Come On Up To The House

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Spite & Malice

It is hard to remember different games we are taught by friends. We like playing cards once in a while, but can’t seem to remember the rules. Spite and Malice is really very simple, once the rules are known.

Use 4 – 5 decks of cards. Shuffle them all really well together. This is called your stock.

Deal each player 13 cards that they DON’T look at. This is your pay-off pile. Set the 13 cards aside. Deal each player 5 cards. These will be the cards in your hand.

Now return the stock to the center of the table. The goal is to get rid of your pay-off pile before anyone else. In the center of the table, you may create up to 4 building stacks starting with Ace. Once each deck is finished with a King (Jokers are wild), remove from play. This creates an open building stack for someone else to start over. You can also discard into 4 stacks in front of yourself to reserve for play in the future.

Each turn the goal is to get rid of your pay-off pile or cards in your hand. If you get rid of all 5 cards by building a stack, you can take 5 off of the stock deck and continue your play. If you can’t go again, you must discard one card into your discard stack in front of you. You are not to replenish your hand up to 5 cards, until it is your turn to play again.

The game ends when you or one of the other players plays all 13 cards in their pay-off pile.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
Comments Off on White Sangria

White Sangria

1 cup cherries, pitted and halved
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries, quartered
1/2 cup peaches, chopped
1/3 cup brandy
1 cup pineapple juice
1 bottle prosecco

Combine fruit and brandy in a pitcher and chill. Stir in the pineapple juice and prosecco just before serving. Don’t make more than 1 hour ahead. Serve in a champagne glass with a few ice cubes and a sprig of mint.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Paloma

2 oz gold tequila
Lime wedge (1/4 lime)
Jarritos Toronja (Grapefruit) soda
pinch of salt

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the tequila and squeeze the lime in. Toss the spent lime into the drink. Fill the rest of the glass with jarritos soda. Enjoy!

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Negroni

1.5 oz Gin
1.5 oz Campari
1.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
Splash sparkling water
Garnish with an orange peel.

Shake gin, campari and vermouth together with ice. Strain into a rocks glass either up or over ice. Add sparkling water if desired. Garnish with an orange peel.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Mai Tai

2 1/2 oz light Rum
1/2 oz Orange Curacao
1/2 oz Amaretto or orgeat
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
3/4 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake lightly three seconds. Pour into a double rocks glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a lime.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Lime Cordial

This is a homemade version of Rose’s lime cordial.

1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cups sugar
1 1/8 tsp acid blend powder
3/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed (about 4 limes)
Zest of 2 limes

Stir sugar and acid together. Bring water to a boil and add sugar mixture. Stir thoroughly to dissolve. Add lime juice and zest. Heat mixture for 1 -2 minutes on high. Cover and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight, then strain out zest. Refrigerate for another day before using. Store in the fridge.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Dried Oranges

I love sparkling water and one of my favorite flavorings is orange. We have been making these for quite a while and they are very simple.

Cut up old oranges into thin slices. Place on a silpat covered baking sheet. Bake at 200oF for 3-4 hours or so. Check on these closer to the end of the cooking time to see if they are starting to dry out. It helps to flip them every half hour. Flipping the slices also gives you the chance to check how dry they are. Some slices will dry more quickly than others so go ahead and remove them. This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re drying various sizes.

They are dry once they aren’t tacky and before they become browned. If the slices begin to brown but don’t feel dry, that’s a sign your oven is too hot! Remove from the oven and let cool completely to room temperature before storing.

We have also dried the orange slices in the dehydrator, which seems to work as well.

Store in an airtight container. These do not need to be refrigerated.

Dried Oranges

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Shepherd’s Pie

This is a favorite in our house. The kids love it. I would have to say that I make is a little different each time, so feel free to add your own twist to this base recipe.

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey (beef or lamb)
1 cup onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 carrots, peeled & chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup frozen peas
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste or 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
1 cup beef broth
2 – 3 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional)

Directions
In a large dutch oven, use about 1 tbsp olive oil and heat. Put in the ground meat and cook until done. Chopping into small bits as you cook. Add in the onion and garlic and cook for about 1 – 2 minutes until opaque. Add in the carrots and celery and saute another 3-5 minutes until cooked through. Add in the peas through beef broth. Let cook until thickened. Turn off the heat and even out the filling. Top with mashed potatoes and cheese (Parmesan or cheddar).

Bake at 375oF for 25 – 30 minutes or until the edges are bubbling. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.