Tie One On Tuesday

 via smashing tube

This years marks the year of the dragon in the Chinese New Year. It's OMP's year! YAHOO! Bring me some good luck! Maybe I should have him play the lottery?


This may be the easiest cocktail ever but hey, when you're celebrating the new year, you don't want to be tied to the bar.

Purple Dragon
1 oz green tea
1 oz vodka
3-4 ounces dark berry juice (or grape juice but I prefer a blackberry juice)
Mix together over ice and enjoy. This drinks comes on very slowly but after a few you will be feeling the wrath of the purple dragon.

I'm pretty sure this next cocktails was custom made for OMP


The Angry Dragon
2 tablespoons dragon fruit juice, if you can't find dragon fruit, kiwi or pear juice will work fine.
1 oz. sake
1 oz citrus vodka
3/4 oz jasmine syrup (simple syrup with jasmine tea, see recipe here)
1 tablespoon mandarine orange juice
Mix together in a shaker with ice and serve in a martini glass


What do you give a dragon when he wakes up? A rising dragon cocktail, of course and maybe some bacon. Dragons, I'm sure love bacon.

Rising Dragon Cocktail
1 1/2oz. vodka
1/2 oz. Red passion liqueur
1/4oz. lime juice
Splash of cranberry juice
Pour into shaker with ice and serve in a chilled martini glass.

Happy Dragon New Year! I hope it's filled with happiness and prosperity.

Ride to Freedom

It's a well known fact that little girls love horses. Little girls and ponies go together like sugar and spice. I've thought about why we love them so much and came to the conclusion that it might not be the horse we love but the freedom that comes along with it. We can be wild, free, go where we want and have a companion that loves us know matter what. We can lift ourselves out of those societal norms. Besides that, horseback riding is fun! 

I don't know one person who does not love National Velvet. This family movie was up for several Oscars and showcased a beautiful young Elizabeth Taylor in one of her best roles ever. This movie is more than just a story about a horse, it's a movie about redemption and the human spirit.

I remember being a little girl and seeing Black Stallion. I instantly fell in love with horses and knew one day I would ride the beach on a beautiful horse. So, that hasn't happen yet, and I stress YET but it doesn't deter me from watching Black Stallion over and over again. Like National Velvet, this movie is a classic and I recently found out that the little boy was a ranch hand that was scouted to play the role. Also like National Velvet, it costars Mickey Rooney. Wow, how's that for typecasting?  While traveling, both boy and horse survive a horrible ship wreck. The learn to live together, work together and be one. It can be a little slow for some kids due to lack of dialogue, but, as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

I can't believe I'm mentioning a movie that was made in the last decade, but here it goes. Secretariat is a great film for two reasons: 1-it tells the story or the underdog, which we all love and 2-It's a true story which makes it even better for the underdog angle. Yes, I know Disney made it, but cut them some slack, they did a decent job and yes, I did cry in certain parts. They know what they're doing. I've heard a lot of bad reviews about this movie saying that it showcased the people rather than the horse. I would have to disagree. I believe it told the story of the whole package, the will to go on and the strength of both animal and human.

If you have extra time, also check out these great horse movies. They won't disappoint: Hildaglo (Oh Viggo, you are too yummy for words), Flicka (remember reading this in grade school?) and Buck (the real horse whisperer).

Horses offer freedom that very few of us posses. They can be our best friend, our confidants, our means of escape. Aaaahhhhh....these movies and the ponies they feature make me want for a different time. Now, if you excuse me, I'm gonna jump on my stick horse and gallop into the sunset. Happy trails!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Sunday mornings are pretty special at Casa de Pedersen. We love to sit back, have a cup of coffee and prepare for the day. This morning was extra special. I heard a knock at my door and was greeted by the most perfect rainbow. How can my day go bad when a rainbow comes by and says hello.

Lola, on the other hand, was less excited about the rainbow. Her morning nap was interrupted. Help me Rhonda, she has a cowlick.

Jujube was creating nose art on the window. She was painting the rainbow. Can you believe that this picture was taken five minutes after the rainbow appeared? Crazy weather!

And Pete....Decaf my little man, for the love of all things holy, switch to decaf.

Salivating Saturday

Yesterday was a rough day for OMP so I wanted to surprise him with a special treat. Get your minds out of the gutter! I decided to treat him to two of the best things in the world (I said, get your minds out of the gutter)-Chocolate and salt. I have to tell you, these are the yummiest cookies ever. Sweet and savory together-pure heaven!


I found this recipe on Annie's Eats. If you haven't been over to that blog, you are missing out! Super easy recipes, incredibly friendly people and did I mention Salted Chocolate Cookies? You heard me right, SALTED CHOCOLATE COOKIES!

Salted Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients:
8 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. fleur de sel (sea salt), plus more for sprinkling
2 large eggs, at room temperature
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Combine the 8 ounces chopped chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, and heat until the chocolate and butter are melted and smooth, stirring occasionally. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave in 25-second intervals, stirring in between.) In another mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 4-5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the melted chocolate mixture, blending until incorporated. Add in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in the remaining chopped chocolate with a spatula. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2-3 inches apart (I used my medium-sized dough scoop).

Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the cookies are just slightly soft in the center and crackly on top, about 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with additional salt and let cool on the baking sheets 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

The only thing I did different is that I used a 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips instead of crushing the chocolate. Also, I didn't have a melon baller so mine looked a little like cow patties, but dang, they are still good. 


OMP showered me with kisses and I was the hero for the day.

Cuties for a Cutie

I love Valentines Day. Everything is so stinking cute and everyone is so lovey dovey. I miss the days back in school when we made little mailboxes and everyone handed out little valentines. Do they even do that anymore or have they banned it because Valentine cards will give papercuts?

Anyhoo, before I go on a rant about taking the fun out of school, I will share some of my favorite vintage Valentines with you. Yes, I collect these too. What? Don't judge. I think these would be great for stitching. The line art makes such amazing patterns.


Awww, the boss of the ranch. Killing me with cuteness!


She is adorable but I'm pretty sure she needs black hair.


Oh, that is so kittykill!


I am SOOOO stitching this one up for OMP!

Go out and use these Valentines for your sweetie or secret crush. Who knows, maybe they will the boss of your ranch...WINK!

Tie One On Tuesday

Ah nature! Little woodland creatures, outside my window, mocking me with their freedom. Makes me want to have a drink in their honor...


How can anyone resist a cute little fuzzy squirrel? They eat everything out of your bird feeders, hide peanuts in your potted plants and pelt you with walnut shells. Yep, they are cute little things. What would make them even better? If they were pink and were made out of alcohol.

Pink Squirrel
3/4 oz creme de noyaux
3/4 oz white creme de cacao
1 1/2 oz heavy cream

Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice, strain and serve in a martini glass

Oh my goodness, will you look at that! A sweet deer eating my sage. Ya know, you would taste better in alcohol form too.  I'm just gonna let you know now that I would never drink this cocktail, but you should have at it.

Sweet Deer Cockail (courtesy of Henry's)
30ml Jagermeister
Coke
1 Scoop of vanilla ice cream

Pour Jagermeister in to a tall glass.
Add scoop of ice cream.
Top up with coke.


Look at you, being all foxy and such! You need a Fox-tail!

Fox-tail 
1 oz. grapefruit vodka

1 oz. gin

1/2 oz. coconut cream
1/2 oz. orange juice
1 oz. raspberry/blueberry juice
Fill a cocktail shaker half-full with crushed ice.
Add ingredients
Shake and serve in a martini glass

Oh little woodland animals, how I love thee. Even though you scurry around and laugh at my lack of freedom. That's okay, I laugh at your lack of opposable thumbs. For you my furry friend, can not hold a martini glass. HA!

Surf's Up!

Is winter over yet? I may have to escape to some sunshine soon.  I need some sand between my toes  and waves crashing on the shore.

I want to be on the beach, warm, sun beating down on me, watching the surfers ride big waves. I can smell the salt water right now. Ahhhhh......since I can't actually go to a warm beach (I'm not sure one exists in the Pacific Northwest)I can watch Endless Summer and dream about riding the waves. This is a classic movie with great music and phenomenal surfing. Although it was filmed in 1966, the documentary still holds strong and has been considered by many to be the ultimate surf movie.

Okay, okay....I can't mention surfing without mentioning Point Break. If you knew my extreme dislike for Keanu Reeve, you would know that I am basically clinching my teeth writing about this one. I can't help it, this movie is so over the top ridiculous that it makes it a blast to watch and the surfing is great! Did I mention that it has crazy Gary Busey in it too. C'mon, you know you love this movie. Surfers turn bank robbers, it's so perfect (except for Keanu Reeves, BLECH!).

Ohhh....I can feel my bones warming up as we speak. Oh wait, they are getting chilly again just thinking about the animated movie Surf's Up! This is a very cute movie about surfing penguins. It's  so very wrong but it does have a great message and voice acting by some great people like Jeff Bridges and Diedrich Bader. I love the native penguins that plan on eating the chicken but find out that squid on a stick taste just like chicken, cause you know, everything taste like chicken.


Mmm.....sun, surf, sand....I need you right now. I think that I am going to fill up the kiddie pool with warm water and grab my board. I wonder how long it would take me to teach the pups "Cowabunga!"