Candy Cane Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 bag stripped chocolate candies (I used Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 Tbsp milk
• Red and Green colored sugar

Preparations:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg in large bowl until smooth. Mix in flour, baking soda, milk, and salt.
3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in red and/or green colored sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 9 - 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookies is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Unwrap a candy and press into the center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Yields approximately 35 cookies

Bonfire Treacle (Molasses) Toffee

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter 
• 1 cup sugar
• Several drops of lemon juice or a pinch of cream of tartar

Preparations:

1. Line a 9x9 dish with parchment paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray. 
2. Melt the sugar, molasses, and butter in a saucepan. Add the lemon juice and boil until a candy thermometer reads 120°c / 250°F. Pour onto the dish and leave to set on the counter overnight.
3. Cut into squares with a knife or kitchen scissors when ready to eat.

Chili Lime Almonds

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole raw almonds
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp dried cilantro (or 1 Tbsp fresh, chopped)

Preparations:

1. Heat a pan over medium heat, add almonds and oil. Sprinkle with chili powder and salt. Stir over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until fragrant and toasted.
2. Remove the pan from heat, add lime juice and cilantro and stir. Transfer nuts to a plate or baking pan to cool. Store in airtight container.

Peach Pie

 
Ingredients:
For the crust:

• 2 cups plus 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 sticks (12 Tbsp) COLD, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4″ cubes
• 6 oz COLD cream cheese, cut into 1/4″ cubes
• 3 Tbsp milk

For the filling:

• 5-7 large peaches, pitted, peeled and sliced (~6 1/2 to 7 cups sliced)
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt

For the egg wash:

• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp water

Preparations:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt.
2. Cut the COLD butter and COLD cream cheese into 1/4-inch pieces. Using a food processor with dough blade attachment, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces.
3. Drizzle the milk over the dough and cut into the dough with a spatula until the dough forms moist clumps. Depending on your butter and cream cheese, you may not need to use any of the milk or the full 3 Tbsp.
4. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, press into flat disks, cover each piece tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. It stores well in the fridge up to 2 days.
5. Once pie crust has cooled in the fridge at least 1 hour, and you are ready to use the pie crust, remove 1 piece of dough from the refrigerator and on a clean surface, roll it out into a 13-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until ready to use. 
6. Take the next piece of dough out of the fridge and roll it into a 12-inch circle, cover with plastic and refrigerate while you prep your pie filling.
7. For the filling, combine all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/8 tsp salt.
8. Blanch peaches by putting them in boiling hot water for 1 minute, then transferring to a bowl of ice water. Peel, pit, and slice peaches into 1/4″ thick slices.
9. Transfer peaches to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tsp vanilla and gently stir. Sprinkle with the dry ingredients and gently stir to combine.
10. Transfer the peaches onto the crust in the pie dish. Lay remaining crust on top, trim off any excess dough, and crimp the edges. Cut some slices in the top crust to allow for steam to escape.
11. In a small bowl, use a fork to beat together the egg and 1 Tbsp water to make your egg wash. Brush the top of your pie generously with egg wash.
12. Place pie on the center rack and bake at 425F for 20 minutes then place cookie sheet lined with foil under the pie to catch an drips and reduce oven to 375F and bake an additional 35-40 min or until the filling is bubbling. Loosely Cover the pie with foil if it is starting to brown too quickly.
13. Let the pie cool down ideally at least 2 hours so the filling thickens.

Pesto Pull-Apart Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 can refrigerator biscuits, plain
• 1/2 cup pesto
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cut each biscuit into quarters. Place in a greased oven safe baking dish.
3. Spread the pesto over the top of the biscuits, being sure to distribute evenly.
4. Spread the shredded cheese on top of the biscuits and pesto. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until cooked through and cheese begins to brown.

Coconut Curry

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 Tbsp curry powder
• A pinch of crushed pepper flakes
• 2 cans (14 oz) light coconut milk
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• Lemon juice (optional)
• For the Coconut Quinoa:
• 1 can (14 oz) light coconut milk
• 1 cup quinoa    

Preparations:

1. If serving with coconut quinoa, begin by washing thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer. Add to a medium saucepan over medium heat and toast for 3 minutes. Add 1 can light coconut milk and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the quinoa is light, fluffy and the liquid is absorbed. Set aside until serving.
2. In the meantime, heat a large pot to medium heat and add olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, carrot, sweet potato, bell pepper, and a pinch each salt and pepper and stir. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened – about 10 minutes.
3. Add curry powder, pepper flakes, vegetable broth, coconut milk, another healthy pinch of salt and stir. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat slightly and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes. Sample a bit of the sweet potato. If it is fully cooked, continue to the next step. 
4. Add the tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes.
5. Serve over coconut quinoa with a bit of lemon juice.