Nov 30, 2015

Cranberry-Orange Relish

I have mentioned a few times about how I go the Williams-Sonoma technique classes that they have on Sundays. This months' theme was Thanksgiving (shocker). The first class held was for appetizers. The woman teaching the class uses a number of products they sell in the store during the classes. One of those items was Cranberry-Orange relish. 

Featured on the handout that they give to all everyone who attended, they had a recipe for it as well. Since I have never had homemade cranberry sauce before, I decided to give making this a try. I used a mix of the steps from the handout and the instruction on the bag that the cranberries came in.

Here's how I made it:
Ingredients
1-12 oz bag cranberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3 whole halos (with peel)

Instructions
1: Wash cranberries under cold water.

2: In a pot, mix, 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

3: Add in cranberries. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.




4: While cranberries are cooking, cut up 3 halos (with peel). Sit aside.

5: Place cranberries, oranges, and orange peels in food processor. 

6: Pulse on Low until all ingredients are processed evenly.

7: Pour into a storage and refrigerate overnight.

This is a recipe that I will be making for Christmas and Thanksgiving next year. Over the next few days (excluding Thursday) I will be posting about some of the other items I made for Thanksgiving this year.

Everyone have a fantastic Monday!!!!

Nov 26, 2015

Thoughtful Thursday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!!
I am about to finish making my Thanksgivings meal (picture will be up of it during the next few days). Sorry its' kind of late due to me being busy doing my last minute cooking but here are some quotes for today:







One more thing: I just want to thank everyone who stops by to read. I know that I am not as consistent as some other bloggers but I just wanted to say that I appreciate each and everyone of you who takes time out of you day to stop to look at my post.

Happy eating and giving thanks!!!!

Nov 25, 2015

Citrus Salad Cocktail

Is anyone else excited that it is not only hump day but that it is a holiday? Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays which could have to do with the fact that I love cooking and pie. Another thing I love about holidays is being able to come up with new drinks. This drink is new to me making it but one of my favorite bartenders where I frequent makes this for me. 

I usually come in and ask for one of two things: something mixed with water or something fruity with no coconut in it (hello, swollen lips). She made this up for me on a whim since it combines both of those two things. She calls it fruit salad when I ask for it because of all the different fruit in it. I think it is more of a Citrus Salad due to all the citrus fruit used.

Here is the recipe :

Ingredients
1/2 bottle club soda (I used a 24oz bottle)
1 cup water
1/2 container of pineapple orange juice (frozen)
2 lime, sliced
5 halos, sliced
3 lemons, sliced
3 shot of Skyy Citrus Vodka

-In a pitcher place all the sliced fruit in the bottom.
-Pour 3 shots of citrus vodka into pitcher.
-Add in the club soda, water, and pineapple orange juice. 
-Stir until mixed well.
-Garnish with a lemon, lime, or orange slice.

This drink would be great in place of a mimosa at brunch or early day drinking since it has the right amount of sweetness. Also, you really can't taste the vodka it you mix it well. 

Everyone have a great Wednesday!!!

Nov 24, 2015

Entertaining Sets

Hello all, since the start of the holiday season is rapidly approaching, I know that everyone is getting into entertaining mode. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I love World Market. Right now they have their entertaining sets on sale. Theses are great for everyday use or specials occasions. Here are the different glasses they sell in sets:








I own the Champagne and Wine glass sets and love them. They are a great deal at $12.49 right now. I also have the plate sets, which are on sale as well. 


They come on a rack, which saves space. The small ones are $9.49 and the large are $12.49. They also have the forks and spoons sets for $4.99 each. If you can't tell already: I am all about entertaining sets. 

Does anyone have entertaining pieces that they use during the holiday season?


Nov 19, 2015

Thoughtful Thursday

Happy Thursday, all!!!
It crunch time meaning: I HAVE NO LIFE!!!! Between work and school I am over it all at this point. The semester will be over in two weeks (thank god) and I will be back to blogging normal. Until then, sorry for the inconsistent post. 
Here are some thoughts for this week:









Hope y'all have a great Thursday!!!!!



Nov 18, 2015

Working it out

I started going to the gym three to four times a week again (use to go 5-6 so this is light for me). With my busy schedule when I want to exercise, usually it involves me doing it at home unless I get up at 6:30ish. I have found that Pinterest has a great variety of home workouts. These are are few of the ones that I plan on trying:








Sometime next week I'll post some of the healthier recipes that I am planning on making Also, I am thinking about maybe doing some exercise classes beside spinning (the bikes kill my knees). Does anyone have any suggestions or classes that they have tried and liked? 


Nov 12, 2015

Thoughtful Thursday

Sorry the absence but school is school and it almost the end of the semester so I have a bunch of projects and other things to catch up on. I will be trying to get back to blogging regularly for me which means 3-4 times a week again sometime in the near future. I have some post in the works over the next few weeks involving my favorite things food and drinks of course so stay tuned. Until then, here are some thoughts for this Thursday:









 Everyone have a great Thursday!!!






Nov 6, 2015

Shrimp Puffs

This is a post that I was going to post about a month ago put never got around to it. This recipe are for the Shrimp Puffs that I made for a football tailgate at the beginning of October. 

 I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com. I was wanting to make something different besides that usually sausage balls. I admit, I was super apprehensive about them before I made them but once they were done, I was glad that I tried something different. 


Here is the recipe for the Shrimp Puffs

Ingredients:
-1 muffin tin, sprayed or buttered
-1 cup of Bisquick
-1/2 cup Milk
-2 cups Monterey jack, shredded
-1 green onion, chopped
-1/2 cup mayo
-1/2 lb salad shrimp
-1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
Cooking instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin.

Using the Bisquick and milk, mix together using the biscuit directions on the back of the box.

Roll biscuit dough out and place one biscuit in each of the muffin tin places.

In a bowl, combine the shrimp, mayo, cheese, dill, and green onion. Stir until all ingredients are mixed well.


Spoon the filling into each of the biscuits. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden on top.

Sidenotes: I ended up making my own biscuits instead of using store bought. The store bought biscuits tend to have more flavor. I added some butter into my dough and buttered the pan instead of spraying it.


I used green onions since I could not find scallions. 

I accidentally deleted the pictures I took of the ones that I made. I did however make the filling into a dip (I added onion and chive cream cheese to it along with all the original ingredients I used).


Has anyone else tried making anything they were apprehensive of making but ended up liking it?



Nov 5, 2015

Thought Thursday

It's a beginning of a new month which means new inspirations and ways to make your life a little better. I have found that positive thinking will help you get through a great deal. 

Here are some thought for this Thursday:









Everyone have a great Thurday!!!



Nov 2, 2015

Williams-Sonoma finds

On Sunday (which was yesterday) I went to Williams-Sonoma for one of the cooking technique classes they teach. Now, if you have never been to one they are super informative plus they give you great ideas on entertaining and ways to present/cook food.

This month is all about Thanksgiving since it is just around the corner now. Classes are held every Sunday and they tend to cover a large topic that is broken down into subtopics as seen on the site here.

They had some great products that were used in the class. I bought one of them and will go back to get some of the other ones before Thanksgiving. Here were the three main products were used today:

This was served over Brie. The woman instructing the class actually gave a great idea on how to serve this a few different ways (which I will post about later).

With this cocktail mix, you can make it a virgin Toddy (with no alcohol) or add whiskey of brandy. In the class it was a virgin one. I ended up buying this so I will probably do a review on it with the alcohol in it.


This was placed over a half of Brie with chopped pear on it. It was good but on the label it does not list all the nuts included (pecans were in it). I think I might try my had at making some with peanuts and cashews. 

 There are two great things about attending the classes that they have: they are free to attend and you get 10% off any purchase made that day. The sales associate informed us that included items that were already on sale so the 10% was in addition to whatever discount was already given. 

Has anyone else attended the technique classes at Williams-Sonoma or another store and what did you think of the class?