How to Make the Easiest Gingerbread Cupcakes Ever!

Love gingerbread but don’t have the time or energy to whip it up? Well, my half-homemade gingerbread cupcakes taste like they are from scratch! They are seriously the easiest gingerbread cupcakes EVER!??❤️

INGREDIENTS:
1 Yellow Cake Mix (15.25 oz box)
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/3 cup avocado oil
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup half and half (whole milk will work, too)
3 eggs

This first step is a piece of cake! After preheating your oven to 350F, it’s time to doctor up the yellow cake mix. Mix all of the the added ingredients with your cake mix and combine to form the batter. Make sure not to over mix!

Now for one of my favorite little hacks! Add rice to the bottoms of your cupcake tin to keep these guys from burning. After scooping your batter into liners, bake about 18 mins and check. You want to make sure you don’t over bake these guys!

Spiced Frosting

INGREDIENTS:
1 can cream cheese frosting
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp Vanilla extract

My favorite part of these guys is this super simple cream cheese frosting. All you need to do is whip all three together until well combined. Finally, pipe on your frosting and enjoy!

These gingerbread cupcakes are so good- you aren’t going to believe they are from a box! Follow along for more of my holiday baking hacks.

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My Favorite Fancy-Frugal Gift Wrapping Hack

I’m sharing one of the best money-saving gift wrapping hacks to try this holiday season! My favorite fancy-frugal way to wrap gifts is easy, fun, and works with items you already have at home!

? LORAfied Gift Wrapping Hack ✂️

Step 1: grab your aluminum foil and wrap your gift.

Step 2: cut up a brown paper bag from the grocery store and fold it into a triangle to then trim it into a snowflake.

Step 3: tape the snowflake paper bag around your gift, on top of the foil and you’re good to go!

Do you prefer wrapping gifts or using gift bags? Comment and LMK ?

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Pomegranate Hack: Easy Way to Remove Seeds

LORAfied pomegranate hack - how to remove seeds

Stop being afraid of this little guy, I’ve got a new trick to try! I’m sharing the easiest way to remove the seeds and enjoy without the hassle or mess!

First, cut the pomegranate in half. Then, place it in water and start popping the seeds out. They’ll sink to the bottom while the membrane floats to the top making it easy to separate. Then, just strain and enjoy!

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The Easiest Gingerbread Cookie Hack Ever

This is seriously the easiest gingerbread cookie hack ever! All you need is 3 ingredients and some spices! Since Pillsbury has stopped making their refrigerated gingerbread dough that saved a lot of us serious life minutes, this is the next best thing ??

INGREDIENTS:

1 pkg refrigerated sugar cookie dough

2 tablespoons molasses

1/3 cup flour

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon  

3/4 tsp ground ginger  

1/4 tsp ground allspice  

1/4 tsp ground cloves

In large bowl, add your room temperature cookie dough and molasses. Mix until combined. Next, add the remaining flour and spices! Beat the mixture together until completely incorporated.

Next, divide the dough in half and wrap into 2 disks with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours!

Now it’s time to roll out your dough on a floured surface until it’s approximately 1/4 inch thick.
Cut your cookies using floured cookie cutters to keep ‘em from sticking.

Finally, place cookies on a lined baking sheet 2 inches apart. Use a floured spatula to keep ‘em from sticking! Bake for 7 to 9 minutes at 375F or until cookies are set and light golden brown around edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 3 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes before decorating!

Run, run as fast as you can! You’re going to want to make these. Plus, Santa’s going to love ‘em!

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How to Throw a Holiday Party on a Budget

Let’s throw a drink and dessert holiday party. And guess what? This holiday party can be thrown together all on a budget. It only costs $5 per person! Plus, no cooking or baking required!???

Let’s start with the wine! For this party, we are going with boxed. There’s this stigma around boxed wines but the only differences really are the packaging and of course the savings.

Let’s compare equally ranked wine. For the price of two bottles, you are going to get four out of the box. The average guess will drink 3 glasses per 3 hour party.

Now, for the cutest dessert bar you’ve ever seen! Here’s how to put together my no-fire-needed s’mores buffet! I started with some marshmallow fluff and some chocolate spread. Now, add any toppings of your choice and let your guests go to town. It’s not only fun, but it only
costs less than $1 per serving!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and stick around for more money-saving hacks!

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My Fancy and Frugal Gingerbread House Hack

Happy Holidays! This is my go-to holiday decorating hack to make these easy and cheap gingerbread houses look expensive. All you need is some leftover Halloween candy, spray paint, and some glitter to top!

First, run and grab your old Halloween candy. The colors do not matter for this hack. Skip the royal icing and grab your hot glue gun to place the candy on the gingerbread house. It holds a lot better and dries much faster.

We aren’t done yet! Once you spray paint these guys, you aren’t turning back. They end up looking so elegant that it’s hard to believe all you did was spray paint from candy!

To finish, top these beautiful houses with glitter. They look just like jewelry boxes!

This gingerbread house hack makes any space look more festive and all on a budget!

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My Quick and Easy Gingerbread Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

This recipe is so good it’s hard to describe! It’s like the gingerbread cheesecake had a baby with a cinnamon roll. It even has a cinnamon roll crust! It may sound fancy, but this gingerbread cinnamon roll cheesecake is super easy and delicious.

LORAfied Gingerbread Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
INGREDIENTS:
2 cans of cinnamon rolls (large, 5 count)
32 oz. cream cheese (4 packages at room temperature)
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 eggs (room temperature)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
Caramel sauce drizzle, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Begin by preheating your oven to 325F. To prepare the crust, spray a 9×13 pan and press the cinnamon rolls on the bottom to cover.

The delicious filling happens in just one bowl! Start with your cream cheese and brown sugar and fluff those together.

Next add your eggs, a little sour scream, and then of course the spices to the mixture!

Once those guys are combined, you are going to pour the mixture on top of the rolls like a blanket and follow it with that caramel swirl.

Bake for 55 mins, up to 1 hr 15 mins! This cheesecake will bake faster in a metal pan and slower in a glass one. Let the cheesecake fall before cooling and cutting.

Note: It’s really puffy when it comes out then immediately falls. Don’t worry, this is supposed to happen!

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My Quick and Easy Holiday Tree Decorating Hacks

It’s that time of the year! Introducing the tree decorating hacks I can’t live without. You’ll learn the quickest way to string your lights! Plus, the answer to exactly how many bulbs and lights you need. Go grab your hair iron and a bag of rice, you’ll need those, too ?

?TREE DECORATING HACKS?

This is the quickest way to string your lights! Instead of going around the tree, drape your lights vertically. This is how you can get better coverage while saving some time. You are going to need about 100 lights per vertical foot. Don’t forget to tuck your lights behind the branches to hide!

Onto the bulbs! Start with your largest guys first and then fill in with the smaller ones. If you are wondering how many bulbs you need, a six-foot tree is going to need about 25 bulbs per vertical foot. The smaller trees only need about 15 bulbs per foot.

Did you know that flat irons aren’t just for hair? They are great for zhuzhing up old bows making them look brand new.

Tie some bells at the bottom of your branches! This hack will let you know if babies of any kind are tugging at your tree.

Lastly, remember to put your delicate ornaments towards the top of your tree. Also, putting five pound bags of rice on each foot of the tree is the perfect hack to keep your tree from falling over.

I hope you love these tree decorating hacks! Wishing you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays, and be sure to stay tuned for more helpful holiday hacks.

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3 Cleaning Hacks to Make Your Kitchen Smell Great

Does your kitchen have a lingering odor you just can’t seem to get rid of? Here are my favorite hacks and simple fixes you’ll be using on repeat!

For the dishwasher, add a cup of vinegar while it’s empty and run it on a hot cycle!

A bowl of lemon wedges, white vinegar, and water is magic for microwave odors! Warm up for 2 minutes on high then let it steam.

Sprinkle the base of your drain heavily with baking soda and follow that with some white vinegar. Once the fizzing stops, rinse the drain with hot water. Drops some lemon wedge ice cubes in there and run your garbage disposal!

These hacks will leave your kitchen smelling perfectly fresh!

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4 Recipes to Make This Year’s Best Thanksgiving Sides

BYA: Because You Asked! Here are 4 of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving sides to make this year!?

LORAfied Thanksgiving Sides

The World’s Best Jello Salad

Orange Fluff

Ingredients:

2 boxes tapioca pudding (3 oz. each)

1 box orange jello (3 oz.)

3 c. water

1 can mandarin oranges (drained)

8oz. cool whip (1 container)

Directions:

Put dry pudding mix and dry jello in sauce pan. Stir first cup of water in slowly until liquified, then stir in other 2 cups of water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly so it doesn’t stick and scorch. When thick, remove from stove and let set one hour to cool. Then stir in cool whip and mandarin oranges until everything is blended well. Refrigerate for several hours, overnight if possible.

NOTE: You can also add mini marshmallows if you desire, I prefer it without.

Thanksgiving Dressing

Ingredients:

4 c. dry cornbread cubes

4 c. dry sourdough bread cubes

1 tsp salt

2 Tbsp rubbed sage or 1 Tbsp of fresh

1/2 stick butter

2 c. chopped onion

2 c. chopped celery

4 c. chicken broth

4 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

Grease large baking dish. Combine bread cubes, salt and sage in large bowl and set aside. Melt butter in sauce pan, adding onion and celery until soft. Pour butter mixture over the bread cubes. Add broth and eggs, mix well.

Depending on the type of bread you’re using you may need more or less of the chicken broth. Bake at 350F covered with foil for 30 mins. Uncover and bake approx. 10 mins more

Adapted from a book called Giving Thanks.

7 Layer Dressing

Norma Jean McLaughlin – Lora’s Mom

Ingredients:

1 head of lettuce, chopped (you can use bagged lettuce shreds)

6 or 7 hard-cooked eggs, sliced

1 bag frozen peas, do not thaw

1 lb. bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled

1 lb. shredded mild Cheddar cheese

¾ c. mayonnaise

¾ c. miracle whip

1 red onion, either sliced very thin or chopped

Sugar

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Make 24 hours in advance

Place the lettuce in an even layer in a 9 X 13 glass pan. Layer egg slices over lettuce in bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper and sugar. Top with crumbled bacon. Sprinkle entire bag of frozen peas over bacon. Spread a layer of onions over the peas. Combine mayo and miracle whip and spread over onions. I mix in a baggie, cut off one end and pipe over onions. Sprinkle cheese over mayo mixture. Cover and place in refrigerator for 24 hours.

Tip: you can substitute turkey bacon for non-pork eaters. Also, make sure you layer exactly as directed above, otherwise it won’t turn out the same.

Corn Pudding

Ingredients:

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can creamed corn

8oz. cream cheese

1 egg

1 box cornbread mix (8.5 oz)

1 small onion, diced

3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

In a large bowl, combine everything, except the 1/4 cup of cheese. Pour into prepared dish, 8×8 or 9×9 works well. Bake 25 minutes, remove and top with remaining cheese, bake another 20 minutes. Found this on All Recipes years ago and it’s a keeper!

I hope you love these Thanksgiving sides and your loved ones do too! Happy Thanksgiving!

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How to Make my Fancy and Frugal Steak Dinner

Here is my fancy and frugal steak dinner that is SO EASY! This steak dinner is also low carb and keto. Meat prices have skyrocketed, so this is the perfect hack to treat you and your family for less. ?

Elevate any cut of meat with this super simple marinade:

3 INGREDIENT MARINADE:
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce (I use GF)
1/4 Cup Avocado Oil
2/3 Cup Balsamic Vinegar

Optional add-ins:
1 tsp. Minced Garlic
1/4 Cup Worcestershire sauce

Place meat in a baggie.
Salt and pepper well, I use my Magic Seasoning, recipe on LORAfied.com link also in bio.
Pour and marinate in the refrigerator 1 – 4 hours, flipping halfway through. Can marinate longer, just not longer than 24 hours.

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE:
1 C. packed parsley leaves
2-3 tsp chopped garlic
2 tsp dried oregano
2 TBSP red or white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 C. extra virgin olive oil

Now for the star of the show- this beautiful green chimichurri sauce. Place everything in your blender except the olive oil. Drizzle olive oil in while blending, blend until smooth. Spread over your meat and serve this meal with corn and a salad!

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How to Make my Starbucks Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe

Here is the Starbucks copycat you have all requested- the Iced Lemon Loaf! This Starbucks copycat recipe is easy, affordable, and tastes just like the real deal. I’m pretty sure I nailed it!

LORAfied Iced Lemon Loaf??

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups flour

Small box instant lemon pudding (3.4oz)1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 Tbsp butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup avocado oil (any kind will work)

3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

1 Tbsp. lemon zest

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl add flour, dry pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda & salt, whisk to combine. Then, in a separate large bowl, mix sugar and lemon zest together, then add eggs, butter, vanilla, lemon juice, oil and sour cream.

Preheat oven to 350F. Blend the wet mix well with mixer. Then, slowly add the dry mixture to the wet until smooth. Pour in prepared pan, making sure to leave 1 1/4” space between the batter and the top. Bake for 55 mins.