Almond Joy (To The World) Cookies

Happiness and Joy is overflowing through the house.  Girls are overjoyed with all the sparkles and colors of the holiday season around us.  I even put my sweet little tree on my desk at work.  It just adds so much cheer to the environment. I mean really, how can you be in a bad mood, with Santa and twinkling lights by your side every day.  I'm tempted to keep it on my desk year round, just to continue the spirit each work week.

So, my practical joker daughter came running downstairs sharing that she made a video of Angus and Theo (the labradors) as dancing elves on the website JibJab.  I could not stop laughing after she showed it to me...it is hilarious to watch.  I love these custom cards you can do they are really good for a fun laugh.  Check out the boys and their dance moves.

JibJab

In an effort to continue spreading the joy around, I found this recipe on Pinterest during Halloween as a lead into candy treats.  These are delish, and really taste like the Almond Joy candy bars.

Almond Joy Cookies
Adapted from High Heels & Grills

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3 teas. vanilla
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teas. baking soda
• 1 teas. salt
• 4 cups chocolate chips
• 2 cups chopped almonds
• 2 cups coconut

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375*
2. Lightly grease cookie sheet or line with Silpat Baking Mat or Parchment Paper .
3. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. 
4. In a mixing bowl combine first 5 ingredients and mix. It best to use room temperature eggs and add them one at a time. 
5. Add dry ingredients slowly and mix well. 
6. Stir in chocolate chips, almonds, and coconut.
7. Use ice scoop to drop dough onto cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
8. Remove and place on rack. 

Topsy-Turvy Apple Pie and Upside Down Cake Martini for the Birthday Boy

Husband's birthday, done and checked off the December list.  His special day was finally here.  He is very low key about his birthday, especially since he shares it with Christmas and our twins' birthday all in the same month...but always a good sport about it.  I am quite jealous of him though, I have known him for twenty years and he hasn't aged a bit.  All the while I am dealing with more "highlights", wrinkles and sagging where I never did - just not fair, is it!!

My guy, back in the day...

After getting up before our coffee time I of course prepped and started his annual Puttanesca dish. (Nothing like the aroma of onions, garlic and anchovies before my eyes are completely open).  Later in the morning I surprised him at work with a pastry and coffee from our Romanian Bakery and we were lucky enough that our schedules afforded us to have lunch in Boulder at his Firehouse Subs.

...and here he is today.

After a hectic day I thought I would have fun with the cocktails and dessert.  He is not much of a cake guy (cheesecake excluded), so I found these fun play-on-words recipes with an upside down cocktail and apple pie.  At any age, it's still fun to be a kid and play with your food, right?

Upside Down Cake Martini

2 oz SMIRNOFF Iced Cake

1 oz orange juice

1 oz pineapple juice

Top off with club soda

Mix first 3 ingredients in martini shaker with ice - shake well.  Pour into chilled (and sprinkle rimmed) glass.  Top off with club soda and add a cherry and an orange slice.  Cheers!!

Topsy-Turvy Apple Pie
Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest Winner, 1951

Glaze and Crust:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1/2 cup Fisher® Chef's Naturals® pecan halves
1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling:

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons Pillsbury BEST® all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (4 medium)

Topping

Whipped cream or french vanilla ice cream, if desired      

 

Heat oven to 425°F. In 9-inch glass pie plate, mix brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Spread evenly in bottom of pie plate. Arrange pecans over mixture. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie, placing bottom crust over mixture in pan.

In small bowl, mix granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. Arrange half of apple slices in crust-lined pie plate. Sprinkle with half of sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining apple slices and sugar mixture. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.

Place pie on sheet of foil on middle oven rack in oven; bake 8 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 35 to 45 minutes longer or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Immediately run knife around edge of pie to loosen. Place serving plate upside down over pie; turn serving plate and pie plate over. Remove pie plate. Serve warm or cool with whipped cream or ice cream.

                 

Zensational Chili

Yes Virginia it is Christmas...oops, I mean "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus".  Well it most definitely is Christmas around our house.  I barely caught my breath last week from returning back home and in the thick of getting into work again...daughter no sooner in the blink of an eye had all the Thanksgiving garb down, packed and Christmas was up and running again in our living room.

Bless those girls' hearts, they are the epitome of the lyrics in "We Need A Little Christmas"...

Haul out the holly

Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet

Every year, the first decoration to come out is always one daughter's favorite ice skating rink.  I think we got this when the girls were 2 years old and she would turn it on and watch the little skaters for hours and hours.

My (used to be guest room) now looks like the gift wrapping room at Macy's...paper, boxes and ribbons and bows, oh my!!  I destroyed our little room by getting a head start on the first wave of Christmas present wrappings, so as to not be up until 3 am Christmas Eve doing all the last minute wrapping and also completing my husband's birthday presents which his special day is tomorrow.

In my ever sleepless in Longmont nights, I woke up again last night and realized that the Christmas cards we designed and ordered will be arriving today.  More disturbing though, this also reminded me that yet another year has gone by and I still haven't cleaned up and updated my address book.  I know what your're thinking....who still had address books...don't judge.  I still have the Daytimer organizer from many, many, many years ago that my husband gave me as a gift (even the chewed up corners that our black lab Nemo left me, after he was mad at me one day).  Nope, can't get rid of it, still love it after all these years (I'm afraid I am turning into my mother).

My cookbooks and internet recipes are strewn all over the place as I am trying to figure out which treats to put in my work's gift bags and husband's office platter.  My purse is overflowing with post-in notes and lists of what still needs to be done, purchased, wrapped and mailed.....we have packages going to Alaska, Oregon, Washington and California this year.  I'm sure that I will be making more than one trip to the post office this year.  (Good thing I have my handy address book for those box labels!!)

The Chili Masters

We did get an extra special treat early this year.  My husband's company held a chili pot luck for their company luncheon, which meant an extra bonus for me!!  He typically makes his famous chili on New Year's Day, just like the day he and his brother Rick created it, many years ago.  This chili is so hearty, but not heavy...with so many layers of great flavor, without being overly spicy.  Hands down, this chili has won many cook-off chili competitions.

The Zen Master Meat Lovers Chili

1 lb. Tri Tip
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Green Pepper
1 Jalapeno Pepper
1/2 Red Onion
2 Fresh Tomatoes
(3) 14 ounce cans Stewed Tomatoes
(2) 14 ounce cans Chili Beans
(1 or 2) 14 ounce cans Pinto Beans
1 Fresh Zucchini
1 Packet, Six Gun Chili Mixins

Brown ground beef and season with salt, pepper and garlic salt.
BBQ/Grill the tri tip until cooked to medium.
Combine stewed tomatoes, all beans, cooked ground beef and vegetables into crock pot.
Grate zucchini, chopped peppers and tomatoes and put in crock pot.
Cut cooked tri tip into small cubes and mix in with other ingredients.
Stir in chili mix.

Let simmer in crock pot on low setting for 6 - 8 hours.

Serve with grated sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced red onions.

World's Best Lasagna and Columbia Winery

Well it's almost been a week since we have returned from our Seattle excursion and after the week I have had, I just want to go back there and hide.

First, we are now in the week of "Markadan", that's the week right before my husband's birthday.  So, I am trying to hide his presents strategically throughout the house and figure out how they are going to get wrapped.  Planning the infamous Puttanesca dinner and figure out his birthday dessert, as he is not much of a cake guy (unless it's cheesecake that is).

Monday...car battery died - of course it did, because instead of using any extra $140.00 on holiday gifts, I get to purchase a new car battery and they didn't even gift wrap it for me.

Tuesday...daughter gets sick and throws up in her classroom garbage can - I think that pretty much sums up how that day went.

Wednesday...temperatures dropped to -15 degrees.  I know that my friends and family in Alaska think I am a wimp, since I grew up in 40 below temperatures most of my life.  I'm sorry, but after 25 years in Southern California thinned my blood and it's just plain cold.

My dear husband though has made sure that I have a blazing hot fire for me when I get home every night. I would love however to be in front of the fireplace at our Columbia Winery and Chateau Ste Michelle vineyards that we visited last week.

Columbia Winery

On Friday, our in-laws Cindy and Bill treated the whole family to a private wine tasting at Columbia Winery. They packed tapas platters for us to take to the tastings, where we experienced 10 different wines in their private tasting room.  It was a wonderful experience for everyone to have at the end of the holiday.  After the flights of wine, we treated ourselves to a bottle of Porphyry and brought it home to save for a special occasion (Markadan is right around the corner after all).

We all then ended up back at their house for what has to be the World's Best Lasagna, not just my opinion, it actually is called that and now I know why.  Cindy made the sauce the day before, which I think made a tremendous difference for all those flavors to infuse together...the end result was awesome!!

Photo courtesy of internet.
Our lasagna was eaten by the family
before I could get a good photo of it.

World's Best Lasagna
from allrecipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/worlds-best-lasagna/

1 pound sweet Italian sausage 3/4 pound lean ground beef 1/2 cup minced onion 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 12 lasagna noodles 16 ounces ricotta cheese 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1.	In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2.	Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4.	To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5.	Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Rub With Love and Sleepless in Seattle

It is a day of Thanks today and here we are in Seattle...thankful that it is not raining this week and it is another gorgeous sunny crisp day here.

Yesterday was a determined tourist day.  We were on the move and I was on a mission with my family and in-laws, Bill and Cindy to take in as much sightseeing that we possibly could, while taking advantage of the cooperating weather.

We started at Pecos Pit Barbeque for some authentic pulled pork and brisket sandwiches with the most amazing bbq beans and cole slaw.  Their sandwhiches are so thick and delicious, you need to eat it with a fork.

We then wallked the Ballard Locks to try and burn off some of our lunch.  The afternoon was perfect for yacht watching as they were traveling through the locks and under the bridges.  I always get awestruck watching these feats happen and how they maneuver the ships and boats.

When we finished there, the sun was starting its desent, so we went to Kerry Park for some family photo opportunities....and the most breathtaking scenery you could imagine with the harbor, Seattle skyline and Space Needle in the background.

Soon after it was away to Pike Place Market we went.  I absolutely love going to the Public Market at Pike Place.  There is so much incredible energy with all the cultures and people perusing through the aisles.  Of course, Sleepless in Seattle is another one of my favorite movies, which was filmed at Pike Place.

The freshest seafood you could ever imagine and produce that just jumps out at you with all the phenomenal array of colors and textures.

By the nearing of the afternoon, we needed a little hit of sugar and stopped at the Three Girls Bakery for a Snickerdoodle and Pecan Pie Bar - delish!!

We ended our adventure with a beverage and a some items from the small plates menu at Sea Town Restaurant.  The perfect end to a really fun day.  We even had some of our Rub with Love Snack Mix from the restaurant leftovers to give us some energy through Thanksgiving morning before our family dinner.

Rub with Love Snack Mix
Purchased at Tom Douglas Sea Town Restaurant, Seattle

Roasted Peanuts
Smoked Almonds
Sesame Sticks
Dried Black Currants
Wasabi Peas

Juicy Apple Popovers

"In everything give thanks".....so very true, not only this time of year but we should truly cherish this notion all year long.  I have a piece of artwork hanging at our front door that reads, "Begin Each Day With A Grateful Heart".   It is a reminder to us as we head out for our day that we need to remember and be grateful for all that we have, even the simplest things that we take for granted.

Even though we don't live in a perfect world we should feel blessed that we are perfectly imperfect.

LOVE this !

Well, in all of this thanks, it just wouldn't be fall without making our Juicy Apple Popovers.  I saw these being made by Gale Gand a bazillion years ago when food tv was just getting started.  She was one of the first "food stars" and I just loved watching her show Sweet Dreams.  She is so adorable, no ego, very gracious  and makes you feel like you can bake anything!!

These are kind of like an individual fluffy apple pancake.

Juicy Apple Popovers

Recipe courtesy Gale Gand


2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons plus 6 tablespoons butter
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup raisins (or dried sweetened cranberries)

Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Whisk the eggs and milk together in a medium bowl. Add the flour, salt, and sugar and whisk to blend. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and whisk it into the batter.

In each cup of regular sized muffin tins, divide cold butter, apple and raisins. Place the muffin tins in the oven for 5 minutes to melt the butter and cook the apples slightly.

Remove the tins from the oven and pour the batter into each cup filling them half way up.

 Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve hot.

Whipped Feta Crostini and The Other Woman

Christmas is here and I cannot believe it.  I got the clue that it is Christmas when my radio station switched their programming this past Friday at 5:00 pm to 24-7 holiday music - that is the true sign. The magic day is only one month away.

My girls actually tried to talk me into taking down the Thanksgiving decorations and put up all the Christmas holiday decor (minus the tree).  You have got to be kidding me, there isn't even dust on the Fall decor yet...of course we are not taking it down!!

My new holiday workout!

It is inevitable though that I succumb to the holidays, I am singing away to Mariah Carey, Kenny Loggins and Amy Grant holiday tunes in the car, I have started my trek of gift purchasing.  I have post-it lists tucked inside my purse with little reminders of who may have mentioned something that caught their eyes the past 6 months that I think would be a special gift.  I strategically placed the incognito cardboard hiding box in the garage where these little treasures will be stored.  Now, if I can just keep the snoopers out of it for the next 30 days.

 At the end of our weekend, we headed to our local Snifters Wine and Spirits.  The owners Vince and Marie (and their 2 dogs Sammy and Andy) host a wine tasting every Saturday night.  They are a darling team that have wonderful tastings every week along with Robin's Chocolates.  They seem to find the most perfect pairings with each tasting.

A peak of Robin's delectable creations.

We already had a bottle of one of our standbys at home, Immortal Zin.  So for our tasting pairing with appetizer, we found The Other Woman red blend.  When we checked out, our cashier said  to my husband without missing a beat "Would you like your other woman in a bag?".  I absolutely cracked up!!!

The Other Woman

For our evening appetizer, I found this amazing, flavorful crostini on Pinterest  that is perfect for any time of the year. Truly easy to make and the combination is absolutely delicious.

Whipped Feta Crostini 
Adapted from onelittleproject.com

Whipped Feta Spread:
6 ounces Feta cheese
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lemon, juiced

Tomato Topping:
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 pounds cherry tomatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Salt and Pepper

Crostini:
1 or 2 baguettes, sliced (each baguette will give you about 20 to 25 slices
if you cut the pieces about 1/2" thick).

Olive oil to brush baguette slices

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Chop the cherry tomatoes into quarters.  Combine with the onion, basil, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.  Season as desired with salt and pepper.

Combine the feta, cream cheese, olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper in a food processor.  Mix until creamy.

Brush both sides of baguette with olive oil and bake them on a cookie sheet just until they start to brown.

Spread the whipped feta mixture generously on top of the baguette slices. Top with the tomato mixture and serve.

Enjoy!!