Papardelle with Parsley, Yuzu & Shichimi Togarashi

Like most people, I'm a fan of a simple bowl of pasta. There's something that feels fancy, like a new pair of sassy heels, when you're twirling long, ribbon-like noodles around the tines of a fork. And yet, there is a sweatpants-like comfort about the chewy noodles traveling from your mouth to your belly, filling you up and making you feel cozy all over. My favorite kind of pasta has to be papardelle. It's long, flat, eggy noodleness is something I simply cannot resist. And I don't like to dress it up too much. A simple pat of butter with a sprinkling of salt and pepper or parmesan cheese is really all it needs. Still, sometimes I feel guilty eating a bowl full of white carbohydrates, so I add lots of fresh parsley to make myself feel better. Plus, it's just so pretty having all those little green flecks scattered throughout the bowl. This particular recipe is inspired by some Japanese flavors that aren't normally used in pasta dishes. I was feeling a little rebellious and decided to channel that feeling by adding yuzu zest and shichimi togarashi to this bowl of deliciousness. Papardelle with parsley, yuzu & shichimi togarashi is allowed, right? Right.

If you've never tried shichimi togarashi, I highly recommend that you get right on that. Now. I'll wait.

OK, if you can't go try it right this second, I'll give you a little info on what to expect. It's basically a condiment with a red pepper flake base and bits of sesame seeds and other flavors like ginger and orange. It pairs perfectly with aromatic yuzu zest, which, if you haven't tried that either, is slightly reminiscent of grapefruit but too wonderfully unique to compare to any more familiar citrus fruits. It adds a perfect twist to recipes that otherwise call for lemon zest and I find the two almost always interchangeable.

Meals like this are what keep me sane during the holidays when I feel like I can barely put one foot in front of the other without forgetting something in the process. There is so much to do and plan for that mealtimes tend to fall by the wayside. With simple, delicious options like this around, there's no reason to opt for fast food cheeseburgers or greasy Chinese takeout.

Although, there are times for that as well.

And of course, if you've followed Set the Table for any amount of time, you may not be surprised at my addition of a poached egg. Because YUM.

Papardelle with Parsley, Yuzu & Shichimi Togarashi

Makes 2 servings

• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 6 oz fresh Papardelle (or other egg pasta)
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• course salt
• black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon shichimi togarashi
• 1 teaspoon yuzu zest
• 1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Begin by making the eggs. Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a small pan. Add the vinegar. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Use a spatula to create a gentle whirlpool in the water and pour the eggs, one at a time, into the center.

Reduce the heat so only a couple of small bubbles rise to the surface. Cover the pan and let the eggs cook for about 3-5 minutes, depending on how done you like your yolks. Remove fromt he pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a small dish. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.

Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. Drain the pasta and return to the pot off the heat source. Add the butter and toss with the pasta until completely melted. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Add the shichimi, yuzu zest and flat leaf parsley and toss to combine. If at any point the pasta seems dry, add a bit of the reserved pasta water. Transfer the pasta to two bowls, top with the poached eggs and serve immediately.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

We finally have all of our Christmas lights and other decorations up. And, true to form, Colorado has given us crazy warm weather, leaving me feeling like we've put all of these decorations up in May instead of December. It's very confusing. Still, I'm pushing through by listening to constant Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, and burning pine scented candles. And lets not forget the hot chocolate. There are other warm holiday beverages that are equally as festive, but nothing so classically comforting as a mug of hot chocolate. There has been lots of hot chocolate happening around here lately. I decided to mix things up a little bit by adding a bit of Chinese 5 Spice powder to my hot cocoa mix and boy am I glad I took that leap. The star anise, cinnamon, and cloves are natural flavor enhancers for hot chocolate. Then, there's the Szechuan pepper and fennel that give it that little bit of uniqueness that makes traditional recipes more special. Who knew Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa could spur such excitement?

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate | Set the Table

I would tell you to make your own hot chocolate mix, but let's be honest: sometimes it's nice to have a recipe that dresses up something you can purchase, ready made, in the store. That may seem like cheating to some people, but I am becoming a believer in good quality store bought items to make life a little easier. With that said, if you do have the energy to make your own hot chocolate mix (unlike my 8 months pregnant self) have at it! In fact, this recipe is my favorite. Otherwise, trust me that this will be just as delicious with a good quality mix.

5 Spice Hot Chocolate | Set the Table

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate Mix | Set the Table

No matter where in the world you are celebrating Christmas, this hot chocolate will make you feel cozy and warm from the inside out. And the twist the Chinese 5 Spice Powder brings will no doubt inspire other new holiday traditions to bring the world to you and your family. Minus the expensive plane tickets.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

Makes 2 servings

• 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (about 2 envelopes store bought)
• 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder
• 2 cups milk
• marshmallows or whipped cream for topping

Begin by whisking the hot cocoa mix and Chinese 5 Spice Powder together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat the milk over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until steam begins to slowly rise from the surface a couple small bubbles rise to the surface.

Whisk the hot cocoa mix into the milk. Pour into two mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Healthy Eggnog Overnight Oats

Six weeks. In only six weeks we will be welcoming a very tiny little baby into our family. Well, let's be honest...based on the weight of #1 at birth (8.9 pounds to be exact) he may not be too tiny. Still, that seems like a pretty short amount of time. I spent some time last night looking through pictures of Riley when he was born in Tokyo and I kept going between moments of glee to have a newborn and moments of complete terror to have two kids instead of just one. I am told that these feelings are completely normal. I suppose you wade through the waters of having 2 kids the same way to do when you have your first. Just keep plugging along doing the best you can and making sure everyone is still alive at the end of the day. I suppose that means I have to be even more purposeful with the way I start my day to make sure it ends well. It's a good thing I've discovered overnight oats. Hello, easy! And these healthy eggnog overnight oats are perfect for the holidays.

Healthy Overnight Eggnog Oats | Set the Table

I like to make my overnight oats with almond milk, which is why my recent (and perhaps a bit behind the curve) discovery of eggnog made with almond milk inspired me to add a little holiday spin to an otherwise very basic breakfast. The flavor is wonderful and, to add some extra creaminess, I added a little vanilla yogurt. The regular kind, not Greek. Though I'm sure whatever you have on hand would be fine.

Healthy Eggnog Oats | Set the Table

Now, let's talk about my favorite part of any meal: the add-ons. I sprinkle plenty of ground cinnamon over my oats (random pregnancy craving plus cinnamon is just plain delicious), along with toasted walnuts and sweet raisins. I like to go a little heavy handed on the toppings to give a little variety to the texture of my oatmeal but you can of course do as you please to suit your tastes. I've been thinking about how delicious (and slightly sinful) this recipe would be with crumbled ginger snaps on top. Am I crazy? Sure. Is that so bad? Depends on who you ask.

My sister is coming to visit today (squeeeeee!) and I'll definitely be giving this to her for breakfast. What could be better than a comforting bowl of oatmeal for holiday guests? Not much, if you ask me. Rebecca and I will be having a Sister Christmas Celebration since we won't be together for the actual holiday this year and eggnog flavored things seems like the perfect way to kick things off. I'll also be freaking her out with the crazy ninja moves the little baby in my belly makes all day every day. It's gonna be awesome.

Healthy Eggnog Overnight Oats

Makes 2 Servings

• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup almond milk eggnog (or reduced fat egg nog. or just almond milk.)
• 1/3 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup toasted walnuts
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (sounds like a lot...totally worth it)

Combine the oats, nog and yogurt (in that order) in a jar. Do not stir, simply cover with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, stir the oatmeal and transfer to a bowl. At this point, if you'd like it warm (which is totally optional but extra comforting) microwave it for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Top with the walnuts, raisins and cinnamon and enjoy!

Orange-Walnut Russian Tea Cakes

I have so many memories of lying in bed at night at the beginning of winter hoping that in the morning would bring a blanket of fresh snow. When it happened, there was an excitement that started deep in my belly and spread in excited tingles all the way to my finger tips. I always knew there was snow before even glancing out the window that there was snow because the light changed completely. It always felt new and fresh after weeks of golden autumn sun. The first snow of the season calls for something special. Hot chocolate for breakfast, cookies baking in the oven, and Christmas music on in the background. We had a day like that a while back, and I immediately took advantage by spending the morning making Orange-Walnut Russian Tea Cakes with my favorite little kitchen assistant.

We also wore wintery sweaters. You can't have a snow day without the proper attire, am I right?

My mom used to make Russian Tea Cake cookies around Christmas time and I remember the way the powdered sugar stuck to my fingers. Something about their snowball appearance made it seem like winter was officially official. I took my mom's recipe and updated it a little with the addition of fresh, bright orange zest. The orange in combination with the walnuts combines all the wonderful things about winter in one tasty little cookie. They are easy for kids to help with and make the perfect introduction to holiday cookie baking season.

Between the snowflakes floating softly outside the window and this sweet little boy helping me make sweet treats, this snow day was the best thing ever. I'm wishing extra hard for more days like this in the coming weeks.

Orange-Walnut Russian Tea Cakes

Makes 2 dozen cookies

• 1 cup butter or margarine, room temperature
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• ¾ cups roughly chopped walnuts
• zest of one large orange
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1-2 cups powdered sugar for rolling

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. 2. Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the almond extract in a large bowl. Stir flour, nutmeg, walnuts, zest and salt in another bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture until the dough comes together. 3. Gently roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet with about an inch of space between each cookie. 4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Keep a close eye on the cookies so they don't turn golden on top- that means they're overcooked! Cool the cookies for about 5 minutes on a cooling rack. 5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar and cool them completely on wire rack before arranging on a plate. If the first pass through the powdered sugar didn't quite stick, you can roll them a second time once they have cooled.

Cinnamon Rubbed Roasted Turkey Breast

This has been one of those months that has been fast and slow at the same time. I feel a little bit like November has been here forever but when I write down the date I'm not sure how it got away from me so quickly. The leaves on our trees here are almost completely gone and we have gotten used to the annoying clanging of our old furnace, like we do every year, as it revs up, runs for a while and then turns off with a loud bang in our tiny house. Some of our neighbors have begun hanging their Christmas lights already. This is something I'm not used to seeing before Thanksgiving, but the holiday is so late in the month this year that I guess people just couldn't wait. That's OK with me since this time of year gets so brown and dull around Denver. The mountains are gorgeous, of course, but we need all the help we can get down here to make things look festive. I may not have all my holiday decorations hanging, but at least my house smells like the season. After making this cinnamon rubbed roasted turkey breast, it really felt like the holiday season around here.

I've never been in charge of making the turkey for Thanksgiving. My dad took care of that as a kid and my husband typically tackles that challenge for us now. But this year, since we are spending the holiday as just our family of three in Crested Butte, I decided it was time to at least try my hand at roasting a turkey breast.

Here's the truth: it's easy. So very, very easy.

I took inspiration from one of my favorite Greek dishes, chicken stewed in cinnamon, garlic and white wine, for this cinnamon rub. I love how the cinnamon adds a touch of unique flavor without compromising the flavor of the turkey itself. Plus, it makes the house smell incredible. There's a little mingling of dessert-type of scents from the cinnamon with the savory smell of that crispy turkey skin everyone runs to taste before the turkey makes it to the dinner table.

After reading several recipes, I also learned that putting some water in the bottom of the roasting pan not only prevents smoking during cooking, it also helps keep a good amount of moisture in the meat. And one last, very important tip that we follow with a whole turkey as well as with this turkey breast recipe: start cooking the bird at a very high temperature for about 10-15 minutes before reducing the heat and letting the bird roast. This helps crisp the skin in the beginning without burning it later on.

So, what are you all doing with your turkeys for Thanksgiving this year? If you're cooking an entire bird, you can still use this cinnamon rub- just triple my recipe to make sure you can cover the whole thing.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! I'm so thankful for those of you that come back here time and time again to read my ramblings, make my food, and support me in this crazy food blogging life. Love and blessings to you all!

Cinnamon Rubbed Roasted Turkey Breast

Makes 6 servings

prep time: 10 minutes

cooking time: 45-55 minutes

total time: 55-65 minutes

• One 3-4 pound turkey breast
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels and spray a roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour 1 cup of water into the roasting pan.

Rub the turkey with the canola oil. Combine the cinnamon, kosher salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the skin side of the turkey breast and place, skin side up, in the roasting pan.

Roast the turkey for 10 minutes and reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast for 45-55 minutes (longer for a heavier turkey breast) until the thickest part of the meat registers at 155 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 15 minutes. Carve and serve!

Cranberry Pecan Upside Down Cake

So Thanksgiving is in ONE WEEK. Just wanted to throw that out there. In case, you know, it slipped your mind or something. Also, cranberry pecan upside down cake. I mean, wowzers. Upside down cakes are pretty amazing in general, but this one is perfection. Tart cranberries, toasty brown sugar, and crunchy, buttery pecans make the perfect topping to a white cake batter that's been spiced up with a little cinnamon and nutmeg. I don't mind telling you that I'm eating a slice of this awesomeness as I type and I don't feel bad about it.

I'll feel bad about it at 3am when I've eaten my 5th Tums. Because pregnancy heartburn.

I've never been one of those people to proclaim what I'm thankful for each and every day during the month of November. I think it's a wonderful thing when people do, I just have never been one of those people. This year, I'm trying to be different. I'm trying to spend more time every day looking for reasons to be thankful and happy. Lucky for me, I don't have to look too far for those little things that make life sweeter.

No cake necessary.

But sometimes it helps.

While I baked this cake, Riley ran around the kitchen singing Frosty the Snowman. That was a good moment. It was a great one, in fact. There is nothing like the smell of something delicious baking in the oven and the sweet sound of an almost-3-year-old voice sweetly singing. I hope that, if you make this any time during the holiday season, this cake brings with it plenty of moments to be thankful for.

Cranberry-Pecan Upside Down Cake

Makes 1 cake (8-12 servings)

*Note: The batter for this cake is slightly adapted from David Lebovitz's recipe, which can be found here.

topping:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 7.5 oz fresh cranberries
• 2/3 cup pecan halves

cake:

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Begin by making the topping. Melt the butter in a 9 inch cast iron skillet with 2 inch sides. Add the brown sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes before arranging the pecan halves and cranberries over the top of the brown sugar butter mixture.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla, mixing fully into the butter and sugar.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Add half the flour to the butter mixture and stir with a spoon to combine. Pour the milk into the batter and stir. Add the remaining flour and mix until just incorporated.

Pour the batter over the cranberries (directly in the cast iron skillet) and gently spread in an even layer.

Bake 35-45 minutes or until the cake is golden on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.