Author Archives: damndelish

Crock pot cocktail: Hot spiked apple cider

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This little cocktail concoction is just in time to warm your hearts (and hands!) for Thanksgiving. You know we do a specialty Thanksgiving cocktail every year, like this apple spice libation. Or Lauren Conrad’s kick ass Pilgram Punch I made a couple of years ago. So this year, we’re coming in hot with a crock pot cocktail.

Typically, I’ve been making this drink for Halloween. We’re usually outside waiting for the trick or treaters, and October in the NE means you need more than just a fire to help stay warm. However, the volume this recipe produces is perfect for your large holiday gathering. Bonus, everyone can help themselves! No need to be bartender for the night.

  • 1 jug of apple cider
  • 1/2 bottle Fireball
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
  • 3-5 whole star anise
  • 1 tbsp whole cloves
  • Dash of cinnamon
  • Dash of nutmeg

Pour all of the ingredients into your crock pot and simmer on high for 2 hours. After 2 hours, turn down to low until finished.

Crockpot Cocktail_damndelish

Happy Eating, XO.

Pop It Like It’s Hot – Popovers

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Remember how we told you in our challah recipe that making bread isn’t actually that daunting? Well, it still isn’t! And these pop-overs are proof of that. I whipped them together as a side and they were the perfect puffy compliment to our dinner. Also, because the steam “pops” the middle of them, it leaves room for you to get creative. Fill them with custard, berries, steak tips and sauce. (What?! Yes, go with me on this one. Think: Ghetto beef wellington.). These little guys are so versatile you can use them as a side dish, at brunch, or as a dessert. Also, bonus, you don’t actually need a pop-over pan. I’m all about having an excuse to buy another kitchen gadget or pan, but a muffin tin works just as well.

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 whole milk
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp melted butter

Preheat the oven to 425 and swipe your muffin tin with butter. Place it in the oven while it preheats. It’s best to use a hot tin to create steam when the batter hits it. In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and whisk until smooth. The batter will be pretty liquid-y, you don’t want it to be thick.

Take the hot tin out and pour in the batter. Bake for roughly 20 minutes and whatever you do, please don’t open the oven to check on them! They won’t get to their full puffed up glory if cool air hits them before they have a chance to crisp on the outside. Enjoy them hot or store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Popovers

Happy Eating, XO.

Butternut Squash Soup

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I don’t know about you, but there’s just something that feels really good about making homemade soup. Yeah, yeah it’s easy to just go to the store and buy it in a can. But where’s the fun in that? I guarantee if you make this soup yourself you’ll get a lot more kudos than if you just poured it out of the can. Plus, this recipe gives you a ton more than just 28oz. Bring on family dinner night…

PS. For a fun party app/snack, put the soup in tall shot glasses as shooters.

*Serves a ton of people (over 8 at least). You’ll definitely have enough to freeze for later. Hellooo mid-week meal.

The soup:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium carrot stick, chopped
  • 1 medium celery stick, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cups of chicken broth
  • 1 tsp of fresh thyme, chopped
  • 3 packages of cubed butternut squash (or roughly 6 cups)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Dash of pepper

The topping:

  • 1/2 cup crème fraîche
  • 1 tsp pure maple syrup

In a large soup pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Toss in the carrots, celery, and onion and cook for roughly 5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken broth, 1/2 tsp of the thyme, butternut squash, salt and pepper. Let all of the ingredients simmer for 30 minutes, or until the squash is tender enough to fall apart. After the 30 minutes, I used an immersion blender but you can also just stir the crap out of it until all of the ingredients are blended and no longer whole. You’ll notice it’s still slightly grainy at this point. In small batches, pour the soup into a blender to get the final chunks out and really smooth it out.

In a small bowl, whip together the crème fraîche and the maple syrup until fully blended. Pour the soup into a small bowl and dollop the crème mixture smack dab in the middle. Top with the other 1/2 of the thyme.

To make the baguette to go with it, check out our recipe here.

Butternut Squash Soup - damndelish

 

Happy Eating, XO.

Store Bought Savior

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This is for the people like my sister that never really want to cook food and are 100% ok with just “preparing food”. Luckily, this quick and yummy week night fix requires no actual cooking. Simply assemble and bake. I got the idea from an appetizer at one of my favorite fusion Indian spots. Hope you guys dig it as much as I do. It’s ridiculous easy and tasty, what’s not to love about Naan Pizza.

  • Store bought naan (I buy the Trader Joe’s garlic naan, but plain or onion naan works)
  • Store bought tikka masala curry (Again the TJ stuff is great)
  • Spinach salad packet (I mean ‘cuz your not actually gunna make salad out of it, are you?)
  • Fresh mozzarella (Any cheese would work really)
  • Rotisserie chicken (or if you wanna make it veggie friendly try eggplant slices or mushrooms)

Smear a tablespoon or two (depends on how saucy you want your “pizza” to be, I do 2 myself) on to the slice of naan then take a fistful of spinach and layer on with the cheese and shredded chicken. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees or until the cheese melts and everything is warmed through. You can cut up and serve as an appetizer or have it as dinner with wine at about a naan piece per person. Package has four naan pieces usually and that’s generally enough for the chicken, spinach, curry, and cheese to cover.

Happy Eating, XO.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts

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Fall produce is my favorite! The veggies are just amazing and although most people associate salad with Summer, Fall has some legit salad options. This one is great with some pan seared chicken or fish as a meal, or can be great as a side. Let’s face it, you have to eat some lighter meals in the cooler months to offset the casseroles, desserts, comfort foods, etc. Hope you enjoy the dressing & can use it on multiple salads, like a cold noodle one like good ole Chrissy Teigen makes on her blog. Because who doesn’t want to eat, act, look like her! haha.

  • 1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts
  • 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup tahini (sesame paste)
  • 1 tablespoon miso
  • 1 tablespoon water**
  • 1 orange (4 tablespoons fresh orange juice)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon honey
  • ½-3/4 cup pecan halves

Sauté the BS shavings for one minute (no joke, not a second more) with EVOO and the lemon juice of 1 of the lemons. Then shake up/whisk the remaining ingredients and lemon juice into a vinegarette. (**Thin out w/ water if you want a lighter consistency)

Happy Eating, XO.