St Patty's Day Slow Cooker Reuben Sliders ♥

This would be perfect for St Patrick's Day!  ♥


Perfect slow cooker meal ready when you get home!  Try my slow cooker Reuben Sliders!  Using my favorite beef brisket brand from sponsored company Texas Based Goode CO. 

Satisfying as the thirty-five years Goode Co spent curating the tastiest blend of Texas culture and cuisine around. As a family-owned and operated business, they take the craft of serving the finest Texas fare very seriously.In fact, their barbeque pits haven’t stopped smoking since they first opened their doors in 1977 – because they figure when you’re in it for the long haul, no shortcut’s worth taking.

 

 Ingredients ♥

 1 (2- to 3-pound) corned beef brisket with spices, trim fat Classic Mesquite Smoked Brisket

12 ounces dark ale beer or non-alcoholic beer*

1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, chopped

1 (14-ounce) can sauerkraut, drained

16 whole wheat  or marble rye party buns, sliced horizontally

 Thousand Island dressing, or mustard if desired

8 (3/4-ounce) slices  Swiss Cheese, each cut in half

Directions ♥

Trim fat from brisket. Place into 4-quart slow cooker; add beer and onion. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6-8 hours or High heat setting 4-6 hours, or until meat is very tender.

 Remove meat from slow cooker. Place onto cutting board. Cut across grain into thin slices.

 Drain liquid from slow cooker; discard. Add cooked meat and sauerkraut to slow cooker. Cook on High heat setting 15-18 minutes or until sauerkraut is heated through.

 Spread cut-sides of buns with salad dressing, or mustard if desired. Evenly divide meat mixture among bottom half of buns; top each with 1 piece cheese and top half of bun. Serve immediately. ♥

 Tip

 Corned beef brisket usually comes with pickling spices. If you choose a brisket that does not contain spices, add 1 tablespoon pickling spices. You can purchase pickling spices in the spice aisle of the supermarket.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

St Patty's Day Slow Cooker Reuben Sliders ♥

This would be perfect for St Patrick's Day!  ♥


Perfect slow cooker meal ready when you get home!  Try my slow cooker Reuben Sliders!  Using my favorite beef brisket brand from sponsored company Texas Based Goode CO. 

Satisfying as the thirty-five years Goode Co spent curating the tastiest blend of Texas culture and cuisine around. As a family-owned and operated business, they take the craft of serving the finest Texas fare very seriously.In fact, their barbeque pits haven’t stopped smoking since they first opened their doors in 1977 – because they figure when you’re in it for the long haul, no shortcut’s worth taking.

 

 Ingredients ♥

 1 (2- to 3-pound) corned beef brisket with spices, trim fat Classic Mesquite Smoked Brisket

12 ounces dark ale beer or non-alcoholic beer*

1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, chopped

1 (14-ounce) can sauerkraut, drained

16 whole wheat  or marble rye party buns, sliced horizontally

 Thousand Island dressing, or mustard if desired

8 (3/4-ounce) slices  Swiss Cheese, each cut in half

Directions ♥

Trim fat from brisket. Place into 4-quart slow cooker; add beer and onion. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6-8 hours or High heat setting 4-6 hours, or until meat is very tender.

 Remove meat from slow cooker. Place onto cutting board. Cut across grain into thin slices.

 Drain liquid from slow cooker; discard. Add cooked meat and sauerkraut to slow cooker. Cook on High heat setting 15-18 minutes or until sauerkraut is heated through.

 Spread cut-sides of buns with salad dressing, or mustard if desired. Evenly divide meat mixture among bottom half of buns; top each with 1 piece cheese and top half of bun. Serve immediately. ♥

 Tip

 Corned beef brisket usually comes with pickling spices. If you choose a brisket that does not contain spices, add 1 tablespoon pickling spices. You can purchase pickling spices in the spice aisle of the supermarket.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

 

Rainbow Jello For St. Patty's ♥

Here is a supercute low sugar version of layered jello for St. Patty's Day. ♥ 

Ingredients ♥ 

4 packages sugar free Jell-O (3 ounces ) assorted flavored gelatin
6 envelopes sugar free Jell-O unflavored gelatin, divided
5-3/4 cups boiling water, divided
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened low 
sugar condensed milk
1/4 cup cold water

Directions ♥ 

In a small bowl, combine one package flavored gelatin and one envelope unflavored gelatin. Stir in 1 cup boiling water until dissolved. Let mixture cool slightly for 3-5 minutes.
Pour mixture into a 13-in. x 9-in. dish coated with cooking spray.
Refrigerate until set but not firm, about 20 minutes.
In small bowl, combine the condensed milk and 1 cup boiling water.
In another bowl, sprinkle two envelopes unflavored gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Stir in 3/4 cup boiling water. Add to sweetened condensed milk mixture.
Spoon 1 cup of the creamy gelatin mixture over the first flavored gelatin layer. Refrigerate until set but not firm, about 25 minutes.
Repeat from beginning of recipe twice alternating flavored gelatin with creamy gelatin layers.
Make sure to let the dissolved gelatin sit for a few minutes before spooning over previous layer. This will keep the layers "pure".
Chill each layer until set but not firm before spooning next layer on top.
Make final flavored gelatin and spoon over top.
Refrigerate for 2 hours after finishing last layer before cutting into 1-in. squares.

Serve and enjoy! ♥ 

Skinny Shepherd's Pie Using Cauliflower ♥

My secret ingredient to make this low carb dish.. cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes! A perfect healthy dinner perfect for upcoming St Patrick's day! ♥ 

Ingredients ♥

3 lbs of turkey ground beef

2 large carrots, grated or finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 tbsp dried crushed rosemary

1 tbsp dried thyme

5 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce 

6 oz tomato paste

a few glugs of red wine, approximately 3/4 cup, you can also substitute this with beef broth

olive oil 

salt and pepper

2 large heads of cauliflower

Directions ♥

Prepare the cauliflower mash: separate the heads of cauliflower into florets. This method is a good start if you haven’t worked with cauliflower before.Place the florets in a a large pot with a tight fitting lid and add water until there is about an inch in the bottom of the pot. Put the lid on, turn the heat to medium high and allow the florets to steam until they are all fork tender (check the stalks too… the fork should easily pierce them). Drain the water from the pot, turn the heat down slightly and allow the remaining water to steam from the pot and the cauliflower. Watch it closely so they don’t burn. This step isn’t necessary, but it will give you a thicker end result.

Place the steamed florets into a food processor with a pat of butter, a pinch of salt and puree until smooth. You may need to do a couple batches and stop the processor occasionally to scrape the sides down or tamp down unruly pieces of cauliflower. When it’s smooth, place the mash in a bowl and set aside. You can do this step ahead of time and keep the mash in the fridge if you like.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Brown the turkey ground beef with a little bit of olive oil over medium-high heat. When it’s cooked through, remove the beef from the pan and drain off the fat. 

Saute the onions and carrots in the pan until they are tender. Add the herbs, garlic, and tomato paste, then add the cooked ground beef. Stir until everything is well combined. Turn the heat down slightly and add the worcestershire sauce  and the wine (or beef stock). Simmer until most of the liquid is reduced. Adjust seasonings to taste at this point.

Put the meat and veggies in the bottom of a glass baking dish.( I like to use grandmas iron skillet!) You might have to use two dishes unless you halved the recipe. Spoon the mash on top and use a spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth it into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, allow to cool slightly and serve.♥

st patrick's day party! ♥

Well in honor of st patty's day even though I am not Irish, I was married to an Irish man for many years and learned to appreciate the st patrick's day festivities.. Here is a great sampler for your st patty's day party with a twist on the traditional Irish dinner.... enjoy!


Mini Reubens ♥

Ingredients ♥

4-5 lb corned beef roast

4 cups warm water

12 oz Stout beer

1 loaf cocktail rye bread

1 can sauerkraut

8 oz sliced swiss cheese

1 cup thousand island dressing

Combine the corned beef along with the seasoning packing in a crock pot. Add in 4 cups of warm water and 1 can of stout beer. Simmer on low for 6 hours. Remove from the crock pot and slice.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Lay out slices of the cocktail bread to cover the bottom of the pan. Place slices of cheese on half of the bread pieces. Toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Top each piece of melted cheese bread with slices of corned beef, 1 tablespoon of sauerkraut and 1 teaspoon of thousand island dressing. I used toothpicks to hold together the sandwiches. Place the sandwiches on a platter and serve. enjoy! ♥

Mashed Potato Martinis ♥

4 large Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons fat free butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch white pepper
1/3 cup fat free heavy cream
Add potatoes to a stockpot and cover in water and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander.
Transfer potatoes to a large bowl and mash until smooth. Add butter, salt, and pepper to potatoes and mash until butter is melted. Mash in cream until blended. Spoon into individual martini glasses and serve warm with small bowls of toppings on the side. Toppings forst patty's day can include sour cream, bacon bits, sharp chedder shredded cheese. enjoy! ♥

Mini Veggie Shooters! ♥

To make these cute shooters: Place a few tablespoons of creamy dip in the bottom of a shot glass;( check out my ranch dip recipe below)  next add a few cut veggies, such as baby carrots, red pepper slices and blanched asparagus tips. Prepare these up to 4 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to serve.

My recipe for ranch dip
..http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2011/08/low-fat-buttermilk-dresssing.html
 1 cup mayonnaise, low-fat
1/2 cup buttermilk low fat
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon each finely chopped parsley, and freshly snipped chives, and dill
1 clove garlic, pressed through a garlic press
1/2 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together all the ingredients and chill serve as a dip or dressing.

Rainbow Fruit Kabobs with marscarpone dip ♥
http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2011/08/fruit-kabobs-with-low-fat-mascarpone.html

6 oz low fat or fat free cream cheese
8 oz mascarpone cheese
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp vanilla
1. Beat mascarpone and cream cheese together in a large bowl.
2. Add all other ingredients into bowl.
3. Beat together until creamy and well blended. 4. Serve with fruit kabobs, arrange kabobs with fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries, pineapple add fresh mint leaves for garnish. enjoy!

now for the cocktails!
St Pattys Day Irish whiskey sour ♥

 Ingredients ♥
1/2 lime, cut into small wedges
1/4 cup diced cucumber
5 sprigs fresh mint, plus more for garnish
Ice
2 ounces whiskey
4 ounces cold limeade (I like Newman's or Simply Limeade)

Directions ♥
Combine the lime, cucumber and mint in the bottom of a glass and muddle to release the juices. Fill the glass with ice and pour in whiskey. Top off with limeade. Garnish with fresh mint and a wedge of lime or cucumber wheel.

Can also be multiplied and served as a punch.

St Pattys day shots ♥  http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2012/03/st-pattys-day-shots.html

1 cup water

One 3-ounce package lime Jello
4 ounces Irish whisky (such as Jameson)
2 ounces Baily’s Irish Creme
1 ounce white chocolate liqueur (or white crème de cacao)
1 ounce crème de menthe
whipped cream fat free

Make 20 shots.

♥ Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
♥ In a medium, heatproof bowl, stir the lime Jello and boiling water until totally dissolved.
♥ Add the whiskey, Baily’s, chocolate liqueur, and cremem de menthe to the mix and stir until well combined.
♥ Pour mix into your little cups and refrigerate for about 4 – 6 hours until firm.
♥ note..add fat free whipped cream on top and top off with an oreo cookie, and green sprinkles!

and a little crafty diy ...why not leave your guests with a little lucky scratch off lottery ticket as a perfect party favor! supercute!

DIY St Pattys party favor  ♥ ..

Kraft card stock, black ink and letter stamps, a penny, scratch off lottery ticket, a fine tipped black marker, washi tape, brown ink, stapler and the Martha Stewart scorer/folder.
1. Cut your card stock into 9in x 3 in strips.

2. Score each strip at 1 inch and 5 1/2 inches. Scoring basically makes it easier to fold the paper and gives you nice clean, sharp creases. Don't have a scorer? Just fold it :)

3. Stamp your phrase and shamrock on the front of the card and secure a shiny penny with a strip of washi tape.

4. Now, fold the 1 inch flap up at the scored line and staple the lotto ticket inside that fold (make sure to staple the part of the ticket you don't scratch off.). The large flap will fold down over the lotto ticket and tuck inside the smaller stapled fold just like a matchbook.

5. Use a small brown ink pad to ink the edges of the cards and the fine tipped marker to add the shamrock stem.

 and dont forget the doggies! here are supercute st pattys day treats for dogs!
from Posh puppy Boutique  ♥ http://www.poshpuppyboutique.com/St_Patrick_s_Day_Mini_Bones_Gift_Box_p/sbz-stpat-minibone.htm

and don"t forget the table..I love elegant european accessories I find at antique stores, and my fave store Marshalls!

Happy St Patty's!
xoxo Kira ♥

avocado bruschetta ♥

So I am in this avocado fix...can't get enough so here is a perfect appetizer..hey why not for St Patty's day (it's green!) ..with an italian twist..avocado bruschetta with a balsamic reduction yummy! ♥

Serves 1 to 2
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Sea salt
2 slices rustic bread, 1/2 inch thick
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, peeled, partially smashed
1 ripe but firm Hass avocado
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until vinegar reduces by half and has a thick syrup consistency, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Preheat oven broiler or grill pan. Brush bread slices on both sides with olive oil. Rub with garlic clove. Toast in oven or on pan until golden brown, turning once. Transfer to a plate.
Trim tip of avocado. Run knife vertically around center of avocado, cutting into flesh until knife meets the pit. Gently twist the avocado open and remove pit. Carefully remove the skin, keeping avocado intact. Thinly slice avocado halves crosswise. Arrange avocado slices on bread, overlapping in an accordian pattern. Brush with balsamic syrup. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and generously season with black pepper. enjoy!  ♥

st patty's day shots ♥

st patty's day is tomorrow~~ and here is a supercute idea for a shot! enjoy! ♥

1 cup water

One 3-ounce package lime Jello

4 ounces Irish whisky (such as Jameson)

2 ounces Baily’s Irish Creme

1 ounce white chocolate liqueur (or white crème de cacao)

1 ounce crème de menthe

whipped cream fat free

Make 20 shots.

 

 ♥  Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.

 ♥ In a medium, heatproof bowl, stir the lime Jello and boiling water until totally dissolved.

♥   Add the whisky, Baily’s, chocolate liqueur, and cremem de menthe to the mix and stir until well combined.

♥  Pour mix into your little cups and refrigerate for about 4 – 6 hours until firm.

♥  note..add fat free whipped cream on top and top off with an oreo cookie, and green sprinkles!