Light & Easy Roasted Veggies

Roasted Green Beans

Roasting vegetables are so so easy peasy, delicious, and healthy! I used to drizzle my veggies with olive oil before roasting, but tried something different the other day. I sprayed my veggies with +PamOrganic Olive Oil instead of drizzling with olive oil! By spraying with the Pam Organic Olive Oil made the veggies really really light!
To Roast Vegetables:
Preheat oven 450  (i know alot of recipes use lower temp, but I like oven high & hot for roasting)
Put your veggies of choice on a large cookie sheet.
Spray with Pam Organic Olive Oil, just to coatl
Sprinkle with a little kosher salt or sea salt
Put in oven.
Roast 10 min, remove from oven, with a pair of tongs toss veggies to turn them, spray on a little more Organic Olive Oil, and put back in oven for 10-15 more min. depending on your veggie.
Remove from oven, sprinkle on a little more salt. Now enjoy & be Healthy!

*Depending on the vegetables you use, you can squeeze on a little lemon juice. after roasting. Also, you can be creative and sprinkle on any of your favorite herbs along with your salt. I sprinkle on a little oregano & garlic powder on my roasted zucchini. And sprinkle on a little cayenne pepper to my sweet potatoes!

Roasted Kale

You can roast just about any fresh vegetable. Just take a stroll through your fresh produce section of your grocery store. That was the first time roasting green beans, they really turned out yummy. I ate them by themselves also added them to my salad. We all know how healthy kale is, just trim the stock off bottom & they're ready to roast! To roast zucchini or yellow squash, slice them lengthwise bout 1/4 in thick, & follow recipe above. Broccoli & cauliflower, cut them in med size flowerets, takes a little more roasting because of thickness! Sweet Potatoes, cut in wedges, they take a little more time! Asparagus is wonderful, just roast, sometimes squeeze on lemon juice.
These roasted veggies are good to munch on, use as side dishes, or put in your salads. Know you'll love these delicious light veggies too!

This chick loves her light & easy roasted veggies!

National Margarita Day & Margarita Recipes

Yes, seriously, there is a National Margarita Day, every year on Feb. 22! Wahoo a day to celebrate & drink one of my favorite cocktails, like I need an excuse to drink one! Those delicious margaritas are shaken up with so many different concoctions- Mango, jalapeno, strawberry, raspberry, watermelon-basil, and how bout those cornoritas, this is just a tiny list of those luscious cocktails! One main thing the best margaritas are made with fresh ingredients - no premix or that icky bottled margarita mixer & made with 100% agave blanco or reposado tequilla.

Lime Squeezer

If you don't have one, these lime squeezer are the best! Not just for margaritas, but anytime you need a lime squeezed or even small lemons. No seeds will get in.


Margaritas are so so easy to make - Here's a great recipe for your basic Lime Hand Shaken Margarita

2 oz.Blanco or Silver Tequilla (a good one)
1 oz. fresh squeezed lime, (usually that's about 1 whole lime)
1 oz. 100% Pure Blue Agave Nectar
Lime wedge, for rim rubbing
Kosher salt, for rim
Prep Glass; Whether you are using a traditional margarita glass or martini glass; take lime wedge & rub the rim of your glass. Put some kosher salt on a plate, & turn your glass upside down on it to coat.
Mix It:  Take a shaker, put in your tequilla, fresh lime juice & agave nectar. Fill shaker about half full of ice. Now shake it up about 15 sec. Strain into your prepped glass full of ice! Sometimes I put a little topper of seltzer on drink before serving.
Drink up! Sooo delicioso & fresh!  Makes 1 drink.
* Best ice to use is small or broken cubes (sorry pic above does not show that)
*To spice up your margarita, you can add a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper to your salt for your rims!

Sure you guys know, there are so many wonderful margaritas out there, we all have our fave places to go to get your margarita fix! Chef Rick Bayless, owner of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO, Tortas Frontera &Frontera Fresco, also is the creator of Frontera gourmet foods & did I mention 8 cookbooks! Besides all this he makes a terrific margarita at his restaurants. This is Rick Bayless' table side margarita recipe

Rick Bayless' Topolo Margarita

3/4 c. fresh lime juice, about 3 large limes                          1c. plus 2 Tbsp. blanco tequilla

6 Tbsp. sugar                                                                    1/4 c. Gran Torres orange liqueur

1 c. water                                                                           Lime wedges & coarse salt

Make Limeade: Combine lime juice, sugar and water in a pitcher. Cover & refrigerate if not using right away (no longer than 24 hr)

To Serve: Add tequilla & orange liqueur to the pitcher of limeade. Rub rims of martini glasses with a lime wedge, dip in a dish of coarse salt. In a large shaker, combine half of the margarita mixture w/ half of ice , shake 15-20 sec. Strain into prepared glasses. Repeat w/ rest of ingredients.       Serves 6

Barbakoa House Margarita

This was a kick ass margarita served at Barbakoa Modern Latin Restaurantt, Downers Grove, Il. Instead of salt on the rim, they had one big swoop of salt on the side of the glass. Wasn't sure what you were suppose to do with it, so just went for it, did a big lick up the glass, and took a drink! Damn it was good! Barbakoa makes their House Margarita with hand squeezed lime, organic agave nectar, bourbon barrel aged 100% de Agave Tequilla D'Oro.

El Carmen Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA, have been serving up margaritas a long time. Pretty sure they know about margaritas; they offer over 420 kinds of tequilla! This one sounded really bueno - the Cilantro Ginger Margarita- shaken up with Tonala Reposado, Ginger Liqueur, Agave Syrup, Fresh Lime muddled
w/ Fresh Cilantro. Served on the rocks.

Pretty Petal Pusher

Think this is the prettiest margaritas I've ever seen! This is Colleen Mullaney's margarita recipe

Pretty Petal Pusher

4 oz tequilla                                                                     4 oz. pear nectar

4 oz Lanique rose petal liqueur                                         1 lime, squeezed

In a cocktail shaker filled w/ ice, pour all ingredients & shake well. Let stand to chill, up to 5 min. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with an edible flower, such as a pansy.

Saw this margarita recipe on a spirit website- looked too good not to share

Berry Delicious Margarita

Blend 8 oz. Silver Tequilla, 4 oz Chambord Liqueur, 4 oz. Limoncello, 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice, 2 c. mixed berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, & Strawberries) in a blender with 3 c. crushed ice. Pour into 4 margarita glasses rimmed with sugar.

Don Julio's Jalapeno Margarita

1 1/2 oz Don Julio Reposado Tequilla                                    1/2 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur

1 oz. fresh lime juice                                                             Splash of agave nectar

1 jalapeno pepper, muddled                                                  1 Jalapeno pepper for garnish

In a shaker muddle the jalapeno. Add to shaker rest of ingredients with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with the jalapeno pepper.

*Depending who you are serving this to & if they can take the heat, you might consider taking out a few of the seeds from the jalapenos! 

Recipe didn't call for it, but for sure, this chick would add salt to the rim!

Lots of specials going on out there, Sat Feb 22, for National Margarita Day - On The Border Restaurant  is serving their 12 oz House Margarita for $1.00! Or you might head over to  Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville 3PM-4PM- having a complimentary margarita making class, then 5'o clock (somewhere) will have a toast to the official beverage of Margaritaville "The Margarita"!
So whether you like your margaritas on the rocks or frozen; go out & enjoy a margarita (or 2), or even stay home & shake up one of these fabuloso margaritas, Feb. 22 National Margarita Day!

This chick loves National Margarita Day & loves these margarita recipes!

Valentine's Day Pop Tarts

V-day Pop Tarts

Valentine's Day Pop Tarts are the perfect little treat for the special love (or loves, kiddos luv 'em) of your life! They do take a little time to make, but so worth it; you will never ever eat one of those cardboard tasting boxed pop tarts again! Can be made day before, just keep them in a covered container. Can be eaten at room temp, or pop in microwave just a few seconds (15-20 secs. is all); if you have one of those toaster ovens, even more perfect for heating up.

Valentine's Day Pop Tarts

Filling Ingred.

3/4 c. strawberry or raspberry jam                                                  1 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. cornstarch                                                                          1-2 tsp. maraschino cherry juice

Go ahead & make filling, so it can cool while making the pop tart pastry.

With a fork, whisk cornstarch with water, till no lumps! In a small saucepan, put in your jam & stir in cornstarchy water, blend. Stir in cherry juice (I added the cherry juice, cuz I feel it brings out the fillings red brightness). Bring to a boil, keep stirring, so it doesn't stick. Simmer about 2 minutes. Remove it from heat & set aside.
                                           

Pastry Ingred.

2 1/3 c. flour                                                                                    1 stick butter, softened (not margarine)

2 Tbsp. sugar                                                                                   1/3 c. shortening

1 tsp. salt                                                                                         2 eggs (1 for pastry & 1 for basting)

1 tsp. baking powder                                                                        2 Tbsp. milk
Pink Icing Ingred.
1 c. powdered sugar
2-3 tsp. maraschino cherry juice
1-2 tsp. milk

Lets make pastry:

In a small bowl, whisk together one of the eggs & milk; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk with a fork the flour, sugar, salt & b. pwder together. With your fork, cut in the butter & shortening till big crumbs form. Add the milky egg mixture, blend with your fork till a soft dough forms. Cover & put in fridge 15 min.
Preheat oven to 350.

Beat slightly other egg; set to side.
Ready to roll out! Dough is very soft, so it rolls out better on a piece of lightly floured wax paper. Make one pop tart at a time. Pinch off part of your dough, roll about 1/8 in thick. Take your heart cookie cutter (pic above is the candy box cutter). Lay to the side on another piece of wax paper. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of your jam filling right in the middle. Baste lightly around the edge with egg. Cut out another heart for top. Lay heart to heart with filling in middle. Press with your fingers all around edges to seal. Press all around the edges with the tines of a fork.Prick with a fork the top of your heart tart, to let steam escape. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 25 min, till lightly browned. Remove from oven, place on a platter to cool Cool completely before icing. Makes 5 - 5 in. heart pop tarts.

In a bowl stir together all icing ingredients. Icing should be thin, but not watery. One thing bout this icing, if it's too watery, add more p. sugar. Too thick add a little more liquid. Drizzle or completely frost your pop tarts, however you want to do it. Add some sprinkles if you want or even pink or red colored sugar.

*One of the pop tarts I took a small cookie and barely cut into the top of the heart, instead of picking it.

You can really taste the buttery flavor of the pastry, and the yummy fruit filling; just a Valentine's Day Delight!!

This chick is loving the Valentine's Day Pop Tarts!

Valentine's Day Cookie Cutter

Here you have it, the cheapest 5 in. heart cookie cutter that comes with chocolate! Yes, it is the box of those cheap little V-day candies found in the aisles of Wal Mart for $1.00!
 I was getting ready to work on a Valentine's Day treat, but needed a large heart shaped cookie cutter, had a small one but just needed that large one! Didn't have time to run all over looking for this darn cookie cutter that I was possessed in finding (sure Michaels or some of those other places have them, but no time). Ran into the closest place, Wal Mart! Going down the Valentine's Day aisle were, you guessed it those heart shaped boxes of chocolates for a buck! Thinking "what the hell, this just might work", grabbed this one (bout a 5 in heart) & the smaller one.
As you can tell, the inside of the lid is plastic, with a great edge perfect for cookie cutting or to use on any other heart shaped project you need. Since it is plastic, it can be wiped clean. One added bonus, you can eat those chocolates, while you're cutting away! Didn't even try the small heart shape box lid, because it is all cardboard. Loved the larger one's plastic lid, it worked perfect for cutting out my little treats!

Super Bowl Party Food

Well it's almost here, Sunday Feb. 2, Super Bowl XLVIII ( Super Bowl 48), Seattle Seahawks against those Denver Broncos! They're going to play for that National title, at Brrrr the open air MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (such the Jersey / NY argument because stadium is home to NY Jets & NY Giants)
Super Bowl Sunday is a fun partying day, full of all day noshing! No calorie counting today, for real!!! You can see what this chick is talking bout when you see this Denver Broncos Brownie, sooo sinfully chocolatey rich, with fun sprinklings of M&M's on top, popping out a little blue& orange (Broncos colors). Another recipe, this chick came up with Seattle Seahawks Spicy Wings, so easy and no frying mess like most wing recipes! Both of these recipes are so easy, takes the stress out of hosting a Super Bowl Party!

Seattle Seahawks Spicy Wings

1- 4lb. Bag of  chicken wings
2 pkg. onion soup mix
1/2 c. Soy Sauce  ( I used low sodium)
1 c. Lemon juice
1 c. Dark corn syrup
1/2 c. Sriracha Sauce
1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Prep is done the night before.
Like to rinse off chicken wings, pat dry with paper towel, & set to side. In a bowl, mix up rest of ingredients. Pour some of the marinate in another bowl, enough for coating wings, can add more if  needed. Toss wings in marinate to coat heavily. Cover & marinate overnight. Cover & refrigerate
remaining marinade to use later
Preheat oven 400. Place the wings in a single layer on a large
 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Pour some of the marinade on top of each wing, make sure each wing has some sauce on it. DON'T use all the marinade because you need more for basting later on. Put wings in oven, don't cover, Bake 25 min. Take out of oven,  keeping wings on the pan, drain off the majority of all that liquid in the pan. Turn the wings. Now with the reserved marinade, baste wings heavily, & put bake in oven. Bake 15-20 more minutes. Take out of oven, turn on broiler, when heated up, put those wings under the broiler to brown up a little, about 3-4 min, don't burn! Put these babies on a platter, and they are ready to serve.
These wings have a little spice kick & such great flavor, no need to cover it up with a creamy dipping sauce. The only dipping sauce this chick is serving with her wings, is setting out a bottle of Sriracha Sauce, for those who want to bring on more heat!

     

Love, Love Sriracha Sauce! That's a whole other blog! Make sure you get the bottle with a rooster on it, usually can be found in the Asian food aisle.

Denver Broncos Brownies

These brownies are so insanely rich. Love the chunky topping, it's a real man's dessert real rugged like!
So easy peasy, can be made day before just cover up so they don't get dry.

1 box Ghiradelli - Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix
1 box Ghiradelli - Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 stick + 1 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/2 c. salted peanuts (not dry roasted), coarsely chopped
1 c. Peanut Butter M&M's
1 c. Peanut M&M's

Preheat oven 325. Generously grease 13x9 baking dish.

Coarely chop Peanut M&M's. Basically just chop them in half, be careful they are slippery suckers when you try to chop them (can do this days in advance & put in a ziploc baggie till ready to use). Set aside.
In a large bowl, put in brownie mixes, then add everything except all M&M's and peanuts. Mix thoroughly with a large spoon. Pour into greased baking dish. Now sprinkle on the salted peanuts, next sprinkle on Peanut Butter M&M's, and lastly those chunks of Peanut M&M's. Bake about 45-50 min. Don't overbake. Wait till completely cooled to cut. Enjoy- Love the saltiness of the peanuts with the sweet chocolate!

This chick is loving the Super Bowl Party food!

























            Denver Broncos Brownies

Roasted Chick Peas

This chick is trying to get back into the routine of working out and eating better again, fell way off in December (so shameful)! This chick tries really hard to eat healthy at least 5 days a week, the other 2 days are treat days not cheat days. In traveling, there are only so many raw veggies I can munch on, I like salty crunch once in awhile. Fell in love with chick peas, garbanzos, ceci beans or whatever you want to call them, a few years ago, really love making a little fresh salad with them with a little cilantro & lime. But started roasting them, to give me that salty crunch I Crave! If ya didn't know chickpeas are a great source of protein & fiber.

              Roasted Chick Peas

                1 -16 oz can chick peas  (well drained)

  1/2 tsp. sea salt

             1/2 tsp. ground cumin

                 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

                                               Add'l sea salt for sprinkling                                                   

                                 Olive Oil  (just used to grease cookie sheet)
Preheat oven 450.
Lightly grease cookie sheet with olive oil, can also use Pam Olive Oil spray. In a bowl, put in your chick peas, that have been well drained.Now just sprinkle in seasonings, toss. Spread on cookie sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes.
Bake chick peas about 10 min., then stir them around gently on cookie sheet.
Check about every 5 min. after that & stir, just to keep those little peas from burning.
When finished baking, can sprinkle on a little more sea salt, depending how salty you like things. If you are watching your sodium intake, probably do not want to add salt. These little chick peas should be crunchy, if still soft like inside, bake a little longer, just don't burn them, When cool, you can store them in zip lock bags. Perfect for munching.
*1 can chickpeas - 3.5 servings
1 serving - 6 g. protein   2-3 g. fat

This chick loves her roasted chick peas!

Pop Rockin' Shooters

These little shooters will bring the New Years' in with a bang! While you're shooting this shooter, the pop rock candy is exploding in your mouth! A definite hit for your party!

Pop Rockin' Shooters

1 small box Knox unflavored gelatine

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup clear liquor, chilled

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. Welchs white grape juice

1 oz. clear plastic shot glasses

Pop Rock candy

In a bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, stirring with a fork. Add the liquor and white grape juice. Stir. Pour into your little shot glasses. Set on tray and refrigerate 2-3 hours. Just before serving & I mean just before serving, sprinkle your pop rock candy on top of shooters. The pop rock candy dissolves really fast. Makes about 2 dozen shooters. 

Liquor choices- Vodka, Tequilla, or Rum

This chick found the clear plastic shot glasses @Partycentral.

This chick loves these little pop rockin' shooters!

Glitzy Shooters

New Years' Eve is coming up quick! These glitzy shooters with the champagne color and the silver sprinkles on top will bring in the glitz to any New Years Eve Party!

Glitzy Shooters

1 small box Knox unflavored gelatine

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp Welch's white grape juice, chilled

1/2 cup clear liquor, chilled

Clear plastic1 oz shot glasses

Wiltons  silver pearilzed Sprinkles

Wiltons Edible Accents silver stars

In a bowl, dissolve gelatine in boiling water stirring with a fork. Add liquor and white grape juice. Pour into your clear little shot glasses. Set shooters on a tray and refrigerate for 2-3 hrs. Add sprinkles before serving. Makes about 2 dozen shooters.

*Sprinkles & accents should be added right before serving because they start dissolving and get watery on top! 

Liquor choices- Vodka, Tequilla, or Rum

This chick found the clear plastic shot glasses @Partycentral. Found the Wiltons silver sprinkles & edible accents @Joanns Fabrics.

This chick is loving the Glitzy Shooters!

2 Cookies - 1 Recipe

                                                                 2 Cookies One Recipe
                                                 Thumbprint Cookies and Snowball Cookies

These yummy xmas cookies are made out of same cookie dough, then after baking we will change them up!
Ingredients
2 sticks butter, softened                                         1 c. pecans, finely chopped
1/2 c. powdered sugar                                           Thumbprints -
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla                                                     1/3 c. strawberry or raspberry preserves
2 1/4 c. flour                                                           Snowballs -
1/4 tsp. salt                                                             1-2 c. powdered sugar (used for rolling the balls)

Preheat oven 400.

Sift together flour & salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture till blended, then stir in nuts. Cover; chill at least an hour.
Now pinch off a little dough, enough to make a 1-2 in. ball. Roll the little balls in your hands & place on an ungreased cookie sheet. These cookies do not spread, so you an place several on a cookie sheet.   Bake about 6-8 min, don't brown them!
While baking- lets do some prep work for our 2 cookies. In a bowl, put in the 1-2 cups of powdered sugar; set aside. And get your preserves, a teaspoon, and large wooden spoon for thumbprint cookies
indention.
Now the 2 cookie part: For snowballs- Take the little balls one at a time from the cookie sheet while they are still warm, roll around in the powdered sugar; set aside. For thumbprints- Leaving on cookie sheet & while still warm, take your wooden spoon and make small indention in the cookie; set aside & cool. Fill cooled cookies with preserve of choice.
Put both cookies on serving plate and just wait for the ooh's and ah's. These little cookies are so cute and festive! Cookies can be made ahead and put in freezer. Just don't fill the thumbprints till they are out of freezer. The snowballs will have to be rolled again after thawed.
This chick is loving the yummy, festive snowballs and thumbprint cookies!

30 Flavored Oils & Balsamic Vinegar

This chick loves her olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Heart of Texas Oil Co. has 30 flavored oils & flavored balsamic vinegars. Some of their flavored oils are Italian Herb, Garlic Parm, Chipotole, and a Habanero oil. So good to eat with bread or drizzle over your veggies. They also have yummy flavors of balsamic vinegar like Fig, Raspberry, Peach, and a Spicy Mango. How good does that sound? This chick loves just drizzling balsamic vinegar over salad ! This is another great gift for your foodie lover or just keep on hand for yourself for the holidays! Check out this locally owned Flavored olive oil and flavored balsamic vinegar company @hearttexasoliveoil.com! This chick is loving the flavored olive oil and balsamic vinegar!

Box o' Shit

This chick has been Real Buisy, sorry I haven't had any recent posts, so here it goes have lots of post to share! Still sharing Xmas gift ideas that this chick has found for some fun little gifts! Wanted to get everyone's attention with this Box o' Shit! Yes, it's a box of some good shit now- Special Shit, Good Shit, and Aw Shit seasonings. This chick has tried the Aw Shit and the Special Shit let me tell you it does have some kick to it! Loved seasoning my chicken, veggies and steak with it! Check out their website@specialshit.com if you order by Dec 18 you can get it in time for Xmas. This chick is loving her Box o'Shit!

Serving Bowl

Looking for festive holiday serverware?? Look
no further! Found the cutestest little chic serving
bowls at Dollar Tree!! Yes, can you believe these
chic little bowls were only a buck? They are silver metallic
on outside and white inside about 7 in. sq., which make
them perfect for dips, nuts, or little munchies. These little

bowls are plastic which make them even more perfect, nothing

gets broke & you can take to your xmas party and not worry

about dragging it back home after a few cocktails. Plus they

look super chic! This chick loves the bowls!!