Irish spiced beef brisket recipe

Valentine's Day is finally behind and so we turn our heads toward the next holiday-St. Patrick's Day. It's time to bring on the green beer and corned beef! Well, not necessarily. Personally, I have never been a big of a fan of corned beef anything, preferring fresh beef brisket instead. For those like minded individuals, I present to you a delicious corned beef alternative for this year's St. Patrick's celebration. This is a long process recipe, but I promise you, it is well worth the time and effort!

IRISH SPICED BEEF BRISKET
Ingredients 

• 1 beef brisket, app 6 pounds
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 
• 3/4 cup sea salt  
• 3 teaspoons pepper 
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme 
• 1-1/2 teaspoons allspice 
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cloves 
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 4 medium onions, sliced 
• 4 medium carrots, sliced 
• 2 stalks of celery, sliced 
• 2 cups stout 
• Water, as needed

Directions 
Coat brisket completely with brown sugar and place in a baking pan. Cover with foil and refrigerate for a day. The following day, combine all seasonings, minced garlic and chopped onion. Rub mixture into beef, cover and refrigerate for 3 additional days. Each day, turn the meat and rub the salt mixture back into it. After three days have passed, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove beef from pan and discard the salt mixture. Place the beef, all veggies and stout in a roasting pan, adding enough water to cover the meat halfway. Roast until meat is tender, approximately 4-5 hours. Allow the brisket to rest in the roasting pan for an hour. Place beef in a clean pan and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, cut into thin slices, going against the grain of the meat.

Old Fashioned Eggnog recipe from Atkins

The holidays wouldn't be the holidays without a glass or two of eggnog! If you are keeping your eye on your carb intake, this recipe from Atkins should put a smile on your face.

OLD FASHIONED EGGNOG
INGREDIENTS 

• 6 larges Egg (Whole) 
• 1 cup Heavy Cream 
• 1 cup Tap Water 
• 1 tsp Sucralose Based Sweetener (Sugar Substitute) 
• 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract 
• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg (Ground)

DIRECTIONS 
It is best to use pasteurized eggs for this recipe. They can be hard to find except during the holiday months. Alternatively room temperature large eggs can be placed in a small saucepan with cold water. (Be sure they are at room temperature otherwise they will not get warm enough to pasteurize through to the yolk.) Place pan on the stove and cook over medium heat. Bring water to 140°F (but not higher than 145°F). It is best to use a thermometer but if you don't have a thermometer, 150° F is right about the time bubbles begin forming on the bottom of the pan. Allow the eggs to stay at that temperature for 3 minutes then quickly remove from the pan and cool under cold water. Refrigerate until ready to use. Crack eggs and place in a blender. Add cream and water; blend until smooth. Add sugar substitute to taste. Add vanilla and nutmeg; blend until foamy. Drink immediately.

Breyers Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake recipe

Christmas 2015 might be coming to a close, but there is still a week of holiday celebrating left as we meet up for late Christmas gatherings and close in on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. If you still have holiday events to attend, wow your family and friends with this impressive dessert featuring Breyers ice cream.

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs 
• 1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread, melted 
• 3 Tbsp. sugar 
• 2 packages (8 oz. ea.) cream cheese, softened 
• 2/3 cup sugar 
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1 container Breyers® Chocolate Ice Cream 
• 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling or your favorite pie filling 

INSTRUCTIONS 
Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, remaining 2/3 cup sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer until smooth; set aside. Spoon Breyers® Chocolate Ice Cream into springform pan, pressing to form an even layer. Evenly spread on cream cheese mixture. Cover and freeze 5 hours or overnight. Freeze serving platter 30 minutes before serving. Top cheesecake with cherry pie filling. Dip knife or metal spatula in hot water, then wipe dry and run around edge of cake to loosen. Remove ring from pan. Arrange cake on chilled serving platter.

Caramel pecan baked brie with Kahlua is a simply amazing holiday recipe

Unexpected and mouthwatering are the first words that come to mind when you see Amanda Henke’s (owner of Annie B’s Popcorn & Caramel) Caramel Pecan Baked Brie with Kahlua. What’s not to love about warm brie, melted caramel mixed with Kahlua and combined with the slight crunch of flavorful pecans? It’s a little slice of heaven! Whether you’re hosting a holiday cocktail party or want a unique appetizer for New Year’s Eve—you can and should build a party around this triumphant cracker topper. This recipe only requires a few ingredients and a super easy assembly. his is a festive showstopper to set alongside your crudités and party bites. Check out Amanda’s recipe below. Makes 1 baked brie.

Caramel Pecan Baked Brie with Kahlua 
Ingredients

• 1 refrigerated or homemade 9” pastry crust 
• 1 (13 to 17 ounce) brie wheel 
• 4 ounces Annie B’s Baking Caramel (1/4 block) 
• 3 to 4 tablespoons Kahlua liqueur 
• 1 cup pecans
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water 
• Crackers

 Directions
Leave pastry crust at room temperature until it unrolls easily. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. .  Depending on size of brie wheel, you may need to roll pastry crust to a larger size. Roll from the center out so that crust is large enough to meet in the center when folded around cheese wheel. Place pastry on prepared pan. Place unwrapped Brie wheel in center of pastry. Melt caramel in the microwave in 15 second increments until melted and smooth. Stir in Kahlua until well combined. Fold in pecans. Spread on top of cheese wheel. Bring up pastry over the top of the cheese wheel, pleating crust as you go. Beat egg and water in small bowl. Brush surface and sides with egg wash. Bake for 20-30 minutes until pastry is golden brown. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Transfer to serving dish or platter and serve warm with mild flavored crackers.

Annie B’s has a 30 year tradition of making delicious handcrafted caramels and popcorn. Each individually wrapped caramel is made using simple, local ingredients like brown sugar, water, corn starch, butter, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, inverted sugar and natural flavor. The result is absolutely scrumptious caramels. Annie B’s caramel is slow cooked in copper pots through small-batch cooking. Each piece is handcrafted with the exception of cutting and wrapping of the caramels. Annie B’s Caramels are all-natural and gluten-free. 

Great gift ideas from Goat Milk Stuff

PJ Jonas, mother of 8 and founder of Goat Milk Stuff, started her business with the help of her husband, their children and the family's three goats. Times have changed since the first products were created by the Jonas family as the family and the farm have grown, but the quality of Goat Milk Stuff has not. With the holiday season in full swing, the family has been extra busy preparing their skincare and food products with the gift-giving season in mind. PJ recently had this to say about her company's products:

“Our goat milk skincare products are unique, thoughtful presents available in an assortment of affordable Gift Packs containing natural soaps, lotions, lip balms and bath fizzies to turn an everyday bath into a spa-like experience. At Goat Milk Stuff we expanded into GMO-free goat milk food products including tasty Caramel Candy, Fudge, Toffee, Cheese and more deliciously sumptuous treats ready to be enjoyed for the holidays.”

If you are looking for natural bath and body products to pamper your family and friends with this holiday season, there are a variety of gift packs to choose from, including

• Beauty Pack at $18 offers a way to try an assortment of products as you choose a bar of soap, a lotion stick and lip balm for a special someone.
• Problem Skin Pack for $15 and created for people with dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne or other skin problems, with four half-bar soaps in Organic Castile, Purity, Calendula and Tea Tree.
• Sensitive Skin Pack at $20 of unscented purity goat milk soap, unscented lotion stick, unscented lip balm and small laundry soap and wonderful for dry, cracking skin.
• Pink Sugary Scent Pack, at $12, in scents including Pink Sugary 5-ounce bar of natural goat milk soap and one matching scented soy candle.
• Bath Fizzies Variety Pack for $24, with individual packs for pampering baths in 6 scents of Black Raspberry, Cold Relief, Lavender, Luv Spell, Pink Sugary and popular Oatmeal, Milk and Honey.
• Foot Care Pack is great for heels that need care and at $18 with peppermint-scented lotion stick, bath fizzy & foot scrubby luffa.

For the foodie in your life, consider surprising them with cheese, toffee, fudge, caramels, truffles and more delightful munchies from the Goat Milk Stuff product assortment. Whether you choose bath and body products or delicious foods, the family behind this unique assortment recommends ordering them soon so your gifts arrive in time for the holiday. Orders are typically filled, shipped and received within 2-3 business days, but with the busy holiday season upon us, orders may take additional time to reach their destination. For more information about Goat Milk Stuff, please visit their website, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube. 

Chewy ginger cookie recipe for the holiday season

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thanksgiving is a few short weeks away and before we know it, the holiday baking season will be upon us. A good friend of mine approached me a few days ago requesting a recipe for soft ginger cookies as the recipes he kept finding were for crispy cookies. Here ya go, Dave! I hope these turn out scrumptious for you.

CHEWY GINGER COOKIES
Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
• sanding sugar

Directions
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Whisk together flour, ground ginger, baking soda and salt. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Be sure to scrape the sides of your bowl as needed. Beat in fresh ginger, egg and molasses. Add flour mixture slowly and beat until well combined. Scoop dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on one pf the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. While dough is chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll balls in sanding sugar and place 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet. Bake 14-16 minutes, until the centers of the cookies are just set. Rotate baking sheets halfway through to ensure even baking. Place sheets on wire racks and cool for 5 minutes then transfer cookies to the racks and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Sweet and spicy chik salad is a great recipe for National Soy Foods Month

April is National Soy Foods Month and this recipe featuring MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chix Patties is a great way to celebrate the month and add a little more soy to your diet. This recipe, created by MorningStar Farms, was shared with me by the Soyfoods Association of North America.

SWEET AND SPICY CHIK SALAD 
Ingredients 

• 1/3 cup honey mustard dressing 
• 1 tsp. orange juice 
• 1/2 tsp. orange peel, grated 
• 2 MorningStar Farms® Buffalo Chik Patties® 
• 4 cups mixed greens 
• 1 cup mango, peeled and sliced (about 1 mango) or orange sections (about 2 oranges) 
• 1/3 cup radishes, sliced 
• 1/3 cup green onions, sliced 

Directions 
In small bowl, stir together salad dressing, orange juice and orange peel. Set aside. To cut calories and fat, use a light honey mustard dressing. Prepare MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chik Patties according to package directions and cut into strips. Meanwhile, in large bowl, toss together greens, mango, radishes and green onions. Arrange on two serving plates. Top with warm chik patties. Drizzle with salad dressing mixture. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

Nutrition per serving: 

• 460 calories 
• 10g protein 
• 42g carbohydrates 
• 6g dietary fiber 
• 28g fat 
• 3.5g sat. fat 
• 800mg sodium