So I'm literally drowning in recipes, but that really isn't a bad thing, right? I'm a month behind on
French Fridays with Dorie, so this is actually December's monthly roundup (minus the speculoos, which I didn't make). Surprisingly enough, my very favorite recipe of the bunch was Dorie's
Spiced Butter-Glazed Carrots. The carrots are cooked until tender and glazed in a wonderful combination of onion, ginger, garlic and cardamom seeds. As a lover of cooked carrots, these were some of the best I've ever had.
No one else in my family likes cooked carrots (I told you I lived with a bunch of crazy folk), so I just made a half batch. I had them as a side dish for dinner one night and then ate the rest of them for lunch one day. Just me and a plate of carrots. I felt virtuous, for once.
I've done an obscene amount of braising this month, but Dorie's Go-To Beef Daube really does stand out among the others. A very robust and hearty beef stew loaded with veggies and braised in red wine. A real winner for the whole family. Even my picky daughter asked for more!
I usually don't have a
least favorite when it comes to Dorie's recipes. However, I really didn't care for the
Leek and Potato Soup. I think the recipe was written well enough. It was really more of a personal thing. I'm thinking that maybe I'm not the biggest fan of leeks. Not sure. Either way, I jazzed mine up with some extra buttery croutons, which made the soup MUCH tastier.
And, finally, Dorie's
Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Nuts. I made the recipe two times and both times they disappeared quickly. The first time I made them according to the recipe, with chili powder, cinnamon and a dash of cayenne. We loved them! The second time I made them with only cinnamon, sugar and a sprinkling of cardamom. We loved those too! I think it's safe to say that Dorie's Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Nuts are a winner. I can see myself making them many times in the future (almonds and pecans are my favorite)!
Now onto next month! Hopefully I'll have a chance to catch up.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
mmm I am definitely going to have to give those carrots a try! I need some virtuous in my life!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...everything looks tasty! I'm just impressed that you're doing the rewind. After so long, I usually just say "oh well" and move on the next thing...very impressive ;)
ReplyDeleteI remember how when I was a kid I hated cooked carrots, with a passion, now I love the stuff. They are yummy and so good for you. Great recipe :D
ReplyDelete*kisses* HH
Those carrots look really yummy! So do the spiced cocktail nuts!:)
ReplyDeleteCarrots...well, all of it, you made some grand looking food!!! I have the book finally, from the library, and am trying to decide if I ought to buy it.
ReplyDeleteWish I lived near you and could come to dinner!
Great looking dishes, Kim! Especially the nuts.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's no such thing as too much braising!
That's a lot of catch up--good for you. That beef daube is the one that is really making me drool--although it all looks great. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI adore carrots...will definitely look that recipe up. My diet won't let me eat them now, but I'll make them first chance I get. (there must be lots of sugar in them or something)
ReplyDeleteGoing to make the nuts for Super Bowl Day!
Thanks, Kim!
The spiced carrots were my favorite too!
ReplyDeletelots of delicious stuff happening in your kitchen! i love those carrots. we eat a ton of carrots, but i never think to cook them that often. the nuts look AWESOME, i love that coating, i don't think i'd be able to stop eating them.
ReplyDeletehow's the weather been? after our second snow day i really felt for you and your twelfth! i hope you have a great weekend!
I've been impressed with the range of fantastic and approachable recipes in Dorie's cookbook. Those cocktail nuts look perfect for the Superbowl.
ReplyDeleteThe carrots won me over, but I was already a fan of them.
ReplyDeleteThose carrots look amazing!!! Delicious side dish!
ReplyDeleteYay for getting caught up! I was going to skip the carrots too, but I was really glad we tried them - very tasty.
ReplyDelete"obscene amount of braising" - you are too funny!
I have GOT to try those carrots. I just made some carrots the other night that I fell in love with, but these might be even better!!
ReplyDelete