Friday, May 31, 2013

Osso Bucco



I simply have to record this recipe; twas so damn good. Quick - get cracking before you forget it.

Put 3 large beef shin into a casserole dish with a little oil and pan fry slowly turning regularly. The idea is to render the fat slowly and extract the impurities out from the meat. Could take 10-15mins.

I had about 1/2 cup capsicum liquid reserved in a baking dish after I'd baked six capsicum for an hour. Place the slow sauteed meat into the liquid and turn a couple of times.

Wipe the pan to get rid of any unwanted bits. In a little oil, sautee chunky slices of one large brown onion. Take six cloves garlic and halve. Toss in with nicely sauteed onion; cook for a couple of mins. Place in small bowl.

Put pan back onto a medium heat; add 1 1/2 cups Brown Brothers "Crouchen Riesling". Cook for a couple of mins. Take off heat. Arrange meat evenly in the pan; strain and pour over the liquid in which the meat had been resting. Add up to 1/2 cup more of water if needed.

Sparsely scatter some Vegeta seasoning into the liquid. Give a good douse of cracked black pepper all over. Put half the onion over the meat; arrange long pieces of leek, carrot, parsnip and celery to completely cover the meat. Scatter over the remaining cooked onion. Evenly toss over a handful of whole sweet Romano tomatoes. Tuck in a good sprig of fresh sage and a couple of parsley stalks with tops.  Add more pepper and a good throw of salt right over the top.



Cover dish and place in preheated oven 170degrees. Bake for one hour. Take out; check to see if veggies are par cooked and that there is enough liquid covering the meat but not up to the veggies. Add pieces of long chopped zucchini now if desired.  Return, cover and bake for another hour.

Take out again; remove lid; check to see if meat falls apart and is ready; if veggies look a little dull, brush over a tablespoon of olive oil, put back into oven, increase heat a little and bake till veggies look glossy and dish looks overall nice and brown.

Preferably turn off heat and leave in oven to help all the flavours meld a little before serving. Remove the sprig of sage and parsley stalks. Serve with creamy mash potatoes and crunchy ciabatta or sourdough baguette.

YUM!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

15 Delicious Spring- Summer Drinks Recipes

15 Delicious Spring-Summer Drink Recipes. Look no further! This post has the One Place Stop for delicious smoothies, milkshakes, malts, cocktails you can possibly imagine to enjoy this summer!
Hola Amigos, I have for you today my first round up post where I give you the best of our Spring -Summer Drinks so far. Just click on the highlighted link and it will take you to the recipe.
Whether you like smoothies, ice cream beverages, coffee, coolers or soda floats I can assure you, there is one or two you would love, just scroll down and enjoy!
Malts




Wine and Champagne Cocktails



Seasonal Fruit Smoothies





Banana Colada Smoothie

Triple Purple Berry Smoothie

Peach Raspberry Smoothie

Lemon Meringue Pie Milkshake

Coolers
Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler

 Soda Floats
Blueberry Ice Cream Soda Float

Coffee Drinks
Raspberry Coffee Smoothie

Thank You for visiting the blog today, I'm looking forward to share a second roundup of Full Summer Drinks with you soon, remember that everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,
Lizy

Sharing some tasty drinks at these Fabulous Parties:
Seaside Simplicity
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Oh My Creative
Just Us Four
The Wondering Brain
Natasha in Oz
The Charm of Home
Cheerios and Lattes
This and That
My Turn (for Us)
The Taylor House
I Gotta Create
Easy Life
Marigold's Loft
The Style Sisters
Handy Man, Crafty Woman
Twin Dragonfly Designs
Savvy Southern Style
Marty's Musings
Ginger Snap Crafts
Clean and Scentsible
Mom's Test Kitchen
Fluster Buster
I Gotta Try That
twelve O eight
Feeding Big
With a Blast
Chic on a Shoestring
Simply Designing
Rattlebridge Farm
Fresh Eggs Daily
The Home Girl
Dessert Now, Dinner Later
Classy Clutter
Bowdabra
Will Cook for Smiles
Judy= H-J's Thoughts
Navy Wifey Peters
Sew Crafty Angel
Cuddlebug Cuties
VMG206
The Chicken Chick
Under The Table and Dreaming
Do Small Things with Love

oh yeah, blogging


Whoops. It happened again, I forgot to blog.



Here is a little peak at what's been going on.....thanks to my iphone for all the photos.





We finished school last week! yaaaaaaaay!!!! Overall homeschool was a wonderful experience--we all enjoyed it and we all learned (me too) more than expected. We liked it so much I'm still trying to decide what to do come fall. That being said, we are

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I'm Co Hosting a Party at Fluster Buster




I'm so excited to introduce you to this weeks co-host and featured blogger, Lizy, from Just dip it in Chocolate. At last weeks party Lizy linked up her Death by Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Apparently there were a lot of people craving chocolate when they visited last weeks party, because Lizy's cake received a record number of views. It you get a chance stop by Lizy's blog and say "Hi" and while you're there check out all of the wonderful things that she creates, it's not all chocolate.


Fluster's Creative Muster
Week #22
(begins Tuesday @ 6pm and ends Sunday at 11:59pm)

Host

Co-Host

Fluster Buster
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flusterbuster.com" title="Fluster Buster"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyisOXN2q4TcWg2X5btMAcx6uPZJLPwUMwJohlFbrR0oz_4lXWWKMgMBwAWw4IVyMb44n81MsHfkOCbocipjq6zeJMuOH7anAX5mDbw1dwHIFCaVmj9HG2CCe7boCa1Zs9BCSbRfDkE2qz/s1600/Fluster+Muster+1.jpg" alt="Fluster Buster" style="border:none;" /></a></div>


Lilac sugar

I can't even begin to explain just how much I love these flowers. They make me all giddy! They smell incredible, and the fact that they are edible make them even better. Making lilac sugar is super simple - all you need is lilac petals, sugar and a jar. That's it! A perfect way to preserve the smell of summer for months to come. It's also a perfect gift!


Lilac sugar
Clean, dry lilac petals (preferably purple as they are very fragrant)
Granulated sugar
A jar

Layer flowers and sugar in a jar. Let stand dark and cool for a few days, shake every now and then. Now your sugar is ready to use. Perfect for baking or in a cup of tea.






Monday, May 27, 2013

Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs Recipe

Hola Amigos! Happy Monday! Hope everybody is enjoying this long weekend with lots of BBQs, grilling, and just plain fun with family and friends. I was going to start a series of Seasonal Fruits Posts for the entire week, but I got a request from my hubs today to make him his favorite appetizer, Deviled Eggs! Very rarely he asks for something in particular so I agreed to his request because I had a new recipe I wanted to try.
I call them  "True Blue Deviled Eggs" in honor of this Memorial Day, "True Blue" stands for  Loyal, I'm sure we've all heard the expression True Blue American, right? there's also some blue cheese in them so the name is perfect! and now that I think about it, it would be perfect for the 4th of July as well. Here is the recipe
Buffalo Chicken
True Blue Deviled Eggs

1 dozen eggs cooked, cut in half, yolks separated from whites
1 Chicken Breast Cooked and processed to coarse crumbs
6 oz Sour Cream
6 oz Cream Cheese Softened
6 oz Blue Cheese (I used smoked)
8 oz Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/8 cup Mustard ( I used Smoked Chipotle Mustard)
Franks Hot Sauce
(you could use Buffalo Sauce, but is too hot for the kids here)
dash of pepper
dash of tumeric 
dash or garlic powder

In a big bowl add and mix all the ingredients plus the egg yolks until you get a creamy paste, put in the microwave for 1 minute or 2 to melt the mozzarella cheese

. Stuff your eggs with this warm mix and sprinkle some paprika on top!

Listo

I loved this recipe! I think I saw something similar on Pinterest but I couldn't find it to double check I got everything right? Don't you hate when that happens? LOL

It's really tasty and with the left over mix you can use it as a warm dip for bread sticks or crackers.

Thank You for visiting! Have a safe return home if you are traveling, if you are home, stay safe and everybody enjoy the day! Don't forget that everything tastes better with a Pinch Of Love!

Besitos,
Lizy

Passing some tasty appetizers at these Fabulous Parties:
In the Kitchen with Jenny
Do Small Things with Love
Fireflies and Jellybeans
My Turn (for Us)
Savvy Southern Style
Simply Designing
Rattlebridge Farm
Love and Laundry
One Artsy Mama
The Best Blog Recipes
kitchen fun witm my Three Sons
Twin Dragonfly Designs
Ginger Snap Crafts
All She Cooks
Rain on a Tin Roof
I Gotta Try That
Between Naps on the Porch
Sew-Licious Home Decor
Feeding Big
Hun...what's for Dinner
Pint Sized Baker
twelveOeight
Kathe with an E
Our Home away from Home
PJH Designs
Love Grows Wild
Nap-Time Creations
Memories by the Mile
Cozy Little House
Tumbleweed Contessa
Love Bake Cakes
The NY Melrose Family
Clean and Scentsible
Handy Man, Crafty Woman
The Style Sisters
Life with the Crust Cut off
Rose Chintz Cottage
Chic on a Shoestring
Fresh Eggs Daily
The Dedicated House
The Home Girl
Dessert Now, Dinner Later
DebbieDoo's
Bowdabra
Will Cook for Smiles
Judy H-J's Thoughts
Navy Wifey Peters
Sew Crafty Angel
VMG206
Under the Table and Dreaming

Sunday, May 26, 2013

I've been Nominated

Sunshine Award..what a beautiful name indeed! Hola Amigos! I've been nominated this time to be the proud recipient of the Sunshine Award! The Lovely Janet at The Cat on My Head, has kindly nominated my blog among other wonderful ladies and blogs to receive this Happy and Thoughtful Award! Thank You Janet!

What a great honor! I like to think that the mission of this blog is to actually bring a ray of sunshine or a smile to at least 1 person who reads it! If this is accomplished, and I believe it is by what I read in your lovely comments, I think I'm actually doing something  good here.

There are rules to accept this award  which I would try to follow to the best of my abilities and pass them on to the next Nominees.

First some questions need to be answered by me and the future nominees...here they are...

1-Favorite Color
2-Favorite Animal
3-Favorite Number
4-Favorite Non Alcoholic Drink
5-Favorite Alcoholic Drink
6-Facebook or Twitter
7-My Passions
8-Giving or Receiving Gifts
9-Favorite City
10-Favorite TV Show


And the Nominees are:

A HUMBLE CREATION
CHATTING OVER CHOCOLATE
MAIL FOR ROSEY
JUDY H-J' S THOUGHTS
HEATHERLY LOVES
SHAFFER SISTERS
CHICA CHOCOLATINA
THIS AND THAT
FEEDING BIG
NAP TIME CREATIONS

I subscribed and read all these blogs, all wonderful in their own special way but with one thing in common, they are a Ray of Sunshine to their readers, therefore they all deserve this award! Congratulations ladies! You are all wonderful!

All you girls have to do is:
Post the Sunshine Award Logo
Nominate 10 fellow bloggers
Announce their nomination on their blog's comment section
Provide a link to the nominees's blogs as well as the blog of the person who nominated you
Answer the questions.

I would like to thank one more time Miss Janet Blue at The Cat on My Head for this sweet honor! Please take a moment to visit her blog and say hi to all her furry kitties! You will fall in love with them!

 Isn't she beautiful?  Here she is at a Ceremony held by USA Volleyball, where she was presented with  the Nancy S. Sharpless Scorekeeper Emeritus award. Miss Blue was chair of the USA International Scorekeepers Commission for 12 years and worked many international events during her career! Congratulations Miss Blue!

Besitos,
Lizy

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Make Your Own Homemade Sour Cream




"Hey yogurt, if you're so cultured, how come I never see you at the opera?"
 
- Attributed to Stephen Colbert




I use a lot of sour cream. It is one of my favorite ingredients for baking. I prefer using it over yogurt, since it has a higher fat content, I think it makes tastier baked goods. So when I first found out you could make it yourself, I was all over it.

Measuring the cream

I keep heavy cream in the house, mostly because I use it in tea and coffee. There is nothing like heavy cream, pure and simple. I actually think heavy cream is my favorite food of all time. Since I keep it around, this is so awesome for me. I can make my own sour cream myself, if I run out of store bought.



Just added the milk/vinegar mixture
Another reason I wanted to share it here, is because many of my recipes call for it, and sour cream isn't available in every country. But heavy cream, (probably called simply, cream, in most places) I know is more widely available.




And we wait for the magic to happen

The great news is I think this homemade sour cream tastes even better than store bought. The first taste you get when you taste it is sour cream. But then you get this after taste of heavy cream. So of course I love that! And you know what the ingredients are since you made it yourself!


After 24 hours, it gets thick! But not quite as thick as store bought, but almost.

The bad news is it doesn't last as long in the fridge as store bought, and it's not quite as thick, (it's still thick, just a tad less than store bought.) It lasts about a week after you make it, but after a few days it does loosen a little. I think it's best within the first 4 or 5 days.




Vintage Minton Bowl, Pink Napkins and  Towle Sterling Silver Spoon, available at my Etsy shop, House of Lucien.




Homemade Sour Cream

There are 2 different ways you can make this, I've included them both.
 

Recipe #1 from All Recipes This is the recipe I used this time, but I've made it both ways.

Ingredients

1 cup (8 oz or 237 ml) heavy whipping cream - here in the US there is whipping cream and heavy whipping cream, get the heavy kind, the one with the highest fat content

1/4 cup (59 ml) milk

3/4 tsp white vinegar

Directions

In a small bowl, add the milk and the vinegar stir, and let stand for 10 minutes.

Pour the heavy cream into a jar and stir in the milk mixture. Cover the jar and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.

After the 24 hours has passed, store it in the fridge. Use within a week.



Recipe #2 From Mother Earth News this article also includes how to make cream cheese

Ingredients

1 cup (8 oz or 237 ml)  heavy whipping cream - here in the US there is whipping cream and heavy whipping cream, get the heavy kind, the one with the highest fat content

1/4 cup (59 ml) sour cream OR cultured buttermilk, OR yogurt with live cultures

Directions

In a jar add the heavy cream and the sour cream or buttermilk, shake it all up and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours. After 24 hours, store it in the fridge. It will last a week in the fridge.


Enjoy!