First of all, I had the coolest email. Totally unexpected; BonAppetit blog asked me to participate in their Blog Envy contest this year. Bloggers will submit their best holiday recipe and readers will vote. The top recipes will be made in the test kitchens of Bon Appetit and the prize is a trip for two to NY and dinner at Le Bernardin restaurant with Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild and the BA Foodist himself, Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton.

Would I like to win?
Uh…YEAH.

Can this recipe win?

One of the fun things about Christmas is to tour other people’s homes and see their decorations. So, here is a quick, not so great image wise, tour of our house-from the inside. I haven’t gone out to get pictures of the outside yet..but it is very simply done in keeping with the age and style of our home..just some greenery and wreaths.
As you come in the door the reception parlor and hearth is to your right-

and our formal Christmas tree is to your left-only this picture is taken FACING the door, rather than away from it…never mind.

The tree is …read more

Thanksgiving make-ahead recipes make all the difference for me. I don’t know about you but I really enjoy having relaxed holidays. With my schedule there is no way I could put on the type of dinners that I enjoy doing and doing it all at the last minute. Some people have (probably correctly) labeled me as extreme, weird, and OCD. I will gleefully admit to all of those, and smile at them contentedly over my after dinner espresso Thanksgiving Day, as I sit in a clean dining room, full of awesome food, and enjoying my family…knowing …read more

One of the cool things about marriage is how two completely different heritages/cultures can come together and meld into one.  Marc is the son of French Canadians whose family settled in Quebec in 1630 or something like that. There is a long tradition of excellent cooking and special foods in his background.
  Tourtiere is one of these. This was traditionally a holiday dish for them, his mom used the filling as a stuffing for turkey and the pie was created for special occasions.  I used to make it only for Christmas, but as I have gotten older I have become more …read more