tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62377034987042451532024-02-20T00:41:07.338-08:00FruitfulGracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-73156189559529354852014-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:002014-01-01T06:00:04.194-08:00New Blog, New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thinkfruitful.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OuCxdnE9TYwCIWEzwVvbWm9pTCjszjY0zHs7M6Rvk5l2oYDnTY4Xemu_Vpubay1-IqEgfZdPU9vZRSkqaxiJS6IxsqeYqfMu3ESLC_GYXCwQYhi4FfiReJxuoE_mTRPKNQhcvKoyk7a0/s320/fruitfullogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Are you sitting down?<br />
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Are you ready?<br />
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Well, here's the big news. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.com/" target="_blank">Think Fruitful</a> has moved to a new space and new url. (Click on the blog name or logo to go there right now!)<br />
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Enjoy!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-68988823829110523542013-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-30T06:00:09.212-08:00Top 5 Posts of 2013As we look toward a new year, I wanted to look back at your favorite Fruitful posts from 2013!<br />
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Let's dive in:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-YuvQ9QrRsRfQugFEbYFHOmXYWMdwaseLIg8LOIf7br4IGk36a3f3jC0_LtfO8B95J66Sk2fDHTd0b9lItGQW5H3JDu0b2fjwmROH372lOIXFuLh1ewNheTeYbAvUvUHsZNlNNJS1ZzL/s1600/photo+(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-YuvQ9QrRsRfQugFEbYFHOmXYWMdwaseLIg8LOIf7br4IGk36a3f3jC0_LtfO8B95J66Sk2fDHTd0b9lItGQW5H3JDu0b2fjwmROH372lOIXFuLh1ewNheTeYbAvUvUHsZNlNNJS1ZzL/s400/photo+(22).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/11/simple-saturday-easy-pie-crust.html" target="_blank">Easy Pie Crust</a><br />
I'm glad that you guys were as excited as I was to find this super easy pie crust recipe. And Lord knows, I've use it to make near a dozen pies in the past few months. Talk about upper crust...<br />
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2. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/04/healthy-baking-tips.html" target="_blank">Healthy Baking Tips</a><br />
I've been doing a lot more healthy baking (cutting down on sugar, butter and substituting with healthier ingredients) this year and I'm glad that everyone else is getting into it, too! And these Sweet Potato Blondies are delicious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXDebjlaZZG9eWzq3At7MGRv2wOiyxBYyga6ZNPxRv2fowt7J0uNNf6KF3l-26lEoC71GUR5Y1esyio_omQLdIRAoDJfCPhwGVOEEk0HQrOp_mZPCT81d1yEcjVWrE6jlBrzPwFNJ_vcn/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXDebjlaZZG9eWzq3At7MGRv2wOiyxBYyga6ZNPxRv2fowt7J0uNNf6KF3l-26lEoC71GUR5Y1esyio_omQLdIRAoDJfCPhwGVOEEk0HQrOp_mZPCT81d1yEcjVWrE6jlBrzPwFNJ_vcn/s400/photo+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2012/12/soup-with-spice.html" target="_blank">Soup with a Spice</a><br />
I made a lot of soups this year (<a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/10/your-favorite-chili.html" target="_blank">Chili</a>, <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/09/simple-saturday-cauliflower-soup.html" target="_blank">Cauliflower</a>, <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-creative-with-carrots.html" target="_blank">Curry Carrot</a>, <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/05/easy-as-soup.html" target="_blank">Tuscan</a>, <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/01/simple-saturday-sweet-potato-soup.html" target="_blank">Sweet Potato</a>) and this Curry Butternut Squash was just as tasty and inventive as the others. If you're a soup lover, too, check out my Simple Saturday post on making your own <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/04/simple-saturday-vegetable-stock.html" target="_blank">vegetable stock</a>.<br />
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4. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/09/greek-yogurt-biscoff-cookie-spread.html" target="_blank">Greek Yogurt + Biscoff Cookie Spread</a><br />
I'm thrilled that Biscoff has been sharing this recipe that I came up with during the <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/09/greek-yogurt-biscoff-cookie-spread.html" target="_blank">Arkansas Women Bloggers</a> Unplugged conference. It's ridiculously easy (with only 3 ingredients) and a fruit or cookie plate must have.<br />
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5. <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/08/dinner-parties-and-lumpia.html" target="_blank">Dinner Parties and Lumpia</a><br />
I love that this post is in the top 5 because it was so much fun to get to go to a friend's house and learn how to make Filipino lumpia. They are such an easy and exciting appetizer.<br />
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Thank you so much for reading, pinning and sharing this year! You guys rock.<br />
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Please come back on New Year's Day for a HUGE blog announcement that you will want to be in on!<br />
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-48248858450350044862013-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-28T06:00:01.490-08:00Simple Saturday: Roasted Vegetables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you all had a beautiful and very merry Christmas and spent lots of time giving thanks and feeling blessed with others.<br />
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This month I have been getting used to the end of the farmers market...and it hasn't been easy.<br />
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I'm really missing my Arkansas black apples (though I might have found a place to get those, but please share if you have any orchard connections), fresh greens, fun squashes and fresh herbs.<br />
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But we have been eating a lot of root veggies, broccoli, cauliflower and kale, so that's not too bad.<br />
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After you've eaten veggies steamed and mashed, sometimes you want to cook them in a way that lends a little more flavor and texture.<br />
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When that's the case, you need to try some roasting.<br />
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Roasting veggies is one of the easiest, one-pan preparations and lends so much flavor! Especially when you throw some garlic bits in the mix and they get all crunchy and caramelized in the oven.<br />
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And even if you have 6 different kinds of veggies, you can let them all roast together and enjoy the unique flavors that come out.<br />
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This is a basic recipe that you can use to roast most vegetables and, though cooking times vary, you can just keep an eye on them until they're tender to your liking.<br />
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Here's how you make basic roasted vegetables:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 400-425 degrees.<br />
2. Prepare the vegetables and cut into equal-sized pieces.<br />
3. On the baking sheet mix the veggies with 1-2 tbs. or of olive oil, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a clove or two of garlic (I use my garlic press, but you can just finely dice it).<br />
4. Toss the veggies in all of the oil and seasonings until well coated and roast on an even layer for 30-40 minutes (again, depending on the vegetable) until slightly browned and crisp.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-66264254104492124532013-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-23T06:00:00.677-08:00Dinner Out: South on Main<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStPDWBgTJTTQxDrMSpztGMlvCUeilwFtocCytFvPzmfUxoN-SxC7Fvn78kNXIxnWvM7aLggvP5jUFjMDLmV2IsKx0HGlhXMwMPgwkvIP7E63K4QRa4uDh7ywwy170J4tMP49oI_S0sYFD/s1600/south+on+main.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStPDWBgTJTTQxDrMSpztGMlvCUeilwFtocCytFvPzmfUxoN-SxC7Fvn78kNXIxnWvM7aLggvP5jUFjMDLmV2IsKx0HGlhXMwMPgwkvIP7E63K4QRa4uDh7ywwy170J4tMP49oI_S0sYFD/s400/south+on+main.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few weekends ago I got to try a new restaurant that I have been eyeing since it opened a few months ago.<br />
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It's <a href="http://southonmain.com/" target="_blank">South on Main</a> in Little Rock and, oddly enough, it's located in the old "Juanita's", a concert venue where I saw many a good and not-so-good band play. But I have good memories there, either way.<br />
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The restaurant is neighbors with the <i><a href="http://www.oxfordamerican.org/" target="_blank">Oxford American</a></i> magazine, famous for its Southern literature.<br />
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I found South of Main to be a breath of fresh air with its fun, folksy decor, relaxed atmosphere but high-quality, Southern-influenced food.<br />
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Everything on the small menu (presented on a cute wooden clipboard) looked fantastic. It seriously took me 20 minutes to choose my entree.<br />
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I started off with a Pisco Sour, a fun, frothy drink from their wonderful bar. We found their cocktail and wine selection to be wonderful.<br />
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Some of our starters were the Kale Salad (dressed with apple cider vinegar, fried onions and apples) and my husband's choice of pork cheeks with gnocchi (topped with a fried egg), which was an explosion of flavor.<br />
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For my entree I went a little crazy and tried something new: Rabbit Boudin, which is a sausage (if like me, you didn't know what boudin meant). It was even better than I could have hoped: tender, flavorful and served with grainy mustard, creamy collard greens and a piece of cornbread.<br />
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I was in fancy Southern heaven!<br />
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My husband and mom each ordered the duck breast with greens and black eyed pea mash which was fantastic and my dad had a pork chop that was topped with an onion funnel cake! How fun!<br />
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And then, the most amazing thing I happened. For dessert I got to eat the "jar" of the day which consisted of creme brulee, topped with brownie topped with locally-made peppermint chocolate ice cream!<br />
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It was undoubtedly one of the best (and most indulgent) desserts I have ever put in my mouth!<br />
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Overall, I absolutely loved the feel, food and fun of the restaurant and highly recommend it for any meal, cocktail hour or even just dessert!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-34755779121730762752013-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-21T10:41:12.532-08:00Goodies to Gift Day 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally made it...through 5 full days of treats!<br />
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I hope you've found some recipes and ideas for things to bake, mix, season and give away.<br />
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I'm pretty stoked to give away my goody sacks this year. This is about as crafty as I get, folks. (Thanks to <a href="http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/2013/12/homemade-pasta-gifts/" target="_blank">Spoon Fork Bacon</a> for these fun labels.)<br />
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For this last recipe, we're trying something new and so much fun.<br />
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When I saw these Peppermint Marshmallows on <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/12/peppermint-marshmallows.html" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mess</a>, I knew that they needed to be the "something new" on my Christmas treats-to-make list. Wait, that's the wrong occasion for that list, isn't it? Whatever, it works.<br />
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This recipe is fairly straightforward and makes great use of your stand mixer.<br />
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It's really hard to believe how fluffy, tender and refreshingly minty these little fluff-cubes turn out to be. And hello, mint mallow flavored hot chocolate!<br />
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And now that I know how to make marshmallows, I can't wait to experiment with different flavors.<br />
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Merry Christmas and thank you for giving your time to reading this blog and making sweet treats and warm memories for your family and friends.<br />
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Tip: If you have a silicone square pan to make these in, I highly recommend using it. This allowed me to flip the marshmallows easily out of the pan without them sticking too much. If you're not using a silicone pan, you could perhaps line it with parchment paper or put powdered sugar on the sides as well as the bottom.<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-55756291983992273952013-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-19T18:45:31.721-08:00Goodies to Gift Day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's installment of Goodies to Gift is something that I make every few weeks.<br />
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It's perfect for breakfast, snack, dessert, travel and absolutely great for gifting.<br />
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And it's The Best Granola!<br />
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I've been making this granola for more than six months now and just haven't got around to sharing it with you until now.<br />
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It's so easy, includes ingredients that you have around the house and has a nice bit of sweetness, nutty-ness and crunch. I like it with almond milk, yogurt, ice cream or just shoveled into my mouth.<br />
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I especially love the toasted coconut, crisp almonds, loads of cinnamon and warming almond extract.<br />
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Feel free to use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. It can also be made without the brown sugar, if you're going honey-only, but it won't be quite as crunchy or sweet.<br />
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Use this recipe as a blank canvas. Prefer pecans or walnuts instead of almonds? Switch them out or your can throw in all three. Dried fruit added in after it comes out of the oven is always a great idea, too.<br />
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I can't wait to share this granola in my goody bags to give away and I guarantee you will love it, too!<br />
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Scroll down to see Goodies to Gift Days 1-3.<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-18084976414616061642013-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-18T06:00:06.267-08:00Goodies to Gift Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today we're continuing in the spirit of giving with a goody that no one can say no to.<br />
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If you can say no to pie, get out.<br />
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Just kidding, but I'm fairly certain that anyone you give a pie to will gladly accept it and want to dive a fork into it as soon as possible.<br />
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And this pie is absolutely no exception.<br />
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Kentucky Derby Pie (a wonderful recipe from my mom's Kentucky stomping grounds) is filled with everything gooey and delicious (butter, sugar, chocolate chips, pecans) and it comes together in our fabulous <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/11/simple-saturday-easy-pie-crust.html" target="_blank">Easy Pie Crust</a>.<br />
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This pie kind of comes out like a cookie in a crust...and again, who can resist?<br />
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Here are a few of my other favorite pies:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRJf6CUOYyxhQUzfqgojAMrD3LrA1PPqlN4cweQlQUNJtHXeZeByOAKndYaDD_Uw73Z3cxoPK-ikQiVrpPkPgDpv0G6o_RuZ6bHUr2CswV-oXeZySCnq6COgN2oyyWZIrcYEgasmTnXVp/s1600/from-scratch-pumpkin-pie.ai.jpg" target="_blank">From Scratch Pumpkin Pie</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlc_HSXyvfIaj9SCWzT3jyUJK9eT10VEt6-kc-A9VRuEEsF5UtuikyJrfGFXqX_6NJW3WP7VcfYELO2I55CrfxfaA9SNg9UURdStVYzsxnEz5NdTXuXTFk9OT5vCV89aeZnvKSQhCjB3G/s1600/chocopecanpie.jpg" target="_blank">Chocolate Pecan Pie</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TWK1pw95IsXsvBgKMDev0o5bHdPLmre_i8l8cvV82g38nSfvR6Ig8jpWeFBaMRbPazBpXxG1ks0TXC_uSe0gHEGlVc0g5ABq1r0KY__1sTnJaPokk8snzDU4_f8omSuIfShcF4NeDJXh/s1600/banoffeepie.jpg" target="_blank">Banoffee Pie</a><br />
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Happy gifting!<br />
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Scroll down for Goodies to Gift Days 1 (Eggnog Chocolate Chip Cookies) & 2 (Rosemary Crackers)!<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-70907305965009497032013-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-17T06:00:03.995-08:00Goodies to Gift Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Tuesday and second day of Goodies to Gift.<br />
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This week, we're taking 5 days to highlight various treats for you to give to your loved ones, friends, neighbors or complete strangers.<br />
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Today, I'm sharing a recipe for Rosemary Crackers that go splendidly with the <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/12/simple-saturday-goat-cheese-dip.html" target="_blank">Goat Cheese Dip</a> that I shared last Saturday.<br />
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Crackers really are pretty easy and fun to make and what's great about them is that you can add various types of cheese to them, as well as spices and herbs.<br />
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These crackers have fresh rosemary, sea salt and a little bit of Parmesan cheese on top.<br />
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They're light, crispy and you can make them into whatever shape you want.<br />
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Are sugar plum fairy-shaped crackers dancing in your head? You can make them a reality with some creative cookie cutting.<br />
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Crackers make a great gift because they're savory, unique and can be combined with all kinds of cheese and dips.<br />
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If you're looking for another savory gift, these <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-spiced-up-snack.html" target="_blank">Savory Spiced Nuts</a> are tasty and made for travel and snacking.<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-23280016534813013892013-12-16T06:30:00.000-08:002013-12-16T06:30:00.271-08:00Goodies to Gift Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today we're starting a little week-long (well, work-week long) list of delicious, tasty and fun-to-share sweets and savories for you to give away!<br />
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It's one of the best times of the year to get your giving on and I'm giving you some recipes and ideas to help you along your way!<br />
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Today, we start with Eggnong Chocolate Chip Cookies.<br />
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These cookies turned out better than any other chocolate chip cookie I've ever made (I always have a problem getting the texture right) and the hint of seasonal eggnog is just icing on the cake...or the cookie, as it may be.<br />
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I think the most important part of this recipe other than eating some right out of the oven is the crucial step of creaming your butter and sugar for 3 minutes. This aerates the cookies and helps them to not spread out and be pancakes that are impossible to get off the pan in one piece. (We've all been there, right?!)<br />
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Your friends, family and coworkers will love the unique play on the classic chocolate chip cookie and they stay fresh for days.<br />
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Happy gifting! And check back each day this week for new goodies!<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-82330798449559719172013-12-14T06:30:00.000-08:002013-12-15T17:46:54.310-08:00Simple Saturday: Goat Cheese Dip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What's better at this time of the year (or, well any) than sitting around with family and friends and snacking.<br />
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Or, who am I kidding, lounging by yourself watching way too many episodes of Chuck (which just got added to Netflix) and sitting up just far enough to reach a bite to eat.<br />
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Sometimes you want a sweet bite and sometimes you want something salty with a kick.<br />
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If you're in the latter mood, then this dip is for you.<br />
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It was created by my wonderful husband, Jason, and it's got some of our favorite things: goat cheese, garlic and rosemary.<br />
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This Goat Cheese Dip is creamy, complex and only takes like 2 minutes to whip up.<br />
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Warning: There's an impromptu party about to happen...on your taste buds!<br />
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Here's how you make it (for 1-3 people, can be multiplied for a bigger group):<br />
Microwave 3 tbs. goat cheese for 5-10 seconds. Then, add in 1/2 tbs. olive oil and mix with a spoon. Next, add 1 small clove of garlic, pressed or finely diced (or half of a normal-sized clove), 1/4 tsp. rosemary, finely diced, and some salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers or toast points.<br />
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Enjoy this recipe and stay tuned next week for a fabulous homemade cracker recipe to go with this dip.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-73489202584390646332013-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:002013-12-12T06:00:11.718-08:00Pasta Making<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A week after I graduated high school, my mom and I hopped on a plane and flew to Paris then Florence for a week of travel, eating and celebrating!<br />
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While in Florence, we went on a day-trip through Tuscany with <a href="http://www.accidentaltourist.com/activities/cooking-class/" target="_blank">Accidental Tourist</a>. Throughout the day, we tasted olive oil, wine (which I didn't like at the time) and then had a pasta-making cooking class in the basement of a home in the hills.<br />
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It appears as though we made fettuccine as well as ravioli, although I can't really remember now, though I know that it tasted fresh and amazing.<br />
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I do remember that it was such a fun experience to make the dough (while wearing fun aprons), roll it out, cut it then hang it to dry all with my mom beside me. Then, about an hour later, we (my mom and I plus about 8 other American and Canadian visitors) ate our pasta along with a table full of pizzas, other pastas and antipastos that the cook had made for us. It was pure bliss!<br />
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I've dreamt of making pasta since then, but never got up the courage to do it. And I don't have a pasta roller machine.<br />
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Then, the <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/homemade-pumpkin-pasta/" target="_blank">Minimalist Baker</a> opened my eyes to how easy making pasta is and how delicious it is with the addition of some seasonal pumpkin.<br />
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Get ready to wow the friends and family coming to your table with this Pumpkin Pasta that only takes a few pantry staples and some pumpkin puree to whip up.<br />
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I paired mine with a quick onion, Parmesan and cream sauce but I hear it's great with pesto, too.<br />
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-14401213336339231422013-12-09T05:30:00.000-08:002013-12-09T06:41:06.547-08:00Indian Comfort Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I'm sharing a food that's made it into my favorite foods list over the past few months.<br />
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It's eaten in many countries of the world (India and Southeast Asia mainly) and is a fabulous vegetarian, spiced comfort food that's actually not bad for you.<br />
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It's also something that was on my <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/01/food-resolutions-2013.html" target="_blank">2013 Food Resolutions</a> to make and I finally made!<br />
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And it's something that I couldn't get out of my culinary mind after eating it for breakfast in Burma.<br />
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It's Chapati and Dahl!<br />
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Chapati is a really easy wheat flatbread that goes perfectly with dahl, an Indian lentil dish that can greatly vary in flavor, spice and contents.<br />
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I was thrilled to find this super easy Curry Dahl recipe in my Real Simple Magazine and my husband even said that it was one of his favorite meals that I've ever made.<br />
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The dahl is flavorful, has a bit of a bite (I used chana dahl, a split garbanzo bean lentil, but many types of lentils work) and is a warm and comforting meal for any time of the day. It's paired with a cilantro yogurt sauce that cools the heat a bit and brings everything together with a party of textures.<br />
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You can buy chana dahl at Indian grocery stores or you can find other types of lentils at most grocery stores.<br />
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The Chapati was just as easy to throw together with whole wheat flour, salt, water and olive oil and just needs to be rolled out and cooked quick in a little oil to become both crispy and soft.<br />
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You can even use your Chapati as a little burrito to scoop up your dahl and rice.<br />
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Let these easy recipes help you jump into Indian cooking!<br />
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*Click on recipe card to enlarge and save.</div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-72677286037338138472013-12-07T06:30:00.000-08:002013-12-07T06:30:02.933-08:00Simple Saturday: Holiday Shake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Around our house, it's not only the season of joy, giving and celebrating Jesus' birth, but also a time to consume egg nog and peppermint ice cream.<br />
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My husband already bought our first jug of egg nog last weekend and we've been slowly sampling it since. And I made it clear that we had to buy some peppermint ice cream to get in the holiday mood.<br />
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Do you ever feel like you're taking the gallon challenge when you drink egg nog? It's so rich that I really can only drink a shot glass amount at a time, but I love the eggy, spiced taste.<br />
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I was reading through Bon Apetit the other day and saw a little holiday question and answer that they did with Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family. He's from Kansas and talked about some Midwestern holiday traditions.<br />
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One thing that he said he loved was making a milkshake out of egg nog, peppermint ice cream and rum.<br />
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I was amazed at this simple idea and knew I had to make some, stat.<br />
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Well, I did (minus the rum) and it was such a rich, delicious and refreshing treat. Now, don't get me wrong, this is absolutely a treat that I will only be consuming a few times a year. But I really love how the two ingredients make something so flavorful and reminiscent of the season.<br />
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To make it, you simply combine some peppermint ice cream with a few splashes of egg nog and blend until you've reached your desired consistency (more ice cream to thicken, more egg nog to thin).<br />
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Let's start a new tradition with the Ming Nog Shake!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-32963257425522287312013-12-05T05:30:00.000-08:002013-12-05T14:16:41.898-08:00Rugelach for the Holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPHKppUjNiFzRtB0RLkWGkiBN-RfHStn60hxpxDyP4Tf-a0bN4oH8q0kH8lKb7EF6R2AJNLziQJWM2saWVWPCPeY_mzff7q_6YXoQdFXtwWPm85LH620_0R0eLq-1jPz0CKAF172kstov/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPHKppUjNiFzRtB0RLkWGkiBN-RfHStn60hxpxDyP4Tf-a0bN4oH8q0kH8lKb7EF6R2AJNLziQJWM2saWVWPCPeY_mzff7q_6YXoQdFXtwWPm85LH620_0R0eLq-1jPz0CKAF172kstov/s640/IMG_5036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I had just turned 16 and had my license and a car to drive, I decided I would find myself a part time job to make a little cash...and be able to pay for my gas so I could actually go places.<br />
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I had a friend from school who worked at a local bakery and she said she could get me a job so I jumped at the opportunity!<br />
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And for the next 2 years, I worked behind the counter, refilling the cookies and cakes and delivering special orders to many happy faces.<br />
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Although I didn't make most of the goodies (I left that up to the bakers), I helped some sweets along the way and got to taste a lot.<br />
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My bakery was special in that we offered a few Jewish items, such as challah bread and rugelach.<br />
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Our raspberry and apricot rugelach were one of my favorites and something that you can't find many places. The cream cheese dough is flaky, creamy and buttery and the jam is just sweet enough and gets crispy and caramelized on the little crescent ends.<br />
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You are going to love these little sweet bites and they're perfect for this Hanukkah season, which ends today.<br />
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And they're great with so many different fillings, such as:<br />
-Raspberry or Apricot Jam<br />
-Baklava Filling* (2 tbs. melted butter mixed with a little vanilla extract, 4 tbs. honey, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1/2 tsp. cinnamon)<br />
-Apple* or Pumpkin Butter<br />
-Nutella<br />
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*I chose these two options!<br />
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All you have to do is pick your filling and slather it over a mini pizza-sized wheel and slice into tiny slices and roll up into a crescent shape.<br />
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Then, they bake to be delicious and the perfect size for a party dessert to share.<br />
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I'm just saying, if you decided to bring these rugelach to a cookie swap, everyone would want one and want to be your friend.<br />
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*Click on recipe card to enlarge and save.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-7490375333392950582013-12-02T05:30:00.000-08:002013-12-02T05:30:00.827-08:00Fruitful Travels: Escape to Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcYuFNMhjp67iEvCZfQKKshBCy_e0RT-6dBnBzfCYc1ITOV8G3XOSi7-U5jplyzlYhx02dS5buJCpIvaaSWm6_RgTYj17vOxDjjDuSDZ8zJqusr4ygkY29hyphenhyphen5oldIHXq3QqOYUE5rd-s_/s1600/IMG_5079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcYuFNMhjp67iEvCZfQKKshBCy_e0RT-6dBnBzfCYc1ITOV8G3XOSi7-U5jplyzlYhx02dS5buJCpIvaaSWm6_RgTYj17vOxDjjDuSDZ8zJqusr4ygkY29hyphenhyphen5oldIHXq3QqOYUE5rd-s_/s640/IMG_5079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After almost a year of planning, a few weeks ago my family (including my husband, parents, two sisters and their husbands) took a week-long vacation to Manzanillo, Mexico. It's a beach town on the Pacific coast.<br />
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We found a gorgeous house (complete with maid, chef, house manager and two pools) at <a href="http://vrbo.com/">VRBO.com</a> and it was absolutely amazing being there!<br />
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We had a fabulous view of the ocean and mountains and the tropical weather was just right for swimming and margarita drinking. We spent most of our time swimming, reading, laying out, going to the beach, playing games together and the guys even went deep sea fishing and we ate the mahi mahi that they caught!<br />
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The relaxing time with all of us together (since we all live in different states) was so special.<br />
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And the food that our cook, Martita, made us was so authentic and so delicious!<br />
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Here's a little look into what we would have for our meals.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Breakfast</b></span><br />
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Fresh Fruit (papaya, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, kiwi, pineapple) and Yogurt<br />
Huevos Rancheros<br />
Huevos Mexicanos<br />
Chilaquiles (pictured above)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lunch</b></span><br />
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Mahi Mahi Ceviche with Tostadas<br />
Tortas and Chips<br />
Mahi Mahi with Toasted Garlic and Parsley (pictured above) and Rice<br />
Fresh Salads with Sprouts and Fruit<br />
Fish Tacos<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dinner</b></span><br />
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Pozole (Pork and hominy soup pictured above)<br />
Green or Red Rice<br />
Tacos with Grilled Meats and Vegetables<br />
Chicken Enchiladas in a Green Sauce<br />
Shrimp Three Ways (In adobo sauce, sweet mango sauce and spicy mango sauce)<br />
Carne en Su Jugo (Steak and bean soup)<br />
Stuffed Peppers with Cream Sauce and Pomegranates<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dessert</b></span><br />
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Flan (picture above)<br />
Coffee Flan<br />
Tres Leches Cake<br />
Carlotta (Frozen icebox pie-like lime dessert)<br />
Mango Sherbet<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Drinks</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Various Fruit Waters: Jamaica (Hibiscus), Tamarind, Pineapple and Kiwi<br />
Strawberry and Lime Margaritas<br />
Fresh Orange Juice<br />
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And Martita gave us a few cooking lessons, so I'm looking forward to sharing some of her recipes with you in the future!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-5392956652183119432013-11-30T05:56:00.000-08:002013-11-30T05:56:07.325-08:00Simple Saturday: Boozy Whipped Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's post Thanksgiving and I bet most of us are already eating on leftovers (or leftovers of leftovers) from the big day.<br />
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Although a plate of goodies from a day or two ago can be just delightful, sometimes you want to give your dishes new life and spice it up a little.<br />
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And that's where this boozy whipped cream comes in. For when that slice of pie is looking a little sad and you want to give your guests something to talk about.<br />
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Spiking your whipped cream really couldn't be easier, you just need to whip heavy whipping cream in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment (or with a hand beater) on high until it starts to form peaks, then add in a splash of vanilla, a dusting of powdered sugar and a teaspoon or two of your favorite booze, and whip to peak perfection.<br />
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To go with our Jamaican Pumpkin Pie (which was amazing) for Thanksgiving we added in a touch of <a href="http://www.krakenrum.com/" target="_blank">Kraken Black Spiced Rum</a> to our cream. It gave it a nice warmth and spicy punch, but the sky is the limit for what liquor or liqueur you can use.<br />
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Enjoy!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-52699735649358173832013-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-28T06:00:04.392-08:00Thinking Thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a special day.<br />
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And not just because we'll all be enjoying a cornucopia of amazing food and restful naps after eating that food.<br />
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And not just because we'll be surrounded by a few or a roomful of loved ones and family.<br />
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And not just because it gives us an excuse to say thanks and count our blessings.<br />
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For me, it's all of those things combined.<br />
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The combo of the friendships, family, food and gratefulness (and a lovely few days off of work) fill my little heart with gladness.<br />
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People, cooking, love and food are some of my favorite things in the entire world. And quality time combining all of those is like hitting the jackpot for me.<br />
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No matter where you are or what you're doing this Thanksgiving, I hope that the time makes you think and enjoy what's around you, what you can share more of and what living each day thankful looks like to you.<br />
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I'll leave you with those thoughts and this prayer:<br />
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<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Serenity Prayer</h1>
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God grant me the serenity<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />to accept the things I cannot change; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />courage to change the things I can; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />and wisdom to know the difference.<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Living one day at a time; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />enjoying one moment at a time; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />taking, as He did, this sinful world<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />as it is, not as I would have it; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />trusting that He will make all things right<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />if I surrender to His Will; <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />that I may be reasonably happy in this life<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />and supremely happy with Him<br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />forever in the next. <br style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Amen.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-26804203468233623102013-11-26T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-26T06:00:02.526-08:00Our Thanksgiving Menu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspCij0X49kK8_kdMlMTdJeUO268UWWyH-d0lqoXk6kKUvXSiqjTDucSDg9hE0EKO00Je4sQaadEL0WMQzTxlH578EOyAPJmS53qRf12hFrfiIPEdG7IECx7yIzaPHVqfhyG9LT6iYSuBT/s1600/image+(15).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspCij0X49kK8_kdMlMTdJeUO268UWWyH-d0lqoXk6kKUvXSiqjTDucSDg9hE0EKO00Je4sQaadEL0WMQzTxlH578EOyAPJmS53qRf12hFrfiIPEdG7IECx7yIzaPHVqfhyG9LT6iYSuBT/s400/image+(15).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The week is upon us and maybe your Thanksgiving menu is set or maybe you're still looking for a few new ideas.<br />
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This year, my husband and I are spending T-giving with my parents and sister and brother-in-law in Oklahoma City. I can't wait to have our first holiday celebration in my sister's new house and I love her kitchen and can't wait to cook together there!<br />
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Here's a peek into what our Thanksgiving eats are looking like.<br />
-Oven-roasted turkey (gobble, gobble)<br />
-Green bean casserole (the tasty ole standby)<br />
-<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/brussels-sprouts-with-pecans-and-cranberries-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Brussels sprouts with pecans</a> (green and savory)<br />
-<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/butternut_squash_puree_try_it_or_ill_deck_ya_/" target="_blank">Butternut squash puree</a> (a newbie)<br />
-<a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/10/simple-saturday-seasonal-salad.html" target="_blank">Fall kale salad</a> (a bit of health)*<br />
-Cranberry orange sauce (classic and zesty)<br />
-Cornbread stuffing (my favorite!)*<br />
-Dutch apple pie (a pie with the topping of a crisp)<br />
-Jamaican spiced pumpkin pie<br />
-<a href="http://smithratliff.com/2013/11/21/cranberry-french-75-cocktail-recipe/" target="_blank">Cranberry French 75 cocktail</a> (a new spin on bubbly)<br />
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*Dishes to be prepared by yours truly.<br />
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Check out my <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/p/recipe-cards.html" target="_blank">recipe card page</a> for more ideas!<br />
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Here's another look at my past two Thanksgivings on the blog:<br />
-<a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-recap.html" target="_blank">2012 and Chocolate Pecan Pie</a><br />
-<a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2011/11/24-hour-thanksgiving.html" target="_blank">2011 24-hour Thanksgiving</a><br />
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What's on your Thanksgiving menu this year?<br />
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-7363247407241705902013-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-25T06:00:12.611-08:00Random Acts of Foodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBItpnEYzM4t4hYI7dcitXvu1_Fj6K6yDu1bZlL8Sry97o-YTh5-3nWNgBtMiTHArs0z34UHQyvcCMk4YhKMVXWhCJQHDPSXIpvbWT4dXghFGtEbdi_ax2gANwRr5GOEQ4tSjb3aAcGhNh/s1600/foodness-dark-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBItpnEYzM4t4hYI7dcitXvu1_Fj6K6yDu1bZlL8Sry97o-YTh5-3nWNgBtMiTHArs0z34UHQyvcCMk4YhKMVXWhCJQHDPSXIpvbWT4dXghFGtEbdi_ax2gANwRr5GOEQ4tSjb3aAcGhNh/s640/foodness-dark-green.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's this week's dose of good news about food.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/author-blog-posts/elementary-school-students-went-vegetarian-results-astounding-155000867.html" target="_blank">This school</a>'s vegetarian menu sounds amazing!</li>
<li>On a semi-un-food related note, these <a href="http://www.toms.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=stockings" target="_blank">JOYN Christmas stockings</a> are amazing, support artisans in India and are adorable. </li>
<li>These 10 beautiful <a href="http://blog.westelm.com/2013/11/06/gifts-that-give-back-2013-charity-mugs/" target="_blank">coffee mugs</a> all support a charity.</li>
<li>Learn about <a href="http://storycompany.com/collections/home-goods" target="_blank">Story Company</a> and fancy up your (or a friend or family member's) house, kitchen or wardrobe with some items to support creativity in Africa.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/what-to-read-this-weekend-10-weekend-reads-from-the-kitchn-197414" target="_blank">This list</a> has some great Thanksgiving-related stories. Dive in!</li>
</ul>
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Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! I hope that this week (and every week) we can let food bring the people in our lives together and spread goodness around.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-78886278097953674902013-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-23T06:00:06.225-08:00Simple Saturday: Wine and Cheese Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q9TqzDfh5d5Ox2_hrx7kyCEGsCMmIzWqxypCZ6ynhvky1r2Y_Fs6R2Vcy060W1_7HKnbkxbVdtAOKxemtBwNzWYnFXuRYbjrrTu9CCTMYKF4FjcjvyvnGCu1a4_cFMnMMfRYseVUiAxg/s1600/image+(13).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q9TqzDfh5d5Ox2_hrx7kyCEGsCMmIzWqxypCZ6ynhvky1r2Y_Fs6R2Vcy060W1_7HKnbkxbVdtAOKxemtBwNzWYnFXuRYbjrrTu9CCTMYKF4FjcjvyvnGCu1a4_cFMnMMfRYseVUiAxg/s400/image+(13).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today, we're covering a simple idea for a friend, neighborhood or just because wine and cheese party.<br />
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I really like the idea of wine and cheese because...well what's there not to like.<br />
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It's really easy for people to mingle at a wine and cheese party, it caters to many tastes and allows you to showcase all of your cracker-buying, cheese-selecting and appetizer-making skills.<br />
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Start out by planning the cheeses, wines, snacks, breads and crackers that you will be serving. I like to do this by making a "Cheese-agram" (aka cheese diagram). This will help you get organized on what you'll be serving, how to present it and where to put things. This is especially helpful if you live in an apartment and have limited space.<br />
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Next, pick up a few tasty cheeses. I went to Aldi and picked up a Welsh cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno havarti, herbed goat cheese and a plain goat cheese. Make sure and pick up a variety of strong and mild tastes and a variance in textures for your cheeses.<br />
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They also have a variety of tasty party crackers at Aldi for a really budget-friendly price.<br />
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I chose to sweeten up the cheeses by offering a cream cheese pepper jelly option and putting fig jam over the top of the plain goat cheese.<br />
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It's important to have a variety of sweet and savory options at your party. <br />
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A few days ahead of time you can plan out your other snacks. For sweets, I chose fresh apple slices, pomegranate seeds and some small slices of <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/11/arkansas-black-apples.html" target="_blank">Apple Crumb Cake</a>. For savories, I made a batch of <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-spiced-up-snack.html" target="_blank">Savory Spiced Nuts</a> and bought pita chips and hummus as well as snack mix for easy sides.<br />
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Then, the day of you'll want to pick up a fresh baguette (thanks to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apple-Blossom-Brewing-Company/459727750752181" target="_blank">Apple Blossom</a> for mine) and right before the guests arrive you can toast slices with a bit of olive oil until lightly brown and crisp.<br />
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To bring it all together for your party, set out the cheeses (let them come to room temperature for about an hour before your party starts), snacks, sweets and crackers in an appealing and fun way. I found that a really easy way to label the cheeses and snacks was to print out little labels for each of them and tape them to the top of a toothpick and stick it in the right cheese.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVa33qtbHUICzMiqW3j4c6yRigpMP7DeIo0K_QEfHcalropxKiN8etrEuNtrXG_30M4xr4HG09gbOpYeRHvF6Zh5p4PNtU02CSP9j4ThYX6JVtHXooN3hdETT8D3hZF8HSi3r68Cu68w/s1600/IMG_4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVa33qtbHUICzMiqW3j4c6yRigpMP7DeIo0K_QEfHcalropxKiN8etrEuNtrXG_30M4xr4HG09gbOpYeRHvF6Zh5p4PNtU02CSP9j4ThYX6JVtHXooN3hdETT8D3hZF8HSi3r68Cu68w/s400/IMG_4306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh and for the wine, I wasn't expecting a big group of guests so I just bought 2 whites (a Sauvignon Blanc and a chardonnay) and a red blend. And I had a few bubbly but non-alcoholic drinks for those not partaking.<br />
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A wine and cheese party is always a good idea because it's easy to throw together, fun to host and, more importantly, fabulous to attend!<br />
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-34105926958810328752013-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-21T06:00:05.222-08:00Trip to Tuscany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's all take a deep breath, forget about the stresses of life and take a quick trip to Italy, where olive trees abound and rustic food is king.<br />
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Also, let's go to Italy because they probably invented combining kale and Parmesan cheese!<br />
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In Italian cooking, it's not always bing bang boom to get the complex flavors you want. Sometimes that picture you have of Nonna standing over the stove all day to make something incredibly delicious is a picture of what it takes to make some great flavors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVY1KCZQjHztf7evK9KlSAhJq2Ge4tY3zr5PEEh3tbliPMQ1qwbrQ0ANpl3qp7YBPZSxSz4q8WUp_NLvgrv6LSmOy5CyrVB5DyVkBB1Rup_SPwNaqcjQPTS43sdmEUG5XDnfKR-ObD9kF/s1600/IMG_4342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVY1KCZQjHztf7evK9KlSAhJq2Ge4tY3zr5PEEh3tbliPMQ1qwbrQ0ANpl3qp7YBPZSxSz4q8WUp_NLvgrv6LSmOy5CyrVB5DyVkBB1Rup_SPwNaqcjQPTS43sdmEUG5XDnfKR-ObD9kF/s640/IMG_4342.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Sure I love throw-together meals as much as you, but it's nice to be proud to create something that takes a little time. And with this recipe, I'm not really talking about sweating over your stove for half a day, just a few hours to let the simple, warm flavors of this veggie-laden soup come through.<br />
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First, you start by making a fabulous <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/04/simple-saturday-vegetable-stock.html" target="_blank">vegetable stock</a> with whatever veggie scraps you have laying around from the past week (such as carrot tops and ends, kale stems, onion skins, potato peels and some fresh garlic) add some salt and throw in a Parmesan rind and bubble it all away for a few hours until the stock takes on some color and flavor.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl53i3729WlmXgLR5Mz-GUoZX3JeIKdlec7M8PnbQ2DVd4_K2GaWARs70qLMIIbbeVWFUtwZIM3OclQdqRF2xXJ5g1C8RlNKC6stKOVYhPU75Gb72fvZf8jW9Z8U6ospKpwy8Ojot5h6B/s1600/IMG_4334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl53i3729WlmXgLR5Mz-GUoZX3JeIKdlec7M8PnbQ2DVd4_K2GaWARs70qLMIIbbeVWFUtwZIM3OclQdqRF2xXJ5g1C8RlNKC6stKOVYhPU75Gb72fvZf8jW9Z8U6ospKpwy8Ojot5h6B/s640/IMG_4334.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You will begin to smell what a few hours of simmering will add to your soup...especially when there's cheese involved.<br />
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Then, you bring everything together by simply sauteing some onion, celery, carrot, rosemary and garlic, add in tomato paste, white beans, kale and your veggie stock and simmer for a little bit longer to let the flavors marry.<br />
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After that, you'll be left with comforting bowls of soup that are full of vegetables and a broth bursting with flavor that prepare you to take on the chill of fall and winter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMRw75QFaof8sn8079Q_QpLkFb_fNwROwW1tbWA5aEWCMcQu5vLHH9oEkSehXQnOoyNxPoxWt4_vSG0qm9m3En3hC9dKiHJ4f8bpW0ql7mSBD5AJdSGX_2Ohr3Gh3BK6MU62hvBWl3RaZ/s1600/IMG_4331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMRw75QFaof8sn8079Q_QpLkFb_fNwROwW1tbWA5aEWCMcQu5vLHH9oEkSehXQnOoyNxPoxWt4_vSG0qm9m3En3hC9dKiHJ4f8bpW0ql7mSBD5AJdSGX_2Ohr3Gh3BK6MU62hvBWl3RaZ/s640/IMG_4331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And that's ribollita!<br />
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(P.S. If you would rather skip the making the stock part and make it with the soup, you can use this <a href="http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2012/01/ribollita-italian-cabbage-and-bean-soup.html" target="_blank">recipe</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKuZI3DH7cD7AcqHt7x7tI8OF2VtgDC6AjsWnH_nvAgFxI85re3bb8Xetev3fGnK5V4PGLU131OcpdSzi3j1Ri0woIDrQVTVhDq8NetkMzin3w-L5nr5jj_Ok6zLh-ow197q37bLISFt1/s1600/ribollita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKuZI3DH7cD7AcqHt7x7tI8OF2VtgDC6AjsWnH_nvAgFxI85re3bb8Xetev3fGnK5V4PGLU131OcpdSzi3j1Ri0woIDrQVTVhDq8NetkMzin3w-L5nr5jj_Ok6zLh-ow197q37bLISFt1/s400/ribollita.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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*Click on recipe card to enlarge and save.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-14634639324789384202013-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-26T17:22:45.614-08:00Pie Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Even though I just got back from a glorious seven days of relaxing in the tropics of Mexico (posts to come soon), I'm so ready to get into the Thanksgiving season!<br />
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I've been practicing my pies with my new-found <a href="http://thinkfruitful.blogspot.com/2013/11/simple-saturday-easy-pie-crust.html" target="_blank">Easy Pie Crust</a> recipe.<br />
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Fruits, gourds, squashes...I relish in the fact that mostly everything inside a perfect crust tastes great.<br />
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This year I've been seeing lots of cute, bright and plump pumpkins at the farmers market so I got a great idea to try out a legit, from scratch pumpkin pie.<br />
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I combined a few recipes and came up with a great one that really highlights the fresh, light flavor of this gourd. (P.S. That little blob in the middle of the pie is supposed to resemble a pumpkin...I'm still working on my crust art.)<br />
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Although it's really not too hard to make, it does require a few extra steps and some extra time as opposed to opening a canned of pumpkin puree. But the thrill of making something from start to finish is pretty great.<br />
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When buying your pumpkin(s), I suggest asking your pumpkin seller for the best one for a pie. I have found that sugar or cheese pumpkins are the best, even better than the classic "pie pumpkin".<br />
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All you have to do to make the pumpkin puree is roast chunks of the pumpkin in the oven for a bit then cut them from the skin and puree. Then, drain a few times to thicken.<br />
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Next, you're going to make the pie even more natural and a little less calorie-laden by adding almond milk, brown sugar, maple syrup (which makes the flavor delicious), eggs and a variety of spices perfect for a homemade Thanksgiving.<br />
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I've really loved this recipe for pies with other gourds (butternut squash, etc.), so it's not just for pumpkin!<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-2483226087755206992013-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-14T06:00:00.746-08:00Guest Post: Butternut Squash Gnocchi Sauce<i>Here's a guest post from my fabulous blogger friend Elsie over at <a href="http://richlyrooted.com/" target="_blank">Richly Rooted</a>. We met each other while studying abroad in Oxford four years ago and we were even in a dinner group together! I am so excited that we are blogger friends now and I get to keep up with all of the healthy, inspiring meals, series and ideas that Elsie comes up with.</i><br />
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Back in August, Grace shared <a href="http://richlyrooted.com/2013/08/tomato-and-goat-cheese-tarts.html" target="_blank">these fabulous Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts</a> on my blog, <a href="http://richlyrooted.com/" target="_blank">Richly Rooted</a>.<br />
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Since tomatoes are an iconic produce pick for August, I thought I'd share a recipe that showcases a fall favorite: squash!<br />
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Squash is a perfect fall food. The colors match what we see in the changing leaves, and <strong>squash is the perfect ingredient to make a dish hearty and filling</strong>.<br />
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The sausage in this recipe compliments the natural sweetness of the squash, but the salt and herbs keep the dish savory, too. We used this sauce over gnocchi, but it would also be good over macaroni.<br />
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Purchase gnocchi pre-made from the store or try your hand at making it yourself. My husband and I used <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/potato_gnocchi/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> for making gnocchi. If you do make gnocchi from scratch, you'll want to start baking the potatoes before you begin the sauce, since that will take a while.<br />
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<strong>Sausage and Butternut Squash Gnocchi Sauce </strong><br />
(Makes about 4 servings)<br />
1/2 butternut squash<br />
1/4 lb. bulk sausage<br />
whole milk<br />
1/2 to 1 tsp salt (to taste)<br />
fresh sage and basil<br />
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1. Poke holes in the skin of the butternut squash and bake, face down, at 350 for about 40 minutes, or until soft.<br />
2. Break up the sausage and cook in a skillet over medium heat.<br />
3. When the squash is soft, scoop out the flesh and put into a blender. Cover blender firmly and puree squash, adding milk to reach desired sauce consistency.<br />
4. Add salt and a handful of fresh basil and sage. Blend.<br />
5. Put squash mixture into a saucepan; stir in cooked sausage. Heat through. Pour over gnocchi.
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<i>Follow Elsie's blogging adventures <a href="https://www.facebook.com/backtothesource" target="_blank">here on Facebook</a>, too.</i>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-1089427276780512092013-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-11T06:00:00.061-08:00Thinking Fruitful: Gift Giving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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T<i>oday I'm beginning a new series "thinking fruitful" that will hopefully inspire you to look at things through a new lens and give you ideas to make the every day things shine! Today, we tackle gift giving.</i><br />
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Guess what season it is?<br />
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Yes, it's apple season, but also gift season!<br />
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It's the time of the year when I start a running iPhone list of Christmas gift ideas for my family and friends.<br />
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And I'm here to get you "thinking fruitful" about this gift giving season.<br />
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You see, gift giving is a BIG deal in my family. We all live across the U.S. in various places, so we have to plan at least a month ahead to find or order a gift, wrap it and package it to send to the birthday person. In our family, we love taking lots of time to consider our gift, picking the perfect card that says just the right (hilarious or tear-jerking) thing and presenting it in a pleasing way.<br />
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This isn't just commercialism, people. This is about using your time, energies and resources to show love and care. In a tiny tiny way, for me gift giving is a picture of what God's given me and the world.<br />
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I won't get too more philosophical, but as you can tell, I am one of those people who is still supporting the greeting card/stamp industry. Call me old fashioned, if you wish, but I hope all in all it's thoughtful.<br />
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Also, I often find gift giving to be a wonderful challenge to take what I know about a person (hobbies, interests, sense of humor) and combine those things into one useful yet fun gift.<br />
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There are quite a few places, local and online, that help me give unique and fantastic gifts (I hope) to the ones I love for holidays and birthdays!<br />
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<b>Local Gifts</b><br />
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<i>Fayetteville Square photo courtesy of Fayetteville Flyer</i></div>
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<u>The Fayetteville Square</u>- This lovely part of our city is a hub of local boutiques. I hit up <a href="http://www.shopthemustache.com/" target="_blank">The Mustache</a> or <a href="http://shopriffraff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Riff Raff</a> for a fancy, one-of-a-kind card and a fun gift (like clothes, shoes, <a href="http://joynindia.com/" target="_blank">JOYN</a> bags, candles and fun trinkets). <a href="http://www.pigmint.com/" target="_blank">PIGMINT</a> is a newbie to the square and has some gorgeous flowers and their store looks like it's straight out of New York City! If you're gift receiver is into tea, walk to <a href="http://www.savoytea.com/" target="_blank">Savoy Tea Co.</a> for loads of flavors and types of tea and tea accessories.<br />
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Down the road a little (on College Ave.), you'll find <a href="http://ourhandmademarket.com/" target="_blank">The Handmade Market</a>, a local shop that sells amazing foodie goodies (like jams, pesto, syrups and nice kitchen tools) as well as other unique gifts. Next, walk a couple of doors down to <a href="http://www.ozarknaturalfoods.com/" target="_blank">Ozark Natural Foods</a> for more treats for the person in your life who loves natural/local/organic goodies.<br />
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<b>Online Gifts</b><br />
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<i>West Elm photo courtesy of www.forum.hr</i></div>
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<a href="http://fab.com/" target="_blank">Fab</a>- A lot of the things you'll find on Fab, you won't be able to find anywhere else. And there's so much variety (including cool gifts for guys)!<br />
<a href="http://www.westelm.com/" target="_blank">West Elm</a>- If your loved one is into fancy, modern touches for their home, West Elm is the place! And I'm a big fan of their clearance sales.<br />
<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp" target="_blank">Anthropologie</a>- This is the place for girly and fancy things to pamper you and your friend or family member with. I have some of their bowls and teacups which I love.<br />
<a href="http://livefashionable.com/" target="_blank">FashionABLE</a>- This company is doing amazing things to help women in Africa by giving them jobs making beautiful scarves and leather products. I love doing good for others when I buy gifts!<br />
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For more Fair Trade items, check out <a href="http://livingwithaholts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Living with A-Holts</a>, an inspiring fashion blog written by my friend from church, Grace Holt. She has a "Fair Trade Friday" series that will help you find some great gifts.<br />
Also, look through this list of <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/11/23/holiday-gifts-charity/#_" target="_blank">12 Holiday Gifts that Give Back</a>...and have you seen <a href="http://www.toms.com/marketplace" target="_blank">TOMS new marketplace</a>?!<br />
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Where are your favorite places to shop for gifts?Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237703498704245153.post-72448142838579565532013-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-09T06:00:03.442-08:00Simple Saturday: Easy Pie Crust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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About a year ago, I made a few sub-par homemade pie crusts and I just stopped making pies and quiches until a few weeks ago.<br />
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I knew I could buy a pre-made crust from the store, but I just felt like I was letting myself down.<br />
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My mom is like the pie queen and could make a crust in her sleep and I really thought I would inherit some of that magic.<br />
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But I have to remember that I'm not so good at kneading, well, anything, and rolling things out in a circle is not my forte. I prefer using a rolling pin to make shapes that resemble amorphous blobs.<br />
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And then I saw this <a href="http://chezus.com/2013/03/25/easy-homemade-pie-crust/" target="_blank">Easy Homemade Pie Crust</a> recipe from Chez Us.<br />
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I mustered the confidence to give it a try and could not believe how easy it was and how tasty and perfect the crust turned out. It's incredibly simple to roll out (even in a close-to-circle form) and when baked it hugs your filling and gives a nice crunch to it.<br />
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And I learned that when making a crust, your food processor is your best friend. But when you're getting the dough out of the processor, don't just jab your hand in there like I did and cut your finger.<br />
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So, if you were like me and got discouraged about sad homemade pie crusts, you can use this recipe to get your pie mojo back, which will make you a baking star for the upcoming holidays!<br />
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P.S. I included a recipe card on this one just so you can become really confident in making this crust and getting the steps right!<br />
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*Click on recipe card to enlarge and save.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470822302618324404noreply@blogger.com0