Planning a Christmas party? In need of a treat to bring to the office party? Have hungry mouths to feed after the energy-depleting present opening? Here are just a few appetizer recipes, easy and elaborate, to choose from. Sweet & Savory Cranberry Pinwheels 8 oz package cream cheese, softened at...
Mulled Wine 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine 1 orange, sliced 1/4 cup brandy (optional) 1/4 cup honey or sugar 8 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise Combine all ingredients in a non-aluminum saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let...
Trisha Yearwood’s Pecan Pie 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans 1 (9-inch) deep-dish pie shell, unbaked, or homemade pastry 1 cup pecan halves Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. To make the filling,...
Last year I wrote a blog post on the various ways to cook up a turkey for Thanksgiving. You can read that post here: Talkin’ Turkey However the turkey is cooked, or even if choosing an entrée other than turkey, what is served on the side is just as important...
Why open a can when one can create a unique cranberry sauce or relish to enhance your succulent Thanksgiving turkey? Cranberry-Apple Chutney 1 cup cider vinegar 1 cup packed light-brown sugar 1 red onion, finely chopped 3/4 cup mixed dried fruit, such as currants, golden raisins, and chopped prunes 1...
Autumn Squash Soup 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped (or 20 oz package precut) 1 tablespoon canola oil salt and pepper to taste 1 15 oz can pumpkin 1 cup vegetable broth 1 cup apple cider 1 cup half and half 1 1/2 tablespoon honey 1/4 teaspoon curry...
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Icing & Caramel Drizzle A cupcake that offers the best of both worlds—sugar and spice. Ingredients: ½ cups Vegetable Oil 1 cup Brown Sugar 1/3 cups Granulated Sugar 2 whole Eggs, Room Temperature ½ teaspoons Salt ½ teaspoons Cinnamon 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract...
Ah, the basic ingredients we take for granted! Flour for cakes and breads that did not depend on adding yeast, today on every grocery store shelf, was once unheard of. Here’s the scoop– Prior to 1845 the only raising agent used in bread was yeast, which spoiled rapidly. This meant that...
Today is Good Friday and a traditional favorite in England is Hot Cross Buns. These are a spicy currant or raisin studded yeast bun, topped with a “Cross” of lemon flavored icing. While Christians have adopted the cake and the symbolism of the cross, it wasn’t always so. To Pagans...
The drinking of tea while nibbling tiny sandwiches is an indelible image of English life. One would probably assume that “tea time” is a necessity deeply entrenched into English history, dating so far back that it has become written into the genetic code! Well, not necessarily. A brief history of the...
Thanksgiving fast approaches, and for most of us that means cooking a turkey. When I was a girl, I loved Thanksgiving second only to Christmas. There were many reasons, but mainly because it was a whole day of being in the kitchen cooking with my mom. The turkey was the...
As my BIG December giveaway continues on to the end of the month more readers have been sharing their favorite Christmas traditions on the Rafflecopter form. It isn’t fair that I am the only one to see them! Some of the comments left by my awesome visitors I posted a few...
