This and that

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Pumpkin Chai Biscotti ~ #fillthecookiejar



It is time to Fill the Cookie Jar again.  Mine is getting down to the bottom, so it worked out perfect.  This  month's theme is Thanksgiving.  When I think of Thanksgiving, it is a time of being thankful... Can I be thankful that we don't have snow yet... Well I am, there is snow all around us but thankfully we have only received a small dusting but I do know that there is more to come.  Even though I am thankful that we don't have any snow, I am thankful of the season and the nature that is given to us.. the splendid colours of the fall with the dusting of snow.. Beautiful.

But .... I am getting a bit sidetracked as the snow and the seasons have nothing to do with cookies and I need to Fill the Cookie Jar.  This group was started by Cynthia from Feeding Big .  Each month we are given a theme and we can decide to accept this challenge or not.  As I said before this month theme is Thanksgiving.  When I think of Thanksgiving I think of turkey, dressing and all the fixing ~ Well I didn't think that would make a great cookie but pumpkin pie is a part of Thanksgiving and you need cranberries when you eat your turkey and that is something that I can work with.

I have always wanted to make biscotti and my BBF Marlene from Nosh My Way made some Cracked Pepper Chocolate Chunk Biscotti for one of the Fill the Cookie Jar months and it just made me want to make them even more.  I love biscotti and it is a cookie that is great for dipping either in tea, coffee or hot chocolate.  So, I decided this month I was going to make some with Pumpkin, Chai and Dried Cranberries... They turned out wonderful and every day they even taste better as they get crunchier and the flavours mesh together.  This recipe was adapted from a basic biscotti recipe that I found on  Allrecipes.com.

Pumpkin Chai Biscotti
adapted from Allrecipes.com 


Ingredients:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup sugar ( I use Morena Pure Cane Sugar)
1 cup pumpkin
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour ( I used 1 1/4 cup white whole wheat and 2 cups white flour)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/8 cup spiced chai instant powder ( I used Dove Chocolate Discover Spiced Chai)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
coarse sugar (optional)

Salted Caramel Icing (optional)
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In mixing bowl, mix together vegetable oil, eggs and sugar.  Add pumpkin and mix well.
In separate bowl mix flour, baking powder and chai powder.
Mix flour mixture into egg mixture until it makes a heavy dough.
Mix in cranberries
Divide dough into two piece and roll out on greased cookie sheet * to the length of the cookie sheet and about 5 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick
Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.
Once baked cool off slightly until you are able to cut.  Cut crosswise into 1/2 inch slices.  Places slices back on cookie sheet cut side up.
Place bake in oven and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes each side, until lightly toasted.
Once toasted, cool.
While cookies are cooling make Salted Caramel Icing:
In sauce pan melt butter, add milk and brown sugar and bring to boil.  Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat
Add vanilla and icing sugar and mix well.
Drizzle over top of cookies.

Enjoy with a cup of Chai Tea
Writer's Notes:
* I used my baking mats and the cookies stuck slightly to it... I just needed to use a spatula.  Next time I will try parchment paper or a greased cookie sheet to see if it makes any difference.
~ my cookies weren't that hard.  I am thinking after the initial baking it would be better to lower the temperature and leave them in the oven longer or let them dry slightly in the oven when turned off.  Anyone have any suggestions?  They still tasted good but weren't as crunchy as the biscotti I have bought. Everyone that tried them at work said they were good.

Last month I Filled the Cookie Jar with Cobweb Cookies (AKA Lace Cookies).

If you would like to join our group, head over to Feeding Big and fill out  this form.







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LINKS: In and Out of the KitchenFoodies & Crafties Soirée

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Cornish Hen with Apricot Glaze and Wild Rice Dressing

Thanksgiving is coming soon and I am not sure if you are like me but a turkey sometimes seems like to much to cook, especially if there is only two for dinner like at our house.  My husband isn't a big fan of roast turkey as he thinks it is too dry.  So often I will make Cornish Hens, you can make as many as you want or as few as you want.  I have made half of this recipe and only had 2 hens and I have double the recipe when I have company.  Cornish hens arranged on a platter always looks nice.


Cornish Hen with Apricot Glaze and Wild Rice Dressing


Recipe adapted slightly from Taste of Home 2007
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped onions (I usually use a little bit more and use red onions)
6 tbsp butter, divided
1 cup cooked wild rice
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ( I don't always put this in)
4 Cornish hens
1/2 cup apricot preserves (I have used peach jelly for this too)
1 tbsp white vinegar

Directions:
In a large skillet, saute mushrooms, pecans and onions in 4 tbsp butter until tender over medium heat.  Stir in rice, apricots, parsley, salt ,pepper and cayenne pepper.  Remove from heat.
Spoon about 3/4 cup of rice mixture into each hen, tie legs together with string.  Place hens on cooking rack, breast side up in baking dish or roasting pan.  Melt remaining butter and brush over top of each hen.
Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until meat thermometer reads 180 for hens and 165 degrees for dressing.
While hens are cooking place apricot preserve and vinegar in small saucepan, cooking on medium heat until you can mix them together.  When hens are done, brush apricot mixture over the top and sides of hens and bake 15 minutes longer. 
Enjoy!


Thanksgiving Dinner
Cornish Hen with Wild Rice Dressing
Pretzel Salad
Glazed Carrots with Dried Cranberries
Finished Hen



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LINKED: Tuesday Tasting, Foodie & Crafts Soiree, Thanksgiving Meal Planning ~ entrees
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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Just a little nutty over here at Foodie Friends Friday #foodiefriendsfriday

I hope everyone that celebrates Halloween had a great day and kids where able to get out to do some Trick and Treating....   We had a foggy, rainy day and I have my very own haunted house across the street.



This week on Foodie Friends Friday we are going a little nutty...  November is Georgia Pecan Month.. So bring over all you nutty foods.

Last Week's Highlights
Host Favorites
Last week we had a great Halloween Party and I hope it gave you some inspirations for your own Halloween party.. Each week all the Foodie Friends Friday host pick their favorite link and then it is featured over at the Daily Dish Magazine.  To be featured you must have a link back to either Foodie Friends Friday or the host blog that you link up with.  Next week you link just might be here.

My Host Favorite
I love fudge and pumpkin and put them together it is heaven.  So when I saw this Pumpkin Spice Cream Candy  from Seasons of Sweets I fell in love.  This candy was a hit on Foodie Friends Friday as I wasn't the only host that picked it...  I was planning on making it before today but ran out of time.. Maybe it will be my goal for tomorrow.  I do know that I will be adding it to my candy trays that I make for Christmas.. 
Pumpkin Spice Cream Candy
photo credit: Seasons of Sweets
Recipes with the Most Clicks
Cobweb Cookies ~ This and That
Bloodshot Peanut Butter Eyeballs ~ In the Kitchen with Jenny
Halloween Bark ~ The Big Giant Food Basket

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday!

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

31 days of .......................... Cookies

Where has October gone?  It is already the end and I don't think I even saw the beginning.. Does it feel the same for you?  October is a great food month.  Not only is it National Pizza Month, it is National Caramel Month, Dessert Month and Cookies Month.  Who in the right mind doesn't like October.

 g C is for Cookies that is good enough for me... C is for Cookies that is good enough for me.... Cookies, Cookies Cookies n.... I love Cookie Monster and Cookies..  So this month is perfect for me... the best month ever.

One of my favorite all time cookies in Peanut Butter Blossoms but because of a peanut sensitivity in the house I try to stay away from making anything with peanut butter so have had to come up with a new alternative.  I think I have come up with the perfect one.... This cookie is full of flavour and goodness.


Biscoff Chai Blossoms

adapted from Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour (I use 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1 1/4 cup white flour)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp chai tea instant powder
1/2 cup  sugar ~ I use Morena Pure Cane Sugar 
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter  
1 egg
1/2 cup biscoff
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
48 chocolate Hershey Kisses (I only got 36 cookies and used chocolate and pumpkin spice kisses)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In medium mixing bowl combine flour, soda, salt and chai tea.  Set aside.
In mixing bowl cream together both sugars and butter.
Add egg and mix well.
Add biscoff, milk and vanilla, blend on low speed until mixes
Slowly add dry ingredients and blend on low speed until stiff dough forms.
Shape in 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Immediately after removing from oven press candy kiss into top of each cookie.  Press firmly so cookies crack around the edges.
Cool and enjoy.



I did say 31 days of cookies so here are some more great cookies for you to enjoy.....


Scandinavian Spice Cookies
Cobweb Cookies AKA Lace Cookies
Lemon Lime Sugar Cookies
Lemon Myers Shortbread Cookies
Peanut butter Cookies



Triple Chocolate Biscoff Cookies
Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Craisin White Chocolate Marshmallow Oatmeal Cookies
Pumpkin Biscoff Cookies
Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies 

 I belong to a Fill the Cookie Jar Group and each month we are given a theme and make cookies.. Here are a few from there.  There are no pictures as I didn't get permission from the bloggers so will just leave you the links.  To find all the cookies that have been linked up to this group and more great cookie recipes head over to the Fill the Cookie Jar Pinterest Board.


From Calculus to Cupcakes ~ Soft Ginger Cookies
Hungry Little Girl ~ M&M Microwave Cookie for One
Six Feet Under Blog ~ Bacon Molasses Cookies
Spatulas on Parade ~ Orange Crinkle Cookies
Winelady Cooks ~ Witches Hat Sugar Cookies 
Yesterfood ~ Dark Chocolate Chews
Edesia's Notebook ~ Orange Creamsicle Cookies

I also want to share with you a couple of recipes from a great friend Isabelle of Isabelle at Home.  She is always making cookies and I get alot of my inspirations from her.

Found this picture on Pinterest
no recipe but loved the picture


My next search took me to Pinterest and I thought I would search Thanksgiving and Christmas Cookies to help you with your holiday baking..  I am giving you the link to the direct bloggers page and not the pinterest page.

Christmas Cookies
Photo credit: Pinterest


There you go 31 days of Cookies.... Now onto to finding caramel and dessert recipes ~ I still have 2 days before this month is over.



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LINKED UP TO;  Fluster Buster's Creative Muster, The Weekend Re-treat, Craft Frenzy Friday, Fun Fridays Link Party, Four Season Blog Hop, Make it Pretty Monday, Inspiration Spotlight

Saturday, October 26, 2013

National Pizza Month ~ #pizzaroundup

October is National Pizza Month and I am a big fan of pizza.  I think I could eat it for every meal and there was days when I was single I did... those days are over as I don't get it that often anymore... But when I do watch out.. I eat and eat and eat.  I also love pizza cold, I was the one that the pizza places remembered as I would ask them not to deliver my pizza in their warmers.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Foodie Friends Friday ~ Halloween Party #foodiefriendsfriday

Where did this month of October go?  In one week it will be over and I don't think I say any of it... How about you?  So, are you ready for Halloween... not me, but then I really don't have to do anything for it ~ I usually eat all the treats I buy to hand out so I am thinking I am not going to hand out anything this year.. No treats, no extra weight for me.. Win, Win.

Monday, October 21, 2013

National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

Pumpkin and Cheesecake... two of my favorite things and what could be better on a Fall day then a Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake ~ nothing right?