Christmas Leftovers...

A Christmas Post...
It's Christmas!  What a beautiful day.  Woke up, made breakfast.  Mass at noon.  Christmas lunch at 2pm.  After lunch we spent the day in the back garden till dusk.  Grateful for my family, friends and acquaintances.
My niece, Clarissa, just had a baby boy on the 23rd.  I made little hobo turkey packets from our leftover Christmas lunch for her.  These can be put directly into a oven, 375F 20-25minutes.
Normally I just freeze the items separately, however, I was trying to think of a method of getting Clarissa small meals to have on hand.  Then the idea came...leftover Turkey dinner hobo packets.  We're a bit alike in that neither of us use a microwave.  We both have Breville ovens that we use daily, several times a day.  These packets will work just fine for a new mom.  I'm freezing them and will deliver tomorrow.  Babies are a gift. So grateful. xoxo.

Christmas Breakfast

Christmas Lunch

Leftovers...turkey, dressing, veggies, mashed potatoes & gravy on parchment

Wrapped and labeled...ready for freezer

Orange Kissed Cranberry Sauce

HGK Orange Kissed Cranberry Sauce

Tomorrows Thanksgiving! 

I don't have to make cranberry sauce because my niece, Danielle, is bringing it. However, I always like to make it to share with friends and family. XO.

Orange Kissed Cranberry Sauce

2 cups of orange juice

2 cups of Piloncillo/Panela (unrefined whole cane sugar)

3 vanilla pods

6 cups of fresh cranberries

4 apples peeled and cubed (if organic leave the peel on)

1 tsp orange zest or good good Orange Extract (today I used extract because I did not have oranges)

In a dutch oven bring the OJ, sugar and vanilla pods to a boil.  Add the apple cubes, boil for 10 minutes.  Add the cranberries, boil for 10 minutes.  Add the zest or extract.

Once 3/4 of the cranberries have popped and all is nice and thick it's ready!

This is a refrigerator version.

Enjoy!

Send Love For The Seasons of Life

This week calls from NY, Denver & Dallas have been coming in requesting a meal for a new Mom.  A meal is the kindest gift one can receive.  What's the saying 'food is the way to ones heart'...

Pictured is a meal I delivered today:  roast, veggies and a tomato based gravy with garlic French bread.

Next time you think of sending a friend/family flowers change it up a bit and send a meal.  A personalized note on Honey Girl Kitchen stationary can be included. XOXO.

 

Seasons of life:

• wedding
• new baby
• surgery
• engagement
• illness
• divorce
• hard times
• just because
• Mother's Day
• Father's Day
• birthday
• new home
• cold/flu
• etc...

Vegetarian

$55 NM enchiladas & cilantro rice w/black beans

 

 Pork

$65  Pork tenderloin, organic mashed potatoes/cauliflower & green beans

$60 Chipotle Pork Roast, Pinto beans, Salsa + chips & corn tortillas (I can come and put pork in your slow cooker in the morning)

 

 Beef

$55  10 Tacos, salsa, cilantro rice w/black beans and local chips

$60 beef roast w/carrots celery potatoes & garlic bread (I can come and put this in your slow cooker in the morning)

$75 2 1lb Rib-eye Steaks, creamy horseradish, mashed potato + cauliflower & green beans

 

 Chicken

$50 Chicken Pot Pie & organic Salad

$50 curry chicken & basmati rice w/side of raita (yogurt relish)

$45 Whole baked herb chicken, baked potatoes & salad

$40 Mexican Chicken soup, Salsa & Corn Tortillas (I can come and put this in your slow cooker in the morning)

 

Fish

$65 tilapia filets & stuffed bell peppers w/rice + veggies

$65 2lb Ginger Salmon, Spinach Salad & baked squash boats

 

Pasta

$40 meat or veggie lasagna & organic salad
$50 Spaghetti Lasagna & organic Cesar salad (all salads come with homemade croutons & homemade dressing)

Breakfast

$36 1 dozen breakfast burritos (cage free egg , Cheddar & salsa)
$50 18 Egg Herb + Sundried Tomato Quiche w/Spinach Salad (nice for weekend breakfast)

Tilapia & Creamed Spinach

Tilapia on a bed of Creamed Spinach

How can something so simple be so delicious?
Answer:  simple real ingredients with a little love make a fabulous meal❤️.

Pan Fried Tilapia 

3 T EVOO

2-3 talapia filets 

Old Bay Seasoning

Heat skillet medium-high.  Add EVOO.  Once pan is hot add seasoned Tilapia (I tent a piece of foil on top of skillet to catch oils).  Once the thinnest part of the tilapia looks a bit crisp (about 2-3 minutes), flip, cook for 2-3 minutes.  Put filets on a cookie sheet and set in 200F oven  to keep warm.   Do not wash the skillet!
serves 2 and a little one

Honey Girl Creamed Spinach 

1 pound fresh spinach or frozen

1/4 onion sliced

3 minced garlic cloves

1/4 cup cream

fresh cracked pepper

3 T pecorino grated (Parmesan works well) 

Saute onions 3 minutes in the same skillet, keep flame medium-high.  Add garlic, saute for 1 minute.   Add spinach and cover, once it's wilted add cream.  Once cream has warmed to skillet temperature turn off the flame, add pecorino and cracked pepper.  No salt (Pecorino & Parmesan are salty cheeses).
serves 2 and a little one




Plate creamed spinach first then top with tilapia.  Sprinkle pecorino for a finished look. 
Enjoy.  xoxo.

Homemade Pooch Shampoo

A year old promise is finally fulfilled. The first time I learned my daughter wanted her own puppy was at a Daisy Girl Scout Meeting.  The subject of this meeting was 'value of money'...learning how to save.  Each Daisy was given a mason jar with a slot on the lid, the jars were decorated with stickers and a label was attached for each girl to fill out with their name and what they were saving for.  Bebe wrote in "pupie".  My first thought was 'wow, she's never mentioned this I wonder if she couldn't think of anything else' then I asked her if she meant it.  She said 'yes, I want a poodle'.  Stop.  Hold up...we have a pooch, Coco (dachshund). BUT, Coco thinks she's the boss of Bebe...she will not lend herself to be petted and cuddled by Bebe.  Coco was caught by surprise when Bebe came home from the hospital, she was like 'hold me not that!'.  Before Bebe came into the picture I would wear Coco around my neck like a scarf, that pooch was spoiled...she still is just no longer naps around my neck.  Once I talked to Papa about a puppy we both agreed Bebe should have her own puppy because we saw how she wanted to love Coco.   Coco's mohawk would stand up and she'd snap at Bebe when she'd go to pet her.  She never hurt Bebe but she'd scare her...and me.  The date was set 'Valentine's Day'.  Bebe saved $32.73, Papa told her she could contribute $5 toward her new pet and Bebe said, "no all of it". 

Meet Perla Camille she is so gentle.  Bebe and Perla are in love.  She was due for a fresh bath today so I decided to see what natural homemade dogie shampoos are online.  Found one that I had all the ingredients for.  It's nice.  She smells lemony fresh.

Perla Camille



Homemade Pooch Shampoo

adapted from pets.thenest.com

1/2 cup of liquid Castile soap

1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

1 T glycerin or olive oil (I used olive oil)

2 T water

3 drops of lemongrass essiential oil

Combine all ingredients and gentle shake.  Label your bottle and gently shake before use.

Smells divine.

After Perla's bath Bebe blew her hair dry with a diffuser.  Perla loved it!

Ingredients for Homemade Pooch Shampoo

"Goodbye To You My Trusted Friend..."

We had joy we had fun...

Our dear friend, Cielo, the old pecan tree

We have 2 giant pecan trees, Respiro and Cielo, one healthy (Respiro) and one sickly (Cielo).  18 months ago our tree trimmer, Lovett, told us the leaning pecan tree was dying...gentle oozing was taking place at the root.  My husband thought he would possible heal it but the problem was bigger than it was visually.  We were in bit of denial about Cielo's illness (still produced pecans and beautiful shade) and the expense to remove it.  Every windy and stormy night I'd pray "Cielo please don't topple", toppling would mean: uprooting buried water lines, falling on the neighbors house, possibly hurting someone, ruining a garden...just chaos.  We are sad to see Cielo cut down. 

My Dearest Cielo,

First forgive me for taking you for granted, I didn't know how much I loved you till we had to say goodbye.  Tears roll down my cheeks as I witness you getting smaller and smaller...your so tender and quite.

Thank you for all the shade you have provided over the years.  You have been selfless with your love giving us years of fruit and shade.  Because of your shade we have enjoyed picnics, playing chase, croquet, hola-hooping, reading, partying, tetherball, alfresco meals and entertaining.  Even the Summer utility bills were lower because of the shade you have provided.  You will be mourned by all the singing birds, busy squirrels, insects and mostly by us and Respiro, your family.   Thank you for years and years of love. You will never be forgotten.

Papa has instructed Lovett to leave you 5' high, you will become a fairy house for Bebe.  You will continue to be loved and cared for.

Thank you for all the "Seasons In The Sun".

Love, Darlene

ps...Terry Jack's song discloses my love and sadness for you.

Honey Girl Hummus

Homemade Hummus

I love homemade hummus. Yes, only homemade or fresh from a Mediterranean restaurant.  I can taste the citric acid powder and the rancid tahini in store bought.  Oops...guilty I'm a hummus snob.  You'll be one too once you compare the two.  Tahini is a puree of sesame seeds and oil.  Making tahini is so easy you'll never buy it again.  Nuts and seeds are highly sensitive to light, time (on the shelf) and heat.  When I open up a new can of tahini it smells rancid...any and all brands.  No thank you.  I make my own tahini which gives hummus a nice fresh toasty bite.  Making a variation of hummus is what I tend to do.  A craving sneaks up on me, when I decide I want hummus I want it that very minute...so I use what I have.  If I do not have sesame seeds I will use pumpkin seeds (pepitas), walnuts, pinon or cashews.  I toast them first on the stove top or in the toaster oven with a little oil and salt.   Nuts and seeds tend to absorb heat very quickly, so keep an eye on it.   Once the nuts or seeds I'm going to use are toasted I put them in the blender with some extra virgin olive oil (first cold press).  Puree.  Now add all other ingredients to blender.

A blend of love...

Honey Girl Hummus

1 lb 13 oz can of garbanzo beans/chickpeas drained or freshly made
1/4 cup of toasted tahini/pepitas/walnuts/pinon/cashews (choose what you have or what you love)
1/4 cup of liquid the garbanzo beans were in (or water)
1/4 cup of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
3 cloves of garlic
2 t ground cumin
1 lemon juiced - medium to small
salt & pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to the blender.
I prefer the result of pureeing in a blender vs a food processor.  Super smooth.


Enjoy!


Variations:  add roasted and peeled jalapenos, Serrano, green chile or you favorite pepper. My favorite is Serrano...I like it spicy!
Also, instead of garbanzo beans you can use any bean, even lentils.