Pine Cone Pops

Pine Cone Pops.

These chocolate pine cone treats might be the cutest winter dessert! If you’re looking for a festive, no-fuss holiday treat, these little pine cones are perfect. They’re easy to make, irresistibly cute, wonderfully chocolatey with a nice crunch—and completely no-bake. Honestly, they taste just as good as they look.

The pine cone pops will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the fridge.

Yield about 20.

Ingredients:

• 5-600 g chocolate sheet pan cake, homemade or store bought

Frosting:

• 75 g natural cream cheese

• 75 g dark chocolate

• 25 g powdered sugar

Pine Cone Decorations:

• cocopops

• powdered sugar

Directions:

Start to make the frosting. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler or gently in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir the melted chocolate into the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.

Crumble the chocolate cake into a large bowl. Add the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until the texture is soft, even, and workable. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to firm up.

Shape the chilled cake mixture into small egg like balls, about the size of a whole walnut.

Press the chocolate cereal into the pine cone, starting at the top and working your way down in rows to create a pine-cone effect. To serve, lightly dust with powdered sugar for a snowy finish.

Enjoy!

Salted Almonds

Salted Almonds

Salted almonds are a perfect snack pre-dinner, with an afternoon drink or when you are craving something salty. And they are really easy to make. You can change them up with whatever spices you like. Today I added some smokiness with smoked paprika.

Make a small bowl full.

Ingredients:

• 200 ml water

• 3½ tablespoons sea salt

• 2½ teaspoons smoked paprika

Directions:

Boil the water and dissolve the salt in it. Add the paprika and the almonds. Let it come to a boil. Take off the heat, and let the almonds soak for about 20 minutes.
Drain the water from the almonds, and spread the almonds in an even layer on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake the almonds at 300℉ (150℃) for about 20 minutes. Let the salted almonds cool completely before eating.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Child's Cheese Crackers

Southern Cheese Crackers

It’s no secret I LOVE cheese. So when a friend of mine told me about these cheese cracker, it was a no-brainer, I had to make them. The most surprising was, that it took me almost a month to do so.
These crackers a very addictive, and pair well with a cold beer or a nice glass of wine. If you’re not into the spiciness, then drop the cayenne.

Recipe by Robyn Stone.

Makes 40-60 crackers.

Ingredients:

• 200 g (2 cups) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 112 g (1 stick) salted butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

• 60 g (½ cup) pecans, finely chopped

• 145 g (1½ cups) all-purpose flour

Directions:

Cream the butter with the grated cheese for about 3 minutes. Mix in the salt, cayenne, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add the flour a little at a time, stirring after each addition until the ingredients are well combined and a dough forms. If the dough seems a little dry, ad 1 or 2 tablespoons of water.

Shape the dough into two 1-inch (2½ cm) diameter logs. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap. Twist the ends and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cut the logs into ⅛-inch (⅓ cm) thick slices and place ¼-inch (1 cm) apart on the prepared sheet.

Bake until light golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. The crackers will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week. This is theoretical because they evaporate faster in my house.

I can recommend making some extra dough, and freeze it, for an easy snack for when you have guests.

Enjoy!

Pickled Cucumbers

Pickled Cucumbers

My parents grew their own vegetable in their large vegetable garden, and of course my mom made sure to preserve the large amount of produce by pickling and freezing. We all loved my moms pickled cucumbers, with our dinner or on the open faced sandwiches. Especially on liverpate. So when I found crown dill and pickling cucumbers at my local grocery store, I had to try my moms old recipe. I have a hard time learning that the pickled cucumbers in my world are called pickles here in the States, but eventually I might learn to accept it. 😉

5-8 jars.

Ingredients:

Brine:

• 200 g salt

• 2 liters (68 oz) water

Pickling:

• 1500 g pickling cucumbers

• 1250 ml vinegar

• 780 g sugar

• 13-15 slices fresh horseradish

• 5 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds

• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

• 2 teaspoon black peppercorns

• 8 crown dill (1-2 in each jar)

• 6-8 dried red chilies

Direction:

Combine the salt and water in a pitcher and stir until the salt has dissolved. Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly and snip off the blossom end stem. Prick cucumbers with a table fork. Set aside. Pour the salt water over the cucumbers. Place a plate on top to keep the cucumbers submerged. Let stand 12 hours in the refrigerator. Drain the cucumber and place them in scolded* jars. Add horseradish, dill and the spices to the jars.

I sliced 4 of the cucumbers in thick slices for some more spicy pickles. I placed the slices in 2 smaller jars with 1 fatalii chili in one and 1 habanero chili in the other. HOT HOT HOT  🌶 🌶 🌶  

Boil the vinegar with the sugar, and pour it in the jars, making sure to cover the cucumbers completely. Place the lid on the jars, not tightening them completely.

After 2 days, drain out the vinegar and let it come to a boil, maybe adding more vinegar and sugar. Pour the vinegar over the cucumbers again, adding new horseradish and/or sodium benzoate. Seal the jars tight. Do not boil the horseradish.

*You need to clean the jars and sterilize them by soaking them in boiling water. Same goes for the lids. Submerge the lid for a few minutes in a bowl of boiling water. Rinse jars and lids with alcohol like strong vodka or cognac. 

These will keep for a few months at room temperature, but you can keep them in the refrigerator  too. In my house they won't last long.

Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Canapés

These smoked salmon canapés are just perfect at any party. They are super easy to make and packed with flavor. The cucumber provides the crunch and a clean crisp taste. Make sure to make plenty, it's a crowd favorite.

Makes 25-30.

Ingredients:

• 1 English cucumber

• 50-75 g smoked salmon

Cream cheese/dill spread:

• 50 g cream cheese

• 25 g creme fraiche (you can use sour cream)

• 1 bunch fresh dill, finely chopped, safe some for garnish

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• salt to taste

Directions:

Mix the ingredients for the spreads together and season with salt. Scoop the spread into a piping bag and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to develop.

Cut the cucumber into ⅓-Inch  (1 cm) slices. Arrange the cucumber slices on a serving platter. Pipe the spread in small tops on top of the cucumber slices. 

Cut the smoked salmon into strips. Fold it up and place on top of the cream cheese.

Garnish with a small sprigs of dill.

Enjoy!