Monthly Archives: October 2011

Halloween Peanut Butter and Toffee Bark

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How is it already time for Halloween?  I’ve gotten the kids costumes ready, bought the candy, even dressed up for a Halloween party myself, and I still can’t get my head wrapped around tomorrow being October 31st.  The fact that most stores are already shoving Christmas at me is almost too much for me to handle.

Despite my disbelief, it appears that we’ll be trick or treating tomorrow night.  Before that, though, my girls have to go spend the day at school.  I know their teachers are going to be exhausted by the end of the school day, after spending it with hoards of wannabe princesses and ninjas.  I wanted to make a little Halloween treat for them, and I wanted the girls to help, so I settled on this delicious chocolate bark from Bon Appetit magazine.  Read more... (755 words, 10 images, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)

Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon and Garlic

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First off, I owe you an apology.  I fully intended on sharing the recipe with you that I made the other night for dinner.  Sadly, it didn’t turn out to be as amazing as I had anticipated.  My husband is a very gracious eater.  If he likes something, he tells you.  If I ever make something and have to utter the words, “So, do you like it?”, I know it’s just “Meh”.  So, I’m sorry I don’t have an exciting, easy dinner to throw your way today.  I do, however, have an easy and delicious side dish.  In fact, it’s what we had with the “Meh” chicken I made the other night!  Read more... (530 words, 6 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Spiced Oatmeal Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

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If you could bake a cookie to represent each season, what would you bake?  To me, each season has its own distinct “flavor”.  When I think of winter, I imagine a minty, cool cookie (next to a mug of cocoa).  Spring brings thoughts of sugar cookies with pretty little sprinkles, each one like a new flower ready to bloom.  Summer makes me think of lemon bars and sunshine.  After spending some time in the kitchen this morning with this recipe, I now know that this is my new fall cookie.  All of the wonderful, savory spiciness of fall can be found in this sweet, easy oatmeal cookie recipe.  Read more... (741 words, 7 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

Pumpkin and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

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I love trying new recipes.  I have more cookbooks than I can count, and I am constantly scouring the internet for great new finds.  I really enjoy throwing something new into our food lives at least once a week.  I wish I had the oomph to be as devoted to new recipes as my friend Jen.  She hasn’t repeated a dinner recipe in 16+ years!  Truly amazing.  We do have some favorites, though, and if I never served certain things again, I think my family might cry. My friends know that I love making new things and they often pass recipes my way.  This was the case with the recipe that I’m featuring today.  My friend, Tracie, tore this out of a magazine for me because she thought it might be something I’d like to make.  She was right.  Thankfully, it was an easy recipe for me to split in half.  Despite our crazy schedule this week, I wanted to share some of this with my friend who was nice enough to think of me as she flipped through her magazine.  Read more... (1075 words, 8 images, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)

Roasted Tomato Soup & Pesto Mozzarella Dippers

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I’m a sucker for tomato soup and grilled cheese.  There’s something comforting in the combination for me and when it’s dreary out or I need a food hug, you’ll often find me mixing up a big pot of this soup and grilling up some sandwiches for dinner.  Sure, I could just pop open a can of tomato soup and call it a day, but why?  This recipe is easy, not quick, but easy and much more satisfying and healthy than a warmed up glob from a can.  Both of my children love it…even the one who won’t touch tomatoes unless they are in the form of ketchup.  Read more... (875 words, 10 images, estimated 3:30 mins reading time)

Game Day Week Recipe #5: Caramel-Coconut-Pecan Cheesecake Bars

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As I was trying to come up with my Game Day menu for this week, I found myself flipping through one of my favorite cookbooks.  I was looking for an appetizer, but flipped to the wrong part of the book and landed in the dessert section.  There is was, staring right at me…Caramel-Coconut-Pecan Cheesecake Bars.  I looked at the recipe, it looked at me.  It said, “Christine, I think you should make me.”  Never one to argue with a talking recipe, I replied, “Yes.  I think I should.”

And so I did.  Read more... (957 words, 9 images, estimated 3:50 mins reading time)

Game Day Week Recipe #4: Southwestern Corn Dip

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Some recipes are favorites just because they’re delicious.  Others, we keep making for sentimental reasons.  Maybe a good friend gave us the recipe or it’s something Mom used to whip up on a rainy day.  Isn’t it nice when delicious and sentimental go hand in hand?  This recipe for a quick and easy corn dip is just that for me.  It seems like yesterday, but was actually years ago, when we lived on an Army post just outside of Washington D.C.  The years we spent there were very special.  Our oldest daughter, Emily, was born there and our lives have never been the same!  (In a good way, of course!)  Not only was it a special time for our family as a unit, it was also a time when we were very lucky to live in a wonderful community where we made lifelong friends.  Read more... (699 words, 7 images, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

Game Day Week Recipe #3: Caesar Salad Bites

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Well, after two days of not so healthy, but good, I figured I’d throw in some greenery for good measure.  This recipe is super easy and could be changed up in so many ways!  I made handheld Caesar salads, but why stop there?  Use whatever salad goodies you like.  Anything would work!

When I made my Game Day spread, I wanted something on the healthy side, but didn’t want to just throw a regular veggie platter together.  I remembered seeing handheld salad bites like this in a long lost issue of Southern Living.  I figured I’d improvise and hope for the best!  It was so easy and such a hit!  Read more... (607 words, 8 images, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

Game Day Week Recipe #2: Grilled Buffalo Wings and Blue Cheese Dip

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Buffalo Wings and Blue Cheese:  It’s a match made in football watching munchie heaven.  Only recently, have I been able to admit that I actually like blue cheese.  It took me years and years of failed attempts, but I’ve finally grown to like it.  And thank goodness I have, because it makes eating Buffalo Wings that much better.  Read more... (874 words, 8 images, estimated 3:30 mins reading time)

Game Day Week Recipe #1: Real French Onion Dip

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I love college football.  I can take or leave most NFL games, but there’s something really special about college football season for me.  I was lucky enough to experience a great college football tradition when I attended Michigan State University.  Thanks to my time there, I’m a die-hard Spartan fan and I’m proud to be one.  (No comments from the Wolverine peanut gallery, please.)  Read more... (989 words, 9 images, estimated 3:57 mins reading time)