Happy Weekend!
It is chillier and chillier in the mornings. The leaves are turning color and the days are shorter. It is an awesome time of year -  probably my favorite time for food. The flavors of autumn are spicy and robust, warm and comforting. It is a great time to try new combinations and new spices and ingredients. Try switching Chinese Five Spice powder for the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or apple pie spice in your favorite recipe. The addition of star anise to the rest of the “normal” autumn ingredients can push it over the top. Brown the butter …read more

How has your week been? Are you gearing up for the holidays?

As we move into October it is time to start thinking about cookies and other Holiday baking. 50 Best Cookies and 50 Best Cookies Scene 2 are both good places to start. Remember that you can easily freeze cookie dough OR baked cookes and they will be fine for the holidays. Start picking up extra baking supplies so you will have them on hand when you want them.

Chocolate Espresso Sandwich Cookies
Boston Cream Pie Cake
Salsa Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Apple Sausage
Black Bottom Mini Caramel Cupcake Bites
Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
Triple Threat Brownies
Mushroom Ricotta Ravioli
Fruit …read more

I have like almost no time today. My life is insane right now. I know that I am absolutely going to wake up tomorrow morning and find out that it is Christmas Day and everyone is mad because I forgot.

Did you ever just really feel that flakey? Sigh. Here is a quick round up of all of the coolness this week.

Cranberry, White Chocolate, and Toasted Walnut Scones
Iced Mini Pumpkin Loaves with Molasses
Apple Salsa
Mini Sweet Potato Cheesecakes
Lemon Chamomile Pots de CreamThat’s it for this week. Hope you have an awesome weekend!

Image: Cori

Yeah..running a little late this week.  It has suddenly cooled down here in Texas. Odd because often we fight the heat until October. I am definitely getting excited about autumn and winter..Christmas..and feeling my annual blues about living in Texas, land of few seasons and less snow.  It is a yearly thing for me when others are talking about apples, burning leaves, and frost….
But I am blessed, I love my house (even if I don’t love the location) and my family is awesome. If you didn’t see the pictures I did of Kyrie this week (I posted on facebook) here …read more

Here it is.  Presto Pasta 108.  You won’t believe the visual feast you are about to experience.  We have gotten some of the most amazing dishes ever.  If you are hungry now? No worries, you will be by the bottom of the page.  Ready?

I love Presto Pasta nights, don’t you?  Ruth Daniels, Once Upon a Feast, has done an amazing job keeping it going and keeping pasta on everyone’s dinner table on a regular basis.  Besides, I have come to really like and respect her as a blogging friend.

Anyway I get to host PPN 108..Can you believe it? ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT!  One hundred eight weeks of yummy pasta.  So, put your pasta thinking caps on, and please make me look good here.  Daring Bakers, you DO have a pasta dish for PPN 108, as I recall!
I have been working on a star …read more

How fast do the weeks go by at your house? They have flown by this summer. In fact I realized that I needed to start thinking about what I am doing for Christmas this year, LOL!
Chris left last Wednesday on schedule. Sad, but it was such a nice visit. I miss him but I am so proud of the man he has turned into. I was worried there for a few years.
It is almost the 4th of July. Picnics, parties, fireworks…you have to love it!What plans do you have?
I saw these cupcake pops at …read more

The deadline is quickly approaching for the What to Do with Leftover…Eggs event. I all ready have a couple of participants and I am telling you they look DELICIOUS!
I can’t wait. If you need to review the details they are all right here.
Remember…the 21st is the last day to get your link to me.
C’mon, let’s see what ya got!

I sent out a plea for favorite recipes last week. I thought it would be fun to see what the bloggers at b5 eat. Apparently they are all dieting, or very very busy because there was not a lot of response.
However the responses I did get were awesome. Many thanks, you guys!