Christmas: candy pickles

For Christmas this year, my grandmother sent us a package of different kinds of nuts (Brazil nuts, petite pecans, and buttered rum praline coated pecans) as well as a bag of candy from Plantation Candies Inc.

To my surprise, the little candies are pickle shaped. According to the company’s website they are, in fact, listed as candy pickles.

But they don’t taste like pickles. The closest I can come to describing their flavor is a mild lime. Maybe. I’m having the hardest time trying to figure out what they’re supposed to taste like. Whatever they are, they’re good.

I’m hoping to use at least some of the plain pecans to make a pie with my grandmother’s recipe (which I may share, if she grants permission).

I do have a question for you all. Have you ever had these candy pickles before? Do you know what flavor they’re supposed to be? I’d love to know.

Brownies on a different level

I’ve had this pan for forever and never managed to use it.

So finally this year I made an effort and got some Ghiradelli double chocolate brownie mix.

35 minutes in a 325 F oven was perfect. I let them cool in the pan, then plated them with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Dad took his a step further with whipped cream.

It was soooo worth the wait

All the noms. It was so good.

Something a little different

Dad decided to wrap bundles of asparagus in bacon. Potentially very good. 🙂

The lamb’s in

Dad stabbed it a fair bit to insert garlic.

As you can see, it’s all twine tied shut, a mix of herbs and garlic at its center.

Placed on a rack with onion pieces and carrots. Preheated the oven to 425 F, brought it down to 325 F as soon as it went in. We’ll turn it in a half hour, midway in the cook time.