Show Notes:
Epi. 2 Prickly Pears & Curb Appeal

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Recipes

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Prickly Pear Key Lime Balls

Cheeky Buffalo Ranch Charcuterie Cups

Makes 30 Servings

Make this recipe your own by adding different flavored juices, sprinkles, or colored chocolate to fit your theme.

Ingredients-

Vanilla cake mix
Cream cheese icing
1 lime
Green sprinkles
Cake pop sticks
White chocolate almond bark
Mini cupcake cups

Basic steps -

Grab a box of your favorite white cake mix or scratch recipe.
Follow the basic instructions on the box substituting prickly pear juice for water, add an additional egg, and I used ghee.
Add two table spoons fresh lime zest.
Bake cake according to package instructions.
Cool cake completely and crumble into a large bowl.
Mix one 10 oz container of cream cheese icing into the crumbled cake mix until it forms a large ball.
Cover and place in refrigerator until chilled.
Use a cookie scoop to make even sized balls.
Melt white chocolate.
Use a toothpick to dip cake balls into white chocolate.
Set in either a small hors d'oeuvre bowl or a mini cupcake wrapper.
Add a tiny spoon or pick.
Let harden.

Servings are totally customizable to your needs

This "cheeky" twist on a charcuterie board is a handier, more sanitary, and less stressful option to a traditional board! *See the cheeky buffalo ranch seasoning recipe below.

Ingredients - Per Cup

2 Slices of turkey lightly seasoned with Cheeky Buffalo Ranch Seasoning Mix*
1 Turkey stick
1 Pretzel stick
1 Mozzarella cheese stick
2 Celery Sticks
1 Parm Blue cheese crisp
Olives on a skewer
2 TBSP mixed nuts

Basic steps -

I started by folding the deli meats to fit inside the cup
Next, I added my cheese. I used one whole cheese stick and then cut small squares of cheddar and mozzarella to place into the cups
Then we add pretzel rods, some celery, and sprinkled some cashews into the bottom of the cup
Take the toothpick and place some Greek and pimento olives and add them to the cup
Last sprinkle some parmesan cheese onto a baking sheet with parchment paper in the oven for 3 min. You get a cute little parmesan chip to add to the cup

*Cheeky Buffalo Ranch Seasoning Mix

 1 1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
 1 tsp. cayenne powder
 1 tsp. black pepper
 2 tsp. cumin
 1 tsp. smoked paprika
 2 tbsp. brown Monk fruit sugar
 1 tbsp onion powder
 1 tbsp sea salt
 1 tsp dill
 1 tbsp parsley flakes

DIYs

Diy's

Concrete Planter Pots

Supplies -

Quikrete concrete
White paint
Stipple brush
Planter pots
Paint stirrer
Tarp

Basic Steps -

Start by laying tarp down to protect the surface you will be concreting on
Mix one part concrete one part paint thoroughly
Take the stipple brush and start to dab the concrete on to the pot
Let the pot sit and dry for an hour and repeat step three

*Tips & Tricks*

-You can use any type of pots for concreting

-mixing the concrete with either water or paint its one part of the liquid and one part of the concrete mix. Ex: 1 cup concrete 1 cup water of paint

-when you are applying the concrete to the pots make sure to stipple it on (dab) to really work the concrete on to the pot

-if you have a concrete mix that has a few more rocks or pebbles in it you can take a colander to shift some of the bigger pieces out for a smoother concrete

Prickly Pear Welcome Sign

Supplies -

Paint
Canvas
Paper plate
Fingers!!

Basic Steps -

Apply the different colors of paint to the paper plate to see all the colors you are working with
Start with the darkest color of paint and apply to the canvas this will be the base
Once you have the base you can start adding lighter or even darker shades of paint to help create detail to the painting to really bring it to light.

*Tips & Tricks*

-You can add water to the paint to thin it out a little for easier use or to even mix colors as you are finger painting

-Using your finger is a fun way to get in touch with your creativity and also a way to realize stress

-There is no rhyme or rhythm just have fun

Propagating Prickly Pear Pads

People & Places

*How To*

Start by wearing puncture proof gloves and have sheers on hand. You want to pick a couple of healthy prickly pear pads. Cut the steam of the pad off the actual cacti plant. Let the prickly pear pad sit out for a couple of days so the cut end can dry out and callus over.
After it has callused over you are now ready to plant the pad into soil. You want to put the cut end into succulent or cactus well-draining soil and add some water.
You want to water the pad when you see that the top few inches of the soil is completely dried out.
After a few weeks of this process, you can check to see if the prickly pear pad has begun to root by gently pulling on the pad. If you find that you get a little resistance that’s perfect your pad is beginning to root! If not give it a couple more weeks especially if it is getting cooler outside.

Fermin’s Restaurant

https://www.facebook.com/ferminstexmex

Our crew is a huge fan of good Mexican food, so they were sold on Fermin’s. This place feels like a great family gathering. With home cooked meals for lunch and dinner using Tex-Mex recipes passed through the generations, served from friendly staff in a welcoming community. Even the likes of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have dined here, as has Russell Johnson, who portrayed the professor on Gilligan’s Island. Be sure to say hi to Miss Lily!

400 N Main Ave, Monahans, TX, United States, Texas (432) 943-9243

Million Barrel Museum

One of the biggest surprises of our Monahan’s trip was this charming group of museums and the history behind them. We discovered that the “Million Barrel Museum” is in fact just one small part of a group of museums nestled in what feels like its own mini town. Along with the very impressive Rattlesnake Bomber Museum, there is a Coca Cola Museum, and the original Monahan’s Jail that was built it in the 1930’s because they decided chaining people to tree trunks without any protection from the weather was no bueno. But there’s so much more. Plan a trip to this little slice of Texas History for yourself. Just watch out for snakes!

400 Museum Blvd, Monahans TX Phone: (432) 943-8401

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

For a great read and to learn more about the museums in detail, check out the link below.

https://texashighways.com/travel/shifting-sands-of-monahans/

Additional Crew Faves:

Monahans Sand Hills State Park

No trip to Monahans is complete without viewing the surreal vistas of the sand hills.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/monahans-sandhills

PJ’s Coffee

Need a great cup of joe, on an adorable patio, with friendly folks? Look no further!

1259 E. Interstate 20, Monahans Tx 79756

https://locations.pjscoffee.com/tx/monahans/coffee-shop-tx0011.html