How do you survive the holidays?

Bah hum bug is a common phrase especially used by folks who have been overwhelmed by the holidays. We all fall subject to the holidays as it starts at Halloween and really does not end until Valentine's Day. (in between new years and Valentines day we are supposed to make all sort of changes in our lives)

Now that Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind us, are you really ready for the multiple get togethers, including the one with that annoying Aunt Daisy?

Many of you might have already done your shopping either on black Friday or Cyber Monday searching for the best deals. I was too exhausted from Thanksgiving to even think of shopping.

My best advice on the shopping comes a little late for most. Basically pace yourself and start early, I am talking Halloween or sooner.

Now for the parties and get togethers. If you are hosting make it a pot luck occasion to bear some of your burden. If you insist on doing it all by yourself, seek out recipes that can be done ahead of time and freeze as much as you can. So many things can be frozen or done a few days in advance the guests will not know the difference and you will have more energy to entertain.

Keep a list of your dishes you are going to make. I find it so much easier to see everything in front of me and I also keep the list up on the day of the event so everything makes it to the table.

If you have a hectic day in store, make sure and hydrate. All the running around and then partying can really wear you out and your pictures will look horrible!

For more great tips and visit the LIFE WELL LIVED BLOG on BlogHer. Share your own tips as well. You could win $250 sweepstakes just for reading it!

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Asian themed Thanksgiving leftovers and Salad

I think the one of the top leftovers after a holiday meal, especially Thanksgiving is Mashed Potatoes.   While they are not good cold like many other leftovers, they are tricky to warm back up to the correct consistency.

Well after 3 days of eating leftovers in sandwiches, I could not bare to throw out the mashed potatoes.  I thought of making a shepards pie but did not have all the ingredients.  I had already bought tuna steaks for dinner so I thought I would spice up the potatoes into Wasabi potatoes.

The recipe really depends on how much of the potatoes you have left over.  I used this FOOD NETWORK recipe as a basis, obviously only following the seasonings suggestions.   Start slow you can always add more wasabi powder but challenging to take away.

Extra Cranberry Sauce, try this recipe for pork chops.

To warm them back up, I used the microwave and added some extra water until they came back to a creamy consistency.

The kids even ate them as they were not too spicy.

Here is a salad we made for Thanksgiving.  I am not sure where my mother found the recipe but it has been traditional at our holiday meals. I remade it for dinner since I had left over dressing.  You can make the dressing days in advance.


 Be sure to toast the almonds for an extra level of flavor.

Cumin and fruit salad

11 oz Mandarin Oranges
1 cup sliced grapes
1/2 cup slivered  and toasted almonds
1 avocado

Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 glove of garlic, minced
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
2 tbsp Diced chives
1 tbsp Curry Powder
1 tsp Soy Sauce

Nonna's Biscotti

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I did not go out shopping yesterday nor have I started decorating for Christmas.  After so much preparation for Thanksgiving I had to give myself sometime off.  (I did take down fall decorations)
I thought this post would be a good transition into the holiday baking season.

As many of you know from reading my blog the last couple of years, I started this blog to share my families recipes. However it has evolved into much more but I do come back to some traditional fare.  I recently saw my fraternal aunt and she was talking about her mother's (my Nonna) biscotti cookies.  A few weeks later I opened a letter and she had sent the recipe to me.

I really don't remember them as much as other recipes but I was excited to try them.  I was a little nervous because the details on the the recipe card were limited and I had never really watched my Nonna make them.

Well I did my best, and although I have made biscotti before the consistency and method of this dough was different.

After inital baking

Sliced (first time too thick)

Let cook and slice and place on Cookie sheet

Turn over 1/2 way

They were rather large, so I am sure I did something wrong.  However, the kids could have eaten the whole batch for breakfast which was a little surprising because of the addition of the Anise Seed.  They enjoyed dipping it in their warm milk with Torani Flavored Syrups.  (white chocolate and toasted marshmallow)

Nonna's Biscotti

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil (I used canola)
5 or 6 eggs (I used 5 xl eggs)
1 tbsp Vanilla (or any flavoirng of choice)
2 to 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp anise Seed
2 tsp Baking powder
1 cup of nuts of choice (chopped)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix oil and sugar in food processor.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add liquids.  Sift the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and gradually add to wet ingredients.
Spread mixture into a well greased 9x12 baking dish.

Bake for 25 minutes or until firm to the touch.
Cool for 15 to 20 mins and slice cross wise into thin slices (about 1/4 inch thick)
Place cut side down onto baking sheets and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, turing half way. (took about 18 minutes for my size slices)  You are looking for a crisp and golden brown cookie.

Allow to cool and store in airtight container.

Spirited Cranberry Sauce....you might even eat it this year.

As traditional as pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving, most people feel they need to have some Cranberry sauce on their tables as well.  Please don't tell me your recipe involves opening up a jar and dumping or sliding the jelly type into a bowl.

While it is easy to serve the canned variety, you will be amazed how easy homemade cranberry sauce is too.  I have tried several recipes in the past 12 years and I think I have finally settled on this one.  The best part about it you can do it a week in advance and then just dump it into a bowl on Thanksgiving.

  It is an unexpected flavor of the soaked apricots that make it a little different than your traditional cranberry sauce recipes.  My kids actually look forward to it at the table and leftovers are not thrown away.

This year I bought  a 48 oz bag of cranberries at Costco, $5 I think.  Don't worry you don't need to make 4x the recipe, just freeze the rest for christmas time or use some in a flower or candle arrangement.

I found this picture in my archives, 2004 to be exact.  I used a floating candle in this vase with cranberries and cut limes.  (a christmas piece)

Back to the recipe.  The best part of this recipe from Cooking Light, if you don't want it spirited use orange juice instead.  Just be sure and start the process the day before you plan on making it.  The apricots need to soak for 8 hrs.  Easily doubled or tripled!!  I actually did 1 and  1/2 recipes, I hope it is enough!

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced dried apricots (about 3 ounces) 
• 1/4 cup sherry or orange juice 
• 3/4 cup water
• 2/3 cup sugar 
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 (12-ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries 

Preparation

• Combine apricots and sherry in a small bowl; cover and let stand 8 hours.
• Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add apricot mixture, honey, and cranberries. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until slightly thick. Spoon mixture into a bowl; cover and chill.

Our Ultimate Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

Since we moved to Virginia, 12 years ago, we have been celebrating almost all of our Thanksgiving dinners at our house.  Even though I try to include some of the traditions of my family, we have also created some in our life here in Virginia.

One pie that will not come off our menu, unless we become allergic to pecans, is this Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie.  Ironically when I got married a friend of mine gave me the Junior League of Richmond cookbook.  This recipe is adapted from the Virginia Fare cookbook.

The best part of this recipe is that is it pretty fool proof.  Even in the recipe it says you cannot overbake the pie.  Make it even more fool proof,  buy pre-made crusts like me!!  One day when pies are the only thing I am bringing to the Thanksgiving dinner, I will attempt it once more.

You can also make this a few days ahead.  I prefer it a little warm so just pop it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes before serving!!  Gooey awesomeness.  (are those even words).

This is especially decadent with whipped cream or last year  I topped my pies off with homemade Cinnamon Ice Cream.  Watch out!!

Hope your Thanksgiving planning is coming along.

1 cup sugar
1  9 inch pie shell-unbaked

1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped pecan halves plus 1/4 cup pecan halves

3 large eggs beaten

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup of butter--softened

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons bourbon

1/2 to 3/4 semisweet chocolate chips

pecan and chocolate amounts depend on your taste.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until combined. Add the corn syrup, sugars, butter, salt, vanilla, and bourbon. Whisk again until combined. Stir in the chopped pecans and chocolate.

Option:

Arrange the remaining 1/4 cups pecan halves on top of the filling in a decorative pattern.

Bake in the center of the oven for 50 minutes. Just watch and keep the edges from burning.  You can always place tin foil around crust if getting too dark too fast.

Thanksgiving Place Cards/ Kids Favors

I feel so far behind with Thanksgiving this year.  I just sat down last night with a tentative menu and will now have to come up with a shopping list....The last thing on my mind are themed placecards/favors at the kids table.

Well until I received an email with these cute little guys.   You know my luck with cake balls  so I am hopeful to try these early next week.  The one challenge is that rice krispies really do not stay fresh that long.  For the recipe go HERE.

If you have more time to make something, I have included some of the things I have made in the past.  

Edible Cornicopia

Fudge Cookie Cutter PlaceCards

Turkey PlaceHolders

Thanksgiving Themed  Cookies

Phix-Energy Stix Review and Giveaway

I am not sure about you, but once Halloween hits, the other holidays start rolling in with a vegence.  It is not all about buying gifts but also commitments at the kids school, grocery shopping and the many many errands of finding the best deals for presents.

When I was asked from Momselect to try Phix Energy Stix  I was just thrilled.  Any natural way to give me a little bit more energy this time of year is worth trying.    The product was given to me for free by MomSelect and Phix  but the opinions expressed are 100% mine.

I received a variety of flavors and they come in the form like a Crystal Light or Emergence-C product.  You just pour the powder into a water bottle of glass and mix slightly.  You can also add it to warm Water for a prefer a warm pick me up.

As for flavor, I most liked the Teaberry flavor followed by Tropic and then Citron.  They were not powdery and had no aftertaste.  Each stix contains 36 calories, so less than the normal chocolate fix you might grab mid day.  Also has 14 key vitamins and minerals in each packet.

Made from organic ingredients it is vegan and gluten free.  Here is the direct link to the ingredients page  HERE.

I am not one that can drink coffee after noon as it will keep me up.  I did not have this problem with Phix, I just was given a slight boost of energy to get me past the task I was dreading ahead.  There was no drop from a sugar high and not jitters associated with this product.

I have never tried an energy drink before so there is not much to compare, but I was satisfied with both the taste and the result.  I have used Emergence-C before which just gives you the vitamins with out the extra cafeine boost.

This is not just a "mommy" beverage. I  gave a box to my husband, the variety pack, and he said he liked it and was going to have a second one.  He is one to grab a Coke mid day...Talk about saving a few calories.  He did comment that they ask that you limit to 10 sticks in 24 hrs.  (wow that would be a lot!)

To learn more about Phix Energy Stix  you can also check them out on their FB Page or Twitter.  They also have a Sleep Stix....wonder if kids can drink that!

Now just in time for the most hectic time of year Phix-Energy has offered me a giveaway. One Follower of my blog will win a 1 month subscription to Phix (3 boxes of the flavor of their choice) and a coupon for 25% off a future purchase
This is my first Rafflecopter Raffle I am sooo excited!


Also The 3 free bottle of Torani Flavored Syrups ends Tomorrow. Low entries. What great hostess gifts if you don't like flavored drinks!  

Quick Fix Pastry--Just 4 Ingredients

With the holidays quickly approaching us, wouldn't it be nice to have some staple ingredients in the house to pull together for the unexpected or expected overnight guests.  I am preparing for both overnight and Thanksgiving guests this year and I hope to share with you as I go the many make ahead or have on hand recipes I fix.

My all time favorite is my neighbor's Monkey Bread but you really need to do those the night before.

Next time you are at the grocery pick up these 3 ingredients that will stay in the fridge for a while (if you look at the expiration dates).

8oz tube of crescent dough
4 oz cream cheese (I use low fat)
Jam flavor of your choice
Confectionary sugar

Thanks to the magazine Taste of Home my family was pleasantly surprised one sunday morning when I woke up just a little earlier than everyone else.

Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 4 rectangles.  Seal perforations; cut each in half, making 8 squares.

Beat 4 oz cream cheese with 1/4 c. confectioners' sugar, spread 1 TBsp diagonally across each square.  Top with 1 TBsp. Jam (they used raspberry and I only had strawberry).

Pinch opposite corners of dough over filling to seal.  Bake on Parchment paper-lined baking sheets at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

 I actually forgot this next step and they looked and tasted delicious.

Combine 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 

with 2 tsp of milk, drizzle over danishes.  Makes 8.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

How delicious would these be with a flavored coffee or tea, don't forget to sign up for the Torani Flavored Syrup Giveaway.

Torani Flavored Syrups Review and GIVEAWAY #SSTORANI

CLOSED WINNER #1

How much do you spend at Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop on Flavored Lattes and coffee drinks?  Why not enjoy the flavor with your friends and family over the holidays for just cents a cup!

As part of the SheSpeaks Blogger Program I received 2 bottles of Torani Flavored Syrups, one in Hazelnut and the other in Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie.
Torani is the brand you will see in most major beverage and food establishments and have been an company based in US since 1925.  Family owned and made in the US this is a rare thing these days.

When I opened up the bottles to decide what I would try first I was a little disappointed with my choices and thinking why not just vanilla or peppermint.  Well I do not have a fancy expresso machine, we did when we first got married I might have to see if it is still up in the attic, so I just microwaved some milk added regularly brewed coffee and two tablespoons of the Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Torani Flavored Syrup first.

  Heavens to Betsy I was hooked.  I made a second one right after.  I look forward to trying different recipes over the holidays and if I have any left will be serving this one with Thanksgiving dessert.  Someone on the Shespeaks Bloggers Page suggested Pumpkin Pie Martinis...
For more reviews on the SF Pumpkin Pie Follow this LINK. to SheSpeaks.

Ok so the second day of having these tempting bottles next to my coffee maker I decided to try the Hazelnut.  Not a big fan of the Hazelnut Flavored creamers I gave it a try.  No offense to the flavoring of Torani, I just don't care for Hazelnut that much.  I do like Nutella so maybe I will try it in a Hot Cocoa.


One Lucky Follower will win 3 coupons -each good for a Free Bottle of Torani Flavored Syrup. So 3 bottles of your choice. (each bottle retails around $8)  


Limited to the US and Contest ends Nov. 15th at 5pm EST.

What type will you choose if you win. Good luck deciding, Torani flavored syrups are available in over 122 flavors, which include regular and sugar free varieties. Please go to www.Torani.com to see all flavors.

If you do not win you can still enjoy the great flavors. Torani is available at stores such as:

• Cost Plus World Market--sells the large size $6.99
• BevMo
• Walmart
• Smart and Final
• Most major grocery stores
• Amazon.com (wide assortment of flavors)
• Torani.com and Shop.Torani.com (widest assortment of flavors)

CONTEST RULES
1. Follow CTH via GFC- Leave a comment and let me know what flavor you would pick. (1 entry)  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL Address
2. Follow CTH on Facebook-1 entry
3. Follow CTH on Twitter - 1 entry
4. Tweet this post and leave me the link--2 entries
5. Post this contest on Facebook leave the link--1 entry


I was given the 2 bottles of Torani to test by SheSpeaks but the opinions are 100% mine.

Fleischmann's Simply Homemade MommyParty and Review

When you think of yeast, one usually thinks of a complicated recipe*.  Homemade bread usually takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete from start to finish.  Well not any more.   Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade®   has made a new product to bring fresh baked bread to your table in one hour.

This was my first MommyParty and I was thrilled to receive boxes of Simply Homemade in Country White, Italian Herb, Stone Ground Wheat and Multi Grain.

I was a little skeptical as I have made "Beer bread" before and it was just ok.

  My family could not wait for me to host the party to try one of the boxes.  

Since it states it is an easy recipe, I had my 10 year old make it.  SImply 3 steps.  Mix: Rise: and Bake

Here she is and we even added Cinnamon since we were making it for breakfast.

Mix

Rise

Bake

Outstanding especially warm.

Well that was easy now it was time to host my MommyParty.   I chose the Girls Night In theme and decided to keep it very casual.  We are all busy and good friends so no one to impress, I thought I would let the bread do that.

Party Favors

The Day of the party, I already had the wine and toppings purchased now for the bread making.  Amazing how quickly I put together 3 loaves of bread.  Even made a sundried tomato version out of the Italian Herb.

Sun Dried Tomato

When the guests arrived I had the first two guests start a loaf.  One of them had never even made bread before outside of a bread machine.

A success indeed.

While we waited for the bread to rise and bake they tasted the different varieties of baked bread with hummus, flavored  olive oil dip, white cheddar and mango chutney and bruschetta.

I don't remember anyone complaining but going for seconds.

We also played a few of the games suggested in my Party Pack.  An Ice Breaker game you can use at any party just change the theme.  Each person had to write what they would do if they were given 2 1/2 hrs (the time to bake other bread recipes) and then folded up the papers.  We then had to guess who wrote what.  Even with good friends it was not that easy!

I think all had fun and will consider purchasing the mix in the future, especially with the $1 coupon they were given.  It does contain milk in the ingredients so one guest was disappointed as she has allergies at home.  Maybe Fleischmann's can revamp one of the mixes to make it more appealing to dairy allergies.

One guest was having her birthday the next day so we added a candle and sang her Happy Birthday.  Probably her first Bread Cake!!

 Thank You MommyParty for letting me host this Great Event!

My Hostess gift and Loaf friends made

*quote from one of the guests

Monster Mash...Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween

Every few years my family tries to come up with a theme. This year the kids thought of Monster Mash...best we could do for someone who wanted to be a vampire and a monster with a beating heart.   I was stumped for a while as to what my husband and I were going to be.....thought of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein.

Amazing what $12 at Good Will, $7 at 5 Below, $8 Target and $2 at Joann's (tulle) can create.  We already have a face painting kit, a wonderful gift my daughter received for one of her birthdays.

Whole crew

Also love the skeleton costume my sister made and we inherited.  A black sweat pant out fit with glued on felt bones.  I purchased some glow in the dark fabric paint and outlined the bones.

Now to come up with some recipes for the over 400 pieces my kids managed to bring home in the cold and rain.  (Think we will be donating a good part of this)