Pistachio Cranberry Snowball Cookies

I also made these pistachio snowball cookies yesterday. These cookies are based on my Nana's almond snowball cookies, but I swapped out the almonds for my favorite nuts, pistachios, and added 1/2 cup dried cranberries to give it a Christmasy color scheme. 

In a food processor combine 3/4 cup organic powdered sugar, 1 cup organic butter, 1 tsp salt and pulse till combined. Add 1 cup ground pistachios, 1/2 cup dried cranberries and pulse a few times until combined. Now add 2 cups organic all purpose flour and pulse just a few times just until combined. Do not over process the dough.

Place onto a floured work surface and press it together. Form the dough into a log, cover with plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350.

Cut the log into small squares and roll around into balls. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes until cooked.

Dust with powdered sugar on all sides.

Merry Christmas!

Cranberry Yogurt Scones

When I woke up this morning, it was pouring rain. Some of the windows were open and the chilly, damp air was making me shiver. I went to the kitchen for coffee and decided to  turn the oven on and make these.

They’re baking now. The smell is incredible, and the kitchen is all warm and cozy. Yum, scones! I can’t wait.

 Here’s how to make yogurt scones:

In one bowl sift 2 cups flour, ( I used 1 c. organic whole wheat pastry flour and 1 c. organic all purpose) 2 tsp baking powder, a pinch of cinnamon, 2 tblps organic sugar, and 1 tsp salt.

In another bowl grate 1/2 stick butter and 2 tblsp coconut oil.  I used coconut oil combined with butter because 1) I wanted to get rid of the jar taking up room in the fridge that had 2 tblsp coconut oil left in it, and 2) it’s supposed to be a healthier fat since it is liquid at room temp. (I used a small cheese grater to grate both of these since the coconut oil hardens in the fridge.) I also grated the zest of 1 small tangerine.

Combine the flour, butter and oil using your fingers till it forms a crumbly mixture.

Now combine 1 small container of plain yogurt, zest & juice from the tangerine, 2 tblsp water, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. 

Put about 1/2 cup of * dried cranberries * in the flour crumb bowl, fold in the yogurt mixture and mix with a fork till just combined.  It will be very shaggy, and that’s good. Knead it once or twice just until it comes together. 

Form into a disk and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Cut into pie shaped segements. Sprinkle with a little granulated sugar. Bake at 400 for 15 to 20 mins.

Make coffee and enjoy. Yum!

* This is the kind of recipe you can make substitutions. Raisins, chocolate chips, chopped apricots, or frozen blueberries would all work great in place of the cranberries. I also want to try this with some cocoa powder sifted into the flour mixture and add chocolate chips. I think I'll do that one tomorrow. *

Cranberry Curried Chicken Salad

The other night we made a whole roast chicken for dinner. It was really delicious. I used cranberries in this recipe because I was out of raisins. Sometimes it's good to run out of an ingredient & make yourself experiment with substitutions. 

Chop about 1 cup of cooked chicken, add 2 chopped celery stalks, 2 shredded carrots, 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, fresh chopped parsley, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, pinch of cayenne, 1/2 tsp curry powder, juice of 1/2 lemon, celery salt and pepper.

Mix it all together and serve on a salad or toasted bread.