Holiday Edibles Part 2: Gingerbread 2 Ways

For me, Christmas isn't complete without Homemade Gingerbread. I usually make it around the Holidays to share with my coworkers as gifts. You can get really cute Holiday baggies to put them in. Adds a nice touch.

COOKIES

When I usually get store bought gingerbread cookies, they resemble cardboard. I don't know about you, but I like my cookies chewy, moist and delicious. For those of you who are looking for a great gingerbread cookie recipe, try this one!

Holiday Edibles Part 1: Matzo Brittle

I am going to start including some of my favorite Holiday recipes soon, and thought I would start out with something for those of you celebrating Hanukkah. Matzo Brittle. It has similar flavors as most brittles, but incorporates the classic Jewish cracker, Matzo. 

Timeline

• Prep 15 min., Cook: 8 min., Bake: 15 min., Stand: 32 min., Chill: 30 min.  
• Makes about 20 pieces (about 1 1/2 lb.)

Ingredients

• 3 1/2  sheets unsalted matzos
• 1  cup  butter (2 sticks)
• 1  cup  firmly packed light brown sugar 
• 1  cup  semisweet chocolate morsels (I USE A LITTLE MORE THAN 1 CUP) 
• 1/3  cup  finely chopped toasted slivered almonds (I DON'T ALWAYS USE NUTS, JUST DEPENDS IF I HAVE SOME IN THE HOUSE. YOU CAN USE ANY TYPE OF NUTS)

Preparation  

• Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with nonstick aluminum foil. Arrange matzos in prepared pan, breaking as necessary to fit and completely cover bottom of pan. (MAKE SURE YOU USE A PAN WITH SIDES ON IT SO THE BUTTER/SUGAR MIXTURE DOESN'T SPILL OVER IN THE BAKING PROCESS. I LINE THE PAN WITH FOIL THEN SPRAY THE FOIL WITH PAM, THIS HELPS TO PEEL THE FOIL OFF AFTER IT'S ALL DONE) 
• Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Keep at a boil, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Carefully pour mixture evenly over matzos in pan, and spread over matzos.(YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPREAD THE MIXTURE PERFECTLY OVER THE MATZOS BECAUSE IT WILL SPREAD WHEN IT BAKES. JUST SPREAD IT AS EVEN AS POSSIBLE) 
• Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.Mixture will start to bubble at about 10 minutes. Continue to bake to 15 minutes. (YOU NEED TO WATCH THE CANDY IN THE OVEN. IF YOU LEAVE IT IN THERE TOO LONG THE SUGAR WILL START TO BURN. CHECK IT AFTER 10 MINUTES AND IF IT STARTS TO LOOK LIKE THE EDGES ARE GETTING TOO DARK, JUST TAKE IT OUT. SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON THE OVEN, I ONLY BAKE IT FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TAKE IT OUT)
• Carefully remove pan from oven to a wire rack. (Mixture will still be bubbly.) Let stand 1 minute at room temperature or until no longer bubbly. 
• Sprinkle top evenly with morsels; let stand 1 minute or until morsels soften. Spread morsels over brittle. Sprinkle with almonds; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. 
• Place pan in refrigerator; chill 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm. 
• Break into about 20 pieces. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week in refrigerator.

TIPS: The recipe looks long, but it's really easy. Make sure you stir the sugar/butter when you're melting and boiling it and then again once it's in the oven.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Buying gifts for everyone in your life can get expensive. Instead, try making family members and friends something from your kitchen. You can go to the 99 Cents Store or any other discount store and get food baggies and ribbons for cheap. This way you save money, and yet still show people you care through the time and effort you have put into making them treats!

chili for skinny girls

I wish I could eat anything I want, all the time. Unfortunately, if I want to stay healthy, I can't. Over time I have began to modify some of my recipes, and change some all together to make them healthier. This way, I can maintain flavorful food that's nutritious most of the time, while being able to indulge once and a while.

Chili is one of my favorite dishes. I usually make it with ground beef, but I have vegetarian option that is rather tasty. I like to serve it over brown rice.

Ingredients

• 1 tbs vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 3/4 cup chopped carrots
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 3/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1 (28 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped 
• 1 (19oz) can kidney beans with liquid
• 1 (11oz) can whole kernel corn, undrained
• 1 tbs ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp dry oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp dry basil

Directions

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, and garlic until tender. Stir in green pepper, red pepper, celery and chili powder. Cook until vegetables are tender (6-8 minutes).
• Stir in mushrooms, tomatoes, kidney beans, and corn. Season with cumin, oregano and basil.  
• Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Depending on how thick or liquidy you want the chili, you may need to add a tablespoon or two of water. For added flavor, you could add low sodium vegetable stock.

ENJOY! 

worm fifty worm

This blog post is inspired by a friend of mine, Ben, who likes to get a little naughty on Halloween... as he puts it "I just want people to party!"

Halloween isn't just for kids anymore; after you are done passing candy out to trick-or-treaters, enjoy a treat yourself... Alcoholic Gummy Candy! This can be a great alternative to those of you who like jello shots!

spiced apple cider

Spiced Cider Recipe

My mom always made amazing homemade Spiced Cider every winter. The best part about making homemade apple cider is the smell it leaves in your kitchen. Have a few friends over, make a pot of cider, and watch a Holiday movie.

1 gallon apple cider (if you can't find cider, apple juice will do but just cut down on the added brown sugar)
10 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tbs lemon juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch of salt

*Bring the cider to boil in a pot. Add the sugar and completely dissolve. Bring the cider down to a simmer and add the rest of the ingredients. Cover the pot and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Simmer longer for more intense flavor.

In case you can't make it...
Trader Joe's has one of the best pre-made spiced apple ciders, and its only a little over 100 calories for an 8 oz glass! Try it during the holidays instead of coffee in the morning for some natural inspiration...

Photo Credit: Trader Joes List

garlic pumpkin seed instructions

I made the garlic seeds the other night and brought them to work. They were a big hit... so in case you need some brownie points with the boss, I suggest livening up the office with some homemade fall treats!

Here is my step by step process...

 design your pumpkin and cut out the top of pumpkin

(my boyfriend got feline inspiration...)

collect all guts and seeds in a bowl

one pumpkin's trash is another woman's treasure

Growing up, my favorite part about carving pumpkins was what my mother would do with the seeds. If your like me, you may not carve the prettiest pumpkin, but you do get a few delicious seed snacks out of the gourd. So instead of throwing our the innards, collect them, take any pumpkin pieces and stringy pumpkin bits off of the seeds, and dry them on some paper towels.

Oh, and get creative :)

Salt and Pepper Pumpkin Seeds

2 cups pumpkin seeds (make sure they are totally dried)

2-3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (enough to just coat all the seeds)

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

*Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

*Spread the seeds onto a baking sheet. Coat the seeds in olive oil.

* Sprinkle the salt and pepper onto the seeds. Move the seeds around with a spatula to ensure that all the seeds have an equal coating of seasoning

*Bake in the over for about 12-15 minutes. Once they start getting golden brown, the seeds are done.

all the right ingredients: just add LA

DineLA week is the best week(s) of the year. It is the food LOVERS week. You can dine at some of the best eateries in Los Angeles for a set price, tasting foods you would normally skip over, and appreciating some risky new foods chefs prepare. DineLA is a chance to "eat" Los Angeles in a creative, affordable way.

However, I have found that going for the ordinary is usually the most disappointing. The two times I ate at "common" restaurants, the excitement I had was crushed by the lack of love in the food I was served. My advice to the LA diner... go for something you normally wouldn't. Try Moroccan food, or something Pan Asian. Yes, everyone love's a French bistro; but when you have the opportunity to go out and dine like a King for cheaper than usual, opting for the half roast chicken with potatoes is simply playing it safe. These DineLA weeks are a festival of food for a reason. Indulge yourself.

DineLA Featured Restaurants

Out of the places I have dined (about 10), these have been my favorite: 

things that make me happy...

 

a friend's retriever with a toy

 

iced coffee in the afternoon

 

my stretching kitten