• my most favorite sugar cookie

    I have been very blessed to have some amazing grandparents.  All of them made huge impacts on my life but my MeeMaw was the one who had the biggest impact on my cooking.  I make a ton of her recipes but these cookies are my favorite. Worth the wait… The minute we would get to the farm (where she lived) I would go straight to the cookie jar.  The cookie jar would sit on a bakers rack at the entrance of the kitchen.  It was always loaded with tons of these cookies.  It would take us about 12 hours to get there from Texas and every single minute on the way there…

  • Red Velvet for some Valentine’s Day Love!

    Valentines Day is just around the corner and that means it is time to break out all the red velvet recipes and celebrate with the one you love.    These whoopie pies will be a favorite Valentines Day treat for sure!! It’s time for a little whoopie…whoopie pie that is I’m sorry I just can’t resist.  It is just too easy.  Ok…I know enough, lets move on. I love red velvet anything.  Red Velvet cake, red velvet cupcakes and especially red velvet whoopie pies.  Whoopie pies are just about the best invention ever.  They are a perfect cross between a cupcake & a cake that can all be held in your hand.…

  • 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…

  • Stuffed Honeynut Squash

    Honeynut Squash is my new favorite squash.  Not familiar?  I wasn’t either, until last week.  They are everything you love about butternut only smaller, sweeter, more tender and perfect size for individuals sides.     Honeynut = Cuteness & Yumminess I was walking through Trader Joes looking at the produce and came across these super small butternut squash.  I was intrigued as I had never seen one so small.  Just then an employee walked up and asked if I had ever had a butternut squash and pointed at these adorable little beauties.  Once I said no she began to tell me every reason why I should  She said they cooked…

  • Brisket Chili

    Brisket Chili hands down is my new go to chili… period.  I said it.  I mean it.  I am standing by it. Brisket Chili… your new favorite chili Being a Texas girl I have had my fair share of chili and I have made my fair share as well.  I have made simple ground beef chili, steak chili, chicken chili and now Brisket Chili.  I had heard about this type of chili for years from a  friend of mine, but never made attempted to make it, until now. So why now?  Well I make chili every Halloween for my families Halloween party and this year I wanted to make something…

  • Bacon Green Bean Casserole

    Over the years I have come to the conclusion that you are either a fan of green bean casserole or you are not…it’s really that simple.  I have always landed on the not a fan side of this debate but my brother, James, is a HUGE fan and asks for it every holiday…but this year it was time to take it to the next level. Green Bean Casserole like no other  Most of the time my sis-in-laws mom will make it for him, but this time I decided to take on his request but to make it in a way that I (and the other non-lovers) would love as well.…

  • Sausage Dressing – Thanksgiving Must

    Sausage Dressing is hands down our families favorite dressing.  How do I know??  After 4 dressings, a blind taste test and an overwhelming vote… the winner has been named!!  Changing a Texas Girl’s World  Being a good Texas girl I grew up eating cornbread dressing every Thanksgiving.  The very traditional version of cornbread with onions, celery, and cornbread.  My mom would bake the cornbread days in advance and prep anything she could to make her cornbread dressing.   This Texas girls life was changed though a couple of years ago, I was introduced to bread and sausage dressing and it changed my life.  It was full of flavor, the bread…

  • Smoked Turkey

    Turkey Day (aka Thanksgiving) will be here before we know it (like next week) and it is time we talk smoked turkey!   let’s talk SMOKED TURKEY I know most of us will roast or fry our Thanksgiving turkeys but this Smoked Turkey is the only way my family does it now.  My brother and his Father-in-Law have perfected this recipe and it is just amazing!! To be safe you want to have between 3/4 – 1 pound per person (or more for leftovers).  Also make sure you give it enough time to thaw, We thaw our turkey in an ice water bath in a cooler (still in the plastic wrapping)…

  • Homemade Spiced Cranberry Sauce

    I love cranberry sauce with my turkey (like this smoked turkey), but I am not a fan of the can.  This Homemade Spiced Cranberry Sauce is SO MUCH better than the can, and so easy!! Let’s talk about the Spiced Cranberry Sauce Are you a fan of cranberry sauce?  I feel like you either are or your not.  There doesn’t seem to be too many people out there that are in the middle of the cranberry debate.  Well, I was not a fan either until I started making my own cranberry sauce from FRESH cranberries…thats right there are no cans in this recipe. It is all about the FRESH Berries Growing…