French 75 – An Elegant Champagne Cocktail for New Years Eve

The French 75 - A Perfect Cocktail for New Years

I wanted something a bit unique for New Years; something more than ‘just’ a glass of Champagne but not what has become my standard of adding Champagne to a liqueur either. I’ve done that a lot over this holiday season with the Cranberry liqueur I made. I love it but it was time for something [...]

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Ferrero Rocher Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut Cake for New Years

Ferraro Rocher Cake for New Years - Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts

I first made the original version of this cake WAY  back in 2009. It was a recipe on the cover of Bon Appetit magazine as a Peppermint Chocolate Cake and it was perfect for a Christmas dessert. As I shared in that post, it was the start of a special relationship with Abby Dodge; a [...]

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

From my home to yours, wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas. Barb and Abbie

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Crab and Mushroom Cheesecakes With Spanish Cava

Thumbnail image for Crab and Mushroom Cheesecakes With Spanish Cava

This is a crazy time of year for everyone and I’m no exception. No matter how well I plan, it always seems to come down to the last moment and a million things to get done. Work to finish, dishes to prepare for the holiday, gifts for friends and family, shipping things out of state [...]

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Cranberry Cheesecake with a Gingersnap and Cranberry Crust

Cranberry Cheesecake with a Gingersnap and Cranberry Crust from PBS Chef Christy Rost

After letting my love of cranberries be known before Thanksgiving with Cranberry Liqueur, Cosmopolitan Cranberry Sauce and Turkey Sandwiches with Cranberry Sauce and Cream Cheese, I thought I would take a break, or rather, give my readers one. Me too I guess but still, after doing cocktails and more savory offerings I had a craving [...]

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Kahlua, Eggnog and Jameson Irish Whiskey Cocktail

Coffee Liqueur, Eggnog and Jameson Irish Whiskey

I’ve long had a holiday love affair with the decadence of Kahlua and Cream; it was the first ‘adult’ drink I was served in the safety of my parents home on Christmas Eve. I didn’t have the typical adolescent tendency to want to get drunk before I was old enough to legally imbibe but I [...]

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Deep Fried Turkey with Honey, Bourbon and Roasted Pecan Glaze

Deep Fried Turkey with Honey, Bourbon and Roasted Pecan Glaze

As much as I love to experiment with new recipes for almost any occasion, I love this Maple and Bacon Roasted Turkey so much that I can’t imagine not having it each year on Thanksgiving. After that effort which always entails a full day of cooking, I make a point of making Christmas easier. I [...]

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Tequila Smash – A Tequila Cocktail and Homemade Maraschino Cherries

Tequila Smash - A Tequila Cocktail and Homemade Maraschino Cherries

This is a very special Happy Hour Friday. A sweet friend I’ve met on Twitter is getting married this Saturday and I’m part of a large group that wanted to celebrate with Nelly (Cooking With Books), even if only in a virtual sense. I remember seeing her tweet, not that long ago,  ‘And…I said YESSSSS!‘ [...]

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Christmas Meringue Cookies with White Chocolate Decorations

Merry Christmas Meringue Cookies with White Chocolate Decorations

Have you tried macarons? You know…they are ALL the rage. I have and I’m left nonplussed. I thought maybe it was me, you know, a novice at the craft. The French cookie that requires seemingly perfect ingredients, perfect proportions and I’m sure, perfect altitude. I tried, I really did but even if I mastered the [...]

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