Cheese and Potato Frittata

Because it’s spring…

Because everyone prefers to be outside enjoying warmer weather than spending a lot of time in the

kitchen…

Because simple, inexpensive, and tasty recipes are always good to have on hand…

I present my Cheese and Potato Frittata recipe, an easy to make dish that works for brunch, lunch or a light supper. Best of all, you can adjust it to fit your tastes. Add some green peppers or asparagus. Use pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar and serve with a side of salsa. Sprinkle green onions over the top. This basic recipe can be the foundation for whatever your food imagination can picture, but it also tastes great just as it’s written.   

Cheese and Potato Frittata

Serves 4 to 6

2 tablespoons oil

1 1/2 pounds potatoes, thinly sliced

1/2 large onion, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon butter

5 eggs, beaten

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

           

In a heavy, oven-safe skillet, add the oil. Add the potatoes and cooking until one side is brown. Turn the potatoes and add the onions. Continue to cook until the potatoes and onions are browned and tender.

           

Preheat the broiler. Add the butter around the edges of the potatoes in the pan and cook until melted. Pour the beaten eggs over the mixture. Using a spatula, sift the mixture around so the eggs touch the skillet and cook. (You can also shake the pan to do this.) Once the eggs are just runny on top, sprinkle the cheese on top and place the skillet under the broiler. Cook until eggs are set, cheese is melted, and the frittata begins to brown slightly. Season with salt and pepper.

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

“May you always be blessed with walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, a warm cup of tea by the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all that your heart might desire.”

A traditional Irish toast.

This is my favorite St. Patrick's Day meal. Trust me. It tastes as good as it looks! The recipe comes from one I first received from an Irish pub in New England, and it works equally well with either ground beef or lamb.

I hope your St. Patrick’s Day is one filled with fun and joy, plus a little bit of blarney. I also hope this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is on the dinner menu.

“May you be in Heaven three days before the Devil knows you’re dead.” –another traditional Irish toast

Yield: 4

Author: Linda Ditch

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

A twist on the traditional favorite.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef or lamb
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 14.5-ounce cans low sodium beef broth
• 1 ounce Irish whiskey, or to taste
• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (see below)
• For Sweet Potato Mash
• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup half and half
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a saute pan over medium heat, melt butter, add onions, and cook until soft. Add in ground beef or lamb and spices, and then saute until cooked through. Add the peas. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, and then pour in the broth and whiskey. Bring to a simmer and cook until the desired thickness is reached.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spoon the meat mixture into a casserole dish or individual serving dishes. Cover the top with the mashed sweet potatoes. Place the dish onto a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake until the sweet potatoes start to brown on top, 20 to 30 minutes.
3. For Sweet Potato Mash: Cover the cubed sweet potatoes with water in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until cooked through. Strain potatoes and return them to the pan. Add the butter and half and half, and mash with a potato masher, being careful not to over mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Chocolate Melting Cake

For years, I was told glowing accounts of the Chocolate Melting Cake served on Carnival Cruise ships. Members of the Ditch family raved about the rich, luscious dessert, some of them ordering more than one at a time.

They were right. This dish is amazing.

On the voyage, I participated in The Chef’s Table. This special dinner was limited to about 14 people and featured 6 courses of dishes not on the regular dining menus. The evening I attended, we were treated to a cooking demonstration of the Chocolate Melting Cake by the ship’s pastry chef (whose name I don’t remember, darn it.)

On the Magic, the kitchen crew makes 10,000 to 11,000 servings at a time!

This dessert is rich and delicious, plus easy to make. The key is to only bake it until the top has just set but the middle is still liquid.

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Serves 4

6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces

6 ounces (3/4 cup) butter

4 eggs at room temperature

6 ounces (3/4 cup) sugar

2 ounces (1/4 cup) flour

Preheat the oven to 390 degrees F. (You can set it for 375 degrees F and allow for a slightly longer baking time.) Grease 4 ramekins with butter and set aside.

In a medium bowl, melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave (heat 30 seconds, stir, repeat) or over a pan of just simmering water until smooth. Set aside.

           

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together for a few minutes until the eggs are fluffy and the sugar is dissolved. Whisk in the flour.

           

Add the egg mixture into the melted chocolate and stir until combined. Pour the batter into the ramekins. Set the ramekins into the oven and bake for 14 minutes, or until the top is firm and cake-like but the middle is still pudding soft. Serve warm with ice cream.

Disclaimer: While the crew and employees of Carnival Cruise Lines and the Magic were very hospitable and accommodating during my time on board, I paid for the trip myself. I’m not being paid by Carnival to make this or any upcoming posts with recipes from the cruise. All of the opinions and experiences are my own. 

The Fun Ship Special

A funny thing happens when March arrives: This winter-loving writer’s mind switches to spring. Once we reach the year’s third month, my affair with winter is over. The weather can get warmer (but not too warm) and the snow can cease for another year.

Of course, Nature doesn't always comply. So far winter is holding on for dear life. This weekend is projected to be nice in Kansas, but I know many of you are growing weary of the cold and snow.

Hopefully, this Fun Ship Special can put you in a warmer mood. On my recent cruise aboard the Carnival Magic, waitstaff carried trays of these festive, tropical drinks around the lobby area as guests boarded. They looked so refreshing I was tempted to pluck one off of a tray. However, I’m allergic to pineapple (crazy, but true), so I asked a server what was in the drink. Yes, pineapple juice was on the ingredient list, so I reluctantly passed.

A few days later, I was chatting with Keith Patel, the beverage operations manager for the Magic. He said the most popular cocktail was the Fun Ship Special. When I mentioned my pineapple issue, he grinned and said, “You know, we can make it without the pineapple juice.”

A short while later, some of my family and I met with Keith in the ship’s RedFrog Pub to give the drink a try. (Check out the bartender in action!) It was wonderful. Tropical and fruity, with a great kick!

I also tasted the ThirstyFrog Red, the pub’s private label beer. Refreshing, clean, not too hoppy, and full of flavor. This is my kind of beer.

Some of my tablemates avoid alcohol, but they gave the virgin strawberry pina coladas a thumbs-up. We also tested some of the pub grub fare.

The coconut shrimp was a winner.

So were the kicked-up conch fritters and these West Indies Roti, filled with curried chicken and dipped in a mango chutney.

The Ditch clan is already planning next year’s cruise, and I can picture myself spending a lot of time in the RedFrog Pub. (Trouble!) Until then, I intend to make many Fun Ship Specials to get me through the blistering Kansas summer to come…sans pineapple.

(Read more about the cuisine on the Magic in my recent newspaper article here.)

The Fun Ship Special

Makes 1 serving

1/2 ounce Barcardi Superior Rum

1/4 ounce Skyy Vodka

1/4 ounce Disaronno Amaretto

1/4 ounce Apricot Brandy

1 1/4 ounce orange juice

1 1/4 ounce pineapple juice

1/2 ounce lime or lemon juice

1/4 ounce Grenadine

Fill a large pub glass with ice. Mix all of the ingredients together. Shake until a good foam is noticed. Pour over the ice. Garnish with an orange slice, cherry, and umbrella, and serve with a smile.

Disclaimer: While the crew and employees of Carnival Cruise Lines and the Magic were very hospitable and accommodating during my time on board, I paid for the trip myself. I’m not being paid by Carnival to make this or any upcoming posts with recipes from the cruise. All of the opinions and experiences are my own. 

Mushroom Cappuccino and a Winter Break

I know many of you are suffering the winter blahs, especially those of you buried under snow in the Northeast. So I thought I’d give you a break from all of the whiteness with a few photos from my trip on the Carnival Magic to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed going on a cruise. Most of you know from past posts that I love winter! I've never felt the need to escape to warmer climates. Plus, Kansas has had a pretty mild winter so far, with temps in the 50s, 60s, and some 70s…until this week, when it has been more winter-like.

I was envious of my friends in New England getting snow while we barely had a flake. (Though I think even a snow lover like me would be saying enough at this point.) However, I know my feelings about winter are not shared by most.

My favorite part of the cruise was the food--of course. It was amazing! Lucky for us, the wonderful Magic culinary crew shared their recipes. Many upcoming posts will feature my favorite dishes from the trip.

To start, I wanted to share this Mushroom Cappuccino recipe to warm up those chilly winter nights. How good is this recipe? I normally don’t care for mushrooms, but I loved this dish. I tasted it at a cooking demonstration at the Magic's Prime Steakhouse. My eyes closed at the deliciousness, and I could hear "Mmmm" from most of the attendees, myself included.


The cappuccino aspect comes from the creamy layer that forms on top of the soup, much like its namesake espresso drink. On the ship, it was served with a garlic toast and a topping of unsweetened whipped cream.

Mushroom Cappuccino

Adapted from a recipe courtesy of the Carnival Magic Prime Steakhouse restaurant

Serves 4

2 ounces clarified butter (see note below)

5 tablespoons finely diced onion

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 pound chopped assorted mushrooms

2 pints chicken or vegetable stock

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 pint cream

Salt, to taste

White pepper, to taste

A few drops of truffle oil, optional

1 teaspoon chopped parsley

In a large sauce pan, saute the onions in the butter until they start to become translucent. Add the garlic, and then add the mushrooms. Pour in the stock and add the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the mushrooms are tender.

After the mushrooms are cooked, pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Then pour through a chinois or fine-mesh strainer to remove any large bits. Return the mixture to the pan and add the cream and, if using, a few drops of truffle oil. Adjust the seasonings and consistency, adding more stock if the mixture is too thick. Ladle the soup into serving dishes and top with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

             

Note: To clarify butter, melt butter and use only the clear yellow liquid, leaving behind the milky residue.

Disclaimer: While the crew and employees of Carnival Cruise Lines and the Magic were very hospitable and accommodating during my time on board, I paid for the trip myself. I’m not being paid by Carnival to make this or any upcoming posts with recipes from the cruise. All of the opinions and experiences are my own. 

Pastitsio

Ever since I first tasted Pastitsio while writing about a Greek festival in Manchester, New Hampshire years ago, I've wanted to make this dish. Also known as Greek lasagna, Pastitsio gets its name from the Italian dish pasticcio, a savory pie with a pastry crust. The Greek version excludes the crust. It has layers of pasta (penne or ziti) mixed with cheese and egg, with a layer of meat sauce in between, and a creamy cheese béchamel layer on top.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to try the recipe when a church group came to my apartment for lunch. I like to keep food gatherings simple and relaxed, so I tripled my Lasagna for Two recipe for one dish, and made this Pastitsio recipe for the other. Along with the casseroles, I served warm, crusty bread and Ina Garten’s Celery and Parmesan Salad.

The Pastitsio was a hit! Everyone seemed intrigued by the touch of cinnamon in the meat sauce and the difference between it and the more common lasagna. They all insisted it would be a good idea to post the recipe here.  

Every Pastitsio recipe has its little differences. Some use ground lamb, though I stuck with beef. I even came across some without cinnamon, though to me it is that flavor which makes this dish delicious. Others have more tomato in the meat sauce than others. I went with a less-saucy version, based on a recipe I got from one of the cooks at the Greek festival.

This dish takes some time to put together, but the results are worth it. Also, you can make it a day ahead and reheat it just before serving.

Pastitsio

Serves 8 to 10

For the pasta layer:

1 pound penne or ziti pasta

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon salt

4 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon flour

1 1/2 cups grated Romano cheese

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

For the meat sauce:

1 tablespoon  unsalted butter

1 medium onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 pounds ground beef

1 8-ounce cans tomato sauce

2 tablespoons dry red wine

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon dried oregano

4 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

For the béchamel:

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter

5 tablespoons flour

2 cups hot milk

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup grated Romano cheese

1/4 cup grated Romano cheese, for top

To make the pasta: Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add the salt and oil. Add the pasta and boil until pasta is just done, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Place the drained pasta into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and flour. Stir the egg mixture in with the pasta. Add the cheese and melted butter. Stir to combine. Set aside.  

To make the meat sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high, melt the butter. Add the onion and saute until soft. Add the garlic and cook for just about 30 seconds, and then add the ground beef. Cook until beef is brown. Strain off any excess grease. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until sauce is thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.

To make the béchamel: In a heavy sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and cook until the mixture thickens and just begins to bubble, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat. Slowly whisk 1 cup of the mixture into the beaten eggs. Then whisk the egg mixture back into the remaining cream sauce. Whisk in the remaining ingredients. Set aside.

To assemble: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Layer half of the pasta mixture on the bottom. Pour the meat mixture over the top and spread out evenly. Add the remaining pasta over the meat mixture, and then pour the béchamel sauce over the top and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

To reheat the next day, cover the dish tightly with foil and place into a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, or until the center is hot. 

The Woo Woo Cocktail and Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip

I am a football fanatic and the Super Bowl is my holiday. On the surface, I suppose it’s unusual for a woman to be such a rabid football fan, but I come from a long line of females who enjoy spending a Sunday afternoon yelling at the TV.

Dad would toss the football around with me in the backyard. I was one of the few girls who knew how to throw a perfect spiral and make a decent punt, which made me very popular with the neighborhood boys when they needed an extra person for a game in someone’s backyard. (They also liked that I wasn't a sissy, even when the ball hit me in the face while I was fielding a punt.)

The Picky Eater’s family has a fantasy football league. After his death, the guys let me join to take over my sweetheart's spot, and they named the championship trophy after him. (Most of the family call him Mikey D.) I was the first woman allowed to participate. And I won…a lot! So much so, I made it to the championship game, much to the chagrin of some of the guys who didn't realize I knew so much about the game. I didn't win it all, but I won enough the fellas keep asking, “Isn't there something in the bylaws about a woman only playing for one year?”

Sorry boys. I’m in, and you’ll just have to deal with it!

The Woo Woo cocktail is my favorite football-watching beverage. It gets its name because, if you drink too many, they make you go, “Woo woo!” The drink goes great with the Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip. While some artichoke dips can be a bit bland, this one has more flavor than any others I've tried. I keep it warm in a slow cooker, but it also tastes good at room temperature.

The Woo Woo

1 1/2 ounces peach schnapps

1 ounce vodka

Cranberry juice

Lime wedge

Add ice to a tall glass. Pour in the peach schnapps and vodka. Fill the rest of the way with the cranberry juice. Stir until combined. Squeeze in a lime wedge.

Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Serves 8 to 10

6 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1/2 tablespoon onion powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon oregano

1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, or more, to taste

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 tablespoon horseradish

1 cup shredded Monterey jack

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

6 tablespoons heavy cream

1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

2 14-ounce cans artichoke hearts, diced

1 small onion, finely diced

Heat cream cheese on low heat until melted (can be done in a microwave.) Add remaining ingredients and mix well until blended. Place dip in a broiler-proof dish. Sprinkle top with some extra shredded cheese and place under a broiler until cheese is melted and begins to turn brown.

           

To make in a slow cooker: Place all of the ingredients into the slow cooker. Stir to mix. (The ingredients won’t mix well to start because of the cold cream cheese.) Set on low and cook for 1 hour. Stir to blend well, and then set to the “keep warm” setting. The dip will keep in the slow cooker for 4-plus hours. Be sure to stir occasionally.  

           

Serve with toasted Italian bread, bagel chips, crackers or tortilla chips.

Beef Stew, Sans Recipe

I know the saying is, “As easy as pie,” but I've never found pie to be that simple. Especially if you make the crust from scratch, a skill I’m still trying to master.

On the other hand, stew is so easy to put together, no recipe is required. Just look in your pantry, freezer and fridge. I bet all of the ingredients are there for a yummy stew, be it chicken or beef.

So, you want to make a stew but are unsure where to start? Take a moment and close your eyes. Imagine the stew you desire. How does it taste? What vegetables do you see floating in the broth? What flavors do you taste? Now, go!

It's hard to mess up stew—or soup, for that matter—because the flavors can be adjusted along the way so the finished dish tastes the way you like. Just remember the rule of “less is more.” Start with small amounts of salt, pepper, herbs, spices, etc. You can always add more if needed, but it is difficult to fix if you use too much.

The one skill required for stew making is knowing how to thicken the broth, which is done a short while before serving. I make a slurry of water and flour, shaken in a jar. (Two to three parts water to one part flour—it should be a thick liquid.) Then I pour part of the mixture into the stew, let it come to a simmer to see if it thickens enough, and add more if necessary.

For this beef stew, I threw everything into my slow cooker—one-inch chunks of chuck roast, carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion. (I considered adding tomatoes, peas or green beans, but decided not to this time.) I poured in some low-sodium beef broth and, thinking of Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon, added half a glass of red wine. For seasoning, I used dried thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. On went the slow cooker. I used my flour slurry to thicken it about an hour before serving. By the end of the day, I had a rich, hearty stew to enjoy for a mid-winter supper.

The next time you are in the mood for stew—or soup—be brave and skip the recipe. Let your own tastes shine through. Oh, and be sure to tell me what you tried and how it turned out! 

  

New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp

Sometimes I dream about this dish. Seriously! I’ll be going through life as normal when, all of the sudden, the craving strikes and won’t go away until it’s satisfied.

I've never been to New Orleans, but I enjoy the food inspired by that jubilant city. Jambalaya, gumbo, beignets…I love them all. Someday I’ll make a pilgrimage there.

(City's images are courtesy of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.) 

New Orleans food writer Tom Fitzmorris once told me, “Two hundred New Orleans cooks make gumbo with two hundred different recipes, but they will all taste like gumbo. Outside of New Orleans, it doesn't taste like gumbo, even if you use the exact same ingredients. I don’t know why.”

I want to find out if this phenomenon is true.

I got this Barbecue Shrimp recipe from Chef Sean Burt of Tooky Mills Pub in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He puts a lot of New Orleans-inspired dishes on his menu due to his many trips to the city’s annual jazz festival.

The name Barbecue Shrimp is misleading since the recipe does not use a smoker, grill or barbecue sauce. (No, I don’t know where the name came from, but an internet search shows it’s because of the sauce’s color.)

Trust me; the sauce for this dish is so amazing you will want to swim in it, which explains why bread is served alongside for dipping purposes. I mix up a batch of Emeril Lagasse’s Creole seasoning mix for the recipe, but with less cayenne pepper.

The huge amount of butter is what makes this sauce so amazing. The key to keeping the sauce smooth is to cut the butter into chunks, and then swirl a few chunks at a time into the sauce until blended. However, don’t worry if the sauce breaks. (Happens to me from time to time.) It will still taste delicious.

New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp

Serves 4

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

32 extra-large (16-20) shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 1/3 cups chicken stock

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup of your favorite Creole spice mix, or more to taste

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces and chilled

A loaf of French bread

           

Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat until hot. Add olive oil. When oil is hot, add the shrimp and cook until almost done, about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side.

           

Add the chicken stock and lemon juice to the pan. Turn off the heat. Add the spice mix (more or less depending on your taste.) Let pan sit while stirring for about 30 seconds.

           

Once pan cools slightly, add the cold butter, a few pieces at a time. (If the pan is too hot, the butter will break and not make a smooth sauce.) Swirl the pan until the butter melts, then add a few more butter pieces, and repeat until all the butter combines to create a creamy, spicy lemon sauce.

           

Place the shrimp in individual bowls and pour the sauce on top. Serve with French bread to sop-up any leftover sauce.  

Almost Emeril Lagasse’s Creole Spice Mix

Makes 2/3 cup

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste

Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and stir to combine will. Store in an air-tight container.

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Happy 2015! 

To celebrate, how about a warm dish of comfort—homemade macaroni and cheese! I know for those of you with weight-loss resolutions this might not be the recipe to start off the year. For me, when the cold January winds are blowing and the glow of the holidays starts to fade, I want comfort food to warm my winter meals.

The great thing about mac and cheese is the flexibility of the recipe. Pretty much any melting cheese and seasonings will work. Just follow your taste buds. I made this one with Gruyere and extra-sharp cheddar, but in the past I've used Fontina, provolone, and Monterey jack. This one also has dried English mustard and a touch of cayenne pepper, but sometimes I add a little nutmeg, too. I recently saw a TV chef add cooked kale to a mac and cheese, and I plan to try adding some cooked spinach to my next one. Ham, bacon, and grilled chicken also make great additions. Once you have the basic recipe, you can play around with it however you like.

Mac and cheese is also a great make-ahead dish. Just pop it into the refrigerator or freezer, and then bake it when you’re ready.

**Hey, thanks for reading! If you've enjoyed my posts or tried one of my recipes, you can support my writing efforts through Buy Me a Coffee...or tea...or flavored fizzy water. Your donation will be greatly appreciated, especially now as I deal with a chronic autoimmune disease that flared back up again. The button is located on the right-hand side of this page. If you can't, that's okay, too. Either way, thank you so much for reading my stuff!  

Fudgey Brownies in a Jar

I begin this post with a disclaimer: I’m not a craft person, which I’m sure is evident by this photo. Cooking I can do. Dressing up gifts? Not so much.

Trust me, anyone who receives this gift of Fudgey Brownies in a Jar won’t care how the packaging looks once they taste the results. These brownies are wonderfully chewy and chocolaty—just what brownies are meant to be!

When assembling the jar, I put the chips and walnuts in an attached bag since they are added after the batter is mixed. If you’re not sure the gift recipient is a fan of nuts in brownies, just omit the walnuts and add more chocolate chips. You can also give a mixture of dark and white chocolate chip with the jar. Be sure to include the baking instructions, either on the gift tag or an attached recipe card.

Whether you give the jar as a gift or keep it in your pantry, this brownie mix is great to have around whenever the chocolate craving strikes.  

Fudgey Brownies in a Jar

Makes 24 brownies

For the jar:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder 

For attached bag:

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Additional ingredients:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup water

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

           

To make the jar: Into a 1 quart jar, place the flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk together to combine. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cocoa powder. Place the lid on top. In a plastic bag to go with the jar, place the chocolate chips and walnuts.

           

To make the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

           

Pour the ingredients from the jar into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together to combine. Add the additional ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

           

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the brownies start to pull away from the side of the pan. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into 24 squares before serving. 

Spiced Tea Mix from the Family Recipe Box

Recently, I was looking in my Mamaw’s recipe box for a favorite Christmas recipe when I came across this one for her Spiced Tea Mix. I thought, “What a great, old-fashioned Christmas gift alternative to hot chocolate mix.”

According to the note Mamaw made on the card, she got this recipe from a friend in 1969.  The mixture is reminiscent of a time when instant tea and Tang orange drink were in style. I remember enjoying warm cups of this fragrant drink at Christmas time, though she may have had it on hand all year round.

I love giving gifts that also have comforting memories to share.

Spiced Tea Mix

Makes enough to fill 1 pint-sided jar or 2 8-ounce jelly jars

1/4 cup instant tea

1 cup Tang powdered orange beverage

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

To make the jar: In a bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until well combined. Pour into jar and cover with lid.

To make the tea: Poor 1 cup boiling water into a mug. Add 2 heaping teaspoons of the tea mix and stir to combine. 

Our Christmas Tree

I was in a quandary about how to decorate for Christmas this year. Specifically, what to do about the tree. I wanted to decorate for the holiday, but I just couldn't put up the Christmas tree.

There’s a story behind the tree. It is an artificial one The Picky Eater had when we met. He said he bought it in 1979 from a Topeka store that is no longer around. It is the type where you match the color-coded branches to the pegs in the center pole. He adored that tree.

I hate that tree! It is a pain to put up, looks straggly no matter how much adjusting I do, and it is covered in dust from decades of Christmases past. The base is cracked. One Christmas the tree kept falling over (once on top of my nephew!), so I had to tie the base together with kitchen twine to keep the tree upright.

I tried to convince The Picky Eater of the benefits offered by a modern, pre-lit tree, but he wouldn't hear of it. So each year, we put it up.

As my first Christmas without The Picky Eater approached, I knew I didn't want to put up that old, dusty tree. However, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it either.

So, I compromised. I took the top section of the tree, which is all in one piece, and after some juggling and innovative adjustments, set it into the twine-supported base. Then I decorated it with our special ornaments.

In the early days of our relationship, The Picky Eater and I were shopping at Crown Center in Kansas City with his sister and family. There was a store full of Christmas decorations, and he said, “Let’s go in and pick out a special ornament just for us.”

Ever since, we bought an ornament every year just for us.

This is that first one from Christmas, 2010:

This second one was bought a couple of weeks before our wedding on Christmas Eve, 2011:

Then we bought this one on our honeymoon at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri:

The red heart was added in 2012. We picked it because we liked to watch reruns of the television series Hart to Hart, and The Picky Eater liked to think of us as business tycoon Jonathan and freelance writer Jennifer Hart, without the knack for finding dead bodies!

This was the one for 2013. The Picky Eater was a courier and was gone on his route from 6 p.m. to about 3 or 4 a.m. It was a comfort when he returned home each morning.

For this year, I bought this dove from Prairie Glass Studios in downtown Topeka as my way to honor and remember the love of my life:

Next year I may have a big, new, pre-lit tree for Christmas. Who knows?  For now, I get a lot of joy from looking at “our” Christmas tree.