Food – creme de la curves

October 17, 2013November 6, 2019

chicken empenadas

This past weekend my family all got together for the weekend. Rarely does this happen, so during our time we spent catching up, we did all of our favorites, baked, played, and looked through old family pictures like the one found here.

Anyone who comes from a large family background that includes attending church on a Sunday morning, knows that if there are eight people up & getting ready, two and a half fully functioning bathrooms is hardly enough space. I think back to heading to my grandmas for Sunday dinner and think, how did she build these enormous feasts for all of us when we’d visit and still have time to roll and set her hair, leaving on time, perfectly put together.

Saturday night, my sisters and I decided Apple Pie, ( You can find the recipe we used here.) would be a perfect fall choice for Sunday afternoon dessert, and something simple like CrockpotChicken Tacos ( I love the recipe found here so much flavor. ) , would be both easy and kid friendly.

So, Tuesday morning rolled around and I was left with a lot of meat from the chicken tacos, I also had a can of Pillsbury GRANDS biscuits that were intended for breakfast sitting my fridge so I began creating.

I came up with a simple Chicken Empanada, now, its no secret that I love love love all things hot & spicy. There is truly nothing better on the palette than that perfect blend of hot & spicy.

Chicken Empenadas

1 can of GRANDS flaky layer biscuits ( individually rolled out as flat as possible)

Fill each with a small amount of shredded Colby Jack or Mexican Cheese, the left over chicken, grilled peppers, onion, a jalapeño, dash with some extra of your favorite hot sauce ( if you like it as spicy as me)

Don’t over fill with the mixture, you will want to be able to fold the dough in half, as pictured.

Bake in the over at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden brown and you’ve got easily 2 -4 meals depending on the size of your family.

The crust is super flaky, and its perfect when its still warm and right out of the oven.

Empanadas are so simple and really can be filled in so many ways… what fun things would you add into yours? Tell me in the comments below.

–eliza

January 24, 2013

Ruby Red Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Last year I began a new love for something that I’d generally avoided… fruit. I know it sounds weird and I really don’t have a reason why I did. I found though that fruit & wine are a wonderful pair, I’m sure your thinking well duh, right about now seeing as its a derivative of one. But truly, one of the finest things in life is a well orchestrated fruit salad with a nice bottle of Moscato. (and truth be told I don’t even generally ever like white wine.)

I’ve recently been finding myself enjoying fully developing the flavors in foods, as well as finding new and unique pairings of wine to accompany them. One of these obsessions has become perfecting vinaigrettes. It would seem finding the perfect vinaigrette would be some what of a challenge, when really the possibilities are endless. Here is one that I came up with that turned out to be quite a hit for Sunday brunch.

the salad = baby spinach, chopped romaine, beefsteak tomato, white onion, ruby red grapefruit sections, feta cheese

1/4 c. finely chopped white onion

2 T finely chopped garlic

2 T Honey Dijon mustard

1/4 c champagne vinegar

1/4 t sea salt

3 T Dark Agave Nectar

1/2 t fresh ground black pepper

1 large ruby red grapefruit

In a small bow whisk together onion, garlic, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Then juice the contents of the grapefruit into the mixture. After the following is thoroughly whisked slowly pour in olive oil while continuing to whisk causing the dressing to emulsify. You can easily gauge whether the vinaigrette has emulsified by taking a leaf from the salad prepared and dipping it in the dressing, if it evenly coats the leaf as pictured below your dressing is complete.

December 7, 2012November 6, 2019

{DIY} Christmas Cupcake Ornaments

Last year on Pinterest, I saw these super cute cupcake ornaments and have been dying to try them ever since. If you follow any of my social media you already know that Christmas is my all time favorite holiday and that I love to go all out when it comes to decorating, baking, and just really everything that encompasses the season. These were actually extremely easy to make, and if you have a hot glue gun (which I did not) it would be even easier.

{glue | glitter | foil cupcake liners | red bells | large bright colored ornaments | paint brush }

{with a small brush paint the area with glue you would like to glitter as the icing}

{glue the red bells on top and finish by gluing the liner to the ornament and your done.}

This is by far the easiest crafting project I’ve ever attempted and super cheap too. I think the entire list of products cost less that $10-. The only thing I have left to do is to come up with an equally cute way to wrap these for gifts. Do you have any suggestion? Let me know your most creative idea in my comment section below and if I decide on yours I will include one of these for you in my gifting.

-Merry Christmas-

December 5, 2012November 6, 2019

things I love…

{getting ready for the 12 days of Christmas giveaway for Grace Magazine }

{Drugstore finds that become all time favorites}

{My Dad’s Cinnamon & Raisin Biscuits}

(… and the fact that he left them like this saying I thought these were photo worthy” ADORABLE!!! )

October 11, 2012November 6, 2019

apples to apples…

Earlier this month I got to spend the weekend with my grandma. In spending time with her she gave a lot of sage wisdom which I talked about here. I recommend anyone who has an elderly loved one, to take the time to go visit them. You can learn so much from the life they have fully lived.

Homemade applesauce is so much simpler than you would ever imagine a full recipe can be found here.

I like to add cinnamon & agave nectar to mine.

December 12, 2011November 6, 2019

Things I love…

You know… its coming to my attention very quickly that I love cute creative nails… not like the really out there kind like these… (which to be honest I admire the artwork but they are definitely not my style.) but more like this. Of course when I began curating this post, the first thing I started looking at were nails… (I wonder if that says something about my personality… hmmm I’m going to have to google that and get back to you.) So, these past few weeks have been insanely busy with traveling and working on location but in those travels I’ve come up with some amazing finds as well as being rekindled with some old favorites.

{This simple tutorial can be found here & would be a great adornment this holiday season}

{I’m a such a lover of California Red Wines, I adore this creative way to display the corks.}

{Words cannot really express my love for these bath bombs… Unfortunately they are closed for the holidays so you’ll have to make a trip to Canada to get your own… but completely worth it I’ve loved them for years.}

{I think this is just a supreme idea and as a photo-junkie I would love to have my fridge covered.}

{I’m pretty sure these are a staple in everyones home in one way or another during the holidays and well if they are not then they should be. You can find a full recipe here.}

What things are you loving this week?