New Place to Buy Organic

I am having so much fun going mostly Organic and being more careful about what food I put in my body. I don’t think it should be this much fun, but it is. I have been searching the web for organic food that doesn’t cost a ton, and I found a great new place on Friday.  Eden Organic has many healthy options, but is especially good for pasta, soy sauce, and organic snacks.  I found them because I was searching for organic growers in my home state of Michigan and received my first order yesterday.

I have to say first of all that I shopped late Friday, and got my food on Tuesday, that turn around time for online purchases is hard to beat.  I ordered four different products and have tried three of them already: 

The popcorn was amazing. . .really!  I made it just as instructed on the back of the package and it tasted much better than any microwave popcorn I have had.

I used the udon noodles as spaghetti noodles and then mixed the crushed tomatoes with a jar of Trader Joe Bruschetta sauce, a bit of succant, some garlic salt and pepper for a wonderful spaghetti dinner.  The price on these items are very good, and you have the option to buy in bulk when you purchase them from the online store.  I will be buying plenty more popcorn and noodles this week.

Great New Recipe From a Great Site

I was in a hurry one day during the holiday madness to find a quick and easy dessert to make to share with co-workers at our annual Christmas Lunch and stumbled upon a site I had not been to before.  My Recipes is a great place to search for new dishes to try, and they have helped me plan several parties already in the few short weeks I have spent surfing their site.

There were quite a few amazing recipes to choose from for my party at work, but I finally settled on the recipe below.  Not only did this become my favorite new Christmas goody to make, but it makes a double batch, so you will have two tarts when you are done.  I froze one and used it a week later at a family gathering and got lots of compliments, in fact my sister-in-law was so anxious to have this recipe that she took the one I had used and couldn’t wait for me to email it later!  The other great thing about this recipe is that it is rich enough that you can cut it into very small fudge-like portions and make it go quite a long way.

Peppermint Brownie Tarts   

Ingredients

·         4  (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

·         1  cup  butter, softened

·         2  cups  sugar

·         4  large eggs

·         1  cup  all-purpose flour

·         1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

·         1  cup  semisweet chocolate morsels

·         1/2  cup  butter, softened

·         1  (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

·         1/3  cup  milk

·         1/4  teaspoon  peppermint oil

·         1  Chocolate Glaze

·         1/2  cup  crushed peppermint candy canes

Preparation

Microwave chocolate squares in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 1/2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth.

Beat 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.

Add flour, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla and chocolate morsels. Spread batter evenly into 2 greased and floured 9-inch tart pans with removable bottoms.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on wire racks.

Beat 1/2 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating at low speed after each addition. Stir in peppermint oil.

Divide butter mixture between each tart, spreading evenly over cooled brownies in pans; cover and chill 1 hour or until firm. Divide Chocolate Glaze evenly between each tart, spreading over chilled butter mixture in pans. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy around outer edge of each tart

Cafe Thursday – Peanut Butter Cookies

And the mad dash of holiday baking at my house has now begun.  Every year I try to get the kids involved in some holiday baking.  Although they are teenagers, I find that with a little encouragement, both teens are actually happy to help make cookies as it is a bit of a tradition in our house and we all find comfort in the activity. 

DD and I made these peanut butter cookies already and they were delicious!  I tweaked a recipe that I found over at the Joy of Baking site.  I used her peanut butter cookie recipe, but added some peanut butter chips, and then drizzled melted white chocolate on top of the cookies.  They were super rich and warm and wonderful, and when paired with a glass of milk they are Heaven on Earth!

I think the next cookie on our list will be some chocolate mint cookies that are so rich and sweet you can only eat one.  Watch for that recipe in the next couple of days.

Thanksgiving Menu

Everyone has their own Thanksgiving traditions and menus, so I thought I would post mine as both an archive for me for next year, and just in case it may be interesting or helpful to anyone else who may be putting together a last minute list.

Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey soaked in William-Sonoma brine

Stuffing (my own recipe, but could use stovetop, add onions, celery, sausage and raisins)

Sweet Potato Casserole (I add a row of mini marshmellows to the top for DH)

Mashed Potatoes with gravy

Green Bean Cassarole

Corn

Rolls

Relish tray

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Apple Crisp