This past week at the farmer’s market, I found the most beautiful collard greens I’d ever seen — for only a dollar a bunch! Naturally, I bought a couple big bunches to make some real southern style collards. My fiancé is from Texas and grew up on his granny’s collard greens, so I couldn’t wait to surprise him with my own.

Continue reading “Slow Cook Some Southern Style Collard Greens”

Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way, it’s time to start planning for the next gluttonous holiday of the season. This baby leek gratin makes for a simple side that works great with everything from prime rib to roast chicken. Because the leeks melt into the rich cheesy sauce, it’s also great served with a crusty loaf of bread as an appetizer.

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Looking for a last minute cocktail to go with your Thanksgiving feast?

Why not try this delicious apple cider sangria? It’s crisp, light and refreshing, and absolutely perfect as a pre-dinner cocktail….you know, while you’re still making the gravy and pulling the rolls out of the oven.

Continue reading “Pair Apple Cider Sangria with Your Fall Meal”

With Thanksgiving only a few days off, many of us have been buried amongst stacks of cookbooks and magazines testing recipes for the big day. If you’ve ever cooked a Thanksgiving dinner, you were probably sick of turkey and mashed potatoes, long before the family gathered around the table to devour your feast.

Continue reading “Escape Thanksgiving with Curry Fried Rice”

I know I’ve talked about it before on here, but I really love winter squash. And today I have a fantastic (and easy!) recipe for brown sugar roasted butternut squash for you.

Continue reading “Please Holiday Guests with Roasted Butternut Squash”

I’ve spent the past few weeks in rural Japan visiting family, and while the diet there is pretty unusual by US standards, fall is apple season and exotic varieties of fresh picked apples line the produce markets across the country. While taking a walk one day, I came across a farm stand that had piles of freshly picked produce at prices that made me wonder how these guys made a living.

Continue reading “Fill Your Kitchen with the Smell of Apple Butter”

These delicious streusel topped twice baked sweet potatoes are sure to be the hit of your Thanksgiving table this year. If you’re a sweet potato lover like me, you’re going to love the both crunchy and smooth texture, along with the sweet taste of these sweet potatoes! They’re a winner.

Continue reading “Rethink Thanksgiving with Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes”

Gambas al ajillo, or “shrimp with garlic” is perhaps one of the most popular tapas outside of Spain. I love shrimp, and you can’t go wrong with shrimp fried with lots of garlic and olive oil, but for me the appeal of this dish is less about the shrimp and more about the caramelized garlic and shrimp juices that settle in the bottom of the pan. Put a pan of these in front of me and I could devour a whole loaf of bread, smearing each nibble of browned garlic onto every last piece of crusty bread.

Continue reading “Grab Some Bread and Devour Gambas Al Ajillo