Nasturtiums?!?! No way. My garden is FULL of nasturtiums and I love them because they bring in the bees and birds that my veggies need – but, pesto!?

I have heard of making pesto with nettles, carrot tops, garlic scapes and, of course, basil, but this completely threw me for a loop.

So, here’s the thing, my food processor broke last week, but I wasn’t going to let this one fly by. Instead of the food processor, I used my immersion blender – and it was a little messy. I can handle messy. However, I wouldn’t recommend this because the toasted walnuts got a little crazy and, um, airborne.

The other thing about this recipe is the importance of the individual ingredients. For your homemade nasturtium pesto use parmesan that you have to grate. No snow cheese (that’s the tall green plastic container). I used fresh garlic that was pulled from a local farm two days ago – and it is the Music variety, my favorite because it is mild and has HUGE cloves. Use goooood olive oil. Finally, for the coarse salt, San Juan Island Sea Salt. There is no other option in this house. BAM!

As with any recipe, the ingredients will make all the difference. If your family likes garlic, this is perfect. If you have some really strong garlic, maybe dial it down a notch. Remember, recipes aren’t set in stone. Feel free to freestyle it a little to meet your needs. Want to use pecans, pine nuts, or almonds instead? Go for it!

Nasturtiums have a wonderful spicy, peppery taste and I didn’t add any pepper, but if you are pepper people, add a dash or four.

Make it. Enjoy it. Tell us how you served it. Today, my kids asked if they could have it on crackers and that’s why I made another double batch.

Print

Fresh Nasturtium Pesto Recipe

We love having these bright flowers in our gardens to attract birds and bees, but did you know that the leaves and petals are edible? Nasturtium Pesto will have you planting more seeds and making more.

Keyword from the garden, pesto, sauce

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Author Val Curtis

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

• 6 cups Nasturtium leaves
• 5 Fresh garlic cloves coarsely chop
• 3/4 cup Walnuts roasted
• 1 1/2 cups Parmesan freshly grated
• 2/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 Lemon juiced
• 1 tbsp Salt coarse

Instructions

• Pick nasturtiums and wash and rinse each leaf under cold water. Use a salad spinner to remove excess water or pat dry.
• In a small skillet over medium heat, add walnuts gently stir until they are toasted.
• In a food processor, add the hot walnuts and coarsely chop.
• Add garlic to the food processor.
• Add Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to the food processor.
• Using a spatula, scoop it into a jar and chill for half an hour.

Nutrition

Sodium: 241mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Iron: 5mg

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Other Summer Recipes:

• Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing
• Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights
• Easy Peasy Berry Freezer Jam
• 20 MUST TRY Easy and Delicious Non-Zucchini Spiralizer Recipes

The post Fresh Nasturtium Pesto Recipe first appeared on BonBon Break.

Soup’s on!  With cooler weather and darker days, what could be better for warming your heart and soul than soup?

We’ve gathered a flavorful collection of fall soup recipes to help you serve this ultimate comfort food again and again without getting tired of it. Whatever cuisine you’re in the mood for — from Asian, to Latin, to Indian, to Italian, and more — you’ll find a full assortment of choices.

If you want to enjoy even more variety with little extra effort on your part, consider teaming up with a friend or two for a soup swap.  Soup recipes often produce large quantities, and it’s easy to fill mason jars to trade with friends.  This small step will make weekly meal planning so much easier!

Dive right in to our…

Fall Soup Recipes

VEGETARIAN SOUPS

 Light Chicken, Quinoa & Vegetable Soup by Cookin Canuk (pin it)

Cheeseburger Soup by Damn Delicious (pin it)  

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Check out these fall soup recipes and SO MANY MORE on our Soups to Warm Your Soul Pinterest Board:

Follow Bonbon Break’s board Soups to Warm Your Soul on Pinterest.

Here are some of our FAVORITE soup accessories from Amazon (Click to buy now using our affiliate links. No extra charge to you and a little perk for us.):

Read this next: 20 Ways to Wear Boots

Next post: 50 + Perfect Holiday Pie Recipes

Previous post: They Break, You Know

ALSO CHECK OUT:

 CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

The post 50+ Fall Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul first appeared on BonBon Break.

Are you new to the Instant Pot world? I bought mine during a Black Friday sale or Digital Monday or – who knows. The point is I accidentally bought the 8 quart (I ALWAYS buy the wrong size of everything on Amazon) and it sat in my pantry for a year because it is HUGE. However, during this recent break I started using it and now I am hooked.

If you haven’t used yours yet, now is the time! If you need a little help getting start Pinch of Yum and Damn Delicious will point you in the right direction every single time. They have recipes that will check all of your boxes and their recipes never fail. I included a couple of my favorites at the top of the list.

If you happened upon this post because you are a holdout and you are trying to decide if this is worth your wild, let us help you differentiate (and help you turn the corner). 

Instant Pot Store

Links in this section are connected to Amazon for your ease of purchase and price comparison. We do receive a small commission for doing the research for you so thank you for shopping via BonBon Break. 

Instant Pot Size

I notoriously order the wrong size of everything via Amazon. That happened when I purchased my Instant Pot, but I am SO grateful I made the mistake. They come in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart sizes. I ordered the 8-quart. Most recipes are created for the 6-quart size and I have been having really good luck with doubling my favorite Instant Pot recipes and having leftovers. I am really big on leftovers and roll over meals, so buy the 8-quart was a pleasant surprise mistake. That being said, it is HUGE and as a result, I was intimidated to use it for the first year. Now it’s my favorite kitchen appliance. 

Instant Pot Model Breakdown

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1

There are several other models and I am showing a close up of their control panels so you can see the main differences between the models.

Instant Pot 60 Max 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker 

Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1

Click here to see the entire collection of Instant Pots on Amazon

Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes

Spicy Sweet Potato Peanut Stew by Pinch of Yum – This is so so so good.

Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup by Pinch of Yum – another flavorful winner from POY. We just love her!

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto by Damn Delicious ***This is a family favorite!!*** (Use veggie broth instead of chicken)

Instant Pot Minestrone Soup by Damn Delicious (use veggie broth instead of chicken) – Check out those chunky yummy veggies. I could eat this every day.

Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup by Piping Pot Curry

Instant Pot Lemon Veggie Risotto by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

Instant Pot Whole Roasted Cauliflower In Indian Masala by The Belly Rules The Mind

Instant Pot Vegetable Soup by Where You Get Your Protein

Instant Pot Curry with Chickpeas, Tomatoes & Spinach by The Foodie Eats

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup by Whole Food Bellies

Instant Pot Veggie Side Dishes

Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts by Temecula Blogs

Instant Pot Au Gratin Potatoes by Eazy Peazy Mealz

Instant Pot Parsnips And Carrots by Salt And Lavender

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes by Simple Happy Foodie

How To Kale in 3 Minutes In The Instant Pot by Nora Cooks

Instant Pot Corn On The Cob by Salt And Lavender

Instant Pot Artichokes by Eazy Peazy Mealz

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes With Almonds by Recipes From A Pantry


Instant Pot Broccoli by Recipes From A Pantry

Instant Pot Green Beans With Mushrooms And Bacon by Zen And Spice

Pressure Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Simply Recipes

Instant Pot Wild Rice With Mushrooms, Spinach And Cherry Tomatoes by Zen And Spice

Instant Pot Braised Cabbage and Apples by Simple Happy Foodie

Pressure Cooker Potato Salad by Simply Recipes

A few more of our favorite recipes that will help with quick dinners!

Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!)

Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights

20 Delicious Skillet Meals in Under 35 Minutes

Meal Planning Help to the Rescue! Our Quick Guide to Easy Dinners

The post 20 Must Have Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

Roll Over Recipes

Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork by BonBon Break

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken by BonBon Break

Roasted Veggies by BonBon Break

Slow Cooker Honey Pork (Cook Once Eat Twice) by My Everyday Table

Cook Once Eat Twice Greek Meatball Pita by The Foodie Physician

Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken (Cook Once Eat Twice) by My Everyday Table

Cook Once Eat Twice Chicken Teriyaki by The Foodie Physician

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Cook once, Eat Twice) by Scattered Thoughts Of A Craft Mom

Garlic Herb Chicken & Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Meal Prep by Cafe Delites

Make these with leftovers:

• Loaded Thanksgiving Potatoes by Our Wabisabi Life
• 
Leftover Veggie Salad by Trial And Eater
• Leftover Stuffed Chili Peppers by Meatloaf And Melodrama
• Tetrazzini Casserole With Leftover Turkey Or Chicken by Dancing Through The Rain
• Rotisserie Chicken Cheese Pasta by Berry Maple
• Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
 by Trial And Eater
• 
Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad by Food Meanderings
• Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe: Empanadas (Hand Pies) by Delicious Table
• Leftover BBQ Chicken Quesadillas by Meatloaf And Melodrama
• Leftover Chili Potato Nachos By Sweet Peas And Saffron
• Leftover Turkey Casserole by Wholesome Yum
• Leftover Rotisserie Chicken 3 Recipes by Carmy
• Pumpkin Cake Trifle by Foodal

Try this out if you are looking for ideas with all of those Thanksgiving Leftovers.

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The post Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!) first appeared on BonBon Break.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie by Tastes Of Lizzy T

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken by Averie Cooks

Healthy Crockpot Lasagne by The Bewitchin Kitchen

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff by Well Plated

Slow Cooker Spinach Feta Egg Casserole by Cook Nourish Bliss

Crockpot Sausage & Potatoes by Diary Of A Recipe Collector

French Dip Sandwich by Carlsbad Cravings

Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings by Love Bakes Good Cakes

Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana by The Chunky Chef

Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Stew by Sweet Peas and Saffron

Slow Cooker Italian Red Wine Roast Beef by Barefeet In The Kitchen

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup With Bacon by The Lemon Bowl

Slow Cooker Meatloaf by Tastes Of Lizzy T

Honey Garlic Ginger Chicken by Running To The Kitchen

Slow Cooker Spicy Steak Rice Lentils Quinoa by House Of Nash Eats

Chicken Enchilada Crock Pot Soup by BonBon Break

Crockpot Cowboy Casserole by Kylee Cooks

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With Apples And Onions by The Lemon Bowl

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham by Five Heart Home

Slow Cooker Beef And Cheese Pasta by The Cooking Jar

Another favorite on BonBon Break:

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

The following are affiliate links to some of our favorite products.

…and of course, here are our favorite slow cookers.

The InstaPot – WHAT you don’t have one yet? We can help you with that.

We also love this slow cooker because you can serve straight from the crock itself.

A little more inspiration for Fall:

20 Best Fall-inspired Cupcakes

Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make

The post Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

Pumpkin Brownie Cupcakes by Sweet & Savory Meals

Caramel Apple Cupcakes by Tastes Of Lizzy T

Turkey Cupcakes by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Maple Pecan Cupcakes by Beyond Frosting

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cupcakes by Your Cup Of Cake

Speculoos Pecan Cupcakes by Your Cup Of Cake

Candy Corn Cupcakes by Chocolate Moosey

Gingerbread Cupcakes by Sally’s Baking Addiction

Thanksgiving Cupcakes with Chocolate Pilgrim Suit Cupcake Wrappers by Hungry Happenings

Apple Pie Cupcakes With Vanilla Buttercream Frosting by Spoonful Of Flavor

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes by Table For Two

S’mores Cupcakes by The Little Epicurean

Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes With Marshmallow Frosting by How Sweet Eats

Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes by Annie’s Noms

Chocolate Eggnog Cupcakes by Kleinworth & Co.

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cupcakes by Bakingdom

Brown Butter Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting by Two Peas And Their Pod



Spiced Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream by Beyond Frosting

Ginger Pear Cupcakes by My Sweet Sanity

Caramel Apple Cupcakes by The Girl Who Ate Everything

FIND MORE AMAZING RECIPES IN BONBON BREAK’S KITCHEN

or take a peek at our Browned Butter Apple Bread – the perfect quick bread for Fall! or  20 Easy Fall Recipes We Can’t Wait to Make!

The post 20 Best Fall-inspired Cupcakes first appeared on BonBon Break.

This week, as I left a friend’s house, she graciously gave us over a dozen apples and 6 incredibly tasty apple muffins. Again, both kids loved them and it was handy to have something so tasty to give the kids between school pickup and our afternoon activity of the day.

As I began contemplating what would become of the apples, my amateur baker brain started turning. What if I combined these two flavors? There is already butter in most cupcake recipes, so why not brown it?

After searching through my files trying to find the right “base” recipe, I found Smitten Kitchen’s Whole Wheat Apple Cupcake recipe AND I had all of the supplies at home already. I was ready to get started and after considering the week’s schedule, I decided to make two loaves, not muffins/ cupcakes.
While I was baking, I noticed that my littlest one was very quiet, a sure sign of trouble. As I scanned the kitchen, I noticed one apple with a little bite…and then another…and then a trail. Another friend had dropped a bag of her delicious apples by during a visit (I love living here) and someone had scattered them across the floor.

Finally, I turned the corner and there she was chomping away on the one that seemed to satisfy her apple needs. In the meantime, her brother ate 4 of them. Yes, 4. Why do I bother baking and what how the heck am I going to keep him fed when he is in high school!?!

After rounding up the remaining apples, I finished the loaves and put them in the oven. There was a sweet request that we leave the light on so we could see when they are ready.

The result was delicious and someone couldn’t keep her apple thief-y little fingers off of it.

A photo shoot was impossible with these little fingers going for a grab.
Note the piece of bread in her hand. Now you know that the picture at the top of this post was a wee bit challenging to capture.

Browned Butter Apple Bread How To Video

Print

Browned Butter Apple Bread

Yield: 2 - 9x4 loaves

Course Breads

Keyword breads, quick breads

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Cooling Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Author Val Curtis

Ingredients

• 2 cups organic whole wheat flour
• 2 cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup flax seed
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons organic cinnamon
• 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted organic butter at room temperature, divided
• 1 cup granulated organic sugar
• 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 2 large organic brown eggs
• 1 cup organic yogurt
• 1 cup organic sour cream
• 4 cups of organic apples peeled, cored and diced **

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450°F and generously grease 2 - 9x4 bread pans.
• To peel, core and dice your apples try the following: 
  
• 1) Cut off the top and bottom of your apples.
• 2) Peel using a potato peeler.
• 3) Use OXO Steel Apple Divider to chop into slices.
• Dice slices into bite-size pieces.
  
• Add 3 tablespoons of butter over high heat in a skillet until just brown and then add diced apples for 2 minutes over medium heat. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Mix together the dry ingredients (flours, flax seed, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon) and set aside.
• In a mixer bowl, mix the remaining butter and add the granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add the egg and beat until completely mixed. Add yogurt and sour cream and mix until smooth.
• Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix on slow for 2 minutes.
• Fold in the apple chunks.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared bread pans.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar on top.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Lower heat to 375°F and bake for an additional 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean.
• Cool the loaves for 5 minutes in the pans, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

SIDE NOTE:

** Apples are always on the Environmental Work Group's Dirty Dozen list. Buy organic or know your source.

The post Browned Butter Apple Bread – the perfect quick bread for Fall! first appeared on BonBon Break.

One of my goals for this year is to eat one entirely plant-based meal every day. No, I haven’t quite accomplished this just yet, but I am gathering my resources so I feel like I can do it with ease. Honestly, I would be happily veggie, but the rest of my family is another story. The headlines are chock full of this person and that person doing vegan cleanses and such, and I truly wish I could, but this is a start. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to walk down this path? We’d love to hear from you!

Bon Appetit!

Non-Zucchini Spiralizer Recipes

Quick Spiralized Root Vegetables by Beyond Mere Sustenance

Beets And Blue Kale Crunch Salad by Hunger Thirst Play

Vegetable Noodle Stir-Fry by Diabetes Strong

Sweet Potato Pad Thai With Shrimp by The Good Hearted Woman

Cucumber Carrot Salad with Sesame Seeds By Making Healthy Choices

Daikon and Green Apple Salad with Pepitas by Fearless Dining

Sesame Noodle Salad with Cashew Dressing by Vintage Kitty

Crispy Spiralized Baked Potato Fries by Gathering Dreams

20 Minute Creamy Mushroom Sweet Potato Noodles by Salt and Lavender

Swiss Chard and Golden Beet Frittata by Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Cucumber & Carrot Noodle Thai Salad by Tastes Lovely

Noodle-Free Pad Thai by Minimalist Baker

Colorful Jicama Noodle Salad with Creamy Tahini-Ginger Dressing by Blissful Basil

Caesar-Style Spiralized Broccoli with Blistered Tomatoes by The Two Bit Club

Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Spirals with Guacamole by The Creative Bite

Spiralized Butternut Noodles With Creamy Garlic Mushroom Lentils by Wallflower Kitchen

Baked Old Bay Curly Fries by My Sequined Life

Spiralized Apple, Cheddar & Prosciutto Salad by The Creative Bite

Spiralized Radish and Lime Salad by Fearless Dining

BonBon Break Store

Here are a few options for you through our Amazon affiliate store!

This is the spiralizer that we have and I adore. Even my kids can use it. We love it because you can work your way through a lot of vegetables in a flash.

Try these delicious recipes as well!

Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!)

How to Make Roasted Veggies for the Week

31 Days of Easy Dinners

The post 
20 MUST TRY Easy and Delicious Non-Zucchini Spiralizer Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

Quick And Easy Game Night Recipes

We love the idea of these Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pinwheels by Minimalist Baker. This is one of those recipes you can whip up in a flash and changeup to meet the palate of your pickiest eaters! 

 These little Spinach Dip Bites are easy to pop in your mouth while beating the kids at charades. Thanks to Little Luna for sharing!

This is one of our favorite cheats! Loaded Veggie Nachos by Cookie And Kate show you how to feed the masses with the fewest amount of dishes. These are easy to modify for picky eaters as well!

  Skinny Taco Dip by Yellow Bliss Road is simple and healthy! That’s really the goal here isn’t it?

Goat Cheese Bacon Pops by Simply Recipes is a great appetizer that might be more for the adults. It’s nice to have a couple of those around when the vultures take over the table.

The concept of Sweet Potato Bites with Avocado and Bacon by Well Plated is one of my favorite new things!

How can you lose with Layered Hot Pizza Dip by Zesty Olive? This is another fun one where you can change the topping based on the likes and dislikes of your crew.

Aren’t these Pineapple Chicken Taco Wonton Cups by Like Mother Like Daughter the cutest? I just love this idea for a quick and healthy bite-size snack for my crew.

This Sweet and Salty Snack Board by Two Peas And Their Pod is one of those ideas that I see and think “I need to do this more often” and that’s the truth! When it’s all laid out like this, my kids will grab a little bit of everything on their own. Brilliant!

The Lettuce Wrap Sandwich Low Carb by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen is a quick way to get dinner out any night! Customize it for your veggie kids and change it up to wrap up last night’s leftovers.

Baked Drumsticks with Whiskey and Honey by The Cheerful Kitchen are one of my favorite ways to sneak in a little protein for a quick dinner. 

This Artichoke, Tomatoes, Spinach Flatbread by Little Broken is a family favorite. If your kiddos turn up their nose, that’s ok! More for you.

Anything on a skewer is going to be a hit and these Easy Caprese Salad Skewers With Balsamic Glaze by Zesty Olive are a seasonal favorite in our house. I just have to add the word “easy” in there again because…SO EASY!

Spicy Keto Sausage Balls by Moscato Mom. The name says it all and they will be gobbled up before they hit the table.

Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms (Freezer to Oven) by Sweet Peas And Saffron are lovable on a thousand levels. The fact that you can make these ahead and then just pop them into the oven is a win! 

Buffalo Pull Apart Bread by Wine And Glue – just look at this! This is a show stopper! Add this to a simple salad and you are done for the night.

These Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches by Cooking Classy are great for those who have a few big eaters in their midst. They are simple and filling. 

These Salad Rollups by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen are so quick and easy and they check all of the boxes to make sure your family is getting what they need for dinner.

Freezer Breakfast Quesadilla by Well Plated is another customizable treat. Check out her filling. It’s brilliant!

Pepperoni Pizza Sliders by Julie’s Eats And Treats

Enjoy!

A few of our favorite recipes and collections:

• Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights
• Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
• Our Favorite Build-Your-Own Dinners

The post 20 Quick And Easy Game Night Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

The trick is that I follow people like the AMAZING John Kanell from Preppy Kitchen (OMG his Instagram feed!) and that  I am surrounded by incredibly talented bakers like my friend, Suzanne from Flour Arrangements whose prowess with flour and fondant have lured me into thinking ANYTHING is possible in the kitchen if you just try.

My dear, sweet friends, that is simply not true. I can crank out snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies galore, but that is the limit to my baking abilities. Savory I can do, sweet, well, I leave that to the talented people around me. So to honor all of your this holiday season, we have gathered Christmas Cookie recipes for both ends of the spectrum, from simple to extremely talented bakers.

Christmas Cookie Recipes for Every Baker

Peppermint Mocha Cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction

Glazed Cinnamon Spice Cookies by Crazy Little Projects

Chocolate Kiss Cookies by Two Peas and Their Pod

Caramel Stuffed Snickerdoodles by Yellow Bliss Road

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies by Life Love and Sugar

Matcha Green Tea Sugar Cookies by Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Soft And Chewy M and M Chocolate Chip Cookies by Averie Cooks

Reindeer Cookies by Like Mother Like Daughter

Toffee Pecan Shortbread Cookies by House of Nash Eats

Cherry Almond Date Cookies by Fresh April Flours

Chocolate Dipped Snowball Cookies by Crazy for Crust

Orange Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies by Recipes From a Pantry

Gingerbread Cookies With Eggnog Icing by Life Love and Sugar

Chocolate Peppermint Ganache Cookies by Two Peas and Their Pod

Best Ginger Cookies by Baked Bree

Soft Batch Frosted Sugar Cookies by Just So Tasty

Super Simple Santa Cookies by Crazy Little Projects

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies by The Soccer Mom Blog

Lemon Crinkle Cookies by Fresh April Flours

Hot Chocolate Cookies by Averie Cooks

Brownie Roll Out Cookies by Foodal

Raspberry Bow Tie Cookies by Beyond the Chicken Coop

Melting Snowmen Cookies by Little Broken

Best Gingerbread Men Cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction

Triple Chocolate Turtle Cookies by Carlsbad Cravings

Meyer Lemon Pistachio Sandwich Cookies by Coley Cooks

Peppermint Pattie Cookies by How Sweet Eats

White Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie by Life Love And Sugar

Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies by Yellow Bliss Road

Homemade Thin Mints by Bake Eat Repeat

Grinch Heart Cookies by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Vanilla Almond Spritz Cookies by Love and Olive Oil

Fig And Walnut Stuffed Cookies by Little Broken

Dutch Apple Pie Cookies by Lovely Little Kitchen

Chocolate Kiss Powder Puff Cookies by Averie Cooks

Iced Chocolate Peppermint Cookies by Baking a Moment

Mulled Cranberry Macarons by Cookie Named Desire

Chocolate Peppermint Meringue Christmas Trees by Baking a Moment

Snowmen Vegan Meringue Cookies by Vegan Huggs

Spiral Sugar Cookies by Pip and Ebby

Stained Glass Cookies by Dinner at The Zoo

Finnish Christmas Cookies by Lavender and Macarons

Peppermint Macarons by House of Nash Eats

Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie by Tikkido

Red and Green Striped Christmas Meringue Cookies by Salt and Lavender

Christmas Mitten Sugar Cookies by The Soccer Mom Blog

Royal Iced Sugar Cookies by Spoonful of Flavor

Christmas Pinwheel Sugar Cookies by Baked by Rachel

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies by The Creative Bite

Best Ever Sugar Cookies by Pip And Ebby

 More Christmas Cookie Recipes Gathered for You on Pinterest

A few more recipes…

The post 50+ Christmas Cookie Recipes for Every Baker first appeared on BonBon Break.

Our Favorite Gluten-free Side Dishes

Roasted Acorn Squash Tart by A Clean Bake

Easy Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole by Wholesome Yum

Green Beans With Cranberries, Bacon and Goat Cheese by Running To The Kitchen

Roasted Sweet Potato, Kale and Farro Salad by Making Thyme For Healthy

Splash o’ Port Orange and Cranberry Relish by BonBon Break

Crock Pot Stuffing with Wild Rice Cranberries and Almonds by Well Plated

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes by The Anthony Kitchen

Sweet and Savory Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts by Pass Me Some Tasty

Radicchio Pear Gorgonzola Pomegranate And Walnut Salad by A Beautiful Plate

Apple and Sausage Cornbread Stuffing with Sage (gluten-free) by Snixy Kitchen

Baked Vegan and Gluten-Free Mac And Cheese by Gluten Free Vegan Pantry

Artichoke Gratinata by Oh My Veggies

Vanilla Bean Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole by Well Plated

Easy Vegan Mashed Potatoes (gluten-free) by Making Thyme For Healthy

Roasted Baby Carrots by Simply Recipes

Gluten Free Spinach Balls with Hot Sweet Mustard by Mama Gourmand

Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon and Garlic by Two Healthy Kitchens

Balsamic Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds by Spoonful of Flavor

Butternut Squash Cranberry Sorghum Salad by Savory Simple

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe by A Girl Worth Saving

Autumn Roasted Vegetables with Feta Cheese and Red Grapes by Zesty Olive

SEARCH ALL OF OUR GLUTEN-FREE RECIPES FOR MORE INSPIRATION

A few of our favorites:

10 Minute Warm Maple-Dijon Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans

Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights

Pin it for later:

The post 20 Gluten-free Side Dishes for the Holidays first appeared on BonBon Break.

Gone are the days of masking your dry bird with extra helpings of gravy. I’m here to teach you how to brine your bird in advance in order to get the juiciest, most perfect results every time.

Brining is a simple process of soaking meat in a salt water solution for a period of time, generally overnight to 48 hours depending on the size of your bird. As meat cooks, proteins unwind causing shrinkage and moisture release. Brining allows the meat to absorb more moisture before being cooked, ultimately resulting in more moisture retention, and a juicier finished product.

You want to start with a fresh turkey. Frozen turkeys generally already have salt added to them, and brining will just make them saltier. If you do want to use a previously frozen turkey, brine for a shorter period of time.

The most important part of brining is using the correct ratio of salt to water. A good rule of thumb is 2 cups of kosher salt per gallon of water. You can reduce or increase your solution depending on the size of your bird. Soaking time is also important. A large Thanksgiving turkey should brine for around 24 hours. For a smaller bird, like a chicken, 4-6 hours is plenty of soaking time.

I like to add aromatics to my brine, like onions, apples, citrus, fresh herbs and peppercorns. Any combination of aromatics will help to add a very mild, richer flavor to the bird after cooking.

To prepare your brine bring 1/2 the water necessary to a boil in a large, non-reactive pot. Add the salt and aromatics, and boil until salt dissolves. For this particular example, I used oranges, onions, apples, garlic cloves, 1/4 cup peppercorns, fresh thyme and fresh rosemary. I also added 1 cup of apple cider to my brining liquid. Do not be afraid of adding too many aromatics! I promise that your bird will not taste strongly of any of these ingredients. Once the salt dissolves add the remaining water (a trick to cool the brine down faster). Allow the brine to cool completely before adding the bird.

Once the brine is cool, completely submerge your bird in the solution. It must be completely covered. Add more water if necessary.

You’ll need to keep your brining bird cold, which for some, is the hardest part of brining. If you don’t have a pot large enough to submerge an entire large turkey, or if your pot is too large to fit in the fridge, you can easily brine it in a clean cooler by adding ice every few hours. This method can dilute your solution, so you’ll want to brine for a longer period of time. Another great solution is to double bag the turkey in trash bags (make sure it’s well sealed!) and put it in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If you use this method, be sure to turn the bird halfway through to ensure even brining.

Once you’re ready to cook, remove the bird from the brine and give it a good rinse to wash off any salt that may have collected in a concentrated area. Pat dry, season, roast as usual and enjoy a perfect juicy roast turkey.

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