Rosemary Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail

Note: I was sent a bottle of Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Brut and a bottle of Valdo Marca Oro Rose Prosecco in order to write this post and recipe for Rosemary Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail. Opinions are mine alone.

I love a simple cocktail that still somehow feels celebratory. That’s where Prosecco cocktails come in! Prosecco tends to be my sparkling wine of choice. A little bubbly always makes everything feel a bit more special, don’t you think?

Valdo Marco Oro Prosecco DOC Brut and Valdo Marco Oro Rose Prosecco DOC Vintage Brut

Later this month, (June 24-30) is National Prosecco Week so I wanted to celebrate a bit early! National Prosecco Week is the largest nationwide celebration of Prosecco DOC. It’s a nationwide campaign that is supported by the Prosecco DOC Consortium. Every year, National Prosecco Week reaches 1,000+ e-commerce, restaurants, and brick-and-mortar stores across the US!

For this Rosemary Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail, I’m using Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Brut. Made with 100% Glera grapes and aged for three months using the Charmat method, this bubbly is characterized by a crisp palate and fine effervescence. This prosecco is structured yet bright, making it a beautiful pairing with the woody rosemary and tart grapefruit.

Ingredients (serves 1, multiply as needed):

Rosemary Syrup (makes enough for about 5 cocktails):

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs
  • pinch salt

Rosemary Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail:

  • 2 oz grapefruit juice
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary syrup
  • 3 oz Prosecco (like Valdo Marca Oro Brut)
  • 1 grapefruit wedge
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig

Continue reading Rosemary Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

So, I’ll be honest. I was actually trying to make a different ice cream than what I ended up with. But this oh so chocolatey Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream is so delicious, it was quite a happy mistake!

My original goal/inspiration was to recreate the now defunct Capogiro’s scuro gelato – the most decadent and beautifully silky dark chocolate gelato. It was my mom’s favorite gelato ever and she’s basically been chasing the high of Capogiro’s scuro gelato ever since they sadly closed in December 2018.

I didn’t quite get to dark chocolate status this round (don’t you worry, that will be a future post!), but I am pretty sure this is the best chocolate ice cream ever.  EVER. Don’t believe me? Try this recipe out for yourself!

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Continue reading Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Paloma Cocktail

If you’ve never had a Paloma Cocktail before, you are in for a treat! This 3-ingredient cocktail is a refreshing tequila-based drink perfect for warm weather!

Originating in Mexico, Palomas are sometimes compared to margaritas, but they are really closer to a greyhound, which is made with gin and grapefruit juice.

The Paloma Cocktail is one of the most simple cocktails to make. It is made right in the serving glass so you don’t need any bartending equipment to make it!

Ingredients (makes one glass, multiply as needed):

  • 2 ounces blanco tequila
  • the juice of one lime
  • 4 ounces grapefruit soda (like Jarritos – paid link)
  • pinch of salt
  • garnish: lime wedge

Continue reading Paloma Cocktail

Homemade Peanut Butter Ice Cream

I took a couple of months off from making ice cream but I’m back at it with this awesome recipe for Homemade Peanut Butter Ice Cream!

We adopted a puppy back in December, so we have considerably more peanut butter in our house now to fill his toppl (paid link).

So this recipe, inspired by what I already had in my house, is chock full of peanut butter: peanut butter ice cream swirled with creamy peanut butter!

This recipe is pretty straightforward. You’ll need an electric ice cream maker (paid link) to make this recipe.

Ingredients (makes 1 quart):

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

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Chocolate Smash Cake

My niece’s first birthday is soon, and my sister asked if I would make her smash cake; what an honor!

My sister requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, and as this will be my niece’s first taste of chocolate, I have to make sure it’s tasty with a few more baby-friendly adjustments.

This Chocolate Smash Cake is a fluffy, chocolatey mini cake perfect for (obviously) first birthdays, or for smaller get togethers.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake:

  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce

Chocolate Frosting:

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • pinch fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup whole milk, plus more as needed

Continue reading Chocolate Smash Cake

Homemade Poutine

Note: I was sent a copy of Ticket to Ride The Official Cookbook in order to make this recipe for Homemade Poutine. Opinions are mine alone.

During the pandemic, my husband and I, like many others, did a lot of puzzles and played a lot of board games that could be played with just two people. One of our favorites is/was Ticket to Ride (paid link), which is described as “a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America.” We also love playing Ticket to Ride with friends and other family members now that restrictions have lessened.

So when I was contacted about a cookbook based on the board game, I knew I had to try it!  Ticket to Ride: The Official Cookbook (paid link) offers dining car menus inspired by destinations throughout the United States and Canada.

The 75+ recipes are organized by the Destination Tickets from the core Ticket to Ride game, featuring unique dining-car menus inspired by the cities through which you travel. Each of the 15 routes includes an appetizer, a side dish, a main course, a dessert, and a cocktail (with or without alcohol)—all with deliciously strong ties to destination cities. Inside you’ll find easy-to-follow recipes and full-color photos for local favorites, regional desserts, and cocktails.

As I was paging through, I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun it would be to do a potluck game board night with some of these recipes! I really had a difficult time choosing just one recipe to highlight for this post but finally settled on the Poutine recipe for the Vancouver – Montreal route. If you’ve never had poutine before, it is an absolutely delicious dish of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy that originates from Quebec. Once I saw the recipe, I couldn’t get the idea of a Homemade Poutine out of my head!

Ingredients (serves 4 to 6):

Fries

  • 4 large Russet potatoes
  • 2 quarts vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Gravy

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 1 teaspoon cider vinegar

For Serving

  • 10 ounces cheese curds, at room temperature
  • 4 strips cooked bacon, roughly chopped
  • fresh parsley, chopped

Continue reading Homemade Poutine

Vegetarian Shepherds Pie

Note: I was sent a review copy of A Return to Ireland by Judith McLoughlin in order to make this Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. Opinions are mine alone.

You may have noticed I have quite a few Irish (and Irish-American) recipes on this blog. I truly love traditional Irish cooking; it is pure comfort food to me.

But Irish food has come a long way from just traditional meat and potatoes, and Judith McLoughlin’s A Return to Ireland (paid link) showcases some beautiful modern interpretations of classic Irish cooking.

As a Shepherd’s Pie fanatic, I was intrigued by a recipe within the cookbook for a meatless version that substitutes a mixture of lentils and mushroom for the traditional ground beef or lamb, and then enhances the traditional mashed potato topping with a mixture of other mashed root vegetables.

The result is a wonderfully hearty and delicious Vegetarian Shepherds Pie!

Ingredients (serves 6):

  • Vegetable Base
    • 6 tablespoons butter (substitute olive oil to make vegan / dairy free)
    • 1 (8 oz) container sliced mushrooms
    • 2 medium onions, chopped
    • 1 leek, chopped
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 3 ribs celery, finely chopped
    • 1/4 cup tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos to make gluten free)
    • 2 1/2 cups green lentils
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 6 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • Mashed Topping
    • 2/3 lbs celery root, peeled and chopped
    • 2/3 lbs parsnips, peeled and chopped
    • 2/3 lbs carrots, peeled and chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 4 tablespoons butter (or olive oil to make vegan / dairy free)
    • 1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Continue reading Vegetarian Shepherds Pie

Homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

I love Oreos. They are easily my favorite cookie since childhood, and I used to eat them almost every day as my after-school snack. So, it probably goes without saying that Cookies and Cream Ice Cream is one of my favorite ice creams.

I have no idea why it took me so long to make my own homemade cookies and cream ice cream, but after making this recipe, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to the store-bought stuff!

This recipe for Homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream uses just 6 ingredients. Because there are no eggs in this recipe, there is no heating of the milk mixture so it comes together pretty quickly. Note that this recipe does still require you to refrigerate the mixture overnight and churn the ice cream the next day.

Ingredients (makes 1 quart):

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 sleeve Oreos (regular, not Double Stuf), chopped

Continue reading Homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Note: I was sent some baking tools from OXO in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

It’s the holiday season which means another cookie recipe inspired by some goodies from OXO! This year, I’m making something a little different for me: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies.

I tend to gravitate toward drop cookies because they are simple, decidedly not fussy, and still delicious! These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are slice and bake cookies instead, which means you roll them into a log, slice them into equally sized slices, and bake.

Every year, OXO supports Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and the fight against pediatric cancer. Before I share my cookie recipe, I want to share a bit about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer (CFKC) is a nonprofit founded by two OXO employees after their son, Liam, was diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Through grassroots bake sales across the country, CFKC raises funds to develop new, improved and less toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Liam Witt’s legacy lives on as the organization works toward a cure for pediatric cancer, helping children and families everywhere.

Every year, OXO supports CFKC by encouraging people to bake and share. This year, OXO sent me a GG Non-Stick Pro Cookie Sheet, a Slice and Bake Cookie Maker, and a Silicone Cookie Scoop & Small Spatula Set (paid links), which is why I decided to share these Slice and Bake Christmas Pinwheel Cookies!

For every cookie baked, OXO donates $1 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer up to $100,000, so here is my new cookie this year to support the cause and spread the word!

Here are some of my old cookie swap and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer posts, in case you’re in a baking mood:

On to this year’s recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
  • 1 tablespoon green gel food coloring
  • sprinkles for decorating, optional

Continue reading Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Potato Farls (Irish Potato Bread)

I personally did not grow up eating Potato Farls, probably because around me, there was no such thing as leftover mashed potatoes. (I am still a mashed potato fiend, but I’ve managed to turn it down to a more respectable level.)

But when I am visiting family in Ireland, Potato Farls is one of the foods I am most excited to eat (along with Irish Brown Bread and the rest of the components of a beautiful Ulster Fry.)

Potato Farls is just mashed potatoes kneaded with some flour, butter, salt, and pepper, then fried up into tasty little pieces, making them the perfect recipe for the day after Thanksgiving!

Ingredients (multiply as needed):

  • 1 lb mashed potatoes
  • 1 cup flour, plus more as needed
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for frying
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • olive oil

Continue reading Potato Farls (Irish Potato Bread)

Pureed Rutabaga

Pureed Rutabaga is a staple of basically every extended family gathering I have ever been to. But my family always refers to this dish as Turnips, which used to confuse me quite a bit because, well, there is also a vegetable called a turnip.

Apparently, rutabagas are also known as yellow turnips which is where this confusion comes from. Rutabagas are actually a hybrid of a turnip and a wild cabbage!

Anywho, I love pureed rutabaga / turnips. They are fluffy, creamy, with a little bit of spice.

This recipe is particularly perfect for large gatherings because you don’t have to use your stovetop or oven at all, saving space for other dishes.

Ingredients (serves 4, multiply as needed):

  • 1 large rutabaga
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper (preferably white pepper)

Continue reading Pureed Rutabaga

Bloody Prosecco Cocktail

I’m so excited to finally share this Halloween-inspired spooky recipe with you! Last year, I attended a Halloween party at a friend’s house, and they had quite the spread of Halloween-themed treats, as well as an awesome Bloody Prosecco Cocktail, which I’ve been thinking about ever since!

The recipe is super easy and only includes two ingredients! My friend’s version was made with pomegranate juice, so I took a bit of liberty with their original version and adjusted it to use a pomegranate liqueur instead.

What makes these so “bloody” and perfect for your next Halloween party is that you add the pomegranate liqueur to a syringe (paid link) for a creepy Halloween spin. If you don’t want to do so, feel free to just pour it into the prosecco; it will still taste delicious!

You can also substitute pomegranate juice or grenadine for the pomegranate liqueur if you’d prefer a slightly less boozy version. To make a kid-friendly version, you can also substitute in ginger ale or something similar for the Prosecco.

Ingredients (makes 5 servings, multiply as needed):

  • 1 (750 ml) bottle prosecco
  • 50 ml (~3 tablespoons) pomegranate liqueur

Tools:

  • 5 coupe or champagne glasses
  • 5 (10 ml) syringes

Continue reading Bloody Prosecco Cocktail

Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

You didn’t think I’d let October pass without sharing multiple new pumpkin recipe, did you? Especially with all the ice cream recipes I’ve been making lately, it should come as no surprise that I wanted to share a Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream recipe!

Pumpkin ice cream is my absolute favorite ice cream. More specifically, Woodside Farm Creamery‘s pumpkin ice cream — their version is so wonderfully rich and creamy!

So I knew it was about time I tried to make my own at home. This recipe uses egg yolks to achieve that uber creamy texture!

Ingredients (makes approximately 1 quart):

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 8 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

Recommended tools (paid links):

Continue reading Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love all things pumpkin, both savory and sweet. Despite already sharing over 30 pumpkin recipes, I have yet to share a recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I am happy to finally rectify that huge oversight, and I promise these cookies were worth waiting for!

Ingredients (makes about 30 cookies):

  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (I used mini, regular size work too)

Continue reading Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew

I will be honest. I am partial to Irish Stew made with lamb. But Irish Stew made with beef is tasty in its own right! This Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew is a flavorful, comforting dish perfect for colder rainy days too!

This recipe is very similar to my OG Irish Stew I shared over a decade (!) ago, with a few adjustments. Recipes like this Irish Beef Stew are perfect to make in your slow cooker (paid link), which helps develop the flavors of the dish while perfectly cooking the meat and vegetables.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 onions, chopped
  • 3 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced into half moons
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 5 lbs stew beef
  • 5 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped
  • 5 cups beef stock, divided
  • 1 (15 oz) can Guinness
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons pearl barley
  • 2 lbs baby red potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Continue reading Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew

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