Starting the year off with something slightly more healthy than cookies, I’ve made granola bars. This is an all purpose recipe that lets you swap out the type of nut (almonds or pecans or cashews or peanuts) and the type of fruit (I’ve made these with dried apricots, cranberries, cherries and raisins). If you can’t find pecan butter, or if it is too expensive (because wow, it can be very expensive!), stick with almond butter as it is the most neutral of the nut butters. I’ve not tried it will sunflower seed butter, but I will eventually and will report back on that too.
A while back, I bought these noodles at Eataly. I didn’t really have a plan for what to do with them, but turns out they are pretty great for a deconstructed Skillet Lasagna. If you don’t have these small-ish noddles, you can always break lasagna noodles into pieces. Turned out pretty casual and good; a nice little riff on the standard lasagna.
I’ve been feeling sick with a cold the last few days, so comfort food was on deck — with a bit of spice to clear the sinuses. This Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup was the perfect thing. Extremely flavorful, hearty and I added a bit of extra red pepper flakes so definitely spicy. Served with baguette with lots of cheddar cheese. Perfect thing for an “under the weather” January day.
It isn’t often that I post pictures taken from my mobile phone as the photos accompanying recipes, but I forgot to bring my Canon with my over the New Year’s long weekend up in the woods. I did want to share this amazing — and crazy-easy — recipe for Blueberry Croissant French Toast Casserole though, and without photos just wouldn’t do. I love this recipe and the best part about it is that you actually make it the evening before so as your drinking your first cup of coffee in the morning, you have nothing to do but wait for the blueberry goodness to arrive. This turned out to be perfect on New Year’s Day morning as I was still feeling effects of the bubbly the night before. Even if you aren’t hungover, what’s better than having your breakfast ready in 25 minutes with minimal effort.
