Appetizers/Starters, Savory Snacks

Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins

The Superbowl is this weekend, and like I often remind people this time of year, I am not an American Football fan, so I don’t have a specific team to follow, but I do watch. And it’s always a good excuse to make party snacks. Here I made some Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins …. oh so good. When I make these, I always try to find the smallest Russet potatoes that I can — like about the size of my palm. Often they are so big that you could make a boat out of them. Definitely aim for the smallest potatoes you can find here, but don’t sub out other smaller varieties like yukon gold or red potatoes; waxy potatoes won’t work here.

These are a little time consuming (the making the baked potatoes first) but they are very much worth the effort. Yummy!
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Breakfast/Brunch, Cookies, Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Caramel Pear Cardamom Honey Bars

I think Pears are woefully underrated. Apple Pies, peach cobbler, but less often do you find pears in the dessert spectrum. Well, the other day, I came across some Caramel Cardamom Honey Spread and thought it matched well with pears, so I decided to make some of my usual crumble bars. Success! These are great and I will definitely make them again.
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Salads

Beluga Lentil, Baby Arugula + Feta Salad

One of my stated foodie goals to start the year is that I want to experiment more with heirloom and artisanal grains and such in my cooking and baking so I decided first up is lentils. These are black or beluga lentils, which hold their shape quite nicely when you prepare them. They have a bit of a rice like flavor and would do well as a side dish, if you want to up the protein and get rid of some carbs. This salad was a great lunch, flavor packed with the peppery arugula and tangy feta. Definitely a make again for me.
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Cookies, Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Pistachio and Wild Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

As you folks are well aware, I sometimes have this tendency to put “unusual” flavor combinations together. Today is no exception, though I don’t think that this combination is all that odd. I give you: Pistachio and Wild Cherry Thumbprint Cookies. Ground pistachios in the dough and sprinkled on top, fantastic wild cheery jam (literally the best jam that I have ever tasted!) in the “thumbprints”. Great combo, in my opinion. If you can’t find cherry jam, plum or apricots would also be good substitutes.
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Cookies, Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Triple Mini-Chip Blondies

Today happens to be National Cookie Bar Day. Or National Blondie Day. Or National Vanilla Brownie Day. So in honor of this very exciting “holiday”, I decided to make these Triple Mini-Chip Blondies (Recipe: ) with Semi-sweet, White and Butterscotch Mini-Chips. They are ooey, gooey and 100% delicious. Just what you are craving on a Friday afternoon!
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