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.......