croque monsieur crostini

YOU GUYS. This is a big day on the blog because 1) this is one of my new all-time favorite recipes ever ever, and 2) y'all have a chance to win one of those beautiful boards in the photo above!

First, these little crostini. I absolutely loooove a croque monsieur, but hardly ever make them/order them unless it's like, serious indulge time. But a little bite-size version? Yes, all the time! These are creamy and salty and just perfect. If you're making ham for Christmas, use the leftovers to make these little guys! Or basically if you're ever serving people and want to make them swoon, just make these.

Now let's talk about that gorgeous board above! This beauty came from the guys over at CuttingBoard.com. I love this company and everything they stand for! They only sell items that they personally have seen and handled, and all of their products are certified sustainable, renewed, or reclaimed. Many of their products are handmade by independent artists (big yay for this!). They donate a portion of their profits to environmental causes. Really, how awesome are they?!

To further prove their awesomeness, they are giving away a board to 3 lucky people! One of you will win a gorgeous 18 x 12 Maple Cutting Board with Grips from John Boos and two of you will win a beautiful 16 x 12 Proteak Edge Grain! Simply enter using the Rafflecopter below. :)

Croque Monsieur Crostini
makes about 20 crostini

you'll need:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup hot whole milk
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 cup shredded Gruyere, plus more for topping
1 baguette, sliced
Dijon mustard
6-8 oz. black forest ham


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Add the four and stir for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and 1/2 cup Gruyere and set aside.

To toast the bread, place the slices on a large baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes.

Top each slice of baguette with mustard and top with a bit of ham to each. Next, spoon on a bit of the cheese sauce, then sprinkle with Gruyere. Bake for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Top with a grind of black pepper, and serve hot.

a Rafflecopter giveaway \



See what some of my foodie friends made with their boards:  Souffle Bombay
Bakes In Slippers
The Vintage Mom
Little Kitchie
The Redhead Baker
The Suburban Soapbox
Courtney's Sweets
Yours And Mine Are Ours
Mindful Mamma
A Simple Pantry

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pasta with chopping-board pistachio pesto

You guys! I am so excited about this post, not only because of this amazing pasta, but I also have probably my favorite giveaway ever on this blog for ya. Yes!

My sweet food blogging friend, Colleen from Souffle Bombay (who gave you these last summer!), was thinking about just what it was that made her fall in love with cooking. I agreed with her that cookbooks were a huge influence on me, especially when I was first learning to cook. I still absolutely love cookbooks and just get giddy every time I open a new one. Even though there are so many new, gorgeous cookbooks coming out all the time (I'm especially excited for this and this coming out this fall!) there is also something so special about going back to the first cookbooks that really impacted your cooking.

For me, one of those is The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper. My dad gave me this when I was in college. I LOVE this cookbook. It's just full of food you want to eat! It has rustic, comforting recipes with a bit of a twist, which is exactly how I like to cook. 

One of my favorite recipes from this book is this pasta. The pesto/sauce is all chopped together on a cutting board, blending the flavors in a unique way. You can have this dish on your table in 20 minutes, no problem, and it is SO good.

Pasta with Chopping-Board Pistachio Pesto (from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper)

serves 4-6

you'll need:

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 garlic cloves

1 cup chopped fresh chives

4 packed tablespoons of fresh basil

4 tablespoons chopped red onion, divided

1/3 cup shelled salted pistachios

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 lb. thin spaghetti

1 cup grated asiago cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt well, then add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

To make the pesto, pile the salt and pepper on a chopping board. Crush the garlic cloves into it with the side of your knife, then chop. Add the chives, 2 tablespoons onion, and basil and chop until fine. Add the pistachios and chop. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil directly on top and mix together. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as necessary.

Once you have drained the pasta, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the empty pasta pot over medium-low heat. Saute the remaining 2 tablespoons of onion for just a minute. Stir in the pesto to warm it for a few seconds, then add about 1/3 cup pasta water to stretch the sauce. Remove from heat.

Add the drained pasta and cheese to the pot and toss so that the pesto is incorporated. Add additional pasta water as necessary. Taste for seasoning, then serve!

Check out the other wonderful bloggers celebrating their favorite cookbooks!

Pecan Encrusted Chicken with a Creamy Dijon Sauce - Souffle Bombay

Tomato Jam – Healthy. Delicious.

Roasted Salmon with Peanut Sauce - Tiny Farmhouse

Lemon Basil Chicken Thighs - Mind Over Batter

Pesto Pasta and Peas with Grilled Shrimp - The Suburban Soapbox

Homemade Spinach and Cheese Ravioli - Food Lust People Love

Spaghetti Parmesan - Food Ramblings

Classic Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting – Urban Bakes

Cookie Dough Fudge Brownies – Sugar Dish Me

Plum and Pluot Galette - Fork Vs Spoon

Peanut Butter Squares - Kelly Bakes

Simple Apple Crisp – Real: The Kitchen and Beyond

Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake – The Redhead Baker

Beirut Tahini Swirls – Pastry Chef Online

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits- In the Loop

Oat-chata – Healthy Slow Cooking

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Now about that giveaway...

I am super excited for this giveaway for y'all because both prizes are chock full of my two favorite things - cookware and cookbooks! And, there are two wonderful prizes! Check them out, then simply enter by using the Rafflecopter below. Good luck! :)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also! Now through September 1st, Calphalon is celebrating couples!  From the first meal they create together in their new home to the meal they share on their 25th anniversary, couple cook up memories! The cookware they choose serves as the foundation for which these “Couples Cooking” memories are made.

Calphalon wants to recognize these #CouplesCooking moments by asking couples to share pictures of the meals they cook together for a chance to win $1,000 in Calphalon cookware!

Calphalon is inviting couples to post photos of the meals they prepare with their significant other on Calphalon’s Facebook page. To enter, couples will be asked to share why the dish is unique or special to them and use the hashtag #CouplesCooking.

Follow the #CookbooksandCalphalon fun on social media for great recipes, tips and more and good luck in BOTH giveaways!

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dark chocolate, sunflower seed & grey sea salt cookies

The best cookies ever + a great giveaway! This is a good Wednesday.

Loving food is a weird thing. I get giddy over things like really great cinnamon or an incredible salt. So when I had the opportunity to share with you guys about The Spice House, it was a no-brainer. Perusing their website is like letting a kid loose in a candy store.

The Spice House opened its doors back in 1957, and today has both a robust online business as well as 5 locations throughout Chicago & Milwaukee. They carry over 600 products from at least 50 different countries, including pure spices and herbs, spice blends, salts, and extracts and have caught the admiration of many home cooks across the country as well as some heavy hitters in the food world, including Alton Brown (who actually has special blends made for him) & Julia Child, who proclaimed The Spice House a "national treasure."

Patty from The Spice House remembers Julia’s visit to their Milwaukee shop:

We had cinnamon that came from Vietnam, a long log, real thick, and as hard as a baseball bat! The trade doors had just opened from Vietnam when she visited, and we couldn't wait to show her this bark, and then give her a taste in powder form. Julia took the bark right out of my hand and took a giant bite right out of it! My whole family was there and we all collectively sucked in our breath, and asked, "Do you want to spit that out?" But she kept right on chewing and chewing and chewing, and 10 minutes later she had chewed it enough to swallow it. Julia was just so gracious, and she said something like, "Oh my dear, you're absolutely right, this is a delightful cinnamon, thank you for sharing this with me!" She signed the rest of that bark and today that bark is one of Patty’s prized possessions.

Tom & Patty Erd took over Patty’s parents business back in 1993 and have built The Spice House into a resource for incredible spices and seasonings, as fresh as you can get them at an affordable price. They scour the world for the best ingredients and spices, and they grind and blend their spices and seasonings in small batches right in their stores in order to offer the freshest possible product.

Many of their spices come in pretty glass jars, however you can also order many varieties in bags (as well as in salt-free versions). I'm personally impressed with their pricing, but also their crazy fast shipping. Their gift boxes are both gorgeous and well thought out. Take a few minutes and peruse their offerings!

These cookies are inspired by the most incredible chocolate I had when we were in Vancouver. With the nutty flavor from brown butter and sunflower seeds and the salty topping from The Spice House's fabulous grey sea salt, these are just about as good as it gets. Miles declared these the best cookies I have ever made... win!

Dark Chocolate, Sunflower Seed & Grey Sea Salt Cookies (adapted from The Joy The Baker Cookbook)

yields about 3 dozen cookies

you'll need:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon molasses

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

2 1/4 cups AP flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup good dark chocolate, chopped into chunks

1/2 cup roasted & salted sunflower seeds

grey sea salt, for sprinkling

Melt 8 tablespoons of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, swirling it in the pan. It will become foamy as it cooks and make a crackling noise. Continue to swirl as the butter starts to smell nutty and brown bits form at the bottom of the pan. Once the bits are amber, remove the butter from the burner and pour into a small bowl (including the brown bits... the best part!) to cool for about 20 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup butter with the brown sugar for 3-5 minutes, until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and molasses.

Pour the cooled brown butter into the bowl, along with the granulated sugar. Beat for 2 minutes, until smooth; the mixture will be light and fluffy.

Add the egg and egg yolk, and beat for 1 more minute.

Add the flour, salt, and baking soda, beating on low speed just until everything is incorporated.

Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and use a spatula to fold in the dark chocolate and sunflower seeds. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

About 15 minutes before you’re ready to begin baking, preheat your oven to 350°F.

Scoop the dough in 2 tablespoon-sized balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between the cookies. Sprinkle the cookies with grey sea salt.

Bake the cookies for 13-15 minutes, until they’re golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

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To help you make some cookies (and because they're awesome), The Spice House is offering two seriously great giveaways!

1st Prize - $250.00 in spices, which includes Grill & BBQ Deluxe Gift Box Set, Bakers Spices Gift Box Set, Vanilla Bean Sugar, Chicago Old Town Premium Sugar, Vulcan's Fire Salt, Chai Spices with Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Dutched Cocoa Powder, Aleppo Pepper, AND a $100.00 gift card to The Spice House to find your favorites not on this list or try some new ones!

2nd Prize - The Signature Selection Gift Box Set, Chicago Old Town Premium Sugar, Fancy Onion Salt, Fancy Garlic Salt, Vanilla Bean Sugar, Tellicherry Black Peppercorns and a $50.00 gift card to The Spice House to find your favorites not on this list or try some new ones!

Enter by simply using the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other fabulous recipes inspired by The Spice House from some of my food blogging friends!

Lime Water Ice by Souffle Bombay

Grilled Steaks with Thyme Mushrooms by Girl Carnivore

Cinnamon Ice Cream with Dulce de Leche Swirl by Mind over Batter

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Quesadillas with Vulcan Fire Salt Guacamole by Giggles, Gobbles & Gulps

Low-Carb Chicken Gyros with Tangy Tzatziki Sauce by Opera Singer in the Kitchen  

Chocolate Cherry Hand Pies by Real: The Kitchen and Beyond

Pear Lavender Lemon Drop Martini by Kelly Bakes

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza by We’re Parents!?

Homemade Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette with Heirloom Tomato Salad by Courtney's Sweets

Iced Lavender Shortbread Cookies by The Vintage Mom

Old Fashioned Blueberry Coffee Cake by It's a Keeper

Disclosure: I was given a gift card to order spices as compensation for this post, however as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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grilled spicy mustard bbq chicken pizza

We're so close to summer, y'all. I can feel it! And we're celebrating today with pizza, friends, and a BIG giveaway!!!

Summer entertaining is the best. So laid-back, so easy. There's usually sunshine and pools and margaritas involved. And grilling of course!

Grilled pizza is my jam. I love the flavor of the charred dough - and those pretty grill marks! And it's so fast and simple. Perfect for a summer evening spent with friends. How fun would it be to gather a big variety of toppings and have a grilled pizza party?!

In the meantime, let's make this shut-the-front-door good pizza. Yes? YES!

For the base of this pizza, we make a mustard BBQ sauce. El Diablo sent me their six spicy mustard flavors to try out, and, although I was tempted to try the habanero one out for this because of my spice addiction, I thought the jalapeno one would be just right to balance everything out in this pizza. So. SO. good.

The pizza is then topped with the usual suspects, with some smoked gouda on top to make things extra super creamy delicious. This is living!

Cheers to a summer full of sunshine, friends, and pizza!

Grilled Spicy Mustard BBQ Chicken Pizza
yields one pizza

for the BBQ sauce, you'll need:
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 red onion, diced
3/4 cup El Diablo Jalapeno Mustard
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

for the pizza, you'll need:
olive oil, for brushing
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 fresh pizza dough
1/2 cup shredded fresh mozzarella
1 grilled chicken breast, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno slices
1/4 cup shredded smoked gouda
handful of roughly chopped cilantro, for serving

Make the BBQ sauce: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3-4 minutes, until soft but not brown. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened a bit. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Make the pizza: Heat the grill to high heat and brush with olive oil. Gather all your ingredients and keep them handy; it'll make it so much easier to work quickly!

Press out pizza dough to desired shape and thickness. I think thin is best! Brush lightly with olive oil.

Take the lid off the grill and lay the dough on top, olive oil brushed side down. Brush the other side of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook dough for 2-3 minutes with the lid off. 

Use tongs to flip the dough over. Over the dough, spread a thin layer of mustard BBQ sauce, then add mozzarella, chicken, red onions, jalapenos, and gouda. Put the lid back on the grill and cook 3-5 minutes.

Use tongs to remove the pizza from the grill. Allow to cook for a few minutes before cutting into slices. Sprinkle with cilantro and enjoy!

Now let's talk about that giveaway...

I've teamed up with a great group of food bloggers to get y'all all set for grilling season! We've got TWO big prizes for ya!

Prize #1 from Blue Rhino, Mr. Bar-B-Q, and El Diablo Mustard

• Blue Rhino Backyard Grill 4-Burner Gas Grill
  The Backyard Grill 4-Burner Gas Grill features a stainless steel lid and a cast iron cooking surface with a 28-burger capacity. This outdoor gas grill also boasts a large warming rack, a convenient stainless steel tube handle, a built-in bottle opener and a temperature gauge. Two plastic wheels help to make positioning quick and easy. 
• Rhino Coupon for Free Propane
• 3-Piece Ergo Handle Tool Set The 3-Piece Ergo Handle Tool Set includes a long-handled spatula, fork and tongs. The set is made with high-quality stainless steel construction and patented, arched handles for maximum comfort and control.
• 6-pack of El Diablo Mustard

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Prize #2 from Hot Box Grills and El Diablo Mustard

•  Hot Box Grill 360+ Hot Box Grill 360+ is an incredibly versatile outdoor cooker. Grill, roast & smoke your favorite foods to perfection. You can configure the separate charcoal and food grates in hundreds of different ways, allowing you to cook all of your backyard and tailgating favorites. Grill a dozen or more big juicy hamburgers, roast two beer can chickens or smoke a 20 pound pork butt low & slow. Because of the unique patent-pending design clean-up, transporting and storing the Hot Box Grills 360+ is easy. It's an American made, full-size heavy-duty powder-coated steel cooker that you can take just about anywhere!
• 6-pack of El Diablo Mustard

 To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below! 

Have fun checking out all the recipes from my foodie friends and good luck with the giveaway!!

Souffle Bombay - Bacon Wrapped BBQ Shrimp with a Chipotle Mustard Glaze

All Day I Dream About Food - Cocoa-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Chipotle Mustard Sauce

Girl Carnivore - Spicy Mustard Brats with Sauerkraut

Musings of a Housewife - Sweet & Spicy Baked Beans with Ham

Sugar Dish Me - Hot Honey Mustard Wings

The Vintage Mom - Spicy Mustard Mayo Chicken Kabobs

The Suburban Soapbox - Grilled Beef Tenderloin Sandwich with Spicy Steakhouse Aioli

Welcome to the Cookout - Championship Baby Back Ribs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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happy friday + giveaway winner!

via

Happy Friday, y'all! This week has been nothing short of insane and I'm SO looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I'm planning on catching up on Top Chef, (hopefully!) finishing a knitting project, and starting this book. And of course, we'll be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, which for me mostly means eating way too much guac. What are you up to this weekend? I hope you have a wonderful one, and here are some of my favorite links from this week if you feel like browsing around...

National flags made from each country's favorite foods.

Showing up.

Love these tiny heart brooches!

Crazy good meal prep.

The six things that make stories go viral.

Going through withdrawals during this Mindy Project hiatus, but this news is definitely helping.

Amazing edible stadiums for your Super Bowl party.

Genius kitchen tool for those with limited storage. Where was this when my kitchen was in a hallway closet?

YES!

There's an app for (what I think is) the greatest short story ever.

How to grocery shop like a pro.

Deb is finally on Pinterest!

A perfect hostess gift.

Matching classic novels' first lines. 

I've made these for three different parties this month and they are absolutely delicious.

Today is the last day to use your Little Kitchie discount code for Walker's Shortbread! Use the code LKMINI2014 to receive 20% off your entire purchase at http://us.walkersshortbread.com. 

Plus, some great game day recipes:

• Roasted Southwest Vegetable Cheese Dip
• Slow Cook Smokey Shredded Beef Tacos
• Oven Baked BBQ Ribs with Tex-Mex BBQ Sauce
• Chicken Flautas with Spicy Avocado Sauce
• Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms

*And we have our giveaway winner - McKenzie Strawn!! Yay! Please email me at mariebmatter@gmail.com so I can get your cookbook to you. Thanks to all who entered! xo

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