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- 1 1 /3 cups Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Mix
- 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 3 ounces grapefruit rum
- 3 ounces triple sec
- splash of lime carbonated soda
- crushed ice
- Stirrings Cosmopolitan Rimmer
- Blood Orange,sliced
- Thyme sprigs
- 2 Martini glasses
- I am a real person with struggles and desires to have community and connection.
- I like authentic friendships and sharing real life
- I love homeopathic remedies and natural cures.
- I love trying new products that keep my family healthy.
- I enjoying singing but in the meantime, parenting and raising a home is my priority.
- I love bringing people together and inviting people to our home for dinners.
- Being consistent with eating habits while running a household
- Going to bed early
- Getting up early
- Having a personal relationship with God
- Praying
- Exercising
- Consistency
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies
- 1/2 cup peppermint mocha creamer (or of your own choosing)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- green sprinkles
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktails for Valentine’s Day
January 13th, 2017
Holiday Decorating
Just when you think you are done with one holiday, another one, like Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. I am not one to decorate my home for every holiday but somehow after cleaning, arranging and purging, I want things to look different in certain areas of our home. I am definitely someone who loves to make special and seasonal recipes for holidays.
My husband repurposed some organ pipes he bought at an antique shop and made shelves for our living room. I have use it to place a nice verse of the month with a nice plant along with some mantel-like décor. I admit that I do not have a talent for decorating but I have been making an effort.
Planning for Valentine’s Day
I feel like our weeks are going by so fast that I have to prepare in advance for the holidays especially since the girls are in school. They have so many different special programs and activities during the special holidays that I have to make sure I do not forget details. It is important to plan ahead and well, I have to make a better effort. I know the girls will want to bake and decorate.
When it comes to a date night, I believe I will want to stay in and celebrate with my husband so planning on a fun meal with be on my to-do list. Make sure to follow my Valentine’s Day Pinterest Board for ideas.
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktails
One fruit I really have not experienced and tasted are blood oranges. They are in-season now until May and are the most fascinating fruit! My girls were truly fascinated with the blood part of the orange and loved its name. We cut one for all of us to taste test and loved it! When I try a new food I love learning a little more about its benefits. Blood Oranges have the same antioxidant as blueberries and are high in Vitamin C, which we need during cold season.
Stirrings recently sent me some products to create my own cocktail and I chose their blood orange martini mix. All their ingredients in their mix are natural so it was fun to come up with a nice cocktail. The color of the mix is deep red and perfect for Valentine’s Day. I used some thyme with the mixer and added some nice spirits for a refreshing cocktail. Hope you like it!
Where can you get these cocktail mixers? Store Locations: Key Food , Leg Up Farmers Market, Hennings Market or online. Check their social channels for more ideas.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stirrings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StirringsMixer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stirrings/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stirringsmixers/
Contest: #StirringsMixologyContest
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktail
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Keywords: beverage blood orange Valentine’s Day winter spring
Ingredients (serves 2)
Cocktail
Cocktail Décor
Instructions
Cocktail
Nicely chop the thyme and place in a glass with the blood orange mix to steep for a few hours.
Strain and leave in fridge until ready to use.
Cocktail Décor
Use a slice of blood orange line the rim of cocktail glass with juice. Place glass upside down in the cosmopolitan rimmer and rim glass with sugar. Decorate a glass with a slice of blood orange.
Cocktail prep continues
In a cocktail shaker, add mix, rum, and triple sec with 2/3 cup ice and shake.
Strain cocktail into two martini glasses.
Splash some carbonated lime-flavored soda in each glass.
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Happy New Year 2017 and Ditching Resolutions
January 12th, 2017
Happy New Year – 2017
First things first. Let me say a hearty HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you. I am sorry I have been a little MIA but we all know that life happens and we all have our moments where it has to be our focus. I have missed sharing and writing up my recipes so I am going to get back on the bandwagon and share some fresh new recipes soon. Some of them I have been able to share on Instagram, but even so, I think you all deserve those too right?
New Year, New You
I once was someone who thought of New Year’s resolutions, but when I realized I never kept them and they seemed a recipe for failure, I stopped doing them. At what point do we have to be in our lives to actually make a real change in our lives for good? I think it can happen any time! I will be the first person to say that I require accountability and community. Without these things I am at a loss and I am a failure, or so I tell myself, but lately I realize that if I do not have a purpose for the things I do I AM going to fail, no matter what.
We all want to have a sense of purpose in our lives and to feel like we are needed. As I get back on the bandwagon this new year, I realize that changes must happen. What I feel mentally is how it will affect me emotionally, physically and spiritually. Ok so where is this recipe I tantalized you in the beginning. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BAMBOOZLED.
Controlling What We Eat
Raise your hand if you are a foodie? I think I was raised as a foodie, learning everything about spices, ethic cuisines and more. When I hang around friends that are not as excited about food as I am, I feel like there is something wrong with me. Well, perhaps there is too much focus and emphasis on food, which is really something that is not lasting. Even so, it is okay to enjoy and to have an experience of the senses. For me, it has to be reigned in and not controlling my life.
I enjoy what I do on my spare time and when I am in the kitchen. My creativity blossoms when I cook and I love experimenting but I am not food. It is not who I am but something I enjoy and enjoy sharing with others. It cannot consume or control me. Have I lost anyone yet? I hope I am not the only one that goes through thought processes like this but bear with me.
Self-Love
I want to be able to enjoy foods in moderation and in the right times. There are ALWAYS special occasions and holidays will always be around the corner. Here we finished Christmas and New Years and now we have Valentine’s Day around the corner! This is why I share so many different things with you as my readers.
Opera Singer in the Kitchen is not only a singer or a cook. I am not just about food. My person and identity is not my brand!
What are my struggles?
What to Expect
I only share this with you because I am a real person. I started my blog back in 2009 as a journey into veganism because I had made many compromises when I got married and gained a lot of weight. I thought veganism was a way to lose my weight and that it would solve everything for me. It did not. After 2 years of blogging as a vegan, I lost all my readership (which was big) because I went back to eating meat and felt lost.
My journal turned into a recipe index and a place to play with food while sharing with others. Since then I feel like it has grown to something I enjoy doing, but in the middle of all that I am trying to find a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I do not play into trends and I refuse to label myself as anything but I know I have to find something that is the best for myself and that perhaps in the long run could be of use to someone.
What I blog about this new year will be focused on what I experience and what I think would be instructive and beneficial for others. While my blog is a side business, I will not be sharing things I do not support in my every day life just because I need money. I do not work that way and hope you have seen my platform as an authentic one.
What would you like to see?
I would like to know what has been a source of inspiration for you? I do not want to stop doing something all together if it has been helpful. Thank you for reading this! I know it is a lot to read but I want to be as authentic as possible with my readers.
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Christmas Scones and Holiday Food Gifts + Giveaway
December 20th, 2016Christmas scones and Holiday food gifts are the perfect way to celebrate this season. Your whole family will love this fancy but festive scone and they will also love the edible gifts. Your neighbors will thank you too! This is a sponsored post with Giant Food Stores.
Busy Holiday Month
December has proven to be the busiest month this year! Every year I expect it to be busy because of my husband’s concerts but this year our whole family was involved in musical activities for the holiday season. In addition to several musical concerts and performances, we have been busy bees in the kitchen, making holiday gifts for our friends and family.
Thanks to Giant Food Stores, I have been able to stock up on pantry items to make my holiday food gifts. During this season I tend to be concentrating on baking and not preparing meals, so it has been helpful also capitalizing on some delicious prepared meals and options for easier meal prepping in my home so that I could become baking queen of the month.
Holiday Food Gifts
As a mother of three toddlers it seems very overwhelming to even bake but I scheduled ways to go about making the baking possible. Sometimes I included the girls in the baking after they came from school and other times I would do some while they were napping. Many times I just waited to bake after they went to bed for the evening but with all those things in mind I knew I had to bake.
Since I grew up baking and sharing goodies with friends and family, the tradition is important for me to give to my family. I have a few go-to recipes that I like using but each year I choose a few ones to add to the round-up. I love stocking up on Christmas tins and bags after the holidays so that I am stocked up for the next year. When I bake I like baking a variety of cookies and savory treats over the week so that I am able to fill the bags and then hand them out a week or two before Christmas.
It is fun to see people receive edible gifts because it is in busy times like now that many do not enjoy homemade treats. What a great way to say Merry Christmas to those around you.
Savory Magazine
One of the things I have enjoyed flipping through is Giant’s Savory Magazine especially this month’s issue. There are so many ideas for quick meals and even several pages of cookie recipes and holiday decorating that was very inspiring.
If you get to Giant Food Stores, grab a copy or read it online. I was able to try a few recipes and have tagged a few for my holiday cooking. The magazine also has great coupons to try new products or to even purchase products for holiday cooking.
Special Limited Time Holiday Products
One of the things I enjoy seeing when I go to Giant is the display of special limited time seasonal products offered. They are not only food products but also range from paper and bath products. I love this month’s offerings because it is so festive! Do you like all things PEPPERMINT? Well, you have a chance to try a variety of products like Peppermint-Flavored Seltzer water, Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer and more.
There are also other offerings like Holiday Spice Orange Cranberry Baked Brie and Holiday Spice Sweet Potato Soup with Sweet Cranberries. On a busy evening, my husband and I had a lovely evening with the baked brie and a great big salad along with some red wine for a quick meal. It was so pleasant having something so simple yet delicious as an option.
Christmas Scones
I was inspired with their products to make a scone recipe that we could enjoy as dessert or as a Christmas morning treat with breakfast. I used the peppermint crushed candies that Giant Food Stores was selling and substituted half and half with the Peppermint Mocha creamer and then added green sprinkles as a topping. After I baked the scone dough in a baking sheet I used a Christmas tree cutter to make tree shaped scones. It was so much fun! Your kids can help that morning as well.
Christmas Scones
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Keywords: bake breakfast brunch dessert chocolate Christmas winter
Ingredients (a dozen)
Scones
Topping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or by placing items in a food processor, process until it resembles wet sand. Stir in the chocolate chips and peppermint candies. Mix together 1/2 cup creamer and sour cream in a separate small bowl. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients, and stir gently until well blended.
With floured hands, pat scone dough into 1/4 inch thick square on a greased baking sheet. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush the top of the scone dough with the egg wash. Sprinkle with green sprinkles.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden brown, not deep brown. Remove from oven and let the scone cool. Using a Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out scones and place on a plate to eat.
Giveaway
Want to jumpstart your holiday cooking with a giveaway? Enter below and tell me what’s your favorite cookie. Have a Merry Christmas and a great Happy New Year!
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Family Friendly Holiday Stay at The Inn at Pocono Manor
November 30th, 2016When we start planning for small getaways with our family we always look for a place that is family friendly. Family friendly holiday stays are becoming more enjoyable each year so I am glad to know that after 5 years of living in Philadelphia suburbs that there is so much to see in the state itself. The Pocono Mountains are always a place that friends talk about especially by those who do not care much for the beach even during the summer season. This past weekend we had the pleasure of staying at The Inn at Pocono Manor. Read below how we enjoyed our stay.
Thanksgiving Surprise
When we found out that we were heading out-of-town the day after Thanksgiving, I was really debating cooking for Thanksgiving because it did not sound restful. Since our families live too far away (Texas!) to see regularly at Thanksgiving, my husband and I extended an invitation to a family in the area whose family is even farther away…Washington! It ended being a nice evening of delicious food coupled with energetic toddlers and a teething baby.
The evening ended with us telling our girls that they needed to be ready for our adventure close to 2 hours away. We had told them about going to a hotel up in the mountains a few days prior and they were SO excited. Our girls LOVE staying overnight at hotels so when they find out we are going anywhere, they cannot stop talking about it.
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The Inn at Pocono Manor
After a two-hour drive with three toddlers in our back seat, we were happy to see a lovely place nestled in the mountains. The invitation to stay was attractive as we drove into the property. We could not wait to discover what waited for us especially since we arrived 2 hours early before check-in time. We were allowed to pre-check and enjoy the grounds while our room process was completed. The Inn at Pocono Manor is definitely beautifully kept especially since it was opened in 1902. Every space was already decorated with Christmas decorations and ready for anyone to pose or take pictures for the holidays.
Despite the amount of people who were checking in that afternoon, we meandered through each floor from the lobby to the lower level where the game room and home theater were located. The home theater was nice and spacious and was paired with the game room. There was a sitting area with nice leather chairs and a non-active bar but it was a nice space for card-playing or lounging.
Amenities
Our room was definitely spacious for a two-bed non-suite room. We had two double beds with a pack ‘n play included and a nice large bathroom. Although our view was not of the mountains, we could see the front of the resort along with the fire pit. We all had two great nights of comfortable sleep even with three toddler girls. After having no naps during the day, our girls were tired and ready to rest.
While the resort is an 114-year old resort, take in mind that the structure is built differently. Our room had a connecting door and even though it was a busy weekend, we were able to hear lots of movement from other families moving to and fro especially late at night. If you are a light sleeper, this might pose a problem, but nothing a glass of wine cannot take of.
There was a pool available to us but we did not take advantage of that amenity. There were two active restaurants on property one called The Exchange that offers more upscale menu options and setting and a bar restaurant that offers music on the weekend evenings and a standard menu ranging from sandwiches and pizza to simpler main course dishes. I was able to enjoy the music one evening with a delicious IPA.
Meals at the Inn
We dined at The Exchange on both evenings during our stay. We chose earlier times to dine because we have younger kids. We were given a nice big round table to spread out and ordered our meals. The Exchange is a restaurant that definitely paces itself so if you are going with kids, you either want to let them know you want the service to be faster because we arrived at 5:45pm one evening and left around 7:30pm.
The menu was extensive offering appetizers, salads to start with main dishes including steak, lamb, fish, and chicken. Every evening the waiter would tell us the soup and vegetable of the day. Our first meal was not as enjoyable as the second evening but that might have been because we asked for our service to rushed a bit. The restaurant also offered a nice wine list to go with the meal.
Our service the next evening was definitely paced a lot better so that we could have our girls enjoy their dinner while we enjoyed our. The meals are pricier than the bar restaurant but the portions are generous ranging from seafood, meat and chicken options. On one evening we had the girls split a pasta dish but then by the second night they girls had fun children’s meals with delicious crispy chicken fingers. I think our experience might have been better at the bar restaurant but here’s to next time!
The breakfast was held in the Mountain View Room which was set up so nicely. It looked like a ballroom but it had tables everywhere and a center area with a buffet-style breakfast with an omelette station at the end. The views of the mountains were very nice as well! Our breakfast options were numerous and ideal for those people who like simple cereal and fruit for breakfast down to the heartier breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits with gravy. We definitely had a filling breakfast because it allowed us to have energy for the activities planned for the day.
Family Friendly Holiday Stay and Activities
We definitely wanted to take advantage of everything available at the resort so when we found out there were two trails available from the inn, we decided to take the moderate trail with our girls. It was a perfect morning for a nice walk with our coats and boots ready for our adventure.
Both trails lead to the waterfalls so the moderate trail was super easy until we reached the decline toward the falls. During the fall and wet season it could be slippery but otherwise we survived as a family of five. The rain caught us on the way but halfway through I called the resort’s shuttle service to pick us up. Two hours later we enjoyed our afternoon by the fire at the lobby with hot chocolate. What a great way to enjoy my two toddlers after an adventure in the woods.
Magical Fireside Christmas
One experience I knew my girls would love was the Magical Fireside Christmas. My girls love everything about the season so we were excited to visit one of the lodges that was decked out all the way. As we entered the lodge there was a fire lighted and a nicely decorated Christmas tree on our right. To our left was a train display and a sitting area to welcome Santa. In the middle area were tables set up for families to sit while kids could decorate Christmas cookies. There was a bar available for the adults to enjoy their beverages in addition to a hot cocoa bar for those not imbibing. Behind the fire was another area with Christmas movies playing with a life-size bear to hug.
As we moved to the second floor, a huge gingerbread house was decorated with all kinds of candy. As we walked around the room there was a variety of crafting stations available for the kids. My girls had a great time making necklaces and crafts! They also had a chance to write a letter to Santa.
On both evenings we had a chance to schedule the resort’s Elf Turndown Service complete with milk and cookies as well as a jolly holiday story read by one of Santa’s helpers.The girls were SO excited especially since they got milk and cookies before going to bed. That certainly was a treat!
This experience is open to the public and is $10 per person to enjoy what I described above with the exception of the bar and hot cocoa bar station are additional as well as additional snacks available on the second floor. It is available until December 25th and is a great place for family photos and even for a nice getaway.
Family Getaway
If you have a chance to get away, consider visiting the Pocono Mountains by making a visit to this spacious, historical site. There is definitely more to offer with options for horseback riding, use of the fitness center and spa, and more. Check out the website for more options and plan your next quick getaway with your hubby or your family to this picturesque resort. The staff will take care of your every need when the time comes. Check out their Facebook with a current giveaway.
The Inn at Pocono Manor
One Manor Drive
Pocono Manor, PA, 18349
Disclosure: Our family were guests of the Inn at Pocono Manor. We are thankful for their generosity for taking care of us during our stay.
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The Definitive Maria Callas: The Life of a Diva in Unseen Pictures (Book Review + Giveaway)
November 15th, 2016Never before seen pictures and letters written by the world-renowned opera singer, Maria Callas.The book is a great Christmas gift for the opera lover.
When A Mom Gets to Read
Hey guys! I read a book! I mean it was not any kind of book but one where I learned about someone. Truth be told, I am in the middle of 4 books and some day I will finish all of them but this particular book I read in one night because well, it was made of a lot of photos.
I have to admit that I do not talk much about opera especially with the title of my blog. While I love listening to opera and watching videos, I really have not been able to perform. Several months ago I had the pleasure of singing in a private concert for a gentleman’s 80th birthday. It was something I enjoyed immensely and see myself doing more often.
Maria Callas
Maria Callas is one of my favorite opera singers and one that I have been intrigued with for a long time. She has always reminded me of my Chilean grandmother with her sense of style and elegance but then Ms. Callas was also full of passion and beauty. After getting a view into her letters, I really got a sense of the life she led and how intense she really was.
It was her passion for life and her passion for music that made her a big star. It was very convicting to see and read how intensely she worked on her art that made her the great star she was but it does not mean she had a happy life. In The Definitive Maria Callas: The Life of a Diva in Unseen Pictures the book shares another depth to her life through never-before seen letters written to her husband / manager in addition to photos that had to be restored in order to share in this amazing book.
A Perfect Book for your Coffee Table
Working closely with the Fondaziono Proge Marzotto, the Italian arts trust who acquired the archive of Maria Callas in 2013, and Karl van Zoggel, head of the International Maria Callas Club, ROADS is delighted to present this amazing visual biography.
The photos in this book are amazing, mixed with black and white and colored photos. There is a nice balance between real life photos and photos of her in her home and in costume. It reminds me of the season of life I got to wear costumes while performing in Houston. It’s definitely from another world and it quickly transported me. There are also several recipes in her own handwriting that are shared in this book! So exciting!
Consider giving this book to those loved ones who love opera or even are a fan of Maria Callas. It is an amazing and magical book. It is available online and in fine bookstores.
Giveaway
The publishers were very kind to offer a copy of this book to one of my readers in the US. Please leave a comment to let me know if you have a favorite opera singer or if you have a favorite opera.
The giveaway will end in November 28th at midnight. Thanks for entering!
