Figgy Pudding

Disclosure: This giveaway has been sponsored by Valley Fig. I was sent a California Fig Care Package purpose creating this recipe, but all opinions are my own. #ad #VFigFeed #ValleyFigHolidays #12DaysofChristmas #giveaway   

You guys!  I made Figgy Pudding!  Like from the Christmas song!

When I realized that I would have the opportunity to work with Valley Fig, I knew I wanted to attempt this Christmas classic.

As I started researching Figgy Pudding, I found that it has a very long history, showing up in classic literature (like Dickens’ Christmas Carol) to the Christmas tune we all know and love.  However, the dishes from the tune are much different than a more modern take on Figgy Pudding, like the recipe below.

Saffron Rice & Chicken #foodnflix #foodiesread

Happy Thanksgiving! 

As I type, I’m on my way back from a whirlwind trip to Detroit to visit my in-laws for Thanksgiving!  We crammed a lot into 4 short days and loved every second of it!

I started off my pushing the limits of carry-on luggage, finding out once and for all, just how much food can one bring through airport security?

I packed 2 dozen cookies in my checked baggage, so I knew they would be fine, but I also wanted to bring a bread cornucopia and an apple pie, which begged the question: Can one bring a whole pie through airport security?

MultiGrain Gingerbread Pancakes

It's time for this month’s Fantastical Food Fight!

Fantastical Food Fight is hosted by Sara at a Fantastical Sharing of Recipes with the theme: Gingerbread!  So perfect for this time of year!

In my house, we make gingerbread houses & gingerbread men every year!  Lately I’ve been giving my gingerbread ugly sweaters & topknots & glasses to make HipsterBreadMen instead.  They’re fabulous and I’m going to continue the tradition this year.

Since I love my gingerbread recipe so much, this was a challenge for me.  I mean, you don’t mess with success!

Dairy-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Last week, I volunteered to make cookies for a work potluck – one of my co-workers is dairy free and I wanted to make something everyone could enjoy.  So, my butter-loving self went searching for a great dairy free cookie recipe and found these!

Because who doesn’t love a great oatmeal raisin cookie?

Now the key to a really good oatmeal raisin cookie is the texture: they HAVE to be soft and chewy!

Spiced Golden Milk (Turmeric Milk) #EatTheWorld

It’s the 10^th of the month which means it’s time for the Eat the World Recipe challenge hosted by Evelyne at CultEatz.  This month, we’re taking a culinary journey to India!

I thought about making another version of Chicken Tikka Masala, but that seemed like that wasn’t entirely in the spirit of the challenge.  So decided truly challenge myself and try something that crossed my screen months ago but seemed way too far outside my comfort zone: turmeric milk or golden milk!

Turmeric is believed to have many health benefits from reducing inflammation to helping achieve deeper sleep to possible antibiotic properties!

Traditionally, turmeric milk is made will whole milk and up to a teaspoon of turmeric. 

In this version, I used cashew milk, a blend of warm spices, and a dash of honey to make a warm, cozy drink I can see myself cozying up to all winter long!

Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

I’m flying in at the last minute with this month’s Food n’ Flix recipe!  This month really got away from me!

This month’s movie was The Princess and the Frog, hosted by Heather at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen.

The movie is set in New Orleans – so one naturally thinks Cajun food, but here I am with brownies.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Sugar Skull Cookies #Choctoberfest

*Disclosure: I received product to sample from ­­­­­Sprinkle Pop.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s the final day of #choctoberfest and I decided to continue the Dia de los Muetros celebration I started a couple weeks ago when I made Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead).

I’ve made Sugar Skull Cookies for the past couple years, taking the time to pipe all of the details by hand with royal icing.  The cookies are gorgeous, but incredibly time consuming.  This year, with a full load of graduate school classes in addition to my job as a school librarian, plus being room mom for both of my kids’ classes, I just didn’t know when I was going to have the time to make my skulls.  And my boys were already asking if I was going to make Halloween cookies for their friends this year.

Then I got my sprinkles of Sprinkle Pop and I knew that their stunningly beautiful Dia de los Muertos mix was going to be the answer to my prayers!