Kind Bars

I have discovered a new bar that I really like. I have tried other bars, but they do funny things to my stomach! These KIND BARS are all natural and this particular flavor is very low in carbs. They are really satisfying and are easy to take with you where ever you roam ( with or without a gnome).

I keep some at work and at home. Oh my, way too much rhyming. Anyway, they are also nice to have on hand for guests so they can snack anytime. Having salty mixed with sweet has always been a favorite combo of my anyway and now it is the latest rage so I can get my fix more often.

Amazon has a great service called Subscribe and Save and this is one of the items I have on my list. Shipping is free with the service and the item is also discounted and arrives at your door however often you tell it to come. You can change settings at will to stop, cancel or postpone shipments. It makes life here in the sticks, or anywhere a lot easier..give it a try!

New Year Hostess Gift and Cocktail

 

 

A great bottle of vodka and a nice cocktail shaker make a wonderful hostess gift. This is Absolut Cherry Kran, a cranberry, cherry and plum flavored vodka. It tastes great and the bottle is beautiful. If you really like the person, add in some nice cocktail glasses!

 

 

 

Berry Cherrytini

 

Put equal parts:

 Cranberry juice cocktail

 Triple Sec

 and Absolut Cherry Kran vodka

 in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to chill and strain into a pretty glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge and enjoy!

 

Asian Meatballs Appetizer

 

These meatballs are always a hit whenever we make them.

MEATBALLS
2 lbs ground beef
3 scallions sliced fine
1 celery rib chopped fine
4 oz water chestnuts diced fine
1 cup canned bean sprouts chopped fine
4 TBS hoisin sauce
1 TBS Soy sauce
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2TBS minced fresh parsley
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp salt 
1 egg
12 rice crackers smashed into small pieces

 

Mix all ingredients together and scoop out portions onto a rimmed cookie sheet using a small scoop. Roll portions into balls and bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until firm.

Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. Day of party, assemble sauce and heat to combine, then add meatballs to the sauce and gently reheat.

Add some rice and a salad and make it a meal!

SAUCE
18 oz jar apricot preserves
4 TBS soy sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
3 scallions sliced fine

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and heat to combine.

EggNog Pie

 

Here's another one of my mother's traditions.

It is made the good old fashioned way too!

 

This will make 2 full pies.

 

2 baked pie shells

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1 1/2 tsp salt

9 eggs separated

3 3/4 cups milk

2 TBS light rum

3/4 tsp cream of tartar

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

 

Stir together 1 1/2 cups sugar, gelatin and salt in saucepan.

Blend yolks and milk together, then stir them into the sugar mixture.

Cook over medium high  stirring constantly until it boils.

 

Place pan in a bowl of ice water (I had snow, so I used that!) and stir until mixture mounds slightly.

Stir in rum.

 

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.

Beat in 1 1/2 cups sugar, a little at a time.

Beat the whites until they are soft, glossy and form soft peaks.

Fold gelatin mixture into the egg white mixture.

 

In another bowl, beat the cream until stiff then fold it into the custard/meringue mixture.

 

 

Spoon into the cooled pie shells.

Grate fresh nutmeg onto the top.

Chill completely before serving.

Cushman Honeybell Time!! Right now!

 

If you have never tried HoneyBells, you need to right now! QVC has them as a Special Value Sunday 12/30/12. I send them to my father -in-law every year for his birthday. They are no ordinary orange, rest assured. They are so sweet and juicy. They are only available in January each year, so do not wait!   

Cookie Press Heaven!

Kuhn Rikon Cookie Press

http://www.amazon.com cookie press

 

I could not find my cookie press and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I had to buy a new one and it is bliss! My old one was aluminum, turned your hands black and was a pain to literally "crank" out the cookies.

 

This one is..

 

easy to fill ...

 

 

and press!

 

One click of the ratchet and you have a cookie. The directions say do not use a non-stick sheet, but it works just fine if you follow a tip from an on-line reviewer. Make sure to use a cold sheet. You can rinse it in cold water or put it in the freezer for a minute. I did both after the first batch and the cookie press worked perfectly.

Why Mardi Gras colors you ask? Well, I can't find my green and red sugar. I guess they must be with the old cookie press!

Best Fireplace /Woodstove Glass Cleaner

Up here in the Adirondacks we definitely need woodstoves and fireplaces! The problem is, the darn glass gets filthy every day. I have a big glass front door on mine and I like to keep it clean so I can see the flames. This is the best cleaner I have found. It sprays out nicely and cleans the glass quickly. You can find it at TrueValue hardware stores.

 

 If you have heavy gunk, you will need to use a razor blade as well. You can put the blade in a nice long holder and it scrapes off the heavy stuff. This holder will also keep your hand farther away from the soot and you will stay cleaner!

http://www.detailing.com/store/sm-arnold-screwdriver-style-scraper

 

 I will clean the glass in the morning when it is the coolest, before I restoke the wood for the day.

Stay Warm!

Low Carb Spiced Nuts

My sister Laurie, reminded me about these nuts that I make. It's funny because I was actually thinking about them too! Must be the ESP sister thing?

I have them on top of cottage cheese or greek yogurt along with some berries for a relatively low carb meal...YUM!!

By the way, BEST greek yogurt:Fage made in Johnstown, NY!
http://www.fageusa

 

You know how we all get on kicks, well I had to have a stash of these nuts on hand at all times. I would make a big batch and then store them in my Lock and Lock

(which is also a MUST have).

These are the L&L I use for sugar, flour and dog biscuits too.

 

http://www.qvc.com/Lock-&-Lock-4-piece-Flip-Top-Storage

 

I will have to make a batch for our Dulcimer Gathering in February. I'll post pictures the next time I can get to a grocery store. ANY excuse to go to Trader Joe's!

They are very simple to make and would be great as a Christmas or Hostess gift.

2 large bags pecan halves

2 large bags slivered almonds

2 large bags hazelnuts

Truvia and cinnamon to taste

http://www.truvia

Penzey's Spices-Cinnamon

Spread the 2 bags of the same nuts onto a rimmed cookie sheet in a single layer. Work with only one kind of nut at a time because they will take different amounts of time to roast. Sprinkle Truvia over all the nuts and dust them with cinnamon as well. It is hard to give a measurement here, just put on as much as you would like, as if you were making cinnamon toast.

Roast in a preheated 350 degree oven until you can start to smell them. Check them often so they do not burn. Probably will be about 10- 15 minutes.Take them out of the oven and transfer them to a bowl.

Once you have roasted them all, give them a stir in the bowl to mix them together. Spread them back out on the cookie sheet to cool completely. They don't need to be in a single layer at this point, just dump them all on there.

Store them in an airtight container or give them to someone special!

Do You Miss Little Rhody?

I LOVE this lithograph!

I'm an Ocean State girl through and through and I miss my little state somethin' awful. I miss the beaches and the salty air, the sand and the clam cakes. I miss REAL chowda, not this red stuff New Yorkers call chowder, blech! I miss Del's, and the tiny, tiny pieces of lemon you find in the cup. And who wouldn't miss cawfee milk?? I'm sure I'm not  the only one with this problem either. Don't get me wrong, I love the Adirondack Mountains, but RI holds a special place in my heart.

http://www.onlyinrhodeisland.com

 

So, imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a website that can ship RI goodies to my doorstep!
They have food and much, much more on the site.

Have at it people and savor a little taste of the biggest little state in the US!!

Best Chocolate Gift for the Horsey and Non-Horsey Set

 

http://www.harborsweets.com

 

These chocolates are some of the best I have ever had and believe me, I have had a lot! I am definitely a chocolate snob.We lived in Hamilton, Massachusetts for 17 years and got to know this company because they produced chocolates geared toward equestrians. They also have beautiful non-horsey chocolates to please any palate. They are made locally and in small batches.  
They are a breeze (pardon the pun, ocean, harbor, breeze..get it?) to order and ship, I do it all the time. I'll remind you again at Easter time because they have a very unusual rabbit made up of different sections. Problem solved for ALL occasions, even just a Thursday!

 

Check out the website, they have all kinds of options. They have bulk packages too for those really, really bad days!

Dealing with Butternut Squash / Best Peeler

 

 

 

Butternut squash...it's hard to cut, peel and hold onto isn't it? Now I see why some people give up and buy pre-peeled and chunked butternut squash. But, Rejoice! for I have the answer my friends. What? You are surprised?..I didn't think so!

 

Slice off boths end of the squash with a sharp knife and lay the squash on it's side. Take your Star Peeler (see below) and peel off nice whole slices of the skin from one end to the other. After a few slices, the darn squash will start to ooze that nasty clear stuff. At this point, put a paper towel under the squash and hold that sucker steady with another one as seen in the photo above.

 

Once it is all peeled you can slice it open, take out the seeds with a heavy spoon and chunk it up to roast in the oven or on the grill.

 

 

 

My friend turned me on to this simple little gadget and it is all of $8.00! The peeler is very simple but it works very well. It is made in Switzerland and is all steel. I bought mine at the annual Townwide Garage Sale in Warrensburg, NY. 

 

 

After you have shown your squash who's boss, add some olive oil, salt, pepper, and onions to the chunks and toss to coat. You can roast them in the oven or wrap them in foil and roast them on your grill just like potatoes.

Before roasting...

All roasty , toasty!

 

If there are any leftovers, do what my sister did. Laurie added some Oscar's sausage and topped it with eggs for breakfast the next morning!

http://www.oscarsadksmokehouse

Gift Idea: Old World Ornaments

 

 

Oh heavens! I have become mesmerized by the Old World Christmas brand ornaments. There are ornaments to please anyone and they are so well done. These photos do not do them justice as they are so pretty in person.

You can give these all year round, as a hostess gift, attached to a gift card or for any occasion. A lot of people keep these out all year round. Also, you don't have to worry about duplicates because if you have 2 for your tree, the more the merrier, I think!

They come in a box that is so pretty, you do not need to wrap them and they double as protection if you choose to put them away. If you want to highlight one in particular, there are ornament stands available to display them.

They have hundreds of designs. I'm lusting after the camper at the moment. They have fruits and veggies too, so you could have a tree in your kitchen, sooooo cute! Wit's End gift shop in Clifton Park, NY has an entire room devoted to them. Oh Joy!! I'm sure most good gift shops have some and they are also on-line.

                        http://www.oldworldchristmas.com

 

They have Black Schnauzers too.

                                    
                                    

 Campfire!

 

Starlight Twists aka: Christmas Past

 

Update 12/22/12 I made them! They are crunchy and sweet on the outside , tender and creamy on the inside. No, I did not go so far as to make the green glaze.. 

Click on the picture and you can read the recipe a lot better.

She left out 375 for 15-20 minutes.

Do you think it was on purpose so I would come home more often?

My Mother, Ruth Margot Johnson Rocchio, made these pastries every Christmas and they are heaven on earth! I thought we were the only family who had such a wonderful mother to make these labor intensive gems. However, I see that they were made by everybody in that era as there is a recipe for them in the most recent Taste of Home. Ruth's recipe was filled with sugar only and she made a beautiful light green icing for the top. We would drive her crazy because we could not wait to eat them. One year I found her hiding place, it was in my brother Jeff's room! Maybe I was the only one like that? There was an enormous tin filled with them and I snuck a few. Ok, maybe more than a few. I have made them only once and I see why she was so protective of them. They can be tricky, but worth it. Be warned though, if you you are not alone in your house, they WILL disappear. Come to think of it, even if you are the only one home, they WILL disappear!! I don't have a photo of them because, like I said , they are work. I might get up the ambition to do them though. I was thinking of doing a retro homage to Mom and Christmas Eve. Lobster Newburg in her copper chafing dish, ham and starlight twists to name a few.

 

Spritz

No directions needed as we all knew it by heart. This is Laurie's handwriting. I was in charge of putting the red sugar on the green wreaths.

Butter Nut Balls

They were always slightly burned on the bottom, but oh so buttery!

 

 

Better Than A Tablecloth

Vintage inspired paper serving items:

http://www.cakevintage.com

 

We all spend lots of money on pretty dining room tables. We polish them and make sure they are the center of attention in our dining area. Why, then, do we cover them up when we finally have a dinner party? I know! You never thought of it that way , did you??

Of course I can solve THAT problem!

I found some really pretty and practical paper rounds that you can use as placemats and coasters. The rounds are coated on the top and can last through many events.By using the rounds, you can see your table, still set a very pretty table and protect it too. Plus, the table looks cleaner because you don't get those ugly food and wine stains on a light colored tablecloth. You can easily wipe up spills from the table anyway and you don't notice them as much on a wooden table. AND you don't have to launder and iron  a tablecloth...woohoo!

 

Low Carb Mexican Casserole

So good and so easy!

This casserole is great for any meal or snack all throughout the day! You can add a can of corn and some corn tortillas if you don't care about the carb count.

1 lb ground beef
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp each garlic powder and cumin (more or less to taste)
1 medium onion diced
2 small cans diced green chilies
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
5 eggs
2 cups cream or whole milk
salt and pepper to taste

optional add:
1 can corn, drained
4 fresh corn tortillas, torn into pieces
or a couple of handfuls of tortilla chips crushed up slightly


Put the burger in a saute pan and add the chili powder, garlic and cumin. Break up the meat and cook until no longer pink. Take the beef out and spread it evenly in a 9 by 13 casserole.
Next, saute the onions in the pan. Once they are transluscent, transfer them to the casserole and spread them over the beef.
Spread the chilies, cilantro,(corn and tortillas if you are using them) and cheese over the beef as well.
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, salt and pepper together.
Pour the egg mixture over the beef mixture.
Cook at 350 for 40-50 minutes or until it is mostly set. Take it out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes to set up a little more.

Serve with fresh salsa and sour cream.

I happen to have a casserole dish that is enamel over cast iron and can be used on the stovetop. I was able to cook the beef, spices and onions all together in a little oil right in this dish. If you have a traditional casserole dish, follow the recipe above to cook the beef and onions.

Cut slices in the onion almost all the way down, first in one direction, then in the other. Turn the onion on it's side and slice all the way down which will give you a perfect dice.

This is a saltfree chili powder fron Penzey's Spices

http://www.penzeys.com/penzeyschili9000

 

Beef, onion and spices before cooking.