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Thanksgiving is next week? Don’t Panic… Yet!

November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If you have been having nightmares and waking up in the middle night because of the thought of cooking a turkey, well this post is for you! But I have to let you know I have never cooked and served an entire Thanksgiving dinner by myself, I have only been watching and helping my mom do it for… Well this will be the 28th year.

First things first… Breathe! It’s a meal for crying out loud and no matter what happens, I bet no one starves. ;)

I hope that by now you are close to knowing exactly who is coming. If not, get there by the end of this week so you can take full advantage of this coming weekend to plan and get everything under control for next week.

Here are some things that you can do to get organized for your Thanksgiving Dinner…

  • Figure out your menu! [Check out the Food Network for some yummy recipes if you're stuck.] Have your guests bring desserts so that you don’t even need to worry about it!
  • When your guests ask you what you can bring, delegate and tell them! Don’t feel bad… That’s what friends and family are for! They wouldn’t want to see you all stressed out and panicking over making a meal, so take the help!
  • Stock up now on the things you know you will need; butter, cranberries, pumpkin, flour, sugar, olive oil, brown sugar and pecans.
  • Stock up on alcohol… If that’s your family’s thing to do… Trader Joe’s always has great deals on wine!
  • Start cleaning the house now! Delegate to your husband and kids as well… If they want to eat next Thursday, they’ll help! And if that doesn’t work… Tell them that “Santa’s watching!!!” ;)
  • How are you decorating? What is your centerpiece? Do you have enough linens; table cloth, napkins, etc. Also, do you have enough dishes and silverware for everyone? Don’t forget the serving spoons! Need ideas, check out the Tip Junkie for 12 Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece Ideas.
Try not to stress out too much… This is supposed to be a happy and fun time of the year… Make sure it is just that! If you get organized now, the nightmares may subside and you will feel much better about cooking Thanksgiving dinner next week for your whole entire family! You can do it! If you screw it up though, don’t think you can just order Chinese food… Because even they are closed on Thanksgiving! [I learned that lesson a couple of years ago!]
What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish to make and share with your family?
Filed Under: Cooking, Desserts, Fall, Holidays, Thanksgiving · Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How To Make Stove Top Potpourri That Smells Like Fragrant Candles

November 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I got this potpourri this fall at the Fryeburg Fair in Maine... Keep your eye out for potpourris that aren't full of gross chemicals...

‘Tis the season that we all LOVE to walk into our homes and have them smelling like an apple pie has JUST come out of the oven. Right? I know that it’s what I love and brings me back to being a kid and coming in from a long day of sledding. My mom always had something yummy in the oven and/or something simmering on top of that stove that smelled just as delicious. Yes, candles are nice too, but with all of the chemicals that are inside so many of those waxes, it’s so nice and comforting to know that there is something out there that is a natural alternative. We all have that spice cabinet, or as my fiancé Nate calls it ‘The Bitchy Cabinet.” He calls it that because it’s so narrow and I try to cram every tiny spice bottle and jar I own into that one space. Every time he tries to find something, stuff falls all over the place. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? OK, so my point is that we all have I bet, at least the basic ingredients for a nice, seasonal simmering potpourri. The best part is that all of this is really inexpensive to do and I have found that Trader Joe’s has great deals on spices. Check next time you are there.

  • cinnamon sticks
  • nutmeg
  • whole cloves
  • all spice – whole
  • grated orange peel
  • water
Here is Fall [stove top] Simmering Potpourri recipe that I sometimes use as well!
  • 1 apple sliced
  • 2 tbsp. ground nutmeg
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tbsp. whole cloves
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tbsp. dried orange peel [or fresh peel]
  • 2 cups of water
Mix all of the ingredients in a small pan. Simmer for 1 – 2 hours. Refrigerate when done. Reheat the next day, adding more water each time it is reheated. Keep refrigerated!
Since Christmas is right around the corner, you may enjoy this recipe as you decorate your home for the holiday’s or while you have family and friends over.
Christmas Time Simmering Potpourri
  • 5 – 6 cinnamon sticks, broken
  • 1 tbsp. lemon peel
  • 1 tbsp. orange peel
  • 1/2 cup whole cloves
  • 1 tbsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup whole allspice
  • 1 tbsp. bay leaf spices
  • 2 slices of dried apples, optional
Mix all of the ingredients in a small pan. Simmer for 1 – 2 hours. Refrigerate when done. Reheat the next day, adding more water each time it is reheated. Keep refrigerated!
Other simple simmering recipes that you may enjoy include:
#1
  • vanilla [a few drops]
  • orange peels
#2
  • dried lavender
  • 1 tbsp. nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp. whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
#3
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • peel from 1 lemon
  • fresh rosemary
  • whole cloves
I hope that you are able to enjoy these recipes this fall and holiday season!

 

Filed Under: Fall, recipes, Winter · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Stiffler’s Mom’s American Apple Pie

October 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Can you believe that it has been twelve years since the first and original American Pie was released? Well it’s true. I am also quite sure that every week since then someone has made an American Pie reference to me and the most often thing I am asked by anyone that needs to ask my name is, “Have you ever seen American Pie?”… I always want to say “Is a frogs @$$ water tight?”… Of course I’ve seen that movie!… In fact, the first time I ever watched it was with my first high school boyfriend and my parent’s… I bet I turned every shade of pink and RED there is. It’s very funny now when I think about it.

I thought it would be fun to share my mom’s… Stiffler’s Mom’s American Apple Pie recipe because what’s better in the fall than a homemade apple pie made with freshly picked apples? Not a whole lot, except maybe some vanilla ice cream! The recipe even includes a really easy pie crust recipe that I haven’t screwed up… If I can do it, You can most definitely do it!

You will need approximately 10 medium sized apples for this pie. I like to go to Orchard Hill Farm in Cumberland, Maine and pick my own McIntosh apples! Pssst! They also have cider donuts that are to die for… They are made fresh at 6AM daily!

Two- Crust Pie Recipe

  • 1 3/4- cups flour
  • 1 – teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 – cup vegetable oil
  • 2 – tablespoons COLD water

Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Blend in the oil thoroughly with a fork. Sprinkle all of the water over the mixture and mix thoroughly. Press the dough firmly into a ball. If the dough is too dry [I honestly haven't had this problem yet] but if you do, you can add another tablespoon of oil. ♦ Note from Stiffler’s Mom: If you add more water, you will make the crust tough.

Roll out the dough between two pieces of waxed paper. Then take the top layer of waxed paper off and press the crust into the pie plate and then peel off the other sheet of paper. [You could also cut the dough into strips and make a fancy pants apple pie if you'd like... I think I may take the time next time and do it that way!] The pastry should have about a 1/2 inch extra over the top of the pie plate.

Stiffler’s Mom’s American Apple Pie

  • 3/4 – cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/4 – cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 – teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 – teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 – teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 – tablespoon butter

Line the pie plate with the Two- Crust Pie that you made from the above recipe directions.

Prepare the apples by washing, peeling, paring/coring. Slice them fairly thing, but not too thin! In a large bowl mix the apple slices, sugar and spices well so that they are all covered. Put the apples into the pastry shell and dot with the butter. Cover with the top pie crust pastry or pastry slices. Pinch and flute the edges.  ♦ Tip: You could also use cookie cutters and cut out some cute designs on the top pie crust pastry before you top the pie. Sprinkle the top of the pie with some cinnamon sugar and Voilà! You have an apple pie that is ready for the oven! Bake at 425°F for 40 minutes and then reduce the heat to 325°F for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. I put a cookie sheet under the pie in the oven as it cooks to catch any spillage so that it doesn’t burn onto your oven and cause a mess.

Make sure you let the pie cool off long enough so that when you slice a piece and top it with some vanilla ice cream, the ice cream doesn’t turn to soup! ;)

Oh & if you make this recipe, I would LOVE to know how it turned out and if you loved it as much as I always have. Please post your photos of your version of Stiffler’s Mom’s America Apple Pie my Stiffler’s Social Scoop Facebook fan page!

 

Filed Under: Desserts, Fall, Maine, recipes · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maine’s Social Media Event Double Header

September 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This week in Portland, Maine could quite possibly be summed up as the best week ever for social media! With only a couple days of summer left, there is no better way to ring in the beginning of fall. Are you a small business owner, professional marketer, PR professional, entrepreneur,  and/or non-profit?  Do you want to learn how to maximize the results you get from social media? Or do you feel like you need to get on board with social media to get your brand out there, but you have no clue where to begin & are completely overwhelmed? You are certainly not alone! This is the perfect week for you to get on track & figure out what you should be doing & how you should go about doing it. There are two big events this week in Portland, Maine; Social Media FTW Fall Conference & Social Media Breakfast Maine…

This Wednesday, September 22nd from 8AM to 5PM is the 3rd annual Social Media FTW Fall Conference at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. This conference will include sessions taught by industry leaders in social media, blogging, podcasting, branding, internet marketing and so much more. This full-day conference promises to deliver hands-on help for those who are new to social networking as well as higher level strategy sessions for those already involved in social marketing efforts. There are so many great speakers lined up for the day. I am looking forward to hearing from the two keynote speakers; Mike Volpe, CMO at Hubspot & Saul Colt, Head of Magic at Freshbooks, as well as networking, meeting new faces & making new connections.

*Just added: Unofficial September Tweetup 5 – 8:00 PM; After FTW! Cash bar. Abromson Center, USM, Portland

The following afternoon, September 23rd from 4 – 7:30 PM is September’s Social Media Breakfast Maine at the Eastland Park Hotel. It is usually in the morning & it is usually breakfast, but because of the previous day’s FTW Conference, they decided to move it to the afternoon & have it be a happy hour style event. The topic is How Local Breweries Are Using Social Media. [I wrote a blog post titled; 'Find Your Favorite Maine Brewery Using Social Media', back in July that you might want to check out. :) ] This ‘breakfast’  will be different in that there won’t be any bacon, but there will be beer. That’s a fair trade right? Also, Chris Brogan will be there co-hosting the event with Amanda O’Brien. Chris’s blog, [chrisbrogan.com], is in the Top 5 of the Advertising Age Power150. He has over 11 years’ experience in online community, social media, and related technologies. Oh & he also knows a thing or two about good beer. ;)

This is guaranteed to be a week chock-a-block full of anything & everything social media. Social media marketing, as we all know is extremely powerful. There are so many possibilities & opportunities. I hope you join me this week & are able to take part in Maine’s social media double header!

Filed Under: Blogging, Breweries, Fall, Maine, Portland, Social Media, technology · Tagged With: , , , , ,

Football Widow? If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em!

September 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Well ladies, it’s the time of year when we lose our boyfriends, fiancés, & husbands to their religion AKA football! Now that the season has officially started, it is probably safe to say that you will now have plenty of time to get the things done that you may not have been able to do during your weekends during the summer. [That's one positive way to look at this ;) ] We all cherish every minute of those hot & sunny Saturday & Sunday’s… Now you can get your mani or pedi or get some early Christmas shopping done sans the hubby on those football Sunday’s. [Only if you don't have any little ones!] It’s a win, win… & if you think you’re going to “win” & he is going to suddenly not want to watch football, you’re dead wrong. It’s a guy thing & I honestly don’t REALLY believe that every guy loves football as much as they pretend to… They love the comradery & the violence. It’s all about how awesome it is to potentially knock a grown man, legally, flat out on the ground. Right?

I’ve learned that the best thing you can do for your relationship is to embrace his love for football. Suck it up ladies… Well as long as he doesn’t mind! Some guys don’t like watching the game with their ladies because all they do is chit chat and/or this is their time away from you [& that's OK too!]… So if that’s your situation… Sorry, I can’t really help ya… But, if he doesn’t mind you watching the game with him, I can help make that experience more enjoyable for you both.

Ladies, the first order of business when it comes to leaving your “Football Widow” title behind is to learn the rules… Or at least become familiar with what is going on & why it’s happening. You’ll learn something new every game you watch, but what has helped me is to read Football Rules for Women – A Cheat Sheet.

The second order of business is to dress the part! Yup, that means you get to go shopping for a cute shirt or jersey that represents your man’s favorite team. One of my favorite website’s for cute NFL stuff is Lady Fanatics. They have the cutest shirts that will help you play the part! ;)

OK, so we’ve covered the rules & what you’re going to wear… Now it’s about what you’re going to make for you all to snack on. Wings… They LOVE wings… So learn to master the art of making them… Here’s a fabulous recipe… & it involves the grill… Double points right there ;)

The grill makes these wings perfect!

Grill Master Chicken Wings [I got the recipe from Allrecipes... One of my all time favs for finding yummy dinner ideas!]

    Ingredients for the wings:

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup Italian style salad dressing
  • 3 lbs. of chicken wings cut apart at joints, wing tips discarded
    Ingredients for the sauce:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce!, such as Frank’s Red Hot, or to taste

Directions:
1. Combine 1/2 cup soy sauce, Italian dressing, and chicken wings in a large, zip-top bag. Close bag and refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the 1 teaspoon soy sauce and the hot pepper sauce. Turn off heat and reserve.
3. Remove the chicken wings from the marinade and pat dry. Cook the wings on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until the chicken is well browned and no longer pink, 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Place grilled wings in a large bowl. Pour butter sauce over wings; toss to mix well.

You also need yummy dip & chips to tie everyone over throughout the game… Every time I make this dip it is devoured!

Seven Layer Taco Dip

    Ingredients:

  • 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
  • 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
  • 1 large tomato, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 bunch chopped green onions
  • 1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
2. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
3. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

So there you have it… Football widow no more! But don’t forget the beer!

Are you a football widow? Do you resent the fact that your hubby is obsessed with watching football or are you happy to embrace it & realize that it could become a Sunday Funday activity for you both?

Filed Under: Fall, Football, recipes, Relationships · Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Getting the Most Out of Fall in Maine

September 10, 2011 by 3 Comments

Thompson's Orchard. New Gloucester. Maine


“Wake me up when September ends.” Did anyone else hear those Green Day lyrics on September 1st & kinda sorta agree? I have to admit that at first, the idea of summer ending makes me so sad, but once I begin to think of how wonderful the next few months are in Maine during fall/autumn, I smile.

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Filed Under: Fall, Maine, Outdoor Activities, Portland · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

February 28, 2010 by 3 Comments

I got this recipe from a friend a couple of years ago. I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin custard, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee & well just about anything to do with pumpkins. I know that you typically hear more about pumpkins in the fall and around Halloween, but I know there are some more fellow pumpkin lovers out there that will enjoy this delicious recipe. These cookies are soft & sort of cake like, but so yummy! You will keep going back for more, telling yourself it is your last cookie each trip, but it won’t be ;) I did not double the recipe because I did not have to…I got about 50 cookies but you could most certainly double it and send your kids or husband off to school/work with some extra cookies to share. The recipe can be found here. Write it down, bake some now & tuck the recipe away for this fall. I cook them between 8 & 9 minutes & I like to cool them completely before eating (they just taste better when they are cooooooled). The recipe can be found here or under the “Yummy Recipes” tab at the top of the page.

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Filed Under: Fall, recipes · Tagged With: , , ,