Holiday Recipe Round Up

I have really enjoyed drooling over the links that were submitted to the Holiday Recipe Link Party.  There are so many fun and festive ideas for holiday treats, and I just had to feature (quite) a few of them.  I decided to break down some of my favorites into a few categories:  Holiday Candies, Dressed To Impress Desserts, and Justifiable Treats.

Holiday Candies

And I can't leave out a holiday staple in our house, toffee.  Jo, from Smile Monsters made up this delicious batch.

Meghan, from the Domestic Sugar Bake Shop, will show you how to make these festive peppermint patties.  

Make Homemade Almond Roca with Ashlee at I'm Topsy Turvy.

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Me and My Pink Mixer, shares their recipe for these festive Gingerbread Truffles.  I love the smell of Gingerbread around the Holidays.

Dressed to Impress

These desserts are sure to impress all of your guests at your next holiday party.

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These Oreo Truffle Surprise Cookies are all dressed up.  Visit Inside Bru Crew Life for the recipe.

Ela, from Life in My PJ's, will show you how to make this candy coated red velvet cake.  I love how festive and fun this cake is.

Our Journey To A Simpler Life, shares this recipe for a pumpkin roll.  A pumpkin roll is a fun and impressive variation of more traditional pumpkin desserts.

Justifiable Treats

No one wants to bulk up during the holidays, but I hate when people deprive themselves of great holiday food.  Small portion sizes, and a justifiable treat is the way to go.  I have a personal belief that if a dessert has fruit, nuts, or dark chocolate, that I can justify having a small portion (or two).  These recipes look so fantastic, and have some health benefits as well.

These protein packed sweet and spicy almonds are sure to curb any cravings that you might be having.  

You can find the recipe at  The Pretty Bee. 

This Pomegranate and Cranberry Cream Tart is full of antioxidants, and it's gluten, dairy, and sugar free to boot.  Ashlie and Alfred of the Delshad Duo will teach you how to make this great holiday recipe.

Lisa's Cranberry Upside Down Cake has been making me salivate all week.  You can find the recipe at her blog, The Pursuit of Happiness.

Be sure to check out the other recipe submissions for some great holiday ideas.  The other links look just as delicious. I'd loved to have featured them all.

Holiday Recipe Week: Peanut Brittle

I think that Christmas candies are enjoyed for several reasons.  There are certain Christmas candies that I love because of their flavor, their are other that I love because of their appearance, and there are some that make their way to our holiday plates merely out of tradition.

Fudge is a bit rich in texture and flavor for my preference, but in our home you must make at least one batch.  Divinity is the Christmas treat that I always yearned for as a little girl, but never received, due to burnt out mixer motors. And Toffee is one treat that I leave up to my mother, because mine never seems to turn out just right.

While peanut brittle hasn't been a candy that is traditionally found on my own personal candy plate, it seems to be a Christmas staple.  My sister in law was kind enough to share her family recipe with us. 

Peanut Brittle

1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 C Corn Syrup
1/2 C Water
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 Cus Raw Peanuts

Combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt.  Cook to a full boil.  Add peanuts.  Cook until syrup is browned, but not burnt. Add baking soda.  Leave on heat until foamy, and syrup is a  golden brown.

Quickly turn out onto a buttered pan. Allow to cool.  Crack into pieces.

Note:  This makes a relatively small batch.  If you are making this recipe for a crowd, you will want to double or triple the recipe.

I think that the key aspect of this recipe is ensuring that the mixture doesn't burn.  It seems that sugar syrups can quickly go from a nice golden brown, to a sticky and stinky clump.

Peanut brittle, homemade caramels, and coconut bon bons. Oh how I love Christmas.

Check out all of the wonderful holiday recipes at the Holiday Recipe Link Party.  Be sure to link up your favorite recipes as well.

I'll be linking here.