GOBBLE GOBBLE: Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce

Welcome back to GOBBLE GOBBLE my annual Thanksgiving recipe series. This year to kickoff the series I wanted to share with you all a delicious take on the all time traditional Thanksgiving side dish... cranberry sauce. Great with turkey, on top of ice cream or just by itself! (DISCLAIMER: Please keep in mind that some of my recipes don't have exact measurements and no worries even without the measurements these recipes are so easy you can't possibly mess it up.)

You will need

Cranberries

White granulated sugar (1 cup of sugar per 1 cup of liquid)

Orange (1 per lb of cranberries, about 1/4 of the juice)

Finely grated ginger (powered will work as well, about 2 teaspoons per 1 lb of cranberries)

A liquid of your choice (cranberry juice, apple juice, or water)

Dark rum (2 teaspoons per lb of cranberries or more if you like, for kids you can opt out of this but the alcohol will cook out so worries)

How to make:

1. Juice the orange and keep the peels

2. In a large pot combine the cranberries, orange juice, orange peels, sugar, ginger and rum

3.Pour in your choice of liquid (just make sure there is just enough to cover the ingredients do not over fill)

4. Cover and slowly simmer until the cranberries have soften and popped.

5. Continue to cook until you get a gel sauce like consistency

6. If your sauce is too thin drain some of the liquid, if too thick add more liquid and simmer 

7. Once cooled it will be ready to serve

ENJOY!!!

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10 Things That Make Me Happy :D

I have been pretty stressed out the last couple of weeks, work and school have been super busy and frustrating. With all this stress and frustration mounting up I decided to stop and take a little break to take care of myself. Here are few little things that make me happy when life isn't going my way. Remember life is short taking care of yourself should always be your number one priority both mentally and physically. 

1.) MUSIC

Music has always been there for me whenever I needed. It calms me and sends me to a little world that is just my own. I pretty much listen to every genre out there even a little country now and then. I post weekly playlists a couple times a month so if you ever interested in what I am currently listening to check them out! 

2.)  COOKING

I am a huge FOODIE. I love to eat so much that I consider it a hobby. I am also very adventurous when it comes to food which led me to learn how to cook. Cooking is an art. There is just something so therapeutic in cooking from the prep to the finish product. It gives you a sense of empowerment and accomplishment (especially if it tastes good).

3.) HANGING W/MY LIL BRO

If you have siblings, you know that there are always moments where you wished you were an only child. I was one of them and sometimes I still do wonder a bit haha just kidding. I have two younger siblings, a 18 year-old little sister and a 10 year old little brother. My parents are one of those couples who wanted to try their luck having a kid past their prime and luckily for them they succeeded. I am 14 years older than my little bro who for the sake of privacy I will call him *Doug. While Doug may be only 10 I don't consider him a child he is a miniature adult. He understands things that most people in their 40s still don't get. He also doesn't act like a kid. He enjoys watching horror movies with me and Chinese soap operas with my grandmother and mom. I left for college when he was around 4 so I didn't get a chance to really watch him grow up but anytime I get a chance to hang out with him I take it. He never judges you and just loves you for who you are. 

4.) POKEMON

I know many of you are probably judging me reading this but I got no fucks to give. I am 23 years old and I still play Pokemon... enough said

5.) HORROR MOVIES

This might be kind of ironic but horror movies make me happy. I don't know if it is the scare or just watching other people's miseries it is just something I enjoyed ever since I was born. I was exposed to horror movies at an early age not on purpose. I hung around my older guy cousins growing up and it came with the territory. I love the Saw series and anything with a giant mutated creature. You name it I probably seen it... then again my life is like a horror movie sometimes...

6.) BOOKS

Yes, I actually read for fun I know that this might be shocking to most of you out there. This is something that I have taken for granted over the years. With the pressures of work and school I cherish any time I can get reading a book that is not educational. Reading like music sucks me away into another world, a world where I don't have to give any fucks. And who doesn't want to do that?

7.) NETFLIX

I wish I could get paid watching Netflix. Every since I signed up for one I have been hooked.... more like obsessed. If there was a Netflix anonymous meeting I would probably be the first person there.

8.) HONKING AT PEOPLE

Now before you call me crazy, I only honk at pretentious asshole drivers who think they are Vin Diesel. I don't know what is wrong with some of the drivers out there today. Is it really that hard to use your turn signal? Did your teacher ever taught you the word STOP? Are you really that selfish or blind that you have to take up 2 parking spaces for your smart car? I mean come on people...

9.) HANGING OUT W/MY FRIENDS

My friends are some of the best people I know especially the ones who have stuck around this long and if you know me believe me that I am not an easy person to be with. Anytime I am with them my worries just go away. They are always there for me no matter what time of the day or how silly of a problem I have. As Jerry McGuire says "You complete me"

10.) CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKES

I am not a big chocolate person, but I am ALWAYS DOWN for a chocolate milkshake. I was deprived of this when I was younger. My grandmother told me that I would be arrested if I ever drank one and my parents told me that they were drugs in them. As I got older and wiser obviously I knew better and drank them whenever I could especially with french fries... god I am so Americanized... 

Chef Sisi: Roast Beef Sandwich w/Sautéed Zucchini "Pesto"- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 19, 2014

A delicious and easy sandwich great for either lunch or dinner!

How to Make:

Zucchini "Pesto"

This really isn't what you expect when you hear pesto. I call it pesto because it has a very similar consistency and used as more of a condiment. Take a zucchini and shred it into tiny long strips. Sautéed it in some salted butter along w/ garlic & onion powder, chicken bouillon, salt & black pepper to taste and if you like it spicy add some dried red pepper flakes.

Cook until it's a little brown and set it aside.

Take you favorite bread (I used this white challah like bread from Wal-Mart (it is soooo good!) and spread some mayo on each side. Put a nice thin layer of your zucchini "pesto" on one piece of bread and top with mozzarella cheese. On the other side of bread layer some roast beef (I used a deli style from the Sara Lee bread which also can be purchased from Wal-Mart). Top with tomato or whatever other veggies you like. Sprinkle a bit of balsamic vinegar, put together and ENJOY!!!