Roasted Squash Soup w/Maple-Glazed Bananas

Stumbled upon this beautiful soup in a  Food and Wine 2009 issue. Found it to be very thick the first time I made it. So second time around, I added another cup of water. This definitely helped thin it out, but I also found it needed more cinnamon...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes

As a kid growing up in Ohio, Chocolate-Covered Buckeyes were one of my favorite treats during the Holidays. They’re like homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups! Ingredients 2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 1 cup smooth peanut butter 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, […]

My Kind of Advent Calendar

I wish I’d seen this a little sooner, but heck, I can catch up. Virgin launched a boozy wine calendar this year. Now, this is my kind of calendar: Behind each window, you’ll find a large glass-sized bottle of boutique wine. They say you can expect the “best customer-rated wines” from around the globe, including 10 reds, 10 […]

A Reason to Be Happy When Your Flight is Delayed

I have, on occasion, been relieved that my flight from Newark was delayed. Like the last time we flew to Caribbean and I had been so crazed in the days leading up to the trip, that I never got a pedicure. My husband grabbed breakfast with my kids and I sat at the Departure Spa with a […]

Sparkly Lemon Cookies

                      Lemonade in a cookie form.  Course sanding sugar makes these sparkle, but feel free to mix it up with other colored sanding sugar or edible glitter!      

Your Thanksgiving To-Do List

Every year, I make a list of what I can get done in the days before Thanksgiving. If you wrote out notes to yourself like we suggested last year, pull that out and add to it. If not, try making notes as you go this year. You’ll thank yourself later! Here’s my list for what you […]

Preparing the Perfect Cheese Plate

I love cheese before or after a meal. In fact, I would choose cheese and a glass of wine over coffee and chocolate for dessert. It’s a nice way to finish off your bottle before moving on to a dessert wine. Served at the beginning of a casual meal, function or picnic, the Antipasto style […]

Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie

Got leftovers? Try taking a little bit of everything to create a Thanksgiving Shepherds Pie.