Apple Cider Mimosa

I love it when one of the DILs messages me.  It really makes my day knowing they think of me.  I wonder if I should worry that many times the message is about an adult beverage?  Last year the Blond DIL messaged me and asked what the drink of the week was going to be for Thanksgiving so she could copy it.   This year the Baby DIL messaged me a link for our Thanksgiving Drink of the Week, and it is perfect!

Now, I usually believe that juice is a waste of space in a mimosa, this is the exception.  The spiced apple cider adds so much to the champagne and it is a perfect drink to serve all your guests before or after dinner on Thanksgiving and during the holidays.

And, while apple cider is not keto friendly, I did find a keto alternative that works for me. So I can enjoy the drink of the week along with everyone else.

So Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your family, friends or alone time.  Just add this in to the mix, it is perfect!

Apple Cider Mimosa

Champagne
Apple Cider
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. brown sugar
water or maple syrup

Dip rim of champagne flute in water or syrup, let excess drip off (syrup makes it stick much better). Turn right side up and fill half way with cider, top with champagne.  Enjoy


Keto Apple Cider Mimosa
Champagne
3 apple tea bags
1/2 tsp. apple extract
1-3 tsp. sweetener substitute, depending on taste, I use powdered swerve,
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp. brown sugar substitute
water or sugar free maple syrup

Make one cup of tea and steep the three tea bags (I made a small cup with my Keurig), add extract and sweetener, stir to mix completely.  Let cool in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.  Dip rim of champagne flute in water or syrup, let excess drip off.  Turn right side up and fill half way with tea and top with champagne.  Enjoy

5 years ago:  Crying in the Fitting Room and New Jeans
7 years ago:  Pretzel Turtles
8 years ago:  The Beginning

November 25, 2019  Sunrise 9:59am  Sunset 3:15 pm  Temp. H 15/ L -3°F

Shark Cookies

No, it's not Shark Week and we aren't about to watch Sharknado.  Gman loves sharks, so I made shark cookies for him and I mailed him some.

It was important work, and I did this while Dave was outside splitting and stacking 2 cords of wood, by himself.  Because I'm helpful like that.

So I hope the Gman enjoys eating his shark cookies and now I'm trying to decide on some Thanksgiving cookies to decorate just in case Dave gets more wood delivered.

1 year ago:    Dinosaurs

5 years ago:  Hot Spiced Rum Apple Cider

7 years ago:  Flourless Chocolate Cake with Nutella Buttercream

November 19, 2019  Sunrise 9:39 am  Sunset 3:31 pm  Temp H 14/ L 11°F

Raspberry Cream Martini

I got soap in my eye when I was washing my hair and looked like I had pink eye until about noon, I wore my shirt inside out for the whole day, I slipped and fell in the snow and bruised my elbow, and I had to clean up dog vomit.  I'm going to drink now.

Raspberry Cream Martini
2 oz. whipped cream vodka
1 oz. heavy cream
1 oz. raspberry puree, I used this
heavy cream to swirl on top

In a shaker full of ice, add all ingredients, shake until well mixed and very cold.  Strain into martini glass.  Garnish with fresh raspberry and/or swirl of heavy cream, if desired.

1 year ago:    Chocolate Cream Pie Martini and Gman Visits
3 years ago:  Chocolate Dipped Orange Spritz Cookies
5 years ago:  Versatile Sourdough Potato Bread

November 15, 2019  Sunrise 9:26 am  Sunset 3:43pm  Temp. H 8/ L 2˚F

Raspberry Clafoutis

We have gotten into the habit of making a big breakfast on Sunday.  Sometimes friends stop by and have brunch with us, drink a Bloody Mary and watch a little football, sometimes it is just Dave and me.  It doesn't matter, we always fix enough for the whole neighborhood!
Dave is all about the bacon, sausage, hash browns and eggs.  I usually bake something a little sweet to add to brunch. 

This past weekend I made a clafoutis.  It is basically a big pancake with some fruit in it.  Traditional clafoutis are made with cherries and flour, but cherries are a little too carby for me so I added raspberries and used coconut flour, and then topped it with a fresh raspberry sauce.   It was delicious! 

I was feeling pretty lucky that Dave and I were home alone this past weekend, I got to take a nap after my big breakfast, and then I had some of the clafoutis for my dessert.  This will be on the menu when Gman and his dad come for Thanksgiving.

Raspberry Clafoutis with Fresh Raspberry Sauce

For the Clafoutis
2 Tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1/3 cup confectioner's sweetener
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 Tbsp. coconut flour
2 containers of raspberries, about 2 cups

Preheat oven to 350°.  Butter a pie plate or cake pan and set aside.
In a blender add eggs and pulse a couple of times to mix eggs.  Add butter, sweetener, vanilla, heavy cream and water.  Blend well.  Add baking powder and coconut flour, blend until well combined.  Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Distribute the raspberries evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
While the clafoutis is baking make the sauce.

For the Raspberry Sauce
2 cups raspberries
1/4 cup confectioner's sweetener
juice of 1/2 lemon, about 2 Tbsp.
1/4 tsp. glucomannam

Rinse raspberries well.  Add damp raspberries to medium saucepan over medium heat, add sweetener and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil and crush berries with a fork.  Let cook until juice reduces by about half, 15 minutes or so.  Remove from heat and press through a wire mesh strainer, pushing the liquid through and throwing away the seeds.  Sprinkle glucomannam over top and quickly whisk into berry sauce.  Pour warm sauce over clafoutis.

1 year ago:    Pumpkin Bread Trifle and Missing Suzanne
3 years ago:  The Season of Eating
5 years ago:  United Way Auction and Alaskan Cranberry Shortbread

November 12, 2019  Sunrise 9:15 am  Sunset 3:53 pm  Temp. H 15/ L 11°F

Dog Disasters and Rewards for being on Time

I always think I have 10 more minutes than I really have, or I think I can get something done 10 minutes faster than I really can.  The mornings are worst, I always try to sneak one more job in before I have to leave the house and then I am always running late.  Dave likes to call it "Toni Time."

Well, I had a foot dr. appointment at 8:30 so I could go on my way to work and, of course, I thought I could sneak one more thing in before I left.  I was doing o.k. on time when I went to kennel the big dogs and they wouldn't go into the kennel.

They usually are really good about that because I always give them a little treat once the kennel door is latched.  But today, they would not go in.  I walked over to the kennel, opened the door wide and was about to yell at them for not getting in when I saw the pile of dog vomit on the carpet.  I'm sure I cussed a little, grabbed the carpet and tossed it to the side, sprayed and wiped down the concrete floor and threw a clean piece of rug in the kennel, and the dogs ran in.  I gave them their treat and turned to the soiled rug to throw it away.  The pile of puke was a garden glove Mooree must have eaten and then threw up.  A. Garden. Glove.

I just can't.

Here is Mooree with a little fabric pumpkin he keeps trying
to eat.  I'm sure I'll be cleaning this out of the kennel
any day now.

I don't even know where he got it from.

Well, I am making a deal with myself about leaving the house on time in the mornings.  If I can NOT add one more thing to my list and leave the house so I don't have to hurry to work, I am going to reward myself with a treat that evening.  I am all about the treats. At first I thought I'd have a treat on Friday, but who am I kidding, I'm not going to wait until Friday and to start with I probably won't make it a whole week without running late.

So, in order to convince myself that the treat is worth all that effort, I made this delicious treat to encourage myself.  I made it in the evening so I wouldn't be trying to finish it before I left the house in the morning.

I love turtle candies so when I saw this sugar free recipe I knew I had to try it.  They are the perfect combination of chewy caramel and dark chocolate with the crunch of the pecans.  Dave, who doesn't have a sweet tooth but he does love caramel, said they were good.  Coming from him, that is high praise for some candy.

You can find the recipe at All Day I Dream About Food

1 year ago:    Pumpkin Mug Cake
3 years ago:  Sex on a Snowbank
5 years ago:  Stuffed Pork Loin


November 7, 2019  Sunrise 8:58 am  Sunset 4:09 pm  Temp H 24/ L 11°F

Chocolate Fudge and Bragging on my Husband

I have to brag just a little, I have the best husband ever!

Not only did he drive me to the airport at 4:00 am and help with with the dangerous moose encounter when I left for my last work trip, he picked me up at 11:00 pm when I got home.  I always took it for granted that he would do this but once a co-worker asked if Dave always picked me up and dropped me off because his wife needed to be at the airport at 4:00 am and he told her to take a cab.  So, while I was always grateful that he does this, I am more so after that.

So early morning drop-offs and late night pick-ups and when I got home the house was clean, the dogs were bathed, he poured me a glass of champagne and when the dogs settled down and we could go to bed, the sheets were washed and smelled like bleach...I LOVE the smell of bleach!

What a guy.

So, as a little thank you, I made plain fudge for him, his favorite and one of the very few sweet treats he enjoys.

And, because I am so thoughtful, I decided I needed a reward and made myself a treat too.  I made some keto fudge.  This fudge is from All Day I Dream About Food and so good, and easy! The only difference is that I added pecans, because I can. I whipped up a batch in the morning as I drank my coffee and popped it into the fridge to firm up while I was at work.  It is the perfect treat for after dinner and a great addition to a candy/cookie tray.  I'll be making this often.

Find this recipe at: All Day I Dream About Food, Keto Dair-Free Fudge.

Who knew making sweetened condensed milk could be so easy.
A can of coconut milk, some safe sweetener and a little time
is all you need.  Here it is at the beginning...

Here the condensed milk is ready! 
I see magic bars with this in my future!

So good!

1 year ago:    chocolate Pumpkin Pie Martini and Being Thankful
3 years ago:  Halloween Oreo Truffles and Falling Down the Stairs
5 years ago:  My Glimps of Raleigh, North Carolina

November 5, 2019  Sunrise 8:51 am  Sunset 4:15 pm  Temp H 24/ L 16°F