Tuesdays At The Table - Turkey Enchilada Casserole

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, and scored some super Black Friday deals!!

Here is my favorite recipe for leftover turkey (or chicken).  It's an easy casserole with a yummy Mexican twist.  :-)

Turkey Enchilada Casserole1 1/2 to 2 cups of cooked turkey, diced
1 package flour tortillas
1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons (approximately) vegetable oil

Mix diced turkey and about 3/4 (12 oz) of the salsa verde in a bowl and set aside.

Heat tortillas in the oil, one at a time for about 10 seconds. Drain on paper towels.

In casserole dish, place a layer of tortillas. Top with ½ of turkey mixture and ½ of black beans. Place another layer of tortillas topped with turkey mixture and beans. Top with tortillas. Place the last 4 oz of salsa verde on top of tortillas. Top casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and guacamole (optional).

What's cooking in your kitchen?

A Christmas song a day comes back on December 1st!  If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Christmas Card... Take Two

Here's the Shutterfly version of my Christmas card. I loooove it! {Dear Shutterfly, My feelings are still a little hurt that you severed a multi-year relationship. And at the holidays of all times... :-)}

It's not too late to get on my Christmas card list!! You know you want to see what kind of cuteness is printed on the inside.  Heeheehee!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

 

Tuesdays At The Table - Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Sorbet

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope you have a day filled with family, friends...and food! 

Because I'm not a fan of "traditional" cranberry sauce (aka cranberry jello in the shape of a can!), I like to make the fresh stuff.  The next day, I warm up the cranberry sauce and "repurpose" it as a sorbet. 

Cranberry Sauce

1 pound fresh cranberries, washed and dried
2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cinnamon stick (or a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon)
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 orange, zested and juiced

In a medium pot, combine the cranberries, sugar and water. Stir to blend. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and add the cinnamon stick (or ground cinnamon), allspice and nutmeg. Stir to blend and simmer for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Some of the cranberries will burst and some will remain whole. Add the orange juice and zest, stir and allow to cool before serving.



Cranberry Sorbet

Remaining cranberry sauce
2 cups of water
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a medium pot, combine your left over cranberry sauce (this recipe presumes you have about half left) and the remaining ingredients.  Allow to warm thoroughly.  Using a hand blender (or a traditional blender), blend until smooth.  Sieve to remove all solids and pour into an airtight container.  Freeze for about two hours (until it starts to solidify), the remove and beat on high for 2-3 minutes.  Return to freezer and allow to set before serving.

What's cooking in your kitchen this Thanksgiving?

Christmas Card List

I'm biting the bullet and realizing that for the first time in four years, Shutterfly isn't going to help subsidize my holiday cards. (Bummer!!!)  Thank goodness an awesome friend passing along a coupon code she wasn't going to use!  You're the best, Jess!
 
It's time to start my mailing list!  Want to be on it?!  You know you do!




Make sure you hit "submit"! :-)

A "Conversation" With My Herd...

I spent my Saturday night doing a transport for Furever Dachshund Rescue.  My older two are used to this...but it's the first transport run I've done (outside of a few owner surrenders) since the babies have joined the family.

To say that I got accosted when I walked in the door is an understatement. Our conversation went a little like this:

Beckett: Mom!  Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?!
Me: Yes, I do.  It's quarter past one in the morning.  Now go back to sleep!
Paisley: Momma, why do you smell like...um...dogs?
Me: That's because I had to help two doggies meet their furever families.
Brady: Did you bring them home, momma?  Can I meet them?!  PLAY?!?!?!
Me: No.  They traveled all day and I handed them over to their new people.
Paisley: Were they cute?  They smell cute.
Me: Yes, Pais.  They were cute!  In fact, one of them was named Paisley!  But she was a Pomeranian that hitched a ride on our transport.  She looked nothing like you.
Beckett/Brady: Mom, we smell a boy too!
Me: That would be Rosco.  You know his foster mom, Auntie Elaina in PA.  He got a new parents and a new fur brother tonight.
Paisley: Momma, next time can I go for the ride too?  I promise not to let any other family keep me.

Meadow: SHHHH!!!! I'Z SLEEPING!

A Jumbled Mess...

I could pretend that I had a cohesive, well thought out post ready for you.  But you all know me... and that I'm more "whatever pops into my mind" than that.  :-)  I save eloquent for the other blog!

So, sit tight!  I'm hauling out the bullet points!

• Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the comments and support after my post last week about my grandma!  I love you all so much for not skipping one of the harder posts I've had to write.  Grandma is now settled into a very nice nursing home.  Alzheimers/dementia is a nasty bi-atch and while it was a difficult decision to make, it was the one best for her safety and overall health.
• I'm gearing up for a craft fair during Thanksgiving weekend.  Wish me luck!  Anyone interested in a coupon code for my Etsy shop?!
• I'm making Meadow and Paisley tu-tus for round two of our Christmas card photos.  Stay tuned...I have money on them being hysterical.
• For the first time in years, I'm not excited about Thanksgiving.  Someone find my holiday spirit - STAT!
• Breaking Dawn Part II comes out Friday (as if you've been living under a rock!) and I'm so excited that some of my favorite ladies and I are going to see it opening night.  We need a girls night!

So...what's going on with you?!

Tuesdays At The Table - Orange Ginger Carrots

I don't know how it happened...but Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us (or at least me).  I'm starting to think about what kind of sides I'll be making on the big day.  Call me a pain - but I want to do something different, but don't want to rock the boat (aka tradition) too much.   I think these little babies ought to do it!

Orange Ginger Carrots
1 (1-lb.) package baby carrots, thoroughly washed

1 teaspoon grated orange rind

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

2 teaspoons butter

2 teaspoons honey

1  to 3 tsp. freshly grated ginger (or 1 tsp. ground ginger)

1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Stir together all ingredients and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 to 35 minutes or until liquid evaporates and carrots are glazed.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

1/8 teaspoon pepper
What's cooking in your kitchen?

Winter Weinerland Auction - Now Live!

As a foster coordinator and board member for Furever Dachshund Rescue, I am proud to announce that our Winter Weinerland Auction has now gone live! Please visit our auction – we are sure you’ll find a lot of fun stuff that you’d be happy to give as presents during the holidays – or better yet – keep for yourself! The best part is helping deserving dachshunds while you shop.

The auction will run through 10 PM EST on November 26. Please note that individual items may run slightly longer, as an auction winner is declared five minutes after the last bid.

There are plenty of things I’d like to see Santa Paws bring me from this auction. Here are a few:

Beth Oram Pet Photography - Who wouldn’t want their precious fur-babies to have their own photo shoot?

Orlando Fantasy Family Vacation - A five-day/four night package to Orlando will make any woman feel like a Princess!

Microfiber Dachshund Sheet Set (Queen) – Dream of dachshunds, while you’re dreaming *with* your dachshunds!

Scentsy Hatteras Warmer and Scent Bar - A great way to keep your home smelling fresh and because Scentsy uses a lightbulb warmer instead of flame, it’s pet friendly!

Click HERE for our full listings. Bid high and help us help doxies!

Christmas Cards...

Around this time, I usually announce that I'm working with Shutterfly on a giveaway.  Unfortunately, I haven't heard from them yet this year!  After working with them the past three years - I'm pretty bummed not to have been contacted by them.

While it's likely that I'll use them anyway (Quite frankly, they're still pretty awesome!), I got a Groupon for 40 Zazzle cards.  Here's what I chose:

What do you think?
(Hey Shutterfly, I have my heart set on some Yappy Howlidays cards...so contact me.  MMkay?)

Tuesdays At The Table - Red, White and Blue Sliders

Happy Election Day!  By this point, I'm sure your all ready for the campaign ads to go away, the telemarketers to stop calling and the signs to come off your neighbor's lawn.  :-)  Me too!  In all seriousness - please go vote.  It doesn't matter who you vote for, as long as you are letting your voice be heard by choosing who YOU think will do the best job.

I stress eat during big events.  And...election night is one of those times,(thank goodness I don't have Halloween candy in my house!) so here are some sliders that are quick, easy and patriotic!

Red, White and Blue Sliders

1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained (1-1/2 cups)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 roasted chicken, sliced thin or shredded

1/2 teaspoon paprika

16 dinner rolls (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter), split and the insides removed

1 5 ounce bag blue potato chips, such as Terra Blues

 

 

In  a blender, puree the roasted peppers, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, olive oil and paprika.

 

Slice or shred the chicken (I cheat and pick up a roasted chicken in the deli). Layer the bottom half of each roll with the potato chips, chicken and about 1 tablespoon of the red pepper puree. Top with the remaining roll halves.

The "Long Good-bye"

That's what they call Alzheimer's/dementia.  And...I have to say that it's a true statement.

I shared with you back in September the 90th birthday party that our family held in my grandma's honor.  She had a fabulous time!  While she's had dementia/Alzheimer's (it's so hard to give an absolute diagnosis - the symptoms of many types of dementia are the same/similar) for over five years, we've been so blessed that she stayed lucid and "with it" for so long.  We got some great pictures of her and she got to celebrate her birthday in a way that she's been looking forward to for YEARS!

No one knows for sure what triggered it, but we are rapidly descending into her living in her own little world. The past week and a half have provided my aunt and my mom with two trips to the ER with her following extended periods of delusions, agitation and sleeplessness.  Seriously...when I went on "duty" Thursday at noon, she hadn't slept in over 30 hours.  She and I had an afternoon of talking to kids, her husband, and seeing rain/snow in the house and seeing the house on fire.  This prompted our most recent trip to the ER as her delusions became progressively less than benign.

As much as I hate to see her this way - I'm so grateful that she has no idea that she has Alzheimer's.  I'm pretty sure she thinks she's in the hospital for leg pain.  I also take great peace in knowing that while she doesn't always recognize me - she knows that I'm family (I've been her mom, her aunt, and her daughter) and lets me feed her, shift her for the nurses, etc.  Other than a birthday party this weekend, I'll be by her side.

While I know that the doctors are advising my mom and aunt based on my grandma's medical needs - the emotional side of me HATES that she's going to have to go in a nursing home when she's released from the hospital!  It breaks my heart.  (The rational side of me knows that she's a fall risk, a flight risk and needs 24/7 supervision.) She's my last grandparent and we are really close.  It may sound dumb, but I really miss our inside jokes...

OK.  End of pity party.  I just needed to get that out!  I'll be a happier person tomorrow.

Erin Condren Giveaway!!

Being organized is important to me - so you can just imagine how excited I am to announce that I get to host a giveaway for Erin Condren!  There are so many fabulous planners - beauty and function - how can you go wrong?!  The lovely folks are letting me give away a $25 dollar gift certificate! Start counting up your entries. :-) 


A few of my faves:

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