Appetizer Ideas Perfect for Your Holiday Party

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from my kitchen to yours!

Have you made all your plans for your this year Christmas menu?

If you are looking for some fun holiday finger food or appetizer inspiration, here are some ideas for you. 

And don't forget to share pictures of your creations with me, and I'll post my favorites here. Just tag your public Instagram photos with #cookingwithmanuela to be featured :)

Happy Holidays!!

Arancini with Ham and Mozzarella: These rice balls are perfectly crispy on the outside, deliciously soft on the inside with a scrumptious melted cheese heart.

Christmas Sandwich Cookies

Make it a Christmas to remember with these buttery and flaky, jam packed sandwich cookies

 

Have you start your Christmas cookie baking yet? 
If not, here is a simple and delicious recipe for some buttery and flaky, irresistible sandwich cookies. These are perfect not just to enjoy with some hot chocolate or eggnog under the mistletoe, but wrapped up in some festive paper to make edible stocking stuffers.
And if were wondering, while tradition has it that people kiss under the mistletoe ... I eat cookies :)

Made-from-Scratch Double-Chocolate Brownies

This is for you, chocolate lovers!

Thick and rich, dense and fudgy - All you can wish in a brownie.

This recipe first appeared on Cooking with Manuela on June 14,2016

Happy National Brownie Day! 
I honestly didn't know it was today until I looked at my Instagram feed this morning. And BAM! All these incredible brownies, in all shapes and sizes, popped out at me.
Now, drooling and begging for a bite, I'm going to hit you with mine. Made-from-scratch, hot-out-of-the-oven, double-chocolate brownies.  Chewy and fudgy, rich and intensely chocolatey... Dangerous, I'm telling you!

Coconut and Double Chocolate Snowman Cookie Balls

Make your holidays sweeter with these adorable and insanely addictive coconut and chocolate snowman cookie balls

Happy December everyone!
Let's start this month with something festive, eye-catching and sinfully delicious. Something that will have you itching to try it out and instantly get you in the holiday spirit. Because, as I said one too many times, baking is an essential part of the holiday season. There's nothing like huddling up in the kitchen with your family or friends, surrounded by melted chocolate, cookie crumbs and lots of candies, and bake something delicious. 
Oh wait! Did I just say "bake"?!? Sorry, but NO baking is needed for today's recipe, just some mixing, melting, decorating, and nibbling of course :) 

These cute snowmen are not only a great weekend activity that you can do with your kids, but they also make the perfect edible holiday gift. Who wouldn't love to receive a batch of these insanely addictive cookie balls and experience the enticing combination of coconut and chocolate, served up in cute melting snowman covered in white chocolate and candies?!
Just look at these!

Savory Bread Pudding With Mushrooms and Speck

This Thanksgiving, indulge yourself in a thick slice of oven warm, savory bread pudding exploding with flavorful mushroom and speck

What's your favorite holiday side dish?! 
Everyone loves their turkey or ham. We all do. But Thanksgiving would not be the same with just turkey or ham. You've got to have all those other delicious dishes on the side. From healthy green beans, to brussels sprouts. Roasted, mashed or sweet potatoes (...or all three!). You've got to have savory stuffing, corn bread and cranberry sauce.
And how about a thick slice of this savory and moist bread pudding, topped with a crunchy, cheesy top, and filled with flavorful mushroom and tasty speck?!? 
This can be a fun and delicious alternative to your traditional stuffing, or an extra side dish that will surely impress your guests.
And why not?!? It might become your new favorite too!

How to Create a Three-Level Holiday Charcuterie Board

This holiday season take your charcuterie board to a whole new exciting level 

- THREE levels of deliciousness to be exact - 

with Les Trois Petits Cochons

This post is sponsored by Les Trois Petits Cochons in collaboration with Honest Cooking. 
All opinions are mine. Thank you for your support and amazing products!

If you are looking to outshine every other appetizer at your next holiday party, look no farther. 
This three-tier charcuterie tray it's not your usual and boring board. It's an elegant and fancy creation. It has three layers of fun and classy bite-size delicacies. And best of all, it's so easy to pull together! That is thanks to Les Trois Petits Cochons (Three Little Pigs) with their wide variety of high-quality products and their award-winning, all natural pâté that are sure to satisfy every possible cravings.

Trust me, this is the appetizer that your guests will be talking about!

Each level of this charcuterie spread has it's own and unique flavor. All combined and perfectly decorated for the holidays. 

So let's start with a simple way to make the tray more festive. I used rosemary sprigs on each level, and lots of other red edible decorations. You can choose from adorable mini sweet peppers, to pomegranate seeds, and cut-out radish. They not only add a Christmassy color to the tray, but also a delicious, sweet or savory, accent to it. 

For the lower level I used  tasty cave-aged gruyère cheese combined with sliced duck breast and air dried sausage. But you can also add your choice of cheese (buttery brie, spicy gorgonzola or a milder fontina cheese), and your favorite cut meat. Three Little Pigs offers a wide variety of charcuterie (chorizo, jambon de Paris, jambon sec ...).  You can check them out here and make your pick.

How to Make the Perfectly Flaky and Buttery Homemade Pie Crust

Elevate your pie-making skills this holiday season with this
easy-to-follow, made-from-scratch pie crust

The ONE recipe you will ever need for pie crust!

Baking is a fundamental part of the holiday season.

Just like the expensive shopping sprees, the never ending Christmas songs on the radio, and the bright decorations all over town. We all go crazy for it (some of us more literally then others!), but we just can't do without any of it :)

I'm pretty sure we can all agree that dinner wouldn't be the same without a fat slice of pie at the end. 

Whether it's a comforting classic apple pie, an irresistible pumpkin pie, or the most scrumptious pecan pie, pies are always welcomed at any table. Anytime!

But your pie is only as good as the pie crust that you are able to whip up. So what you need this holiday season, is a fool-proof recipe that yields the perfectly buttery and flaky crust. 

Every. 

Single. 

Time.

So here is my recipe. 

Consider this my early Christmas present, just for you...You are very welcome :)

Radicchio and Arugula Salad with Honey-Roasted Pears and Toasted Pecans

This fall-inspired scrumptious salad makes an healthy, easy and perfectly satisfying lunch 

After surviving this Halloween sugar craziness without too much damage (I hope!), I say it's time for an healthy recharge. 
So let's not talk about the peanut butter and chocolate spiders, or the cookie bars loaded with chocolate candies, but let's dive, headfirst, into this scrumptious radicchio and arugula salad that I'm sure you are going to love as much as I do once you try it!

Banana and Strawberry Mummies

Healthy and fun, fruit and chocolate Halloween treats

Here is a great idea for a last-minute, extremely easy and wholesome Halloween treat. 
I used bananas and strawberries to make these mummies, but you can really make it fun and try with any fruit you like.
I used dark and white chocolate to decorate. And my famous (at least in my house!) homemade googly eyes that I just showed you how to make last week.
And now I promise, I will stop with any eye-wearing food from now on ... well, at least until next year Halloween! 
I know I got carried away with the eyes, but look... How can you resist to something so cute?!

How to Make Googly Eyes

Learn how easy it is to make edible googly eyes
No eggs nor meringue powder necessary. Just three simple ingredients

                    

Last week I posted my recipe for spooky peanut butter and chocolate spider cookies, as a great treat for this Halloween!

Have you tried them yet?!? I have to say, if you taste them once, you'll be baking them again! I'm down to my third batch so far, and I really need to stop. 

But I guess, when it's comes to chocolate and peanut butter, I simply can't control myself :) 

Today I want to show you how you can still make cute and fun Halloween snacks, but in a super healthy treat. All you need are these googly eyes and bit of creativity.
Look at these!

How to Make Halloween Chocolate-Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

These cute and spooky, thick and soft,
 chocolate and peanut butter spider cookies are the perfect Halloween treat

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite food holidays. 

And not just because of the abundance of candies in all shape and sizes that you can easily find this time of the year at any store. 

What I love the most is to get creative and come up with fun and spooky edible Halloween projects.

And this is what I crafted for you!

Blueberry Sweet Rolls with Lemon Glaze

Soft and fluffy sweet rolls filled with juicy blueberries 

drizzled with an easy-to-make lemon glaze

I take breakfast seriously. VERY seriously :)
I really believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It should be wholesome and nutritious to kickstart your day in the right direction.
So how about one of these oven-warm, homemade sweet rolls for breakfast tomorrow?! You are going to love the juicy blueberries, and sweet and sour lemony glaze. These rolls are sticky and gooey. Soft and fluffy. All in one lick-your-fingers delicious roll.

Crispy and Light Potato-Spinach Tart

Scrumptiously healthy and light tart, filled with wholesome potatoes and fresh spinach 

over a crispy, buttery and cheesy crust.

A must try!

Maybe it's all the desserts I've been baking and the loads of chocolate I ate in the last few weeks to inspire this post. 

Or maybe, just maybe, it's my conscience whispering in my ear, and reminding me about my resolution to stay in shape and follow a healthy and balanced diet.

Either way, today I present you with this super light, vegetarian and deliciously healthy tart stuffed with tasty, oven-roasted potatoes, fresh saute' spinach and melted cheese.

Recipe Inspirations for the First Weekend of Fall

Snuggle up to one of these wholesome and delicious desserts

Because we all need a little more sweetness in life!

Happy Friday and Happy First Day of Fall! 
I can't believe it's the end of September already. This means shorter days and longer nights are on the way. I really wish this would translate in more time snoozing under the blankets ... but probably not :(
It definitely means colder weather, and more chances to turn on the oven, bake something fantastic and cozy up by the fireplace to enjoy it! 

What's your favorite dessert recipe for the fall?!? Here are some of mine. 
Let's get baking!

Sweet Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This shop has been compensate by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CapturingTraditions #CollectiveBias

When grilled cheese sandwich meets fresh strawberries

delicious things happen

Happy Monday! I know, I know ... nobody's favorite day of the week. 
But today I have something special for you. Something that will make you jump right out of bed and forget all about the long week of school or work ahead. Something hearty and filling to start the day in the right direction. And something that is quick and easy, so that nobody will be running late out the door.
Here it is: a grilled cheese sandwich made with two thick slices of brioche bread, spread with Gold 'n Soft, filled with fresh strawberries, cream cheese, a touch of vanilla, a drizzle of honey, AND grilled to perfection. 
Sounds soooo good, right?! It sure is!

Easy to Make Seafood Paella

Flavorful and impressive saffron flavored rice mixed with your favorite, fresh seafood

I've posted this recipe before, a couple of years ago, and today I thought I should share it with you again. 
And I've got very good reasons for it!
Seafood paella screams of breezy summer nights and al fresco dining on a Spanish terrace overlooking the clear-blue sea. Spectacular sunsets and romantic guitar music in the background. A plate full of this scrumptious paella, next to a refreshing glass of sangria, of course! 
Is it just me, or I need some more vacation?!? For some quirky reason, amazing food makes me crave about exotic vacation destinations :)
Daydreaming apart, this seafood paella is a great one-dish, healthy dinner, perfect for a family meal or your next fancy party. To enjoy wherever you happen to be! 

No-bake Fruit Cups with Mascarpone Cream

For all those times that is too hot to bake

 but you still want dessert!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  I can't believe it's September already and summer is almost over. It's certainly doesn't feel like fall, at least around here in Los Angeles.

Let's start this weekend with something mouthwatering and delicious. Something that's pretty and elegant and would for sure impress your guests. And something quick and super easy to make. Because who wants to be sweating in the kitchen for too long when it's this hot outside?! Oh, not I.

I rather be barefoot and sunkissed, relaxing by the pool. Ice-cold drink in hand and diving into one of these :)

How to make Ice-Cream in just 15 minutes

This deliciously creamy ice-cream can be in your hands in less than 15 minutes

Made from scratch, using one fun trick

Ready to be amazed?!?  Today I'll show you how you can make your own ice-cream in about 15 minutes with very little effort, and using stuff you most likely have in your kitchen already. 
That's right! No ice-cream maker nor expensive gadget is needed to whip this baby up. 
All you need are two freezer/zipper bags, some ice and salt. And some basic ingredients for the ice-cream of course. 
How is this for a refreshing summer activity?!? Take a look... Ingenious to say the least!

Mojito Cocktail with Bacardi Rum and Limoncello

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone #RumInTheSun #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older

This summer take the classic mojito cocktail to a whole new lemony level

When summer is in full swing and pool parties are calling, it's essential to know how to craft the perfect, refreshing and delicious cocktail that will have everyone beg for more. 
All you need is a fun new recipe (I've got that for you) and a bottle (or make it TWO!) of delicious Bacardi rum. 

Because of its unique and versatile character, smooth and light body, Bacardi rum makes the perfect choice for summer entertaining. When it comes to rum-spiked drinks there are really many options out there. From daiquiri to rum punch, pina colada and mojito. All are so great that it's hard to pick just one. 
But today (and just for YOU!) I'm sharing what I can honestly say is my new favorite of the summer. Take a look!

Fruit Tart with Custard Cream

Ready to find out how to make this fresh and picture-perfect fruit tart 

right in your own kitchen?!? 

It's not so hard! It's not hard at all to whip up this BEAUTY!
I promise that if you follow my simple step-by-step directions below, you'll be able to make from scratch, right in your kitchen this delicious, summer-perfect dessert. Made with a traditional cookie crust (pasta frolla), creamy and velvety custard cream (crema pasticcera). And loads of naturally perfect and colorful fresh fruit, arranged on top as your creativity calls out. So pretty and so easy, you can't mess it up!

Coconut and Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Experience love at first bite with these elegant and luscious chocolate-coconut cheesecake bars

I haven't posted a new recipe in a loooong time! Sorry, I've been just "busy" with vacation :) 
I spent ten fabulous days in St John US Virgin Island. This was my very first time in the Caribbean ... I know. What's wrong with me?!? I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back and explore some of the other islands. 
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw a few of my pictures from paradise. I should probably write a post about all the amazing places we visited,  and share some more photos with you. 
For now, look at this!

Enough about vacation. I'm back, relaxed and re-energized. And ready to bake!

And what's better than starting with a tropic-inspired crazy-delicious dessert?!? 

A super creamy thick layer of coconut cheesecake with a hint of almond flavor. On top of an easy-to-make chocolate graham cracker crust. All drizzled with melted chocolate and a touch of extra coconut. 

Extraordinary things happen when chocolate and coconut come together. Especially in a refreshing and creamy cheesecake form. 

Six Berry Recipes to Celebrate this Forth of July

Nothing says Fourth of July like a delicious dessert or a refreshing cocktail

exploding with sunshine sweet berries

Ready to celebrate this long holiday weekend?!?
If you are looking for festive, delicious and easy-to-make dessert ideas, I've got you covered. 
These Fourth of July-inspired recipes are the perfect addition to any barbecue or party. Or simply for you, to enjoy when relaxing by the pool.
What all my suggestions today have in common are berries. And why not?!? These red and blue, juicy wonders of nature are so flavorful (and most likely on sale) right now!
What's your favorite berry creation?!

Have a wonderful Forth of July!

Strawberry and Cream Bars

These lick-your-plate delicious strawberry and cream bars are the perfect summer treat

Sunshine-sweet strawberries are essential for the summer. Especially when they taste as good as right now. 
And when mixed with a luscious whipped custard cream, and surrounded by two layers of crunchy oat crumble, you know you are in for an irresistible treat!

How to Make a Scrumptious Breakfast Sandwich for Father's Day

Kick off this Father's Day celebration with the ultimate breakfast sandwich

So messy and so good

Let's celebrate this Father's Day with something special, made with love for your amazing dad. After all, there's nothing like waking up to the aroma of grilled bacon and fried egg, and starting your Sunday with a scrumptious breakfast in bed. 
Sometimes a delicious homemade breakfast is all it takes!

Eggplant and Bread Parmigiana

My healthier and lighter (yet filling) version of the traditional Italian eggplant parmigiana

Not sure what to cook for dinner tonight?!? 
If you are you looking for something that is: 
EASY enough that you can feed your family within the next hour, 
HEALTHY enough that it provides a wholesome and balanced meal,

and

SCRUMPTIOUS enough that your kids are not going to whine about the green stuff on their plate.
Here is the perfect idea for you!

How to Make Italian Bellini Cocktail

Let's celebrate this Memorial Day with one of these

fruity and frizzy, white peach Bellini cocktails

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Now it's the perfect time to take out your chilled fancy glasses and start the weekend celebration with a delicious sparkling cocktails. After all, there's nothing like a refreshing and boozy drink to get the party started and kick off the summer season.
This Italian cocktail, originally created by Cipriani and named after the famous Venetian artist Jacopo Bellini, is an incredibly easy, yet fancy-sounding drink that will add some fun and sparkle to your weekend plans. Simply perfect for relaxing by the pool, or sipping while flipping those patties on your grill.