Nutella Cookies and other Holiday Favorites

This recipe caught my eye because of two ingredients...Nutella and hazelnuts. Growing up in Germany, Nutella was a staple. We had it for breakfast, for lunch and sometimes even for dinner. That's how good it was.

How to Blanch, Roast and Peel Hazelnuts

One of my favorite types of nuts are hazelnuts, but a lot of recipes call for peeled hazelnuts. Such hard work! I found a way that is very simple and the skins are literally falling off after you are done. 

Baked Oatmeal

We have had a windy couple of days here in the Sacramento area. So beautiful to look at from the comfort of your own home with a bowl full of delicious baked oatmeal to keep you warm, but once you step outside you just want to try and cover up every inch of your body because it is SO cold.  

Whole-grain Waffles with Berry Syrup

Saturday mornings is a time our family looks forward to every week, because we wake up and make breakfast together. The kids help mix, stir, pour, and beat some kind of concoction (pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, omelets, etc.). My husband brews the coffee (that's about all he is good for since he's not quite awake yet!), and I help with the cooking and clean-up. 

Roasted Garlic-Sweet Potato Soup with Parmesan-Kale Chips

One of my favorite meals during the Autumn season is a thick, robust Sweet Potato Soup. It's gotta be super thick though, so thick that you almost want to chew it. :)  I wanted to try something new this season, and got the idea to pair it with a crunchy kale topping. I usually stick with the cinnamon spiced version that has a lot of sweetness to it but knew the parmesan-kale chips would not go well with it.