the taste of cranberries and oranges always reminds me of the holidays. this sweet cranberry orange bread has amazing flavor, and could definitely be a last minute christmas treat for friends and neighbors.
what do all these ingredients have it common? well, they make the aroma of christmas. i walked into my neighbors home the other day, only to be greeted by an amazing smell. it really smelled like christmas. and, the best part is, it is simple to make.
recipe: {the aroma of christmas}
2 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup of whole cloves
2 orange peels
2 sections of lemon
1 quart [4 cups] water
place all ingredients in a pot and simmer on low. add water as needed.
can use for a few days.
enjoy!
xoxo,
caroline “the curious cook“
until recently i couldn’t tell you what almond bark was. i would have guessed some kind of a tree, but almond bark is actually a great chocolate-like candy coating that melts amazingly well, and is great to use to make homemade candy coated yummies.
with halloween just around the corner, many of us are wondering what treat to bring to our next halloween party. these creepy witch fingers are a hit with the little ones, and they love the idea of eating witches fingers. i even used mine as a cute prop for our halloween party invitations.
i had a great harvest this year of garden tomatoes.
if you’re lucky you still have some to harvest from your garden, or you canned them to enjoy all winter long. homemade marinara sauce is surprisingly easy to make and tastes better than any store bought sauce. and, it’s a great way to get using all your tomatoes! this is great with your favorite pasta and meatballs, or for your next lasagna!
one of my favorite types of food to eat is indian food.
i love the beautiful variety of spices they use in their cooking, and the combination of flavors is always a delight.
my favorite indian dish, hands down is chicken tikka masala.
i love trying to re-create dishes from my favorite restaurants at home. of course my curiosity got the better of me, and i’ve been working to make my chicken tikka masala rival some of my favorite indian restaurants. and, i think i’ve just about got it! i’ve been perfecting this recipe for years, making little changes here and there. so, i am excited to share it with you! (more…)
one of my favorite tricks to get a fresh pasta taste, but with no work, is using wonton skin wrappers for ravioli. you can create a meal in no time that looks like it took you all day long. in season butternut squash is a perfect addition to ravioli, and the taste is amazing.
i love interesting salads. i am always trying to think up new combinations. i was inspired by a salad from one of my favorite restaurants and decided to try to create it at home.
the combination of roasted butternut squash, gorgonzola cheese, and pecans is just amazing.
