Try your hand at these recipes, and you’ll be on your way to a memorable holiday season.
Spicy Rosemary Cashews
These deeply nutty and flavorful cashews are a perfect nibble for a holiday party. Fresh rosemary infuses the cashews, and the cayenne adds a spicy background accent. These savory nuts are a great addition to a cheese tray or served as a snack alongside some holiday cheer. They make a lovely gift for your favorite foodie—and are exceptionally good eaten warm right out of the oven!
2½ cups raw unsalted cashews (or substitute another kind of nut)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1½ teaspoons cumin
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300° F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, add the nuts and oil; toss to coat.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl. Stir to coat the nuts evenly.
- Spread the nuts out in a single layer on sheet pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Serve warm.
DIY Cordials
Cordials are sweetened distilled spirits, also referred to as liqueurs, and are easy to make at home with a variety of fruits and herbs. Homemade cordials can be strained and served chilled, neat or with ice, as an after-dinner drink. Cordials can be the base for a cocktail, such as a holiday-inspired mule or martini, mixed with seltzer water or tonic and garnished with fresh citrus. Other uses include topping off a flute of prosecco or champagne with a teaspoon or two of cordial, or drizzling it over fresh fruit. Cordials also make a luscious sauce for ice cream.
Citrus Rosemary Cordial
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
Zest from 3 oranges
3 large, juicy lemons, juiced and strained
3 cups vodka
Directions
- Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar. Add the fresh rosemary sprigs and turn off the heat. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Strain the syrup to remove the rosemary. In a large jar with a lid or bottle, add the rosemary syrup, orange zest, lemon juice and vodka.
- Store in the refrigerator for three weeks before enjoying.
Note: Sterilize the jar or bottle used to store the cordial in boiling water before using it.
Cranberry Cordial
2 cups crushed cranberries
2 cups sugar
2 cups vodka
Directions
- Combine ingredients and store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for three weeks.
- Strain and serve as an after-dinner drink or as a base for a cocktail. a&s
