Candied Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes

I'll pass on the marshmallows, please. If you're a fan of marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes, this post may not appeal to you since there are no marshmallows to be found here. I'm not sure what it is about marshmallows on top of the ever popular sweet potato casserole that others love. For me, I'm not a fan of the texture or how it even adds to the dish. Instead, I'd rather have Candied Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes because it's sweet, crunchy and well, more my style. Besides, marshmallows are much better used in rice krispie treats and smores!...

Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake

Thank goodness for cheesecake. Coming up with a gluten free dessert to serve for the holidays has been quite a challenge for me. Some gluten free desserts leave a noticeable after taste or has a slightly different texture from gluten laden dishes. But thank goodness for cheesecake. It's been the dessert that is perfect for special occasions, is versatile to make into a variety of flavors and above all, it's super easy to make into a gluten free indulgence. For Thanksgiving, I made this Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake and it's made me fall completely in love with cheesecakes once again. The creamy cheesecake filling is decoratively swirled with a homemade wild cranberry sauce, garnished with whipped cream and a little more cranberries. This is an elegant way to sweeten up any holiday meal!...

Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes

There's so many ways to make mashed potatoes - what's your favorite? For me, I think I've found my favorite. It's the ever popular recipe by The Pioneer Woman and she prepared it for Food Network's Thanksgiving Throwdown last year. That alone told me it had to be good since she prepared for Chef Bobby Flay. And wow - this certainly didn't disappoint. To add my own spin, I made Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes with fresh snipped chives, a whole lot of butter, cream cheese, half & half and lots of love...

Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway!

So we've survived Black Friday and even Small Business Saturday. With a lot of shopping opportunities over, what do you have in store for Cyber Monday? I'm still working on my shopping list for some special folks but if you have some foodies left to shop for (or heck, to buy for yourself!), here's my Foodie Holiday Gift Guide that offers a few tasty ideas. But wait! Be sure to scroll down and read on... because one lucky reader will be receiving a large holiday package containing one of each of these gifts and it's as easy as 4-3-2-1! Yes, that's a total of 4 cookbooks, 3 food inspired family games, 2 kitchen tools, and 1 gourmet spice set! Will you be the lucky winner of this Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway?!

4 Cookbooks - what foodie wouldn't want a cookbook? There are quite a few I recently came across and love. One has beautiful, artistic photography and a modern take on cuisine, another uses non-traditional flavors to jazz up classic recipes, another captures fail-proof recipes from my favorite cooking magazine series and lastly, one livens up the party with some delicious libations!

Eleven Madison Park Cookbook

THE COOKBOOK is a sumptuous tribute to the unforgettable experience of dining in the restaurant, where the latest culinary techniques are married with classical French cuisine. The book features more than 125 sophisticated recipes, arranged by season, adapted for the home cook, and accompanied by stunning full-color photographs by Francesco Tonelli. ELEVEN MADISON PARK is sure to be one of the most talked-about cookbooks of 2011.

Everyday Exotic - The Cookbook

Following the success of the hit television series Everyday Exotic, Chef Roger Mooking and his producer Allan Magee bring together the most delicious of his 52 inspiring episodes. Using the concept of one main exotic ingredient, Roger demystifies the ingredient through its flavor and aroma, empowering the reader to embrace them in their cooking. Mix in your standard midweek recipes and you have new classics that your entire family will love. So discover your own inspiration for plating each recipe in the accompanying beautiful presentations found within each vibrant and colorful photo throughout the book.

Cook's Illustrated Cookbook
Cook's Illustrated Magazine has stood the test of time and distinguished itself among the pack by having a singular focus--developing recipes that work the first time and every time; it's as simple as that. For the first time since the magazine's inception, more than 2,000 of Cook's Illustrated's landmark recipes have been carefully compiled into a wide-ranging compendium that shows you how to make your favorite dishes better. A must-have collection for fans of Cook's Illustrated (and any discerning cook), The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook will keep you cooking for a lifetime--and guarantees impeccable results.

DIY Cocktails

Black Rose, Blood Orange Tequila & Soda, Kentucky Apple Sour: the newest trend in cocktails is creating your own! Now, the editors of DrinkoftheWeek.com have concocted the only guide that teaches you to create your own infallible thirst-quenchers. Using a simple system of basic ratios, you will learn to Mix new flavor combinations, Master advanced mixology techniques and Serve the perfect drink every time.With only nine ratios to master, you'll shake, stir, roll, and build literally thousands of unique and exceptional cocktails. All you need is a good thirst, an active imagination--and this guide!

3 Foodie Family Fun Games: Aside from sitting down to the dinner table with loved ones, my family loves playing games together. Here are some food-inspired games we enjoy together, which are great for adults and kids alike...

Bananagrams

The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. In this unique word game, players use tiles to create words crossword-style. The first player to use all their tiles is the winner. With multiple ways to play, this game is perfect for beginning spellers, as well as more advanced players. No pencil, paper, or board required. If you love the online game, Words With Friends like me (I'm borderline addicted lol), this game is definitely for you!

AppleLetters

An Apple a day for us all to play. Create a continuous word snake by adding your word to the head or tail. Originally designed with younger players in mind, APPLETTERS features three levels of play to amuse children and challenge adults. The free-standing tiles are easy to handle and can be used to play three different games. It's the domino game where you don't connect the DOTS... You connect the LETTERS! A fun word game for all.

Stone Soup

Stone Soup is a yummy memory matching game with Spice. From the classic tale of cooperation comes this simple game where players work together to “cook” a soup by making matches of ingredients. Match all the ingredients before the Fire under the kettle goes out and everyone wins. Players work together to "cook" a soup by making matches of ingredients. This cooperative game fosters memory, social development, helping others and cooperation.

2 Kitchen Tools: It's just as important to have the proper tools in the kitchen as it is quality ingredients. Here are some tools that make cooking and baking just a little bit easier...

OXO Egg Beater

After receiving one from the FoodBuzz Tastemaker program a few weeks ago, I knew friends and family would love this for themselves too! I ended up purchasing a few to give as gifts and one to include in my big holiday foodie giveaway. This egg beater is just awesome. I love the ease in using it for everyday things like mixing up pancake batter, eggs, and pretty much anything I normally would use a hand mixer for. It's my favorite kitchen tool for breakfasts and I think everyone should have one!

OXO Fine Zester/Grater

This is one tool every kitchen should also have. I love tools I can use for both sweet and savory dishes and this is definitely one of them. From zesting citrus fruits, grating hard cheeses, ginger, garlic, onion, nutmeg or even chocolate, this zester/grater makes it all so easy. You'll find yourself grabbing this more often than you think and is a must for any foodie to have in the kitchen.

1 Set of Spices: These spices make being in the kitchen a little more fun. I love incorporating new and different flavors in my cooking and these spices make it possible. I think the foodie on your holiday shopping list will appreciate these too!

Urban Accents

 I've loved this local company ever since I stepped foot into their headquarters and had a chance to meet the folks behind it all. It's one company that I fully support and it's no wonder their spice blends and rubs fill up my cupboard throughout the year. In fact, they helped me prepare one of the best Thanksgiving turkeys I've ever made and I look forward to making another turkey soon using their great products! You probably didn't realize it, but some of the store brand gourmet products found at Crate & Barrel and even Williams Sonoma are created by Urban Accents too. I definitely encourage folks to check out their site and for my big holiday foodie giveaway, I'm highlighting their Pride of Prague Hungarian Paprika Blend, Moroccan Road Roasting Blend, Mesa Rosa Chipotle Southwestern Smoky Blend and their award-winning Mango Masala Seasoning Salt. These will definitely spice it up in your kitchen!

Thanks to my foodie friends at the above companies and publishers, they will be sponsoring this week's Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway. A lucky reader will receive a huge package on their doorstep containing one of each of the items featured above! That's 10 foodie gifts (4-3-2-1) that you can keep for yourself or give to those foodies on your holiday shopping list this year. Will you be that lucky reader that will be enjoying this foodie-licious holiday package?! Read on for more details...

Some guidelines:

- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my non-United States readers!

- You must check back in a week when a winner is announced and email me to claim your prize if you win.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:

What food related item are you coveting this year on your holiday wish list?!

Deadline: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 12 midnight CST.

One winner will be randomly chosen by Random.Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Sunday, December 4, 2011, next week! Good luck!

Pumpkin Loaf

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? This year, Thanksgiving has much more meaning than those in the past. Perhaps it's due to the challenging months my family had this past year, but now we've managed to pull through the hard times to get to such a better place... and for that, we are thankful. Perhaps it's due to my renewed focus on life's simple pleasures and being content knowing all my basic needs are fulfilled... and for these, I am thankful. Or perhaps it's just being surrounded by loved ones, who I've known for years and who I may have just met... and for all of them, I am thankful. If I could, I would break bread with everyone who has touched my life and no bread is more fitting that this Pumpkin Loaf. It's sweet, comforting and a bread worth sharing. Would you like a slice?

Crunchy Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Over the years, I've grown to love sweet potatoes more and more. This fall, I've probably used sweet potatoes more than ever before because my son Joel shares my love of these orange spuds too! Well, for our recent Thanksgiving Potluck Playdate with fellow moms and kiddies, my friend Sara brought this Crunchy Topped Sweet Potato Casserole. I loved the varying textures of a crispy, crunchy top followed by the creamy whipped sweet potatoes. We liked it so much that I plan on making it again for our holiday table... and I think you should too!

Pumpkin Pie with Wheat Crust

What's Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie?! I'm sure there are plenty of pumpkin pies that will be enjoyed this year. Even though it's a dessert folks will look forward to, do them a favor and try a healthier version. This Pumpkin Pie with Wheat Crust will make having a slice of pie less of a guilty pleasure... although it may backfire when they come back for seconds!

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Who says pasta always has to involve a red sauce? I was in the pasta aisle at the grocery store the other day and overheard a couple talking a few feet away. Apparently they were debating on pasta sauces where one was adamant about pasta being served only with a red sauce while the other took the stance of pasta could be served with any sauce or no sauce at all. I think you can guess which side I was in support of. No, not all pastas need to be served with a red sauce. In fact, a really good pasta dish are these Spinach Lasagna Rolls which involves a cheesy alfredo sauce. A mixture of cream cheese, spinach, mozarella and parmesan cheeses are spread onto cooked lasagna noodles, rolled and baked under a blanket of alfredo sauce. If that's not comforting, I'm not sure what is!...

Magic Cookie Bars

Holiday cookie season is just around the corner... so who's getting an early start baking?! I'm looking forward to all the holiday baking in store and this year will be different from previous years. How so? Well, for one, I'll be focused on gluten free baking! This weekend I did some baking with my son, Joel, and we made these Magic Cookie Bars together. These cookie bars have a graham cracker crumb cookie base, topped with a decadent mixture of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, flaked coconut and walnuts. And yes, these were gluten free!

Cranberry Pear Crisp

Fresh cranberries deserve to be used in fun, delicious ways... so go beyond the usual cranberry sauce this year. How? Use them in a dessert like this Cranberry Pear Crisp! This is the time of year where you'll  begin to notice fresh cranberries on sale. I recently made this crisp recipe for a Thanksgiving Potluck I hosted and I enjoyed it so much that I'll be making it again for the upcoming holidays. Fresh sweet pears and slightly tart wild cranberries are tossed with lemon juice and zest before being blanketed with a buttery crumble topping. The crisp is baked to a bubbly golden brown and is amazing with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream... Trust me. This is way better than using those fresh cranberries for a sauce!

Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese is still one of my favorite comfort foods... and being gluten free isn't going to change that! When on Twitter last week, Erin of The Spiffy Cookie mentioned a recent dish she made. It was a Gluten Free Bacon Swiss Penne that I immediately planned to make. However, when I realized I didn't have everything required, I quickly made something similar inspired by her recipe. That's when this Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese was born! Imagine a mac and cheese with the flavors of a classic spinach artichoke dip... not to mention a little chicken and bacon too!...

7 Tasty Appetizers to Get the Party Started...

Before the big Thanksgiving meal, what do you nosh on? Or do you nosh on anything at all? Growing up, my family loved grazing over a table full of appetizers, dips, chips, breads and cheeses. It's become a tradition to skip breakfast and just have small bites to whet our appetite before we feast on our Thanksgiving dinner. Do you have any appetizers in mind to serve up this year? Are you looking for a dish to share at a holiday gathering you're attending? Here's some ideas with 7 Tasty Appetizers to Get the Party Started...

Herbed Mushroom Stuffed Pastry Cups

Creole Corn Fritters

Maxwell Street Polish Purses

Chive Deviled Eggs

Ham & Cheese Croquettes

Roasted Garlic, Caramelized Leek & Bacon Bites

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Sausage & Apple Stuffin' Muffins

We're counting down to Turkey Day! A traditional Thanksgiving table wouldn't be complete without some stuffing or dressing. Some folks prepare it as part of the turkey where it's stuffed in the cavity to cook [hence, the name 'stuffing'] while other folks like it prepared separately as a stand alone side dish to compliment the meal  [also known as 'dressing']. Is it me or are both these terms used interchangeably? I for one am a stuffing/dressing type of gal where I prefer it served as a stand alone side dish. Although I'm not sure how I'll do this year since I need to make some gluten free adjustments. If you're like me and prefer stuffing/dressing separately, forget the usual way of serving it up in a casserole dish. Instead, try them in muffin form like these Sausage & Apple Stuffin' Muffins! Great for portion control and much more fun to serve, these stuffing muffins are full of savory sausage, chopped sweet apple, tender celery and a whole lot of flavor that will be a memorable dish on your holiday table...

Spotlight on 10 Sweets for Thanksgiving

How are you planning on satisfying that holiday sweet tooth this year? With so many options, it may be hard to choose from! I've made quite a few things in the past year that just might fit the bill. Some are gluten free and others are not. However you can substitute gluten free flour in place of regular all purpose flour in the following recipes. So if you're in need of some ideas, here's a Spotlight on 10 Sweets for Thanksgiving that would be great to grace your holiday table...

Libby's Pumpkin Pie

Apple Crisp

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Glazed Pumpkin Cranberry Scones

Apple Slice Bars

Walnut Cake

S'Mores Cookie Bars

Maple Gingersnap Ice Cream

Apple Lattice Pie

Chili Stuffed Potatoes

Sundays are much anticipated in our house. Even better is when our beloved Chicago Bears are playing! It's the time of week when we stay in our pajamas all day and we pretty much lounge around relaxing as much as possible. I usually plan on some kind of game day eats when there's a game on and these Chili Stuffed Potatoes were perfect as either an appetizer or even as a main dish. Baked potatoes are split open and filled with a smattering of our favorite garnishes like chili, sour cream, cheese & green onions. They're a healthier version of traditional fried potato skins with all the flavor without the added fat and calories...

Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

Ever since I visited Ghirardelli Square last weekend, I've been on a hot cocoa kick. Not just any hot cocoa, but rather a Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa. That's what I ordered when I was at Ghirardelli Cafe in San Francisco and I haven't been able to get enough these days. I figured it would be easy enough to recreate this version of hot cocoa and it was. It was really easy... but more importantly, it was all about the technique. To get the perfect balance of caramel and chocolate goodness in every cup, you need to introduce each ingredient in a very special way...

The Secret Recipe Club: Crockpot Caramelized Onions

One of my favorite smells in the whole world is the aroma that wafts into the air when onions and garlic sizzle in an oiled hot pan. I love that smell because that's how a majority of the dishes my mom cooks starts off... and I knew it was only a matter of time before we were enjoying something really good. Onions are a staple in my kitchen but aside from using them as an aromatic in most of the savory dishes I cook, I love onions as a condiment. Caramelized onions make for a great burger topping and they're great in sandwiches, with steaks and on top of meatloaves. Sure, you may have even made caramelized onions on the stovetop... but what about a crockpot?! These Crockpot Caramelized Onions are made by slow cooking sliced onions with pats of butter, a drizzle of olive oil, and a few springs of thyme in the comfort of your crockpot. It's so simple, everyone should try it...

Pie Swap - 'Tis the Season!

It's in evitable. You'll be seeing {eating?} your share of pie slices this holiday season. Don't fight the urge to grab a folk and have a taste. In fact, my friends and I embraced all that is pie one afternoon and had ourselves a Pie Swap! What's a pie swap, you ask? Similar to a cookie swap, friends make a pie and we come together, try a little of each and everyone takes home a slice or two of each pie that came to the party. It's a great way to enjoy various kinds of pie without the commitment of a whole one staring in front of you!

But before we indulged in pie, we incorporated a foodie-centric movie to get our taste buds ready. What movie could be fitting enough for such a delicious pie swap? Well, The Waitress, of course!

Sticking with the theme of the movie, I prepared a diner-style lunch with burgers and fries, complete with all the fixings. And like many diners, we washed down our burgers and fries with milkshakes. I set up a milkshake bar where friends had fun concocting their combinations. From fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, & pineapple), chopped nuts (almonds, peanuts & walnuts), peanut butter, Nutella, chocolate syrup, cream of coconut and shredded coconut, the flavor possibilities were endless! Naturally, after the lunch we all fell in a sort of food coma, making it the perfect time to settle in for the movie.

After the movie, we were pretty much hungry for pie and pie we had! With six kinds of pie to choose from, it was hard to choose what was the best. Although, my favorite was definitely the French Apple with Cream Cheese Crust! Click on the links below for some of the pie recipes. Perhaps you can incorporate a pie swap with friends for the holidays or simply indulge in a few kinds for Thanksgiving!...

 

 French Apple with Butterflake Crust
French Milk Silk Pie
Pumpkin Pie

Looking for more?
Take a peek at all the Pies & Tart recipes I have here!