Snickerdoodles: Cinnamon Sugar Cookies (+Giveaway)

Snickerdoodles are perfect during this holiday season. They're just as delicious as plain sugar cookies, but with a touch of freshly ground cinnamon. The cookie dough is rolled into small dough balls and then rolled in cinnamon sugar. Once they're nicely coated, the cookies are flattened, and when they're baked, a whimsical, crinkled cinnamon top is formed.

What makes this batch of cookies very special is the use of Bourbon Barrel Foods smoked salt, smoked sugar and pure vanilla extract. It turned out to be a marvelous choice as it added another dimension to the Christmas cookies.

If you want to try out this recipe, head over to BourbonBarrelFoods.com. Their products are some of the best new ingredients I’ve tried in a long time, and I highly recommend them for your sweet and savory cooking. And today only, you have a chance to win an assortment of Bourbon Barrel products by entering on the 25 Days of Giveaways page.

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Bourbon Barrel Foods or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "BBF Holiday Package #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @BourbonBarrel: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Mache Pesto Risotto Recipe (+Giveaway)

Remember when I said I always have pesto prepared in advance and stored in the freezer? This recipe doesn't require a lot of effort if you already have pesto on hand. Today I made risotto with my favorite pesto recipe, made with mâche leaves. In case you’re not familiar, mâche, or lamb's ear lettuce, is a small-leaved, brightly-colored green. It has a mild but very distinct flavor.

First, I cooked Carnaroli rice with vegetable stock until tender. Once the rice absorbed all the liquid, I added the mache pesto, caramelized onions and Parmesan shavings. This simple recipe makes a quick and easy comfort food fix in less than 40 minutes.



Today's giveaway is an assortment of all four varieties of HK Anderson pretzels. They are crisper than any brand of pretzels I've ever had. HK Anderson have been making these crunchy treats since 1888. I really like the thin-shelled ones filled with peanut butter. Being French, I didn't grow up with peanut butter and this is one of the few ways I enjoy them. For a chance to win, just enter on the 25 Days of Giveaways page.

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and HK Anderson pretzels or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Pretzels #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @hkpretzel: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Lamb Sirloin Roast Recipe (+Giveaway)

'Tis the season to be jolly, and the way I embrace the spirit of that message is by not feeling very guilty about what I eat! I enjoy decadent desserts as much as the next gal, but what I really crave is meat. It’s probably because I live with so many vegetarians.

I roasted a lamb sirloin today with Herbes de Provence, garlic, tomato paste and maple syrup. Prior to roasting it in the oven, I seared the meat to form a deliciously sweet, herby crust. I enjoyed every single bit of it, and so will you if you give this recipe a try. I guess I'll eat healthier to shed some pounds in 2012. That’s what New Year’s resolutions are for!



Today's prize is sponsored by Somersault Snacks. You could win five 6-ounce packages of their insanely addictive nuggets! These sunflower seed-based nuggets are nutritious and tasty; they're a perfect combination in between gorging on calorie-laden holiday food. My personal favorite? Definitely the Dutch Cocoa. It has a very satisfying mild chocolate flavor. As for the savory options, I really enjoyed the Salty Pepper, which has just the right amount of heat. If you want to experience Somersault Snacks for yourself, just go to the 25 Days of Giveaways page today and enter for a chance to win!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Somersault Snacks or follow @Phamfatalecom and  tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "snack pack #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @SomersaultSnack: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Granola Recipes (+Nuts About Granola Giveaway)

My friend Sarah runs "Nuts About Granola", and she is very passionate about her products. Sarah makes handmade granola from all natural, local, sustainable ingredients. If you’re lucky enough to try her products, you’ll be Nuts About Granola as well.

Granola is of course delicious on its own, but I've gathered a few recipes using granola in case you feel like cooking. It can be good for breakfast as well as a healthy snack.

We'd like to share the granola love with you, so visit our 25 Days of Giveaways page  for a chance to win Sarah's Outdoor Gift Pack including:

• Organic cotton logo tee
• SIGG logo water bottle
• 1 (12-ounce) bag of Off Road Granola
• 3 (2-ounce) bags of our peanut butter blends

Good luck, everyone!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and http://www.facebook.com/NutsAboutGranola?sk=wallwww.facebook.com/NutsAboutGranola, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "$40 gift pack #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @NutsAboutGranol: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y". Good luck everyone!

Christmas Dessert: Orange Marmalade Cake (+Giveaway)

My husband's younger sisters' winter break finally arrived. I think baking is a great way to spend time together and get over the stress of their school's finals. I didn't really have a specific recipe in mind, but I wanted to make a cake that reflects the holiday season. We started with a simple cake batter and flavored it with orange marmalade I received through our friend Diane from Napa Farmhouse 1885 and store-bought Swedish orange gingersnaps. I crumbled the gingersnaps and added them to the batter and the top of the cake. We baked the cakes in individual Flexipan molds and I let the girls decorate their own version with orange-flavored buttercream and chocolate-covered cherries.

Have fun this holiday season!

Today’s giveaway is 1 fig & Grand Marnier jam, 1 pear & vanilla preserves, 1 orange & ginger marmalade, 1 organic herbs de Provence and 1 organic Italian seasoning from Napa Farmhouse. For a chance to win the prize, just enter today’s giveaway.

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Napa Farmhouse 1885, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "3 jams & two seasonings #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @NapaFarmhouse: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".