Saturday, November 11, 2017

10 Healthier Thanksgiving Side Dishes and Appetizers!



Thanksgiving and healthy don't usually go together. But it doesn't hurt to have a side or two that taste great and is great for you.

1. Baked Apple Chips


2. Roasted Kidney Beans


3. Roasted Pumpkin Chickpeas


4. Parsnip Chips


5. Baked Potato Soup


6. Baked Parmesan Tomatoes


7. Roasted Peas


8. Spinach Balls


9. Salt and Vinegar Roasted Potatoes


10. Sauteed Kale with Bacon




Enjoy!

30 Thanksgiving Sides and Appetizers!


Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal of the entire year. I am not exaggerating. We had Thanksgiving dinner at my wedding because I love turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes so much. But even I can admit, that sometimes you need to change things up. Maybe try a new stuffing or a different dinner roll. Or add something newin to the old lineup.

Appetizers:
1. Cream Cheese Ragoons


2. Jalapeno Popper Wontons


3. Spinach Balls with Spicy Tomato Dipping Sauce (one of our all time favs)


4. Snowflake Tortilla Chips (really fun for kids)


5. Parsnip Chips (if you're looking for something healthy)


6. Cheese Puffs for Cheese Lovers


7. Cheesy Twists


8. Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip


9. Sugared Nuts


10. Chocolate Covered Cranberries (I wish I could eat these all year long)


11. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip (This has become my go-to for holiday potlucks. It's always a hit!)


12. Apple Pie Salsa



Breads:
13. Pull Apart Spinach and Cheese Bread


14. Soft and Chewy French Bread


15. Sour Cream Dinner Rolls


16. Homemade Breadsticks


17. French Fried Onion Rolls (my husband and FIL's fav)



Side Dishes:
18. Butternut Squash Soup


19. Pumpkin Soup with Sage Croutons and Bacon


20. Roasted Potatoes, Sausage, and Peppers


21. Savory Baked Apples stuffed with Sausage and Sage


22. Alfredo Green Bean Casserole


23. Bacon Barbecue Green Bean Casserole


24. Simply the Best Mac and Cheese (from scratch)


25. How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Taste Homemade (if you're looking for something really simple and yummy)


26. Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes


27. Ranch, Cheddar, and Bacon Potatoes


28. Salt and Vinegar Roasted Potatoes


29. Cranberry Sauce Three Ways


30. Sourdough Cornbread Stuffing with Bacon


Enjoy!



Thursday, July 6, 2017

Whiskey Chocolate Chip Cookies

Every year for my birthday, my husband bakes me a dessert. One year it was a drunken cherry chocolate cake, another a smores pie. This year he made the most amazing chocolate chip cookies ever. I'm not a big drinker, but damn do I like booze in my desserts. I don't know if I'll be able normal chocolate chips cookies after these whiskey chocolate chip cookies.

Recipe adapted from here.



Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons whiskey (we used honey whiskey)
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (we like to use a mix of dark, semi, and milk)

Directions:
In a heavy bottomed pan, heat butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown and has a nutty aroma. Allow to cool for ten minutes (so you don't accidentally cook the egg).

Pour butter into a large bowl. Add brown sugar and white sugar. Beat until smooth and combined.

Add egg, vanilla, and whiskey. Combine.

Add baking soda, cornstarch, salt, and flour. Beat until combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Line two baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil sprayed with cooking spray. Scoop out heaping tablespoons of cookie dough and space them two-inches apart on the baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 11-14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.




Enjoy!

More Boozy Desserts:
Drunken Cherry Chocolate Cake
Spiced Rum Brown Butter Cookies
Red Wine Ice Cream
Easy Rum Balls
Baileys White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Spiked Apple Cider Bon-Bons
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Spiked Buttercream