Pumpkin Snackers

If you walk into any type of retailer, it is all about Christmas. I was surprised to find these pumpkin seed snacker crackers from Doctor Kracker. This brand makes their crackers with lots of different seeds and nuts. They are organic and have lots of protein and whole grains, but be warned they are super crunchy. (You should probably not eat these in a library because they are super loud). They're really great for dips because they are super sturdy crackers. These had pumpkin seeds and some cheddar in them. Plus they aren't just another plain, bland and boring cracker. If you are looking for a different cracker, than these might be the ones for you. They also have Klassic 3 Seed and Seedlander so if you can't find the pumpkin seed cheddar be sure to try these other varieties. These would be great with the baked Brie I recently made.

Spicing it Up

I get especially inspired around the holidays to be in the kitchen. However, I have begun to run into several problems. Somehow I am always short on baking sheets or bowls, there never seem to be enough storage containers, and I end up with way too many leftovers. That doesn't stop me!...Especially since I committed to try and make something new everything. So what do you? Enter the gift basket. I know that can be a bit cliche, but they can be really great. I personally like when there is a bit of everything. This is a great way to be able to try all the recipes you want, but not have oodles of leftovers. Things like cookies, brownies, hot cocoa, cheese, crackers, nuts (like almonds), and if they are of age a bottle of wine or their favorite liquor are perfect Last year, I tried these spicy, baked crackers and they were so addicting! The crushed red pepper gives them a kick but the neutral cracker balances it out. So while on Pinterest (go figure), I found a recipe for these crackers and was so excited. 

This is another quick snack recipe that can be done in minutes and is the perfect basket filler. You need saltines, canola oil, a ranch dressing packet, and crushed red pepper. The proportions of the recipe are kind of based on how big the bowl is. I used two sleeves of crackers, half the ranch packet, 1 1/2 tablespoons crushed red pepper, and 1 1/8 cups of canola oil. It was a bit to much in the bowl, so I would probably do one thing of crackers at a time. All you do is combine everything in the bowl, let sit for 5-10 minutes, and bake at 250 for 15 minutes. You do have to stir everything part way through to make sure nothing is getting burnt. If it ends up like mine where the baking sheet is way to full the mixing is even more important to make sure nothing stays hidden. It is one of the easiest things to make, but is so yummy! Mine were a bit spicy, but you can control the heat with how much red pepper you add. Once you make them, they will be gone before you know it, so make more than you anticipate.

Sipping and Dipping

I will be the first to admit that I am not a wine expert. I am new to the wine world and realize how much I don't know about wine. Most of the time I walk into the store and decide whether I want sweet or dry, and after that it's all about the labels. I know some might scoff at that way to make decisions, but I have discovered some great wines this way. My latest find was a cabernet sauvignon from Two Vines via World Market. This was a very light red that had a wonderfully fruity finish with very light tannins. I can honestly say that I very much enjoyed this wine, which is something that I don't believe I have ever said before. Even if you don't like red wines, I highly recommend giving this wine a try. You never know, you may be very pleasantly surprised like I was. Besides, it was around $10 so there is no reason not to try it!

The other great thing about trying this wine was that I got to break out these yummy new crackers I received. Rosemary and raisin crackers from Trader Joe's. They sound like an odd combination and I was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be a really wonderful symphony of flavors. The earthy spice of the rosemary and the sweetness of the raisins took the crackers from ordinary to extraordinary. I didn't have any, but some herbed cheese might pair well with the crackers when you are entertaining. This isn't your run of the mill cracker. They have life, flavor and are sure to be a hit.

Let me know what wine gems you have found and what makes them so unique. Also, if you have any great suggestions of what to serve with your wine or any fun snacks you have tried, please let me know!