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Sweet and Smoky Shishito Peppers

With all the holiday functions and parties that happen during this time of year, I wanted to create a quick and simple appetizer that would be great for entertaining, parties, or as a way to kick off an intimate date night at home. While out shopping I came across some awesome looking shishito peppers and knew they would be perfect to use. Most times the peppers are paired with a dipping sauce but I wanted to wrap the peppers is a sweet and sticky sauce making them easier to prepare and eat.

In a recent shipment from Cultivar Wines, I received a 2014 Cultivar Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc that I thought would pair nicely with this dish.

Sweet Smoky Shishito Peppers

Andrea’s Sweet and Smoky Shishito Peppers

  • 6oz Shishito Peppers
  • 1/2TBSP Light Olive Oil
  • Juice of 1 Large Lime
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic (Either use a garlic press or finely chop them)
  • 1 TBSP Honey
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • Pinch of Salt (no more than 1/4 tsp)

In a bowl, combine the lime juice, garlic, honey, paprika, and salt, whisk until everything is combined and set aside. In a medium sized skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium to medium high heat for about 2 minutes (do not let the oil smoke), then add in the peppers in a single layer.  Cook peppers on each side for about 3 minutes until they blister and start to soften.  Reduce heat to medium and add in the sauce, stir and make sure all the peppers are covered.  Continue to gently stir and cook the sauce for about two minutes.  The sauce should cook down and start to coat the peppers.  Allow to cool for one minute and give another stir before plating.

Plate and serve!

 

Sweet Smoky Shishito Peppers

These peppers are great hot right out of the pan but can also be served at room temperature, making them perfect for entertaining and parties.

Having the sauce on the peppers means there’s less to handle and turns them into a fabulous finger food appetizer, just right for mingling and eating while standing.

You can make the sauce ahead of time making the cooking time on these even quicker.  I would recommend making a double batch because these will go quick!

These peppers and the 2014 Cultivar Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc really worked well together.  The crisp citrus notes of the wine balances out the smoky sweet sauce while the oaky herby notes compliments the earthy pepper flavor.

Have fun, and remember, always play with your food.  Enjoy!

Disclosure: I’m required to disclose a sponsored partnership between our site, Food Embrace, and Cultivar Wine. I have been compensated in exchange for this post in the form of product. All opinions presented are my own. I receive wine from Cultivar Wine as a member of the Cultivar Wine Bloggers group.

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2016 Black Friday Weekend Holiday Sales

Holiday 2012

Hey gang! A bunch of my favorite places are having huge sales this weekend and I didn’t want you to miss out on scoring some mega deals!

FOOD

50% Off the entire store at Flavor God. I love these seasonings and use them daily!

Vital Proteins Collagen Trio includes, 20 oz. Collagen Peptides container, a box of Collagen Peptide Stick Packs for on the go, and a #stayvital 24oz Shaker Bottle.  If you’ve been curious about trying out the peptides that I keep talking about then this deal is for you!

SKIN

15% off your oder for Small Business Saturday at Fatco. I use the body butter, face cream, and oil cleanser.

25% Off sellers at Primal Life Organics, use code Holiday16. I’m thinking of finally trying out some of the Vitamin C Serum!

Free Lip Sheer ($30 value) with $125 purchase at Beauty Counter.  I love their daily shampoo (it smells like lemons!), the charcoal bar face cleanser, and their mascara.

GEAR

25%  Extra off clearance and sale items at Nike with code Extra25 (I scored some Metcon 2 for $73!)

40% off items at Title 9.

20% off everything at Belle and Bell.

15% off your order at JerkFit with code cyberwod15 (Starts on Sunday through Monday) I love my nubs!

BOGO at 50% off at Qualo Rings, no code required. (If you need a ring size guide, here’s a printable PDF. Qualo says their rings fit snug so be sure to check out their sizing guide to convert.)

Unbroken Designs, use code SCHOOLOFWOD for 20% off your order. I have a headband and lifting belt from them!

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Planning For Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving dinner

I’m currently planning out our Thanksgiving feast and creating my shopping list.  Both Scott and I have work commitments the week of the official holiday so we’ll be celebrating a little early this year.

Of course there’s the basics like turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes that we always have, but I want to try a few new dishes as well.  Things we haven’t had for a while that I’m going to recreate in a more healthy and primal way.

The above picture was taken several years ago (and yes Off Her Cork was an old site of mine) and features items we don’t have at the Thanksgiving table now.

No rolls, while delightful we have found we’d rather eat more food than bread.  That means stuffing is out as well. Sweet potatoes are saved for dessert in the form of pie.  There’s always fresh whipped cream to go with it!

This year I’m hoping to create a more primal inspired Thanksgiving dinner. Alcohol, while not primal at all, will be around.  It’s the holidays and that makes for a great time to experiment with cocktails and recipes!

Our holidays are always laid back.  The table and presentation might look fancy, but I assure you we are sitting down to dinner in our PJs.  Comfort is most important here at the HQ!

I’ll be sharing more about our holiday later and what was on the table.  So tell me, what is your favorite dish for Thanksgiving?

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Pomegranate Bourbon Highball

Pomegranate Bourbon Highball

The last in the pomegranate juice drink series and it happens to be my favorite of the batch because it features bourbon!  This is the drink that started us on our journey to experiment with pomegranate juice cocktails.  Thanksgiving day we were sipping on juice and seltzer when we got curious and added a little bourbon to the mix. It was delicious! I played around with the ingredients a bit to make it a little more festive.

This cocktail uses the least ingredients and comes together really quickly.

Andrea’s Pomegranate Bourbon Highball

  • 1/3C Pomegranate Juice
  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • 2 Dashes Whiskey Bitters
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • Few cubes of ice
  • 8 oz Seltzer

Place all ingredients into a shaker except for the seltzer.  Shake for a minute and pour into a large glass.  Top with seltzer, stir and enjoy!

Your guests will love all of these festive drinks for the holiday season!  Or make one for yourself, kickback on the couch and watch your favorite holiday movie!

Don’t forget to check out PomBerry Martini and Pomegranate Margarita.

Happy Holidays!

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Pomegranate Margarita

Pomegranate Margarita

As Scott and I were experimenting making drinks with pomegranate juice, he decided to bust out the tequila.  I was highly skeptical about this because for whatever reason, tequila + pomegranate juice did not seem like they would match up well.

I was wrong.  So, so wrong.

This drink has enough kick to let you know it’s a cocktail but mild enough that no one will end up with a lampshade on their head by the end of the evening.

Feel free to rim the glass with a little salt or a little sugar mix.

Andrea’s Pomegranate Margarita

  • 2 oz Reposado or Anjeo Tequila (You can use Silver if you prefer)
  • 1 oz Cointreau
  • 3 oz Pomegranate Juice
  • Juice of half a lime
  • 2 Dashes of Orange Bitters
  • 2 Dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters
  • Ice for the shaker
  • 6-8 oz Seltzer or Club Soda, optional

In a shaker combine all ingredients except the seltzer or club soda.  Shake for about a minute and pour into a glass.  Add the seltzer or club soda at this time and stir.  Serve and enjoy!

Now you’re ready with another cocktail recipe for your #BoozeyHoliday party!  I have one more pomegranate recipe coming up for you on Wednesday, stay tuned!

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PomBerry Martini

POMBerry Martini

With my new habit of doing most of my grocery shopping at Costco (more details on that in the new year), I rediscovered pomegranate juice.  It can totally be a pricey juice to purchase but Costco has the best prices for it and I’ve reintroduced it back into our lives.  Usually Scott and I end the day with some juice + seltzer.  It provides a nice break from water that we’ve been drinking all day.  I talked more about that in this post and bonus you get an old school picture before I developed my photo skillz.

One weekend Scott and I were wondering how well pomegranate juice would play in a mixed drink and we started experimenting.  We came up with three drinks that we love.  This first one uses gin along with some chambord to kick up the berry flavor.

Andrea’s PomBerry Martini

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Cointreau
  • 1 oz Juice of an Orange (or clementine or mandarine, whatever you have on hand)
  • 3 oz Pomegranate Juice
  • 1/4 oz Chambord
  • 6-8 oz Seltzer or Club Soda (optional)

Place all ingredients except seltzer or club soda, in a shaker along with some ice and shake for about a minute.  Pour into a glass and add the seltzer or club soda.  Stir and serve!

In all of the drinks I’ll be sharing with you, the seltzer and club soda is always optional.  The drinks are great on their own, I personally like the addition of the fizz.  It extends the drink and also helps to cut the alcohol burn a bit.  Totally personal preference so do what you like!

All pictures of the drinks are before the addition of seltzer.

Make sure to add this to your #BoozyHoliday menu!  I have two more drinks to share and those will be posted next week so make sure you check back!

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Bourbon Coconut Caramel Sauce

Bourbon Coconut Caramel Sauce

I have a love affair with caramel.  Rolos and Twix bars were a favorite when I was a kid.  I loved the Cadbury caramel eggs and when I got sundaes, I preferred caramel sauce over chocolate sauce.

Caramel is rich and buttery and like the liquid version of toffee, which I also love.  I have never tried making my own caramel sauce though because I figured it was too difficult.

Phsaw.

Spoiler alert: It isn’t.

It does take time and yes you do have to baby this but it’s worth it because in the end you have a delicious caramel sauce that can be added to just about anything you can think of.  Cake? YES! Coffee? YES!  Pancakes and waffles! Drizzle it into some brownie mix to make caramel brownies.  Drizzle it over some coffee cake.  Add it to ice cream? The list is endless!

You can see that I put this on top of some cake.  Some Buttermilk Spice Cake!

Since I’m cutting down on my dairy intake, I made this with full fat coconut milk instead of cream.  You won’t notice the difference because it tastes amazing.

Also, since it’s #BoozeyHoliday, I added bourbon at the end.  You’re welcome.

Andrea’s Bourbon Coconut Caramel Sauce

  • 1 Can Full Fat Coconut Milk
  • 1/2C Maple Syrup
  • 1TBSP Butter
  • 2tsp Vanilla
  • 2TBSP Bourbon

In a medium sized heavy sauce pan add in the coconut milk, maple syrup, and butter.  Heat over medium heat and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is incorporated.  Bring the mixture up to a boil and boil for two minutes. Then reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for 60 minutes.  Whisking every few minutes. The mixture should just be slightly bubbling.

Yes 60 minutes is a long time, but this needs to reduce down and thicken up.  You’ll know it’s ready when the sauce coats a spoon and has a slow drizzle to it.  It should be thick.  At this point, turn off the heat, add in the vanilla and bourbon and whisk.

Put the sauce into a heat proof container (I used a mason jar) and allow to cool.  Either use right away or store in the fridge.  If it’s cold, gently heat the sauce by adding some of the caramel to a sauce pan and heating over low heat.  Just until the sauce can be drizzled.

Yeah it takes some time but it lasts for two weeks in the fridge!  Honestly, I doubt it will last you that long because you’ll be eating it by the spoonful.

 

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Two Unique Gifts To Give This Season

I haven’t done gift guides in several years but this year I came across two unique ideas that I think would make great gifts for the holidays.  One is global while the other one is local.

World Vision is a program that focuses on helping and providing countries and families in need items that would be most beneficial to them.  With donations they work towards providing things like clean water, goats and chickens to families, providing education, and food for kids.  There are many categories that someone can choose from and donate to the cause they feel most passionate about.  There are suggestions for donation amounts with examples of what that would provide to someone.  For example, $100 could provide a goat and two chickens to a family which in turn provides a steady supply of food and milk to that family.

Hand carved spice box

They also feature some handmade gifts that are all fair trade and made by those that World Vision is supporting.  Each gift requires a donation but the shipping is free and this donation benefits those that need it most.  This would be the perfect option if you’d still like to give someone a gift they can use all while donating to a good cause.

I was sent this hand carved cinnamon box as an example of the kinds of gifts available.  It is a box made from cinnamon bark with the Asian symbol for prosperity on it.  It also contains 3oz of Vietnam Cinnamon from the Cassia Tree.  Which is a renewable resource providing jobs for families.  There are other handmade gifts available which I encourage you to check out.

This would made a great gift for someone you care about.  It’s unique and is a gift that provides so much to those in need.

Coffee Registry Delivered Coffee

My next recommendation is closer to home and something local that is perfect for the coffee lover in your life.

The Coffee Registry roasts their own coffee beans and delivers them fresh right to your door!  We’ve been using this service for several months and love it.  Depending on where you live in Fort Collins, you’ll either get coffee delivered twice a month (1st and 3rd Wednesdays) or once a month.  Each delivery is different providing a chance to explore different beans, roasts, and country of origin.  Plus we get to support a local business so it’s a win for everyone.

David, owner of The Coffee Registry, also makes custom pour over stands.  There are several to pick from, this one called Curator, just happens to be my favorite.  It has an awesome steampunk quality to it!

Curator Pour Over Coffee Stand by The Coffee Registry

(Image courtesy of The Coffee Registry)

Each stand is made using American walnut base with brass uprights and a glass Hario V60 pour over brewer.

David is providing Food Embrace readers with a bonus pack of 100 filters if you order a custom stand.  Just mention Food Embrace in the comments when you order one!

Support a local business and provide a unique gift to someone by either signing them up for some coffee delivery or ordering them a custom stand!

With many bloggers providing gifts guides to you this season, I wanted to bring you something a little more unique.  These gifts will definitely bring joy to those on your holiday list!

 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post nor do I have an affiliate with either company.

 

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Resolution To The Max

Scott and Andrea shoes

Have you thought about the new year and formulated a plan on how you’re going to take back and take charge of your health?  I know that right now we’re all focused on the holidays, and cookies, and booze.  Don’t worry I am too!  BUT we also need to look ahead at this brand new full year ahead of us and decide on how to address our health.

Scott and I are committed to taking back our health and getting back in shape this year.  We’ve let it slack for too long for lots of reasons.  And now it’s time for us to step up and make time for us to be healthy and active again.  How are we going to do that? With tons of support!

Scott and I will be supporting each other but I’m also part of a group challenge as well that will be doing daily check-ins and using each other as accountability partners.  We will be doing the new Insanity: MAX 30 program  It’s a workout at home program, so no gym involved and no equipment other than yourself.

The basics of the program are that it’s a 30 minute program 5 days a week for 60 days.  The workouts are 30 minutes long and you push yourself to the MAX until you either can’t go any longer or you’re starting to lose good form.  It’s a cardio HIIT style workout and each day you strive to do better than you did the day before.  Even if it’s just one more rep or one more move, the goal is to do better each day.

Scott and I are so into this and I want you to join us!  The only thing that you have to buy is the DVDs, there’s no other equipment involved. A one time purchase for DVDs that you can use over and over again.

My long time blogging friend, Rose, is running the accountability group.  You can read more about the program and the group on her post.

Some folks have started the program already and others are waiting until after the holidays and starting on Jan 5th.  I want you to be a part of our group!  We all have 30 minutes a day that we can dedicate to our health and well being.  WE CAN DO THIS!

If you’re interested in joining our group either comment below or email me: Andrea AT FoodEmbrace.com and I’ll get you connected with our group!  You’ll have the support and motivation that you need to work through this program and complete it.  We will all be supporting and cheering each other on.

Are you with us?  LET’S DO THIS!

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Chilled Mulled Beer

I working on a lot of cocktail recipes for this holiday season so prepare yourself for #BoozeyHoliday! I’ve got three more cocktails in the works after this one!

For the holiday season I wanted to create a beer drink that was festive while still being light to drink and super easy to put together.  No one wants to fuss at holiday parties mixing a bunch of drinks.

I started thinking about festive drinks at the holidays and naturally eggnog and mulled wine came to mind.  But mixing those with beer?  Heavy cream and beer just sounds gross.  A hot steaming mug of beer doesn’t sound appealing at all.  The idea of a mulled beer drink intrigued me though and I put my thinking cap on to try to come up with a way to make it work.

It would be served cold and instead of red wine I used unsweetened cranberry juice that I spiced up using spices that are familiar to us this time of year.

And the Chilled Mulled Beer drink was born!

Chilled Mulled Beer

 

Andrea’s Chilled Mulled Beer

For the Mulled Cranberry Juice:

  • 4C Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
  • 1 Orange, quartered
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 4 Star Anise
  • 1TBSP Whole Cloves

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pot and bring to a boil.  Then cover and immediately reduce to a low simmer.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Turn off heat and allow to cool for another 30 minutes.  Squeeze the orange quarters into the mixture, then remove.  Strain the cranberry juice into a heat proof container and place in fridge.  Makes 1 quart of mulled cranberry juice.  Allow to chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

For the Mulled Beer:

In a glass add 1/2C Mulled Cranberry Juice then add 6oz of Beer.  A pale ale or a lighter brown ale is perfect for this drink.  I used Odell’s 5 Barrel Pale Ale and their seasonal, Isolation ale with this drink and both worked out well.  You want a beer that is light in flavor so I would avoid something really hoppy as that would clash with the cranberry juice.

You can garnish with more star anise or frozen cranberries!  Serve and enjoy!

The cranberry juice can be made ahead of time and will keep for up to a week in the fridge. Store in an air tight glass container.  I used a mason jar.  Feel free to make a huge batch, just remember you’ll have to up the spices a little as well.  Give the cranberry juice a good shake before pouring it out so the spice redistributes.

Perfect for the holidays and something a little different to serve your guests!