The Month in Review - November 2013

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving celebration yesterday.  We ate too much, drank too much and were up way to late.  It was great!  No 'black Friday' shopping for us today, though.  We're lounging around and enjoying the day off.

Before we head into December and all the holiday foods and drinks that are coming up, let's take a quick look back and a very delicious November.  Enjoy!

Creamy Kahlúa Trifle

Of all the many desserts I make around the holidays, no-bake trifles are by far the easiest.  They're great make-ahead dishes and can be flavored in lots of different ways.  Lately I've been looking in my liquor cabinet for flavoring inspirations and my bottle of Kahlúa Pumpkin Spice is a growing favorite.  Added to a simple cream cheese base it gives this dessert much more dimension.  And yes, I took some help from the store with prepared whipped topping and a really good pre-made crust.  With dessert quickly out of the way, I could focus on a more elaborate dinner.

Herb and Walnut Pie Crust Leaves

Did I ever mention how much I love pastry?  To me, the crust is the best, most important part of a pie or quiche.  I'd even be willing to scoop the filling out if it meant more crust.  Well... almost.  But it does make sense that I love to make savory appetizers out of my favorite crust recipe.

Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie with Peanut Butter Streusel

If I had to be known for a signature dish, it would probably be my apple pie.  It's our annual Thanksgiving dessert and Brian's particular favorite.  The first time I made it for him, a few months after we first met, he told me I should have gone into the apple pie making business.  And, naturally, I've been making it for him ever since.

Holiday Entertaining and the 'House Special' Pitcher

I think the best part of the holiday season is getting together with friends and family.  And, although it can be relaxing to just be the guest, I actually prefer being the host.  Having a houseful of guests, eating, drinking, laughing and exchanging stories somehow makes the house feel like a home.  And I still remember all the parties my parents threw when I was a little girl.  I'd help my mother cook and decorate and I'd always be given a chance to join the adults for a little while before being sent off to bed.  Good memories.

Sweet Cinnamon Bread

Don't you love the smell of cinnamon coming from the oven?  Lazy Sunday mornings, coffee, tea and a warm cinnamon treat for breakfast.  Sure, cinnamon rolls are amazing but I had something a little lighter and easier in mind.

Sage and Butternut Squash Pithiviers (Savory Hand Pies)

As popular as pumpkin is in our house at this time of year, I think butternut squash shows up even more often.  It's a little sweeter and has a mild enough flavor to blend with lots of different recipes.  You can boil or microwave it but roasting brings out the best flavor and it's totally worth the time to do.  Know what isn't worth the time?  Cutting the dang thing.  I mean, if you have to then, you have to, but many markets sell it already peeled and cut up and I'm happily paying the extra few pennies for all that labor.  Even more happily, this recipe requires no pre-cooking but, since you'll likely have leftover squash, below are some recipe ideas.

Vanilla Cream Cocktail

I've always been a vanilla girl.  No, not in a boring, plain, run-of-the-mill sort of way.  Vanilla is nothing like that.  It's exotic and fragrant and adds a marvelous flavor to almost everything.  I'll always choose the vanilla-flavored whatever it is.  Now add that to the creamy, coffee flavor of Kahlúa and I'm an instant fan.

Cranberry Crumb Cake

One of my very favorite winter dessert flavor combinations is orange and cranberries.  I can smell that sweet aroma in every bakery and pastry shop I pass this time of year and it always calls my name.  And crumb topping?  Well, that's a treat I love pretty much every day of the year!

Sticky Figgy Bundt Cake

Do you all remember Fig Newton cookies from when you were a kid?  I actually had to go search to see if they're still around and, yup, they sure are.  I had totally forgotten about them until the bundt bakers group announced this month's theme of working with jam and I went off to look for inspiration.

The Spicy Pumpkin

I've made no secret of the fact that I like pumpkin and a quick glance to the right of this page should tell you I definitely like cocktails. So, when the folks at Kahlúa came out with a new Pumpkin Spice flavor and asked if I would sample it and, maybe make a cocktail with it, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a bottle.

The Month in Review - October 2013

Well, it was fun while it lasted.  I'm referring to that lovely autumn breeze that comes in when the windows are finally opened after a long, hot summer.  The first whiff of crisp fall air and the excitement of a pumpkin or apple cake baking in the oven.  Pure contentment.  But, this morning, the windows are shut and that delightful breeze has turned into a cold wind.

October was a lovely month in New York and we took full advantage of the weather.  I'll fill you in soon on our pumpkin gathering, apple picking and spook filled Halloween party.  But today let's look back at how delicious, and apparently very sweet, a month it was.  Enjoy!

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Walnuts

I've always been a fan of Brussels sprouts, even at a young age when most of my friends left theirs on the plate.  And I learned that school cafeteria overcooking was the chief culprit in Brussels sprouts hatred.  Drizzled in olive oil, well seasoned and oven roasted made for a lovely side dish that converted many folks I know.  But it never occurred to me to eat them raw until I started seeing salad recipes like that.