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St. Patricks Day Recipe Roundup

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st patricks day recipes

 

Next week is St. Patricks Day and I had all intentions of dedicating this week on the blog to creating and sharing Irish inspired dishes. Then the reality of packing our entire house in the next few weeks hit and my house is now overflowing with boxes and plastic bins. I have been slacking in the kitchen big time and thats why I am so incredibly thankful for the wonderful fellow food bloggers that are helping me out! I definitely didn’t want to miss out on inspiring you with Irish eats and these friends have got plenty of awesome recipes to share with all of us on this St. Patricks Day Recipe Roundup!…

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Peanut Butter, Banana & Chia Smoothie

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peanut butter banana chia smoothie Hooray the weekend is here!!! This week has been absolutely crazy! Let me fill ya in on whats going on around here. We are in the process of selling our house. Last Wednesday someone came for a showing, the following day there was an offer, a day or two later we accepted the offer, already through attorney review and house inspection is tomorrow so I have been spending most of my time packing, hence the lack of new recipes this week.

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Travel By Beer :: Abita Brewing Company’s Grapefruit Harvest IPA

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Hey friends!!! While I have been crazy busy packing up my house, yup the daunting task of moving, my dear friend has offered to guest post on LFK to help celebrate Mardi Gras! Ron from Travel By Beer is stopping by to share a wonderful  find, a unique beer brewed right in Louisiana and he enjoyed it right along with my Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya! Be sure to check out his blog and show him some love! 

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With the excitement of Mardi Gras, plus the reputation, it’s very easy to lose focus of New Orleans’ elegance. But let’s face it, no matter how much lipstick you put on the pig, it’s still a pig. With that being said, New Orleans is a mighty pretty pig. And besides, think about what comes from that pig – in this case, amazing Andouille that is one of the key components in Lemoine Family Kitchen’s amazing jambalaya.

Welcome to the “craft side of Mardi Gras”, where homemade food is offered up with homemade ingredients, passionate cooks, and the true essence of New Orleans. But, of course, no good meal – ESPECIALLY not a Mardi Gras Meal – can be complete without a fine beverage to wash it all down. I am pleased to present Abita’s Grapefruit Harvest IPA.

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Just like New Orleans, the jambalaya wows you with bold flavors to wake up your palate. Powerful, yet balanced heat highlights tender chicken, spicy andouille, perfectly cooked rice (not an easy task!) and a confetti of the Holy Trinity (green pepper, onion, and celery). The end result is amazing – and easily one of huge tastiest meals I’ve ever shoveled in my mouth.

Truth be told, I was worried about pairing an IPA with such bold flavors – especially citrus forward brew, as is Abita’s Grapefruit Harvest IPA. Typically I prefer an Amber, or even a dry Kolsch – but in this case, I am so happy to be wrong.

Brewed approximately 30 miles north of New Orleans, in Abita Springs, Louisiana – Abita Brewing Company is one of the larger breweries in the country, responsible for the ever so dangerous Purple Haze. This modest group has one of the strongest hearts, continuing philanthropic efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company also strives to work with local ingredients, using all Louisiana harvested grapefruits to craft their Grapefruit Harvest IPA. Along with Cascade Hops (high acidic) along side a heavy-handed dose of Pale, Pilsner, and Caramel malts.

The result? A bold, flavorful IPA that’s full-bodied, luscious brew that’s refreshingly real and easy to pair with dinner (did I mention that LFK’s jambalaya is a perfect match?), but won’t weigh you down – leaving lots of time to enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities.

The Harvest Grapefruit Ale’s aroma is deceiving, as it replicates grapefruit juice so much so that you may not remember your about to enjoy an IPA. A rich, amber color is attributed to the malt diversity and balance, and being unfiltered brings a cloudy appearance to the finished product.

Surprisingly, the IPA is incredibly full and satisfying. You shouldn’t expect the grapefruit and citrus flavors to be overwhelming, as a balanced recipe crafted a beer that is incredibly balanced, smooth and refreshing. Much like Its home town, the brew is zesty and full of character.

On the finish, the ending notes re-introduce the grapefruit flavors alongside a bready, caramel note. Taking a few notes from its Souther Heritage, be ready for a bit of tang and tartness.

Full of character, and ready for anything, Abita’s Grapefruit Harvest IPA is the perfect choice to enjoy throughout our festivities – and with its bright, citrus profile – is perfect to drink throughout the day.

So grab a few 6 packs, some jambalaya, some beads, and boogie down. It is Mardi Gras by the way!

P.S. Have some left over the following morning? Cure that hangover and pair that leftover andouille with a 75/25 blend of Grapefruit Harvest IPA to freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. The perfect hair of the dog. :)

Guest Post by RP at Travel By Beer

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Honey Bunches French Toast & Strawberry Bellini :: Valentines Day Breakfast

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honey bunches french toast

 

Valentines Day is less then a week away and I am super excited to share with you a whole bunch of love inspired dishes this week. Some people have this hate for Valentines Day because they see it as a “Hallmark” holiday. While yes, it would be lovely to treat your partner all lovey dovey everyday but it doesn’t happen. Valentines Day doesn’t need to mean just chocolate & roses… just do or say something extra sweet that day, enjoy each others company and cook a fabulous meal!

I’m starting off with breakfast and some booze! I’m going to just say it, this is the best french toast i’ve ever made! Honey Bunches French Toast combines a couple of my favorite things, challah bread and Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds cereal. I don’t often eat cereal but when I do, this one is at the top of my list!  The cereal coated french toast adds so much flavor and crunch to the already amazing deliciousness of challah bread! Top with some fresh strawberries and warm maple syrup and you’ve got yourself a winning breakfast that will start your day with nothing but loving feelings!

Oh, can’t forget… make it better with some Strawberry Bellinis!!! Beautiful slightly sweetened strawberry puree and some bubbly champagne! {see below for pics & recipe}…

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Give the Gift of Wine :: Wine Chateau

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wine chateau
I cannot believe that Christmas is almost here but I am super exited!!! I’m just about done with the boys gifts but there are still a few people of the list that I have to pick up for and heres what i’m thinking…
WINE !!!
Whether hosting a dinner party, a New Years Eve Cocktail Party or going out to your favorite restaurant, wine is a must! The kind people at Wine Chateau sent me these three fabulous bottles of wine and I have very much enjoyed them with my family.
Whats Wine Chateau? Well, I’d never heard of them until just a few weeks ago and I am glad I know now. They have a few store fronts in NJ & they have an incredible online shop as well and just about everything is at a discount! They have a huge selection so you can find a great gift no matter what your budget it. The Masi (Italy) & Proximo (Spain) that I enjoyed are both under $10!!! The Hess Select Treo from California, under $25!
I’ll be posting a recipe next week for Pot Roast, Moms Way that is seriously phenomenal and what helps make the sauce so delicious, wine! So, not only did I enjoy sipping the Hess Select Treo but I also used it in the pot roast! This particular wine is a 2010 Winemakers Blend and i’d consider it a great intro to red wine. It is milder and less dry then many red wines and smooth going down. This pairs wonderfully with red meats and hearty poultry and seafood dishes.
Wine Chateau is SO much more then wine! They’ve got an incredible selection of scotches, gins, vodkas and much much more!!!! An added bonus, they offer a free loyalty program so you can earn points to put towards future purchases. Refer a friend and you could receive $10!
Stock your bar, give a great gift that can be enjoyed with friends and family… 
Give the Gift of Wine from Wine Chateau!!! 
Wine Chateau
Follow Wine Chateau:
Website: http://www.winechateau.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wchateau
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Power Breakfast Smoothie

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Power Breakfast Smoothie

This Power Breakfast Smoothie is the perfect way to start your morning!!!   I am a lover of smoothies, not those icky kinds that use sugary “fruit” syrups… like real fruit, real yogurt…. real yumminess! I have to say I am a sucker for anything strawberry banana and that goes for smoothies too! This one is great because it tastes wonderful and is filling! …

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