Ian’s Spanish Sangria

Happy hump day ya'll!!

Today I am sharing with you my brother and sister-in-law's favorite sangria recipe. They went to Spain and took a class on how to make Sangria. At the end of the class, they drank A LOT of sangria and left with a copy of the recipe. They made it for my family over the 4th of July Holiday and everyone loved it (not me of course...HA!) so I thought I would share it here! Enjoy!!

Here is the cute couple prepping the ingredients...LOTS of ingredients...mostly alcohol!! HA HA!

Here is my sister-in-law cutting up the fruit...you use one lemon and one orange sliced into thin rings...

Put that into a large glass pitcher...all they had was a trifle bowl but it worked!!! HA! Add ice!


Get a good sniff of the brandy ...


and then add 100 ml of it to the bowl...


Then add a half of a liter of red wine...cheap red wine is fine!

Then add 100ml of vodka and 100 ml of peach schnapps...


Then 100ml of apple schnapps...




Top off with fizzy orange and fizzy lemon soda...I think they put about 100ml of each in.


And that's it! Mix all together and serve!!


Little pose with their finished product!


Here is the official recipe...


I am adding this fun shot of my sister to the end...maybe she had one too many Sangria's as she was very happy to let me put a watermelon sticker on her forehead and get a picture - HEE HEE!  Just kidding - I love my family for humoring me ...this is actually my sister making her FAMOUS mac and cheese for the family one night...yum!!! I will save that recipe for another time!


Have a fantastic day and week! Now I am off to catch up on everyone else's blogs!

Do you drink alcohol? What is your favorite drink? Ever have Sangria? Do you like to take classes when traveling or just relax?

Picked a Peck of Pickled Serrano Peppers

Happy Thursday!!!!

Thanks for coming by today! Today I am going to invite you into my kitchen!!! I decided to try canning this summer!! It turned out great!! 

I grew a serrano pepper plant this year on my patio. I love hot peppers but always struggle with ways to use them at the end of summer.  My got a canning book from my Grandma's house when she passed away and found a few recipes for peppers. I wanted to try a hot pepper relish but I figured for my first try I needed to shot a little lower so I just went for basic canning of the peppers this year.

Here is the recipe I used...

See - very basic.

My new dishwasher came in handy to sterilize my new Ball jars prior to filling...

So here is the whole process...

This is my pepper plant after I removed the peppers...

And this is all of the peppers!! This is only from one plant...I think I will plant more next year...

I put on rubber gloves and then cut the peppers in half and removed the stems!! I also chopped in a few store bought banana peppers for variety...

I filled all the jars with peppers and then poured the hot mixture over them to fill the jars with 1/4 inch left on the top.  Then put the lids on and boiled them for ten minutes.  As you see, I do not have a canning pot so I made my own...LOL!! The water has to cover the top by 1-2 inches and then you just boil and remove from the water bath after ten minutes.

Here are the jars after taking them out of the bath. They are supposed to site for 24 hours before moving them around.  This is when you also check to make sure they all sealed. You simply push done on the middle of the lid and it should not pop at all...that means it is sealed.

These peppers will have a shelf life of 18 months without being refridgerated.

I'll let you know how they are after they sit a few weeks and I finally try one!!1

YUMMY!!

Clean Eating Turkey Meatballs

I made up this recipe last night and they are amazing!!!!!!

I just had to share it with you!!!

The world's best Turkey Meatballs!!!

3 lbs ground turkey

1 egg white

1/4 cup parsley

1 whole sweet onion chopped

2 cups baby bells mushrooms chopped (you can use any veggie chopped finely but the mushrooms make these REALLY moist!!!)

4 T crushed garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the above together well and roll into 3 oz balls.

Lay them out side by side (its okay if they touch) on a foil lined cookie sheet with a rim (there will be juice)

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

2 meatballs is a serving.

ENJOY!!!

You are welcome!
 

I hope yinz all have an amazing day!!!!!

Quinoa.........YUM!

I am in such a weird space! I just want this week to be over!!

I am sooo totally over this entire week I cannot stress it enough!

Any one else feel this way?!?!?

I miss my dude! I think I made a really dumb split-instant decision based on baggage and fears from the past and, in doing so, I lost a really great guy! I was holding onto fears from my past with the last idiot and it caused me to get terrified and run away from a man that truly loves me for me - all my faults, habits and control freeky-ness!

We are meeting up later tonight and hopefully working out a way to move forward and try again.  He is such a sweetie and it truly would be my loss if he walks away.
Time will tell :-( Wish me luck!

On another note, I went out to eat this week to First Watch and got a delicious meal that I think I did pretty good in recreating! It is soo yummy!!!.

I cooked 1/2 cup chopped onion till soft then added 2 cups quinoa, 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1/4 cup of dried cherries, 1/8 cup sliced almonds. 

 

Let boil slightly till broth is all absorbed. 

 

Then I added the breast meat from a rotisserie chicken that I shredded and sprinkled some low fat feta on top to serve.

 

It was AWESOME!

 

Not kidding! Try it - you'll like it! And, it is a super food too!!!!!! YUMMO and HEALTHY TO THE MAX!!!

 

Happy weekend to y'all! Wish me luck getting my darlin back too! I need all the prayers I can get - I really did blindside him and hurt him pretty bad!

 

 

Greek Love!

I HAVE THE GREATEST HEALTHY RECIPE FOR YOU GUYS!


If you like Greek food (ie: grape leaves, hussus, etc.) then you will LOVE this recipe!


I was getting a pedicure two weeks ago and my nail tech mentioned growing herbs. I told her I also have many plants and my patio looks like a jungle. We started sharing what we grow and found out we both are growing spearmint. I use it in tea and salads and she said I had to try this recipe.


Again, this was two weeks ago!!! I have made it at least three times since.....for about three days I ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner - soooo yummy and good for you! So, I am sharing and I PROMISE you will love it!!!! TRY IT!!


Greek bean salad

2 can drained and rinsed black beans
1 cup chopped onion (you can use less but I LOVE onion)
8 oz reduced fat feta (you can use regular)
1/2 cup chopped mint leaves

Mix the above all together in bowl then...

shake together 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 1/8 cup of olive oil

pour that over the bean mixture.....ENJOY!!!

It is good right away but is even better after refrigerated for at least a few hours so the flavors marry!!!!

yummmmmmmmy!

Chicken Rollatini

Great new recipe for ya'll to try!!

I got this recipe a few days ago from Gina's Skinny Recipes and it is sooooo amazing!

I am so glad I tried it.

Initially I thought it was too much work but it is really easy and sooo very yummy and also GOOD FOR YOU!!! YEAH!

I have made it twice already....and am eating the leftovers daily for lunch and dinner-it is THAT good!!!!

I am re-posting below...if you like yummy cheesy things, you will love these!!!

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Chicken Rollatini - Modified from Julia's Healthy Italian

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 chicken • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 4 ptsCalories: 168.6 • Fat: 6.4 g • Protein: 22.1 g • Carb: 4.6 g • Fiber: 0.7 g • Sugar: 0.0 g
8 thin chicken cutlets, 3 oz each
4 (2.8 oz) slices thin lean prosciutto, sliced in half
4 slices Sargento reduced fat provolone or mozzarella, sliced in half
1/2 cup whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Romano cheese (or parmesan)
1 lemon, juice of
1 tbsp olive oil
fresh pepper
1/4 red onion, sliced
olive oil non-stick spray

Preheat oven to 450°.

Wash and dry cutlets well with paper towels.

Combine breadcrumbs and grated cheese in one bowl and olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper in another bowl.

Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Dip the chicken in the lemon-oil mixture, then in the breadcrumbs to coat well.

Place each cutlet on a work surface such as a cutting board and lay 1/2 slice prosciutto, 1/2 slice cheese and a few chunks red onion on one side of the chicken cutlet.

Roll and place seam side down in a baking dish (no toothpicks needed).

Repeat with the remaining chicken.

When finished, top with remaining crumbs and spray lightly with oil.

Bake 25 - 30 minutes.

Serve immediately!

Serving size is listed as one, but I eat two for eight points with a steamed veggie or salad.

Another shout out to Kenz

I feel like I am constantly linking to Kenz at All The Weigh...that must be good right?!?!?

Well - she posted a recipe the other day that looked soooooo yummy that I went right to the store and bought the ingredients to make them - I am SOOOOOO glad I did!!!!!

Last night after work and before I went out with friends I made Kenz's Chocolate Chip Macaroons - YUM!!

Chocolate Chip Macaroon Cookie Recipe

1 box Angel Food cake
1/2 c. water
7 oz. coconut
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. mini chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix the first four ingredients well then add the chocolate chips. Drop on a greased cookies sheet. (I used Parchment paper-my new favorite kitchen helper.) (The batter will seem VERY runny but using a tablespoon cookie dropper they spread out when they bake and puff up.)

Bake for 15 minutes and cool completely before removing from the pan.

Yield: About 30 cookies/3 WW pts. each (on the new plan)

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! These are amazing!! It doesn't hurt that I love coconut, chocolate AND angelfood!!!!!

Thanks again Kenz - I love them!!!!! They are soooo easy to make and sooo yummy!!

And I shared them with my friends last night!

Weekend Recap

What a nice, cozy, chillout weekend!

I did nothing urgent this weekend although I did a lot of cleaning!!

It was sooooooooooo nice to get the spring cleaning in full swing - I love love love a clean home!!!

It just smells soooooooooooo good now!!!

Here is a pic recap of what my doing nothing weekend looked like.

Below is Waliacha looking really proud and cute (I must say). This is Lucky my 16 year old cat that hates everyone!!! She has apparently now grown fonder of Waliacha than me....he is her new buddy and she now chooses to lay on him and not me :-(
Oh well, it is nice that SOMEONE likes him more than me!!! LOL





Another picture of the new buddies.......

And another....

Here is a picture of my WAY healthy banana nut wheat muffins....

And here is the recipe...

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
1/4 cup applesause
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup smashed soy nuts

Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C).
Combine oil, honey, eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas in a bowl.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, salt, and baking soda. Make a well in dry ingredients, and add the banana mixture. Mix together until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 1 hour in preheated oven. Test for doneness, and cool on wire rack.

(I followed this recipe above but I poured into cupcakes and baked for about 15 min.)

YUMMMMMMMYYYYY!!!!!!!

Here is my new china cabinet with my china (Sweet Leilani) and crystal all loaded. I am still working on the organization of everything in it, but this is the jist! I love it sooooooo much!!! I was married like 15 years ago for a very brief 6 months and this china has remained in boxes ever since....It is soo nice to get it out and display it and have a little happiness from it!! The bottom shelf is all stuff that my mother or grandmother has passed down and a few collectables....my new favorite thing in the condo!

Note: my very few Cats Meows across the top!! I would love to get more but dont travel much - if any of my bloggy friends live near a place that sells them I would gladly pay you to pick me up a few from special places in your area......

Anddddddddddd new shoes......

Andddddddddd more new shoes (these are the coolest ever - they have a metal heal with rhinestones in them and they were only $20)....

EASIEST and yummiest dinner EVER-Pork and Rice!

Ok ... promise...this is good!!!!

And sooooooooooooooo easy - I love love love crockpot cooking now!!!!!!!!!!

Turned my crockpot on low...

Add...

1 can cream celery soup

1 can cream mushroom soup

1 1/2 cup water

1 1/2 cups brown rice

1 packet onion soup mix

Stir it all together...

Add the 4 to 6 boneless pork chops

(I stirred a little)

Cover and that's it!!!!!!!!!

Cook low for 8 - 10 hours.

Soooooooooooooooooo yummy and soooo easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my kind of cookin'!

Non-Guilty Chocolate Cookie Drops

Little extra....CHOCOLATE COOKIES DROPS
great fat free recipe for some NON-GUILTY chocolate!

Mix together...
1 box fat-free brownie mix
2 1/2 cups wheat germ (found in the cereal aisle)
1 cup low calorie OJ

After well mixed, drop 1 T size cookies onto a cookie tray and bake each tray at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 min.

Each one is only around 25 calories with tons of fiber....you can eat 2 for 1 point on weight watchers - gooooooood deal!!!!!!!

They are DELICIOUS even though they look like meatballs (this is what my boyfriend Walt calls them) My entire family is hooked on them!