Time for an installment of Friday Things:
1.Looking for healthier holiday appetizers? Check out the Healthy Holiday Appetizers story on the Huffington Post
And a big thanks to them for showcasing three of my recipes
Spinach & Artichoke Dip – Fat-Free, Vegan, and can be served warm or cold. A lightened up version of spinach and artichoke dip for those of us who like a cracker or two with our bowl of dip
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds (Vegan, GF) – Easy to make in advance of a party or make as guests are arriving, and they make your house smell incredible in the process
Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers – I could drink balsamic reduction and anything it touches I want more of, including roasted grapes and aged cheddar
2. Libbey Country Fair 16-Ounce Drinking Jar with Handle, Set of 12
, $21.40 – So cheap I did a double take. And ordered a dozen.
- Twelve 16-ounce; handled glass mugs with lug finish and imprinted with a handsome rooster and the words “Country Fair Drinking Jar”
- Dishwasher safe
- Lug finish so mug can be used as storage container
- Ideal for either hot or cold beverages and soups
I want to fill up a mug with Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Or with Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix
3. Weekend Project: Chocolate Truffles– From Williams-Sonoma, “Make the truffles this weekend and store them in the freezer, well wrapped, for up to 3 months (though we’re betting they won’t last that long). Here’s our foolproof recipe, plus a few ideas for creative, delicious variations.”
4. Speaking of cocoa powder, have you ever wondered if the pricey, high-end varieties are worth it?
Cooks Illustrated tested supermarket cocoa powder
Because I trust their opinions so much, I am inclined to just go with their winner and recommendation and it’s what my mother and grandmother used, and save money in the process. Then again, my usual cocoa powder is from Trader Joe’s, which doesn’t break the bank.
5. Poppy Ring Baking Pan, $36 from Anthropologie. Food is destined to taste better when it’s baked in this.
And there’s matching pieces. I’m a sucker for a cute matching sets of anything, especially cookware.
6. Brite Pink {Neon} 7″ Wood Bowl, $32 from Wind and Willow Home. “Beautifully refined wooden bowl, carefully hand dipped in an electric, transparent neon pink. The colored portion is a soft rubbery plastic which makes them durable and non-slip. The wood is left natural.” Each bowl is hand-dipped.
7. Honeycrisp Apple Conserve, $13.95 from Spoon, ” Our Honeycrisp Apple Conserve melds carefully diced cubes of sweet apple with the traditional warming notes of star anise and the delicate spice of white pepper. Its warm sweet-spiciness is a deliciously sophisticated accompaniment to both sweets and savories. Serve Honeycrisp Apple Conserve with warm banana bread, blue cheese, or pork tenderloin for impressive holiday entertaining.”
They have tons of condiments, relishes, jellies, jams, and preserves I’d love to get my hands on.
I never say no to preserves or anything jelly-filled.
8. I don’t want to say no to these Party Cat Sweatpants, $117 from Shopbop, but I probably should. So cute though.
9. Have you created a Ziplist virtual recipe box yet? I wrote in detail about it here. Save all those great recipes you come across online and want to file away for a rainy day, from any site with Ziplist installed. Your recipes are stored in one place and I like going through my box when I don’t exactly know what I want to make, and knew there were things I saw, but couldn’t remember. Ziplist reminds me of all the gems I collected earlier. Same with my Pinterest boards.
Thanks to Ziplist for featuring my Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies in their Top 12 Recommendations of the Week
10. This week on Pinterest my Chocolate Saltine Toffee, i.e. Christmas Crack, has been going gangbusters. I made it exactly one year ago to the date. Time flies when you’re having melted chocolate.
What are your Friday Things? Doing any holiday baking this weekend? Favorite cocoa powder? Cute dishes or loungewear you’ve seen?
If you’ve made anything, done, seen, or bought anything fabulous recently, feel free to link it up in the comments.
Have a great weekend and stay tuned for two delicious giveaways over the weekend!
Oh no… I so know the walking past the beautiful shops full of amazing stuff you have to try and resist buying. And browsing online is not much easier as I found when I clicked on the cat pants link and now I have a huuuge wish list on SB – what a great (but expensive) site! I didn’t know it before so thanks (I think). Eagerly waiting for their sale….
Those sweats are too cool!!! Hahaha, I love them! I’m not even a cat person, but I’d totally wear those :-) I wish Anthro was near me, or would ship to Canada for a reasonable price. Any item from there costs nearly double once I get it here :-(
Double for shipping…eeek! That’s awful. And their stuff isn’t exactly a bargain to begin with!
I’m so glad I don’t have to break the bank to get good cocoa! That anthro stuff is to die for, but then again, what isn’t from there? Hope you had a great weekend!
Thanks and I hope yours was a good one, too!
Congrats on the features! They’re very well deserved! And those baking pans are super cute. Maybe I can get them for Christmas.
congrats on the recipes at Huff…I so want to make your spinach dip….the wooden bowls how fun…love them….I baked orange cran muffins, cranbanna bread, brown butter cookies, peppermint cookies and the saltine crack…making your thin mints tomorrow for our family Christmas Cookie Baking day!!! oh and cocoa powder…I am trying to go with brands that are fair trade organic.
OMG, LOVE the Chocolate Saltine Toffee!!!
I officially feel MUCH better about buying Hershey’s cocoa powder, lol!
Thank you. I really look forward to your list of Friday Things each week. Thank you for sharing your lovely recipes and weekly finds. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I can’t stop thinking about that American Spoon Honeycrisp Apple Conserve either. I saw it on their site while ago and think it sounds so good. I have tried and baked with many of their preserves as they are made in Michigan where I live so lots of stores carry their products. They are all fantastic with little added sugar. The spoon fruits are my favorite. They also make a great whole seed mustard.
Oh wow that’s so cool that they’re a local product for you! I love preserves, jam, gourmet mustards, etc of all kinds & I bet theirs are great!https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
I need those mugs in my life, they are adorable!
Congrats on the feature. You are amazing :)
Congrats on making Huffington’s Post!!! I tend to follow what Cooks Illustrated says! I’m like you I’ll by the Hershey’s or Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa! Love the mason jar drinking mugs and that is so cheap! I have to put it on my Christmas list!! Ohhh, making truffles sound like fun!! Not sure what I have planned for baking this weekend!! I have so many things I want to make, it becomes over whelming! lol Have a great weekend!!
My Friday thing is Peychaud’s bitters that I am going to try in this cocktail:
As a change from the usual angostura!