Category: Make Ahead

Holiday Nut Crunch Bark #GoNutsForNuts

** This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias (Collective Bias, Inc.) and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. **

Holiday Nut Crunch Bark #GoNutsForNuts #ad

Is this year moving too quickly for anyone else? I cannot believe it is almost the holiday season! It’s probably a safe assumption the rest of the year is going to fly by as well, so I wanted to get a head start on the holidays now. I’ll hold off on the shopping for a few more days, but it’s never too early to try out some recipes, right? I love giving desserts as small gifts during the holiday season, and bark is a fun and simple option! This bark recipe uses one of Planter’s seasonal nut mixes, which can be found in your local Walmart. Some stores have these great Planter’s holiday displays with all of their seasonal mixes, so it’s so easy to #GoNutsForNuts!

PlantersDisplay

I used Planter’s Holiday Nut Crunch for this recipe, but you could also use one of the other seasonal options, such as Planter’s Cocoa Almonds or Winter Spiced Mix. For additional inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. They have recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

Planter’s also has a Blippar app to help you find more fun recipes to try using their products. Blippar is an app that has image recognition capabilities and gives you the opportunity to interact with Planter’s brand. You can swipe through Holiday Gift Tips, take a selfie with Mr. Peanut, and browse Planter’s holiday products!

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag dark chocolate chips (~10 oz)
  • 1 bag milk chocolate chips (~11.5 oz)
  • 3/4 cups Planter’s Holiday Nut Crunch mix
  • 1/2 cup green chocolate wafers
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate wafers

Continue reading Holiday Nut Crunch Bark #GoNutsForNuts

Apple Sage Stuffing Cups

Stuffing is one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving, probably because it’s usually the only time of year I get to eat it. But now that I’ve found this awesome single serving version for Apple Sage Stuffing Cups, I can have it whenever I want with little effort!

This recipe from Cooking Light adds the stuffing to a cupcake tin to bake so that you get more crispy edges. It’s also great as a make ahead option because everything is already portioned out for easy reheating.

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces sourdough bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 cups diced apple
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
  • 2/3 cup chopped celery
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 3/4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or vegetable stock to keep it vegetarian)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • Cooking spray

Continue reading Apple Sage Stuffing Cups

Cherry Port Cranberry Sauce

I absolutely love cranberry sauce. This not-too-tart and not-too-sweet Thanksgiving staple is always a favorite of mine.

Now I don’t turn my nose up at the canned stuff, but this homemade version for Cherry Port Cranberry Sauce is a really simple alternative. It’s also a bit of a chunky sauce instead of the smooth canned version, so it has a really nice texture to it. Plus, it can be made in 20 minutes!

If you don’t want to use port in the recipe, you can substitute in pomegranate juice.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries (about 8 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup dried sweetened cherries
  • 3/4 cup port wine
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Continue reading Cherry Port Cranberry Sauce

Slow Cooker Sausage and Sweet Potato Chili

Nothing warms you up quite like a bowl of homemade chili. I love how hearty chili is while still being a relatively healthy dinner choice. And when made in a slow cooker, it’s waiting to greet you when you get home!

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of slow cooker recipes; I have almost 30 slow cooker recipes on my blog as of this post!  And chili is a perfect slow cooker meal — brown your meat, saute the onions and peppers, throw everything else in, cover, and let the slow cooker do it’s magic.

I was sent this slow cooker chili recipe from Redpack tomatoes for Slow Cooker Sausage and Sweet Potato Chili, along with a kit containing some of their yummy crushed tomatoes. I had never made chili with sweet potatoes in it before but it sounded absolutely delicious! I adapted my recipe slightly, mainly due to me using a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes instead of a 14.5 oz can (oops).

Redpack also will be hosting an awesome promotion from today, Oct. 22 to Nov. 12 during which they will give away two slow cookers a day for three weeks on its Facebook page — that’s 44 slow cookers! Just go to RedPack Tomatoes Facebook Page to enter.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, removed from its casings
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 (28 oz) can Redpack Crushed Tomatoes in Thick Puree
  • 1 (28 oz) can Repack Petite Diced Tomatoes in Juice
  • 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
  • cilantro leaves, chopped (optional)

Continue reading Slow Cooker Sausage and Sweet Potato Chili

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

I don’t know how this is even possible but I’ve never had Sloppy Joes before making this recipe. It was not in my family’s dinner rotation, my camp never served it, and I never came across it at a friend’s house when sleeping over.

Well, my wait is finally over! Traditional Sloppy Joes are made with beef but I for this Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe, used a mixture of ground beef and Johnsonville Bratwursts removed from their casings.  The recipe is adapted from one I found on MyRecipes.com.

note: I was sent free coupons for Johnsonville products. Opinions are my own.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 (19-oz.) package Johnsonville Brats
  • 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 10 brioche buns, toasted

Continue reading Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies

Halloween and dessert go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or maybe that’s only true on my blog (I have quite a few Halloween desserts on here). Who cares? More yummy desserts for us to enjoy, like these Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies!

Although most people don’t usually equate Halloween with cookies, I saw Halloween-themed cookie cutters in the supermarket and made an impulse buy. Whoopsie. So these cookies are to justify my purchase. Plus, it gives me another excuse to add pumpkin into a recipe! I adapted this recipe form a traditional gingerbread cookie recipe from Cooking Light.

I was recently sent Truvia’s new Brown Sugar Blend, a mixture of Truvia and Brown Sugar that offers a brown sugar-like taste, texture and volume, with 75% fewer calories than regular brown sugar. One half cup of Truvia Brown Sugar Blend (210 calories) provides the same sweetness as one cup of brown sugar (830 calories).

Truvia is also having a great contest right now: the Truvia Baking Star contest. Bakers can submit two-minute videos that feature their own original Truvia Brown Sugar Blend recipe on www.TruviaBakingStar.com, to win a trip to New York and an all-expense paid professionally-filmed baking video that will be promoted by the brand. Three finalists will be brought to NYC for a bake-off, where they’ll meet Truvia brand reps, reporters and editors of top media publications.

 

Here are the details:

  • From September 16 – October 14, 2014, fans can submit their videos via www.TruviaBakingStar.com.
  • From October 21 – October 30, 2014, fans can vote for their favorite of 10 semi-finalists.
  • Shortly after October 30, 2014, the three finalists with the most votes will be notified that they have won an all-expense-paid trip to New York City with a guest.
  • On November 19, 2014, the three finalists’ baking skills will be judged live by the YouTube Star judges and the Truvia® Baking Star Contest winner will be announced.

 

Three finalists will win an all-expense-paid trip to New York City, where they will compete in a live bake-off event on November 19, judged by YouTube stars April Moore, Byron Talbott, Joanne Ozug and Gaby Dalkin. The winner will be awarded the title of Truvia® Baking Star. He or she will win a professionally produced and promoted video, and his or her recipe will be featured on Truvia.com.

 

 

So, on to my recipe!

 

Ingredients:

  •  2 1/3 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 cup Truvia brown sugar blend, firmly packed
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons molasses

Continue reading Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies

Ghost and Mummy Snack Pack Pudding Cups

,  ** This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias (Collective Bias, Inc.) and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. **

Halloween is right around the corner so it’s time to start planning all the yummy Halloween treats you want to serve! If you’re having a party, a get-together before Trick-or-Treating, or are just looking for an easy to make dessert with a Halloween theme, I have a super simple idea that also looks great set out for a party. Snack Pack pudding cups make it so easy to make a creative dessert with little effort, like these Ghost and Mummy Snack Pack Pudding Cups. Just use the pudding cup as the base and mix in some other treats for a fun and tasty #SnackPackMixins!

 

I really love pudding cups, they are my go-to for an afternoon snack to get my yummy chocolate fix for the day with just 120 calories a cup. Plus, they have the same amount of calcium as an 8 oz glass of milk!

 

 

To give the Snack Packs a Halloween spin, I decided to make ghosts and mummies rising from the dead.  I used the Snack Pack pudding cups as the “dirt” sprinkled with a bit of crushed Oreos on top and made “ghosts” and “mummies” out of candy-coated Nutter Butters. Aren’t these Ghost and Mummy Snack Pack Pudding Cups cute?

I found the Snack Pack pudding cups, Oreos, and Nutter Butters in the cookies/snacks aisle at Walmart. Keep an eye out for displays in select Walmarts that include vanilla and chocolate pudding cups, Oreos, and Nutter Butters to make shopping for this recipe really easy!

 

The mummies and ghosts should be made ahead of time so that they have time to dry. They can be made a few days ahead of time. If making the day of, just give yourself about 30 minutes to prepare them and to let them dry before adding to the Snack Packs.

 

Ingredients:

  • 12 (3.25 oz) Chocolate Snack Pack Pudding Cups
  • 12 Oreo cookies, filling removed and crushed
  • 12 Nutter Butter cookies
  • 12 oz. vanilla-flavored candy coating
  • 24 mini chocolate chips (or candy eyes)
  • small tube of black decorating icing (optional)
  • wax paper

Continue reading Ghost and Mummy Snack Pack Pudding Cups

Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew

My slow cooker and I are good friends, although I’m pretty sure the slow cooker is bringing more to the relationship than me. I love coming home to a delicious smelling dinner after work that takes maybe 15 minutes of prep time in the morning on my part.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew from Cooking Light’s latest issue uses an ingredient I’ve never used before, or honestly even noticed in the supermarket: Oxtail. Oxtail is a gelatin-rich cut, which makes it perfect for hearty stews, especially slow cooked ones. The ribs add a bit more meat to the stew, which also has carrots and potatoes to round out the flavors.

This recipe is originally made in a Dutch oven and cooks for about 2 hours so if you’re not in the mood for a slow cooker version, be sure to check out the original recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound bone-in short ribs, trimmed
  • 1 pound oxtail
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced shallots
  • 6 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 3 cups unsalted beef stock
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pound very small Dutch Potatoes (bite size)
  • 3/4 pound carrots, cut diagonally into 2-inch-thick pieces
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in cold water, if needed

Continue reading Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew

Tiramisu Jars

I wanted to have this post for Tiramisu Jars up for National Coffee Day (September 29th) but. Well. I didn’t. So instead, we will finish off the week with this yummy recipe! Also, honestly, isn’t every day National Coffee Day?

For the past three years, I have had the opportunity to help spread the word about World Vision, and each year they are kind enough to offer a giveaway to go along with the post! Last year, I made Star Anise Snickerdoodles to highlight the Prosperity Cinnamon and the year before I made Couscous with Dried Cranberries and Pine Nuts featuring beautiful Hand-Carved Serving Spoons. This year, I’m using Fair Trade Coffee to make a fun spin on Tiramisu.

 

World Vision is an organization that helps sponsor children in need and helps fight world hunger through your donations. One of the ways you can help the organization is by purchasing products within their Gift Catalog, which allows you to give a truly meaningful gift this holiday season.  The 2014 Christmas season marks the 19th annual edition of the World Vision Gift Catalog. In the 2013 fiscal year, more than 186,000 donors purchased more than 475,000 items that raised over $33.7 million. These items help more than 844,000 people around the world!

The catalog is filled with items for every budget ($16 to $39,000) that help children and families in need worldwide. The World Vision Gift Catalog offers an alternative (or addition to) traditional holiday gift giving. You can choose a gift for these families that fits your financial abilities and personal tastes. For example, a gardener may enjoy donating $17 towards hybrid or drought-resistant seeds, which is enough to feed one family.  With a financial contribution, the gift giver can select from more than 250 items at www.worldvisiongifts.org, as well as Handcrafted Gifts for those who want to give a tangible gift to a loved one.

 

The Fair Trade Coffee I used within this recipe is available with a donation of $65. The 12 oz. coffee set is blended by OneCup.org, using delicious flavors from Ethiopia, Sumatra, and Costa Rica, and is delivered in a gift bag of African fabric hand-sewn by local women. World Vision Gift Catalog has offered to give a Fair Trade Coffee Set away to one lucky reader! Details after the recipe.

I used the coffee to make a strong overnight cold-brewed coffee to use in place of espresso in Tiramisu. Because I am visiting friends this weekend and always try to bring them a treat, I decided to make individual mason jar Tiramisu Trifles because they travel better than a large baking dish. I adapted a recipe from Food Network to make these Tiramisu jars.

Ingredients:
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 pound mascarpone cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups cold-brewed coffee (recipe below)
  • 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur
  • 24 packaged ladyfingers, cut into small pieces (I cut mine into 1/6ths)
  • cocoa powder, for dusting
  • 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
  • 6 8oz mason jars

Continue reading Tiramisu Jars

Pumpkin Cake Bites

I’ve waited long enough. It’s time to give in to the most wonderful time of year. No, not Christmas. Autumn! And the best way to really dive in to the season? Pumpkins, of course!

I love pumpkin. Like, really love pumpkin. I actually hoard Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice K-Cups around this time of year so that I can drink them year-round. From sweet to savory, pumpkin is just the best. I have so many pumpkin recipes on here so if you’re a pumpkin aficionado like myself, be sure to check them all out! (Just a sample of some pumpkin-filled recipes: Cheesecake bars, Flan, Whoopie Pies, Eggnog, Trifle, Ravioli, Bread, Soup… you get the idea)

So, I came across this recipe looking for a Pumpkin Brownie. Despite this recipe being called Pumpkin Brownies in the original recipe, it is most certainly cake. But who am I to worry about semantics? It’s still delicious! I  added more pumpkin-y spices to give the pumpkin flavor a boost and added in some dark chocolate chips because, why not?

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 (15 oz) can solid-pack pumpkin
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla powder (can substitute in 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract)
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allsplice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon 1% milk (can substitute whatever milk you have)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar

Continue reading Pumpkin Cake Bites

Black Bean Brownies

So, I’ve avoided making this recipe for months. Seriously, MONTHS. Black bean brownies always sounded really um… not tasty… to me.

This recipe is from a cookbook I received ages ago called Vegan Beans from Around the World: Adventurous Recipes for the Most Delicious, Nutritious and Flavorful Bean Dishes Ever. There are some seriously awesome recipes in here, from African Peanut Soup to Curried Dal with Cauliflower. But I was really curious about the Black Bean Brownies and wanted to make them. So after months of putting it off I finally tried it. And this recipe really changed my mind about black bean brownies! The consistency is spot on, and the chocolate flavor comes through really well. Who knew?

I adapted this recipe slightly from the original: I doubled the recipe to make a thicker brownie and used a different baking dish so the cooking time is different as well. I also limited the cinnamon because when I originally made these, I felt like the cinnamon flavor was too strong.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 (15.5 ounce) cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly ground flax seeds
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lukewarm coffee (I just used what was left from my morning coffee)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup walnuts

Continue reading Black Bean Brownies

Spritz Cookies

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Annually, OXO highlights this month with a program benefiting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, founded by two OXO employees who’s son battled pediatric cancer. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides inspiration and support to allow anyone to easily get involved in fundraising to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

 

To show support, OXO will donate up to $100,000* to support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through the sales of specially marked items, bake sale matches, and other fundraising efforts.   And that’s where this post comes in! OXO sent me a set of cookie-baking tools including specially marked OXO baking products with this Cookies for Kids’ Cancer sticker:

 

OXO is donating $100 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each blog post dedicated to this cause in September. (I made these Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies and these Gluten Free Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes last year in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer as well.)

But they aren’t stopping there. For every stickered item sold, OXO will donate 25 cents in support of pediatric cancer research as part of its $100,000* pledge to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Look for specially marked OXO products at participating retailers in September. (Here’s a list of OXO products that include the sticker.)
* In 2014, OXO will donate up to $100,000 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through specially marked baking tools, bake sale matches and other fundraising efforts. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501c(3) public charity duly incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. 100% of proceeds raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund pediatric cancer research.
So my cookie-baking set came with a Cookie Press with Disk Storage Case, as well as a Cookie Spatula and a 3 Piece Spatula Set. OXO was even kind enough to send over their newest Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons! I have never made Spritz cookies before so I was really excited to try the Cookie Press out. Although Spritz cookies are typically thought of as a holiday cookie, OXO’s Cookie Press comes with plenty of other non-winter shapes, including a Leaf, Daisy, Sunflower, Buttercup, Fleur-de-lis, Butterfly, Shell, and Heart! (More winter-y shapes include a Bear, Snowflake, Tree, and Wreath)

For my first attempt, I stayed traditional and made a traditional Butter Spritz Cookie Dough using a recipe adapted from the Food Network to make these Spritz Cookies!

Ingredients:

  • 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon sized pieces
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Sprinkles or colored sugar, for garnish
  • Food dye (optional)

note: to make Spritz cookies you need a cookie press Continue reading Spritz Cookies

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

As kids are going back to school (or may even be back!) and the “busy season” of work creeps closer, it’s necessary to find recipes that can be prepared ahead of time so that weeknight meals can be on the table as quickly as possible. My favorite tool for really yummy dishes that I can just reheat is my lovely slow cooker.

 

Cooking Light had a recipe for Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice that is perfect for weekend prep and weeknight meals. This particular recipe has a good amount of prep time before putting everything in the slow cooker so I’d suggest making it on a weekend versus a weeknight morning. (If you want to make this before work, set aside 30-45 minutes to get everything ready to put in the slow cooker.)

 

A couple of notes before I dive into the recipe. You actually soak the dried red beans in water overnight, so don’t forget to do that that night before you plan on making this recipe. Also, dried kidney beans apparently contain a toxin that is not killed at low temperatures (like in a slow cooker) so you have to boil them for 10 minutes before slow cooking. (Who knew?! Definitely don’t skip that step!) This recipe makes 8 servings so you can also freeze the red bean mixture for future meals if you won’t finish it during the week. Ok! Let’s cook!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 oz andouille sausage, quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped poblano chile (~2 chiles)
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 (12-ounce) can lager-style beer
  • 4 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne pepper)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, divided
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 4 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

 

Continue reading Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Blackberry Black Tea Coconut Ice Cream

I have been meaning to review this really yummy tea for quite a while now. I blame my boyfriend; he swiped my can of The Republic of Tea’s HiCAF Toasted Coconut Black Tea Bags and brought it to work with him!

 

 

The Republic of Tea is one of my favorite tea companies, their tea is so good! (One of my go-to’s is their Earl Greyer Tea) I also really like their packaging; the tins make it easy to transport and keep the tea bags more fresh than they would be in a box.

 

 

What makes this tea particularly noteworthy is that the caffeine content of this tea is enhanced with green tea extract and pure caffeine isolated from premium tea leaves, so it’s a great morning pick-me-up. This tea also has a natural coconut flavor and a touch of licorice flavor, making for quite the tasty tea! It’s really yummy with a splash of milk. To really enhance the coconut flavor, add a little turbinado sugar to your tea too. (You can now understand why my boyfriend stole this tea from me!) The HiCAF Toasted Coconut Black Tea is also gluten free, carb free, with no added sugars.

 

 

I love using tea and coffee in recipes and the flavors of this tea just begged to be used in a dessert! The inspiration for this recipe was a Sunset recipe for a Blackberry-Black Tea Sorbet. Because there is already a flavor of coconut in the tea, I wanted to further enhance that by turning this recipe for a sorbet into a vegan ice cream using coconut milk. 

 

 

Making ice cream is really easy but it takes quite a bit of preparation. First, you need an ice cream maker. (Luckily my mom had one!) The bowl of the ice cream maker has to be frozen for at least 24 hours before it’s ready to use. For this particular recipe, the tea bags need to be steeped in the coconut milk, cooled, and refrigerated before making the ice cream. Plus the whole ice cream mixture needs a few hours in the fridge to get cold. Whew!

 

So, if you’re making this, be sure to prepare ahead!

 

 

Ingredients:

Continue reading Blackberry Black Tea Coconut Ice Cream

Blueberry Breakfast Bars

I have a coworker who absolutely loves blueberries. She is retiring this week, and I wanted to make her a blueberry treat before she left. I adapted this recipe for Blueberry Breakfast Bars on The Kitchn, with the original recipe coming from the Whole Grain Mornings cookbook by Megan Gordon.

My version uses quite a bit of substitutes and including using sprouted spelt flour instead of whole wheat flour because I could not find my whole wheat flour when I went to make these (I guess I need to clean out my pantry!) I also have more blueberry filling in my version, and used a different sized pan. Be sure to check out the original version on the kitchn to see if you prefer their method!

Ingredients:

Blueberry filling:

  • 4 cups fresh blueberries, divided
  • 1/4 cup natural cane sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • the juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon water

Crust:

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup original wheat germ
  • 3/4 cup sliced raw almonds
  • 1/4 cup raw sesame seeds
  • 1 cup sprouted spelt flour (or whole wheat flour)
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1⁄4-inch cubes, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Continue reading Blueberry Breakfast Bars

Exit mobile version