Utah's Seasonal Produce in December

When I think of foods during the month of December I'm mainly thinking of sweets... christmas cookies, hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows and gingerbread. But as I researched what is actually in season right now and available to us as far as fresh produce is concerned, I was actually surprised that our list is not that limited.  We still have some great citrus fruits right now as well as the beloved pomegranates, and a plethora of root vegetables including the rutabaga pictured below. One item on the list that I'm especially excited to try more of this year is chestnuts.  Have you cooked with chestnuts before? If so I'd love to hear what you have made with the mysteriously glossy and crunchy nut.

Go to the first seasonal wallpaper post for directions on how to set the image as your desktop wallpaper or see the directions below the recipes.

Here are a few recipes from my community of food bloggers in Utah that include ingredients from the list above:

Roasted Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili, by Foodie Crush
Jicama, Radish and Carrot Slaw, by Kalyn's Kitchen
Kale and Sausage Stuffed Delicata Squash, by Mountain Mama Cooks
Baked Stuffed Lemons, by me
Pomegranate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies, by Two Peas and Their Pod
Creamy Orange Fruit Dip by Barbara Bakes
Roasted Dill Chicken with Leek and Potatoes, by Taste and Tell
Cranberry Orange Muffins, by Completely Delicious
Lemon Bread, by me
Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake, by Project Domestication

Step 1 Click on the Wallpaper Image on right side bar, this will open the image in a new window on your screen

Step 2 Once image loads on a new page, right click (or ctrl-click) image and select 'use image as desktop picture'

Step 3 If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

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Steel Cut Oats in a Jar with Berries and Flax Seeds

Tis the season for oatmeal.  Around this time every year I start craving a bowl of steaming oats topped with fresh berries, nuts, and a splash of milk.  Preferably, I like the oats in a mug or something I can get my hands around to keep my palms warm, while I'm enjoying breakfast. I was inspired recently to pre-make several mornings worth of oats and place them in my favorite glass jars for a quick reheat and tasty meal to go.

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Christmas Cookies: Oatmeal with Dried Cherries and Pistachios

Since our tree is up, and we've already busted out a Christmas movie to watch, I figure its okay to start posting Christmas Cookies right?  These cookies are chunky and chewy, full of tart dried cherries and salty pistachios.  Basically, they are the perfect oatmeal cookie all dressed up for Christmas in red and green.

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Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe for Moroccan Stew

Thanksgiving is just days away so I'm guessing many of you already have your big meal planned out.  So, today I hoped I could be of help to those figuring out what to do with all of your leftover turkey.  This Moroccan Stew is the perfect match for leftover Thanksgiving turkey and its matched with some of my favorite ingredients. And it's Thanksgiving so we should be having all of our favorite things to eat, right?! Moroccan food often has a mixture of sweet and savory spices like cinnamon with coriander, and lemon with honey, and you must have couscous with every Moroccan meal!  For this recipe, if you don't have rutabagas, butternut squash or turnips, feel free to use whatever vegetables you have around the house and if you have a Moroccan spice blend you can use that instead of the spices I recommend. This stew is super easy and rewarding after a few days of intense cooking.  Read on for a chance to win a cookbook from Pam Anderson at Three Many Cooks.

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Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Even more important than a big spread of delicious food, Thanksgiving is all about the people sitting around the table together.  That said, Thanksgiving without decadent desserts would be a bit grim. Thanksgiving desserts are some of my favorite desserts all year and I anticipate them leading up to the holidays. My Grandmother's simple Chess Pie steals my heart every year.

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Vintage Mixer Coffee and Pastry Tasting with Levi Rogers

Our last Vintage Mixer was full of the unexpected: sitting across from a stranger whom you realized grew up in a town near where you grew up, finding someone who shares your love for red wine, or actually tasting coffee and liking it without any added cream and sugar.  These were just a few of the comments I heard from folks who came to our first Vintage Mixer Coffee and Pastry Tasting.

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Mashed Rutabaga with Ginger-Roasted Pears and Hazelnuts

As I perused different websites and cook books for Thanksgiving side-dishes this year, I found an overwhelming amount of root vegetables being substituted for mashed potatoes. It's quite brilliant actually! Root vegetables are in season, plus that have a simple flavor like a potato but with a boost of earthiness. These Mashed rutabagas are perfectly sweet and spicy with the roasted pears and ginger. And of course, I had to add my favorite nuts to the top.  Hazelnuts top off any good dish, making it now exceptional!

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Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Recipe

A simple rule in the kitchen, chocolate makes any dessert better. This pumpkin pie is no exception. If you like pumpkin pie you will love Pumpkin Chocolate Pie. When you think of it, pumpkin and chocolate go hand in hand. Pumpkin cookies are better with a handful of chocolate chips, pumpkin bread even better with some chocolate or even some Nutella swirled in, and pumpkin pie follows right in line with these autumn desserts.

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Thanksgiving Recipes on Pinterest

As Thanksgiving comes near, I'm starting to plan out what dishes I'll be making for the perfect table spread.  I created a board on Pinterest that is stock full of Seasonal Thanksgiving side dish ideas.  Several local Utah food bloggers are contributing to the ideas on the pinboard. I have already tried out a few of the recipes like Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash and Butternut Squash Soup topped with Hazelnut Cream, Pears and Bacon (pictured below). They will both be making an appearance this Thanksgiving.

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Roasted Butternut Squash over Farro and Chickpeas with Toasted Cumin Yogurt Dressing

Fall cooking would not be complete with out butternut squash.  It has become one of my very favorite vegetables over the last few years and it's a Thanksgiving side dish staple.  The sweet aroma of the butternut squash caramelizing in the oven, combined with the fresh tangy flavor of toasted cumin seeds and lemon in Greek yogurt dressing, makes for a delicious combination.  Plus it's fun to try cooking a new grain like Farro.

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Maple Buttermilk Pie with Meringue

The snow fell all across the valley this weekend like a fluffy whipped meringue coating the top of every home and tree in the neighborhood. As the snow fell, we baked pie, Maple Buttermilk Pie. The first snow of the season is always the most magical; kids dust off their sleds to soar down the hills at Liberty Park while the adults brew up spiced apple cider and search for the snow shovel.

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Roasted Grape and Walnut Rice Pilaf Recipe

Roasting grapes might possibly be the best aroma I have smelled coming out of my kitchen. The rustic yet sweet smell permeated the house, like a sip of sweet smelling wine. Thyme, walnuts, roasted grapes and wild rice pilaf combine for an intoxicating blend of flavors, creating a perfect fall dish.

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Utah's Seasonal Produce in November

November is the month of many things: pies, turkey, and family gatherings. Much of what you cook for Thanksgiving and around this time is not seasonal.  I decided to come up with a list of Thanksgiving recipes that are seasonal in hopes that you and I would be inspires to eat more local and more seasonal this Thanksgiving.  I also made a 'Seasonal Thankgiving' pin board on pinterest where you can find lots of ideas for fresh and seasonal recipes this Thanksgiving.  I hope you have a wonderful month filled with delicious food and the best company around your dinner tables.

Go to the first seasonal wallpaper post for directions on how to set the image as your desktop wallpaper or see the directions below the recipes.

Seasonal Thanksgiving Recipes:
Sauteed Radishes by Kalyn's Kitchen
Roasted Butternut Squash with Lime and Rosemary by Kalyn's Kitchen
Golden Potato Mash by Taste and Tell
Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon by Taste and Tell
Oven Roasted Winter Vegetables by Mountain Mama Cooks
Kale Salad with Currants, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan by Mountain Mama Cooks
Spaghetti Squash with Apples and Toasted Pecans by Cookin' Canuck
Crockpot Applesauce by Barbara Bakes
Utah's Best Funeral Potatoes by Barbara Bakes
Roasted Sweet Potato and Spinach Risotto by Two Peas and Their Pod
Sweet Potato Rosemary Biscuits by Two Peas and Their Pod
Roasted Rainbow Carrots by Cafe Johnsonia
Stuffed Acorn Squash by me
Sauteed Mushrooms and Radicchio with Raisins and Balsamic by me

Breakfast:
German Apple Pancake by Taste and Tell
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal by Two Peas and Their Pod
Rosemary Breakfast Potatoes by me

Dessert:
Sweet Potato Spice Cake by Completely Delicious

Individual Baked Apple Tartlets by Foodie Crush

Cran-Apple Cherry Crisp with Spiced Ice Cream by Cafe Johnsonia

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Cake by me

Step 1 Click on June Wallpaper Image on right side bar, this will open the image in a new window on your screen

Step 2 Once image loads on a new page, right click (or ctrl-click) image and select 'use image as desktop picture'

Step 3 If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

2 comments