Apples and onions just go beautifully together and if  you add a cider-bourbon reduction? Amazing.  This is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or any autumn meal. It would be great with ham as well. In fact, after I made it I thought that cut in a small dice it would be perfect over grilled chicken breast.

Remember that roasting vegetables gives them a sweetness that can’t be achieved in any other manner.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I can’t believe it. Autumn is my favorite season and each year it seems to be the one that disappears the quickest.
Thanksgiving is usually a no brainer around here. I made a menu over ten years ago and we pretty much go by it completely, adding a new dish or two every year to try. It is just that everyone has things they just “have to have” and adding something new is impossible without taking away something old, comfortable, and traditional so…we don’t.

What I have found is that it is great to make Thanksgiving …read more

I have something to admit. :::hangs head::: I like cranberries but they are not totally off the charts for me. Nope..I can take ‘em  or leave ‘em. They are good in things like cookies and such..but I would rather have a big, fat blueberry any day. And, canned cranberry sauce is just…ick. We have it because some of the kids like it…but my daughter Erin makes a rockin’ from fresh cranberry sauce so I usually just concentrate on other things…Like dessert.

When I saw this recipe for chipotle cranberry sauce in Bon Appetit I was somewhat skeptical. But I …read more

O.k. I was planning on doing this with cranberries and then I didn’t have any…so I went with what I did have which was golden raisins. This stuffing is addictive, I promise. It is so flavorful, even without roasting in the turkey, that you will be lucky to get ti to the table. I added chipotle in adobo for a smoky little kick and because of that I think it would be amazing to serve with a deep fried turkey.

This recipe is based on one in the November issue of Bon Appetit. I liked the way that the bread held …read more

I have a lot I want to do this week.  I haven’t done many of the recipes yet so there are not a lot of images. This week I am going to focus on Thanksgiving side dishes with a few other things thrown in..
I always like to try new things along with the tried and true on the holidays. Paging through the November issues of Bon Appetit and Gourmet I have seen several things that pique my interest. Then there are the recipes I make that I want to share. So…here goes:

O.k. I bet you are wondering why I would call this Pumpkin Pie Noir aren’t you? It isn’t just the color here. I intentionally caramelized everything so that the filling was dark and sticky and very intense pumpkin.
Now, usually when I am making a pumpkin pie I stick with the Libby’s recipe. I know, I know…in a rut..but there is just not that much that can be improved there for a traditional pumpkin pie. This time, though, I wanted something that was sultry, and smooth, and sophisticated…sort of like the Libby’s recipe wrapped up in black leather, you know?

You have …read more

I know. I am late.  Last week’s chaos turned into this week’s devastation and my household is recovering from an emotional hurricane that hit on top of an emotional tornado. However, one can only wallow in the slough of despond so long before moving out and getting on with life – or at least getting on with  work.
So…I don’t know if you realize this but we are in to November and that means that Thanksgiving is almost here for those of us in the US. I thought that from now until Thanksgiving I would concentrate on those things that you …read more

I saw this Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding recipe on the Southern Living Website and I knew that I was making it. I am, as you know, on a bourbon and pumpkin kick right now..so I added bourbon. You can certainly leave it out..but it is SO good with it.

Soaking the pudding overnight allows the flavors to blend before baking. This was an extremely moist, flavorful bread pudding, which by the way isn’t usually one of my favorites. I am thinking a steaming plate of this …a good cognac and a fire in the fireplace would be a great end …read more

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?

Mmm…pumpkin recipes…are you looking for moist? How about earthy-spicy? How about something to make your house smell like the Yankee Candle Company? How about if I throw in easy as well?
Yeah. You want this cake.

Now that you know how easy it is to roast your own pumpkin you can create magic in the kitchen with this recipe.  And…did you know…Pumpkin and vanilla are supposed to be very…VERY attractive scents to men…you must keep that in mind and use this recipe responsibly.