Food
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Aebleskivers – Scandinavian Pastry
Growing up, Aebleskivers were a staple on Christmas morning. We’d have Aebleskivers, scrambled eggs, and either sausage or bacon. Since I became an adult and am now responsible for Christmas morning breakfast, I quickly realized just how time consuming Aebleskivers are. So we’ve changed this Norwegian family tradition to suit our timeline. We have them for Christmas Eve breakfast and then again for New Year’s Eve breakfast. Aebleskivers are essentially pancake balls made in a semi-odd shaped cast iron skillet. Some times people like to fill the pastry balls with fresh fruit or fruit jam, we like to keep it simple; plain Aebleskivers served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar…
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Cutout Sugar Cookies – Minimal Spread
One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard about making cutout sugar cookies is that the dough spreads as it bakes. This is always due to the leavening ingredient – ie: baking soda, baking powder, eggs; these are all examples of types of leavening agents. While I have attempted MANY times to create an edible sugar cookie recipe without any leavening ingredient at all; but I have not been successful. Thus, I have a cutout sugar cookie recipe for you that has very minimal spread. The dough doesn’t spread out, it only slightly puffs up and rounds the edges. Also, these sugar cookie cutouts are actually tasty and soft, but not…
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Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Salty and sweet is definitely one of my favorite flavor combinations and this recipe is possibly the easiest ever, three ingredients, no mixing, and only 2 minutes baking. With how easy this recipe is, I’m not entirely sure it can be called a recipe. Still, it is super tasty and festive for the holiday season. If you want to make these any other time than around the holidays, just substitute the m&ms for pecan halves. If you are not a fan of caramel, you can total substitute the Rolos for another chocolate candy, a Hershey Kiss or a mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. The key with these pretzel turtles is…
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Hot Cocoa Cake Pops
I have been wanting to add to the collection of cakepop recipes already on this blog, and I knew holiday baking would be a perfect time do to so. When trying to decide on the cake pop flavor, I knew I wanted to have chocolate and marshmallow, so that’s when hot cocoa cake pops popped into my head. One major thing about cake pops is that they look A LOT more complicated than they actually are. If you want to really impress people with your holiday baking, then cake pops are the one. While there are cake pop silicone baking gadgets, I’ve always just used a good o’le cookie scoop.…
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Julekake – Norwegian Fruitcake.
It’s no secret that I have plenty of Scandinavian heritage in my family tree. Lefse and aeblskeivers have been typical meals in my family since I can remember. This Christmas though, I wanted to branch out with other holiday type foods…explore some more of the food aspect of a part of my heritage. That’s when I came across julekake, Scandinavian version of fruitcake. Now I know…traditional fruitcake is in the same category as cilantro…either you love it, or you loath it. I am definitely of the loath it persuasion. That being said, when I came across julekake, I realized the only thing it has in common with the well known…
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Holiday Spritz Cookies
I am back at you all with 12 Days of Holiday Baking. Last year was my first year of taking on the project, 12 different recipes, 12 different blog posts, 12 different baked goodies, and lots…lots…LOTS of kitchen messes, flour, sugar, and fun with my kiddos. One request I had for this year’s holiday baking was to add in some recipes that are simple and quick, so here is my first baked goodie that falls into that category. Spritz cookies are like if sugar cut out cookies and shortbread cookies had a baby. They have the flavors of both, and they are in fun shapes; BUT the hassle of making…
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Copycat Olive Garden Creamy Gnocchi Soup
Can I tell you a secret? The day that Olive Garden came out with their soup, salad, and breadsticks combo I just about died and went to heaven. There are very few things that are more comforting and fulfilling during the fall season than a tasty soup, garlicky carbs, and a salad on the side. One of my favorite’s has to be hands down OG’s Chicken Gnocchi soup. The creamy texture combined with fresh vegetables and the pillowy goodness of the gnocchi, just the perfect combination of flavors and textures. I’ve been wanted to create my version if this soup for a long while now, but was stuck on feeling…
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Harvest Peach Freezer Jam
I love this time of year with all of the colors and the many tasty fruits and vegetables that are ready for harvest. Not only do I love eating all the fresh produce, but I love to find ways to preserve the fruits and vegetables for consumption during the winter months. Canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, etc. all of these are wonderful ways to preserve foods from harvest for use later on in the year. One of my most favorite ways to preserve fresh fruits is to make freezer jam. It doesn’t require any special equipment, like a pressure cooker for canning, and only needs 3 to 4 ingredients to make.…
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Harvest Maple Peach Cake
There are specific flavors in my mind that I associate with autumn. Of course, apple, caramel, pumpkin, cinnamon, and pecan…but some of my favorites have to be maple and peach flavors, especially when they are combined in a delicious dessert. Since I dove head first into adding myself into a massive peach delivery from an orchard out of state, and decided I needed 40lbs of peaches in my life all at once, I knew I needed to be prepared for all sorts of recipe ideas before the peaches became too ripe. My first recipe was this sheet cake. It’s super easy to create and a crowd pleaser for sure. A…
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Cran-Apple Harvest Salad
Fall season maybe just around the corner, but here in Las Vegas the 100º+ weather doesn’t agree. Finding recipes that fill my need for harvest season foods while not overheating myself spending too much time in front of a hot stove. This quinoa fruit and vegetable filled salad definitely fits that harvest food spot. Add in some grilled chicken and it goes from being a side salad to a main dish. If you aren’t a fan of some of the fruits or vegetables I have added to my salad, then exchange them for some in-season produce that you love. Orange slices, dried apricots, raisins, pears, carrots…all of these would be…
