Making Coffee or Tea for a Crowd?

Are you making coffee of tea for a crowd this season? These posts have plenty of tips to help you make your coffee and tea for your gathering a success.Buying Guide for Coffee and Tea for a CrowdTips for Making Coffee for a CrowdI hope these tips help you and you have a fabulous get together!

Recipe: Bananas Foster No-Bake Cream Cheese Pie

I was experimenting again with my no-bake cream cheese pie recipe and decided to try making a Bananas Foster version…. it turned out delicious!... I mean how can you possibly go wrong when you top a banana cream cheese pie with bananas smothered in sauce made with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, rum and a touch of cinnamon… the answer is.. you can’t go wrong.TIPSInstead of topping the pie itself…

Recipe: French Toast

In honor of National French Toast Day…. (who thinks these things up???)... I decided to post my French Toast recipe… it’s quick.. it’s easy.. and it’s delicious! TIPSI like to use a bread from the bakery… Challah is one I like to use most often.. or if I can find an unsliced white bread…. I like to slice it myself… nice thick slices…For the French Toast I made today… I sliced the bread about an

Recipe: Grilled Mascarpone Apple and Dulche de Leche Sandwich

This recipe for a Grilled Mascarpone Apple and Dulche de Leche Sandwich came about as I was experimenting making a new breakfast sandwich… I had apples … lots of apples to use… and had a new batch of Dulche de Leche… and decided to see what I could put together… I must say… it turned out better than I had even hoped for.I know Mascarpone is expensive.. but … in my opinion worth it… you can also

Recipe: Beef and Portobello Mushrooms

Another great crock pot meal... Beef and Portobello Mushrooms ...I’m always looking for a slightly different version of beef stew… oh don’t get me wrong… I love a good beef stew… but I like to change it up a bit… just to keep things interesting.I had a pound of baby Portobello mushrooms to use.. and thought the earthy flavor would be good in a stew… so I went searching for ideas… the picture is

Recipe: Cranberry Mayo

Add a little extra flavor to your mayo this weekend when making all those sandwiches with left-over turkey… make Cranberry Mayo. Of course this recipe is also perfect with deli turkey anytime.This is absolutely delicious as a condiment for croquettes, mashed potato or turkey croquettes.TIPSI like to make this with jellied cranberry sauce, but you can also make it with whole berry cranberry

Fabulous Last Minute Thanksgiving Desserts

It's always crunch time in our house the day before holidays... I always want to make something different... an alternative to the ordinary pies... and every year I add a few more to my recipe box... these are great additions to the menu!






Here are a few suggestions...



Southern Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice cream or Whipped Cream - this really easy dessert uses an ingenious short cut ..

Recipe: Corn Casserole

This recipe is so easy and versatile... perfect for any holiday... Thanksgiving especially ... a perfect time to repost this!This dish goes together in minutes... fool proof for sure. I'm sure the corn lovers in your family will love this dish.The recipe is from Paula Deen of the Food Network… just a terrific recipe…Recipe: Corn CasseroleAll you need:1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained1 (

better late than never

Last weekend I took a little road trip up to my Aunt and Uncle's cabin in Wisconsin. It was so nice to get out of the city and spend a little time in front of the fire catching up. We took a hike around the lake, played with the twinkies (my cousin's 1 year old twins), and made a trip to the Apple Barn. While it's a little late in the season for picking apples, they still have a ton in the barn. The great thing about apples is that they're available year round. Even though I didn't get to pick any from a tree this year, I still felt like I should share this recipe with you. 

When I was a kid, my cousin Lindsay and I used to go to her Grandmother's house for play dates. Although she wasn't my biological grandmother, Grandma Boyd was always like a second grandma to me. I have random memories of her house, but one of my strongest memories is her homemade apple sauce. She'd always have a batch made for us. It was the best applesauce I've ever had. Slightly chunky with a hint of cinnamon, this apple sauce had a deep brown color and packed a rich apple flavor. I wasn't able to get her recipe but I'm pretty sure I nailed it. 

The secret to my applesauce is roasting the apples instead of cooking them on the stove. It caramelizes the apples while they cook and adds a deep, rich flavor and color. You don't even need any sugar, it's naturally sweet and perfectly balanced on it's own. One bite took me right back to Grandma Boyd's house. I hope you enjoy this easy applesauce recipe!

roasted applesauce

yields 4 c. 

ingredients:

5 fiji apples

5 gala apples

¼ c. apple cider

½ t. cinnamon

¼ t. ground nutmeg

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 375º F. Cut apples into about ¼ inch chunks with the skin on. Place in a glass baking dish or whatever roasting pan you have on hand. Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt over the apples and place in the oven for about 30 minutes. Once the apples have softened up a bit, add in your apple cider and continue roasting for another 30 minutes. 

When the apples are brown, soft and juicy, they're done! Pulse them in the food processor or with an emersion blender if you have one. I like mine a little chunky but you can puree it to your preferred texture. Eat it hot or place it in the refrigerator and let it chill for a few hours. 

improv style:

you can use whatever apples you like and any combination. some bake better than others though. i recommend the following apples: ida, gala, fiji, macintosh, honey crisp, and holiday. they bake nicely and semi-hold their shape meaning you'll get a great consistency/texture out of your applesauce when you blend it up. you want to avoid apples with a grainy texture like golden delicious. you could even do half apples half pears. also, you can adjust the amount of cinnamon or nutmeg. i'm not the biggest fan of cinnamon so i use a tiny bit to bring out a depth of flavor. you can definitely add more. you could substitute cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice or leave it out completely. if you don't have apple cider you could use apple juice, lemon juice, water, or even another juice like cranberry or grape. you don't have to leave the skin on the apple but after you blend it up you don't even notice it. it's a lazy cheat that ends up benefitting you by giving you all the great fiber from the skin. if it's not sweet enough for you, add some brown sugar or honey to the mixture. although i would leave this to the end because it's naturally sweet as is.

if you don't have a blender or emersion blender, you could try mashing the apples with a potato masher or fork. you could also put it in a food processor or use egg beaters to blend it up. you don't have to roast the apples but i feel like it brings out another level of flavor. you could easily do this on a stove top and add in the liquid before cooking.

this is great on it's own but it would be good on top of pork chops or served with your holiday latkes if you're into that sort of thing.

Recipe: Pumpkin Flan

Pumpkins and Fall just go together… and pumpkin baked in pies, breads and muffins …just well go naturally with this time of year.As Thanksgiving approaches … I thought why not try something a bit different … so I set about adapting my Flan recipe. Pumpkin.. custard…a little caramel.. and some sugar roasted pecans for garnish… all I can say is yummm.Adapting my flan recipe may sound easy but it

Recipe: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

We used to go to a steakhouse that served the largest sweet potatoes I have ever seen… you could make a meal out of the sweet potato alone.. it was baked and stuffed with lots of brown sugar and cinnamon … and butter… lots of butter and mini marshmallows… it was truly orgasmic.It really is so easy to make… and well worth trying it.. it would make a great dish for the holidays.TIPSThe larger

Recipe: Crock Pot Apple Butter

Living in upstate New York for so many years… Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Cool crisp days… fabulous colors on the trees.. the rustle of leaves… the smell of those first fires in the fireplace… and apples…. apples galore. Apple pies, applesauce, apple crisp and apple butter.. the list goes on and on.Living so close to the Vermont border, every Fall my son and I would make a day

Recipe: Steak and Herb Roasted Potato Salad

This recipe for Steak and Herb Roasted Potato Salad was inspired by a menu item at Applebee’s. We recently had London Broil and instead of serving a side salad.. I decided to combine it with the main meal… it worked perfectly.TIPSI made a Spicy Brown Mustard Vinaigrette for the dressing … a great complement to the steak.Use any variety potato you like.The potatoes are easy to prepare… wash them

Recipe: Spicy Brown Mustard Vinaigrette

I love mustard… on sandwiches, in dressings and sauces… it just adds a really pleasant dimension to food.There are many Mustard Vinaigrette recipes out there… some even have rave reviews… I’ve tried my share… I think most overdo the oil or the vinegar isn’t just right… this recipe is a basic mustard vinaigrette… nothing fancy or difficult.. no exotic ingredients…it worked perfectly with my Steak

Recipe: Grilled Gouda Smoked Ham and Pear Sandwich

I love pairing fruit and cheese.. so why not in a sandwich?… In this Grilled Gouda Smoked Ham and Pear Sandwich…. the pear complements the gouda and the smoked ham so perfectly… a dab of Dijon mustard and … viola!.. you have one terrific sandwich! TIPSSargento makes a sliced Gouda that is both delicious and convenient… it works perfectly with this.I used a whole wheat bread.. you can use any

everything is better stuffed

A month ago one of my best friends from college got married. And while I could go on and on with friendship, love and sappiness talk, I'll spare you and get right to the good stuff. At her rehearsal dinner, the catering company made these fabulous stuffed acorn squash. I've had acorn squash stuffed before. Heck, I make a wild rice and sausage stuffed one that's pretty tasty. BUT, this squash was stuffed with quinoa and it was amazing. I've tried quinoa once before and it was a HUGE flop. It ended up a mushy ball and I avoided it until recently. If you've had a similar experience, give it another try. I'm glad I did!


Not familiar with quinoa? It's a grain... think of it as an alternate to rice, couscous or bulgar if you've had that. It's not scary and it's pretty easy to find in almost every grocery store. Plus it's packed with protein and magnesium. 


I'm not exactly sure what was in the stuffed squash at my friends rehearsal dinner but the version I've come up with is really tasty. The squash is creamy and sweet and the quinoa stuffing is crunchy, earthy, and hearty. This is a hearty dish on it's own but it would be a killer side with any meal too. It would make a great side for Thanksgiving if you're looking to do something a little different. It's a really fun presentation too. Each person gets their own individual squash bowl. 2 weeks until turkey day... are you ready?

mushroom + leek quinoa stuffed acorn squash

yields 4 servings

ingredients:

4 T. olive oil

1 leek chopped

1 c. mushrooms chopped

2 garlic cloves chopped

3 c. spinach leaves

1 ½ c. cooked quinoa

2 T. toasted slivered almonds

½ t. truffle oil

2 acorn squash (halved, seeds removed)

salt + pepper

Preheat oven to 350º F. Follow the directions on the box of quinoa and cook accordingly. You can use chicken, beef or veggie stock instead of water to add extra flavor if you like. 


In a medium saute pan, add olive oil (enough to thinly coat the bottom of the pan). Once the pan is hot, add in your chopped leeks and mushrooms. Cook until wilted and slightly browned. Add in your garlic and spinach. Meanwhile, in a small pan, toast your slivered almonds over medium heat. Once spinach is wilted, add in your almonds, truffle oil, and salt + pepper to taste. Once quinoa is cooked, toss your mixture with the grains and you're ready to place in your squash. 


Place stuffing into the center of each squash and drizzle with a little extra olive oil over the top. Bake in the oven for about 30 - 40 minutes until squash is softened and the top of the stuffing is golden brown. 


improv style:
this is the kind of recipe where you look in your fridge and you see what you have. leek can be substituted for onions, shallots, green onions. not a fan of mushrooms? leave it out and add in your favorite veggie instead. i like the crunch that the almonds give to the dish but you could leave them out or add in your favorite nut. spinach could be substituted for kale or chard or your favorite leafy green or herb. the addition of cheese would be more than welcome. a creamy goat or feta would be fantastic but you could use any type you like. 


now the truffle oil... here's the thing about truffle oil - it's STRONG. a little goes a long way. you can use white or black truffle oil. if you don't have any on hand, you can leave it out or you could use another flavored oil. i feel like the truffle oil adds depth to the mushrooms already in the dish but it can easily be left out and still taste great. another substitution that goes in a completely different direction would be a squeeze of lemon. it would add a brightness to the stuffing. 


you could do this in a butternut squash or any kind of squash or pumpkin for that matter. the only one i wouldn't recommend is spaghetti because the texture would just be, well, weird. the final substitution i'll offer is by putting your favorite thanksgiving stuffing in the squash. it's a fun presentation and everyone gets their own individual portion of stuffing. think cornbread, sausage, oyster, wild rice... whatever your family's favorite is. this would go perfect with your thanksgiving turkey!

Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Pancakes

Yummmm… even the name sounds yummy… Southern Sweet Potato Pancakes… and they are too!The taste of the sweet potatoes is light.. the pancakes are sweet.. a true treat!TIPSI bake my sweet potato ahead of time… and allow to cool… then store it in the fridge until I’m ready to make the pancakes… I just nuke it quick in the microwave wrapped in a paper two to just warm it again.I used my mini chopper

Recipe: Pecan Butter

Pecan Butter is another flavored butter that’s terrific on pancakes or toast… it’s easy to make and adds so much to foods… the finishing touch!I’ve always used flavored butters.. and am always on the lookout for more ideas. This idea came from the Food Network… I tried their version and decided it needed more … just about more of everything… so here is my recipe for Pecan Butter.TIPSI always

Recipe: Dulce de Leche

Dulce de Lece… oh how I love thee… let me count the ways…. Dulce de Leche … I've read it's considered a national treat in Argentina.... I’m not surprised… it’s fabulous!So just what is Dulce de Leche?... it’s a thick caramel-like sauce or spread made from milk. Many countries have their version of this… from Latin America, most notably Argentina and Chile to Portugal to Russia to Norway.. the

Recipe: Mushroom Ragu

Hmmm… mushrooms.. I do love mushrooms… I honestly could eat them almost every day.. I can think of hundreds of ways to eat them.. and I probably have hundreds of recipes that have mushrooms in them. It may not be everybody’s thing.. but it definitely is mine.I wanted to make a Mushroom Ragu and found a recipe from Giada De Laurentiis… admittedly I only scanned the recipe before deciding to make

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Yummmm…. Whoever came up with Chocolate Chip Pancakes was a genius… what better way to get a kid to dive into breakfast than with Chocolate Chip Pancakes… and truth be told… adult chocolate lovers love them too!I admit when my son was growing up I wouldn’t think of making Chocolate Chip Pancakes… after all… you serves chocolate for breakfast??…. or even a supper?? …. guess I wasn’t always the

Recipe: Grilled Cheese Caprese

Another wonderful grilled cheese recipe…. Grilled Cheese Caprese… thick sliced Tuscan bread…. thick slices of fresh mozzarella… beefsteak tomato slices… and fresh basil leaves… all grilled to perfection… not your ordinary grilled cheese sandwich… TIPSUse fresh mozzarella.. not the packaged stuff you find in the dairy aisle… fresh mozzarella is soft in texture and has a wonderful mild flavor.

London Broil

I really like London Broil… I had never had it until my husband made it when I was first married.... it’s been a family favorite ever since. What many people don’t realize that London Broil is not a cut of meat.. it’s a cooking method. It is traditionally marinated for anywhere from 6 hours to 24 hours… a number of marinades are popular… As for the cuts of meat that lend themselves well to

Recipe: Cajun Spicy Mustard Marinade for London Broil

This recipe for Cajun Spicy Mustard Marinade has a bit of kick to it… although the spicy flavor really is muted when the beef is cooked… it does adds a little flavor… and goes well with a variety of side dishes.TIPSI have a recipe that I use for Cajun Seasoning… it’s easy and economical to make.. I add it to many things.. this is one of them.. I keep it in a small glass jar… handy and ready to

Recipe: Marsala Wine Marinade for London Broil

This recipe was one from my husband… this was the first marinade he used on London Broil when he made it for me…. I’ve loved it ever since.TIPSMake sure you use a “drinkable” Marsala wine… Marsala is not expensive and easily found. Don’t use those so-called cooking wines… they have terrible flavor and way too much salt in them.Try this delicious marinade … serve it with a light Fettucine

Recipe: Balsamic Vinegar Marinade for London Broil

Marinades for London Broil not only tenderize the meat but add flavor… this one uses balsamic vinegar as the base…. seasoned with garlic and rosemary.. the flavors blend well.TIPSI like to use Montreal seasoning on beef… I don’t use it too liberally… just a sprinkle does the trick.Refrigerate the beef in this marinade overnight for the best results.Recipe: Balsamic Vinegar Marinade for London

Recipe: Grilled Cheddar and Apple Sandwich

Grilled Cheddar and Apple Sandwich makes an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich special … the combination of cheddar and apple is a traditional one and there is no reason not to put it in a sandwich. I like to use fresh bread.. in this case.. I used slices from a Tuscan loaf we had… a wonderful lunch!TIPSI like to put two layers of cheddar one under and one over the apples… as it melts it sticks to

Turkey Guide

Just click on the links below to go directly to the post. To return to the main page hit the back button twice or just click on HomeLet's Talk TurkeyFresh or Frozen Turkey - Your DecisionHow Much Turkey to Buy?Cooking Methods for TurkeyThawing a Frozen TurkeySafe Handling and Roasting of the Turkey TipsStuffing TipsFood Safety SupportSafe Carving and Serving of TurkeyStoring Leftovers SafelyTime

It's Time to Start Thinking about that Turkey!

Yes… it’s that time of year again… how fast the year went! I will repost all my Turkey guides for you … from deciding how much turkey to buy to helping you decide which cooking method works best for your family… plus fabulous recipes… everything you need to make a wonderful stress-free holiday.I’ll keep the links on the side of the blog for easy reference… I hope you find it helpful!