Strawberry Martini's

Lets just say YUM!!! I got this recipe from Shanon's friend Emily.  She made these for Mike and Shanon when they were over for dinner a few weeks ago.  They sounded so good that I thought, heck, I'll make these for breakfast at grandma's in the morning since Kristin and Katie were going to be there with the kids.  It was my first time making them and they were so good.  They were even better the second time I made them.

I've made these with different kids of juice- cherry and white grape cherry. I prefer cranberry but everyone has their preference.

You will need to make simple syrup  for this drink.  To make simple syrup dissolve 1 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water in a pot.  Boil till the sugar is dissolved.  Chill to you are ready to make the drink.

You will also need to puree 2 strawberries.  I used my immersion blender and pureed the strawberries with the vodka.

I really like to soak the strawberries in the vodka and dip some in chocolate to eat thank to Danielle for introducing me to them. The rest of them I used to make this drink and the vodka they were soaking in.  So really it goes hand in hand in making vodka soaked strawberries with strawberry martinis.  YUM O!

STRAWBERRY MARTINI
Emily Heintz

1 glass
1 shot simple syrup
1 shot vodka2 strawberries pureed
1 slice of lime squeeze the juice and use the wedge as garnish
about 1/2 cup cranberry juice

serve over ice in a martini glass.

Pitcher
2/3 cup simple syrup
2/3 cup vodka
8 strawberries pureed
2 whole limes juiced
3 cups of cranberry juice

* You can also make this into SLUSH! VERY VERY VERYYYYYY GOOOD!!

Vodka soaked Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Danielle Heit

Vodka
Strawberries
chocolate bark

Wash the strawberries and put them in a shallow dish with a lid.  Pour enough vodka over the strawberries and they it soak overnight.  Put strawberries on paper towels to dry while you melt chocolate on low heat in the microwave.  Stir till melted.  Dip the strawberry in chocolate coating the entire strawberry but the green stem and leaves.  Let harden on parchment paper.

YUM!

Hillbilly Caviar

Tonight I am going out for a girls night and need to bring an appetizer,  Matt's dad is also coming over today and I think he would like this dish so I figured I'd make a batch so I'd have it for both events today.   I got this recipe from someone at work who got it from someone else at work so I don't know where it originally came from but it's delish!  It's quick and easy, not a lot of fuss which is my kind of dish.  Plus you make it a day ahead so it can marinate.  Okay, it might not look so yummy but just one bite and you will change your mind.

Hillbilly Caviar

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon water
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sugar

Mix and boil, then let cool.  Just as easy as that.

Rinse and drain:
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can pinto beans
1 can white corn
1 can black beans
1 cup chopped green onion  
1 cup chopped celery 



Fritos Scoops or Tortilla Scoops. 

Mix everything together, let set at least a few hours or overnight- then drain before serving. 

Serve with Fritos Scoops or Tortilla Scoops.

Upside down German Chocolate Cake

Okay, I can never decide what to make, an appetizer or a dessert.  My friend Christina made this for New Years and let me say, I'm in love with this.   Im not sure if I overbake it but it's still good.  It's suppose to be an ooey gooey german chocolate cake.  I like it more like cake then the gooey side.  I know you are going to think this is crazy but you make a cream cheese frosting and drop it on the prepared cake mix BEFORE you bake it.  It will settle to the bottom and be oh so YUMMY!

Recipe from Christina Hamilton

Upside down German Chocolate Cake

1 chocolate cake mix and all ingredients for the cake

1 bag of flaked coconut 
1 cup chopped pecans

1 stick of butter softened
1 stick of cream cheese softened
1 lb of powder sugar



Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.  Spread the coconut and the chopped pecans on the bottom of the pan,   Prepare the cake mix as directed and pour on top of the coconut/pecan mixture.  Now prepare the frosting and drop on top of the cake mix.  I usually spread it around.  Bake it for about 1 hour at 350 degrees.  I bake it till its not so jiggly.

Menu 4-11-11

Who is hungry? I am! I am trying to add some more healthier meals into this weeks menu. So here it is:

Monday: Whole wheat macaroni and cheese with peas and bacon and baked cinnamon apples
Tuesday: French dip sandwiches (slow-cooker) and oven baked sweet potato fries.
Wednesday: Chicken in the slow-cooker with salad and mashed potatoes
Thursday: Ginger beef stir-fry

Friday: Whole wheat pizza
Saturday: Asian lettuce wraps
Sunday: EAT OUT!!! fewww... a break! ( I hope)

Deals for this week 4/3/11

Rite Aid
Meijer
Kroger
Harris Teeter
Lowes Food

Menu Planner/ Shopping list

This is the list we use to plan out our weekly menu. Do you have a method that works for you? Please do share. We love hearing what others do. Thanks to Beverly for helping me make this list perfect! If you are interested in a word document file to download and type into on your own email us at sisterswholovetocook(at)gmaildotcom and we will be happy to send it to you.


Menu -

Menu 4-4-11

Week 4/4/11:

Warmer weather is in our forecast this week! YIPPEEE!!! I love warm weather because that means more grilling and less dishes in the sink. I dis-like doing dishes.

Here is this weeks menu:

Monday: Breakfast for dinner! Waffles and bacon... mmm bacon.

Tuesday: Chicken-Scallopini with rice and green beans

Wednesday: Sour Cream noodle bake with Jim N Nicks Cheese Biscuits

Thursday:  Rosemary Chicken Kabobs with new potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and squash

Friday: Pan fried Tilapia with cajun seasoning, salad.

Saturday: Grilled Steaks, with steamed broccoli and pasta-roni

Sunday: Pizza

What are you making? If you do make any of these dishes please comment and let us know how you rate it.

HAVE A FOODTASTIC WEEK!!!

Let's get this started...

The other day, Meredith said, lets start a blog of the different recipes we want to make, have made and a menu planning section.  I had a few minutes after I unsuccessfully put together a barstool chair for the boys to use at the computer so lets see how this goes.  Let me just say,  I dont feel like going back to the store because they put a 24 inch back with 29 inch legs.  My chair falls over.  It was a pain to put together. I do not want to assemble another one.  I hope this blog goes easier then my chair building.   So, far.  Its going well except for when I went to post some recipes, I realized they are on my old laptop and not my new one. Smooth, real smooth I know.  Mere is so much more organized then me at the recipes.  I just see things and want to make them.  I'd love to be able to make all those cupcakes and make them look awesome like all the talented bloggers out there.  So, anyone have any suggestions, recipes etc, let us know, If you have made something and want us to post it, let us know and we can do that. 

Whats for Dinner? --

I've been wanting to make pulled pork lately.  I've really been wanting to try the spicy Dr. Pepper pulled pork.  So, I finally made it Meijer today and got pork shoulder.  Im not a very good at meat purchases so we will see how this goes.  I am going to take The Pioneer Woman's recommendation and just use half a can of the chipotle peppers.  I dont want it spicy for the boys.  I normally just make my own homemade barbeque sauce but we are going to see how this is.  

I am going to cook mine in the crockpot with a crockpot liner.

Spicy Dr. Pepper shredded-pork from The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:

1 -5 lb pork shoulder
2 cans of Dr. Pepper
1/2 can chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

Place all the ingredients in the crockpot with liner and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours till it pulls easily.