A Barefoot Valentine's Day

Guess which one is mine ? Oohh, this was so yummy, and the perfect ending to a Perfect Day!

"Our Bubbly White Zinfandel is perfect for a hot summer day with flavors that pack in a season's worth of fruit: juicy peach, strawberry and fresh watermelon. All these sparkling notes culminate in a refreshingly sweet finish. "

Queen B's Wine Exchange definitely recommends...

I would drink this for any occasion ! $8.99

The Wine Exchange: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and the 200% guarantee

2009 is.....well, ....quite a year so far. This requires a great wine recommendation, because I just don't have time for BAD wine these days. ! Soooooooo, I asked the wine lady at my local grocer what she recommended.... She said her top seller was Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. It just so happen to be on sale for 11.99, ( was 15.99 ) so I bought it !! One of my requirements for my taste testings, is that I only choose wines that are on SALE... So, I grabbed the bottle, and a few other items and drove home. At the stop light, I looked down at my receipt and noticed I was charged FULL PRICE. Umm...excuse me, but I just wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't go back and get my four dollars back... so I drove back and asked the clerk to please check the price of the wine, because I was sure it was on sale.

Well, it WAS on sale. The clerk promptly handed me back my bottle of wine AND $17 dollars and some change.

??? What ? I told her all I needed back was around 4.00.

Evidently, my store has a 200% guarantee, which means...if anything is rung up WRONG, you get the item for FREE , AND the FULL RETAIL PRICE of the item............. (not the sale price! )

I got free wine and was PAID to drink it.......... I almost felt guilty....... ( I said, almost!)
So about that wine....It was delicous, and I'd buy it again, on sale of course !

"Tropical flavors such as mango and pineapple dance with aromas of peach, apple and pear. Richly layered and balanced throughout. Lightly buttered toast headlines the indulgent, lingering finish."

I finally found the perfect Clam Chowder !

I must admit, I crossed my fingers as everyone dived into their soup......hoping it would be "The One"...The Clam Chowder I have been searching for...and it was ! Since I live by the beach, I tend to order Clam Chowder often when we go out. I have been determined to find a recipe that I love, but haven't been able to get it quite right...Until now !! This fantastic soup was posted by Melanie at My Kitchen Cafe . My entire family went back for seconds and thirds ! After dinner, I ran to my 'binder' full of recipes, and ripped out the current "clam chowder recipe"...and replaced it with this one.
If you like clam chowder, give this a whirl ! (recipe posted at My Kitchen Cafe)

p.s.

I found Clam Juice in the Soda section of my grocery store. It was by the grenadine, augusta bitters, giant olives for martinis, margarita salt, etc. I guess you must use it in cocktails.

What's in that blue drink anyways ??

Blue Hawaiian

3 oz ( 1/4 C. plus 2 TBS) light rum

2 oz ( 1/4 C) blue Curacao

1/2 C. unsweetened pineapple juice

1/4 C. well stirred canned cream of coconut such as Coco Lopez

( NOT coconut milk )

3 C. ice cubes

Blend all ingredients in blender til smooth !

Makes 2 drinks

Hop on a table and dance !!

My famous Crab Dip

What is your signature dish...'THE' dish that made you famous at some party and everyone requested the recipe ? I'd love for you to leave a comment, the name of your recipe and if there is a link, include that ! Those are my all time favorite recipes !!
I'm making my famous CRAB DIP recipe for a cocktail party tonight. I bring this dip to every event I go to !! I don't care if people call me the crab lady !

Tonight I'm using fresh Blue Crab meat !! It will be amazing !

Crab Dip

2 - 8oz. packages cream cheese, softened & whipped

1/2 C. Mayo

2 - 7oz. cans crab meat, drained and shredded

1 T. powdered sugar

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 T. dry onion flakes

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

white pepper to taste

Parm cheese

1. Beat cream cheese

2. Add Mayo

3. Add crab, powdered sugar, dry mustard, onion flakes, salt, garlic powder, white pepper.

4. Stir in crab.

5. Pour in 6 x 10 dish, top with freshly grated parm. cheese.

Bake til bubbly - usually 350 for 20 min.

I serve Carr's Cracked Pepper crackers with this dip !

The Way I See It

Do you ever take the time to read "The Way I See It" on the side of Starbucks cups ?
This is my favorite !! Waaaaaaaaaaa !!

“Do not kiss your children so they will kiss you back but so they will kiss their children, and their children’s children.”

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Root beer style !

** reposted for Crock Pot Wednesday thanks to Debbie from Dining with Debbie who hosted this event.





{ I found this recipe on allrecipes.com.}

 I rarely cook in a crock pot, but this is a necessity during soccer season ! I hate coming in late with the kids in tow, and then have to put dinner together. It's so nice to open the door with exhausted kids, and know that a giant pulled pork sandwich is just seconds away ! By the time they are done washing up, their dinner is waiting for them !

The reason I like this recipe better, is I really like the texture of the pork. It really has that 'pulled pork' thing going on, unlike my other recipe which seems kind of mushy now that I think about it ! I noticed that it is also cooked on LOW instead of high, like my other one.

The root beer really gives it an interesting 'zing' that's so subtle. The kids went back for seconds, so that's why this is my new BBQ pork for 09.


Slow Cooker Pulled Pork


"Using root beer to season slow cooked pork tenderloin makes a novel, yet tasty preparation method guaranteed to win applause."

Ingredients:
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin ( I used the whole package, they come with two )
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle root beer ( I used IBC Root Beer )
1 (18 ounce) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce ( I like KC Masterpiece )
8 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted ( I didn't toast mine and they were fine )

Directions:
1. Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours. Note: the actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker. Drain well. Stir in barbecue sauce. Serve over hamburger buns.





I still top mine with BONE SUCKIN' SAUCE !!!! YUMMA LUMMA !!

The Wine Exchange gets Happy

Over the Holidays, I tried something new ! A friend gave me Yellow Tail's new Sparkling White Wine. Don't ask me why, but it didn't occur to me that 'sparkling' meant "bubbly" as in champagne...so I opened the bottle an ordinary Tuesday night, and then said...."OOOhh No ! It's champagne-ish...I should have saved it...but oh well...it's opened so guess we're stuck drinking it." Well,well, well folks, let me tell you....this is a 'happy' let's draw a giant bath and sink into deep bubbles kinda sparkling wine. It's so light and fruity and well, it just made me so 'happy' I wanted to sing !! A definite possibility if any of you drink something fun on Valentine's Day...which is right around the corner !
And it's around $8.00 !! Go ahead, buy two ! You'll find an excuse to drink the other one, and I bet it's before New Years !!

"86 Points, Wine Spectator - Soft, a bit sweet, but spicy and floral, reminiscent of a sweeter style of Prosecco. Pear and hazelnut flavors linger"

Home

I must be feeling nostalgic these days. I find that when I'm in need of 'comfort', I make things that remind me of 'home'. I swear I feel like a kid again when my kitchen smells like it did when I would come home from school. To be perfectly honest, it makes me feel 'safe' and 'secure'...like my mom is just in the other room and for just a few moments, all is well with my world.

Cheese Enchiladas ready for the oven !

My dad is from Mexico and married an American girl from a very small town. Food has always been highly important to my Dad, so mom learned to cook Mexican food from Lita.... (abuelita, which means grandmother in Spanish ). Every meal I ate growing up included rice and corn tortillas on the side. Most the meals mom made were Mexican, and so today, I'm making her cheese enchiladas. She made all kinds of enchiladas, but my favorite were always just plain cheese. And since I want to really feel like a kid today, well, then Cheese Enchiladas it is !!
Last night I made mom's Beans & Rice. I will make refried beans from the leftovers to serve on the side. Perfect. Dinner is served. My all time favorite use of leftover refried beans is to fry an egg, and place it right on top of a mound of beans... Oh my goodness....talk about COMFORT !! HELLO !!

Making enchiladas is soooo easy ! Not to mention cost effective ! They make great leftovers, so I love making more than I need !

-Stack of corn tortillas

- can of enchilada sauce - depends on how many you are making. I use a large can for 2 casserole pans

- Cheese - cheddar or Jack or pepper jack or combo of any... depending on what I have on hand determines which I use ! I tend to use 2 cheeses and alternate enchiladas...I like wondering what I'm going to bite into !

Pour enchilada sauce in sauce pan and heat on low.

Pour just a little sauce to cover the casserole dish you are using... so they won't stick. ( I use about one ladle)

Pour oil in skillet. Fry corn tortilla until it begins to 'bubble'... then dip in sauce, place on work surface and fill with cheese. Roll and place seam side down in casserole dish.

Repeat until you have a full tray. Top with remaining enchilada sauce, and more cheese.

Bake at 350 for 25 min. or until cheese melts.

Serve with rice, tossed salad, and don't forget the sour cream !

Seriously, how easy is that ? Delicioso !!

More than Sea Glass

I've been spending time getting the "beach" back into my Cozy Beach Cottage.. I love decorating for Christmas, but I love putting my house back together after Christmas even more. Nothing soothes my soul more than the colors of Sea Glass. These are not just jars of sea glass, they are jars of everlasting memories! We used to live in Hawaii. My children and I plucked these up right off the beaches... each and every piece here... and when I look at my sea glass, I don't see blue and green and white. I see sandy toes and waves and little legs running down the beach and I hear squeals of laughter as the waves rush in to try and keep what is rightfully hers and I smell that gorgeous salty air ... That's what happens to me when I see these jars. I love them more than anything in my home because they are not just sea glass. They are more than sea glass. They are bits and pieces of their childhood that I was able to capture and hold onto. Even as they grow, I can look at these and remember and smile and be thankful and feel blessed.

Cookie Jar Makeover

I was bummend when I didn't have enough spending cash for a Christmas Cookie Jar this year...( I'm determined to stick to my budget) I've always wanted one but life dictated otherwise...soooo I pouted and then a light bulb went off in my head. HEY ! Maybe I do have a creative bone in my body afterall ! I took my plain Jane all purpose glass canister and created my own Christmas Cookie Jar using old ribbon I had tucked away, and then took 2 ornaments off my tree !! Now I have a Christmas Cookie Jar...

Wrap it up !

Being thrifty doesn't have to make you sad. I already get the newspaper, so technically it was 'free' wrap ! This actually made me smile when I wrapped it up this morning.

It's not Christmas until the Pizzelles are made !

Well, alrighty ! That's better. It just didn't feel like Christmas yet... even with the Santa Puzzle complete ! I dived in with both feet tonight. I just couldn't put it off another night. The Pizzelle's are finally made... just waiting for powdered sugar. It's beginning to feel and smell like Christmas around here ! Yippee !

Santa Puzzle

We're in full Christmas gear here at the Cozy Kitchen. We completed our Santa Puzzle, another Christmas tradition around here. ( Sadly, I only found about 3 pieces!)
.

A peak outside my Cozy Kitchen window

I woke up and decided to take a few pictures of the view outside the Cozy Kitchen.
My kitchen is surrounded by mostly windows, so I thought I'd share with you what I see all day when I'm cooking. Here are a few...

When my son saw the sky, he said it looked like God took scissors and cut the sky in half. I grabbed my camera, and snapped this picture at 7:00 this morning.


Then I ran inside, and cut up an orange. I love to feed the birds ! I watch them outside my window all day long !


I noticed my winter Camellias were in full bloom !

I love winter blooms ! Even on gloomy days, these flowers make me smile.
This is my River Birch. I absolutley love the bark, and the way it unfolds in the winter ! It reminds me of unwrapping a crayon !
What's outside your Cozy Kitchen ? Take pics, post about it, come back here and leave a comment, and we can all go on a tour of what's ouside your Cozy Kitchen window ! We'll call it the Cozy Kitchen Window tour !

The Wine Exchange

I can't help it. It never fails, I get totally overwhelmed every December. After a long, hectic week, I was in search of something that had the potential to bring a smile to my face. I chose this beauty. Hess Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, $13.00 . "Aromas of mocha, brown sugar, and dark chocolate wrap around a core of mountain blackberry. Cedar and cassis follow as secondary aromas. The palate is well balanced with berry flavors and spice. While displaying classic mountain concentration, fine grained tannins provide a smooth finish." Oh ya baby...I'm smiling !

Baby, it's cold outside Corn & Cheddar Chowder

I woke up this morning and had cold feet. I ran downstairs to see what the temperature said on my computer. A freezing 26 degrees ! At that moment, I knew exactly what was for dinner ! This is served frequently at the Cozy Kitchen during the winter months ! I love the cumin in this soup !

Corn and Cheddar Chowder
Gourmet January 2000

This soup stands on its own as a main course when paired with a green salad and some crusty bread.

Yield: Serves 4 -6

Active Time: 40 min
Total Time: 45 min

4 bacon slices, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 large boiling potato, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup heavy cream
10-ounce package frozen corn kernels ( I use a can of Green Giant "Niblets"corn )
1/2 pound sharp Cheddar, grated


Cook bacon in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

Add onion and butter to fat in pan and cook, stirring, until onion is softened. Add cumin and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisk in broth and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Add potato and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 8 minutes. Stir in cream and corn and return to a simmer. Add Cheddar, stirring just until cheese is melted (do not let boil), and season generously with pepper.

Serve topped with bacon.
Soup keeps 2 days, covered and chilled

Cozy

I found this night light at Belk on sale for 14.00. They are in the China section. I thought it would be cute in the Cozy Kitchen ! I love the glitter swirls...they float about constantly when turned on and look sparkly at night. A great gift idea too !!