I’ve received a few requests for the candy cane sugar scrub recipe after posting about my Christmas gifts.  I made some of this last weekend, and it is AMAZING.  Of course, if you don’t like peppermint you won’t like it!  I got this recipe from Crunchy Chicken.  I doubled the recipe because I have a lot of women to give to!

Ingredients
1 cup granulated white sugar
6 candy canes, finely crushed almost into a powder
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or olive oil)
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional - used as a preservative)
1 teaspoon cocoa butter (optional)
6 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions
Mix all ingredients until well blended. I took and broke up my candy canes in a food processor first, and then combined all the ingredients together.  I also left out the cocoa butter.  It worked out really well; works fabulously and smells yummy!

Posted under Recipes

I love gumbo, and this is a quick and easy recipe.  It shouldn’t take more than half an hour to make! 

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen cut okra
• 8 ounces smoked (precooked) andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced 1 inch thick
• 1 rotisserie chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), skin and bones removed, meat shredded (about 4 cups)

1. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium. Add flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in bell peppers, onion, garlic, and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Add 4 cups water; stir in okra and sausage. Bring to a boil. Stir in shredded chicken, and warm through, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; if desired, serve with cornbread.

Easy enough?  I’d love to hear if you try these recipes or any feedback.  Also, if you’ve got a recipe you’d like to share, please leave it in the comments!

Posted under Food, Recipes

This recipe is inspired by Mr. Money.  They actually serve it at his restaurant.  Of course, this is not the exact recipe because I can’t steal all his secrets; plus, it has to be quick, easy, and frugal, and most of his recipes aren’t like that.

This one is one of my favorites because it is so easy to make, even I can make it!  

Ingredients:

• 1 spaghetti squash (should be in season now!)
• fresh tomatoes or crushed in a can
• 3 pinches of basil
• 3 pinches of oregano
• 2 pinches of salt
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 celery stalk
• 3 carrots
• 4 mushrooms
• any other chopped veggies you have on hand that will go well in the ratatouille.  Ratatouille is basically a meld of veggies that you need to use up.

Sautee onions, garlic and celery in some extra virgil olive oil.  Add carrots and other veggies that you are using.  Sautee the vegetables until they are medium firmness. Cut your spaghetti squash in half, put it on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about half an hour.  I turn mine face down so that the insides don’t dry out.  Check after 15 minutes to see how it’s doing.  It should look soft and delicate.

Take it out of the oven, put your vegetables inside, and eat!  It’s pretty easy to make and yummy!  If you really want a quick meal, you can use a jar of spaghetti sauce and eat that with your spaghetti squash.  Use the squash instead of noodles.  Less carbs, and more veggies!

Let me know if you try it!

Posted under Recipes