Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Cookie Sticks

Holiday baking countdown starts NOW!

Get ready to sleigh the season with Chocolate Caramel Cookie Sticks—crispy, chocolatey, and pure magic. Trust me, you’ll be thanking me later.

Snack on one (or a few—no judgment) while streaming past episodes of Dish with Mary on AMI+ now, and mark your calendar: the NEW season drops Feb 2025! 

Chocolate Caramel Cookie Sticks

Servings: 20 - 24

Ingredients

1/3 cup (80g)unsalted butter, room temperature 
1/4 cup (75g) butterscotch or salted caramel sauce
1 cup (120g) all purpose flour 
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, using a fork whisk butter until smooth and creamy. Stir in the butterscotch or caramel sauce. Add the flour and mix until combined and dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour until a smooth silky dough ball forms. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for a minimum 30 minutes to overnight. The longer it rests in the refrigerator the more flavour is infused into the dough.

• Preheat the oven to 350F 

• Roll out dough into a rectangular, about 1/4 inch thick. Then cut the dough into strips, about 1/2 inch in width. Lift the strips and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet leaving a small space in-between each strip. 

• Place in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 10 mins or until edges are very lightly browned. 

• Allow cookies to cool completely. 

• Melt the Chocolate: 30-second bursts in a bowl at regular power, with a quick stir in between. Just make sure to keep heating in short bursts, as opposed to minutes-long intervals, to avoid potentially scorching. 

• Dip each cookie stick into melted chocolate, top with sprinkles and refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate is set.

Gift Guide: 2022 Foodie Gift Guide

2022 Foodie Gift Guide

Finding the perfect Christmas gift for that foodie in your life is hard. How do you start? Where do you go?  So if you listened to my segment on AMI’s Kelly and Ramya Show I shared my gift choices for that foodie in your life, this holiday season and included the shop links below.

Eataly

Let me begin with a delicious basket from Eataly. Bring the fresh and delicious taste of Italy home! The Trip to Eataly Gift Box features delicious Italian goods like pasta, olive oil, jam, cookies, and more. There are plenty of gift boxes to choose from. And to make it even better, they can be ordered online and delivered across the country. Where: Eataly Website

BASKiTS

Then there’s the ultimate snack box that anyone would love to receive. Baskits Inc has a really special Sleigh Gift Basket that’s filled with gourmet goodies perfect for someone with a sweet tooth. This box is in the shape of a wooden sleigh, handcrafted to perfection. You can expect treats like gingerbread chocolate, maple crunch shortbread, almond cookies, salted caramel truffles, a keepsake wooden nutcracker, and much more. Orders for this basket can be placed online. Where: Baskits Inc. Website

David’s Tea

David’s Tea Holiday Wheel. When you can’t pick just one, try them all! David’s Tea has a special holiday wheel that features the best-selling festive teas. Expect Candy Cane Crush, Cinnamon Rooibos Chai, Hazelnut Chocolate, Orange Spice, Peppermint Amour, Pomegrateful, Salted Caramel Oolong, Santa’s Secret, Silent Night, Sleigh Ride, Sugar Pear Fairy, and Winter Earl Grey. The box comes with three sachets each, 36 sachets in total. Where: David’s Tea Website

Nibbl

Well, if you really want to show someone you care, a massive box of the finest cheeses is the only way to do so. Nibbl Cheese gift boxes, offers five carefully selected cheeses, fruity spreads, and artisanal crackers. It apparently serves six to seven people but if you’re on a mission, you and two other friends could probably dominate it. Where: Nibbl. website

Raven Rising

For the chocolate lover, make it local. Chocolates at Raven Rising use traditional Indigenous ingredients sourced by Indigenous peoples and businesses. A portion of the proceeds are donated to various societies and Residential School organizations. Raven Rising is located in Sudbury but ships nationally. Where: Order online at ravenrising.ca

Wine Club Canada

Wine Club Canada offers wine memberships for the lover of all things wine. The process is pretty customizable with the option to choose two, three, six, or 12 bottles to send a month. And you can decide how long you’d like your special someone to get their subscription. A month, three, or a year. Where: wineclub.ca

Momofuku

Momofuku Noodle Gift Bundle. Spice up their cooking game with Momofuku Goods’ Home Essentials Pack. This pack includes Soy & Scallion Noodles, Spicy Soy Noodles, Tingly Chili Wavy Noodles, Savory Seasoned Salt, Spicy Seasoned Salt, Tingly Seasoned Salt, Chili Crunch Hot Honey, and so much more. Really. It’s only available for a limited time during this holiday season so sign up for notifications to find out when the pack is released. Where: canadashop.momofuku.com

Two Brewers

For the whisky lover on your list. Class up any home bar with this bold single-malt whisky made by Two Brewers in the Yukon. Where: Two Brewers Website

Jamie Cooks Italy

The Italian-food lover (or anyone for that matter) on your list will absolutely adore Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook featuring a mix of simple everyday dishes, slow-cooking meals and familiar classics.
Jamie Cooks Italy. Where: Amazon

Wendell Estate Honey

Fresh from the Prairies, Creamed Raw Prairie Honey. This raw white honey is luxuriously smooth and creamy. It's best enjoyed by the spoonful or spread on sourdough toast. Where: Wendell Estate Honey Website

Baggu

Baggu - This reusable shopper tote is made of ripstop nylon with thick handles, perfect for hauling practically anything. Holds 50 lbs., 2-3 plastic grocery bags’ worth of stuff and folds into a flat 5” x 5” pouch. Now made from 40% recycled nylon sourced from pre-consumer waste! Fashionable and environmentally friendly. Where: Well.ca Website

Yeti

Yeti Travel Mug - YETI's Rambler® 20 oz. is made from durable stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation to protect your hot or cold beverage at all costs. While the magnet on the included MagSlider™ Lid adds an additional barrier of protection for keeping drinks contained and preventing heat or cold from escaping. Where: Amazon

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays! XOXO

Recipe: Nacatole (Traditional Calabrese Cookies)

My parents were from the southern part of Italy - Calabria, and my Aunts/Cousins would make batches of these traditional cookies and deliver them to our home every Christmas.

I am now carrying on tradition and delivering them to you - virtually of course. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Nacatole (An Italian Calabrese Traditional Cookie)

Serves: 45 - 55 wreaths

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups sugar

• .6 large eggs

• ¾ cup grapeseed oil

• 5-6 cups all purpose flour

• Grapeseed oil for deep frying

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add grapeseed oil to a large pot to about half full or a deep fryer and heat to 350 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer add eggs and sugar. Using the whisk attachment whip until light and fluffy. Pour in the oil and mix to incorporate.

3. Switch to the dough hook and begin adding flour on low speed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and easy to roll.

4. Using 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop measure dough, roll into a long straw like shape, fold in half and twist. Connect the two ends to form a circular wreath.

5. Using a slotted spoon, submerge one cookie at a time into the preheated oil and deep. The cookie should float to the top and turn golden in colour when ready.

6. Use a slotted spoon to remove the golden wreath from the oil and place in a paper towel lined colander to cool. Allow to cool completely and enjoy! Cookies should be crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside.

NOTE

The traditional recipe uses vegetable oil, I use grapeseed oil because it’s a neutral-flavoured oil with a medium-high smoke point (390°F). You can use any oil as long as it has a high smoke point and neutral flavour, which means it won’t overwhelm or alter the taste of the cookies. Happy baking friends!

Recipe: Citrusy Amaretti

To quote Janet Jackson “I'm in control, never gonna stop, Control, I like to have a lot. Control, ....”

Ah, forget it! I don’t have control when it comes to these light and citrusy cookies. So freaking good!

It’s rude to talk with my mouth full so here ya go! Full recipe below :)

Citrusy Amaretti

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 23 to 25 cookies
Author: Mary Mammoliti | Kitchen Confession

Ingredients

• 3 cups medium ground blanched almonds , (do not use almond flour)
  2/3 cup granulated sugar, and additional 1/3 cup for coating the cookies before baking.
  1 tbsp orange or lemon zest
  2 large egg whites
  1 tsp almond extract
  25 whole almonds for garnish

Instructions

1. Position rack in centre of oven and preheat to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or use a slip mat.

2. Pour egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer, add 2/3 cup sugar and using the whisk attachment beat until light and fluffy and white in colour.

3. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and add the almond extract. Using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon stir.

4. Mix citrus zest and ground almonds together and add it to your egg and sugar fluff. Mix all the ingredients together just until combined. (Dough will be sticky.)

5. Pour 1/3 cup granulated sugar into a small bowl and scoop almond mixture and roll into approximately 1 inch balls then roll around in sugar to coat.

6. Place cookies on a prepared baking sheet, 1 inch apart, gently push a whole almond in the centre of the ball and bake until edges are golden brown, 10 to 12 min. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Oven Roasted Chestnuts

HOW TO ROAST CHESTNUTS

Ahh, the roasted chestnut! The quintessential winter treat!

Chestnuts are crunchy and bitter when raw, but become sweet, buttery, and soft when roasted. The scent of roasting chestnuts triggers so many wonderful food memories for me.

It’s comfort, love and laughter wrapped in a mahogany coloured shell. It does and will always remind me of the holiday’s sitting around a long table cloth topped dinner table with endless dishes of warm comforting foods served family style in the centre, and ending the meal with warm, out of the oven roasted chestnuts.

What does the charbroiled scent of a sweet roasted chestnut remind you of?

⁣Do you roast chestnuts or do you boil them? Do you love them, or hate them?

⁣If you LOVE them like we do then you’re in luck! I have the perfect oven roasted chestnut recipe for you to try. Frank and I have tried so many different ways to get the perfect roast and we finally did it (to be fair, he did it. I was quality control - someone had to taste test them :)

This recipe delivers easy to peel, sweet chestnuts every single time!

Oven Roasted Chestnuts

When choosing your chestnuts, make sure they are firm, solid and don’t give when squeezed. Take care when cutting the chestnuts. It’s easier if you use a serrated knife and work slowly. Peel chestnuts when they are still warm, as they become near impossible once cold.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes, and let them rest for 5 minutes
Total Time: 41 minutes
Serves: Well this my friends is up to you :)

Author: Mary Mammoliti | Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 lbs fresh chestnuts
8 cups cold water
1/4 cup kosher salt, to soak chestnuts and more to sprinkle overtop prior to roasting

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a slit across the round side of each chestnut⁣.

3. Add water and salt to a medium bowl and mix the salt well until it's dissolved a bit (doesn't need to be fully dissolved).

4. Add the chestnuts to the water and mix them in the water for a few seconds. Using a slotted spoon scoop out the chestnuts and place onto a rimmed baking sheet and lightly sprinkle with kosher salt.

5. Place the baking sheet in the oven on the middle rack and roast for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, shake the pan, return to the oven and roast for 5 minutes and then switch the oven to broil and continue to roast for 1 minute longer.

6. Remove the roasted chestnuts from the oven, place them into a bowl and cover with a clean tea towel for 5 minutes.⁣ Peel and enjoy!

Why the salt water bath?

The salt water bath adds a nice subtle salty flavour to the finished roasted chestnuts.

Rant: Last Minute Valentine's Day Ideas

Chocolates are delicious and flowers are sweet but why not change things up this Valentines day with an edible arrangement? Nothing says love like your favourite food. I've rounded up a few you can DIY.

Photo by ovbelov/iStock / Getty Images

Donut Bouquet

To make a DIY Donut Bouquet, you'll need: donut holes or donuts, wood skewers, tissue paper, chocolate chips, and ribbon. ...

Steps:

1. Insert skewers into the donut holes. …

2. when using soft donuts you will have to dip one end of the wooden skewer into the melted chocolate (white chocolate) poke it into the bottom of the donut and let dry (harden)

3. Arrange the donuts into a bouquet, and secure in place with an elastic.

4. Wrap the bouquet in tissue paper.

5. Tie a ribbon around the base of the flowers. ...

6. That's it!

Photo by smiltena/iStock / Getty Images

Cookie Bouquet

Not an original idea but you can always joosh it up with a favourite cookie and the recipe or a cookie that's been in the family for decades. 

Image from Bacon Addict

Bacon Bouquet

Can hold up unrefrigerated for a while and rolled bacon speaks to me on so many levels. Basically bacon roses are the gift that keeps on giving. 

What you'll need:

1 pack thick cut bacon, 1 bunch fake roses, toothpicks

Steps:

1. Tear off all the petals of the rose until you're left with the stem. Try and expose as much of the centre stem/wire for the bacon roll to sit on.

2. Take a strip of bacon and start at one end and roll it up tightly to form a rosette and secure it with two toothpicks as close to the bottom of one end to form an X with the toothpicks. Repeat with all the bacon and place them on top of a wire rack on top of a foil lined rimmed baking tray.

3. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45-55 minutes. Allow to cool and place it onto a stem and repeat until the whole bunch is complete.

Image from BREWQUET

Beer Bouquet

What you’ll need:

Six bottles of their favourite bottled beer, an ice bucket or burlap drawstring sack, bottle opener, tissue paper and ribbon.

Steps:

Place the bottles into the ice bucket, wrap the tissue around the ice bucket and keep it in place by tying a ribbon around it wit a bottle opener tied into the bow. 

Fruit Bouquets

They’ve been around for a while, can be delivered and if you like fruit this is the perfect gift for you. Fruit on a stick in the shape of flowers (use cookie cutters), cantaloupe spears and chocolate covered strawberries are cute and perfect for the health conscious valentine gift but if originality is your thing this is not it. This can be ordered online or phone from Edible Arrangements. If making at home you don't have to get too fancy but cut up your fruit, spear the fruit with wooden sticks (kabob sticks work), florist sponge placed inside a flowerpot and begin poking the fruit skewers into the floral sponge to create your bouquet.

Inexpensive DIY Candy Bouquet - Dollar Store Finds: 

What you’ll need:

A small square box, bag of marbles or floral pebbles, floral foam block, 3 sheets of coloured tissue paper, wooden skewer sticks, 1 bag  of chocolate bars, hot glue gun, and a heart ballon of your choice.

Steps:

1. Place the bag of marbles in the bottom of the box to weigh it down. Layer the tissue paper onto of one another turning slightly with each one, place the floral foam in the centre and wrap the tissue around it and place it inside the box allowing the tissue to peek out of he top and spill over the sides of the box leaving the floral foam exposed. 

2. Take one chocolate bar and lay a line of hot glue down the centre of the chocolate bar and place the skewer stick on top of the hot glue. 

3. insert the balloon into the centre of the floral foam and begin to fill it in with all the chocolates. 

4. That’s it!

Happy Valentine’s Day