Huckleberry Gravy

Thickening the gravy can be a hit or miss pinch point on a feast day and this reduction takes the stress out but keeps the flavor in. Once it is simmering, you can leave it largely unattended until the flavors cook down to your desired consistency. Huckleberry Gravy has been a Montana family favorite for years but you can achieve the same jammy results with blackberries or your favorite foraged fruit.

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Maple Spiced Carrots

Here's a side dish that indulges your sweet tooth during dinner. With some inspiration from pecan pie and some from our pan-Asian super-spice Seattle Salmon Rub, the dish comes together beautifully. Can you put salmon rub on carrots, you ask???? Heck, yes! The toasted savory base of pepper, cumin and coriander is accented with sweet top-notes to make the perfect seasoning. Add a generous amount of maple syrup and butter and these carrots cook down candied and tender. They'll smell of star anise and orange from the Seattle Salmon Rub as the glaze thickens and coats the carrots to perfection. We did an oblique and festive cut on the carrots and, for a bit of crunch, we added toasted whole pecans. This is a delightful change from candied yams but the glaze will work equally well on both. As always, marshmallows optional.

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Cranberry Quince Paste

This magical combination brings quince into the spotlight and adds a new level of flavor to the cranberries on your holiday table. Quince is a fanciful fruit, with a bright aroma and a taste of ripe pear and key lime. Ripe quince can be found in Seattle backyards around the early fall. Finding them frozen at a Latin or Asian grocery store is another option too.The key to success is reducing the quince and cranberry paste far enough that the pectin found in the quince will gel up and keep its shape when cooled. This paste will taste nostalgic to those who like the solid sauce, but far from the canned variety you had as a kid. It'll be sharp enough to cut any rich side dishes but also be warm and sweet from the cinnamon and star anise found in the Mulling Spice.If you're unable to find quince, a firm pear with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice will be a good substitute. As the sauce reduces it should cook down thick enough that when you scrape the bottom of the pan with a spoon the jam won't immediately fill in the space again.

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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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Duck Confit Mole Tacos

Duck Confit Mole Tacos? Yes, really!! This dish brings together two epic indulgences - duck confit and mole, and the result is a decadent taco that is simply over the top. Both dishes are pretty labor intensive so we figured why not? Go big or get out of the kitchen...this recipe is project cooking at it's funnest.First we cured duck legs in cumin, coriander, and orange to compliment the richness of the mole, and the meat ultimately came out juicy, tender, and caramelized to perfection. Confit is similar to carnitas in that the meat is immersed and cooked in lard, a great companion for mole and great in a taco. The duck legs need to cure in the refrigerator for two days before making the confit so it's not a last minute or even 30 minute meal, but the result is worth the wait.Then onward to the mole. Mole by itself is a labor of love, but our Mole Olé spice gives you a leg up there with pre-blended chilies, chocolate, sesame and more. The sauce has grilled vegetables and more chocolate added in too, for layers of blended flavor to blanket the meat.For the finish, we rounded up all our favorite taco toppings and enjoyed the feast. Check out our video for an overview of this fun and fantastic decadent taco.

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Chorizo Bomb Stuffed Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is one of my favorites because they can be personal sized and filled with whatever you're craving. This recipe is simple and Chorizo Bomb does all of the work. As the name implies, it is an explosion of flavors with minimal ingredients. We start off by roasting the acorn squash until tender and caramelized to bring out its nutty sweetness. We kept this recipe grain-free by stuffing the squash with ground chicken and sweet peppers. To bring it all together, we added Chorizo Bomb which is made up of ground smoked chilies and oregano, thyme and cumin. In a matter of minutes, your house will smell of Fall chiles. Add a sprinkle of cheddar, then a quick trip to the oven for golden brown deliciousness.

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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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Grilled Svaneti Bread

Making flatbread can be intimidating, but don't let that hold you back! This recipe shows that it can be easy, quick, and absolutely delectable. This grilled bread is rustic and fun to tear apart. We used whole wheat flour to give it a fantastic chew and nutty flavor. Don't fret over getting things uniform because the fun shapes are encouraged when rolling it thin. Instant yeast does its magic quickly and makes this bread recipe forgiving. Now, get your grill HOT! The bread grills up in less than a minute with beautiful charred bubbles and gorgeous grill lines. After grilling, give it a liberal drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of our Svaneti Seasoned Salt. This salt has the pow of caraway, fenugreek, garlic, and coriander. Pair this bread with a yogurt dipping sauce or with grilled vegetables and it'll bring your meal together.Serve with a dip or spread of your choice. Tzatziki Sauce with Dill Pollen, Aleppo Pepper Muhammara or Everything Hummus are excellent choices to enjoy your Grilled Svaneti Bread with!

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Cinnabutter Trail Mix

Calling all peanut butter lovers! This hodge-podge of textures is great recipe for you. It's salty, sweet, crunchy, and nutty - just what you want in a snack. What makes our trail mix so special is the peanut butter fudge mixture that brings it all together. To make it warm and fragrant we added our Cinnamon Toast Spice. It has all of our cinnamons plus a dash of nutmeg making every crunchy bite memorable. This is perfect for that weekend hike or for movie night. It also makes a great gift for your fellow peanut butter lover.

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