Homemade Oyster Crackers

Oyster crackers. They are probably something you don’t even think about, unless you’re ordering a bowl of clam chowder or crab soup. Usually, we’ll just use broken-up pieces of saltines for a crunchy bite to top our soup with – but yesterday I was feeling particularly ambitious!

Turns out they were super easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients. The hardest part was cutting and transferring all the little squares to the baking sheet. And that little amount of work totally paid off, the taste and texture was about a million times better than you’d find in the store-bought crackers.

In fact, we loved them so much, it’s got me thinking about what other crackers I can make here at home!  I know these would be great with additions thrown in as well, like fresh (or dried!) herbs. Or even just a little bit of black pepper. Will definitely be making these again!

Source: adapted from Serious Eats

 

The Vampire Kiss Cocktail

Happy Halloween! Are you guys busy getting ready for a night of trick-or-treating and mischief tonight? I know we are. Last night we put the finishing touches on our costumes, and carved our pumpkins – something that everyone looks forward to. I currently have my seeds drying and are going to roast them today. Then I’m thinking maybe pumpkin seed brittle this weekend!

Since the spooky day fell on a Friday this year, I thought it would be fun to share a Halloween-inspired cocktail. I know a lot of folks are heading out to parties tonight, or hosting one themselves, and this drink is just too much fun!

It’s a pretty simple recipe – vodka, pineapple juice, raspberry puree, and some seltzer water for a little fizzy action to tickle the taste buds. But the real kicker is the creepy blood rim that’s made with just corn syrup and red food coloring. How devilishly delicious!

I hope that everyone has a very festive and Happy Halloween! We’re ready to roam the streets of Chincoteague begging for candy for the first time. So watch out ‘teaguers, we have some little ghouls heading your way tonight. Everyone be safe, and have a great weekend!

Vampire Kiss Cocktails

1 cup vodka
2 cups pineapple juice
2 Tbsp raspberry puree*
1 cup seltzer water
ice

For the blood rim:
3 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 tsp red food coloring

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher or carafe. Stir to combine well.

Combine the corn syrup and the food coloring until well blended in a shallow bowl. Gently dip the rim of the wine glass slightly into the “blood”, then fill with ice. Fill glasses up with the mixed cocktail and serve.

* To make raspberry puree, combine 1/2 cup fresh raspberries with 1 tsp. granulated sugar in a food processor. Blend until smooth, then push through a fine-mesh strainer to remove large pieces of pulp and seeds.

pantry1

Living on a remote island that lies on the also remote Eastern Shore, a well stocked pantry is essential to me. Sadly, it’s usually in a state of utter chaos and dissaray. And that’s a super bad thing, because half the time I forget what I have in there in the first place – and by the time I find it again, it’s gone and expired.

So, when the good folks at OXO and The Container Store asked me to be a part of their POPtober Campaign, I couldn’t say no. Since moving to the island, I’ve had a really hard time keeping things fresh. I’ll open a bag of tortilla chips, and by the next day they’ll be stale (pretty sure that it has something to do with all the moisture we have in the air here), and I knew that OXO’s air-tight seals would be an answered prayer! And as I’d mentioned above, my pantry was in desperate need of a makeover to begin with.

oxo

They were kind enough to send me a 10-Piece POP Container Set, as well as several sizes of their POP Cereal Dispensers. The square and rectangular shapes fit together so snugly and are so pleasing to the eye. They’re stackable as well, which makes them super space efficient. I also love that they’re able to be opened with one hand, something that I have to do so often these days with baby boy #3 in tow!

I couldn’t believe how many bunched up little baggies I was able to toss out, and instead have the contents up front and visible. Where they can be seen, and used – instead of forgotten about. It’s been a week since the revamp, and I’ve not had any issues with cereals or crackers that have been opened being stale – they’re just as fresh as the day that I opened them. So of course I’ve added quite a few more of the OXO items to my wishlist on Pinterest. Are you paying attention, Santa?

Follow Laura (Tide and Thyme)’s board POPtober on Pinterest.

I thought I’d also give you guys a run-down of what I think are essential pantry items. With cold and inclement weather sneaking up on us – it’s good to have basics like these safely stashed away. With all these items on hand, you could whip out a delicious meal in no time at all!

Basics:
Kosher salt
Fine salt
Black peppercorns
Oils (olive, vegetable, extra-virgin olive)
Vinegar (apple cider, red and white wine, balsamic, and rice vinegar)
Coffee
Tea
Long-grain white rice
Brown rice
Quinoa
Couscous
Dried pasta (standard, whole grain, rice noodles)
Grits or polenta
Panko
Oats (Old-fashioned rolled, and instant)
Dried beans (black, pinto, chickpeas, navy)
Tortillas (corn and flour)
Country ham (a post on this is coming soon!)

Baking:
Flour (all-purpose, whole wheat, and cake flour)
Baking soda
Baking powder
Cream of tartar
Cocoa powder (unsweetened)
Bittersweet chocolate: chips and bars
Evaporated milk
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Vanilla extract
Granulated sugar
Confectioners’ sugar
Brown sugar
Maple syrup
Honey
Agave syrup

Snacks:
Crackers
Tortillas
Pretzels
Marshmallows
Popcorn kernels
Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries, cherries)
Peanut butter or almond butter
Applesauce
Granola

Canned Goods:
Broths (chicken, beef, and vegetable – I like the powdered varieties found in the Hispanic aisle)
Beans (cannellini, navy, chickpeas, pinto, and black)
Vegetables (artichoke hearts, corn, green beans)
Olives (black, green, Kalamata)
Chiles (chipotles in adobo, pickled jalapenos, pepperocinis, sliced banana peppers)
Salsa
Tomatoes (whole, diced, crushed, fire-roasted)
Tomato paste
Roasted red peppers
Tuna
Anchovy fillets or paste

Now,  are you ready to go and tackle the organization monster in your pantry? OXO wants to help!

Starting today, OXO is hosting a  that runs through Friday, October 31st! Enter to win a prize pack worth $500, including your choice of OXO Storage & Organization tools (up to $250), as well as a $250 elfa gift card. Make sure you scoot on over today for your chance to enter!

Disclaimer: I received a set of canisters from OXO for review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Posted in DIY

Caramel Pumpkin BlondiesWell, it’s official. Fall is finally here. So, in true food blogger fashion I wanted to celebrate by sharing my first pumpkin recipe with you guys for the year! I came across these Caramel Pumpkin Blondies on Pinterest a couple weeks ago, and pretty much had to have them going into my mouth immediately once I saw them.

A basic blondie batter is loaded with pumpkin puree, then studded with white chocolate, dark chocolate, and toffee pieces. Then a swirl of caramel sauce is layered into the blondies before being baked to perfection.

They turned out a little fluffier and more cake-like than most blondies I’ve had, but I think I liked it better. Dense and moist, yet light and fluffy too – this cake has all the flavors of fall that I adore. Cinnamon, pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, caramel…what’s not to love?

Do yourself a favor and make these soon. I can’t think of a more perfect way to welcome autumn into our kitchens!

Source: adapted from Taste and Tell