• 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)…

  • Loaded Candy Blondies

    Have Ester candy hanging around?  Let’s make blondies!!! Load them up! I am blondie fan… especially loaded ones like these cookies & cream blondies and these pistachio white chocolate blondies.  Today I was craving something sweet and starting looking around and realized I had a ton of Easter candy that I had not sued so I decided to throw a lot of it into a blondie. Let me tell you… I am obsessed with these… OBSESSED!! Use what candy you have… So I threw in mini cadbury chocolate eggs, peanut butter eggs, M&M’s and sprinkles.  You could just use one kind of candy or more, if you have more… just…

  • Roasted Herb Carrots

    Carrots are not just for the Easter bunny… we can eat them too! Fancy them up a bit… Carrots are a staple.  The little ones are perfect for quick snacks and lunch boxes.  You can roast them up super quick for weeknight sides.  Throw them into salads, stir fry or in desserts, like these Carrot Cake Cupcakes. For the Holidays though we like to maybe give them a little extra love and fancy them up a bit with some Herbs de Provence and maybe some extra butter… I mean it is the holidays after all.   If you do not have Herbs de Provence on hand you can use any…

  • Lucky Charm Cookies

    Lucky Charm Cookies are the perfect last minute St Patricks Day treat!  They are not only super fun they are SUPER YUMMY!! Are you a Lucky Charm? I was strolling down eh cereal aisle the other day, remembering all the kid cereal I ate growing up.  Everything from Coco Puffs to Captain Crunch (I liked the one with berries) to Cookie Crunch… and then I saw Lucky Charms.  I LOVED the marshmallows in Lucky Charms so much.   The unicorn was my favorite one, but I was also a big rainbow fan as well.  As I was standing there reminiscing for a second it hit me… let’s put them into…

  • Iced Sugar Cookies

    These Classic Iced Sugar Cookies are a MUST MAKE.  They are super tender, topped with a delicious icing with hints of vanilla bean in each bite and fun sprinkles.  A perfect cookie for any Holiday or Special Occassion. No rolling here One of the things that annoys me about sugar cookies is having to roll them out.  Rolling pins and I don’t have the best relationship.  I tend to roll things too thin, or not thin enough…it just never seems to be right.  With these cookies though there is no rolling…that is one of the reasons why I love these cookies. I also love how tender they are.  Not so…

  • 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…

  • Honey Balsamic Sprouts – a perfect side

    Balsamic + Honey + Sprouts have NEVER been better… and trust me I KNOW! Surprisingly Simple Sprouts It is no surprise that I am a big fan of brussels sprouts, but these sprouts in particular are a favorite.  Even better, they are really simple to make. First you start with simply roasting them with a little olive oil and seasoning.  Then as soon as they are cooked you drizzle them with a balsamic reduction and honey… and voila, they are DONE!  I told you super simple. A little honey sweet… just a little I know sometimes when you use honey as a drizzle it can be over powering, but not…

  • Sunday (or thursday or friday or monday) Pot Roast

    Pot Roast is one of my most favorite Comfort foods.  You know like cookies, casseroles or your favorite cake.  Comfort food is all I am craving these days.  I know I should be focusing on eating healthier and all that, but honestly all I want is food that warms my soul.  Roast is one of my most favorite comfort foods and this roast is my MOST favorite.  Fall Apart Pot Roast To me the mark of a GREAT pot roast is if it falls apart.  I mean is there anything better than a super tender pot roast that literally falls apart when you stick a fork into it?  I don’t…

  • Classic Iced Sugar Cookies

    These Classic Iced Sugar Cookies are a MUST MAKE this Holiday Season.  They are super tender, topped with a delicious icing with hints of vanilla bean in each bite and fun sprinkles.  A perfect Holiday treat. No rolling here One of the things that annoys me about sugar cookies is having to roll them out.  Rolling pins and I don’t have the best relationship.  I tend to roll things too thin, or not thin enough…it just never seems to be right.  With these cookies though there is no rolling…that is one of the reasons why I love these cookies. I also love how tender they are.  Not so fragile they…

  • Cranberry Shortbread Bars – A Holiday Treat

    Cranberry Shortbread Bars are the perfect Holiday treat!!  They are a little sweet, a little tart and surrounded in a buttery shortbread… it doesn’t get much better! Cranberry Goodness in each Bite I have always been a BIG, BIG fan of cranberries.  I love them dried and use them in lots of recipes, such as this Pumpkin Cranberry Pistachio Bread, but I also love fresh ones.   There is just something about the tartness in each cranberry but then also the burst of sweet flavor you get at the same time.  I use fresh cranberries each Thanksgiving for my Spiced Cranberry Sauce but I also love, love them in pastry.…