Archives for January 2013

Thirsty Thursday: Michelada Marias

January 31, 2013

The Superbowl is just a few days away so Amanda and I decided to make it our theme this week. My office has set up a Squares Board so I’ll probably get a square for $5. At least there is no thought involved at all like picking a winner or the score since I don’t know anything about these teams. Well, the only thing I know about the 49’s is that my brother used to deliver newspapers to Steve Young’s parents. 20 years ago. See, totally relevant.

Once Amanda told me she was making some awesome loaded up Texas Cheese Fries (seriously. omg.) I knew that I light drink wouldn’t do. Besides it’s a day about football so a beer really does have the spotlight. So I decided to make some Michelada Marias.

I had seen Michelada Marias made before by Ingrid Hoffmann on Simply Delicioso and I had always wanted to try one. I love beer with a lot of lime so I figured this would be great with it’s extra kick of a salted rim and sauces added to the beer. And it really was great. Ingrid recommends Tabasco but I didn’t have that on hand do I used a cayenne pepper sauce and it was good as well. You might be able to take an extra dash or two of the hot sauce but go easy on the Worcestershire sauce as you are already salting the rim and you don’t want the beer to get to salty. weird.

Michelada Marias

Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients

1/4 cup kosher salt
3 tablespoons chili powder
4 limes, quartered
4 (12-ounce) bottles beer
Red pepper sauce
Worcestershire sauce

Process

On a small plate combine the salt and chili powder. Rub a wedge of lime around the rims of 4 (12-ounce) glasses and rub the glasses into the chili/salt mixture.
Squeeze the juice from the lime wedges into the glasses.
Pour the beer into each glass and then add a dash each of the red pepper sauce and the Worcestershire sauce.

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Looking for more ideas for what to serve during the Superbowl? Then check out these perfect game day food and drinks!

Puppy Love- Studio Calico 1.20.13 Sunday Sketch

January 30, 2013

This is exactly my kind of sketch!

–1.20.13 Sunday Sketch–

Oh, the structure. The grid. The alignment. It all makes me happy! So very happy!!!! I just love all of those things. I love how it all works together and feels connected. I bet I will be keeping this sketch around to refer back to every now and then.

I made some changes to the sketch since I didn’t have 6 photos for the layout so I shuffled things around and put the title in the area where a photo normally would have gone and then some embellishments in another. I didn’t put the title on a pattened paper block because I had the woodgrain alphas that I really wanted to use, since they matched the tone of the patterned papers I was using.

Get ready to see A LOT of doggy based layouts now. We are so excited to get our puppy on Saturday!

Happiness Right Here- Studio Calico 1.13.13 Sunday Sketch

January 29, 2013

at least I like the photo in this layout.

–1.13.13 Sunday Sketch–

Not my favorite layout. That’s just the way it is. I liked the sketch but I just was rushing with this and it shows- at least I think so. I still had fun stamping and punching out the clouds.

I dunno, I shouldn’t bitch about this layout. I had enjoyed making it (quickly) and it was just nice to make something. You can’t get better at something without making a mistake or just not liking everything along the way either. I think the thing that I don’t like is that I used that stamp as the title. Maybe I’ll redo it. Probably not tho. I’m lazy.

At least I got to use up some random scraps of patterned paper punching out the clouds. Thinking positively here. 🙂

Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers- SRC

January 28, 2013

It is Secret Recipe Club time!!!

This month I was giving the blog by fellow native New Englander Jess. She, and husband Nick, are living in Mississippi as Nick is in the air force. Jess has the blog called Flying on Jess Fuel where she documents what she makes for the 2 of them. They met through a friend at a Mexican restaurant, where she impressed him with her jalapeno eating skills. Ohh spice! I knew I would love this blog.

I browsed her recipes and had several in mind but I picked one that featured jalapenos! I decided to make the Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers because it would be fun to make for the upcoming Superbowl and I love them as much as Jess. They are definitely different than a typical jalapeno popper but the change up is so much fun. There are much lighter as they are not packed full of cream cheese and cheese but the cornbread gets nicely fluffy and the crunchy cheesy top is a nice finishing touch. I only made a few simple changes along the way by adding some paprika to the corn bread and then broiling at the end to get the cheese extra brown and crunchy.

I hope that you’ll add these to your Superbowl menu. We are relaxing at home this year and I can’t wait to kick back with chips and something spicy to enjoy with a cold beer!

Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers

Makes 24 poppers

Ingredients

12 medium large fresh jalapenos
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, divided
1 cup corn (fresh, frozen or canned)

Process

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil.
Slice each jalapeno down the center and remove seeds and ribs.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, paprika, oil, milk, corn and cheese until just mixed.
Fill each jalapeno half with the cornbread batter. Sprinkle them all with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cornbread is firm and cooked through.
Broil the cheesy top until golden brown.

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Check out the rest of the reveal day posts!

Check out my previous Secret Recipe Club Posts.

And they call it puppy love

January 27, 2013

boston terrier_01

Yesterday, Pricer and I went to our Boston Terrier breeder to visit the puppies again. We are picking up our pup next weekend!!! We had our deposit in first so we get first pick so we came to take some time to figure out which one we liked most on appearance and personality.

boston terrier_18

boston terrier_16

There are 3 males to pick from so we each held them for a bit to see how they did being held again. Plus the puppy breath is to die for.

At that point I was drawn to the first puppy born which was a brindle one. Price liked the 2nd one (photo directly above) and the 3rd one, which was the smallest. As usually, we agreed on nothing.

Tony, the breeder, said we could put them down. This would allow us to see how they played and responded to us. Game changer.

Lap of puppies. #3 on left,#2 on right

Tony also had 2 rex 6 month old kittens. One decided that I made the perfect seat to watch us play with the puppies.

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Seriously so cute!! 7 weeks of cuteness

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After we left the puppies play around for a while between us we decided on #3, above picture. While they are all super wonderful puppies and we would be lucky to get any of them, we picked him because he was the mellowest of the three. The other 2 wanted to climb over us, which was cute, but we are aiming for a little guy who is a bit more chill. Plus one who does not NEED to chew on our shoes and pants, which the other 2 quite enjoyed.

We put the pups back in the elevated crate to snuggle with the girls and take a nap. The puppy pid pile is the cutest. One choice on #3 seemed to solidify when #1 started to hump one of the sleeping girls, which let him know she did not enjoy that. Not polite!

boston terrier_02 boston terrier_03

sooo sleepy…

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Some of the girls woke back up and were thirsty.

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Fat belly!!!

pug

I just about peed my pants laughing when I turned and looking at Tony’s pugs. He was falling asleep like that so his block head would droop down and then pop back up as he caught himself dozing. Hilarious.

It was so worth it to go back since they changed a lot in 4 weeks and having that time with him really helped us pick which one we will be taking home next week. SQUEEE!!!!

Thirsty Thursday: Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake

January 24, 2013

It’s the coldest it’s been in Boston in a long time. So why the hell am I posting about a milkshake. Why the hell not!?! Put a hat on, wear some gloves inside, whatever, just make sure you give this shake a try.

Every holiday season I go on a candy buying binge and act as if all the M&M’s and Reese’s peanut butter cups are going to run out. I did a good job putting a dent into that stash this year but I still had plenty of Reese’s cups hanging around. That might happen when you buy 8 bags… really, what was I thinking? So, I ran over to my huge bin of goodies and dug out a bag to have fun with so I could mix of this shake.

This Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake is in honor of National Peanut Butter Day, which is why this week’s theme for Thirsty Thursday is peanut butter. I had a lot of ideas about what I would whip up but decided with something simple, indulgent, irresistible, and packed full of candies. It’s easy to make, if you can pour milk, scoop ice cream, and chop up some candies you are good to go. I suggest that you finely chop the pb cups as the chocolate will freeze once it hits the cold ice cream so the smaller it is the easier & faster it is to blend.

Amanda has whipped up some awesome Peanut Butter Waffles. Peanut Butter Waffles?! That sounds perfect for a homemade weekend brunch! Ooo ,maybe with some bacon! Wait! How about some hot maple syrup with sliced banana on top! I think Elvis would be proud.

Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake

Makes 1 large milkshake or 2 smaller milkshakes

Ingredients

1 cup milk
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
8 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, finely chopped

Process

Blend together the milk, ice cream, and peanut butter.
Once the shake is a smooth consistency add in the chopped peanut butter cups and blend until just incorporated.

Sweet and Spicy Wings

January 22, 2013

Last year I REALLY cared about the Superbowl as the Giants were playing the Patriots again. Being a Giants fan in Patriots territory is tricky but I had high hopes that the Giants would be able to beat the Patriots again, even with Patriots’ favored to win. Even if the Giants lost it would not have been that that horrible as the Giants had beat them in 2008, all the while ripping away their chance of a perfect season. But my fierce G-men won 21-17 so I did my happy danced that Sunday night and then called out of work Tuesday to attend the parade with Price and my brother. So awesome!!!

With my Giants not playing this year (boo-hoo!!) I don’t care about the Superbowl that much this year I still look forward to the game, the event, and the food. So with the Superbowl is less than 2 weeks away (which also means that we get our puppy in less than 2 weeks… but that is another story) I am starting to plan for what we will be enjoying during the game. There are so many options… nachos, chips and dip, quesadillas, chili, subway sandwiches, and much much more!

When I received my Musselman’s Apple Butter Packaged I flipped through the recipe cards and I immediately knew I had to make the Sweet and Spicy Wings. I am not a big fan of wings (just too much work!), BUT my boyfriend is. So this got me try to try something new and make him something that he would love. He really enjoyed the sweet and spicy flavor as it was not the typical buffalo wing. I made myself some chicken tenders and I loved them. I cooked them for half the time so when I went to flip the wings at the 30 minute mark I added the chicken tenders and then gave them a quick flip after they had been in their for 15 minutes. Everything was so quick and easy to assemble, however it’s not a last minute dish as it takes some time to marinate, but that planning is so worth it!!

Sweet and Spicy Wings

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter
1/2 c hot sauce
1/2 c ketchup
1/2 tsp celery salt
2 pounds uncooked chicken wings (drumettes and wingettes) or tenders
2 Tbsp butter, melted

Process

Combine the apple butter, hot sauce, ketchup, and celery salt in a medium bowl.
Reserve 3/4 cup of the sauce, cover and refrigerate.
Marinate the wings by coating them with the sauce and covering the bowl. Or coat the with the sauce in a plastic zip storage bag. Refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking pan (about 10×13-inch) with foil for easy clean up. Place the wings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the wings for 30 minutes then flip and baste with the remaining marinade. Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until wings are fork-tender.
While baking the wings, warm the ¾ cup of reserved sauce with the melted butter and serve as a dipping sauce with wings.

Options: Substitute fresh chicken tenders for the wings- depending on the size of pieces, reduce the cooking time to 30-35 minutes total. Broil or grill instead of baking

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And now the good stuff… the GIVEAWAY!

You can win a Musselman’s package including a jar of apple butter, a and recipe cards.

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what you are looking to enjoy during the Superbowl.

Extra Entries!!!

Tweet: “I want to win @Musselmansapple Apple Butter Package including a serving bowl from @iamahoneybee http://wp.me/pzEAP-33Q #AppleButterRecipes“
Follow @Musselmanapple’s on twitter to stay in touch with them.
Like the Musselman’s Facebook page and to stay connected.

Come back and leave a comment each time to get 3 extra entries

Contest Ends Sunday, January 27th at Midnight EST. Good luck but if you don’t win be sure to go to your jam/jelly aisle at your local grocery store and pick up a jar of Musselman’s Apple Butter!

Monday Munchies: Firehouse Deli- Greenwich, CT

January 21, 2013

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the first and third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

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Whenever I’m back home in Connecticut I try to get to the Firehouse Deli for breakfast or lunch because I love everything they make. Plus, a great deli sandwich is much harder to come by in Boston and I need my fix when I can get it.

When I moved to Boston back in 2003 for college I discovered that delis don’t exist in the same why that I grew up with. Especially since that within walking distance there were a few delis from my house. I always had a quick option for breakfast or lunch a short walk away. And then about a half mile away is a park and beach when I would sit and eat lunch in the summer. Bliss.

So while I have found some great delis in The North End I always love to head home to get my favorite sandwiches. Besides getting a loaded turkey or ham sandwich I love their hot sandwiches. Some of my favorites are the Hot Gobbler (hot turkey, melted swiss, and garlic dressing) and the FedEx (chicken cutlet, bacon, cheddar, and BBQ sauce). But my all time favorite is the Real Deal Holyfield, aka The Real Deal. Oh, that sandwich is just the best ever with its grilled chicken, bacon, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard. Try it, I dare you.

But don’t worry if you can’t make it to the deli for lunch you can still get a great sandwich at breakfast!

Can’t pass on the classic Bacon Egg and Cheese for just $3.25. Don’t like bacon? Then have sausage, ham, or turkey. I’d always get a turkey, egg whites, and cheese sandwich when I managed to get up a bit early to swing by there before driving to high school. But the bacon, egg, and cheese is a great breakfast sandwich to enjoy from the Firehouse Deli since they layer cheese, egg, bacon, egg, and cheese again on a bulkie. Makes for a complete bite!

Every now and then Price and I will split a Montana on a roll. The Montana is a LOADED sandwich with its 2 eggs, ham, cheese, chili, and a hashbrown . The $4.99 sandwich is jam packed and finger licking good. I think the hashbrown layer is genius but the chili is my favorite part. No wait, it might be the hashbrowns AND chili. It’s quite possibly the perfect hangover cure. Ever.

Everything at the Firehouse deli is fresh, quick, and delicious. Give it a try if you are in the area.

Firehouse Deli

265 Mill Street

Greenwich CT 06830

203.531.002

Thirsty Thursday: Birthday Cake Shots

January 17, 2013

Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m not sure if I am excited or not. It’s just another day. I typically try to take it off from work. I did last year and hung out with Rachel and her adorable kids, ate bagels, played around, and just enjoyed the relaxing day. I couldn’t take this birthday off since I have a deadline and I’m taking a lot of time off in February for our new puppy. I’m most excited about that.

The only thing I can think about turning 28 is my 10 year high school reunion and then I am filled with anxiety. A lot of it. I know that is a random thing to think about 10+ months from now but once I think about being 28 all I can think of is that. Also, I know I don’t have to go, but I think I want to, and that it’s not a big deal but oh where to begin… that is a whole other post. So my reunion is on my mind, not to mention a whole host of other anxiety inducing things. Fun times.

So to ease my anxiety I decided to make Birthday Cake Shots for this ‘birthday’ themed Thirsty Thursday. One of my old roommates introduced these to me on a night out of summer time bar hopping. I was completely head over heels for them as they taste just like birthday cake. I have no idea how the combo of frangelico and lemon does that but it plays some magic trick and it does. So enjoy a shot, they are about 150 calories which is much less than a piece of cake… ugh reunion.

Head over to Amanda‘s blog to check out her Birthday Cake Marshmallows. Such a fun way to celebrate a birthday… or a Wednesday! You can add them to hot chocolate, just pop them in your mouth, or eat them out of a bowl like cereal. ha!

Birthday Cake Shots

Makes 1 shot

Ingredients

1 ounce frangelico
1 ounce vodka
1 slice of lemon
1 teaspoon sugar

Process

In a 2 ounce shot glass combine the vodka.
Put the sugar on top of the slice of lemon.
Take the shot and immediately suck on the sugary lemon. enjoy!

Project Life 2013: Cover and Week 1

January 16, 2013

I reworked my scrapbooking set up recently and it has really inspired me to get back to what I love doing. Clearing off my space and unearthing some really great embellishments, papers and stamps has really got me pumped. For example, I bought a stamp set from Studio Calico right before me moved. I could not find it afterwards so I figured it was an accidental casualty in the big clean when we moved. Well when I found it I did a little dance. I can’t wait to get to use it!!!

I really wish that this past week was not so freaking crazy otherwise I would have gotten both weeks 1 and 2 done in Project Life but at least I got week 1 done and I have quiet a bit of week 2 done. So excited to feel great about taking the time to scrapbook, even if it’s a few minutes each day.

Week 1-

PL 2013_week 1_detail B

Can’t wait for this upcoming year and to document it all in Project Life

December Daily 2012: Days 11 thru 25

January 13, 2013

Here I am with an update for my December Daily album!! I shared the first 10 pages so here is the rest of the book. I had originally thought I would do my Dec Daily for the whole month but as I was assembling my book I realized I didn’t make it big enough so I decided to just end it on Christmas. I’m just flexible like that! ha!

I’m really happy with the fact that I completed the mini album. Plus I just love how it looks. I purchased a kit from Kelly Purkey which I used, plus some other alphas and embellishments that I pulled from my stash. I loved the kit, esp the stamp set. I have so many stamps from my SU! days but I rarely stamp now so this was a good jump start to dust off my ink pads.

-Day 11-

-Day 12-

-Day 13-

-Day 14-

-Day 15-

-Days 16 & 17-

-Day 18-

-Day 19-

-Days 20 & 21-

-Day 22-

-Day 23-

-Day 24-

-Day 25-

I really enjoyed creating this mini Dec Daily album so I think I’ll give it another try next year. But maybe I’ll figure out the right size so I can do the whole month. 😛

Thirsty Thursday- Italian Hot Chocolate with Orange Scented Whipped Cream

January 10, 2013

Italian Hot Chocolate with Orange Scented Whipped Cream is the indulgent treat that will forever change how you make hot chocolate. Each sip is perfect.