best dessert: November 2012

Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Welcome to Totally Tasty Tuesdays!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and/or friends.

We sure did!

Lance was able to make it home for the day!!

He and his brother left WY at 4 am and made it home by 9 am, then we went to Lance's grandparents' home for the dinner and enjoyed some delicious food. Lance and his brother had to leave by 5:00 to get back out to WY since they had to work on Friday at 4 am. But we had Lance for Thanksgiving and that made my and the kids' day perfect.

Here is the most viewed recipe...

Delicious Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

from Yummy-Healthy-Easy

Other Faves...

Hot Chocolate Santa Hat Brownies

from Shurgary Sweets

One Pot Goulash

from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Homemade Magic Shell

from Mrs. Ellwood's Simple Life

Grab a button if you were featured!

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Snowy Lemon Cookies

Light and lemony cookies for the holidays.

It is a strange thing. To write about the future, imagining Christmas (and lemon cookies) in Connecticut from a hot, bright, sunlit apartment here in Los Angeles. Such is the blogging life- often a life lived forward, imagining the new.

By now (as you read this) we are on the East Coast, sleeping on a blow-up mattress in our barn studio loft, waiting for the cross-country movers to arrive with our bed, our dishes, our books.

I imagine we are scrambling eggs in the skillet I packed. We are shopping for a used car. One that won't slide sideways in the snow (remember the Honda Fit in New Mexico snow?). We are stocking up on Udi's bread at our village market. Driving up to Great Barrington for the best cup of coffee since our honeymoon in Italy- at Fuel.

I sent ahead a winter coat. Warm boots. A cozy aviator hat (faux fur lined) with puppy-like ear flaps (oddly, bought in Studio City on a ninety-degree day). I imagine I am shivering more than I do in Hollywood. I imagine I am still tired and mildly dyslexic from the red-eye flight on Thanksgiving night.

I imagine I am happy.

And drinking in the pine scented air by the lake. Snapping iPhone pics of brambles by the river. Buying a waterproof map of local hiking trails at the general store. Boiling water for my favorite ginger tea.

And wishing I had some of these Snowy Lemon Cookies.

Read more + get the recipe >>

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Candy Cane Bark

Of course this isn't a new and upcoming recipe, but it loudly says, "Christmas is coming!"

And so here it is. This is perfect for neighbor gifts or holiday parties. My little ones can't keep their hands off the stuff. And I am guessing neither will your loved ones.

Ingredients

24 oz. (1 brick) of Almond Bark or other white chocolate

crushed candy canes

1/2 tsp. Peppermint extract

How You Do It

Place the chocolate in a sauce pan and heat on low until melted, stirring every so often.

Meanwhile, unwrap and place candy canes in a large resealable bag. I used 12 regular candy canes. Seal the bag removing as much air as possible. Crush the candy canes with a rolling pin. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Add half the crushed candy canes and peppermint extract to the melted chocolate and stir.

Now, you can either pour the chocolate mixture right onto the wax paper or you can place cookie cutters on the wax paper and use them as molds to pour the chocolate into. Either way, sprinkle the tops with the other half of the crushed candy canes. Let sit until set or pop them in the fridge to set faster.

If you didn't use cookie cutters, take a knife and stick it in the bark. It should start breaking apart. Keep going until you have the size of pieces you want.

I used mini cookie cutters. See how cute? I also made some normal bark on the cookie sheet.

Either way, it is delicious!

Printable Version

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Friends Giveaway!

This giveaway is closed. The winner is #1 April

Friends was my favorite t.v. show when it was airing.

Oh, man. Who didn't love it?

Even now, there are still times {lots of times} when a real life situation reminds me of an episode of Friends.

Like when Rachel made the trifle at Thanksgiving and mixed the actual recipe with part of a Shepard's Pie recipe. That could easily have been me. I loves Joey's response!

One of you can win 2 oversized cappucino mugs and a frame like the one on Monica's door.

To enter you can do any of the following:

1. Enter to win each week by posting your favorite moments from the Mashup Clip Countdown as the new videos get unlocked in a comment.

2. Take the Which Friend Are You Most Like quiz and post your results in the comments section.

Giveaway ends 11/29.

The assets included within this message were delivered to me in promotion of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release of the Friends Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set. I am working with Warner Bros. on this giveaway.

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Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

The kids are out for Thanksgiving break after tomorrow and don't return until Monday, Dinner at Lance's grandparents on Thursday, and sadly, it doesn't look like Lance will be able to join us.

Major sadness around here. So I have been trying to keep the kids' {and my} spirits up by putting up the Christmas tree and decorations on Sunday and playing Christmas music and making goodies.

Let's see what deliciousness you've been up to this past week...

Taste of Home Holiday Giveaway!

This giveaway is closed. The winner is #20 Cindy!
The Holidays are here!

This is my very favorite time of the year. I love the scents, twinkling lights, amazing food, family time, and everything else that make up the holidays. The kids and I put our tree and Christmas decor up yesterday. Lance is still gone to WY and it really doesn't look like he'll make it home for Thanksgiving. Major bummer. But we are in the Christmas spirit anyway!

And this giveaway will help one of you with that as well.

Taste of Home is giving one of you all three copies of their holiday recipe magazines.

Food Gifts (143 Gift Ideas!), Best Holiday Recipes (235 Recipes!), and Cookies & Candies (150 Recipes!) all for one of you.

Each recipe has a photo to go with it.

How mouthwatering do these look?

These magazines are available in stores until the end of December so you can pick up your own copies, as well.

To enter, just leave a comment telling me your favorite holiday tradition.

Please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Giveaway ends Monday Nov. 26th.

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Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes

Miniature things are just fun.

Mini dogs, mini frogs, mini houses...

And these Mini Cheesecakes.

Everyone can have their own little cheesecake and the kids love it.

I love it.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, you can serve individual cheesecakes or make this into one normal sized cheesecake, if you are boring like that. Top with any pie filling you like. I mostly use blueberry or raspberry. This is a quick dessert so you can make it and then be free to do other awesome stuff like browse pinterest, instagram, or watch The Vampire Diaries.

Ingredients

1 large box (5.1 oz.) pudding mix (Vanilla, White Chocolate, Cheesecake flavors etc.)

2 3/4 C. milk

8 oz. cream cheese, room temp.

12 mini graham cracker crusts or 1 normal (boring) graham cracker crust

Pie filling or your choice

How You Do It

Mix the pudding, milk and cream cheese until well blended. Pour or spoon into pie crust(s). Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Top with pie filling of your choice.

Printable Version

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Gluten-Free Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes

Cider roasted veggies for Thanksgiving- vegan and gluten-free

Cider roasted vegetables- pair with polenta, rice or quinoa.

We are almost packed. This week is moving week. This will be my last post from California.

If, like me, you happen to be celebrating without the bird this Thanksgiving, here's a quick round-up of my favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes to inspire you. Most of these recipes are actually vegan- a dairy-free plus for those of us gluten-free and casein-free. The few recipes garnished with cheese can be easily converted to dairy-free by using your favorite vegan cheese.

Here's to a gentle Thanksgiving- next time- see you in New England!

Peace.

Read more + get the recipe >>

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Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Thanksgiving is coming and I can hardly wait!

What are your plans? Going somewhere or hosting at your house?

This year is at my husband's grandparents' house, but Lance may not even be there.

He's been in WY for a week now and may not make it home by Thanksgiving.

Major sadness.

I'm praying he gets to come home.

So enjoy your loved ones and be thankful they are by your side this Thanksgiving. I hope my husband will be at my side.

I still plan on enjoying me some yummy food, that's for sure!

Here is this week's most viewed recipe...

Cinnabon Sugar Cookies

from Inside BruCrew Life

Other Faves...

Pumkin Streusel Pudding Cookies

from Dessert Now, Dinner Later

Taco Pizza

from Life as a Lofthouse

The Absolute Best Chicken Lasagna

from It's My Life, Storm

Be sure to grab a button if you were featured!

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Applesauce Crumb Cake with Cinnamon

Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake #glutenfree #cake

Cake lovers unite. Skip the pie. An apple pie spiced cake!

Coffee Cake to the Rescue

Knee deep in book boxes, I decided to bake a cake. Because trying to wrestle gluten-free pie dough for an apple pie just seemed too fussy. Too complicated. Though in all honesty, that isn't the whole, unvarnished truth. The whole, unvarnished truth is, Yours Truly is more of a cake person than a pie person (downright blasphemy this time of year, I realize, as Thanksgiving looms large). But yeah. It's true. Pies have their charm. I've been known to inhale a slice or two of apple pie in my day. But here's the thing.

And I'm going to be blunt.

Gluten-free pastry crust is simply not as flaky and tender and melt-in-your-mouth wonderful as wheat pastry crust. There. I said it. Fighting words, to some. And if you are among those true believers feel free to disagree. And go eat your gluten-free pie. I bless you with a thousand sprinkles of pie fairy dust. With love. And kisses.

And pink ponies.

Respectfully.

Gluten, you see, is more than a pesky protein with a bad rep. Gluten is what makes pastry dough soft, flaky and tender. Gluten is what inspired bakers to bake all those years ago, firing up their hand-hewn brick-lined ovens. Gluten was their muse. Their seductive mistress. Gluten took them beyond three ingredient pancakes and palm-tossed flatbreads. Gluten fed their imagination. Inspired tarts, baklava, cupcakes. Napoleons.

And yes.

Apple pie.

Because gluten is a magical ingredient (despite its bad press these days).

We have to admit it. She's not an easy paramour to replace.

Perhaps some day soon I'll be tempted to experiment with a gluten-free pastry dough. I'll be lured into believing I can recreate such delicate, fragile beauty. But not today. If I do crave pie I'll bake this no apology necessary Apple Crisp and serve it warm with a snowy scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. Or this vegan Pumpkin Pie with Coconut-Pecan Crust.

And for breakfast, I'll eat cake.

Applesauce cake.

Right now, I can live with that.

Read more + get the recipe >>

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Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

I actually liked school lunch. Back in the day when you got full and didn't come home starving.

Like today. I look at my daughter's lunch menu and think, "Really? You are supposed to get through your day of school and recess on that?" I get kids need to be healthier and all that, but why can't they be full, too? Now my son's school has 9 kids in it and their lunches are much better. It is still a public school, but it's rural where we are so there aren't many kids from K-3 grade out here. After 3rd grade they get bussed 30 miles into town for 4th through 12th grades. His lunch is homemade. Homemade, people. It's like going to your grandma's house for lunch everyday. Homemade mashed potatoes, not flakes. Homemade rolls. The works. It's awesome. When there is only a small amount of children to cook for, you can do homemade.

Like I said, I liked my school lunch. Especially the desserts {which schools don't do anymore because of some law from the White House. Lame.}

Like these bars. Oh. My.

Do you remember these?

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups oats*
2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

additional 1 1/2 cups peanut butter

How You Do It

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and combine. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Spread dough on a greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1"). Make at 350 degrees for 15 minutes (until golden brown). While hot spread 1 1/2 cups peanut butter on top. Cool so that the peanut butter has become solid again. You canI put them in the fridge so they set up faster. Spread your favorite chocolate frosting on top and cut into bars.

Chocolate Frosting1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1-2 tsp vanilla (depending on your taste)
4 Tablespoons cocoa
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth and spread on top of bars.

Notes: The original recipe that I used from Six Sisters' Stuff said not to use quick oats. I am not sure why, but I used quick because that's what I had and they turned out just delicious.

Also, I am not awesome at following directions and left off the additional topping of peanut butter. Next time I will add it. I also put the frosting on while the bars were still warm which melted the frosting, but then it set and tasted just scruptious. Next time I will make it like the directions above said. Just to see what happens.

They still turned out absolutely divine.

And brought back memories of yummy school lunches.

Printable Version

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Chinet Bakeware Giveaway

This giveaway is closed.
The winner is Mandy B. I emailed you!
I have a great giveaway with Chinet Bakeware coming at you.

I love this product. They are disposable but prettier than those aluminum kind.

As many of you are gearing up for holiday baking, some Chinet Bakeware may come in handy for this time of year.

To see my review of these fabulous pans, click here.

One of you will win your own set containing all four sizes.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what holiday treats or dishes you love making. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you.

Giveaway ends November 15th.

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Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing with Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

Maple Roasted Acorn Squash Two Ways- Stuffed + Unstuffed (Cornbread Stuffing)

While we're all adjusting to turning the clocks back (excuse me while I yawn), I thought I'd reprise two Thanksgiving friendly recipes today. Both recipes are redolent with old fashioned autumnal goodness. Warm and subtle spices. Maple. Apple. It doesn't get any comfy-cozier.

First up is an easy, favorite side dish of mine- maple roasted acorn squash (and it's vegan, therefore perfect for those of you sharing your humble meal with vegetarian and dairy-free guests). The second dish is one of my oldest tried and true recipes.

It is from my very first Thanksgiving as a married woman, in fact.

We won't discuss how long ago that was, Darling, but I will admit it was way back with Husband Number #1 (it being first and all). I was anxious to do it up with style on my first Thanksgiving (as any blushing bride would be) and had the sudden inspiration to use cornbread and apples as a stuffing instead of the traditional- and familial on both sides- bagged white bread and sage dressing. And then I added curry.

Maybe that's when they began to notice I wasn't exactly a dyed-in-the-wool Pilgrim-esque kind of girl.

I'm not at all certain Husband #1 cared for it.

Husband #2 is a huge cornbread fan. And a curry fan.

Coincidence?

Read more + get the recipe >>

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