Tie One On Tuesday

The Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate the 137th tradition then with a few beverages. It is so much fun to throw on an over the top hat, plan a party and do a little betting on some horses.

The signature drink of the Kentucky Derby is, of course, a mint julep. Now, being from the south, I am suppose to love these drinks while sitting on the veranda of my mansion. The only problem with this is 1-I don't like mint juleps and 2-I don't have a mansion. That doesn't stop me from making up a batch for my guests.

Mint Julep
4 fresh mintsprigs
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 tsp powdered sugar
2 tsp water

Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass (although, traditionally, it would be a metal/silver glass).
Fill the glass with crushed ice and add bourbon.
Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

I am told by Kentucky Derby purist that this is THE drink to serve at your party. I guess they aren't fond of mint juleps either. I am in love with this punch-it's so easy!

Woodford Sweet Tea
2 cups ice tea (unsweetened)
1 cup sugar
1 12 oz can frozen OJ
1 12 oz can frozen limeade
1 bottle of Woodford Reserve Sweet Bourbon (I'm sure any bourbon will do in a pinch)

7 cups water
Mix all ingredients and chill. 


When it is all said and done, and your horse has won, celebrate with Crown of Roses


Crown of Roses
1 oz. Crown Royal
1/2 oz. amaretto
1 oz. pineapple juice, 1/4
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add all of the ingredients.
Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add  a cherry for garnish.


 Oh my goodness! The pageantry, the race and the amazing cocktails will definitely make your Derby party the hit of the season.

Spring Has Sprung

May is here! It only seems like yesterday that we were shoveling snow and fighting the rain...wait, that really was yesterday. Mother Nature may be a few months behind but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the coming of warmer weather. Here are a few movies to put a spring in your step.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a wonderful musical with songs from the great Johnny Mercer. A woodsman catches a bride in 1850 Oregon and his brothers decide they need one too. The barn dance scene is to die for and yes, it is silly and over the top because everyone who lives in Oregon knows that no one dances here-we all just sit and stare at the musicians playing. MGM considered this a B movie until it was nominated and awarded several prestigious movie awards, including an Oscar.

It Happens Every Spring is a silly Disney style sports movie that is perfect for everyone. Sports, a silly scientist and cute girls round out this delightful little film. A scientist makes a discovery of a chemical that makes baseballs repel wood and quickly decides to cash in on his discovery. The original story was penned by the same writer as Miracle of 34th Street.

Last but not least, a movie about May Day, or the workers on May Day. Salt of the Earth is based on the true story of strikes against the Zinc Coal Mine. This 1954 movie portraying the struggles of Mexican American workers and the plights of prejudice could have easily been written for today's moviegoers. This movie was written by one of the original Hollywood 10, who were blacklisted by the refusing to answer to congress.


Well, there ya go, three movies to help you get through the spring thaw. These movies, just like the new season, will renew your faith, make you see things from a different perspective and have you whistling a different tune. Happy Spring everyone!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

This little girl doesn't realize how important she is to me. She is my little guardian angel. Everywhere I go, she is close behind, making sure it's safe for me to be there. She knows all my secrets and never tells a soul.

Bring On the Bacon

I've heard the rumors, they say bacon has been played out. Wanna know what I say to those haters? I say NEVER! Bacon will never been played out. NEVER! With that being said, here are some yummy bacon jalapeno poppers that will have all the bacon haters saying, "What? What?"

Ingredients:
Bacon (cut slices in half)
jalapenos
Softened cream cheese
Shredded cheddar cheese (I used a half of a cup, but you can certainly add more)
salt and pepper

How to:
Combine cream cheese and shredded cheese in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. I add a few more spices for taste (it's a secret recipe-you will have to find your own)
Cut jalapenos in half and scrape out the guts and seeds. Make sure you wear gloves for this. The seeds and juice are extremely hot and can burn your eyes or any other orifice if you scratch it with hands that have seeds and guts on it.
Spoon your cream cheese mixture into the hollowed out pepper. You can certainly pile it as high as you like
Take your slice of bacon and wrap it around the pepper. Don't wrap it too tight. If you need to, secure it with a toothpick
Cook for 45 minutes at 300 degrees.  Now, here's the secret...cook it on a cooling rack, with the rack on a baking sheet. This will cook the bacon on all sides and keep the drippings away from your popper. If you don't do this, the bottom of your bacon will be undercooked and greasy.
Serve up for yummy bacon cheesy poppy goodness!

Feel Good Friday!

Can I just tell you how challenging my week has been? In one day alone I had a sick puppy at 3:30am, a fiasco at the grocery store, spilled coffee all over me, ripped my skirt and got to work late. Yeah....not fun at all. The pup is better, I got another coffee and I will sew up my skirt this weekend. Anyhoo, I am determined to have a good Friday and an awesome weekend.

My friend AlwaysInspired made this wonderful, amazing and super duper cute cowboy quilt. Look close and the little boot and hat. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

I absolutely love cooking and baking blogs. Cupcake and Cookies definitely provides me with yummy baked goods and great recipes.

My garden is slowly taking shape. I know once the farmette is ready for some pickin' I will need one of these aprons. Sew in Stitches can stitch up an apron like nobody's business.  I like that I could also stick a naughty small dog in there (just kidding....kind of)

Speaking of naughty puppies. Someone needs to stage an intervention. I can't resist the Jujube.

Ahhh, yes....laid back and relaxed. I've got some stitching to do, some chocolate to eat and an OMP to kiss. Life couldn't get any better.

Tie One On Tuesday

When I was a little kid, one of my mom's favorite cakes was a wine cake. There was one little catch about the cake-she made us eat the ones that she messed up. So,  as a kid , the thought of eating cake, even ones that weren't quite perfect, sounds like heaven. In reality, I had way too many stomach aches and I'm sure a few hangovers. In honor of my mother and my hangovers, I give you the wine cake

Ingredients
1 package moist white cake mix
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white wine (I think my mom used a cup to 2 cups)
4 eggs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 10 inch bundt pan.
In medium bowl combine the cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, nutmeg, vegetable oil, white wine, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer for 5 minutes. 
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes then remove cake from pan to rack. Let cake cool completely before slicing. Garnish sliced cake with a dollop of whipped cream or dust with confectioners' sugar and sliced strawberries.

There ya go! The original wine cake or as we like to call it in our family, mommy's little helper. 

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Happy Easter from the Pedersen Pups! We hope your day is filled with bunnies,peeps and some sort of ham dish...AND we hope that it gets dropped on the floor.