Mint Brownie Batter Cookies

Chewy and chocolatey with a hint of mint.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 oz baking chocolate, melted

3 large eggs, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/4 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp mint extract (or 2 tsps mint and skip the vanilla if you like your cookies mintier!)

1 cup mini white chocolate chips (plus a few extra to top)

1 or 2 candy canes crushed (optional)

Beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar and melted baking chocolate together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time.

Then sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together and add to the wet ingredients. Add the extract of your choice and fold in the white chocolate chips and crushed candy cane. 

Scoop batter using a small cookie scoop (1 - 1 1/2") onto parchment lined baking sheets 2" apart. Stick a couple of chocolate chips on top.

And bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes.

Makes 82 bite sized cookies

Store in airtight containers.

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Chicken Spinach Gnocchi Soup

Finally got around to trying this Olive Garden copycat! A creamy, rich broth loaded with chicken, spinach, carrots and pillowy soft gnocchi. It's a meal in a bowl!

Ingredients:

2 tbsps olive oil

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup shredded onion

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp celery seed

1/4 cup flour

4 cups chicken broth

3/4 - 1 lb cooked, chopped chicken (I used rotisserie)

500g (1 lb) gnocchi (tricoloured used here)

2 cups milk

2 cups chopped and packed spinach

salt and pepper to taste

fresh parsley and/or baby spinach leaves to garnish

Heat oil in a large pot to medium. Add the carrots and onion and cook until onion is translucent. Add the smoked paprika, thyme and celery seed and stir together. Whisk the flour into the broth, add to the pot and bring to a boil. Stir 1 minute then reduce heat back to medium and add the chicken. (Using rotisserie chicken is a big time saver!) Simmer 10 minutes. Next add the milk, gnocchi and spinach. Bring back to a simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve garnished with parsley and spinach leaves.

Makes 6 servings

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Simple, sweet and spicy! Had these sweet potato fries with crusted meatloaf but honestly they would be fantastic with just about any main or even on their own dipped in ketchup, aioli or BBQ sauce.

1 large sweet potato, cut in wedges

1 tbsp bacon fat

1 tbsp vegetable oil

chili powder to taste

cinnamon sugar (like you use for cinnamon toast) to taste

cayenne (optional if you want a kick of heat!)

Just take a plastic bag (or empty waxed cereal bag) and toss the sweet potato wedges with the rest of the ingredients. Stand the wedges on a lined baking sheet leaving space between each. Sprinkle more chili powder and cinnamon sugar on (and cayenne if you like). Bake at 425°F for 35-40 minutes or until tender with caramelized edges. You may want to flip them for the last 10 minutes.

Serves 2

Served here with my Crusted Meatloaf. Get the recipe here:

https://www.hotandcoldrunningmom.ca/2023/12/crusted-meatloaf.html

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Crusted Meatloaf

Using a baking sheet instead of a loaf pan gives this meatloaf maximum crusty coating sealing in it's juicy flavour.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (or trio - beef, pork and veal)

1 onion, diced

1 small red pepper, diced

2 tsps minced garlic

1 tsp dry oregano

1 tsp dry basil

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 egg

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs

2-3 tbsps Panko for coating

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp ranch dressing

Combine the ground meat, onion, red pepper, garlic, oregano, basil, smoked paprika, egg, tomato paste, worcestershire and 1/4 cup Panko. Add salt and pepper to taste then form into a loaf. Brush ranch dressing all over and roll in 2-3 tbsps Panko crumbs. Place on a lined baking sheet.

Bake at 425°F for 55-60 minutes then rest 10 minutes and it slices perfectly!

Serves 2-3

And if you'd like to make the Baked Sweet Potato Fries pictured here, just follow this link:

https://www.hotandcoldrunningmom.ca/2023/12/baked-sweet-potato-fries.html

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Pickled Red Cabbage

The perfect sweet and tangy side with a pop of colour 💜💓

Adds a little crunch to your burger, hot dog, fish or chicken taco.

Ingredients:

2 cups finely shredded red cabbage

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 heaping tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp salt

2 pinches pepper

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Combine the water, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes in a large bowl or corning ware. Add the shredded cabbage, cover and leave on kitchen counter for 4-6 hours, then chill in the refrigerator.

Makes 4-6 servings

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Slice and Bake Coconut Shortbread

Melt in your mouth buttery goodness with a hint of nutty coconut! A perfect teatime treat!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

2 pinches of salt

1 3/4 cup flour

1 cup flaked or shredded coconut + extra for sprinkling

Beat the butter in a mixer until creamy then add the sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Add the extract and salt. Then add the flour and coconut and mix until combined. Don't overmix.

Form into a 12 X 3 X 1" log. Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze 2 hours or refrigerate overnight. I slid it onto an overturned baking sheet to make it easier to move without worrying about messing up the log.

When ready to bake slice 1/3" thick cookies and place them 1" apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Sprinkle extra coconut on top of each cookie and very gently tap to adhere.

Bake at 300°F for 20 minutes or until lightly golden.

Makes 34 cookies

Adapted from: tasteofhome.com

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Shortbread Blossoms

Nothing better than tender, buttery shortbread cookies with a chocolatey center!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup butter, at room temperature

coarse coloured sugar and sprinkles

3-4 dozen Hershey kisses (I used Sugar Cookie kisses here)

Sift the cornstarch, icing sugar and flour together then blend in the butter using a pastry knife. Use your hands to finish off the blending and form a soft dough.

Shape into 1" balls, roll the side in sugar and place on parchment lined baking sheets 2" apart.

Bake at 300°F for 16-18 minutes or just barely golden on the bottom. While the cookies bake unwrap the kisses. Remove from oven and immediately press kisses lightly into the warm cookies. Cool on racks and let the chocolate melt to a puddle or pop in the fridge to set right away.

Makes 3-4 dozen cookies

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