That Skinny Chick Can Bake [Recipes]

Updates from That Skinny Chick Can Bake Where recipe magic happens... In the 11/28/2015 edition: Chewy Gingersnaps plus 40+ Holiday Cookie Recipes #Cookielicious Fudgy Mocha Brownies Carrot Puff #ProgressiveEats An Italian Holiday Feast #JoinTheTable #Giveaway Paella #SundaySupper Chewy Gingersnaps plus 40+ Holiday Cookie Recipes #Cookielicious By Liz Berg on Nov 28, 2015 01:00 am These Chewy Gingersnaps are a blast from my past. Soft, crinkled molasses cookies spiced with cinnamon, ginger and cloves, they were a childhood favorite. Gingersnaps My mom would buy the occasional box of gingersnaps for us girls to munch on when we were growing up. It didn’t take long before there were only crumbs remaining. It was my best friend’s mom who introduced me to homemade, chewy gingersnaps. Well, maybe not her mom, but HER. Mary had a tendency to get in a bit of trouble. I remember being addressed as “Elizabeth,” and sent home after she took a pair of scissors to  her blue jeans to mimic those raggedy demins fashionable in the late 1970’s. I’m sure her mother wasn’t thrilled when we raided their deep freeze and ate more than our fair share of frozen gingersnaps. That stash was certainly being stored for some future occasion. They tasted incredible even cold and rock hard. I finally had my mom ask her dear friend, and Mary’s mother, for the recipe. I bake up at least a double batch each year to add to my holiday goodie boxes. These chewy gingersnaps are my MOST requested recipe. If you’re a fan of gingersnaps, you’ll love these. Continue reading: Chewy Gingersnaps plus 40+ Holiday Cookie Recipes #Cookielicious Read in browser »   Fudgy Mocha Brownies By Liz Berg on Nov 26, 2015 01:00 am Did you know a little coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor in desserts? Add just a touch of espresso powder to a full tablespoon to make the Fudgy Mocha Brownies of your dreams. One-Bowl Mocha Brownies I used my very favorite fudgy brownie recipe, which uses only one bowl, to create a made to order mocha brownie. For folks like my hubby, who don’t want to taste the coffee flavor at all, add just a teaspoon of expresso powder. It’s enough to bring out the chocolate intensity with only a hint of coffee. If you’re not sure, but a little more daring, add 2 teaspoons. And for those who want a true mocha flavor, feel free to add a full tablespoon or more! I brought a plate of these to our local CBS affiliate on National Coffee Day.  No one ever says no to a brownie Continue reading: Fudgy Mocha Brownies Read in browser »   Carrot Puff #ProgressiveEats By Liz Berg on Nov 24, 2015 05:00 am Carrots are often on our holiday table. Bill loves them with butter and a touch of brown sugar, but sometimes I even add bourbon and maple syrup. For a delectable twist, why not make a Carrot Puff, the souffle-like side dish that will capture your heart! Carrot Puff or Souffle This particular recipe for “Carrot Puff” was made famous around Indianapolis by a certain caterer. With eggs and baking powder to leaven, the carrot batter rises then sinks like a souffle. Since the egg whites aren’t separately whipped, the texture is denser than a typical dessert souffle, but it’s still a lovely addition to any meal. A healthy dose of sugar makes it almost like a dessert, but it’s truly a side dish. You may want to save it for a special occasion—though I served it on a weeknight when my mother-in-law was visiting and she went back for seconds! Continue reading: Carrot Puff #ProgressiveEats Read in browser »   An Italian Holiday Feast #JoinTheTable #Giveaway By Liz Berg on Nov 23, 2015 01:00 am When gathering family and friends during this busy season, this Italian Holiday Feast is a marvelous idea for your menu! I’m giving away an incredible array of Colavita and Perugina products so you can make this spectacular meal, too. This post is sponsored by Honest Cooking, Colavita, and Perugina. An Italian Holiday Feast with Colavita Italians celebrate Christmas in the true spirit of the season, sharing their love of magnificent food with their families. Many will observe the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Before Midnight Mass, a wonderful meal featuring at least seven seafood dishes is served. We non-Italian Catholics along with the Italians abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent, but it’s also common in many Italian-American homes to also abstain before the stroke of Midnight on Christmas Eve, when the Christ child was born. My carnivore family tends to eat a pork roast or tenderloin on Christmas Eve, but this pasta dish, chock-full of Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, and spices, would be a delicious option. I used Colavita spinach nests, artichoke hearts and olive oil to whip up this easy, flavorful pasta. As a bonus, this picture perfect pasta echos the classic Christmas colors of red and green Continue reading: An Italian Holiday Feast #JoinTheTable #Giveaway Read in browser »   Paella #SundaySupper By Liz Berg on Nov 22, 2015 01:00 am  Paella was one of my mom’s signature dishes. Made for special occasions, we loved to dive into the pan full of chicken, seafood, spicy chorizo and rice! Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards. Showing Love Through Food I was blessed to grow up in a home full of love. Much joy came through the wonderful food I experienced throughout my childhood. My mom was a terrific and adventurous cook and my dad was a willing guinea pig. He would eat absolutely anything except for one dish. He was haunted by memories of his mother’s oxtail soup. Granted, he lived through the depression and there may have been some mighty pitiful oxtails that went into my Grandma’s soup pot. When my mom tested out wontons, egg rolls, moussaka, and paella on the family, we gobbled it all down. Paella was saved for special occasions, and I make the same recipe that my mom exposed us to years ago Continue reading: Paella #SundaySupper