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Category: Tips
Today’s experiment was with cookies. No, not the annoying web cookies stored in your browser, but that holiday treat everyone enjoys – at least everyone I know. I based this recipe on a Lebkuchen recipe, making some slight adjustments. The cookie it produces is a flavor bomb – honey, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, almonds, ginger, vanilla and rum. That’s right, I wrote ‘rum’. I made a simple rum glaze for these warm spiced treats and these cookies could be called chewable Hot Buttered Rum! So preheat that oven, we have family and friends needing these delights! Save Print Spice Cookies Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 25 mins Serves: 60 Ingredients 1½ cups…
Remember when I teased a few weeks back about experimenting with a macaroni and cheese recipe? Well, today I am going to share the results of the latest effort. I shared the results with a group of friends and it received overwhelming positive comments (i.e. everyone raved about it!). This recipe takes a little bit of effort, but then sometimes you have to make the effort to get the optimal results. I thinks this recipe could be augmented with additional lobster in larger chunks if desired where I opted for smaller pieces more likely to be in every bite. Either way you decide to make it, I suggest just making it! Let’s fire up a burner or two and get the oven hot, it’…
Here are the photographic results of a dessert experiment I made recently. I have to say the experiment was close, but no cigar. The crust I used was a blend of graham cracker and ginger snap (that part works!), but the cheesecake batter was lacking what I wanted to achieve. So I will try, try again until I get it right! Save Save…
Let’s get ready for the holiday season by making some simple appetizers based on some earlier recipes. I am going to make a toasted cheese appetizer with two types of cheeses and 3 types of toppings. The mild goat and Madrigal cheeses I am using are left over from the Macaroni and Cheese experiment, and the toppings are the pepper jelly, fig jam, and honey. Appetizer plates are easily extended and augmented with nuts and fruit – pecans, walnuts, almonds, pears, apples, grapes and olives. I kept my plate simple for this blog post, but let your creativity take wing and serve up simply fabulous appetizers for friends and family. Are you ready for a tasty start to your Friday evening? Save Print Toasted Cheese Appetizers…
Here is a throwback recipe I created as a challenge after a ‘Best of the Worst’ Bourbon tasting party I coordinated last year. With several slightly unpalatable bourbons left over, I accepted the challenge of creating recipes to use the leftovers in new recipes as an incentive for attendees to take the leftovers home with them! Here is the first recipe I created – a simple and flavorful bourbon baked beans. Save Print Bourbon Baked Beans Ingredients ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup bourbon ½ onion, diced 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil ¼ tsp cloves 6 slices bacon, cut in strips 1 15 oz can of pinto, great northern, or kidney beans (or equivalent amount of dry beans, soaked…
How about another cookie recipe to help you bring holiday cheer to your friends and family? As a child, I remember my mom making a honey cookie that required a month of rest, but the recipe was lost long ago. So I spent some time searching and found a recipe close to what I remembered my mom making (but doesn’t require the month long slumber!) so today I am giving it a try (with my usual adjustments!) and sharing the results with you. Save Print German Honey Cookies Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 1 hour 15 mins Serves: 36 Ingredients ¾ cups honey ¼ cup white sugar ½ cup (1 stick) butter 1 egg 2 cups…
This gem of a sous vide jam recipe comes from the Anova community. Of course I twisted it slightly… but everyone should come to expect that by now! This jam is wonderful with a cheese tray, crackers, or sliced baguette. I bet this jam would make awesome homemade Fig Newtons too! (hint, hint) Save Print Balsamic Fig Jam Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 2 hours 15 mins Total time: 2 hours 25 mins Ingredients 12 oz black mission figs, stems removed 1 cup white sugar 1 cup water ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp candied ginger, finely chopped 1 tbsp orange zest Instructions Preheat the sous vide pot to 190 degrees. Place all ingredients into a large zip top bag or a…
Here we are, Friday again, and I have another cocktail recipe to share. This cocktail is a wonderful holiday party drink that differs from the typical bar served ‘Champagne cocktail’. Try this one and I think you will agree this drink is far superior to the standard one you have been served in the past! Just remember, never shake a cocktail with champagne in it! Save Print Classic Champagne Cocktail Ingredients 1 sugar cube 15 drops of Angostura bitters 1 oz brandy or cognac champagne orange peel cherries Instructions Chill a martini or coupe (preferred) glass by filling with ice and letting it stand for a few minutes. Empty the ice from the glass. Add the sugar cube and drop the bitters onto the cube…
Here is a treat to indulge yourself and your friends. These muffins have a light sweetness, solid chocolate flavor and subtle banana influence. Easy to make and bake, you are sure to make new friends anywhere you share these tasty treats! Save Print Chocolate Banana Walnut Muffins Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 35 mins Serves: 12 Ingredients 1½ cups flour ½ cup cacao powder 2½ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt ⅓ cup coconut sugar 3 ripe bananas ¾ cup almond milk 2 tbsp coconut oil ¼ cup walnut pieces Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin tin with paper cups. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cacao powder, baking soda and salt…
Here is another family favorite recipe I want to share with everyone before Thanksgiving. I get requests for this recipe every year from friends that have enjoyed this stuffing at past holiday meals. Heck, I even make this recipe for myself when I want to enjoy a holiday like meal just because! Leftovers will not last long either as they are incredible fried in a little butter the next day then added to leftover turkey and gravy for a hot turkey sandwich. Save Print Rice Stuffing Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 45 mins Total time: 50 mins Ingredients 2 – 3 cups of cooked white rice, cooled 1 lb of ground pork sausage (preferably Hot) 2 – 3 eggs 1½ tbsp ground sage 1…