Whiskey-Glazed Carrots

Now, onto another holiday meal! We'll now rewind to my Thanksgiving dinner at home this year.  It was just the 4 of us, as we were in the middle of selling the house still yet and had to be around in case of showings.  Anyway, I'm starting with my least favorite of the recipes, these carrots.  They weren't terrible, just far too sweet for me.  And I'm a sweets person--this blog is a testament to that lol. So, if you like really, really sweet carrots, this will be excellent for you.  For me, it's only getting a 5/10.  There are no pictures of the sides in their individual serving dishes, so here is the whole meal plated, carrots hanging out over on the right hand side...

Link to original recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/whiskey-glazed-carrots-major-league-yum/

Ingredients (amounts I used):

4 T. butter, divided
1 lb. carrots, peeled and cut in thick rounds
1/4 c. whiskey (I used Jack Daniels)
4 T. brown sugar (**original recipe suggests 6 to 8 T.!)
1/4 tsp. salt
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet (I used cast iron) over high heat, melt 1 T. of the butter.  Add carrots and cook for around 90 seconds.  Transfer from skillet to a plate.

2. (Very carefully!) Add the whiskey to the pan and let cook down for 30 seconds. 

3. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 3 T. of butter.  Once it has melted, sprinkle the brown sugar over it and stir to form a glaze.

4. Add carrots back to skillet and cover.  Cook for 5 min.

5. Remove lid and add salt and pepper.  Leave lid off and cook for 5 additional min, or until carrots are done and glaze has thickened.

6. Serve immediately while hot.

Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies

(again, see explanation a few posts back about lack of pix.)
If you like Andes mints, but don't want to do go overboard with it (like the recipe for the Ultimate Andes Cookies I posted somewhat recently), this might be the one for you.  Be warned, though--these are quite addictive!  If you can't find the Andes mint baking chips, you can just chop up regular Andes mints :)

Link to original recipe: http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/chocolate-andes-mint-cookies-327669

Ingredients:

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2/3 cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. butter-flavored Crisco
3/4 c. sugar
2/3 c. brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 pkg. (10 oz.) Andes mint baking chips

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.  Line baking sheets with parchment.

2. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.  Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter, shortening, sugar, and brown sugar.

4. Beat in vanilla extract and eggs.

5. Either switch to dough hook for stand mixer or stir in by hand, gradually, the flour mixture.

6. Stir in mint chips by hand. Dough will be rather stiff.

7. Drop well-rounded teaspoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets (space cookies about 1 1/2 to 2" apart).

8. Bake for 10 min, or until centers are set.

9. Transfer to wire cooling racks immediately.  Enjoy!

Carrots, Green Beans, and Pearl Onions with Chardonnay Sauce and Truffled Bread Crumbs

(See explanation for lack of pictures a couple of posts back...)
Mmmm these were ever so nice!  I was looking for a recipe that included carrots that was not overly sweet and this hit the target, spot on.  I would give this a 9 out 10, only due to the fact that it does take quite a bit of prep--very glad I did this one with my mom :)

Link to original recipe: http://www.finecooking.com/recipe/carrots-green-beans-and-pearl-onions-with-chardonnay-sauce-and-truffled-breadcrumbs

Ingredients:

5 T. unsalted butter, divided
2 c. coarse fresh breadcrumbs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
14 oz. pearl onions (**original recipe asks for frozen; we could not find, so we used fresh and they worked just fine--just need to remove the skins (we used boil in water method to remove easily))
4 c. water
1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed
1 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks about 1/4" thick and 4" long
2 c. Chardonnay, preferably unoaked (we used Château Ste. Michelle brand)
1 T. honey
3 T. white or black truffle oil (we used white), divided
1/4 c. flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

Instructions:

1. In a 12" skillet over medium heat, melt 3 T. of the butter, then add breadcrumbs and season with salt and pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and chewy-crisp (about 7-9 min.)  Cool completely.

2. In a 5-6 qt. heavy pot (we used dutch oven) over medium-high heat, melt remaining 2 T. of butter.  Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots.  Transfer onions to a large bowl, but do not wipe/clean pot.

3. Add 4 c. water to the pot, along with 1/2 tsp. salt.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Add the green beans and cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar.  Boil until just tender/slightly limp, around 4-6 min.  Transfer the green beans out of the water, to same bowl as the onions.

4. Repeat the same process (as #3) with the carrots, using the same water.

5. Boil the water/remaining liquid, uncovered, until reduced to 1/2 c. (around 25-30 min.)

6. Add the wine and honey to the reduced liquid.  Boil until reduced to 1/2 c. (about 20 min.)

7. Add 2 T. of the truffle oil, stir to combine.

8. Pour the onions/green beans/carrots mixture into the liquid and cook, tossing gently, until heated through and coated with the liquid.  Season with salt and pepper.

9. Mix the parsley in with the prepared breadcrumbs.

10. Pour the vegetables into a serving dish, then top with breadcrumbs.  Drizzle with remaining 1 T. truffle oil and enjoy!

Feta and Herb Filled Pogaca Rolls

(See previous posts for explanation for lack of photos for this post.)
I'd never heard of pocaga rolls until stumbling across this recipe in my search for a special homemade roll recipe to make for Christmas.  Very happy I did--these are great!  The original post has two different shapes that can be made; we went with the one that seemed simpler/easier: oval.  We made only half the recipe, which was plenty for us.  Amounts shown below reflect this modification.

Link to original recipe: http://www.finecooking.com/recipe/feta-herb-filled-pogaca-rolls

Ingredients:

for the dough--

1/2 c. whole milk, warmed to 105°F
1/2 T. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 large egg (beat and measure it, then half--other half will be needed for the shaping/baking below)
1/4 c. canola oil, plus more as needed
6 3/4 oz. all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1 tsp. kosher salt

for the filling--

4 oz. crumbled feta
1 1/2 T. flat-leaf parsley, chopped

for shaping/baking--

1/2 large egg (see note above)
1/2 tsp. whole milk

Instructions:

1. Make the dough:  In the bowl for a stand mixer, combine the milk, yeast, and sugar.  Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

2. Whisk in the egg and oil.

3. Attach dough hook to mixer.  Add the flour and salt, then begin mixing on low speed.  Mix until flour is incorporated, scraping the bowl as needed.

4. Increase speed to medium low and continue mixing for 8-10 min, until smooth and stretchy.

5. Lightly flour a work surface and lightly oil a large bowl.  Turn the dough out onto the floured surface, then sprinkle lightly with flour all over.  Shape dough into a ball, then transfer to prepared bowl.

6. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, around 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.

7. Make the filling: Combine feta and parsley in a medium bowl.

8. Shape and bake rolls: Line a large baking sheet with parchment and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

9. Lightly flour a work surface and turn dough out onto it.  Punch down dough, then divide into 8 even pieces.

10.  Place dough balls on prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise in a warm place for 30-40 min.

11. Heat oven to 350°F with rack in center of oven.

12.  Flatten out each dough ball into a 4 to 4 1/2" circle.  Place about 1 1/2 T. of the filling in the middle of the dough circle.  Hold circle on each side with thumb and index finger and draw the two sides up to meet.  Pinch together at meeting point, then continue pinching to close remaining openings on rest of circle's edges.  It should look like a semi-circle when finished.

13. Place closed dough seam side down on parchment/baking sheet.  Roll gently to shape into an oval/football-like shape.

14. Whisk together the egg and milk in a small dish.  Brush each roll lightly with the egg-milk wash.

15. Bake rolls for 28-33 min, or until light golden brown.  Enjoy immediately while warm!

Gruyère-Crisped Potatoes

As I mentioned in the previous post, I don't have any pictures to go along with these posts currently, as these were made at Christmas as my mom's place (and I forgot to take any...oops).  They are good enough, however, that I do indeed plan to make them again (of course) and want to share them now, not later :) 
These potatoes were so very perfect with the ham we had--it was like they were designed to go together.  Yum yum yum!  10 out of 10, no surprise.

Link to original recipe: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/gruyere-crisped-potatoes-au-gratin/

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes
3 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
2 pinches freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 c. finely shredded Gruyère cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F.

2. Wash and scrub potatoes, then slice using a food processor (or by hand, 1/8" thickness).

3. Transfer sliced potatoes to a large pot.  Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT Gruyère.  Heat and stir occasionally, gently, over medium-high heat until cream boils.

4. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a 2.5 or 3 quart baking dish.  Shake to spread the mixture evenly, then top all over the Gruyère.

5. Transfer to oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender.

6. Let potatoes stand for 15 min. before serving.  Enjoy!

Gingerbread Cutouts (Soft)

I made these while at my mom's for Christmas--and did not take any pix of the process--oops.  This and the next few entries will be just recipes for the most part--until I get the chance to make again and add more photos.  I liked these a lot and wanted to make sure I kept a record of making them and any modifications thereto. 
These gingerbread men are so very perfect--soft with excellent flavor.  The dough is easy to work with, too.  I used my own homemade frosting to decorate, which of course I had my 6 year old help with.  The one in this photo is his design, drawn on the cookie by me :)

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/gingerbread-cutouts/29072204-d392-4ce5-850d-7e3cf11f4cde

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. unsalted butter (or margarine), softened
3 T. molasses
1 egg
2 T. milk
3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. ground cloves

frosting for decoration

Instructions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat sugar, butter, and molasses together until well combined.

2. Beat in the egg and milk until just blended.

3. Mix in (or stir by hand) remaining ingredients (except the frosting, of course).

4. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour (we went overnight).

5. Heat oven to 350°F.

6. Roll 1/3 of the dough at a time on a floured surface, to 1/8" thickness.  (Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll.)

7. Use a floured gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut cookies out of rolled dough, then place on ungreased cookie sheet, 1" apart.

8. Bake for 6-7 min. or until set.  Transfer from cookie sheet to cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

I'm not usually one for using mixes to make desserts (as should be obvious by most entries in this blog :)), but this one just sounded too good not to try.  And oh am I even glad I did!  The original has it pictured/made with chocolate frosting--I'm sure that is quite lovely, yet I assure you that vanilla frosting (whether just spread all over or in drops like I did here) is a nice balance for the rest of the chocolaty goodness.  Yep, 10 out 10 for this one, too.

Link to original recipe: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/frosted-chocolate-chip-cookie-brownies/eed4b2ac-42b3-4084-93ca-8a5fcda2a29c

Ingredients:

1 box (1 lb. 6.25 oz.) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, vegetable oil, and eggs called for on the brownie box
1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5 oz.) Betty Crocker™ chocolate chip cookie mix
Butter and egg called for on the cookie mix pouch
Vanilla frosting (if desired--I used up some leftover homemade that I had on hand)

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark/nonstick pan (which is what I used)).  Grease bottom only of 13"x 9" baking pan with shortening or cooking spray (I used shortening).

2. Prepare brownie mix per directions on box, then spread in prepared pan.

3. Prepare cookie mix per directions on pouch.  (**Note: The dough does not like to come together with a spoon--I ended up using my hands to mix it, which worked far better.  It is rather coarse texture for cookie dough.)

4. Drop cookie dough in tablespoonfuls evenly all over the brownie batter and press down lightly.

5. Bake 34-38 min. or until toothpick inserted 2" from side of pan comes out almost clean.  (I checked at 35 min. and it was still quite messy, so I went 5 more min, which was perfect.)

6.  Cool completely on cooling rack before frosting.  Enjoy!