Happy weekend everybody! We're deep into cookie baking and festive preparations for the winter holidays, and we're also at the end of our posting year here at The Kitchn. Over the next couple weeks we'll bring you a handful guest posts, and we'll round up the best of the past year at The Kitchn — revisiting our favorite recipes, tips, tours, cooking lessons, and products. So come along with us and hopefully you'll discover new favorites from the past year. Happy cooking this weekend, and happy holidays!
(Image: Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan)
How to Bake a Potato: Three Easy Methods
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Straw Mat from The ...
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
SO MANY COOKIES. Then giving them all away.
Definitely some chocolate peppermint cookies and some more caramel apple cider. Possibly some quick and easy dinners since we have so many parties to go to. I'm thinking about a whole wheat version of my angel hair with butternut squash and sage.
BEST EVER SUGAR COOKIES!!!! and that's no lie - the Kitchn's recipe is the best ever! Also, chocolate peppermint bark, skillet toffee, and nut and fruit chocolate bars. Every thing else is coming out of the freezer (stuff I froze in November so December could be dedicated to sweets).
Holiday open house tomorrow so the kitchen has been very busy today and will continue to be til tomorrow afternoon! Antipasto, yummy things in puff pastry, chocolate candies, cookies, dips, drinks...
I just took a a batch of Best Sugar Cookies (yes NYKate!) out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge. Tomorrow, my first run-in with royal icing. My daughter's annual cookie gift extravaganza is upon us. Other than that, sustainance. A white bean chili maybe?
lamb and green chili tamales! So that we can have tamales and black eyed peas for New Years day.
I did try the Kitchn recipe for soft, chewy caramel last weekend, and infused it with rosemary and walnuts. They were so good it was ridiculous. Might make another batch of that, or just some shortbread cookies. And a stir-fry so that we can heat-and-eat through the week.
My cookie exchange was last weekend, and I'm at a bit of a loss. So, I'd best snap out of it. I'll busy myself by making my mother in law's caramels. Maybe some potato latkes. And I made 18 pounds of fudge this week, so, I need to distribute the last of them.
Don't have much time on my hands this weekend but this morning I'm making Coconut Cinnamon French Toast with Caramelized Banana Maple Syrup!!!!
I think it's time to make cranberry and walnut muffins as gifts for my colleagues. And trying to empty the fridge before we leave for Christmas.
Slow-cooked a 5 lb pork shoulder all day yesterday for pulled pork this week.
Also made a pumpkin pie yesterday, topped with pecans. And pumpkin waffles this morning. The last of the pumpkin purée I froze this Fall!
Made pancakes for brunch, taking a nap before I roast some chicken for Enchiladas and make a batch of Snickerdoodles.
Friday, I made a frittata with pan-roasted grape tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, and Parmesan, and a pan of penne with kale in a smooth sauce of pureed sweet potato, goat cheese, and sherry.
Saturday, I baked a small experimental apple puff pastry tart with brown sugar and bourbon to take to a friend's open house; it turned out nicely, so I made a larger one to freeze for my mother. (She loves to entertain but finds it overwhelming to cook AND set up AND greet people, so I'm giving her a complete dinner party in a box, including a tart she can bake and serve.)
Sunday, I made spinach and mushroom crepes in a cheesy sauce, asparagus topped with smoked paprika almonds, and avocado slices with miso-ginger dressing. The Fella's been working days lately, which means he's home for dinner more, and it's worth celebrating!
jam cookies for tomorrow's cookie exchange, hot fudge and brown sugar ice cream for gifts :)