Magic Tap What is Magic Tap?

One day browsing the infinite ideas, tips and products that Pinterest contains, I came across this lil gem! Magic Tap!

It's is pretty cool! You just put in a battery and put it on your jug of milk or juice and you are in business! The kids get their bowl of cereal and gently hold it against the little blue lever and voila, milk is dispensed. Or if you have juice, they place their cup to the lever and magic happens again!

Now, there is a learning curve, because that little blue lever is awfully sensitive. It is convenient though! Like I said, there is a learning curve, I HAVE ENDED UP WITH SOME milky messes to clean up when the kids didn't place their cup correctly. It has been way MORE convenient than inconvenient, for sure!

Now if I can just get these kids to make me dinner, is there a tutorial for that??? Huh, Pinterest People.....oh no? Well, get to work!!!!!!!!!!!

Bucket list for 2013

Here we are on the crest of a fresh new year! How exciting! I am going to share with you my "Bucket List for 2013". Yes, all the little goodies I will work towards this year and maybe you can share yours with me too!

They say that a dream without a goal is just a wish. Some of these are material things, I am after all living in a material world. MATERIUUUUUHHHHL! Honestly though, as this life goes whizzing by, I am trying to be more present in the moments I am in. Like, instead of driving my kids to school and thinking about what I have to do when I get home, I am TRYING to listen to the conversations my children are having amongst each other. They are funny little humans! I swear I can feel my heart filling up with JOY! The feeling is beautiful.....except when it's not because...LIKE LITERALLY each and everyone of them has a bone to pick with the other. Then I just pray!!!!!!!!!


I have been through a lot! Been through many trials and tribulations........as you all have! Some of them more trivial than others, some of them not.....but look at us! Here we are! We are survivors! WE STRONG LIKE BULL! As the quote goes, "If you are bothered by every rub, how will you be polished?" ~Rumi

Let's make a deal...you be my cheerleader and I will be yours! Make your bucket list today and share it with me! Andale!

Here is what I have so far~I reserve the right to amend and OR alter this list at any moment...lol!

Bucket List 2013

1. Do Karaoke~ I will probably be completely nervous, but who cares!
2. Run for a whole mile! May seem like inches to you runners, but I am not a runner YET!!!
3. Teach my first Zumba class
4. See a sunrise and sunset from Mt. Rubidoux (doesn't need to be on same day)
5. Go INDOOR skydiving ~Let's not get CRAZY! I have a list to get through)
6. Be more organized
7. Speak less, listen more ~ harder than you think!
8. Spend more time being grateful
9. Force my heart to do the speaking instead of my head
10. Let those in my life KNOW they are loved BY ME~ DO THIS EVERYDAY!!!!
11. Go to a salsa club and dance this time! I have been to several, but been too chicken to dance! They all looked like such awesome dancers! I thought I would end up being like a pin ball, with all the fancy twists and turns going on.
12. Buy a new car
13. Buy a new bed~ Tempurpedic ergonomic adjustable bed

STAY TUNED FOR ANY CHANGES~ Don't forget to share yours! :)

Ginger's Jiggle Juice ~ Cocktails & shots

Feliz Ano Nuevo!   Happy New Year!    Feliz Ano Nuevo!   Happy New Year!

Wow! We are ringing in ANOTHER New Year! This is crazy!!! Where, I ask, where did ALL the time go? I ask that every year....don't mind me. Actually, I ask it when all of a sudden it is Sunday night, when the month is over and it's time to pay bills yet AGAIN (pesky lil suckers), I ask it on my birthday and on the birthday of every ONE of my children.....hmmm, maybe, just maybe I ask it too much....ya think??????

Well, before I go and choke out Father Time for hitting the fast forward button, I would like to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR! HOPE YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY YOUR MOST IMPORTANT FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!

****Remember to drink responsibly******DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE********

Considerate person that I am, (hahaha) I have put together some drinks that might add a little spice to your party.

Let's get it started, let's get it started in here!

If you are going to do shots of tequila, I say go with Tequila Patron! A tried and true favorite of mine! And don't forget to say (before you drink it), Pa' arriba, pa' abajo, pal centro....(drink it)...PA' DENTRO!

Here is a shot my lovely sister in law introduced me to. Ladies, your girlfriends will love you for introducing them to this one! It is great for girls night in, bachelorette parties or as a nice little night cap..lol!

*White Gummy Bear Shot*
1/2 oz of Strawberry Vodka
1/2 oz of Peach Schnapps
splash of pineapple juice
splash of Sprite
**Side note, if you can't find stawberry vodka, you can make your own strawberry infused vodka with fresh or frozen strawberries...or you can be lazy and just add some Kool Aid to your vodka.

On to the next one! This is my go to drink when I am at a function, it's a basic. More than likely, even a sparsely stocked bar should have this.

*Cape Cod*
1 1/2 oz Vodka
cranberry juice
twist of lime (not shown)

This one I am going to try for the first time tonight....all in the name of research. I am one dedicated lil lady! Sounds STRONG! I got this one from Regis and Kelly......yes I know it is Kelly and Michael now....that should tell you how long I have been itching to try this! I assume this is for 2 people or it might be lights out....but then again, THAT MUST BE HOW IT GOT IT'S NAME!

**side note, the pic shows Malibu pineapple rum, it SHOULD BE coconut rum**

*Leg Spreader*
2 oz Spiced Rum
2 oz Coconut Rum
2 oz Peach Schnapps
4-6 oz Pineapple Juice

This next one is great if you are going to have a party, because you can mix it up before hand. Just make sure to keep it away from the little ones since it is in a soda bottle. I like that it can be chilled in the soda bottle after you gently mix the ingredients together.

*Shock Tart*
1 Liter orange soda
1/4 bottle of Vodka
1 watermelon kiwi flavored Kool Aid
1 strawberry flavored Kool Aid

No Pic :(

If placing in a another serving container, mix vodka and Kool Aids together first, then add orange soda. If on the go, or to make and chill in soda bottle, empty out orange soda to the top of the soda label, mix vodka and kool aids, now add vodka and kool aid mix to the orange soda bottle, gently mix, close and chill...or you may now travel with it and serve over ice.

Who doesn't love a Jolly Rancher?

Jolly Rancher
2 parts Peach chnapps
1 part Apple Schnapps
1 part Grenadine

No pic :(

Last one, but certainly NOT least...I came up with this one on the 4th of July. My hubby has had a new addiction for a drink one of our friends :) introduced him to this year called a Blood Orange Syrup Chelada. He hunted down the blood orange syrup and it is now a staple here. Anyways, here is what I came up with that night....it was a hit!

Aaaaaaaaaand since I just watched and loooooved Pitch Perfect this week, it shall be named.....

*********Ginger's Jiggle Juice***********
2 oz of Vodka
6 oz pineapple juice
1 oz blood orange syrup
1-2 oz Sprite
twist of lime (optional)
Shaken vigorously in shaker and then still served over ice....I likes it COLD!

Shake that jiggle juice girl! Andale! Con ganas!

Quieres?

Feliz Ano Nuevo! Happy New Year!

                           Gotta go! I have some liquid research to partake in!

Meet Mr. Jack Lalanne and Mr. Vitamix

So, I have told you about juicing and how it makes me feel healthier and stuff. I swear if we would be consuming these smoothies and juices as much as that fancy coffee we would all feel so much better. NO LIE! :)

Here is my Jack Lalanne Juicer~ it is a juice extractor

You can take just about any fresh vegetable or fruit and put it through this and all the juice comes out minus the pulp. I will show you the machine in action in another post, maybe a vlog. The only things you can't put inside it that I can think of are bananas and if you put a citrus fruit in it you must peel it before. Most other veggies can just be cut to a size that will fit in the chute. In the infomercial, it shows them putting whole apples in, those have to have been some REALLY TINY APPLES! I do love this juicer when I am looking for something first thing in the morning to pick me up. Here are just a few of the recipes that I use.

Recipe 1~ Energy Juice
handful parsley
4-6 carrots
1 apple

Recipe 2~Green Surprise
1 large kale leaf
2-3 green apples seeded
lime twist (not juiced)

My beloved Vitamix!

So, I love, love, love my Vitamix! How do I love it let me count the ways! Love the way it can blend me a smoothie, hummus, tahini, soups, sorbets, mixed drinks, the list is endless! I can even make my own flour from rice or other grains, if I buy this other carafe. I haven't gone that far yet.....YOU HEARD ME...YET!

I do feel a transition happening! I am going from buying boxed items, to always wanting to make & mix my own ingredients if I can, I mean fresh is so much better. I love when I know I can pronounce all the ingredients of the things I just fed my family. But, you know there ARE TIMES when convenience trumps all, and time is of the essence and I AM RUNNING to buy that box of waffles OR PANCAKE MIX. I am still balancing it, when I feel I have the time to go au natural I do, AND WHEN I DON'T........... I DON'T. And, I better not hear a peep from anyone, or I will put THEM in the Vitamix! Lol!

This is what I had today. Yum!

Recipe 1~ Green Berry
Couple of handfuls of spinach
1cup frozen strawberries
1cup of water
*1heaping tablespoon of ground flax seed (optional)

Recipe 2~Sin Nombre (Nameless) :( How about something that starts with Green
2 handfuls of spinach
2 oranges (peeled, quartered and frozen night before)
2 bananas (peeled, sliced and frozen night before)
1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1cup water
*1 heaping tablespoon ground flax seed (optional)

Recipe 3~Green Monster
2 bananas (peeled, sliced and frozen night before)
2 large handfuls of spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp all natural peanut butter
*1 heaping tablespoon ground flax seed (optional)

Dr. Oz's Green Drink - Can be made in either the Jack Lalanne Juicer or Vitamix
2 cups spinach
2 cups cucumber
1 head of celery
1/2 inch of fresh ginger root
1 bunch parsley
2 apples
juice of 1 lime
juice of 1 lemon

Remember, I am not a medical Doctor! Just sharing my experiences with ya!

The Dr. Oz smoothie or juice, makes a lot, about 28-30oz, just put what you are not drinking immediately in an airtight container. (you will be surprised by how much juice comes out of a cucumber!) Also, I peel my cucumbers. Lastly, when I had this the first time, I added some sugar, til I got used to it.

*Flax seed is said to be a super food that has omega 3 & 6...check it out! I only put in in the amount of smoothie I am about to consume, because if not it makes it kind of thick and goopy after a while...but you don't taste it in the smoothie at all Just make sure, as I mentioned to only put it ONLY in what you are going to consume right away!

So here are a few of the recipes that I use on a regular basis. The awesome thing is that you can really just gather up or mix and match what you like. The important thing is to get something green in there. maybe try to add some protein via the yogurt, protein powder and a fruit to hide all the stuff you don't like.

You may not LOVE it all at first. I added a few spoonfuls of sugar here and there when I first started and now, I never do! Your palate adjusts and you are on the road to feeling good!

How to look flattering in holiday pictures...because you know the shutterbugs will be on the loose this week!

 

Do you ever take a pic and say, I totally don't look like that? I know when MY double chin makes an appearance in a photo, I am like....WHO INVITED YOU TO THIS PARTY!!! So here are a few tips on how to take a more flattering pic. I know most people don't need this tip, cause you be lookin all fabuluz on your own! But some of us need HELP...LIKE I DID! Here we go...short and sweet....or so I hope!

Don't make any sudden movements....too elementary? Lol....okay really though....

Do not do this

DON'T PULL YOUR FACE BACK, OR DOUBLE CHIN JOINS THE PARTY!

DO: PULL YOUR SHOULDERS BACK

DO: PUSH YOUR NECK FORWARD

YES, PUSH YOUR CHIN FORWARD, MAY FEEL AWKWARD....BUT TRUST ME!

NOW TILT YOUR CHIN DOWN, SEE HOW THE JAWLINE IS ACCENTUATED NOW? DOUBLE CHIN YOU ARE BANISHED!

CHEERS! HAVE A DRINK AND ALL THIS NONSENSE WILL GO OUT THE WINDOW! LOL!

Dreaming Of Pan Dulce

I have been day dreaming.....mmm, of un cafecito con leche (coffee with a lil milk) y pan dulce! (Mexican bread is like our version of doughnuts I guess) What's your favorite kind? I love orejas and conchas,  oh and mantecadas.

Let me tell you a tale. When I was a teenager (many, many moons ago...ahem, ahem...seemslikeitwasjustyesterday) I spent a glorious summer in the land of Manzanillo, Mexico. It is a quaint little seaside town where my Grandma grew up. I will tell you stories of its beauty soon.

Anyhow, I stayed with my Grandma (my traveling partner), her brother my Tio Juan and his wife, my Tia Martha. They lived in this house in town, that was literally across the street from a panaderia. The smells that came from the tiny panaderia in the wee hours of the morning were more than enough to wake me from what should have been loungy summer mornings. The heavenly aromas would permeate through my closed windows and knock on my hungry belly. Try having THAT as an alarm clock every morning. Sound pleasant? Do you KNOW WHAT TIME  a panadero starts baking????? Nevertheless,  I would be dressed and ready for them to open every morning. The taste and texture of pan dulce that is still warm from the oven is inconceivable! Lol, seriously, it is something my brain will gladly cling to forever.

For now, I am happy to try and share these treats with my kids. We try to get to the mexican market nice and early and there is often something being pulled out of the oven......like today this is what we saw.............

El Salvadorian quesadilla

Oreja

Name? I say we call it large sugar cookie with sprinkles.

Galleta (kinda like a large peanut butter cookie)

Concha...see how it resembles a sea shell.

Nameless again! :( It's like a large muffin top...YUM!

The small assortment all together,,,there are so many more to choose from at the store!!!!

Me being a bad girl and having a few bites of an oreja....crunchy, crispy, flaky, with these toasted caramelized sugar pieces on the edges....simply scrumptious!

How to make Chorizo **WITHOUT MAKING A MESS**

 

I don't know about you, but when I want to make chorizo con papas (potatoes) or chorizo con huevos (eggs), I think...oh sounds delicious, but the mess...THE MESS....right? It's like cooking bacon, but instead of clear oil popping at you, its orange. We all know when you make bacon or CHORIZO for that matter on the stove top...it is a dangerous mission que no (right)? I mean there you are all innocent in front of your stove top, wanting nothing more than to cook up some greasy porkaliciousness (um, yeah, that is like TOTALLY A WORD...like just check the google machine...remember I can't put it on the inteweb thingy if its not true!)...okay so there we are at the stove top with an apron (yeah right....but we should have one on right? Chingado, I ruin too many clothes not wearing one!) So just go with it, okay.....we are wearing our apron and we are looking all Mrs. Cleaver y todo

Mira la "Mrs. Cleaver"



We should really be wearing this, we need bacon/chorizo gloves, safety goggles and an anti~splatter thingamagijjer.

Ahhh CABRON! ME QUEME! Oh crap, I burned myself! Lol!

 

                                                          ****SOLUCION!*******SOLUTION********


I am one lucky lady to have such a wise Mommy, who recently shared this little pearl of wisdom with me.....here, right here ladies and gents, I am about to change your mundo "world" and show you how to cook up your chorizo like a modern latina, con (with) shortcuts! Watch for an artful demonstration! :)

Now cover me and place in the microwave and check every 3 minutes!

 

Take out of microwave when the desired texture is achieved. I put mine in for a total of 8 minutes. So, two full 3 minute microwave cycles and then at the second minute of the third cycle I knew it was perfect. It was a little crunchy on the outer ring and once mixed....PERFECTION!!!!

Carolyns Coffee Cake ~ from Carolyn's Cafe~ Go there NOW!

Okay, so my familia has been telling me I MUST visit this place for a while now. They told me of this tiny cafe right by the DMV in Redlands and I was intrigued. Hot coffee cake with a puddle of butter dripping down the sides....SOLD! SAY NO MORE! I AM THERE...MOVE OUTTA MY WAY! CAROLYN'S CAFE...you are hidden in a most unexpected location....just feet from an auto body shop....right by a Subway and a Taco Village....pffftt! Clear the path people, because I will give elbows, to get there if I have to!

Now, I have mentioned in passing that I have a "problema" with gluten. Yesterday, I threw it out the window folks. I jumped off of the juicing wagon and ran with glee to this place "Carolyn's Cafe" where gluten filled gluttony was the only thing on my mind! I knew there would be a time to pay for it later...and I did..BUT THIS WAS WORTH IT!

It was worth it!!!!!!!!!! As we all know, food is more than nourishment, it is a celebration, it is something that can trigger fond childhood memories and so I hope my son remembers it. If not, I will gladly remind him of it! :)

My son had just received his permit! A right of passage for any teenager! I on the other hand, had just been rescued by my brother, my knight in shining armor for the day! I embarrassingly admit, I had run out of gas for the first time in MY LIFE! In my defense, I was driving a truck that I am barely getting used to. Really, THAT is a long story....and I am only interested in trying to excuse myself of such a lame event...I did shed a tear for being such a dumba**, and this coffee cake was something I KNEW would make it all better!

So, we enter this tiny, but bustling little coffee shop. We take a seat and right away, the server asks, can I get you something to drink? Drink? Uh, no....I laugh and with a giddiness in my voice, I think he was accustomed to hearing, I say....my in laws told me about this coffee cake. He stops and says, oh you would like to start with that? YES, YES I WOULD.....HEHEHEHE! I was wringing my hands together, probably looking like Gollum, consumed with thoughts of his "precious"! Okay, you can take a look at the menu and I will go get that for you....AWESOME!!!!!

                                                           ***He returned with this ****

                                                       ***Which ended like this***

                                                 ****Oh, and we ate this too.****

*********Celebrate good times...come on!*********

Okay, so I don't wanna over hype the coffee cake. It was good....hope you try it.....but if you don't....MORE FOR ME......MUAHAHAHAHA!

Bunuelos the easy way

 

Bunuelos flojas....the lazy way to make bunuelos. I know most of you know how to make them this way....but maybe you will be tempted to go make them....LIKE RIGHT NOW! It is Christmas time and it's time to bust out all the holiday yumminess. Not that these or any food you truly enjoy should be limited to one time of year.

Flour tortillas, heat oil, 4tsp sugar to every 1/4c of sugar, bowl for sprinkling sugar on bunuelos.

Heat oil to medium high heat

Mix up as much cinnamon sugar mix as you will need, depending on how many you plan to make

Fry up, til nice and golden brown!

Hold with tongs and let excess oil drip off.

Place bunuelo in bowl while it is still hot, so mixture sticks.
 

Sprinkle the mix on both sides.

This is the golden delicious sweetness you have created.

Now make yourself some cafecito con leche or some chocolate abuelita.....and sit in front of your Christmas tree and enjoy!