A Nutella Dream

I'm leaving in mere moments to go pick up a car load of family from the airport to celebrate Christmas, so this may be the last you hear of me for awhile.  I wanted to be sure to share with you an amazing recipe I have yet to make.  A sweet friend and loyal "Rach and Me" reader shared this recipe with me last week, and let me tell you it's a dream.

I just LOVE when I get super excited about a recipe, and this is certainly one of those moments.  Since I haven't made this dream recipe yet, I have no pictures to share with you.  Once you click on the link though, I believe you'll be hooked.

Today's culinary dream is a Nutella Dream.  A Nutella Dream cheese ball to be exact.  Forget whatever you've thought about cheese balls in the past, and enter a wonderful world where your cheese ball can be made of Nutella.  A dream world, right?

This recipe sounds easy, looks dreamy, and will hopefully be a Nutella dream come true!  Enjoy!

Link to Nutella Dream Cheese Ball Recipe

Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies

I am either brave or crazy.  I'd prefer to think brave.  Today, I have 11 kids coming to decorate Christmas cookies in my kitchen.  11 kids six and under I should mention.  These kids are some of the Tiny Teen's closest friends, and their siblings, since she was 2.  It helps too that their moms' are among my closest friends.  Add to the cookie mess, I mean fun, some pizza, a craft, and the Polar Express, and we have a full on Christmas celebration!  See, I'm not so crazy, right?

I have over 7 dozen sugar cookies ready for these sweet children.  Cookies are kind of all I can think about lately.  Last weekend, I went to a cookie exchange, and now the decorating party.  Cookies, cookies, cookies!!  With that in mind, I still have to bake the majority of my Christmas cookies still this week.  I file that under "fun" chores, as opposed to "not fun" chores, such as cleaning my house after today's cookie party.

Today's recipe was a trial cookie for last weekend's cookie exchange.  It didn't make the cut.  While it is delicious, it requires more work than I was willing to commit for a large scale cookie production such as a cookie exchange.  As you recall, I chose the easy and tasty Saltine Toffee.  With that being said, I'm still sharing this recipe with you.  It comes from my trusty pal Oprah, and it is called Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies.

After  making the dough and chilling it for 2 hours, you then bake the cookies,  and let them cool.  While they are cooling, you prepare your lemon buttercream frosting.  The cookies alone aren't very sweet, but when paired with the subtle lemony frosting they are perfect.

If gingerbread is your thing, and lemon frosting paired with it sounds appealing, then this is the cookie for you!  I hope you enjoy it friends!

Link to Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookie Recipe

Culinary Crack

I'm going to be quite honest, and let you in on a secret.  Christmas is wearing me out.  The funniest part is that it's still over a week away.  I've been doing all of the typical Christmas duties: shopping, wrapping, cards, etc.  I've also been a wee bit social too: cookie exchange, s'mores party, and small gatherings with friends.  I love this time of year, and I'm savoring every moment.  However, all of this savoring has left this lady exhausted.

With all of that being said, tired or not, I love you all too much not to share this tasty little nugget.  I made the recipe over a week ago, so I apologize that I haven't shared it with you yet.  Tonight's savory bite is Saltine Toffee.  Yup, saltines.  I made this recipe on a whim.  I needed a cookie for the cookie exchange, actually make that I needed over 72 cookies for the cookie exchange, so I needed something quick, easy, and incredible.  This fit the bill.

I had a friend over while I was experimenting, and we both thought that saltines and chocolate were kind of an odd pairing, but we know I love my salt and chocolate, so I hoped for the best.  Oooo Wheee, the recipe is heaven.  Culinary crack to be precise.  I had to laugh when the blogger referred to the Saltine Toffee as being more addictive than crack.  I will say that this is some mighty addictive stuff.  I'm almost a  tiny bit embarrassed to tell you that my friend and I, with the help of our girls, finished off the entire 1/2 batch that I made.  I then spent a bonding afternoon with my elliptical machine to try and undo any chocolatey caloric damage that had been done.

On a funny note, my friend K that was visiting who doesn't love to cook, has been making this toffee for everyone!  I ran into her husband today at the Tiny Teen's preschool Christmas party, and he said that K makes it about every other day.  With that being said, it's very simple and too tasty to even describe properly.

Base layer of Saltines.

Butter and brown sugar boiling.

Hot toffee spread over Saltines, prior to baking.

Chocolate chips evenly dispersed over the baked toffee.

After the chocolate melted, I spread it evenly, sprinkled on some sliced almonds, and put it in the fridge for a little over an hour for the chocolate to harden.  I'm going to have to confess that I never did capture a photo of the final product.  As soon as it was ready, we ate it.  All of it.  I still can't believe that I forgot to take a photo!!  If you click on the link below, the blogger has some beautiful, finished product photos.

This is the perfect treat for friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, anyone really.  If almonds on top aren't your thing, you could substitute crushed pretzels, sprinkles, or just leave it plain.  It doesn't matter too much, the toffee is so amazing that it will be all you think and dream about.  Oh, and P.S., if you are sitting there thinking that a treat including Saltines is weird...it SO works!  Just try it and see!  Enjoy!

Link to the Saltine Toffee Recipe

Appetizer Week Version 4.0

All of the appetizers so far during Appetizer Week have been newbies.  Tonight's app is not.  It is one that I found last Christmas in the Food Network magazine.  I've been using it at any and every holiday gathering, and it is always a hit.  Tonight's appetizer is Eggnog Monte Cristos.

What drew me to this recipe first was the eggnog.  I'm a big nogger.  I always have been.  In my holiday world, it just isn't Christmas without it.  The monte cristo part was just the closer.  How yummy is a sandwich fried in butter with a sprinkling of powdered sugar?  It's like fair food.  Am I right my Texans?

If there's one downer about this recipe, it would be this...the monte cristos taste best when warm.  That translates into, it needs to be done just before  your guests arrive.  If you are a party host, then you know that the moments prior to your guests arriving aren't exactly boring.  Hectic might be a better word.  However, if you do make them, they will be what is devoured first and later raved about.  My thoughts are, that this recipe is best made for a small gathering.  It's also super tasty for a cozy Sunday night meal.

I wish I had a picture for you, but I don't.  Like I said, the moments before guests arrive is a hectic time.  Not exactly a photo prime opportunity.  If you click on the link below, there is an accurate picture along with the recipe.

If you are a fellow nogger, or just a monte cristo lover, try this one out this holiday season!  Enjoy!

Link to the Food Network's Eggnog Monte Cristos Recipe

Appetizer Week Version 1.0 Shrimp with Lemon Chive Aioli

Appetizer Week Version 2.0 Goat Cheese Guacamole

Appetizer Week Version 3.0 Creamy Cuke Cups

Appetizer Week Version 3.0

It's Day 3 of Appetizer Week, and at first glance you may be wondering what on earth I've made today.  Fair question, I might add.  Today's appetizer is a product of my curiosity.

I stumbled upon this recipe in the current issue of the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine.  It is called Creamy Cuke Cups.  Strange name?  Yes.  Light and refreshing taste?  Absolutely.

What caught my attention about this particular recipe was threefold.  For one thing, it required very few ingredients.  A second thing, is that the ingredients were fresh (and low calorie...BONUS!).  Lastly, among the very few ingredients was goat cheese.  I LOVE GOAT CHEESE!  It's name too, when thought out too long, is rather gross.  My advice though, don't think about where the cheese came from, just enjoy it's amazing taste, and maybe appreciate goats a bit more.

Another perk of this recipe, is that I had it ready in mere minutes.  On the flip side, I equally had the finished product devoured in mere minutes.  Funny how that works sometimes.

If you are attempting this one, the recipe calls for peruvian cucumbers.  I didn't find those, nor did I look too hard.  I just used your standard, everyday cuke.  I believe the peruvian ones would have been smaller, and that would have been cute.  However in the flavor department, I may have to vote for regular cucumbers.  Surprisingly, the combination of cucumber, blueberries, goat cheese, and fresh mint is refreshingly delicious!  If I had to change one thing, it would be to remove the cucumber peel.  Its texture just didn't seem to fit the blend of these ingredients.  Although, its peel may be necessary for support.

These Creamy Cuke Cups are adorable for presentation, delicious on taste, and easy to prepare.  Maybe you'll try these one day.  Perhaps a day when you need some refreshment!  Enjoy!

Appetizer Week Version 1.0 Recipe
Appetizer Week Version 2.0 Recipe

Link to Every Day with Rachael Ray Creamy Cuke Cups Recipe

Appetizer Week Version 2.0

I've been living in Texas for nearly 4 years now.  I can pinpoint several things about me that have changed since I've entered this cultural immersion program, and rest assured friends, it is a different culture here in Texas.

For one thing, the very size of my jewelry has grown exponentially.  Chunky necklaces abound and are a frequent addition to most of my daily outfit planning.  My boot collection has grown annually, and that makes me very happy!  My love for all things BBQ has only deepened, even more so when we speak of my love of all types of Mexican food.  I refer to my older daughter as "Sis" which, as a friend recently pointed out, makes me a solid Texan.  Other things that have occurred during my immersion into Texas culture, are a fierce loyalty to Texas products, namely Blue Bell ice cream and Shiner beer, as well as an appreciation for the immense variety of fried foods.  My Thanksgiving turkey was even fried this year.  Oh yeah, only 4 years into my Texan lifestyle, and I'm almost completely transformed.

How do I feel about all of these changes?  Actually, I feel great.  Texas is a wonderful place.  The pride that exudes from people about where they come from is nothing short of admirable.  It's a fantastic place to live, raise kids, and immerse yourself.  So what does this have to do with appetizers, you might be wondering?  Keep reading...

Another thing you should know about life in Texas, in case you are considering a move here, is that guacamole and salsa are a social staple here.  Any and all gatherings are guacamole and salsa appropriate.  A pool party, a Christmas soiree, a children's Valentine's Day party, these and anything else you can imagine, are all guacamole and salsa appropriate events.  You may think that these two fellas might only appear at a fiesta or Mexican night, but that's where you'd be incorrect.  Even a simple Tuesday evening is reason enough to whip up a batch of guac or salsa.  It's kind of a staple...like sandwiches.

I feel you have the full appreciation now of the gravity of guacamole in my new life, and how it has to be amazing if it's going to be a contender with a guacamole savvy crowd.  With no further ado, today's appetizer is Goat Cheese Guacamole.  If you are a goat cheese lover, you are going to LOVE this!  If you're not, well I don't know because I am a goat cheese lover.  If you fall into the camp of "you've never tried goat cheese," then unless you are a picky eater, I'd say you'll love it.  

This appetizer is a funny thing.  It evokes an interesting response.  At first bite, you think "oh that's good."  Then it progressively gets even tastier, and then in about 30 seconds or so, you find yourself saying aloud, "OH, that's GOOD!"  The other fantastic thing about this app?  You know how guacamole can turn a brownish shade really quickly?  Well, that doesn't happen here.  I served this appetizer two days before I took the above picture.  It didn't brown during the time it sat out, or during the two days in the fridge.  Really, it's a wonder-guac.

I hope you love Version 2.0 of Appetizer Week, in case you missed Version 1.0, click here.  Enjoy y'all!

Link to Goat Cheese Guacamole Recipe

Appetizer Week Version 1.0

I love themes, so I'm making this week a theme week...Appetizer Week to be specific.  Every day I'm going to tempt your taste buds with a yummy appetizer.

Christmas Eve has always been a big buffet of appetizers in our family.  I've been experimenting with some new ones this year, that I'd love to share with you.  This week, I'll even share some not so new ones too.  Hopefully this week you'll gain a new recipe to love!

Today's appetizer has an unfortunate name.  Despite it's unappealing name, its taste is in fact quite appealing...down right delicious actually!  Today's recipe is called Pickled Shrimp.  PLEASE keep reading.  Trust me, it's really, really great.

My incredibly sweet and dear friend S shared this recipe on her blog earlier this month.  She made it for her sister's baby shower, and she said it was wildly popular.  That's enough endorsement for me!  It reminds me of a recipe my sister-in-law makes too, another appetizer that I love.  I've shared this appetizer with a few friends, and they also thought it was delicious.  So if you can look past the less than appetizing name, you'll find a fairly simple and amazingly delicious appetizer!

Link to Pickled Shrimp with Lemon Chive Aioli Recipe

FYI-This appetizer was supposed to be served with a lemon chive aioli, which I'm sure would have been amazing.  I ran out of time before I had to share this app, so I didn't get to make it.  I will definitely leave time to make it next time, as I fully believe that it would have taken this recipe to a whole new level.  Either way, I fully recommend this irresistible app!  Enjoy!!

Gingerbread Girl

All week, my 4 year old princess has been reading the story of the Gingerbread Man at preschool.  So, when she got home from school this past chilly, rainy Friday, I thought it would be fun to make a giant gingerbread man of our own.  However, she isn't in to boys whatsoever, so she claimed this giant cookie as a gingerbread girl.

I'd love to WOW you with some fantastic, from scratch recipe, but I have none.  What I do have is a fantastic Wilton Gingerbread Man pan that I got at Target for 7 bucks, and a lovely package of gingerbread cookie mix that was about a dollar.  I'll tell you what though, it makes a REAL tasty gingerbread and a REAL happy 4 year old.

My sweet chef, apron and all, with her Gingerbread Girl ready to go in the oven.

Good ol' Betty!

One proud princess with her decorated Gingerbread Girl.

Chocolate chip hair, sparkly mittens, and a green necklace.
All designed by my baking princess!

I hope you enjoy a little fun with those in your life this Christmas season.  If you've got any young kids around, I highly suggest the investment in the pan.  I know this is not the last gingerbread girl this house will see!  Enjoy!