Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

Fresh Strawberry Pie

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One of my favorite childhood memories is of my parents taking me strawberry picking in Texas. No idea where…Corpus Christi? Houston? Unclear. All I know is that it was one of those places where the strawberry plants were grown stacked on top of each other, so the rows of plants (each plant loaded with ripe berries) towered…read more »

Candied Walnuts

We can all agree that caramelized sugar makes everything taste 100% better, right? Case in point – popcorn. When eaten plain, it’s like chewing on salty Styrofoam. Pour some molten sugar over it, however, and you suddenly have a bowl of crunchy, sweet crack. Bacon? Same deal. Pretty tasty in general, but swoon-inducingly delicious and addictive when…read more »

Last Minute Kitchen & Food Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide

If you guys are anything like me and Dan, you’re probably scrambling to get last minute Christmas shopping done. In fact, as I was typing that sentence, I realized that I forgot to actually order the gifts I’d picked out for two work friends and immediately stopped everything to frantically get that taken care of. Procrastination…it’s a real…read more »

Healthy Purple Smoothies

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m really excited to stuff my face next week. We’re going back up to MA to spend Christmas with Dan’s family (who I’ve already mentioned are all fabulous cooks), and I just know that there will be so many holiday goodies to eat. Cookies galore, of course. At…read more »

Snacktastic Sundays: Crock Pot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Spinach and artichoke dip is one of our favorite restaurant appetizers. Isn’t it everyone’s? It’s creamy, it’s savory, it’s delicious no matter what you eat it with…and, it has vegetables in it so you can inhale a whole bunch of dip without feeling too bad about yourself. Never mind that it’s also full of sour cream and…read more »

DIY Flavored Sugars

No Snacktastic Sunday post again this week, because I had another one of those days where nothing goes right in the kitchen. Literally nothing. First, I tried to make Shortbread Bites – my plan was to dip them in chocolate and put together cute little holiday cookie baggies for people at work. But, as it turns out,…read more »

Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

Happy almost-Thanksgiving, everyone! I’m sure you all have your menus planned out already (I hope!), but in case you’re still looking for some inspiration, here are a few of my favorite recipes: Appetizers Marinated Mozzarella Bites Three Cheese Crab Dip Veggie Mozzarella Pesto Crostini Fig, Bacon and Honey Goat Cheese Crostini Chili-Crab Deviled Eggs Roasted Potato…read more »

Fennel, Leek & Onion Stuffing

Other than mashed potatoes (and now gravy), stuffing is the best part of Thanksgiving dinner, isn’t it? I mean, that pre-packaged stuff my parents used to get from Safeway was generally pretty mediocre, but even then I would eat several helpings because I’m a carboholic with no self control. Homemade stuffing though…that’s where it’s at. Bread tossed with various vegetables and/or…read more »

Caramelized Shallot Bacon Gravy

Does anyone really like turkey? I mean really really like it? As in, like it so much that it’s the highlight of Thanksgiving dinner for them? I’m guessing no. No sane person with taste buds actively enjoys turkey. That may seem like a pretty hard stance to take with an inoffensive bird, but I’m sticking to it. Ground turkey,…read more »

Snacktastic Sundays: Marinated Mozzarella Bites

Guys, I did an insane amount of cooking this weekend. With Thanksgiving almost literally upon us, I wanted to put together a Turkey Day recipe round up post. Suggested appetizers, entrees, side dishes, desserts, etc. – you know the drill. BUT, I discovered, to my surprise (and dismay), that I have almost no side dishes in my archives. Are…read more »

Potato Leek Soup

Brrr, it’s COLD out there, guys (CA friends, “cold weather” is a natural phenomenon that occurs for about 6 months of the year in most other parts of the country…also, I hate you). How did this happen? One second it’s sunny and I’m walking around wearing skirts and a light trench, the next second it’s dark/gloomy and…read more »