This is always one of my favorite times of year, and as a staunch ‘delicious but not filling’ appetizer supporter, I considered this the perfect opportunity to combine two of the holiday season’s best features: charcuterie and Christmas.
You’ve surely seen dried oranges in potpourri, holiday garlands and all kinds of decorations, but did you know they are SO easy to make at home for just pennies on the dollar? Sweet little bags of these dried oranges sell for $10 a bag close…
My Chili Caramel Brussels Sprouts are an adventure in flavor, featuring a stunning umami glaze and picture perfect caramelization that honestly makes me want to stand over the stovetop and finish them all by myself.
The real star of this dish is the balance of sweet and spicy in the chili caramel glaze: a beautiful golden color and rich, nuanced flavor that pairs perfectly with the roasted brussels sprouts. The sweetness is cut by the kick of chili without being overpowering. Loosely inspired by Momofuku’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Fish Sauce Vinaigrette, this recipe is perfect for Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day, pairing beautifully with turkey, beef or ham.
If you, or someone you know doesn’t care for Brussels sprouts, try making them this way and then report back to me. These just might convert them.
If you’re in need of some more holiday ready sides, be sure to follow me on Facebook, or see all of my favorites (and so many other delicious recipes!) over on Pinterest.
Step 1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil.
Step 2. Once melted, add the Brussels Sprouts and cook for 5-6 minutes, without moving them.
Step 3. Flip, add salt and one tablespoon of water and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes. Remove the Brussels Sprouts from the pan.
Step 4. Over medium-low heat, add the remaining tablespoon of coconut oil and coconut sugar to the pan and whisk to combine.
Step 5. Add sriracha, fish sauce and lime juice and whisk further to combine.
Step 6. Simmer for 30 seconds, then add sprouts back to the pan. Toss to coat a few times until the sprouts are completely tender and coated in sauce.
Step 7. Serve immediately.
Step 8. Enjoy!
They’re a fast and delicious addition to any dinner party
They pack a flavor punch but aren’t overpowerinng
They’re guaranteed to make a brussels sprouts hater stop in their tracks
Company Cranberry Almond Bundt Cake (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Cranberry Red Pepper Jelly (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Frosted Gingerbread Blondies (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free)
If you make my Chili Caramel Brussels Sprouts, and I hope you do, please leave me a comment here and rate the recipe. Your feedback means a lot to me! You can also post to Instagram and tag me so I can share your creations!
If you like full recipe videos, you’ll want to follow me on Facebook and Youtube as I publish new videos daily!
The combination of almond, cranberries, and orange in this moist company cranberry almond bundt cake just sings “the holidays are here!”
When it comes to entertaining, I like to use a variety of recipes for appetizers: some that will be brand new to my guests and some that are “safe” dishes. This one checks both boxes,. It’s “safe” because crostini of all types tend to be…
I will start this post simply with this:
This is my favorite chocolate cake of all time.
When it comes to a celebratory, layered and frosted chocolate cake I have turned to the Horseradish Grill’s chocolate cake ever since learning the recipe in culinary school. It is excellent, impossibly fudgy and decadent.
But there is another place in my life for an everyday chocolate cake that is easier to make and a bit more virtuous. You know by now that I am very much an “everyday baker” type of person and don’t need a reason to eat a slice of cake any night of the week.
This Chocolate Olive Oil Cake is perfect, truly. Whether you want to eat a piece with your hands, in your pajamas (the most common way for me, admittedly) or serve to a room full of guests for Christmas or a dinner party, you simply won’t be disappointed.
If you’re in need of some more delicious dessert recipes, be sure to follow me on Facebook, or see all of my favorites (and so many other sweet treats) over on Pinterest.
Step 1. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray a 9 or 10 inch cake pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Step 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
Step 3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, eggs, vanilla, milk, and coffee until blended.
Step 4. Add liquid to the flour mixture and mix together until no traces of flour remain.
Step 5. Pour cake batter into the prepared pan and bake for 60-75 minutes, until the a cake tester comes out just clean.
Step 6. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack to cool for at least two hours.
Step 7. Serve dusted simply with powdered sugar, or with a cherry compote and whipped cream if desired.
Step 8. Enjoy!
“My favorite chocolate cake” is a big claim, and not one I take lightly. Here’s why I stand by that:
I tend to serve this one of two ways:
With a simple dusting of powdered sugar
With a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry compote. For this, I simply simmer frozen cherries with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sugar, salt, and nutmeg.
If you make my Chocolate Olive Oil Cake, and I hope you do, please leave me a comment here and rate the recipe. Your feedback means a lot to me! You can also post to Instagram and tag me so I can share your creations!
If you like full recipe videos, you’ll want to follow me on Facebook and Youtube as I publish new videos daily!
My mom has been making baked stuffed shrimp for Christmas Eve for decades. Growing up, it was the one time of year we ate that dish, and I always looked forward to it. It felt like the open door to the Christmas holiday, I have…
Oh, this jelly. I’ve been making this Cranberry Red Pepper Jelly for about a decade, every Christmas, and it’s my absolute favorite thing to give as a homemade gift. Cookies are fabulous, obviously, as a holiday treat, but it’s the most common food to…
This recipe was a last minute add, I didn’t plan to post it this week but when I made it again this morning and so many people messaged me on Instagram about it, I knew I had to give it to you before Christmas. I make this well into February, kicking it off for the season for the holidays.
I have always loved the taste of eggnog, there’s really nothing like that luscious, rich goodness. (Martha is known for serving her classic eggnog in a giant silver bowl every year for Christmas entertaining). However, I can usually only have it once or twice a season because of that. I wanted something that would be a nod to my favorite festive drink, without the heaviness. Does it taste exactly like classic eggnog? No. Does it fit the bill? Yes, at least it definitely does for me.
“What else can I use?”
I hope you love this recipe, and that it brings you joy and cozies this holiday season.
I think we can all agree that the holidays are all about grazing… especially in 2020 when we are all home day, after day, after day, after day. Celebrating the holidays, on the whole, is more casual for most of this year and I have…
We are in full on Christmas mode over here, and that means all the sounds, tastes, and smells we can get. This Christmas simmer pot is like a potpourri made on your stovetop, covered with water and slowly releasing all of those festive smells into…
Oh, Chex Mix… how I love thee.
Every holiday season, I make batches and batches of this stuff. It’s so satisfying to snack on with drinks, if you’re having people over (in any other year than 2020), and makes an easy and delicious gift for neighbors and friends.
In all honesty, who doesn’t love that stuff? Crunchy, salty, savory… it’s hard to stop once I start.
I got the idea to do an upgraded DIY chex mix from my old Martha Stewart colleague and friend, Thomas Joseph. He has an incredible show called Kitchen Conundrums and is a total wizard in the kitchen.
I’ve taken his idea of using browned butter and thyme and made it my own, adding in rosemary and changing up some of the ingredients.
I added in bagel chips, because those bagel chips are always what I love most about Chex Mix. I tossed in some almonds and those cute grid pretzels and then tossed it all in a spiced, salted browned butter before baking until golden and crisp.
Not only does this recipe make a big batch, plenty to serve to a crowd or share with friends, but it’s cost effective and keeps for weeks at room temperature. It’s kind of a no-brainer when the holidays come around.
“What else can I use?”
I’m making batches of this to drop off to friends this year, along with my Superfood Granola Bark.
The hardest part of making this is simply not eating it all.
Let me know what you think, who is making this for the holidays?!
I held off long enough, we are now in full Christmas mode over here and I’m not mad about it! We bought our tree from our local Stew Leonard’s Christmas Tree Shop, who always makes it so easy. As much as I love the idea…
