Apparently chaos is my new Christmas tradition. Last year, I was due with Baby Ice on December 28th – though he granted my holiday wish and waited until after the New Year to arrive. This year, I’ve decided to up the ante and bookend the holidays with a move and the launch of a new[…]
Red, White and Blueberry Flag Cake
Red, White and Blueberry Cake Serves 10-12 Adapted from Martha Stewart Ingredients for the Cake: 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for baking sheet – stock 3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for baking sheet – $3.59 2 teaspoons baking powder – stock 1 teaspoon salt – stock 2¼[…]
Whole Roasted Carrots with Chimichurri
Whole Roasted Carrots with Chimichurri Serves 6-8 as a side Inspired by Food & Wine Ingredients for the carrots: ~2 pounds medium carrots, peeled – $4.99 1/3 cup water 6 large garlic cloves, whole – stock 1½ Tablespoons olive oil – stock 1½ Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks – stock Salt and freshly ground[…]
Cinnamon Streusel Baked French Toast
Apple Cinnamon Baked French Toast Serves 6 Ingredients: 1 loaf of stale bread (I use Challah or a baguette) – $2.49 8 large eggs, lightly beaten – stock 2 cups of buttermilk (click here for buttermilk substitute) – stock ½-cup applesauce – $2.19 ½-cup sugar – stock 2 Tablespoons pure vanilla extract – stock Streusel[…]
Vegetarian Chili with White Beans & Wild Mushrooms
Vegetarian White Bean Chili with Mushrooms Serves 6 Note: Don’t use canned beans for this dish as the lengthy cooking time will cause the beans to lose their integrity. Additionally, if you don’t want to soak the beans overnight follow these directions for the quick-boil solution: Using a large pot, cover the beans with about[…]
Christmas Dinner Recipe Ideas
Over the years I have experimented with an inordinate number of Christmas dinner recipe ideas. Past favorites have included Turkey with all the trimmings and Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding, but the all-time winner in our house is my Herb and Honey Marinated Filet of Beef. After the economy crashed in September of ’08, which[…]
Red-Wine-Braised Brisket with Dried Fruit
Red-Wine-Braised Brisket with Dried Fruit Serves 10 Ingredients: 2 cups robust red wine (I use Cabernet) – stock 5-6 lb. beef brisket (aka bottom round roast or pot roast) – $40.00 Paprika, kosher salt & pepper – stock 3 large onions (about 2 cups), chopped coarsely – $1.49 2 bay leaves – stock 3 sprigs[…]
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel Makes 12 Ingredients for Muffins: 1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats – stock 1¼ cups whole wheat flour – stock ½-cup packed light brown sugar – stock 1 teaspoon baking powder – stock ¾-teaspoon baking soda – stock ¾-teaspoon ground cinnamon – stock ½-teaspoon salt – stock 2 Tablespoons[…]
Shredded Chicken & Figs with Marcona Almonds and Thyme
Shredded Braised Chicken & Figs with Marcona Almonds & Thyme Serves 6 Adapted from Food & Wine Ingredients: 2 teaspoons canola oil – stock 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (you can also use skin-on/bone-in, just discard bones & skin after cooking/before shredding) – $5.00 Salt & pepper – stock 1 large carrot, chopped –[…]
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning Serves 10 Ingredients: 8 oz. whipped cream cheese, softened – $2.19 3 scallions (about ¼ cup), chopped fine – $0.99 ½ of a red bell pepper (2/3 cup) , chopped – $1.07 a heaping ½ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese – $1.09 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese –[…]
Cinnamon-&-Sugar-Dusted Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
Craving other pumpkin-spiced delights? Check out our Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Seed & Spinach Pesto, Pumpkin Risotto, Pumpkin & Ricotta Lasagna, and Curried Pumpkin Pie Soup Cinnamon-&-Sugar-Dusted Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins Makes 18 NOTE: Buttermilk Substitute (I never keep any on hand and always use this substitute): In a glass container, whisk together 1/3 cup milk[…]
Cheesy Zucchini Pie with Prosciutto and Sweet Onions ala Alyssa
Zucchini Pie ala Alyssa Serves 12 Ingredients: ½ lb. zucchini, scrubbed and chopped diced – $1.75 2 Tablespoons olive oil – stock 1 medium-large Vidalia onion, diced – $1.16 3 cloves garlic, minced – stock 3 oz. Prosciutto – $3.99 ½ cup shredded Fontina cheese – $2.99 ½ cup diced fresh mozzarella – $2.69 ½[…]
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Turtles
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Turtles Makes about 10-12 Turtles Ingredients: 6-oz dark chocolate chunks or morsels (semi-sweet also works): $3.19 30 mini pretzels, crumbled – $1.79 Handful of dried cherries, currants or cranberries – $3.19 Sea salt crystals – stock Grand total assuming well-stocked kitchen: $8.17 Directions: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper[…]
Soft & Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
Thin & Chewy Gingersnap Cookies Makes about 20 Cookies Originally adapted from Wives With Knives Ingredients: 2¼ cups all-purpose flour – stock 2 teaspoons baking soda – stock ¼-teaspoon salt – stock 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – stock 1 heaping teaspoon ground ginger – stock 1 teaspoon ground cloves – stock 1½ sticks of unsalted[…]
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal with Cream Cheese Drizzle
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal with Cream Cheese Drizzle Serves 6-8 Adapted from Cooking Done Light Ingredients for Baked Oatmeal: 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, uncooked – stock ¼-cup flax seeds – $2.69 ½-teaspoon baking powder – stock 1 cup chopped pineapple – $2.99 1 cup grated carrots – $1.50 ¼-cup chopped walnuts – stock[…]
Oreo Cookie Layer Cake
Oreo Cookie Layer Cake Serves 8 as a Layered Cake 24 as Cupcakes Note: The cake portion of this recipe is actually our Devil’s Food Cake of yore. The only difference is the very-delicious addition of Oreos to the batter. As for the icing – this is a basic Confectioner’s sugar/butter/milk icing with once again,[…]
A Christmas Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake Serves 8 Ingredients: Dough: 1 package (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast – $1.99 1/2 cup warm water 1/2 cup lukewarm milk – stock 1/3 cup sugar – stock 1/3 cup butter, softened – stock 1 teaspoon salt – stock 1 egg – stock 3 ½ -4 cups flour – stock[…]
White Chocolate & Salted Cashew Cookies
White Chocolate and Salted Cashew Cookies Gently adapted from Allrecipes.com Makes 3 dozen Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour – stock 1 teaspoon baking soda – stock ¼ teaspoon salt – stock ¾ cup butter, softened – stock ½-cup and 1 Tablespoon packed light brown sugar – stock ¼-cup and 2 Tablespoons white sugar – stock[…]
Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple-Glazed Pecans
Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple-Glazed Pecans Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour – stock 1 cup all-purpose flour – stock 2 teaspoons baking powder – stock ½-teaspoon baking soda – stock 1½ teaspoons cinnamon – stock ½ teaspoon nutmeg – stock ½ teaspoon ground ginger – stock 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves – stock[…]
Sugar Snap Peas with Sliced Pears, Gouda, and Pistachios
Sugar Snap Peas with Sliced Pears, Gouda, and Pistachios Serves 4 Note: I made a full container of the dressing but only needed to drizzle small amounts over the individual sugar snap salads, being careful to scoop some of the shallots with a small spoon. I used the reserve throughout the rest of the week[…]