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Merry Christmas, everyone!! This is my favorite holiday ever because it's Jesus' birthday, and we spend time with family and friends. I spent my Christmas with my parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle, and sister! It was absolutely amazing fun!!
My Grandma suggested we play the newlyweds game (I think that's just too cute!), so we did. It turned out very interesting; my parents won; they got ALL the questions right on the first round, and the majority of them on the second. My aunt and uncle got second place, while my grandparents got last (a total surprise!).
Christmas dinner was spectacular: with the famous Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese (it truly IS "over the rainbow"), and my Grandma's perfect Collard Greens. The turkey was roasted to perfection, and the butternut squash and mashed potatoes; oh, you could not go wrong!
All in all, my Christmas was sooo perfect!!
I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas, and have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
P.S. the macaroni and cheese was gone less than an hour after it was done!! Looks like mom will have to make more tomorrow :)
Today is my favorite day of the year: it's my birthday!! I had the pleasure of inviting friends over and we listened to Taylor Swift (my absolute FAVORITE singer) and went shopping at the Domain!! Well....we went window shopping but hey we still got to go!! A special package arrived from...(I'm not naming any names) and a special Williams-Sonoma gift card was in it, as well as some Homemade Apple and Pear Crisp Jam (Apple and Pear Crisp recipe by Ina Garten)!! Thank you to everyone for making my birthday special!!
Merry Christmas and have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
As I write this it is snowing outside!! Finally!! I've been waiting for this all year!! My family and I are going to play in it soon (if the snow sticks). Considering it is going to be my birthday in eight days, this is a GREAT present.
For those who live where snow is falling: Have fun in the snow!!
And have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
Finally Thanksgiving is here, after days and days of cooking and cleaning, it's time to sit down and eat!! My family is here: my Grandma Sugar (mom's side), and my Grandma and Grandaddy (on dad's side). We're all tortured because of the turkey cooking in the oven. All the herbs just make your mouth water! We made a lot of things ahead of time: Apple and Pear Crisp by Ina Garten, Pineapple Cheese Pie (family recipes), Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese, and my Grandma made Sweet Potato Pie!! We also made: the dressing, and the Collard Greens. I'm so tortured.
Pics to come!!
Happy Thanksgiving and have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
Thanksgiving is almost here! This past Saturday my Grandma Sugar came from Chicago. Since then we have been shopping -not only for Thanksgiving but for the house- and doing...oh just about everything! Yesterday we all went to the grocery store to buy the ingredients we needed, it took us around an hour-and-a-half, and two grocery carts!
I had the pleasure of buying a Honeycrisp apple (I would've taken a picture but I ate it before I realized I was supposed too). It tastes very sweet, slightly tart, and has a crispy bite to it. I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a new type of fruit to try. It works as an excellent snack. I looked at pictures of this Honeycrisp apple online and apparently they don't do it justice. At the very least, this apple weighs about 1lbs, and is about twice the size of your fist (in my opinion). But none the less it is amazing.
This morning I have started making the collard greens (with the help of mom and grandma of course), and later on we will make the Pineapple Cheese Pie.
Tomorrow comes the famous Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese, Ina Garten's Apple and Pear Crisp, and many more recipes.
More to come!
Happy Thanksgiving and have fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
Let's face it. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday! But the cooking, the decorating and the CLEANING; it just takes it all out of you. So this year I'm trying to make things simple. Which isn't working that well. Since I have all my grandparents coming down this year, I will be slightly distracted from the other preparation. I've been persuading my rockin' awesome choleric-sanguine mom to go to the store and get all the ingredients for the fantastic meal early, but since my mom isn't the fastest choleric-sanguine in the world, we are going to be packed with things to do at the last minute.
My Grandma Sugar (mom's mom) is arriving on Saturday, and since she's been so busy lately, we're just going to let her relax. But if she wants to go and shop and party, hey there's no stopping her! (I call her Grandma Sugar because she's so sweet and gives us lots of love)
My dad's parents are coming down on either the day before Thanksgiving, or the Tuesday before. So that means we have more to prepare, and so little time to prepare it.
So with all this said my secret is out. My mom and dad are not the fastest people in the world like my grandparents are.
This year I have decided to explore my possibilities. I am leaning towards the idea of making Ina Garten's famous Apple and Pear Crisp. And hopefully my Grandma (on my dad's side) will make her delicious Sweet Potato Pie! Not to mention my mom's Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie.
More to come!
Have great fun in the kitchen!
-Sandra
Hey, everyone! I just created a new blog: Dark Countess. It has ideas, for shopping the latest fashions, accessories, color schemes, and more! Be sure to check it out!
Thank you to all who commented on my last post about the chicken recipe idea. But unfortunately only one idea will be selected. It came down to two choices: Baked in a crock pot by Fightin' Mad Mary, or Herb Roasted by an Anonymous reader.
I have tested both of these ideas -with my own twists- And the winner is......(drumroll)....alright, okay. The winner will be announced on my next post showing the new recipe!
So for now, keep watching for my new post!
Have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
I'd like some ideas for a chicken recipe and I need your help. Something creative, but not too extravagant and/or for lack of a better word: bland. It's creative and it's also a good way to get involved in cooking.
If you have any ideas, post them in the comment section, and if I find an idea I like, it could be in one of my next blog posts!
So feel free to give ideas!
Have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
I promised you recently I would post my recipe for Turkey Sandwiches. Well, it's beyond time for this to be shared, so here it is!
- Take two slices of bread, (this can be any bread you like: whole wheat bread, white bread, french bread, etc..) and spread some mayonnaise over it. The amount doesn't matter, you can customize this sandwich any way you want.
- Then, on one slice of bread, assort some iceberg lettuce. Make sure the lettuce is really fresh. Nobody wants wilting lettuce on their sandwich.
- On the other slice of bread, place a slice of cheese onto it (this can be any cheese you want too).
- On top of that slice of cheese, assemble some shaved turkey onto it.
- (Optional) I like mustard on my turkey sandwiches, so if you like mustard (again this can be any mustard: coarse grain, Dijon, etc..), squeeze any amount of mustard on top of the turkey, and spread it out evenly so there will be a thin layer of mustard.
- If you'd like, you can add tomatoes, or anything that you think will give this sandwich a finishing touch.
- Carefully place one slice of bread on top of the other, and cut it into two triangular slices (or four triangular slices, or squares, etc...).
- Enjoy!
Have fun in the kitchen!
-Sandra
In my post Labor Day Preparation, I mentioned the Strawberry Short Cakes I would make. It's not a gourmet dish or a secret family recipe, it's something that you can make any day! Not just for special occasions. Actually the shortcake part of this recipe, is something that millions of people buy at their local grocery store everyday in the U.S.
So here's the recipe for Strawberry Shortcake.
- Bake one yellow box cake into twenty-four cupcakes according to the directions.
- After the cupcakes are out of the oven, let them cool for 15-20 minutes so they will be completely cooled for the whipped cream.
- After the cupcakes are completely cooled, set them on to a plate (don't put more cupcakes on the plate than you can fit on it).
- Take about one to two 8oz cartons of whipped cream (depending on how much whipped cream you like on shortcake) and spread them onto the cupcakes as shown on the picture above. Set it aside.
- Then, take some strawberries (a one pound carton is fine) and slice off the top. After that, chop them up into about 4-5 bite size pieces per strawberry.
- Assemble the strawberries onto the shortcake and whipped cream (three or four slices per shortcake).
- (Optional) For a unique finish on this dessert, sprinkle some orange zest on top of the shortcake.
- Enjoy!
This dessert is fruity, fun, and absolutely delicious!!
Have fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
Tomorrow is Labor Day, so I've been working on what to do. So far, I'm on the Mini Strawberry Short Cakes. Well, it's like short cake but I'm not using the actual short cakes.
More to come! I'll post pictures!!
Have great fun in the kitchen!
-Sandra
The title of this recipe may seem a little bit strange but since I didn't have any cake around when I made this, I decided to use the sugar cookies I bought that day.
But anyway, here's how to make these Strawberry Short Cookies.
- Take about 4-6 strawberries and cut them in to 3-4 bite size pieces (be sure to throw away the top of the strawberry) and set them aside in a small bowl.
- Meanwhile, take a sugar cookie, put it onto a plate (it really helps if the cookie isn't cold), then take a large spoonful of whipped cream and put it onto the sugar cookie. Make sure it's not sliding off of the cookie.
- Put some of the strawberries on top and enjoy!
To make a two-layer short cookie, just do the steps above twice.
Have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
(P.S. Check out my new blog http://emeraldcountessofthenorth.blogspot.com)
I have been home from Texas A&M University since late Sunday night, and on Thursday, I left for Corpus Christi! So far, I went to the Gulf, and the Bay, Macaroni Grill, a Ferry, saw the U.S.S Lexington, and Mustang Island!! I'm soo excited about being here, I don't care about it being almost midnight!!!
Pictures from all these great locations soon! And a recipe for simple Turkey Sandwiches.
Have great fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
I am now officially on my vacation!! Even though College Station (home of the Texas A&M Aggies) may not seem like a vacation spot, I'm there to watch a state swim meet as my free time. I know: a swim meet. But I choose to do some interesting things for my leisure time! So far everything is going fine, more to come!!
Have fun in the kitchen!!
-Sandra
