Welcome to Happylifeblogspot! A food blog with drool worthy recipes
Raise your hand if you’re enjoying every last bit of summer! We sure are!! And that means getting our fill of all the wonderful summer flavors before the days start getting cooler. Key Lime Cream Pie is the most perfect dessert for June, July, and […]
Hey Y’all! Soooo….I’m about to change your life right now with S’mores Sandwich Cookies!! You don’t even need a campfire to create this delightful little treat. The cookies on their own are completely amazing so you’re going to have to resist devouring them hot out […]
Move over beer brats there’s a new kid in town! Root Beer Brats are not only delicious but they are so easy to prepare. And since they’re made with root beer rather than beer, they’re family friendly too. Slow-cooking in a sweet root beer marinade helps this tasty sausage really soak up tons of flavor. You can adjust the heat to your taste by adding a spicier chili sauce to the mix. And let’s not forget the best part, this summertime meal is made in the crockpot so you can get dinner on the table and still keep the house cool. Amazing, right?!?
Here’s all you’ll need : root beer, corn starch, ground mustard, caraway seeds, bratwurst links, onion, chili sauce, hoagie rolls, red onion and mustard for serving (optional).
Let’s get started on that sweet and tasty marinade. In a large bowl, mix together one 12 oz can of root beer, corn starch, ground mustard, and caraway seeds. Whisk until the corn starch is fully combined into the soda pop mixture.
Next brown the brats in batches in a large skillet over medium heat. Keep in mind that you don’t want to cook them all the way through. We’re just searing the outsides to help keep in all of that juicy and delicious flavor! Now just what exactly is bratwurst you might ask? Bratwurst is a specific type of sausage link that originated in Germany. Typically it’s made with pork, beef, or sometimes even veal. If you don’t have bratwurst available you can use a typical run of the mill sausage as a substitute.
Add the Root Beer Brats to a 4-5 quart crockpot. Cover with chopped white or yellow onion, chili sauce and the root beer mixture. Cook covered, on low for 6-8 hours or until a meat thermometer reads at least 160 degrees. My crockpots always seem to cook on the hot side so 6 hours was plenty for me. I would recommend checking about 4 hours in so you can adjust the temperature as needed.
Grab a bun and a brat and you’re ready to eat! Spoon with chili sauce just before serving. Then add the toppings of your choice, like thinly sliced red onions or go the traditional route by adding a little mustard. You really can’t go wrong on this one! Dinner doesn’t get much easier than Root Beer Brats. Serve with our Slow-Cooked German Potato Salad or our Sweet and Tangy Macaroni Salad and you’ve got yourself a meal!
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If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain…..then you’ll LOVE this cake!!! Pina Colada Cake is moist, delicious, and loaded with the same tropical goodness as the popular summer drink. Now you can sip your favorite drink and eat it too. This […]
I’m pretty sure S’mores are the official dessert of Summer. Well if you like S’mores then you’re gonna flip out over S’mores bars!! These deliciously decadent bars taste just like S’mores but without all the mess. Heck, you can even skip the bon fire which […]
Have you ever tried making your own barbecue sauce? Well it’s easier than you think! Rhubarb-b-q Chicken Drumsticks are the perfect place to start. Fresh rhubarb and apricot preserves pair perfectly to create this surprising and unique flavor profile. It’s tangy and sweet, with just the right amount of kick. Slather it onto some drumsticks for wonderfully moist chicken that’s finger-licking good right down to the last bite. Fire up the grill!! There’s plenty to go around.
Here’s all you’ll need: olive oil, onion, garlic, rhubarb, ketchup, water, apricot preserves, apple cider vinegar, molasses Dijon mustard, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, barbecue seasoning, salt and pepper, and chicken drumsticks. 
In a large sauce pan, cook the chopped onion in oil over medium heat for 4-6 minutes or until tender. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Now just the start of this recipe will make your kitchen sell amazing, but wait…it gets even better!
Next mix in the sliced rhubarb, ketchup, water, apricot preserves, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, chipotle pepper, 1 teaspoon barbecue seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Now it’s really starting to get fun! Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender. If you’re not familiar with barbecue seasoning, you can find it in the spice aisle.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then puree in a blender. Blend until smooth. My handy dandy Ninja was perfect for the job. I love that it doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen. Reserve one cup of barbecue sauce for serving.
In a small bowl, combine In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 4 teaspoons of barbecue seasoning. Sprinkle the mixture over the chicken drumsticks, then cover each drumstick with barbecue sauce. Slather it on real good!
Lightly oil the grill rack and preheat the grill to medium heat. Place the chicken drumsticks on the grill rack over indirect medium heat.
Grill the chicken drumsticks covered, over medium heat, for 30-35 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170-175 degrees. Turn and baste, every 5 minutes or so during cooking time to avoid burning.
Serve with the reserved bbq sauce for dipping and enjoy!! I’m about to dive into these Rhubarb-b-q Chicken Drumsticks Fred Flintstone style. Serve with our Slow-Cooked German Potato Salad and Slice and Bake Watermelon Cookies for a picture perfect picnic! 
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Summer BBQ season is finally here and we’re loving every minute of it! Aren’t summer foods just the best?!? Today I wanted to share with you a must have side dish for summertime picnics, potlucks, barbecues and get togethers, Slow-Cooked German Potato Salad. My German […]
Watermelon Cucumber Salad is the salad I’ve been missing all my life! Our garden is overflowing with cucumbers right about now and my hubby is. In. His. Glory!! But I’m not the type to just sit there and munch on a plain cucumber all on […]
Sangria is kind of my thing! I’ve been absolutely addicted to this Sweet Strawberry Basil Sangria and have been playing it on repeat for quite some time now. Sooo… I thought I’d shake things up a bit with something new. But not too much…still on that sangria train people!! Choo Choooo!! Full speed ahead!! Allow me to introduce you to Summer Berry Sangria, a festive party drink that’s here just in time to take your Fourth of July party (or any summer party for that matter!) to the next level. This colorful cocktail is light, tasty, and oh so refreshing! It’s basically summertime in a glass!! Don’t forget to grab a spoon. You won’t wanna miss out on all that booze soaked fruit once your glass is empty. Drink up!!
Here’s all you’ll need: sparkling white wine, white cranberry juice, coconut rum, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
First let’s start with the important stuff…..the booze!!! You’re gonna need a sparkling white wine of your choosing. I went with a Prosecco from Cupcake Vineyards, but an Asti Spumante or a Moscato would work great too! A little bubbly makes it a little more fun!! Am I right?!? While you’re cruising for booze, we’re going to need a light or coconut rum too, like Malibu. YUMMMM!!!!!
Grab a big ole sangria pitcher and let’s pop some bottles. Add the wine first, and then the rum and cranberry juice. No need to mix! Working in this order allows the liquids to intermingle themselves and also helps to keep all those fun and fizzy bubbles!!
No worries if you can’t find a basic white cranberry juice! They were all out when I went to the store. I subbed in an Oceanspray white cran-peach and it was delish! The white cran-strawberry would be awesome as well. Oh look! More reasons to make another pitcher!! Well twist my arm then!?! Looks like I’ll be trying every possible combination of this Berry Sangria this summer!
Now it’s time for those gorgeous berries!!! Look at those red, white and blues!! Rinse and combine half a cup of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yep! Half a cup of each. Bonus points for only having to dirty one measuring cup!!
Slice up some strawberries and measure out, yep, you guessed it….half a cup!! Or don’t measure at all. I threw caution to the wind and just tossed in 6 big strawberries. Rebel without a cause over here!! LOOK OUT!!! And this was before I even had a sip. I’m in trouble tonight!
Add the fruit to the pitcher and Voila! We have ourselves a party people!! Refrigerate Summer Berry Sangria for 2 hours before serving. Serve chilled over ice.
Well if that’s not the most patriotic recipe I’ve ever seen then I dunno what is! Happy Birthday ‘Merica!!! Let’s get red, white, and boozed! Looking for more patriotic inspired recipes? Try our Red, White and Berry Fruit Pizza!
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Are you ready for a macaroni salad with a twist? Tired of bringing the same old boring salads to parties and potlucks? Prepare to be amazed by our Sweet and Tangy Macaroni Salad! This super creamy salad is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. It’s one […]
Hi There! I’m Lisa. I’m a lover of all things crafty, creative, DIY, and delicious!!! Oh yeah and puppies too! I love cooking and baking for my friends and family but especially WITH my friends and family. I show my greatest affection through food. If I cook or bake for you, it means I really like you!
