How to Make a SkinnyGirl Margarita

It seems to be all the rage...however, it isn't too hard to make at home.   I'm more of a wine drinker...but I found this today! I am going to have to have the girls over for a fun Skinny Girl Party this summer for sure!

How to Make a SkinnyGirl Margarita eHow.com

Limencello

I love the real stuff made locally in Italy.

However, you can't buy the " real stuff" here in Canada.

You can't even make the REAL stuff here in Canada, as they use Ever clear which is so high in alcohol that it is illegal here, due to the fact that if a dumb person tried to drink it straight up...they'd probably die.

Don't get scared....Lemoncello is delicious! A nice after dinner aperitif.  Italians usually make their own...with their own lemons and bottle it themselves. They are very proud of their end result, with very good reason, as a small sip of it is absolutely delicious.

So I have come up with my own " Canadian " solution. It will never replace the real stuff, but it sure has come pretty darn close!  Without the same amount of alcohol.

1. Buy a 750 ml bottle of Vodka.
2. Peel 10 lemons with a vegetable peeler.
3. Put Vodka and lemon peel in a container and let sit for a week in a cool place.  Swirl around daily.

4. Strain the vodka to remove all of the  lemon.
5.  Make 1 cup of simple syrup.   Boil 1 cup of water in a small pot and add 1 cup of sugar, stir until dissolved. Let cool.
6. Mix lemon vodka and simple syrup. Store for 1 month in the refrigerator.

ENJOY straight up, or use it recipes, such as Limoncello risotto,  melon with Limoncello, or my big plan is the make the ULTIMATE Limoncello Cosmo!  I will try it out on my friends this week-end and get back to you!

Lavender Gin- to make a Lavender Lane!

Here we go with the LAVENDER again!

I had to pick up my favourite Magazine at the LCBO today. ( Liquor Store)

they hand these out for free every season, and they are full of great recipes and drink idea's!

Today I found this one.

Lavender Lane Cocktail

6 lemon bits ( a slice of lemon cut into small triangles)

3 mint leaves

1 1/2 oz Lavender Gin ( recipe to follow)

dash of bitters

1/2 oz honey syrup

soda water

 Muddle lemon and mint in a 10 oz highball glass. Add ice to fill. Add lavender Gin, bitters and honey syrop. Stir. top with soda, garnish with a mint sprig.

Lavender Gin Recipe

Add 1 tsp dried lavender flowers to a 26 oz bottle of gin. Let sit for 4 days, Strain and rebottle the gin. Lavender Gin can be used in all recipes that call for Gin.

Tips:

Simple Syrup:  We keep a bottle of this in our bar fridge at all times. Make ahead and have handy.

Just combine equal parts sugar and boiling water, still until dissolved, store in fridge.

and how about this appetizer to serve with them?

Cucumber Rolls with Smoked Trout

If you don't like smoked trout replace it with thin slices of rare roast beef. If you use beef, you will probably have to cut the slices in half lengthwise. You can make these up to an hour ahead of time.

1 English cucumber
salt
1 smoked trout or 12 thin slices of roast beef
Lemon juice
½ cup (125 mL) freshly grated horseradish

1. Cut the cucumber in half crosswise. Using a vegetable peeler or a mandolin, cut thin strips lengthwise from each half, turning the cucumber as you reach the seeds. You want strips of cucumber with a band of green skin at the top and bottom. Trim the strips.
2. Divide the smoked trout into 24 pieces and squeeze over a little lemon juice. Place a piece of trout on each cucumber strip and roll up, securing with a toothpick. Top with grated horseradish.

Makes about 24

Cheers!

Having a Party? Eat and drink well, without the extra grams of fat!

These appetizers are protein-rich and cutting out the crust makes them incredibly low-cal! Not to mention so tasty, easy and pretty!

27 calories per serving!!!

4 slices prosciutto, fat trimmed, halved
2 egg whites
1 whole egg
3 tablespoons nonfat plain Greek yogurt  ( if you can't find this, try using fat free sour cream)
1 tablespoon chopped black olives  ( optional)
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat oven to 400°F. Coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Press 1 piece prosciutto into each of 8 cups. Whisk egg whites and whole egg until smooth. Whisk in yogurt, olives, rosemary, salt and pepper. Divide mixture among cups. Bake, uncovered, until quiches are cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.  ( I think they take longer than that) Garnish with rosemary.


makes 8
Per serving: 27 calories, 1.1 g fat, 0.3 g saturated, 0.4 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 3.6 g protein

Courtesy of Epicurious


AMAZING!

Peppermint Cosmo

One cute cocktail contains only 7 grams of sugar—including the candy cane. Sip and stay sleek!

This recipe makes 8

1 cup pomegranate juice
Juice of 1 lime
4 ounces vodka
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
8 ice cubes
8 mini candy canes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Combine juices, vodka, peppermint and 1/2 cup water in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into 8 shot glasses. Garnish with candy canes and mint.




Ok, you LOVE those hot gooey, cheesey dips don't you? We ALL do, but really, do we need the 98897876767 grams of fat per serving? And WHO stops at ONE serving?  I want my wine and my food! so check this out!
 
 

Weight Watchers Hot Asiago Dip

1 cup nonfat cottage cheese

1/4 cup nonfat cream cheese
2 tablespoons nonfat cream cheese
1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/4 cup asiago Cheese - grated, (or parmesan)
2 scallions - sliced
1 jalapeno pepper - seeded, deveined and minced

In a blender or food processor, puree the cottage and cream cheeses; add the mustard. Add the Asiago cheese, scallions and jalapeno; pulse to combine.

Transfer the mixture to a 2-cup microwavable dish; microwave on High until heated through, 3 minutes. Serve at once.
Serves 8.
WW Points: 1 pt.

Sooo, do THESE look yummy and fattening?

HA! you were fooled! Another healthy appetizer!

Baked Spring Rolls

Makes 10 spring rolls. ( but make more, as they will go fast!)

Ingredients


•10 large spring roll wrappers (refrigerated)
•1/2 lb extra-lean ground meat (turkey, pork, or beef)
•1 Tbsp fresh ginger, peeled & minced
•1-2 Tbsp sesame oil
•1/4 tsp salt
•3 cups cabbage, shredded
•1 large carrot, peeled & grated
•1 Tbsp water
Preheat oven to 350 F

 Shred cabbage, peel and grate carrots, peel and mince ginger.
 In  frying pan, saute  meat in 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil with ginger and salt until well cooked.
 Transfer meat to large mixing bowl, and pour off excess oil. Return pan to heat, adding cabbage, carrots, and water, and cook until all the water has evaporated, and cabbage is clear.
 Toss cabbage and carrots with meat.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick, zero-calorie cooking spray.
Separate spring roll wrappers carefully, and brush each with sesame oil. (This can be done as you go.) Spoon a small amount (one tenth of the mixture) into a diagonal line across one corner of a single wrapper, then fold up the top and bottom and roll into a cylindrical shape.
 Place finished rolls on cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes on each side, or until golden brown, spraying with zero-calorie cooking spray upon turning.
Serve hot with plum or sweet-and-sour sauce.
Notes

Vegetarians may substitute a comparable amount of low-fat, firm tofu for meat. Brown in oil as described, and continue with recipe as directed.