!


These chocolate dipped meringue hearts are better than a box of chocolates!

 
During the holidays, I did a lot of baking! Most of it was semi-homemade from cookie mixes, but I did manage to bake a batch of homemade meringues.  I had misplaced my star tip, so I affectionately called my holiday meringues “snowman poop.”  They were vanilla meringue cookies decorated with a snow inspired sprinkle mix.  The cookies turned out so good that I decided to make them again for Valentine’s Day.  This time, I made them into pink hearts and dipped them into dark chocolate.

I figure these cookies will easily keep me from nosing around those Valentine’s Day aisles for myself, as tempting as they may be.  My sweet tooth will stick to meringue.  After all, a plain meringue cookie is only 10 calories.  It might be a little more dipped in dark chocolate, but it’s so worth it.  Especially when you compare it to the candy hanging out in those seasonal aisles in the store!


These cookies are light, crispy, and have a subtle vanilla flavor. You could definitely swap out the vanilla extract for a strawberry or raspberry extract.  I dipped them in dark chocolate because that’s what I had on hand.  Plus, dark chocolate is basically the healthiest chocolate you can consume.  Despite the sweet temptation of the Valentine’s Day season, I’m still trying to keep my healthy eating habits in check. 

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
  • Dash of salt
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • Red food coloring
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • Valentine's Day sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Add egg whites to a small bowl and let them come to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add the egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with a whisk attachment until the eggs become foamy.
  4. Gradually add the sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, add a couple drops of red food coloring.
  5. Continue mixing on high until glossy and stiff peaks form.
  6. Add the mixture to a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake the meringue cookies in the oven for 45 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let the meringues sit in the oven for an hour.
  8. Once the meringues are baked, melt the dark chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
  9. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate. Then, sprinkle with Valentine's Day sprinkles.
  10. Let the chocolate set in the fridge (or at room temperature) and enjoy!
  11. Store the cookies in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place.
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Have a Galentine’s Day gathering coming up or want a special treat for your Valentine?  Whip up a batch of these cookies!  As long as you make sure that your egg whites come to room temperature before whipping up these meringues, you’ll be good to go! 

Don’t forget to share your meringue hearts by tagging me @lavidaholoka and using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats! 

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If you like this Valentine’s Day recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

You’ll Have Heart Eyes for These 20 Valentine’s Day Cocktails

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This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Whether you’re having a romantic night in for Valentine’s Day or getting together with the girls for Galentine’s Day, these 20 Valentine’s Day cocktails will make you feel warm and fuzzy!


Valentine’s Day gets me all sentimental and has me thinking about sweet moments in my relationship.  Actually, it has me thinking about sweet moments in some of my friends’ relationships, too.  Like, I never really had that immediate “he’s the one” spark with my husband.  It’s something that developed over time.  But I sure as hell knew that my friend’s then-boyfriend-now-husband was “the one” for her as soon as I met him!  Funny.  Isn’t it?

It’s the season of sweetness, red and pink, and hearts – lots and lots of hearts!  I’ll have one or two Valentine’s Day recipes coming up for you soon, but today I’m talking about cocktails!  Sweeten up your Valentine’s Day evening with one of these Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes!  I’ll more than likely be sipping on a glass of red wine with a special romantic dinner for two, prepared with lots of love, on Valentine’s night! But who knows?  Some of these cocktails look very tasty and easy to make, too! 

You’ll Have Heart Eyes for These 20 Valentine’s Day Cocktails
  1. Amazing Raspberry Bellini – Simply {Darr}ling
  2. Lemon Raspberry Mimosas – Delightful E Made
  3. The Divine Damiana Valentine Cocktail – She Keeps a Lovely Home
  4. Raspberry Love Potion Cocktail – Who Needs A Cape?
  5. Be Mine Valentine’s Moscow Mule – A Worthey Read
  6. Valentine’s Cherry Strawberry Screwdriver Cocktail Recipe – This Mama Loves
  7. Love Potion Chocolate Cherry Martini – A Mother Thing
  8. Kiss Me Quick Cocktail – Holly’s Cheat Day
  9. Valentine’s Day Cherry Vodka Cocktail – Growing Up Gabel
  10. Mini Red Velvet Milkshakes – Pizzazzerie
  11. Blood Orange Martini – Cooks with Cocktails
  12. Sweetheart Martini – Nellie Bellie
  13. Chocolate Cake Martini – Delightful E Made
  14. Strawberry Confusa – Big Oven
  15. Cupid’s Colada Cocktail – Who Needs A Cape?
  16. Cherry Lime Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe – Simply Darrling
  17. Elderflower Fizz – Love Happy Hour
  18. Cupid’s Pink Arrow – No Spoon Necessary
  19. Raspberry Cheesecake Cocktail Shots – Busy Being Jennifer
  20. Sweet Candy Cocktail – Dell Cove Spices

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Do you have a favorite cocktail to sip on Valentine’s Day?

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

These No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are the perfect snack for when you’re trying to stay on track with your healthy eating goals, but crave the occasional chocolate treat!


We’re halfway into January and I’ve been doing pretty well with making healthy switches in my diet.  But the one thing I can’t manage to shake is the craving for a snack before bed.  If you’re like me and have read an abundance of diet/healthy lifestyle books, then you know that the debate about snacking before bed hasn’t quite been settled.  Some dietitians say you should cut off eating before a certain time eat night.  Other diets have said you should be eating right up until you go to bed to keep your metabolism lit like a fat burning fire. 

Now, I’m no expert when it comes to dieting, but I hate going to bed hungry.  There’s nothing worse than your growling stomach keeping you awake at night.  So I’m all about that “everything in moderation” business.  If your stomach is still begging you for a bite after dinner, eat something.  Obviously not a full dinner, but a little something-something to stave off the hunger and keep you satisfied.  

I feel the same way about cravings.  Want pizza?  Eat a slice of a pizza (not half a pie).  Want chocolate?  Eat some damn chocolate!  That’s where this recipe comes in.


Okay.  Let me just preface this recipe by saying that it’s health-ish.  I’m not going to tell you that you can scarf down half a baking dish of these bars just because they’re made with almond butter, coconut flour, and dark chocolate.  It goes back to that “everything in moderation” thing.  However, these Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are made with simple ingredients that definitely have a few added benefits.

Almond butter

Almond butter has healthy fats in it, which is good for heart health.  It’s also full of vitamins and minerals. 

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate may actually have higher amounts of antioxidants than some fruits!  It’s also another heart-healthy food and may lower cholesterol levels. It’s also pretty good for the brain! 

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is a great, gluten-free substitute.  It also may aid in fueling your metabolism and keeping your blood sugar a healthy level.  Coconut flour is also high in fiber, so it’s good for digestion. 

Oh, and have I mentioned that they’re no-bake?  So when that craving for something sweet hits, you can whip up a batch of these bars in no time!

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 12 oz. dark chocolate chunks, 1/2 cup set aside
  • Optional: 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
  • Coconut oil, to grease the pan

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the almond butter, coconut flour, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium until well combined.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup of the dark chocolate chunks.
  3. Grease an 8x8 square baking dish with coconut oil.
  4. Then, spread the almond butter mixture evenly into the pan.
  5. Add the rest of the dark chocolate chocolate into a small saucepan.
  6. Heat the chocolate over low and continuously stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
  7. Remove from heat and pour over the almond butter.
  8. Sprinkle chopped almonds on top, if desired, and let the chocolate set in the fridge for at least an hour.
  9. Once the chocolate is completely solid, you can cut into bars and enjoy!
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A few other things about this recipe:

  • If you want perfectly cut square bars, you’re probably not going to get it.  If you do somehow manage – well, you’re a wizard, Harry.  That was not happening for me!
  • The almond butter may separate a little from the chocolate while you’re cutting this recipe into bars.  Not a big deal.  You can easily press it back into place and let them harden up in the fridge again.
  • I definitely recommend wrapping these bars up individually after cutting them and keeping them in a baggie or container in the fridge. 
  • If you want to make tinier portions, grease a mini muffin pan and make them like homemade almond butter cups instead!

Next time your craving for something sweet and chocolaty hits, make a batch of these No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars!  They’re pretty much guilt-free, have no added sugar, and taste just like an almond butter cup! 

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If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:


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