Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Gift Guide: For the Hostess

Today we start the gift guides! Yay, holidays! Got a tough person on your list? Shoot me an email, I'd love to help!

Today's guide is for the hostess. You know the type. She prefers to throw the party instead of going to a restaurant, and she does it ever so well.




Gnome/Glass set/Cake Stand

Macaron Box/Pillow/Throw

Trinket tray/Vase/Bathtub wine holder

Be fabulous today!

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Monday, December 1, 2014

All In: Holiday Party

Happy first Monday in December! Yes, December. Let's go all in under $100 for a holiday party.


I have to tell you, I'm kind of obsessed with this outfit. If there is a time to try some fabulous and risky, it's the holidays. That is why I paired this full skirt with a structured crop top. Throw in a little bling, and you're all in for under $100.

Be fabulous today!

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Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Foodday

Today's Friday Foodday is what to do with turkey leftovers.

Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
c/o Skinny Taste
Ingredients
  • 6 cups homemade turkey stock (or low sodium canned)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup diced carrot
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3/4 cup diced celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 3 oz uncooked Ronzoni Smart Taste egg noodles
  • 2 cups leftover shredded turkey (about 8 ounces)
Directions

Fill a large saucepan with homemade turkey stock (or canned). Add bay leaf, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, salt and pepper to taste and simmer 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Add parsley, noodles and shredded turkey; cook according to noodle directions, about 5 minutes.

Discard bay leaf and serve.


Turkey Tetrazzini
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 pound Thin Spaghetti, Broken In Half
  • 4 Tablespoons Butter
  • 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 1 pound White Mushrooms, Quartered
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup White Wine
  • 1/3 cup Flour
  • 4 cups Turkey (or Chicken) Broth
  • 1 block 8 Ounce Cream Cheese
  • 3 cups Cooked (leftover) Turkey, Shredded Or Diced
  • 1 cup Finely Chopped Black Olives
  • 1-1/2 cup Frozen Green Peas
  • 4 slices Bacon, Fried And Cut Into Bits
  • 1 cup Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
  • 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  •  Salt And Pepper, to taste
  •  Extra Broth For Thinning
  • 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

Directions
Cook pasta until not quite done - al dente according to package instructions (it will finish cooking in the oven.) Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Add mushrooms and salt, then saute for a couple more minutes. Pour in the wine and allow it to cook with the mushrooms for several minutes, or until the liquid reduces by half.
Sprinkle in flour, then stir the mushrooms around for another minute. Pour in the broth and stir, cooking for another few minutes until the roux thickens.
Reduce heat to medium low. Cut cream cheese into pieces and add it to the pot. Stir it to melt (don't be concerned if the cream cheese remains in little bits for awhile; it'll melt eventually!) Add the leftover turkey, the olives, the peas, the bacon, and the cheeses. Stir to combine, adding salt and pepper as needed.
Add the cooked spaghetti and stir it to combine. Splash in more broth as needed; you want the mixture to have a little extra moisture since it will cook off in the oven. If it's a little soupy, that's fine! Add up to 2 more cups of liquid if you think it needs it.
Pour the mixture into a large baking dish and sprinkle the top with Panko crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown.

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2/3 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1/2 cup frozen diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups chopped leftover Thanksgiving turkey
  • 1 puff pastry sheet, cut into four 4 1/4-inch squares
  • 1 large egg, beaten
Directions
  • To make the filling, melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion, corn, carrots and peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions become translucent, about 2 minutes. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, milk and thyme, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in turkey; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Divide the filling evenly into the ramekins. Top with puff pastry and gently cut 4 vents in the top of the crust. Brush each crust with the beaten egg.
  • Place into oven and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.