Hello Again + Fresh Spiced Pear Cider

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider | Once Upon a Recipe

Hello my friends!

It seems that this ol’ blog took an unintended yet sort-of needed Summer vacation. While I do apologize, I don’t regret it. For the last couple of months, I’ve been lacking in the inspiration department. And although I made a number of dishes and treats that I wanted to share, something always seemed to get in the way of me completing a proper blog post – even something as simple as being too hungry to stop and snap a few pretty photos. And being the perfectionist that I am, throwing together a half-assed post just didn’t feel right to me.

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider | Once Upon a Recipe

For the past few days I’ve been down with a bad cold and while being sick is never my preference, it gave me the opportunity – actually, forced me – to ditch on some of my regular responsibilities and just relax. And do you want to know what I did? (Aside from binge-re-watching Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix) I stepped into my kitchen and I created. It was glorious.

Friends, I think I have my mojo back.

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider | Once Upon a Recipe

First up – juice!

Last week, I was contacted and invited to participate in Williams-Sonoma Juice Week. This week’s theme is Juices That Bite Back.

Typically, I like to incorporate juicing into my morning routine. I’ve shared my favorite green juice recipe here already and green juice is definitely my go-to juice. However, every now and then I like to switch things up and make a fresh juice cocktail. (If you haven’t tried these fresh citrus margaritas, you must make doing so a priority). Earlier this week, it snowed. Yes, frozen white stuff actually fell from the sky and it was much too cold for early September, even by Alberta standards. Thankfully temperatures have shot back up again and we are enjoying more seasonally appropriate weather (I wore shorts today!), but the cold snap has changed my focus to fall and winter recipes.

And after drinking what felt like my hundredth cup of tea this weekend in an effort to soothe my sore throat, I decided to put my juicer to use and make a warm beverage with the flavors of Fall. This fresh pear cider is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and is given a nice little kick by one of my most favorite juice ingredients – ginger. I almost always include ginger in my juices – I just love the zip it adds. And I have yet to meet a drink that wasn’t improved by the addition of booze, so I added some brandy. Just a quick little glug, and you’re good to go. Of course, if brandy isn’t your thing, feel free to use something different, or leave it out altogether.

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider | Once Upon a Recipe

As I’ve mentioned before, I use this juicer, but there are many other available juicers – do your research and figure out which juicer is best for you! And make sure you give this cider a try – it’s super delicious and healthy too!

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider

A warm, spicy, delicious, and healthy cider – perfect to warm you up on a chilly Fall evening! Makes about four 3/4 cup servings. Double or triple if desired. 

4 pears

2 apples (ie. Golden Delicious)

1 lemon

1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp. whole cloves

Pinch of nutmeg

1/2 to 1-ounce brandy (optional)

Juice the pears, apples, lemon, and ginger. Put the fresh juice into a saucepan, add the spices, and heat through. Pour into glasses, add brandy if desired. Sip and enjoy!

Fresh Spiced Pear Cider | Once Upon a Recipe

Have a wonderful week, friends!

Starting Fresh | My Favorite Green Juice

My Favorite Green Juice | Once Upon a Recipe

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with good food and good people. I’ll also high-five you if you had one too many cocktails last night while ringing in the new year.

As per ushe, the new year brings new goals and new resolutions. Without fail, I make a resolution to take better care of myself/eat healthier/exercise more/yada yada yada every. single. year. And this year is no different!

I’ve been juicing semi-regularly since the Summer, when I bought my juicer. But my goal for January is to make fresh juice more of a regular habit. I have tried a few different green juice recipes, but this one is my current favorite/go-to juice.

My Favorite Green Juice | Once Upon a Recipe

Look at all of that good stuff up there! The spinach gives you a dose of greens, the apples lend a little sweetness, and the lemon and ginger give it a little punch. If you’re new to green juice, this is a great recipe to start with since it’s not overpowering in the green department. You can also sub in different fruits and veggies, depending on what you have on hand. For example, kale makes a great substitute for the spinach, and pears are a great replacement for the apples.

My Favorite Green Juice | Once Upon a Recipe   My Favorite Green Juice | Once Upon a Recipe

A glass of this green juice will most definitely start your day (and year) off on the right foot. Let’s all jump into health this year. Green juice balances out wine, chocolate, and cookies, which basically means you can consume more of all of the above. Winning!

My Favorite Green Juice

This recipe will make about 30 ounces of juice, depending on your juicer. Perfect to enjoy a glass the day that you make it, and sip on the second glass the next day. Sharing is also an option. Serves 2. 

2 big handfuls of baby spinach

1 large cucumber

2 stalks of celery

2 Granny Smith apples

Half a lemon, peel removed

A chunk of ginger

Be sure to wash all of the fruit and vegetables well and cut into pieces that will fit into your juicer. Get your juice on! Enjoy immediately over ice. Store any remaining juice in an airtight container in the fridge. Consume within 24 hours.

My Favorite Green Juice | Once Upon a Recipe

Happy 2014 my dear readers! I hope this next year is filled with much love, adventure, health, and happiness for all of you. Cheers! xo

Giving Thanks | Caramel Cream Cheese Apple Dip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

Today I will be making a concentrated effort to stuff myself to the gills with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Actually, pumpkin this, which is what I will be contributing to tonight’s dinner. I can’t wait to try it! Oh, and I don’t doubt that there will be plenty of wine consumption as well. What is a day holiday without wine?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Thanksgiving, we are encouraged to think about what we are thankful for. I remember as a young child in grade school, art classes around this time of year were always focused on colorful leaves, turkeys, and giving thanks. Even now, twenty years later, I still take a moment to think about some of the wonderful things in my life at Thanksgiving.

Driving to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday (the first of two), I passed many houses with cars in the driveways and lining the streets. I thought of all of the families and friends gathering together to share a meal and give thanks for this beautiful life that we live. And I felt so thankful knowing that I had a house full of family waiting for me. I know that not everyone is so lucky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s kind of a shame that we don’t recognize all of these wonderful things more often. It’s so darn easy to get caught up in day-to-day life and to focus on negative things. How tired we are, how much work we have to do, how we don’t have the money to do this or buy that, and the list goes on. We live in a bit of a pessimistic society, no?

So today, I encourage you to think of five things in your own life that you are most thankful for. You don’t have to share them with anyone but yourself. But you might be surprised at just how much you’ve got goin’ on. You’re pretty awesome, in case you need to be reminded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today or not, I do encourage you to try this little number. This dip comes from one of my coworkers (thanks K!) – she brought it to a potluck at work and everyone raved about it. Apparently she always gets requests for “the apple dip” when attending potlucks, and I can see taste why. It is SO delicious! And incredibly simple. And a great way to enjoy Fall’s apple bounty! I brought it to dinner yesterday, and when we ran out of apples, we just used our fingers to finish it off. We’re classy like that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caramel Cream Cheese Apple Dip

8 oz. light cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar, loosely packed

~1/3 to 1/2 cup caramel sauce

2 Skor bars, finely chopped

Mix the cream cheese and brown sugar together well. Spread evenly into the bottom of a shallow dish (~8 x 10″) or pie plate. Pour the caramel sauce over top and gently spread it out evenly. Feel free to add more or less caramel, depending on your tastes. Top with the chopped Skor bar. You could also top with shaved or chopped chocolate, if you prefer. Cover and refrigerate until consumption. Serve with sliced apples. Pears would be delicious too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take good care, friends! xoxo

Mid-Week Rant | Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear crazy mothers from Toddlers and Tiaras,

You frighten me. You’re just straight-up scary. Yet, you’re also fascinating. Watching you obsess over your four-year old’s make-up, mimick your daughter’s “dance” routine from the audience (PS. You look like the devil is being exorcized from your body when you do this), and yell at her to “shine!” for the judges is like watching a train wreck. Part of me wants to change the channel. But…I just can’t. stop. watching.

Pageant dresses that cost $1500? Pageant coaches that charge $150/hour? Spray tans and fake teeth? Ridiculous. Have you heard of piano lessons? Sports? Dance class? Arts and crafts? What motivates you to push your young, impressionable daughters to partake in activities that value physical appearance more than personality or strength of character? Do you care so little about nourishing their self-esteem and instilling in them important life values like honesty, respect, and kindness?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And when you criticize your daughter for not smiling big enough for the judges, or for not holding still while applying her fake eyelashes, I feel a strong urge to punch you in the face. Or at least give you a damn good shake in an effort to knock a little sense into you. Get a grip! Look at the example you are setting for your daughter, who will one day grow up and be a mother and raise children of her own.

If I may make a suggestion: Tell your daughter that she is beautiful, smart, and funny. Every day. Because I guarantee that there will come a day when she doesn’t believe it; when she questions whether she is smart enough, good enough, or pretty enough. She needs to hear these words, so that when she is doubting herself, she will hear your voice, telling her that she is all that and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy pageant mom, life is hard. People can be mean. Be kind to your daughter. And teach her to be kind to others. Finally, to the mother whose child won the “grande supreme” title, and then promptly exclaimed that she won the pageant because she is so beautiful and talented and that all of the other girls are ugly and stupid…please, please, set your daughter straight. In about 10 years, she’s going to be waltzing through her school’s hallways as though she owns the place, teasing and bullying other girls that don’t meet her standards of perfection. I know, because I was one of those girls who suffered through three hellish years, all because I was flat-chested and didn’t wear cool clothes. So stop living vicariously through your 6-year old, stop forcing your 4-year old to eat salads while the rest of your family eats pizza so she will lose 5 pounds before the pageant (!!!), and stop teaching her that life is all about looking pretty and winning obnoxious trophies and crowns. Life is about so much more. Let her be a kid, for crying. out. loud.

Most Sincerely,

Amanda

Ok, rant over. Time to make muffins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These muffins are wonderful little packages filled with whole wheat flour, a healthy shot of cinnamon, and big chunks of apple. They are so moist, and the sugar on top creates a sweet little crunch. I recommend storing these muffins in the freezer if they aren’t eaten within the first couple of days of baking them, as I fear that all of those beautiful apple chunks might get a little dodgy if they sit out too long. I actually stuck the whole batch in my freezer – I grab one each morning on my way out the door and by the time I’m ready to eat it at work, it’s perfectly thawed and dee-licious!

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins (barely adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
A healthy pinch of salt
1 TBSP. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP. brown sugar, packed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
2 large (or 3 small) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Prepare a 12-count muffin tin (for big muffins), or prepare two tins (to make 18 smaller muffins).

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and the white sugar, as well as 1/4 cup of the brown sugar, until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well, scraping the bowl at least once. Gently mix in the yogurt with a wooden spoon. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks. The batter will be quite thick.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling with the remaining 2 TBSP. of brown sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400°F, and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy for breakfast or a lovely afternoon snack! Preferably with a hot cup of tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS. During one of the commercial breaks, I saw an ad for a show called “My Strange Addiction”, in which a dude was trying to explain his emotional, physical, and sexual relationship with his car. Um, sexual relationship? Wha? And then it showed him making out with his car. As in, kissing his front bumper whilst the lower half of his body was underneath the car. With tongue.

…seriously?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the one show that you’re most embarrassed to admit that you watch?

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