This bunny does ha ha ha! So I broke out my True Blood Cookbook and found a tasty cocktail to warm my day.
The Lovin' in the Coven includes lemon citrus vodka, lemon, egg white, simple syrup and a blood orange mixer. I adore blood orange mixes, they add such a pop of flavor to any drink, especially paired with vodka.
This cocktail was a bit like a lemony gin fizz thanks to the egg white. So yummy!
I couldn't quite get the blood orange to float on top but that did not hinder it's deliciousness.
Howdy! Guess who got a mini deep-fryer for Christmas! This lady!! Now I can properly make ANYTHING fried! Muahahaha! Which is kind of funny because we rarely eat fried food but it was one of those...I need this is my tiny kitchen items he he! Ok let's be honest...I knew it might elevate my beignet game and I was all for THAT!
The True Blood Cookbook has a great recipe for wings and for a long time I had wanted to make fried chicken for Craig. The man deserves some meat! First thing was marinating the chicken in some Tabasco for about an hour, refrigerated of course. Then pouring in more veg oil than we would have thought into the fryer and letting it heat up to 350. While we waited for the oil to heat up, it was time to get the chicken ready. Mixed up the flour with some salt, pepper and garlic powder and then in a separate bowl whipped eggs and milk together.
Craig was helping me prepare the chicken legs and it wasn't until I took one of the little cold thighs into my hands that the realization hit me...I am not okay with this. Not to bring down the True Blood magic but my vegetarian nature was coming out and handling the chicken bits was so unappetizing. I've never been super picky about touching meat if it meant helping someone else. Other people eat meat and I have accepted that...so like a champ I battered those thighs....flour to egg to flour but after three I was done. It hurt my heart. Okay...back to the yummy.
Craig finished battering the rest of the legs/wings while I worked on the sauce! And nothing says southern comfort food like fried chicken with blue cheese sauce! This particular wing sauce included: crumbled blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, minced shallot and fresh lemon juice.
It was fun plopping the chicken into the basket and letting it work it's magic. I could only dream of the beignets...fries...funnel-cakes....who knows! We let the chicken fry until golden brown, about 5 mins really. This little cooker is freakin amazing!
Once cooled and drained of excess oil these babies were ready to serve. Obviously I have no idea what they tasted like but Craig likened them to a picnic in the park. They satisfied that need for fried meat and took him back to younger days, siting on a checkered blanket and scarfing on homemade chicken. The blue cheese sauce was a nice touch and definitely elevated their flavor.
Even though it was touch and go for me, I was really happy to try out my new fryer! It works wonderfully! I can't wait to try other recipes now that I have this new weapon in my kitchen arsenal he he!
I was missin True Blood somethin awful, plus I just got my new "Cake" dress in the mail so I thought how perfect!! Check out the link below to Amourdress. Now let's make a delicious cake to celebrate!
In the True Blood Eats Drinks and Bites Cookbook there is a recipe for an awesome vanilla cake with lemon filling...OMG it was just begging to be made! This is the cake that Maryann, Karl and Eggs surprise Tara with for her birthday! Now I have never really made a cake from scratch...so it was a long process but completely worth it.
To start I made the lemon filling by combining the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium pan. I gradually stirred, bringing it to a boil over medium heat. After about a minute I removed the pan and stirred in the butter and lemon zest and gradually whisked in the lemon juice. Then set it aside to cool. I found that one good sized lemon made just enough juice and zest! After it had cooled I had a small taste and it was just like a lemon square...one of my favorite desserts!
Quickly I made the berry topping by slicing up strawberries and raspberries and sprinkling them with sugar. For the cake mix, I first preheated the oven to 350 degrees and greased/flowered two round pans.
In my large mixing bowl I blended the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt then slowly added in the shortening, 2/3 cup of milk and vanilla.
After mixing for about 2 minutes I added the remaining 1/3 cup of milk and the egg whites. Making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl I mixed for a few more minutes and then the batter was ready to go into the pans! Jack was so interested but don't worry I didn't let him have any he he!
After pouring in the batter and placing the pans in the oven (for 30 mins) I started on the frosting.
First I beat the egg whites until they formed soft peaks, then in a pan I heated up the sugar, corn syrup and water bringing it to a boil. Using a thermometer I made sure the mixture reached 242 degrees. Once it was ready I slowly poured it into the egg whites while the mixer was running. I kept mixing until the frosting held stiff peaks, then added in the vanilla! This frosting was probably the most difficult task in making this cake...we had some trouble with the sugar hardening but that's what this is for, to learn! I think I might have to try it again sometime he he.
After the cakes were done baking and had cooled I took one layer, flipped it, and spread the lemon filling on, almost to the outer edge. I placed the second layer, right-side up, on top of the filling. I took the frosting and started with the sides of the cake and moved to the top, evenly covering the cake. Once the frosting was on I added the yummy berries, letting their juices flow down the sides of the cake.
The frosting was a bit melty he he! but it tasted so good! The cake itself was hardy and rich and definitely tasted home-made. The lemon filling was really tasty...the bit of tart helped to cut the sugary frosting, complimenting it. Absolutely the most perfect birthday cake...very much a good old-fashioned strawberry shortcake! I had to make myself stop eating it he he! SO GOOD!
We found some ginger beer so we thought it would be fun to make the Lou Pine's Special!
This drink was pretty simple...no smooshed cherries he he! Just pour in 2 ounces of Black Seal Rum, 1 ounce blood-orange juice, 1/2 ounce moonshine and 6 ounces of ginger beer. Add a lime wedge for decoration and you're done! Perfect for anyone lupine! I apologize for not having a lime wedge handy but this was a spontaneous drink he he! Kinda funny because I really liked it better than the Stake House Special.
The ginger really made it more flavorful and fizzy! Such a great mix with the moonshine and blood-orange! I will have to add this to my favorite drink list, right next to the Necromancer. Here is a link to a better quality video. I should up my video blogging skills ha ha! So sad!
It's a brand new year so I wanted to start it off right with a new cocktail and my favorite thing ever True Blood! Here is the Stake House Special out of True Blood Drinks and Bites.
To start I pitted 4 cherries and added them to 1/4 ounce simple syrup (I used raw sugar in case you were wondering about the color). Mashed up the cherries as best as I could then added 1 1/2 ounces of Moonshine, 1 1/2 Tsp of lemon juice and ice cubes. Next, I shook the mixture and poured (unstained) into a glass. Garnished with a lemon twist and voila! Delicious!
The Stake House Special is a bit strong, for me, but I liked the natural cherry flavoring. I went ahead and added some more simple syrup he he! Love my sweet drinks!
It was about time to make another cocktail! YAY!! he he
I guess all the wedding planning has been on my mind these days but what could go better with planning than a good drink!?
For the Lou Pine's Special I mixed Rum, Moonshine, ginger beer and blood orange juice together with a splash of lime.
I was surprised at the taste. I expected the Moonshine and ginger beer to make it bitter and hard to drink, at least for me, but I was wrong. In fact this in one of my new favorites, it's up there with the Necromancer!
The ginger beer and blood orange mix add a mildly sweet and refreshing flavor! Perfect for a hot afternoon. YUMMY!
Pretty sure I will be making these in the future he he!
I decided to make another dish from the True Blood Eats, Drinks and Bites. Check out my pot roast inspired by Luna and Sam!
Preheat the oven to 350.
Next heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium to high heat. Take your 4lb chuck roast and season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
Dust with some flower and place in pan. Make sure to brown all sides of roast.
Push the meat to one side of the pot and add the onions and garlic. Stir and cook until they are aromatic. Next add the beef broth.
Move the roast to the center of the pot and arrange the onions-garlic around it.
Now add the dark beer (if using), carrots and bay leaves. The beer is optional but I thought it would add to the overall flavor.
Cover the pot and place in oven for 30 mins. Check on the roast, lower heat to 300 and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Using a meat temp thermometer, make sure the core temperature reaches at least 150...which is medium rare.
Remove roast from pot and let stand for about 10 mins. Discard bay leaves and skim off any fat from the pot gravy.
Slice the roast and serve with the gravy and carrots/vegetables.
Craig was super hungry so this roast was perfect...and wont last long LOL!You can definitely taste the cayenne pepper and the dark beer adds a richer flavor.
In Craig's words, "delicious!"
Plus it will be great for his lunch tomorrow.
Here is a little video Google+ made me. Really cool...and scary...I mean who told it to do that. There is music and everything!
Straight from one of the first times Sookie is at Fangtasia. We all remember her getting drenched in Longshadow's blood after he is staked...completely ruining her little white sundress and any sense of normal.
Also, this scene has one of my favorite lines, "there's vampire in your
cleavage."
The pomagranite pairs well with the vodka and Lemoncello. The lemon is a bit strong and totally squished up my face he he!! But it's good...strong but refreshing.
Hey! Okay getting ready for another True Blood Sunday night and I wanted to make a drink to commemorate Talbot!
Russell and his love Talbot made for a great vampire romance and his death (Talbot) pushed Russell over the edge to create some of the best, most villainous, bloody and hilarious True Blood moments.
I have a few drinks in mind (from recipe book) that remind me of Ms. Pam-Pamela Swynford De Beaufort! She is one of my absolute, hands-down favorite characters. Her very existence makes the True Blood world sexy, cool and hilarious. Those one-liners kill me!
I need to take some notes from this great page for my next shoot/vid: Dress Like Pam-de-Beaufort Kristin Bauer van Straten rocks! She turned Pam into her own creation and changed the course of geekdom! I may be getting a little dramatic but hey...it's Pam. Definitely my woman crush!
Here are a few of my fav pics and/or quotes:
OMG...there are just so many gems to pick from! lol I also love this one...hits home a bit ha ha!
It is going to be hard to say goodbye to the show...maybe her and Eric can have a spin off!? Cheers, Bunny
Hey y'all, This recipe kind of scared me at first...I have never cooked anything with so many ingredients but I was up for the challenge. First I started off by finishing my Dead on the Beach then began chopping up all the onions, pepper, celery, garlic and meats. I figured it would be easier to have everything I needed ready to go. Once the oil was nice and hot I added the pork, ham and sausage. You also add bacon fat (later on) and I found it funny that all these came from the same animal...but looked so different.
After the meat is cooked, drain the oil, then add fat, onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
Cook until soft, 8 to 10 minuets, then add broth, green onion, rice, tomatoes, parsley and bay leaves.
This jambalaya turned out GREAT! Really flavorful and hardy, perfect for a big family dinner. Delicious!
And of course here is me chasing Jack down to introduce him. He spent the entire cooking experience underfoot and then the moment I try to grab him he runs away LOL!
