Valentine's Day Texas Grapefruit Cocktail

If you read my previous post, you might have noticed a cocktail drink served with the meal. I made an impromptu cocktail drink after preparing that recipe, the best things come when you least expect them. Isn't that crazy, when you're not looking is when something magical comes into your life. When you're not prepared(with a notepad and pen in my case), the most magical recipe could pass you by.

This is probably the easiest cocktail recipe I've made thus far, there were no complications. Using Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Texas Red Grapefruit and Grand Marnier, I was able to create an easy lovely cocktail to share with your loved one(s) this Valentine's Day. One Grapefruit will serve 2 flute glasses, so increase your measurements accordingly. I'll just tell you right now, you're gonna find yourself wanting more so you might as well make more.

Texas Grapefruit Cocktail

Ingredients:

1  freshly squeezed Texas Red Grapefruit

4 oz. Grand Marnier

Honey( optional, if you want more sweetness)

Directions:

1. In a mixer, pour ice, Grapefruit juice and Grand Marnier 

2. Shake and pour in glass

3. Garnish as desired

4. Et Voila!

Haylie Duff's Sweet Scarletts Grapefruit BBQ Chicken Skewers Recipe

As I reflect on the things that I have been able to do through my full-time job as well as Brunch & Conversation this year, I've learned that it's important to be wonderfully kind to others. I've learned that what you project out into the world is returned back to you in some other similar form. I'll be the first to tell you, sometimes it's not an easy task. Not everyone is going to love you and you won't love everyone, but that doesn't mean you can't be a kind person. I want to encourage you to be more "Wonderful" this Valentine's Day( like these grapefruits that I've been eating for the past month.)

Speaking of grapefruits, I recently received these refreshingly juicy grapefruit in the mail to review. They're from a new Texas brand called Wonderful Sweet Scarletts; which comes from the same company that gave us Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, POM Wonderful and Wonderful Halos. Sweet Scarletts are grown, harvested and packaged in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. They are fresh and juicy and would go perfectly with a nice salad or as an addition to some delicious meals. The brand recently partnered with actress Haylie Duff and she was able to create this Grapefruit BBQ Chicken Skewers recipe I'm sharing with you. You can purchase these grapefruit at your nearest Walmart, H-E-B, Sam's Club, and Target.

I tried her recipe out (sans wooden skewers) and paired it with a chopped scallion and turmeric fried rice that also had the BBQ sauce mixture. Want to try this recipe? Wonderful Sweet Scarletts is giving one lucky reader a gift basket filled with their Texas Red Grapefruit, recipe cards, a grapefruit spoon, cutting board, grapefruit bowl and an apron. Enter below...

Chicken Skewers:

• Wooden or Metal Skewers
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Handful of cilantro
• Pinch of sea salt & black pepper
• Wonderful Sweet Scarletts 

Grapefruit BBQ Sauce:

• 1 Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Grapefruit, juiced
•  Pinch of grapefruit zest
• 1⁄4 cup ketchup
• 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard 
• 1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons scallions or chives, chopped

1. Dice chicken into 1 inch pieces.
2. Slide on to skewers and season with sea salt and black pepper.
3. Grill until chicken is done, or no longer pink in the center. 
4. Baste Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Grapefruit BBQ sauce across each skewer 
and garnish with cilantro. 
5. Garnish with additional Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Grapefruit wedges (optional).

02.08.16 Update: Congratulations Sandra Meaders, the winner of Sweet Scarletts Grapefruit giveaway. Thank you everyone for entering, reading, sharing and commenting.

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Curried Shrimp Fried Rice

As I write this post, I have Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga's "Cheek to Cheek" album playing in the background. Oh, what a stylishly romantic sound. I was inspired to create a simple Valentine's Day dish using, one of our client's products that I got from work, " Minute Rice" and some frozen Shrimp that was chilling in the fridge. Fried rice is tricky to make, you have to have the right kind of rice, and cook it just perfectly. This easy make rice was perfect and so quick to make.

Anyway, back to talking about how romantically Jazzy this album is. So soothing, relaxing, calming, beautiful; makes you feel romantic just listening to it. This Valentine's Day I encourage you to be present, in your lover or loved ones' lives. Whether you are single or taken, you always have a Valentine. So this Valentine's Day, I encourage you to put down that phone, close that computer screen, turn off that TV and just enjoy every moment you share with your Valentine/Valentines. These days, we have so many things keeping us from experiencing life, and soaking in all the beauty that is around us.

So this Valentine's Day, spend it at home with your love-bug or loved ones. Surprise them with a romantic "Cheek to Cheek" inspired night. Prepare a meal, set the table, light some candles, play this beautiful album. And enjoy time together. Happy Valentine's Day, and thank you for visiting Brunch & Conversation. xo

Curried Shrimp Fried Rice

Ingredients:
Frozen Shrimp
Minute Rice
Curry
Olive oil
Salt
3 Scallions finely diced
1 Red Bell Pepper diced
Half an onion diced
Garlic diced

Directions:
1. Add Olive Oil to a pan, add in Scallions, Curry and Salt
2. Stir for 3-4 minutes
3. Add Shrimp, garlic and mix. Add  a little bit of Red Bell Pepper 
4. Cook until liquid evaporates
5. Set Curried Shrimp aside ( or just eat it as is)

Fried Rice:
1. Follow the directions on the Minute Rice package to prepare the rice
2. Once ready, set aside to cool
3. In the same pan you cooked the Curried Shrimp, add Olive Oil
4. Add the Half Onion, bottom half of the Scallions
5. Cook until onions are a light brown
6. Add the rest of the Red Bell Pepper
7. Add Rice and mix well, add  a little bit of olive oil. Stir
8. Add Curried Shrimp
9. Continue stirring and mixing for 4-5 minutes. Serve!