Double Cranberry Cosmopolitan

Double Cranberry Cosmopolitan

Nov 28, 2019 · 32 Comments

This Double Cranberry Cosmopolitan is amazing all year long, but especially pretty as a holiday cocktail!

With fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and vodka (I used my cranberry infused vodka!) this cosmo martini is a favorite!

Martini glass with bright red cosmopolitan cocktail.

What makes this the best cosmopolitan cocktail recipe?

In place of vodka, I've used my homemade cranberry liqueur! It gives you double cranberry flavor! Now, don't worry, you can still make this cocktail with regular vodka, but this is the perfect reason to get a bottle of homemade cranberry liqueur started!

The double cranberry makes it extra tart and tangy!

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Juicy and Flavorful Tandoori Chicken

Nov 27, 2019 · 12 Comments

This Tandoori Chicken is so juicy and bursting with flavor! No need for take out when you can make this succulent chicken at home! An easy marinade is all it takes to make this tempting chicken recipe!

Tandoori Marinade

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I am lazy about marinating. Heck, most of the time I am lazy about marinating. Sometimes, it’s too much to be organized enough to have a marinade ready to go the day before, sometimes it’s even too much to have it ready a few hours before dinner!

But for once, I managed to. Oh. My. Gosh. The first bite of this chicken was amazing. My husband took a bite, looked at me, and said, “What is this?” He had that kind of look on his face, like…why have you not made this before? This is why you marinate.

Yes, you do have to get organized enough to get it ready 12 to 24 hours before you are ready to cook, but the tandoori marinade goes together so easily.

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So Easy! Honey Orange Glazed Carrots

Nov 26, 2019 · 7 Comments

These honey orange roasted carrots are the perfect side dish! Sweet and tangy and ready in under 30 minutes! Perfectly roasted carrots are made even sweeter with the honey and the orange adds just the right amount of zip!

Roasted Carrots

Ah, the lowly carrot. It never really trends big in foods, it just keeps plugging along.

Yet, I think we need to stop and think about what a workhorse the carrot is. Content to be a supporting player in everything from Pot Roast to Chicken Noodle Soup.

I think it's time we stop and give carrots the spotlight that they deserve. Instead of roasting your usual potatoes, try these scrumptious sweet roasted carrots. Even better serve them both! They go with everything from chicken, to beef to fish!

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Easy 2 Ingredient Fernet and Coke

Nov 25, 2019 · 6 Comments

If you've never tried the favorite Argentine cocktail, a fernet and Coke, you are in for a treat! The sweetness of Coke is tamed perfectly by the bitterness of the Fernet-Branca making a crazy easy and so delicious cocktail!

Cocktails Using Coke

A few weeks ago, I bought some Coke to make a Cuba Libre. A delicious variation of a rum and coke with the addition of lime juice. Believe me, the lime juice makes all the difference in the world.

I had also bought some Fernet-Branca to try the Toronto Cocktail. A yummy rye whiskey cocktail featuring the Italian bitter spirit.

Trying to not buy another bottle of liquor (my liquor cabinet is now 2 liquor cabinets and 2 shelving units) I went searching for cocktails that either use Coke or use Fernet-Branca, imagine my pleasure when I found a Fernet and Coke!

A Fernet and Coke (also known as Fernet con Coca) is a favorite Argentine cocktail. With only two ingredients, I bet it's going to become one of your favorites too!

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45 Minute Homemade Candy Cane Vodka

Nov 21, 2019 · 34 Comments

This DIY Candy Cane Vodka makes a fabulous Christmas gift and it's ready in less than an hour! Perfect for sipping or to spike a hot chocolate or coffee!

DIY Candy Cane Vodka

A Great Christmas Gift - Ready in Less Than an Hour!!

We all have them. The friends or family that appreciate a nice bottle of wine, a perfectly aged scotch, some homemade liquor. I'm one of them. I particularly love homemade infusions, both the give and to get.

The problem with giving them is that a lot of them require weeks to age. No problem if you remembered to do it weeks ago, big problem if you didn't. Well, I have the answer for you - Candy Cane Vodka.

The easiest and prettiest liquor that you can make! In about 45 minutes time (and that includes gathering the supplies), you can have lots of bottles filled with pretty red candy cane vodka.

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Easy Homemade Tarragon Vinegar

Nov 20, 2019 · 19 Comments

This easy, homemade tarragon vinegar is bursting with tarragon flavor! Use it in salad dressings, drizzle on vegetables and it's fantastic for deglazing a pan!

Why Make Herbed Vinegars?

At the end of summer, I always gaze forlornly at my herb garden. Oh, how I'll miss those fresh herb flavors all winter long.

Sure I could be the expensive little packets at the store, and I do in a pinch, but one of my favorite ways to carry the flavor of herbs with me all winter long is with infused vinegars.

A drizzle of basil oil on slow roasted tomatoes in the middle of winter is like a breath of summer. This chive blossom vinegar, is a favorite that I add all time to vinaigrettes!

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The Toronto Cocktail A Fernet-Branca Cocktail

Nov 18, 2019 · 12 Comments

The Toronto Cocktail is a delicious rye whiskey cocktail featuring Fernet-Branca. It's the perfect balance of sweet and bitter, rich and full of flavor.

Fernet-Branca Cocktails

So many cocktails, so little time. Trying to decide what cocktails to make next is quite the challenge. Do I stick with a theme, like warm soothing cocktails or riffs of classic cocktails like a Bees Knees Variation, that you might not have heard of?

Throwing all caution to the wind, I decided to just grab a bottle of something and find some cocktails to make. I grabbed Fernet-Branca.

Fernet-Branca is an Italian amaro. A type of bitter spirit. There is a fairly long list of what it might possibly be infused with - like myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom and more! It's rich and complex tasting.

It's used in a similar way to how you might use Campari, to bring a complex bitterness to cocktails. I've started my exploration with a classic Fernet-Branca Cocktail - The Toronto Cocktail.

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Delicious Balsamic and Honey Roasted Root Vegetables

Nov 17, 2019 · 30 Comments

Roasted vegetables are taken to the next level when they are glazed with honey and balsamic vinegar. Tossing on some fresh goat cheese before serving really takes the sweet and tangy combination over the top!

Platter of roasted vegetables topped with goat cheese.

Everyone knows that roasted vegetables are the best, and my favorite is definitely root vegetables roasted.

Root vegetables are simply what they sound like. They are the underground plant parts that we eat. Think beets, carrots, and even onions.

There is something about roasting that really concentrates the flavor of root vegetables. Makes them sweeter.

They are great just roasted with olive oil and salt and pepper, but this recipe, from Tyler Florence, which I have been making some form of since 2009 takes it to a whole new level.

Honey balsamic glazed and then topped with tangy goat cheese before serving, they are amazing.

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Coco and the Frosty Morning

Nov 15, 2019 · 17 Comments

"Woke up it was a frosty morning...." sung to the tune of Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell.

Coco is not too sure what o make of the frosty car. It makes traveling up the window a little more tricky for her!

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25 Tempting Homemade Liqueurs and Infusions!

Nov 14, 2019 · 6 Comments

A collection of 25 delicious homemade liqueurs and infusions. Fruity infused vodkas, spicy infused gins, heavenly infused bourbon, holiday liqueurs and so much more!

25 Homemade Liqueurs and Infusions

I was organizing the categories, when I realized that I had 25 homemade liqueurs and infused alcohol recipes! 25! I decided I needed to gather them up all one post for you!

I have everything from fruity vodkas, lavender infused gin, spicy tequila and a winter solstice brew.

There are holiday treats like cranberry liqueur, homemade apple pie moonshine and candy cane vodka!

These make great gifts for your foodie and cocktail loving friends, just make sure and make enough to keep some for yourself!

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The Best Slow Cooker Pot Roast!

Nov 13, 2019 · 12 Comments

This Slow Cooker Braised Pot Roast is sure to become a family favorite. This is a classic slow cooker pot roast, just like mom used to make! Pure comfort food!

Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Is there anything more suited for the slow cooker (crock pot) than pot roast? I don't think so. It is the perfect one pot meal and I can think of nothing I enjoy more for a Sunday dinner!

There is something so wonderfully homey about pot roast. I eat a lot of foods now that I didn't even know existed when I was young - kale, quinoa, and kohlrabi - to name just a few.

But a good Sunday pot roast, that feels like it's been around forever. It never gets old. Potatoes, carrots, onions, celery and meat all combine to taste exactly like I remembered it from when I was young. It is comfort food at it's finest.

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20 Christmas Cocktail Recipes for the Holidays!

Nov 11, 2019 · 19 Comments

A collection of 20 Christmas Drink Recipes! Cranberry cocktails, sparkling wine cocktails, even eggnog! Something for everyone with these easy and festive holiday cocktails!

20 Holiday Cocktail Recipes

I know you're busy. Shopping. Decorating. Baking cookies. Well, I'm here to take one thing off of your mind. Holiday Cocktails! No need to search for the best Christmas cocktails, I've collected 20 of them for you!

I've loosely (very loosely) organized them, to make a bit easier. There are cranberry cocktails, wine cocktails, even eggnog. Something for everyone!

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Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Nov 10, 2019 · 29 Comments

No need to fry when you can make these crispy baked sweet potato fries! Spicy and tangy and served with fresh cilantro they take sweet potato fries to a whole new level!

Baking sheet with browned sweet potato fries and lime wheels.

What side dish do you mostly order at restaurants? Fries, right? I love french fries, especially if they are thin and crispy.

My husband always chooses sweet potato fries. The problem is that I think they are a little tricker to get right. Some restaurants do them perfect - thin, crispy and seasoned.

Some are more like wedges and while they are still good, they are not my fave.

These homemade sweet potato fries are my new favorite, they are everything I want in a sweet potato fry!

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Playing Kitty Cats

Nov 8, 2019 · 16 Comments

Calico Kitties Playing

I'm continuing to work my way through my backlog of kitty cat photos to edit. I used to have 1000+ and I'm now down to 800 or so! Baby steps.

Speaking of babies, these photos are when Luxie was still a kitten, well maybe a teenager. Her and Coco played constantly.

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Heavenly Spiced Pear Liqueur

Nov 7, 2019 · 48 Comments

This homemade spiced pear liqueur is ready in just one day and is so amazingly delicious! Vodka, pears, cloves, cinnamon and anise. Homemade liqueurs make a wonderful homemade Christmas gift or for any occasion and this pear liqueur is simply divine. Be sure and make enough to keep some for yourself because it's that good!

Pear Liqueur

Homemade liqueurs are my most favorite thing to make. I call it my hobby.

I love homemade liqueurs and infusions, with a little prep, time does most of the work.

With this Homemade Pear Liqueur, time doesn't even have all that much work to do. It's ready in just a day! I was skeptical that it might take longer, but it didn't! It was so flavorful after just 24 hours!

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Creamy Buttery Parmesan Rice

Nov 6, 2019 · 7 Comments

This easy Parmesan Rice is going to become your go to side dish! Buttery, creamy and cheesy this easy side dish goes with everything!

Parmesan Rice

A couple months ago, I realized that I wasn't posting many side dish recipes. I thought I should only post the main dish, the star of the show.

How wrong I've been. Like this creamy, cheesy, buttery (I could go on an on) Parmesan rice. We have this all the time and I've never shared the recipe!

Yes, it's crazy simple. Which is one of the reasons you need to make it .... that and have I mentioned that it's creamy, cheesy and buttery?!

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Broiled Tilapia with Mustard-Chive Sauce

Nov 5, 2019 · 17 Comments

This Broiled Tilapia with Mustard Chive Sauce is delicious enough for company and easy enough for a weeknight! In about 20 minutes you can have perfectly broiled tilapia moist and flaky with a tangy yogurt and mustard chive sauce on the table!

Broiled Tilapia

I first made this recipe in 2012 and in typical food blogger fashion, I never made it again. Now, I am kicking myself for all the years I could have been making this!

My first take away from this recipe (which is from Giada's Weeknights) is that broiling tilapia is so easy and so good.

It only takes about 6-8 minutes to broil tilapia and it comes out perfect. Moist and flaky.

You can even just drizzle it with olive oil, salt and pepper and top it with a slice of lemon and broil it. Serve it with the lemon slice squeezed (wait till you see how much juice you get out of a broiled slice) over it, so simple and delicious!

Or in the time it takes to broil the salmon you can stir together this amazing sauce and have a dinner fit for company!

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The Best Bourbon Hot Toddy

Nov 4, 2019 · 8 Comments

Make a warming Bourbon Hot Toddy at the first sign of cold or flu! It's so good, you'll want to drink it even when you're not sick. Honey, lemon, warm water and bourbon make a comforting warm whiskey cocktail that soothes your soul and your throat!

Benefits of Drinking a Hot Toddy

The only thing to look forward to during the cold and flu season is that you have a reason to drink a hot toddy. At the first sign of anything, or even if I just feel cold and need something soothing, I make a hot toddy.

This hot whiskey drink will literally soothe your throat and your soul. You might be wondering if it really does help.

It turns out that it does. Whiskey acts as a decongestant by dilating the blood vessels. The lemon and honey can soothe your throat. Just drinking a warm drink as opposed to a room temperature drink can make you feel better.

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Easy Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Nov 3, 2019 · 17 Comments

Don't worry you don't have to cook this Easy Moroccan Chicken Tagine in a tagine! A dutch oven or skillet works great! A flavorful chicken stew with warming spices and fresh citrus! The best Morrocan chicken recipe!

What is a Moroccan Tagine?

Do you have a tagine? It's a lovely cooking vessel, with a cone shaped lid and a flat round bottom. The cone shape is designed to keep the food moist. As the food cooks and steam rises, it is captured in the cone and drips back into the food.

While I would love to have a tagine, I really don't have room for one and I do have plenty of enameled cast iron dutch ovens that will do. You just want to be sure you have something with a tight lid. Some dutch ovens even have little spikes on the inside of the lid which encourage the condensation to drip back into the food.

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Fall is Finally Here!

Nov 1, 2019 · 9 Comments

Coco is excited, fall is finally here! Well, actually last night we had a freeze warning, so when we woke up, it felt like winter was here!

The leaves are slowly changing, since we had the drought, a lot of trees just went dormant early, but some of them hung on and maybe with the 5 inches of rain we've had in the last week, they might be able to change to pretty colors!

I'm so thankful that we are out of our drought, it's either feast or famine when it comes to rain around here. I wish we could have sent some of our rain to California, it is just heart breaking watching the news.

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Fun and Festive Cranberry Negroni

Oct 31, 2019 · 4 Comments

A classic negroni cocktail gets a holiday flare with the addition of cranberry! Besides the gorgeous color, the cranberry adds a sweet tartness to the negroni! Perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas cocktail!

Cranberry Thanksgiving or Christmas Cocktails!

I love any excuse to make a fun cocktail and making a Christmas cocktail is the best excuse ever!

A Christmas or Thanksgiving Cocktail needs to be easy, since you already have so much to stress over, no need to stress over a cocktail.

It should be pretty and festive, it has to compete with all those decorations and all that food!

This Cranberry Negroni checks all those boxes and more!

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The Best! Easy Pear Crisp

Oct 30, 2019 · 5 Comments

This Pear Crisp is so delicious, you won't believe it uses less sugar, less butter and has oats in the topping!! One bite of the crispy topping and the juicy pears underneath and you are in dessert heaven!

A Lighter Pear Crisp or Crumble

First of all you do you call this a pear crisp or pear crumble. I have always called them a crisp. After a little bit of googling, I determined that this is indeed a crisp. According to Canadian Living (I guess they know their fruit desserts) both the crisp and the crumble have fruit with a crispy topping, but a crumble does not have oats or nuts.

Good to know.

What's also good to know is that I made this version a little lighter, a little healthier. Some recipes get a little carried away with the butter and the sugar. While there is nothing I love more than some butter and sugar, I also love trying to eat healthier, even if it's just a smidgen. Every smidgen helps.

So, these have a little less butter, a little less sugar and they have oats in the topping! Win. Win. Win.

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Slow Cooker Beef Barley and Mushroom Soup!

Oct 29, 2019 · 17 Comments

Pure comfort food in bowl - that's what this Slow Cooker Beef, Barley and Mushroom soup is! Rich unami flavors from the mushrooms and the barley all in a creamy, warm soup.

Beef, Barley and Mushroom Soup

When I think of comfort foods, it's almost always soup. All you need in one bowl. No need to make this side dish or that side dish. So, technically the comfort begins in the making of the soup, easy one pan cooking.

While chicken noodle soup is the classic when you think of comfort food, don't forget the beef, barley and mushroom soup.

It's soup for your soul, it really is. Carrots, leeks and mushrooms cook up soft and tender. Browned ground beef and mushrooms add that earthiness. Barely cooks up tender, yet with a little chew. Creamy broth with no cream involved!

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Easy Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe

Oct 28, 2019 · 4 Comments

It's amazing the difference that lime adds to a rum and coke! This Cuba Libre Cocktail use lime to balance the sweetness of the coke. It is so refreshing and so delicious!

A Rum and Coke with Lime

Let's face it, I've had plenty of rum and cokes in my day. Way back when the only cocktails I knew of were a gin and tonic and a rum and coke. The gin and tonic was my favorite, I loved the bitterness and herbiness of it. The rum and coke was sweet and didn't taste like a cocktail at all.

I had no idea there was something called a Cuba Libre cocktail. I have an old Trader Joe's cocktail book from 1972 and it actually has 3 versions of the Cuba Libre! So, the cocktail was definitely around I had just never heard of it!

A Cuba Libre is basically a rum and coke with lime. Some versions use lime juice and some versions use the lime juice and the actual spent lime shell. I liked the idea of getting as much from the lime as possible, so I went with the version using the lime shell too.

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