New Years Goals!

 

As a new year approaches, many start to think about resolutions. I've never liked the idea of resolutions and I've never kept one.

Popular resolutions are things revolving around health, losing weight, exercising more, etc.

 Last year though, I started thinking of it like a New Years Goal. It's the first time I have attained what I set out to. Last year, my goal for 2023 was to cook more at home. I think we can say I met that goal, and this blog was birthed from that goal. 

For 2024, I am building on that goal. My goal for this year is to eat healthier and to incorporate seafood into my diet at least twice a week. Some of you know, but I have had a few health challenges in 2023. Nothing too serious but that became a wakeup call for me to be more conscious about my food.  As a diabetic, I need to be aware of the food I chose to eat and its effect on my body. That is why my goal for 2024 is all about healthy eating. 

What are some of your New Years Goals? My tip is to maybe think smaller scale and less grand scale and be specific. Instead of I want to lose weight set an actual weight goal and be realistic. Instead of I want to cook more, set a set number of days a week you want to cook from home. 

Here is hoping your New Years starts out great and just keeps improving. 

Merry Christmas from Apey's Kitchen!

 I hope you are having a wonderful day with friends, families, or just with a "Me" day. 

Today, is a day I reflect on what the day means to me. The sacrifice that God made by sending His Son to the earth to be a sacrifice for the world. This act alone I believe is such an example of the season. No gift can compare to this gift. I hope today is a day that you remember what the day really represents.

This is a day of laughter and joy but can also be a day of sadness for those of us who have lost loved ones. My thoughts are with you and yours this season as you are navigating the holidays without your loved ones. 

Today, I plan on starting a new tradition from Iceland. My family celebrated Christmas yesterday so today I am making myself a nice dinner for the holiday, cuddling with my cats, reading, and eating some chocolate. Jolabokaflod, or "Christmas book flood" is where you give and receive books and spend the day/evening reading. In a twist, I am getting myself a good book and will have a nice relaxing day at home. I also will be letting the cats open their presents! This is a tradition I can see myself getting into. On the menu is Lobster pasta, garlic bread, and a salad. 

Myst, Stella, and I hope that you and yours have a great day and a very Happy Holiday! See you in the New Year!

Reminder: The Kitchen Cleanout Challenge will start on January 8th, after a special New Years Day post on January 1st. 

The Holiday Kitchen: Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

 Christmas is a great time to spend with kids in all activities, but nothing is more fun than inviting the kids into the kitchen to help prepare some special treats for Santa! There are not only great cookies that can be made which we all know are Santa's favorites. I bet he would also love some great Christmas candy. 

My mom made caramels and double decker fudge a lot when we were kids for Christmas. Today, I found her recipes, handwritten in a cookbook! I may have to add one of these to my Christmas baking list this year. The caramels were always a personal favorite and sooo good! I will provide my mom's recipes below. 

Another great Christmas candy is Peppermint Bark. It is so easy to make and will put a big smile on the kids and Santa's faces. The recipe I will be making this year is for marbled peppermint bark. 

Marbled Peppermint Bark

Dark Chocolate- bark or chips

White Chocolate- bark or chips

Peppermint- usually crushed candy canes

Melt the dark and white chocolate in two separate bowls using a double boiler method or in the microwave. 

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spread the dark chocolate evenly on the parchment paper, about 1/4 in thick. Then add dollops of the white chocolate on top. 

Use a knife, chopstick, or skewer to swirl the white chocolate into the dark chocolate then sprinkle with crushed candy canes. 

Place in the fridge to set for at least 1 hour. Then remove from the fridge and break into pieces with your hands or knife. 

You can store this on the counter, fridge, or freezer. 

Grab those kiddos, bake some cookies (chocolate chip or sugar are the most popular) any kind. Or treat Santa to a special treat of peppermint bark, or fudge. Don't forget the milk for Santa and the treats for Rudolph!

Mom's Double Decker Fudge

1 C Peanut butter chips

2/3 C Eagle brand evaporated milk

Melt in microwave 1 1/2 minute. Pour into 8x8 pan lined with wax paper and cool.

1 C chocolate chips and the rest of Eagle brand.

Melt and pour on the peanut butter fudge and cool. 

Cut into squares. 

Mom's Caramels

Need: stainless steel saucepan with lid, candy thermometer, wooden corner spoon, wax paper, sheet cake pan.

1/2 stick of butter

2 C sugar

1 C light corn syrup

1 can of Eagle evaporated milk.

Cook to 242 degrees and remove from the stove, stirring occasionally. Then stir in 1 1/4 tsp vanilla. Stir then transfer to pan lined with parchment paper. 

Cool completely. Once cooled, cut the caramel into small squares and wrap them in wax paper. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. 

Other great candies you can make are toffee, other types of fudge (one I have always wanted to try is Eggnog Fudge), puppy chow, chocolate covered pretzels, and turtles. Does your family do any special candies or cookies for Christmas?

I hope you and your families and friends have a fabulous Christmas. I hope it is a time of togetherness, remembrance, and just happiness. I hope you and the kids in your life have a great time preparing for Santa!

Merry Christmas from me and Santa!

The Holiday Kitchen: Sausage Cranberry Bites

A super easy appetizer!

Kielbasa sausage cut up in 30 pieces

White cheddar cut into 30 squares

Can of whole berry cranberry sauce

Toothpicks

Bake sausage in oven on parchment T 400 degrees until warm. It is already precooked. Be careful not to over cook it. Place cheese square on each sausage and top with  cranberry. Use toothpick to hold together.

These were very tasty and such an easy appetizer to make. Yield is 30.

The Holiday Kitchen: holiday themed cooking shows for inspiration!

The holidays seem to be times when I want to try some new things plus some favorites. Try out a new version of a recipe, make a new cookie, or make Christmas dinner special. If you need some inspiration some of our favorite shows and chefs have special holiday themed shows. Check out the below list for special holiday themed cooking shows and where you can watch them!

1. Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays

    The first episode of this four-part special edition is with super star chef Alex Guarnaschelli. This meal looks amazing, and she makes cooking a beef roast look so easy! I have to say next time I make mashed potatoes I'm adding the unsweetened whip cream too! This whole meal looked amazing! IT would be a perfect Holiday meal!

    Again, Selena has invited four different chefs to help her prepare for the holidays but this time they are in person in her home.  The second episode with Michael Symon was interesting and very informative in regard to some differences of how pasta is made in the US that makes it less healthy than pasta made in Italy...it all has to do with the type of flour used! I love all the unique tips and tricks the chefs give for things like how to peel a bunch of garlic at once. 

2. Magnolia Table: Silos Baking holiday edition

    This special was filmed last season in front of a live audience at the Silos in Waco, TX. Five home bakers compete to perfect a holiday cookie recipe for a $25,000 prize and a chance to have their cookie featured on the menu at the bakery, Silos Baking Co, for the month of December. The judges are Joanna Gaines, Andrew Zimmerman, and Zoe Francois. 

Both of these shows are available on HBO Max. 

3. Giada's Holiday Handbook

    This show is available on Food Network. There are 5 seasons. This show covers things from food, decorating, decor, and themes. Giada De Laurentis breaks down entertaining to make it easier for those who are not used to hosting. If you are hosting for the first time Giada just may have some tips for you. 

4. Holiday Party with Andrew and Zoe

    Andrew Zimmern and Zoe Francois host a Christmas/Hanukkah party, sharing favorite holiday recipes and their best tips for entertaining. Right off the bat, the spicy spinach artichoke dip looked amazing adding jalapenos to a traditional spinach artichoke dip. And the toffee matzah sounded so good. 

Available to stream on HBO Max

5. The Pioneer Woman: Hometown Stories

    Ree Drummond celebrates the holidays in her hometown of Pawhuska, OK. In this three-episode series you visit her three local businesses: Charlie's Sweet Shop, The Pioneer Woman Boarding House, and the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. Your kids will love the Hot Cocoa Pancakes for breakfast on Christmas Morning! Topped with chocolate drizzle, marshmallow creme, chocolate curls, and Christmas sprinkles! 

Available to stream on HBO Max.

There are also a ton of holiday baking challenge shows and cooking shows. Too many to mention. You can find them on most streaming services and on the Food Network. If you need a little inspiration this Christmas, check one out!

The Holiday Kitchen: Make Breakfasts Wow

As families gather for the holidays, many will be planning breakfasts and parties. If you a looking for a great way to make your get together wow, think about adding simple homemade condiments like compound butters and jam. They are easy to make, taste amazing, and can be given as gifts as well to the foodie in your life. 

My condiments of choice with a Holiday flare are cranberry honey butter and Christmas Jam.

The compound butter is 1 stick of salted butter, 3 T cranberry sauce, and 1 T honey. Mix all together with a mixer and put in a jar. It looks so pretty and is pretty tasty!

For the jam I used 1 C of cranberries, 1 C of blackberries, 1/4 C of honey, 1 tsp of vanilla, 1/4 C water, a sprinkle of hibiscus powder, and 2T of chia seeds. Add all the ingredients but chia seeds to a pot and cook on medium until the berries start to break up. Then, mash with a potato or avocado masher. Remove from heat and I then blend with an immersion blender to smooth. Then stir in chia seeds to thicken. Place in a jar and allow to cool. You can keep this in the fridge or the freezer.

You can make so many flavored butters like honey, cinnamon, pumpkin, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, etc. You could even combine some flavors like cranberry and orange. Compound butters with herbs are also amazing on steak! I always make compound butter for my steak. It adds so much flavor!

These butters and jams would also be great on a charcuterie board for breakfast with breads and pastries or a Christmas themed board.