Friendly Food Snobs

nuts and bolts – a christmas classic

nuts and bolts

Nuts and bolts are a Christmas classic at my parents house when I was growing up. This is my take on my own mom’s recipe. Her nuts and bolts were so infamous she would make two or three huge batches between November and January and it would get devoured. I make it these days to have a stash at home and also give it away to friends and family tied up in clear bags. I have to do this pretty quickly. (Before Neil and I eat bowls of it while watching a movie after the kids go to bed!) I love having a container of this kicking around the kitchen to put out if guests pop by over the holidays and Oscar absolutely loves it as an after nursery school snack on these cold wintery days we’ve been having here in Toronto. It is the perfect salty snack and so addictive. It is not my typical whole food healthy recipe, but is tastes like my childhood Christmas and being home and cozy and really what is better than that in November?

Ingredients:
5 cups shreddies
2 cups cheerios
2 cups cheese bits crackers
3 cups pretzels
2 cups mixed salted nuts
2 cups salted cashews
4 tablespoon butter (I use salted)
4 tablespoon olive oil
5 teaspoon worcestershire
2-3 teaspoon garlic powder (we like 3 but if you are not a huge garlic fan, try 2)
2 teaspoon onion powder
pinch chili powder

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. I use a large aluminum roasting pan (the disposable kind) from the grocery store. Combine all the cereal and crackers and nuts in the pan.  Melt the butter in the microwave and add the oil and spices. Pour over the nuts and bolts and I use a large wooden spoon to mix well. (You want that yummy coating on everything.) Bake for 90 minutes and stir every 20-30 minutes. Let cool completely before you package them. Keeps well in a sealed container for two weeks. But it never lasts that long in my house. If you need any more holiday inspiration check out my chewy ginger cookies  or arugula pomegranate salad or cheddar thyme shortbread. Happy Christmas cooking, friends!

Scotcheroos

scotcheroosWhat is not to love about the scotcheroo? Peanut butter, dark chocolate and crunchy crispy bottom. It is simple to make (no bake) and gluten free and ridiculously yummy. I have been making them for the holidays  for years and they are my sister’s absolute fave thing I think I make.

Recipe makes a 9 x 13 dish so there will be LOTS of leftovers. I love to hide a few of these in the freezer (just for me). I already made a batch for Canadian Thanksgiving and plan to whip up another the week before Christmas. Feel free to decorate these with anything such as mini eggs for Easter, or Christmas candies before the chocolate sets.

Dashel will be 8 months at Christmas for his first one and I cannot wait. Oscar is 3 1/2 and will probably be gobbling up these scotcheroos as soon as he can get his hands on them after dinner. I follow the recipe from food52.com but make a tiny tweak by adding cinnamon. Onto the recipe below, hope you love them!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter (I use the natural stuff I have on hand)
6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup dark chocolate chips (or semi sweet)
1 cup butterscotch chips

Line a 9 x 13 dish with foil or parchment for easy lifting. Measure the Rice Krispies into a large bowl and set aside. Heat the syrup and sugar in a small pot. Stir and remove from heat as soon as it starts to bubble. Add the peanut butter to the syrup and sugar. (I use a spatula for this recipe and it is so easy.) Stir the peanut butter and mix it well with the syrup and sugar then pour over the Rice Krispies. Adding the cinnamon and stir to combine. Pour this into the bottom on the lined 9 x 13 dish and press down firmly with your hands to make an even base.

In a microwave safe bowl mix the chocolate and butterscotch chips and heat in microwave for 30 secs then stir, and repeat twice. (So in the microwave for 3 x 30 seconds = 90 seconds total.) You want to heat the chips JUST enough to combine them and melt them. Wisk the chips and them pour over the Rice Krispie base. Leave to set for two hours before you cut them. Hint: if you want them to be perfect then run the knife you are using to cut them with under hot water and then dry it. The warm knife will help make clean cut squares. Store in a container at room temperature for a week or in the freezer for up to three months. Just thaw one hour before serving.

arugula pear walnut parmesean salad

 

This is my go-to salad for guests. So simple and so good. I’m hosting a big family meal on Christmas Eve and plan to make a batch of this. I love a salad on a holiday table to lighten things up. The bitter arugula plays so well off the sweet pear, salty parmesean, walnuts and lemony dressing. I will often toss this all in a big white bowl to show off how pretty it is. This is how salads should taste to me, hearty, satisfying with every mouthful leaving you wanting another. Salad pairs well with any grilled meats, or as a standalone lunch.  Hope you love it as much as I do.

arugula pear walnut parmesean salad

Ingredients for the lemon dressing:
4 tbsp olive oil
juice of one lemon
1 and 1/2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for the salad:
4 large handfuls baby arugula
seeds of half a pomegranate
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (lightly toasted in a dry pan)
parmesean peels (use a potato peeler) to taste (I like A LOT)
1 ripe pear cut into slivers

Whisk the dressing together. Mix the salad ingredients. Toss and serve. Bonus points – dressing can be added 30 minutes before serving with no fear of wilting. Recipe serves four to six.

Cheddar Thyme Sea Salt Shortbread

cheddar shortbreadcheddar shortbread

Shortbread means a high amount of fat/butter. That’s what makes this recipe so delicious, addictive (you’ve been warned!) and perfect for the holidays.

I like to package these in bags with ribbon to give as a gift. They’re also lovely on a cheese platter with chutney, nuts and dried fruit. Or served alongside a warm bowl of soup for a winter lunch.

Recipe makes 24. I use a little trick to make the clean up easier. I form the dough between plastic wrap – a time saver because it keeps your kitchen counter from getting dirty. More details in the recipe below.

Ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 and 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp Keen’s dry mustard or Dijon
pinch black pepper
1 cup grated old white cheddar cheese (packed)
1 egg beaten
1 stick salted butter room temperature (half a cup)
flaky salt for sprinkling

Combine all ingredients in a bowl with a spatula. Dough should be crumbly.  Knead 30 seconds and form a disc. Set out a large piece of cling wrap (plastic wrap). Transfer the dough to the cling wrap and shape it into a log with your hands. Roll the cling wrap around the log. Place log in fridge for one hour, or your freezer for ten minutes.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Once dough is cold use a sharp knife to slice it into 1/2 thick rounds and place on parchment lined sheets. Bake for 20 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown. My oven took exactly 20 minutes. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky salt on each cookie when they come out warm from the oven. They already have salt from the butter and cheese, so a little pinch goes a long way. Let cool on the baking sheets. You can also store the log in the freezer for up to a month and bake just before company arrives. Enjoy!

caramelized onion thyme turkey burgers

best turkey burgersbest turkey burgers
best turkey burgers
best turkey burgersThese are the best turkey burgers I’ve ever had. Juicy and so flavourful. When I shot these for the blog I made these bunless, but they’d be just as delicous with a soft burger bun.
The sauteed onions go right into the patty mixture. To save time sometimes I will sautee the onion the day before and leave it in the fridge until I am ready to make the patties. You can cook the burgers in the oven or bbq. Recipe makes six burgers.

Ingredients for the caramelized onions:
2 small cooking onions diced (or one large)
olive oil to coat pan
salt and pepper to taste
Heat the oil in a frying pan, adding the onions and lightly salt and pepper. Cook on low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes until they become fragrant and start to caramelize.

Ingredients for the burgers:
450 gram package of ground turkey
1 egg
4 tbsp bread crumbs
1 and 1/2 tbsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
black pepper to taste
Prepare the onions. Let cool. Preheat oven to 375. You can also bbq these. I have done both and like both equally.  In a large mixing bowl combine all the burger ingredients, except for the turkey. Mix with a fork and add in the ground turkey. Don’t overmix. This recipe makes six burgers. Make small balls with the patty mixture and press down firmly to create the patties. Cook on a parchment paper lined sheet in the oven 25 minutes flipping once. Delicious served with lettuce, tomato, avocado and feta.

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