The recipe requests from our TFEA party just keep rolling in, so next up are the Glazed Pecans. 

Now, these aren’t just your ordinary party nuts!  Jessica’s sweet mom, Cheryl, spent an afternoon in the kitchen preparing these just for our happy hour!  These glazed pecans are a family favorite at their holiday events, and now that we’ve had them it’s pretty obvious why: they are delicious.

But the truth is, you can’t really go wrong with a recipe that’s been around since the June 1982 issue of Southern Living, right?

Glazed Pecans

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 3 cups pecan halves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine first 4 ingredients and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Add the pecans and continue cooking for 5 more minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. Individually place the pecans on wax paper and let them cool completely.
5. Share with friends and family, or keep them all to yourself.  We promise not to judge.

If you know much about the team here at a Saffire, it will come as no surprise to you that we love a delicious cocktail!  In fact, you’ve probably heard about the Cotton Candy Cocktails we serve at various conventions and events.

But when we were getting ready for TFEA in San Antonio, we knew we wanted to serve something new and different.

Summertime in Texas is just begging for a refreshing cocktail, and we needed to deliver.  We adapted a recipe from one of our favorite blogs that combined two of our favorite things: lemonade and tequila.  So please enjoy your very own Pink Lemonade Margarita.

Pink Lemonade Margarita
Serves 8

• 1 can of Minute Maid frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed (12 ounces)
• 3 cans of cold water
• 1 can of silver tequila
• ½ can of 03 Premium Orange Liqueur
• Ice
• Salt or sugar for the rim
• 1 lemon sliced for garnish

Note: For all of the our measurements above, we used the empty pink lemonade can.

1. Pour the thawed can of pink lemonade concentrate into the pitcher, then fill the can up with cold water 3 times adding it to your pitcher.
2. Fill the can almost to the top with the silver tequila of your choice (This will be a strong drink, so feel free to use a little less!)
3. Fill the can not quite halfway full with the orange liquor.  We used a clear liquor so we could maintain the nice pink color of the lemonade.
4. Now, add ice and stir to mix.  Chill the mixture until you’re ready to serve!
5. Garnish each drink with margarita salt and a lemon slice.  And of course, we recommend a cute straw!
6. Enjoy!

I think it’s safe to say that the queso at our TFEA happy hour was a hit!  Several people have asked for the recipe, so here you go!

Kendra’s Queso

• 1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 lb. cooked sausage
• 2 cans ROTEL®
  • 1 Cilantro/Lime
  • 1 Regular
• 2 packages (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA® Cream Cheese

Combine all ingredients into a slow cooker and heat until it’s all melted together, stirring occasionally.  Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips!

As rodeo season got into full swing, the Austin office realized that we all had one thing missing in our lives: none of us had ever been to the Houston Rodeo.

Kendra quickly took matters into her own hands and bought tickets for us to take a little field trip down to Houston, and it was quite a fun evening!

Once we arrived, Kendra, Jessica and Rebekah wanted to take a walk around the grounds, but Cassie headed straight for the arena so she wouldn’t miss a second of the action.  She even got to see her childhood friend Kay, whose husband is Pro-Bareback Rider Steven Dent.

We were happy to be a part of the crowd of 76,987 that attended the rodeo on Thursday night as we enjoyed a night filled with fried food and cold beer.

I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that the highlight of the night was Lady Antebellum!  They played a great set and really had the crowd going.

(Photo courtesy of Houston Radio Station KHMX)

The next morning, we couldn’t help but notice the cutest cupcake shop on our way out of town.  We decided to make a quick stop at Crave Cupcakes to get a treat from their rodeo inspired selection for the ride home.  It was a great decision!

The Austin office had a great experience at Rodeo Houston, and we hope to make it back next year.  We wish their team the best of luck on the last few days of their 2012 event.

Since thousands of miles separate the Austin and Portland Saffire Offices, any chance our team has to spend time together is sure to be filled with excitement and fun.

With such a busy convention schedule, most of our free time was spent having yummy meals and playing various casinos.

While we didn’t hit the BIG jackpot we were all hoping for, we settled for a few mediocre slot machine wins on Top Dollar and Lucky Larry’s Lobster Mania.

If you know much about this team, you know we might be are  foodies.  We had the opportunity to eat at some new finds and old favorites while we were in Las Vegas.

We made two stops at the new Cosmopolitan Hotel, which was right across from the Paris Hotel where we were staying.  This trendy, new hotel was home to Holsteins and D.O.C.G.  At Holsteins, we enjoyed the Gold Standard, which was voted the best burger in Las Vegas, and various “Bam-Boozled Shakes.”  As for D.O.C.G., well we’re just glad we didn’t set more than the menu on fire.  Oops! 

After about 24 hours away from Texas, the Austin office was in serious need of some Mexican food.  So we headed over to Planet Hollywood to have some burritos and fajitas at Yolo’s.

Since Wednesday night was our last evening together in Vegas, we had a team dinner at a Saffire favorite: Tao.  A few specialty cocktails and lots of toasts later, we had a delicious meal and enough laughs to last until we’re together again.

Our team really is a family, and it was great to spend time together in Sin City.  Viva Las Vegas!

- Rebekah

Do you feel that?  It’s something different in the air this week…excitement and a little bit of animosity.

That’s right ladies and gents, it’s college football season! 

The truth is that the folks in Austin and Portland have some pretty different views on how this season will turn out, so we decided to share our predictions for who will win it all in the 2011-12 NCAA College Football Season with you.

Who is going to take home the big prize this year?  Well, let the guesses and trash talking begin!

	Aaron The University of Oklahoma – I’m curious to see if I’ll be able to hear the disappointment in Texas if OU wins it all.
	Adam I’m going to pick Arizona State. I actually almost ended up going to college there (and the Beavers keep letting me down).
	Cassie Even though the Texas Longhorns won six years of my tuition dollars, my season ticket purchase and their own ESPN network (HOOK EM HORNS!), I don’t think this is their year for a title run. I’m going to pick the Nebraska Cornhuskers, making their Big Ten conference debut. There is no place like Nebraska: Taylor Martinez is now an experienced QB, and DT Jared Crick was voted the preseason #1 player in his new conference, making the blackshirt defense hard to beat. The Huskers’ success ultimately hinges on their ability to develop the passing game, which seems to always be Nebraska’s biggest downfall–are you listening Bo Pelini? GO BIG RED!
	Chris I’m rooting for the University of Oregon because I’m from Oregon. And I like all 384 combinations of their uniforms. Go Ducks!
	Dan I’m going with the Oregon Ducks. They have a lot of returning players and I think they can go all the way this year.
	Jessica Call me a Homer but my prediction for the 2011 National Championship team is the University of Texas Longhorns. You may say it’s “just” a rebuilding year, but I say we’re rebuilding our way all the way back to the top, baby! Fortunately, college football is a game of passion and heart, so it’s not completely unheard of an AP Poll, preseason unranked team to walk away with the title. The Horns’ new coaching staff will ignite that fire to lead us to victory, week in and week out! Hook ‘Em!
	Jeremy Last year, I chose my dear Portland State University Vikings, only to be mocked by everyone in my office. This year, I have aimed to be a little more realistic, so I am choosing my also beloved Seattle Seahawks to win the NCAA National Championship. With the off-season acquisition of Tarvaris Jackson, under the tutelage of former outstanding college head coach Pete Carroll. I am quite certain that we would have a way better chance of winning something if we were playing at the NCAA level. Go ‘Hawks!
	Justin I’m going with Boise State. They are returning the same team that climbed to as high as No. 2 in the rankings in 2010. The senior class is 38-2 since 2008 and are ready for the big time this year.
	Kendra Although OU has is one of the strongest returning teams, as a Longhorn, there is no way that I can pick them to win. So I am picking the Oregon Ducks. 15 of 22 starters are returning, and assuming a win against LSU this Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, their only schedule challenge will be Stanford on Nov. 12th, which will easily be the biggest Pac 12 game of the season and could be 1 vs. 2 match-up by that time.
	Monika As I thought about my prediction, I looked at the top teams and realized that I hate them all so much I couldn’t bear to pick any of them. My “other” perennial favorite, Ohio State (I was born in Ohio and raised by Buckeyes), just admitted their coach was a cheater-pants, so I obviously can’t pick them. So what’s a girl to do? I’ll pick my Alma Mater and root for my Texas Longhorns, although all I’m personally hoping for is a running game and a winning season.
	Rebekah With the return of star quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Baylor Bears are hopeful to prove they aren’t just the little sister of the Big XII anymore with a winning season in 2011-2012. (By the way, am I the only one that doesn’t understand why it’s still called the Big XII if there are only 10 teams?) Crossing my fingers for a bowl game again! Sic ‘em Bears!

Long time, no blog!  Well, it’s good to be back and we have some exciting news to share.

As you all know, we have been busy spreading the word about Saffire Events, but we realized we needed a little more help to handle the demand for our software.

We couldn’t be happier to tell you all that we have hired Cassie Roberts as our new Manager of Sales and Partnership.  She will be working with our potential and current clients, so we wanted to let you get to know a little more about her.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake

Currently Listening to: I’m a Texas Country girl at heart- Randy Rogers, Eli Young, Kevin Fowler- Can’t get enough! I will also forever be currently listening to Josh Turner. He’s a fave.

Best Local Restaurant: I have to pick just one? Austin Java or Trudy’s.

Starbucks Order: Grande coffee, sweetened. Add the milk myself.

Can’t Miss TV Show: Don’t really have one, but all big sports events are a must. Also can’t miss Texas Football! Hook ‘Em Horns!

Guilty Pleasure TV Show or Movie: Keeping up with the Kardashians. So bad and so good.

Currently Reading: Made to Stick by Dan & Chip Heath

Hidden Talent: I can do a mean spider drill with a basketball.

Welcome to the team Cassie!  We’re excited to have you.  It’s clear you were made to work in the fair and rodeo industry.