Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Tags

cream, Parmesan, potato, thyme

I believe I’ve mentioned before that I used to not be a big fan of potatoes. This made my boyfriend in college very sad since potatoes were one of his favorite foods, and most of the meals he ate were what I made. If only he could see me now! I now love potatoes, and this is one of my favorite recipes. I’ve been tweaking it since I first tried it, trying to make it easier and better. I really do love easy recipes… And creamy cheesy goodness? Who can say no! Perfect for a holiday dinner or a simple steak and potato dinner.Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

2½ pounds potatoes, peeled
2 cups whipping cream
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 sprigs of thyme
Dash of nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish; set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine cream, garlic, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; heat thoroughly. Remove the sprig of thyme.

Meanwhile, thinly slice potatoes to about ?-inch thickness. Spread a layer of potatoes on the bottom of the baking dish, slightly overlapping the slices. Pour a little of the warmed cream over the potatoes, then sprinkle ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese on top. Place another layer of potatoes, topping with cream and ¼ cup cheese. Layer the last of the potatoes; pour the remaining cream over the potatoes and top with ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, golden brown, and bubbly.

Source: Adapted from Southern Living

Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Tags

chocolate, cookies, dessert, peppermint

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays, and are enjoying your time off, if you’re fortunate enough to have some! I know this might be a little late, but it’s still December so it’s okay to post a peppermint recipe, right? I found these delicious baking chips last year, and they were available this year, too. Andes peppermint crunch baking bits. Super good… Creamy white chocolate bits with a little bit of crunch to them, and candy cane coloring and flavor. What better way to use them than with chocolate! Personally, I love these chocolate cookies. They’re rich, but stand up to the peppermint flavor perfectly. And the little baking chips look so cute nestled in the cookies! If you’re a fan of rich chocolate and peppermint, you’ll love these cookies!Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1¼ cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup dark cocoa powder
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon coarse salt or table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (10-ounce) bag Andes peppermint crunch baking bits
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Blend in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the cocoa powder and peppermint extract until well blended. Add the flour, salt and baking powder to the bowl and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Gently fold in the baking chips and chocolate chips. On a work surface or against the side of the mixing bowl, mix the dough by hand to ensure even distribution of the chocolate chips.

Divide the dough equally into 16 or 20 pieces. Roll each portion of dough into a ball and flatten just slightly into a disc. Place on the prepared baking sheets, a few inches apart. Bake 16 to 20 minutes, or until the cookie edges are set. Let cool on the baking sheets 5-10 minutes, where they will finish cooking, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Source: Adapted from Annie’s Eats

Peppermint Fudge

Tags

candy cane, chocolate, Christmas, fudge, peppermint, white

I love peppermint, especially at this time of year. I’m not really a fan of candy canes though, unless they are crushed up and added to things, such as fudge!This fudge is awesome. Another recipe that I found last year! Everyone who tried it loved it, and so I had to make more to share this year. And more to have for myself, of course… This isn’t a true chocolate fudge, since you can use vanilla chips, white melting candy, or white chips, but it’s just as good as any true fudge! And the food coloring is a perfectly festive addition. The red swirls on the white fudge make for a delicious candy cane-colored design! The fudge is quick and easy, and creamy with little crunches from the candy cane bits. A must try for the holiday season!Peppermint Fudge

2½ cups sugar
½ cup margarine
5 ounces evaporated milk (10 tablespoons)
7 ounces jarred marshmallow crème (2 cups)
8 ounces white or vanilla chips
½ cup peppermint candies or candy canes, finely crushed
Red food coloring

Line a 9-inch square pan with foil so that foil extends over sides of pan. Spray with cooking spray or butter the foil.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine and evaporated milk. Melt butter and bring to a boil. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add marshmallow crème and vanilla chips. Stir until melted and smooth, then stir in crushed peppermint.

Pour into prepared pan. Add desired number of drops of food coloring to the top of the fudge, and swirl on top of fudge with a knife. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until firm then cut into 36 to 48 squares. Store in the refrigerator.

Source: Adapted from Food.com

Tuscan Bean Stew

Tags

beans, cannelini beans, carrot, celery, Italian, kale, onion

I totally didn’t realize there was so little time until Christmas! I’m so not ready yet! I had all these plans to make cookies and candies, and try all sorts of new and festive treats and share with you… but alas, I am running out of time. Guess I’ll have to see what I can bust out in the next week, and share what I can. There’s always next year to share more!

Now this soup isn’t festive, but it’s perfect for fall and winter. I tried this last year, and when the temps started dropping here, this is one of the first soups I got a craving for. It’s loaded with vegetables and beans, and is super hearty and filling. Cook’s Illustrated has a quick version, which is the one I used, and a longer version that uses dried beans. I would love to try this with dried beans, but I can’t seem to find dried cannelini beans in any stores nearby! Please let me know if you’ve ever found them, and if so where!! But anyways, if you’re a fan of beans and vegetables in soup, then you’ve got to try this delicious recipe!Tuscan Bean Stew

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
6 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut into ¼-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped medium (about 1½ cups)
2 medium celery ribs, cut into ½-inch pieces (about ¾ cup)
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
8 medium garlic cloves, minced
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
4 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well
2 bay leaves
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 medium bunch kale (about 1 pound), thick stems trimmed and leaves coarsely chopped
1 sprig fresh rosemary

Heat oil and pancetta or bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pancetta is lightly browned and fat has rendered, 6 to 10 minutes. Add onion, celery, and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and lightly browned, 10 to 16 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, water, beans, bay leaves, tomatoes, and kale. Increase heat to high and bring to simmer; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add rosemary and simmer another 10 to 15 minutes, or until vegetables and greens are fully tender. Discard bay leaves and rosemary sprig; season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, use back of spoon to press some beans against side of pot to thicken stew. Serve lightly drizzled with olive oil.

Source: Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, March 2008

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Buttercream

Tags

buttercream, Christmas, cinnamon, ginger, gingerbread, molasses

I love the flavors of this season. While gingerbread isn’t one of my favorite flavors, it’s so traditional for this time of the year, I couldn’t resist! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy little gingerbread men and whatnot, just in small doses. And these cupcakes are little cake versions of those tasty seasonal cookies. Cream cheese frosting is such a common pairing with gingerbread, and I know it’s what some people would want and expect. And who am I to disappoint! But at the same time, I saw so many unique frostings paired up with other gingerbread cupcakes, and I really wanted to try a less traditional flavor.I couldn’t decide between the two frosting options, so I asked at work and on Facebook. I didn’t really get a clear winner there, either, though one person recommended putting both frostings on one cupcake! As good as that sounds, I took their suggestion with a sort of twist… I made both frostings and one batch of cupcakes, so now I have extra frosting already made for when I make another batch of cupcakes!! Win-win for me and everyone who gets extra cupcakes! Hehe. The frosting went wonderfully with the cupcakes, and all the flavors complimented each other perfectly. If you are a fan of gingerbread, you’ll absolutely love these cupcakes!Gingerbread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Buttercream 

Cupcakes:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon salt

Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Buttercream
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
⅓ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2-3 tablespoons cream

To make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; set aside. In another small bowl, stir together the boiling water and baking soda until dissolved; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla. Slowly beat in the baking soda water. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.

Spoon the gingerbread batter into the prepared cupcake tins. Bake about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes to the wire rack and cool completely.

To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together until creamy. Add the cinnamon and confectioners’ sugar; beat at medium-low speed until the sugar is fully incorporated. Add the cream 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting is smooth and fluffy. Frost cupcakes and decorate as desired.

Source: Adapted from The Culinary Chronicles, who adapted it from The Spice Kitchen: Everyday Cooking with Organic Spices