Red Solo Cup

WOOHOO! Today is all about the Red Solo Cup in honor of Friday! How many of you started humming the song “Red Solo Cup”? I do like that song!!!

What do you think of when you think of a red solo cup? Frat parties. The perfect cup for drinking beer. Parties. Beer Pong. Believe it or not, it is actually the perfect cup for many things, especially if you don’t have a measuring cup handy.

So, you want to make a drink and don’t have a measuring cup…. what is a girl to do? Add your favorite liquor to the first line on the bottom. That equals a shot glass or 1 oz of liquor. Now mix in your favorite mixer.

Or do you want a glass of wine? Okay, if you are like me, you would fill it up to the top, right? I mean you can never have enough wine. BUT if you fill it to the second line, you will have a 5 ounce glass of wine.

Or are you a beer drinker? A 12-ounce bottle of beer will fill the cup to the third line from the bottom. Or if you are using a keg, fill to that line for a traditional mug of beer.

What is the final top line for? Well, if you fill the glass past that, you will definitely spill if all over!

So, this is my end of the week tidbit of information to kick off your weekend. Who is headed out to buy their red solo cup?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Happy St. Patty’s Day

Today marks the life and deeds of St Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints. Everyone will be dressed in green.  Some will carry the flag of the Republic of Ireland which is green, orange and white.  While others will consider it a day to consume mega quantities of beer especially those associated with Irish culture.  Decorations will include shamrocks, snakes and serpents as well as leprechaun’s and pots of gold.

But what does it all mean and where did this celebration come from? Honestly, I didn’t know the full story behind it.

St. Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. He is said to have died on March 17 in or around the year 493. He grew up in Roman Britain, but was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a young adult. After some years, he returned to his family and entered the church, like his father and grandfather before him. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and worked in the north and west of the country.

According to popular legend, St Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. No, not the slithering on the ground kind!  The “snakes” that St Patrick banished from Ireland, refers to the pagan worshipers of snake or serpent gods.

When Irish immigrants fled to other parts of the world, including the United States, in the 19th and 20th centuries; many of the Irish customs became popular in this country.  Over time, it has become commercialized as a day of drinking, parades and fun.

The most common St Patrick’s Day symbol is the shamrock, NOT a 4 leaf clover.  The shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant.  It actually represents the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

What is YOUR favorite tradition on St. Patrick’s Day?  Share it with us or better yet, snap a photo and let us celebrate with you.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tasty Tuesday – Super Bowl Treats

SUPER BOWL PICTURE

Well, my main team – the J-E-T-S, may not be in the Super Bowl but I will be cheering on the Carolina Panthers.  If you are wondering why – my daughter lives in North Carolina so it is on my list of favorite teams even if I don’t claim to be their Number 1 cheerleader.

Here are some YUMMY Super Bowl snacks courtesy of the Food Network:

Hot Crab Dip Mix 3 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and hot sauce and chopped parsley to taste; fold in 1/2 pound crabmeat. Spread in a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs (preferably panko) and bake at 425 degrees F until golden, about 15 minutes.

Mustard-Beer Dip Simmer 12 ounces pale ale until reduced by half. Stir in 1/2 cup yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon each mustard powder and cider vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; cool.

Cauliflower Hummus Toss 4 cups cauliflower florets with olive oil and 1 teaspoon curry powder; roast at 425 degrees F, 20 minutes. Puree with 1 drained can chickpeas, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons tahini, 1 garlic clove, and salt to taste. Blend in 2 tablespoons olive oil

Latin Chip Mix Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter with 1 teaspoon each ground cumin and chipotle chile powder. Toss with 3 cups black bean chips, 1 cup corn nuts, 1 thinly sliced jalapeno and 2 teaspoons lime zest. Bake at 400 degrees F, 10 minutes, stirring once.

Kettle Corn Put 3/4 cup popcorn kernels and 3 tablespoons each sugar and vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Partially cover and cook over high heat, shaking, until the popping stops. Season with salt.

Tex-Mex Shrimp Cocktail Mix 3/4 cup ketchup, two 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles, and 2 tablespoons each lime juice, horseradish and chopped cilantro. Serve with chilled cooked shrimp.

Breaded Pork Sliders Boil 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup each sake and Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons each sugar and mirin, and 1 tablespoon each minced garlic and ginger, 5 minutes. Pound 1/2 pound pork cutlets until thin. Coat in flour, then beaten egg, then breadcrumbs (preferably panko); fry in hot oil. Slice and serve on 12 mini buns with the ketchup sauce.

Breaded Veggie Sliders Make Breaded Pork Sliders (No. 41), replacing the pork with cremini mushroom caps and/or sliced Japanese eggplant. Add shredded cabbage and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Shrimp Sliders Combine 2 tablespoons each mayonnaise and whole-grain mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and minced parsley and hot sauce to taste. Season 1 pound butterflied shrimp with salt and cayenne. Dip in buttermilk, coat in cornmeal and fry in hot oil. Serve on mini seeded buns with lettuce, pickles and the mustard sauce.

Mini Veggie Pockets Warm 12 mini pitas. Cut off the tops and fill with hummus, crumbled feta and chopped olives, cucumber, lettuce and tomato.

What will your Super Bowl snack table look like?  Share your favorite recipes with us..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Red Solo Cup

WOOHOO!  Today is all about the Red Solo Cup in honor of Friday!  How many of you started humming the song “Red Solo Cup”?  I do like that song!!!  Want to hear it, click HERE!

What do you think of when you think of a red solo cup?  Frat parties.  The perfect cup for drinking beer.  Parties.  Beer Pong.  Believe it or not, it is actually the perfect cup for many things, especially if you don’t have a measuring cup handy.

So, you want to make a drink and don’t have a measuring cup…. what is a girl to do?  Add your favorite liquor to the first line on the bottom.  That equals a shot glass or 1 oz of liquor.  Now mix in your favorite mixer.

Or do you want a glass of wine?  Okay, if you are like me, you would fill it up to the top, right?  I mean you can never have enough wine.  BUT if you fill it to the second line, you will have a 5 ounce glass of wine.

Or are you a beer drinker?  A 12-ounce bottle of beer will fill the cup to the third line from the bottom.  Or if you are using a keg, fill to that line for a traditional mug of beer.

What is the final top line for?  Well, if you fill the glass past that, you will definitely spill if all over!

So, this is my end of the week tidbit of information to kick off your weekend.  Who is headed out to buy their red solo cup?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!