Rosemary and Pomegranate Gin Cocktail by Heather

With its red and green ingredients, this gin cocktail is the perfect festive drink to make while celebrating the holidays with friends and family!

Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
Gin of choice (we used Tanqueray, but Hendricks or Bulldog gin would also be good)
Club soda
POM pomegranate juice
Cranberries for garnish (optional)
Rosemary sprigs

First, make the simple syrup.  Combine the sugar, water, and rosemary in a small sauce pan over medium heat and stir until all sugar has been dissolved.  You don't want the syrup to boil, so make sure to watch it closely.  Set aside and wait until the syrup has cooled, then remove the rosemary sprig.

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 shot glass full of gin and about 3/4 of a shot glass of simple syrup with a few ice cubes (you can use less of the simple syrup if you don't like your drink to be too sweet).  Shake for about 30 seconds or until all ingredients are combined.  Pour the contents into a cocktail glass with ice.  Top off club soda and pomegranate juice and garnish with rosemary and cranberries.  Cheers!

Classic Gingerbread by Rachel

Cookies have taken over the blog!  What's a holiday cookie care package without your classic gingerbread. I've always love gingerbread, but had never tried to make it.  After making it, I've definitely learned to appreciate it a lot more.  The work and time it takes to cut out each little man perfectly is something I had severely underestimated!

And you know what else?  The dough is REALLY sticky.  BUT!  Despite these nit-picky little things, gingerbread is, indeed, delicious and is a must-have for a holiday cookie melange!

Ingredients

1 stick of butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup of molasses
2 3/4 cup all purpose flour (plus extra when you are ready to roll out your dough)
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp of salt

makes about 3 dozen thin gingerbread men

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Trees by Rachel

'Tis the season!!  Having a cookie exchange?  Need to make some cookies for friends?  Well, have I got the cookie for you!

I'm putting together a cookie care package for some of my nearest and dearest friends and I knew I had to include a shortbread, but I wanted something that wouldn't be too sweet to balance out the other cookies that I plan to include.  I had lemons and rosemary in the fridge and thought, "why not?"

Ingredients

2 sticks of butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 tbsp fresh, chopped rosemary

1 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 lemon)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 cups flour

makes about 30 cookies

Tomato Cobbler by Rachel

So much energy goes into make the holiday entree that sometimes the side dishes are forgotten.  If you're looking for something easy and new to serve at your holiday dinner this year, try this easy recipe for tomato cobbler!

It's a warm and festive dish to serve for the holidays with the bright color of the tomatoes and the toasty-ness of the biscuits on top.  Without further ado...!

Inspired by Joy The Baker

Ingredients

Filling

1 large onion, diced

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, diced.
2-3 pints of grape or cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
1 tbsp fresh, chopped basil

3 tbsp flour
3 large pinches of salt
black pepper to taste

My Dad's Lamb Chops by Rachel

A great meat for a holiday dish if you want to do something a little different is lamb.  When I went home for Thanksgiving, my dad made a delicious lamb chop dish and I'm not even a lamb person.  I'm very sensitive to gamey tasting meats, but my dad's recipe eliminated a lot of that taste from the lamb chops.  They were tender and very yummy!

I made these for a holiday party with my friends and they were a huge hit, so these will definitely be going into my recipe book for life.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs of lamb chops, frenched
2 tbsps / 6 sprigs of rosemary (it's really however much you want, but don't go too overboard, otherwise your food will taste like Christmas trees...)
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp agave

+extra soy sauce used during cooking

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies by Heather

Brandon and I make these cookies every Christmas.  They're really chocolate-y and have an unexpected spiciness to them.  This recipe is adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup high quality unsweetened cocoa powder 

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. coarse salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

2 large eggs

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp chipotle chile powder

Truffled Mushroom Risotto with Gruyere by Heather

It was a snowy evening in NYC, so I wanted to make something warm and hearty, and this risotto does the trick.  It takes some work to make risotto, but the end product is definitely worth it.   It definitely helps if you have somebody that can help you stir!

Ingredients:
1 lb. arborio rice
3 tbs. olive oil
2 32 fl. oz cartons chicken stock
13 fl. oz marsala wine
7 oz (2 packages) shiitake mushrooms or assorted mushrooms, diced
1 onion, diced
3 sage leaves, minced
1 spring rosemary, minced
.3 lb shredded gruyere cheese
.1 lb shredded mozzarrella
truffle oil for drizzling
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Kale Caesar Salad by Heather

This Ceasar salad is based on a similar salad I had a couple of months ago at Il Buco.  The key to making any simple salad exceptional is to use high quality ingredients.

Ingredients:
1/2 loaf of day old bread (I used a rosemary sourdough boule)
1 salad container of assorted kale
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 anchovies in olive oil, minced
Parmigiano Regiano shaved into strips
3 tbs. olive oil, plus more for drizzling
juice from one lemon
sprinkle red pepper flakes
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Greek yogurt
1 tsp dijon
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lb shrimp, defrosted and peeled

Cut bread into large cubes, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle liberally with olive oil, salt and pepper, and 1 of the cloves of minced garlic.  Bake in oven at 375 for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Heat a medium saute pan with olive oil and a little garlic.  Add shrimp with salt and pepper, and sauté until pink.

To make the dressing, combine the rest of the garlic cloves, 3 tbs. olive oil, lemon juice, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, dijon, Greek yogurt, and salt and pepper into a small jar and shake to combine.

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl until kale is coated with dressing.

Shrimp and Spinach Wontons by Heather

These wontons look like they are hard to make, but they're actually quite easy.  If you wanted to make these vegetarian, you could easily swap the shrimp with sautéed shiitake mushrooms.

Ingredients:

Dipping Sauce:
3 tbs. soy sauce
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. rice vinegar
1 scallion, chopped
1/8 tsp. granulated sugar
dash red pepper flakes

Wontons:
1 package wonton wrappers (you can choose square or circular; these are normally in the refrigerated section of the grocery store near the tofu)
15 uncooked shrimp defrosted, shelled, and chopped
2 scallions, chopped
2 tbs. cilantro
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. rice vinegar
1 small nub fresh ginger, grated
1 cup chopped spinach
salt and pepper to taste

Dark Chocolate Ganache and Hazelnut Praline Tart by Rachel

The reason why I love baking so much is because you can create such beautiful desserts if you put your mind to it.  Of all the desserts I've made, tarts are my favorite.  I love the way that tarts look they are really a very easy dessert to make.  Don't get scared off by having to make your own crust- you can do it!

I went home to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and my mom gave me a ton of Lindt chocolate that she happened to have (not sure why...), but I took it and turned it into a beautiful tart!  

Ingredients 

For the chocolate crust (8 inch tart pan)

10 tbsp unsalted butter

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder

1 egg

1 tbsp ice water

Special Ingredient: Potato and Crab Croquettes with Sweet and Spicy Aioli by Rachel

After thinking long and hard about an ingredient to feature in December, Heather and I decided that we would feature potatoes.  They are a starch used in so many foods and I wanted to pair them with something that people might not usually think to pair potatoes with.  I chose crab meat.

Boring, old potatoes?  I think not!

Crab meat is such a delicate thing and potatoes are so heavy, but when brought together in a nice and crispy croquette, they are unforgettable. I had friends in town from LA (my dear friend, the Skinny Critic and her fiancé) as well as my fiancé's brother.  I wanted them to have a really special dinner with us so I made these croquettes as an appetizer.

Ingredients

makes about 24 croquettes

3 large russet potatoes
1 pinch of salt
2 tbsp heavy cream
16 oz of canned crab meat (lump)
1 tbsp paprika
1 bag of panko bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Canola oil

Fauxnuts by Rachel

If you haven't heard already, the croissant-donut hybrid has been making headlines and has taken over the throne for trendiest dessert of the moment (from the cupcake, obvi).  So clearly, I had to try to make them on my own just to see what all the fuss was about.  In New York, people have been standing in line for hours at Dominique Ansel Bakery, the bakery that created the Cronut, just to get one.

I don't know about you guys out there, but I don't have time to be standing in line for desserts!  That meant my only option was to try to create a version at home.  I've had a few tasters that have tried the real thing taste my fauxnuts and they've said that I'm pretty close which I take great pride in!  Because the Cronut name is trademarked, mine are fauxnuts. :)

Without further ado, here's the recipe I used- be warned that to make this, you'll need to start about 2 days in advance.  The dough recipe was inspired by Top With Cinnamon:

Ingredients

1 cup cold milk (I used whole milk)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
3 1/2 cup all purpose flour, extra for dusting your surface to roll out the dough
1 tsp salt
1 cup + 2tbsp butter, very cold
Corn oil for frying

For the sugar coating
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

For the glaze
3 tbsp water
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Oyster Stuffing by Heather

My mom makes this stuffing every year for Thanksgiving, and in my opinion, its the best stuffing.  It's an old recipe that I'm pretty sure comes from a Betty Crocker cookbook, and sometimes the best recipes are the ones we grew up with.

Ingredients:
1 loaf of bread (I used a whole wheat sourdough boule), cubed
5 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, diced
3 sprigs thyme
5 leaves sage, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbs. butter, cut into small pieces
2 cans of fresh oysters, drained and chopped (these aren't the smoked variety; you can normally find them near the seafood counter of the grocery store)
1/4 cup chicken stock

Combine all ingredients except for butter and chicken stock in a bowl and mix to combine.  Pour mixture into baking dish.  Pour chicken stock over the stuffing, and then top with pieces of butter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  If stuffing starts to get too brown, cover with foil.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto by Heather

Here's an idea for a really easy side dish.  It's great at Thanksgiving or really with any fall meal.

Ingredients:
1 carton brussels sprouts, bottom part and outer leaves removed, and quartered
3 sheets prosciutto
1 garlic clove, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 tbs. lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbs. olive oil

Place brussels sprouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, garlic, shallot, and olive oil, and combine with your hands. Tear prosciutto into small pieces and place on top of Brussels.

Roast in oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, shaking tray half way through.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with more salt and lemon juice.

Roasted Cornish Game Hens by Heather

Brandon and I are going to Ireland, but we still wanted to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.  Since it was just the two of us, I decided to make Cornish game hens.  They're really easy to make, and they always turn out juicy.  I also made oyster stuffing, truffle mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts with prosciutto, and I'll be posting those recipes over the next couple of days.

Ingredients:
2 cornish game hens
1 tbs. butter
1 lemon, quartered
1 clove garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
2 tbs. mixture of chopped herbs such as sage, rosemary, and thyme
2 tbs. olive oil
1/4 cup wine or chicken broth

Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Oil by Heather

This is a recipe I turn to when I want something quick and fresh.  The lemon and arugula in this recipe really lighten and brighten the flavors.  This is a recipe adapted from Giada de Laurentiis.

Ingredients:

Lemon Oil:

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

zest of 1 lemon

For the Pasta:

1 lb. linguine

2 tbs. olive oil

2 shallots, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

zest of 1 lemon

1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)

1 lb. shrimp, deveined, and tails removed

1/4 cup white wine

3 heaping cups arugula

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

sprinkle red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

grated parmesan to sprinkle on top 

Mushroom Lasagna by Heather

This is a very versatile dish.  You can really add whatever mushrooms and cheese you like.  I decided to use portobello and chantrelle mushrooms, but any mushrooms with an earthy flavor would work.  I found a great truffle gouda at Whole Foods, which I sprinkled on top of the lasagna to finish the dish.  Instead of a red sauce, you could certainly add a cream sauce if you wanted the mushroom flavor to really stand out.

Ingredients:
1 box no boil lasagna sheets
2 shallots, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbs. olive oil
1/4 cup white or red wine (I used red)
1 lb assorted mushrooms, chopped
1-2 tbs. minced rosemary
1-2 tbs. minced sage
1 28 oz. can crushed tomato
8 oz. container goat ricotta
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed, and squeezed of excess water
pinch of nutmeg
8 oz. shredded parmesan cheese
4 oz. shredded truffle gouda

Special Ingredient: Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta Pizza by Rachel

Brussels sprouts get such a bad rep because sometimes they can taste a little bitter if not cooked through enough.  Well, I'm here to tell you that they make an excellent pizza topping.  Pair them with a little pancetta and they are wonderful!  

Pizza is not an easy food to make so if you are going to embark on this journey, give yourself time and be prepared to work.

The recipe below makes about 2 pizzas that are a little larger than personal pan size.

Pizza dough recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients for the One Day Pizza Dough:
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup + 2-3 tbsp water

Soft Center Chocolate Cookies by Rachel

For my dear friend, Dana-

I know you love sweets.  You are one of my favorite people to cook for because the smile you get when you taste my food is so gratifying to me.  So, it's probably no surprise to you that I decided to make you a little something special from my kitchen on your special day.  May the next year be extremely happy for you- filled with hugs and kisses from all the people that you love and all the people that love you.  Happy, happy birthday to you!!  :)

xo,
Rachel

Ingredients:
 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
10 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Caramel sauce (recipe found here)

Bourbon Cider Cocktail by Heather

Last night, Brandon and I came up with a very easy fall cocktail.  This drink is great because it requires very few ingredients, but looks festive.

Ingredients:
(makes 1 drink)
2 jiggers bourbon
2 jiggers spiced apple cider
1 tbs. lemon juice
grated fresh ginger to taste
large ice cube
cinnamon stick for garnish

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker with one ice cube and shake shake shake!

Pour into cocktail glass with large ice cube and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Mushroom Toast by Heather

Sometimes the best meals come about by cleaning out the fridge.  Last night, I had a bunch of shiitake mushrooms, some bread, and a lot of cheese, so I decided to make mushroom toast.  The best mushroom toast I've had is in Venice, CA at Gjelina, and this is my take.

This recipe is very versatile.  If you don't have all the ingredients below, you can substitute for whatever you have in your fridge.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. shiitake mushrooms, rubbed clean with a lightly damp paper towel, and roughly chopped
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. cider vinegar (any type of vinegar will do)
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup ricotta (you could also use greek yogurt)
1/3 cup milk (can be any kind- obviously the higher the fat, the more creamy this will be)
1/4 cup feta (you could also use goat cheese)
truffle salt to taste (you could also use truffle oil)
1 tbs, parsley or chives
loaf of bread, cut into slices and toasted or grilled- I used a rosemary sourdough boule

Spicy Roasted Tomato Soup by Rachel

Brrr!  It's starting to get chilly in NYC!  For some people, their most comforting soup might be chicken noodle, but mine is definitely a nice, creamy tomato soup.  I found a recipe that sound delicious with roasted garlic so I tried it.  It was lovely.  I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Recipe inspired by A Mummy Too

Ingredients:

4 large tomatoes

About 3-4 tbsp olive oil

1 can chicken stock

1 bulb of garlic

1 Fresno pepper (or any other hot pepper, just depends on how spicy you want your soup)

2 tbsp heavy cream

2 tbsp cheddar

salt and pepper to taste

Greek yogurt to taste

Pancetta and Cheese Gougères by Rachel

Choux (pronouced "shoo") pastry can seem like a daunting thing to make (because it's all french and fancy), but it's actually really easy and if you've made it right once, you can make it right every time after that.  Choux pastry is what is used to make cream puffs and eclairs.  I had a hankering for the light and fluffy pastry, but I wanted a savory version, so I went for a smoky cheddar and pancetta version.  Hence, the gougère.

I think I might have overdone it with the cheese (though can one every really overdo it with cheese?), so they didn't puff as much as other times I've made them, but I made them to go with soup, so they turned out to be just the right consistency for me.

Ingredients
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs (though you may not need all of the eggs)
3/4 cup smoked cheddar
1 tbsp chives diced
3 slices of pancetta, diced

Lentil Meatballs with Lemon Pesto by Heather

This has to be one of my favorite recipes.  There's actually no meat in these meatballs, just lentils and cheese, but you won't miss the meat.  Lentils are a somewhat recent discovery for me- I always thought they would be bland and dry, but they're so tasty!   This is another recipe adapted from Sprouted Kitchen- I love Sara's recipes.  They're always packed full of flavor and healthy without making you feel like you're missing out on anything.  I hope you will enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
1 cup lentils (I use brown lentils)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup ricotta (use whole milk or goats milk)
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 Cup Breadcrumbs (use fresh breadcrumbs if you can find them)

Lemon Pesto Sauce:
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or toasted almonds
Zest and juice of two lemons
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups basil leaves
1/4 - 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
2-4 Tbs. water to thin if necessary

Pan Roasted Bok Choy by Rachel

As mentioned in my Harissa Soy Rub Steak post, I made some wonderful sides to go with my flavorful beef.  One of those sides would also make a healthy additional your Thanksgiving sides, too.  I made pan roasted bok choy.  This can probably be done with baby bok choy as well, but I used the full-size ones.

The recipe is really easy and takes less than 20 minutes, in total, to prepare, so it's great if you need to add something quick to a meal.  If your a vegetarian, bok choy is also a pretty hearty, yet juicy vegetable.  Clearly, I'm a fan.

Ingredients
2 large bok choy
1 egg
3 tbsp oyster sauce
1/8 tsp fish sauce
Sriracha, to taste
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp olive oil

Earl Grey Tea Cake with Lemon Buttercream by Rachel

Another week, another cake!

I went down to DC to visit family this weekend and we were invited to a birthday party.  Not wanting to go empty handed, I decided to give the gift of food, so I baked a cake.

I wanted to make a cake with a unique and delicate flavor and I didn't want to just make vanilla cake (though nothing is wrong with a good, vanilla cake).  I remembered having earl grey ice cream for the first time this summer for the Van Leewen Ice Cream Truck and I loved the flavor.  It was gentle, but not flowery.  So I settled on flavoring my cake with the tea.

Ingredients for the cake
5 teabags of early grey tea
3/4 cup whole milk
2 tbsp sugar

1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1 tbsp lemon zest (about half a lemon)

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Harissa Soy Rub Steak by Rachel

Now that the weather is getting chillier, I find myself wanting hearty meals, which is what brought me to the harissa spice.  I had picked up the harissa when I was visiting Turkey in the spring and I'm glad that I bought it.  Harissa is really a versatile spice and can be used on a variety of meats and root vegetables. Harissa rub steak isn't a new concept, but mine has a little bit of an asian twist.

Ingredients

2 hanger steaks, 1/2 lb each
1tbsp harissa
1 tbsp red chili flakes
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp roasted glutinous rice powder

Quinoa with Pomegranate and Spinach by Heather

Yesterday, I posted a recipe for a very decadent Thanksgiving side.  Today, I'm offering up a lighter side that's easy to prepare and very festive.  I also turn to this dish when I need an easy weeknight side that can be served along something like  miso-soy glazed salmon.

Ingredients:
1 cup dry quinoa
2 cups water
1 box frozen spinach
juice of 2 lemons
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (make it easy on yourself and just get a carton of the seeds so that you don't have to de-seed a pomegranate yourself)
1 Tbs. basil infused olive oil (if you don't have this, regular olive oil and a few basil leaves will work)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer, cooking for about 15-20 minutes, covered, until quinoa is fluffy.

While the quinoa cooks, defrost the spinach and add to a bowl.  Combine rest of ingredients in bowl, then add cooked quinoa.  Easy as that!

Kale Crisps by Rachel

Kale is a deliciously hearty vegetable that can be used in juices, salads, as a side dish...the list goes on!  Something else that's great about kale is that it can be toasted to become the perfect thing to fulfill your craving for a crispy snack!

I'm totally guilty of wanting to snack all the time and, despite the efforts of the snack world to create healthy chips, they aren't always as "healthy" as they say they are.  Kale crisps, on the other hand, are a healthy snack that you can make at home and it takes very little time.

Ingredients:
As much kale as you want!
1 tbsp of olive oil per cup of kale
Salt, to taste

Optional: Parmesan cheese, Old Bay Seasoning, Paprika, etc

Special Ingredient: Brussels Sprout Gratin by Heather

This month, our special ingredient is brussels sprouts.  I've featured them in a gratin that would make a great side at Thanksgiving.  This recipe is definitely heavy on the cheese, so it's guaranteed to win over any one that says they don't like brussels!  This recipe is adapted from Bon Appetit- I added Stilton to the cheese mixture, and it adds a sharp bite that helps cut through the density of all the cream in this dish.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed, and quartered
1 1/2 pound head cauliflower, trimmed, and cut into small florets
2 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped shallots (about 2 large shallots)
1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 lb. stilton or any other blue cheese you prefer

Faux Cream Cheese Frosting and Salted Caramel by Rachel

If you've embarked on making the Spiced Apple Cake and want to fancy it up, you can definitely frost it with your standard buttercream frosting.  I frosted mine with a slightly healthier faux cream cheese frosting and homemade salted caramel.

From this boring cake...

To this yummy creation!

The faux cream cheese frosting is a little lighter and fluffier than your average frosting because I didn't want to weigh down the spiced apple cake since it's a denser type of cake.  It's "faux" because it doesn't actually use any cream cheese.  It uses Greek yogurt and tastes so good with this cake.

Spiced Apple Cake by Rachel

Growing up, I really enjoyed making apple pies.  Even today, I still love making apple pies.  But on this particular day, I was lazy and didn't feel like making a pie crust.  So there.

That's what brought me to making a spiced apple cake.  With apples being so deliciously in season right now, I made my way to a farmer's market and scooped up some Newton Pippon apples, which are perfect for an apple cake.  They're tart just like a Granny Smith, but a little sweeter on the finish.  Perfect for my cake recipe.

Ingredients
2 large Newton Pippon apples, peeled, cored, and cut into large bits
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

1 stick of unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1pinch of allspice
1 tbsp superfine sugar
7 oz of 2% Greek yogurt (I used Fage)
1 tbsp olive oil

Sunday Bolognese by Heather

When it gets colder out, Brandon and I make Bolognese every other week.  It's easy to make, and great for a cozy Sunday dinner.  This is a slightly more fancier version of a Bolognese, as it adds some pancetta and fresh tagliatelle from Eataly.   You certainly don't have to get your ingredients at Eataly, but it is nice if you can get fresh noodles.

Ingredients:

1 lb. mixture of ground pork, beef, and veal
1 lb. fresh tagliatelle pasta
5 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced
28 oz basil tomato sauce
1/4 cup diced pancetta
1/4 lb. assorted chopped mushrooms such as oyster and chanterelle
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. rosemary, minced
Red pepper flakes to taste
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup milk
1 1/4 cup red wine
Grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling
1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
Black pepper to taste

 We chose a pound of the "meatball" mix, which is a mixture of pork, beef, and veal.

It's best to choose an uncured pancetta.  You'll need to dice it, so it's best to get the rounded pancetta and have them slice it 1/4 inch thick.

Summer Rolls by Rachel

Summer's come and gone and so have my summer rolls!  Bad pun, I know, but that doesn't make my summer rolls any less tasty and the recipe is extremely easy.  You can really put whatever you want into a summer roll, but here's the recipe that I go back to time and time again.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb of beef or pork (totally up to you)
1/2 cup cilantro, torn or chopped coarsely
1/4 scallions, diced
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup of soaked cellophane noodles
1/4 cup of toasted rice powder
1 package of Vietnamese rice paper

Chili Roasted Tofu with Minted Quinoa Relish by Heather

I wanted to share this easy weeknight dinner.  It's light and healthy, and only takes about 45 minutes from start to finish to make.  This recipe is from Sprouted Kitchen (one of my go to recipe sources) and this was actually the first time I've made this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 14 oz. pack extra firm tofu, drained and pressed in paper towel
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 tsp. chili powder
pinch smoked paprika or chipotle
2 tsp. maple syrup or honey
1 tbs. orange juice
1 tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt

1 pomegranate (just buy the arils)
1 shallot, finely minced
zest of 1 orange
2 tbs. chopped mint leaves
salt and pepper to taste
1 avocado, diced
Sriracha to taste

Wrap tofu in paper towel and place between two plates.  Rest a couple heavy objects on the top plate to help remove any excess liquid from the tofu.  Keep the tofu pressed for at least 10 minutes.

Cook the quinoa according to package directions.  Typically, the instructions call for 1 cup of quinoa, 2 cups of water.  Bring the quinoa to a boil, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until quinoa is fluffy and all water is absorbed.

While the quinoa cooks, make the chili marinade.  Combine the chili powder, paprika or chipotle powder, maple syrup, orange juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl and whisk until combined.

Green Tea Poached Salmon with Soba by Heather

On days when I want to eat healthy, but want to feel indulgent, I turn to this recipe.  I make salmon at least once a week and I love its versatility.  Don't be worried about poaching the salmon here.  It's actually quite easy.

This recipe was adapted from Sprouted Kitchen, and I've made only minor tweaks to the recipe.

Ingredients:

For the sauce:
2 tbs. sesame oil
2 tbs. tahini
2 tbs. honey
Juice and zest of 1 lime
3 tbs. soy sauce
1 inch piece of ginger, grated

For the salmon:
3 bags green tea
1 tbs. whole black peppercorns
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 8 oz. salmon filet

1 package soba noodles
1 bunch broccolini or broccoli, chopped
2 tbs. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced

Garnish:
2 green onions, cut on the diagonal
black or white sesame seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Whisk sauce ingredients into a bowl and set aside.

Combine broccolini, garlic, and olive oil on baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.  If you are in a hurry and need to save time, you can also microwave the broccoli in a microwave safe bowl with lid for 2 minutes.

In a medium sized sauce pan, bring 1 cup of water to a simmer.  Turn heat down to low and add tea bags and peppercorns, steep for 3 minutes, then remove and discard tea bags.  Add rice vinegar to the poaching liquid, then slide in the salmon, skin-side down.  Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, until salmon is just barely cooked in the middle.  Remove the salmon and set on a plate, and flake it into pieces with a fork.

Meanwhile, cook the soba according to package instructions.  Once the soba has been drained, divide the soba into individual bowls.  Top with sauce, broccolini, and salmon, then garnish.

Special Ingredient: Kabocha and Goat Cheese Empanadas by Heather

I decided to make empanadas with the special ingredient this month.  I wanted to create a dish that captured the flavors of fall and played on elements that were both salty and sweet.

In full disclosure, I don't do a lot of baking, so I was a little nervous to make these empanadas, but the dough recipe is basically fool-proof, and you can really add whatever ingredients you desire for the filling. I thought goat cheese would be a nice complement to the kabocha, but you could also try a blue cheese if you wanted to make these a little more daring.  The sweetness of these empanadas are balanced by the tanginess of a nicely aged, syrupy balsamic vinegar.  Using a good quality balsamic vinegar is really key to this recipe.  I used Olivier&Co's Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.

For the dough, I stuck to this recipe here: Give Me Flour

For the filling, I used the following ingredients:
1 kabocha squash, halved
1 sprig rosemary
3 sage leaves, chiffonade
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 log soft goat cheese
2-3 tbs. milk
2/3 cup vegetable stock
1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar, divided
spice mix: 2 parts cinnamon, 1 part chili powder, couple dashes of nutmeg
Egg wash: 1 egg white and 1 tbs. of water

To prep the squash, cut in half, and rub inside and out with olive oil.  Place squash cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.   Bake in over for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until you can easily insert a knife into the outside of the skin. When the squash bakes like this, it's called steaming.  Because the moisture within the squash is trapped inside, it allows the squash to cook more quickly.

While the squash cooks, prepare the dough and set aside into the fridge to cool.

As the squash cools, saute the onions with the herbs in olive oil until the onions are translucent and set aside.
Once the squash has cooled, remove from skin and cut into chunks, adding them to a food processor.  Add the onion mixture, vegetable stock, and most of the spice mixture to the food processor, and blend until all ingredients are smooth.  If the mixture looks a little dry, add the milk to add in some creaminess, then half of the balsamic vinegar and blend until combined.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the dough from the fridge and roll out into a thin sheet 1/8 in. thick on a floured surface.  Use a cookie cutter or any rounded object you have on hand to cut the dough into disks.

Spoon about a tablespoon of the squash mixture onto one side of each disk and as much goat cheese as desired, leaving about 1/4 in. room at the edges.

Fold the empanadas in half, then crimp edges together with a fork.

Repeat process until all empanadas have been filled, then brush with egg wash and sprinkle the remaining spice mixture on top for a bit of color.

Cook until empanadas are lightly browned on top, about 30 minutes.

Serve with a small dish of balsamic for dipping and enjoy!!

Special Ingredient: Kabocha Squash Croquettes by Rachel

Once a month, Heather and I decided that we would pick a seasonal ingredient and make something yummy with it.  This month, now that fall has settled in, we decided to pick kabocha squash.

I've turned my kabocha squash into tasty croquettes!  The recipe is really delicious and it makes a great appetizer.  I am a HUGE fan of the squash and I'm glad to have found a dish that makes the squash a star.

Croquettes do take a gentle hand and this was my first time making them.  I find that, with cooking, practice makes perfect.  Be gentle with these!  My first attempt came out pretty good!  Cradle them into the hot oil and watch them brown and in less than 8 minutes, you'll have crunchy croquettes!