Completely Unfestive Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

The November 1st-to-some-time-mid-January-if-it's-a-good-year period has always been a tumultuous one for me. While the holiday season does bring about The Grinch (though really, only the first half ever got played in my household), and Elf Yourself (my favourite online tool), it also brings about the inner child in me, to whom December 25th was just a day when everyone else woke up ready to unwrap presents, and the only establishments left open were movie theatres and Chinese restaurants. Not a bad evening, I must say, but just shy of enough to compensate for all I felt I was missing out on. As I grew older, I started to appreciate the warmth of the Holidays, chosen families, an excuse to bake with reckless abandon and hand-deliver the results to those I love and care for, and of course, the coziness of being inside, preferably with a bottle of wine, when the snow hits the ground -and simply doesn't stop.

So it is with that clear sign of growth that I bring you what may *appear* to be a christmas-themed baked good, with hints of green poking out from toasted pistachios, and rosy red cranberries, but surely is only celebratory of all else that red and green represents. I'll let you know when I think of what that could be.

Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti

1/4 C oil
1/4 C white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 eggs worth of egg replacer
1 3/4 C. flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c dried cranberries
1 c de-shelled pistachio nuts, chopped (or smashed)

1. Preheat oven to 300 F, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
2. In bowl, mix together oil, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Then add egg replacement, mix well
3. In a larger bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Slowly add oil mix
4. Add in cranberries and pistachios and mix by hand
5. With wet hands, divide the dough into two halves, and form two logs on cookie sheet
6. Bake for 35 minutes, or until lightly browned, let cool for 10 minutes
7. Reduce oven heat to 275, and cut logs on a diagonal, laying pieces on sides.
8. Bake another 10-20 minutes, or until dry. Let cool!

Chocolate Rosemary Cookies

This delicious recipe may sound a little strange, and it is. Blending together an herb you may have reserved exclusively for Italian dishes, it may surprise you how delicious it can be in a post dinner (or breakfast, or lunch) treat.

Enjoy!

1/2 cup oil of your choice (even olive would probably work well in this)
2 tbsp chopped rosemary (fresh or dried, dunn' matter)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 non-dairy milk of your choice (almond, soy, coconut...)
1 tbsp. ground flaxseed
1 & 1/3 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 C, line two cookie sheets with wax paper
2. In a large bowl, mix together oil with rosemary, add in sugars, and beat until smooth
3. Add milk and flax seed, beat again.
4. Add salt, baking soda, and about half the flour at a time, beat yet again.
5. Add chocolate chips and stir until evenly mixed
6. Scoop 2 tbsp-ish at a time on to cookie sheet and flatten with a fork
7. Bake both sheets at once for 10-15 minutes, checking the bottoms after 10 to see if they're lightly browned. Let cool for 5 minutes and transfer to cooling racks.

Hot Maple Brussels Sprouts

As someone who self-defines as empathetic, relies on this quality for much of my work, and claims to enjoy the prospect of sharing this trait with others, there is one despicable quality I simply cannot tolerate: Adults with children’s palates. I know that may sound harsh. Perhaps you’re tempted to unsubscribe, either from my blog, or our friendship, but at the very least you should hear me out.

When I was but a cub, I didn’t take to ketchup (or katsup, if you’re illiterate) the way many children did. Still, I find it a somewhat icky direction to encourage a homefry towards, and yet most folks I know from childhood would have described it as a staple to their childhood selves’ diet. Look at them today, and they’re racing home from their various “real life” commitments to read food porn like the rest of us foodies. Palates develop. Tastes grow. They become an extension of our own willingness to open ourselves to an endless experience of what we put in and around our mouths. When we move past the sugar and tomato-ish preferences, and into the varying, expansive, and unrelenting possibilities of sautéed earthy root vegetables, of time-sensitive marinades, of pairings that, even just for a moment, confuse your senses in a way that shapes your face into a state of genuine unknowing… This is where we find the possibility in food! This is where the (food) magic happens.

So, if this rings true to you, perhaps gnaw on your blankie to muffle the screams that may follow with this next recipe… And then give it a try and watch as your taste buds play catch-up (not to be confused with katsup).

Hot Maple Brussels Sprouts!

Grocery list:

1 lb (450g) Brussels sprouts (about 20): trimmed, halved lengthwise
2tbsp olive oil
Coarse kosher salt
2 tsp maple syrup
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or a pinch more if you need a punch/sinus clearing…)

1. Spread Brussels sprouts on rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and salt.
2. Roast at 200C for 10 minutes, stir, and roast another 10 minutes until lightly browned, tranfer to serving bowl
3. Stir together maple syrup and cayenne, pour over Brussels sprouts, toss well.

Makes 4 side servings, or 1 Brussellsy Feast. Enjoy!