Category Archives: Holidays

I love baking any time of year but baking for Christmas is something special.  There so many themed recipes, fun cookie cutter shapes, and festive decorations to choose from.  Whether you are baking treats for your coworkers, participating in a cookie exchange, or stocking up to have plenty of sweets on hand for family, the creativity and effort put into baking this time of year is appreciated by all. I would like to share with you 4 new recipes that can easily be added to your cookie platter.  I think they will be a hit! Christmas Light Sugar Cookies These sugar cookies are super simple to make and even more fun to decorate!  I used store-bought sugar cookie dough but if you have a favorite recipe you can definitely use that instead.  Store-bought dough is nice when you don’t have a lot of time or don’t want to make a … Continue reading

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Christmas Cocktails are needed to help get you through the holiday season.  Well…they might not be “needed” but they definitely enhance the experience 🙂 And, cocktails should be as important as the food served at any party.  A themed cocktail is fun for guests and creates another focal point of the night.  I have three cocktails to warm you up when (baby it’s) cold outside. First is a Mistletoe Cocktail.  This cocktail is appealing to the eye and something you (or your guests) can enjoy while socializing before dinner.  The ginger beer (non-alcoholic) gives this drink a spicy flavor while the sugar rim adds a sweet aftertaste.  I said non-alcoholic, but this drink does contain vodka.  The ginger beer is what is non-alcoholic, so if you want to skip the vodka and perhaps add a splash of Sprite instead, you can serve this to your underage guests. The recipe can … Continue reading

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Is anyone else still full from Thanksgiving?  I for sure am…but it was worth every bite!  Depending on your point of view, Thanksgiving leftovers are either a good thing or a bad thing.  In my opinion, they are a great thing! You can enjoy the same delicious meal a second time around, or third, or forth…you get the picture.  Or, you can put those leftovers to good use and create something new.  Think of Thanksgiving as the holiday that keeps on giving.  If you use the leftovers wisely, you can have a different meal each day of “leftover week”. I have three different recipes to share with you today.  I still had plenty of leftovers in addition to these recipes, so I filled in the meal by also using the leftovers as a side dish.  So, the meal included a “new” leftover creation with a side of “traditional” leftovers (aka … Continue reading

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With a little over a week to go, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.  Are you ready?  I’m in full planning mode.  Making my guest list, creating a menu, finding the perfect table linens, etc.  The most important part of planning in my opinion is the food.  If you plan a menu full of delicious food, yet items that won’t require you to spend the entire day in the kitchen, you can spend that time with family instead.  And what is better than your friends and family gathered at your house, a table full of food, with lots of laughs? The menu I created for this year’s feast includes a few items you can make ahead of time and a few items to make the day of.  I love tradition and serving the same type of food each year because it’s what my company likes and expects, but … Continue reading

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I have a great recipe for Chicken Cheddar Apple Burgers to share with you today.  If you love Fall and are looking to put the apples you bought at the orchard to good use or if you just aren’t ready to put the grill away, this recipe is for you!  The complimentary Fall favors come together to create a new take on classic BBQ. The recipe can be found here. Start by combining all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  The apple will need to be shredded before mixing.  This is simple to do by using a cheese grater or potato peeler, depending on how big you want the apple shavings.  The apple will help keep the burger moist and ensure the flavor is included in every bite. Next form into 4 equal size patties.  Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook on each side for about 6 minutes or … Continue reading

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Get in the Halloween spirit this year by cooking up some spooky treats that are a foolproof way to gear up for the holiday.  Your family will love the thought you put into creating a fun, themed dish, and you will love how quick and easy the recipes are.  I have quite a few recipe ideas to share with you that are great for a family meal, snack, or appetizer. Let’s start with appetizers! Jalapeño Mummies – think jalapeño popper when you think of this recipe as they are very similar in concept.  However, I’ve taken crescent rolls, cut them into strips, and wrapped them around the filled jalapeños to create the look of a mummy – spooky and delicious!  These mummies are creamy, spicy, and loaded with flavor.   The recipe can be found here. Cream Cheese Bat Wontons – these are essentially cream cheese wontons formed to look like … Continue reading

Posted in Dessert, Halloween, Holidays, Party, Pasta | Comments Off on Halloween Goodies

Most Minnesotans are familiar with kabobs because we love to grill when the weather is warm.    However, if you aren’t familiar with kabobs you are in for a treat!  Kabobs are basically cubes of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and other foods placed on a skewer and grilled to perfection.  And with the MN State Fair recently ending all I can think of is food on a stick so blogging about kabobs seemed like the perfect fit! I have 4 different kabobs to share with you today. Chicken Breast Kabobs (available from the meat counter) Black Angus Beef Sirloin Kabobs (available from the meat counter) Salmon Kabobs with Rainbow Veggies Ham and Pineapple Kabobs   The Chicken Breast Kabobs and Black Angus Beef Sirloin Kabobs are available from the meat counter at your local Festival Foods.  The veggies are fresh, including green pepper, red pepper, and red onion, and the meat is thick cut.  Each skewer … Continue reading

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Labor Day Grilling It’s time to fire up the grill for your Labor Day celebration!  I plan to spend the day outside enjoying the weather with family and friends.  Whatever you plan to do, I hope you enjoy some delicious food and get good use of your grill before cooler weather hits.  It’s the perfect day for grilling and a picnic. I have a handful of grilling ideas and side dish suggestions for you to try to have the perfect spread.  Let’s start with the meat! Brats – there are so many brat varieties available, you are sure to find something for everyone on your guest list.  My favorite is the Chicken Fajita Brat found at the Chef’s Counter of your local Festival Foods.  Other varieties available include Philly Cheese Chicken, Octoberfest, Jalapeno Cheddar, Wild Rice, and more!  Don’t forget the fresh brat buns from the bakery! Burgers – probably the most popular food to grill.  Plus, burgers … Continue reading

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Summer is the best time of year for a refreshing cocktail.  Whether you are sitting on the deck enjoying the weather, hosting a BBQ, spending a day at the beach….you get the idea 😊…a festive cocktail can really help beat the heat.  I’ve compiled a list of 4 of my favorite cocktails.  They are fun, bright, and full of flavor.  Blue Hawaiian Cocktail This cocktail is essentially a blue version of a Pina Colada and promises a little taste of tropical paradise.  It’s designed to make you feel like summer no matter how bad the weather is outside.  I chose to serve this drink “on the rocks” style by pouring over ice but you can also create a blended version of the cocktail by mixing all the ingredients with ice in a blender.  It’s very easy to make – shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice, … Continue reading

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There’s no denying it – I love chicken wings!  With so many flavor varieties and dipping sauces, they’re not only a delicious meal but allow you to try something different each time.  Think potluck, football party, backyard BBQ, afternoon snack, etc.  Chicken wings fit the menu for most occasions.  I have 4 baked chicken wing recipes to share with you today.  These are some of my favorite recipes, so I hope you enjoy them.  Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings are super easy to make.  You basically toss the chicken wings and oil and bake until crispy, then toss in a delicious combination of hot sauce and melted butter.  These are probably the most popular wings around due to the mildy sweet and sour taste with a spicy aftermath.  I prefer to dip mine in ranch dressing, but blue cheese dressing is a great alternative.  Because the wings can be spicy it’s … Continue reading

Posted in 4th of July, Halloween, Labor Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Poultry, Super Bowl, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Baked Chicken Wings