Search Results for: blog autumn recipes h is for ham

Oh Ham!

Ham. Erase the “h,” put a “d” in its place, and add an “n” after the “m” and you get the word that truly describes what I’m feeling after reading a new report about the dangers of eating ham. My preschooler adores ham. So much in fact that I typically purchase a 7-pound ham every other week. It feeds our family for about three days (that includes leftovers for breakfast and lunch). I could purchase a smaller ham, but the larger ones are more economical. Plus, it doesn’t pay to bake a small ham twice a week when I can … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

You may have finished your Thanksgiving grocery shopping days ago, but there are many home cooks who are still scrambling to piece together their Turkey Day feast. I know because I just drove past a parking lot full of them outside our local market. (Hard-core shoppers and it’s not even Black Friday yet.) Regardless, it just goes to show that there are some people out there who have yet to finalize their Thanksgiving menu yet. If you are still searching for the perfect dessert to share on this day of giving thanks, then consider the simple pumpkin creations listed below: … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Recipes: Unique Salads

In our family the person who has the least amount of cooking experience makes the salad on Thanksgiving. Well, that was our tradition until my brother married a woman, who practically lives on greens. My sister-in-law, who is by no means a slouch when it comes to cooking, is now in charge of providing salads to our family feasts… and I for one couldn’t be happier. Toss out your perception of what a salad should consist of and try these hearty and healthy alternatives this Thanksgiving: BERRYLICIOUS MIXED GREEN SALAD Ingredients: 2 cups mixed field greens 3 cups romaine Red … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes from A to Z

Tis the season to retreat to the kitchen to prepare warm comfort foods. Think hearty stews, soups, pumpkins, squash, turkey and other fall favorites. In an effort to encourage you to make the most of this season’s spectacular harvest I’ve compiled a collection of autumn recipes from A to Z featuring some of fall’s most popular ingredients. Whether you are cooking for two or two-dozen, the following quick and easy recipes will help make the most of fall’s bounty from apples to zucchini. Autumn Recipes: A is for Apple— DOUBLE APPLE DESSERT SALAD and WILD RICE AND APPLE SALAD. Autumn … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: Apple and Cranberry Meatloaf

Meatloaf is my friend. If you parent a picky eater then you can surely relate. Meatloaf can disguise a multitude of ingredients that less than adventurous eaters wouldn’t typically touch with a 10-foot pole. Personally, I look at meatloaf like a sponge. It happily absorbs just about any ingredient and dulls its flavors enough so that you know you are eating something other than meat, but you can’t always identify exactly what that “other” item might be. Which makes it the ideal vehicle to sneak in fruits and vegetables your kids might not normally eat without bribes of chocolate chip … Continue reading →

Amazing Apple Crisp Recipes

I can’t think of a better way to spend a crisp fall day with family and friends than apple picking. A few days ago one of my best friends and her mom (who had just flown in from Hawaii) joined my family for a day of picking at our local apple orchard. My preschooler had a blast (as usual) running from tree to tree sampling the sweet and juicy goodness of McIntosh and Red Delicious to Rome Beauties and Galas. Once we got home I got busy working on a number of our favorite apple recipes—-namely apple crisps. Over the … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: Z is for Zucchini

We made it. It took nearly a month, but today marks the last entry in our Autumn Recipes A-Z series. Hopefully, you’ve added a few new seasonal recipes to your fall repertoire and in the process you’ve been inspired to experiment with dishes that wouldn’t typically find their place on your dining room table. Today, we’re focusing on another seasonal ingredient: zucchini. The versatile, green vegetable (technically, part of the gourd family) can be added to both savory and sweet dishes. My favorite zucchini recipe comes courtesy of Food Network’s Paula Deen (no surprise). Her Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: Y is for Yams

Yams (or sweet potatoes) are extremely popular this time of year. While there are countless recipes for savory dishes that feature the seasonal ingredient I tend to stick with sweeter yam dishes since they are embraced more heartily by my pint-sized picky eater. My daughter’s favorite yam dish is very simple. I just drizzle fresh yams with maple syrup, and then I add some nutmeg and cinnamon, and bake them with butter. It’s delicious… as are the following recipes for other sweet yam dishes that can be served up at holiday get-togethers. YAM AND PUMPKIN PANCAKES Ingredients: 1 cup flour … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: X is for X-shaped Chocolate Cookies

Yeah, I know, it’s not very autumnal. But you try coming up with foods that begin with the letter X and then combine them to create an edible creation. There was xanthareel, a yellow eel used in medicinal foods, and xanthan gum, which is produced from the fermentation of corn sugar (it’s commonly used as a thickener in foods such as yogurt, sour cream and salad dressings), but neither struck me as the basis for family-friendly recipes. So, I got a bit creative and went for another interpretation: X-shaped treats. The following recipe for playful chocolate cookies molded in the … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: W is for Wild Rice

Welcome to October! Let the holiday countdown begin, right? I say that with a twinge of sarcasm because to be quite honest I am still lamenting the fact that our local pool closed a few weeks back. As for preparing for the holidays, well, that’s so way off my radar it’s not even funny. However, I realize that there are some of you who are in full-on holiday mode—-be it Halloween, Thanksgiving or (gasp!) Christmas (I know a gal who completed her Christmas shopping last weekend… we are no longer friends… just kidding) so I thought it would be helpful … Continue reading →