Superbowl Weekend!!!!!

I love SUPERBOWL! For any of you consistent readers...you know my love of football! And not just for the food...but for the game itself! I am a Colts fan, but since they are out...I'm rooting for the Broncos. I would LOVE to see Peyton get another ring. He deserves it. He is the BEST quarterback in the league, in my opinion.

Every year we throw a Superbowl party. When I was younger it was my uncle and a few friends...then as I got older it was a lot of friends. Now its less people but still as much fun! Our menu this year is some fan favorites and some newbies. I am making four things. My onion/bacon dip, jalapeno egg rolls, blue cheese and bacon filled won ton cups and football ice cream bars! :) Along with that we will be having our sausage/spinach dip, breaded shrimp, meatballs, bacon wrapped asparagus, homemade salsa, chicken wings, cupcakes and beer. :)

The only recipe listed that has been done and posted about it the onion/bacon dip. It was such a hit for the Miami tailgates that I had to make it for Superbowl. I cannot wait to take pictures and post how the recipes were received and how to make them. :)

I think I might also buy some balloons! When I have my own place...I definitely want to get into the whole games for kids and decorations! But for now, food...beer...family...and of course FOOTBALL is all I need! :)

Do you watch the game? What kind of food do you have? Big party? Or just family? Do you go to a party? Who you rooting for? Do you decorate (if you throw a party) and have crafts/games for the kids or even adults?


GO BRONCOS!!!!!

New Year...New Month...!

I am finally back! I thought I would have more time in December, but with work and Christmas decorating and shopping and cooking...things were just too hectic. My days literally consisted of going to work and then, if I had a day shift...coming home and working out and then decorating with my dad and brother. And if I had a day off, I was shopping and wrapping and decorating! It was crazy! My next entry will have a recipe for a nice little appetizer.

For now...I wanted to share my resolutions. I know so many people do not believe in resolutions because they do not keep them...there are some that I make every year because I want to continue them. I also keep some of them slightly vague and others that are specific. I also feel that writing them down pushes me to be held accountable. :)

So here we go....a new year...a new, EXCITING, ever changing year! I am getting married August 1, 2015...and although it's still a whole year away....2014 is going to be A LOT of planning and preparing! This year is going to be everything and more!

2014 Resolutions:

 

*Run 2 5K's (signed up for one in April already!)

 

*Be healthy (not just a focus on weight, but strength and confidence)

 

*Try new things- foods, experiences, be more willing to try!

 

*Take at least an hour a day for myself- no phone or computer (work does not count!)

 

*Finish my novel!

 

*Blog more (aim for 4 a month)

 

*Start a recipe book

 

*Enjoy every moment- from wedding planning to moving out to time with my family and friends

 

*Re-evaluate friendships-- this one is big. I'm going to be 28 and there are definitely people in my life that I need to either let go of, or figure out what role they play in my life.

 

 

 

 

Do you have any resolutions? Do you make them? Why or why not? Have you kept them (if you made them)?

 

For me...obviously, the blogging one started off badly...it took 15 days for me to post a blog. But I am determined. So....expect to see a lot more! I am seriously excited about a recipe book and finishing my novel. Writing is SUCH an important part of my life. And to be honest, so is cooking. I never thought I would enjoy coming up with new ideas and things to put together...but it is so much fun! Even just taking a recipe and figuring out other flavors to change it up! I have also been very good at the time for myself. I think it is why I have more energy and feel so much better. I feel less stressed and it made it easy to get rid of the holiday weight gain (like 5 pounds!). I still have Super Bowl to pig out at too! :) 



Final Month of 2013! December Goals and Plans!

I cannot believe that 2013 is only 29 days away from ending. I cannot believe that in 29 days, I'll of been engaged to the most AMAZING man for a year. I am so excited for 2014...because we can really dive into wedding planning! I am also so sad because I still feel like I am suppose to do more with my life...I know I am only 27...but it still seems as if I'm stuck and need to pull myself in a new direction. I need to find a way to take my passions in life and make them into something. On top of that...I plan on applying to grad school in 2014. I really want to get my masters of fine arts in creative writing. If I could somehow write everyday for the rest of my life, whether it be this blog, newspapers, magazines or novels...I'd honestly be in heaven. I never get bored of writing and developing new ideas. One day...

The month of December gets crazy at work because of course its holidays! Thankfully, only Christmas is in December...which should take some of the usual brunt of multiple holidays. I had one last vacation day to use...and my manager is the best and gave Marco and I two days off together! So...we are planning a trip to Sea World. I am seriously obsessed with dolphins...like I TEAR up when I am up close with them. Insane...I know. But it's my favorite thing in Sea World...and the penguins! :) My family and I also have a list of movies and TV shows that have Christmas involved, that we make an effort to watch every year. Some years we have missed a few, but we always watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2, A Christmas Carol and A Christmas Story! :) I am so excited!!

 

 

December Goals-

 

1. Run 22 miles (I did 19 last month!)

2. Sign up to take my GRE's

3. Start the process for Grad School

4. Write 5 pages in my novel

5. Finish Christmas shopping early :)

6. Finish decorating SOON!

7. Spend every moment with my family and friends

8. Enjoy the season and the holidays!

9. Go through my closet and cleanse it

10. Attempt one DIY project from Pinterest!

 

 

Most of these are attainable just by having a positive attitude...others I'll have to work into. I'm excited to succeed this month. I didn't want to set a goal for blog entries...I'd love to write everyday...but realistically...with work, I am just not sure how things will go! I will definitely post whatever pinterest project I do and I'll make an effort to do an entry after we finish decorating!

 

What are your goals to end out the year? Any family traditions? 

No Table is Complete Without a Centerpiece!

I believe that no table is complete without a centerpiece. We might not have a huge group for the holidays anymore, as we did when my brother and I were much younger...but we still use the Holidays as a time to sit at the formal dining table and enjoy our meal! We are that family that has serving ware and such for specific holidays, and Thanksgiving is not different! Along with stuff we purchased, my mother makes these AMAZING centerpieces. I cannot wait to show you guys the ones she makes for Christmas. She did a specific to Thanksgiving one and she has several fall ones around the house currently (although, they will be coming down today and tomorrow for Christmas decorations).

The fall ones are so cute...fall color flowers and in a pumpkin. Our two centerpieces for our dining table were so perfect. One was the traditional cornucopia and the other was a turkey with fall colors and a little scarecrow in it. She is so talented with these pieces! We keep telling her she should open her own Etsy shop and sell them. Or at least teach me...so that I can post a step by step and video!

Making our Thanksgiving table was fairly simple. We used the centerpieces to break up the length of the table. And placed the napkin holder and salt/pepper shakers in the center-ish. The turkey went in the middle on the platter and the sides were placed in Thanksgiving themed serving dishes surrounding the turkey. The platter of potatoes and the wine are off to the side. We passed around the dishes and served ourselves!

What do you all think? Would you buy one of these? How much would you be willing to spend? She would make each one custom to order, if we can ever convince her to do so!

Best Turkey EVER! Alton Brown's Brine Recipe!

 

Alton Brown is seriously a genius when it comes to food! My family uses a lot of his recipes and Thanksgiving is no different! We use his Brine/Aromatics for Turkey Recipe and it is seriously the best turkey we have ever had! We use to have a good turkey and then next year, it would end up dry...but we never run into that problem anymore!

If you love moist and flavorful turkey...you have to use his recipe! For Christmas, my brother wants to try his aged turkey recipe...so we will see. :)

As a side note, we make our own vegetable broth so we had to add more salt because we realized that box/canned broth has more salt than our homemade broth. Without the added salt, the turkey comes out drier. And then we just add the rest of the brine ingredients!

You can really add whatever vegetables you have on hand to make the broth. We used carrots, potatoes, onion, celery and cabbage. I chopped the vegetables into smaller sizes, quartered the potatoes and onion and chopped the carrots and celery into thirds. You don't need to spend a crazy amount of time chopping, just enough to make the pieces manageable and to let the flavors seep out.

After the broth is done...we let it cool and chill it for about 30 minutes.

We then put the turkey, the broth and ice into a cooler and let it soak for 8 hours. Then you flip it and let it soak for another 8 hours. Then cook it for the recommended time, stuffing the turkey with the aromatics mix (also chopped to make it more manageable, but no need to finely chop).

Do you have a specific way to cook your turkey? Do you try something different each year? Have you found a recipe that is now the only way you will cook turkey?

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Turkey Day/ Hanukkah!

I will be back this weekend with recipes for dishes that I make for the big Turkey Day meal! I did want to stop by before the Holidays...and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Hanukkah!

I hope everyone enjoys the time with their families and friends!

One Week Left! Gobble Gobble!

I know I said it before...but I truly love the Holiday Season! I love the food, the crafts, the weather (as "fall" and "winter" as I can get in S.Fl), the decorations and most importantly the time with my family!

We use to do a HUGE Thanksgiving when we lived in Broward County...my family in Miami would come up and it would be huge! When my grandparents were still alive, we would pick them up and they would it spend it with us too and if my uncle and aunt were in town, they would also join. It was so much fun. After we moved to Palm Beach...and all the kids were older (16-18), the families did their own thing. Except, my uncle and aunt...they always came up and brought my grandmother. A few years ago...all that stopped and now my grandmother is no longer with us...so Thanksgiving is really just me with my mom, dad and brother. My fiance came over for the first time last year, and I'm hoping that he joins us again or that his whole family does!

Over the last few years (at least the last 7!), I always help my dad with the cooking. EVERYTHING! Christmas gets REALLY crazy! We go all out! :) Thanksgiving is much more simple...Turkey, Sweet Potatoes (White Potatoes for my brother), stuffing and rolls. Of course...pumpkin pie for dessert. This year..I also want to make this delicious sounding Brussels sprouts recipe and a yummy salad. We don't make too many side dishes because it's only 4-5 people eating. I also want to make a creative appetizer (still playing around with some ideas) for everyone to snack on while we cook. We go big on wine, but I want to see about creating an after dinner cocktail or trying out a fall sangria recipe I found.

What are your must have favorites for Thanksgiving? Do you travel or do you host? Are there any special traditions your family does?