Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo

Posted on January 9, 2013 by theculinarycapers

Happy New Year, everyone! Wait….what? I’m 9 days too late?

Yeah. I has been a while since I last posted, hasn’t it? Unfortunately, I’ve been holed up with the stomach flu since Friday night.

Trust me, the last thing you want to do when you have the stomach flu is update your food blog. Bleh.

Thankfully, I’m now fully recovered and eager to share some recipes I’ve been stockpiling over the past few days. My illness actually came at a really appropriate time. Heading into 2013, I had decided my theme for the year is “Transformation” part of this including living a more healthy lifestyle. And now that I’ve spent the first week of 2013 in sickness, I am better ready to appreciate the health. Continue reading →

Cheesecake Nachos

Posted on December 31, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Mmm….nachos. So cheesy.

So salty. So crunchy.

So….sweet?

Continue reading →

Chocolate Pretzel Candy

Posted on December 24, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Merry Christmas from The Culinary Capers! And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, then I hope you’re having a fabulous December 24th and 25th off of work, and with family and friends!

My gift to you this year: simplicity in the kitchen. You have stressed yourself out with holiday shopping, unexpected visits, and multiple trips to the grocery store.

But this chocolate pretzel candy couldn’t be any easier. Continue reading →

Last Minute Gift Idea – Holiday Cookie Mix!

Posted on December 21, 2012 by theculinarycapers

So, I had all this holiday baking planned. Post after post after post of snowman cupcakes, gingerbread houses, santa brownies, and more.

Then I got the stomach bug. I’ve spent some prime Christmas goody-making time huddled under the covers, avoiding anything edible, and cursing my work schedule for packing 3 late nights on top of my already precarious condition.

Best laid plans, right? Continue reading →

Reindeer Cake Pops

Posted on December 14, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Yep. I went there.

Right when you were thinking you were off the hook this year. Being mindful about your eating. Avoiding the cheese platter at holiday parties. Sipping your skinny cocktails.

But no, no, no, my friends. You are not escaping the holiday pounds that easily.

Not after I made these. Continue reading →

Melted Snowman Ginger Cookies

Posted on December 11, 2012 by theculinarycapers

I had planned to make these melted snowman ginger cookies all weekend. It was just fate that it happened on the day we had a foot of snow dumped on us.

Hello, Minnesota Winter. I see you’ve decided to join us this year. Lucky for you I have a kitchen full of candy melts, flour, sugar and spices.

Snow all you want to. I will sit inside and eat so many cookies that I become big enough to be my own snow plow. Who’s winning now, Mr. Snow? Continue reading →

Carrot Cake Ice Cream

Posted on December 3, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Because it’s December in Minnesota, I thought I’d make ice cream.

It’s never too cold for ice cream in Minnesota, doncha know.

Why not make ice cream when I bought my ice cream maker during the 100 degree days we were having in July?

Well, that just would have made too much sense. Continue reading →

Cranberry Baked Brie Bites

Posted on November 22, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Baked brie is sort of an obsession of mine. Gooey, melted cheese topped with something sweet, wrapped up in puff pasty? Where do I sign?!

It’s an awesome dish to bring to a holiday party, and it looks gorgeous until people start digging in. Then it gets tricky.

As tasty as it is, baked brie usually ends up becoming a mess. Slicing through the puff pastry layer, and attempting to get the ideal ratio of brie to pastry to sweet topping can be tough to wrangle.

And then you put it all on a cracker. That part always baffled me a little. As I sat there putting pastry on a cracker, I found myself thinking…why? Why am I putting pastry filled with cheese and sweet goodness on a cracker? It’s like putting bread on more bread and putting stuff on top of your double bread.

So, being the plucky problem solver that I am (not that bread on bread is a problem…if you’re into that) I devised a solution. Continue reading →

Carrot Cake with Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

Posted on November 20, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Want to know why people love carrot cake?

Cream cheese frosting.

Let’s be honest with ourselves now. Carrot cake is a great idea. A cake that gets its moist texture from vegetables? Genius! But would you eat it without cream cheese frosting?

Would you really? Continue reading →

Apple Butternut Squash and Sausage Gratin

Posted on November 18, 2012 by theculinarycapers

Gotta love a dish that does double duty. This gratin works well as a side dish (Thanksgiving anyone?) or as a main, paired with some green veggies.

With the abundance of fresh fall produce, and the dark and chilly nights, what’s sounds better than a pan of cheesy, meaty, veggies and fruit? This is comfort food at it’s best. Filling, but not heavy, and loaded with vitamins to beat the winter blues. Continue reading →