Cranberry-Apple Bread Pudding

In a search for a Christmas dessert, I happened upon this recipe. It was my first time making bread pudding, and the recipe is a keeper. The cranberries, orange zest and brandy added a holiday flair, but it could be made without all the add-ins.

Click here for the recipe: http://foodandstyle.com/2011/12/22/apple-cranberry-bread-puddings-with-rosemary-gelato-and-cider-calvados-reduction/

Blueberry Bars

Blueberry-lemon bars are usually more of a summery thing, but I decided to make some for a holiday party. The lemon flavor in these is pretty faint since it uses zest but no juice.

They turned out pretty and were easy to make using this recipe:
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/lemon-blueberry-crumb-bars/

Homemade Pizza

My family recently started going to a local pizza place to get fresh dough balls and bringing them back to make custom pizzas.

 No plain cheese or pepperoni here. I always like Fresh mozzarella and parmesean cheeses with fresh tomatoes, red onions, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar. I topped it off with some balsamic vinegar and arugula. This is pretty similar to my previous post made with a wheat pita. But if you have access to fresh dough, I highly recommend it!

Cheating on Peppermint Bark Brownies

These brownies aren't my finest accomplishment, considering they came from a box and a can. But it's college. And it's finals week. They still taste good.

A recipe is hardly necessary. You can either top the brownies with vanilla frosting (homemade buttercream is better) or melted white chocolate.

More to come from my new kitchen and from home over the holidays!
xo

Sun Dried Tomato Risotto

Risotto is my carbohydrate of choice. It does take a while to make, but it smells so nice while it is cooking that I don't mind.
I don't really use a recipe anymore; I just start with some chopped onions and olive oil, then add the dry Arborio rice. Then I slowly add vegetable broth, stirring constantly. When the rice is all cooked, I add a handful of Pamigiano-Reggiano and whatever other additions I might have.

So creamy, with sun dried tomatoes and a sprinkling of oregano.

Spaghetti Squash with Cranberries and Walnuts

This is an easy dish that is healthy and can be served warm or cold. I liked it as a snack right out of the refrigerator. All you need is a spaghetti squash, walnut pieces, green onions and cranberries.

 Here are all the ingredients minus the squash.

 I microwaved the squash for 12 minutes, scraped out the "spaghetti,"mixed it with the other stuff- and that's it!

Bottega Brunch

I have long been a fan of Bottega Louie's dinner menu and pastries. I am usually not a huge brunch person, but even a brunch pessimist like me can enjoy the wide variety of offerings- guarantee.

The egg white omelet looks a little bland from the outside, but it is filled with black beans, tofu, spinach and peppers. It was a health nut's dream. The breakfast potatoes, on the other hand, were quite hearty.

 See the green drink? That's fresh juice made from apple, cucumber, honeydew and arugula.

French toast on soft buttermilk bread