Dazzling New Year's Eve Cocktails

New Year's Eve is this weekend! What better time to share these gorgeous party pleasing cocktails from around the web?

Recipe
Cherry infused bourbon floated in seltzer

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Rum, Cranberries, Mint, Lime

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White wine, Sprite, Grand Marnier, Pomegranate, Lime

Recipe
Cranberries, Orange, Ginger

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White Wine, Orange, Lemon, Cloves, Cinnamon

Recipe
Vanilla Vodka, Cranberry, Orange, Truvia

Recipe
Champagne, Cucumber, Mint, St Germain

Recipe
Whiskey, Cranberries, Cinnamon, Cardamom

Recipe
Gin, Ginger Syrup and Ale, Lime

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Champagne, Pomegranate Juice

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Orange Vodka, Cointreau, Lemon, Mint

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Moscato, Cranberry, Pear, Rosemary

Cheers y'all! 

We will be hosting our annual NYE fondue extravaganza again this year, hopefully sipping on some of these yummy drinks and enjoying the great company of friends, new and old. 

Happy New Year everyone!

Guilt-free Lemon Berry Trifle (ready in 5 minutes)

Holy batman! Where did June go? I had no idea the Fourth of July was THIS weekend! Good thing someone said something in passing or I might have been awakened by fireworks in a couple days and thought someone was starting a war! Wellll, there goes my idea that I had two weeks to put together fun Independence Day party ideas. At least I still have one trick up my sleeve that I can share. I have mentioned before how my husband and I live from tradition to tradition, especially with holidays. Well, this trifle is our one Fourth of July tradition. It is so quick, easy, delicious, and best part? Easy on the waistline- the low calorie angel food cake, light whipped topping and fresh berries make it guilt-free!

Read on for my recipe...

Summer Salads: Tangled Thai Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing

One of my favorite things about summer is all the fresh produce! This is the season to experience fresh healthy salads at their best! This week I tried out a new recipe for a Tangled Thai Salad I found in an issue of House & Home. I inevitably put my own spin on it to use the ingredients I had readily available. This salad is amazing!! Hands down my new favorite! If you like the Thai Crunch Salad at California Pizza Kitchen, or even just like Thai in general you will love this salad!

Read on for the recipes...

Hawaiian Ginger Cooler plus two more summer beverage recipes!

The official first day of summer is tomorrow! June 21st, 2011 is the day of the summer solstice. The longest day of the year takes on a whole different meaning here in the Arctic where we are getting close to 24 hours of daylight! With the season of summer backyard parties and the Fourth of July fastly approaching I thought I would share some of my favorite summer beverage recipes.

Read on for the recipes...

Creative Cake Tips- My very own Royal Wedding Cake!

My birthday was May 1st, and about two weeks ago my husband started asking me what kind of birthday dessert I wanted. His side of the family challenge themselves every year to come up with something more and more elaborate. Usually I ask for cream puffs or creme brulee but this year he kept bugging me. The Royal Wedding was just 2 days before my birthday so right off the top of the hat I stared at him and told him I wanted a piece of the Royal Wedding Cake!! And then exclaimed, "TOP THAT!!" Haha! Well, if anyone knows my husband you know that he doesn't do anything half way and he will make it happen, but I really thought I had him on this one. Imagine my surprise when my friends walked through my door with this 3 tier WEDDING CAKE! My husband enlisted my super amazing friends to make a Royal Wedding Cake for my birthday, and boy did they deliver! I WAS FLOORED!

I am surrounded by such talented creative bakers and cake decorators in my circle of my family and friends. Cake decorating is something I have not really tried yet, but have a growing interest after seeing their amazing creations! I have picked their brains and rummaged through their recipe boxes and have a wealth of information to share! Read on for more stunning cake projects, recipes, and tips...

Horchata- a Cinco De Mayo tradition

May is my favorite month! Not only do I always start the month off with my birthday, but it is also the month of my wedding anniversary... two great reasons to love May right? Well, I also love the sunny warm weather it brings, giving us our first glimpses of summer.  And I will use any excuse to indulge in my favorite food, Mexican... and Cinco De Mayo gives me the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops and throw a great dinner party! My time living in Arizona and New Mexico has given me an affinity for authentic Mexican and an arsenal of great recipes. This year I am treating friends and family to authentic enchiladas with made-from-scratch red chile sauce, slow cooker street tacos, spanish rice, refried beans, sopapillas, and my husband's favorite drink- horchata! Today, I am sharing the horchata recipe I use. Read on for the recipe!

Chicken Chilaquiles

I have been scouting out some new recipes lately and landed on this one from Martha Stewart. I was hesistant to try it thinking that Martha might not be the greatest source for authentic mexican flavor, but now I am eating my words! This dish is unbelievable! So easy, fast, and bursting with fresh flavor! Read on for the recipe and step-by-step preparation.

Blueberry Banana Bread

My college roommate is responsible for my love affair with this recipe.  I have very fond memories of holding a warm paper towel filled with this gooey goodness as I walked to class or licking my fingers as I devoured it on car rides to a ski resort. This is now of my most requested recipes! Continue reading for the recipe.

Super Bowl Commercials & Game Time Snacks

It's game time! I like football but I would much prefer to watch it in person or not at all. I do enjoy the time honored tradition of the Super Bowl parties though! No surprise there, huh? I am definitely the girl who if my team isnt playing, I would much rather chat with friends and gorge myself on snacks while waiting for the commercials to come back on. I just love the commercials and cant wait to see what clever advertisers come up with each year.  And the food? Don't get me started! I love any tradition that involves chips and dips, chilis, relish trays, and 7 layer dip!

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Super Bowl commercials and commercials from 2010, as well as a couple of my famous Superbowl recipes like my Avocado Cream Dip and my Bacon Cheese Cresent Rollups. Read on to see the videos and get the recipes!

Toasting in the New Year with It's A Tradition {guest post}

Guest posting and gearing us up for New Year's is Tauni from It's a Tradition. I have been following Tauni since I started blogging. Her super cool wood and mod podge photo art was actually the very first feature here on FMA. She has such great projects that are so easy they will leave you bonking your head and saying "duh!" I really enjoy all her yummy treats too. She just makes everything look so easy! Let's see what she has for us today...

Whipping up Peppermint Patty Cookies with Just For Love {guest post}

Today I am cleaning and preparing my house for our renters so we are hearing from one of my very first readers, Laura from Just For Love! I just love her! She is the sweetest person and her blog always puts a smile on my face and in my heart. Laura writes with such kind, inspiring, and encouraging words. If you ever need to ground yourself or remember to focus on what's important you will find your inspiration at Just For Love. You might find your tummy rumbling too because her recipes can be mouthwatering. Well, lets get in the kitchen and see what Laura's got going on today...

Thanksgiving Menu & Cherished Recipes

Its hard to believe Thanksgiving is already less than a week away. Personally, I am thrilled! Thanksgiving could just be my favorite holiday. You get to gather with loved ones in a casual setting- enjoying company, food, and football before all the stress of Christmas sneaks in. It's the small things that remind me of all I am thankful for. I told my husband last week that I equate the tradition of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to that of Christmas stockings. It so my favorite thing to wake up for the parade and have cinnamon rolls for breakfast with my family.

Anyway, with Turkey Day fast approaching it is time to pull out the recipes and start planning the menu. Last year, my husband and I went full blown gourmet with it, and now there is no turning back. I hope it gives you some yummy inspiration if you are looking for some new Thanksgiving recipes. Read on for the meal plan and the recipes that knocked our socks off and left us drooling year round...

Simple Chicken Posole Soup

While looking for new recipes I can double and freeze, I ran across chef Bobby Flay's Posole Soup. His recipe called for it all to be made from scratch. While I am certain that his version is most delicous, I don't have that kind of time or patience so I adapted the recipe using some store bought items. This soup is so delicioso and unbelievably fast and easy to make. Read on for the recipe...

Skiers' Sausage

This is another family favorite of ours. Such a simple recipe but so yummy! My mother-in-law made this for us one Christmas in Colorado. We loved it and having been making it ever since she shared the recipe with us. Both my husband and I are avid skiers/boarders and this is the perfect breakfast before hitting the slopes, but it really is exceptional this time of year with all the fresh apple harvests. Read on for the recipe...

Sausage & White Bean Cassoulet

I have been wanting to try a Cassoulet recipe ever since I saw it featured on a local TV show last fall. It just sounds so cozy, hearty, and harvesty! When I happened upon a Sausage and White Bean Cassoulet on the FoodNetwork.com, I knew it was fate. This meal stopped my husband and my house guest in their tracks. Even my toddler loved it. One of the best things about it is the way my house smelled while it simmered...mmmm! Read on for the recipe!

Irish Beef Hand Pies

Its no secret that I don't love to cook. I've admitted this before. I love food and I love to eat but I would much rather be doing just about anything else when it comes to cooking. I have been wanting to cut down on our food budget, so I have been cooking alot more but I am being smart about it. I am making double batches of everything I cook and freezing the leftovers for a quick meal. I tried this yummy hand pie recipe from Martha Stewart after searching for freezer meal recipes. This is so easy and sooo yummy! It makes for a great fall-time dinner. Read on for the recipe and step-by-step pictures.

Bootlegger Kahlua {Best of the 1920's}

You didnt think we could have a 1920's theme week without a post about the prohibition did you? ;)  Prohibition was enacted in the US from 1920 to 1933. The endeavor has been widely considered a failure as it led to the popularity of "bootlegging" and the rise of organized crime as it became the sole distributor of illegal alcohol. Prohibition also led to the famous speakeasies of the era. A secret nod, shake, and wink could get you into a wild party dripping with "moonshine" and hot jazz! So, to truly pay tribute to the era I had to dig deep and search out the inner bootlegger...

Last Fall my sister-in-law introduced to me to homemade Kahlua. I begged her for the recipe so I could make my own and put it in Christmas gift baskets. It was a HUGE hit! This is so yummy and seriously easy!

Here's what you need to get started...

1 12-cup pot very strong coffee (chocolate flavored is best, I used Godiva Chocolate Truffle)
2 lbs. light brown sugar
6 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 bottle 190 proof Clear Springs or Everclear (In some states, including WA, they dont allow that high of a proof so you have to settle for 151)

Bring coffee to a boil in a large pot. Gradually add 2 lbs. light brown sugar and return to boil stirring constantly. Give the pot an ice bath to cool it to room temperature.

When completely cool, add the vanilla and the alcohol. This recipe yields five 750ml bottles of Kahlua. Technically, the Kahlua is ready to serve but I like to age it for a couple months. I think it smooths out over time. If you want to use this for Christmas gifts, I suggest doing this soon to give time to age.

I save up old liquor bottles to age the Kahlua in, then when I am assembling my gift baskets I transfer it to bottles like these from Amazon...

I am joining these AWESOME link parties!

Just joining in on the Best of the 1920's? Click here to see the whole week!

pssssssssssssst! Like the roomier look to FMA? I got tired of being so crowded so I tweaked the site a bit. Ahhh.....stretch! I'm loving all this room! :)

Update: Sept 14th

This was featured on Under The Table And Dreaming today! :D

 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake {Best of the 1920's}

Welcome to the first day of my 1920's Throwback Week- a whole week devoted to the timeless styles and designs of the Roaring Twenties! I am so excited to focus on this exciting and transistional era! The art, fashion, and design that came out of the twenties continues to have a strong influence on today's trends. You might be surprised how much of the 1920's can be found throughout our favorite home decor stores and our fashion glossies. From beadboard, built-ins, and millwork to classics like PB&J, Cloche hats, and embellished headbands...I have so much fun stuff planned for this week! I hope you all enjoy it as much I will!

This Saturday was my wonderful hubby's birthday! I asked him what kind of cake or dessert he would like me to make for his birthday and just my luck, he requested a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Did you know that Pineapple Upside Down Cake originated in the Twenties? Apparently, it became wildly popular after the Dole Pineapple Company beganing tin canning the tropical golden sweet rings. How exotic! :)

I had never made a pineapple cake before so I turned to my trusty friend... Epicurious. This recipe was printed in Gourmet Magazine in February of 2000. I like that it calls for simple ingredients and because the cake was baked in a cast iron skillet it didnt make a big mess of the kitchen.

First thing I did was prepare the batter...

Next up, melting the butter and sugars for the fruit topping...

After the sugar was caramelized, I added the pineapple rings and marschino cherries...

Once the fruit is in place, its time to pour the batter right on top...

Pop it in the oven and 45 minutes later...

After I let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes, I tranferred it to my cake plate...

MMMmmmmm! So yummy! This cake is so moist, has such great flavor, and just screams of Fall spices! If you are craving some Fall flavor, I highly recommend this recipe. Easy and delicious!

I am linking up to these AWESOME parties! And, my cake was FEATURED on Under the Table and Dreaming...isnt that swell? ;)