Bacon Cheddar Corn Muffins #MuffinMonday

These corn muffins studded with bacon bits and cheese are quick and easy to make and the perfect portable breakfast or accompaniment to a warm bowl of soup.

I'm finishing out the year with the gang from #MuffinMonday.......Happy New Year

Bratwurst Sheet Pan Dinner inspired by The Tatooist of Auschwitz

This one pan dinner is delicious, homey and comforting.  Plump Bratwurst, creamy potatoes, sweet carrots and savory Brussels sprouts are tossed in olive oil and spices before being roasted to perfection.

I was inspired to make this dinner after listening to the novel based on a true story, The Tatooist of Auschwitz......

Scenes from a Baptism and the Weekly Menu

Marissa's Baptism was truly amazing and special.  The ceremony was conducted by our Deacon who baptized Marissa as well as 3 infants.  Our friend, Catherine Nutter, did an amazing job of playing and singing this song that has very special meaning for Marissa.

Please join me as I share photos of the ceremony and the celebration that followed.......

Smoked Salmon Roll-ups #FishFridayFoodies #FoodnFlix

A delicious, elegant, yet simple appetizer just in time for the Holiday season.

These Salmon Roll-ups were inspired by the movie, Love Actually, and fit in perfectly with this month's theme for Fish Friday Foodies.........

Easiest Almond Brittle in the World #FantasticalFoodFight

This easy peasy almond brittle is cooked up in the microwave in less than 10 minutes and ready to be broken and packaged for giving in less than an hour.

It doesn't get any easier than this folks..........

Asian Style Brown Rice Pilaf #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Tender and nutty brown rice studded with shrimp and snow peas, flavored with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Today is the final installation in a year long endeavor that we called the Kitchen Matrix Cooking Project........

Milky Way Thumbprints #LitHappensBookClub

My friend Cam, of Culinary Adventures with Camilla, invited me to join in a monthly book club called "Lit Happens".  We are in a facebook group and discuss the books as we read each month.  This month's selection was Contact by Carl Sagan.

There is no requirement to cook a recipe inspired by these books but, of course, I do.  I find cooking inspiration in nearly everything.....

A Holiday Gathering with French Food and Wines #Winophiles

Tender, juicy pork chops in a savory tomato sauce, Cotes de Porc Sauce Nenette, is quick enough for a weeknight dinner and fancy enough for company.

I made this dinner to join the French Winophiles as we celebrate the Holidays in the French Style....

Southwestern Turkey Soup #SoupSaturdaySwappers

Turn that leftover turkey into a completely different meal by combining it with the flavors of the Southwest.

We are starting with Leftovers today at Soup Saturday Swappers.......

A Slew of Celebrations and the Weekly Menu

The Christmas Season is in full swing now in our household.  We have places to go, things to do and parties to throw from now until we leave for Arizona on December 29th.

Here is a video of our Santa breakfast last Sunday.  It is always a joyful time and my favorite party of the season.

Chocolate Raspberry Martini #ImprovCookingChallenge

A swirl of chocolate in the glass followed by a combination of Raspberry Vodka and dark Creme de Cocoa is the perfect after dinner drink.

Cheers!!  I am joining in with the Improv Cooking Challenge crew as we create recipes containing Chocolate and Raspberry.

Piernik (Polish Gingerbread) #EattheWorld #BakingBloggers

Rich, dark gingerbread passed down through generations in Polish families.  A perfect Christmas treat.

This is what you get when Baking Bloggers asks for Gingerbread and Eat the World visits Poland.....

The Santa Party and the Weekly Menu

Today we hosted our Annual Santa Party.  We started this tradition years ago when all the grands were just babies.  Now they are mostly teens and tweens with a couple of youngsters in the mix. 

It is my favorite party of the season each and every year........

Celebrating St. Nicholas Day #WinePW

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated each year on December 6th.  This is a popular holiday in Europe.  They celebrate by leaving small gifts in the shoes of their loved ones.

St. Nick visited our house and left a couple of small gifts for Marissa that she found when she awoke in the morning.  That evening we celebrated with a German feast paired with some wonderful wines provided by Winesellers, Ltd.  

Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies #ChristmasCookies

This post is sponsored on behalf of #ChristmasCookiesWeek. The generous sponsors, YumGoggle, Sprinkle Pop, Silpat and Adams Extracts have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.  

Tender, simple sugar cookies kept soft with the addition of sour cream. These cookies come together quickly, roll out easily and bake up beautifully.

Today is the final day of Christmas Cookie Week.....

Peppermint Brownie Bites #ChristmasCookies

This post is sponsored on behalf of #ChristmasCookiesWeek. The generous sponsors, YumGoggle, Sprinkle Pop, Silpat and Adams Extracts have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.  

Fudge-like, brownie, cookies topped with peppermint icing and a piece of peppermint for the perfect Christmas treat.

Please join me for Day 4 of Christmas Cookies Week........

Garlic Herb Chicken in Puff Pastry #FoodieExtravaganza

Tender, juicy, chicken breasts slathered in garlic and herbs, topped with spinach and wrapped in golden brown, flaky, puff pastry.  These are easy enough for a weeknight dinner and gorgeous enough to serve at a fancy dinner party.

Join the gang at Foodie Extravaganza as we create with Puff Pastry today........

Quatre Epices Cookies #ChristmasCookies #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

This post is sponsored on behalf of #ChristmasCookiesWeek. The generous sponsors, YumGoggle, Sprinkle Pop, Silpat and Adams Extracts have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.  

These tender, cake like cookies are flavored with a spice mix known in French as Quatre Epices.  A lovely mixture of pepper, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.  These cookies also are spiced with some cinnamon for a perfect Christmas treat.

Please join me for Day 2 of Christmas Cookie Week.......

Christmas Macarons to Welcome in #ChristmasCookies Week

This post is sponsored on behalf of #ChristmasCookiesWeek. The generous sponsors, YumGoggle, Sprinkle Pop, Silpat and Adams Extracts have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.  

These lovely Macarons are tinted green and filled with a layer of our son Anthony's Christmas jam. They are a fun and festive addition to your Christmas Cookie Platter.

And they are my first recipe as we celebrate Christmas Cookie Week.......

Hello December and the Weekly Menu

We got a little bit behind this year.  We ended up going out of town after Thanksgiving.  This is when we usually start decorating the house.

But we have started now and will be ready for all the festivities to begin........

Celebrating Leftovers #ItalianFWT

Who says that bubbly is just for special occasions?

Join me as we pop open a bottle of Italian Prosecco Brut to celebrate the last of the Thanksgiving turkey.......

A Man Called Ove #FoodnFlix Round-up

Join me today as I share a round up of recipes inspired by the movie A Man Called Ove.  It is a fun, warm, heartfelt movie that I hope everyone enjoyed.

It was my pick for November's Food n Flix Club........

Tachin Joojeh #FoodnFlix

This Persian Layered Turkey and Rice dish is a great way to use up any leftover turkey that you have from Thanksgiving.  Crispy and creamy rice on top followed by a layer of turkey and caramelized onions with a layer of fluffy rice at the bottom.

Filled with the aromatic smells and flavors of the Middle East, this dish is a sure fire pleaser.....

Starting with Leftovers #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

This comforting, homey breakfast is a great way to use up some of that leftover stuffing from your Thanksgiving Feast.

Join us today as we share our inspiration for using up some of those Holiday Leftovers........

Grilled Scallops with Lemon and Basil #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Tender Sea Scallops grilled to perfection, sprinkled with lemon juice and basil, makes a perfect first course for this Holiday season.

I'm late to the party but I hope you'll join me and the others as we share scallop recipes today.

The Thanksgiving Menu 2018

I have been making Thanksgiving Menus for as long as I can remember but I have only been blogging for about 5 years now.  This was one of the very first Thanksgiving Menus that I shared with my readers.

Please step inside as I share what we are having this Thanksgiving and the days prior.......

Seasoned Rice #HolidaySideDishes

Making your own seasoned rice is not much more difficult than opening a packet from that boxed rice mix and you have the added satisfaction of knowing exactly what your family and friends are eating.

Please join us on our last day of sharing Holiday Side Dishes........

Rustic Elegance; Fall Vegetable Soup paired with Cremant #SoupSaturdaySwappers #Winophiles

Disclosure:  I received samples of Cremant Wine for purposes of pairing and tasting notes to be included in this blog post.  All opinions, thoughts and content are completely my own.

This soup, made with ingredients that I had on hand in freezer, pantry and refrigerator makes for a tasty, nutritious, rustic meal.  I added a touch of elegance by popping open a bottle of bubbly Cremant Rose.

Join me as Soup Saturday Swappers pairs up with the French Winophiles in my post today.......

Shrimp Stir Fry Salad #FishFridayFoodies #HolidaySideDishes

This flavorful and colorful Shrimp Stir Fry Salad is the perfect addition to your Holiday Table, especially if the Holiday you are celebrating is Chinese New Year.

Tarte Tatin Bundt #BundtBakers

This classic French Pastry is normally made in a cast iron skillet for a beautiful rustic presentation.  I baked it up in a Bundt Pan and was thrilled with the results.  A handful of ingredients turn into a gorgeous and elegant dessert.

Join the Bundt Bakers today as we share French Cake and Pastry inspired Bundts........

Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad #HolidaySideDishes

This delicious salad combines the earthiness of the beets with the bright acidity of the citrus for a perfect, seasonal side this Holiday season.

Please join the Festive Foodies as we share our favorite Holiday Side Dishes........

Drozdzowe (Polish Yeast Cake) #BreadBakers

This Polish Yeast Cake filled with almonds and raisins is perfect with coffee in the morning or as an afternoon snack.

Join me and the rest of the Bread Bakers team as we share Yeast Cakes today...............

Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Pork and Cabbage are naturals together but it doesn't have to take all day to serve it up for dinner.  This stir fry using ground pork and shredded cabbage is on the table in minutes, giving you all the classic, comforting flavors in the middle of the week...

We are reaching the conclusion of our Kitchen Matrix Cooking Project........

Skillet Rolls #HolidaySideDishes #BakingBloggers

These wonderful rolls are formed, placed into a cast iron skillet to rise and then baked in the same skillet to a perfect golden brown.

They are the perfect addition to your Holiday table........

Let the Baking Season Commence!!

These cookies are flavored with pure almond extract provided by #sponsor Nielsen-Massey who sent me one of their wonderful Holiday Flavors Bundle.  To thank Nielsen-Massey for their generosity, I agreed to create a recipe using their product and to post my honest and personal opinion regarding the product on this blog.

These tender shortbread cookies decorated with edible glitter will melt in your mouth.  They are the perfect start to the Holiday Baking Season.

Samosas #EattheWorld

Every culture has it's own version of dumplings.  Italy gives us Ravioli.  Poland gives us Pierogi. China gives us Wontons. And India gives us Samosas.

Please join us today as we visit India in our Eat the World Challenge......

Let me tell you a Story #WinePW

Once upon a time there were beautiful kingdoms filled with wonderful vineyards that provided amazing wines for all in the kingdom and lands beyond to enjoy.

Coppola Vineyards courtesy of Google Images

A Book Review and the Weekly Menu

2 more weeks before Thanksgiving.  Does that make anyone else go into panic mode?  Not because of Thanksgiving but because that means it is the start of the Christmas Season.  Holy cow time is moving quickly around here.

I am still finding time to relax a bit though.  I am thoroughly loving a couple of new dramas on television, namely New Amsterdam and A Million Little Reasons.  We dvr them so I'm not sure what days and times they play but you should look them up.  They are great shows.

I have also found some time to read....... 

Cranberry Jam with Bacon and Onions #CranberryWeek #ImprovCookingChallenge

This jam made with fresh cranberries, smoky bacon and sweet onions is the perfect topping for roasted meats.  It is also delicious paired with cheese on a baguette or as a topping on your leftover turkey sandwiches.

Join me as I share my third Cranberry Week recipe combined with our Improv Cooking Challenge.....

Creamy Cranberry Chicken Wild Rice Soup #CranberryWeek #FoodieExtravaganza

Tender white meat chicken, savory mushrooms, smoky kielbasa and bright tart cherries are combined with seasoned wild rice mix to make a quick, easy and hearty main course soup.

Join me today as Cranberry Week meets up with Foodie Extravaganza........

Squash Soup with Cranberry Puree #CranberryWeek #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

The creamy, earthy goodness of this Butternut squash soup is brightened up with the addition of a sweet, tart cranberry puree, making a lovely presentation for the first course on your holiday dinner table.

Welcome to Cranberry Week........

The Food and Wine of Calabria #ItalianFWT

I received samples of Ciro Wine for the purposes of tasting and pairing for this blog post.  All opinions are my own.  This post is intended for adults over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly.

This rustic, spicy chicken dish, Chicken Calabrese, is named from the region where it originated in Italy.

Please join me and the other members of Italian FWT as we explore the foods, wine and travel of Calabria, Italy........

The First Week of November and The Weekly Menu

And just like that....It is November.

I have a feeling that our busy lives are about to get even busier........

Please join me in this month's #FoodnFlix Selection

I am very excited to be hosting November's FoodnFlix event.  I have chosen the movie "A Man Called Ove".  I first read the novel by Fredrik Backman back in 2016 and wrote a review of it here.

The movie is every bit as good as the novel...... 

Happy Halloween 2018~~I Have a Treat for You

Thrill your little ghosts and goblins with the easy Jack O' Lantern Taco Pockets before they go out begging tonight.

Filled with taco meat and cheese and sitting in a field of lettuce and tomatoes these Jack O' Lanterns are sure to scare up some fun at the dinner table.......

Egg Free Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins #MuffinMonday

These miniature chocolate muffins chock full of mini chocolate chips are the perfect bite for with your morning coffee.

Happy Muffin Monday everyone.  I'm glad you are here........

Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up and a #Giveaway

Welcome to the November Recipe Round-Up! This months round-up brings you Thanksgiving and Fall themed recipes with pumpkin recipes galore! Our bloggers are sharing their favorite Thanksgiving inspired recipes with you, including breakfast, side dishes, main dishes and ((of course)) dessert...because what's Thanksgiving without some pumpkin pie?! Come check out what we are bringing you this month!. Plus we have another amazing GIVEAWAY that you don't want to miss!!

Banana Mummy Rolls #DeadandBreakfast

Your little Ghosts and Goblins will be thrilled with these adorable pastry mummies filled with chocolate hazelnut spread and bananas.  A perfect way to start off their Halloween Day.

The Festive Foodie group is celebrating Halloween with a Bed  Dead and Breakfast event.......

Restaurant Style Sweet and Sour Chicken and the Weekly Menu

No need to go out for dinner or order in carry out when you get a hankering for Sweet and Sour Chicken.  This easy recipe is ready in less time than it takes to get into the car and drive to the restaurant.

Tender, delicious chunks of white meat chicken breast, fried to a crispy, golden brown tossed with stir fry vegetables and coated in an amazing homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Pizza Soup #PrettySimpleCooking

This Tuscan White Bean and Fennel Soup is fondly referred to as Pizza Soup in honor of it's similar flavors.

Not only is it delicious it is "Pretty Simple Cooking"........

Jambalaya vs Paella #FoodnFlix #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Did you ever stop to think about what the difference is between Paella and Jambalaya?  As close as I can determine, it is the seasoning and perhaps the pan in which it is made.

Regardless of what seasonings you use, what type of sausage or smoked meat you use, what cooking vessel you use the results are very similar.  A savory one pot meal of rice, vegetables and meat that is sure to please everyone at the table.

Peach Cobbler, A Book Review and the Weekly Menu

Lightly sugared and spiced peaches topped with biscuits and baked to a tender, sweet deliciousness.

This dessert was inspired by the Memoir, Educated by Tara Westover.  Join me as I discuss the book, share the recipe and plan my Weekly Menu......