Author

Cathy Lawdanski

Mini Butterfinger Tortes | Delicious Layered Dessert made with store-bought Angel Food cake, Whipped cream/butter mixture, pecans and crushed Butterfingers
Be Brave

Mini Butterfinger Tortes Made with Butterfinger Baking Bits

I love Butterfingers. They are one of my favorite candy bars. Years ago, I found a recipe in the Houston Chronicle Food section for Butterfinger Torte.  I have made it as the recipe directs in a 13 x 9″ pan for many occasions. This time, however, I made mini versions of this delicious torte in my stemless wine glasses.  I think these Mini Butterfinger Tortes turned out so cute. And they are just as delicious.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

This recipe is so good – made with REAL “uber-fattening” ingredients like real whipping cream and real butter. There are no shortcuts, but it’s not hard or time consuming to make. And once you get it made, it is so addictive.

 

I took it to my church small group’s potluck recently and after dinner, we put a big 13 x 9 pan of this delicious torte in the middle of the table so that everyone could serve themselves. We sat and picked at that thing all night while we talked… I thought someone (me) was going to pick that pan up and lick it!

 

Whether you make it in one big pan or serve my “mini” version – it is sure to be a hit! I know you’ll love it!

 

*By the way, this is not a sponsored post for Butterfingers or Butterfinger Baking Bits. Just a yummy recipe from a Butterfinger fan!

Mini Butterfinger Trifles Made With Butterfinger Baking Bits

 

Ingredients:

 

  • 1 store-bought Angel Food cake, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 stick of butter (real butter, not margarine), softened
  • 2 cups whipping cream, whipped until stiff peaks form
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 6 Full-sized Butterfinger Candy Bars, crushed OR 1 pkg. Butterfinger Baking Bits

OR

Prepare your ingredients:

  • Soften butter.
  • Tear the angel food cake into bite-sized pieces.
  • If using Butterfinger candy bars, break into pieces, put in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
  • Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
  • Separate the eggs. Save the yolks. Discard the whites.

In a mixing bowl, mix together until well blended:

  • Softened butter
  • Egg yolks
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Vanilla

Fold butter mixture gently into whipped cream until combined.

Layer in individual glasses:

 

Angel Food Cake Pieces

 

Butter/Whipped Cream mixture

 

Pecans

Crushed Butterfingers OR Butterfinger Baking Bits

Repeat

And serve!

Makes 6 individual desserts OR 1-13 x 9 pan

Recipe:

  • 1 store-bought Angel Food cake, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 stick of butter (real butter, not margarine), softened
  • 2 cups whipping cream, whipped until stiff peaks form
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 6 Full-sized Butterfinger Candy Bars, crushed OR 1 pkg. Butterfinger Baking Bits

Mix together butter, egg yolks, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

Fold butter mixture gently into Whipped Cream, until combined

Layer in individual cups or 13 x 9 pan in this order:

  • Angel Food cake pieces
  • Butter/Whipped Cream mixture
  • Pecans
  • Butterfinger pieces

Repeat layers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

 

 


You might also like:

Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer

Fireball No-Bake Cookies Made with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

I’d be honored if you pinned this post! Pin it!

Mini Butterfinger Tortes | Delicious Layered Dessert made with store-bought Angel Food cake, Whipped cream/butter mixture, pecans and crushed Butterfingers

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

October 31, 2017 12 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
11 Questions To Ask Before You Hire An Estate Sale Company | What percentage to they take? | How do they handle sales tax? | How are they staffed?
Be Brave

11 Questions To Ask BEFORE You Hire an Estate Sale Company

Estate Sales (Tag Sales) are held when someone wants to sell most or all of their possessions. Common reasons for having an estate sale are downsizing, divorce, relocation or you are managing someone’s estate. If you have the time and enough help, you can conduct the estate sale yourself. Or you can hire a company that specializes in estate sales. When I helped my dad downsize before moving into assisted living in 2015, I hired a local estate sale company and had a good experience. But that is not always the case. First, we will look at what estate sale companies actually do and then I’ll give you 10 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Hire an estate sale company

What will an Estate Sale Company actually do?

Estate Sales are usually held over a weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Prior to the sale, the company will price and display items in a way to ensure you get the best possible price.

Experienced professionals know:

  • The market value of items.
  • What estate sale shoppers are looking for.
  • How to display your items so that they are sold.

They will advertise your sale. Getting the right people in the door is key to a great sale. Companies will advertise on their website, through traditional channels like newspapers and Craig’s List, social media and through their own e-mail/mailing list. Having a large e-mail list is a good sign because these are your target customers – people who shop estate sales and want what you have to sell.

They will staff the sale, handle the money and keep detailed records of what was sold and for how much.

They will provide security during the sale. Maybe not actual police or security guards, but employees who are trained in all the tricks thieves use to shoplift or switch tags during the sale.

They will clean up after the sale.

For an extra fee, they will dispose of what did not sell. They will take what is trash to the appropriate place and donate other items to charity, providing you with a tax receipt for that donation.

They will send you a check for your percentage of the proceeds within 30 days.

[bctt tweet=”How do you find an estate sale company?” username=”MySideof50″]

How do you find an Estate Sale Company?

Recommendations from someone is a great place to start. Your Realtor, a probate attorney or a friend can provide a recommendation. When I am looking for a “professional anything”, I always start with posting something on Facebook to see if any of my friends can recommend someone they have used.

Do a Google Search or go to a site like estatesales.net where you can type in your zip code and get a listing of companies in your area. Prioritize companies that have a website with a list of services, photos of staff, photos and listings from previous sales. Since exposure is imperative for a great estate sale, you are looking for a company that knows how to market.

Interview several on the phone and then choose 2 or 3 to interview in person.

When you meet in person, the company personnel will look over the items you have to sell and evaluate if it will be a profitable sale for both the company and you. Don’t be surprised if you show them items that you think are valuable that they say are not.

For example, my parents traveled a lot during their lives and brought home many items from overseas. One was a cuckoo clock from Germany that my father always thought would be “worth something” someday. It turns out that many people their age traveled to Europe and brought home these same type clocks. Since lots of estate sales have these for sale, they are not nearly as valuable as he thought.

[bctt tweet=”11 questions to ask before you hire an estate sale company.” username=”MySideof50″]

Here are 11 Questions to Ask Before You Hire An Estate Sale Company:

  1. Are they a legitimate business? Do they have business cards and a tax ID#?
  2. Can they provide references?
  3. Are they bonded and insured?
  4. How long have they been in business?
  5. How do they handle sales tax, if your state requires that it be collected?
  6. Do they have the right equipment like tables and display cases?
  7. What percentage do they get?

There are typically no up-front costs. You will sign a contract with the company and agree that they get a certain percentage of the proceeds – 25-50%. Pricing is usually based on the part of the country you are in, the estimated value of the items and how much work it will be for the company.

Is the percentage they charge a reasonable amount for your area? Ask around, but remember, cheaper isn’t always better. You often get what you pay for in the area of expertise and services offered.

Are there extra fees for things like extra staff, clean-up after the sale and handling donations to charity?  The clean-up and handling donations to charity were services I gladly paid for. Just make sure you know what your extra costs will be upfront.

  1. Do they have a contract for you to sign? If they don’t, that’s a big red flag! Always get a contract. Read it carefully and make sure the company can explain everything in it in a way that you can understand exactly what you are getting.
  2. How are they staffed? Do they have employees or do they hire contract workers for the sale?
  3. Are they set up to accept credit cards? You will sell more if people can pay with a credit card.
  4. Do they bring in extra items to YOUR sale? This is a big no-no! They should be focused on selling YOUR items, not their own or other customers.

Other things to remember:

Know that reputable estate sale companies book several months in advance, so as soon as you see that an estate sale is in your future, start “shopping around”.

Don’t “clean up” or throw ANYTHING away before meeting with the estate sale company. You would be amazed at what people buy – cleaning supplies that are half full, doorknobs that don’t work, out of date light fixtures…Let the company try to sell everything. Anything that doesn’t sell can be disposed of later.

For an even more thorough screening, you can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints filed against them. While there are many legitimate companies who are NOT members of the BBB, it doesn’t hurt to check.

Before you interview a company, allow friends and family time to get all of the items out that they want. Estate sale companies price according to the profit they think they can make and after you sign the contract, will ask that nothing else be removed.

I had a number of people in our family’s circle who requested items AFTER the contract was signed. Many times they would ask my dad if they could have them and he said yes. Why wouldn’t he? It was his stuff. But you have to make sure everyone understands the terms set by the company and that they need to get these items BEFORE you sign the contract.

Don’t attend the estate sale. Many companies will not allow it. You don’t want to be there hearing comments about you or your loved one’s décor or hear people haggle over the price of something that means a lot to you. Leave it to the professionals who know what they are doing.

Not sure you want to hire an estate sale company? Check out this post:

Estate Sales | Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Company?

Want to know more? Get my expanded list: 22 Questions To Ask BEFORE Hiring An Estate Sale Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

October 16, 2017 5 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Estate Sales | Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Company? | Things to ask: Do you have the time? Do you know how to price things? Do you know which things "sell" at an estate sale? Do you have the muscle to move and carry heavy items? Do you know how to market to the right people?
Be Brave

Estate Sales | Do-It-Yourself or Hire A Company?

In June 2015, a few months after my mom died, my dad decided that keeping their home of 36 years was getting to be too much and that was time to sell it and move into assisted living. So we hired a realtor and got ready to put the house on the market. And I started thinking about estate sales as a way to sell the items that dad couldn’t take with him and no one in the family wanted.

Here’s how the rest of the story was supposed to go in my mind.

  • We would put the house on the market and have a contract at asking price within a week.
  • In 30 days the house would close.
  • Before the 30 days were up, we’d hire an estate sale company to sell the items Dad couldn’t take with him, clear out the house leaving it in move-in condition for the new owners and deposit a hefty check for the proceeds of the sale.

Don’t you just love fantasy? I hope so because all of the above was TRULY a fantasy.

I knew nothing about estate sales except that people had them when they downsized, divorced or someone died.

So…I got on the internet and started trying to find a local estate sale company. I called several and found that most of the local companies were booked 2 or 3 months in advance. So if I scheduled one of those and the house sold quickly, I ran the risk of having to sell everything myself before closing.

I had to consider the pros and cons of conducting the estate sale myself OR waiting to hire a company. Here are some things to consider if you are you in trying to make that decision for yourself.

Estate Sales (Tag Sales) are held when someone can no longer keep all of the “stuff” they have accumulated. It is usually held at a time in a person’s life when there has been a death, divorce or the time has come to downsize.

This is something that may seem like nothing more than a big garage sale. Why not do it yourself? That is certainly a possibility. But there are several ways that estate sales are different from garage sales.

  • Garage sales are smaller and are filled with items you WANT to get rid of.
  • Estate sales are much larger and involve a majority of one’s possessions. You are selling most of the items because it has become a necessity. Not because you want to.
  • In an estate sale, some of the items you sell have personal and sentimental value.

So, is an estate sale something you should tackle on your own? Before taking on this task, it’s important to ask these questions:

Will I make more money if I don’t have to pay a commission to an estate sale company?

You might. Companies usually take 25-50% of the gross from estate sale proceeds. But there are other things to consider:

Pricing is important and will be a big factor in how much you will make.

Do you have a background in appraisal that will enable you to determine items of true monetary value and what people will pay for them? That Hummel collection of grandmas is worth a lot less than you think.

Are you experienced enough with estate sales to know what people who shop them are willing to purchase?

Many things that the average person thinks are valuable are typically not the most popular items at an estate sale. Why? Because items like china, crystal, silver and collectibles are sold at EVERY estate sale.  Being so widely available decreases their value.

But items like rusty hinges, half bottles of shampoo and Tupperware from the 70’s may be just what people are looking for! Seriously. This is not hyperbole! Things that you would throw in the trash are sometimes what people want.

Do you have the time?

Most estate sales are held over the weekend – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – all day.

In planning the sale, you’ll need time (maybe a month, if you don’t have other responsibilities (like a full-time job and a family) to go through every nook and cranny of the home and decide what to keep and what will be sold.

Items will need to be priced and displayed. Do you have a number of tables, display cases and hanging racks on which to display items?

Do you know how to display items in the best way to get the best price?

Do you have enough muscle?

Do you have people who will help you carry stuff up from the basement, down from the attic and move heavy furniture and appliances?

How will you advertise?

One of the major factors in a successful estate sale is getting the right people in the door.

You can put something on Facebook and Craig’s list.

You can tell your friends and family.

But you need buyers who buy estate sale items and these may not be the same people who would respond to your marketing.

Do you have enough people to help?

In addition to help pre-sale, you need people at the sale to take money, do crowd control (not let too many people in at one time) and provide security.

Shoplifting and tag switching are common at estate sales and thieves are adept at what they do. Do you know what to look for or how to spot a thief?

Do you have a thick skin?

How will you feel after a day or so of listening to comments about you or your loved one’s taste in home décor or disputing the price of items that hold great personal value to you?

Are you able to process credit card payments?

You can make it a cash-only sale, but you will typically sell more if people can pay with a credit card.

Does your neighborhood allow estate sales?

What are the parking regulations in your community?

If someone were to get hurt on your property during the sale, will your homeowner’s policy cover that?

If your neighborhood does NOT allow estate sales, there are companies that will load up all the items and sell them off-site or at an online auction.

What will you do with items that aren’t sold?

Do you have the time, manpower, vehicle and muscle to deliver the leftovers to the dump or to a charity? Or do you know a charity that will pick these items up?

What about cleanup and preparing the house for sale, if that is your plan?

If after considering these questions, you’ve decided to hire an Estate Sale Company and NOT go the DIY route, how do you find the best one? I’ll cover that next week in 11 Things to Ask Before You Hire An Estate Sale Company.

Like this post? Think an estate sale might be in your future? Pin it!

Estate Sales | Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Company? | Things to ask: Do you have the time? Do you know how to price things? Do you know which things "sell" at an estate sale? Do you have the muscle to move and carry heavy items? Do you know how to market to the right people?

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

October 10, 2017 7 comments
2 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
12 Tips for a Fun Family Beach Vacation | How to Choose A Vacation Rental | VRBO | Galveston
Be Brave

12 Tips for a Super-Fun Family Beach Vacation

We just got back from our annual family beach vacation in Galveston, Texas. We always rent a home through VRBO and have a great time just being together. Over the years, our family has grown and changed with the addition of grandchildren. And every time we take a trip together, I learn something new!

 12 Tips for a Super-Fun Family Beach Vacation

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Choosing a House

Plan early to ensure you get a house that meets your needs in the location you want to be in. We reserved our house in January for an August vacation. We have always found stellar rentals on VRBO. But you have to do your research and read the fine print!

  1. Think about the location you want:
  • Is it important to have an unobstructed view of the beach?
  • How far do you want to be from the beach?
  • Do you want to be able to drive your car on the beach? Make sure you are in a location that allows cars on the beach.
  • Will you be walking to the beach? Think about who is in your party and how far they can walk. Last year we rented a lovely home in a beach community that was advertised as “1/2 a block” from the beach. In truth, it was about 3 blocks from the bridge that crossed over to the beach. Not a bad walk for the adults in our party, but we had a 2-year-old with us. And since we thought it was a short walk, we did not bring a stroller or wagon for her. So getting to the beach was not convenient.
  • Is the home advertised as “across the street from the beach”? What street? A 2-lane road that is not busy OR a busy 5-lane highway that is very hard to cross safely on foot?

Read the fine print

2.  Read the reviews. Make sure they are current – within the last year. If someone left a negative review and the owner has not responded with how that problem was fixed – beware.

3.  Read what is included with the rental so that you can make your packing list. Are these items included?

  • Fully stocked kitchen with cooking and dining utensils
  • Beach towels
  • Bath towels
  • Bed linens
  • Grill
  • Cable TV & WiFi

It is not essential that the house is stocked with these items. But you do need to know what is included so that you know what you need to bring with you. Also, if TV and WiFi access is important, be sure and check to see if that is provided.

Plan Your Meals

We tend to go to the beach and eat all of our meals at the house. If this is what you will be doing:

4.  Plan your meals ahead of time and buy your groceries before your come. Don’t forget things like PAM, foil, seasonings – things that you have at home and take for granted.

5.  Keep your meals simple. We cooked our meat on the grill each evening – bratwurst, hot dogs, fajitas, steak & chicken. I also made this delicious broccoli salad that keeps well for a few days in the refrigerator.

6.  Is there a grocery store close by? Or do you have to drive for a while to get groceries? At our location, the closest store was 7 miles from the house. It had the few things we forgot, but at jacked up prices! The closest large grocery store was 30 miles away, so we sucked it up and paid the higher prices.

7.  If you want to eat out, what restaurants are close by? Do they meet the dietary needs of your family?

Things you might need if you are traveling with kids.

We had 3 kids with us – 6 months, 3 and 9.  Quite a range.

8.  You might need:

Stuff for family fun:

9.  This rolling cooler is great for hauling drinks and perishable snacks to the beach. And because it is tall, we carried our wine and other adult libations in it!

10.  A big puzzle to work on all week. The adults in our family and our 9-year-old grandson enjoyed this – especially on the few afternoons when we had rain.

11. Games. Card and board games are always good. This year’s games were Speak Out and Hedbanz. Speak Out says it is for kids 16 and up, but it was great to play as a family with our 9-year-old. Batteries were needed for Hedbanz, so we didn’t get to play that one. So…don’t forget the batteries if your game needs them!

12.  Goody bags – I always make little goody bags for everyone at the start of our vacation. Just for fun. Most of these items were purchased at the Dollar Store. Here’s what they got this year:

A little bit of thought on what you need. A little bit of research about where you’re going. And a whole lot of love and gratitude for the time spent together. That’s all it takes for a super fun family vacation.

 

You might also like: 5 Tips for An Awesome Multi-generational Family Vacation

Like this post? Pin it!

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

August 15, 2017 10 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Outer Banks Girls Trip 5 Fun Things to Do | OBX | Lunch at Aqua | Wright Brothers National Memorial | Currituck Beach Lighthouse | Wild Horse Adventure Tours | Dirty Dick's Crab House | Outer Banks Vacation | Outer Banks Travel Guide | Outer Banks, NC | Things to do in Outer Banks
Be Brave

Outer Banks Girls’ Trip | 5 Fun Things To Do in Outer Banks, NC

My Outer Banks Girls’ Trip started a little differently than many of the trips I take with my favorite travel buddies. Harriet & I tagged along with Cassie who was babysitting her precious grandson in Norfolk, VA for the week. He was a doll and didn’t deter us one bit from having a blast and laughing until we peed our pants (one of the “perks” of middle age)!

The Outer Banks of North Carolina (or OBX as the locals call it) are only about a 1 ½ hour drive from Norfolk. An easy day trip for Harriet & I. Here are the 5 fun things we experienced in this beautiful part of the country.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Our first stop was at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC. The memorial that honors these two brothers who experimented with flight in the early 1900’s and eventually succeeded is a National Park. It costs $7 per person to get in and your admission ticket is good for 5 days.

Although the actual museum is under renovation until Fall 2018, there is plenty to see on the grounds:

  • Reproductions of the Wright Brothers’ camp buildings
  • Replicas of their 1902 Glider and 1903 Flyer
  • The monument commemorating the Wright Brothers’ achievement at the top of Big Kill Devil Hill

History and aviation buffs will enjoy a trip to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Aqua Restaurant and Spa in Duck, NC

Outer Banks Girls Trip 5 Fun Things to Do | OBX | Lunch at Aqua | Wright Brothers National Memorial | Currituck Beach Lighthouse | Wild Horse Adventure Tours | Dirty Dick's Crab House | Outer Banks Vacation | Outer Banks Travel Guide | Outer Banks, NC | Things to do in Outer Banks

View of the Sound from Aqua

Down the road a bit is the charming little town of Duck, NC. Filled with restaurants and cute shops, this is the place we decided to stop for lunch. We enjoyed cocktails and fish tacos that were fresh and wonderful while overlooking the breathtaking views of the sound. I loved their Tito Fresco cocktail so much, I made my own version when we got home. Check it out!

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

The Outer Banks are known for their beautiful lighthouses. The one closest to Duck was the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.  This gorgeous lighthouse made of red brick is 162 ft. tall and was first lit in 1875. Visitors can climb up the 214 winding steps to the top for panoramic views of Currituck Sound, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Currituck Outer Banks.

Wild Horse Adventure Tours

Have you seen the great pictures of wild horses running together along the ocean’s shoreline? Seeing wild horses in action is the idea behind Wild Horse Adventure Tours and it was one of the main reasons we ventured to the Outer Banks.

Wild Horse Adventure Tours offer a 2-hour long tour along the beach and through the dunes of the Outer Banks in open air Hummers, designed to give you the best views of the OBX Wild Corolla Spanish Mustangs.

An experienced guide will drive you along the beautifully untouched beaches and through the dunes, where you will see these wild horses in their natural habitat.

Although it is rare to actually see the horses running along the beaches, they are gorgeous and majestic, no matter what they are doing.

We booked the day ahead, which is a good idea. There are a number of wild horse tours in the area. We saw some of them in lots of different vehicles – including the back of a pickup! That looked uncomfortable! Take the Wild Horse Adventure Tour and ride in the Hummer. A 2-hour ride in the dunes in an uncomfortable vehicle would make for a long afternoon….

Dirty Dick’s Crab House

We ended the day with a huge seafood dinner at Dirty Dick’s Crab House. We had seen signs for Dirty Dick’s along the highway all day and just had to see it for ourselves. Since I have a juvenile sense of humor, I couldn’t wait to post the drink napkin they gave me that said “I got my crabs at Dirty Dick’s” on Facebook.

Anyway – I had a seafood platter of delicious, fresh seafood and the most wonderful AUTHENTIC Key Lime Pie I had ever tasted. Dirty Dick’s is also open for breakfast and brunch. It was packed on a weeknight – a sure sign of good food and a great reputation!

If your travel plans take you anywhere near OBX, be sure to take in a few of these sights!   We’re so glad that we did!

You might also like:  

5 Tips for Traveling With Friends

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

July 18, 2017 19 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Looking for a delicious, refreshing cocktail? Try the Cucumber Vodka Refresher. A cocktail made with Vodka, St. Germain, cucumber infused water, & lemon simple syrup | vodka cocktails | summer cocktails
Be Brave

Cucumber Vodka Refresher | My Take on Aqua’s Tito Fresco

I’m a gin & tonic girl. Specifically a Bombay Sapphire & tonic girl. I RARELY deviate from that cocktail when I go out. But on a recent vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I found myself eating lunch on the water at a restaurant called Aqua. The cocktail menu included a cucumber/vodka drink called a Tito Fresco that sounded so refreshing. So since I was on vacation, I decided to be adventurous and give it a try. I was NOT disappointed. In fact, I loved that drink so much, that I recreated it when I got home! I’ve called my version the Cucumber Vodka Refresher!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Cucumber Vodka Refresher

 

Ingredients for one Cucumber Vodka Refresher

  • 2 oz. vodka*
  • 1 ½ oz. St. Germain
  • 2 TBS. lemon simple syrup
  • Handful of chopped cucumbers
  • Cucumber infused water

Recipe:

Make the cucumber infused water the day before by adding ½ sliced cucumber to 1 quart of water and refrigerate.

Make the lemon infused simple syrup by combing ½ cup fresh lemon juice and ½ cup sugar in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved and cool. Keeps up to a week in the refrigerator. Do you have one of these cool gadgets to squeeze lemons?

To make the cocktail:

  • Put a handful of chopped cucumber and a handful of ice in a tall glass (I like these).
  • Add vodka, St. Germain and lemon simple syrup.
  • Fill the rest of the glass with cucumber-infused water.
  • Stir and enjoy!

*The original was made with Tito’s. We made a couple of batches with what we had on hand – Grey Goose and Ketel One. All were fantastic, so just use your favorite vodka! I also want to try it with Black-Eyed Vodka, a vodka developed by my college friend,  Nancy’s husband. How cool is it that I know someone with their own vodka distillery?

Here’s another of my favorite summer cocktails – Sparkling Lemon Berry Cocktail.

 

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

July 11, 2017 22 comments
2 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer. The perfect make-ahead dish for your next party. Just mix fresh, boiled shrimp with onions and parsley. Mix up the special dressing, pour over the shrimp and refrigerate for 24 hours. Ready to serve!
Be Brave

Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer

 

My mom’s Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer is to die for! Even though I must have pinned a thousand recipes on Pinterest, I always go back to these tried and true recipes that I’ve had for years. As you can see from this picture – I’ve had the recipe many years – over 30 at least. I copied Mom’s recipe on a scrap piece of paper and it’s stayed in that form for all this time!

Since we live on the Texas Gulf Coast, we can get fresh shrimp pretty much year round. And since my family loves shrimp – we eat a LOT OF IT.

This recipe, like most that I make often, is easy peasy and great to make ahead of time. Give it a try!

[bctt tweet=”Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer. An easy make ahead dish for your next party.” username=”MySideof50″]

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission.  I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer

 

 

Take 1 ½ lbs. FRESH Shrimp and boil with Zatarain’s Crawfish, Crab and Shrimp Boil in a large pot according to the package directions. Here’s the pot I use: Calphalon Contemporary Stainless 6-1/2-Quart Sauce Pot with Glass Lid”

I don’t think I’ve ever boiled one shrimp in my life without Zatarain’s. It’s just the best. You can get it in smaller packages, but I get it by the tub! Shrimp can be kind of bland if you just boil it in plain water. Cooking it with Zatarain’s to start adds a great base of flavor to the entire recipe. And they are not paying me to say this! I just love Zatarain’s!

Tip: Here’s how to tell if your shrimp is done and how to not overcook it – put your shrimp in seasoned boiling water. When it floats to the top, it’s done.

Here’s what the shrimp looks like when they are done. Such a pretty pink color. Cool and peel.

Chopped up onions and parsley.

Mix cooled and peeled shrimp with the onions and parsley.

For the marinade, mix these ingredients together:

  1. 2-1/3 cups vegetable oil. OMG – who uses VEGETABLE OIL anymore? And that can’t be 2 1/3 cups. Well, this recipe is from the late 70’s early 80’s when we thought vegetable oil was good for us. Maybe we even counted it as a vegetable. And I’ve tried using less oil, but it’s just not the same. I promise you – it won’t taste oily. So get out the vegetable oil and your big measuring cup…
  2. 1/3 cup vinegar
  3. 1 clove garlic, minced
  4. 1-1/2 TBS. salt. Yes, that is TABLESPOON. And your blood pressure will go up, but use this amount anyway. It won’t taste too salty. And for the other reasons, see #1 above.
  5. 1 TBS. coarse ground pepper

Beat ingredients well to combine. Pour over shrimp mixture. Refrigerate overnight.

Remove from bowl with a slotted spoon to a pretty serving platter and serve with toothpicks.

So the shrimp would show up well in the pictures, I used a round, red plate. But when I serve it, I like to put the shrimp on a pretty rectangular platter like this.

Delicious Marinated Shrimp Appetizer

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 lbs. fresh shrimp, unpeeled
  • Zatarain’s Crawfish, Crab and Shrimp Boil
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • 1 cup finely diced fresh parsley
  • 2-1/3 cups vegetable oil (do not substitute another kind of oil)
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1-1/2 TBS. salt
  • 1 TBS. coarse ground pepper.
  1. Boil shrimp in Zatarain’s according to package directions. Cool and peel.
  2. Mix peeled shrimp, onion and parsley in a large mixing boil.
  3. Mix remainder of ingredients together to make the marinade and pour over shrimp mixture.
  4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  5. To serve, use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to a serving tray and serve with toothpicks.

Enjoy!

Like this post? Subscribe to My Side of 50. Get a weekly e-mail with all my blog posts PLUS special deals and bonuses for SUBSCRIBERS ONLY!

Share on Facebook or Pin it on Pinterest! Social Shares help me grow this blog! Thanks!

You might also like:

Cajun Cheesball

Sparkling Berry Lemon Cocktail

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

April 26, 2017 14 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Do you ever travel with several generations of family? It can be a wonderful, fun, bonding experience. Follow this 5 tips to ensure everyone has a great time making memories together.
Be Brave

5 Tips For An Awesome Multigenerational Family Vacation

Have you ever taken a multigenerational family vacation? I remember taking them with my parents and kids when our girls were growing up.

And we continue that tradition by planning and annual vacation with our now adult daughters and their families!

I LOVE these vacations together. It gives us time to spend with our daughter who doesn’t live in the same city as the rest of us. It’s a fun time for cousins to play together. And it’s just nice to go someplace away from home and share new experiences.

But traveling with several generations does require some special consideration and planning. Following these 5 tips will ensure that EVERYONE in your family has a great time AND wants to do it again!

5 Tips for the Best Multigenerational Family Vacation

Family Vacation Tip #1  – Plan your dates FAR in advance.

When you are planning with several generations, figuring out a time when EVERYONE is available to go can be tricky. For example, my husband has been working for 40 years. He has more vacation time than he ever takes and can take his days just about any time he wants to.

Our kids, on the other hand, are just starting their careers. They are the “low-man on the totem pole” in their companies and are limited in the NUMBER of days they can take off and WHEN they can take off. So planning early enough for “the kids” to make arrangements is essential.

And as our grandkids get older and get involved in school and extra-curricular activities, there will be even more things to work around when scheduling.

Family Vacation Tip #2  – Have a “budget” conversation WELL BEFORE the trip.

Who is paying for what? For example, we rent a beach house every year and my husband and I foot the bill for that expense. However, in a few years, we will be on a fixed income and may not be able to do that.

What is each family’s travel budget? This will determine how far you can go away from home and what kind of accommodations you choose.

If you will be dividing up expenses, appoint one person to be in charge of this.

Family Vacation Tip #3  – Pick a place to stay that has SPACE.

The place you choose doesn’t have to be HUGE or especially glamorous. But it should allow for:

A place where everyone can get a good night’s sleep. Nothing is worse than a bunch of cranky kids, or worse yet, cranky adults because there isn’t a comfortable, quiet place to sleep at night. Don’t scrimp on this by piling 8 people into a hotel room!

A place where kids can play and be kids. A playground, pool or just open space for them to run around. A 5-star golf resort probably won’t allow many places for kids to be kids.

A place for some downtime for each family. You will have lots of togetherness on your trip. You will look forward to that time together. But there needs to be some time every day for each family to have a little time to themselves. Believe me, you’ll enjoy your extended family time more if you allow for this!

Family Vacation Tip #4 – Plenty of OPTIONS for activities

When you have several generations together, it is important to allow for different ages, energy levels, and interests. You may have 1 or 2 things that EVERYONE will want to do together. Otherwise, have your other activities be optional so that each family can choose what is best for them on a particular day.

Family Vacation Tip #5 – Divide up the work

Make no mistake – just because this is a vacation doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of work involved. Making the travel plans, getting places on time, keeping up with kids, meals, toys, suitcases, nap times, snacks….it’s a LOT of work.

So try to anticipate the things that will need to be done and divide up these responsibilities ahead of time.

Some of these tasks might include:

  • Meals – if you are at a place where you are cooking your own meals, how will that chore be divided up?
  • If you are dining out, appoint someone to research restaurant options.
  • Do the adults want a night out? Who will watch the kids? (Don’t always ASSUME grandma & grandpa want to do this).
  • Who will drive and keep gas in the car?
  • Someone to be in charge of the schedule and figuring out what time you need to leave to get places on time.

We have so many great memories of our multigenerational family vacations together. In fact, our 8-year-old grandson spends time on each of our vacations planning the next one! With a little forethought, planning, and communication, you can have a wonderful time making great memories together!

You might also like:

12 Tips for a Super Fun Family Beach Vacation

5 Most Popular Things To Do At Magnolia Market

Top 5 Things To Do At Magnolia Market. See the Silos, Garden, Play in the Play Area, Eat at the Food Trucks and Bakery, and shop in the store.

5 Tips for Traveling With Friends

Make Traveling With Friends Successful - 5 Tips

SaveSaveSaveSave

April 11, 2017 26 comments
2 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
19 Practical Ways To Help When Someone Dies | Ways To Help Your Grieving Friend. Do you know how to help when your friend loses a loved one? Or do you want to help but are paralyzed because you don't know what to do? Here are ways to help immediately after you hear of someone's passing. How to help before and at the funeral. How to help after the funeral when everyone leaves.
Be Brave

19 Practical Ways To Help When Someone Dies

How do you help when someone dies? We’ve all faced it or we will at some point. I never lost anyone close to me until I lost both of my parents in 2015. Talk about opening up a “big ol’ can of whoop-ass” on the emotions.

When you know someone who has had a death in the family, you feel such empathy for their loss. You want to do something. Some people are good at jumping in and figuring out something to do.



Others of us want to “do something” but we become paralyzed because we don’t know what to do. I confess that before I lost my parents, that was me a lot of the time. But what I came to realize is that any gesture, no matter how small, ministered to my heart in such a profound way. A kind word, a card, text, phone call or just showing up gave me comfort. So here are 19 Practical Ways To Help When Someone Dies.

 

19 Practical Ways to Help When Someone Dies

 

19 Practical Ways To Help When Someone Dies | Ways To Help Your Grieving Friend. Do you know how to help when your friend loses a loved one? Or do you want to help but are paralyzed because you don't know what to do? Here are ways to help immediately after you hear of someone's passing. How to help before and at the funeral. How to help after the funeral when everyone leaves.

 

People will be coming. Either out of town guests for the funeral or friends who just stop by. Here are some things that your friends will need:

  • Paper goods – plates, napkins, cutlery, styrofoam coffee cups, plastic drinking cups, toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, garbage bags.
  • Canned soft drinks, bottled water, coffee.
  • Meals – Lots of times neighbors and friends show up pretty soon after a person dies with a cake or casserole and that it good. But if you can coordinate meals through a service like Take Them A Meal, you can communicate with those who want to help the family’s special dietary needs, preferences and drop-off arrangements. Taking care of all of these details is so appreciated.

Transportation:

  • Drive your friend to the funeral home when she has to make funeral arrangements.
  • Pick up out of town guests at the airport.
  • Drive out of town guests or elderly family members to and from the funeral.
  • Take kids to and from school.

Funeral arrangements – We planned what I consider your basic, standard funeral for my parents. Nice, but nothing that I would consider elaborate. Yet, there was still a lot to do at a time when I didn’t feel like doing anything. Here are some areas where you may be able to help:

  • Video presentation – At many funerals, there is some kind of video presentation showing pictures of the deceased. This is a lovely way to honor them and share beautiful memories with all who attend.   But getting all those pictures together in one spot, scanning those that need to be scanned and sending them to the funeral home takes a long time. Ask if you can help with that.
  • Help them locate and download the music they want for the presentation.
  • Take things that will be needed to the funeral home for them. Clothes for the deceased. Any memorabilia that they will display. We had a big portrait of each of my parents. And for my Dad, we had lots of stuff to display from his time in the military and his years of service as a policeman.
  • Help them get the word out about the funeral arrangements to those who need to know.



The Funeral

  • If an honorarium will be paid to the minister or musicians, get that from your friend and see that it is given to the appropriate person.
  • After the funeral, gather the pictures and memorabilia, flag, guest book – anything that was brought to the funeral home that needs to be returned and deliver it to the family.
  • Gather any flowers or plants the family wants to keep and deliver those to them. You may need to get several friends to help you with that.

After The Funeral

  • If the deceased has been living in assisted living or nursing home, the family only has a certain amount of time to collect their belongings. Get boxes and offer to go and help pack things up.
  • If it is a situation where there is a deep financial need, set up a fundraising campaign on a site like Go Fund Me.
  • Call on a regular basis, especially on those first holidays and anniversaries.
  • Send a card.
  • Send a handwritten note with a memory of the person’s loved one. If it’s someone you have a picture of, send that too. When we lose someone, we still want to talk about them and know that others remember them too.

The important thing in helping someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one is to “anticipate, don’t ask”, according to grief counselor, Megan Devine (refugeingrief.com).

Do not say “Call me if you need anything,” because your friend will not call. Not because they do not need, but because identifying a need, figuring out who might fill that need, and then making a phone call to ask is light years beyond their energy levels, capacity or interest. Instead, make concrete offers: “I will be there at 4 p.m. on Thursday to bring your recycling to the curb,” or “I will stop by each morning on my way to work and give the dog a quick walk.” Be reliable. – How to Help a Grieving Friend – 11 Things to Do When You’re Not Sure What to Do by Megan Devine

I remember the most thoughtful thing my good friends did for me after my dad died. They gave me a gift card for a spa day. You see, my mom had a stroke in January and died in February. My dad broke his hip in July and died in September. Most days during those 9 months were spent in hospitals, rehabs and assisted living with them. I don’t regret a moment I spent with my parents, but when it was all over, I was tired. That gift card to the spa said to me “We see you. We see what you’ve been going through. Here is something to help you take care of you.”

 



You might also like:

What to do When Your Friend Loses A Baby

 

How to Talk to Your Parents About Their Funeral Arrangements

How To Talk To Your Parents About Their Funeral Arrangements | Ways to broach the subject and get clarity on these end of life decisions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SaveSave

March 28, 2017 52 comments
3 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Review of My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger. Coming of age story of 3 Boston teenagers as they experience first love, accepting their sexuality, the loss of a parent and commitment.
Be Brave

Book Review: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

I just finished a book! My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger! Why is that a big deal? Well, as most of you know, if you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, I LOVE to watch TV (6 Must-See Shows on Amazon Prime  and 5 Best Shows to Watch on Netflix.)

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission.  I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

I used to be an avid reader, so much so that my husband used to tell me “you always have your nose in a book.” I don’t remember that being a compliment at the time. But since the evolution of cable tv and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, I seem to find it much easier to get wrapped up in TV show than to open a book. And I don’t necessarily think that is always a good thing for me.. you know, “balance” and all….

So, in 2017, I am vowing to read more books. I’m doing this by reading a chapter of SOMETHING every morning before I start my day. Which isn’t a stretch. I like to wake up s-l-o-w-l-y….with lots of coffee, usually while checking my social media feeds. And during the recent election season, that was definitely NOT a healthy way to start the day!!!! So I now start my day with lots of coffee and reading a book. A much better way to ease into the day.

This morning I finished the Kindle version of  My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger. Kluger is known as an American author and playwright, whose writing includes themes around baseball, gay rights, and history. If you are looking for writing around these themes, My Most Excellent Year doesn’t disappoint.

[bctt tweet=”Book review of My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger” username=”MySideof50″]

Book Review: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

My Most Excellent Year is classified as Kluger’s first foray into young adult fiction. And while the main characters are high school students, I didn’t find the story at all juvenile.

The main characters are Boston teenagers TC and Augie, best friends who have classified themselves as brothers since they were six.   Enter Ale, a beautiful girl who TC falls hard for. She has just moved to Boston from Washington, DC where her father served as a Mexican Ambassador to the U.S.

Each of the main characters has a part in telling the story that takes them all the way through high school. And Kluger brilliantly uses their instant messages, emails, theater reviews and letters, along with a traditional narrative to sweep the reader into their lives.

Much of the book is a traditional coming of age story: falling in love for the first time, coming to terms with your sexuality, coping with the loss of a parent and fully giving yourself to someone else. You’ll learn a little about the Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII and a LOT about musical theater and baseball history! See, Kluger sticks to his themes!

I loved every minute of reading this book! It was positive, clean (although I don’t mind reading the occasional sex scene in novel) and endearing.

Other books by Steve Kluger:

Last Days of Summer

Almost Like Being In Love

You might also like:

Year of Yes by Mega-Producers Shonda Rhimes

Book Review: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

 

 

February 7, 2017 10 comments
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest