April 22nd, 2013

Awesome Avocado Recipes & an Amazing Cinco Fiesta

This is a sponsored post. All content, however, is my own.

I freaking love avocados. I put them on anything I can, so it is fortunate that they are available all year round. They are primarily grown in Mexico, which is handy-dandy for this Massachusetts girl!

Simple ham and cheese sandwich? Advocado on it.

Grilled cheese and avocado? Slap on some slices.

Garden salad with avocado. Delish.

I usually don’t even mash them up for sandwiches as I am too impatient! But doing so it a great alternative to less-healthy mayonnaise.

At this point in the post, if you haven’t figure out my obsession with avocados, then you should check out my Awesome Avocado Pinterest Board dedicated to this little green fruit. (Yes, it is a fruit my friends. It says so in the dictionary!) My Board has various recipes from Avocodo Alcholic beverages (not kidding) and chocolate mousse made with Avocados. (Still not kidding.)

But I came across this recipe from my friend Kelly’s website called Making it Paleo. The recipe is for Eggs Baked in Avocado. It looked so good, I had to try it.

 

egg in avocado recipe | CharleneChronicles.com

 

What you need:

(Serves Four)

  • 4 avocados (cut in half for a total of 8 halves)
  • 8 eggs (one for each avocado half)
  • 12 strips of bacon (optional)
  • salt and pepper

How to make it: (You can also watch this quick video here.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut avocados in half and remove pit, and a little extra avocado to make room for the egg. Crack open the eggs, one at a time, into a separate bowl. Gently using a spoon, guide the yolk and some of the egg whites into the avocado. Do it for each avocado. Place the avocado halves in a baking dish very carefully, making sure not to tip them over. Top with salt and pepper.

Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or more depending on how you like your eggs cooked. In the interim, cook the bacon as you wish. I put ours in the microwave with paper towels to absorb the fat. Once cooked, crumble up four pieces of bacon (one for each person/serving) and use rest of bacon strips to serve on the side. You can skip the bacon if you want, add some sprinkled cheese, etc. Whatever works. When the egg avocados are done, remove from oven and top with the crumbled bacon and serve with slices of bacon on the side. Then dig in with a spoon and enjoy the yummy egg, bacon, and avocado mixture!

Since Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, it is a great time to host an Avocado Brunch and serve this Eggs in Avocado Recipe! Or if you want more of a fiesta, have a Cinco de Mayo Party. Heck, why not both!

To get you inspired, check out a Pinterest Contest where you can receive a $500 gift card for the grand prize (or a $50 gift card and authentic molcajete each week) based on your “Most Amazing Cinco Fiesta” Pinterest Board.

Olé!

Or discover your inner Avo on Facebook where you can take a quiz that links your personality traits to avocado-based recipes with similar characteristics. Love this one. (Hmmm, maybe I am a Rocker Guac-er?)

Or enter to win a $100 gift card. Fun! (And don’t forget to check out all of my giveaways! Scroll to see them all here.)

Fiesta time!

Win a $100 Gift Card


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Image Credit: My own.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
 

CategoryContests and Giveaways, Health and Fitness | Comment8 Comments »

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March 26th, 2013

How to Make Homemade Jelly Beans

Making jelly beans can be somewhat time consuming, but doable even for the cooking and candy making novice. (Such as myself.) I suggest buying a pot that you have dedicated to your candy making/jelly bean making endeavors. Over time, you’ll appreciate that the high heat won’t ruin the pots and pans you have for Spaghetti night.

This recipe for how to make homemade jelly beans is found all over the internet and everyone has their general take on it, but over time you’ll find what works for you!

how to make homemade jelly beans

 
Here is what you need:

  • 1 cup water, divided
  • 2 cups sugar, divided
  • 1/4 ounce gelatin
  • 1/2 cup no pulp juice or your favorite cocktail (Think fun things like a margarita mix!)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Food coloring (whether commercial or something you can find at Whole Foods)Tools and Supplies:

You will also need:

  • 6 jelly bean molds (You can buy them on Amazon.)
  • Candy thermometer
  • Non-stick Cooking spray 

This recipe will make about 150 Homemade Jelly Beans. I suggest doing this first thing in the morning, because there is a lot of drying time and setting time.

Directions:

  1. In a large saucepan on medium heat, combine 3/4 cup water, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and gelatin.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring regularly to ensure that no clumps of gelatin form.
  3. As the mixture is boiling, spray the jelly bean molds with non-stick spray.
  4. As soon as the temperature reaches 230F take the saucepan off the stove. (Use the candy thermometer!) It is important you don’t let the mixture get too hot since it will result in hard-as-rock-jelly beans, but if it happens, at least you now have some hard candy! It will take about 25 minutes to get to that temperature so make sure you have plenty of time and don’t rush it. The syrup should still be liquidy at this point.
  5. Set the pot in a bowl of ice to stop the temperature from rising. Or fill your sink with ice water and put the pot in there.
  6. Quickly stir in the juice or other cocktail and salt.
  7. Pour the syrup into the molds.
  8. Let the jelly beans sit for four to six hours until the gelatin is gummy and sticky.
  9. Push the jelly beans out of the molds and transfer them to parchment paper.
  10. Lightly dust the beans with cornstarch to help them dry & let sit for another few hours.
  11. To make the outer shell, mix 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup super fine sugar, and food coloring of choice.
  12. Pour the mixture into a jar and add the jelly beans in the jar.
  13. This part is the tricky part. Seal the jar tightly. Tilt the jar at an angle and turn it in your hand (as you would a doorknob), keeping the angle. Tumble the jar for 10-15 minutes. I suggest doing this while you are watching your favorite TV show.
  14. Using a slotted spoon, remove the coated beans out of the liquid and place them on fresh parchment to dry and harden overnight.
  15. Once the top side is hard, flip each bean and allow the other side to dry.

Enjoy!

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Image Credit: Original Photo from: Steve Koukoulas via photopin cc
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post.
 

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December 20th, 2012

The Ninja Cooking System – An Appliance Rockstar

Whether you are reading this before the Christmas holiday or are reading this in the middle of summer, put the Ninja Cooking System on your gift list. Seriously. Like, right now.

I had the good fortune to get a sneak peak at the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System before it hit the store shelves, and let me tell you, it was hard not to spill the beans. As soon as I started seeing the ads on TV though, I immediately told my everyone I knew!

When you have homework to help with, crying babies who need a diaper change, or toddlers who want more juice, you don’t have the time to be stirring a pot. This is not the 1950s, people.

The gist is that Ninja Cooking System is a slow cooker (aka crockpot), but it also functions as a stove top and an oven. So that crockpot you equate to old people? This is not it. Think of it as the younger sister. The hot younger sister.

You can make dessert in it, a chicken with sides of rice and veggies (not mixed together, but still cooks in one pot!) or Spaghetti and Meatballs to name a few dishes.

Check out my video on how I made Spaghetti and Meatballs using the traditional stove and pan method. Then, how I made Spaghetti and Meatballs using the Ninja 3-and-1 cooking system. Huge difference in the stress factor.

 

This rocks for a grandparent who can’t cook as easily (or clean up as easily) any more, a new Mom that needs easy ways to make dinner with children underfoot, or a busy working couple.

An appliance rockstar. Where have you been all my life?

Happy cooking!

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Image Credit: My own. All Rights Reserved.
Disclosure: I received a free Ninja Cooking System. All thoughts, opinions and content are my own.

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