Adventures

"Fill your life

with Adventures, 

not things.

Have stories to tell,

not stuff to show."

 

Christmas 2021

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all had wonderful time with your love ones.

This is definitely my favorite time of the year.

I did something similar from last year.

I can't believe its our second Christmas here in Missouri.

Oh how time flies.

Table decor/setting that I did.

I love it so much.

I wish I can keep it all year.

No alcohol beverage for me this year so I made this Christmas Punch for me and the boys to share.

It was so good!

Made this for the first time for our Appetizer and we loved it!

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

Ingredients

For the pigs in a blanket:

• 1 8 ounce-tube crescent rolls
• 24 mini hot dogs
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon water
• 2 teaspoons poppyseeds

For the dipping sauce:

• 1 cup Dr Pepper
• 1/3 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

• Start by reducing the Dr Pepper for the honey mustard. Place 1 cup Dr Pepper in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil until it's reduced to 1/3 cup, which will take about 10-15 minutes. While you wait, you can prepare the wreath.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove crescent rolls from tube and separated from perforated lines so you have 8 triangles. Cut each triangle into three pieces. Stretch out one piece of dough a little and begin to roll hot dog into it, starting at the wider end. Repeat with rest of dogs.
• Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Arrange wrapped pigs into a wreath shape on prepared baking sheet. Whisk large egg and teaspoon of water together in a small bowl. Brush mixture onto wreath, covering all of the dough. Sprinkle on some salt and poppy seeds. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.
• Dr Pepper should be reduced by now. Remove from pan and place in a small cup to cool. I place mine in the fridge to help it cool down faster. Once cool, add two tablespoons of the reduction to the rest of the dipping sauce ingredients. Whisk together to combine.
• Place dipping sauce in a ramekin and place in the center of the wreath. Garnish wreath with rosemary leaves, if desired.

Of course,

My favorite Pancit Bihon.

( RECIPE HERE )

Hubby made Prime Rib.

He made one for the first time last year and it was too good not to make some again!

It was such an amazing Christmas Dinner!!! 

Another Awesome Christmas with my growing Family.

Sending you all love and good vibes on the last week of the year!

xoxo

-Jen

Holiday Reflections Walk-thru Christmas Village

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you are having wonderful time with your love ones.

Few days ago before Christmas.

We decided to visit something new and see Christmas Walk thru Village of Union city.

I wanted to see something different this year!

..And it did not disappoint.

It was our first time driving through downtown KC.

So it was pretty interesting and eventful!

Union City was so nice!

We got the tickets before going and I highly suggest that everywhere.

Especially for Christmas!

Their Christmas Decorations was not crazy big.

But, I love how theres extra things you can see.

Good especially for the Kids!

The trains reminds me the Villages in Europe!

..And more moving trains!

So so cool!

We stayed for at least 45 minutes.

Lots of opportunity for pictures!

Even though there was quite a bit of people.

Everybody was so respectful and forming a line for pictures.

It was a good time!!

xoxo

-Jen

Let the Christmas Festivities begin....

 

Let's talk about Christmas Traditions!

What is yours?

I love this time of the year!!

..And doing these with the kids just makes it even better!

We don't Skip the Gingerbread house to start the Winter Break.

Hubby picked the Elf house this year.

It didn't last that long but, I think the boys had fun so..

that's what matters!

How cute is the Elf Cut outs?!

Next up,

Of course Christmas cookies!

It's usually just get the Ready Sugar cookie mix and I get a bunch of Frosting

colors.

I suggest getting these ahead of time because it runs out fast.. ANYWHERE!

I like baking them with the boys and Daddy decorate it with them.

I don't pressure them on how pretty it should be.

How it looks doesn't matter.

They love doing this every year!

Me and the Boys did something different this year.

We made these cute Reindeer Peanut butter Cookies!

The Recipe for the Peanut Butter Cookies is 

( HERE )

Just cut the Pretzel for Ears ( or Antlers! my 9 year old corrects me every time I say EARS)

Chocolate Chips for the eyes

Red M&M's for the nose.

I highly suggest putting them all right away.

About a minute after getting out of the oven so its still soft to put stuff in it!

So much fun to make!

Let me know what you guys think!

xoxo

-Jen

Homemade Crab Rangoon

 

Every time we eat Asian Food..

Thai Food, Chinese, Japanese..

We always order Crab Rangoon, I always wonder if we can make it at home. 

Hubby had his Fryer out already so I thought why not make it. 

These are actually easy to make. 

If you want a real crab flavor, using a real crab is always optional.

It's up to your preference. 

Let me know what you guys think!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup imitation crab minced (real crab can also be used)
• 3 stalks green onion chopped
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tbsp kewpie mayo (or regular mayo)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 20-25 sheets wonton wrappers
• 3-4 cups cooking oil
• sweet chili sauce Optional as dip

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• First, make the crab Rangoon filling. Combine minced crab, green onions, cream cheese, garlic powder, mayo and sugar in a bowl. Mix everything until you form a smooth mixture. 
• Next, take a sheet of wonton wrapper. Wet the tip of your finger with water and dab it along the 4 sides of the wonton wrapper. 
  

  

  
  
  
• Then, place 1 tbsp of the cream cheese crab filling on the center of the wrapper and lift the tip of the wonton wrapper so all four corners meet in the middle and on top of the filling. Use your finger tips to shape the wonton and repeat this step until all the fillings are used up.
• Heat up the oil in your pan or deep fryer at medium-high heat. Once the oil has heated up, deep fry the wontons for 4-5 minutes.
• Take the wontons off heat once it turns golden brown and the outer layer is firm and crispy. 
• Serve and enjoy!
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  Enjoy!
  xoxo
  

Pork Empanada

 Ahhh...

Empanada!

Being back in the US, It's hard to find food like these.

So I have no choice but to learn how to make it.

With time and determination, you can learn how to make anything!

I love Cooking/Baking.

It's like a therapy for me, so It wasn't as hard.

Prepping this definitely takes time, You can bake it...

But, I prefer it deep fried.

So worth it!

Next time I have to remember is to make a lot.

So I can just store it in the fridge and heat it up whenever I want.

Let me know what you guys think!

Ingredients

Ingredients for Pastry

• 2 ½ cup bread flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ½ cup cold water
• 115 grams butter cold from fridge
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 egg

Ingredients for Filling

• ½ kilo ground pork
• 1 large carrot cut in small cubes
• 1 large potato cut in small cubes
• ¼ cup raisins
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• salt and pepper seasoning
• 2 tbsp sugar optional

For Frying Empanada

• 3 cups cooking oil

Instructions

Making the Pastry

• Combine bread flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients using a wire whisk.
• Add in the butter to the dry ingredients and mix them until the butter is well mixed with the flour mixture. NOTE: You can use two forks or your hands to better incorporate the butter with the flour mixture.
• Add the egg and mix. Then add vinegar and mix.
• Add cold water gradually while kneading until the mixture turns into a smooth dough.
• Wrap dough in cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Making the Filling

• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook carrots and potatoes until soft then remove from pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, saute onion and garlic. Add ground pork stir cook for a few minutes.
• Add sugar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix and let simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add carrots, potatoes, and raisins and let cook for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Remove from heat and transfer in a bowl to cool down.

Wrapping definitely seems tricky.

The easiest way is just folding it.

But, if you want to get fancy and do this method there is a lot

of video tutorials on youtube.

I watched handful of them before I got to do it.

I promise it wasn't that hard!!

Wrapping and Cooking Empanadas

• Prepare a clean surface, like a chopping board, and dust with flour.
• Get a piece of dough and press it on the surface of the chopping board. Using a rolling pin, flatten it further until thickness becomes at least half a centimeter thick.
• Place 1 or 1½ tablespoon of filling in the center of the flattened dough.
• Fold the dough and seal the round edges by crimping or folding it.
• In a deep frying pan, heat oil about 3 cups and deep fry the empanadas for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Place the empanadas in a bowl lined with paper towels to drain excess oil, Then transfer to a plate and serve. 
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Enjoy!

  
  

  xoxo

  -Jen