You have to love the color of cranberries. They add vibrancy to any table, holiday or otherwise. And the tangy flavor is perfect with the heavier meals we eat in the fall and winter. I wanted a crisp that was purely cranberry yet not too tart. I didn’t want apple or pear or anything else with it…just pure cranberry flavor bursting open in every bite.
I put a layer of streusel on the bottom as well as on the top for added texture and sweetness. I really like the result.

This is a great, comfort food type dessert but would also work …read more

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 cannot believe that Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away. It is going to be fun this year because Erin and Jon (my daughter and son in law) and their kids will be here this year…but sad too, because Chris will be in Iraq still.  You  gotta feel sorry for the boy, here I am writing a food blog, publishing a cookbook…and the only thing I have sent him is colloidal silver, echinacea, and other herbs and natural medicines…LOL!
What is that quote about the cobbler’s kids not having shoes?

So, the turkey is eaten, the dishes are washed, the alka seltzer is fizzing. What do you do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers? Here are some ideas to get you started!

 
Thanksgiving
(Edgar Albert Guest, 1881-1959)
Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice,
An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice;
An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men,
Buildin’ the old family circle again;
Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.
Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all.
Father’s a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will.
Here we …read more

I had some time this morning since I have my dinner basically finished (evil laugh) and I wanted to post some ideas for what to do when, all of a sudden, you find out YOU are hosting Thanksgiving, and cooking.
It happens. Maybe the relatives that were going to host got sick, or decided to join a commune in Oregon, or maybe you misunderstood something, or….
Well. It happens. I envision the scene from A Christmas Story where they eat Christmas dinner at the Chinese restaurant. Roast duck, anyone?
So…here are some ideas, mine and around the web, …read more

So, with Thanksgiving a day away I am joining in the posts to express my thankfulness for the myriad of blessings that are poured out on me every single day.
1.Jesus Christ. Not politically correct but always first.
2. My family. The biggest bunch of weirdos on the planet.
3. My friends. Also the biggest bunch of weirdos on the planet. Maybe on any planet.
4. You. Every morning I check my blog for comments and to see how many people have visited. I am always humbled and amazed that not only do you keep coming back, you leave comments, and post …read more

Thanksgiving is this week!
This is always a busy week for me and sometimes I just want to get the kids busy doing something so that I can concentrate on other things. I don;t usually use convenience foods like slice and bake cookies, cake mix or premade frosting but here are some ideas for foods the kids can make by themselves!  The mixes just mean that they can be more independent-more time for you to get your stuff done!

1. Check out these cute Turkey Cookies from Pillsbury!
2. Let them make some Pumpkin Ice Cream

3. How cute are these Marshmallow …read more

I never understood the need for people to pick up the brown and serve rolls when they could make homemade dinner rolls themselves so easily. Saying that, I must hang my head in shame and admit that I do buy them each year as an addition to the breads I make because my son, Chris (currently in the Air Force) says that you can’t have Thanksgiving with out them. My mom liked these rolls and brought them every year. After she passed away I thought we would be free of them, but no. We must buy them …read more

I was raised on bread stuffing with sage, or sage stuffing, what ever you want to call it. Marc wasn’t. His mom stuffed the turkey with the pork filling from Tourtiere but since I cook and he doesn’t he is stuck with sage stuffing. Don’t worry about him, I make the whole tourtiere and he is happy.
For the stuffing you will need stale bread. I do not make homemade bread for stuffing, but it is awesome. I just don’t usually have time. I do like to have a mixture of breads for the stuffing, and I especially like it …read more