Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 426

Nutella Sticky Buns with Toasted Almonds and Nutella Caramel.

Once upon a time, there was a family who hated nutella.

I know, right? This sounds like absolute blasphemy.

And whyyyy did they hate it?

WELL.

I don’t even know, to be honest.

So I did this.

It probably isn’t even right, mixing almonds and nutella and stuff, but I knew there was noooo way I was getting my nut-hating family to eat something with actual hazelnuts. Toasty, thinly sliced almonds are even a stretch – heck even the nutella itself is a stretch because it’s MADE with hazelnuts. Forget the chocolate.

You know how I hated nutella for years and years? Well that apple doesn’t fall far because I can’t think of one person in my family that eats it. HOWEVER.

I have since determined that everyone just *thinks* that they hate it because they haven’t been rightfully exposed to it. In muffins, cookies, brownies and sticky buns, obviously. And on a spoon. And stirred into yogurt. And topped on pancakes. I mean, that was my issue. And now, it’s one of the greatest things to ever grace the planet.

Truth.

Soooooo, I threw together a nutella caramely base with a nutella stuffed bun and baked it until golden and chewy and fluffy and HOT.

No one on earth should say no to this.

After all: ‘tis the season for sweet breakfasts. I don’t think calories count when eaten first thing in the morning during the holidays.

Right? RIGHT?!

P.S. I’ll be on the treadmill ’til January k thanks bye.

Now that I have a kid, I’m not gonna lie: I want to do ALL the things this Christmas. I’ve been rambling on about it since, like, October, so it probably comes as no surprise. My broken recordness, if you will. But I’m trying to slow it down and not be a psycho so the season is enjoyable and all that jazz.

The aggressive use of commas, noted.

One of the best ways to do this is to make a holiday breakfast or prep a pan ahead of time (last December I prepped, um, FIVE(!) pans of the pioneer woman’s cinnamon rolls because I was 634 months pregnant) and gift it!

Or totally gift it to yourself and your family one morning. While the Christmas lights are twinkling and you stay in pajamas all day long.

Wait wait.

I must pause for a moment so we can relish in just how terrible my raw doughy bun slicing skills are. Like, are any of them uniform in size? I think not.

This means that you can bake even if you think you can’t. I swear.

Don’t judge my lack of patience. I make up for it in slow fried bacon.

Anyhoo, lovely family PJ breakfasts.

Last year, my version of this was sweet orange cinnamon pull apart bread. GAH. It is so freaking fabulous and I love having the option of a non-chocolate breakfast too. In fact, I think you should make both and serve them together. One citrusy and fresh breakfast, one rich and caramely.

Let’s petition to make it happen every single morning. With loads of lattes, maybe spiked? I’m in.

Nutella Sticky Buns

Yield: makes about 12 buns

Total Time: 4 hours

Ingredients:

buns

2/3 cup whole milk

6 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

2 large eggs

2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces

nutella caramel

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup loosely packed sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup nutella

2/3 cup toasted sliced almonds

filling

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup nutella

Directions:

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until just warm, around 105-110 degrees F. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast overtop and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Once foamy, whisk in the eggs until smooth.

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of your electric stand mixer (I used the paddle attachment). Slowly add the milk mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Add the butter 1 piece at a time, beating until combined. Mix on medium-high speed for 5 minutes to knead the dough, it should be silky and smooth. Remove the dough and place it in an oiled bowl, then cover with plastic wrap. Let sit and double in size for 1 to 2 hours.

Right before the dough is ready, make the nutella caramel. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the sugar, cream, honey and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until glossy and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Stir in the nutella. Pour almost all of the mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup, in an 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the almonds on top. (Note, I LOVE the honey toasted almonds from Trader Joe's so I use those, but you can add dry sliced almonds to a skillet over medium-low heat and toss for 3 to 4 minutes until toasted.) At this point you can also drop some spoonfuls of nutella right on top of the mixture - I totally did that.

Take the dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, about 18x 12 inches or so. Brush the melted butter all over the dough. Spread the nutella all over the dough, leaving a 1-inch boarder around the outsides. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and salt and sprinkle it overtop. Tightly roll the dough up from one of the long ends into a long log. Slice into 1-inch (about) rounds. Place the rounds on top of the almonds and caramel in the dish. Brush with melted butter and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns, uncovered, for about 45 to 50 minutes, covering with foil if they start to brown too much. You want the bottom to be bubbling and the buns to be set. Remove from the oven and cover with the remaining nutella caramel. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully invert the pan so the buns flip out and the caramel and almonds are on top. Serve immediately.

[slightly adapted from bon appetit]

Crying. So good.

Puffy Tacos.

I don’t know what I hate more: when I finish my taco or when I finish my margarita.

Both are equally depressing, which is why in this case I just went with a beer.

And an overload of tacos for… myself. 

In true high maintenance millennial fashion, I find it imperative to have flavorful, easy and different dinners during the month of December or else everything starts tasting like brie cheese with cranberries chased by sliced salami and maybe a sugar cookie.

Which sounds horrific, honestly.

But I always want to have a few evenings where we just eat “regular” food (as Eddie would say) and aren’t consuming holiday party fare – and I also want those evenings of food to still be fun and perhaps new and exciting and not just my go-to kale salad or clean-out-the-fridge pasta.

So maybe this isn’t necessarily classified as REGULAR food but it certainly packs the right flavor punch, is easier than it seems and gives you an excellent excuse to have a margarita.

Wait. Who needs an excuse?

Um, timeout.

Remember time out? Saved By the Bell, Zack Morris and his gigantic phone? He timed out all the time and life just stopped. Real life, do it.

Let’s please talk about these delicious fluffy and puffy tortillas. Look at ’em! I don’t even know what to do with life. SO FLUFFY. We are talking about taco pillows. A cloud for my melted cheese and beef.

Time in.

Frankly, I also love this meal because it’s indulgent and delicious enough to serve to some friends (or, um, yourself) when you want comfort food. And just a different version of a taco, you know?

I don’t want a new version of a taco, said no one ever.

So. Puffy tacos are corn tortillas that are fried for a few seconds until they puff up and hold that shape. The texture is INCREDIBLE. Especially if you’re a texture person. I don’t know everything about authentic puffy tacos, but I think the best are made with masa flour and it’s usually suggested that you make your own, right there on the spot.

Managing a large pot of scalding hot oil was enough for me to deal with while having a clingy snuggabug at my toes, so I figured I’d give it a whirl and try some of my favorite store bought corn tortillas – and it totally worked! The key is checking out the ingredient list, looking for that masa and going from there. I used the la tortilla factory yellow corn tortillas because we are addicted. So I can assure you that those ones work. Buuuut I probably just bought them all from your store so there’s that.

I did a classic beef taco because it was exactly what I was craving. Used my go-to seasoned ground beef that I can make with my eyes closed – I probably make this with chicken, turkey or beef at least three or four times a month for everything from salads to enchiladas to nachos. It also freezes great too!

Here’s what other freaky things I did:

I made a little quick pico, simply some chopped tomatoes, diced red onion, torn cilantro, lime juice and salt. SO good. I like keeping this in the fridge for a day or two and using it on everything. Pico your life.

And I finely shredded some Monterey jack cheese. That’s IT. Three things is all your need: beef, pico, cheese. It’s getting stuffed right in the taco and shoved in your face. Nothing else needed right now. Except the beer.

Beef Puffy Tacos

Yield: serves 4 appropriately, 2 obnoxiously

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

8 yellow corn tortillas

vegetable oil for frying (enough to reach about 3 inches deep in the pot)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 sweet onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound lean ground beef

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/3 cup low-sodium beef stock

6 ounces monterey jack cheese, freshly grated

lime wedges for spritzing

quick pico

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

juice of 1 lime

a pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

Heat a large pot over medium heat and add enough vegetable oil to come up about 2 to 3 inches high. Heat until hot - I do not use a candy thermometer for this, but I test a piece or tortilla and when it starts to fry immediately, the oil is ready. I don't heat it over high heat because it can burn quickly. To make the puffy tacos, take a pair of kitchen tongs and drop one tortilla into the oil. Take the tongs and press down into the center of the tortilla, creating a fold, and hold it there for 20 to 30 seconds, until the tortilla is puffed. Remove and place on a paper towel to drain - and repeat!

While you're waiting for the oil to heat up, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic, stirring well and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add in the beef, breaking it up with a large wooden spoon. Cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Add it to the beef and stir well (continuing to break up the pieces of beef with the spoon) until combined, then stir in the stock. Toss well to combine. Cover and cook on low heat until the tortillas are finished. (note: if i ever find that the stock turns the mixture too watery, i will sprinkle in a spoonful or flour or cornstarch and stir stir stir, sometimes drizzling in a bit more stock.)

Assemble the tacos by stuffing some beef inside a tortilla, topping it with cheese and adding the pico. You can add another spritz of lime if you'd like!

quick pico

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and mix. This can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for a few days.

I would gladly eat this whole plate and not care about hating life.

My Favorite Holiday Music!

Oh hi, I’m addicted to holiday music.

Growing up, I’d start listening to Christmas music on November 1st. In fact, just a few years ago when I was stuck at a desk and so miserable in my job, I started listening to it in OCTOBER to cheer things up. Last year, I barely listened at all (1989 was my Christmas music, true life) while waiting on Max, so I’ve definitely been bingeing this year bigtime.

I’m absolutely in LOVE with the playlist above for dinner parties and get togethers.

P.S. this is my current spotify holiday playlist below… and I keep adding things to it. I’m hooked.

Um, also, can we talk about my absolute FAVORITE holiday albums? This is one of my obsessions and crazy enough, I own the actual CD for most of these, as opposed to just downloading it. Like, I still buy the tangible CD even today in 2015! There happen to be a bunch more albums I love, but I narrowed it down, hello, TWENTY. These are on repeat constantly throughout the season. Some play to my elderly soul (I’m a Fanilow) but are super nostalgic for me to listen to and remind me of holidays as a kid. What are your absolute favorite ones?!

Row 1: dave barnes – steve tyrell – 98 degrees – barry manilow

Row 2: frank sinatra – michael buble – kristin chenoweth – christina aguilera

Row 3: dave barnes – pentatonix – mariah carey – NSYNC

Row 4: lady antebellum – charlie brown christmas – trans siberian orchestra – josh groban

Row 5: idina menzel – kelly clarkson – matt wertz – she and him 

This stuff makes me ridiculously happy.

Tuesday Things.

1. It’s the time of year again when I want to do elf on the shelf for… Eddie and myself. I mean, obviously for Max but he has no clue. I will say that the hate for the elf seems intense this year? I don’t care. I still want my elf to raid the canister of flour. (and then clean it up too.)

2. Actually think I’m making this gnocchi with brown butter for dinner tonight. LOOK at that.

3. I’ve become totally enamored with life captured (thanks to kristen, again!) and am loving their December journaling prompts. Absolutely what I need right now.

4. After a quick decluttering of the kitchen this past weekend, we’re trying to live without things on the counter, like the toaster and a canister of wooden spoons, spatulas, etc. Frankly, this is making my life very inconvenient. Give me back my clutter! (p.s. Eddie is not thrilled that the nespresso gets to stay out while the toaster goes in. HAHAHA.)

5. WOWOWOW The Affair. I seriously think the last 15 minutes of this episode was some of the best TV I’ve ever seen? I was also freaked out and couldn’t sleep. And now I’m flipping over Homeland and afraid they won’t believe Carrie and Saul. Annnnd I’m happy with the outcome of the Walking Dead. No more words since I can’t stop thinking of The Affair. It feels like I’m IN The Affair!

6. Stop trying so hard to be happy. For real though, I’m trying to be more mindful (blah blah since time is going waaay too fast blah) and this may be the key.

7. Do you have any holiday-ish traditions? I want to do the whole Christmas PJ thing and may have bought some, um, two months ago…

8. I continue to be out of control with the holiday season and want to make a neon gingerbread village. Or a rose gold one. You decide.

©.

Spicy Homemade Pulled Pork Ramen.

If there was ever a time to swan dive into a bowl of soup.

It would be NOW. Seriously.

Though I don’t know if I could do more than doggy paddle to save myself from drowning in the chili garlic broth of life. 

Oh hiiiii! Tell me, why did the weekend go so fast? Are you seeing Christmas lights everywhere you go? Have you heard the depressing Christmas Shoes song yet and/or the catchy yet awful Same Auld Lang Syne and wondered if you’re going to run into your high school sweetheart in the grocery store? Oh wait, probably not since you know their whole life story (and general whereabouts) from Facebook. Creeper 2015 status.

This was the shortest yet longest yet wonderful weekend ever! Last night we had what I think would be our final plate of Thanksgiving leftovers and to say I’m stuffed and over stuffing maaaay be an understatement. I’m craving something new and normal and un-holiday like, which is huge.

But first.

Our weather was ridiculously warm last week, unseasonably near 70 degrees and I even had to order an ICED eggnog latte and turn up the AC full blast this time of year. Because you know one of the worst parts of living in a chillier climate: you have to get all bundled up to go outside but then once you’re indoors or even in your car, you are having a full fledged overheated hot flash meltdown, not because of hormones but because of, hello, WINTER, and then you’re wearing boots and fuzzy socks and leggings and fleece and gloves and a hat and a down puffer coat and have to turn your air conditioning on to the highest settings and drive with your windows down while hanging you’re head over the side like a dog.

This is normal life, I swear.

Way back in the day, like we are talking seventh or eighth grade, I had certain snacks that I’d eat after school. Sometimes it was pretzels dipped in peanut butter (not much has changed, whomp whomp) but other times, it was the ramen blocks from the grocery store in chicken, shrimp or beef flavor with the seasoning packet. And I was the only one who liked them – my brothers wouldn’t even touch the stuff.

But then again, what do they know? They opted for frozen chicken patties and potato chips dipped in KETCHUP. Ugh. Excuse me while I go die now.

Anyhoo, I made my first homemade ramen a little over a year ago using Stephanie’s recipe and it was so, so delicious. And easy too! I actually couldn’t believe how easy, which meant I sort of had to complicate things here.

Well, not totally.

First up, you need some pulled pork. This is a great meal to make if you have leftover pulled pork – who cares how it got there? Slow cooker, oven roasted, stovetop – whatever works, as long as you end up with some delicious pork that you want to repurpose.

And! Let’s talk about all the freaking flavors.

SUPER thinly sliced scallions

and thinly sliced cucumbers too.

sesame seeds, lots of sesame seeds

and toasted sesame oil, my love language.

garlicky shitake mushrooms

chili garlic paste

nori sheets

oodles of noodles! Sorry.

and a soft boiled egg, of course. One day I’ll stop with the eggs. Maybe.

Probably not ever. Nevermind.

This bowl is just such a seriously love hug. And you can obviously make it with some chicken or even do a veggie version if you wish. Like I need to give you permission. Ooomph.

But really, the more color the better. The more flavor, the better. The spicier, the better! It’s the one time I can get behind lots of spice.

It completely will warm you up on the coolest of nights. And not to mention, give you something other to eat right now for dinner besides Christmas cookies.

But I wouldn’t know anything about that. Hmmpf.

Spicy Pulled Pork Ramen.

Yield: serves 4 appropriately, 2 obnoxiously

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

10 to 12 ounces pulled pork shoulder (I used leftovers from THIS recipe)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

12 ounces shitake mushrooms

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 cups low-sodium chicken stock (or veg stock, or even beef stock!)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

2 blocks dried ramen noodles, seasoning packets removed

4 scallions, sliced

1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced (I like to use a mandolin for this)

2 (or 4) eggs, soft boiled or poached

2 tablespoons chili garlic paste

2 teaspoons black sesame seeds

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

Directions:

First, if you want to cook pork specifically for this recipe, I recommend this oven roasted version or this slow cooker version.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the mushrooms and garlic and toss. Cook until the mushrooms are soft and juicy, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

While the mushrooms are cooking, bring the stock to a simmer. Stir in the soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Cook your eggs too! I like to soft boil mine - but poaching is good too.

Place the ramen blocks in two large bowls. Add the pork, scallions and a few cucumber slices to each bowl. Pour the stock over both blocks evenly and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes before stirring. Add mushrooms to each bowl and stir in a few more cucumber slices. At this point you could separate into two more bowls if you want 4 servings. Stir in the chili garlic paste (I do about a tablespoon per bowl for SPICY!) and add your egg and nori sheets. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with toasted sesame oil. Serve immediately.

I’m really sailing my dreamboat along up there.

©.

November Favorites: Beauty.

Woohoo! Best time of the month.

I have SO many fun things to talk about this month. Eeeeek.

So, you’ll notice that a ton of my favorites are things I picked up at the VIB sale earlier this month – that’s basically all I’ve been using. I didn’t pick up much makeup at all during the sale because frankly, I still don’t have a ton of time to wear it. But I did want to pick up lots of skincare things I had my eye on (which I think is the best time to do so – they never go on sale!) and I’m really loving every single thing I bought. There are a few that I haven’t got to use as much as I’d like, but these are the things I’m 100% loving. I’ll keep you posted on the others as I use them, obviously. Beauty junkie to beauty junkie.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo. One of my favorite scents ever, I am loving this product just as much as my usual favorite – Batiste dry shampoo. The Batiste is obviously waaaaay more economical so it’s what I use everyday (and by that I mean, most often), but I’m super impressed at how well this EJ does at… dry shampooing. I figured it would just be perfume for my hair! But it’s both. And I love it. A fun way to feel slightly pampered. Also, I’m still really liking the Oribe texture spray, especially when I straighten my hair! It gives the best texture without making my hair feel like straw. 

Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme. OMG. I love this scent so, so much. I waited for months to pick it up at the sephora sale, going through three or so samples before biting the bullet. If you love warm, amber-y, almost slightly masculine scents, this is the BEST. It’s so warming and just perfect for this time of year. I need Tom Ford to start making rollerballs for my bags.

Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist. Holy cow this stuff makes your face DEWY. I mean, yes, obviously, but I’ve tried products that claim to do the same in the past and it does nothing like this. This makes your skin SO dewy and glowy. You will probably hate it if you have oily skin, but if your skin is dry like mine, you will probably love it! Possibly my best purchase of the sale.

MAC Relentlessly Red. My favorite red – it’s almost a pink and coral and I’m totally going back it already for the season. Bright lipstick is my lifesaver right now since I don’t have tons of time for lots of makeup. Only downfall: this is a little drying. I just use some lip balm like burt’s bees under it.

Tarte Maracuja Oil. I’ve used this for years but had been out of it prior to the sephora sale. I forgot how wonderful this makes my skin feel (I mix it with body butter after a shower) and it is working wonders for my dry skin already this season. Plus, I think it smells really good. Out of all the oils, I think I like this one best.

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Liquid Lipstick in Addiction. This color is super pretty – very fall-like but not quite as dark as MAC rebel or urban decay afterdark. And I really am liking these ultra HD products, they aren’t as drying as some others I’ve tried. Found mine at Target!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed. I know I know I KNOW! I went back to it. I love it so much. Gosh it’s just the best color ever. This is probably the product that’s been in my favorites the most over the last three years.

Glam Glow Pout Mud Lip Treatment. No surprise here – my obsession with Glam Glow products continues because this stuff is so wonderful. I love the exfoliant but what I REALLY love is the balm. It’s super moisturizing and I can even feel it on my lips the next morning. The only thing I don’t love about this is the packaging… it’s just sort of weird and bulky? Times two.

Fresh Cocoa Scrub. I’ve been using this so much since I bought it that, um… I bought a second one. It’s been my exfoliant of choice this month and it smells like a freaking brownie. I want to eat it.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil. So I bought the Power Couple duo at the VIB sale and have been using it every night. Sometimes I forget to put on the Good Genes (because you have to wait slightly after the Luna oil) but I always do the Luna right after washing my face. I swear my skin is looking better! And this has not irritated it at all. The only downside to this product is that you can’t use it during pregnancy, and while I’m not pregnant now, at some point in the (somewhat far) future I hope to be and I’ll have to swap it out. NO biggie, I’m just obsessed with the idea of finding a system I love and can use consistently.

So that’s it for this month. Now give me the goods! What are you loving, what are you buying for friends (and yourself) – what are you doing for stocking stuffers? If we get another sephora coupon I may buy some Dr. Jart sheet masks – I’m in a real jacuzzi bath/sheet mask phase right now when I get a few minutes at night. Ooh ooh! Also – what nail colors are you loving this month? I’m in a RUT.

{as usual, none of this is sponsored and all of these products were purchased by me. i am not affiliated with any of the companies above, nor do i accept free products. just love to talk about what i like, makeup junkie to makeup junkie. there are a few amazon affiliate links above. thank you for being here!}

©.

My Favorite Holiday Movie Playlist.

Um, hi. I’m going absolutely crazy this holiday season (do kids do that to you?!) and already have more holiday cheer that I have in YEARS.

Seriously, I think the last time I was this excited for the holidays was when I was around nine years old and not only had a tree in my room but also had to string colored lights over the entire thing. #fabulous.

These are my absolute FAVORITE holiday movies and between apple TV, netflix, amazon and downloads, I’ve already played half of this list. I’m determined that anytime the TV is on in the house, one of these is playing. That’s going over great, in case you’re wondering.

What are you favorites?! My all-time fave is probably The Family Stone. Then Christmas Vaca. And Four Christmases? I love a good bad movie.

Row 1:  Elf – Christmas Vacation – Charlie Brown Christmas – The Holiday

Row 2:  Home Alone – Four Christmases – Home Alone 2 – The Family Stone

Row 3: Love Actually – The Polar Express – The Grinch – It’s a Wonderful Life

Honorable mentions go to Rudolph, Prancer and The Santa Clause. I purposely left A Christmas Story off of that list because I have an irrational dislike for it. What is that all about?! But really, most of these are just nostalgia watches for me, and put me in the Christmas mood. Tell me your favorite holiday movie! And please do not say Die Hard. (coughcoughEddiecough)

©.

Tell Me What You’re Baking for the Holiday Season!

Eeeeep! It’s only one of my favorite things to share ever, because COOKIES.

This is the sixth year I’m sharing my annual baking list, which has morphed more into my favorite baking list and what I think you should bake.

And then I beg you to tell me what else I should bake.

It’s totally changed from when I started six years ago – back then I had all the time in the world to bake for the holidays, we’re talking DAYS on end. It’s something I’d do with my grandma and loved to continue, even though I don’t enjoy baking itself in general. (Like who has time to follow all those directions? Truth.)

But. We love to make giant cookie trays (Eddie makes the best ones) to take to family and friends all season, therefore I love to bake this time of year. Last year, I baked nothing besides the baby in my belly that was born two weeks before Christmas. Well, wait – scratch that. I baked about six dozen chocolate chip cookies and would eat one or two (or four) a night.

This year! I don’t have tonnnns of time to bake with a little one but I’m planning on still trying to do a bunch. My game plan right now is to prep a bunch of doughs at one time and then bake them off when it’s convenient. It’s easier than making things for the blog because we’re not talking about recipes that need tested and/or photographed in natural light.

PLUS. My cousin and I always spend a day or two making treats for friends, fun things like candied citrus peel, homemade amaretto, cocktail bitters (these need to be made, well, NOW, to be ready for Christmas), homemade bailey’s irish cream, bacon vanilla almond brittle, that saltine candy crack stuff and maybe a peppermint bark or two. I’m also wondering if I can prep two or three loaves of cinnamon orange pull apart bread and freeze it?

OMG and I cannot forget this TO DIE FOR homemade snack mix. I love it so, so, so much.

Here are the things I’m planning on – tell me your list below!

soft snickerdoodles (which are eddie’s favorite) but also – chewy chai snickerdoodles! those last ones are fabulous and i’ve made the recipe three times since. (one friend has made them FIVE times in the last two months and doubled it successfully. yes.)

snickerchipdoodles. just try it.

perfect cut out sugar cookies. we love to frost these as a family with tons of sprinkles. plus, these are so easy!

peanut butter blossoms. they will forever be my favorite.

double dark chocolate peanut butter cup cookies. do you think I like PB and chocolate?

doubletree hotel chocolate chip cookies. surely my favorite chocolate chip at the moment.

peppermint pattie brownies.

peppermint pattie cookies! i love both.

a big tray of homemade pistachio baklava.

mother lovett’s pink and green thumbprints.

mother lovett’s orange cookies.

cake batter chocolate bark. along with another bark or two?

soft gingersnaps. i double this recipe and it’s always a huuuuge hit.

double chocolate cheesecake cookies. one batch, i need it.

chocolate coconut truffles.

mocha coconut fudge and bourbon chocolate fudge. and i kind of want to make a peanut butter fudge?

So what am I missing?! Am I overly ambitious? And what’s on your list? Tell me tell me!

©.

Bacon Blue Cheese Mashed Potato Waffles.

Important question: do you have any mashed potatoes left?

I know that seems like quite the rare possibility, but… maybe if you do?

Toss ’em in your waffle maker.

Add some bacon, some blue cheese, fry up an egg (because, um, of course), brush that dang waffle maker with bacon grease (yep I said it) and go to town.

I should add, that perhaps, this should be done after one more full Thanksgiving plate is consumed.

My Thanksgiving leftover ideas almost ALWAYS require an egg. Make a sandwich? Top it with an egg. Making tacos? Add an egg. Breakfast hash?

You guess it.

EGG.

I’ve talked for years about how my mom would make MASHED potato pancakes. We are talking complete comfort food, often served with scrambled eggs. Probably fried in bacon grease. They were ridiculously delicious and tasted like 1994 and I was pretty positive they would work just as well in the waffle maker.

Waffles, not pancakes. Are we over pancakes in 2015? Is it about waffling everything?

Maybe, in which case I’m going to go get the sweet potatoes too. See ya!

Bacon Blue Cheese Mashed Potato Waffles

Yield: makes about 10 (3-inch round) waffles

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups mashed potatoes

1/3 cup flour

1 large egg, lightly beaten

4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Directions:

Heat the waffle iron to it's highest setting.

In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes, flour, egg, crumbled bacon and blue cheese. If you want to use salt and pepper, more butter, or flavor, do so at your discretion because it totally depends on how your mashed potatoes were made on thanksgiving! You might also find that you need a touch more flour if your potatoes were super buttery. Ideally, the potato batter will be a soft and sticky dough. Place a scoop right in the center of your very hot waffle maker and close the lid. Cook for a few minutes until crisp on the outside, about 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining potatoes.

Serve with extra bacon, crumbled blue cheese and an egg!

[adapted from my mom's mashed potato pancakes]

Sooo what are your leftover plans today? Soooo what are your leftover plans today?

©.

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers. (under $25!)

I’m back, I’m back! These are some of my most favorite things for stockings, hostess gifts, small fries and what not. I just have to ask: have you SEEN the Target holiday section of food and stocking gifts yet? It’s absolutely fantastic so you can click the X up there and just head on out to those aisles and I’ll agree with you. ALSO. Restoration Hardware has some awesome stocking stuffers this year too, so there’s that. Tell me what your faves are below!

1. Pinrose Perfume Petals. I am absolutely NUTTY over these. I found them at Nordstrom a few weeks ago and while I think they are a fabulous idea for anyone, the mom in me loves them since I rarely put on perfume until we are near our destination or in the car. Love love love.

2. Wigle Organic Bitters. For the cocktail lover.

3. Starbucks tumblers and mugs. Absolutely going CRAZY over all the options this year. I love their tallest tumblers with straws for water with lemon.

4. Wooden airplanes. These are a fun and goofy gift, but I stick a few in Eddie’s stocking every year and they make for a couple hours of entertainment that you forget about until the next year. Only suggestion: buy multiples because they do break fairly quickly.

5. Mini Moleskine notebooks. It’s no secret that I’m a notebook junkie. Target always has the cutest options but I’ve been a moleskin lover for years. The different sizes and colors are great.

6. Secret Garden coloring book. I definitely was NOT the person who ever thought I could get into the whole adult coloring book phenomenon, but wow… I’m kind of hooked. It is super relaxing as long as you choose a book that isn’t intimidating. The secret garden is my fave!

7. Gold charging cord. Because I lose them constantly.

8. Colorful paper straws. These might be trendy in the food blog world but I just think they are fun. Super fun!

9. Sephora mask set. Bought a few of these to try at the VIB sale and I’m loving them so far. You could use the whole set as a gift or break them up into separates.

10. Sticker book. Enough said?

11. Pineapple pencil holder. YES YES YES, said all my stationary lovers. The key to getting work done is having a super cute office, right?

12. Hex bottle opener. Another quirky but useful gift. Love this as part of a hostess gift too.

13. Perfume rollerballs: The amount of rollerballs I own is horrifically embarrassing but I think it’s the perfect way to test out perfumes. Plus, you can easily keep them in your purse without spill worries! Currently in my bag are Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black, Philosophy Fresh Cream, Nest Midnight Fleur and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb.

14. Compartes chocolate bars. No.freaking.words. This delicious chocolate is pricey but worth it – and would surely be a treat for someone else!

15. Artifact Uprising square print set. More Artifact products, but have you seen their prints? To die for.

16. Fancy magazines. I love Cherry Bombe and Lucky Peach.

17. Perfect Cube Trays. I talk about these all the time but they are so lovely to have for a party where cocktails are made to order. And they make the big whiskey cubes too!

18. Mini Emergency Kit. Not needed until you need it. Then you’re oh-so thankful!

19. Sriracha To Go. Honestly? I’m not a super fan of sriracha like the rest of the world. But since the rest of the world IS, then OMG sriracha keychain!!

20. Williams Sonoma peppermint bark. I can make my own peppermint bark at home but there is just SOMETHING about the WS version. I love their little bars, it’s the perfect portion.

21. Burts Bees Sets. We are Burt’s Bees freaks in this house and I always buy Eddie about 8 original chapsticks for his stocking. I love their gift sets too!

22. . These ornaments can NOT be beat. They are gorgeous and look good enough to eat. I want to cover my entire tree in them.

23. Marble ring dish. Target is getting super fancy!

24. A favorite mascara. I’m partial to the Benefit Rollerlash, but hey, whatever works.

25. Sprinkle Carry On Cocktail Kit. I absolutely adore this idea for a stocking.

26. Fun keychains. Because you can hang ’em anywhere.

©.