Dawn.grimes

All too often we get home from work, or dinner time just rolls around and we realize we have nothing planned at all. Haven’t even given it a single thought all day.

If this sounds like you, here are 26 last-minute dinner ideas you can take advantage of. Stock up your pantry, or check it out on your way home from work and hit up the local grocery store on the way, and you’ll be able to whip up a delicious meal in no time.

Whether you are a vegetarian or a massive meat-eater, there are options for everyone who needs dinner and needs it fast!

1. Chipotle Sofitas (Copycat Recipe)

While you do have to press the tofu for 15 minutes, the cooking time is very quick on this dish. This meal is all about the seasoning, so make sure you don’t leave any out. Hopefully, it’s all stuff you’ll have on hand, like cumin and smoked paprika, and once it’s all mixed up it really is only about 10 minutes of cooking time.

2. Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Bake

Perhaps you feel like spaghetti but don’t have time to stand over the stove cooking? This is a quick-to-prepare pasta dish that you can pop in the oven for 25 minutes while you settle in and get ready for the night. The shredded mozzarella and chicken give a healthy dose of protein as well.

3. Taco Pockets

For a much quicker version of taco night, check out this taco pockets recipe. It takes flatout bread, stuffs it with taco filling, and then bakes like little samosas. Much quicker and less clean up than making an entire taco spread, but just as tasty!

4. Weight Watchers Grilled Shrimp Skewers

The excellent thing about shrimp, aside from being super healthy, is that it cooks really quickly. These have a delicious flavor dripping off them as well, think lime, apple, and red pepper. The longer they marinate the better, so you can do it the day before, but if you’re in a rush 20 mins is fine, and then throw them on the grill for a few minutes more.

5. Weight Watchers Shrimp Stir Fry

Stir fries should be your number one go-to meal for a last-minute dinner. They come together so quickly, and you can basically use anything you have in your fridge. Shrimp is called for in this recipe, and it’s a great choice of protein due to the quick cooking time. The paprika and orange add great flavor too.

6. Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

This can be a complicated and time-consuming dish to make. However, this recipe calls for the use of a jarred sauce. Score! By adding in a few fresh ingredients, like parmesan and chicken, it takes the taste up a notch from merely throwing it on pasta. The use of tortelloni is smart because it’s a quick-cooking pasta. Nobody needs a 20-minute fusilli after a long day at work. 

7. Shake N Bake Pork Chops

Even the title sounds fast. It’s not only quick to make, but it’s great for a last-minute dinner because you’re very likely to have all the ingredients already in your house. Pork chops (or other meat, like chicken breast, turkey, or fish), panko crumbs, egg, and spices. They only take about 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer.

8. Spicy Chicken Chili

A classic chili is surprisingly quick to make and also makes a brilliant last-minute dinner because it uses such basic ingredients. It’s also one of those meals you can sub out a lot of the ingredients depending on what you have already. Things like peppers and corn are delicious veg to add to chili. If you want it to be lower in calories, it’s important to track down 99% fat-free meat though.

9. Easy Greek Salad Chicken Bowls

For a last-minute dinner in the summer, these salad bowls are very simple to put together. The grilled chicken has a yummy marinade of herbs like oregano, thyme, and basil. The salad is made of chopped cucumber and tomato, as well as olives, avocado, and red pepper. The feta is then crumbled on top adding a salty flavor.

10. Jalapeno Loaded Baked Potato

Chucking a potato in the oven is a pretty easy last-minute dinner. Simple toppings can include tuna or shredded cheddar, but this recipe suggests you step up your baked potato game. It has you adding cheese, jalapenos, ranch, and bacon bits. Oh my!

11. Roasted Vegetables

Having a good roasted vegetables recipe up your sleeve is great in a time-crush. It’s a great way to use up any potatoes, carrots, or other root veg, alongside things like onions and peppers. Pair it with a roasted chicken breast, or salmon fillet, and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded meal!

12. Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

This recipe is so simple, yet so much tastier than just a plain cheese quesadilla. For the filling, you’ll need chicken, ranch, shredded cheese, cream cheese, and hot sauce. That’s it! Perfect for when you need to whip up dinner quickly.

13. Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Need a dinner last minute but want something fancier than just throwing a frozen pizza in the oven? This comes out looking way better than an ordinary pizza and is almost as easy. All you need is a pack of biscuits, pepperoni, cheese sticks, and shredded cheese. Oh, and a marinara sauce for dipping if you want to go all out!

14. One Pot Mexican Rice and Chicken

Anything in one pot is ideal for cooking dinner quickly and with minimal mess. You basically fry the chicken and vegetables, and let them simmer in the sauce for about 15 minutes. Who knew you could have such a wholesome meal cooked so quickly?

15. Cajun Shrimp Skillet

This recipe from Eat Well 101 makes a great meal paired with vegetables like broccoli or some mini roasted potatoes. Its a pretty simple meal, easy to prepare as it’s mainly all about the shrimp and the cajun seasoning so if you’ve got those, you’re good to go.

16. 20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp

Any dinner ready in 20 minutes is a winner! Again, using shrimp cuts down your cooking time substantially as it’s ready in a few minutes. The flavors Sally’s Baking Addiction come up with are so yummy, the sweetness of the honey coupled with the garlic makes for a delicious dinner. It goes well served alongside rice and vegetables.

17. Sheet Pan Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon

A super quick dinner because you just chuck it all on one baking tray and roast it. It has a delicious glaze, giving the dinner a feel of an afternoon of preparation not 10 minutes of work. Thank you Eat Yourself Skinny for this beauty!

18. Balsamic Glazed Steak Tips and Mushrooms

It sounds extravagant but in reality, this recipe from The Kitchn is a very quick meal to prepare. The main flavor is balsamic vinegar and because you don’t want to overcook a steak tip, it works perfectly for a last-minute dinner.

19. Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

Anything going on a sheet pan works great once if you need to throw something together quickly at the end of the day. Gnocchi cooks really quickly as well, making it a great carb to add. Just roast the veg, add the gnocchi and for a decadent finish The Kitchn recommends tearing creamy burrata on top.

20. Beef with Broccoli

This double B recipe from Damn Delicious is an easy last minute dinner filling you with plenty of protein and iron. The sauce is quite a simple one, combining condiments like soy sauce and sriracha with ginger. Don’t forget the sprinkling of sesame seeds on top, because it adds an extra layer of flavor that just makes it pop!

21. Spicy Ramen Noodle Bowl

A really, really quick dinner would just be instant noodles in the sachet of soup seasoning. Baker By Nature takes the two-minute meal and steps it up and into the 20-minute category. Still quick, just not quite lightning, and makes it feel like more of a whole meal as opposed to student life. The soft-boiled egg on top finishes the dinner off nicely.

22. Green Goddess Bowl with Edamame, Zucchini, and Kale

The Glowing Fridge’s recipe is jam-packed full of goodness, all topped with a deliciously flavourful tahini dressing. Quinoa and kale are bursting with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Any leftover dressing can be used on other foods, like in wraps or sandwiches.

23. Caramelized Salmon

This dinner from Pinch of Yum is super quick and only needs a few ingredients, which are easily found if you pop into the store on your way home from work. Sugar, salt, pepper, and oil are the only ingredients you need for the glaze, and it’s delicious served alongside spinach or rice.

24. Lemon Pesto Penne

Pasta dishes are always good last minute because they can include basically anything you have on hand. This recipe from Pinch of Yum suggests a delicious combo of roasted tomatoes, pesto, lemon, and feta. Takes about 20 minutes to prepare but tastes like it took hours!

25. Fish Taco Bowls

Fish tacos are super yummy, but not really a last-minute dinner, they are more of a slave-in-the-kitchen meal. This recipe from The Live Kitchen takes the elements of a fish taco and presents them in a bowl, which is visually appealing but also easy and delicious.  You can use all of the same toppings as you would on a fish taco, like cilantro and salsa, or if you’re in a rush just use what you have in the house already.

26. Simple Crispy Basil Caramelized Garden Vegetable + Fontana French Bread Pizza

Half-baked Harvest brings us this very simple French bread pizza, which sounds very posh from its name, but I assure you it’s easy. It’s a meal to make when you’re out of everything and involves sauteeing the tomatoes and vegetables while crisping up some basil in the oven for a slightly different flavor of the garden herb.

26 Last Minute Dinner Ideas

Whether you are a vegetarian or a massive meat-eater, here are 26 last minute dinner ideas you can take advantage of. There are options for everyone who needs dinner and needs it fast!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

• Chipotle Sofitas (Copycat Recipe)
• Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Bake
• Taco Pockets
• Weight Watchers Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Weight Watchers Shrimp Stir Fry
• Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken (Copycat Recipe)
• Shake N Bake Pork Chops
• Spicy Chicken Chili
• Easy Greek Salad Chicken Bowls
• Jalapeno Loaded Baked Potato
• Roasted Vegetables
• Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
• Pull Apart Pizza Bread
• One Pot Mexican Rice and Chicken
• Cajun Shrimp Skillet
• 20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp
• Sheet Pan Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon
• Balsamic Glazed Steak Tips and Mushrooms
• Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies
• Beef with Broccoli
• Spicy Ramen Noodle Bowl
• Green Goddess Bowl with Edamame, Zucchini, and Kale
• Caramelized Salmon
• Lemon Pesto Penne
• Fish Taco Bowls
• Simple Crispy Basil Caramelized Garden Vegetable + Fontana French Bread Pizza

Instructions

 

• Choose your favorite recipe.
• Click the link of your favorite recipe.
• Follow the instructions of the linked recipe.
• Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The post 26 Last Minute Dinner Ideas appeared first on Drizzle Me Skinny!.

The 20 Most Popular Fall Drinks.

Sharing The 20 Most Popular Fall Drinks today to help you find the perfect drink for all the cozy fall nights ahead. This list has everything from pitcher-style drinks…like my Pumpkin Patch Punch, to spooky Halloween cocktails, to warming apple cider moscow mules, and just about everything in between. If you’re looking for the perfect…

READ: The 20 Most Popular Fall Drinks.

A list of the most popular recipes from 2020, see if your favorite made the list!

Top 25 Most Popular Recipes of 2020

2020, what a year! Not the year we expected, but it’s certainly the year we got. Many of you have been asking me for this top 25 most popular list of recipes from the past year, so here it is! These are the most visited recipes created in 2020 according to google analytics. It’s always interesting to see which recipes become popular. Some make the list because they were shared early in the year, so they have had more time to gain popularity than the ones I recently posted, so it’s not always 100% accurate. Did you favorite recipe make the list?

If 2020 taught us anything in the kitchen, it was how to improvise with what we had on hand, how to keep a stocked pantry, bake without yeast (hello sour dough!), and most of all, to count our blessings. I am so grateful for all of you! Sharing recipes with you all kept me sane and gave me purpose through those crazy months. Thank you for allowing me to share what I love every single day! Your comments, photos on social media, inspiring emails always mean so much to me!

I’ve also shared links to my most popular posts from previous years, so if you are new to Skinnytaste or just want to start cooking more in 2021, these TOP 25 recipes are a great place to start! I never did get around to creating this list in 2018 and I apologize, but the bagel recipe for sure was number ONE! And if you’re new, don’t miss my free weekly meal plans I share every Friday! Lastly, join the Skinnytaste What’s Cooking Community on Facebook for inspiration and dinner ideas to see what everyone else is cooking. Here’s to making 2021 a healthy, happy year!

• Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2019
• Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2017
• Top 25 Most Popular Recipe 2016
• Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2015
• Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2014
• Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2013
• Top 25 Skinny Recipes 2012
• Top 20 Skinnytaste Recipes 2011
• Top 20 Skinnytaste Recipes 2010

Top 25 Skinnytaste Recipes From 2020

1. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

2. Cod Fish Tacos

3. Wonton Soup

4. Banana Bread Muffin in a Mug

5. Greek Chicken Meal Prep Rice Bowls

6. Kielbasa Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner

7. Turkey Meatball Skillet

8. Broccoli Beef

9. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

10. Caprese Chicken Skillet

11. Air Fryer Falafel

12. Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche

13. Orzo with Zucchini and Tomato

14. Ratatouille Baked Chicken

15. Sheet Pan Turkey Meatloaf and Broccoli

16. Zucchini Brownies

17. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Sweet Potatoes

18. Chicken Taco Poblano Rice Bowls

19. BBQ Chicken Foil Packets

20. Gnocchi with Grilled Chicken Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

21. Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

22. Soba Noodle Stir Fry for One

23. Crustless Quiche Lorraine

24. Lebanese Lentil Soup

25. Chicken Parmesan Rolls

The post Top 25 Most Popular Skinnytaste Recipes of 2020 appeared first on Skinnytaste.

In this collection of the Best Christmas Cookie Recipes, you’ll find so many holiday cookies that you’ll want to bake this year and every year! The best classic Christmas cookies will help remind you of the cookies you like to bake during the holiday season. Our favorite Christmas cookie recipes will soon become your favorites too! Classic Christmas cookies with a twist will give you some new and unique ideas. And then there are some festive holiday recipes included here that are not quite Christmas cookies at all, but they are too good not to include!

Best Classic Christmas Cookie Recipes

Here’s a collection of the best classic Christmas cookies. These are recipes that have been around for many years. You’ll likely spot some familiar Christmas cookie favorites that you’ve made before. And hopefully you’ll discover a few new ones too. Click on the recipe titles below to go to the printable recipe.

• Pecan Sandies
• Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies
• Holiday Nuggets
• Red Currant Thumbprint Cookies
• Rum Balls
• Buckeyes
• Spritz Cookies
• Linzer Pinwheel Cookies
• Jelly Twinkles
• Holly Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Butter Dream Cookies
• Swedish Butter Cookies
• Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
• Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
• Eggnog Cookies
• Christmas Frosted Sugar Cookies
• Best Gingerbread Cookies (BONUS recipe included at the end of this post)

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes

Everyone has their favorite Christmas cookie recipes, and we’re prepared to share all of our favorites with you. These are cookie recipes that are on repeat at our house year after year. We like them so much that we often bake some of them in the off-season too! Click on the recipe titles below to go to the printable recipe.

• Butter Brickle and Pecan Cookies
• Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
• Lemon Gumdrop Cookies
• Italian Cookies
• Chocolate Mint Wafers
• Almond Dream Cookies
• Christmas Monster Cookies
• Peppermint Buttercream Cake Mix Cookies
• Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies
• Chocolate-Drizzled Toffee Chip Cookies
• Cinnamon Sugar Stars
• Chocolate Peppermint Stars
• Hazelnut Peppermint Brownie Cookies
• Bake and Slice Chocolate Swirls
• Sparkling Butter Toffee Cookies
• Easy Frosted Sugar Cookies
• Peppermint Sugar Cookies
• Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
• White Christmas Crinkles
• Cinnamon Bun Cookies
• Gingerbread Biscotti
• Soft-Baked Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
• Swirled Mint Cookies
• Peppermint Puffs
• Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
• Holiday Biscotti
• Chocolate Mint Filled Cookies
• Triple Chocolate Kiss Cookies
• Caramel Pecan Sticky Bun Cookies

Classic Christmas Cookie Recipes with a Twist:

The classics are great, and of course we make those often. But it’s also fun to bake classic Christmas cookies with a little bit of a twist to them. This section includes different kinds of Christmas kiss cookies, variations on sugar cookies, crinkles, gingersnaps, thumbprints and shortbread. Some of these recipes are a little surprising and all are simply delicious! Click on the recipe titles below to go to the printable recipe.

• Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps
• Blackberry Sage Thumbprints
• Dark Chocolate Peppermint Crackles
• Almond Crinkle Cookies
• Strawberry Sandwich Cookies
• Lemon Kiss Cookies
• Crunchy Nutmeg Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Mint Kiss Crinkles
• Chocolate Turtle Cookies
• Hot and Spicy Gingersnaps
• Chocolate Mint Thumbprints
• Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
• Milk Chocolate Gingersnaps
• Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Not Quite Christmas Cookies:

Baking Christmas cookies is definitely the way to go when assembling holiday dessert platters. But there are some non-cookie Christmas sweet recipes that shouldn’t be overlooked. I’ve included a few recipes for bars, barks and candies that are the perfect holiday treats but are not quite Christmas cookies in the traditional sense. Click on the recipe titles below to go to the printable recipe.

• Cranberry Bliss Bars
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle
• White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
• Almond Roca
• Quick Peanut Butter Cups
• Peanut Brittle
• Peppermint Oreo Truffles
• Five Minute Fudge Wreath
• Christmas Fudge
• Peppermint Brownies
• Kahlua Cashew Pralines
• Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
• Layered Peppermint Crunch Bark
• Fantasy Fudge

Print

Best Gingerbread Cookies

These classic Christmas cookies are a must-make for the holidays!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cookies, gingerbread

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Chill Time: 2 hours

Servings 30 cookies

Calories 103kcal

Author RecipeGirl.com

Ingredients

• 2¾ cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• Royal Icing (see recipe on RecipeGIrl)
• red hot cinnamon candies

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt.  Set aside.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in the egg, and then the molasses.  Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture.  Divide the dough into 2 halves.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  On a well-floured surface, roll out half of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.  Cut shapes with assorted-sized gingerbread cookie cutters; transfer to ungreased baking sheets.  Re-roll the scraps and cut more cookies.  Repeat with the rest of the dough.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for 13 minutes.  Transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely.  Decorate with Royal Icing and cinnamon candies.

Notes

• *If you wish to decorate the men as pictured, you've got to have a bit of a steady hand.  Scoop the icing into a pastry bag (or zip bag) and use a small round tip.  Pipe carefully, all the way around the edges.  Pipe three little smudges in the middle & drop the cinnamon candies on top. 
• *Let these sit at room temperature until the icing has hardened (overnight is good).
• *Nutritional information does not include decorations on top. 30 cookies is an estimate- number will vary based on the size of the cutters that are used.
• *These freeze just fine- layer them between sheets of waxed paper and store in airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

The post 75 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes appeared first on Recipe Girl®.

Best time of the month!

I have a short and sweet beauty favorites this month! Quarantine has left me not wearing much makeup… and you can find me in suncreen and skin care these days. That’s about it. However, my beauty favorites were pretty extensive last month and I’m still using all of those items. Really love ’em all!

SO – What is your beauty routine like right now?

I’ve probably put on makeup less than ten times in the last four months. That is crazy for me, considering how much I love it. But it feels good and of course my skin care game is strong. Sharing below a few things that I’m really loving at the moment.

June Beauty Faves

KNC beauty eye masks. I love an eye mask and these ones are too cute. I usually put them on in the morning before skincare or if I’m getting a bath at night. These definitely lift the area and make my under eyes so smooth. Plus, they have retinol in them! My retinol use is pretty minimal but I had no reaction to these aside from a little tingle and absolutely loved them.

Megababe Bust Dust (and Body Dust!). Megababe products are incredible (their hand sanitizer is everything) and I love their powders – but let me tell you why. I discovered this hack from TIBAL. If you self tan, use the body dust to dust all over and get rid of that self tan sticky feeling. You know which one I’m talking about right? I especially do this in the creases of my elbows and knees where the self tan might get messed up quickly. It’s awesome! Oh and the bust dust powder is so good because it’s a pump. Which is amazing. You can pump it right on a big puff and then dust it over your self tan!

Sol de Janiero Body Scrub. I just about screamed when I saw this on sephora’s website. You guys know that everything Bum Bum Cream has been a go-to summer product for me. The smell now reminds me of summer and I tend to use the products from April through September to really capitalize on that signature summer shower smell. I was so excited to find a scrub, but let’s be real, some scrubs aren’t worth it. This one TOTALLY is. It’s like soft but coarse brown sugar and the texture is incredible.

Sunday Forever Coconuts. I discovered this scent in Nantucket last year when we went for my mom’s birthday – and miss that trip so much that I started putting this on for nostalgic feels. Not to mention, it’s the perfect summer scent! It almost reminds me a little bit of my beloved Soleil Blanc which is my go-to summer perfume. This one is lighter and more coconutty, but definitely has a similar profile. I love it and usually keep this in my purse.

Glow Recipe Lip Pop. I’ve mentioned this now a few times in 2020 but it’s the best lip gloss. It’s like cherry-popsicle-stained-lips but better because it doesn’t stain your mouth and teeth. Plus, it smells like watermelon. I think I’m on my third or fourth one of these. It makes you feel alive in days of no makeup!

What are you loving this month? Anything new and exciting?!

[as usual, none of this is sponsored and all of these products were purchased by me. i am not affiliated with any of the companies above, nor do i accept free products. just love to talk about what i like, makeup junkie to makeup junkie. there are some amazon and general reward style affiliate links above. thank you for being here!]

The post June Favorites: Beauty. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Merry merry mistletoe manhattan! 

In the land of mistletoe margaritas and white christmas punch, I’m dropping by with a mistletoe manhattan!

We’re basically covering everyone’s preference here on the blog with a festive holiday cocktail, so if you’re a whiskey person, here is your glass. Get ready to chill it!

We’ve got a little whiskey, some cherry, some cranberry, a dash of bitters and vermouth – garnished with sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for fun. You can also sugar the sprig if you want! You know, I’m just over here trashing up one of the world’s favorite cocktails and giving it an elf-inspired name.

Forgive me. 

My mom always ordered manhattans when I was a kid and I would beg her for the maraschino cherry. So would my brothers! She never let us have the cherry until much later in life (um, it is completely soaked in booze, after all), but honestly, I liked it. I thought it tasted good, and I’ve always liked whiskey and bourbon. It’s definitely not LIGHT, it’s not what I drink when I want a light and refreshing cocktail. But this is almost… refreshing? 

Believe it!

Some people have a bad experience with whiskey (I’m looking at you Eddie) and can’t handle the flavor – and I get it. But shockingly I enjoy it and think it tastes GOOD. I’m obsessed with cooking and baking with it. And I’d almost always choose a bourbon cocktail over a vodka one, but it does sort of depend on my mood.

Right now, I’m in a major Christmas mood! Seriously, I may be driving my family nuts with the fun holiday experiences over here. I could be an extra (or, um, main character) in the movie Elf, minus the whole maple syrup addiction.

See, there is no better time for a festive drink than around the holidays. I know that I go absolutely CRAZY about fall and apple cider cocktails, but right now is such a FUN experience when it comes to hosting, entertaining and serving snazzy drinks.

Apologies for just using the word snazzy. 

But we have to live up to the festivities while we can! So serve a little mistletoe manhattan with cheer!

Mistletoe Manhattan

Twinkle lights for life.

The post Mistletoe Manhattans. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Kitchn's Delicious Links column highlights recipes we're excited about from the bloggers we love. Follow along every weekday as we post our favorites.

If you've ever had a late-winter head cold so bad that your teeth hurt, you know chicken soup doesn't cut it. Go for soup when you want something brothy and light, but when you have sinus pressure and a ravenous appetite, consider chili instead. This white bean chicken chili is hearty enough to stick to your ribs and spicy enough to clear out your sinuses, and if you start with a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, the whole thing will be in your bowl within 30 minutes.

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I’ve been using Red River Paper for a few years and I’ve always felt like it was clearly better in quality and value than the other papers I’d tried. Compared with the mass market paper I could find at local stores, Red River Paper always produced better results and I was pretty happy!

Or so I thought! I guess you just don’t know what you don’t know… and what I didn’t know was that my printer really wasn’t allowing me to experience the full potential of the professional print grade paper from Red River or the high resolution detail and color richness of my photographs and printable artwork.

Now, after printing with a professional quality Epson P400 SureColor Giclee Printer on Giclee Paper from Red River, I know the difference!

The very first print, on the Red River 60lb Polar Matte, was better than anything I’d printed before…

The colors were sharp and vibrant and looked fantastic on the bright white matte finish.

Next, I decided to try a couple photographs on Red River’s 68lb UltraPro Satin 4×6 Photo Paper. The results were FAR better than what I would have expected from a professional photo print lab. It’s hard to see in a reproduction online, but these photos have a perfect satin shine that went superbly with some simple HDR effects I added in Photoshop.

Finally I tried the larger and much thicker Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag 9″ x 13″ sheets. The Epson P400 had no problem with the thick paper and the result was stunning! Of course maybe I’m a bit biased since the picture was of my two sons beside a river in Alaska! Who wouldn’t love that picture?

But really the Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag is an 80lb 100% Cotton rag paper that has an elegant medium gloss like what you might expect a high-end professional photographer to provide.

All of the papers, when combined with this professional quality printer, resulted in work that was perfect and completely “frame worthy”.

Win An Epson SureColor P400 from Red River Paper! – Enter Before June 30th!

(and an assortment of pro grade Red River Paper to boot!)

Here’s a more technical description of the printer than I could write:

About the Epson SureColor P400 Printer:

The 13″ wide-format SureColor P400 photo printer features UltraChrome® HG2 Ink for unprecedented print quality. This remarkable 8-color pigment ink set includes Red and Orange inks for vibrant, true-to-life color. Dedicated channels for both Matte and Photo Black inks provide deep blacks on matte, fine art and photo papers. Unique Gloss Optimizer chemistry gives photographs a smooth, professional-lab look and feel. High-capacity, individual 14 mL ink cartridges offer the freedom to print — and replace only the color you need. Plus, cut-sheet and roll paper support allows you to print your artwork on a variety of media.

My words would be simpler…

This printer/paper combo rocks!

And if you ever find yourself wanting to print fine-art quality prints for business or pleasure, you owe it to yourself to enter this giveway and to learn more about Red River Paper!

Enter Before June 30th to Win a Brand New Epson P400 SureColor Printer Here

There's something about giving a homemade food gift that feels especially generous. Now — before the holidays get underway — is a great time to get started on a number of these DIY gifts, since some need a few weeks or more to infuse or rest in order to be at their full gifting potential. Plus, it doesn't hurt to check this off your list now before the nuttiness of the season begins. Here are seven great homemade food gifts you can get started on now.

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So a few years ago, I posted a recipe for apple cider doughnuts. Every time I made them, they came out great, but there were a lot of people who had various problems with them, so I decided I was going to re-work the recipe and figure out where people were going wrong.

So…I put it on my calendar and had big plans to remake and repost it this month. Heck, I still might if my kitchen can handle Armageddon II…making doughnuts is not a tidy process, especially when you’re me and you throw all caution to the wind in the kitchen, and then hit the drive-thru for dinner because you can’t handle the thought of dirtying another dish. But I digress.

As I was researching apple cider doughnuts (hush, it’s a real thing), I came across this old-fashioned pumpkin cake doughnut in one of my FAVORITE cookbooks, the Top Pot Doughnuts cookbook. And I thought to myself, “Self, in a world filled with apples and pumpkins, in the month of October, pumpkins always win.” So…I tried them out. And they were amazing. Share-worthy. Repeatable. Family tradition-esque.

I’m not going to lie, this is trickier than your average recipe–the ingredients and instructions are not really suggestions here. If you come back and say, “So I followed the recipe exactly,  but these totally flopped! I did use bread flour instead of cake flour, and I used butter instead of shortening and I don’t believe in candy thermometers, so I just kind of winged it on the oil temperature!”, I’m not giving you any of my extra doughnuts.

You’re going to need cake flour, baking powder (make sure it’s fresh–this is your only leavening ingredient), table salt, ground nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, shortening or lard (lard is trans-fat free, shortening is vegetarian; pick your poison), egg yolks, sour cream, canned pumpkin, and oil for frying (I recommend peanut oil because it has a very high smoke point and it’s odorless/flavorless; canola also has a high smoke point, but at high temps, it can start to smell/taste like fish, which, unless you’re into fish-flavored doughnuts, might not be your thing.

For the doughnuts, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg (I grate my own because it’s so pretty and it smells so good, plus, it lasts a lot longer than ground nutmeg!),

and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the sugar

and shortening for 1 minute on medium speed. Add the egg yolks and mix for 1 minute; the mixture will be light yellow and thick.

Have your flour mixture, sour cream, and pumpkin ready. Add roughly 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the sour cream and mix until combined. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the pumpkin, mix until combined, then add the final 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. The dough should be wet and sticky like cookie dough.

Transfer the dough to a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, but up to 24 hours.

Before frying the doughnuts, make the glaze. In a medium bowl, add all the glaze ingredients except for the milk.

Slowly add the hot milk, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth. Set aside. This step can also be done in the bowl of a stand mixer, but I found it just as easy to do it by hand.

Heat at least 2 inches of oil in a heavy duty pot or Dutch oven to 325 degrees (use a candy thermometer!)

While the oil is heating, sprinkle some additional flour onto a work surface. This is where things get a little tricky. I found that while I was rolling the doughnuts, I probably incorporated about an additional 1/2 cup of flour into the dough because it’s very sticky. However, this will vary depending on your climate, elevation, humidity, etc., so I’m hesitant to give an exact amount of how much additional flour to use. That said, the dough should be soft and silky, but workable. It should pull back very slightly when you push it and it shouldn’t stick to your hands and fingers at all. Dip the cutter into flour each time you cut a doughnut and be sure the work surface is well-floured. If you find the dough is sticking to your work surface or your cutters, it’s okay–just incorporate some of the flour into the dough and roll or pat it out again (once you get it to where it should be, the dough will be very easy to work with).

Anyway.

Don’t be scared of the flour. Place the dough on the floured work surface and flour your hands and a rolling pin. Place the dough on the floured work surface.

Roll the dough out to about 3/4″ thickness and then flip it over (which shouldn’t be hard because your work surface was so well-floured) and roll it down to 1/2″.

Dip a 2 1/2″ biscuit or doughnut cutter into some flour and then cut the doughnuts.

Re-roll and cut the scraps until either the dough becomes too springy or you run out of dough. I don’t have a doughnut cutter (goodness knows that’s pretty much the last thing in the universe that I need), so I use the heart from this mini cookie cutter set to cut out the centers.

When the oil reaches 325, shake off excess flour from the cut dough pieces and carefully add them to the pot, a few at a time (depending on the size of your pot–just don’t crowd the pot and you’ll be fine). Once the doughnuts float to the surface, fry for about 15 seconds and then flip them. Fry for 75-90 seconds or until they’re golden brown and cracked, then flip back to the first side and fry for another 60-75 seconds or until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined tray or plate and repeat with the remaining dough.

While the doughnuts are still hot, dip the side with the deepest cracks deeply into the pumpkin glaze.

Allow to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving. Makes 12-15 doughnuts.

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