Texas Winter Romance Ideas

It is indeed that time of year where the birds fly south to warmer weather, bears hibernate, snow boots with the fur are pulled out. Some love the Winter time, while others merely survive it until that first flower blooms signaling Spring time. I'm one of those people who aren't truly happy until the weather is at least 75 degrees or above consistently. However, it seems that Texas didn't get the memo and we might have an actual Winter on our hands, thus...cuddling season is upon us! Here are some romantic tips for the winter (Texas Style)!

When it's cold outside the BEST place to be is inside. Every girl dreams of that romantic night cuddled in front of the fireplace while you gaze into your lover's eyes and share a deep romantic kiss. Well, if that's what you're going for this Winter then have it, unfortunately most of us are not lucky enough to have a fireplace in our home because let's face it...who really needs a fireplace in Texas. I don't! So, the next best thing to do is to find a nice resort or hotel suite that has a fireplace and sneak away for a romantic weekend. You and your honey can pack your bags and escape the realities of the real world for a few days; order some room service, watch movies, and play board games all weekend long just the two of you while at night you cuddle by the fireplace and sip hot cocoa.

Photo courtesy of Google.com

Now if you're the outdoorsy type and you would much rather brave the elements and the cold instead of enjoying the luxury of a heated hotel room, grab your man and some wood and head out back for a nice bonfire. When it's just cold enough for a bonfire but not too cold that I won't enjoy myself, I love a good bonfire. Grab me some beer and some lawn chairs and I can sit outside around the fire for hours staring up at the stars and enjoying the company of my honey. You of course could also straighten some wire hangers, grab some graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate and make you some s'mores while you are becoming one with nature. If you don't have any woods or open areas near by for a bonfire then a nice alternative would be to run out to any outdoor store like Home Depot, Academy, or Bass Pro Shop and grab you a fire pit. This safe alternative can be placed on any patio or in any backyard and create the same warm and loving atmosphere.

Ladies, I'm sorry this post is soooooo short but this Texan is at a loss of ideas, I'm not quite used to this whole winter thing but please feel free to post below with more of your winter romance ideas for  your chance to be crowned this week's Kurvie Kueen. And as always you can reach me via email carkurviekulture@gmail.com

LA'S:Family, Food, Fun

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and fun. That’s exactly how I spent mine and I couldn’t have asked for a better time. Our plates were full of amazing food and our hearts were full of love. Our tradition for many years has been going black  friday shopping.  Even if we don’t have anything in particular to get we love the hustle and bustle of it all. We pre plan in the month of October and then get the paper ads on thanksgiving.  This year was no different, the only difference was the time in which we went to the stores. We were in the stores by 8am this year and didn’t finish until about 2pm. I scored some great shoes as well as a few gifts for others. I also used a great coupon at kmart and yall know I LIVE to SAVE! Did any of you catch any great deals? Comment here or email me I want to hear all about them. lalakurviekulture@gmail.com

YUMMY!!!

Love and Thankfulness

When I think of Thanksgiving traditions I think of LOVE. My family and friends don’t really have traditions when it comes to particular foods at Thanksgiving. We practice the tradition of TOGETHERNESS! We feel it is important to not be alone and for everyone to get together and have a good time. We are all spread out all over the country and we do our best to join one another in the name of love and have a meal. Thanksgiving is a mixture of friends, family, and new friends.

When it comes to food…WE GO IN! We tend not to lean towards the traditional Thanksgiving fare because, to be honest, we end up having that same food a month later for Christmas. Plus, we are a mixture of different nationalities and childhood traditions that we each bring our own contribution to the table. For instance, I am Jamaican and I often get asked to make a traditional Jamaican dish whether it may be Beef Patties or Ackee and Saltfish. Last year, my aunt hosted and prepared Southern Cuisine such chitterlings with hog maws in addition to ham and collard greens. So as you can tell, being from the islands and being raised in the south has its advantages and provided for an interesting spread on the table.

This year we are getting creative. I live in North Carolina but I was raised in Florida and so were most of the people in my North Carolina circle. One of the main things that we complain about missing is the ability to go to any corner in Florida and have there be a Crab Shack, Crab Joint, Crab House, etc. So this year we are having a Crab Boil/Seafood Feast. We will have crabs, shrimp, fish, crawfish, and all the sides we can come up with that accompany seafood. Let’s not forget about dessert. We will have cake, pies, etc. because who has a feast without dessert?

My point in sharing this with you is that Thanksgiving is about the LOVE you experience with those around you and being thankful for them and all that you have to be thankful for. Create your own traditions and enjoy yourselves.

For any questions, comments, concerns, or even recipes feel free to contact me at keakurviekulture@gmail.com  One Love! Happy Thanksgiving!

Family, Food, and More Family & Food...(My Family's Thanksgiving Traditions)

T

Picture courtesy of Google image search

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the Wednesday before in the kitchen helping my mama make her signature German Chocolate Cake and my signature Mac-N-Cheese. When I was younger my job was to read the recipe, keep my mama company, oh and to grease the cake pans. To this day I am the BEST cake pan greaser this side of the Mississippi, not a piece of cake has ever been left in one of my pans! ;-) I have always loved the day before a major holiday more than the holiday itself because I enjoy spending the time with my mama in the kitchen helping her cook and bonding.

I come from a large family, my granny is one of eight children and all eight of them believe in getting together for the holidays. So my granny and her seven siblings have always gathered up all their children in met in their hometown for Thanksgiving, this is a tradition that has continued on every year and every year it grows bigger and bigger, it is now so big that we have to rent a banquet hall to host our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Our dinner consists of two turkeys, two hams, three pans of dressing, a variety of sides (including my Mac-N-Cheese), and a dessert table that would rival any small bakery's selection. 

Now some people come for the food, but I love the family atmosphere of it all. I love seeing cousins that I only get to see on holidays and catching up with them. I know this seems crazy in the age of technology where you can find anyone on Facebook but it's just not the same as sitting down at a table away from the parents and sharing the juicy details. It takes us back to a time not so long ago where our biggest worries in life were what we were going to put on our Christmas list and if we were going to get it or not. Every year I cherish the moments with my great aunts and uncles, I listen to their wisdom and enjoy their stories of the simpler times of when they were growing up. I guess I'm just nostalgic like that, I like to think that I get it from my granny. 

As always my email is carkurviekulture@gmail.com. I would love to hear what your family's Thanksgiving traditions are, comment below or shoot me an email.

Cheesy Chilli Cornbread Casserole

Fall is here! Halloween is right around the corner. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. There is a chill in the air and my mama's in the kitchen. In my family, food is how we stay connected. We bond while cooking( YESSSS HUNNY!!! I can throw down in the kitchen). We have staple recipes for every season. One of our favorite recipes came by accident(we let my little brother get creative). To this day, when there is a chill in the air we know that Cheesy Chilli Cornbread Casserole will be on the table to warm us up. It is easy to make and can be altered to accommodate just about any dietary need .Contact me at keakurviekulture@gmail.com for questions or comments!  Enjoy!

1 lb. hamburger, browned, (drained)
½ cup chopped onion
1 can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
2 (15 oz) can chili beans
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup additional cheddar cheese for batter (optional)
2 - packages Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 packet of chilli seasoning

Mix Brown hamburger with onion and drain. Add Tomatoes, chili beans and seasonings. Simmer for 15 minutes. 

Put into greased 9x13 pan and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Mix corn bread mix according to box directions. Add a little cheese to the mix to taste.

 Pour corn muffin mix on top of the chili and cheese cover completely. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

 

 

Yummy HEALTHY Lasagna!

Hi Loves!

Its been a while but I'm so happy to be back! I have an AMAZING recipe for a healthy lasagna! Its my new favorite dish to make! Being Italian, pasta is a HUGE part of my diet. I was so thrilled to find a recipe that stays true to lasagna, is a healthier alternative, and is made in half the time! So here it goes!

Sami's Skillet Lasagna

You'll Need:
700 mL of red gravy
3 cups water
12oz Lasagna Whole Wheat Pasta (I suggest Ronzoni)   
Turkey Sausage or Turkey Ground Meat
1 cup Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded)

 1) Get a large skillet and bring the water and red gravy to a boil. Make sure it has a cover or it can get very messy!
2) Break uncooked lasagna pasta into fourths. I use a clean dish towel to help break them so the small pieces don't scatter all over.
3) Let lasagna pasta boil in the gravy and water for 16-20 minutes while covered. You may want to lower the heat to a simmer.
4) While the pasta is cooking bake the turkey sausage or pan fry the turkey meat.
5) Add cooked meat to skillet and stir contents. (Slice sausage first!) Cover and let cook for 5 minutes.
6)  Stir in mozzarella cheese until its melted.


That's it! Scoop and serve! It is a delicious alternative to traditional lasagna! If you have any questions please feel free to email me! Stay Kurvy!

xoxo,
Sami 
SamiRose.KurvieKulture@gmail.com

  
   
  

To Casserole or Not to Casserole...

Fall is here! Fall is here! Bring on the Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving deals, and too soon Christmas decorations. While I'm not too found of the cooler temps and longer garment lengths my favorite part of the fall is the heartier meals. Now me personally I'm not a soup or stew kinda person, but I do love me a good casserole. So, the fall recipe I'm going to share with you is my own version of a Paula Deen (yes I said the P word) classic, "Wild Rice Casserole"...

Wild Rice Casserole

1 Box Wild Rice (Zatarain's or Uncle Ben's)
2 1/2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Bag or Freshly Shredded) 

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup 

1 lb cooked shrimped tail-off, peeled, and deveined

Seasonings (personal preference) 

1. Cook rice per instructions on box 

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

3. Thaw shrimp or boil if raw adding seasoning of choice to water for taste

4. After rice is done cooking combine rice, shrimp, soup, and 2 cups of cheese in a bowl, mix together ingredients. All ingredients will be cooked so add seasonings to taste. I use a little cajun seasoning, black pepper, and seasoning salt. 

4. Place mixture in a 13 x 9 casserole dish and place in oven. Bake for 20 minutes. 

5. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over top of casserole and bake until cheese is melted. 

***This recipe can easily be doubled by simple doubling the quantities listed above. Also, this recipe can be lightened up by using brown long grain and wild rice, healthy request cream of mushroom soup, and 2% cheddar cheese.*** 

For more recipe ideas email me: carkurviekulture@gmail.com