Holidays 7: Sugar Rush
These are a little addictive. This year my mom's class is making them to give as Christmas gifts.

Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Rolo chocolate candies
Mini pretzels
Nuts – toasted pecans/almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts

Preheat your oven to 350

1. Upwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.

2. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.

3. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut. Watch the caramel oooze out.

Note: 1. These are best when still a little warm. 2. I normally use pecans that haven't been toasted.

Holidays 5: Drink up me Hearties Yo Ho (Mulled Wine)
Several Christmases ago, stellarmeadow sent me Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker. I've been making this mulled wine for my family on Christmas Eve ever since.

Mulled Wine
12 cloves
1 orange
2 4-inch cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 750-ml dry red wine

Press the cloves into the orange and place it in a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the cinnamon, sugar, and wine, stirring to disolve the sugar. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Just before serving remove the cinnamon sticks. Serve warm.

Today is the first day of December and the first day of Holidays! I'm going to try posting fun, little things between now and Christmas. Some days it might be a holiday recipe (cookies, yum!). Some days it might be music, a video or a story. Some days I may not post at all. I've wanted to do this for a few years now and seeing virtual Advent calendars like macteague's and the holiday treats at Elizabethan have inspired me to actually give it a go this year.

Holidays Day 1: Chag Urim Sameach! (Happy Festival of Lights!)
Today, the first day (night) of Hanukkah, calls for some recipes and music. My grandpa (dad's dad) was Jewish and while my family is not, we try to honor Grandpa's with a few traditions throughout the year. This means celebrating at least one night of Hanukkah with food and music. The food might vary a bit from year to year but the centerpiece is always latkes. This year I'll serve the traditional potato latke with these yummy looking apple latkes for dessert. The music includes the classic "Dreidel Song", Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah" and my favorite, Peter, Paul & Mary's "Light One Candle".



 

Brother 3 and his girlfriend were in New England last week. They brought home freshly picked McIntosh apples.  I used some tonight to make an autumn meal, Apple & Watercress Salad and Apple & Cheddar Scones.  

The salad recipe is actually from an old issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray.  It was actually part of a Saint Patrick's Day menu from a pub in Boston.  The scones are a yummy! new find from smittenkitchen.  

You might think apples in the salad and the scones would make the meal too sweet.  The use of a tarter apple (Macs, Granny Smiths) combined with the cheese, tart dressing and bacon (crumbled in the salad) made this meal delicious.

Well let the sun shine on your face
And don’t let your life go to waste
Now is the time, got to make up your mind
Let it shine on you, let it shine on you
-- Laura Izibor's Shine

I've been listening to the When In Rome soundtrack this morning. My favorite song is Laura Izibor's "Shine". It has just the kind of message I needed this morning.

Last night I made one of my favorite fall meals. It's (fairly) light, easy, quick and cooked in 1 pan (less dishes!). The leftovers make a great work day lunch.

( Pierogi Skillet Dinner )

I have chocolate chip cookie dough sitting the fridge. I made a dozen while watching Covert Affairs Tuesday night. The remaining dough will probably end up in the freezer so I can make cookies anytime. I love, love, love this recipe. A crispy outside and a soft chewy center make the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

I'm baking peach cupcakes with brown sugar frosting tonight. It will be the first time I've tried this recipe and I'm not sure how it'll turn out. Florida's heat and humidity can screw up the easiest baked goods. Hopefully all will go well as I thought these cupcakes would be a nice dessert for tomorrow night's country music themed show.

ETA: Dinner tonight: Peanut Sesame Noddles. I ♥ smittenkitchen!

This is one of my favorite comfort meals. It's perfect for days when you're feeling a little down or under the weather. Best of all it takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

( Cheese Tortellini in Light Broth with Parmesan Crisps )

This morning I sang a solo during the church offertory: Amy Grant's "Better Than a Hallelujah".

This afternoon I picked up a new book: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. 

This evening I baked this Everyday Chocolate Cake.

Tonight I'm drinking Sleeptime tea, eating a slice of cake and watching Batman: Under the Red Hood.

My life is boring.  Now for some Neil Patrick Harris and Jensen Ackles.  Squee!

I clipped this from some magazine but the recipe is from Butter Lane Cupcakes. According to the magazine articles, these cupcakes have been known to make men propose, hence the (silly) name.

I've sampled one now and while I don't think it's the kind of cupcake to inspire marriage proposals, it's pretty darn tasty. My mom, who's weird about some food combinations, was not impressed by the idea. She had one bite of a and changed her mind.  I think she would have eaten the peanut butter frosting on its own.  

( Propose to Him Banana Cupcakes )

Note: I think the peanut butter frosting would work really well with a chocolate cupcake too.

( 2 Thoughts: 1 White Collar, 1 Covert Affairs (No episode-specific spoilers) )