Recipe of the Day (part 2)- Turkey Chilli and Lime Margarita (on the Rocks)

Now who doesn't love a great chilli???

Now I love cooking chilli because of the different layers of spices and that you can make it has mild or spicy as you like it. Plus it reminds me of the time that I used to spend down in Mexico,  I know that chilli isn't one of their major dishes that they make down there. But hey... this is the closest that I can get to a good Mexican dish without setting the kitchen on fire or screwing the dish up somewhere along the cooking process.

Now a few years ago, I wanted to make chilli for the first time and so I searched and found one. Now after following the recipe to the T, I decided to play with it until I made it my own.... so another year went by and I finally perfected my own version of the recipe that I first found.

Now don't get me wrong I love the beef chilli like everyone else does but both my husband and I are not huge meat eaters. So this version of my chilli recipe does us justice, and since I do all of the cooking, I sometimes prefer the turkey.

This recipe is also a great hit for when I am doing a Mexican theme dinner party and is one of many dishes that I cook (which I find on the web).

Normally chillies are a side dish.... but go ahead make it the main star attraction and serve it with some corn tortillas and a nice glass of Lime Margarita (on the rocks)

Chilli con Carne- Ground Turkey version
 

Ingredients 

1 1/2lbs ground turkey

1 16oz can diced tomatoes

1 6oz can tomato paste 

1 16oz can red kidney beans

1 cup diced onion

1 cup chopped carrots 

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup mushrooms

2tablespoons sugar

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 1/2 teaspoons chilli powder

2 dried chilies (optional)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Dash pepper

In a large pot cook the ground turkey until it's cooked. Add the vegetables and cook for bout 5 mins. And the seasoning and cook for another 5 mins. Then add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and cook until it starts to boil then add the red kidney beans. Turn down the heat to low and cook for 1 1/2 hours.

*** You can adjust the spice level of the recipe depending on how hot you like it

Serve with diced avocados and shredded cheese

Classic Tequila Margarita

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1/2 ounce triple sec (Cointreau is recommended)
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• Lime wedge for garnish
• Salt or sugar to rim the glass (optional)

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake well.
3. If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass.
4. Pour contents, with ice, into the glass.
5. Garnish with the lime wedge

Enjoy!!!

Recipe of the day: Homemade Rosemary Croutons

Have left over bread from a dinner party??? Don't know what to do???? Well why not make croutons with the left overs !!!!!!

Now I am the carbs queen in my household, but since having Marley I thought I'll try to reduce the amount of carbs that I take in.... Hell what am I talking about I LOVE MY BREAD!!!!! And I am always the one that gets stuck with the leftover breads from the family dinners, dinner parties and from the holidays. I get so much sometimes that the bread goes bad with mold or my freezer is jam packed with bread that I cant fit any other types of food groups in there.

Then it hit me one day instead of buying croutons to put in a Ceaser salad or as a garnish in a soup.... Why not make them??? You know..... I do have the bread to do make them, let alone a crap load on the odd occasion.

One of my favorite ones to make is with fresh rosemary as I have it has one of my staple plants on my patio and I love the taste of it.

Here is what you need:
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
A handful of fresh springs of rosemary
Day old or leftover bread

Now you can use any time of bread, but I prefer using baguettes weather it be French, sourdough, Tuscany style or even a day old focaccia. The reason is that I like the taste of them and find that they give me better results for the croutons.

Pre-heat the oven to 350

First step is to cut the bread into bite size cubes and place them into a mixing bowl.

Second step- put in the rosemary, salt and pepper to taste and enough olive oil to coat the bread and let is stand for a minute or two so that the bread can soak up the flavours. Then put the bread on a cookie sheet that is lined with foil and stick it in the oven and let them cook for about 10-15 mins or until golden brown.

Once golden brown take them out of the oven and let them cool down. Once cooled down store them in an air tight container. They can stay in your pantry for about 2 weeks. Unless you live in my house on where they don't even last the day as we snack on them throughout the whole day.

Hope you enjoy!!!! And don't forget you can experiment with different flavours and seasonings

Other great flavours I love to use:
Roasted garlic
Chilli flakes
Parmasen Cheese
Salt and pepper

TGIF Feature of the day: Classic Gin Martini (dry)

Happy Friday everyone!!!!!

Welcome to TGIF Friday Features.

Well its Friday so for most of us its the end of the work week, so lets loosen those ties and kick of those heels and grab a drink.

So todays feature is the Classic Dry Gin Martini. Now I love my martinis and it doesn't matter what the flavour is, just as long as its made properly. But my all time favorite martini is the Classic Dry Gin Martini with 2 olives stirred and not shaken...... I know I am a little bit picky (or should I say anal) when it comes to this particular drink, I kinda have to as this was the first drink that I ever had (I was under age at the time) and my grandfather made it for me. And ever since then, I have always had my martini that way and if it wasn't made to perfection then I would send it back until the bartender go it right..... another picky triaght that I got from my grandfather. Like come on, you know you are making one of the best cocktail drinks in the world PLEASE and I mean PLEASE give it justice and do it right the first time.

So here is a recipe: (per 1 serving)

1 2/3 oz gin
1/3 oz dry vermouth
1 olive

Stir gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a cocktail glass, add the olive, and serve.

 

Don't forget the essentials!!!!

 

Every good bar needs the classic essentials for the martini lovers. So here are the major must haves for the martini.

1. Shaker- Whatever you do, do not cheap out on a shaker. Take the time and look for a good quality of a shaker, they will last you for a long time. You got choices from glass, stainless steel and double wall so go for a one that is with in your budget and the one that you like.
2. Martini glasses- What is a martini without a martini glass???? There are so many styles out here so its all based on personal preference. From a classic martini glass all the way to stainless steel. So go with ones that you like and go with your décor.... or should I say personality
3. Martini accessory kit (which includes the strainer, shots for measuring, a bottle opener and a knife

 

 

So Cheers and have a great friday

 



Around Town With Mommy Blog: Lets Get Cooking!!!!!!

Around Town With Mommy Blog: Lets Get Cooking!!!!!!: Now who doesn't love to cook???? For me, my kitchen is a place on where I can be creative with and explore different culinary dishes w...

DIY- Personalized Baby Onesies

What a great way to make some of the onesies that your lil one is going to wear memorable!!!! Let alone a great baby shower activity for all of the guests to do.

I first heard and had the previlage of doing some, when I was pregnant with Marley, my girlfriend and my sister planned my baby shower and one of the activities that they had everyone do was to decorate a plan white onesie, and all I have to say that it was so much fun doing them let alone very memorable. I loved watching all of my closest friends and family members make me a onesie for Marley, not only were they going to be different and unique, but they were going to be special knowing that it was hand designed. I even get stopped sometimes when Im out with Marley, where people are asking me where I got the onesie that she is wearing because its the cutest thing that they have seen and they want to get one for someone that they know that is either having a baby or has a baby. And when I tell them that it was hand made by a friend of mine at my baby shower, they were surprised and thought it was the best thing that they have ever heard.

It was such a great idea, that I even had a DIY baby onesie table set up at my sisters baby shower which I had the honour of planning. Lets just say that it was such a big hit that not even 20 mins after the ladies started all of the onesies that I bought were all decorated and the ladies wanted to do some more.

For some simple onesies here is some of the supplies that you would need:

1. White Onesies- Vary in sizes that range from newborn to 12 months
2. Fabric Paint- Different colours
3. Plastic tablecloths
4. Cloth Pins
5. String

Cover your designated work space with the plastic table cloth and set up the fabric paint, onesies and cloth pins on the table. Then find either a stairwell railing or a ledge on where you can tie the string along, so that when your guests or even you can hangup the onesies to dry once you are done.

Have fun and be creative!!!!

Here is a link to find some more great ideas to get creative with the onesies

https://www.google.ca/search?q=diy+baby+onesies&newwindow=1&rlz=1T4ACAW_en___CA389&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Xd-CUtmbLYnf2AWbvID4BA&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1012&bih=433

Money Savin Tips

On a tight budget or just want to save a few extra dollars since the arrival of your new bundle of joy. Now I’ve always been the type to watch how much I spend and how much I put away into my saving, but never fully on how much I can make the average dollar go or even shop the sale racks. But ever since I found out that I was pregnant with Marley, that took a major turn to on how much can I make the average dollar go a long way and when a sale is on I make sure I always check to see if there is anything that I need for the house, Marley or even for myself or my partner.  So here are a few tricks and a few places that I check out when I want to save a few extra bucks or try to make that average dollar go a long way.
The list:

 Coupons
Make coupons your best friend when you are shopping they do help when you are at the till paying for your items. Coupons vary from 50cents, 1-4 dollars off and some that are buy one get one free. Here are some websites that you can checkout:

• www.websaver.ca
• www.save.ca
• www.gocoupon.ca
• www.smartsource.ca
• www.brandsaver.ca
• www.msjanuraury.ca
• www.grocerysavings.ca
• www.smartcanucks.ca
• www.checkout51.com

Now the list can go on for websites that you can get coupons from so go on and click, print/mail out and start saving today

Farmers Markets
The summer time is known for great weather, vacations and spending time at the beach or at the parks but it is also known for farmers markets being opened. Now farmers markets are great to get fresh produce from the local farmers, meat and fish from your local fisherman and cattle farmers, artisan bakers, eggs as well as other great finds from jewellery to cool household accessories. To find a local farmers market go to the city that you live in and they would list all the farmers markets in the area that you live in

Flea Markets
Flea markets are a great way to find the little things for around the house and you can get great deals and you can bargain with some of the vendors. The 2 major flea markets that I go to are the Cloverdale flea market at the Cloverdale fairgrounds which is every Sunday which goes from 9am to 1pm and the other one is the Vancouver flea market by Science world and its every Saturday.

Swap Meets
Swap meets are great as well; you can find gently used items that you can use for your house or for the family. The one swap meet that I go to is the Kids swap meet out in Cloverdale at the Cloverdale fairgrounds, they happen about once a month or once every two months

Garage Sales
Garage sales are pretty much the same as the swap meets and flea markets. You will always find great things

• Businesses that are closing out

              Great time to get great deals on items that you will need

• Social Media

   Social media like facebook and twitter are great ways to check out major companies as they will    have great giveaways on the products that they offer and sometimes you can get coupons that they would occasionally offer

Other great websites that you can check to find some great things are craigslist, kijji, and used Vancouver. These websites are fantastic and sometimes you can find one of a kind products, household items at a really good price.