Indian Flat Bread and a Flat Tire, Tales from the Almost Birthday Dinner......

If you read yesterday's post, you know that I was planning to make a delicious, special birthday dinner for my son, Nick with a promise to share some of the yummy recipes..................

Smokey Cheddar/Apple Soup with Apple Calvados-Cranberry Garnish

Believe it or not, my daughter and son have birthdays one day apart, the 28th and 29th of November! It wasn't planned that way, but it has given them an extra special bond over the years and has always made our holiday season even a bit more festive......

Peppermint Bark Crackle Cookies

Do you ever get something in your head and your just can't get it out? ...............I've had peppermint bark on my brain lately.........................

Apple-Cranberry Kuchettes - A Perfect Make-Ahead Holiday Dessert!

Do you ever make up words? You know, you can't find just the right word to describe something, then something crazy comes across your mind, and before you know it............. out it comes, right through your mouth....................

Simple Sticky Roasted Rosemary Root Veggies

Mmmmm ............veggies or candy?........... veggies or candy?............ veggies or candy?.................

Edamame Hummus

If you're out blog-hopping today you will find a beau coup of delightful holiday recipes .......... everything you could imagine .............. from turkey to stuffing to potatoes, delicious sides and fabulous, indulgent desserts. I decided to take a road a bit less traveled and offer you a fabulous, low fat, low calorie appetizer that can also sub for a wonderful lunch or snack..........

Secret Recipe Club Reveal - Raincoast Pecan Crisps w/ Raisins & Rosemary

At the risk of being tarred and feathered, I'm going to just come right out and say it...............

A Show Stopper Dessert - Cider Poached Apples w/ Cinnamon Pastry Stems, R.E.Salted Caramel Sauce & C. Creme Fraiche

Here we go.............. confession time............. again!...............

Pan Grilled Broccoli with Garlic and Lemon

Does someone out there think that they don't like broccoli?.......................

Curried Coconut Pumpkin Soup w/ Chicken and Jasmine Rice

I'm crazy about all the season of the year but I believe fall is my favorite! I love the breathtaking foliage displays, the cool crisp days, the long cozy evenings inside AND I wait all year for the fabulous culinary flavors and ingredients the season brings; aromas of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger, crisp sweet/tart apples, luscious succulent pears leaving sweet juice running down your chin ................ pumpkins in every size, color and texture, round, oblong and crook necked squashes, crunchy pecans, tart ruby cranberries - oh, I could go on and on......... While I thoroughly enjoy the traditional cakes, cobblers, salads, soups etc. that these ingredients yield themselves so well to, every now and then, I like to discover and invent fun new twists on these quintessential autumn flavors..................

Parsnip/Pecan Cake w/ Maple Cream Cheese Glaze

WHAT kind of cake?! Wait!............... Before you turn your nose up at this recipe or click over to another blog, let me ask you one question......................

Autumn Fried Rice with Chicken, Butternut Squash & Caramelized Onions

Not your typical fried rice................ but then again, who wants typical? They do say that variety is the spice of life, right?.................

Feta Filo Tart w/ Spinach & Chicken

Some people are just naturals when it comes to organizing and planning ahead. Me?.... not so much. But I'm really working on it, especially when it comes to the holidays, as I've learned some valuable lesson from years gone by....................

Ginger-Studded Brown Sugar Shortbread

Look what I found while taking a walk yesterday!....................

Three Lily Soup

Tiger Lilies, Calla Lilies  and ................um......... Lilies of the Valley!.................

Cranberry Pecan Artisan Bread - Another 5 Minute Bread!

Does this sound holiday-ish.............. or what?! Would you suffer through the Thanksgiving leftovers if you could have turkey sandwiches or paninis on this delicious bread? How about a simple breakfast for guests of toasted Cranberry Pecan Artisan Bread and fresh fruit? Or a fabulous Christmas morning brunch starring Cranberry Pecan Artisan French Toast! Guess what.............?

Sour Cream Coffee Cake w/ Gingersnap-Toffee Streusel

Fabulous. Festive. First-Class..............

A Fall Pizza - Pesto & Applewood Bacon w/ Arugula-Apple Salad

My husband is a saint....... he has, ever so patiently, put up with my quirkiness, bad habits, silly sense of humor and propensity for shenanigans, yes, all of this................ for thirty-five years! Oh, and I  forgot one thing -  I also have a ridiculously one track mind that he tolerates ............. especially when it comes to creating new recipes .................

Autumn Salad with Apples, Maple Sea Salt Pecans and Dijon/Maple Vinaigrette

We had the pleasure of dining with some dear friends last week and if you'd been a fly on the wall, you would have heard a comical conversation; it went something like this ....................

Maple & Sea Salt Pecans

There's something......... how should I say it............ extremely strange, excessively unusual, utterly unique, well just downright extraordinarily uncanny about these delicious Maple & Sea Salt Pecans...............