GOBBLE GOBBLE- Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

What's better than Thanksgiving dinner... THE LEFTOVERS duh! I personally love to eat leftovers just like they are, it feels like Thanksgiving all over again. However I do know that some of you out there do get tired of leftovers and want something a little more. Here are a few ideas on what to do with leftovers that will surely keep you and your family satisfied.

1. Turkey Panini (Leftover ingredients: Turkey or ham, cranberry sauce, gravy & stuffing)

This is a spin on the good ole day after turkey sandwhich. First grab some thick bread, I really like sourdough bread for this sandwich. Next spread some honey Dijon mustard on each slice and layer some swiss cheese on one slice. On top of the cheese, layer some stuffing then turkey or ham, cranberry sauce and a little bit of gravy (make sure the gravy is chilled before you put it on the sandwich otherwise it will just dribble off. Layer one more slice of swiss cheese and put the other slice of bread on top. Butter the top and put that side face down on your panini grill and then butter the other side and put the top down on the sandwich. Keep an eye on it, and take it out when the cheese is melted. Slice up and enjoy!

2. Potato Cakes (Leftover ingredients: Mashed Potatoes)

Get some mashed potatoes into a bowl and form into patties. Dip in egg and some bread crumbs and fry them up. You can also serve it with some leftover gravy. This same technique can also be used for stuffing just be sure to add an egg into the stuffing mixture before you form the patties otherwise the stuffing will just fall apart.

3. Cranberry Mousse (Leftover ingredients: Cranberry sauce & Cool Whip or Whipped Cream)

Take your cranberry sauce and put it in a blender and blend till smooth. Next put the blended cranberry into a large cold metal bowl. Gently fold in the Cool Whip or whipped cream. Put the mixture into the refridgrator and chill for an hour. Take out and enjoy! 

4, Turkey Scramble (Leftover ingredients: Turkey, veggies, gravy, & stuffing)

Scramble up some eggs in a bowl and add some milk (this well help keep the eggs light and fluffy), garlic powder, salt & pepper). Add your leftover turkey, veggies and stuffing. Cook until the eggs are done and top it off with some gravy.

I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving filled with food and love! I apologize for the lack of recipes this year. Due to my unexpected eye surgery I wasn't able to put up as much as I would like. But stayed tuned there will be more holiday recipes up soon :D 

xoxo

Si 

Review: Revlon PhotoReady Insta- Fox ( NEW)

PACKAGING:

Comes in a plastic black tube with a clear top

The cap isn't very durable you have to make sure to press down on it to make sure you have it secure

Contains 6.8 g of product

Comes in 6 shades

FORMULATION:

This product is branded as a skin "re-toucher" rather than a foundation. It is super lightweight and goes on very smoothly. I would compare it to the Maybelline Fit Me Stick Foundation in terms of texture. I am a huge fan of stick foundations. They are easy to use, carry and most of all less messy than liquid and powder foundations.

The coverage isn't that great as you can see below. I don't recommend this product for concealing blemishes but it does okay with redness and mild darkness. This a great product for those of you out there that already have great skin and just need a little something to grab and go. It is also great as a primer. By itself it didn't last too long. I had it on for about 4 hours before I had to re touch. But every skin is different so this may not happen to you. I don't recommend this product for oily skin.

BEFORE

AFTER

PRICING:

You can purchase this product at drugstores nationwide, select Bed and Bath Beyond, Wal-Marts & Targets. Prices like always range depending on where you purchase it. The range is around $10-12, the standard for a good drugstore foundation these days. 

Review: Rimmel Wonderlash Mascara (NEW)

Waterproof version in 001 Black Noir
Also comes in non-waterproof

PACKAGING:

Comes in a thick bulky plastic rhombus tube. The waterproof version shown above comes in a pretty blue color while the original formula comes in a light caramel brown color.

While it is bulky it is very lightweight so it is easy to carry for travel or just in your purse for touchups.

This mascara has a rubber brush that is pretty flexible so that you can get into those annoying inner lashes.

Contains 0.37 FL OZ of profuct

FORMULATION:

Rimmel over the years has come up with pretty decent mascaras but nothing too spectacular. I have not been a fan of Rimmel Mascaras ever just because for some reason their mascaras tend to irritate my eyes. What interested me about this new mascara was that it contains argan oil. 

A little information about argan oil:
-Comes from the kernels of the argan tree in Morocco

-While we use this particular oil for skincare and beauty reasons it is also quite delicious on top of pastas and couscous

-It also has great health benefits for the heart including lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels Studies also have shown argan oil can help prevent cancer and help maintain a healthy weight.

-In terms of uses for beauty and skincare, argan oil is a great moisturizer for the skin and hair. It can help with certain skin diseases, juvenile acne, and healing of burns
For once Rimmel has produced a mascara that hasn't irritated my eyes. It provides a natural look to the lashes while giving nice length. I didn't notice as much volume. The best part of this mascara is that thanks to the argan oil my lashes were nicely conditioned and not hard and flaky compared to other mascaras. It isn't clumpy but with the original formula it did smudge at first but after switching to the waterproof formula I didn't have any issues with smudging afterwards. The waterproof version also lasted throughout the day without any issues. I love big lashes so for me 2-3 coats gave me a good effect. However everyone's lashes are different so you may need more or less coats. 

There is a bit of a smell to it due to the argan oil but it isn't too strong and the smell doesn't linger.

PRICING:

This mascara is currently available at drugstores nationwide. Prices will vary depending on where you purchase it. But on average it retails around $7-13. So it is a fairly pricy drugstore mascara but definitely worth the money. Josie Maran has a mascara that is also infused with with argan oil but her mascara will set you back a good $22. So this Rimmel on is a great alternative.

OVERALL:

4/5

What's NEW @ The Drugstore!!!

L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray

PACKAGING: 

Comes in a plastic black spray bottle

Contains 1.4 fl oz of product

FORMULATION:

I was very surprised and glad that there is finally a DRUGSTORE setting spray (excluding NYX Cosmetics). Setting sprays are a great alternative to powder when it comes to keeping your makeup intact on your skin. The mist comes out pretty evenly and not drippy. It is light weight and very refreshing. In terms of how well this product actually works for my dry skin it did a pretty good job keeping the makeup on my skin. In comparison to Urban Decay's All Nighter Spray it wasn't as long. I would say after 6-7 hours the L'Oreal spray started to stop working. I noticed my makeup starting to look a little blotchy. As for the Urban Decay's All Nighter Spray I would get a good 8-12 hours. For people with oily skin it does tend to fade a little bit faster but everyone has different skin so this may not apply to all people with oily skin.

Over all I say this is a decent alternative to more higher end brands such as Urban Decay's or the Skindinavia setting sprays. The price is a bit more on the expensive side $17.99 and don't forget to include tax. But the higher end brands can range from anywhere at $20 and up. Prices may change once this product hits mass market. There are people out there that has bought this for about $16. So definitely do a little research and be on the lookout.

ChefSisi- Si's Beef Tacos

One of my favorite dishes to make during the colder seasons. It is so easy and delicious and even the worst cooks can even make this!

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way claiming this is the authentic way to make tacos. This is just a recipe I came up with over the years for my love of tacos. There are no exact measurements just add as much or as little as you want!

  

What You Will Need:

I used a Steak seasoning from Fresh Market. The Taco sauce is one of my favorite pre-made sauces. For this recipe I used my own person sauce but this one works just as well.

-Chuck Round (You are welcome to use any type of meat you have on hand. For this particular dish I don't use ground meat)

-Minced Garlic

-Butter & Olive Oil

-Salt & White Pepper to taste

-Steak seasoning (Any brand you prefer)

-Flour Tortillas

-Taco Sauce (You can buy this already made at your local grocery store I will show you a brand that I love but will also include my own taco seasoning sauce recipe below)

-Lettuce, tomatoes and whatever toppings you like on your taco

How To Make:

In a large skillet brown your meant in some butter and olive oil (the olive oil helps the butter from burning).

As the meat is cooking add your steak seasoning and salt and white pepper.

After the meat is nice a brown (it doesn't have to be fully cooked at this point) drain the liquid (if you want more of a saucy consistency then keep the liquid).

After draining, put the meat back into the pan with a little more butter.

Once the heat is medium high add your sauce and some minced garlic

Cook until meat is done

Wrap in tortillas with your favorite toppings and ENJOY!!!

Si's Taco Sauce

-1 can of Chipotle in Adobo 
-1 large can of tomato soup
-Cumin
-Chili Powder
-Red Pepper Flakes
-Salt & Pepper
-Ancho chili powder
-Tomato paste

HIATUS

Hey guys! So I just wanted to give you guys a quick little update. I will be having laser eye surgery on Monday November 17. I will be out for a week maybe less if everything goes well. So this week will probably not have any blog posts. But after I come back I will double my efforts and put lots of stuff up! So stay tuned and thank you all for all your support!

XOXO,

Si 

Diabetes Awareness Month

Hey guys! In honor of National Diabetes Awareness month I wanted to do a special post with some tips and tricks on living with diabetes. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a couple months ago. Type 2 diabetes is brought upon lifestyle. With Type II diabetes, your body is still producing insulin but isn't using it efficiently. Type I diabetes is autoimmune. Your body (pancreas) is attacking itself because it isn't making enough insulin. I developed diabetes through the insane amount of medications and dialysis I did when I had my kidney transplant. I take insulin everyday and it has been helping immensely. However depending on medication is not a smart or efficient way to care for your diabetes. Here are some tips to help those out there either living with diabetes or want to prevent diabetes.

#1

Keep your diet low fat as much as possible!

Fat inhibits your pancreas making it harder for it to produce insulin. So stay clear from high fat foods, especially fried.

#2

Stevia is your best friend!

For those of you who have a sweet tooth have no fear. There are so many sweet alternatives out there these days for diabetics. Just make sure that the sweetener in the desert you are eating contains stevia or truvia. Both are alternatives to sugar (plant based) and will still keep you satisfied. Keep away from artificial sweeteners like Sweet n Low as those will do more harm to your body. Some of my favorite sweet alternatives are Zevia & Honest brand sodas.

#3

Bring on the protein!

Protein like meats or tofu can help you regulate your blood sugar by slowing things down a bit. So if you are having something like white rice just make sure you have plenty of protein on the side.

#4

Eat your veggies!

This is pretty much a no brainer. There are no harmful sugars in veggies or some have none. Green veggies like kale and zucchini are dense so they keep you fuller longer. Plus these are really easy veggies to manipulate and are very tasty.

#5

Watch out for fruits!

Yes, I am telling you to watch out for your fruits. While fruits are among one of the healthiest group of foods in the world, it can also be a diabetic's nightmare. Some fruits like bananas contain up to 15 grams of sugar for just one! The sugar in fruits do affect your blood sugar. So just because it is healthy it might not be healthy for you. Go online and do some research on fruits that are on the low glycemic chart such as apples.

#6

Drink plenty of H2O!

Water not only helps you hydrate but flushes toxins. By flushing our these toxins you are cleaning out your body helping your organs function much more efficiently.

#7

Read the Labels!

As annoying as it is to read the labels, it will definitely be beneficial to you in a long run. A lot of things have some form of sugar in them even natural foods. Just watch the amount of servings you are eating. Not every label is one serving.

And most importantly BE HAPPY!!! Research has shown that stress can increase your blood sugar level. So don't stress and do things that make you happy. Being happy is the most important medication you take!

GOBBLE GOBBLE Tips & Tricks for a Delicious & Easy Thanksgiving

Tip & Trick #1- BRINE THAT BIRD!!!

food.thefuntimesguide.com

Brining is an extremely popular cooking technique that treats meats especially poultry like turkey, by seeping  the meat in a brine mixture (usually just salt and cold water) it not only flavors the bird but also helps keep its moisture. It is a technique that tends to show up a lot during the holidays especially Thanksgiving. While popular it isn't a technique many people are fond of because of the extra time it takes however this one little extra step will ensure you and your family a perfectly cooked bird.

The brine in the brining process is usually just a mixture of salt and water, however over the years this has changed. Now and days people add herbs, spices, whatever they really like in order to flavor and keep their meat moist and juicy. The brining process does take some time usually 12-24 hours before the meat is cooked. To make it a bit simpler for you guys here is a quick trick: Put your turkey in a large pot or brining bag (you can get this at grocery stores) and pour in Italian Dressing, yes Italian Dressing and then poor enough cold water to cover the bird. Put it in the fridge and let it sit overnight. The next day take your bird out rinse under cold water and then pat dry with paper towels (You don't want any water on the bird before you cook it otherwise the skin won't crisp up). You can add whatever other seasonings you like to your bird at this point. Italian dressing is basically just oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and spices basically what you usually add to a brine so instead of getting your hands all dirty and having to buy and put in every ingredient separately, all you need is a couple bottles of Italian Dressing. It usually takes around 2 bottles of dressing for a 16 pound bird but you can adjust accordingly to your tastes.

Tip & Tricks #2- COOK/ PREPARE SIDES AHEAD OF TIME

To save you guys from stress and agony when it comes time to cooking Thanksgiving dinner this tip will sure keep you happy. Certain side dishes like cranberry sauce and pie can be cooked ahead of time and kept in the fridge for when you need it. You can also partially boil your potatoes the night before and finish cooking them the morning off. This usually saves you a good amount of time between making everything else. Another thing you can prepare are your casseroles. You can either mix the ingredients together and set aside for it to be cooked on Thanksgiving day or make and cook ahead of time and them freeze them and just heat them up when it comes time to serving. The only thing you should be stressed about is the bird and not the side dishes.

Tip & Trick #3- PREMADE IS OKAY!!!

www.utsandiego.com

No matter if you are a professional chef or a home cook we always need a bit of help. There is no shame in buying dishes pre-prepared for you especially if you have a big family to serve. Stores these days can cook up a whole Thanksgiving dinner so don't fret if there are one or two things you just don't have time to make. Plan out your dinner and for the dishes you simply don't have the time to make and your relatives are just to lazy to help save yourself the stress and go to a store and just order your dishes for the people there to make. You can always pass it off as your own, I won't say anything ;)

And lastly just enjoy. As cliche as it sounds holidays are a time to get together with love ones whom we don't get to see as often due to the stress of our everyday busy busy lives. So try not to stress and make sure you end up in a food coma with a food baby at the end of the day!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Review: LUSH Snow Fairy Shower Gel

Well it is that time of year again... Lush has re-released their most beloved shower gel SNOW FAIRY!!! I can't explain my excitement every year when this comes out. 

PACKAGING:

Snow Fairy shower gel comes in Lush's standard clear plastic bottle packaging. The only thing that differs this year is the label.

Snow Fairy comes in 3 sizes

3.3 fl oz (shown above)- $9.95 

8.4 fl oz- $19.95

16.9 fl oz- $29.95

While you might be shocked at the price for a shower gel do keep in mind that Lush's products are handmade and they use natural fresh ingredients. They do not contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives.

FORMULATION:

The texture of this shower gel is a bit different compared to other shower gels on the market. This particular one has a milky texture to it and foams up really nicely. Call me crazy but I always believed that if a body wash foams up nicely then you can expect it to clean really well. This shower gel really leaves you with a squeaky clean feeling. I personally didn't find it moisturizing but it didn't strip any moisture either from my skin.

The best part about this shower gel is the scent. It smells like a combination of bubble gum and flowers. If you are like me and not a fan of food smelling beauty items have no fear. This shower gel while it does have a bubblegum scent it isn't overpowering and is more fresh than sweet. The scent also lingers on your body after you wash it off.

As you can see from the picture above, Snow Fairy shower gel also contains glitter. This is just a fun little item purely designed for decoration, the glitter doesn't linger on your body. This glitter is also biodegradable. 

You can purchase Snow Fairy Shower Gel at Lush standing stores or Online

Weekly Playlist- 11/10

LISTEN W/ME :D 

1. The Heart Wants What It Wants

2. Gods And Monsters- Lana Del Ray

3. Blank Space- Taylor Swift

4. Poison- Bell Biv DeVoe

5. Open Wide- Calvin Harris ft. Big Sean

6. Outside- Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding

7. Where Do Broken Hearts Go- 1D

8. What Did I Do- Foo Fighters

9. Fall in Love 2Nite- Prince & Zooey Deschanel

10. Day Drinking- Little Big Town

Holiday Tips & Tricks #1: How NOT to OVEREAT During the Holidays

Throughout the year, we always try our best to eat healthy and not necessarily because we want to be healthier but rather an excuse to stuff ourselves on delicious holiday food. However no matter how healthy you ate throughout the year, it is never good to overstuff yourselves on any occasion. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you not to overeat but still able to enjoy the food regardless!

1.) Stuffing or Dinner Rolls

foodnetwork.com

 VS.

cookingclassy.com

PICK ONE!!! Carbs and starches make up the majority of a holiday meal. When it comes to stuffing and dinner rolls try to stick with one (I prefer stuffing). This way you can still have your other delicious starches like mash potatoes.

2.) DO LOAD UP ON THE PROTEIN

Whether you eat turkey or ham during the holidays this is one area where you do not need to fret about too much. Between the starches and desserts our blood sugar rises significantly. Do load up on the meat. The protein will help you keep your blood sugars at bay and turkey is rather a healthier meat compared to others.

3.) Portion control

acozykitchen.com

If you are the chef during the holidays you have a lot of power on your hands. Some foods like stuffing or casserole can be easily portion sized. Instead of baking the stuffing or casserole in a giant dish bake them in muffin tins. Not only you will be saving some calories you also have a cute presentation for your family and friends (not to mention the muffin tins will crisp up the edges YUM).

4.) Cranberry Sauce...

cookingclassy.com

While cranberries are full of nutrients and antioxidants cranberry sauce is LOADED with insane amounts of sugar to combat the cranberries' tartness. Instead of so much sugar cut it in half and replace the other half with fresh squeeze fruit juice like apple or orange. If you don't have fresh fruit on hand use a natural sweetener like Stevia or Truvia. Also went eating cranberry sauce, even with the replacements do limit yourself to no more than 5 tablespoons. There is still a good amount of sugar even with the substitutes.

5.) Skip the Crust

http://www.maryvancenc.com

Pies Pies Pies the ultimate holiday dessert and the most dangerous around this time of year. When possible especially if you are having pumpkin pie skip the crust and just eat the filling. You will not only have yourself a bunch of calories but let's get real the filling is always the best part!

SPOTTED! WHAT'S NEW @ THE DRUGSTORE

Just a few little (NEW) goodies spotted at the drugstore!

I found these new releases at my local Bed, Bath, & Beyond (keep in mind that not every Bed, Bath & Beyond has a cosmetics section and those that do usually have new releases first before the drugstores)

REVLON SKIN RETOUCHER

The second drugstore beauty brand to feature a stick foundation (not counting NYX, Maybelline FIT has a stick foundation). Review on this product will be up soon!

REVLON EYES TO BE DESIRED

EYE ART/PHOTOREADY LINERS

The Revlon Eye Art Pens (10 in all) are dual sided pens used to play up eye looks. One side is filled with a creamy eyeshadow while the other one is filled with a glittery top coat.

The Photoready liners are kajal based and matte. There are 3 colors in all (Lemon, Marine, & Charcoal)

REVLON ULTRA HD LIP COLORS (Lipstick & Gloss)

Revlon's newest lip product line (permanent collection). Features 14 new lipstick colors and 14 glosses (lip lacquers).

L'OREAL EYESHADOW CRAYON

Another drugstore brand has come out with an eyeshadow crayon. There are 14 colors total ranging from neutral colors to bright blues, deep purples, and hunter greens.

Too Faced Friends and Family Sale!!!

Right now thru 11/14 take 20% off your order from Too Faced. They are a lot of new holiday releases from Too Faced right now so definitely take advantage of this deal now and start your holiday shopping a bit earlier this year! 

Use code TAKE20 at checkout. You must enter the code manually. This discount will not be automatically taken off at checkout.

GOBBLE GOBBLE #1- Apple Fennel Sage Stuffing

Hey Hey! Welcome back to another year of GOBBLE GOBBLE! GOBBLE GOBBLE is a series of easy and delicious DIY Thanksgiving recipes. Let's get cooking!!!

APPLE FENNEL SAGE STUFFING

This is a simple stuffing recipe that is sure to please the crowd. While it is simple don't underestimate the flavor this little dish packs. This recipe like most my recipes does not have exact measurements. Just make according to your own taste and preference and of course the amount to people you are serving.

You will need:

-Honey Crisp or Pink Lady Apples (These are not too sweet so they will hold their shape while cooking)

-1 Fennel Bulb 

- Sage (Dried or Fresh)

- French Bread (Make sure it is day old bread)

-Chicken or Veggie Stock

-Salt & Pepper to taste

-Chicken or Veggie Bouillon

-Garlic & Shallots

-Carrots & Celery

How to make:

1.) Cut up your apples, fennel, and bread to about the same size (this will ensure even cooking)

2.) In a large pot saute your garlic, shallots, carrots and celery until tender but still with a slight crunch in butter & olive oil (at this time add salt & pepper to taste and add your sage)

3.) Put in your apples and bouillon

4.) In a separate bowl put the bread in and pour the apple/fennel mixture into it and add enough stock to moisten the bread but not drench

5.) Pour stuffing in a glass oven proof dish and top with some cubes of unsalted butter and bake until the top is nice and golden

If you are a carnivore feel free to add sausage or whatever kind of protein you prefer!