Hello November

Hello November, my sweet friend, who brings to me the anticipation of :

rainy day
warm comfort food
small gatherings
shopping
fall vintage markets
super moon viewing

My body clock starts the tempo of yearning to wear boots, flannel shirts with age, jeans, leggings, always my go to turquoise jewelry and road trips.  I can always find an excuse to go on a road trip just about any season of the year.

The crisp cooler air mixed with the aromatics of fall.  Heady earthy scents wrap around me.  I stop for a moment...ahhh...one more glorious fall that I will thoroughly embrace for the treasured gifts that I will receive.

I am planning a trip to go to view the fall leaves that turn here in Texas.  Yes, we have leaves that actually give to us the beauty of the jewel tones of fall.  The southwest region has a beautiful drive peppered with hills that give us the beauty of the maples, rich henna colored rock walls, famous apple town of Texas , and the reminder that life is grand in small towns. I will be remote..no T.V. no computer.

Rejuvenate
Reconnect
Relaxtion

I have already started to anticipate my trip.  I have a plan on paper for my Thanksgiving.  I have  a "no-plan" for my non-work days.  Adventures are waiting.  Find your adventure!

I will cook, sit by a fire, look at the wide open sky that twinkles with stars and be grateful.












Take a moment to find your fall adventure.  A gathering with friends would be a great start to kick off the adventures of  November.  How about a Super Moon Viewing on November 14th?

Sparkling Cranberry Drink

2 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon
1 bottle of Cranberry Sparkling Water
1-2  cans of cranberry or bottles of cranberry drink
ice in star shapes ( if you have a star ice tray) or cranberries frozen in ice

Mix all together.  You can adjust the amount of the cranberry juice to your liking or be creative to add a bottle of pomegrante juice instead of 2 cranberry.  Add the ice cubes just before serving.

This is a lovely drink in a glass drink dispenser.

Cheesey Bread

1 can of crescent rolls in sheet form
1 package of cheddar cheese* only use 4 ounces of cheese
2-4 T  flour
1-2 T butter
pastry brush
paprika
italian seasoning
baking sheet

Preheat oven according to directions on package
roll out sheet on floured board
cut  out shapes with leave cutter or by hand
place on parchment paper on cookie sheet
sprinkle with cheese
dust with paprika and italian seasoning for color

Bake
Remove
Serve hot or cold

Make a beautiful tray of red grapes, walnuts,  cheeses, hummus

Happy Super Moon Gazing!

Cinco De Mayo

The merriment of Cinco De Mayo celebrated on May 5th, is  filled with festivals, traditions, music and great food!  I am posting  a few recipes for you to join in the merriment.

 We do not really celebrate Cinco De Mayo at work however there are is plenty a buzz to bring the merriment to the people who live and visit the local places peppered throughout downtown Austin. Our store is located near buildings housing businesses, condos, and of course our  everyday shoppers come to visit us reguarly.  

My job is a fun job at work.   I am a Sales Driver which is to create with our local, sustainable, own brands and exclusive products simple meals, special events, wine tastings, craft beer parties and just about any other event you would love to create.  I love to create simple offerings from our vast resources to show our guests that they can keep within their budget by choosing our offerings and to create the event with a minimal time of prep to the time to serve.

Today my merriment will include a pop up event.  A pop up event is where I create a simple meal, appetizer, or dessert for our guests to purchase.  I showcase our  local, sustainable, healthy food selections for my creations to bring knowledge to our guests about our products with simple recipes to recreate the menu at home!  I love that the products we use provide local in house prep from our departments, local or exclusive, our Health Starts Here program, own brand, and sustainable to guide our guests to a  awesome experience while in our store.

Yes, I love my job!  I am a baker, cake decorator, wet scratch baker, and pastry 1 baker with the mix of a cook.   An awesome experience each day that brings a never ending opportunity to learn and share my knowledge with our guests and my team members.


Black Bean Corn Salad
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time:  15 minutes

1 20 oz can of black beans (organic or you can make your own)
2 c of frozen corn (organic, non gmo or shuck from husks of corn * need to cook first if from fresh)
1/4 c of fresh chopped cilantro * you can chop or find chopped prepackaged in produce
1/4 c Lime vinaigrette
 2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning (or your own brand or your own recipe)
1 T cumin
1 T smoked paprika
3 T chopped red onion ( you can use more to taste)

Combine all the ingredients together to marry the flavors a day before or the morning of the day you are going to serve.  All the seasonings above can be adjusted to your own personal tastes.

Spicy Coleslaw

Yield: 12
prep time: 15 minutes

1 1/2  large packages of coleslaw * prepackaged or cut your own vegetables
Lime Vinaigrette to taste
1 to 2 T cumin
3 T cilantro
Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning

Combine all the ingredients the night before or 5 hours before event to marry the flavors

Green Sauce Pulled Chicken 

Yield:  20 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 6 hours
Warm time:  30 minutes

5 frozen chicken breasts
1/4 c chicken broth low sodium
2 T cumin
2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning
1 can green enchilada sauce * make your own if you do not want to use canned

Place chicken  in crock pot with ingredients on low for 6 hours.  Remove chicken from crockpot to shred using two forks.  Remove broth from crockpot.
Place chicken back in crockpot, pour the green enchilada with 2 T of stock, and 1 T cumin to mix and warm until serving.

Serve with soft flour tortillas, corn tortillas, flavored tortillas, or a mix of half flour/half corn tortillas.  Be sure to warm your tortillas for around 5 to 10 minutes.  Wrap your tortillas in foil to warm in your oven set at 350 degrees.

Serve soft tortillas with pulled chicken, spicy coleslaw and avocado crema sauce

Avocado Crema Sauce
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes

2 large avocados or prepared avocado dip/cream sauce located in produce section
2 T cumin
1/2 C Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
Lime Vinaigrette dressing to taste * I used around 1 T to 2 T
1 t cilantro * used to your taste

Be sure to serve with my Raspberry Lemonade Sangria posted earlier.


Feliz Cinco De Mayo!