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Man-Catchin Beignets

By on February 5, 2014 in Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipes

“…the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”  – Tiana, Princess and The Frog

Man-Catchin Beignets

If the quickest way to a man’s heart really is through his stomach, then some Man-Catchin Beignets should be on the menu this Valentine’s Day.  And, if my man doesn’t love them, at least I know I will.  When I visit Disneyland, it’s a ritual for me to stop by the late-night snack stand in Orleans Square to get some hot beignets with bechamel sauce- oh, my mouth waters just thinking of them.

Man-Catchin Beignets

Man-Catchin Beignets

I do have a homemade beignet recipe that I’ve used and love.  But this year I ran into this handy mixture at Cost Plus World Market.

beignet mix

Cafe Du Monde beignet mix from Cost Plus World Market

Ingredients:

  1. Cafe du Monde Beignet Mixture
  2. Canola oil
  3. Powdered Sugar

And for the sauce?  Homemade bechamel sauce would be nice, n’est ce pas?  But what would be even nicer (for moi), is an easier version using Jello Vanilla Instant Pudding mixed with a dash of pink… hot pink food coloring that is.

beignet recipe dipping sauce

beignet dipping sauce

beignet recipe

electric pink food coloring from Duff

 

 

Sauce:

  1. Jello Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
  2. milk
  3. hot pink food coloring

Directions:

 

beignet recipe

after mixing the dough, roll it out on a floured surface

beignet recipe

use a cooke cutter to cut dough into squares

beignet recipe

fry in hot oil 380 degrees

how to make homemade beignets

until golden brown on both sides

beignet recipe

mix together pudding mix, milk and a few drops of food coloring

serve and let the man-catchin begin!

One of my best friends, Noelle, just relocated to Nice, France for a few months in search of love.  So, I dedicate this recipe to her….. let the man-catchin begin!

man-catching beignets

delicious

My kids gobbled down half the batch of beignets while they were still hot.  While you enjoy your Man-Catchin Beignets, (be sure to save some for your man), you can watch the Disney movie clip that inspired the recipe.

 

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Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

By on December 17, 2013 in Beverages, DIY, Holiday Recipes, Recipes, Saving Money

Homemade Sangria Recipe

Have a holiday drink on hand for last-minute entertaining, or to give away as a Christmas gift.  I love homemade sangria, and here’s my recipe with a twist of holiday spice.

Homemade Holiday Sangria recipe

 

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Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

Ingredients

  • Basic Red Table Wine- I use a gallon of a basic red wine that I find in bulk at Costco. Trader Joe’s also has great deals for basic red table wine over the holidays.
  • Cranberry Juice- 1 bottle
  • Brandy- a little more than half a bottle (save some for your eggnog!)
  • Oranges- 3 or 4 large; sliced and halved (into half-moon shapes)
  • Pears- 3 or 4 large; sliced
  • Cinnamon Sticks- 4 or 5 whole
  • Cranberries, fresh- 12 oz.
  • Whole Cloves- put into a tea bag

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients in large mason or Sangria Jar
  2. Let this mixture “steep” for a 2-3 days in a cool place. If you live someplace cold, you can just leave it outside, unless it will freeze.
https://tonispilsbury.com/tonis-holiday-spice-sangria/

 

Eat, drink and be thrifty!

If you enjoy serving wine to guests for the holidays, at anywhere from $20 to $100’s per bottle, the money you spend can certainly add up.  Having a batch of this holiday wine elixir on hand is not only affordable, it makes a visually stunning holiday presentation and it’s absolutely delicious.

homemade holiday sangria recipe

 

The Gift of Wine

Many of my friends like to give and receive wine for the holidays, and this too can get costly.  Get creative with ribbons, tags and metallic pens by bottling your own Holiday-Spice Sangria.

 

Toni’s Holiday Spice Sangria Recipe

You will need a big pitcher, mason or sangria jar.  I don’t like sugar in my sangria even though so many recipes call for it; I can’t even drink it.  Instead I use fruit juice.

Combine:

  1. Red Table Wine- I use 2 gallons of a basic red wine that I found in bulk.  Trader Joe’s also has great deals for basic red table wine over the holidays.
  2. Cranberry Juice-  1 bottle
  3. Brandy- a little more than half a bottle (save some for your eggnog!)
  4. Oranges- 3 or 4 large; sliced and halved
  5. Pears- 3 or 4 large; sliced
  6. Cinnamon Sticks- 4 or 5 whole
  7. Cranberries- 1 12oz. bag
  8. Whole Cloves- put into a tea bag

Let this mixture “steep” for a few days in a cool place.  If you live someplace cold, you can just leave it outside, unless it will freeze.

Serve and enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

 

Chardonnay Cake Recipe:

Chardonnay Cake

Easy Chardonnay Cake Recipe

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The Underestimated Mashed Potato

By on November 2, 2013 in Holiday Recipes, Recipes, Saving Money, Side Dish Recipes

Homemade Mashed Potatoes

A Stitch In Time Saves Nine. A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned. Waste Not, Want Not.

Probably one of the most versatile, frugal and efficacious dishes is the mashed potato.  Gracing our Thanksgiving dinner table each year, mashed potatoes are wildly overlooked for the remaining 364 days of the year.

At just pennies per serving, Homemade Mashed Potatoes are not only inexpensive, they’re one of the most versatile side dishes.  By adding a few cloves of fresh garlic during boiling and then mashing with the potato, the gourmet Garlic Mashed Potatoes are created.  By substituting milk with buttermilk, you have Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes.  And, Herb Mashed Potatoes can be made by adding some fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, thyme and parsley.

 

Rosemary Chicken with Herb Mashed Potatoes

Herb Mashed Potatoes

Five Recipes To Make with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Homemade mashed potatoes can be cooked in bulk to freeze for future use, or stored for use in other recipes- or, like I call “Reincarnate The Leftover”.  Here are some of my favorite recipes using leftover mashed potatoes.

Potato Cake Recipe

Festive Potato Cakes Recipe

 

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and Mash with New Castle Gravy

 

Twice-Baked Cheesy Potatoes

Twice-Baked Cheesy Potatoes Recipe

 

Cottage Pie Recipe

Cottage Pie Recipe, is allegedly a favorite dish of Prince Williams-  a tasty version of the Shepherd’s Pie.

 

Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

 

A Stitch In Time

Homemade mashed potatoes freeze and reheat well, so I like making extra and storing for a busy day’s side dish.  I recommend using glass storage containers like Rubbermaid’s Glass Food Storage or Ziploc’s Versaglass that go from the freezer and into the oven or microwave to reheat.

Check out our Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe here:

Homemade mashed potatoes recipe

Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe

 

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

By on November 1, 2013 in Gluten Free, Holiday Recipes, Recipes, Side Dish Recipes

Another Fall Favorite Vegetable

Brussels Sprouts are one my favorite Fall Vegetables, and not just because they create beautiful food photography.  Brussels Sprouts are so easy to prepare with no peeling or dicing required.

I simply slice each one in half, drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt & pepper.  After roasting for about 10-15 minutes until crispy brown, they make a perfect side dish.

But to be honest, I eat them as a snack…. they’re so crunchy and delicious.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts are yummy!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with sea salt & pepper

Brussels Sprouts

in oven to broil for about 10-15 minutes

Roasted Brussels sprouts

Crunchy and Delicious Roasted Brussels Sprouts

 

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

  • fresh Brussels Sprouts- 1 lb
  • olive oil- 3 tablespoons (about)
  • salt & pepper- to taste (or, use McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning for an extra "kick")

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F
  2. slice sprouts in half and place in mixing bowl
  3. drizzle with olive oil
  4. season with salt & pepper (or Montreal Steak Seasoning)
  5. toss
  6. transfer to baking sheet
  7. cook until crunchy brown, approximately 30 minutes
https://tonispilsbury.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts/

 

The Perfect Holiday Side Dish Recipe

Brussells Sprouts recipe

Roasted Brussells Sprouts

 

 

As a side dish in this week’s meal plan from The Organized Cook, Roasted Brussels Sprouts are perfect paired with Chicken with Wild Rice.

Chicken with Wild Rice and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System

 

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