Sweet Love and Ginger

Jessica

The Perfect Cocktail for St. Patrick’s Day

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St. Patrick’s day is coming up fast and I thought it would be fun to share a unique Irish style cocktail. I found this cocktail in a little book that I picked up at 5 below some years ago. I have gotten a number of really great and traditional recipes (this one is my favorite) out of it, so that 5 bucks was a good investment.

Since Ireland is famous for it’s dairy and whiskey this is the perfect thing to help you celebrate the famously Irish holiday. The drink is referred to as Scailton or Milk Punch.

What I like about this cocktail is that it has a rich flavor with out being loaded down with sugar. Though it definitely makes me think of a White Russian, I have to say that I like this better.

Scailton or Milk Punch
Scailton or Milk Punch
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup Irish whiskey
  • 1-2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • fresh grated nutmeg, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Pour the milk and whiskey into a small saucepan. Then whisk in the honey, ginger, and cinnamon.
  2. Heat the saucepan slowly, while constantly whisking.
  3. Do not let it come to a boil. A froth will form on the top. Pour into two warm mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Happy Friday!

30 Minute Beef Stew

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This winter has been cold, like my face burns in the morning when I go to start my car, and my car doesn’t want to start because it’s so cold kind of cold. For this reason I am convinced that I have perfected all of my favorite soups this year. What is better in bitter cold negative temperatures than soup?
30 Minute Beef Stew

Stew might be the only acceptable answer to that question. I’ve gotten pretty good on the stew front as well if I do say so myself.

This recipe is a perfect example. It’s a basic beef stew, nothing fancy going on over here, except it can be done in 30 minutes. Yes I know slow simmering beef stew is the classic way to make it. I know we miss the wafting stew smell in the air after hours and hours of slow simmering, but truth be told I just don’t have all that time.
I have a job! I’m a dog mom! I have family that wants to see me and things to do. That’s just how it is. I don’t have all the time in the world to be standing by the stove, even though it’s probably the warmest spot to be right now, I just can’t do it. Thus this delicious compromise was born. It has all the wonderful flavor of the slow simmered version without all that time.

 

30 Minute Beef Stew

Random note: I also like to add frozen green beans at the end sometimes, because a meal is not complete without some green in it, and again I don’t always have the time to make a salad.

30 Minute Beef Stew
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lbs top sirloin steaks cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled & diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 1 cup baby carrots, halved
  • 2-3 large white potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 cups of beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
Instructions
  1. In a large thick bottomed skillet heat the oil over medium high heat.
  2. Toss the meat in flour, salt and pepper and then add to the oil. Stir and cook for about a minute while the meat browns.
  3. Add the onions and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the onions begin to brown.
  4. Add the garlic, celery, carrots. Cook for another 2 minutes before adding the potato, broth, thyme, and bay leaf.
  5. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
  6. Remove the bay leaf, and adjust seasonings. Serves warm.

 

Best of SL&G 2014 FREE ebook

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I’m super excited today to announce the launch of my new
ebook!
You may remember the first ebook that I launched back inNovember well that one is gone and a brand spankin’ new one has taken its place.
This book is a compilation of 30 of my most viewed,
commented, and shared recipes from 2014. The photos are better, the recipes are
way better and I guarantee you will enjoy it.
To get your free copy
all you have to do is sign up below or on the side bar with your email address.
I promise I won’t overload your inbox, with crazy emails. Aside from the once a
month newsletter, you will only receive occasional info on special bonus’
(think cook book giveaways and first look at new ebooks).
photo 2014 Cover.Advertisement_zpstnbiandl.jpg 

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Note: I am working on making the Best of SL&G 2012-2013
available for purchase. In the mean time if you would like to purchase a copy
for $0.99 shoot me an email sweetloveginger@gmail.com

Recently No. 8

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This month was rough to say the very least. I think the bitter cold, snow and hectic work life took a toll on my sanity, but we all made it through ok.

I launched a new project that I cannot be more excited about.

We went ice-fishing, despite the bitter cold. I made Stromboli & Italian Wedding Soup

More house hunting happened, I think this is going to happen a lot more.

I discovered my new favorite chicken marinade based on Panera’s Citrus Pepper Chicken. That is the chicken marinade used in the broth bowls, all of the salads, and many of the paninis.

I really got my creative juices flowing by pulling out my
watercolor paints, charcoal pencil, and buying some new fancy pens to try my
hand at calligraphy. This may or may not become the next project for 12-12-12.

I discovered that I don’t really have a style or know what it is. All my clothes are hand me downs or gifts. I’m thinking this is a situation that should be addressed.

On the Charming blog this month I talked about how Bone Broth is All the Rage, and shared a recipe for it.

I also made an appearance on Chrystina Noel answering questions from her and her readers about cooking and kitchen stuff.

I turned 27. You can read my thoughts on it here.

I’m Turning 27

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It’s kind of a big deal, at least to me. Turning 25 and 26 didn’t seem like that big a deal to me, I’m still a young 20 something you  know, I’ve got all kinds of time. Now all of a sudden 27 feels old. When you put it in perspective it’s really not, but it feels that way.
I’m finding it really hard not to fall into the comparison trap. So and so has accomplished this, that and the other thing by the time they were my age. What about those young hot shots, writing bestselling books by the time they are 24? Yeah I feel like a turtle just floating on the waves, letting life pass me by.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is not the case. I’m 27 and I have a great job, a good degree, I’m getting married, looking at houses and planning another trip to Europe. These are great things that I’ve done/am doing. For whatever reason I can’t pull my mind away from the rest of those 46 peaks that I haven’t yet climbed, the book I haven’t finished yet, the places I haven’t traveled yet, the fact that I still haven’t learned to surf, and so much more.
I have thought about making a list of things to do before I’m 30, a lot of people have them, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea. Staring down a list of things that put “value” on the life that I have lived up until 30 seems absurd.
Maybe I haven’t made the time to go up 46 high peaks, but I did do a few, and I have hiked all over New England. No, I didn’t run a half
marathon but I can run 8 miles for fun and not be overwhelmed by a training schedule. I may not have learned to surf, but I learned to snowboard, kind of. I haven’t backpacked through Europe, I have spent time with my family, and in the woods I call home instead. I have paid off all of my debt. I haven’t moved up the corporate ladder, because I chose to work for a small company that makes me feel at home. I haven’t published a book yet, but I wrote the draft for one, so
could always become famous after death like Emily Dickenson. I have found love. I adopted a puppy.
I have done a lot. I don’t need a list to tell me that.
I don’t need a list to tell me what I have accomplished when I am still in the middle of building the life I want. I will accomplish things when I accomplish them, if I really do want to accomplish them. If I don’t I’m sure there is a greater accomplishment than something that fits into a line on a sheet next to a check
box in it’s place.