Author: windandwillow

This playful terrarium lies somewhere between a classic trifle and a kid favorite, dirt cake. Little ones will love helping to build or just eating it with you! 

The first thing you will want to do is select a vessel. Here we used a large glass storage container, but the options are endless. Individual dessert cups would make a fun party dessert!

To start, prepare a Wind & Willow Missouri Mud No-Bake Cheesecake Mix. Once prepared as directed, let mixture chill in the fridge.

Next, prepare a boxed chocolate cake mix to use as dirt layers. Prepare as directed and allow to cool completely. (We also added food coloring to a white cake mix to make a layer of moss. This is optional as you do not end up using all of the prepared cake.)

After that, gather other elements you want to include like edible rocks, larger edible boulders, herbs for trees and bushes, and fondant mushrooms and of course, a little garden snail.  You can buy your edible decorations or have fun creating your own!

Lastly, layer up your vessel and garnish! We started with edible rocks, then a layer of cake, followed by prepared No-Bake Cheesecake, more cake, then all of the cute decorations (moss, boulders, greenery, fondant).

Snap a picture of your creation before you dig in! Tag us on social mendia @windandwillowfoods. We love to see all the ways you use and share our mixes.

If you have ever wondered how to get a cheeseball to look picture perfect, you are in luck! We are divulging all our secret tips to get a cheeseball round, evenly coated in topping, and beautiful for serving.

Room Temp Ingredients are Key

Our first tip is to use full fat cream cheese and half a stick of butter, making sure they are room temperature, and completely combined before adding your mix of choice. This provides the best structure for the cheeseball.

Combine Mix, Butter, Cream Cheese

Mix cream cheese and butter until completely combined using a spoon or rubber spatula. If your ingredients have not come to room temperature, a hand mixer can help whip everything together (alternatively, a fork and some elbow grease works if you are like us and have no patience and also hate to dirty up the mixer).

Refrigerate in Plastic Wrap Until Firm

Next, you will want to spoon the mixture into a sheet of plastic wrap and gather it into a ball as best you can. Refrigerate until the mixture is firm. While still in the plastic, use your hands to form the cream cheese mixture into a perfect ball.

Sprinkle Topping onto Plate

Lastly, we like to sprinkle the topping packet on to a plate and roll the cheeseball around the plate until all sides are evenly coated.

Enjoy!

Keep refrigerated until you are ready to serve! Don’t forget to snap a picture and tag us on social so we can see your beautiful creation. #windandwillowfoods

Welcome Autumn with a cozy evening on your own or with a few friends. Including Wind & Willow favorites makes it easy! 

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Nothing gets us in the mood for fall like a lovely stroll among the falling leaves. Now to continue those fall vibes indoors…

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We love starting by preparing the Roasted Pecans and Cider. They are great snacks as you are preparing everything else and make the whole house smell great too.

Dinner is easy when using Wind & Willow Soup Mixes.  Baked Potato Soup is always a favorite.  Just add water, simmer and serve. Make it your own by adding your favorite garnishes like shredded cheese, bacon and green onions.

For dessert, nothing beats a pumpkin shaped Pumpkin Pie Cheeseball.   After dinner, settle in with a good book and a furry friend.

For the perfect finish to a lovely autumn evening, settle in with a good book, a furry friend and a mug of warm cider.  

Did you know we are active on YouTube? We love sharing our favorite products and how we are using them. Follow us and share our page with your people. Lets all get together with good people around good food.

Good apple pie can be hard to come by. We want the kind that tastes like grandma must have been in the kitchen for hours creating it. While we love those old fashioned recipes, who has the time? We developed this recipe in a last minute, pinched-for-time kind of moment and it has become an all-time favorite. Click the link here or in the summary at the bottom for the condensed version of this recipe, or keep reading for all our juicy secrets for the ultimate apple pie.

Secret #1: Don’t Worry about the Peel

We have tested it, and we are here to tell you that it’s okay to leave the peel on! If we have time we do peel our apples, but if you slice them nice and thin, or choose to dice them, the skin just adds some fun color and you hardly notice them. So core, cut, and (if you choose to) peel about five apples.

Secret #2: Apple Type is Overrated

There are a lot of theories about what apples are best for a pie, we say whichever you have on hand are best! If you are grabbing some for the recipe just get what you like, looks good, or sounds exciting to try!

Secret #3: Submerge in Lemon Water

Place your prepped apples in water with a squirt of lemon juice while you prep your crust to keep them from browning. Just be sure to drain the water before adding them into the recipe.

Secret #4: Store Bought Crust?!

Our beloved family recipe for pie crust is one secret we will never divulge, but we have an even juicier one to reveal… store bought crust is almost as good. So just thaw that ready made crust and press it into your pie dish for the quick route and if you have time go ahead and make your own homemade crust.

How to Bring it all Together

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, cook apples on the stove in 4 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat until they are to your desired tenderness (approximately 10 minutes). Sprinkle in 2 Tablespoons of flour and a Wind & Willow Apple Cider Mix. Stir until flour and sugar dissolve. (approx 10 minutes). Once the filling is ready, spoon it into your pie dish and top with your remaining crust.

Secret #5: For that Golden Crust

Wisk one egg and brush it on top of the pie. This is technically an optional step, but truly that flaky golden crust is worth the extra time even when you are in a hurry. Use a sharp knife to cut vents into the top of the crust after the egg wash. Bake the pie for about 25 minutes or until it is fully cooked and golden.

Just a Few More Tips

• Any one of our three Cider Mix flavors will work for this pie recipe. Each one offers a unique flavor profile: Original for a traditional pie, Caramel Apple for an extra gooey and decadent pie (our personal favorite), or Wassail for a hint of unexpected bright citrus.
• Get creative with add-ins like raisins, nuts, or cranberries in the filling, cinnamon sugar sprinkled on the crust before baking, or replacing the top crust with a crumble topping.
• The longer you let your pie cool, the easier it is to cut a pretty piece… but sometimes it is totally worth cutting in sooner than later!

If you have Wind & Willow products on hand and some simple pantry staples, you are always prepared to create show stopping dishes at the drop of a hat. Impromptu gatherings are the best. Gather friends and family around good food and prepare to make memories.

For our more concise recipe click here.

We love to hear your stories of gathering around your Wind & Willow creations. Tag us on social media @windandwillowfoods so we can check out how you are using our products.

From breakfast to dessert, you deserve to celebrate all day long. We are compiling some of our favorite ways to celebrate without the cake! For those who aren’t big on cake, want something a little different, or just want to start the day with a party: here are some delicious ways to celebrate the day!

Birthday Cake Cheeseball

A Wind & Willow Birthday Cake Cheeseball made as directed is hard to beat! All you need is the mix, 8oz of cream cheese, and 4 Tablespoons of butter (optional). Of course there are extra points for colorful cookies and a birthday candle!

Birthday Bagels

Why wait for dessert to celebrate? Smear prepared Wind & Willow Birthday Cake Cheeseball on toasted bagels for a colorful way to start the day.

Birthday Cake Quick Cheesecake

Not that into cake? We got you! Prepare a Quick Cheesecake according to the directions right on the back of the Wind & Willow Birthday Cake Cheeseball & Dessert Mix packaging.

Birthday Bombs

We followed our Everything Bagel Bomb Recipe to create these festive little bites. Filled with birthday cake cheeseball, wrapped in biscuit dough, and topped with sprinkles; they are portable, pretty, and downright fun!

Celebrate Everyday with Wind & Willow

Whether you are planning a birthday party or just recognizing the fact that you made it through another Monday, take a moment to celebrate the day with some rainbow sprinkles. Be sure to snap a pic and show us on social media @windandwillowfoods

The classic layered salad is getting elevated with lots of extra flavor this summer. Bring this beautiful dish full of flavor to your next gathering.

The first step will be to gather your ingredients. You will need Wind & Willow Cheesy Bacon Dip Mix, sour cream, mayonnaise, iceberg lettuce, grape tomatoes, frozen peas, red onion, shredded cheddar, and last but certainly not least… bacon.

Next, prep everything so that it is ready to layer. Combine your Cheesy Bacon Dip Mix with sour cream and mayo as directed on the packaging. Chop your lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and bacon. Don’t forget to thaw your peas a bit. The quickest way is to run them under cold water for a few minutes.

Now it is time to layer. We started with lettuce, then tomato, followed by peas. We layered on our chopped onions and shredded cheddar. Then, we spread our dip gently over the top. We topped our layered salad with bacon and added some cheese and peas to that top layer for a bit more color.

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do! It is perfect for every occasion and our Cheesy Bacon Dip Mix really elevated it to the next level. Other mixes like Roasted Red Pepper or Back at the Ranch would also make for an amazing dressing for a layered salad. Tag us on social media @windandwillowfoods for the chance to be featured. We love seeing your creations!

Party planning doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Let quick Wind & Willow recipes carry the weight so you can focus on the important things: family, fun, and fireworks! Read along as we share our top tips for a no-fuss 4th!

The More the Merrier!

Holidays are all about time with friends and family! Don’t hesitate inviting more people just because you are worried about preparing food for everyone or making everything “Pinterest-worthy.” Enlist your company for help! Have everyone bring a side, and you can just worry about the main dish (ideas on that in the next section). Always keep sour cream, mayo, and a Wind & Willow Dip Mix on hand so you can easily bulk up the spread with chips and dip if there is not enough for everyone.

Food

Elevating a simple cook-out is so easy with Wind & Willow products! Combine a Dip Mix (we love to use Chipotle Cheddar) with 2 lbs of ground beef before cooking into burger patties for a gourmet burger. A prepared Dip Mix also makes a great burger sauce and will double as the perfect accompaniment to veggies and chips.

Simply adding red, white, and blue fruit to your favorite sweet Wind & Willow recipes makes for a festive look without making a whole new recipe! Serve a White Chocolate Amaretto Cheeseball with assorted berries, or make a dessert pizza with blueberry stars and strawberry banana stripes.

Fun

Even an activity as simple as decorating paper letters is sure to create a memory and set this year’s holiday apart from any other! Everyone is sure to laugh as they compare creations. Yard games like corn hole and bocce are also great fun as you wait for the sun to set and the fireworks to start.

How do you celebrate?

For us, the 4th is all about family, friends, food, and fun. How do you celebrate? Be sure to tag us on social @windandwillowfoods with your celebrations

Need some ideas to make Mom’s day special?  Does your family need some ideas to make YOUR day special?  Make a couple of recipes from this list for a wonderful mother’s day brunch or send this list to hubs and the kids.  These recipes are simple enough for the family to make and won’t leave the kitchen in a huge mess.  

Spinach Artichoke Puff Pastries

All you need from the store for this gorgeous recipe is cream cheese and frozen puff pastry! Combine cream cheese with Spinach & Artichoke Cheeseball & Appetizer Mix and fill small squares of thawed puff pastry. Place in muffin tins and brush with melted butter if you have it on hand before baking. Find the full recipe here.

Herbed Prosciutto and Apple

Sweet and savory is what brunch is all about. These little bites pack big flavor. Top slices of crisp apple with prepared White Cheddar & Chive Cheeseball. Then wrap the bite in a slice of prosciutto. For extra style points, tie fresh chives around the bite! Detailed recipe here.

Elevated Bagel and Shmear

Gourmet shmear elevates a simple bagel to an elegant and easy to prepare breakfast in bed. Take this recipe sweet or savory by choosing your favorite Wind & Willow Cheeseball Mix to combine with cream cheese.

Fresh Fruit Parfait

An extra decadent Fresh Fruit Parfait is simple to create. Layer a prepared Sweet Cheeseball Mix with crushed cookies or granola, fresh berries or other in season fruit, and top with whipped topping.

Cheesecake Stuffed Croissants

Last, but certainly not least, are these cream cheese stuffed croissants. Pick up fresh croissants from the store or your favorite bakery, fill them with Lemon Cheesecake Cheeseball Mix prepared according to the Quick Cheesecake directions. Top with berries, honey, and sprigs of mint or thyme for a fun pop of color.

Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed

Every mom deserves breakfast in bed and a mess free kitchen. Hopefully this list can serve as some inspiration for you and yours to achieve just that. Follow us on Social @windandwillowfoods for more recipe inspiration everyday.

Spring is here! With new warmth comes vibrant produce and the urge to be outdoors. Celebrate the new season with a party, saying goodbye to the winter blues with your closest friends.

Start by seeing what is in season near you. Your local farmers market is a great place to start. Gather everything colorful. Grab what you love and what you have never tried before!

With produce this fresh, you won’t need to do much if any cooking. Let the flavors of the veg do the talking! The first and most simple way to show off spring produce is to pair it with an equally vibrant Cheeseball like the one above made with Wind & Willow White Cheddar & Chive Mix.

Just as simple, prepare a Wind & Willow Dip Mix. To make it more visually interesting you can always nestle your dip bowl into a little Spring display of vegetables, greenery, or like the above photo, a nest!

To make it easy for guests to enjoy the perfect bite, prepare simple tea sandwiches with your favorite bread spread with prepared Wind & Willow Dip or Cheeseball Mix and topped with fresh vegetables and herbs. These bite sized beauties are so fun to graze on.

A fresh dish that doubles as a centerpiece is our favorite party hack. This one could not be easier! Fill a prepared savory tarte shell with prepared Bruschetta Cheeseball Mix. Top the tarte with sliced tomatoes, herbs, and the included topping for a show stopping dish that takes just minutes to prepare.

For a light dessert, try a fresh take on the classic Fruit and Cheese board by featuring Pear & Honey Cheeseball. Serve with simple cookies and complete the board with fresh pears, honey, and thyme tucked in for a pop of color and a delicious aroma.

The best part about fresh local produce is that it doesn’t take much to show it off. A garden party is ideally set outside, but if that is not possible in your climate, it can be so much fun to set up a picnic style dinner on the floor and dream of warmer weather with your friends and family.

What produce are you looking forward to in the coming weeks? Share how you pair fresh fruit and veggies with Wind & Willow products with us on social media @windandwillowfoods