Not only is this a mouthful to say it is a hearty, warm, filling soup. Perfect for this time of year and just different enough to demand attention. Please excuse the images of late. We have had dreary days and it has been difficult to take good pictures.

Read More – Guinness Broccoli Chipotle Cheese Soup

I know I haven’t done sneak previews in awhile. Some of that is that things got crazy and I couldn’t even keep up with my regular stuff. It has also been very rainy and gray…which means that my pictures are  more difficult to get.

But…here it is and I am giving it another try. I like letting you know what is coming up and I like being able to keep track of what I am supposed to be posting. So, here goes in no particular order -

Guinness Chipotle Cheese and Broccoli Soup
Mini Chocolate Cakes with Pecan Praline Sauce
Peanut Brittle
A Review of …read more

I am so unprepared this year it is awful! I don’t know about you but Christmas has sped toward me like a train on an icy downhill slope. I have exactly three items bought for Christmas and not one menu item planned and my checkbook looks similar to a black hole. It is a good thing I believe in Christmas Miracles AND Christmas Magic!
And this right here is one of the numerous reasons I will not give up, give in, or give out to a lousy attitude, empty wallet, or pure D. exhaustion. This is my almost 9  month old …read more

I never liked domestic beers too much. In fact, I don’t drink often and when I do it is more likely to be wine than beer. But if I am going to use a beer for cooking (with the occasional sip) it will more than likely be a Guinness Stout. Guinness has a sharp, sour taste that is reminiscent of granny smith apples followed by a smoky finish. So, when I was contemplating a Chicken Normandy last week I decided to see what would happen if the Stout was used rather than the fruity white wine I would normally use.

I …read more

O.k. y’all. December 8 was National Brownie day and I was not going to let that get by without taking a few minutes to scarf down allow my family the enjoyment of warm, chewy brownies. Right?

I like sticky brownies not cakey ones. They have to be intensely chocolate. They have to cause your tastebuds to jumping around and screaming for milk or coffee. They absolutely have to be worth eating. Seriously!

I like steak… a lot. And usually I prefer that it be cooked and served at a restaurant because you almost can’t get better steak that that. Almost because THIS steak is awesomeness. Just enough glaze to give it flavor. Start out with a good angus cut and slice it on the diagonal in thin slices.

This would be heavenly on the grill but the day I made it it was about 45F and drizzling. Grill be darned…that is what grill pans are for! Oil your grill pan, if you have one, with olive oil and then let it get good …read more

Let me start this by just saying…Oh. Yum.  I wanted something just really chocolatey and minty…the kind of cookie you will want to have with a large, cold glass of milk or a steaming mug of coffee.

The cookies themselves are made with Hershey’s Dark Cocoa. It is important that for this recipe you use a very rich, dark cocoa to get the level of chocolate intensity that these need.

One thing I really hate is when I cook breakfast and the kids are searching for food an hour later. The other side to that is since I have been a career mom rather than a homemaker mom I have less time to fix breakfast every day. Cereal is not really an option around here because it takes so much to fill the kids up… and it is expensive and not all that nutrient dense.
So, when I am considering breakfast foods muffins are often top on the list. You can add a lot of things to them to keep them …read more

If you bake much then you may have heard of Plugra, or seen it in a store.  If you know exactly what it is and why you may  want to use it you probably can skip this post. If not? Read on.

Plugra is a European style butter that really does make a difference in your baking. I have used it for years, especially for the French pastries and baked goods that I do. It is basically butter with less water so that you have a higher fat content.  Why is that good? Your recipes will be lighter, richer, and more …read more

Chocolate  desserts are about my favorite of anything and rich chocolate flavor coupled with the creaminess of French Silk is nearly impossible to resist. French Silk is easy to make and it is a great basic recipe. There are so many ways to change the recipe, or use it in tortes, cakes, and other items.

Try an oreo crumb crust, a peanut butter cookie crust, or even a gingersnap crust for a change. Experiment with different flavorings, if you like. This pie takes about 1 1/2 hours start to finish and is ready to serve.
I used finely ground black pepper in …read more