How to Stock Your Holiday Baking Pantry

It's the holidays and prime time to do some baking... are you stocked and ready? If you're like me, you've been gearing up for this time of year to make some baked treats to serve up at holiday gatherings or even package up as edible gifts to family and friends. But before you preheat that oven and pull out those mixing bowls, let's check what our baking pantry looks like. Here's some helpful information on How to Stock Your Holiday Baking Pantry with key ingredients you'll want to have on hand for all your holiday baking needs...

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Fried rice. Blah. It's always fried rice. Whenever there's leftover rice in our house, the first thing that we make is fried rice. Well, it's time for a change and a change it was! I was in the mood for something comforting, easy to whip up and quick for dinner and as I flipped through a new recipe magazine, I came across this recipe for Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole. This was a great dish for a couple of reasons... It was definitely comforting, a breeze to put together and it made it to the table in less than 30 minutes. But even beyond that, it was so good I made another baking dish of this recipe to freeze and enjoy later...

10 Crockpot Recipes for Stress Free Meals

Thanksgiving is over and after all the effort put into the dishes made, I'm sure many of us can use some easy, stress free meals. In fact, if you have a slow cooker (aka Crockpot) that you want to get more use out of, I have some recipes to share! Unlike many crockpot recipes, I'm not a fan of cream soups so you won't find recipes calling for them below. Here are 10 Crockpot Recipes for Stress Free Meals to give you more time to relax and prepare for the upcoming holidays...

Cheesy Meaty Mac & Cheese

If there's a comfort food that everyone can appreciate, it's macaroni and cheese. There are countless recipes out there but I still find myself looking for the *perfect* one. I love my mac and cheese on the creamy and very cheesy side. When I stumbled upon this mac & cheese recipe made on the stove top that had numerous rave reviews, I couldn't pass it up. As a result, I got exactly what I was hoping for and created this Cheesy, Meaty Mac & Cheese. I don't think I'll be searching for another mac and cheese recipe anytime soon because this was... perfect!

Thanksgiving 2010 Recap

It's now a few days after Thanksgiving - did you have a great holiday celebrating? What did you feast on? This year for Thanksgiving we didn't host as we usually do, so it was a great chance to relax and spend more time with family and friends. We had a full day of celebrating with a luncheon and dinner, which highlighted both traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving eats. Read on to get a glimpse of what we celebrated with...

A Weekly Serving: 11/27/2010

One of my favorite food blogs belongs to Michelle at BrownEyedBaker. I've known Michelle for a few years through an online cooking forum we both have been active in. I love how she's grown as a blogger and fellow cooking/baking enthusiast over the years. A few months ago, she started a weekly blog feature called, 'The Weekend Dish' where she highlights her blog posts for the week, recipes she's bookmarked from other blogs and some commentary of her everyday life and happenings. It's been such a great post to read each week.

I get quite a few emails from readers of What's Cookin, Chicago asking me about recipes, culinary events, and how life has been juggling catering, entertaining, culinary school and a little one on top of it all. So to summarize recipes and posts I've blogged about over the week, share some link love to blogs and recipes that caught my eye and how I balance all the gajillion things I somehow manage to balance each week, I've created a new blog feature... A Weekly Serving of What's Cookin. Inspired by Michelle at BrownEyedBaker, I hope you enjoy this weekly post to catch up on things cookin' up in my kitchen...

Classic Green Bean Casserole

For me, it's the side dishes that I look forward to on Thanksgiving. Even though there's no hard or fast rule the classic Thanksgiving side dishes can only be served during Thanksgiving, it tends to happen nonetheless. One side dish I really love is Classic Green Bean Casserole. My husband is very much an anti-green bean person which is why I never make this dish for family. So you could only imagine how happy I was when our friends Angela and Dan served this at the Thanksgiving luncheon they hosted. Yummm...

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

image of James Baigrie via Google

It's that time of year to really reflect on life and things to be thankful for. In a time when the economy hasn't been kind to everyone, it's important to know we're all very fortunate in some way, shape or form... and that encourages an attitude of gratitude. In fact, here are a few things many of us can be thankful for...

Vegetable & Herb Dressing

As much as I love rice, I just can't eat it on Thanksgiving day. Instead, I would rather carb load on mashed potatoes and dressing. In fact, dressing (or stuffing) is one dish I want to make throughout the year but I just can't seem to do it. Maybe this coming year I'll make it as a side with roast chicken or turkey... since it doesn't have to be enjoyed only on Thanksgiving, right?! This dressing is one I made to share for the Thanksgiving lunch we had at our friend's Angela and Dan. Chock full of vegetables and fresh herbs, it's really flavorful and so, so easy to make. Forget those boxed mixes. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry to make it from scratch!

Banana Crunch Muffins

It's the day before Thanksgiving and in my mind, I feel like I should fast in preparation for the gluttony that awaits. Anyone else? Instead of fasting though, I will be eating light today. To start off, I made these Banana Crunch Muffins for breakfast. These would have to be my favorite banana muffins ever. Aside from the true flavor of banana in each bite, the crunchy homemade granola swirled in and sprinkled on top added such great texture. I'm going to have to play with this recipe using other fruits!

Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Bacon is the wonder ingredient. It has the power to transform both sweet and savory dishes into something even more amazing. Such is the case with brussels sprouts. These little micro cabbage looking vegetables are delicious when pan roasted with bits of bacon. As I started reviewing potential dishes for our Thanksgiving meal, I made these Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon for a test run and yes... they're definitely going on our holiday table this year!

10 Black Friday Breakfast Ideas

In just a few days, some brave souls will be waking up at the crack of dawn (if not before) to hit the retail stores and shop to grab the season's best deals for 'Black Friday'. I was once among those brave folks and after battling the lines in the cold, waiting for the doors to open one year, I realized that one time was enough. Now, on the day after Thanksgiving, you can find me at home happily enjoying leftovers and lounging in pajamas all.day.long. But if you plan on shopping to your heart's content on Black Friday, there's one thing you'll need to do... have breakfast! Don't skip out on breakfast, especially on Black Friday because you'll need the energy to get those deals. Here are some easy and quick breakfast ideas you can prepare in advance so that you'll be ready and charged up before you start shopping...

Dutch Apple Pie

 

What would the Thanksgiving holiday be without pie? Most commonly enjoyed this time of year are pumpkin, apple, sweet potato and pecan pies. Out of these, my favorite would be apple pie, especially when paired with caramel. I've made a few pies for the holidays and I'm always looking for new recipes to try out. This time, I was in the mood for the crunchy, buttery streusel of a Dutch Apple Pie. I found this recipe and I loved how easy it was and it didn't take quite as long to make either! Ah, the secrets and shortcuts of this pie makes this one of my favorites so far...

15 Recipes for Thanksgiving Turkey Leftovers

Exactly a week from today, many of us may have Thanksgiving leftovers staring at us in the fridge. Perhaps you'll warm them up and enjoy them as is or you'll be looking for something different to use them up in other recipes. Here are 15 recipes for Thanksgiving Turkey Leftovers that may come in handy!

Tequila Lime Shrimp

Shrimp is a hot commodity in our house. My husband eats it up like it's going out of style and his eyes light up like a kid in a candy store when I'm prepping it for a recipe. Naturally, this recipe for Tequila Lime Shrimp is one he loved. I first had this dish at a recent event where Food Network Chef Marcela Valladolid was a special guest. It was just as good when I made it at home as when I had it then. Besides, how can you go wrong with a combo like tequila, lime and shrimp?!...

10+ Desserts for Your Thanksgiving Sweets Table

Isn't it interesting that despite having appetizers, side dishes and main dishes during our Thanksgiving celebrations, we always manage to squeeze in dessert? Having a sweet ending to a delicious meal seems to really complete the experience and makes it even more satisfying. With that, here's 10+ Desserts for your Thanksgiving Sweets Table to make, enjoy and share...

Apricot Tequila Glazed Drumsticks

Looking for a different kind of glaze for your turkey or even holiday ham this year? Get inspired with this recipe for Apricot Tequila Glazed Drumsticks! These drumsticks are brushed with a sweet and spicy mixture of apricot preserves, chile and a splash of tequila for a little kick. You can use the glaze for your Thanksgiving turkey or even ham if you wanted. Read on for the recipe...

25 Thanksgiving Side Recipes... Revisited!

Let's face it... aside from the Thanksgiving Turkey, it's the abundance of side dishes that tend to take up space on the table. Am I the only one that anticipates side dishes more than the main bird itself?! With so many options, Thanksgiving side dishes tend to fall within 5 types - potatoes, dressings/stuffings, vegetables, casseroles and relishes. Here are 25 Thanksgiving side dishes falling within the 5 types mentioned that would be great and tasty additions to your holiday table (or any time of year, for that matter)...

Roasted Chipotle Acorn Squash

Who knew squash could taste so good?! I tend to stick to certain kinds of squash this time of year including butternut, spaghetti and kabocha squash but I've been inspired to venture out and try other types such as acorn, delicata and hubbard this fall season. Chef Marcela Valladolid recently prepared this Roasted Chipotle Acorn Squash that's full of flavor. The heat of ground chipotle really pairs nicely with the natural sweetness of acorn squash. Read on for the recipe!

10 Holiday Appetizers to Whet Your Appetite

It's party time and as folks are gathering around, what do they look for? Appetizers! I'm a big fan of appetizers and can easily make a meal out of a handful of them. For me, a good spread of appetizers balances out different textures, flavors, colors and even temperatures. Here are 10 Holiday Appetizers to whet your appetite for the upcoming gatherings this season!

Brussel Sprouts in Chipotle Cream

Mini baby cabbages is how I describe brussel sprouts. They taste like cabbage, they look like cabbage but I definitely like them more than cabbage. Maybe it's their cute little size that makes them more appealing. Regardless, I'll admit that this is one vegetable I don't eat or prepare often enough. This recipe for Brussel Sprouts in Chipotle Cream has a nice Mexican twist. It has a very subtle heat which adds a great depth of flavor. The candied walnuts add not only a touch of sweetness but a contrasting texture too. This is definitely a delicious way to prepare brussel sprouts that I recommend everyone try...

3 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas!

It's the week before Thanksgiving... do you know what's gracing your table this year?! Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday because aside from giving thanks for all the blessings we have, we celebrate it big with a delicious feast. It never fails though... figuring out what to serve or prepare for the big Thanksgiving feast each year can be a challenge because there are so many options on what to make! Some may stick with family favorites and traditions while others may venture out to try some new recipes or put a spin on their menu. Here are 3 Thanksgiving Menus to consider if you're looking for something new, different or just inspiration on this year's holiday meal...

Jalapeno & Cheese Stuffed Olives

If you love stuffed jalapenos, this is an appetizer for you! Food Network Chef Marcela Valladolid prepared these Jalapeno & Cheese Stuffed Olives for the recent Ladies Night In event I attended. These olives are addictive and will disappear pretty quickly so you may want to plan on making quite a few to share. There's also room to adapt this for more variation. Read on to see the recipe...

Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut squash is special to me because it happens to be the first food I gave my 6 month old son. With him starting solid foods now, cooking has been a little more exciting. After roasting some butternut squash, I had plenty leftover after using some for baby food. The dish that came to mind using up the remaining squash was risotto. Thanks to the wonderful Ina Garten, I tried her recipe for Butternut Squash Risotto which was delicious, especially with the use of saffron...

Chicken Pesto Lasagna

Lasagna is one of my go-to dishes to use up random ingredients and it's great comfort food too. This time I combined some pesto, rotisserie chicken, cream cheese and random spices to create a filling and baked it between pasta sheets, crowned with mozzarella and provolone cheeses. The result is quite a tasty Chicken Pesto Lasagna. Leftovers never tasted so good...

Ladies Night In With Chef Marcela Valladolid & Sauza!

Being a new mom with a 6 month old, I certainly can appreciate some time to myself... even better is time with girlfriends. Thanks to my fellow foodie friend, Babette of Bakespace, she connected me with her friend Beth who was hosting a special 'Ladies Night In.' How could I pass up the opportunity to hang out with other women over great food and cocktails? Little did I know that this event involved a fabulous evening with Food Network celebrity chef, Marcela Valladolid, over lots of tasty cocktails and recipes made with Sauza Tequila! Read on to see the fun that ensued...

Horseradish Bacon Cheddar Potatoes

Side dishes tend to have a usual rotation in our house. The common sides include rice, potatoes, and pasta... all made in some way, shape or form. But honestly, I don't give side dishes much attention since all my efforts are mostly focused on the main dish. Last night I decided to let the side dish be the star and made Horseradish Bacon Cheddar Potatoes to accompany our steaks. These are some of the best potatoes I've made in a while and it doesn't take long to make at all...

Moon Mountain Paired Cocktail Dinner

Spirits are definitely something I've gotten really interested in the past few months. It's probably due to not drinking during my pregnancy and for months after giving birth. But now I'm getting my groove back and enjoying spirits again. Previously, I enjoyed learning about wine and hosting wine dinners but lately, I've been participating in a few paired dinners highlighting various spirits like rum, tequila and vodka. The most recent dinner I attended was with Moon Mountain Vodka. I had the opportunity to meet Gerry Web, the master distiller of Moon Mountain Vodka and enjoy a fabulous dinner at Chicago's Acre restaurant in the Andersonville neighborhood. Read on to see what cocktails and dishes we enjoyed!...

Dulce De Leche Bars

Caramel is one of my weaknesses. There's something about the sweet, buttery flavor that I really enjoy. In Latin countries, they have something similar to caramel called Dulce de Leche. When I came across this recipe for Dulce De Leche Bars, I knew I had to give it a try and get my caramel fix. These bars are the ultimate treat for caramel lovers and just might convert you into one!...

Apple Crisp Cups

We'd be missing out if there was a fall season without apples. It seems as though everyone is using apples in both sweet and savory dishes these days. I'm jumping on the apple band wagon and made a popular dessert, Apple Crisp. This recipe is loaded with apple flavor not just from the apples used but also apple cider. Read on to see how!

Swedish Meatballs

It's because of the meatballs... that we enjoy trips to the local IKEA store. The funny thing is that I know we're not the only ones who get in line for a plate of Swedish Meatballs there. I don't know why we're so drawn to them, especially at IKEA. I mean, they sell frozen meatballs there along with packets of gravy mixes... both loaded with sodium and lots of ingredients I can't pronounce. Well, rather than driving out to get our fix, I made Swedish Meatballs from scratch at home. Sorry IKEA, after making this, I don't think we'll be visiting quite as often for your meatballs...

Herb Crusted Pork Roast

We are definitely pals of pork. Being Filipino, pork is one meat that we love and use a great deal in our cuisine. Even outside of Filipino cooking, I love a simple roast pork that requires very little effort to make. This recipe for an Herb Crusted Pork Roast involves creating a fresh herb paste to coat the roast and then seasoned breadcrumbs to give it a crunchy crust. Once it's finished baking, you've got yourself a delicious roast dinner perfect for company...

Cider Glazed Bratwurst

I'm usually a coffee drinker but this time of year is when I switch to apple cider. In fact, I usually have a gallon or two in my fridge to drink up but I also try to use apple cider in recipes as well. When cooking or baking with apple cider, I tend to reduce it to a syrup like consistency for a more intense flavor. This time, I used the cider as a braising liquid for bratwurst, which reduced down to a glaze. These Cider Glazed Bratwursts had the perfect touch of sweetness from the apple cider, making it a nice change from the traditional beer braised bratwurst recipe.

French Vanilla Fairy Cupcakes

Cupcakes... again?! I've been making cupcakes every weekend for orders over the past month and it doesn't look like I'll be putting away my muffin pans anytime soon. How did I get looped into making cupcakes so often?! Well, the good thing is I can start focusing on holiday flavors for upcoming orders. This weekend was for a special birthday girl turning 9 years old. My client was looking for a simple cake flavor decorated with a girly touch. As a result, I made these French Vanilla Fairy Cupcakes. A moist vanilla cake is topped with a rich vanilla buttercream frosting, sprinkled with pink and purple sugars and garnished with a Tinkerbelle pick. With a wave of a sparkly wand, these disappeared in no time!...

Naha's Zacapa Rum Tasting Dinner

Rum. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Pirates and Captain Morgan? Pina Coladas? Rum & Coke? Well, whatever it is, I'm sure I thought it too. When I was recently invited to a special rum tasting with Ron Zacapa Rum and paired dinner event, I realized I didn't know all that much about rum. I was eager to learn more about it and that I did, and then some. This rum event was hosted by Ron Zacapa Rum and the popular Chicago restaurant, Naha. Read on to learn more about rum and the amazing eats Naha had in store for me...

Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks

Sandwiches aren't exactly a food my husband likes. He's not exactly picky but he is particular about sandwiches. For me, I like them a lot - hot, cold, sweet, savory... they're so versatile, what's not to like?! When I thought about making sandwiches for lunch the other day, he was relieved that I chose to make cheesesteaks. These Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks are a nice spin from the traditional beef philly cheesesteaks. With caramelized onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and a creamy blanket of melted mozzarella and provolone cheeses topping succulent chicken breast, these are sandwiches to satisfy any hungry man...

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

Eating breakfast is a challenge for me sometimes but it's easier to do if I plan it the day before. One way to motivate me is to find some good breakfast recipes to make ahead. This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread fits the bill and is great throughout the day and not just for breakfast. Here, sweet little balls of cinnamon sugar dough are filled with chopped apples and baked with a buttery brown sugar sauce with chopped pecans. It certainly starts your day with a sweet taste of fall...

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Red Velvet Cake is a favorite among many friends of mine and I've noticed it's especially popular to make during the holidays for the beautiful red hue. When I caught Sunny Anderson from Food Network making a brownie version of this cake, I knew I had to try it! I loved how pretty the rich red brownies came out with the cream cheese swirls on top. I plan on making these Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies brownies again for the holidays since they're so festive...