Month: August 2016

Summer Cocktails or Key Lime Pie on the Beach

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We like to regularly try new cocktails. My current summer favorite is a Key Lime Pie. I would be in heaven sitting on the beach sipping one right now…………., but back to the review. This shaker is everything advertised and more. It is big enough to make drinks for several people at once or you can pop the top back on save the rest for drinks later. It also comes with a 1/2 oz and 1 oz jigger that makes following a recipe easy. As a bonus, there are 2 liquor pourers, a carrying bag, and an e-book with over 100 recipes. It’s dishwasher safe, easy to clean, and feels heavy enough that it won’t dent easily if it get knocked around. I love with the lifetime guarantee. When I showed this set to my son (he owns a bar), he was impressed with the professional grade and quality of this shaker set. It would be something he would use in his business. Thank you #ShikShook. You can get yours on Amazon at

https://www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Shaker-Premium-Bartender-Luxury/dp/B01C0RCOHM/ref=cm_cr-mr-title.

It is their #1 best seller and on sale right now for $17.89. (Regular $43.98)

I received this item for free/discount to give an unbiased and honest review. I was not paid or compensated to review the product. My reviews are based upon my experience while using the product. My comments are based upon the overall product performance.

If you have any questions please let me know. I will answer to the best of my ability.

Oh and here’s the recipe if you would like to try it.

Key Lime Pie Cocktail

  • Servings – 1 drink
  • Prep time – less than 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 shots (2.25 oz) vanilla vodka
  • 1/2 shot (0.75 oz) lime juice
  • 1 shot (1.5 oz) pineapple juice
  • 1/4 shot whipped cream or half and half
  • Limes cut into wedges
  • Crushed graham crackers (2 or 3 crackers is plenty)

Directions

1. Pour a little lime juice onto a small plate, and dip the rim of the glass in the juice. Use a wedge of a lime to help spread the juice around the rim.

2. On another plate, put the graham cracker crumbs.  Dip the rim of the glass into the crumbs.

3. In your shaker, add a few ice cubes, and the vodka, juices, and cream.

4. Shake a few times and pour (no ice!) into your rimmed glass.

5. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

A New Twist On An Old Favorite

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I went to the Saturday Farmer’s Market and found a vegetable I hadn’t seen before, so I had to try it. Hakurei turnips or or Sweet Japanese turnips are small, pure white, sweet, and crunchy. I looked to the web to find out about them.  The Cooking Channel’s Blog had this to say about them.

Hakurei are relatively new turnips that were developed in Japan in the ’50s when the country was suffering from severe food shortages due to World War II.  Their surprisingly delicate, almost fruity flavor and crunchy texture accounts for their popularity. They’re delicious raw, but if you can resist the urge to simply pop them in your mouth, try shaving them into salads or slaws along with thinly sliced apples or pears.  When cooked, they develop a buttery flavor and when roasted at high temperatures, their sweetness increases. The turnip tops are also tasty quickly sautéed with garlic in olive oil.

Hakurei turnips are versatile enough to pair with just about anything, and they’re excellent in gratins, stir-fries, soups, or roasted with other root vegetables. They can be braised, fried, glazed, or sautéed.

There’s no need to peel the Hakurei, simply trim the ends and wash them under cold water. The green tops do need a more thorough washing.

Hakurei turnips are a starch vegetable, yet they provide only one-third of the calories of an equal amount of potatoes making them ideal for dieters.

Turnips are an excellent source of vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber, as well as thiamine, potassium, and vitamins B6 and E.

When you remove the green tops, the turnips can be stored in the crisper drawer of the fridge for a week to ten days.

 

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I decided I would cook up some of these jewels with a few of my favorite things – sweet potatoes, onions, peppers, and some chickpeas to add some protein.

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And oh did it turn out good. Even the hubby and the daughter like them.

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Can You Really Make Baklava in a Dutch Oven?

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Why yes I can. If you don’t know what Baklava is, you are sweetness deprived. It is a Middle Eastern pastry made with 60 sheets of tissue-like Phylo dough with melted butter between each of them. Traditionally, it is filled with a layer of cinnamon, sugar, chopped walnuts, and rose water. Then it’s cut into diamond shapes and baked in a slow oven. As soon as it comes out of the oven, a thick syrup made of sugar, honey, and rose water is poured over it. Probably a zillion calories, but oh so good.

My review for a Memory Foam Seat Cushion

All my friends know that I do a LOT of driving every week and I have a bad back. I found a way to make the seat in my car a lot more comfortable. #ComfortMemoryFoamCarSeatCushion
I used to laugh when my mom would always fight trying to adjust the pillow she would sit on in the car. Every time she got in or out, it would move. This cushion stays in place thanks to the grip fabric on the bottom.
This cushion fits your body. It’s made of memory foam so it is comfortable. The cover is made out of a breathable fabric and is washable. When I sit on this cushion, there is less stress on my spine and I naturally will sit up straighter. I attended a conference over the weekend and took my cushion with me and used it on the chairs. I was so glad I did. By the end of the day, I was the only one there that wasn’t squirming around because they were uncomfortable. I had a couple of people ask me about the cushion and after sitting on it for just a minute or two, they wanted one too.
I have only had this about a week. I am hoping it will hold up for a long time. The only improvement I could suggest is having a handle on it to make it easier to carry. I got mine from Amazon.com. Very reasonably priced.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HJ8HJSG

My Favorite Poem

Edwin Markam

Outwitted

        by

Edwin Markham

        (1852-1940)

He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

 

 

You will find I’m a great believer in the circle. Our life is a circle. Nature is a circle. The circle has many meanings. It can mean universal, sacred and divine.  It has no beginning and no end. It  represents unity, wholeness, and infinity. It represents the infinite nature of energy, and the inclusiveness of the universe.  Circles can be protective of those inside of it. It’s been used in astrology, religion, and all kinds of rituals.  My favorite circles have been taught to me by several different Native American friends. Even though I am not Native American, they have taken me in and taught me to look and listen with my heart.