New Year's Recipes
Cold Pan Seared Pork Chops
No more tough, dry pork chops! A clever technique guarantees tender, juicy meat every time, and you won’t believe how easy it is. When cooked properly, a thick, lean pork chop can be juicy and so full of flavor. All of us, however, have likely been served more than one pork chop that’s dry…
Homemade Crostini
Crisp, golden crostini are easy to make and form the perfect base for a wide variety of hors d’oeuvres. Delicious for general snacking too! The day I prepared this easy recipe for a photo shoot was “one of those days.” I woke up to no heat and a 59℉ (brrrr!!!) house. Outside temps, by…
Baked Havarti with Dill
A crisp, golden crust and gooey cheese are the hallmarks of this irresistible appetizer – and you won’t believe how easy it is to prepare! I have a stash of stained and tattered recipe cards (always a good sign!), which I consistently return to when I need something quick, foolproof, and guaranteed to please. Baked…
Cranberry Simple Syrup (and bonus cocktail recipe)
This easy-to-make syrup adds festive color and seasonal flavor to a variety of cocktails and mocktails. Makes a lovely gift too! Taking a few minutes to prepare an infused simple syrup is an easy way to create the type of cocktail that garners big bucks at trendy restaurants. And while I most often use…
Green Beans Almondine
Nutty, buttery, and bright, this perfectly seasoned dish can be partially prepped in advance. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner but 100% worthy of a holiday meal. Truly so much more than the sum of its parts! Somehow, I managed to graduate college before ever tasting the traditional green bean casserole. The classic holiday…
Beer Boiled Peel & Eat Shrimp
Beer Boiled Peel & Eat Shrimp bring the fun factor to dinner, and if you keep a bag of shrimp in your freezer, you can have this festive meal anytime — in about five minutes! Peel and eat shrimp and cold beer are a popular pairing, but cooking the shrimp in the beer produces an…
Speedy Cocktail Sauce
Bright, zippy, and super easy to make whenever needed, this fresh-tasting cocktail sauce adds memorable flavor to shrimp, crab cakes, hot dogs, and so much more. A condiment has the power to complete a meal. A really good condiment, however, will simultaneously elevate that meal. Such is the case with cocktail sauce. Cocktail sauce…
Hanger Steak with Romesco Sauce
A simple but well constructed marinade produces a steak that is bursting with flavor, whether grilled or cooked on the stovetop. The vibrant sauce is optional but endlessly versatile. When I shared this simple, endlessly versatile recipe for Everyday Green Salad, I mentioned how much I enjoyed testing a variety of Alexis deBoschnek’s…
How to Make a Chocolate Tasting Board
An interactive way to sample a variety of chocolate and see what you like best, a tasting board offers a festively easy dessert for holidays, birthday parties, bridal showers, potlucks–even a special night for two! Many of us enjoy a sweet treat after dinner. If you’re like me, you’d love to taste everything on…
Roasted Potato Bites
Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these flavor-packed bites take minutes to prepare and may just be the star of your dinner plate! I’ve mentioned recipes that don’t always make it to the dinner plates. This is one of them! Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and expertly seasoned…
Cranberry Mimosas
Quick, festive, and colorful, this twist on the traditional mimosa is an easy choice for holiday breakfasts and brunches throughout the year. A merry looking drink that offers easy prep and broad appeal, my family has given this drink a variety of names over the years. Christmas and holiday mimosas are the more straightforward…
Snowballs
The cookie itself is lightly sweet and similar to a pecan sandie. A dusting of confectioner’s sugar provides the finishing touch of flavor and looks so pretty, too. (And for those with allergies–no eggs and a gluten-free option!) In the world of cookies, snowballs are neither cold nor wet, but they do pair well…
