Thanksgiving Martini

This Martini is thanksgiving in a glass! 

Ingredients:

• Vanilla Vodka 2oz
• Apple Cider 3oz
• Ginger Ale 1oz
• 2 tbsp of pumpkin puree
• Cinnamon and Sugar for rim of glass

Directions-
Place a few drops of cider on a plate and cinnamon and sugar on a separate plate. Roll the rim of each martini glass in the cider and then coat it with the cinnamon and sugar mix.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, cider, ginger ale, and pumpkin puree into the shaker. SHAKE and pour! :)

The original recipe can be found here.

Chocolate Pudding Layer Dessert

 adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients-
1. 1 cup of flour
2. 1/2 cup of melted butter
3. 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans
4. 1 8oz package of cream cheese (I used reduced fat)
5. 1 cup of confectioner's sugar
 6. 2 8oz packages of cool whip (or make homemade whipped cream)
7. 1 large 5.9oz box of any instant flavor pudding (I prefer chocolate!)
8. 3 cups of milk
9. 1 bar of chocolate for chocolate shavings (optional)

Layer 1:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans, and a 1/2 cup of melted butter. Firmly press into the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Layer 2:

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, and 1 cup of confectioner's sugar. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of 8oz container of cool whip or make homemade whip cream. (1 cup heavy cream, mixed with 3 tbsp of sugar, and a dash of vanilla, whipped together with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes) Once the 1st layer is cool spread the cream cheese layer on top and place in the fridge while you make the 3rd layer.

Layer 3:

Make pudding according to package directions and place over the 2nd layer.

Layer 4:

Spread remaining cool whip or fresh whipped cream over the pudding layer and garnish with chocolate shavings and extra chopped pecans. 

Store in Fridge to set 1-2 hours.

Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken

serves about 8-10

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 large)
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces of beer (I'm using a Longtrail double bag IPA)
• 32 ounces of barbecue sauce

I also added garlic chili powder, cayenne, and hot sauce to mine (love spicy food!)

Season chicken with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Place chopped onions at the bottom of the pot and then add the chicken, beer and 24 ounces of barbecue sauce. Cook on low for 8 hours, tossing once or twice if desired. After 8 hours, shred and add remaining barbecue sauce. Toss chicken to coat and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to absorb everything. Serve as desired.

I will be serving mine over rice but you could also top it over salad, as a taco, or as a sandwich. This makes a ton of chicken so plenty of leftovers to freeze or use for the week! :)

adapted from howsweeteats

 

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie with Rosemary Biscuits

After a weekend month of indulging it's about time I jump back on the "healthy" bandwagon. School has had a bad influence on my eating habits and it's time to fix that before it's too late!! Especially because the holiday's are literally right around the corner.
I gave up on grocery shopping because I end up throwing half of the groceries away, so don't come looking for food in my fridge because all you will find is BEER! (which isn't so bad) But having no food in fridge=eating out EVERY day of the week! Seriously let's look at this past week for example...

Thursday night-dinner at Tilted Kilt with 3 Blue Moon's (not just 16oz beers but 24oz beers)
Friday Night-Formal dinner at Hilton Garden Inn with many alcoholic beverages...lost count.
Saturday-Ordered a Penne ala Vodka dinner with a small cheese pizza (Shared!)
Sunday- Lunch at Sliders=wings, wings, and more wings and Dinner to follow at East Side Restaurant where I had bread,wiener schnitzel, potato pancakes, and why not finish it off with a chocolate cream pie...

Talk about never wanting to eat again after a week like that!

Since it's Monday and I get to make dinner...it's time to start FRESH  and cut back on the drinks eating out for the rest of the year!

Tonight's Menu:

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 lb of Ground Turkey
1 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 parsnip, diced
10 oz Frozen Vegetables
2 tbsp of flour
1 cup fat-free low-sodium chicken brothh
2 tsp tomato paste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp freshly chopped rosemary
salt+pepper
paprika

Sweet Potato Mashed:

1-1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, diced
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/4 cup fat free chicken broth
2 tbsp reduced fat sour cream
salt and pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS:

Boil sweet potatoes and garlic in a pot of salted water until cooked and soft. Drain and mash with chicken broth, sour cream, salt and pepper. 

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a large saute pan brown turkey; season with salt and pepper. When cooked, set aside on a plate.
Add olive oil to the pan, then add the onion and sauté one minute.
Add the celery, parsnip, salt and pepper to taste; cook about 12 minutes, until celery is soft.

Add garlic; sauté another 3-4 minutes.
Add flour, salt and pepper and mix well. Add frozen vegetables, chicken broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, cooked turkey, and mix well.
Simmer on low about 5-10 minutes.

 In a large baking dish, spread the meat mixture on the bottom of each dish. Top with the sweet potato mixture. Use a fork to scrape the top of the potatoes to make ridges; sprinkle with paprika. Bake 20 minutes or until potatoes turn golden. Remove from oven and let it cool 10 minutes before serving.

Rosemary Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 tbsp salted butter, melted
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
2 cups of Heart Smart Bisquick
3 oz shredded parmesan cheese
2/3 cup fat free milk

DIRECTIONS-
 
Preheat oven to 400°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Melt butter in a small pan, add oil and half the garlic; sauté on low heat about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and add chopped rosemary.  
In a large bowl, combine biscuit mix, parmesan cheese, and remaining garlic. Stir in milk and mix (do not over mix). Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes. Brush or drizzle biscuits with melted butter. Bake for 5 more minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom.
Makes 14 biscuits.  
 
Both Recipe's adapted from Skinnytaste