Author: windandwillow

There is certainly no wrong way to pack a lunch for your family, but if you are in a rut, we have some great tips to get you and your kids excited about lunch again! From using Wind & Willow products to boost flavor to making lunches visually interesting, this advice is sure to engage your kiddos and have them bringing an empty lunch box home.

The easiest way to make meals more interesting for your kids is by simply arranging the same foods in a new way. In the picture below, you can see that we could have simply packed toast with a side of fruit and cheese. Instead, try spreading a Sweet Wind & Willow Cheeseball on the toast and arranging the fruit into little animal faces. Just like that this lunch instantly becomes adorable! Check out our full Critter Toast recipe here.

Another easy way to get the kids more excited about their fruits and veggies at lunch is to cut them out into little shapes with mini cookie cutters. They are inexpensive to buy online and make a big impact. Pair star shaped cucumbers with Wind & Willow Ranch Dip or flower shaped red peppers with Fresh Picked Spinach Dip.

One of the quickest ways to add a personal touch to your child’s lunch is by adding a hand written note. It doesn’t have to be long or profound, just a little mid-day reminder that you are thinking of them. It is sure to put a smile on their face.

Our favorite way to add interest to a standard lunch is by bumping up the flavor! Simply prepare and spread your favorite Savory Wind & Willow Cheeseball onto a tortilla and roll it up. Cut it into 1″ cross sections for pinwheels with lots of flavor. You can use the same cheeseball as a sandwich spread the next day, or even try adding it inside a grilled cheese for a twist on a classic (served with Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup of course). Make an easy chicken salad by adding a prepared Savory Dip Mix to diced rotisserie chicken.

It’s hard to think about putting together a healthy yet exciting lunch for your kids on those hectic mornings before school. If you can take a few minutes on Sunday to cut out veggies for the week, prepare a Wind & Willow Cheeseball or Dip, and portion out fresh fruit for each day it can make throwing together lunches throughout the week quick and easy.

It can also be helpful to write down a game plan for the week. Even if you don’t stick to it perfectly, it’s much better to have something to go off of than nothing at all. Trying to think of a meal while getting the kids ready for school is next to impossible! Simply make a list of 5 main dishes and ensure you have everything on hand. Then add quick sides like fresh fruit or vegetables with a sweet or savory dip.

Lastly, the right containers can make portioning lunches easy, and often makes them look more fun to kids. Bento box style containers have several compartments to keep foods separate. If you have a single compartment container, use cupcake liners (reusable silicone liners work the best) to separate different items. This will keep each item fresher and will let kids mix and match flavors with every bite.

There is no wrong way to pack a lunch, but if you and your family are ready to change things up, Wind & Willow products are a great way to start mixing up the flavors you are used to. We hope these tips make it easier for you to create extra special lunches that get your kids excited for their mid-day meal.

We can’t wait to hear how you and your little foodies are using Wind & Willow to create new and exciting weekday lunches! Tag us on Instagram and Facebook @windandwillowfoods for a chance to be featured.

This fun dessert will be the life of the party! Just a shot full of your favorite tequila will kick up our quick cheesecake recipe to a whole new level. Follow these easy instructions to create this fun dessert that your friends will request over and over again!

First, gather your ingredients. There aren’t many! A Wind & Willow Key Lime Pie Cheeseball & Dessert Mix, 8 oz cream cheese, 1.5 ounces tequila (equivalent of one shot or 3 Tbs), and 8 oz whipped topping. Salt and lime are optional, but they give the dessert the full cocktail treatment.

If you want a salted rim (would also work with sugar), put about a half cup of course salt on a small plate-something with a ridge works best to keep everything in. Use a fresh lime wedge to rim the glass. Dip the rim of each glass into the salt. Set the finished glasses aside.

Next, prepare the cheesecake filling. Combine Key Lime Pie Mix (reserve topping for later) and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Slowly add in tequila until well combined. Fold in whipped topping. Fill margarita glasses (or a pre-made graham cracker crust) with the mixture. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When the cheesecakes are ready to serve, sprinkle the top with the graham cracker topping packet and garnish with lime if desired.

This recipe will fill four standard margarita glasses. For smaller individual portion sizes, fill large shot glasses with the cheesecake mixture or fill a prepared graham cracker crust and cut into slices when ready to serve.

Unplug and enjoy the great outdoors with Wind & Willow this summer! These easy gourmet recipes grantee that you won’t be sacrificing taste or convenience when you head out to your campsite.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Combine Savory Cheeseball Mix of your choice and its topping packet with an 8oz package of cream cheese. Fill cored, halved jalapenos with the mixture. Place two filled halves together and wrap with a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Carefully place the prepped jalapenos in an airtight container and bring to your campsite in a chilled cooler. Cook in a Dutch oven over a camp fire or in a cast iron skillet.

Soup Mixes Camping Style

Each Wind & Willow Soup Mix is simply prepared by adding water. This makes them super simple to prepare at your campsite over a fire in a cast iron pot. One of our favorite ways to stretch a Tortilla con Queso soup for a crowed is to add a can of drained black beans and a can of drained corn! Another option is to place the contents of a One Cup Soup Mix into a mug and then pour boiling water over them.

Chipotle Burgers

If you want to spice up your grilling this summer, combine 2 Lb of ground beef with Chipotle Cheddar Dip Mix. Tip: We love to prep our seasoned burgers into patties at home and store in an airtight container, keeping each patty separate between pieces of wax paper. Cook in a cast iron skillet right over the fire!

Roasted Corn

Simply combine Roasted Red Pepper Dip Mix with oil and brush it on to ears of corn while they roast on a grill or over a camp fire. They are packed with flavor and beautiful charred color. Everyone in the family will be asking for these each summer!

Everything Tastes Better on an Open Flame

There is something about being outdoors, watching a fire burn, and spending time with family that makes these recipes taste just that much better. Wind & Willow makes eating gourmet meals easy no matter where you are!

Be sure to take plenty of pictures when you cook outdoors with Wind & Willow this summer, and tag @windandwillowfoods on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to have your image shared!

Making homemade pizza doesn’t have to be a special weekend project. With these easy recipes, and a little help from Wind & Willow, you can have pizza on the table in minutes! Check out some of our favorite pizza recipes below.

Spring Veggie Flatbread

To create this beautiful flatbread pizza, top two warm store-bought naan or flatbread with your favorite Savory Cheeseball and Appetizer Mix; we love Bruschetta for it’s fresh flavor! Add fresh vegetables like cucumber, radish, sugar snap peas, and salad greens.

Homemade Oven Pizza

This recipe utilizes a refrigerated pizza dough to keep it quick and easy. Bake your crust half way, add your toppings, and then put it back in the oven for a few minutes to finish. With all the fresh and flavorful toppings, no one will ever guess you didn’t spend hours on the crust!

Southwest Fresh Pizza

This beautiful pizza is simple and easy! Bake a refrigerated pizza crust as directed, then top with a Santa Fe Cheeseball Mix (prepared with cream cheese and sour cream) along with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and olives!

Tropical Dessert Pizza

We always save room for dessert! Especially for pizza night. This recipe uses refrigerated cookie dough in place of a crust. Press the cookie dough into a pizza pan and bake until golden. Top with a prepared Key Lime Pie Cheeseball (or your favorite Sweet Cheeseball Mix) and add fruit of your choice or allow each family member to decorate their own slice.

Any Night is a Pizza Night

These recipes are perfect for any night of the week. Easy enough for a weeknight and special enough for a family night on the weekend. Which recipe is your favorite? Tag us @windandwillowfoods on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to be featured on our page! Follow us out on Pinterest to keep up to date on all of our latest recipes.

This year, celebrate the friends who have been with you through it all! Show your gals and pals some love with a Galentine’s Day party! Wind & Willow can help you whip up some festive snacks in just minutes. You can’t go wrong with classic flavors like strawberry and chocolate, but with our free downloadable PDF Valentine tags, you will be able to turn a number of Wind & Willow flavors into perfect Valentine’s Day gifts. Make these quick snacks and pour a little wine or sparkling juice into your fanciest glasses and make it a party!

First, let’s talk dessert. Nothing beats dipping fresh strawberries in Chocolate Lava Hot Dip. The warm, gooey chocolate makes this even better than those hard chocolate covered strawberries from the store! Cream cheese is the only ingredient you need on hand to create this decadent dessert.

For more Chocolate-Strawberry flavor, simply combine Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheeseball Mix with cream cheese and spread the mixture onto sugar cookies, mini cupcakes, or any other dessert that needs to be garnished. A Chocolate Covered Strawberry Quick Cheesecake (directions on the back of the box) would also make for a beautiful centerpiece for your party.

This holiday doesn’t have to be all about the sweets. Adorable tea sandwiches become a festive, savory snack by simply shaping them into hearts! Here’s how:

1. Press a heart shaped cookie cutter into your favorite sandwich bread. Create as many heart shaped sections in each slice as possible.

2. Spread the top of each cut-out heart with prepared Roasted Red Pepper Dip.

3. Top half of the hearts with jarred roasted red peppers and thin slices of fresh cucumber. Top with the remaining hearts to form a sandwich.

These Roasted Red Pepper Sandwiches are every bit as tasty as they look!

Lastly, give your guests a Valentine as their party favor. Turn a Wind & Willow Cheeseball Mix into a Valentine by placing it in a cellophane bag, tying the top with ribbon, and attaching coordinating pun from our free printable PDF below.

If your friends love a corny joke, these are the perfect Valentines for them! Simply hit download below the image and print the tags (preferably on card stock). Cut along the dotted line and punch out the circle. Attach to your bag with twine or ribbon.

We love that there is a day dedicated to love. Love for our significant other, love for our family and friends, and love for ourselves! These quick ideas make easy work of showing the people in our lives that they are loved. We would love to see how you are celebrating this holiday and everyday moments with Wind & Willow. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram @windandwillowfoods.

It is almost time for the biggest football game of the year! Planning the menu might be as fun as watching the game. The key is to keep the prep easy, and the food even easier to eat. We are all about bite sized finger food so guests can keep their attention on the game. Check out these 4 recipes that you can have ready in a snap, while guests will think you have been cooking for days.

Charcuterie Bites

This app is like the perfect charcuterie board bite preassembled, so you don’t have to look away during the big game! Tuscan Olive Cheeseball Mix is prepared and smeared over slices of pepperoni and salami. Roll up each slice, cut in half, and secure with an olive topped toothpick. For all the details and tips, click here for the recipe.

Cheesy Bacon Zucchini Bites

This one-bite appetizer is so simple to make. Prepare a Wind & Willow Smokehouse Bacon Cheeseball Mix with 8 oz of cream cheese and dollop a tablespoon on top of summer squash slices. Bake in the oven and garnish (optional) with more cheese and bacon. For the step-by-step instructions, you can find the full recipe here.

Quick Spinach Dip

Transform your Wind & Willow Fresh Picked Spinach Dip Mix into a warm and eye-catching appetizer with the addition of a few ingredients like sour cream and extra cheese. Bonus points for broiling the whole dish off in a hollowed out bread loaf for a show-stopping presentation your family and friends will love. Check out the full recipe here for all the details.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Keep your guests on their toes with unique dipping options for your traditional game day chicken wings! Here we opted for Wind & Willow Roasted Red Pepper Dip instead of the traditional ranch or blue cheese. You could even serve a traditional dip like Back at the Ranch, alongside something fun and different like spicy Chipotle Cheddar.

The Best Snack for any Game

Wind & Willow products make it easy to whip up snacks for any game day get-together. With these mixes and a few ingredients on hand, you have these and hundreds of recipes at your fingertips. We would love to see how you are using Wind & Willow products to celebrate the big game. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram @windandwillowfoods for a chance to be featured on our page.

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