jam thumbprints

It’s kind of silly really that I’m posting this recipe after Christmas when everyone is sick of cookies and ready to start the new year off on a diet, but these are so so good that I had to share.  It would be selfish of me not to.  I’m not a hoarder of recipes after all.  When I saw this recipe on Lottie + Doof I immediately fell in love with the rustic homemade quality of these cookies.  They’re so simple really, the jam thumbprint, and I’ve had them every holiday season since I can remember but somehow the addition of rolling the dough in chopped almonds and coconut makes them an entirely different cookie.  So here you have it, a lovely little cookie to end your year.  Cheers to a happy and healthy 2012!!      xoxo – J

star anise and pink peppercorn truffles

These little guys are certainly not winning any awards for their good looks.  They are however very tasty little morsels.  The flavor combo is different from anything I’ve ever tried before.  It’s unexpected, but in a good way.  Peppery, but not spicy and the anise flavor is very subtle.  Their homely looks can be avoided all together if you use a mini releasable scoop (like an ice cream scoop, only smaller).  I actually own not one, but two of these scoops.  The problem is they’re in storage at the moment so I refuse to buy another one and yet I’m too lazy to go get them out of storage when I need one.  It’s a constant internal battle you see.  I attempted to use a teaspoon which was sort of a fail because the truffles got stuck.  I switched to using two spoons to make roundish balls and then proceeded to roll them in my palms which was pretty messy….I think the results speak for themselves.

peppermint bark cookies

I’ve been making this peppermint bark for a few years now and oh how I love it.  This is a little different from traditional peppermint bark in that it has a layer of chocolate ganache sandwiched between two layers of white chocolate.  It makes the bark almost truffle like.  And more melty instead of rock hard.  You know what I mean right?  Some peppermint bark is SO hard.  What’s the deal with that?

white chicken chili

 

Rotisserie chickens are essential to my life.  They’re affordable, consistently delicious and pretty darn healthy (if you don’t eat the skin).  A great little luxury on weeknights when you’re short on time and still want a satisfying meal.  Or if you’re just lazy, like me, and don’t feel like cooking a chicken.  Don’t get me wrong, I love making roasted chicken, but time doesn’t always allow for that sort of thing.  This chili uses a rotisserie chicken which makes it a super easy meal to put together after work.  Seriously, it takes about 30 minutes total and you have a yummy little bowl of chili in your hands while you do much more important things like watch TV.