GCC: Tuscan Cannellini Bean Soup

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For the past few days we have experience early fall weather.  Cool nights, gorgeous days, filled with a nice breeze and bright sunshine.

Today was no exception, we woke up to the perfect day to lazy out at home and just be together.

Tom and I did not have to think twice about it – we were going to park ourselves on our couch, snuggle and watch tons of TV.

Just like I did not think twice about what to make for our lunch.  Our December Gutsy Cook menu options it’s all about comfort and warmth, and this week’s option had the perfect choice for a cool day like today.

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GCC: Coconut Rice Fingers

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We continue the rice theme in the Gutsy Cooks Club.  This week it was to “make it sweet “ and the options were so good, that it was very hard to narrow it down to just one.

I’m a die-hard fan of rice pudding – side note: one day I will post my mother’s rice pudding in order to put all the other puddings to shame out there – Of course I will do this as soon as get her to share the recipe.

But, back to rice pudding.  If you see the options, all were a variation of rice pudding.  And boy did I want to make each and everyone one of them.  It really came down between the Rice Pudding ice pops (hello!! Rice Pudding Ice Pops… show me a person that would not be jumping up and down for one of those) and the intriguing Coconut Rice Fingers.

I bet you can guest which ones I went with?

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GCC: Calas [Sweet Fried Rice Fritters]

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Since it rain non-stopped this past Sunday, we were stuck at home and I had plenty of time on my hands. The only way I was going to curve the “cabin fever” was to keep busy and so I decided to make three recipes in this week Gutsy Cooks recipe line up.

This one is the first.  I will post the other two tomorrow and Tuesday.

When I took a look at our choices, I originally wanted to make the savory Italian Arancini, which holds a special place in my heart since they remind me of my time living in Sicily while working as an Au pair. But, then I thought, why not try something completely new, something that I really never tasted before?

And that is when I turned to the other choice in our list – Calas, which are sweet Fried Rice Fritters from the French Quarter in New Orleans.

I just could not go wrong with this.

Fried batter - is there anything better in life? (besides Nutella, or course).

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