Welcome to the Girlfriend Lounge

Breaking up is hard to do

2008-11-20T16:12:00Z

Most everyone has experienced the pain of a breakup. It can be gut wrenching, tear inducing, painful and lonely. I know from past experience that one of the single best "cures" for the breakup blues is knowing you're not alone. The support of friends and family during this difficult time is crucial for a healthy recovery. I recently met Susan, owner of Getting Past your Past and couldn't wait to introduce her to you. Susan has a passion for helping people and it really shows when you visit her website (click here). Susan has also written a book called Getting Past Your Past that is set to be released in March 2009.

If you have a friend who is going through a breakup the best thing you can do for her is to let her know you're there. Pick up the phone, send her a card, or even better... send her a Breakup Gram from Girlfriend Grams!

I think I've died and gone to brownie heaven!

2008-11-16T21:52:00Z

Ok, I admit it... I'm a chocoholic. I love chocolate. Chocolate ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake... chocolate martinis (especially chocolate martinis!) I'm also a bit of a chocolate snob. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a no-fat chocolate brownie mix that actually tastes good. Scratch that - it tastes fan-flippin-tastic! I'm not kidding - this is honestly the most amazing discovery & I am SOOOO excited to bring my new favorite find to you.

The No Pudge Chocolate Brownie mix can be bought at Trader Joes or online by clicking here. Ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmazing!

Oh, and while we're on the subject of chocolate - if you know a fellow chocoholic like me click here to see the perfect gift.

Back to my brownies!

Lani



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My new OMG recipe

2008-10-15T22:02:00Z

I love experimenting with new recipes & this new recipe is a doozie! I'm telling you - your guests won't know what hit them. Fall is here and even though it's 90 degrees here in beautiful San Diego, I've got my winter recipe hat on and have been busy cooking up some of my favorite cold-weather comfort foods. This new recipe is one of my new favorites:

Too Good to Be True Pumpkin Risotto

1 small (3-pound) sugar pumpkin
6 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon(s) finely chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon(s) finely chopped rosemary
3 teaspoon(s) sea salt
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
7 cup(s) low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup(s) finely chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon(s) finely chopped garlic
3 cup(s) Arborio rice
1 cup(s) dry white wine
2 tablespoon(s) butter
2 tablespoon(s) pumpkin butter
1/2 cup(s) finely shredded fontina cheese
1/2 cup(s) freshly grated Parmesan

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut pumpkin in half lengthwise. Trim 1/2 inch off the rounded end of each half to stand upright on cutting board. Peel the sides, cutting downward, using a sharp knife. Remove the seeds and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Toss the pumpkin together with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Spread pumpkin on baking sheet. Roast, stirring twice, until very soft, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a food processor and process until smooth.
2. Bring the chicken broth to a bare simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat to keep hot but not reduce. Heat remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, onion, and garlic in a wide, deep saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook while stirring constantly, until the rice is hot — about 3 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a simmer, stirring often until almost all the wine is absorbed. Add the hot chicken broth one cup at a time, and adding more broth only when the previous addition has been absorbed. Check and adjust the heat as needed to maintain a steady simmer.
3. Add the roasted pumpkin and continue to cook until the rice is creamy and al dente, about 10 more minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in butter, pumpkin butter, cheeses, and remaining 1 teaspoon rosemary. Pumpkin Risotto is best when served immediately.

It's a bit time-intensive but I promise you it is WELL worth the time.

Bon Apetit!

Lani



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Introducing the Ghoul-friend Gram

2008-10-02T21:42:00Z

Hey ghoulfriends!

Our favorite haunted holiday is right around the corner. Why not send your friends a gift of spooky treats with our fabulous new Ghoul-friend Gram? This brand-new Gram is designed to bring out the little girl in all of us and includes a six-ounce jar of pumpkin body masque and body butter, a cool black cat printed candle, a bag of Halloween treats and of course, our personalized "message in a bottle."

Click here to purchase your Ghoul-friend Gram today!



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Women and Money

2008-09-24T22:04:00Z

Listen up ladies!! If you’re like me and are TERRIBLE with money….the time to change your crazy ways is right now. I recently was speaking with a girlfriend who told me that she and her husband have $100,000 in debt (and no, it’s NOT a mortgage). To make matters even worse, at 33 and 35 years old, NEITHER of them have ever contributed to a retirement account of any kind. At this rate, they’ll never own a home and will have to work well into their 70’s just to make ends meet.

Even though I’m not great with money, I have learned a thing or two over the past few years about credit card debt (and how to get your way out of it) and about smart investing.

Since most women live longer than their spouses, and with the life expectancy rate rising, we may very well live into our 90’s! If you are 25 years or older and have not started a retirement fund, you better start right away. Before you know it, you’ll be in your 50’s wondering if you’ll ever be able to retire!

So first things first….check with your benefits department at work about contributing to your company 401K. If your company offers a matching program – even better!! That’s free money!! Next, pick up a copy of Suze Orman’s book “Women and Money”. Suze will set you straight…..more later on in the week about finances. In this tough economy, smart girls will survive!

The Do-It-Yourself Tamale Bar

2008-09-24T16:17:00Z

We recently had a birthday party for our two-year old daughter. At that age, the party is just as much about the adults as the kids. Two year olds are a little young to really get what's going on and their parents have to be on hand anyway, so why not make it fun for the adults too???  Ok, ok....I'll use any excuse to have a handmade margarita and some great food!

I wanted to do something unique, creative and delicious all at once, so I decided to have a "Do-It-Yourself Tamale Bar" for the adults. I've done "Do-It-Yourself Taco Bars" and "Do-It-Yourself Martini Bars" in the past, and they've always been a hit. My guests love getting to fix their food exactly the way they want it, and I love the casual, fun & social elements of Do-It-Yourself Cuisine!!

Living in San Diego, we are spoiled spoiled spoiled by easy access to the best mexican food. I've found that the best Mexican food oftentimes comes from hole-in-wall taco shops. I'll admit I take full advantage of this, expecially when entertaining a crowd.

I ordered carnitas and chicken from my local taco shop and easily assembled the rest of the tamale bar myself.  Next, I made cornbread using a recipe that promised it to be "extra moist". I found inexpensive plastic, large martini glasses for serving (presentation is everything). I had my guests first take a martini glass, then put a scoop of cornbread on the bottom. Next, they selected their main ingredient - chicken, carnitas (pork) or vegetarian. My vegetarian option was a saute of zucchini, corn, tomato and pepper jack cheese - DELICIOUS!!!!. Then my guests were free to choose any topping they wanted - salsa (pico de gallo, roasted chipotle or mild), guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese.

Bon Appetit! Or should I say, !Buen apetito!

Treat your friends to a CHOCOLATE party!

2008-09-12T15:49:00Z

Whoever said diamonds were a woman's best friend...well, they were right. But chocolate comes in at a VERY close second!

If you are looking for a new way to entertain but are running out of creative ideas, why not host a Chocoholics Anonymous party? If you have a group of girlfriends who get together every month, then this is perfect for you!! Women all across the country are indulging in some of the most decadent chocolate treats including:

Chocolate martinis, Chocolate fondue, Chocolate truffles and Dipping into a chocolate fountain!

Here’s your guide to hosting the ultimate chocolate party!

No Chocolate party is complete with out recipes all Chocoholics are sure to LOVE:

Chocolate Almond Fondue

1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon almond extract
24 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup amaretto

For Dipping:
Strawberries, Bananas, Pound cake, Butter cookies, Apples

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine half-and-half and almond extract. Heat until bubbles begin to form at edge of cream. Do not boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in chocolate chips, stirring constantly. Once all of the chocolate is melted and incorporated, slowly stir in amaretto until combined.

Pour chocolate mixture into fondue pot and serve with goodies for dipping.

No Fondue Pot? Pour mixture into a serving bowl and just reheat in the microwave during the evening.

Make it simple! Omit almond extract and amaretto for plain chocolate fondue. It’s still delicious!

White Chocolate Raspberry Martini

Ice
1 part white chocolate liqueur
1 part vanilla flavored vodka
1 tablespoon Chambord Liquer, per glass
Frozen Raspberries, for garnish

Add white chocolate liqueur and vodka to a pitcher filled with ice. Shake to chill and strain into martini glass. Slowly pour a small amount of Chambord along edge of glass. Garnish with two frozen raspberries per glass.

Chocolatinis

Ice
1 part Godiva liqueur
1 part vanilla flavored vodka
Half and Half
Cocoa Sugar

Dip martini glasses in water to moisten rims. Then dip in cocoa sugar along edge of glass. Add Godiva liqueur, vanilla vodka and a splash of half and half to a shaker filled with ice. Shake to chill and strain into martini glass. Enjoy this delicious drink!

Molton Lava Cakes (Serves 6)

6 (1-ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
2 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 stick) butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 large eggs
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange liqueur

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Grease 6 (6-ounce) custard cups. Melt the chocolates and butter in the microwave, or in a double boiler. Add the flour and sugar to chocolate mixture. Stir in the eggs and yolks until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and orange liqueur. Divide the batter evenly among the custard cups. Place in the oven and bake for 14 minutes. The edges should be firm but the center will be runny. Run a knife around the edges to loosen and invert onto dessert plates

Tip: Don’t forget appetizers so your party guests don’t go hungry! Simple finger foods and dips go great with the chocolate treats.

Ask your guests to bring their favorite chocolate candies to share. Chocolate covered pretzels, nuts and fruit make great goodies to put out in bowls.

Print out a Chocolate Martini and/or fondue recipe on postcard stock for each guest to take home.

Have each guest bring their favorite chocolate recipe printed out on a card to swap.

Get your guests in the party mood with this fun Chocolate-themed ice breaker:

When all guests have arrived, tape a piece of paper with the name of a famous chocolate bar on each guests back. Have them walk around asking all guests 10 Yes/No questions until they figure out which candy bar they are. This is a great way for guests to get to know one another!

Examples: Snickers, Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, Twix, Pay Day, Baby Ruth, M&Ms, Butterfinger, Almond Joy, Nestle Crunch Bar, 100Grand, Milk Duds, Whoppers

And since we're always in the mood for Johnny Depp, no Chocoholics Anonymous Party is complete without "Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" or "Chocolat" playing in the background!

DWTS New Season is almost here!!!!

2008-09-11T22:46:00Z

Could we be any more excited????? The new season of Dancing with the Stars is premiering in less than two weeks! Yippee! The long wait is just about over. I have to admit that I'm a sucker for Maks (thanks for the eye-candy ABC!) and am eagerly anticipating his return after sitting out last season.

For anyone who has been out of the loop (aka those of you with a life), here's the lowdown:

DWTS will be returning with a three-night premiere event on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 on ABC. Season seven will feature the oldest and youngest "celebrity" competitors ever, including two Olympic Gold medalists (Apolo & Kristi didn't too badly), a Grammy-winning singer, a television legend, an Oscar winner, and a Super Bowl champion. I'm personally excited to see the gorgeous chef, Rocco DiSpirito strut his stuff.

Stay tuned as we give you a weekly play-by-play on all of the glitter-covered, spray-tanned hoofers and our weekly predictions on who will get the boot!

the countdown is on... the new 90210 premiering tomorrow!!

2008-09-01T15:54:00Z

As a self-admitted addict of the original 90210 I am very excited to check out the new version of the show. I'm not as interested in the new cast as I am the old... Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth are both reprising their roles as Brenda and Kelly! Apparently Doherty has signed on for 4 shows and Garth's contract is open-ended. It will be interesting to see if this new show can stand on its own or if more of the original cast members will be called upon to make a visit to their old stomping grounds.

The new 90210 premiers Tuesday, September 2 on the CW. Can't wait to see if Brenda is still deserving of one of THESE!

- Lani



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Product of the week - Boots Concealer

2008-08-31T14:50:00Z

The eyes don't lie. Let's face it, most moms will agree that they have the occasional sleepless night, only to be faced with an image in the mirror they almost don't recognize. Dark circles have plagued us moms for centuries - and trying to find a concealer that will help to cover them has been a never-ending battle.

I may have stumbled upon a solution. I recently met the mother of a 2-month old who looked surprisingly rested. Putting all jealousy aside I asked her how on earth she was getting sleep with such a new baby at home. She laughed and then told me that her baby was definitely not sleeping through the night - not even close. She said she just found a great concealer. I immediately pulled out a pen & paper and asked her to share her secret with me. She did & now I'm going to pass it along to you.

Click here for the miracle product!

Happy concealing,

- Lani



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Website of the week - Outblush

2008-08-26T21:19:00Z

We absolutely love the creative minds behind the Outblush blog site. They scour the internet for the best of the best & then bring all the unique finds to their readers. One of our FAVORITE finds is THIS!

Be sure to visit the Outblush blog by clicking here.

Happy shopping!!



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All play and no work....

2008-08-26T18:12:00Z

I'm back from a blissful Hawaiian vacation with my family and ready to jump back into work and updating this blog! There is nothing like a vacation to recharge the batteries and get you refocused on what really matters in life. My husband and I spent 10 incredible days on the beaches of Maui with all three kids & it was amazing. We stayed at the Westin Maui resort and would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone planning a Maui vacation.

The only downfall of this vacation is that my husband and I both put on a few lbs while drinking cocktails by the pool and eating out every night. Even the hours spent playing volleyball in the pool did nothing to counter balance the caloric intake... So, my new focus is on stepping up the exercising and planning some healthy, lower-cal meals now that we're back home. I'll be sharing some of the new recipes I'll be trying out on upcoming blogs.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!

Lani



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Staycation destination 3 - Spain

2008-08-05T14:28:00Z

Here are some of our favorite Spanish dishes:

Chicken, Chorizo and Shrimp Paella
Makes 8 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron threads
1 bay leaf
1/2 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.

Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

Sensational Sangria

1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
1 1/2 cups rum
1/2 cup white sugar
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine
1 cup orange juice

Have the fruit, rum, wine, and orange juice well chilled. Slice the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and place in a large glass pitcher. Pour in the rum and sugar. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours to develop the flavors.

When ready to serve, crush the fruit lightly with a wooden spoon and stir in the wine and orange juice. Adjust sweetness to taste.

Spanish Flan
Serves 8

3/4 cup white sugar
4 eggs
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Fill a glass casserole dish 1/2 way with water and place in oven to heat up ** you will place the baking dish holding the flan inside this dish.

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt sugar until liquefied and golden in color. Carefully pour hot syrup into a 9 inch round glass baking dish, turning the dish to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Beat in condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour egg mixture into baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake in preheated oven 60 minutes. Let cool completely.

To serve, carefully invert on serving plate with edges when completely cool.



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Flip Mino product review - I LOVE my Flip!

2008-08-02T18:23:00Z

I recently purchased a new toy - the Flip Mino video recorder. We have a great digital recorder but whenever I want to capture a funny moment with my baby I don't have time to run to get the camera (and when I do, the battery is almost always uncharged).

So, I did some research and found the Flip. It actually sounded too good to be true - a pocket size video camera that can capture up to an hour of video and download right to your computer. I read the reviews and with a few exceptions it received raves across the board. Now, this camera isn't meant to replace the traditional video camera which we'll still use to capture moments like Christmas morning, birthday parties, etc., but the Flip is absolutely perfect for capturing the day-to-day moments - especially the unexpected ones.

I purchased my Flip on Amazon and received it in 2 days. The Mino is the newest in the Flip series & has some upgrades to the previous Ultra model. The most important of which (to me) is the battery. The flip comes with a rechargable lithium ion battery rather than the aa batteries required for the Ultra.

I also love that this camera comes with built-in software so you can plug it into any computer and make a movie, send pics via email or upload to the web. It is extremely user-friendly and I think the video quality is exceptional given it's size (and price!)

Click here to learn more about the Flip.

And (drum roll please...) to show you the video quality here is a video I just took of my fur babies - Allie and Berenger (my corgis):

- Lani



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Great news for Arrested Development fans!!

2008-08-01T22:21:00Z

Attention Arrested Development fans! Michael, GOB, Buster, Lindsay, Tobias, George Michael, Maebe, George Sr. and Lucille are hitting the big screen! Yes, that's right...an Arrested Development full-length motion picture is in the works and slated for a 2009 release. I'll be sure to be there on opening weekend.

For those of you who have heard about this hilarious show but didn't tune in during it's short run on Fox, I urge you to rent the complete seasons on DVD, starting with season one. You won't be disappointed. You'll find that this show is just as clever & funny as Seinfeld or the Office. Happy couch-potato-ing!!

Dove Ad - great advertising

2008-07-31T16:46:00Z

I just received the following video via email and thought it was just adorable. Better yet, it's a brilliant marketing ad by Dove - ads gone viral. Love it:



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Carp pedicures - the latest spa craze

2008-07-31T14:37:00Z

Incase you haven't heard, the latest spa craze these days is the Carp Pedicure... and I thought my Ped Egg was gross.

Fish pedicures are the new hot thing in the Washington D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering carp pedis for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have received this unique pedicure so far.

He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary. Ok... so what on earth made him think "I think I'll use fish instead?"

According to Ho, customers can't get enough of this wild new pedicure.

Tracy Roberts, 33, heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.

"I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said.

The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind.

Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.

Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off. Um, PETA where are you?

And if that wasn't bad enough... In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments.

A note to all my friends out there - if you are ever thinking of getting me a present (and you all know how much I love spa treatments!), please don't EVER give me a gift certificate for a carp pedicure - please give me one of these instead.

- Lani



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Great news for fans of the Office!

2008-07-30T16:37:00Z

If you're an Office fan like we are, then you'll be soooo happy that Steve Carell has signed on for another three years as "World's Best Boss" Michael Scott. With a successful movie career, it's nice to know that Steve Carell appreciates his biggest fans and isn't leaving them high and dry.

More news on the Office front - details of the highly-anticipated spin-off are slowly being revealed. Amy Poehler from SNL is rumored to have signed on at the helm. If it's half as funny as the Office, I'll be sure to tune in.

I think what I love best about the Office is we've all worked with a Stanley, an Angela, and maybe even a Dwight! Scary!!! How much would you love to send Angela a PMS Gram????

If you have an uptight co-worker like Angela, get a good laugh! And yes, it's ok to send this Gram anonymously. Check it out! http://www.girlfriendgrams.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=GRAM615

- Deanna



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Staycation destination 2 - Mexico

2008-07-29T05:02:00Z

Nothing says Mexico like a world-class margarita, home made tortilla chips and fresh guacamole. Have a Mexican Staycation with the following tried & true recipes from the Girlfriend Lounge:

World's Best Guacamole

3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic. Stir in cayenne pepper. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor, or serve immediately.

Baked flour tortilla chips

1 (12 ounce) package flour tortillas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cut each tortilla into 8 chip sized wedges and arrange the wedges in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

In a mister, combine the oil and lime juice. Mix well and spray each tortilla wedge until slightly moist.

Combine the cumin, chili powder and salt in a small bowl and sprinkle on the chips.

Bake for about 7 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 8 minutes or until the chips are crisp, but not too brown. ** Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't burn.

Serve with your home made guacamole.

Staycation Margaritas

2 cups sweet and sour mix
1 cup triple sec
1 1/2 cups gold tequila
1/3 cup brandy-based orange liqueur (Grand Marnier®)
2 limes, quartered

Salt the rims of 8 glasses. To do so, pour salt onto a small plate, rub the rims of the glasses with lime, and press them into the salt. Fill the glasses with ice.

In a blender, combine sweet and sour mix, triple sec, tequila and Grand Marnier. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, squeeze a quarter lime into each glass, and serve.

Enjoy!!!

Staycation Destination 1 - Hawaii

2008-07-21T03:54:00Z

We've been hearing quite a bit from friends and family about their plans for Staycations this year. Rather than spending money on gas or airfare, more and more people are opting to stay home to save some money. If a staycation is on your agenda this summer why not have a little fun with it and travel the culinary globe? By having a destination feast each night you can add a little spice to your own staycation.

Our first destination: Hawaii!

Everyone loves Hawaii - the white sandy beaches and clear, warm ocean waters are like a little slice of heaven here on earth. Something else Hawaii has to offer is fabulous food and even better cocktails! Here are some great Hawaiian dishes we love:

Kalua Pig
This recipe is as easy as it is good! Serve on sweet Hawaiian rolls with sweet onion Teriyaki sauce. This is cooked in the slow cooker so be sure to start cooking the day before your Hawaiian feast.

1 (6 pound) pork butt roast
1 1/2 tablespoons Hawaiian sea salt
1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring

Pierce pork all over with a carving fork. Rub salt then liquid smoke over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker Cover, and cook on Low for 16 to 20 hours, turning once during cooking time. Remove meat from slow cooker, and shred, adding drippings as needed to moisten.

Lomi Lomi
Lomi Lomi is a traditional Hawaiian side dish. If you love salmon you'll love this dish.

2 cups diced salted salmon
6 medium tomatoes, diced
1 white onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onion
sea salt to taste
cayenne pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, stir together the salted salmon, tomatoes, white onion, green onion, sea salt and cayenne pepper. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve chilled.

Mai Tai
Need we say more?? You can't visit Hawaii without drinking at least one Mai Tai - and this recipe will knock your socks off. Since we love our Mai Tai's this recipe yields a full gallon! Enjoy!

2 cups light rum
1 cup dark rum
1 cup 151 proof rum
1 cup orange curacao (orange flavored liqueur)
1 cup almond flavored syrup
1 cup simple syrup
10 limes, juiced
1/2 gallon fresh orange juice

In a large jar or drink cooler, combine the light rum, dark rum, 151 rum, orange liqueur, almond syrup, simple syrup, and lime juice. Stir and top off with orange juice. Do not use grenadine if you want the true Mai Tai! Serve in 8 to 12 ounce glasses with ice.

And you can't forget dessert!

Chocolate Coconut Pie

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
1 cup milk
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup cornstarch
7/8 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake crust for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, coconut milk and 1 cup sugar. In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in water. Bring coconut mixture to a boil. Reduce to simmer and slowly whisk in the cornstarch. Continue stirring mixture over low heat until thickened, about 3 minutes.

In a glass bowl, microwave chocolate chips for 1 minute or until melted. Divide the coconut pudding evenly into two bowls. Mix chocolate into one portion. Spread on the bottom of the pie crust. Pour the remaining portion of pudding on top of the chocolate and spread smooth. Refrigerate for about an hour.

Whip cream with 1/4 cup sugar until stiff peaks form. Layer the cream on pie; if desired garnish with chocolate shavings.

Aloha!!!



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