A Birthday Wish & A Guest Post {Midnight Kiss Cocktail}

Midnight Kiss Cocktail

When my friend Anita from The Hungry Couple asked me to guest post her Friday Happy Hour Cocktail because she was taking off for her birthday you can imagine a girl like me's delight!

A Birthday! A Cocktail! AND a Guest Post? WAAAAHOOOOO :)
The trifecta of blogging.

Head on over to wish her a Happy Birthday and see how this FABULOUS cocktail is made..... click HERE

Who stole July???? {Featured Five & one last chance for July Giveaway!}

I adore Friday...
here are my pics [literally] for the week!


So flippin' cute Christi at Mom What's For Dinner!

Have I mentioned I adore Cannolis?
Thanks Kita at Pass the Sushi
for this awesome idea!
Cannoli Cones

I heart  me a Shandy!
Thanks Trevor at sis.boom.[blog!]



Just SHUT. UP. Paul!
Brie & Mango Chutney Quesadillas
from Vintage Kitchen

Peas?  YUM
Peas with Parmesan & Pancetta... YUMILICIOUS
yeah I said that "word"
Thanks Jessica at Oh Cake

One for good luck?  You know it!

A new Mojito.... YAY!
Thanks Wylde Thyme!

***ALL PHOTO CREDITS TO THE POST REFERENCED,

HUGE Thank you to all for letting me repost****

HOUSEKEEPING!

And as our month ENDS.... don't forget there's a Magic Bullet up for grabs.... CLICK HERE TO ENTER..... share it on FB OR Twitter & comment or alert me somehow and get 2 extra entries for each share {limit 4 extra entries PER day}!

Stick A Fork in 'em {Happy Thirsty Thursday: Zacapa Mojito}

Ron Zacapa Mojito

Life as a Foodie can be challenging, I mean it is a veritable Cornucopia these days.  Everywhere I look I see downright addictive nibbles and delectable, decadent Bill of Fare cooked to perfection.  Finer dining is so approachable in this day and age, whether you are in search of an Artisan treat or lean more towards a Sammie.

For example, when we were in Key West we went to our favorite Eatery, Louie's Back Porch for what was a toothsome experience.  We never miss going to Louie's when we are in Key West and neither should you.... Their menu boasts a wide variety of Noms, featuring an awesome fusion of island fare and fine dining.  You are not there long before you know there is a serious Toque behind this scene! I savored every luscious bite of my dinner.  The lobster bisque was velvety; the steaks were meltingly tender and served with the best gnocchi ever.  The mouthfeel of that gnocchi was simply out of this world... downright pillowy.  For dessert the offered a simply unctuous assortment of yummy-tastic treats, enrobed in white and dark chocolate.  There was nothing in this meal that I would label a miss!

My original Millionaire Mojito
They used Limes,
 I like Lemon with my Zacapa

For those of you who are shaking your head wondering what this post is even about.... click HERE.  But do not mistake that review as a complete joke.... I LOVE LOUIE'S BACK PORCH!

On to the serious post.... HAPPY THIRSTY THURSDAY!

Since I brought up Louies in Key West.... I might as well share that I met my favorit-est Mojito EVER there that last visit, the Millionaire Mojito.

It's made with Zacapa Rum, which is a fabulous oak aged Rum.... and it makes for one seriously special Mojito.

here's what you need
1 & 1/2 oz. Zacapa Rum
1 oz Simple Syrup
8 mint leaves
1 half of a lemon cut in eighths
Club Soda to top

 here's what you do

Muddle Simple Syrup, Mint & 1/2 of the Lemons to perfection, pour into your prepared glass, fill with ice... top with club soda, THEN pour your Zacapa over it, garnish with reserved lemon/lime and stir & sip ....ahhhh the islands in a glass!

Getting Crocked {Spicy Chicken & Chorizo Stew}

Spicy Chicken & Chorizo Stew

Cooks Illustrated Make-Ahead Recipes 2012 is definitely a magazine worth buying.... I saved no less than 10 recipes from it that sounded to die for.  This was the first one I made and it was fabulous... I made a few changes based on my unwillingness to touch a pan if I'm crocking [as well as my tastes and what I had on hand] but this is a recipe I will make again and again, it was so worth it.

Executive Director of Details {& a fabulous Featured 5, some awards and spending an afternoon with Heidi reading the world's longest post}

I've been insanely remiss and neglectful of my blog.... but I've been crazy busy trying to visit my awesome 106 year old Auntie Alta

and then the best father-in-law
in the world took a spill so
David headed North to
check in on those old folks

and then this old guy
has been under the weather,
including a day in the ER

<><> <><> <><>

 need an office with a view?

and in the midst of ALL this David & I have been in the process of closing a deal that has made THIS awesome building ours

 OMG, I have details simply swirling in the air about me. 

And then there's THESE 3 trouble makers.....

But I still want my blog too! wahhhhhh.
So, for now I'm committing to one fabulous food post each week, one kicka$$ Thirsty Thursday cocktail and yes, my favorite day of the week.... FRIDAY and my Featured Five!  I know I can do it!

and so this week I've been trying TIME MANAGEMENT.....

Let me start off by saying I'm so grateful I don't have time to make THESE Naughty Cookie Bar from Heather at Curly Girl Kitchen {but I'm saving the recipe!!!}

Or these crazy Slutty Brownies from Emily at She Makes & Bakes.... O.M.G. is all I can say....

And I'm including this awesome chowder

in spite of Jenn at Peanut Butter & Peppers

bragging about her getting back to her

"normal routine".... wth is that anyhow???

Jenn over at Peas & Crayons,
helped plan my dinner next
 week with Spaghetti with Mozz Balls! 
and made me chuckle
"Cause you know how she loves her balls"

Then I found

 Charlie Louis over at Hotly Spiced

via an awesome feature on

Maureen's the Orgasmic Chef

and while I don't know

that I'll spend 90 minutes

on Jamie Oliver's Chicken

but I encourage you

to spend 5 minutes reading

Charlie's post on it....

HILARIOUS!

ONE FOR GOOD LUCK?

Well, I found a penny on a delivery's doorstep today!

oh, a post!?!.... Don't be shocked.... it's a cocktail.... albeit a cocktail with an awesome story and a fabulous picture.  Thanks Baker Bettie for sharing your sunset two ways....

***ALL PHOTO CREDITS TO THE POST REFERENCED,

HUGE Thank you to all for letting me repost****

HOUSEKEEPING:

Somewhere in there I squeaked out time to celebrate with my foodie Judges over at Food Story and please give a round of applause for Willow from Will Cook For Friends! She has an amazing blog and was our June Winner of the Food Stories.... CHECK HER OUT!

And as our month FLIES by.... don't forget there's a Magic Bullet up for grabs.... CLICK HERE TO ENTER..... share it on FB OR Twitter & comment or alert me somehow and get 2 extra entries for each share {limit 4 extra entries PER day}!

& Last But NEVER LEAST.....

somehow, someway.... I got awards while I was slacking!!!!

Thanks to my awesome friends Uru & Kim for making my day, I've kept my notifications in my email box to remind me that I really LOVE this and that someone besides my husband is checking out my nonsense!

Kim at Treats & Trinkets gave me this one...

and you are supposed to:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link back. THANK YOU KIM!
2. Share a little bit about why you started blogging.... because I have sooooooo much to say {and really as a chronical in case my kids ever miss me & want to know how to make a special drink that Mommy loved.... I mean cookie.}
 3. Copy and paste the award to your blog.
4. Nominate 10 other Addictive bloggers and let them know!

and then Uru at Go Bake Yourself gave me The Illuminating Blooger Award which is presented to bloggers who give illuminating and informative blog content She's such an intuitive girl that Uru...

It's funny, I remember my first awards and thinking to myself that I was probably silly being so pleased but I was and I still am, and though I would perceive the following people above this type of thing.... so are the people who gave them to me.... but I think it's really nice to get a nod and a hug. Truly, Uru & Kim, thank you as well as those of you I am about to nominate, you really are special people.
Anita @ The Hungry Couple
Jessica at Oh Cake
CJ @ Food Stories
Jennie @ the Messy Baker
Maureen at the Orgasmic Chef
Charlie Louis at Hotly Spiced
Kita at Pass the Sushi
Addie at Just Go to Bed {although she's a slackass}
Chef Dennis at A Culinary Journey With Chef Dennis {special thx for that Google + post}
Kayle @ the Cooking Actress

ok, this was truly giving birth. 
If you're still here XXOO

Celebrate National Daiquiri Day with a FABULOUS Raspberry Daiquiri

Raspberry Daiquiri

Must admit.... never had a Daiquiri before.... I see them ALL the time of my Foodie Buddy Anita's blog.... the Hungry Couple. In fact, pop over there after here and check out her collage de Daquiri!

So yummy & refreshing.... meet the Raspberry Daiquiri!
Worth the effort though to de-seed!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1/2 cup fresh raspberries, washed
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup simple syrup
2 ounces rum
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cups ice

WHAT YOU DO:

Combine raspberries, lemon juice, and simple syrup ingredients in a blender {I of course used my Magic Bullet} and puree until smooth.  Then strain into clean bullet cup or blender; add ice, rum & lime juice.  Puree until smooth.
Garnish with lime wedge.

Sit back & relax!

Less makes you want MORE :) {Crème Brûlée Spoons}

Crème brûlée Spoons

Life has been crazy hectic, I feel like I've been working on this one post for a month of Sundays but it was worth it to share these!  

In planning our dessert station for a recent event and I got a little obsessed with the idea of dessert shooters.  Then while trying to find the perfect CHEAP shooter glasses online I ended up finding a good deal on porcelain Japanese Soup Spoons.... so my obsession then became what the heck was I going to put in these.... I googled and googled and just didn't find anything that moved me.... until when looking through images of spoons I saw a picture from a site called Decorno.... which really is not a foodie site but apparently the brother-in-law of the blogger is a foodie and he made Crème brûlée in Japanese Soup Spoons for a party. 
I was like SHUT. UP. 
But, alas no instructions at all.  So, back to google but NOTHING.  I tried commenting to see if I could get to the brother-in-law some how but nothing.... I found the Brother-in-law featured on another fairly prominent foodie site in a segment about bite size desserts but still no real recipe.... they referenced another  Crème brûlée recipe and made a flip comment about just shoving it in the spoons but as I looked at the recipe I thought there is NO way this recipe would translate into spoons, it was a broiler version.  I wasn't sure about much but was pretty sure the spoons would need to be individually torched. 

Anyhow, enough kvetching.... I decided to wing it and just start cooking.  I need to admit that while I have eaten oh-I-don't-know-maybe-a-thousand Crème brûlée in my life I had never cooked one.... I read dozens of recipes and much to my families delight it became a week of nightly Crème brûlées ... ultimately I came up with this recipe.  In short, these are little treats are incredible.

NOTE: This recipe made enough  Crème brûlée for

100 spoons.... but I only needed 50 ...AGAIN a win for my family!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 quart heavy whipping cream

1 vanilla bean

1 tsp Madagascar Vanilla

6 egg yolks {large}

1/4 cup regular sugar

approximately 1/4 cup Turbinado sugar for topping

a baking torch :)

WHAT YOU DO:

Preheat oven to 325F.

Set a pot of water to boil, depending on the size of your pan, I'd say 6-8 cups. You will need this for your "Bain-Marie."

Water set to boil, pour the quart of heavy cream into a saucepan; slit the vanilla bean and gently scrape the seeds from inside, add both the pod and the scrapings to the pan and heat over medium high heat, stirring frequently for approximately 4 minutes.  

While the milk is heating, in a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar.  When milk is steamy but not quite to a boil strain the creme into the egg yolk mixture and combine well.  

Set up your Bain-Marie:  place 2 large ramekins {3.75 inch diameter} in a 9x13 pan and pour boiling water around them so they are about 1/2 way submerged.  


Pour your Creme mixture into the 2 ramekins, carefully place pan in oven and bake for 45 minutes at 325F.

 Then increase heat to 350F for 15 minutes more, they should be golden brown and look fairly "set" but still soft.  Place the Bain-Marie on a heat resistant surface and allow the Creme to cool to room temperature in the pan.  


Once cool, you are ready to load your spoons....
I loaded mine and stored on a jelly roll pan in refrigerator overnight {cover with Saran}. 
There's no "magic" to loading but they stayed neater
when I spooned the creme into the spoon rather than dipping.




When you are ready to serve, take out of fridge sprinkle each spoon
with approximately 1/2 tsp of the Turbinado {raw} sugar

 

and torch to perfection.





 









ENJOY!

I found this video helpful in the process although I did not use her recipe specifically...

Do you like Pina Coladas? Gettin' Caught in the Rain? {Happy National Pina Colada Day!}

Happy National Pina Colada Day!!

Enjoy a tropical delight to celebrate the day

Pina Colada

WHAT YOU NEED:
1/2 cup rum
1/2 cup coconut cream
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup pineapple chunks

lots of ice

WHAT YOU DO:
Add rum, coconut cream, coconut milk and pineapple chunks to blender, puree, then fill blender with ice and puree again.

Serve, garnished with marachino cherries or pineapple...

or feeling wild? Top with a Myer's Dark Rum float!

It really is MAGIC {July Giveaway}

Congrats again to Jane of SEEJANESELL for winning June's awesome giveaway.... I'm way behind in everything not the least of which is announcing the prize for Round FOUR of my 12 THINGS I LOVE GIVEAWAY and getting this party started!

 

So, what's my July pick? Well, July's GIVEAWAY is a MAGIC BULLET!  Yup, you are reading that correctly and I want it in YOUR hands before the hottest part of the summer arrives so you can concoct a frozen cocktail/mocktail in it!

Seriously I LOVE MINE  And fear not.... if you don't drink, just look through my blog I use mine for EVERYTHING.... sauces, dips, you name it.

 Your first rodeo?  Well, here are the rules....you need to leave a comment on this post confirming that you have done EACH of the following tasks {even if you already are, confirm and get an entry!}:

•     ~Followed/Joined my site OR ~signed up to receive my emails AND
•     LIKE my new cocktail site, Barfly101, on Facebook CLICK HERE

FOR FIVE (5) extra entries, go to Barfly101 {if you are over 21 OR Young Grasshopper if not} and come back and tell me in a comment something you would make in your Magic Bullet !!! 


For FOUR {4} EXTRA entries, leave EXTRA comments after confirming that you have {even if you already have, if you comment here you STILL get an entry, you don't have to be new!}:

•     ~Like my Facebook page
•      ~follow me on Twitter
•       ~follow me on Pinterest
•                     ~follow Barfly on Twitter

Good Luck <3

Fine print:  

• The entry period will run from the day I post until the last day of the month.... for example entries for May's giveaway will start NOW and end on June 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST. 
• I can only accept US entries on this contest.
• Now, although my site allows anonymous comments if you are anonymous I cannot contact you! So make sure you leave a way to contact you...
• I will announce winners on the 1st of the month in a post and contact you via email, your blog if you're a blogger or any other method you provide in your comment! If I cannot find you I will do a second drawing one week later.... someone is gettin' the stuff!
• PLEASE do not hesitate to email me with any questions you might have at heidisuewebb@yahoo.com. 

Check back as the month goes on for additional entries... you know you want this MAGIC!

THIRSTY THURSDAY KEY WEST STYLE

A picture is worth a Million words....

 recipes to follow over the next few weeks

{still digging out}

XXOO

Heidi

Dark & Stormy.... started as my mood, evolved into my drink and now it's the weather I will sleep peacefully to

Dark & Stormy Cocktail

 Only two very long days in this week so far but OMG, they were rough.  I was feelin' a bit grrrrrrr and when I stopped at World Market on my way home {love that place} I saw Ginger Beer and thought immediately.... DARK. AND. STORMY.


I've seen a lot of recipes over the years with far fancier rums but I tend to have Myer's Dark on hand and so my quick Tuesday, long days, short week Dark & Stormy is this....

WHAT YOU NEED:

3 oz. Myers Dark Rum

8 oz of Ginger Beer

1 oz. fresh lime juice {squeeze a half of a lime}

LOTS of ice

WHAT YOU DO:
Pack your favorite glass with ice.... a pilsner would work, or large wine glass, I have some tall wide glasses from C&B that I love for my ice packed drinks.  


Squeeze you lime over the ice, 
fill with Ginger Beer and top with Rum.  
Stir well, sip and see the storminess evaporate.


Bring it on Wednesday, oh yeah it's a holiday ;)

I'm Late! I'm Late! {but we have a WINNER!}

I swear.... I cannot regroup from my vacation.... I'm a day late and a dollar short BUT we do have a WINNER :)

June Giveaway 3rd drawing held by Young Grasshopper Completed on Tuesday, 3 July 2012 at 17:29:22 UTC 26 entrants, 1 winner and the winnnner is..... JANE from SeeJaneSell!!! We will now call her.... See Jane WIN!!!!