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Cranberry Cream Pie

Well, hello.

It’s been awhile, to say the least. But I’m still here. I’m cooking and parenting and working and Instagramming all the things. Life is very good and very busy.

Lately I’ve found myself writing blog posts in my head. I’ve wanted to update you all on the things going on in my life. I was interviewed by the PDX Food Stories podcast, and then I was interviewed about being a working mom on the amazing Motherbirth podcast. Oh, and then I was interviewed by Rolling Stone. (My life is really weird sometimes.)

I miss blogging. I really do. I’m just not sure how to do all the things. As much as I’d like to think I’m Superwoman, I’m not. I’m just a regular ole human and something had to give. So, the blog has been sorely neglected.

But, when Missy Maki sent out an email a few weeks ago asking if I would like to be part of the 6th Annual Ultimate Oregon Thanksgiving radio show, how could I say no?! I’ve been on this show every year (with one exception, when the kiddo was a month old and I was in newborn zombie-land), and I certainly wasn’t going to miss this one. It’s extra special because Missy has decided to step away from her radio show – The Simple Kitchen – to focus on her business and her family. (I feel that so hard. Mad props to you for knowing your limits and your priorities, Missy!) This will be one of her last episodes EVER, and I am honored to be a part of it. So be sure to tune in to KPAM860 this Sunday, November 19th from 10AM-12PM, as I’ll be chatting all things Thanksgiving (including this awesome Cranberry Cream Pie) with a great group of bloggers.

When I was thinking about what to make for the show, I got the crazy idea to make a cranberry pie. A few years back, I made this Cranberry Custard Pie from Real Simple and it was very good. It was relatively simple to make and it was a hit with the in-laws. Win, win.

But, I must confess that I suck at making pie crust. I blame it on the fact that my sister is the baker in the family. I make the holiday dinners, she makes the pies. I just don’t have the pie making gene. But that’s ok, because GRAHAM CRACKER CRUSTS are perfectly acceptable and are way less stressful thank baking a pie crust and they taste super duper good. The graham cracker crust is my ultimate holiday hack.

So, I took the Cranberry Custard Pie and I mashed it up with an old recipe of mine for a Strawberry Cream Pie — and voila! This magical recipe for Cranberry Cream Pie was born. It’s really easy to put together. It’s beautiful. It’s delicious. You know you need this on your Thanksgiving table!

Cranberry Cream Pie

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust:

1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
1 package graham crackers (or 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Cream Cheese Filling:

2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1.5 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
The zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Cranberry topping:

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange zest, plus 2 tablespoons orange juice
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Pinch of vanilla bean salt (or regular salt will do)

Instructions

Make the crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9″ pie pan.
In a food processor, pulse together the graham crackers and almonds, until they are fine crumbs. Pour the crumb mixture into a bowl, and stir in the melted butter, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Mix until the crumb mixture is moistened. Press the mixture evenly into the pie pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Make the Cream Cheese Filling:

Once the crust is cooled, prepare the filling. In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat for 2-3 minutes, until fluffy. Gently stir in the lemon zest.

Make the Cranberry Topping:

Combine the cranberries, sugar, rosemary springs, orange zest and juice, and salt in a medium pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the liquid thickens and some of the cranberries burst, 7 -8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and chill 30 minutes to 1 hour.

To Assemble Pie:

Gently spread the cream cheese filling over the graham cracker crust. Top with chilled cranberry mixture. Top with a small sprig of rosemary, if desired. Chill pie for 6-8 hours before serving.

http://rosemarried.co/2017/11/14/cranberry-cream-pie/

Anniversary Gift Ideas + A Recipe for a Sparkling Sage Bees Knees Cocktail

What if I told you that this Sparkling Sage Bee’s Knees Cocktail takes 36+ hours to make? You’d probably roll your eyes and move onto the next recipe. Ain’t nobody got time for a cocktail that takes days to make.

But what if I told you that I made my own gin and that’s why this cocktail took two days to make. Would you think think I’m a little less crazy? (And yeah, you read that right. I made gin. And then I took that gin and I made a really lovely cocktail with it!)

Let me explain.

I was recently introduced to Uncommon Goods, a Brooklyn-based online retailer that features beautiful variety of home decor and artisan goods. Their products are beautiful, and I am a big fan of the way they do business. Uncommon Goods seeks to support independent artist, to support artistic endeavors that are sustainable, and they are dedicated to paying fair wages. (The lowest paid seasonal worker at their NY factory makes 50% above minimum wage, which is awesome.)

So when Uncommon Goods approached me and asked if I’d like to collaborate on a post, I didn’t think twice. This partnership just made sense.

Since the site is expansive, we decided to hone in on Uncommon Good’s anniversary collection. I was drawn to these gifts, mostly because there’s a little something for everyone. They have amazing gifts for couples, as well as curated gifts geared towards him or her. (If only I had discovered Uncommon Goods in time for our anniversary this year! Oh well, there’s always next year!)

Of all the unique gifts on the site, it was the Homemade Gin Kit that really caught my eye. My husband and I love to make cocktails together, and we’ve never tried our hand at making gin. I thought it would be a great gift, and something we could enjoy together.

And, of course, if you’re going to make your own gin, you best be prepared to make delicious gin cocktails. And you better have some snazzy glassware to go with it. While there are lots of gorgeous glassware options on Uncommon Goods, I chose these Wood and Ceramic Tumblers by David Rasmussen. They’re just so simple and stylish and lovely. (Bonus: I knew my husband would like them, too. And I was right.)

With their powers combined, the gin kit and the tumblers are the perfect gift for the cocktail enthusiast in your life. (If you’re looking for an anniversary gift for your mixology-minded partner, look no further!)

That said, when the package arrived, I started making gin immediately. The kit contains everything you need to make gin – 2 clear glass bottles, a metal funnel, a mesh strainer, juniper berries, and a secret botanical blend. You just gotta add vodka. I let the vodka steep with the juniper berries for over 24 hours, and then added the botanicals for an additional 18 hours. The gin took on the hue of the herbs juniper berries, but I didn’t mind the color because it tasted so darn good. It was incredibly herbaceous and flavorful, and unlike any other gin I’ve ever tasted.

Since the gin turned out so well, I knew I needed to create an extra special cocktail that really complimented the herbal notes of the homemade gin. I did a little research and eventually settled on a variation of the Bee’s Knees cocktail, which is typically gin, honey, and lemon. I used these three elements and then added in fresh sage and sparkling wine. Let me tell you, these cocktails were real good.

So, without further adieu, I shall post the recipe for this lovely Sparkling Sage Bee’s Knees Cocktail. Because, you need it in your life. (And if you’re looking for an anniversary gift for the special someone in your life, I urge you to check out Uncommon Goods. Heck, you can even steal my idea and get the gin kit and the wood and ceramic tumblers. I wouldn’t blame you one bit. It’s an awesome gift!)

Sparkling Sage Bee’s Knees Cocktail

Ingredients

1.5 ounces gin
Juice of 1/2 a lemon, plus a 1″ strip of lemon peel
2 tablespoons honey simple syrup
3-5 sage leaves
Float of sparkling wine

Instructions

To make the honey simple syrup, boil equal parts honey and water in a small saucepan until honey dissolves. Stir, remove from heat, and allow to cool.
To make the cocktail, combine gin, lemon juice, lemon peel, honey syrup, and sage leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle ingredients together for 30-60 seconds. Add ice to the shaker and vigorously shake until chilled, about 10 seconds.
Pour cocktail into glass, and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

http://rosemarried.co/2016/10/03/sparkling-sage-bees-knees-cocktail/

Disclaimer: I received a free products from Uncommon Goods in exchange for writing a review on the blog. All opinions are my own.

Father’s Day Giveaway with Parcel

Hello, friends!

It’s good to be back. You may have noticed that I took a little break from the blog, but I’m been writing and recipe testing and I’m ready to jump back in. I’ve missed blogging and I have a lot of fun posts planned for this summer.

That said, what better way to jump back into the blog than with a giveaway?!

I’ve partnered with the wonderful folks at Parcel to give away a beautifully curated Father’s Day gift set, ‘The Northest Gentleman’!

“The Northwest Gentleman is a handsome selection of our favorite local artisan products and is perfect for spoiling Dad on Father’s Day. This collection includes the following: Breakside Brewery Wanderlust IPA, one steel pint glass, Olympia Provisions Salami, Spicy Seasoning by Jacobsen Salt Co., Krista’s Baking Company + Mustard and Co. Soft Pretzel Mix and mustard set, Scout notebook, Woodland Bitters from Portland Bitters Project and an airplant. The Northwest Gentleman comes packaged in our signature keepsake box with a customized gift tag, handcrafted in Oregon with Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.” – Parcel

Parcel is a Portland based company that makes gorgeous gift boxes, featuring locally made products. Be sure to check out their full line of curated boxes, they’ve got something for everyone.

OK! Onto the giveaway! It’s pretty darn easy.

There are two ways to enter! (1) Comment below and let us know who you’d like to give the Northwest Gentleman box to (2) Be sure to follow @rosemarried and @parcelpdx on Instagram, and follow the instructions on Rosemarried’s Instagram for an additional entry! Giveaway closes on Tuesday, June 14th at 11am. Winner will be announced on Tuesday afternoon! Good luck!

UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed, and a winner has been selected at random. Congrats to Jess Rials. Stay tuned for more posts (and giveaways) in the coming weeks!

Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili

I’ve been trying to figure out how to actually write out the recipe for this butternut squash chili with turkey and poblanos. It’s been years since I’ve even glanced at a chili recipe. It’s just one of those things that I make up as I go. I don’t measure anything, I just throw some stuff in a pot (meat, onions, tomatoes, chili powder, beans, etc) and let it simmer a good long while, and eventually it turns out just right.

So, then, just throw some turkey and butternut squash into a pot with some canned tomatoes and kidney beans and it’ll magically come together! That’s it! No recipe required!

I kid, I kid. It’s not quite that simple (but it is really darn simple).

I am not against following a good chili recipe. In fact, I already have two different chili recipes up on this here blog: a Vegan Black Bean Chili and a Beef Chili with Garden Vegetables. They are both equally delicious (and so easy!), but I think this butternut squash and turkey chili takes the cake. I can say without any hesitation that this is my new favorite chili.

For reals, though, it’s hard to screw up this butternut squash chili. The real key to this recipe is time. Just let the pot of chili simmer away on the stovetop for as long as you are able (1-3 hours). The longer it cooks, the better it gets. The butternut squash starts to break down and become a part of the chili base and it is really freaking delicious. (I’ve not yet attempted to make this butternut squash chili in the slow cooker, but I imagine that the results would be stellar.)

And that, my friends, is all I have to say on the matter. Go forth and make chili!

Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey
1 small butternut squash
1 white/yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1-2 poblano peppers, seeded and roughly chopped
1 (28oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
1 (15oz) can of kidney beans
2 tbs chili powder
1 tbs cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over med-high head. Add onion, carrot, poblano, and celery and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add in ground turkey. Stir to combine, and cook over medium-high turkey until browned (5-8 minutes).
While turkey is cooking, peel and seed the butternut squash with a large sharp knife. Cut into 1″ cubes.
Once turkey is cooked through, add in spices, canned tomatoes, kidney beans, and butternut squash. Add water, just to cover the meat/veggies. (Note: I like my chili very thick and without much liquid. I usually add in about 1 cup of water, just to ensure there’s enough cooking liquid and so the meat doesn’t dry out). Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
Allow the chili to simmer on low heat for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. After an hour, taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Once the squash is fork tender, I like to take a potato masher to the pot, just to break up the squash a bit and infused it into the chili.
Serve chili warm with a myriad of garnishes: cornbread, cilantro, sour cream, cheese, green onions, etc.

http://rosemarried.co/2016/02/11/butternut-squash-chili/

Whole Wheat Spinach Banana Muffins

I’ve become one of those moms who hides vegetables in my kid’s food.

I never thought I’d see the day, let alone see it so soon. (Mind you, my daughter is just 15 months old.) Of course I thought my kid was going to happily devour all the homemade organic delights I placed in front of her! She wasn’t going to be one of those picky eaters. Wrong.

Sure, there are days when she’ll happily eat the healthy and wholesome meals I make for her. And then there are the days where she literally won’t try a bite of anything I set in front of her. Those buckwheat soba noodles she devoured last night? Today, she acts offended by their mere existence.

She’ll eat applesauce from a squeeze pouch, but she won’t eat it from a spoon. She likes frozen blueberries, but won’t eat fresh ones. And if I can hide it in a quesadilla, she’ll eat it.

Babies, man. They are so cute. But they are SO crazy.

And that, my friends, is how I found myself blending spinach and bananas into muffins. I’m one of those moms now, and I don’t mind it one bit. If it gets my kid to happily devour vegetables, I’m all for it. (Whatever works, right?!)

There are plenty of other healthy toddler-friendly recipes out there, but I thought I’d share my adaptation of this recipe for spinach banana muffins as they’ve been a big hit in our household. You can toss in other fresh fruits or veggies or substitute other greens (chard, kale, etc) for the spinach. If you want to make a double or triple batch, they also freeze nicely.

These Whole Wheat Spinach Banana Muffins are quick, easy, and are generally well-received by tiny little crazy people. ;)

Spinach Banana Muffins

Yield: 12

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh spinach
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line or grease a muffin tin.
In a blender or food processor, combine banana, spinach, applesauce, egg, honey, oil, and vanilla. Blend until well combined.
In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir til just combined. The mixture will be thick and dense. (If too thick, add a bit of water or milk. You will not be able to pour the mix.)
Spoon into prepared muffin tin. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until tops of the muffins are beginning to brown and the muffins are set.

Notes

Adapted from Tribe Magazine

http://rosemarried.co/2016/01/26/whole-wheat-spinach-and-banana-muffins/

Bake Sale for Refugees

A few weeks ago, I got this crazy idea to throw a bake sale to benefit Syrian refugees.

I was watching the news and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the gravity of it all. I was haunted by images of mothers clutching their babies as they fled for their lives. Families boarding flimsy rafts, hoping to sail off to safety.

I felt lost and helpless and had no idea what to do.

The next day, I attended a service at Imago Dei Community and I was floored by their Advent initiative to work with refugees. I started thinking about what I could do in light of the current refugee crisis, and literally googled “how to help Syrian refugees“. I ended up on a site that rates charity organizations and they had very good things to say about the Migrant Offshore Aid Station. MOAS is an organization dedicated to saving lives at sea, by sending out professional search and rescue teams. They are “passionate about the plight of those who are desperate enough to put themselves and their families in danger as they flee violence, persecution and oppression by setting off on the world’s most deadly maritime migration routes.”

I was inspired by the incredible (and dangerous) work that MOAS does, and decided to do the one thing I know how to do: bring people together under the banner of delicious food (in hopes to raise money for an awesome cause).

So, I sent off a bunch of emails and texts and within 24 hours I had a free space, beer/wine/coffee sponsors, raffle prize donations from countless local restaurants and bakers, and an overwhelming amount of people who volunteered to bake goods for the sale. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: PORTLAND IS RAD. The generosity of this community astounds me.)

All that to say, I’m hosting a bake sale to benefit refugees at Pip’s Original Doughnuts on Saturday 12/19 from 6-9PM. There will be complimentary beverages from Rogue Ales, Union Wine Co., and Water Avenue Coffee.

We’ll have baked goods from some of the city’s best bloggers, bakers, and restaurants (Lauretta Jean’s, Farina Bakery, New American, and more!). There will be pies, cakes, brownies, cookies, scones, bread, caramels, chocolates, and SO MUCH MORE.

In addition, there will be a raffle with prizes from Water Avenue Coffee, Owen Roe Winery, BUNK Sandwiches, Parcel, Marshall’s Haute Sauce, Pip’s Original, Jacobsen Salt Co. and more!

100% of the proceeds from the #BakeSaleForRefugees will be donated to the Migrant Offshore Aid Station. Come one and all. I hope to see you at Pip’s on Saturday night!

If you are interested in donating baked goods or raffle prizes, please contact me. We’re gladly accepting donations.

My Favorite Lentil Salad

Lentils are a funny little legume. They’re teeny tiny little bits of awesome. They aren’t particularly pretty or glamorous, but lentils are affordable and nourishing. Bonus: lentils are also super delicious.

I cook with lentils often. And by often, I mean I make the same two lentil recipes over and over and over again: this Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup with Cilantro and Bacon and this crazy delicious Lentil Salad. I’m sorry to all other lentil salads out there, but this is my favorite lentil salad. It’s just so unexpected and awesome. The lentils are mixed with dried cranberries, capers, goat cheese, greens, and a phenomenal dressing that uses every spice in the cabinet. (If you think I’m kidding, look at the recipe. So. Many. Spices.)

I don’t know what else to say about this lentil salad. It’s wonderful and delicious and I make it all the time. I love it, my husband loves it, even the baby loves it. Just give it a try, and I bet this will quickly become your favorite lentil salad. Just make sure your spice pantry is well-stocked before you attempt to make the dressing because it uses a LOT of spices. (I noticed that this recipe really taps into “The C Spices”: cardamom, cayenne, cloves, coriander, cumin, cinnamon. So if you find yourself making this salad without a recipe, just toss in all the c spices and a few others and you’ll be fine!)

Oh, one last note! The original recipe calls for dried lentils (which then have to be cooked), but I’m lazy and I skip that step and just buy the pre-cooked lentils from Trader Joe’s and thus this salad is the easiest EVER. No cooking required. Thank goodness for the magic of TJ’s.

My Favorite Lentil Salad

Ingredients

Salad:
1 pound cooked lentils
1 shallot, sliced thinly
1 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup capers
1/3 cup goat cheese crumbles
A few handfuls of arugula or spinach
Optional add ins: fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped pecans or almonds, green onions.
Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. maple syrup (or honey)
1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
¼ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Instructions

Place all dressing ingredients in a small mason jar and give it a good shake until combined.
In a large bowl, combine cooked lentils, dried cranberries, capers, and sliced shallots. Toss with the dressing. Gently fold in the greens and half of the crumbled goat cheese, stir to coat. Before serving, crumble the rest of the goat cheese atop the salad. Serve at room temperature.
This salad keeps well in the fridge for a few days.

Notes

Adapted from My New Roots

http://rosemarried.co/2015/10/05/favorite-lentil-salad/