Spiced Apple Cider Sangria

Wow, it's hard to believe it's a whole new week again!  I feel like I fell off of the blog for a little bit, but you can't blame me.  With my 30th b-day this past weekend and an upcoming trip to Jamaica on Thursday; it has been pretty hard to focus on anything! 

This past Sunday was my 30th b-day and I got really lucky because it landed on the same weekend as the Virginia Wine Festival.  What better way to celebrate with my friends.  We had such a blast!  The weather was perfect and the location was gorgeous at The Plains.  It was serene and peaceful out there and I liked the layout with the wine booths and vendors.  It was a nice break from the traffic, metro, and stuffy lines at Starbucks that I encounter during the week.  Nonetheless, I completely forgot to take a picture, but here's one that I grabbed from Project Peoples on Facebook!

I also really enjoyed hearing about all of the wines from the many wineries in VA (there were 60 total at the event).  I tell you what though.  If you're passionate about your product, it makes me want to buy it more. :)  I am a sucker for the folks whose heart and soul goes into their winery.  Sorry, Donald Trump.  I tried your wines, but I wasn't impressed.  Better luck next season! 

There were also some interesting, random sangrias at the festival.   Some tasted like pine cones, citrus, oak, fruit, dessert wine, cinnamon, spices, etc.  I know one thing is for sure.  Nothing can top an apple spice sangria for fall.  There's something about the combination of apple and cinnamon that is so good!  So, with that said, here is some fabulous, Spiced Apple Cider Sangria!

The secret to this recipe is Simply Apple Juice which is basically apple juice that tastes like apple cider.  It's really that good. 

Servings:  8

Serving size- 1 cup of wine 
Calories:  218.25
Fat:  0 g   

Carbs:  21.9 g
Fiber:  0   g 

Protein:  0 g 

Points:  2 

Recipe:

1 1/2 bottles of Naked Grape Harvest Red (I've only seen this blend sold at Target)
2 cups of Simply Apple Juice
1/2 cup of Triple Sec

1/2 cup of spiced rum
1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
2 red apples

*Please make this the night before.

1.  In a large bowl with a spout, mix together the apple pie spice, spiced rum, Triple Sec, and Simply Apple Juice.  Stir until the apple pie spice has completely dissolved.
2.  Add 1 1/2 bottles of Naked Grape Harvest Red and mix accordingly.
3.  One everything is mixed, pour the wine into a pitcher.  You may have leftover wine.  This recipe makes a lot!  Cut up two apples and place them in the pitcher.  Refrigerate the wine and have it sit for at least 8 hours.  

Note:  This recipe is VERY strong since it's made with red wine and liquor.  Please drink at your discretion and don't plan on going anywhere after having a glass or two.  I know Target sounds good at the time, but don't do it!

Here are some of my 30th b-day themed attire and gifts from my awesome friends.  They are hilarious and know me so well!

The sash was pretty sweet.



I had a great b-day and thanks to all that came out to celebrate.  I'm looking forward to NYC in October with the ladies to celebrate some more!   Or, it's just an excuse to take another trip. 

      

Deviled Eggs

I don't know why it has taken me this long to make deviled eggs.  I never thought of them as an appetizer, but after making them for Sunday as one of our snacks at the Virginia Wine Festival, I feel like I want to make them all of the time now!  And frankly, they are amazing.  I was a little nervous at first because the last time I boiled eggs, they all cracked and looked pretty sad.  Luckily, it went better this time around.

Plus, I couldn't back down after going to three Bed Bath and Beyonds to find the carrying case.  (Sade', you got me hooked on that case and the eggs at the baby shower).  The egg carrier is under $9 (or less if you have a coupon) and keeps the eggs perfectly in place!  Basically it's two trays that stack on top of one another or can go by themselves.  The top also has a neat handle so it's not awkward to carry. 

I apologize for my dorky-ness with kitchenware.  It's always fun getting a spiffy, new item that works like a gem.

Servings:  24

Serving size- 1/2 of a deviled egg 
Calories:  100.6
Fat:  7.7 g   

Carbs:  8.6 g
Fiber:  .1   g 

Protein:  6.3 g 

Points:  3 

Recipe:

1 dozen eggs
2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. Tabasco

Salt and pepper
Paprika

1.  First, take the eggs out of the fridge for about 30-45 minutes so they can get to room temperature.  This ensures that the eggs don't crack once they're placed in the boiling water.

2.  Then, fill up a large pan with water halfway and heat it on the stove on high.  Make sure to place a lid on the pan.  Once the water is boiling, place the eggs in the pan, remove it from the burner and replace the lid on top of the pan.  Let the eggs sit in the pan for 20 minutes.

3.  After the eggs have cooked, drain the hot water from the pan and run cold water over the eggs.  Let the eggs sit in the cool water for a few minutes.  It's also a good idea to crack the egg shells a little so that it will make it easier to peel the shells.  Change the water if necessary to cool down the eggs.

4.   Start peeling the eggs.  After they are all peeled, take a sharp knife and slice each egg in half lengthwise.  Gently remove the yolk halves and place them in a small mixing bowl.  Place the eggs halves on a cutting board or flat cookie sheet.
 
5.  Add the mustard, mayo, onion powder and Tabasco to the bowl with the egg halves and sprinkle salt and pepper accordingly.  Mash the mixture until it is partly smooth.

6.  Spoon the egg yolk mixture into the eggs white halves.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Once they are complete, place the eggs on a platter or an egg carrying case.



My latest purchase at Michael's.  Sunflowers!



Happy Fall!





Baby Watermelon Carriage

I'm not going to lie.  Planning for a baby shower is fun!  Not only is it fun, but it's hard not to get carried aways sometimes.  That's just my nature.  I love to plan. 

Last week my coworkers and I threw two baby showers in one day.  The shower in the morning was one she knew about and it was at our work site in DC.  The afternoon shower was the surprise shower and it was at our headquarters.  They both turned out really nice!  For the morning shower we had breakfast items.

There were bagels, croissants, a meat and cheese tray, fruit, and juice. 

  

The afternoon shower was equally as gorgeous. I wish I took a picture of it because we had quite a spread (everyone brought a dish) and the cupcakes we ended up ordering were to die for. 

I really wanted to make a baby watermelon carriage for the morning shower because I had seen a picture of it on the Internet and thought it was hilarious.  Of course I talked myself out of it thinking it would be too hard to do before the shower.

Then, I thought I'd just check out an online video of how to make the carriage (online videos and YouTube are so helpful with their tutorials).  Well, low and behold, I wanted to make the carriage again!  And it worked out quite well because the video I picked was so helpful.  Basically it's like carving a pumpkin.  I haven't carved a pumpkin in years.  But after this project, I am definitely carving some pumpkins this fall. :)

The peach is the baby!  And the orange slices are wheels.  The grapes are rims.

Supplies:

1 large watermelon

1 quart of strawberries

1 bag of red grapes

1 pineapple

2 oranges

1 peach

2 romaine lettuce leaves

bamboo skewers

melon baller

medium carving knife

large spoon

permanent black marker

long tray

*This is best made the night before the shower or the morning of

*Here is the video tutorial.  The only difference between my watermelon and the one in the video is the handle.

About.com Video Tutorial

Directions

1.  First, cut a thin strip off of the bottom of the watermelon.  This will keep it in place and from rolling off of the table.  Place the watermelon on the tray.

2.  Pick the narrowest end of the watermelon.  This is where the handle will go.  Turn the watermelon so the longest side of it is going horizontal and the narrowest end is to your left.  A quarter of the way down the left of the watermelon, start etching in a vertical line.

3.  Then etch a shorter vertical line an inch and a half to the left of the first vertical line with one of the bamboo skewers.  With the second line, draw a half of a crescent so it looks like a smile or a C. 

4. At the first vertical line, etch on the outside a horizontal line going towards the other end of the watermelon and stop 2 inches from the end.  Repeat on the other side so it looks like a half of a rectangle.

5.  Starting at the other end, begin drawing loops that look like C's and connect the two lines.  It should end up being 4 or 5 loops.  You are finished outlining what you're going to carve.

6.  With the medium carving knife, carve up and down along the lines.  Be careful when carving around the handle.  The only carving that needs to be done is the crescent and the top vertical line going to the right side of the watermelon along with the loops.  Do not connect the two vertical lines, or there won't be a handle.  Cut several pieces in the middle of the watermelon so they can be taken out easily.  The best place to start to pop out the pieces would be the middle of the watermelon.

7.  Once all of the pieces are out, scoop out the melon with the melon baller and put it in a bowl (it will be put back in the watermelon once it is hollowed out).  This may take awhile, but be patient.  Once the core is taken out, take the large spoon and scoop the rest of the watermelon out only scrapping to the white edge of the watermelon.  Warning:  you may have to tip the watermelon over in the sink to get all of the excess juice out.

8.  After the watermelon is hollowed out, it's time to attach the wheels.  Cut up thick slices of the oranges.  The thicker the slice, the more studier the tire will be.  Then place them at the length it looks correct on the watermelon.  With another bamboo skewer, poke it through the middle of the orange slice going through both sides of the watermelon.  Repeat at the other end of the watermelon.  Once the orange slices are attached, place a grape through the skewers so they keep the orange slices in place.

9.  Cut additional skewers in half and place them at the top of the watermelon.  Place grapes through them.  With kitchen scissors, cut off the access skewer on the wheels and the skewers on the top of the watermelon.

10.  Cut up the strawberries and pineapple and place the watermelon, grapes, strawberries, and pineapple in a large container until the shower.  There will be some leftover fruit and it won't all fit in the watermelon!  Place the extra fruit in a separate container and refrigerate both containers.  Cover the watermelon with saran wrap and refrigerate it as well. 

11. On the day of the shower, place the fruit in the watermelon.  Then, take the peach and draw a face on the nice side of it.  Take two of the lettuce leaves and wrap it around the back of the peach so it looks like a blanket.  Insert the peach in the carriage.

Can someone have another baby so I can do this again?  JK.

I also made a baby shadow box for the shower.

I found the shadow box at Michael's.  It's best to use one that has velcro on the back so the pictures can be moved and can easily be attached.  The shadow box came with strips of velcro, too, that can be attached to the back of the pictures.

I took several pictures and glued matting on them so they'd stand out more.  Then I cut up the strip of velcro and stuck it on the back of the photo to place in the frame.  The baby stickers were purchased at Michael's and Target.  In the middle of the frame was an invite to the surprise afternoon shower.  The invites were adorable since the shower was bug themed.  

Would I help plan a shower again?  Definitely.

Tips to keep in mind for a baby shower:

1.  Paper products and supplies can be purchased at any dollar store.  They can also just be one or two colors of the shower.  I always buy more than what is needed.  Nothing is more embarassing than not having enough plates and napkins for everyone.

2.  Etsy is amazing for any banners, confetti, or food picks.  My coworker found some really neat stuff there as decorations.

3.  Have everyone bring their favorite side item so it doesn't become too overwhelming (for work baby showers).

4.  Prizes for the baby shower games can be purchased at Michael's for really cheap.  I found some spa socks, a sleeping mask, manicure kit, and sporty items there (if you have men at your shower).  You can also try Bath and Body works when they have their mega sales. 

5. Always double check the venue of the shower a few days before the shower (just to verify if it's still available). 

6.  Have one or two people help plan the shower.  Then, they can toss ideas back and forth and can help in the planning.



 







    

7-Layer Dip

Hope you all are doing something nice for Labor day!  The last day of summer is not all about putting away your white summer clothes and saying good bye to summer (boo....).  It's about celebrating the economic and social achievements of the American workers.  Let's face it.  We work very hard.  Sometimes too hard.  And deserve a day off.  And what normally do you do on a day off?  Eat!  Veg.  Spend time with your family and friends.  Or if you're feeling gutsy; shop.  Did you know Labor Day is supposedly the second busiest time of the year for shopping?  It falls right behind Black Friday.   

My plans are to hit the pool with some friends and go to a BBQ (if the weather pulls through)!  Of course I'm bringing a side dish and the one I'm bringing is none other than the 7-Layer Dip!  This dip is so fresh and can be made in a matter of minutes.

I almost got lazy and bought a pre-made dip at the store, but once I saw the store's option, I changed my mind.  It was kind of wimpy looking and wasn't an official 7-layer dip; it was more like a four layer dip.

This dip is also great because it can be stored at room temperature for quite some time and can serve as a nice appetizer or side item during the meal.

Servings:  24
Serving size- 1/4 cup of dip
Calories:  247.6

Fat:  26.1 g   

Carbs:   6.4 g

Fiber:    .46 g 

Protein:  11.5 g 

Points:  8

Recipe:

.85 to 1 lb. of ground beef

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 (16 ounce) can refried beans- I used Trader Joe's Refried Pinto Beans (GF)

3/4 (12 ounce) container of lite sour cream

4 cups shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend

1 cup of guacamole dip (see guacamole dip recipe)

1 cup of salsa-  I use Trader Joe's Organic Tomatillo Roasted Yellow Chili Salsa (GF)

1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped green onions

*This is a GF version.  A non-GF version could substitute taco seasoning for the chili powder, Pace's salsa for the GF salsa and vegetarian refried beans instead of Pinto Beans.

1.  In large skillet, brown ground beef.  Drain fat and mix in chili powder.  Set aside to cool to room temperature.

2.  Spread the beans into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan that is about 1 1/2 inches thick.

3.  Sprinkle two cups of shredded cheese on top of the beans.

4.  Sprinkle beef on top of the cheese.

5.  Spread sour cream very slowly on top of the beef.

6.  Spread guacamole on top of sour cream.

7. Pour salsa over guacamole and spread evenly.

8.  Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese. 

9.  Sprinkle black olives, tomatoes, and green onions on top.

10.  This dish can be served immediately or can be refrigerated over night until ready to serve.

11.  Serve with corn chips.

Heavenly.

Enjoy your Labor Day!