Winter Farro Salad

This winter farro salad recipe is made with the most delicious blend of seasonal fruit, greens, nuts, crumbled cheese and tossed with a vibrant orange ginger vinaigrette. Ideal winter salad situation right here. ♡♡♡ I could seriously live on this one for easy breakfasts, lunches or dinners this time of year. It’s loaded up with […]

This winter farro salad recipe is made with the most delicious blend of seasonal fruit, greens, nuts, crumbled cheese and tossed with a vibrant orange ginger vinaigrette.

Ideal winter salad situation right here. ♡♡♡

I could seriously live on this one for easy breakfasts, lunches or dinners this time of year. It’s loaded up with sweet and juicy pears (or apples, clementines, grapes…whatever fruit is most ripe that week), lots of chewy nutty farro, peppery chopped arugula, tangy crumbled goat cheese or feta, sweet chopped dates, crunchy toasted pecans and paper-thin sliced shallots. Then everything is tossed together in a vibrant orange ginger vinaigrette. So fresh, so filling, and seriously SO so delicious.

It’s a great salad to prep ahead of time for office lunches or easy weeknight dinners. And while we find this salad to be plenty hearty and flavorful served as a vegetarian entrée, it would also be delicious served with grilled chicken, steak, salmon, or just about any other protein of your choice. I’ve included lots of options below for how to play around with the recipe and customize various components to your liking. So please feel free to have fun with this one and make it your own. I know you’re going to love it!

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Whiskey Sour

Have you tasted a great whiskey sour? One made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and quality whiskey? They’re bold yet balanced, with a lovely lemony flavor. Whiskey sours…

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whiskey sour recipe

Have you tasted a great whiskey sour? One made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and quality whiskey? They’re bold yet balanced, with a lovely lemony flavor.

Whiskey sours are one of my favorite drinks to order at swanky cocktail bars. If you have sworn off the whiskey sours of your college days, the ones made with cheap whiskey and fake sour mix, I assure you that legitimate whiskey sours are worth your while.

Whiskey sours are also fun to make at home. Serve them during the holidays, on game days, or for date nights in. If you have already enjoyed my Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour or New York Sour, I have no doubt you’ll love the original.

whiskey sour ingredients

To make a whiskey sour, you’ll need just a few basic ingredients—good whiskey, fresh lemons, a little sweetener, and an optional egg white. Fancy cocktail cherries, such as Luxardo, are a worthwhile investment and keep for quite a while in a dark cabinet.

Whether you like your whiskey sour with no foam, extra foam, up or on the rocks, you’ll find all the details you need to craft your ideal whiskey sour in the recipe below. Gather your ingredients and your cocktail shaker!

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White Wine Sautéed Mushrooms

This lovely white wine sautéed mushrooms recipe is quick and easy to make, full of rich savory flavors, and can pair well as a side dish with many different entrées. Looking for a super-simple yet elegant side dish to serve for dinner? These white wine sautéed mushrooms are always a great idea. This recipe has […]

This lovely white wine sautéed mushrooms recipe is quick and easy to make, full of rich savory flavors, and can pair well as a side dish with many different entrées.

Looking for a super-simple yet elegant side dish to serve for dinner? These white wine sautéed mushrooms are always a great idea.

This recipe has been one of my back-pocket favorites for years to pair with various meat or seafood entrées, pastas, risottos, salads, grain bowls, quiches and more. Simply sauté a big batch of mushrooms in butter and olive oil until they are perfectly browned and caramelized, toss with garlic and your favorite seasonings, deglaze and simmer in white wine, then finish with a generous sprinkling of Parmesan. I mean, there’s really no way to go wrong here, right?

That said, this recipe is clearly very flexible and open to customization. So if you’d like to experiment with different seasonings, add in a drizzle of pesto or balsamic glaze, sauté with shallots or pancetta, sprinkle on some nuts, or toss with cream…please feel free. It’s one of those dishes that can be easily dressed up for a formal dinner, but simple enough to also whip up on a busy weeknight. And after years of making various versions of it, I can vouch that mushroom-lovers around the table always make the entire pan disappear. ♡

Let’s sauté some mushrooms!

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Pomegranate Salsa

This fresh pomegranate salsa recipe is bursting with sweet-and-spicy flavor. It’s a fun holiday appetizer or wintertime snack. You can serve it with tortilla chips like any…

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pomegranate salsa

This fresh pomegranate salsa recipe is bursting with sweet-and-spicy flavor. It’s a fun holiday appetizer or wintertime snack. You can serve it with tortilla chips like any other salsa. Of course, a side of guacamole is always a good idea.

For a special Christmas salsa presentation, try it as shown here, with whipped goat cheese as a creamy base and the salsa arranged in a wreath-like shape on top. This variation goes well with sturdy crostini or crisp toasted pita. The whipped goat cheese component is included in the recipe below, and it’s so easy to whip up.

pomegranate salsa ingredients

This year, I’m bringing pomegranate salsa to my friends’ annual Christmas party! Lighter and brighter options are always welcome amongst heavy and sweet holiday fare. Let’s start the pomegranate salsa trend together.

Here in the U.S., pomegranates are typically available from the end of September through January. I hope you have the chance to make this recipe while we can.

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Crockpot Hot Chocolate

For the richest, creamiest, most decadent hot chocolate, turn to your slow cooker! This crockpot hot chocolate is easy to make, perfect for parties, and satisfies even the biggest chocolate cravings.  Cold weather means warm drinks for me. Sure, I still love an iced shaken espresso even in the winter, but nothing makes me feel …

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For the richest, creamiest, most decadent hot chocolate, turn to your slow cooker! This crockpot hot chocolate is easy to make, perfect for parties, and satisfies even the biggest chocolate cravings. 

Two glass mugs of crockpot hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and whipped cream. The slow cooker is visible in the background.

Cold weather means warm drinks for me. Sure, I still love an iced shaken espresso even in the winter, but nothing makes me feel warm and cozy quite like a warm beverage.

And they’re a must for any winter or holiday party! Whether it’s a pot of spiced apple cider or hot chocolate, I think a warm beverage station is one of the best ways to make your guests feel welcome.

This crockpot hot chocolate is one you have to try for your next party. It’s rich and creamy, perfectly chocolatey, and easy to make and keep warm for any gathering. 

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Swedish Meatballs

This traditional Swedish meatballs recipe is bursting with rich, savory flavors and topped with a creamy gravy. Always so comforting served over mashed potatoes or noodles! Who’s ready for a big bowl of Swedish meatballs served over buttery mashed potatoes with a generous ladle of creamy gravy on top? ♡ I don’t know about you, […]

This traditional Swedish meatballs recipe is bursting with rich, savory flavors and topped with a creamy gravy. Always so comforting served over mashed potatoes or noodles!

Who’s ready for a big bowl of Swedish meatballs served over buttery mashed potatoes with a generous ladle of creamy gravy on top? ♡

I don’t know about you, but this classic is always one of my favorite comfort foods this time of year. I actually had the good fortune of being able to visit Stockholm a few times while we were living in Europe, and always loved sampling the various takes on traditional meatballs and gravy around town (in between eating a million kanelbular). My favorite meatballs were always those that were more generously-seasoned with spices such as nutmeg and ginger and allspice, those that were browned until caramelized and slightly crispy on the outsides, and of course, those served up with creamy potatoes and gravy and a spoonful of lingonberry sauce on the side. The Swedes definitely have this classic combo dialed in — those savory, creamy, sweet flavors are just impossible to beat!

Now that we’re back in the States, I’ve been working on fine-tuning my own favorite Swedish meatball recipe to make here at home. I’ve aimed for it to be as traditional as possible (although from what I’ve read, there are a number of different ways that this classic is actually prepared in Sweden, so please take my interpretation with a grain of salt). The meatball recipe is a riff on my tried-and-true classic meatball recipe, but browned on the stovetop with some different seasonings mixed in and then topped with a classic creamy gravy. I highly recommend whipping up a batch of my favorite mashed potatoes to serve here, or you can opt for wide egg noodles instead. And if lingonberry sauce isn’t available where you are (we admittedly pick up ours from IKEA or Amazon), a dollop of cranberry sauce on each plate is always a delicious substitute too.

Let’s make some Swedish meatballs!

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Fresh Cranberry Orange Muffins

These fluffy cranberry orange muffins will make your house smell like the holidays! I hope they become your new favorite holiday muffin recipe. They’re fluffy and moist…

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fluffy cranberry orange muffins

These fluffy cranberry orange muffins will make your house smell like the holidays! I hope they become your new favorite holiday muffin recipe. They’re fluffy and moist and delicious—everything I want a muffin to be.

These muffins are bursting with fresh cranberry and orange flavor. This recipe calls for fresh cranberries, which are generally available in United States grocery stores from October or November through December. You can also use frozen cranberries, but I don’t recommend dried cranberries here.

cranberry orange muffin ingredients

These muffins are made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt. They’re naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup. You can keep those details to yourself, though—no one will guess that these muffins are healthier than most.

You can easily mix these together by hand. No mixer required. Serve them for breakfast or brunch, or bring them to your holiday parties!

It took me eight tries to get these muffins just right, but they were absolutely worth the effort. I’m sharing the recipe again because they’re just so wonderful this time of year.

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Smoked Gruyere Cauliflower Gratin with Dijon Breadcrumbs.

 This cauliflower gratin is the perfect cozy side dish that goes with just about anything! Made with smoked gruyere cheese and crunchy dijon breadcrumbs, it’s savory and decadent and delicious. It’s side dish city over here!  I’m all about finding the best sides to go with holiday meals, so today I’m coming at you with […]

The post Smoked Gruyere Cauliflower Gratin with Dijon Breadcrumbs. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

 This cauliflower gratin is the perfect cozy side dish that goes with just about anything! Made with smoked gruyere cheese and crunchy dijon breadcrumbs, it’s savory and decadent and delicious.

It’s side dish city over here! 

I’m all about finding the best sides to go with holiday meals, so today I’m coming at you with the creamiest, most delicious cauliflower gratin. 

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

This cauliflower gratin is made with smoked gruyere cheese, some parmesan, a little nutmeg and topped with dijon mustardy croutons. Baked until golden and crunchy on top, it’s almost like cauliflower in mac and cheese sauce.

Dreamy!! 

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

This cauliflower gratin is always the star of the show. It’s unbelievably delicious. It’s ridiculously cheesy. And the breadcrumbs on top!!

OH my word.

I use the same breadcrumbs that I do in my cauliflower white bean soup. Just toasty sourdough crumbs mixed with melted butter and dijon mustard. They are buttery and tangy from the mustard. They are the perfect crunchy topping and when you get a bite of the cauliflower with the breadcrumb bits, it’s heaven.

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

This is how I make it!

First, the cauliflower has to soften a bit. I like to do this in the microwave because it’s so easy. I cut the head of cauliflower into florets and place them in a bowl. Then, I add a splash of water, cover the bowl and microwave for a few minutes to steam the cauliflower.

The is key! This is the only way that your cauliflower will be tender enough. Otherwise, it will not cook and be tender if it’s simply roasted with the sauce. Make sure to steam it first. 

Next comes the smoky gruyere sauce. My oh my how I love smoked gruyere cheese. It’s divine! I start this by making a roux with butter and flour. Then I stream in the milk. Cheese is up next! Add it with the pot over very low heat. I sprinkle in a little parmesan as well as a few delicious grates of fresh nutmeg. 

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

Time to combine! The steamed cauliflower florets go into a baking dish. The cheese sauce is poured on top. Then comes the mustardy breadcrumbs.

Gosh I love this part. I tear apart a few pieces of sourdough bread, then toast them in a skillet with dijon and butter. Those go on top of the cauliflower as well as some extra cheese too!

Into the oven it goes. This takes around 30 minutes. It’s mouth-wateringly incredible and you’ll want to eat it with a spoon right out of the baking dish!

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

Not to mention, it goes with just about every main entree you can think of! 

smoked gruyere cauliflower gratin

Who knew vegetables could be so wonderful!! (more…)

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Betty’s Pots de Crème

We served this dessert at our wedding over three years ago, and it’s high time to share the recipe with you! Our family has been calling this…

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pots de creme recipe

We served this dessert at our wedding over three years ago, and it’s high time to share the recipe with you! Our family has been calling this recipe “chocolate mousse” for years but it’s much closer to a French recipe called pots de crème, which translates to jars of cream. 

These chocolate pots de crème are luscious, creamy, rich, and decadent. They are such fun desserts to offer at a party in individual servings. A little goes a long way, and that’s why I love them. I’d rather have a small portion of incredible dessert than a large portion of so-so dessert. 

pots de creme ingredients

This miniature dessert comes from my husband’s Great-Aunt Betty. I wonder how many times Betty has whipped up this recipe in her vibrant 97 years. My husband’s mom makes them now, and you’re almost guaranteed to find these little treats in their freezer at any given time. We were thrilled when our wedding bakery agreed to make the family recipe to serve alongside our wedding cake!

This foolproof recipe comes together quickly in the blender—no baking, no straining, no fussing. Blend it up and chill it (you can even freeze these cups for the months ahead). I hope this recipe becomes one of your family traditions, too.

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Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes it’s fun to mix things up. The addition of maple and pecan make this chocolate chip cookie extra special. You have to try them. The cookies are soft, chewy, buttery, and…

You can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes it’s fun to mix things up. The addition of maple and pecan make this chocolate chip cookie extra special. You have to try them. The cookies are soft, chewy, buttery, and are slightly crisp around the edges. They have a nice maple flavor…