Archives for 2015

Since Christmas is this week, I’m sure you’ve gotten all your holiday shopping done (unless you are a major procrastinator like me). But, have you remembered everyone on your list? I’m betting there might be one (or a few) that you’ve forgotten… that’s right, your dogs!
This year, make sure your four-legged friends feel special and loved on Christmas morning by making them their very own homemade dog treats. I found this recipe via the Damn Delicious blog, and it couldn’t be easier. I was recently able to whip up a batch of these in a matter of minutes (all with ingredients I had on hand) and my dogs couldn’t wait until they came out of the oven to sample their goodies. And of course, once they got their paws on one, they couldn’t control themselves (think repeated sitting, rolling over and speaking until they got another one).

Depending on the size of the cookie cutter you use, you can get dozens and dozens of treats out of one batch, perfect for making plenty for your pooches and gifts for all their friends.
This year, be sure Santa comes to your canine companions by making them some homemade dog treats!

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
2 large eggs
3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-­high until well combined, about 1­-2 minutes.
Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3­-4 times until it comes together.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4­ inch thickness.
Using cookie cutters in the shape of your choice, cut out shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-­25 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.
Note: Baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats.

‘Tis the season for flipping through catalogs and dreaming of some new kitchen gadgets. No one asked for my wish list this year (hint: someone forward this to my husband!) but these are a few things I wouldn’t mind under the tree come Christmas morning.

1. Vinturi Champagne Opener. Take the work and fear out of opening a champagne bottle? Yes please! Love this new gadget available at Williams-Sonoma for $34.95.
2. Spiralizer. I give in. This has got to be THE gadget of the year and I must.have.one. I’ve heard you don’t have to buy the most expensive one to get good results but curious if anyone has any recommendations? If you’ve got Amazon Prime (if you don’t you should be asking for that for Christmas) this looks like a good option for $18.99.
3. Inspiralized Cookbook. If I’m going to get a Spiralizer then I’m going to need inspiration for using it! Just add it to the Amazon basket for $11.99.
4. Chef’s Planet Clip & Drain. Why didn’t I think of this? Visit Sur La Table to snatch this perfect stocking stuffer for $13.
5. Immersion Blender. I’ve wrote about my love for my favorite kitchen gadget of all time on SacFoodies before and mine is broken. So, please Santa, can you replace it?? Creamy soups without all the mess are missing in my life this season. I’ll make it easy: pick this one up at Target for $59.99.
6. Illustrated 2016 Calendar. I’m obsessed with this cute calendar from Food52 for just $24. That’s right, that’s just $2 a month for some fantastic food art.
7. Pizza Platter and Plates. One of my favorite all-time gifts I received was a set of pizza plates. We use them ALL THE TIME. Someone on my list this year is getting the cute platter ($24.95) and matching plates ($7.95 each) from Crate & Barrel.
8. Poco Dolce Tiles. You guys, these are seriously the best chocolates ever. We received them once as a gift in the office and I about died. My favorite is the Burnt Caramel Toffee but this trio for $60 lets you try more than one flavor. Bucket list: must visit shop in SF soon.
9. FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealing System. I made two quiche a couple weeks ago and one went completely to waste. If only I had a FoodSaver®! Plus, the cinnamon red version is just too cute to pass up and on sale now for $149.99.

Growing up, Christmas was the most anticipated holiday of the year. Much of this was due to my Mom, who really went all out on Christmas, from decorations to baking – always with celebrating the true meaning of the season in mind. She was an original DIY-er before it was cool to be one! We’d bake everything under the sun, make homemade ornaments from dough and glitter, nativity scenes from cardboard and paint, and we’d stage Christmas plays.
So, when I had my own children, there were so many traditions that I wanted to pass on to them. But the season is a busy one, and there are only so many things you can fit in, right? As a result, our family has lots of traditions but we don’t incorporate all of them every year. I realized I didn’t really know what food traditions were the most important to my kids, so I decided to ask them.
Me: I’m writing a post about favorite holiday foods that we make every year. What’s yours?
My daughter: Hot chocolate.
Me: Hot chocolate?
My daughter: Yeah, cause I want to make homemade peppermint marshmallows this year to go with the hot chocolate. And, Christmas cookies, of course.
Me: Oh, marshmallows would be fun to make. By Christmas cookies, do you mean sugar cookies?
My daughter: Yeah, sugar cookies. I LOVE decorating them with all the sparkles and those little balls that look like jewels.
I’m not sure why I didn’t ask her what her favorite holiday foods were before this post. I could have saved myself a lot of time by reducing my baking list to just two items. But, to be fair, I needed to ask my son the same question.
Me: So, what’s your favorite holiday food that we make each year?
My son: Cinnamon rolls.
Me: The ones we have on Christmas morning?
My son: Yeah.
Me: Any others?
My son: As long as we have those, I’m good.
And, because he was studying for finals, that was pretty much the extent of our conversation! Yes, I definitely should have written this post a long time ago. I can now cross off fudge, ginger cookies, cashew caramel bars, toffee, date bars and snowballs. But, I can add a new food to add to our traditional lineup. Here’s the recipe forhomemade peppermint marshmallowsthat we’ll be enjoying.
What’s your favorite holiday food and why?

By: Samantha Fugate It’s the Holiday season, and we have been busy with everything from our Holiday Party and buying gifts for all our foodie friends to photographing all our holiday favorites for clients, such as the Pistachio Health Institute. Check out these delicious, in-shell pistachios smiling big for their holiday close up!
Here in the SacFoodies kitchen, we partake in a wide variety of food-related events. On any given day, one of our designers may be photographing some wine or food for one of our clients’ Facebook pages. Other days, we may be testing a new client recipe such as Mirassou Red Wine Hot Cocoa from The Taylor House.
As 2016 approaches, we are looking forward to more photo shoots, tastings and whatever may come our way to share with you.
Happy Holidays from SacFoodies!