candied roasted nuts

Have you ever walked through the mall this time of year and smelled those roasted nuts?   Yeah me too!  Then I get some, and I can only eat a handful because they are so very sweet.  This year, I decided to try and replicate it at home.  Boy was it a success!  I took it to my family's Thanksgiving dinner to have them try it, and I was left with a quarter of what I came with!  It was a hit!

 {candied roasted nuts}

 {candied roasted nuts close up}

Candied Roasted Nuts

Makes 6 cups

6 cup pecan halves
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 egg whites
4 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 300.
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.
3. Place pecans in a bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar until well combined.
5. In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, vanilla and salt until well combined.
6. Pour egg white mixture over nuts and stir until completely coated.
7. Add about 2/3 cinnamon sugar mixture to nuts and stir until completely coated. 
8. Place nuts on baking sheet and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
9. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until nuts are browned and crispy.
10. Cool completely.
11. Enjoy!

These are perfect for a party because they can be made ahead of time (just try not to eat them all before the party!).

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turtle candies

Christmas time means all kinds of parties, and that means food too!  I had these Turtle Candies a few years ago, and I have been obsessed ever since!  I made them and took them to work, and they were gone before lunch!  These are so easy and fast (10 minutes max), and everyone loved them.

 {turtle candies}

 {Close up view}

turtle candies

Makes 40-50 each

1 bag waffle style pretzels
1 bag Rolos, unwrapped (a small bag made about 50)
2 cups whole pecans, roasted

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. On a lined baking sheet, place a pretzel down first. 
3. Top pretzel with one Rolo.
4. Place baking sheet in oven for 2-3 minutes or until Rolo begins to melt.
5. Pull out baking sheet and top each Rolo with 1 pecan half.  For a nut free option, top with another pretzel instead.
6. Cool.
7. Enjoy!

When I told my co-workers how I made them, they were all shocked because they thought it was going to be complicated.  In fact, someone went home that night and made them for family coming in that night.

What kinds of foods do you like to have around the holidays and at parties?

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mulled wine

Christmas season means parties, families, and lots of food/drinks.  I'll be sharing some party recipes this week including this delicious mulled wine recipe that's been in my German family for years.  Germans drink this throughout the Christmas season, and I can't remember a Christmas without it!  (It's called Gluwein in German)

 {mulled wine}

 {If there is any left over (we've never had any but I made this recipe at home with just me, and I didn't feel like drinking an entire bottle of wine), cool and store in an airtight container.  Just reheat on the stove or in the microwave}

This recipe is very easy for a party in the crock-pot or on the stove, and then it just stews for a few hours. 

Mulled Wine

Makes 4 servings

1 bottle red wine
2 clementines, peeled and separated into segments
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
1/4-1/2 cup sugar (depends on your preference)

1. Pour wine into a crock-pot.
2. Place clementines, cinnamon, and cloves into the wine.
3. Heat on low for 3-4 hours.
4. Before serving, mix in sugar and taste.  The amount of sugar used depends entirely on your preference and what wine you purchased.
5. Serve in coffee mugs and segments of clementines (they are the best part!).
6. Enjoy!

This is a great after-outdoor activities like caroling, playing in the snow, decorating the house, etc.  It really warms your insides up.  Plus, your house smells amazing because of the cinnamon, cloves, and clementines.  As with any alcoholic drink, please enjoy responsibly!

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monthly munchies | December

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!  Can you believe it's already DECEMBER?  Where does the time go?!

{Clementines--so cute, delicious, and healthy (especially this time of year)!}

Around this time of year, I simply devour clementines.  They are one of my absolute favorite fruits, and this is definitely the time of year to eat them to avoid getting sick!  I'll eat at least two per day until they aren't on sale anymore.  I'm also a snob; I only eat the ones grown in Spain (they taste better to me).

December is packed for me this year, but here is what's happening:

• The first week of December I'll be sharing some of my favorite party recipes (hint: they are easy and so delicious!).
• The second week of December I'll be sharing some homemade gifts that you can make in a series called gourmet gifts!  They are so easy and tasty (see a trend here?)
• The third week of December I'll be sharing some recipes featuring local ingredients that are in season.
• During December, I have booked myself every weekend with fun holiday stuff--a Christmas tea/brunch, decorating the house, the Nutcracker, cookie baking with the family, work Christmas party, The Hobbit movie, shopping for our yearly Christmas ornament, Christmas movie party, and Christmases with both of my families.  Whew!!!
• I'll be taking about 2 weeks off around Christmas and New Year's.  It's the first time in several years that I have had a proper break so I am taking advantage of it (have I mentioned that I love my job--mall of that time is a paid holiday!).  Plus, I'll be in California for a week with my best friend!  I am SO EXCITED!!!!!

You can keep up with me on Instagram!  (or at least you can try!)

Since beginning in December, the local produce available drops down to almost nothing, I'll be combining it with this series just until April.  The local produce available in December is as follows:

Apples (beginning of month)
Sweet potatoes

Yup--that's it!  You can get these at Good Foods Co-Op (definitely); they will also have other produce that was grown in a greenhouse in Kentucky so that's the place to go!

Happy December everyone!

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