Eggnog Sandwich Cookies are a unique holiday treat. The nutmeg and ginger sugar topping, the soft cookie, the creamy filling -- all the eggnog flavors in your hand. The dough is soft and a little sticky, even after chilling. Just do the best you can to make round cookies. Flatten them with a drinking glass (patterned bottom optional) dipped in flour so they are even height all the way across. When baking, watch the time so cookies just begin to turn golden when you remove them from the oven. (Some of mine got a little too brown this time!) We really liked them plain, but the filling definitely lifts things up a notch. Wait until they are well cooled before assembling sandwiches. The yield is approximately 72 cookies which will make 36 sandwiches. These are better eaten within a ... [Read More]
American
Cranberry Pear Sauce
Colorful and delicious Cranberry Pear Sauce will be a hit this holiday season! It is super quick and easy to make with no refined sugar. Its sweetness comes naturally from ripe pears and a touch of real maple syrup. It is a superb accompaniment to turkey and other poultry as well, as pork tenderloin or pork roast. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never look at store-bought cranberry sauce the same. What kind of pear to use? Bartletts hold their flavor but break down and become "saucy" when heated so they are a good choice for this recipe. They have a true “pear shape” with a large, rounded bottom half that tapers to a smaller curved neck with slender stem. Bartletts come in two colors, red and yellow, that are unique in the pear world in that they darken as they ripen. Bartletts ... [Read More]
Savory Sweet Potatoes
Rich, creamy mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for any holiday meal. They are so quick and easy , you’ll want to enjoy them throughout the year. Sweet potatoes are as nutritious as they are delicious. They contain fewer calories and are higher in fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C than their white counterparts. See the infographic from Cleveland Clinic below for a quick comparison. You can peel and cut the sweet potatoes in small, uniform cubes before adding to water for boiling. Cook until sweet potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove from heat and drain. OR you can put whole, and thoroughly washed, sweet potatoes in a medium to large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook until sweet potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove from ... [Read More]
Cod Fish with Garlic Herb Butter
Fish is not a big staple in the Great Plains where the buffalo roam and cattle graze. So it's not the first thing a Cornhusker thinks of when it it is time to prepare dinner. However, it is part of a healthy diet, especially if you are striving for better heart health and general health improvements overall. Or need a change of taste! I am always looking for a different way to prepare fish. But I also like quick and easy. This recipe fits both! And the garlic herb butter is also fantastic on that other staple of the Great Plains, especially this time of year! Corn on the cob. Cod Fish with Garlic Herb Butter Print Prep time 5 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 15 mins Quick, easy and tasty! Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: ... [Read More]
Toad in the Hole Grilled Cheese Sandwich
I’ve wanted to make Toad in the Hole ever since I read a British children’s book that referred to it – maybe at age 11 or 12. The name fascinates me! Recently I saw a grilled cheese sandwich topped with Toad in the Hole. What could be better than that? One more check mark on the bucket list!! Toad in the Hole Grilled Cheese Sandwich Print Prep time 5 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 15 mins Fun and delicious! Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: Sandwich Cuisine: American Serves: 1 Ingredients For each sandwich: 2 slices sour dough bread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 large egg 1 slice cheddar cheese 2 cooked bacon strips Instructions Cook bacon slices in small skillet over medium heat. While cooking, follow steps below. Using ... [Read More]
Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats
Quick and simple to make. One batch = 8 breakfasts. Easy to grab from the refrigerator. You can just as easily take it with you to eat later. A super delicious nutritional powerhouse. What could be better for breakfast than Peach Cobbler Overnight Oatmeal? Chia seeds are relatively new in our pantry. I was surprised to learn they are in the mint family as the seed of Salvia hispanica, found in Mexico and Guatemala. They were a staple of Mayan and Aztec diets, so they’ve been eaten for a long time! The tiny black and white seeds can expand to hold about 10 times their weight in liquid. They also contain all nine essential amino acids, which are the muscle-building protein building blocks our bodies need but we get them only through our food. Chia seeds provide antioxidants, ... [Read More]
