Peppermint bark is a seasonal favorite everyone loves! This super easy recipe assembles quickly and looks spectacular with little effort. The secret to outstanding peppermint bark is in the quality of chocolate. You can pick and choose – if your crowd is mainly teens who eat quickly and move on, use the easiest available chocolate such as almond bark or melting wafers. If you are gifting pepper mint bark or serving it to, say, your boss and co-workers, anyone who will savor and appreciate the creamy texture and holiday flavors, choose a higher quality. If you prefer, you can use all dark, semi-sweet or all white chocolate for this recipe. Festive Peppermint Bark Print Prep time 15 mins Total time 15 mins Crushed peppermint chunks and smooth, creamy ... [Read More]
holiday
Buttery Brownie Bark
For a brownie lover, brownie bark seemed a no brainer. Who wouldn’t go for that rich chocolate brownie taste in a different form? Especially with toffee on one pan full and slivered almonds on the other. Turns out Bytes was not a fan. He had his mouth set for the rich chocolate flavor, but also for the fudgy texture. What he got was crisp and crunchy. He felt cheated. I didn’t care because I got chocolate and crunch, both of which are high on my list. Wheels will eat anything that looks good so both the toffee topped bites and the ones with almond slivers disappeared in short order and without discrimination. That was the first time I made brownie bark. The second time I made them, I found a better buttery recipe. I made one batch just a bit thicker when spreading the batter in ... [Read More]
Dilly Green Bean Salad
Dilly Green Bean Salad is a refreshing alternative to the usual three bean salad that’s a favorite at our house. The deep green color of the cooked frozen bean contrasted with bits of white onion and red pepper are festive, appealing to the eye and the tastebuds! I first had Dilly Bean Salad when a friend brought it to a summer outdoor brunch served on our deck. The red and green also make it perfect for a Christmas meal. However, it’s delicious and colorful any time of year! When my friend Sue K gave me the recipe,she told me to use “extra green canned beans” and said they were located in a small section with the other beans. I did not find them while we were preparing to move because shopping time was limited. After the move, I didn’t find them in our new stores because ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
What Shall I Make for Holiday Dinner?
Searching for holiday dinner recipes? Me too! We’re unexpectedly hosting festivities since the originally scheduled host can’t. If you’re in the same boat – vs my usual boat of waiting till the last minute -- here’s a helpful list of some ideas from past A Pinch of Joy posts. You can find more ideas in the index above. Don't forget to pin and share!!! Main Dish Cornish hens serves four Moist and Tender Turkey for a crowd Sides Classic cheesy potatoes -- Everybody loves creamy, cheesy potatoes. Easy to make and transport. Sweet Potatoes A lower carb alternative recipe Sweet potato Struesel topped classic Crunchy struesel topping ( no marshmallows :-) ) Baked Corn Chowder -- Bread, casserole, vegetable, delicious, classic in one dish Vegetables Maple ... [Read More]
Four Secrets to Roasting a Moist and Tender Turkey
Turkey -- tender and moist. Crispy and golden on the platter. A twelve to fourteen pound bird that roasts in 2 and a half hours instead of 4. What creates this magic? Mayonnaise makes the turkey moist and tender. And no, there is no mayo taste -- just tender turkey. The bird turns out a beautiful deep golden color. The skin will be thin and on the crispy side. How to achieve a moist and tender roast turkey? Here's secret # 1 -- Begin with a thoroughly thawed turkey -- no ice crystals. Thaw in the refrigerator according to package directions. Guidelines are 24 hours in the fridge for each 5 pounds of turkey weight. For a 12-14 pound turkey that's about three nights so that means plan ahead! If you are like me -- that planning ahead business doesn't always happen! Backup ... [Read More]
