White Russian

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This classic White Russian recipe is easy to make with vodka, Kahlúa and cream.

Looking for a creamy, cozy, iconic cocktail to serve this time of year? Let’s mix up a White Russian. ♡

This classic cocktail comes together easily with just three ingredients — vodka, Kahlúa and cream. Its creamy finish and subtly sweet coffee notes make it the perfect drink for sipping on a relaxed evening at home or serving at a get-together with friends. And best of all, it comes together easily in just a few minutes.

The classic White Russian recipe below is my go-to, but the best part of making homemade cocktails is that you can adjust any of the ingredient amounts to taste. I’ve also included some popular variaions on the classic cocktail below, if you’d like to play around with swapping in different spirits or add in fun flavorings. (Peppermint White Russians are always a favorite this time of year!) So the next time you’re craving a Kahlúa cocktail, grab some vodka and cream and let’s get to mixing! (more…)

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Bangers and Mash

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This classic bangers and mash recipe is cozy British pub food at its best, featuring golden sausages and creamy mashed potatoes all topped with a rich and savory onion gravy.

Every December, photos pop up on my TimeHop reminding me of the magical Christmas we spent in England many years ago celebrating some dear friends’ wedding. Amongst so many other fun memories, it was the trip where I fell in love with British pub culture — ducking into charming bars to escape the winter chill, cozying up with a pint or warm mugs of mulled wine, savoring some of the country’s famous comfort foods, and soaking in the lively folk music and cheerful pub vibes. It was such a special and delicious trip. And I’ll always remember it was there that I had my first taste of classic bangers and mash. ♡

This simple dish is the epitome of British comfort food — hearty, humble and absolutely packed with flavor. Savory sausages are browned up in a skillet and then served atop a warm bed of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. Then they’re topped with a generous ladle of onion gravy, and usually served with a sprinkling of sweet green peas on the side. It’s one of those simple, straightforward dishes that always ends up being greater than the sum of its parts. And on a cold winter’s day, it’s always guaranteed to warm you up through and through.

There are all sorts of ways that you could customize this dish if you’d like, adding in some extra veggies or seasonings, or making it gluten-free or even vegetarian (with your favorite plant-based sausages). But the classic here is honestly hard to beat, in my opinion. So the next time you’re craving some comfort food, I highly recommend picking up your favorite sausages and giving this one a try!

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Ginger Scallion Chicken Soup

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This 30-minute ginger scallion chicken soup is packed with fresh veggies, protein, and simmered in a richly-flavored broth.

For anyone else craving a light and refreshing chicken soup to balance out the winter marathon of comfort foods, allow me to introduce you to a new favorite — ginger scallion chicken soup. ♡

This recipe takes everything I love about traditional Chinese ginger scallion sauce and transforms it into a simple, brothy, veggie-packed chicken soup. It’s loaded up with vibrant baby bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and scallions, all of which cook quickly and add the most lovely mix of rich and fresh flavors to the soup. I recommend adding in some shredded rotisserie chicken for protein (or tofu, shrimp, whatever you prefer). Then we’ll cook everything together in chicken broth with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, white pepper and toasted sesame oil until the soup is simmering. And finally, top each bowl with a swirl of chili crisp and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro, plus an extra handful of scallions for good measure.

This ginger scallion soup comes together easily in 30 minutes (or less, if you’re multitasking and moving quickly!). It’s bursting with fresh, savory, cozy flavors. And it’s full of protein to leave you feeling energized, without weighing you down.

I’ve made this recipe multiple times over the past few weeks and can’t stop craving. So who knows, I’ll probably make another batch tonight — join me?

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Fettuccine Alfredo

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This chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe is easy to make with the coziest creamy garlic sauce.

Everyone needs a good fettuccine alfredo recipe. ♡

This classic creamy pasta will forever be one of our family’s favorite comfort foods. We actually had the privilege of trying authentic alfredo a few years back at the restaurant where it was “born” in Rome (absolutely delicious, tossed simply with butter and Parmesan). But I have to admit, the American in me will always have a soft spot for the nostalgic Olive Garden-style alfredo of my childhood. By contrast to the Roman version, Italian-American alfredo sauce is extra creamy and velvety, made with additional cream, garlic, flour (to thicken) and a pinch of nutmeg for seasoning. And when served up nice and warm, I’m convinced this dish is comfort food at its finest.

Here in our family, we usually serve alfredo topped with pan-seared chicken or shrimp, but feel free to add whatever other protein or veggies you might prefer. Or, of course, just enjoy the pasta plain! I’ve also included some ideas below for fun twists on the classic (such as adding lemon, truffle oil or Cajun seasoning) if you’d like to shake things up. However you make it, fettuccine alfredo is pretty much guaranteed to be a winner.

So the next time you’re craving some comfort food, let’s make pasta together!

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Hot Chocolate

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This homemade hot chocolate recipe is easy to make with everyday ingredients and perfectly creamy and chocolatey.

Have you ever made homemade hot chocolate from scratch? ♡

It’s surprisingly quick and easy to make in about 10 minutes, using simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. And the result is so much richer, creamier and flavorful than any store-bought mix. Feel free to customize your hot chocolate to make it as bitter or sweet, light or bold, or infused with whatever fun add-ins (peppermint, espresso, caramel, etc) that you prefer. You can also opt to use dairy milk or whichever plant-based milk that you prefer. And of course, don’t forget the toppings — whipped cream, marshmallows or chocolate shavings are always a good idea!

What I love most about homemade hot chocolate is how effortlessly it transforms a simple moment into something cozy and special. Whether you’re snuggling up on the couch, making a quick batch for the kids, or serving it up for a large holiday gathering, this recipe is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

So grab your favorite mug, and let’s make some homemade hot chocolate together!

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Hot Chocolate Ingredients

Here are a few quick notes about the homemade hot chocolate ingredients you will need to make this recipe:

• Milk: Plain milk is my favorite creamy, velvety base to use when making homemade hot chocolate. Feel free to use dairy milk or your favorite plant-based milk, such as oat, almond or soy milk.
• Semisweet chocolate chips: Basic semisweet chocolate chips add rich chocolate flavor and a hint of sweetness to the drink, as well as help to give it a slightly thicker and luxurious texture.
• Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder helps to boost the intensity of the chocolate flavor while giving you a bit more control over the sweetness of the drink.
• Sugar: Feel free to add as much or as little additional sugar as you would like to sweeten the drink to taste. You can either just use basic white granulated sugar, cane sugar, or whatever sweetener you prefer.
• Vanilla extract: A hint of vanilla extract warms up the flavor of the drink, enhancing the chocolatey richness of each sip.
• Salt: Don’t skip the salt! A pinch of fine sea salt sharpens the flavor of the chocolate and really makes the flavors pop!
• Toppings (optional): Finally, feel free to top your homemade hot chocolate with whatever toppings you love best — whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, you name it!

How To Make Hot Chocolate

Step-by-step instructions for how to make hot chocolate are included in the recipe below, but here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:

• Heat milk slowly. Heat the milk gently over medium heat so that it doesn’t accidentally scorch or form a skin on top.
• Whisk constantly. Be sure to also whisk the milk occasionally as it heats so that the bottom doesn’t accidentally burn.
• Sweeten to taste. I recommend starting with around 1/3 cup of additional sweetener, but please feel free to use more or less sweetener to taste. (The sweetness of the type of chocolate chips or milk that you use can vary significantly, so it’s always a good idea to give it a taste and tweak as needed.)
• Warm your mugs. If you would like your hot chocolate to stay nice and warm, rinse your mugs with hot water just before serving.

Hot Chocolate Variations

Here are a few fun ways that you’re welcome to customize a cup of homemade hot chocolate:

• Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Add a hint of peppermint extract and garnish with candy canes.
• Mexican Hot Chocolate: Add a pinch of cinnamon, a dash of cayenne and a drizzle of vanilla extract.
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: Add a scoop of creamy peanut butter.
• Mocha Hot Chocolate: Add a shot of espresso.
• Lavender Hot Chocolate: Steep 1 teaspoon of culinary-grade dried lavender in the milk before adding the other ingredients, then strain and proceed with the recipe as directed.
• Spiked Hot Chocolate: Add a shot of Bailey’s, Kahlua or bourbon.

More Warm Drink Recipes To Try!

Looking for more warm and cozy drink recipes to try? Here are a few of our favorites:

• Nutella Hot Chocolate
• White Hot Chocolate
• Golden Milk
• Rose Latte
• Pink Latte
• London Fog Latte

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Homemade Hot Chocolate

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Ali
• Prep Time: 2 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: About 5 cups

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Description

This homemade hot chocolate recipe is easy to make with everyday ingredients and perfectly creamy and chocolatey.

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Ingredients

• 4 cups plain milk (dairy or plant-based)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• optional toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows or chocolate shavings

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Instructions

1. Heat. Combine the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla and sea salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture almost reaches a simmer. (We want it to be steaming, but avoid coming to a boil.)
2. Add the chocolate chips. Add in the chocolate chips and whisk until they are melted and evenly combined.
3. Serve. Remove from heat. Serve warm, garnished with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

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Equipment

Glass Mugs

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Semisweet Chocolate Chips

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Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

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Monkey Bread

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This classic monkey bread recipe is made with buttermilk biscuits baked in a buttery, gooey, irresistible cinnamon sugar sauce. Easy to make with 5 simple ingredients with minimal prep time!

Now that we’re living in the Land of Canned Biscuits again (a.k.a. the United States), I have happily resumed one of my favorite holiday baking traditions — weekend monkey bread! ♡

We always had to put in the extra time to make homemade biscuits from scratch for monkey bread while we were living in Barcelona. It was, of course, delicious, but not quite the simple and nostalgic version I grew up with. On a lazy December morning, I much prefer to hit the ‘easy button’ and let Pillsbury do most of the work for me.

So for anyone else who also craves this throwback sweet treat this time of year, I thought I’d repost the tried-and-true monkey bread recipe that I’ve been making for the past two decades. It’s made with just 5 simple ingredients — canned buttermilk biscuits, melted butter, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon — and it’s always so fun and easy to assemble. (Even more special for us right now with cute little toddler hands to help!)

I’ve included some extra options below for various ways to customize the recipe by adding in nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit. Or you can also never go wrong with an extra cream cheese drizzle on top. However you make it, I promise this gooey sweet treat is always a winner. So grab some biscuits and let’s make some monkey bread together!

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Vegetarian Pozole

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This vegetarian pozole recipe is a non-traditional take on the classic made with beans, hominy and veggies all simmered together in a richly-seasoned broth.

Last winter, my friend Erin invited us over on a chilly evening for steaming bowls of vegetarian pozole — and I haven’t stopped craving it since. ♡

By contrast to traditional Mexican pork pozole, which is made with whole dried chiles and pork and slow-simmered for hours, this vegetarian (also vegan) version comes together in just 30 minutes thanks to a handful of non-traditional shortcuts. First, we’ll pop open a few cans of beans (I like a mix of pinto and white beans) to serve as our main protein source. Second, instead of reconstituting and blending whole dried chiles to season the broth, we’ll save time by using a rich blend of dried spices. And for the final flavor boost, we’ll add in a cup of salsa verde, which adds tangy, smoky depth to the broth. Each spoonful is bursting with savory, smoky, earthy, spicy, rich flavors — guaranteed to warm you up through and through.

I will note that the recipe as written here is definitely on the spicier side, so if you’re sensitive to heat, please see the notes below about how to tone it down. (Or if you love a spicy soup, you can always amp things up!) And definitely do not skip the traditional pozole toppings — crisp cabbage, creamy avocado, crunchy radishes, and zesty cilantro perfectly balance the hearty flavors and textures of this soup.

Ready for a cozy bowl of vegetarian pozole? Let’s do it.

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Sausage and Gnocchi Marinara

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This sausage and gnocchi marinara recipe is easy to make in 30 minutes and simmered in a rich tomato-basil sauce.

This cozy, one-pot, 30-minute meal is everything I’m craving right now. ♡

Pillowy potato gnocchi and zesty Italian chicken sausage nestle together in a bubbly tomato-basil sauce until perfectly tender. Then each serving bowl is finished with a very generous shower of freshly-grated Parmesan, adding the perfect pop of salty, nutty flavor to each bite. It’s a high-protein, low-fuss meal that can be ready to go stat — one of those perfect back-pocket recipes for busy weeknights or anytime you’re craving some Italian comfort food!

Feel free to switch up the protein, toss in some extra veggies, or add a splash of heavy cream to the sauce if you’d like. This recipe is endlessly adaptable and pretty much guaranteed to be a hit no matter how you make it. So the next time you’re craving a quick and cozy dinner, grab some chicken sausage and gnocchi and let’s make a batch together!

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