Desserts

Gingerbread Cake with Maple-Mascarpone Whipped Cream and Rosemary

Every year for Christmas, I try to make a torte — aka a fancy cake. It’s really the only time of the year that I make a true cake as I am more of a pie or cupcake kind of person. So this year, I went with a little fancy and a little rustic with this Gingerbread Cake with Maple-Mascarpone Whipped Cream and Rosemary, decorated with gingerbread snowmen. The flavor was terrific though the cake ended up a bit dense. The Maple-Mascarpone Whipped Cream was fantastic … I’m going to have to find some excuse to make it for something else!
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25. December 2018
Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Chocolate Walnut + Cranberry Biscotti

Biscotti. Until recently, I didn’t really “get” biscotti. The whole “hard cookie” thing never did much to whet my appetite, but lately, I’ve learned to appreciate it more. With a good cup of coffee, these are lovely. The cranberry adds a nice twist of tartness to the chocolate and walnuts. Continue Reading

16. December 2018
Appetizers/Starters, Salads, Savory Snacks

Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix

And now for something completely different! I’ve often been asked to bring Ranch Dip/Dressing Mix over to Germany for friends as they don’t have the packets of Hidden Valley Ranch, but it’s really easy — and I think better — to simply make your own. So here it is, a recipe for Ranch Dip and Dressing Mix. The full recipes for Salad Dressing and for the Dip are actually written here too. Lasts about a year, if you actually don’t use it up in the first weeks that you have it in the pantry!
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15. December 2018
Candy, Sweet Snacks

Chocolate Chili Almond Butter Buckeyes, with Sea Salt

Aaaand here is another stocking stuffer idea: Buckeyes! Yes, just another excuse to make sweets really. And these are sweets with a kick. If you’ve never heard of Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters, you should definitely seek them out. Peanut butter, Almond butter and Sunflower seed butter with a kick — they make honey sriacha, garam marsala and the type I used here, chocolate chili. Very yummy. I added a little bit of additional chili powder and sprinkled on some sea salt to round out the sweet and salty combo. Very yummy!
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13. December 2018
Appetizers/Starters, Savory Snacks, Sweet Snacks

Honey Roasted Cinnamon + Smoked Paprika Nuts

It’s getting close to Christmas so here is a great idea for a stocking stuffer: Absolutely fabulously delicious roasted nuts. They are to die for yummy! Sweet from the honey, flavorful but not really spicy from the cinnamon and smoked paprika. They are both sweet and savory. You can use any type of nuts, but I went with cashews, almonds and pecans, but walnuts and even macademias would be lovey too. They’ll stay fresh for a couple of weeks, if they last that long!
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13. December 2018