Chocolate Peppermint Stirring Spoons

I am one of the room moms for our twins' 5th grade class, and this Friday is their Christmas party.

My kids are lucky, they still get Christmas parties... I have talked to many friends, and their kids have "winter" parties.  I LOVE singing Christmas Carols and singing the kids all dressed in their Sunday best at their programs.

I am thankful my kids go to a Catholic school.

We are doing this cute craft I found on Pinterest

and having a hot cocoa bar!

My daughter and I made these cute Chocolate Peppermint Stir Spoons!

They couldn't be easier to make and so good in hot cocoa!!

Want to make your own cocoa mix?

CLICK HERE

Chocolate Peppermint Stirring Spoons

48 plastic spoons

6 candy canes crushed

2 cups chocolate chips

2 teaspoons crisco

Crush your candy canes.

Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Rest spoons on edge of cookie sheet.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave for about 1 minute and then 30 second intervals until you can stir them smooth, add crisco and stir until incorporated.

**I used a glass 2 cup measuring cup ... worked great to pour the chocolate into the spoons!**

Pour chocolate into spoon well, and tap the spoon to make the chocolate pool evenly in the spoon.

Add crushed peppermints and place in the refrigerator to set up.

Swirl it through some hot cocoa and Relax....

I am one of the room moms for our twins' 5th grade class, and this Friday is their Christmas party.

My kids are lucky, they still get Christmas parties... I have talked to many friends, and their kids have "winter" parties.  I LOVE singing Christmas Carols and singing the kids all dressed in their Sunday best at their programs.

I am thankful my kids go to a Catholic school.

We are doing this cute craft I found on Pinterest

and having a hot cocoa bar!

My daughter and I made these cute Chocolate Peppermint Stir Spoons!

They couldn't be easier to make and so good in hot cocoa!!

Want to make your own cocoa mix?

CLICK HERE

Chocolate Peppermint Stirring Spoons

48 plastic spoons

6 candy canes crushed

2 cups chocolate chips

2 teaspoons crisco

Crush your candy canes.

Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Rest spoons on edge of cookie sheet.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave for about 1 minute and then 30 second intervals until you can stir them smooth, add crisco and stir until incorporated.

**I used a glass 2 cup measuring cup ... worked great to pour the chocolate into the spoons!**

Pour chocolate into spoon well, and tap the spoon to make the chocolate pool evenly in the spoon.

Add crushed peppermints and place in the refrigerator to set up.

Swirl it through some hot cocoa and Relax....

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

I made a housewarming gift basket for my brother and his family last weekend, and it turned out super cute!

I'll blog about it AFTER the holidays ... but the cute basket included this homemade hot cocoa.

I searched Pinterest, and read different recipes, but found this one from a blog that I love called wonkywonderful.com   You have seen recipes from Nicole on my facebook page, she shares there every now and then, and her stuff is always AMAZING.

So hers it was!

rich and thick and stirred into hot milk ... no water here, friends!  

Do you have a Tuesday Morning where you live?  I love going in that store, it's sort of like digging for buried treasure.  It's where I found this "Chalk it up" Glass jar.  I love how it looks like a barrel.

This is one of my favorite mugs, given to me by my dear friend, Traci.

(aint that the truth??)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

wonky wonderful

1 cup cocoa

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup instant coffee creamer

1/2 cup Ovaltine

Combine and store in an airtight container.

Add 3-4 Tablespoons to a an 8 ounce cup hot milk and stir.

I made a housewarming gift basket for my brother and his family last weekend, and it turned out super cute!

I'll blog about it AFTER the holidays ... but the cute basket included this homemade hot cocoa.

I searched Pinterest, and read different recipes, but found this one from a blog that I love called wonkywonderful.com   You have seen recipes from Nicole on my facebook page, she shares there every now and then, and her stuff is always AMAZING.

So hers it was!

rich and thick and stirred into hot milk ... no water here, friends!  

Do you have a Tuesday Morning where you live?  I love going in that store, it's sort of like digging for buried treasure.  It's where I found this "Chalk it up" Glass jar.  I love how it looks like a barrel.

This is one of my favorite mugs, given to me by my dear friend, Traci.

(aint that the truth??)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

wonky wonderful

1 cup cocoa

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup instant coffee creamer

1/2 cup Ovaltine

Combine and store in an airtight container.

Add 3-4 Tablespoons to a an 8 ounce cup hot milk and stir.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Jell-o Shots -- 8 Different Flavors!!

This past weekend my husband's Aunt and Uncle hosted a family reunion.

What a fabulous turnout  they had!! 

My husband's, cousin, Paul, brought his traveling BBQ/Smoking trailer.

(if I botched that, Paul, sorry!! Not sure what to call it?)

He actually enters contest for his meat smoking/barbecuing.   

He had chicken, beef brisket,  pork butt, ribs, and even hots dogs and brats for kids.

It's no secret that BBQ has never been my favorite, but I am here to tell ya, if he's cooking it, I am eating it!

It was AMAZING!

I was volunteered to make Jell-O Shots.

Not sure how this happened? but ask and you shall receive!

Of course, I couldn't just make two colors of jell-o and dump some vodka in them, 

I had to get a little clever!

One morning, yes...morning, I got out all 8 boxes of jell-o I had purchased, and went down to our bar in the basement and started checking out the liquor.

I didn't want them to all taste the same!

Luckily, I had quite the collection.  I am notorious for buying something to make a drink once, then it gets stuck on the shelf. Or we have a party, someone brings a bottle over and it gets left here.

I felt like a chemist concocting these!

Before we get to the recipes, one funny story to share!!

I got to the LAST recipe and I was making margarita shots.

I was short like 1/2 cup of tequila.

I called my neighbor across the street, when she answered I said

"most neighbors call to borrow a 1/2 cup of sugar, I am calling to borrow a 1/2 cup of tequila."

After she stopped laughing she asked me what on earth I needed tequila for at 9:30 AM, 

but she came through, and I got all of my shots made and didn't have to get out of my PJs 

to go to the liquor store! 

Thanks, neighbor!

Jell-O Shots

Cherry-Lemonade Jell-O Shots

1 box cherry-lemonade jell-o

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cherry vodka

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Mojito Jell-O Shots

1 box lime jell-o

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup light rum + 1/4 cup cold water + few drops of mint extract

Pina Colada Jell-O Shots

1 box pina colada jell-o

1 cup pineapple juice boiled

1 cup coconut rum

Strawberry Daiquiri Jell-O Shots

1 box strawberry daiquiri jell-o 

1 cup boiled water

3/4 cup light rum + 1/4 cup cold water

Cherry Coke Jell-O Shots

1 box cherry jell-o

1 cup boiled Coca- Cola

1 cup Spiced Rum

Island Breeze Jell-O Shots

1 box Strawberry- Banana Jell-O

1 cup boiling water

1 cup Island Blue Pucker

Dreamsicle Jell-O Shots

1 box orange jell-o

1 cup boiling water

1 cup vanilla vodka

Margarita Jell-O Shots

1 box margarita jell-o

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup tequila + 1/4 cup cold water + 2 Tablespoons lime juice

*sprinkle with salt to serve*

Disolve jell-o in the "boiled" ingredient add "cold" ingredient and pour into shot cups and place in the refrigerator until set.

Top with whipped cream (with the exception of the margarita, top that with a sprinkle of salt) and serve!

This past weekend my husband's Aunt and Uncle hosted a family reunion.

What a fabulous turnout  they had!! 

My husband's, cousin, Paul, brought his traveling BBQ/Smoking trailer.

(if I botched that, Paul, sorry!! Not sure what to call it?)

He actually enters contest for his meat smoking/barbecuing.   

He had chicken, beef brisket,  pork butt, ribs, and even hots dogs and brats for kids.

It's no secret that BBQ has never been my favorite, but I am here to tell ya, if he's cooking it, I am eating it!

It was AMAZING!

I was volunteered to make Jell-O Shots.

Not sure how this happened? but ask and you shall receive!

Of course, I couldn't just make two colors of jell-o and dump some vodka in them, 

I had to get a little clever!

One morning, yes...morning, I got out all 8 boxes of jell-o I had purchased, and went down to our bar in the basement and started checking out the liquor.

I didn't want them to all taste the same!

Luckily, I had quite the collection.  I am notorious for buying something to make a drink once, then it gets stuck on the shelf. Or we have a party, someone brings a bottle over and it gets left here.

I felt like a chemist concocting these!

Before we get to the recipes, one funny story to share!!

I got to the LAST recipe and I was making margarita shots.

I was short like 1/2 cup of tequila.

I called my neighbor across the street, when she answered I said

"most neighbors call to borrow a 1/2 cup of sugar, I am calling to borrow a 1/2 cup of tequila."

After she stopped laughing she asked me what on earth I needed tequila for at 9:30 AM, 

but she came through, and I got all of my shots made and didn't have to get out of my PJs 

to go to the liquor store! 

Thanks, neighbor!

Jell-O Shots

Cherry-Lemonade Jell-O Shots

1 box cherry-lemonade jell-o

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cherry vodka

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Mojito Jell-O Shots

1 box lime jell-o

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup light rum + 1/4 cup cold water + few drops of mint extract

Pina Colada Jell-O Shots

1 box pina colada jell-o

1 cup pineapple juice boiled

1 cup coconut rum

Strawberry Daiquiri Jell-O Shots

1 box strawberry daiquiri jell-o 

1 cup boiled water

3/4 cup light rum + 1/4 cup cold water

Cherry Coke Jell-O Shots

1 box cherry jell-o

1 cup boiled Coca- Cola

1 cup Spiced Rum

Island Breeze Jell-O Shots

1 box Strawberry- Banana Jell-O

1 cup boiling water

1 cup Island Blue Pucker

Dreamsicle Jell-O Shots

1 box orange jell-o

1 cup boiling water

1 cup vanilla vodka

Margarita Jell-O Shots

1 box margarita jell-o

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup tequila + 1/4 cup cold water + 2 Tablespoons lime juice

*sprinkle with salt to serve*

Disolve jell-o in the "boiled" ingredient add "cold" ingredient and pour into shot cups and place in the refrigerator until set.

Top with whipped cream (with the exception of the margarita, top that with a sprinkle of salt) and serve!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Cucumber Lemonades

Have you discovered Cucumber Vodka Yet?

Cucumber lovers unite!!

It is WONDERFUL!!

We tried a sample at a local restaurant last weekend, and bought some the next day!

These are perfect hot weather/summer drinks.  

So light and refreshing.

Cucumber Lemonades

8 ounces of lemonade

1 shot of cucumber vodka (or more if you're feeling crazy!!)

ice

salt - optional

Blend vodka and lemonade with ice in your blender until the ice is crushed.

Pour into a glass with a salted rim, garnish with a cucumber if desired.

I have also just made these "on the rocks" they are just as good and not near the work!! ;)

Have you discovered Cucumber Vodka Yet?

Cucumber lovers unite!!

It is WONDERFUL!!

We tried a sample at a local restaurant last weekend, and bought some the next day!

These are perfect hot weather/summer drinks.  

So light and refreshing.

Cucumber Lemonades

8 ounces of lemonade

1 shot of cucumber vodka (or more if you're feeling crazy!!)

ice

salt - optional

Blend vodka and lemonade with ice in your blender until the ice is crushed.

Pour into a glass with a salted rim, garnish with a cucumber if desired.

I have also just made these "on the rocks" they are just as good and not near the work!! ;)

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Purple Cow Smoothie

My oldest graduated from High School on Sunday and on Monday had a morning appointment at the oral surgeon to have all of his wisdom teeth extracted.

When he thought about eating ice cream all day, I think it sounded appealing until about 3 PM.  He was tired of it.

We make smoothies around her, but they are like "kitchen sink smoothies" that we throw in whatever is laying around.  I haven't ever followed a recipe.

So I thought I would ask for inspiration.  

I got some yummy ideas... all of which I am sure we will try this week.

I was headed to the store and asked which one I should make first, and this was his first pick!

It was easy and I whipped it up right when I got home.

He slurped it down...sans the straw...no dry sockets please!!

Thank you to Ingrid Stephenson Rodgers for sending me the recipe!!

Purple Cow Smoothie

Ingrid Stephenson Rodgers

2 cups of grape juice

1 cup of blueberries (I used frozen ones)

2 cups of vanilla yogurt

I added about a cup of ice cubes

Blend and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and purple sprinkles!

When I handed it to him he said "OOOOooooo even whipped cream!"

He LOVED it!! 

Thanks, Ingrid!

My oldest graduated from High School on Sunday and on Monday had a morning appointment at the oral surgeon to have all of his wisdom teeth extracted.

When he thought about eating ice cream all day, I think it sounded appealing until about 3 PM.  He was tired of it.

We make smoothies around her, but they are like "kitchen sink smoothies" that we throw in whatever is laying around.  I haven't ever followed a recipe.

So I thought I would ask for inspiration.  

I got some yummy ideas... all of which I am sure we will try this week.

I was headed to the store and asked which one I should make first, and this was his first pick!

It was easy and I whipped it up right when I got home.

He slurped it down...sans the straw...no dry sockets please!!

Thank you to Ingrid Stephenson Rodgers for sending me the recipe!!

Purple Cow Smoothie

Ingrid Stephenson Rodgers

2 cups of grape juice

1 cup of blueberries (I used frozen ones)

2 cups of vanilla yogurt

I added about a cup of ice cubes

Blend and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and purple sprinkles!

When I handed it to him he said "OOOOooooo even whipped cream!"

He LOVED it!! 

Thanks, Ingrid!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Drunken Gummies

Yee-Haw!!

When my friend, Candi, from The Devilish Dish posted these a while back, it couldn't have 

been at a better time.

You see, we had just been invited to my nephew's 21st birthday party.

I make him oatmeal raisin cookies for his birthday every year, but I wanted to bring a little something along to ring in his new ID!

I just figured I would do jell-o shots, until I saw these!!

Drunken Gummies!!

There really isn't a recipe per say,  and they are quite easy to make...

but the guests gobbled them up!!

I tried to do Swedish Fish and Worms first.

( Dan loves to fish)

But the Swedish fish didn't work like they gummies...at all.

They were basically like if you turned that "DOTS" candy into a glue.

Tasted good...but good luck getting it off of your teeth anytime soon!

So, I dug the worms out and added them to a new dish with bears, and started over.

(oooo the worms had a double "marinade" no wonder they were my favorite! )

Drunken Gummies

Take what ever gummy your little heart desires, and place them in the bottom of a container that seals tight.

Pour vodka over them until they are just covered.

Put the lid on top and give them a little swirl.

Put them in the fridge for 24 hours.

Give them a little flip and swirl whenever you think about it, keeping them evenly coated.

That's it!! 

Beware, they will sneak up on you!!

Yee-Haw!!

When my friend, Candi, from The Devilish Dish posted these a while back, it couldn't have 

been at a better time.

You see, we had just been invited to my nephew's 21st birthday party.

I make him oatmeal raisin cookies for his birthday every year, but I wanted to bring a little something along to ring in his new ID!

I just figured I would do jell-o shots, until I saw these!!

Drunken Gummies!!

There really isn't a recipe per say,  and they are quite easy to make...

but the guests gobbled them up!!

I tried to do Swedish Fish and Worms first.

( Dan loves to fish)

But the Swedish fish didn't work like they gummies...at all.

They were basically like if you turned that "DOTS" candy into a glue.

Tasted good...but good luck getting it off of your teeth anytime soon!

So, I dug the worms out and added them to a new dish with bears, and started over.

(oooo the worms had a double "marinade" no wonder they were my favorite! )

Drunken Gummies

Take what ever gummy your little heart desires, and place them in the bottom of a container that seals tight.

Pour vodka over them until they are just covered.

Put the lid on top and give them a little swirl.

Put them in the fridge for 24 hours.

Give them a little flip and swirl whenever you think about it, keeping them evenly coated.

That's it!! 

Beware, they will sneak up on you!!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Dirty Monkey ---- Drink it Up!!

A couple of years ago we visited the Secrets St. James resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and my husband and my friend, Betsy got hooked on these drinks!

It's like a chocolate banana smoothie!

dirty monkey

Our friends, Ted and Betsy, that we travel with in the winter had a Jamaican Jerk party and she found the recipes for these yummy libations!!

So, grab the ingredients, crank up your blender and close your eyes and wish winter away!!

Dirty Monkey

taken from the recipes of Secrets Resorts

1 ounce of rum

1/2 ounce of Kahlua

1 ounce of coconut cream

2 ounces of pineapple juice

1/4 ripe banana

Blend ingredients together with 1 cup of ice an pour into a glass decorated with chocolate syrup.

Cheers!!

A couple of years ago we visited the Secrets St. James resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and my husband and my friend, Betsy got hooked on these drinks!

It's like a chocolate banana smoothie!

dirty monkey

Our friends, Ted and Betsy, that we travel with in the winter had a Jamaican Jerk party and she found the recipes for these yummy libations!!

So, grab the ingredients, crank up your blender and close your eyes and wish winter away!!

Dirty Monkey

taken from the recipes of Secrets Resorts

1 ounce of rum

1/2 ounce of Kahlua

1 ounce of coconut cream

2 ounces of pineapple juice

1/4 ripe banana

Blend ingredients together with 1 cup of ice an pour into a glass decorated with chocolate syrup.

Cheers!!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Homemade Kahlua

who wouldn't want this in their stocking?

Homemade Kahlua.

It smells DIVINE.

I made this years ago, and decided it was time to make up another batch to share with all of you!

It's a perfect handmade gift, to give those who like a little "toot" 

now and then (as my Mother-in-law would say....)

Save empty bottles, or find cool ones like this from Trader Joe's, that had beer in it!

Homemade Kahlua

6 cups sugar

6 cups water

3/4 cup instant coffee

2 cups water

3 Tablespoons vanilla

1 quart vodka

Dissolve sugar in 6 cups water in a saucepan on the stove.  Bring to a boil and boil for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine coffee in 2 cups water, add to boiled sugar mixture.

Cool.

Add vanilla and vodka.

Pour into a gallon sized container, even a milk jug works!! :) 

Age for one week on your counter.

(it doesn't need to be refrigerated)

Put into pretty bottles and make up your own tags!!

Be the hit of the party!

who wouldn't want this in their stocking?

Homemade Kahlua.

It smells DIVINE.

I made this years ago, and decided it was time to make up another batch to share with all of you!

It's a perfect handmade gift, to give those who like a little "toot" 

now and then (as my Mother-in-law would say....)

Save empty bottles, or find cool ones like this from Trader Joe's, that had beer in it!

Homemade Kahlua

6 cups sugar

6 cups water

3/4 cup instant coffee

2 cups water

3 Tablespoons vanilla

1 quart vodka

Dissolve sugar in 6 cups water in a saucepan on the stove.  Bring to a boil and boil for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine coffee in 2 cups water, add to boiled sugar mixture.

Cool.

Add vanilla and vodka.

Pour into a gallon sized container, even a milk jug works!! :) 

Age for one week on your counter.

(it doesn't need to be refrigerated)

Put into pretty bottles and make up your own tags!!

Be the hit of the party!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Pumpkin Pie Martini

When I saw that bottle of pumpkin liqueur at the store last month, 

I saw a pumpkin pie martini in my future!

I had initially planned to just mix it with a little vanilla vodka, 

until it hit me like a pie in the face!

"Must. Use. Whipped Cream Vodka."

Have you ever had it??

Holy cow, is it fantastic.

Heck, once you crack the bottle you'll know!

It smells so darn good!!

Pumpkin Pie Martini

4 ounces Pumpkin Liqueur

4 ounces Whipped Cream Vodka

homemade whipped cream

pumpkin pie spice

Pour two liqueurs into a martini shaker with ice, shake until chilled.

pour into a martini glass and top with a dollap of whipped cream.

Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice.

So, had I not been in such a hurry and craving this last Friday night, I would have made a small cinnamon sugar coated pie crust, cut with cookie cutters, and sliced to put on the side of the glass....

How cute would that have been?!

When I saw that bottle of pumpkin liqueur at the store last month, 

I saw a pumpkin pie martini in my future!

I had initially planned to just mix it with a little vanilla vodka, 

until it hit me like a pie in the face!

"Must. Use. Whipped Cream Vodka."

Have you ever had it??

Holy cow, is it fantastic.

Heck, once you crack the bottle you'll know!

It smells so darn good!!

Pumpkin Pie Martini

4 ounces Pumpkin Liqueur

4 ounces Whipped Cream Vodka

homemade whipped cream

pumpkin pie spice

Pour two liqueurs into a martini shaker with ice, shake until chilled.

pour into a martini glass and top with a dollap of whipped cream.

Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice.

So, had I not been in such a hurry and craving this last Friday night, I would have made a small cinnamon sugar coated pie crust, cut with cookie cutters, and sliced to put on the side of the glass....

How cute would that have been?!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Bailey's Irish Martini

Bailey's Irish Martini

Last Friday when I baked my Irish Cream Cheesecake, I decided to make Italian for dinner.

that sounded weird didn't it? 

"I made an Irish Cheesecake and made Italian for dinner."

Something about cheesecake in general makes me want pasta.... 

maybe because the calorie count is already out the window?

perhaps....

Aaaaaanywhooooo....

It's Friday during Lent, and that usually means fish in our house, but I was craving pasta.

I made a big Cesar's salad, and made some Parmesan Garlic fresh asparagus.

When I can't throw it on the grill, sauteing asparagus in a skillet with a little olive oil, butter and 

garlic always works great!

 I dusted it with a some fresh Parmesan before serving.

For the main dish we had Pasta Pomodoro.

When the hubby came home for dinner, I said, how about a martini?

I already had the Irish Cream on the counter, so we opted for Irish Martini's!!

A Blessing from St. Patrick

"May the road rise up to meet you, 

May the wind always be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand."

Bailey's Irish Martini

recipe from yummly.com

3 1/2 Tablespoons of Bailey's Irish Cream

1 1/2 Tablespoon Whiskey

1 Tablespoon strong (cold) coffee

Put in a martini shaker with ice cubes and shake until chilled. 

Pour into martini glass.

Makes one martini.

shake.pour.repeat.

Bailey's Irish Martini

Last Friday when I baked my Irish Cream Cheesecake, I decided to make Italian for dinner.

that sounded weird didn't it? 

"I made an Irish Cheesecake and made Italian for dinner."

Something about cheesecake in general makes me want pasta.... 

maybe because the calorie count is already out the window?

perhaps....

Aaaaaanywhooooo....

It's Friday during Lent, and that usually means fish in our house, but I was craving pasta.

I made a big Cesar's salad, and made some Parmesan Garlic fresh asparagus.

When I can't throw it on the grill, sauteing asparagus in a skillet with a little olive oil, butter and 

garlic always works great!

 I dusted it with a some fresh Parmesan before serving.

For the main dish we had Pasta Pomodoro.

When the hubby came home for dinner, I said, how about a martini?

I already had the Irish Cream on the counter, so we opted for Irish Martini's!!

A Blessing from St. Patrick

"May the road rise up to meet you, 

May the wind always be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand."

Bailey's Irish Martini

recipe from yummly.com

3 1/2 Tablespoons of Bailey's Irish Cream

1 1/2 Tablespoon Whiskey

1 Tablespoon strong (cold) coffee

Put in a martini shaker with ice cubes and shake until chilled. 

Pour into martini glass.

Makes one martini.

shake.pour.repeat.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

White Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Martini

Not really sure why I never blogged this recipe?

It wasn't until today when I was asked for it by a fellow foodie, that I remembered that I hadn't!

So thanks for that.... because this is one worth enjoying!!

whipped cream on that?

We started a tradition in December of 2010, of a holiday get together at our house with a few of the couple that we run around with.

It's now referred to as "Holiday Frolic."

It's Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, FUN!

By mid-December, we are all ready for a BREAK, aren't we??

ain't that the truth?

So, everyone brought an appetizer to share, and the martinis were shaken!

"shake it honey!"

White Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Martini

Decorate the inside of a martini glass with a swirl of chocolate syrup.

In an ice-filled martini shaker add:

1 shot of Vanilla Vodka

1 shot of Bailey's 

1 shot of Godiva White Chocolate Liquor

1/2 shot of  Peppermint Schnapps

a splash of cream

Shake well and strain into glass.

Top with whipped cream, and add a candy cane for stirring.

Cheers to the holidays and to Girlfriends!!

Not really sure why I never blogged this recipe?

It wasn't until today when I was asked for it by a fellow foodie, that I remembered that I hadn't!

So thanks for that.... because this is one worth enjoying!!

whipped cream on that?

We started a tradition in December of 2010, of a holiday get together at our house with a few of the couple that we run around with.

It's now referred to as "Holiday Frolic."

It's Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, FUN!

By mid-December, we are all ready for a BREAK, aren't we??

ain't that the truth?

So, everyone brought an appetizer to share, and the martinis were shaken!

"shake it honey!"

White Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Martini

Decorate the inside of a martini glass with a swirl of chocolate syrup.

In an ice-filled martini shaker add:

1 shot of Vanilla Vodka

1 shot of Bailey's 

1 shot of Godiva White Chocolate Liquor

1/2 shot of  Peppermint Schnapps

a splash of cream

Shake well and strain into glass.

Top with whipped cream, and add a candy cane for stirring.

Cheers to the holidays and to Girlfriends!!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

REDRUM! REDRUM! Frozen RedRum Punch

REDRUM! REDRUM!

RedRum Punch just in time for Halloween!

bone chilling frozen RedRum punch

Who hasn't seen the movie The Shining? 

Well, if you haven't, you need to.

I will be the first to admit that scary movies are NOT my favorite. Especially the slasher kind.

But movies like this one, that keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, or snuggling close to that special someone only to leave a bruise on their leg where you grabbed it in a moment of fear...

...these movies are so worth it!

The Shining is a movie like that.

A family trapped in a snowstorm in a hotel in the mountains, totally alone, and totally losing their minds.

"Here's Johnny!"

Jack Nicholson plays an author that thinks an opportunity of spending the winter at this hotel with his family to work on his book, sounds like the perfect way to spend the winter.

But quickly things turn badly.

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

As he types and types and slowly begins to lose his marbles his son begins seeing things and people that aren't there.  Peddling the halls on his big wheel, he begins to repeat the word "REDRUM."

the twins

the mom is played by Shelley Duvall

One night the son walks into his mother's room where she is sleeping, and takes her red lipstick and writes REDRUM on her door. 

She awakens to see him standing over her with a butcher knife, repeating REDRUM, REDRUM over and over again.

She looks to the door and then looks in the mirror across from it to see that REDRUM, spelled backwards spells MURDER.

This is the scene from the movie

~LINK TO MOVIE CLIP ~

This movie was released in 1980, and it still scares the bejeepers out of me!!

One night last week, I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, and my mind was wandering to food...my blog... the places it usually goes.

We had tickets for the Husker game that Saturday, and it was an early one, so I was trying to think of what to make for the tailgate before.

I decided to make those little cocktail weenies wrapped in bacon and baked with brown sugar. 

They are always a hit, and seemed good for the morning!

I didn't take a picture of them, but here is a link to the instructions for them:

Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Weenies with Brown Sugar

Turns out, the weenies also doubled as a nice handwarmer!

I needed something creative for the Huskers and for Halloween weekend.

I started thinking about drinks that were red.

  All of the sudden, REDRUM popped into my brain and the drink was born.

The next day I started creating it to put it in the freezer. 

 I have made my recipe for Vodka Slushes many times, and I know that the recipe is tried and true, so I used the alcohol vs. liquid in that recipe to gauge measurements for this one.

frozen RedRum punch

Frozen REDRUM Punch

750 ml bottle of Bacardi Razz

2 Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (the makes one quart size)

8 Cups of Hawaiian Punch

2 packages of  unsweetened Tropical Kool-Aid

1 cup Sugar

Stir ingredients together and freeze for at least 24 hours.

Scoop into glass and pour 7UP over the top.

It was 27 degrees yesterday morning when we were tailgating, it was sort of nippy for a frozen drink, but the sun was shining, my Huskers had won, and life was good!

We took my brother and his fiance to the game, we had a GREAT Time!

enduring 27 degrees of fun!

My husband and I , my brother and his fiance

"Here’s to the Witches,

Here’s to their cats,

Here’s to the hoot owls

And Whirring bats;

Here’s to the ghosties,

In robes of white,

Here’s to the thrills of

Hallowe’en night."

 

Cheers!!

Want to read more on The Shining?

IMDb - The Shining

REDRUM! REDRUM!

RedRum Punch just in time for Halloween!

bone chilling frozen RedRum punch

Who hasn't seen the movie The Shining? 

Well, if you haven't, you need to.

I will be the first to admit that scary movies are NOT my favorite. Especially the slasher kind.

But movies like this one, that keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, or snuggling close to that special someone only to leave a bruise on their leg where you grabbed it in a moment of fear...

...these movies are so worth it!

The Shining is a movie like that.

A family trapped in a snowstorm in a hotel in the mountains, totally alone, and totally losing their minds.

"Here's Johnny!"

Jack Nicholson plays an author that thinks an opportunity of spending the winter at this hotel with his family to work on his book, sounds like the perfect way to spend the winter.

But quickly things turn badly.

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

As he types and types and slowly begins to lose his marbles his son begins seeing things and people that aren't there.  Peddling the halls on his big wheel, he begins to repeat the word "REDRUM."

the twins

the mom is played by Shelley Duvall

One night the son walks into his mother's room where she is sleeping, and takes her red lipstick and writes REDRUM on her door. 

She awakens to see him standing over her with a butcher knife, repeating REDRUM, REDRUM over and over again.

She looks to the door and then looks in the mirror across from it to see that REDRUM, spelled backwards spells MURDER.

This is the scene from the movie

~LINK TO MOVIE CLIP ~

This movie was released in 1980, and it still scares the bejeepers out of me!!

One night last week, I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, and my mind was wandering to food...my blog... the places it usually goes.

We had tickets for the Husker game that Saturday, and it was an early one, so I was trying to think of what to make for the tailgate before.

I decided to make those little cocktail weenies wrapped in bacon and baked with brown sugar. 

They are always a hit, and seemed good for the morning!

I didn't take a picture of them, but here is a link to the instructions for them:

Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Weenies with Brown Sugar

Turns out, the weenies also doubled as a nice handwarmer!

I needed something creative for the Huskers and for Halloween weekend.

I started thinking about drinks that were red.

  All of the sudden, REDRUM popped into my brain and the drink was born.

The next day I started creating it to put it in the freezer. 

 I have made my recipe for Vodka Slushes many times, and I know that the recipe is tried and true, so I used the alcohol vs. liquid in that recipe to gauge measurements for this one.

frozen RedRum punch

Frozen REDRUM Punch

750 ml bottle of Bacardi Razz

2 Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (the makes one quart size)

8 Cups of Hawaiian Punch

2 packages of  unsweetened Tropical Kool-Aid

1 cup Sugar

Stir ingredients together and freeze for at least 24 hours.

Scoop into glass and pour 7UP over the top.

It was 27 degrees yesterday morning when we were tailgating, it was sort of nippy for a frozen drink, but the sun was shining, my Huskers had won, and life was good!

We took my brother and his fiance to the game, we had a GREAT Time!

enduring 27 degrees of fun!

My husband and I , my brother and his fiance

"Here’s to the Witches,

Here’s to their cats,

Here’s to the hoot owls

And Whirring bats;

Here’s to the ghosties,

In robes of white,

Here’s to the thrills of

Hallowe’en night."

 

Cheers!!

Want to read more on The Shining?

IMDb - The Shining

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

It's like a Mini Vacation in a Glass

 Brazilian Lemonade a.k.a. The Mini Vacation

 I just adore my friend Betsy.  I know you have all heard me speak of her before.

Betsy is that friend that is pretty much good at anything. She can sew, she can paint, make jewelry,

cook ... you name it she can do it. 

But one thing I know Betsy does well is VACATION.

Our family's have vacationed together at the lake in the summer, and the past two winters we have gone with our husbands somewhere warm in January.

This past weekend, when we stopped to borrow tables and chairs for our party, she said it was time to start thinking about "where to" for this winter.

That was when she poured us a drink and called it "the mini vacation."

Did you see my glass??

"Yoo Hoo...Cabana Boy!!"

Mini Vacation

Adapted from  Our Best Bites Recipe for Brazilian Lemonade

4 limes, washed thoroughly, with ends cut off, and cut into 1/8s

1 cup sugar

6 cups water

6 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Coconut Rum to taste

Mix water and sugar, pour half of the this into your blender, add half of the limes. (yes the whole thing, skin and all!) Blend completely.

Place a wire strainer (got to have small holes here!) over your pitcher that you will be serving the drinks in. Pour the mixture over strainer and catch all of the pulp.
Discard the pulp. 
Repeat with other half of the limes and sugar water.

To the lime and sugar water mix, add the sweetened condensed milk and stir.

Add rum to your glass of ice, pour drink mixture over and stir.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in one of those Corona beer commercials
on a beach...someplace beautiful.

*sigh*

Repeat as necessary.

betsy, me and rhonda (a.k.a. wanda) in Cancun 2010

 Brazilian Lemonade a.k.a. The Mini Vacation

 I just adore my friend Betsy.  I know you have all heard me speak of her before.

Betsy is that friend that is pretty much good at anything. She can sew, she can paint, make jewelry,

cook ... you name it she can do it. 

But one thing I know Betsy does well is VACATION.

Our family's have vacationed together at the lake in the summer, and the past two winters we have gone with our husbands somewhere warm in January.

This past weekend, when we stopped to borrow tables and chairs for our party, she said it was time to start thinking about "where to" for this winter.

That was when she poured us a drink and called it "the mini vacation."

Did you see my glass??

"Yoo Hoo...Cabana Boy!!"

Mini Vacation

Adapted from  Our Best Bites Recipe for Brazilian Lemonade

4 limes, washed thoroughly, with ends cut off, and cut into 1/8s

1 cup sugar

6 cups water

6 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Coconut Rum to taste

Mix water and sugar, pour half of the this into your blender, add half of the limes. (yes the whole thing, skin and all!) Blend completely.

Place a wire strainer (got to have small holes here!) over your pitcher that you will be serving the drinks in. Pour the mixture over strainer and catch all of the pulp.
Discard the pulp. 
Repeat with other half of the limes and sugar water.

To the lime and sugar water mix, add the sweetened condensed milk and stir.

Add rum to your glass of ice, pour drink mixture over and stir.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in one of those Corona beer commercials
on a beach...someplace beautiful.

*sigh*

Repeat as necessary.

betsy, me and rhonda (a.k.a. wanda) in Cancun 2010

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Frozen Vodka Slush

Ah.... Summertime and the livin' is easy....

Frozen Vodka Slushes

Years and years ago a friend made these for a summertime party, and they were SO DARN GOOD, we make them every summer, at least once!  They are nice to just have in the freezer for anytime you just want to have a cool relaxing summer cocktail.  Beware though....they can sneak up on you!

frozen vodka slush

One of my favorite parts about making these, (next to drinking them!) is reading Jill's recipe, which I will share with you in just a moment. But I just wonder how many of you keep those favorite classic recipes that you have written on that tattered old recipe card or note paper that they were written on?  Some of my favorite recipes to make are the ones that are in my Grandma's handwriting.  I miss her every day.

On to making vodka slushes....

Vodka Slush

2 Large Cans of Frozen Orange Juice

2 Small Cans of Frozen Lemonade

1/2 Cup of Sugar

6 Large Cans of Water

1 1/2-2 Cups of Vodka (of course I use a little more ;) Jill says...)

Combine in a freezable container. Freeze and scoop into a glass and pour 7Up over the top.

We always use an ice cream container.  Works perfect for freezing. Just a warning, the more Vodka, the less likely it will be frozen too terribly hard!! I have also used ginger ale instead of  7Up, it's not quite as sweet.  I am thinking I might mess with a good thing and try to freeze some frozen berries in it next time? 

garnished with fresh strawberries

Ah.... Summertime and the livin' is easy....

Frozen Vodka Slushes

Years and years ago a friend made these for a summertime party, and they were SO DARN GOOD, we make them every summer, at least once!  They are nice to just have in the freezer for anytime you just want to have a cool relaxing summer cocktail.  Beware though....they can sneak up on you!

frozen vodka slush

One of my favorite parts about making these, (next to drinking them!) is reading Jill's recipe, which I will share with you in just a moment. But I just wonder how many of you keep those favorite classic recipes that you have written on that tattered old recipe card or note paper that they were written on?  Some of my favorite recipes to make are the ones that are in my Grandma's handwriting.  I miss her every day.

On to making vodka slushes....

Vodka Slush

2 Large Cans of Frozen Orange Juice

2 Small Cans of Frozen Lemonade

1/2 Cup of Sugar

6 Large Cans of Water

1 1/2-2 Cups of Vodka (of course I use a little more ;) Jill says...)

Combine in a freezable container. Freeze and scoop into a glass and pour 7Up over the top.

We always use an ice cream container.  Works perfect for freezing. Just a warning, the more Vodka, the less likely it will be frozen too terribly hard!! I have also used ginger ale instead of  7Up, it's not quite as sweet.  I am thinking I might mess with a good thing and try to freeze some frozen berries in it next time? 

garnished with fresh strawberries

reade more... Résuméabuiyad