February 2nd, 2012

Super Bowl Ideas

FootballThe Super Bowl can be a fun event to get the kids excited – even if your family members are not big sports fans.

Here are some fun crafts to make the big game, big fun.

1. Buy some plain T-shirts at a thrift store or at a local dollar store. Then take some fabric markers found at stores like Michaels or AC Moore (worth the investment) and have the kids draw footballs, cheerleaders, the name of their favorite team, the number of their favorite quarterback, all over the T-shirts. They can sport their custom designed gear on the day of the big game.

2. Buy some pre-made sugar cookie dough and make football cutouts. Bake and then have kids decorate with chocolate frosting and white piping, to make football cookies.

3. As an alternative to cookies, make a sheet cake and then mix green food coloring into white frosting. Have the kids frost the cake green. Take white piping and make lines like you would see on a football field. For goal posts, take popsicle sticks, or lollipop sticks, and glue or tape together. Place on each end of the cake.

To make game day lunch or dinner into a Super Bowl feast, here are some ideas to serve up.

1. Make a fun football dip to serve with veggies or whole grain chips.

  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) provolone cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup crabmeat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
  • 2 teaspoons seafood seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, crab, cottage cheese, seafood seasoning, Worcestershire sauce and mustard; mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Form mixture into a football shape. Arrange some pretzel sticks over the top for football-like ‘laces’. Serve with crackers and/or vegetables. 

2. Make chili or chowder (or buy the stuff premade!) Buy boule bread and hollow out. Serve the chowder or soup in these “super bowls”.

3. Take brown construction paper and wrap around a juice box. Use a white crayon to create football ‘laces’ for a fun way to serve juice.

Serve the cookies or cake you made, wear the t-shirts, and get ready to root for your favorite team! For fun coloring sheets to keep them entertained during the game, visit my post here.

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December 30th, 2011

Festive New Year’s Eve Drink Recipes

Champagne Glasses(Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)

Whether you are going out for New Year’s Eve or staying in, here are some fun drink recipes to kick off the New Year.

One classy option at a New Year’s Eve soiree is chilled champagne with a splash of raspberry liqueur – otherwise known as a Kir Royale. Just add a tablespoon of the liqueur (like Chambord) – to each flute of champagne or sparkling wine before serving. Add some frozen raspberries for style and to keep the champagne or sparking wine chilled.

To celebrate the New Year’s Eve smooches, how about trying an Amaretto Cranberry Kiss. Fill a shaker with a cup of cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of vodka, 4 cup of amaretto and the juice of a fresh-squeezed orange. Serve in a martini glass and garnish with clementine slices. If you want to make in bulk for a party, this drink can be made a day ahead.

What if you are staying at home watching the festivities on TV in front of a fireplace? How about curling up with a cup of hot cocoa – with a twist. Make your favorite hot chocolate (from scratch or from a mix) and add a sweet flavored vodka whipped cream to each cup. Make it extra festive by sprinkling cinnamon, nutmeg or shaved chocolate on top.

If you are pregnant (like me), then libations are on the no-no list. Or perhaps you are the designated driver (you rock!), or just want to pass on the liquor, it doesn’t mean you have to stick with soda all night. Try some of these fun mocktails like the Mocktail Mojito. Take 1/4 cup peeled and diced cucumber, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 4 to 5 fresh basil leaves and place in the bottom of a glass. Add ice and 6 ounces of ginger ale. Delish!

Who doesn’t love a Cosmopolitan? So here is non-alcoholic one to order up (in a martini glass, of course) and party with the rest of them: 3 ounces of cranberry juice, 5 ounces of orange flavored sparking water and one lime wedge. (Note: if you or the bartender doesn’t have orange-flavored sparkling water, ask for 2 ounces of orange juice and 3 ounces of sparking water to substitute.) For a New Year’s Day brunch, try this mocktail mimosa: 3 ounces of fresh orange juice and 3 ounces of ginger ale.

Enjoy and make sure to drink responsibly! (And never Drink and Drive!)

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Image Credit: Fangol via stock.xchng

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May 28th, 2011

Easy Grilled Desserts

Peaches, Pineapple, and even Bananas are great on the grill. Add some sweet sauce or vanilla ice cream and you have a different dessert than you would serve during most of the year. While easy grilled appetizers and easy grilled side dishes will amaze your guests, dazzle them with the grilled fruit desserts.

Great Grilled Desserts

Grilled Peaches

Peel, pit and slice the peaches. Make sure to oil the rack. Place the peaches on the grill and do not move the peaches, otherwise you will not get those fabulous grill marks. Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side. In the interim, stir 2tbs sugar, 2tbs brandy, and 1tbs lemon juice in a medium bowl to blend. Set the brandy mixture aside. When the peaches are ready, remove them from the grill and place them in a shallow baking dish. Top them with the brandy mixture and toss to coat. Set aside for 15 minutes-toss occasionally. Top with vanilla ice cream or mascarpone cheese.

Grilled Bananas

Spray a grill-proof pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Cut bananas diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange, overlapping, in the pie plate. Combine 3tbs brown sugar, 1tsp cinnamon, and 1tsp nutmeg in small bowl, then sprinkle over the bananas and add 2tbs of cut margarine pieces over the bananas. Cover pie plate tightly with foil. Place on the grill, covered, for about 10 to 15 minutes or until bananas are tender and hot. Carefully remove foil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lime juice. Serve with low-fat frozen yogurt.

Grilled Pineapple

Peel and cut a pineapple crosswise into rings, about 1/2-inch each. Use a spoon or apple corer to carve out the center core of each ring, so you remove the hard center. Spray a the grill with cooking spray and grill the pineapple for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until grill marks appear. Heat the 2tbs of butter, 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of rum in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. You can do this over the grill. Place a pineapple ring on each plate, scoop ice cream into the center of the ring, and drizzle sauce on top.

Super yum.

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Image Credit: mccum934 via Creative Commons

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March 15th, 2011

Recipe Organization

Quick idea to organize all those recipes that you may have clipped from magazines, newspapers or printed from the internet. Super simple and the end result is a fabulous homemade recipe book.

(Note the longer ‘do. Chopped off the hair a couple days later. Hmmm, I wonder if was because of this video? Maybe.)

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February 28th, 2010

Grilled Cheese Twist

I love grilled cheese, especially with a warm cup of tomato soup on a raw, wet day, like today in New England. A couple of months ago though, I came across an article, in the October 2010 Martha Stewart Living Magazine that gave me an idea for Grilled Cheese with a twist.

Simply place your cheese-of-choice (cheddar, american, swiss, goat, or any other cheese) on some bread and your choice of Jelly. Yes, Jelly. Slap it in a pan on the stove or in a grilled cheese maker, and voila! A delicious alternative to the old standby.

Just be prepared to share.

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