One year at Thanksgiving, I suddenly had the urge to serve some kind of raw green salad. I can’t imagine why – there was more than enough food to serve everyone three times, with leftovers. But it just got lodged in my mind, so I bought some brussels sprouts, because I have some sprout lovers in my family, with no real plan. I googled and thought and kept coming back to a hot … [Read more...] about Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprout Salad
Holiday Cooking
Cornbread Dressing Soufflés
I’ve said it already, but Thanksgiving will be different this year. A more intimate and family-focused meal with fewer people gathered around the table. I see it as an opportunity to try new and exciting things, to shake up tradition, but not abandon them all together. In my opinion, it is not Thanksgiving without dressing, and I usually make a magnificently sized … [Read more...] about Cornbread Dressing Soufflés
Fennel and Pancetta Stuffed Turkey Breast
Everything is different this year. And the way we celebrate the holidays will not be the same. That doesn’t mean bad, it just means different. It isn’t advisable to gather huge groups of family and friends around the table, so I say use this opportunity to create new traditions or try new recipes. I know there are so many traditions involved in Thanksgiving (Aunt Sue’s sweet … [Read more...] about Fennel and Pancetta Stuffed Turkey Breast
Butternut Squash Spread
I love the look of this dish, but the taste is a stunner too. Placing a whole roasted squash on the table for everyone to dig into is always a conversation starter, with the interesting little twist of spreading the velvety squash flesh onto toasted bread. It’s the essence of autumn. And as a bonus it’s healthy. A great appetizer that is not all rich cheese and heavy cream (not … [Read more...] about Butternut Squash Spread
Homemade Halloween
When I was a kid, I had chicken pox on Halloween one year. I was ensconced on the foldout couch in front of the TV covered in calamine lotion and unable to wear a costume or go trick-or-treating. That stunk. But I remember that Halloween more than all the others, not because I was itchy and alone, but because my older brother shared his candy with me, which at that point in our … [Read more...] about Homemade Halloween
