Aw, nuts! As in aw, nuts. As in I'm nutty. As in I'm nuts for you guys. As in... let's just make these nuts already, eh? Spicy, sweet, salty, and totally addictive, these nuts will become an instant necessity in your holiday food arsenal. You will dream about these. Years ago (and we won't say how many because I might be having an aging crisis), a friend brought these to an event that I organized at the office*. Let's just say that these didn't make it past my desk to the buffet table. They stayed with me. And my friend wasn't allowed to pass the desk until he jotted down the recipe for me. Because I'm just that kind View Post
Spicy Glazed Nut Mix: Foodie Gift #21
Okay, we're getting down to the finish line here, and if you are like me, you have found that you have missed a couple of folks you wish to gift, and today is NOT a day you want to spend going shopping. So, you have to take a look at what is left from all the cooking, baking and preparing you've done so far and see what is left. This recipe is great for all those leftover nuts that you may have on hand from preparing various cookies and candies, and is very flexible regarding the mix of nuts you can use. AND it's darn good as well! I know I found it on the web, but for once I have not remembered to keep the site info, so my apologies View Post
Last Minute Quick Breads: Foodie Gifts 18# and #19
They don't call them quick breads for nothin'! Here are a couple of recipes I've used to great acclaim over the years, and my source for these is my mother--a great baker in her own right. These two breads in particular have been appreciated as Christmas gifts by my own family, and I just shipped a batch of them out--they are very good travelers, and keep wonderfully moist for a long time. So if you are looking for a couple more quick gifts, these may serve! Dawn's Applesauce Bread 1/2 c. shortening or butter, or half and half of each 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 t. vanilla 2 cups flour 1 t. baking powder 1 t. View Post
Homemade Nut Butters: Foodie Gift #12
Nutella was only the beginning....I've made homemade peanut butter for some time now -- I buy 30 pound bags of Valencia peanuts and our PB is cheaper and fresher and better than what we could find at the store. It is good, quick and easy, and while I've made foods that incorporated pulverized cashews, almonds, pecans, etc., I don't remember making just plain nut butters out of these. So, today was the day. First, I have to say that except for the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through the house, the smell of browned nuts can't be beat--something about that toasting and browning process that seems to bring the best out of so many View Post