Orange and Almond

Winter Salad

This salad is perfect while orange are plentiful and so delicious.  I've made this recipe for many years.  It came from an old "Lion House" cook Book.  The original recipe calls for a can of mandarin oranges.  Trust me, a fresh orange peeled and sliced is much, much better,  The recipe has only a few ingredients.  This allows you to add what you and your family like.  I made this tonight and added a salmon filet and  avocado.  In the words of my husband "It is delicious!".  Bon Appetite, Peggy


Dressing
1 tsp. orange zest
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1 Tbs. good seasoning dry italian mix
2/3 cups veg oil
1 Tbs. sugar
2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake.


Candied Almond (don't skip this step, it really makes the salad pop!)
 6 oz slivered almonds
4 Tbs. sugar
in a skillet add almonds and sugar stir constantly over medium heat.  As the sugar melt, the sugar will coat the almonds.  Almonds will brown quickly so watch carefully.  


Salad
1 head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried and chilled.
( I add a couple of handfuls of spring mix)
1/2 med red onion thinly sliced.
2 oranges peeled and sliced

Combine
Toss salad with oranges and onions.  Add dressing and top with almonds. 

Add-ons 
jicama,  adds a nice crunch
Avocado
Fish or chicken.  Add a protein and make it a whole meal.

GAME DAY

and

BIRTHDAY WISHES

THE GAME OF THE YEAR!

THE "GOLDEN DOMERS" VS

THE "MOBIL HOMERS"

Today is Thad's Birthday.  Thad's birthday wish is for Alabama (the mobil homers)

to crush  Notre Dame (The golden domers).  So let's all send winning vibes 

to Nick and the boys.  

ROLL TIDE!

Thad's favorite Half Time snack

 GREEN CHILI BITES

2 4oz cans whole green chiles

2 cups grated monterey jack cheese

2 cups grated cheddar cheese 

6 eggs beaten

1/4 tsp. salt

pinch pepper

a few hits of Tabasco sauce

preheat oven to 325.  Butter a 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Slice and open chiles

 and place them on the bottom of the dish.  Mix grated cheeses together and sprinkle over chilies.  Add salt, pepper and tabasco the beaten eggs.  Pour over cheese and chilies .  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and firm when dish is shaken.  Cut into squares and serve hot.

Bon Appetite, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY THAD.   Peggy

Today for some reason I decided to clean out the chicken coop. After all it was a nice day, sunny and all.  So why was I frozen to the bone when the task was completed?   Once inside I checked the temperature, a chilling 2 degrees.  But as you can see the chickens had fun!  Peggy :)

With the holidays knocking at our doors.  Here are some delicious and fun drink recipes using lavender simple syrup to make for friends and family.  The recipes posted are family friendly.  But if your inclined to make something a little stronger, I hear they are great too.  Visit my new website www.lavenderapple.com .   To thank you for all your support we are offering FREE SHIPPING on orders $50 or over.  Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Bon Appetite,  Peggy




Fauxjitos 

for each glass

1 spring mint, plus some for garnish
3 Tbs. lavender simple syrup, or to taste
3 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice
8 oz sparkling mineral water
crushed ice


In each glass gently muddle your simple syrup with mint leaves.  Add lime juice and sparkling water.  Top off with crushed ice, and garnish with mint leaves.  yum





Fuzzy lemonade

1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
1 qt. sparkling mineral water
Lavender simple syrup (anywhere from 1/4 cup up to 3/4 cup)
crushed ice

Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher and serve over crushed ice.




Simply Simple Lavender Lemonade

crystal light "Pure"
water, or water with gas
lavender simple syrup

Each packet makes 16 oz.  mix packet with water.  Pour lemonade into 2 8oz glasses, over crushed ice. Add 1 Tbs. lavender simple syrup in each glass.  Simply de-vine!