Tag Archives: christmas

Apple Cider Donuts

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For a couple of years now, it’s been a tradition to go to Beardsley Cider Mill and get their hot-out-of-the-oven, mouth-watering, earth-shattering apple cider donuts. But I couldn’t stand the thought of eating them only once a year.  I need them in my life like I need another pair of shoes – and I always need another pair of shoes. So I bought a donut pan (shout out to HomeGoods – $9.99!) and tried to recreate them myself. I’m now sharing them with you because trust me, you need them your life too.

And I’m sure Santa wouldn’t mind these with milk instead of cookies this year either.

Donut batter

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp apple pie spice

Sugar coating

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp melted butter

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease your donut pan. Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt. Once blended mix in the apple cider, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and butter. Fill each cup 3/4 full and bake them for roughly 15 minutes or until golden brown. Just like a cake or cupcakes, when they feel spongy, they’re done.

While the donuts are baking, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon for the coating. Once the donuts are done and have had a chance to cool, very lightly brush on the butter and toss the donut in the coating. (Warning: do not use a ton of butter for the coating. It will make the donuts soggy.)

Apple cider donuts

Happy Eating, XO.

Curried Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Ok so as much as I adore my freaking garlic and chive mashed potatoes and I mean freaking LOVE. How many years in a row can I make them for Thanksgiving without seeming played out? Well this year my aunt made some mashed tators that will blow your mind. Kids, these things were BANGIN. I just HAD to recreate them and figure out how she got those flavors in my belly. So because I’m such a giver, see below. You will be thanking me at your next holiday meal.

  • 6 Sweet potatoes or about 4 lbs.
  • 1 tsp. coarse sea salt
  • 3/4 cup Coconut milk (before you freak the eff out, yes I said coconut milk…this will take place of the half and half or heavy cream or buttermilk all y’all use in your basic bitch mashed potatoes, so hear me out and let go of the panic button)
  • 3 tsp. Red Thai Curry paste (didn’t I say pipe down and trust the food blogger)
  • 3 tbsp. Maple Syrup
  • Lil buttah (that’s Butter for those of you that don’t speak New Yawk & by lil I mean eye ball it but Id say no more than 1-2 tbsp.)

Bake the potatoes at 375 degrees for 1 hr. Peel once cool (the skin will literally just melt off with a light tug, no peeler needed) and mash with the curry paste, coconut milk, salt, & 1 tbsp. of syrup (which I mixed and heated in a saucepan while peeling potatoes). Then place in a baking dish while topping with butter and remaining syrup. Broil in oven for 3-5 min.

Ok so still not convinced? A) make it before you hate and B) I have logic: the sugars from the coconut milk and sweet potatoes need to counteracted and balanced with some bold spice & flavor.
Plusssss, these things are amazeballs 2014 with a dollop of cranberry relish/sauce/chutney.

Happy Eating, XO.

The Ugly Sugar Cookie

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With Christmas quickly approaching, we of course want to give you the traditional sugar cookie recipe! However, I want to warn you: I recently discovered that I’m not cut out for cutting out cookies. Therefore, I’ve dubbed these cookies the ugly sugar cookies. They’re delicious, I just can’t make them look quite like they should. You may have better luck than me, but either way they’re really fun to make!

  • 2/3 cup softened butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour

Whip butter for 30 seconds, then add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, add in egg, milk and vanilla. Slowly add in flour. Chill dough for 30 minutes (it can be hard to handle if it’s too warm and soft.) 

On a floured surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick (ie. thin), and start having some fun with the cookie cutters! (I got my cutters from Williams Sonoma – it comes with three cookie cutters and letters which makes for some interesting DIY messages.) Bake at 375 degrees for about 9-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Move to a wire rack and let cool.

Ugly Sugar Cookie

Happy Eating, XO.