There are so many traditional cookout foods – and so many of them are light on vegetables. I love a good potato salad but I also love my greens so I’m always excited when they find their way into an outdoor party menu. Thus, it seemed appropriate to wrap up #BBQWeek with a hearty salad that’s still perfect for an outdoor gathering.
This salad is full of the bounty of summer and make-ahead friendly which is perfect for entertaining. Simply dressed greens, tomatoes, and grilled onions are topped with grilled steak, avocado, basil, and almonds in this drool-worthy dish. It will serve four as a meal in itself – or more as part of a larger spread.
Popcorn is a favorite snack around here – and these bars are such a fun way to dress it up. This is a no-bake treat, so it’s a great one to get the kids helping with!
Popcorn is tossed together with oats, dried fruit, and nuts, and covered in a honey syrup – each bite is a mix of sweet and salty. It’s also hearty enough to hold my very hungry kid-apillars over until dinner so they’re a favorite after school snack here!
This post is sponsored in conjunction with Christmas Cookies Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the Christmas Cookies Week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
I grew up with my Grandfather’s stollen as a Christmas tradition, so it took me years to realize that most of the world doesn’t love fruit cake.
Honestly, I think the rest of the world is wrong, it’s delicious. I think too many people’s first encounter was a questionably-made, mass produced dessert no one would like. If you’d tried Opa’s, I’m sure you would solidly be in my corner.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products to use in this post. All opinions are my own.
Today’s cookie recipe is my unexpected favorite of the week – and features #ChristmasCookies week sponsor Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas and Flavors. This biscotti is amazing – even if you’re not a biscotti fan, you need to try this! There is such an awesome flavor here – thanks, in large part, to the Nielsen-Massey products – and they pair just delightfully with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. A small bag of these paired up with some K-Cups would be an amazing teacher or neighbor gift this season!
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has been crafting the world’s finest vanillas and flavors since 1907. Each of Nielsen-Massey’s all-nature pure flavors are crafted with premium ingredients, sourced from around the world and chosen to meet the utmost quality standards. From lemon to peppermint to coffee or chocolate, Nielsen-Massey’s pure flavors offer convenience, quality and consistency to ensure your favorite recipes taste delicious every single time. All products are gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free, all-natural and Kosher.
Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas & Flavors is giving one winner a set of their pure flavors: 2-oz each of Orange, Lemon, Peppermint, Almond, Chocolate, Coffee, Rose Water, and Orange Blossom Water. Enter below!
2 Tbsp. softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate
Dark chocolate candy melts
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Whisk together the flour, slat, and baking powder until well combined.
In another both, whisk the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract together until completely combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until the dough comes together. Fold in the sliced almonds and chocolate.
Knead the dough for a minute or two, until it comes together well. If too sticky, add another Tbsp. of flour.
For them dough into a log approximately 4″ wide and 1 1/2″ high.
Bake for 35 minutes, than remove to cool and reduce oven to 300 degrees.
When it has cooled for about 15-20 minutes, use a serrated knife to slice the log into 1/2″ slices and place, cut side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cook for an additional 15 minutes, flipping halfway.
Remove and cool completely.
Melt candy melts according to package directions. Drizzle over biscotti and cool completely.
Can’t get enough cookies? For #ChristmasCookies Week, I’m linking up with lots of other bloggers sharing awesome recipes. You can find today’s batch of goodies below!
Even though it’s October (and the weather is still feeling like August…), I’m starting to think about Thanksgiving. I know, I know, but I get to host this year and I’m pumped! We’re not sure if we’ll have a big crowd or just the four of us, so I’ve got several menus floating around in my head.
I knew this month’s Improv Challenge theme, Sugar and Spice, was perfect for trying out some of the recipes I’m considering. Sugar and spice is SO fall – apple spice, pumpkin spice – but I couldn’t get these nuts off my mind, so they won out.
This is such an easy recipe – the slow cooker makes it totally hands off. Just mix, let the slow cooker do it’s thing, then spread them out to cool. They were so good – and a perfect pre-Thanksgiving dinner snack!
1 1/2 cups almonds
2 cups pecans
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
Grease the crock of a slow cooker and add the nuts. Add the sugars and cinnamon and stir. Add the water and stir until everything is evenly combined and wet.
Cook on high for 3 hours.
Remove nuts to a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool. Sprinkle with remaining seasonings. Once fully cooled, store in an airtight container.
You can check out the other Sugar and Spice themed recipes that bloggers made here:
