Since Thanksgiving is all about so many heavy dishes, such as mashed potatoes, gratin and gravies, it's always nice to have a little bit of
green at the table.
These beans are the perfect palate-cleansing
side, providing that clean, acidic sweetness, much like the cranberry
sauce. The citrus just pops and will refresh the senses in between
spoonfuls of sweet potatoes and turkey.
Best part, serve them
room temperature, which means you can make them up a few hours ahead and
not worry about getting them to the table hot. In fact, I'm betting
these could be made the day before, refrigerated in the dressing, and
re-tossed right before dinner is served.
They are outstanding and a recipe I will use all year.
Holiday Goodies
Holiday Goodies
Goat Cheese with Cranberries & Pistachios
The festiveness of the holidays is upon us and it's time to make a plan of attack. What to serve? How to serve it? What I am bringing where? And how the heck am I going to feed all these people?
Anyway, I'm hardly the first one who thought of this but it's a staple around here during the holiday season. This is one of those great, quick appetizers you make in a moments notice. Stock your fridge with a few logs of goat cheese (it lasts a long time), some dried cranberries and shelled pistachios.
The sweet cranberries, salty nuts and earthy taste of the goat cheese are a great combination.
If you have unexpected guests, or have to work late before a party and don't want to show up empty handed...this is perfect. Also, if you have to travel a long way and need something to hold up in the car....this works well. Even if you have planned every detail down to the millisecond, this is still the perfect appetizer to put out for your guests.
Recipe of the Week: Sugarplums
Since it's Christmas time, I chose to make Anita Chu's Sugar Plums recipe. Anita writes in her Field Guide to Candy, "When visions of sugarplums dance in children's heads, it would be interesting to know exactly what sugarplums they dream of." She explains that historically "sugarplums," referred to a wide variety of candies, but more recently have come to refer to "soft, sticky balls of dried fruits and nuts, often rolled in shredded coconut or confectioners' sugar. They do not necessarily contain plums."
According to Anita, "Sugarplums were immortalized in Clement Clarke Moore's poem "A Visit from St. Nicolas" and "Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker." Hence our association of sugarplums with Christmas.
Sugarplums
(Recipe from Field Guide to Candy by Anita Chu; Quirk Books, 2009)
2 cups almonds, toasted and roughly chopped
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup pitted dates
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
Unsweetened flaked coconut for rolling
Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Combine almonds, apricots, dates, cinnamon, and zest in a food processor and process into a finely ground mixture. Add orange juice and honey, and combine until the mixture becomes a sticky ball.
Pinch off pieces of the mixture and form into 1-inch balls. Roll in coconut. Place on the baking sheet for about 1 hour until firm.
Notes: You can substitute the fruits and nuts in this recipe. Dried cherries, figs, or raisins work well, as would hazelnuts, pistachios, or pecans. Try adding chopped candied ginger or candied citrus peel.
Chocolate, Walnut, and Almond Kugelhopf
This new year I'm going along with my resolution to get good luck, which involves eating a number of different good luck foods. Lentils, beans, greens and round cakes are all on the menu. Ring cakes are a classic dessert for celebrating the new year, especially in Europe. The ring shape is believe to bring luck, wealth, and prosperity. There are many cakes that fit that mold, like Bundts and Kugelhopfs.
Kugelhopf is a cake made famous in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary. The cake is most often made with a yeast dough that's rolled up with a filling of cinnamon and raisins. But the cake can also be made with baking powder or soda, which turns out a cake much like any standard quick bread or American-style Bundt cake. But this cake recipe is special because it's made entirely without leavening.
Happy Holidays Cocktails
We just can't resist a festive cocktail to liven up the holidays. Here are three sure to please martinis that will help you deck the halls with traditional flavors of the season.
Winter Wonderland Martini
2 oz. Three Olives Cake Vodka
2 oz. White Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz. White Creme de Cacao
1 oz. Heavy Cream
Combine in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass, sprinkle with coconut flakes and stir. Garnish with a white chocolate wafer (if desired)!
Candy Cane Lane Martini
2.5 oz. Three Olives Cake Vodka
1 oz. White Creme de Menthe
1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
Heavy Cream
Dash of Grenadine
Add grenadine to the bottom of chilled martini glass. Shake remaining ingredients and strain into martini glass to create swirl effect!
Eggnog Cocktail
1 oz. Three Olives Cake Vodka
2.5 oz. Eggnog
3/4 oz. Amaretto
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. Top with grated cinnamon or nutmeg and enjoy!
- Recipes courtesy of Three Olives Vodka
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