Favorite Recipes and Restaurants of 2010

Here are a few of my favorites from this year.  Happy New Year to you!!

Recipes

Moroccan Chicken with Chickpeas and Spicy Avocado

White Bean Chicken Chili

Bacon and Cashew Caramel Corn

Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies

Rustic Fresh Fruit Tartlets

Best Granola Recipe

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Lemon Loaf

Roasted Beet and Hazelnut Salad with Feta and Honey Balsamic

Baked Lemons

Restaurants
Eva's Brunch

Ekamai Thai

Copper Onion

Rose Establishment

Vinto

Les Madeleines

Tulie Bakery

Communal Breakfast 

Looks like it was the year of lemons and breakfast :)  What were some of your favorites this year?

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Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

New Years parties are just a few days away and I have just the recipe for your celebration.  This recipe is almost confetti-like with tiny quinoa grains, colorful strands of carrots, luscious dried fruits, and toasty nuts.  Add a little spice and maple syrup and you have the perfect side dish or vegetarian main.  What will you be doing for your New Years Celebration?

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Local Salt Lake City Catering by Ethiopian Refugees

A recent holiday party we attended was catered by an Ethiopian refugee who runs Blue Nile Catering.  Owner Muna Ali mastered the art of creating delicious food from her home and now she shares her gift with Salt Lake City.  

Refugees around Salt Lake are constantly searching for ways to make a living.  It is difficult for them to get jobs because many times their english is not great or they just don't have the resources needed to get a job - making resumes, online job hunting, etc.  So, I was thrilled to learn about this gal who has become an entrepreneur of sorts and found a way to use her skills in her new home of Salt Lake.  

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Christmas photos and music just for you...

Merry Christmas from Henry, and of course Josh and myself!  We'll be enjoying a Mexican fiesta with friends this Christmas Eve, then we plan on having a relaxing day at home for Christmas (something that doesn't happen too often for us) maybe we'll be taking the pup for a long walk, making a special breakfast and reading the Christmas story, and drinking cocoa with homemade marshmallows while watching some of our favorite old movies.  What fun plans do you have?

I hope you all have a especially peaceful Christmas time with your friends and family.  And while you're hanging out or cooking, here is a playlist I put together with some of my favorite new Christmas tunes.

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Salt Lake Food Gifts: Wine & Spirits Edition

My final food gift idea for you, and a great last minute gift might I add, is to pick up some local brew or whiskey.  From High West Distillery to Epic Beers, there is a good amount of quality drinks in this town that would make excellent gifts or party beverages.  Visit Taste of Salt Lake for a full list of local wine and spirit gifts.

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Christmas Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies

Every time my parents come in town I make at least one special meal for them. I've made special anniversary cakes, creamy risottos, hearty soups, and many desserts especially for them over the years.  I have learned what they like and dislike. Follow my blog with bloglovin

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Salt Lake Food Gifts: Market & Deli Edition

To tag along with my ideas of bakery treats to gift someone this year, here is a list of local Salt Lake City food gifts that you can buy at several small grocers in town.  A highlight is my favorite pasta, sold at Caputo's Market, Maestri artisan pasta would make a fun gift. It is sold in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors even.

From Liberty Heights Fresh Market to Beehive Cheese, there are lots to choose from!  Visit Taste of Salt Lake to read my full list of gift recommendations.
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Hazelnut Marzipan Jar Cakes

In continuation of my thoughts on Christmas and selecting the perfect present for that special someone, I wanted to share with you a recent discovery... Jar Cakes!  You can literally mail a deliciously made cake to a friend of family member.  Send with a spoon and a sweet note and you have instant happiness.  

In order to give a gift that is really received well, you must first know a little about the recipient.  For example, are they vegan, gluten free, on a diet, or have any other food restrictions?  Do they love pretty packaging or do you just love pretty packaging?  I know I do! 

I am trying to not just give what I would enjoy but what the recipient would enjoy.  Is this as difficult for you as it is for me?

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Local Salt Lake Food Gifts: Bakery Edition

This year Josh and I are changing up much of the way we do things over Christmas.  We are buying more locally made gifts and also trying to be more thoughtful in the gifts we give. We are hoping to donate more money and give more meaningful gifts to those we love. While thinking about spending less yet caring more, I keep going back to the fact that food is always enjoyed. I came up with a list of bakery items, including this amazing granola from Tulie Bakery, that would make excellent gifts.  To read the full post of local Salt Lake Bakery gifts go to Taste of Salt Lake.

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Bakerella Inspired Christmas Cake Pops

Motivated by Bakerella's recent book signing at the Salt Lake Williams Sonoma, some girl friends and I set a date to team up for a day of baking.  We were on a mission to make beautiful cake pops and cake balls.  I have made these before but they didn't exactly turn out beautiful.  Tasty yes, but beautiful not quite.  My one piece of advice for you while making beautiful cake bites, bake with friends.

 

photos and design by by Becky, Maria, and myself

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Brunch at Eva in Downtown Salt Lake

One of my very favorite places to eat in Salt Lake is Eva.  When people ask me for recommendations for a fun meal out, I usually mention Eva.  Thus, I couldn't believe it took me this long to try out their brunch.  Maybe it is that it is only offered on Sundays or that I tend to hit up my neighborhood breakfast spots first.  Either way, I've now been introduced to their brunch and now I can't wait to go back.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts

When you think of homemade Christmas gifts, you might get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing someone especially made that gift just for you OR you might be a bit disappointed if you were hoping for something different.  I find homemade food gifts rarely disappoint :)

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Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

After your very encouraging positive comments on my Grandmother's Chess Pie recipe, I thought I would share with you another one of her classics, Banana Pudding.

This recipe is simple but diverse.  You can use it to make a cream pie (perfect for the Christmas Holidays); add some good quality chocolate and turn this into chocolate pudding; take away the bananas and vanilla wafers and you have a perfect vanilla custard; or try making it into a chocolate cream pie!

This dessert is the ultimate comfort for me.  Reminding me of my childhood when my mom used to make it and I could hardly wait until it was done.  We would dish out the pudding into a few ramekins and enjoy it hot.  

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