Berry Fizz Vodka Cocktail

One of the best things about summer time in the Pacific Northwest is the scattering of blackberry bushes all around us. They are literally everywhere and I am not complaining. You can make sauces, syrups, baked goods and my personal favorite, berry drinks. I made this recipe up because I usually can't stand super sweet cocktails (they always lead to headaches or sickness) to I wanted to try a very simple and very subtle cocktail. It was perfect. Refreshing and naturally sweet, this baby will help with winding down July and entering into the August heat.

This one is a shout out to when I was 19, it's perfect for enjoying the soft summer night air. Loved it then and love it now:

Ingredients (makes for 2):

• 3 tsps sugar
• 1/2 cup mixture of fresh blueberries and blackberries
• 4 shots vodka
• tonic water

Directions (we have a boston shaker):

1. In the tin muddle your berries well.
2. Add vodka and sugar. Shake.
3. Pour over a strainer into two glasses and add tonic water to taste.
4. Serve.

Happy Drinking Everyone!

Easy Potato Salad

I just looked at the calendar and it's almost August. Where does the time go? The summer months never last as long as you want them too, but pretty soon we'll be turning in our sandals and BBQ for soups and sweaters. I would be lying if I said summer was my favorite time of the year, but I still enjoy it while it's here. So today I am posting a simple rendition of a summer time classic and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Easy Potato Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs yellow mustard
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbs mayonaise 
• 4 Tbs olive oil
• 3 green onion stalks green parts chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1 1/2 lb to 2 lbs baby potatoes 

Been listening to a lot of different things but today has been all jazz.

Enjoy this little diddy, the girl singing is Buddy Rich's daughter. Buddy Rich is one of the greatest drummers of all time, you should know that.

Directions:

1. Wash your potatoes and cut them in half.
2. Boil your potatoes in a large pot of water for roughly 20 minutes. Drain and set aside until cooled.
3. In a medium sized mixing bowl mix all of your ingredients besides the potatoes.
4. Next add your potatoes to the mustard mixture and stir well until each potato is coated.
5. Add extra salt and pepper is desired. (I gave it an extra dash here and there of salt)
6. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Simple Blueberry Cake

It's my birthday weekend and I just couldn't go without posting the little treat I made for myself. The husband took me to the farmers market and out to the comic book store, so I am a pretty happy girl, what with my new Swamp Thing and people coming over later for BBQ. I usually don't go for your typical birthday cake, the frosting is too sugary and it usually includes other sugary additives I can do without. I always went for  angel food cake with strawberry sauce or pineapple upside down cake growing up and this year was no different. This recipe is simple and to the point, tastes more like a scone but soft like a normal cake, and did I mention blueberries? Fresh from the farmers market to my belly. Bon a petit!

Simple Blueberry Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups of blueberries, washed
• 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• For the icing:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 - 5 tablespoons milk

A seriously great country musician of our time, it's how country should sound in my opinion:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium microwave save bowl, soften (but don't melt) butter and cream cheese. Then add the rest of your batter ingredients except for your blueberries.
3. When the batter is thoroughly mixed add your berries (save 1/2 cup for topping) and stir gently.
4. In a greased 9 inch cake pan spread the batter out evenly and add your 1/2 cup topping evenly over it.
5. Bake for 45 minutes.
6. For the icing, soften cream cheese and butter until easy to mix.
7. Combine all ingredients except for your milk.
8. Add milk 1 tbsp at a time until you reach the consistency you desire. 
9. Once cake is done, set aside for 15-20 minutes to cool, then drizzle your icing on top.
10. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Imitation Crab Mac and Cheese

I am back! The wedding came and the honeymoon passed and now I am ready to get back into sharing some yummy recipes with you. I have some yummy dishes planned for this month and I can't wait to get to them, but first things first. Mac and cheese. One of the most classic dishes, we tend to overlook the possibilities with this dish, the reality is that basic mac and cheese is just begging to be altered, twisted and experimented with. So let's get to this simple cheesy recipe.

Imitation Crab Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb macaroni pasta
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• salt to taste
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 lb imitation crab meat
• 2 tsp dry dill
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• olive oil
• 1 cup cheddar cheese for topping

I have been re-visiting a few albums and stumbled upon one I used to listen to a lot:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a medium pot, cook pasta as directed. Then drain and set aside.
3. In a small pan saute your garlic in the oil and set aside.
4. In the same pot combine your milk, butter, garlic and cheese. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and add the pasta back into the pot. Add salt until desired taste (mine took about 2 tsps).
5. Add your dill the pasta mixture.
6. Transfer over to a smal 9x9 baking dish. Put crab on top of your mac and cheese and sprinkle the rest of your cheddar on top. Bake for 5-8 minutes.
7. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone! Enjoy!

Cinnamon Glazed Scones

A few more days until I am a married a woman, so I am relaxing with some baking in the kitchen. With so many things on my mind I can't concentrate on writing a long intro here, so let's keep it short and sweet, just like this recipe. Hope you all enjoy this treat one morning and that you can share it with people who you care about.

Have this diddy stuck in my head: 

Cinnamon Glazed Scones

Ingredients for scone batter:

• 2 cups flour 
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 1/2 tsps baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg, separated, egg whites set aside
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Ingredients for topping:

• 2 tbsp Raw sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Glaze:

• 1 cup powder sugar
• 3 tsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a medium sized bowl mix together your flour, soda, powder, salt and butter. Mix until crumbly. 
3. In a small bowl mix together honey, egg yolk, milk and juice, then add it to your dough, mix well.
4. On a floured surface, form your dough into a ball. Then flatten until it's 1/2 inch in width. Cut the scones into about 6-8 pieces. 
5. Next whisk your egg white until it starts to froth a little, brush it over the dough then sprinkle it with your cinnamon and raw sugar.
6. Transfer the pieces over to a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until a little brown.
7. While the scones bake, mix together your glaze ingredients in a small bowl. When the scones are ready to come out of the oven, transfer the pieces to a plate, then drizzle your glaze over the top.
8. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Sweet Potato Cakes

I know that you must be getting tired of recipes that include or feature sweet potatoes, but I just can't help myself. They are so diverse and can be incorporated into pretty much anything (did I mention cheap?). They almost always make their way into my shopping cart because of how reliable they are, not to mention how nutritional they are, high in vitamin C, natural sugar and magnesium. Get your vitamins everyone:

Sweet Potato Cakes

More Nina... Always more Nina:

Makes 4 patties

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon cut into pieces 
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Peel and wash your potatoes, place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are easily mashed.
2. While the potatoes are cooking fry up your bacon and onions. Save the fat.
3. In a medium sized bowl, mash your potatoes and mix in bacon and onions.
4. Add your egg and form your patties.
5. In the same pan you fried the bacon, fry up your patties, about 2 minutes on each side on a medium heat (too high and they'll burn).
6. Serve!

This recipe is perfect for those on a budget or for when you have limited means in your kitchen. It's quick and easy to prepare for those in a rush too. So basically it's freaking easy. Happy Eatings Everyone!

Quinoa with Yams and Broccoli

For anyone who knows me one of my favorite food groups is bacon. Delicious and salty bacon. The amount I eat is ungodly and the amount I serve at parties is always abundant (more for me). But on sunny days in June I like to settle down at the dinner table with the garden veggies that make all of our lives colorful. So setting the bacon aside, here's a light and tasty summer time meal for you to enjoy:

Listening to this classic:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups veggie broth
• 2 small yams peeled and cubed
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 1 cup corn
• 2 cups broccoli
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring quinoa and broth to boil in a medium size pot. 
2. Once boiling add your sweet potato, turn down the heat and cover. Let sit for about 20 minutes. 
3. In a fry pan saute your veggies in your olive oil. Set aside.
4. When the quinoa is done, add your quinoa to the fry pan and mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve!

There you have it, a simple recipe to satisfy our summer bellies! Happy Eatings Everyone!