Way-Better-Than-Mashed-Potatoes

We love watching America's Test Kitchen! A great episode a few days ago covered how to mix potatoes and other root vegetables to create a nice combo that's more interesting than just plain old mashed potatoes. I'm sure their recipe is actually the best approach, but I'm a bit less patient so I've adjusted it slightly to suit my needs. We really liked this with the Swedish Meatballs - much more flavor than just potatoes and no boiling of the vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 4 tblsp butter
• 1 carrot, roughly chopped
• 1 turnip, peeled and roughly chopped
• 3/4 small celery root (celeriac), peeled and roughly chopped
• 1.5 lbs yukon gold potatoes
• 1/3 c vegetable broth
• salt and pepper
• 3/4 c half-and-half
• fresh chopped chives for topping

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter in a small dutch oven or saucepan and add the root vegetables (not the potatoes). Cook them on medium heat until the butter and vegetables start to brown, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the potatoes, broth and salt and pepper. Reduce heat so that broth just barely bubbles, not boils. Cover and heat for about 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
3. Remove from heat and mash (not vigorously, just mash and mix leaving some nice chunks).
4. Add half-and-half and mix and match until combined.
5. Top with chives and serve immediately. Serves 4.

More Globals!

My husband let me unwrap yet another Christmas gift early (he's really not good at waiting to let me open gifts!). I now have TWO MORE Globals! Yay! We've now added to our collection a paring knife and a bread knife. I really have used a cooks knife for absolutely everything in the past so I am learning what to use a paring knife with and am enjoying it. I heart globals :)

Eggnog

Oh holy cow this eggnog is delicious!!! I am once again afraid of losing a delicious recipe to the land-o-lost-links of the internet so I'm copying it down here. Elisa of Simply Recipes, if you hate that I am doing this please just let me know.

Everyone go look at her amazing stuff on Simply Recipes.

Ingredients:

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 2 whole cloves
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1 cup cream
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp each of Makers Mark Bourbon (Elisa calls for bourbon, rum or brandy but I am definitely a fan of the distinct taste of Makers)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until they become lighter in color (it doesn't take long to just do this by hand). Slowly beat in the sugar, whisking until fluffy.
2. Combine the milk, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan or small dutch oven. Slowly heat mixture on medium heat until it is steaming hot, but not boiling.
3. Temper the eggs by slowly adding half of the hot milk mixture into the eggs, whisking constantly while you add the hot mixture. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it begins to thicken slightly, and coats the back of the spoon. Do not allow the mixture to boil, or it will curdle.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the cream.
6. Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer to remove the cloves and any bits of hardened pieces from the mixture. Let cool for one hour.
7. Mix in vanilla extract, nutmeg, and bourbon. Chill or serve immediately.

Serves 4-6.

Christmas Breakfast

Ok so today isn't Christmas but we are acting like it since we are having multiple Christmas celebrations with the families. This morning we had what many would call a normal breakfast but for us was a treat -- we rarely make time for breakfast! Gravlox and cream cheese on fresh local bagels and our favorite Helmut-Sachers coffee. Happy vacation to us!

Time for Christmas Goodies!

We've had our tree up for two weeks, but this weekend REALLY kicked off Christmas for us! We have been shopping our socks off -- I love being Santa's helper! :) To follow this, it's time to do some Christmas baking and goodies making! I think we'll do some Texas Millionaires, Peppermint Chocolate Pretzels, and Cheese Logs! And I think we'll try a new EggNog recipe from Elise at Simply Recipes.