I received complimentary product samples from #BacktoSchoolTreats sponsors companies to aid in the creation of my recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Start your day with a little bit of liquid luck in the form of these Felix Felicis potion inspired smoothies!

Today is Harry Potter’s 39th birthday! And what better way to celebrate the combination of such a day with #BacktoSchoolTreats week than with some liquid luck – Felix Felicis potion! There is a lot of excitement and anxiety with back to school, so what kid couldn’t use a good dose of liquid luck for the first day back? Heck, my car was totaled last week (thankfully in an accident not my fault so their insurance is paying up) so I know I could use some myself when it comes to finding a new car (and having a car payment for the first time in my life – in my 30s). Too bad I can’t buy Mr. Weasley’s flying car.

In case you didn’t know I’m a bit of a Potterhead. Not only have I competed in Harry Potter trivia nights (won once, came in 3rd another time), received Harry Potter jewelry from Bob on our wedding day (and did you see our wedding photos posing with wands and light sabers?) Bob, a couple friends, and I have been getting together at least once a month to play a cooperative deck building game called Hogwarts Battle (a gift from our wedding registry). At first we thought the rules surely were written wrong, because after beating the villains in each book, the villain card deck continues to build while you must give up any cards you acquired, making the game very difficult to beat. But if we kept our cards it became much to easy. So after a few months, several hours at a time, we finally beat Voldemort once and for all in Book 7 with an aptly played Sword of Gryffindor! Of course the Felix Felicis potion (pictured below) was thrown around in there at some point, it just wasn’t the final blow.

Check out these #BacktoSchoolTreats recipes from our Bloggers:

Back to School Breakfasts:
Breakfast Banana Splits from For the Love of Food
Cherry Muffins from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Overnight Vanilla Oats in Under an Hour from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Back to School Snacks:
Easy Caramel Apple Slices on a Stick from Jen Around the World
Vanilla Pudding Cups from Home Sweet Homestead

Back to School Desserts:
Almond Shortbread Skillet from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Back to School Confetti Cookie Bars from The Mandatory Mooch
Berries Vanilla Pies from My Sweet Zepol
Birthday Cake Truffles from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Brown Sugar Milk Tea Popsicles from Simply Healthyish
Cereal Milk Macaron from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
DIY Mini Caramel Apples from Jen Around the World
Funfetti Whoopie Pies from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Mrs. Field’s Chocolate Chip Cookies from Comfortably Domestic

Back to School Drinks:
Caramel Apple Cider Punch from Love and Confections
Caramel Cold Brew Coffee from The Redhead Baker
Felix Felicis Potion Smoothies from The Spiffy Cookie
Iced Caramel Latte with Apple Whipped Cream from The Nifty Foodie
Iced Caramel Mocha from Tara’s Multicultural Table

Have you checked out the giveaway yet? Scroll to the bottom of this post for more information about the sponsors of #BacktoSchoolTreats week and how to win. Sponsored items used in this recipe: Sweets & Treats gold foil paper straws and gold crystals.

Three years ago: Weekly Meal Plan #23

Four year ago: Raspberry-Chocolate Angel Food Cupcakes

Five years ago: No-Churn Chocolate Almond Ice Cream

Seven years ago: Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese, Corn, and Bacon Waffles

FELIX FELICIS POTION SMOOTHIES

Serves 1

Ingredients:

Sweets & Treats gold crystals, for rimming the glasses

8 oz. pineapple juice

1 clementine, peeled and excess pith removed

1 peach, peeled and pitted

1 tsp fresh ginger

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 cup crushed ice

Directions:

1. Place water (or lime/lemon juice) in one shallow bowl and the gold crystals in another. Dip the rim of the glass into the water, shake off excess, and then dip into the crystals and grind back and forth gently to help it stick.
2. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into rimmed glass and serve immediately.

Source: The Spiffy Cookie original

Treacle Tart

Butterbeer Ice Cream

Summer is winding down, and we are celebrating with #BacktoSchoolTreats hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. All week-long 30 bloggers will be sharing 100+ fantastic recipes for both parents and kids, with breakfasts, snacks, desserts, and drinks to get you back in the school routine. Thank you sponsors for providing the prize packages. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

PRIZE #1 DIXIE CRYSTALS

Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker.

Since 1917, Dixie Crystals® has been the South’s choice for high-quality sugar and sweeteners. For generations, Dixie Crystals has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations. Our pure cane, non-GMO sugar products guarantee that treasured family recipes will turn out right every time. Bake with love and Dixie Crystals.

PRIZE#2 SWEETS & TREATS

Hummus is one of those things that I love making myself instead of buying from the grocery store. Granted, while I’m convinced nearly everything tastes better homemade, not everything is easily executed and therefore sometimes shear convenience wins. But when it comes to hummus all you really need to do is blend things up.  As for the perfection of hummus making, I read one that to achieve the creamiest hummus one much remove the skins from the garbanzo beans. Let me say that I have done that painfully tedious task twice and I honestly didn’t find the end result to be worth the amount of time it took to do so. So literally throw them in there to be blended with whatever seasonings strike you that day and get to the best part faster – eating it! On this particular occasion I decided to add some turmeric and ginger, resulting in this brightly colors, flavorful hummus that will be enjoyed by even the turmeric-timid.

One year ago: Weekly Meal Plan: June 13-19

Two years ago: White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Cookies

Three years ago: Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cookies

Four years ago: Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Cookies Dipped in White Chocolate

TURMERIC HUMMUS

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained with liquid reserved

1/4 cup Tahini paste

1 lemon, juiced

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp salt, plus more to taste

Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Add beans, tahini, lemon juice, and oil to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until blended. Add more salt to taste. If needed, add a tablespoon of two of the reserved garbanzo bean liquid to reach desired consistency.
2. Serve hummus with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.

Source: Adapted from my Taco Hummus and Minimalist Baker.