Week 52 :: Celebrating the end of #ARAW with... Champagne Margaritas!

INGREDIENTS:
-1/2 cup fresh lime juice
-1 cup silver tequila
-1/2 cup orange liqueur
-1 bottle champagne (about 3 cups)
-Lime wedges, for rim
-Sugar or Salt, for rim


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir well. 

2. Run lime wedges along the rim of each champagne flute. Dip into coarse salt or sugar. 

3. Divide margaritas between flutes and garnish with lime wedges. 

Rating: 4/5

"Notes for Next Time": It's champagne and tequila, what could be better? ;) 

Recipe by: Delish!

Week 51 :: Mama's Famous Caramel Corn

INGREDIENTS:
-Cooking spray
-4 quarts popped popcorn
-1 cup brown sugar
-1/2 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup
-1/2 cup butter
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1 tsp. vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray large, shallow pan with cooking spray. Add popcorn. 

2. Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat. 

3. Boil 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Mix well. 

4. Pour syrup over warm popcorn, stirring to coat evenly. 

5. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and spread on wax paper. Cool. Break Apart. Store in tightly covered container (we use mason jars). 

Rating: 10/5

"Notes for Next Time": This is a family Christmas tradition and boy is it tasty! Mom makes caramel corn for our family and friends for the holidays. People can't get enough of it! It's a well-oiled machine now. Just make sure not to burn the popcorn - and wait to add the baking soda / vanilla until boiling - and you are set! Oh, and break the popcorn apart shortly after it cools or it will turn more crumbly if you wait too long. 

Recipe by: Mama Noga 

Week 50 :: B's and G's (Bombs)

INGREDIENTS:
-1 tsp. vegetable oil
-1/2 lb. Italian sausage (mild)
-1/4 cup flour (We used Kentucky Kernel - a seasoned flour and it was BOMB!)
-2 cups milk
-Salt and Pepper
-1 can refrigerated biscuits
-Egg Wash
 

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray baking dish. 

2. In large skillet over medium, heat up. Add sausage an cook, breaking up until no longer pink. Sprinkle flour over sausage and stir. Pour milk and bring to simmer. Season with salt+pepper. Cook until thick. Set aside. 

3. Flatten each biscuit (1/4 inch). Top each round with gravy. Bring edges of dough together and pinch. 

4. Place on sheet with seam down. Brush with egg wash. 

5. Bake 22-24 minutes. Serve warm!

Rating: 5/5

"Notes for Next Time": Holy smokes, these were bomb! Pun intended. Pair with OJ and you've got yourself a meal! Serve as breakfast or breakfast for dinner....you can't go wrong. 

Recipe by: Delish!

Week 49 :: (Orange) Sugar (Christmas) Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
-2 large eggs
-1 tbsp. vanilla extract
-8 tsp. milk
-Zest from 2 medium oranges
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-1 1/3 cups butter-flavored Crisco
-4 cups all-purpose flour
-3 tsp. baking powder 

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. 

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the eggs, vanilla, milk, zest, sugar and Crisco until well-combined. 

3. Slowly mix in flour and baking powder until completely combined.
 
4. Roll out cookie dough on floured surface until 1/2 inch thick. Dip cookie cutter into flour. Cut. Place on baking sheet. 

5. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool before icing!

Rating: 5/5

"Notes for Next Time": Sugar-tastic! This actually was the 2nd time I made these and the recipe didn't let me down. Only thing maybe is to zest the orange finer! 

Recipe by: Rachel Hollis in "Upscale Downtown" cookbook

Week 48 :: Dad's Monte Cristo's

INGREDIENTS:
-4 slices of bread of choice
-Meat of choice (We used Turkey and Bacon)
-2 eggs
-1/4 cup milk
-4 slices of cheese of choice
-Butter (For pan) 

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Heat skillet on Medium heat and add butter to coat pan. 
*Note: Use medium heat so it's not soooo hot the outside gets done before the inside. 

2. Mix 2 eggs and 1/4 cup milk. Dip one side of each slice of bread into mixture. Place 2 of the slices downside on the skillet. Layer cheese, meat, cheese, and the second slice of bread. 

3. Cook until the bottom is golden brown. Flip. Cook other side. Remove and enjoy! 
*Note: You'll only flip once, so make sure it's just right before you turn! 

Rating: 5/5

"Notes for Next Time": So. Freakin'. Good.
Might try different meats and cheeses to switch it up, but gosh this was a good sammich! :) 

Recipe by: Dad!