Friday, December 30, 2011

Ham Salad


Have you had your fill of ham from the holidays? We sure have! There were plenty of leftovers though (and you can only reheat it so many times) so I was struck with the idea of making some ham salad. I whipped up this ham salad with my sister in mind. I know, that sounds strange...but she was my inspiration because she loves the stuff. I like it, but not nearly as much as she does so I'll be giving her the rest of this batch. I tried to make it similar to the store-bought variety she normally buys but I think it turned out even better! I'm pretty sure she'll like it.


Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms


I love stuffed mushrooms but don't have them very often. They just seem like the type of food that you should only have as an appetizer for a party, so they don't really make it onto the everyday menu. And yes, I know I'm posting these just in time for those New Year's Eve gatherings, but they would also be great as a side dish at any dinner. I've omitted breadcrumbs in this version to cut down on the 'fill-you-up' factor and so it can be used in more ways than just a starter. They're, of course, great as an appetizer or a pass around at a party, but why save these scrumptious little bites for a special occasion if you don't have to!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas


Think the holidays are over? Think again!

There are only four more days until New Year's Eve and more parties so I've compiled a quick list of some super simple appetizer and finger food ideas that are great for serving a crowd. A lot of these can also be partly or fully prepared ahead of time so you aren't spending the whole day in the kitchen.


Tomato Bruschetta


This tomato topped bread is an nice change from all the hot appetizers out there. It's so fresh and crisp that it just screams elegance and simplicity. This bite-sized appetizer has been requested so often that it's become a staple at our family get togethers. It's one of those simple things that is healthy and tastes good! The balsamic glaze isn't necessary, but it adds a sweetness and tang that is a perfect compliment to the garlic and herbs.


Loaded Mashed Potato Bites


Who can resist a mashed potato in finger food form? In my experience, mashed potatoes are one of the best parts of any meal. I got the idea for these Mashed Potato Bites because I was in the mood for the double baked potatoes I make but they weren't fitting for the occasion. We were having our weekly movie night at home and I usually make dinner that is good for eating on the floor picnic-style while we watch the movie. Having a mashed potato in bite-sized pieces seemed like a great idea and would be super easy to eat on the floor, so I whipped up this recipe. They were a big hit!


Jalapeño Bites


I haven't met a person yet who doesn't like poppers. They're so tasty with all that cream cheesy goodness mixed with the hint of spice. I took that idea and formed it into small bites that are perfect for those get togethers when finger foods are a must. These can also be suited for your tastes by adding more jalapeño or less depending on the spice levels you like.


Marinated Artichoke Hearts


This is an elegant and easy addition to any antipasto platter. Canned artichokes are simply marinated for a few hours in an oil mixture and then drained and served. The oil mixture adds a slight sweetness to the artichoke hearts that is great for any occasion.


Monday, December 19, 2011

Veggie Pinwheels


The holiday season has quickly approached and menus are well on their way to being finalized. There are so many little details and so many things to do that this time of year can become a whirlwind of food and family and, hopefully, fun. Since things can get so crazy, I like to focus on simple, easy meals to keep stress low and have more time to spend with family and friends.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese: Red Pepper, Onion and Spinach with Spicy Garlic Mayo



The latest in my grilled cheese series is a trio of veggies that are layered with tangy cheese and a spicy mayo. This one was so gooey and good that it seemed almost sinful! I cooked the onion and red pepper for awhile to caramelize them and bring out their natural sugars, but you can just cook them until they're soft.

This sandwich can also be loaded up with a medley of other veggies, too. Give it a try with some mushrooms cooked with the onion and peppers or add a few ribbons of zucchini. Just make sure to cook the vegetables enough to bring out their maximum flavors.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Coconut Macaroons


Ahhh...Christmas time. Or should I say cookie time? It seems like everywhere you look during the month of December, there's a post, a tweet or a blog about who is making what kind of cookie for the holidays. I felt it only fitting that I should share another of mine.


Friday, December 9, 2011

Lemon Rice Revisited


I'm revisiting my very first post. It was a story about feel good soup and the past few days definitely called for one of those feel good moments. My little guy came down with the flu the other day and he was just miserable. When he finally got to a point of wanting to eat, I made him his favorite soup: Chicken Lemon Rice. I always forget how much he loves it until it's made and he pretty much inhales it. This past time was no different considering how sick he was.


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Thanksgiving Cake Pops


I have unintentionally become the cake pop lady at our family gatherings. I didn't plan on making any for Thanksgiving, and to be perfectly honest, they weren't even a thought in my mind. I've only made them three times before but I guess they're a big hit now. They're pretty easy to make after the first few times so when I got the ever-so-subtle request from my cousin, I just couldn't resist.


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Cinnamon Apple Chips


Yep, I still have apples and I'm really getting tired of them.

In my quest for something else to do with the abundance of apples (that didn't involve a jar or a sauce) I decided to make a batch of apple chips. This was my first time making them and they were really easy to put together! If you have a mandoline slicer, they'll be super easy, but if not, be extremely careful when making thin slices of the apples. They also take awhile to cook in the oven so make sure you won't be needing it for anything else. Besides being a  healthy snack, there is another bonus to making this yummy finger food - you're house will smell fantastic!


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Old-Fashioned Butter Cookies


My son was bugging me for cookies tonight. He's almost 3 so I expect it. The only problem is that we didn't have any cookies. I very rarely buy them because I don't usually keep sweets like that around. I ended up finding some that my dad bought for him, but well, those weren't good enough - he wanted to make some. That's never happened before! I always ask him if he wants to help in the kitchen, and he'll do a few little things here and there, but he's never taken the initiative before. It was proud moment for this mommy. And how could I resist his adorable, whiny face?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Vegetable Fried Rice


I'm not going to lie, I hate fried rice. Whenever we order Chinese, I get white rice or rice noodles. If I don't have a choice, I'll give my portion of fried rice to my husband. I don't know what it is about the fried version, but I just can't stand the taste. It seems like it's almost burnt with a weird flavor that I can't even describe.

Well, I decided to try my hand at a homemade version one day just for kicks. I don't know what even sparked the idea but, why not have a go at it, right? Maybe since I hate the restaurant rice, I'd like my own...

Friday, November 25, 2011

BBQ Round Steak

My photo skills were a little lacking when this picture was taken...

I buy round steak quite often because it's usually a pretty inexpensive meat. I took one out of the freezer one day and made this BBQ round steak recipe on a whim. Because I almost always have round steak in the house, I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it. I've grilled it, sauteed it, braised it, made stew out of it (posting to come soon) and lastly, barbequed it. Well, sort of...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Coconut Chicken in the Oven


I'm always browsing the internet world for new and exciting ideas for recipes. In one of my latest searches, I read a lot about a recipe by Jamie Oliver for Chicken in Milk. It's a whole chicken, cooked in a milk bath, that has been flavored with lemon, cinnamon, and a bunch of garlic-y goodness. There have been so many rave reviews for it that I was getting pretty curious. The recipe looked pretty good and definitely interesting, so after mulling over the uniqueness of it for awhile, I decided to give it a try. I had to put my own spin on it though so I went with my obsession of the moment: coconut milk instead of regular milk.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Peach Applesauce



I was getting ready to make my son lunch last week when he asked for some applesauce. Now, he's 2 -1/2 so I take everything he says with a grain of salt. It's happened quite a few times that he'll tell us he wants something, we make it, and then he refuses to eat it. It seems to be a fun, little game for him. Well, when he asked for applesauce, I was shocked because he usually won't eat it for me. He'll eat it for his grandmas, but not for mom!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Simple Tomato Soup



Have you ever had one of those meals that just makes you say, "Wow!"? I don't get them that often. Now, don't get me wrong, I love everything I cook/bake/prepare/whatever (and wouldn't share them if I didn't), but some things are just plain better than others. Some are, in fact, awesome. The tomato soup I made this evening happens to be one of those awesome things.


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Spaghetti Primavera


Pasta seems to get a bad rep these days and it's a shame because it's not all bad for you. I whipped this meal up for a quick weeknight meal and it's a pretty healthy dish that's light on the budget and the palate. It's full of flavor, loaded up with good for you veggies, and so easy and fast to make! 

Monday, November 14, 2011

BBQ Crescent Dogs



Everyone has seen the Pillbury commercial with the mom serving hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls, right? I just saw it last week and I thought it would be a great idea for a fun dinner. My son loves the little pigs in a blanket that I make for entertaining so I thought these could be the same, just on a larger scale.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Apple Cake from A Friend



I finally made it! I was given a recipe for an apple cake by one of my husband's coworkers. She's a pretty awesome chick and I was thrilled that she offered her mom's recipe to me to try out. She thought I'd really like it. Well, she was wrong because I didn't just like it...I loved it.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Malibu Sunset


I haven't posted a drink in a bit so I think it's about time. This one was from a few weeks ago and it's too pretty not to share. I remember I was in the mood for a nice, refreshing beverage and I went with my old favorite, Malibu Rum. I may need to start broadening my drink selections, however, because even I'm getting tired of reading about coconut rum. It's just so darn tasty though! 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sweet and Easy Banana Pancakes


Have you noticed how bananas don't seem to last as long as they used to? Mine seem to get mushy way too fast and instead of throwing them out I just throw the whole thing, peel and all, in the freezer for another use. It's pretty funny to just open the freezer and see all those bananas in there! They're great for banana bread but I take it a step further by incorporating the banana bread idea into a pancake.

Not Your Typical Cheese Quesadilla

Emmentaler
Fair Oaks Farms Emmentaler Cheese

Since I still had a bunch of cheese in my fridge from our Fair Oaks Farms visit, I decided to try some in a quesadilla. I had Asiago which I thought would give a good flavor and I threw on some of that Emmentaler. Some sauteed mushrooms and onions rounded it out with a good, hearty, fall flair. I, unfortunately, don't have a picture of this yummy concoction because it was accidentally deleted off my camera, but I'm sure I'll be making it again soon so you can see how good it looked. In the meantime, trust me that it was one good looking (and tasting) quesadilla!


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Pinch Of Lime is on Facebook!

To spread the lime a little further, I set up a Facebook page. Stop by and check it out when you have a chance. I'll be talking about food, life, design and showcasing my Art Posters and Kid's Room Decor. You can see a thread of recent posts on the right side of each page of this blog or you can visit www.facebook.com/pinchoflime.

I'm looking forward to your comments!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Apple Peach Salsa for Canning


So many apples! I swear, some days I thought they were actually multiplying in my kitchen. I was getting pretty tired of the usual so I was obsessed with thinking of something new to make with them. This year was my first attempt at canning and my batch of apple butter and apple pie filling turned out pretty good so I thought I'd do something totally different. I came up with an idea for an apple peach salsa and I just couldn't wait to share it.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Apple Cinnamon Muffins


Muffins are one of life's little treats. Most muffins you buy at the store or the donut/coffee shop are filled with way too many unhealthy ingredients and calories though. Now, I'm not saying that it's not okay to splurge on a muffin every once in awhile, but if you're going to have one, why not have it be one that's better for you! I created this version of an apple cinnamon muffin using ingredients that you don't have to feel guilty about and it's now my go-to recipe.

Halloween and Pumpkin Seeds

We had a pretty good Halloween this year. The holiday started off by going to the local pumpkin patch and picking out a great pumpkin for carving. This happens to be one of my favorite parts about Halloween because I get to be artistic using a different medium than I'm used to. My son wanted nothing to do with the pumpkin this year (what 2 year old doesn't want to dig in a pumpkin!?) so I just took over the project and created a pretty nifty carving out of it.

My perfect pumpkin

Friday, November 4, 2011

Semi-Homemade Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies




Chocolate chip cookies? Awesome. Zucchini chocolate chip cookies? Even more awesome. They kind of taste like zucchini bread that's laced with chocolate without all the time that's involved in the actual preparation of making the zucchini bread. Whew...that was mouthful!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Apricot Glazed Chicken - Version 2



I had a tiny bit of apricot butter left in the fridge and wanted to make glazed chicken with it. I did a version of this a couple months ago that was really, really good. This one is a more simple take on that though. The glaze isn't as thick as the previous one and it doesn't have as much apricot flavor. I just wanted a hint of flavor this time because my husband was home for dinner and he isn't an apricot fan at all, but the apricot was so subtle that he even liked it!

This glaze gave just a little sweetness to the chicken and the butter helped keep it moist. If you don't have apricot butter, you could use preserves or jam. It won't be as smooth and will probably be a little bit sweeter, but it will still have the same effect.


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Super Simple Roasted Red Pepper Sauce



This is quite possibly one of the easiest meals I've ever made. Roasted Red Pepper sauce probably sounds like it's complicated, but using pre-made or store-bought peppers makes this a fast and great choice for a busy weeknight dinner. It's also a very light meal so you don't get that heavy "I just ate a lot of pasta" feeling. 

Simple Honey Mustard


I sometimes like to use honey mustard in place of plain mayo or other sauces and spreads. It's really easy to make and adds a new twist of flavor to a lot of sandwiches. I'd suggest using it on your next sandwich (such as the Cuban Style Grilled Cheese) or as a dip for fries. You can even make it a salad dressing by adding a splash of vinegar and a tad more honey.

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese: Cuban Style



Our visit to Fair Oaks Farms a couple weeks ago inspired this Cuban Grilled Cheese sandwich. They have a Cuban sandwich that is sub-par as well as a grilled cheese that is far from living up to my standards. I thought I could combine both ideas into one and come up with something super tasty that is actually not too bad for you. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Roasted Corn and Pepper Salad


I love roasted vegetables but I don't always have the opportunity, fancy equipment for grilling, or even the right food to create the perfect side dish for what I'm craving. If that's the case though, I improvise by using modified versions of what I do have.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Out and About: Fair Oaks Farms

I visited Fair Oaks Farms a couple weeks ago with my parents and my son. They were on vacation and wanted to have all these adventures with the little guy before they went back to work - Fair Oaks was just one of them. We thought we'd have a great time doing all fun things a kid can do there: going through mazes, seeing the baby cows and eating at their cafe. Well, none of those even happened with the exception of the cafe. I'm not going to get into the lack of things for a kid (or an adult) to do though - because I think we just went on the wrong day - so I'll keep this food-related.

The cafe...oh, the cafe. The food wasn't up to par and didn't live up to the hype at all. My mom and my son got their 'Almost Famous Grilled Cheese' and I'll tell ya, there's a reason it isn't famous! My son took one bite of his kids meal sandwich and said he didn't like it. I did the mom thing and tried to get him to eat more until I tasted it myself. It was so dry and bland and tasted like melted Cheddar on toast. And it wasn't even good toast! My mom's grilled cheese wasn't as dry, but it wasn't anything to write home about. My dad and I got Cuban sandwiches that were also pretty bland. It was a tad dry and the best part was the mustard packet they put on the side.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Visiting the Apple Orchard

The beautiful scenery along the road.


A couple weeks ago, we made a visit to the apple orchard. This wasn't an ordinary, run-of-the-mill orchard though, it was an actual orchard owned by family. My mother-in-law's cousin has this amazingly, beautiful land in Michigan and every year, they invite the entire family for a day of picking.

Chicken Makes Perfect Potstickers


I made potstickers for the first time Thursday night. They were so good and I'm really proud of myself for creating such a yummy recipe. Yes, I create recipes a lot, but this was a new challenge because it was something out of the norm. I never really attempted them before because I was a little intimidated by how difficult they looked, but I'll tell ya, they were actually very easy to prepare! They were also very easy on the budget because there isn't much that goes into them. And, if you don't have one of the ingredients or want to try a different twist on it - go ahead because this is one of those recipes that is so versatile and can suit anyone's tastes.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Raw Applesauce for Cooking



I like to cook with applesauce every once in a while but don't always have it on hand. I have an overload of apples right now from our orchard visit (more on that later) so I decided to make my own this time. Now, I usually make my applesauce for eating, but it's a different consistency than the store-bought types. The jars you find at the store are nice and smooth, while I keep mine chunky. While both taste good, one is much better for cooking!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Malibu Tropic Breeze


I had some strawberries in the fridge that were on their last leg so they were pretty much the inspiration for this drink. Drinking it makes me think of sitting on a patio on a warm summer night while a cool breeze whistles by. Or, maybe it just makes me wish I was...

Sunday, October 9, 2011

PB & J Pancake Sticks


Some morning are easier than others in my house. Some are also harder. On those mornings when nothing is going right and I need to get my son settled and get started on some work, I look for an easy breakfast. I'll usually ask the little guy what he would like and I'll almost always get an answer that is actually breakfast food! Every once in awhile I'll get a reply of pretzels or string cheese, but the other morning, my answer was pancakes.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Dustin and Lauren's Invitations


My most recent invitation adventure took me back to metallic paper. I love it...and not just because it's shiny. Metallic paper has such an elegant style and look that it's difficult to not feel fancy when holding it in your hand.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Italian-Style Stuffed Zucchini



I went to the farm stand near our house a few days ago specifically for zucchini. They have the kind that you would grow in your backyard...you know, the ones that aren't super tiny you get your money's worth.

When I was younger, my parents had a garden behind the garage and they would grow everything from strawberries to chives to zucchini. I remember that zucchini fondly because to this day, I have not seen any that could compare. I'm not exaggerating when I say they were a foot and a half in length and at least five inches in diameter. You can't find vegetables like that anywhere anymore, but at least the local farm stands come close.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Cheesy Corn Muffins



A few days ago, I was having one of those nights when I needed to make something quick. Luckily, there was leftover beef stew in the fridge that my husband had made, but I had to make something to go with it. The answer? Corn muffins. These muffins were super moist with a few surprises of corn in each muffin. I did the semi-homemade thing and used a box of mix and just doctored it up a bit. Hey, if Sandra Lee can do it, so can I!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Homemade Roasted Peppers


Roasted red peppers are, in my opinion, one of life's little luxuries. They're so mildly sweet with a smokey flavor that can compliment almost anything from salads to pizza.

Tropical Italian Ice



Fresh pineapple doesn't seem to stay fresh as long as I'd like it to. Eventually, it starts to get dark spots and just doesn't look as appetizing anymore. It's still fine to eat at that point, but you always eat with your eyes first so I try to use it in ways that hide the flaws.

I decided to use up the leftovers from my fresh pineapple for some Italian ice. At first I thought I'd just do a plain pineapple flavor, but it screamed for coconut. After adding a few things, I ended up with a velvety smooth, frozen treat that had hints of tropical flavors. It wasn't too sweet and none of the flavors were overwhelming. This one is definitely a keeper!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Cookie Cookbook for Cancer

There are a few blogs I follow that inspire me in cooking and everyday life. I happened to check one of them out today and the post was one that needed to be shared.

The post from Recipegirl.com on September 30th was about chocolate chip bars from a bake sale cookbook. Now, this isn't just an ordinary bake sale cookbook, it's actually for a cause...for something more than your typical fundraiser events. These chocolate chip bars come from the cookbook titled, "Cookies For Kids Cancer: Best Bake Sale Cookbook."

Recipegirl's post brought me to her son's blog. Recipeboy.com featured another recipe from this cookbook called "Prince Liam's Peanut Butter Cookies." (This is the part that tugged at my heart strings) These cookies were made for a little boy named Liam who was diagnosed with pediatric cancer when he was just 2 1/2 years old. His mom held bake sales to raise money to find a cure.

When I became a mom, I started looking at the world differently and it will never look the same as it did before I had my son. When I hear of diseases, ailments, conditions, etc. that affect children, it breaks my heart. I have no idea why something like this would happen to such a little guy, but my heart goes out to his family and anyone who ever has to go through something like this.

If you're interested in checking out this cookbook or becoming involved in the cause, visit www.CookiesForKidsCancer.org.

(Recipegirl.com and Recipeboy.com will be giving away 3 of these cookbooks to raise awareness for this charity. If you'd like to be entered in their contest, visit each of their blogs for more information.)

Grown Up Grilled Cheese: Tangy and Tart Turkey



I'm always on my quest for new and interesting grilled cheese sandwiches. This one isn't some crazy concoction made of weird ingredients, but it is really good. I took some regular lunchmeat and topped it off with some Swiss cheese and some tart cranberry sauce. The saltiness of the cheese complimented the sweetness of the cranberries so perfectly that I think I might just have to make it again with upcoming Thanksgiving leftovers.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Berry Good Slice of Pineapple

I bought a pineapple at the store the other day and I couldn't stop wondering what I should do with it. Of course, we could all just eat it as is because fresh pineapple is so fantastic, but I'm sure you know by now that I have to do something different with it.

I thought I'd keep it simple because sometimes it's the simple things that are the best. I had sliced the pineapple up earlier in preparation for whatever I might do so the hard part was done. I thought about grilling it, but to be perfectly honest, I was just too tired after a long day to get out and set up anything grill-related. At 10 pm, the stove top sounded just as good. I decided on a simple pan-fried pineapple. I doctored it up with some sugar and spice to make it sweet and fragrant and it really added some depth to the pineapple flavor.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Potato Salad of the Warm Variety


Potato salad is one of those outdoor party staples that seems to be fading the limelight. I'm not sure if its because everyone is getting more health-conscious or if tastes are just changing. I, myself, have never been big on the classic potato salad. There are decent ones out there, but it just doesn't seem to appeal to me these days. Maybe it's the odd combination of ingredients being slathered with mayo...or maybe it's just the thought of cold potatoes that have steered me away.

I decided to try a new version that didn't have all that heavy mayo and was warm; something you don't usually see at the picnics, potlucks, or parties. I wanted the classic potato accompaniments, but done in a lighter way.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Feel Good Chips & Salsa

Chips and salsa...the perfect snack. I don't eat them very often, but when I do I use this recipe. It's definitely a good choice when you want a healthy snack and it's especially good when you use all fresh ingredients.

When it comes to making your own tortilla chips, the task is surprisingly easy. It's great because you don't have to worry about that big bag from the grocery store going stale or being loaded with grease. I almost always have tortillas in my fridge and they last a very long time so if the mood strikes, I'll just whip up a small batch and have myself a little snack.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Chicken Tacos

I suddenly had the urge for chicken tacos last night. I've never made them or even had them before. I decided to give them a shot, though, because it was new and I was feeling creative. I really had nothing to base them on or even compare them to but they turned out pretty good.

My husband seemed to really like them, too, so I'm definitely going to make them again. It was one of those dinners I could feel good about eating and serving because not only were they simple, but it was also a pretty healthy dish. Serve it with Spanish rice and some beans for a complete and balanced meal.


Rice with Some Spanish Spice

The first time I made this rice was for my son's Mexican food-themed 2nd birthday party. I happened to be sick at the time and I wasn't able to taste it as I cooked so I just had to wing it. I heard from many people at the party, including my husband who is one of the pickiest people I know, that it was some of the best Spanish rice they've ever had. Needless to say, that made one sick girl very happy.

A Meaty Sweet and Sour

I have been so incredibly busy this past week. Between creating new websites and brochures, working on a few wedding invitations, playing trains with a 2 year old, and taking care of daily errands, I haven't had much time to blog. It's been over a week since my last post and I'm going through withdrawal! It's time to end the streak of internet silence and write.

What to write about? Oh, how about the sweet and sour meatballs I made last week? This was the second time I've made them in the past few weeks and they're pretty darn good. I even got the 'Mom Seal of Approval' on these when I made them for my folks. The right amount of sweetness with the right amount of tang makes for a quick weeknight meal that should please even the pickiest eater.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Put the Lime in the Coconut Rum

I whipped up another drink the other night. I was feeling coconut again (surprised?) so I tried a new route with coconut milk, lime juice, and a simple syrup instead of my standard pina colada-inspired beverage of choice. This new drink was quite tasty and might just become my new favorite. It can easily be tweaked to fit your mood of the moment, too. Want it super strong? Leave out the club soda. Want it weaker? Cut out some of the rum. The wonderful thing about pretty much any drink out there is the ability to tailor it to fit your specific tastes. This one screams coconut with a hint of lime and, in my opinion, it doesn't get much better than that!

Turkey in a Tortilla

I was at Costco the other day and saw some turkey roll-ups in their pre-made refrigerated section. They were calling to me. I had them once before, and it was awhile ago, but I remember they were pretty good. I thought I'd make up my own version instead of buying them this time though. I stopped at the grocery store on my way back home to pick up some essentials for the roll-ups. I already had the cream cheese, tortillas and turkey, so I just needed lettuce, tomato and cranberry sauce. I got home, went to work and I'm glad I did. It was a nice change of pace and it's perfect finger food for those times when you want something different than the standard meat and cheese roll-ups. I bet it will also be a great way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers!