Tasty Tuesday

“Wine is bottled poetry.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Hello! I know it is not summer, but I am so ready for the sunshine, warmth and cookouts, that I could not resist posting this recipe. I love red wine sangria, but this recipe for a white wine version is very refreshing and sure to be enjoyed by all. I have included the directions to make it non-alcoholic as well. Enjoy!


White Sangria:

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 6 medium peaches, pit removed, wedged
* 2 pineapples; cored, cut in thick rings then cubed
* 3 ripe mangoes, peeled, cut in 3/4-inch cubes
* 6 limes, cut crosswise in 1/4-inch rounds
* 3 bottles fruity white wine (Riesling, Vouvray, Gewurztraminer)
* 1 cup Grand Marnier
* 1-1/2 cups light rum
* 1 liter sparkling unflavored water
* 1 pint raspberries

Directions:

1.) Heat water and sugar in saucepan over medium until sugar dissolves, about 2 min.
2.) Place peaches, pineapple, mango, and limes in large punch bowl.
3.) Add liquor and sugar water mixture to fruit & chill at least 2 hours.
4.) Add sparkling water, garnish with raspberries.
5.) Fill tumblers 1/3 way up with ice.
6.) Ladle in sangria and serve immediately.

(For a non-alcoholic version eliminate wine, Grand Marnier, rum, and sugar water mixture. Substitute with 4 quarts White Grape-Peach Juice.)


"Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January."
-Hal Borland

Tasty Tuesday

“Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink to the days that are gone in the shortest while.”
-Simon Fowler

Hello! Can you believe the New Year is upon us? I cannot believe how quickly 2010 has passed! I have a great drink recipe to share with you - it is one of my favorites, in fact I may make it too much. Enjoy!

“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.”
-Latin Proverb


Winter Mimosa
Serves 2

Ingredients:

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 Tbsp whole cloves
* Cocktail Sugar
* 2 oz Asti or champagne
* 1 clementine orange, un-peeled, cut in half
* 1 oz vanilla vodka
* 2 oz orange juice
* fresh raspberries

Equipment Needed:

* Cocktail shaker
* Muddler
* 2 champagne glasses

Directions:

1.) Make clove simple syrup:

a.) Add water, sugar, and cloves to small saucepan on low.
b.) Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
c.) Chill and strain out cloves.
d.) Set aside 1 1/2 oz syrup; refrigerate remainder for other uses.

2.) Moisten glass rims w/citrus wedge & coat with cocktail sugar.
3.) Chill glasses.
4.) Pour 1 oz asti into each chilled champagne glass.
5.) Muddle orange and syrup in bar shaker; fill with ice.
6.) Add vodka and orange juice.
7.) Shake and strain into glasses.
8.) Garnish with raspberries.


Thought of the Day:

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time."
-Betty Smith

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Thursday!

"Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune."
-Giuseppe Garibaldi

Hello! I hope you week is going well, mine has been busy, but that is not very unusual! With the cold weather upon us I thought a warm, alcoholic drink recipe would be just the thing to warm us up. You can make it non-alcoholic, just substitute flavorings for the liqueur. Enjoy!

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."
-Sheik Abd-al-Kadir


Dulce de Leche Hot Coffee

Ingredients:

* 6 cups coffee, brewed
* 8 Tbsp Nestle La Lechera Dulce de Leche (substitute sweetened condensed milk)
* 12 Tbsp Amaretto
* 12 Tbsp Coffee liqueur
* Whipped cream
* Grated chocolate

Equipment Needed:

1.) Large pot.
2.) 12 coffee mugs.

Directions:

1.) Combine coffee and dulce de leche in a large pot.
2.) Stir vigorously to melt dulce de leche.
3.) Pour 1 Tbsp amaretto & 1 Tbsp coffee liqueur into each coffee mug.
4.) Add 3/4 cup coffee mixture.
5.) Garnish with whipped cream and grated chocolate.


Though of the Day:

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
-Ernest Hemingway

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."
-Meister Eckhart

Hello!! Have I mentioned how much I love fall and Thanksgiving? Well, if I have neglected to do so, let me say it now!! I LOVE FALL & THANKSGIVING!!

Everyone always laughs at how much I cook for Thanksgiving dinner, but I just cannot help myself! There are so many wonderful recipes!! Today's recipe is one of my favorites!! I can eat yams/sweet potatoes everyday - they are so YUMMY! Enjoy!


Apple, Almond and Yam Patties

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 lbs yams, peeled, coarsely grated
* 1 large honeycrisp apple, peeled, cored, coarsley grated
* 1/4 cup finely diced onions
* 1 1/2 Tbsp sour cream
* 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sliced almonds
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* Sour Cream

Equipment Needed:

* Large nonstick skillet
* Box grater
* Ice cream scoop

Directions:

1.) Combine yam, apple, and onion in a large mixing bowl.
2.) Add sour cream and eggs; season to taste with salt and white pepper.
3.) Stir ingredients to combine.
4.) Slowly fold in flour, then add in almonds.
5.) Mix well.
6.) Form patties: scoop mixture with ice cream scoop, press firmly with hands.
7.) Set patties aside.
8.) Heat oil on medium-high 1-2 min. (do not let oil reach smoking point)
9.) Reduce heat to medium.
10.) Add yam patties to pan.
11.) Cook, 7-8 min until edges begin to brown.
12.) Gently turn patties over and cook 5-6 min until browned and tender.
13.) Place on a double layer of paper towels to drain.
14.) Repeat with remaining yam patties, heating additional oil if needed.
15.) Serve warm with sour cream as garnish.

(These can be made ahead of time and reheated in a 350° oven for 20 min)

Thought of the Day:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Thursday!

“Drink moderately, for drunkenness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise”
-Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Hello! Can you believe that is is Thursday already? I can't! Today I have two drink recipes to share with you - one with and one without alcohol. However, the alcoholic drink tastes great without the vodka also! The shake is a great way to start your morning, my kids love them for breakfast! Enjoy!

“Responsible Drinking? Now that's an Oxymoron.”
-Aaron Howard


Apple & Cranberry Cocktail
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
* 2/3 cup cranberry juice
* 2/3 cup apple soda
* 2 1/2 oz cranberry vodka
* Ice
* green apple slices

Equipment Needed:
* Shaker

Directions:
1.) Combine juice, soda & vodka in shaker & mix well.
2.) Place ice in glasses.
3.) Pour drink over ice.
4.) Garnish with green apple slices.


“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.”
-Latin Proverb



Banana & Orange Yogurt Shake
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
* 2 bananas, peeled & sliced (1")
* 1 1/2 cups orange juice concentrate (defrosted)
* 2 Tbsp orange marmalade
* 2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt

Equipment Needed:
* Blender

Directions:
1.) Puree bananas in blender.
2.) Pour in orange juice, a little at a time, until smooth & thick.
3.) Add marmalade & puree until smooth.
4.) Mix in yogurt & puree until smooth.
5.) Serve immediately (garnish with mint if you would like)

Silly Joke of the Day:
What's round and bad-tempered?
.....A vicious circle.

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!