Black Garlic Standing Potato Gratin

Whether they're mashed, scalloped, fried, or baked, potatoes will always have a special place in my heart and at the holiday table. This casserole does them justice with a show-stopping presentation and a flavor profile that'll have your guests scrambling to discover the secret ingredient. The answer? Black garlic. If you've never had black garlic before, its sweetness and balsamic quality will delight. The flavor is mellow and caramel, but remains decidedly garlic, the best of both worlds. With the accent of savory and powerhouse cheeses like parmesan and gruyere, and a beautiful starchy potato canvas, this dish is a masterpiece. The assembly is easy and forgiving so dig in and enjoy.We first found this recipe in the Food Lab by inspired chef and recent Seattle transplant J-Kenji Lopez. His method of cooking the potatoes hassle back style is genius. You might be thinking the recipe too rich (blasphemy!), but it's surprisingly not too heavy. All the same, we have used oat milk as a substitute when counting calories and the results were delicious in that version too.

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Chewy Lemon & Blueberry Mace Oatmeal Cookies

The fall colors and weather are here, and there's nothing better to come home to than a warm home flooded with the scent of freshly baked cookies.My grandmother used to make oatmeal cookies with mace powder and lemon that were absolutely delicious. Alas, I misplaced her recipe years ago. Over the years, I have been trying different recipes to find one just like she used to make. This is the closest I have found. They have the perfect chewy, yet with a slightly crumbly texture.Since blueberries go well with both mace and lemon, I added some dried ones to the recipe. The resulting cookie is one that's perfect for a late morning or afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of coffee or tea.When most people think of mace, they think of pepper spray. But the two have nothing in common! Mace comes from the outer coating of nutmeg. It has a bold, pungent yet sweeter flavor than nutmeg. We heavily recommend trying this spice, especially if you never have before.

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Chimichurri Rhubarb Slaw

Rhubarb is the star of this stunning slaw. Often overlooked as a seasonal vegetable, the raw flavor is tart and fruity, with a satisfying crunch. Combined with a complimentary mixture of purple cabbage, carrots and shallot, it brings a rainbow of color and texture to your spring salad plate. To fancy it up, we created a crispy curl to the thinly sliced rhubarb by giving it an ice water bath. A vinegar based dressing seasoned with our Chimichurri Spice brings it all together beautifully. This blend has bold flavors with a mild fruity heat. Traditionally this Argentinian blend gets paired with fresh herbs and grilled meats, but here it adds earthiness to the salad. Because we couldn't resist, we topped it with a final wow factor with a sprinkle of brined Kampot peppercorns for a burst of salty spice.

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Beet Sourdough

Spring 2020, the sourdough frenzy started. I had very little bread baking experience and flour was scarce. There was no sourdough starter in sight, but we were in lockdown. After a legit learning curve, and in desperate need of a hobby, sourdough ended up giving me all of the bread confidence I needed. So grateful! Sourdough truly has a mind of its own, but that makes it fun to work with. It is rewarding and well worth the patience. At my peak of sourdough creativity, I set out to make a beet sourdough loaf. Beet puree made a bright colored dough but it was messy and caused mayhem with the starter, resulting in an epic fail. Enter the secret ingredient, beet powder. Rusty red earthy layers emerged to compliment the tang of my starter. The dried powder is free from moisture, making for less interference with the starter and easier clean up. The awesome layers created while making the folds in your boule are gorgeous. It's not too late to dive deep into making bread and sourdough.

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Baked Brie with Savory and Caramelized Onions

This impressive baked Brie is proof positive that cheese can be a complete meal if you're so inclined. Artfully wrapped in puff pastry, the presentation is fancy, but is easy to make and the layers of flavor are equally spectacular. A caramelized onion jam is hidden beneath the cheese, and the smorgasbord is rounded out with fruit and nuts. The onion jam slowly caramelized with Savory to lend a little piney earthiness, along with a splash of balsamic vinegar and brown sugar to make the onions jammy. Once baked, the cheese and onions are easy to spread on crostini or sliced apples.

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Absinthe Long Pepper Angel Food Cake

It's time to celebrate Absinthe Day! The illustrious Parisian liqueur is noted for its exotic spicing and hallucinogenic effect, but instead of concocting a deadly drink we've decided to make a cake! More user friendly, an Angel food cake makes an ideal sponge for the warm herbal-anise flavor of absinthe. To take it over the top, we added long pepper to elevate the mind-bending flavor. This exotic Balinese pepper tastes a little bit like cardamom and ginger, with a floral top note. This rustic cake is full of flavor and has a heavenly texture. For toppings, we chose a citrus salad with clove simple syrup, along with a dollop of whipped cream for an enchanting bite. So enjoy this magical cake to celebrate Absinthe Day and if you have a nip on the side, we won't tell....

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Caraway Spiced Yogurt

Making an elaborate and flavorful breakfast doesn't have to be a lot of work. A large batch of a spice and nut mixture, combined with a bit of sliced fruit and yogurt, can easily give you a week's worth of breakfasts with only a little bit of preparation.Caraway is the star of the show in this yogurt topping. The mixture is similar to a granola or streusel in texture, but without the oatmeal or the need for an oven. We normally see this lovely seed in baked goods or savory applications but it's truly delicious with fruit. The brown sugar and almonds bring out the best of its earthy flavor.

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Apple Beet Ginger Smoothie

Beet powder is among the most striking spices we have at the shop. Its vibrant red color is attention grabbing, and transfers well into any dish it is used in, with little hassle. People either love or hate beets, but even their most dedicated supporters will admit that they can be messy. Their beautiful color comes at a price, and we've accidentally stained cutting boards while working with them more than once. Beet powder delivers the same color at a fraction of the work, albeit in powder form.Using it in smoothies is a simple and fun way to experiment with beet powder. The fruit in this smoothie recipe is balanced with the peppery fresh ginger and refreshing coconut water. It's vibrant and refreshing, a perfect blend for a morning on the go!

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Baharat Chocolate "Kielbasa"

This recipe was inspired by the chocolate kielbasa in Kachka, a cookbook from the Portland, Oregon restaurant of the same name. We first tried it at a Tom Douglas Cookbook Social and were instantly taken with the unique recipe. Don't be turned off by the unusual name! Think of it as the best fudge you never knew you needed in your life.Of course, we couldn't resist the opportunity to play with the recipe, adding some spices and dried fruit for a bit more texture and flavor. Baharat is one of our most underused blends. It's great as a rub or in stews and tagines, but absolutely sublime in sweet applications pairing especially well with anything chocolate. This is a great recipe to make for holiday giving or for parties. It's easy to make, and you can finish it the day before you need it.

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