Pretzel Rolo Amazingness

It's hard to imagine a Rolo can get any better than it already is. I'm happy to have discovered that it can!

My coworker, Barbara, shared this recipe with me:

-butter snaps pretzels (windowpane style)

-Rolo candy

Preheat over to 325. Place pretzels on wax paper on top of a sheet pan. Place one Rolo on each pretzel. Bake for 3-5 mins. Watch so the candy doesn't melt entirely! Remove from oven an top each with another pretzel. Cool and enjoy!

Basil, Lemon & Spinach Pasta

Rob and I made this a few weeks ago - yum! Although we were eating pasta, it felt fresh and light with the olive oil and lemon-based dressing. The use of spinach as the bed for the pasta took care of our vegetable need for the meal, and we served this with tofu for me, and steak for Rob as our proteins. Of course, we had some delicious, crusty garlic bread on the side too :)

There were plenty of leftovers, which made for a great lunch at work the next day for both of us.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound pasta (we used a fettuccine pasta)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons capers
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
• Crushed red pepper for seasoning
• Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.

Add the basil, capers, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the spaghetti mixture and toss to combine. Place 1/2 cup spinach in each bowl. Top with 1/4 of the pasta. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Cranberry Brie Bites

This is my go-to Fall/Winter appetizer! It's exactly what I look for in an app - simple ingredients, easy to prepare, season-appropriate and can be reheated quickly upon arrival if you're traveling to someone's home.

INGREDIENTS

• Whole berry cranberry sauce 15 oz can
• Brie cheese 1 triangle
• Puff pastry 2 sheets

DIRECTIONS

Thaw puff pastry (about 40 minutes - place on wax paper on countertop). Preheat oven to 375. Using a pizza cutter, slice 16 squares from each puff pastry sheet (~2" x 2" per square). Cut brie cheese into 1/2" squares.

Press each puff pastry square into a slot in a mini muffin pan. Fill with one brie square and top off with one cranberry berry. Bake for 12-15 minutes, turning the pan halfway through cooking time.

*To reheat, place in oven at 250 for 10 minutes.

Easy Pumpkin Soup

I made this soup and served it in Mom's mini Irish coffee mugs as an appetizer for Christmas Eve this year at the Smithe house. It was soooo incredibly simple and easy to make, and it went over well!

This would make a fantastic addition to your weeknight meal options, as it uses ingredients you can shop for in advance, and preparation time is minimal. Enjoy!

2 15-ounce cans pure pumpkin

4 cups vegetable broth

1 cup half and half

1 garlic clove, pressed

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon curry powder

Bring first 4 ingredients to simmer in large saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking often. Whisk in syrup, 2 tablespoons butter, and curry powder. Simmer soup 10 minutes, whisking often. Season with salt and pepper. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Bring to simmer before serving.)

*Optional: Garnish with cinnamon-coated mini marshmallows

Italian Chocolate Cookies

Cousin Brian Smithe shared this cookie recipe with me the other day.  It is a family recipe from his mom Aunt Rosemarie, and he said they've been enjoying these cookies for as long as he can remember.

YUM!

2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Crisco
1 Orange Zest
6 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Cloves
2 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 Cup Brewed Coffee
6 Cups Flour
4 Eggs

Mix all dry ingredients. Add Crisco and mix well with hands. Beat eggs well. Add vanilla & coffee. Add nuts at this point of desired. Mix well with dry ingredients using hands. Form into balls. Bake at 350 deg for 15 min. Glaze while warm.

Glaze

3 Tbs Milk
3/4 Tsp Vanilla
2 1/4 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp Lemon Juice"