• Cranberry Maple Sprouts

    Jump to Recipe A MUST Make Holiday Side! Need a quick & easy side dish that is not only delicious but also quick & pretty?  These Cranberry Maple Sprouts are the perfect Holiday side.  Even the guests (or kids) who think they don’t like brussels sprouts will love these.  Oh the Maple & Bacon! I am a BIG, BIG fan of brussels sprouts, but I know not everyone is… until now.  These sprouts are roasted to perfection and then tossed in a maple, bacon and cranberry sauce that takes plain sprouts to a  NEW level.   They are just sweet enough, with hits of salty goodness and then some tartness…

  • Iced Sugar Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Iced Sugar Cookies are a classic Holiday cookie.  They are perfect for all your cookie exchanges, parties, family dinners or guests.  Even better get the kids involved and let them decorate the cookies.  SO MUCH FUN! SOOOO Many Options I am a classic vanilla sugar cookie kinda gal, but a lot of my family are almond flavored sugar cookie peeps and that is why I love this recipe.  You can change it up to make it just what you love.   Use almond extract, just vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, orange or even peppermint.  This is a staple recipe you can use all year long.  Quick Tip…

  • Cranberry Green Beans

    Jump to Recipe Not Your Everyday Green Beans Green Beans are a staple on most Holiday tables.  You can make a green bean casserole, quick skillet green beans or just roasted green beans… OR you could make these Cranberry Green Beans.   Not only are they Christmas ready but they are also SUPER YUMMY! Holiday Table Ready Holiday sides do not have to be hard to look impressive and taste even better.   These green beans are roasted and the sauce comes together super quick in one saucepan and can be served immediately or reheated.  I love a Holiday side I can make ahead… don’t you?   One quick note……

  • Santa’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Santa will Thank You! Christmas will be here before we know it and that means it is time to start thinking about what cookies you are going to be leaving for the Big Guy.  Just so you know I have it on good authority, that these are some of his favorites…. he loves the combo of the chips, sprinkles and M&M’s. Load them UP! Let me be clear these are not your normal Chocolate Chip Cookies.   These cookies are loaded with not just semi-sweet chocolate chunks (or chips) but also white chocolate chips, sprinkles and M&M’s.  You could also throw in some nuts (toasted pecans would…

  • Gingerbread Cookies

    UPDATE – This Gingerbread Cookie post is from several years ago but I just love the pics, and the memories and everything about it so I just had to repost it.  I also love Gingerbread cookies so there is that too. ************************************************************************ This past weekend I got to watch my niece and nephew for a night and making cookies was on the menu for sure.  Not too long ago I was at World Market and found this great pack of sprinkles that had a little bit of everything from cinnamon dots to metallic sprinkles and everything in between. My little helper is the BEST EVER Anytime I can get my…

  • The Santa Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Cookies are a must make for all the time, but especially during the Holiday Season.  Good thing I know which cookie Santa prefers.   A little bit for Everyone … especially Santa For me a good chocolate chip cookie is a little crispy on the edges, soft in the center and loaded with tons of chocolatey goodness.   My families favorite chocolate chip cookies are these, but let me tell you after they have these cookies they might just change their minds. Not only are these cookies crispy and soft but they are also loaded with tons of yummy.  First I used semi-sweet chocolate chunks and then I threw in…

  • Roasted Rib Roast

    My brother blew it out of the park this past Christmas with the Roasted Rib Roast… trust me you need to make this ASAP! It all starts with the seasoning Having a good crust on a prime rib is everything and this recipe gives you a great crust but with just a few ingredients.  To make the rub it is just Montreal Steak Seasoning and some extra pepper and that’s all.  Seriously, it is all we use and just look at that crust! If you do not have Montreal steak seasoning you can use any all purpose seasoning you have, I highly recommend a course seasoning though for a pretty…

  • Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

    Are cranberries your thing?  I feel like you either are or you are not.  Well this girl… BIG fan.  A few of my favorite recipes are these Cranberry Bran Muffins & Cranberry Bars.  I  have to say though, this Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce is definately in my top 3 now.  Cranberry Love! There is just something about these tart little berries that I cannot get enough of.  I love them in desserts, as a garnish, in drinks and definately as a side.    They are so easy to use and so festive. In this sauce the cranberries are truly the star but withe a little kick.  The jalapeño and spices bring…

  • Mary’s Flourless Chocolate Cake

    Flourless Chocolate Cake is a must in my family and this recipe is the only one I use now. It started with a flourless birthday party… This past year my sis-in-love found out that she feels best when she does not consume gluten.  Now I am not going to lie this kinda freaked me out when it all first happened, but eventually I decided to embrace it.  My first challenge was finding a delicious, decadent cake for her family birthday dinner and that is when I started working on a recipe for a Flourless Chocolate Cake. After several tries and several taste tests we finally found the RIGHT recipe… and…

  • Gingerbread Muffins

    It is Gingerbread season and I am 100% jumping into it!  First recipe is muffins… nothing like waking up to the hint of gingerbread in the air. Let’s get gingerbread spicy! The secret to anything gingerbread is the spice blend.  Too much ginger and it can be too spicy, too much cinnamon and it drowns everything else out.  Too many cloves and you can’t taste anything else, it is all about balance.   These muffins have the perfect balance of spice and will be the perfect Holiday treat. A little extra crunch… For me a good muffin is tender, moist and full of flavor.  A GREAT muffin has a fun…