Sharky’s Gift Card Giveaway

December 8, 2015 by 38 Comments

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Sharky‘s Woodfired Mexican Grill is getting in the holiday spirit by giving to YOU if you buy a gift card for family, friends, co-workers, teachers and other special people. Guests who purchase $25 in gift cards between now and Thursday, December 24 will receive a $5 bonus card that can be redeemed from January 1 to March 1, 2016.

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GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Congrats to Bernadette and Lucia!

To celebrate, Sharky’s is giving $25 gift cards to two of my readers! To enter just leave a comment on this post (one entry per person, please) by 11:59 PM on December 23. I will choose two winners by random drawing from qualified entries notify you by email.

Don’t know what to say in your comment? Well, it can be as easy as “Pick me!” or “Happy Holidays!” but I would love it if you would share with me your favorite local feature or resource. In 2016 I will be publishing Agoura Hills Mom’s Resource List – this will help people who are new to town or just visiting find the best: pediatrician, Mexican restaurant, karate studio, urgent care, hair stylist, etc. I have my own opinions after living here for 5 years but I’d love to hear and consider yours.

I’ll be asking for your input again, but why not start now, when you could win a free meal? Feel free to share this post, too.

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Super Lemon Bars

November 24, 2015 by 2 Comments

 

These easy-to-make lemon bars are extra lemony with a cup of fresh lemon juice in the filling!

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A batch of lemon bars. This special occasion treat might be easier to make at holiday time in Southern California, where your neighbor just might have a lemon tree whose branches grow over the brick wall between your houses and into your yard, so that you are free to harvest as many ripe or almost-ripe lemons on your side of the wall as you want.

Ahem.

IMG_2640That is a 5-gallon bucket of ripening lemons right there.

Let’s just say we’ve made a lot of fresh lemonade this November. My boys demanded a lemon meringue pie, but never having made one before I decided to start with a simpler confection. So I tested a few lemon bar recipes and settled on something I can turn to again and again, and I can whip up fairly easily as long as I have enough eggs in the house.

So, with props to The Pioneer Woman, The Joy of Cooking, and the Food Network test kitchen, here’s my hacked-up recipe for lemon bars that are super lemony!

Super Lemon Bars

super lemon barsIt’s a bird. It’s a plane. Nope, it’s a delicious lemon bar!

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into little cubes

4 large eggs + 2 egg yolks
2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease a glass 9 x 13 baking dish
Mix flour, sugar, and salt
Add diced butter pieces and work them into the flour mixture with your fingers until the mix is pebbly and sandy
Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish
Bake for 20 minutes

Filling:
Beat eggs and egg yolks in a large bowl
Add flour and sugar
Add lemon juice and lemon zest; mix well
Pour filling over the baked crust
Return dish to oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is solid
Let cool on stovetop or rack for 20 minutes. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours.
Sift confectioner’s sugar over the top (I just use a fine strainer). Cut into bars and enjoy!

Makes 24 bars – they are very rich, so a little goes a long way!

If you’re surfing for recipes for sweet treats to serve at your holiday party or to give as gifts, this week Savvy Sassy Moms is doing a blog hop featuring sweet treats! Check out this recipe for egg nog cookies – these I’ve gotta try -and the links at the bottom with more great ideas!

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Best Boozy Cranberry Sauce

November 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment

When I was growing up, cranberry sauce was always an afterthought at holiday dinners. In fact, I’m pretty sure I was only exposed to the canned, gelatinous mass of cranberry sauce “jelly” that came out with a plop. But over my years of serving Thanksgiving dinner to my own family and various invited guests, I have experimented with fresh cranberries as the main ingredient of that side dish.

I came upon this simple recipe on Eat, Love, Run and it was an instant hit. It has just a few ingredients, and for me, it is blessedly free of weird flavors. Just cranberry and sugar and something to give it a little kick!

Of course by the time I go to make the cranberry sauce I’m out of bourbon, so I usually just use whatever I have on hand. Here’s my lazy version of this unsung Thanksgiving dinner hero.

Boozy Cranberry Sauce

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Ingredients:
12 oz fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 tbsp whiskey, brandy, or bourbon (I used Seagram’s 7 this time!)
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cranberries burst and begin to break down, about 10-15 minutes. Stir well and remove from heat. I like to mash the rest of the un-split cranberries with a potato masher to release more jelly. Let cool for 20 minutes before storing in refrigerator for dinner the next day.

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This dish was my quick and easy contribution to a “Friendsgiving” brunch that my friend Jennifer hosted. She set the bar very high with her beautifully set table. But my boozy cranberry sauce was a hit and one friend said that it was the best she’d ever had, so I had to share it with you!

If you’re surfing for Thanksgiving dinner side dish recipes, this week Savvy Sassy Moms is doing a blog hop featuring holiday dinner sides. Check out this great looking recipe for perfect herbed mashed potatoes, and the links at the bottom with more great ideas!

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