Halloween Links
Favorite Things / October 30, 2018

Hope everyone has fun Halloween plans! Here are some links, recipes, and one cookbook to help you get in the spirit: Actually, Candy Corn Is Great: I don’t really understand the candy corn hate. I save my candy hate for Easter candy! The Definitive Ranking of the Best Halloween Candy ( And the Worst): I don’t really agree with this list. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are obviously the best candy. Puffy Sausage Mummies: Here’s a quick and easy appetizer to take to your Halloween party. It’s nice to have something that’s not sweet. Halloween on Saturday? Petition asks Trump to move it from Oct. 31: I think the idea to move Halloween to the last Saturday of October is great. Not only  would it make Halloween parties more fun, no more dumb Halloween costumes at work. Lol! 25 Classic Halloween Movies to Watch Tonight: Here are some ideas if you want to stay in and enjoy a cozy evening watching something scary. Cool FX Makeup for Halloween: Thanks to Brianna for this suggestion about an article to add to this list of fun Halloween ideas! I do have one Halloween cookbook. It’s called Frightfully Fun Halloween Recipes and it’s full of cute…

My Verdict: Damn Delicious
Cookbook Overviews / October 26, 2018

Here’s my verdict on Damn Delicious: 100 Super Easy, Super Fast Recipes by Chungah Rhee. To Read: Yes, there’s not a lot to read, but you will want to check out the story of why she started the blog that led to this cookbook. To Look At: Yes. The photos are gorgeous, and there is a photo for each recipe, which I always appreciate. It probably helps that Rhee creates beautiful photos of her recipes every day on her blog. To Cook From: Yes. Even though I only had a chance to make one recipe from the cookbook, which didn’t turn out perfectly, I still recommend this cookbook. There are a ton of recipes that I want to try and plan on making soon. In addition, I have a couple of friends who highly recommend this cookbook, and I have had good luck with the recipes I have tried from the blog. I think this cookbook is a nice combination of healthyish and not-so healthy recipes that are quick and easy, but definitely not lacking in flavor.  If you’re not sure, check out the Damn Delicious blog and I’m sure you will get hooked on Rhee’s recipes. Well, the holidays are coming….

Slow-Cooker French Toast
Recipes / October 24, 2018

Slow-Cooker French Toast For crumb topping: 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 4 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into cubes For French toast: 1 (20-ounce) loaf challah, sliced 2 cups milk 4 eggs Zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup blueberries 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans, optional Make the crumb topping: Combine the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the cold butter, toss to coat, and then use your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. Lightly coat the inside of a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray. Cut the challah slices in half crosswise; arrange them in the slow cooker in several layers, overlapping slightly. In a large glass measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour the batter evenly over the bread slices. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the bread slices. Top with the blueberries. Cover and cook the French toast on low heat for 3 hours or on high for 1 1/2 hours, until a knife comes…

Tuesday Links
Favorite Things / October 23, 2018

It finally feels like fall around here. Here are some fall-themed articles and recipes to help you get in the spirit of things. “This Hot Cinnamon Tea Is Better Than Pumpkin Spice Lattes” “You Should Throw a Fall Soup Party” “Fall Food TV Preview: 9 Shows to Watch” “Pumpkin Cheesecake Lasagna” “The Most Stunning Fall Flower Arrangements & Centerpieces”

Bonus Recipe: Party Queso
Recipes / October 17, 2018

My week has been a little crazy, so I’m behind on trying out new recipes. So instead I thought I would share another recipe from Magnolia Table. Enjoy! Party Queso 2 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion, finely diced 1 jalapeno, finely diced* 2 pounds Velveeta, cut into cubes 3 cups heavy cream** 1 15-ounce can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained 2 cups diced tomatoes 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (optional) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Tortilla chips, for serving In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and jalapeno and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the Velveeta and cream and heat until melted, whisking occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the beans and tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the cilantro, salt, and pepper. Serve warm with tortilla chips. My notes: When my family taste-tested this, they thought it was a little bland, so I added some chili powder to give it a little kick. *If you don’t want all the heat of the jalapeno, remove the seeds and ribs of the pepper. **I only used 2 cups of heavy…

Damn Delicious: 100 Super Easy, Super Fast Recipes
Cookbook Overviews / October 15, 2018

Thanks to the recommendation from a freind (Hi, Gwen!), I’ve been reading Chungah Rhee’s blog Damn Delicious for awhile. Her recipes are pretty simple with an emphasis on big flavors. She also really mixes it up with a variety of dishes, from comfort food like chicken soup to Asian-inspired dishes like Korean tacos. One of my favorite recipes from her blog, that I’ve made several times, is perfect for this time of year: Pumpkin Spice Latte Scones. These scones were popular even with people who would never pick up a Starbucks PSL. Another Damn Delicious recipe I have tried recently was the Sheet Pan Breakfast Bake. A great way to make breakfast for dinner! Needless to say, I am looking forward to trying out some recipes from the Damn Delicious cookbook. See you back here later in the week.

My Verdict: Magnolia Table
Cookbook Reviews / October 12, 2018

Here’s my verdict on Magnolia Table : A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines. To Read: Yes, especially if you are a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines. At first, I found the stories of how she’s constantly cooking homemade meals for her family a little annoying, but I did enjoy when she shared more about her heritage and the genesis of some of the more unusual recipes in the book. To Look At: Yes, even though the photos are on the hipsterish side (which is not my favorite trend in cookbooks, as I mentioned in my review of A New Turn in the South), they were beautiful and inspiring. There aren’t photos of every recipe, and I would prefer more photos of food than photos of their family farm. But that’s just me. To Cook From: Maybe. So far, I’ve made two of the recipes and neither of them worked quite right if you strictly follow the directions. I plan on sharing the Party Queso recipe at some point, which was good, but I tweaked the recipe a little to make it work. I feel like the recipes might not be as exact as some of the…

Chicken Pot Pie
Recipes / October 10, 2018

Chicken Pot Pie Vegetable oil cooking spray 4 tablespoons 1/4 small white onion, finely chopped (optional)* 4 carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 cup flour 2 32-ounce boxes chicken broth 2 22.6-ounce cans condensed cream of chicken soup 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken** 1 cup frozen peas Salt and pepper 2 8-ounce tubes refrigerated crescent rolls Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13x3 (deep) baking pan with cooking spray. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter oven medium-low heat. Add the onion (if using) and saute until tender and translucent. Add the carrots and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot. Whisk in the chicken broth and continue whisking until the flour is fully incorporated. Stir in the chicken soup. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the shredded chicken and frozen peas. Taste and season if necessary with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Open crescent dough and unroll the contents. Press the perforations together inside…

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
Cookbook Overviews / October 8, 2018

I am probably one of the only people on the planet who has not watched Fixer Upper. We don’t have cable anymore, and I gravitated towards cooking shows (big surprise) when we did still have it. I was aware that Chip and Joanna Gaines became famous for fixing up houses, and I’ve seen the line they did for Target. So when my friend (Hi, Michelle!) recommended I review Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines, I was little surprised she even had a cookbook. While reading this book, I found out it is actually named after the restaurant they opened in Waco, Texas. Also, I saw on the Internet that they just had a fifth child in September. What is up with these people? I have obviously been slacking. Lol Anyway, my quick assessment of this cookbook is that it is similar to a Pioneer Woman cookbook with more of a hipsterish vibe. I do like Gaines’ stories of cooking for her family (although, she should have shared her time-management secrets!), and I am looking forward to trying a few recipes. See you later in the week with the results!

Thursday Links
Favorite Things / October 4, 2018

It’s been a busy week, but I think everyone will be excited about next week’s cookbook review. In the meantime, here are some links to keep you busy. 15 Best Game Day Recipes from Damn Delicious: We love football and even though we rarely take the time to tailgate, I still love to eat tailgating food while watching football at home! Lighter Bacon Cheeseburger Dip from Iowa Girl Eats: This is one of my family’s favorite game day food. Of course, it’s a dip! How to Put Down Your Phone and Give Mindful Eating a Try: I am really bad about eating in front of my desk or TV. Maybe I will give some of these tips a try. Local Bee Pollen Is the Only Thing That Cured My Seasonal Allergies: I wonder if I can find bee pollen at my local farmer’s market. Sounds like it might be worth trying. How to Make No Cook Pasta Sauce From Basically Any Vegetable: A good non-recipe for when you’re craving pasta in a hurry. I hope everyone is having nice fall weather and can enjoy it this weekend!

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