This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. All opinions are 100% mine.
Jimmy Dean Sausage has been an American family breakfast tradition since I was 7 years old. As a young child, I remember seeing country singer and actor Jimmy Dean on television talking about the savory blend of seasonings that went into every Jimmy Dean Sausage.
Well, it’s been more than a while since I was 7 years old. Family breakfast routines have changed. And Jimmy Dean Foods has evolved with the times.
The new Jimmy Dean Delights® still have the trademark savory blend of seasonings in the Jimmy Dean Sausage. But Jimmy Dean Delights®, all under 300 calories, are portable, single servings for families on the go.
When it comes to breakfast foods, nothing satisfies more than a delicious croissant, hearty English muffin or texturally tantalizing flatbread. I was excited to try the following Jimmy Dean Delights®:
Turkey Sausage Croissant
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Flatbread
Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese English Muffin
The Turkey Sausage Croissant was oh-so satisfying. The croissant was fluffy, and you could really taste the quality of every ingredient. That gooey, bubbling cheese was heaven on a cold winter’s morning.
I’ve typically only had flatbread pizza, so I was curious to try the Jimmy Dean Delights® Bacon, Egg & Cheese Flatbread. I could taste the whole grains in the flatbread, which I found completely delicious and satisfying!
The Jimmy Dean Delights® Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese English Muffin – like all of the Jimmy Dean Delights® products – was ready in less than 3 minutes in my microwave. I also liked that you can store Jimmy Dean Delights® products in either your refrigerator or freezer.
Personally, I love an extremely toasted English muffin so the texture of all the nooks and crannies comes through in each bite. I toasted the English muffin portion first, then prepared it in the microwave with all of the components. Perfection!
Jimmy Dean Foods brings quality, taste and convenience to my morning breakfast routine with real ingredients. Real eggs. Real cheese. And, of course, real sausage that started the Jimmy Dean breakfast tradition nearly 50 years ago.
Have you heard of “The Pistachio Principle?” The Pistachio Principle is a simple, mindful eating concept that can help fool yourself full, without feelings of deprivation.
The premise of The Pistachio Principle is that consumption of in-shell pistachios may help to slow eating because the leftover shells offer a visual cue about the amount of pistachios you’ve consumed. And that can potentially reduce your calorie intake.
Pistachios are by far my favorite nut. For years, I’ve created original recipes using pistachios, ranging from flat breads to decadent brownies. But my favorite way to eat pistachios is right from the shell. They’re perfect for snacking along with Sunday night’s TV lineup of “The Good Wife,” “Downton Abbey,” and “Revenge.”
And I can personally attest that eating in-shell pistachios can be a great workout for your fingers. Prying open those pistachio shells helps reinforce hand-eye coordination and strengthens nimble fingertips.
Celebrate The Year of the Skinny Nut™
Pistachios have been acknowledged as a top food trend for 2015. Considered to be “The Nut of the Year,” pistachios are known as the “Skinny Nut” because they’re one of the lowest calorie, lowest fat nuts, and among the highest in protein. Pistachios can make for a great, everyday healthy snacking choice for those who are looking to satisfy a salty snack craving in a smarter way. Incorporating in-shell pistachios into a snack routine can help to get you back on track in 2015 after an over-indulgent holiday season.
To kick off 2015 – The Year of the Skinny Nut – I wanted to share a few of my favorite snack pairings that include in-shell pistachios.
For a snack to satisfy, it needs to have flavor, texture and hit all the right sweet, savory notes on the palate. My first perfect snack pairing with in-shell pistachios includes fresh mango slices that refresh and provide a mild sweetness. A few spoonfuls of creamy, low-fat raspberry yogurt provides a nice balance to the mango, while also adding back good bacteria into your body’s immune system. Top it all off with a hydrating low-sugar mango-orange juice blend.
For an afternoon snack that adds a mega-satisfying crunch, pair in-shell pistachios with chilled carrot chips, some Honeycrisp apple slices and a calming cup of Earl Grey tea. If you love crunch in your snack, every food component in this pairing really delivers.
You can learn more about the benefits of incorporating in-shell pistachios into your 2015 snacking plans when you enter “The Year of the Skinny Nut Sweepstakes” hosted on the Pistachio Health Institute Facebook page. The sweepstakes runs from January 7 – January 31, 2015, and you have a chance to win a year’s supply of pistachios. YUM!!!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Quaker®. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LoveMyCereal #QuakerUp
I am a crunchy snack addict. There’s no denying it. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.
But this self-diagnosed ‘crunchy snack addiction’ can sometimes lead me down the wrong snacking path. When left to act on impulse alone, I can make poor choices by reaching for the nearest salty chip or candy bar. You’ve been there, right?
When you’re running around all day taking care of four hyper pugs (like I do), it can be exhausting. Sometimes feeding and caring for them means I’m too tired to cook (or think!)…so I reach for whatever snack is closest at hand. To help avoid acting on impulse and to make better snacking choices, I like to have readily on hand in my pantry some home-blended crunchy snacks that can satisfy my deep desire for crunchy goodness.
One of my go-to crunchy snacks is my “American Pie” Trail Mix. It’s got only four ingredients and you won’t believe how easy it is to make (in under 2 minutes!). I call it “American Pie” Trail Mix because it beautifully blends the flavors of warm cinnamon, tart apples, tangy cherries, and sweet maple-brown sugar.
Pour ingredients into a resealable plastic food bag.
Seal the bag and – to paraphrase from a popular song – “Shake It Off” for a few seconds until all the ingredients are blended. This can also be a great burst of cardio activity and a stress release!
Then I put some of the trail mix in two smaller snack-sized bags for the car, and keep the remaining trail mix sealed in the bag in a cool, dry place. I commute about 3 hours a day, on average, and the drive home during rush hour can be brutal. Not only am I fighting the traffic but I’m fighting the hunger beast. Having a small nosh in the car that’s a better alternative to chips or chocolate means I can tame the hunger beast and avoid over-indulging when I get home.
I wanted to share another quick trail mix recipe that is great for a tropical taste escape on a cold wintry day. It’s my Tropical Trail Mix snack.
Gather and measure your ingredients; pour into the plastic food bag. Shake until blended and you’re ready to snack like you’re on vacation in the Caribbean!
I love the versatility of cereal, especially Quaker® Oatmeal Squares which I first came to appreciate when I was making a savory holiday snack mix for my family. You could make your own favorite trail mix blend with your favorite dried fruits. Or add some savory flavors with cashews, almonds or whatever nut you love the most.
While my trail mix recipes have focused on using cold cereal as a base for a delicious crunchy snack, I’m also a fan of the easy breakfast. And Quaker® Real Medleys® Multigrain Cereal fills that bill to a tee! My favorite flavor is Peach Apple Walnut.
I wake up at 5:30 am to get ready for work. At that early hour, the last thing you want is a complicated breakfast. While it can be tempting to skip breakfast in favor of 15 minutes more of sleep, that’s not a solution to keep me fueled for the day. So I will sleep in for 10 minutes more of sleep and have a quick bowl of delicious (and crunchy!) multigrain flakes and granola clusters.
You’ve probably guessed that there’s no meal where I can’t make cereal the star of the bowl. I do #LoveMyCereal! Even all by itself – no milk needed – cereal right from the box can be downright delicious! I especially love Quaker® Oatmeal Squares (with a hint of cinnamon). The crunch is deeply satisfying and perfect to pair with a Honeycrisp apple for a portable afternoon snack at the office.
I got all of the ingredients for my special trail mix blends recipes at Walmart. The variety of Quaker® hot and cold cereals available at Walmart (in the cereal aisle) is amazing. Be sure to try them all:
I’ve shared a few of my favorite trail mix recipes featuring Quaker® Life and Oatmeal Squares cereals. What ingredients do you love most in a trail mix? Share your suggestions in the comments below. And kudos if you also come up with a fun, funky name for your special trail mix blend.
Disclosure: I was given an assortment of free samples by The Cheeses of Europe to review. I get no additional benefits for talking about this product or company. All opinions about this product are 100% my own.
Comfort foods should bring both a physical and emotional comfort. But sometimes the comfort you remember as a child from your favorite foods doesn’t translate for your adult palate. Like the classic Mac & Cheese.
We all grew up with the ubiquitous Mac & Cheese blue box in our pantries filled with elbow macaroni and a “cheese-like” powdery substance. While that may have satisfied you as a kid, it is totally lacking of comfort for the adult you are today. The solution is to update the core ingredients in a classic Mac & Cheese recipe with quality ingredients that will satisfy the adult you are today that can also bring back some of the emotional comforts you associated with the dish as a child.
While it gets second billing in the title, CHEESE is the critical ingredient for a Mac & Cheese that you want to devour on a cold winter’s day. So for a modern twist, I’m using Mimolette Cheese instead of Cheddar cheese.
Mimolette Cheese?
Mimolette (pronounced mee moh LET) is made from cow’s milk and comes from the Pas-de-Calais region of France. It’s a hard cheese that typically comes in the shape of a cannonball. Its rind is brownish with tinges of orange.
Mimolette has a sharp, nutty and fruity taste that includes sweet hints of butterscotch. Its brilliant orange color makes it a colorful addition to any cheese platter – and it adds a sophistication without being pretentious to this adult Mac & Cheese dish.
Does that have you salivating? There’s something so indulgent and satisfying about gooey cheese hot from the oven that is almost indescribable; it makes every dish that more delicious!
Try this Mac and Mimolette Bake recipe and decide for yourself if the Mimolette should get top billing over the Mac. Bon appétit!
1 cup grated Mimolette cheese, plus more for garnish
1 large tomato, finely chopped
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray; set aside.
In a large pot of boiling water (salted), cook the pasta according to package directions. Set aside.
Meanwhile in a medium saucepan, place the cream, brown sugar, sea salt and wine over medium-high heat. Bring to a slow simmer, then cook gently for 5 minutes. Don't let it boil or it will become grainy. Stir in Mimolette cheese and cook, stirring until melted.
Stir the sauce and chopped tomato through the cooked and drained shell pasta. Pour into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with more grated Mimolette cheese and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Disclosure: I was given an assortment of free samples by The Cheeses of Europe to review. I get no additional benefits for talking about this product or company. All opinions about this product are 100% my own.
As 2014 comes to a close, it’s fun to look back to see what’s been cooking in the kitchen. I have my favorite recipes from the past year. Two of which made the Top 5 most popular recipes. If you need a hint, it’s the two savory recipes. Go figure!
But this look back is focused on the recipes that you liked best, so here’s a recap of the five most viewed recipes on Baked Chicago in 2014. Which one is your favorite?
Like most of America, I’ve grown up with Minute® Rice. And for the last several years, I’ve cooked Minute® Instant Whole Grain Brown Rice at least a few times every week. Some weeks, I have it every day in some dish or another. It’s definitely a staple in my pantry! That’s why I was beyond excited when I was asked to try the new Minute® Ready to Serve Rice products. Thank you, Minute® Rice, for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
When I first noticed Minute® Ready to Serve Rice in its individual portion packages, I didn’t buy it because I tend to buy the largest boxes of Minute® Instant Whole Grain Brown Rice that I can find at my local grocery store. So I was delighted when I discovered a number of new flavor (and whole grain) options in the Minute® Ready to Serveproduct line, including Brown Rice, Brown & Wild Rice, Multi-Grain Medley, Jasmine Rice, White Rice, Chicken Rice Mix, Yellow Rice Mix, Fried Rice Mix, and (the newest addition) Black Beans & Rice.
While I’ve mastered using Minute® Instant Whole Grain Brown Rice in my Harvey’s One-Skillet Wonder, I was curious to try the single portion servings because they are portable, offer easy portion control, and require only heating since they’re already cooked.
I hate (yes, HATE!) going out to eat for lunch at work. In addition to the high cost of eating out, it’s time-consuming, inconvenient and there’s little control over the quality (or wholesomeness) of the ingredients used. After seeing a HUGE-mongous number (over 70 and counting!) of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice Stir It Up! “No Recipe Recipes” for smarter snacks and easy meals on-the-go, I was inspired to create my own stir-in ideas with ingredients from my kitchen. And after a holiday season of irresistible sweet treats, I was committed to discovering some wholesome snacking options that I could easily incorporate into my day (at work or on the weekends).
My first inspiration was an Italian Vegetable Blend. I heated 1/2 cup of frozen Italian Blend Vegetables in the microwave until hot (about 2 minutes) before stirring in one heated portion of Minute® Ready to Serve Brown & Wild Rice. The frozen Italian blend I used included broccoli, carrots, bell peppers and black beans. I then sprinkled about 1/2 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning on top and stirred well. This was “molto buona.” The red bell peppers, black beans and rice blend was just enough for a light meal, side dish or snack. It could easily be turned into a heartier lunch at the office with the addition of some grilled, Italian-style carved chicken breast.
I love breakfast any time of the day, but admittedly don’t often have rice for breakfast. So I took three ingredients from my refrigerator that I’d normally use in making scrambled eggs or an omelet: sausage, cheese and sun-dried tomato. The result was my Cheesy Chicken Sausage with Sun-Dried Tomato dish, which would be a perfect hot (and quick) breakfast on a cold winter morning. Just heat one serving of Minute® Ready to Serve Multi-Grain Medleyand set aside. In a small bowl, heat 3 chicken sausage links (cut into 1/2-inch slices) and about 1 tablespoon of sun-dried tomato (Julienne cut) for about 2 minutes in the microwave. When done, add the Minute® Ready to Serve Rice and top with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese (I used a Mexican Taco blend) and stir well. This would also be a great (and hearty) weekend lunch option when you’re not in the mood to spend time cooking over the stove.
After a flurry of holiday cooking, I realized I had some left over dried cranberries that I needed to use or lose! I decided to take some frozen mixed vegetables, along with jarred sliced mushrooms, to create a holiday-inspired Cranberry Rice Pilaf. If you’ve made rice pilaf a lot, you know there are a zillion versions of rice pilaf recipes out there. Use whatever ingredients you have on hand and that you love most. To make my version, heat one serving of Minute® Ready to Serve Brown Ricein themicrowave, according to package directions, and set aside. In another bowl, heat about 1/2 cup of frozen peas and carrots with a few sliced mushrooms (if available) for about 2 minutes on high. Remove from microwave and mix with Minute® Ready to Serve Rice. Top with about 1 tablespoon dried cranberries and stir to mix thoroughly.
I literally bought every flavor of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice carried by my local grocery store. I’m excited to try the Black Beans & Rice and continue experimenting with other stir-in ingredients from my pantry. Check out the complete list of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice products and share with me in the comments section below what stir-in ideas you’re inspired to try in creating a wholesome, yummy snack on the fly!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice.
This post brought to you by Dr Pepper Snapple Group. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Baked Chicago.
The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends. Entertaining them in your home can be festive and exciting. But it can also be stressful if you don’t have a game plan.
And it can be expensive to have a fully stocked bar and fridge with every kind of beverage your guests MIGHT like. Emphasis on the “might.”
Instead, I recommend having a few signature mixed drinks that utilize versatile ingredients. That way you can stock up on those key ingredients and make your holiday entertaining much more affordable.
Around the holidays, I like to have fun with creative concoctions that fit the mood of the party and have my guests in mind. And whether your party has all adults or a mixture of kids and parents, it’s always good to have at least one non-alcoholic option. Especially if everyone is driving to your home. That makes it easier for the designated drivers to enjoy themselves and feel like part of the celebration.
One of the hardest working, versatile drink ingredients is ginger ale. It’s the perfect mixer for holiday cocktails. I’ve been drinking Canada Dry Ginger Ale since I was a kid, and I love that it’s made from real ginger. You can really taste it!
I’ve moved a great deal in my life, but I’ve been lucky that I could always find a local Safeway store wherever I moved, including Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. At Safeway, I can get a wide variety of Canada Dry Ginger Ale products, like Diet Ginger Ale, TEN Ginger Ale and – just in time for the season – Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale.
I can also get everything I need for holiday entertaining at Safeway in just one stop, including: cups, cocktail stirrers napkins, table decorations, holiday decorations (did you know that candy canes can double as drink stirrers?), and lemons/limes/fresh mint for garnishes.
I decided to make the featured cocktail for my next holiday party a drink I call Santa’s S’Minty Spritzer. It’s only got four ingredients and the fresh garnishes of mint and lemon make it taste extra refreshing. The lemon and mint also help clear the palate, so my guests can enjoy whatever delicious foods that I decide to pair.
Santa’s S’Minty Spritzer
Ingredients:
5 cups orange juice
2 cups Canada Dry Ginger Ale
1 1/2 cups vodka
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
lemon slices, for garnish
fresh mint leaves, for garnish
ice cubes
Directions:
Stir together all of your liquid ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish each drink with fresh mint and lemon slices. Makes about 9 cups.
The next holiday drink showcases very seasonal ingredients and is low-sugar, low-calorie because of the Canada Dry Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale and low-sugar cran-raspberry juice used.
Note: After you drop in the dried cranberries for garnish, this drink will also entertain you. The cranberries interact with the bubbles of the ginger ale and they start dancing around in the glass. It’s almost like a cranberry-ginger ale lava lamp in your glass! Seriously.
Christmas Cranberry Smash
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
4 ounces low-sugar cran-raspberry juice
2 ounces Canada Dry Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale
dried cranberries, for garnish
ice cubes
Directions:
Stir together vodka, juice, and ginger ale. Serve over ice and garnish with dried cranberries. Makes one drink.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Every party needs at least one non-alcoholic option. But the bubbles in this Very Merry Mock Mimosa can trick your taste buds a bit, because it’s every drop as delicious and refreshing as the alcoholic version can be. I’ve used the Canada Dry TEN Ginger Ale and a low-sugar orange juice in this recipe to keep the calories lower. Lower calories mean I don’t feel guilty when I have my second glass!
A Very Merry Mock Mimosa
Ingredients:
6 ounces Canada Dry TEN Ginger Ale, chilled
2 ounces orange juice, chilled
Directions:
Pour orange juice into a champagne flute or tall glass. Next pour in ginger ale. Serve immediately. Makes one glass.
Holiday Party Hero Tips
Ginger ale is such a versatile ingredient that you can easily pair it with virtually any other beverages you have on hand to create a myriad of bubbly beverages your guests can enjoy, such as:
Shandy – mix half beer and half ginger ale
Jack & Ginger – mix 2 ounces of whiskey or bourbon with 10 ounces of ginger ale
Raspberry Release – mix 1 ounce of raspberry liqueur with 3 ounces of ginger ale and serve in a brandy snifter
Holiday Highball – mix 2 ounces of liquor (your choice) with 4 ounces of ginger ale and serve over ice in a tall glass
And you don’t need a lot of fancy bartending tools to have a successful holiday party. Just remember these few tips:
Refrigerate soft drinks and carbonated mixers for any chilled drinks, whenever possible, to keep the ice from melting prematurely and drowning the bubbles.
Avoid stirring drinks with metal, which can squelch the bubbles. Instead use plastic or glass swizzle sticks.
Using narrow-mouthed glasses helps preserve the bubbles in your guests’ drinks.
Disclosure: I was given an assortment of free samples by The Cheeses of Europe to review. I get no additional benefits for talking about this product or company. All opinions about this product are 100% my own.
I could eat breakfast foods for any meal of the day. And the only thing I love more than a hot, home-cooked breakfast is when it’s a holiday because it means I can enjoy this special meal at my own pace. Scrambled eggs and omelets are at the top of my favorite breakfast foods list, so I jump at the chance to make a special holiday breakfast with an omelet dominating the plate and my palate.
Recently I was introduced to a variety of European cheeses. I had the chance to learn about how and where these cheeses are made. I’m always amazed at the artistry and passion used to make locally sourced foods – and the history and pride that goes into the process.
One of the cheeses that caught my attention is called Emmental (EM en al) from the Savoie region of France. Perfect, I thought, to try in a traditional French omelet on holiday morning.
Emmental cheese is made from cow’s milk and aged for at least one month. It has a lightly sharp and slightly salty taste. And it definitely takes a good breakfast omelet and makes it magnifique!
Make your traditional French omelet breakfast sing with buttery croissants from your favorite bakery (served of course with Bon Maman jam!) and hot, French roast coffee. Mais, oui. Ooh la la!
2 tablespoons fresh herbs, equal parts finely chopped chives, parsley, tarragon and chervil
1/4 cup Emmental cheese, grated
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs well and season with salt. Set aside.
In a skillet, melt the butter with olive oil over medium-high heat. Pour in the whisked eggs and stir well with a rubber spatula. When the eggs are beginning to set around the edges but are still soft and wet in the middle, lower the heat to medium-low. Sprinkle the herbs and Emmental cheese over the egg mixture. Fold in half.
Slide the omelet out of the skillet and onto a place. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe lightly adapted from The Cheeses of Europe (www.cheesesofeurope.com)
Disclosure: I was given an assortment of free samples by The Cheeses of Europe to review. I get no additional benefits for talking about this product or company. All opinions about this product are 100% my own.
This year’s Chicago Food Bloggers Holiday Gift Guide is bigger than ever, with nearly 200 pages of gift ideas for everyone on your list.
Click to view online.
And check out my ultimate foodie gift recommendation on page 42: Urban Accents Fabulous Foodie Spice Blend Collection gift set (currently on sale at 25% off all gift sets).
Does your family love the holidays? Make them merry with this decadently delicious (and oh-so-easy) dark chocolate-pumpkin holiday cake.
When the holiday season rolls around, I make sure my pantry is stocked up with all the staples needed for holiday baking: all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, butter, cocoa powder, and every kind of chocolate you can think of!
Pumpkin is a great seasonal ingredient to showcase in holiday baked goods, but I decided to add a twist to this dark chocolate-pumpkin holiday cake: chopped pistachios! Just the right crunch to make this rich holiday cake even merrier for the tongue. I think this is going to become a new family favorite for Christmas morning (if it lasts that long).
Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Holiday Cake Ingredients
Like every recipe, it’s always easier to bake or cook when you have all your ingredients ready to go (aka mise en place). I use the best ingredients I can find.
Like rich, dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.
Raw, shelled pistachios. Organic free-range eggs — and Bob’s Red Mill flour.
Bob’s Red Mill products have always stood for quality, so it’s one of my go-to ingredients when I get into high gear for my annual holiday baking bonanza. And while I do like to experiment in the kitchen with flavors and textures, I don’t want to experiment with key ingredients – like all-purpose flour – that are essential to baking success. I trust Bob’s Red Mill products and I really like that they have several options for a wide variety of flours, including organic and gluten free.
Every baker has to have all-purpose flour on hand; it’s a kitchen staple and can be used for virtually every baking need. I like that Bob’s Red Mill’s All-Purpose Flour is unbleached and organic. It’s freshly milled from organic hard red wheat – and both the bran and the germ are removed. That leaves the endosperm, which is then made into white flour.
And it’s not enriched with any additives. That means you can trust it to produce high, well-textured loaves of bread equally as well as it produces light, airy baked goods. (It’s the same high-protein flour used by professional bakers!) Click here to download a $1 off coupon for any Bob’s Red Mill product!
When you use quality ingredients in your baking and cooking, you can see it and taste it. I know I can depend on Bob’s Red Mill to deliver every time I open my oven door.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Preheat your oven to 350F degrees. Coat a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray with flour. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together Bob's Red Mill Organic Unbleached All-Purpose White Flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar. Add melted butter, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined. Fold in pumpkin.
Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Whisk until there are no lumps. Fold in dark chocolate chunks and chopped pistachios. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Level with spatula.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until cake has risen, crackled and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Store in airtight container for a few days. Makes about 12 servings.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Buca di Beppo. All opinions are 100% mine.
Santa has a whole workshop full of elves and eight high-flying reindeer to help him deliver holiday joy around the world. Just think of Buca di Beppo as your own personal Italian elves who can make your next office holiday party stress free.
When you cater your holiday party with Buca di Beppo, rest assured that they can accommodate any size group or budget. Buca’s diverse menu of family-style dishes is perfect for sharing with friends and co-workers:
Likelasagna with towering layers of meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses. Or spaghetti with Buca’s famous half-pound meatballs with homemade marinara sauce. Buca di Beppo has a wide range of menu options with something for every taste in your office.
And for dessert, don’t miss the chocolate chip cannoli. These crispy shells are stuffed to order with a sweet, cannoli cream filling mixed with chocolate chips.
Let the team at Buca di Beppo take the hassle out of holiday party planning for you. Buca di Beppo makes it easy to Order Party Pans To Go. Buca’s delicious and authentic Italian cuisine is available in half and full party pans for pick-up or delivery.
Top Tips For A Stress-Free Office Holiday Party
While you manage the menu, delegate others in the office to be in charge of music (like a holiday play list), decorations (keep them simple) and entertainment (such as games or door prizes – like Buca di Beppo gift cards)
Make the attire casual (everyone has more fun when they’re comfortable)
If you’re serving alcohol, plan for designated drivers (or a taxi service) for your guests
Instead of a full bar, pick one or two signature drinks to serve that can be made up ahead of time in large pitchers so guests can serve themselves
Put your local Buca di Beppo restaurant on speed dial and delegate, delegate, delegate!
Buca di Beppo is a perfect option for catering all your office and private parties. Buone Feste!
Happy National Brownie Day, y’all! I am excited to share a recipe for brownie cookies that I’ve “jacked up” with some Garrett’s Cheddar cheese and Caramel Crisp popcorn!
My advice: buy a larger bag than what you need for the recipe. If you’re like me, half of it will be gone by the time you start baking in the kitchen. It’s hard to resist Garrett Popcorn!
The contrast of savory Cheddar cheese and sweet Caramel Crisp popcorn is genius on its own. But wrapped inside a brownie cookie takes it to a whole other level of decadence and goodness.
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate chips on high for about two minutes. Stir with a spatula to facilitate the melting process. Continue heating in microwave in additional 30-second intervals, and stirring after each interval. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. Stirring after each interval will ensure the chocolate melts evenly and the chocolate will continue to melt while you are stirring. Stir until completely melted; set aside and let cool.
In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl (or mixing bowl of a stand mixer), beat together butter and brown sugar (about two minutes on medium speed). Add eggs and vanilla, beating until combined.
With mixer on low speed, alternately beat in chocolate and flour mixtures. Mix just until combined. Fold in the Chicago Mix popcorn. The dough will be very thick and the popcorn will begin to breakdown in the batter.
Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, two inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for two minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
