December 17, 2015

Peppermint white hot chocolate

Glass of peppermint while hot chocolate.

My posts have been a little sparse this month, and also very short on the usual Christmas cookies and other holiday treats! That's because we are in the process of moving! So, the majority of the kitchen stuff except for what we absolutely need has been packed away. I expect it will be a couple weeks before we get into our new house and settled and I get back into a normal cooking routine. We are moving from a rental into our first house, so we are super happy! But, not having all of my kitchen stuff and props at hand has been a little difficult for me.... Plus, we have NO Christmas tree or any Christmas decorations out. We are really missing our tree this year. Between that and the warm weather, it's not feeling like the holidays at all to me! But, we are so excited to move into our new house. So, after a long day of packing I whipped us up some of this white hot chocolate with a bit of peppermint flavor to help get us into the Christmas spirit. This recipe will make two servings. 


Crushed candy canes on tip of a mug of peppermint white hot chocolate.

December 11, 2015

Eggnog pudding pie

Finished eggnog pudding pie.

A cool and creamy eggnog pie is perfect for a holiday time dessert for the eggnog fans out there.

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I think this will be my last pie post of 2015.... meaning that I only made it to 15 pies, not my goal of 25. It was a lofty goal to be sure, but for whatever reason I thought I'd be able to do it! But, 15 is still a respectable amount and I'll be continuing to post pies in the future, of course. 

My pie making (and crust making) skills have definitely improved through the year. Eggnog pie was high on my list for the holidyas. We always enjoy eggnog, and putting it in a pie seemed like a great idea to me! 

This pie is super easy because it uses a pudding mix in the filling. While I often make the filling all from scratch, this time of year I'm a big fan of some help and shortcuts in the kitchen

This recipe uses a homemade graham cracker crust, but you can use a store bought one to save more time if you prefer. 

So if you and your family enjoy eggnog, this is a nice holiday dessert for you!

Eggnog pudding pie with a slice cut out.

December 7, 2015

Chicken, gnocchi, and spinach soup


We aren't having a very cold December here in the Buffalo area, if you can believe it. In fact, we haven't even had a measurable snow fall yet! It's crazy and we've actually broken a record for the latest measurable snow fall. It's been in the 40s and 50s, which is unheard of in December if Buffalo. It doesn't feel like the holidays at all. But, that doesn't stop me from making and consuming cozy warming soups. It's high soup season in my kitchen

Now, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, my husband isn't always a huge soup fan. It's gotta be a really hearty soup for him to feel like it's a full meal. This soup definitely fits that bill because it's full of vegetables, chicken, and little gnocchi pillows - it's a complete meal with a thick and creamy broth. A hearty bread is never a bad idea to sop all the leftover broth at the end! This soup will serve about four people. It's perfect for a wintery evening or afternoon. 


December 2, 2015

Shoofly pie

Finished shoofly pie in a glass pie plate.

Shoofly pie is a rich molasses pie with a crumb topping and spices. It makes a unique addition to your Thanksgiving and winter holiday dessert tables.