LOVE IS LOVE! Valentine’s Day is a favorite of mine, even though I’m almost always single when it rolls around. To me the day is about love in all its many forms and any reason to celebrate it is a good one, especially lately. Check out these printables, recipes, accessories, and more for a super decked out February 14th!
Lentils are a food that only found a place in my pantry a few years ago, we simply didn’t eat them while I was growing up. Now I love these versatile legumes! They’re delicious in soups, salads, grain bowls, and a hundred other ways as well. Here are twelve recipes I’m eyeing to make sooner than later.
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
I’d hardly call it a recipe, but this Mint + Honey Milk Tea is something I make a few afternoons a week when I need a little break. It’s warm and invigorating with just the slightest bit of sweetness. If mint isn’t your favorite flavor don’t worry, you can use any other kind so long as it’s citrus free to avoid curdling.
Ingredients
• 8 oz milk of any kind, though it shouldn’t be flavored
• mint tea
• 1 Tbsp honey
Heat milk in a pan on the stove until hot, being careful not to scald. As it warms whisk in the honey, then pour into a mug with teabag or steeper. Let steep for five minutes and enjoy!
PS: Sometimes I’ll froth the milk to make it creamier.
My Grandma’s nut roll, egg custard pie, Hershey Kiss cookies. All of these foods and more remind me of the holidays, including candy bark. What I love about this incredibly easy treat is that it can include everything but the kitchen sink or actually be borderline healthy for you depending on what you add. I’ve rounded up a selection of both, check ’em all out below!
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Cornmeal is one of those ingredients that gets pushed to the back of the pantry when the opposite should be true, because it’s just so versatile. Sweet, savory, crispy, moist – it can be all of those things and more. Here are twelve recipes that show the full breadth of the chameleon that is cornmeal!
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
I’m in serious denial that we’re halfway through November with Thanksgiving only a little over a week away – anyone else? I’ll be hosting for my family for the third year in a row, so it’s nearly down to a science at this point without a lot of guesswork or planning. But, you guys know how I love to plan imaginary holiday get togethers (see Thanksgivings past: 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015) so I couldn’t break with tradition no way, no how.
Few things are more welcoming than showing up to a holiday spent with family and friends and being handed a cocktail. I like to have bar basics on hand for traditional libations, but a few specialties mixed up as well. Pitchers are great for this purpose, just label them with the cocktail inside. A nice punch in a bowl is even easier, just add a ladle and guests can feel free to serve themselves.
This time of year I’m especially drawn to all things warm and inviting, so I want to have lots of candles sitting in out of the way places as well as on the dining table. Mix things up a little with different heights and widths to add interest. I also want vases full of greenery, a big full wreath on the front door, and the menu posted somewhere in a fun way so guests know what we’ll be eating.
While guests are milling around talking to one another give them something to nibble on. I like how these particular three contain different levels of involvement – if you’re a little munchy go with the crackers, a little more the tartness, skipped lunch go for the fondue!
Serving pieces are my absolute favorite part of planning any meal. For this one I’m opting to stay close to that warm and cozy feeling I already mentioned by using lots of wood, metal, glass, and ceramic pieces. The warm tones all pull together so nicely, and solid pieces like this are great for any season throughout the year.
More of the same for the table itself. And though my table isn’t large enough to set out the entire spread of food, I like to pull in a few trivets. If I see guests going back for seconds on something in particular it’s easy enough to make room for one or two of the more popular dishes. I also like for my dinner and dessert dishes to feel related but not match, in this case both are a sort of stoneware grey.
This entire year I’ve been trying to eat close to the Earth, less processed food and more real food. My menu keeps in line with my intention, lots of vegetables and grains to feed and nourish the mass around the table. And all of it delicious!
Ahhh, now we’re down to it. The best part of the meal in my humble opinion, the sweet finish! At my house we usually take a little break between the main meal and dessert for everything to digest and settle, a (very competitive) game of Yahtzee is usually involved. Dessert is then had, to-go bags packed up full to the top, and goodbye hugs given.
I hope your Thanksgiving planning goes smoothly, friends!
The Kitchen McCabe is all about wholesome recipes that by no coincidence are also delicious. Blogger Kayley is a culinary graduate with a passion for making and baking pretty things that are healthy without being restrictive.
Naturally Ella is a phenomenal resource for natural cooking and vegetarian recipes. Find a meal to cook, explore an ingredient, or create a solid pantry – you’ll find it all and more right here.
Minimalist Baker is where blogger Dana creates recipes full of flavor that require ten ingredients or less, one bowl or pot, and 30 minute or less to prepare. Most recipes are special-diet friendly, specifically plant-based and gluten-free.
FoodieCrush shares recipes that are fresh, seasonal, mostly simple, often healthy, and also comfort food. I’d say blogger Heidi does an amazing job balancing all of those things with a delicious result.
I thought I’d hate crème brûlée right up until the very moment I tried it. That was back in 2002 in a little boutique hotel’s restaurant in San Francisco, and it was chocolate. My eyes just about rolled back in my head with the first bite and ever since it’s been one of my favorite desserts. A few of the recipes below are small twists on what’s become a classic while others are further departures, but I’m betting every last one is delicious.
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
I can never get enough pumpkin when autumn shows its pretty face, no matter the form. So today I’m happy to take part in the #virtualpumpkinparty organized by Sara from Cake Over Steak with a cocktail recipe I’ve reached for a few times this month.
While experimenting I really wanted to accomplish two things:
1. Quick and easy to pull together.
2. Showcasing fall flavors.
Pumpkin was a no brainer, and so was bourbon as far as I was concerned. My favorite lately has been Hudson Whiskey Baby Bourbon, a 90% corn and 10% malted barley combo that’s the first whiskey made in New York since Prohibition and the first bourbon ever. All of the ingredients are sourced within 60 miles of the distillery, with the end result being a little smoky with notes of vanilla and caramel. The perfect choice for this cocktail.
Ingredients
• 4 C water
• 6 oz Hudson Whiskey Baby Bourbon
• 1/4 C pumpkin puree
• 4 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 20 whole cloves
• medium apple, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on medium, stirring occasionally, until gently boiling. Drink while hot, garnish with apple slices or cinnamon stick. Serves 4.
Check out the rest of the nearly 100 other recipes being featured in today’s #virtualpumpkinparty listed over on Cake Over Steak and Twigg Studios!
A special thank you to Hudson Whiskey for providing a bottle of their Baby Bourbon for use in this recipe!
Halloween was always played up as the best holiday at my house as a kid, which is probably why it remains my favorite to this day. I love the childhood innocence involved, as well as the more macabre side you learn about a few years later. My house is all decorated – maybe you’ve already seen it on social media – and I’ll be sharing more about that tomorrow. But for now here are four dozen All Hallows’ Eve treats I think you’ll love!
