Monthly Archives: December 2018

Salt & Pepper Cashews

 

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The holidays are here! That brings the cold weather. Friday was winter solstice the shortest day of the year. Warm up and bring in the holiday cheer with these spicy cashews.

I love making homemade gifts for the holidays. I made these for my mom and dad in mind. They love salt and pepper pistachios and I thought they would love salt and pepper cashews just as much since it is their favorite nut. These look super cute in mason jars with holiday trim or you can set out at your holiday party for the guests to snack on.

Ingredients :

1 tablespoon of canola oil

2 teaspoons of ground garlic & pepper blend ( or 1 teaspoon of ground garlic & 1 of ground pepper)

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

1 pound of raw cashew pieces ( Trader Joe’s is a good place to find nuts)

Directions

1. Heat a large sauté pan to medium heat. Add oil, spices, and salt. Let the spices heat and become aromatic. ( This takes about one minute). Continue to stir to prevent the spices from burning.

2. Turn the stove to low heat, add cashews and continue to stir for 4 minutes on low heat.

3. Remove from heat and let cool.

4. Once cooled completely place in air tight container. Fits perfectly in a pint mason jar.

Festive Peppermint Sugar Scrub

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The holidays are here. Where does the year go? This year I feel a little more behind than usual. However, this does not stop me from making holiday treats for the ones I love. I recently learned my love language is showing love through acts of doing; which explains why I love to make homemade goodies for the ones I love and appreciate.

I love making homemade goodies for Christmas. This year I went a little out of the norm for me and made a few non-edible gifts, like lip balm, body scrubs, and soaps. Please don’t be fooled I also made cookies (even macaroons!), and I will be making some breads for Christmas Eve. Once a baker, always a baker.

The last few years I have been all about starting new traditions with the ones I love and this year especially. In 2019, I hope to be posting more with many culinary adventures ahead with my love.

This recipe yields approximately :10 1/2 cups of sugar scrub. (As pictured from left to right you can place the scrub in 16 oz jars, 8 oz jars, or 4 oz mason jars. The top for the last 2 to the right is a holiday muffin tin cup, which I feel adds a little more holiday cheer).

Ingredients:

8 cups of granulated sugar, divided ( I found Aldi’s is the cheapest and right now it is $1.29 per 4# bag)

2 cups of coconut oil, divided

40 drops of peppermint essential oil, divided

20 drops of liquid red food coloring dye (optional)

Directions: 

  1. Using paddle attachment on your electric mixer beat 4 cups of sugar and 1 cup of coconut oil until fluffy. Add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil and mix a few more times. Set aside.
  2. In a separate mixing bowl add the remainder (4 cups of sugar, 1 cup of coconut oil and beat using a paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add 20 drops of the essential oil and 20 drops of liquid red food coloring. Mix until you reach desired color and consistency.
  3. Portion out the scrub as you wish. I learned depending on the size jar you can use either a tablespoon or 1/8 to even 1/4 cup. I pushed down the scrub (with a small plastic [tupperware] dressing container) after each layer for a more ascetically pleasing appearance.

Special tip: Make sure to say yourself a jar. Take care of yourself this time of year and pamper yourself.

 

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