Homemade Holidays: Buttery-Cayenne Pecans

Guys, I am DETERMINED, DETERMINED I SAY, to get all of my gifts sorted, made, and mailed BEFORE Christmas this year. No exceptions. So far, I'm definitely on track, but if you're like the me of last year, struggling to think of the perfect edible treat, then you'll really like these pecans.

Food is how I express my affection for my loved ones, so finding the perfect gift for each person can be very challenging.. It's hard enough finding the perfect balance of delicious, seemingly complicated (but attainable), and festive. Now try adding mail-friendly on top of that. See? Challenging. Fortunately, I've discovered Bon Appetit's Buttery-Cayenne Pecans, and have found myself taking a big sigh of relief.

Here's what these snack nuts have going for them:

1. Complex flavor: The heat of the cayenne pepper, mixed with the other spices and generous amount of butter makes these pecans so rich and decadent.
2. Supremely easy to make: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, add pecans, stir the pecans around to make sure they're evenly coated, put pecans in the oven. Simple.
3. Perfect for local and faraway friends alike: All you need is a beautiful and festive airtight container or bag to make sure these little guys remain at peak freshness.

Whether you're new to food-gifting, or you're a seasoned pro who's looking for a fresh take on your signature gift, these buttery-cayenne pecans are sooooo the way to go.

Find the recipe for Buttery-Cayenne Pecans  here!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Holiday baking is officially in full swing and there is no one in this world happier about that than I am. There are holiday parties all over the place in the near future, and it means loads of planning, which puts me front-row-center in my happy place. To make things even sweeter, we have a beautiful, fragrant Christmas tree just waiting to be decorated, and of course, the proper way to decorate any tree is with a mouthful of cookies and ornaments in both hands.

It's always best to ease into the baking season with a simple cookie that's tasty and seemingly complex enough, but takes you very little time in the kitchen to make. After all, you've got a lot of baking ahead of you, and don't want to burn yourself out with the very first batch! That's where these Mexican Wedding Cookies come in. They're simple little things, but they're packed with buttery flavor,  nutty crunch, and so much sugar. They're perfect for any time of year really, but just seem to make everything just a little brighter around Christmastime.

I used almonds in my cookies, though you can get away with any nut you love, so long as you chop it up finely. No one wants to bite into a cookie with just a little too much crunch. Though if you ask my father, he'd strongly disagree. He's been pushing for weeks for a dessert with nuts, and so far, these haven't disappointed him!

There is actually no such thing as too much powdered sugar with these cookies, and that is absolutely a fact. It reminds me of the gentle kiss of snow and how much a beautiful winter day can put me in a wonderful mood...you know, if I don't have to drive in it. But looking out the window with a warm cup of cocoa, impossibly cozy socks, and a stack of new cookbooks with spines that crack upon first opening, is my kind of winter's day. Put a plate of these Mexican Wedding Cookies in front of me, and we're talkin' business.

Here's What You'll Need:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 ¼ cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
• Powdered sugar for rolling

Find the recipe here at Crazy for Crust!

LET THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE SEASON BEGIN.

OFFICIALLY BAKING SEASON

Finally that time of year where it's getting a little too cold to be outside for long stretches of time, but not too cold to play in the leaves...and eventually snow. Did I hear correctly that Vermont is getting their first snowfall of the year this weekend? If so, good luck, Vermont! We've got a little warmth left here in Boston.  

But as the cold starts to unpack it's belongings for the 4+ months ahead, now is a good time to start making a list of every single thing that I want to bake. You would not believe the amount of recipes I save to my "Bookmarks" everyday, and that's where most of them stay. I save so many that I forget they exist! Well, that's all about to change. And I need your help!

Are there any recipes that you just can't live without?? I'd love to know! Then, we can make it together and giggle a bunch while we pretend that we're not going to have another piece, cookie, bite, etc, but we totally do!

NEW RECIPES. ANNNNDDDDDD....GO!