Carrot Cake Roll with Amarula

Carrot Cake Roll

There aren’t a lot of Carrot Cake Rolls on the internet. There are some commercial outfits that will display what they call a carrot cake roll  and I am sure there are carrots swimming through there somewhere. However, the challenge of making a roll from a standard carrot cake recipe is a big one!

However, I think it can be done and with only minor changes. The Amarula frosting really made it , too!
Here is my recipe made with love for Kris and Karen!

enjoy! oh yeah, it was very yummy!
Roger

Rogelio Margarita de oro y delicioso

Don Rogelio Anejo Margarita legendario

For whatever reason, I have had a few requests for my Margarita recipe. What’s funny is that I don’t make my Margaritas for anyone but myself and my immediate family and my late mother-in-law June Sievers.

My recipe isn’t for the Margaritas-by-the-gallon set… but for those special occasions when only the best will do or to impress someone… this’ll work. I don’t measure when I make my Margaritas and this never has gone wrong… so here in it’s simplest form is what I put in it:

1 1/2 – 2 oz. Don Julio ‘Anejo’ Taquila

1/2 oz. Grand Marnier ( a triple sec)

1/2 oz. or more lime juice fresh or otherwise ( vary according to your taste for tartness)

1/2 oz. or more of liquid sweetener ( Agave syrup or Margarita Mix of your choice if you must)

(HINT) mix the lime juice and your choice to sweeten separately and taste until you get it right for you! I like it balanced. This Margarita might be slightly sweeter than you are used to… but definitely more flavorful!
refrigerate all ingredients
Pour over finely crushed ice!
delicioso!

Roger Freberg

Designer Tequila

Designing your own bottle of 1800 Tequila

Well, the title of this blog is a bit misleading. However, what is fun is that many manufacturers of wines and spirits provide the opportunity for you to design your own label for their product. In essence, you can personalize a sometimes rather impersonal gift.

Most wine and spirits have offered holiday labels for years. these lables provide a place where they would print your name or the name of your firm. However, today, you can find a number of companies that will allow you to upload your own art and this is sensational!

The very familiar  bottle of 1800 Tequila  above appears with a variety of lables I put up: (left to right) the flaming statue at the University Of Tennessee at Knoxville,  my ‘el cid’ paella, our  ‘Chimichanga Legendario’, my 1994 Fatboy Harley Davidson, and a version of one of my many alter egos.

This holiday season, give something a bit more memorable.

Roger Freberg

Come to my bar

whatya have, buddy?

I have found one of the most clever sites in a long time! It’s actually a way to introduce folks to the art and science of ‘mixology.’ In this shaken and not stirred site, ‘Jack’ the bartender introduces you to various concoctions with finesse and a story… sometimes a song!

Check it out!

Obviously, “Jack” has something to sell and he does it with a flare. However, he gives drink recipes, ideas and delightful videos and stories.

Roger Freberg

oh yeah, I found this on Yahoo, very cool

Thanksgiving is coming and so is a great pumpkin pie

Turducken is a family favorite

Now that Halloween is over , we can begin to think about the next holidays. Obviously, one of the most popular holidays celebrated by most Americans is the colonial tradition of ‘Thanksgiving.’ It is that time of year when family and friends get together to celebrate the happiness of the past year and anticipate the possibilities of good things to come.

No one can talk about Thanksgiving without those wonderful words like: turkey ( we like Turducken or Ostruducken), feast, cranberries, creamed potatoes , stuffing and various desserts.

For dessert, everyone has their favorites: apple pie, rhubarb pie, chocolate pie, pecan pie and of course my personal favorite the ‘pumpkin pie.’

If you ever chawed into a raw pumpkin, it’s kind of like taking a swig of raw vanilla extract, it is definitely not what you were expecting! So what makes a pumpkin pie so special? The secret lies in the spices and in the crust.

First, there is a prepared spice blend called ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice’ that generally contains some of the following: Nutmeg and mace, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and allspice , cloves. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are the most commonly used spices… and they are cheap. If you really look around you’ll find some recipes calling for small additions of other spices like cardamon. However, with a little practice, i am sure you can come up with a version that will make everyone smile.

As for the crust, you can’t beat a Crisco/ butter blend crust with a bit of mace…

The season of cooking has begun. How will you make yours special?

Roger