Favourite Things Friday Vol 91 – A Discussion of Some Random Stuff

I am so happy it is Friday! Plus it is long weekend, Monday is Family Day! HOORAY!

Do you all know Christina from Dessert for Two? She is super awesome! Her blog is full of not only delicious desserts but dinners that are scaled down to feed just 2 people. She has a brand new cookbook; I pre-ordered it and have been waiting and waiting. It was supposed to arrive yesterday, but it is late. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.  I picked up a new pack of post it flags so I can mark all the things I want to make!

Cookies are my love language. Snickerdoodles are a classic, and when I saw that Shelly from Cookies & Cups had posted a recipe for the PERFECT SNICKERDOODLE I knew what I would be doing this weekend, whipping up a batch! I only hope mine turn out as pretty as hers!

Let’s talk TV for a minute or two. Did you watch the final episode of Parenthood?? I pvr’d the last 2 episodes and watched them back to back. I used half a box of Kleenex, I cried cause I was happy, I cried cause I was sad, I cried cause it was over… I am really going to miss the Braverman’s!

Is it just me or is this season of Downton Abbey kinda boring?? I just feel like they are doing the same things they did last season, Mary can’t choose a man, poor Bates is always in trouble, and Barrow is a jerk… Don’t get me wrong I still love it, but I feel like they need to spice it up a bit!

I am VERY excited that Walking Dead comes back on this Sunday‼ I can’t wait to feel all the feelings!

I just finished binge watching the first 2 seasons of Masters of Sex. WOW, this show is amazing. Lizzy Caplan is FANTASTIC‼ If you haven’t seen it, give it a try!

Since my bus commute to work is like an hour each way, I have been reading A LOT! Most recently I started the Discovery of Witches trilogy but Deborah Harkness. I didn’t really know what to expect when I started it but it is really really great! I am halfway through the second book now and I can’t put it down. I almost missed my bus stop the other day I was so into it! The writing is fantastic it really transports you away. I am always up for a good book suggestion so if you have any please shout them out in the comments.

Well that is probably enough rambling for now!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Jen

Individual No Bake Grapefruit Cheesecakes

The one and only thing I love about winter is how amazing the citrus fruit is! I could eat an orange or a grapefruit at every single meal

They are so bright and colorful, so juicy and full of sweet tangy flavor.

I had a few amazing ruby red grapefruits in the fridge and I wanted to make a nice dessert for dinner. I thought what better than a simple creamy no bake cheesecake laced with fresh grapefruit juice and topped with the pretty red fruit and a little mint.

What you need,

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1 large grapefruit, segmented

4-5 tbsp. fresh grapefruit juice

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

7oz. sweetened condensed milk (about half a can)

1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs

¼ cup butter, melted

Fresh mint sprigs for topping

In a medium bowl melt the butter, stir in the graham crumbs until moist and crumbly.

Place about 2 heaping tablespoons of the crumb mixture into 4 small bowls. Gently press to flatten the crumbs on the bottom of each bowl, making a crust.

In a large bowl combine the cream cheese and condensed milk. Using a hand mixer whip the cream cheese mixture until light and fluffy.

Segment the grapefruit over a bowl, to catch the juice. Cut each segment into small bite sized pieces and set aside.

Add 4-5 tablespoons of the grapefruit juice to the cream cheese mixture and blend well.

Divide the cheesecake batter evenly into each dish.

Refrigerate the cheesecakes for at least 2 hours or overnight.

When you are ready to serve, spoon some of the reserved grapefruit on the top of each cheesecake and sprinkle on a little chopped mint.

These cheesecakes are so amazing. They are light and creamy combined with the tang of the fruit is fabulous!

This is such a great dessert to make if you are going to be having a heavier dinner; it is really refreshing and tasty!

Enjoy! I know I did!

Jen

Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

Winter… UHHHGGG! I am just not a winter girl. I don’t like snow, I don’t like cold and I REALLY don’t like RAIN‼ Man it has been raining here the last couple weeks, too much rain!

I needed a dinner that would warm me up like a cozy blanket. This Cheesy Cauliflower Soup was just the perfect thing. I love cauliflower and I really love it with cheese sauce, so this soup is perfect for me!

It is creamy and cheesy and rich but a little shake of hot sauce really cuts the richness and adds a great flavor!

What you need,

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1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets (about 5-6 cups)

1 medium carrot, shredded (about 1 cup)

¼ cup chopped celery

¼ cup chopped onion

1 tbsp. olive oil

2½ -3 cups of chicken stock, low sodium

3 tbsp. butter

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 cups 2% milk

1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese

1-2 tsp. hot pepper sauce

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the cauliflower, carrot, celery, onion to the pot and saute for 4-5 minutes until the veggies just start to soften.  Add the stock to the pot to just cover the veggies. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. The liquid will barely cover the veggies. I used an immersion blender at this point to blend the soup up a little. I didn’t want it super smooth so I left it a little chunky, but you could make it super smooth if you want to.

In another large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Whisk the milk in slowly. Bring to a boil over medium heat; Cook and stir the mixture for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Add hot pepper sauce.

Stir into the cauliflower mixture until combined.

Serve the soup with a little extra hot sauce if you dare!

I also couldn’t resist making THESE amazing biscuits to go with it!

This soup was absolutely fabulous! Such great flavor and texture, I love love loved it!

I will be making this soup again for sure! It was simple and delicious, what more could you ask for.

Enjoy!

Jen

Recipe slightly adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Cranberry Pistachio Granola Bars

I am always looking for something to take to work for a mid morning snack. I often make muffins or a banana loaf but today I just felt like something else.

I love both dried cranberries and pistachios so when I found this recipe I knew it was a winner.

It is no bake and it goes together in 10 minutes so that is also a huge bonus.

What you need,

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2 cups oats, I used quick cook because it is what I had

1 cup pistachios, shelled

1 cup dried cranberries

¼ cup butter

¼ cup honey

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper and spray well with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl combine the oats, pistachios and cranberries.

In a medium pot over medium heat combine the butter, honey and brown sugar. Stir until the mixture starts to bubble, turn down the heat to medium low and continue to let the mixture boil for 2 full minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Pour the hot butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir to coat everything well.

Press the mixture into the prepared pan into an even ¾ inch thickness. Make sure to press it down well.

Stash the granola bars in the fridge for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.

Wrap each bar tightly in saran wrap and store them in the fridge until you are ready to use.

These bars will get quite soft at room temperature, they taste amazing but if you want them to stay together really well the fridge is the best place to keep them!

I don’t know why I don’t make granola bars more often! They are so simple and absolutely fantastic, way tastier than anything you can buy in the store. Plus the combinations are endless; you could add peanuts, almonds or cashews and raisins or dried cherries or even apricots!

These granola bars are fabulous!

Enjoy!

Jen

Recipe adapted from Table For 2 Blog

Favourite Things Friday Vol 90 – Grohmann Paring Knife

My in house taste tester knows me so well. For Christmas be bought be not one but 2 new kitchen knives as well as 2 new cookbooks‼

This pretty little Grohmann Paring knife is a dream! It is the perfect weight to do fine slicing. It is super sharp!

I find in the short time I have had it, it has quickly become my daily go to knife.

Grohmann is a Canadian company that makes all kinds of knives, hunting, utility and kitchen.

This beautiful knife is from their Forged Professional Rosewood Line.

I love love love it!

I want to thank my in house taste tester for choosing such a fantastic little knife for me.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Jen