Tastings' Tuesday Tips

This week for the Tastings' tip I am going to talk about infusing your booze. You can infuse your booze with all types of fruits and even a vanilla bean.  You can use vodka, rum, tequila, bourbon and brandy. You can choose your own combination. Last week I infused mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) with vodka. You can use fresh or frozen fruits. If you decide to use frozen fruit let it thaw some.

Instructions:

1. Choose your desired booze of choice.

2. Choose your fruit.

3. Prep your fruit. Wash, cut, peel and remove stems or anything else that you don't eat.

4. Take a clean mason jar and fill it half way with the fruit of your choice. Smash the fruit as much as possible.

5. Fill the mason jar up with your desired booze. Seal the mason jar with the lid. Then the waiting begins. Place the jar in a cool, dark place; possibly the refrigerator. Minimal waiting time is three days for an 8oz to pint mason jar but I suggest five days. The longer you wait the longer the infusion. Some infusions may take 2-3 weeks ex. apples.

6. Once ready, take a sifter to catch the fruit as you drain the booze into a clean glass or jar. The best part is; you can eat the fruit. Always remember to drink and in this case eat responsibly. Must be 21 years or older to enjoy.

For this batch I am going to mixing in lemonade and garnish it with fruit.

 Day 1

 Day 3.

#sweetandsavorytastings #infusion #vodka #berries #strawberries #blackberries #blueberries #raspberries #cocktail

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

Good Tuesday my Sweet & Savory Friends... My tip this week is about the Pasta vs. Stock

If you plan on making any type of chili, soups, stocks and broth that require noodles. Do not add all of your noodles to the stock as it may absorb all of your liquid. Keep it separate and serve together.

#pasta #noodles #stock #broth #soups #chili #sweetandsavorytastings

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

I know I am a day late...but better late than never.

I seen a post today from Jamie Oliver indicating how to properly cut an avocado. I thought that this may be a good post especially since I made guacamole this week for the first time. After I tasted it; I am pretty sure that I will no longer be buying it in the store.

How to Properly Cut an Avocado... from Jamie Oliver.

#avocado #guacamole #jamieoliver

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

My tip this Tuesday is meal planning. By the end of the week I am planning my next week meal. This helps out a lot when I go to the grocery store. I know which aisles I need to go down which eliminates having to walk up and down each and every aisle. Even though the majority of my groceries come from the outskirts of the store. I always start in the produce section to pick up my fruit and veggies and then off to the butcher. The butcher is where I primarily get all of my meat. I get everything there ranging from seafood to chicken to pork beef and lamb. I am not a big steak eater; I'll eat it maybe once a year if that. Also you can ask your butcher about the different cuts of meat and the variety of ways that you can cook the meat.  Finally I make my way to the dairy and bread section.
I notice when I meal plan that I don't over spend and just start buying stuff. Also I don't have to worry about trying to find something to cook. I try not to purchase any can goods so if you have to you can buy some foods froozen and then freeze it (ex. veggies, fruit). I even
 started making my own sauces.

Make out your grocery list to plan ahead. You will have a more successful trip. I have a note section on my phone. That is where I keep my lists.

#grocery #mealplan

Tasting Tip Tuesday

While going through my Facebook posts I ran across a great article. So, this Tuesday Tasting tip are for those who want to produce beautiful cakes. Baking is more like science. Every step has to be lined accordingly without skipping. If you forget just one step your cake may not rise to the occasion. The link is from the Huffington Post. Cake Baking Mistakes 

Have You Ever Considered Making a Trifle?

A trifle is a layered dessert with so many variations with cake, custards, fruits and etc. This dessert can be layered in a big bowl for everyone to enjoy or in individual dessert glasses displayed on a sweets table. Here is a link from Food 52 on how to make a trifle. How to Make a Trifle

 

This is a cake push pop in a dessert trifle form.

#trifle #food52 #dessert #cake #fruit #custard #pudding #sweetandsavorytastings

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

Starting today; I will try to give weekly Tuesday tips that I follow with my recipes and around my kitchen.

Today Tastings' Tuesday Tip; I add vodka to my pie crust recipe.  Yes, Vodka. I don't have to be the most expensive brand. By adding vodka; you're putting in a liquid that is going to evaporate quickly so you will end up with a very flaky crust. 

Here is a link to a recipe: Cooks Illustrated Vodka Pie Crust Recipe

This is my Apple Pie

#pie #crust #vodka #tastingtuesdaytip #tip