Christmas Sangria

Posted by Paula in Drinks | 1 comment

Happy Christmas Eve. I hope you’re all set with your preparations (I JUST finished, I know, thank goodness I’m good under pressure. I prefer that to procrastinator.) and are settling in to enjoy time with your family and friends. To celebrate finishing wrapping that final gift, I’ve made a pitcher of festive Christmas Sangria that’s sitting in the fridge, letting flavors mix and mingle a wee smidge until it it’s completely chilled. Then we’ll be pouring up glasses and getting our Merry on. Sangria is a great wine based punch if you will. It’s served all year long just with different fruits and wines. For this seasonal version I used leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving. Yes, they keep in the fridge that long. Along with apples, rosemary and cinnamon. All things that I had on had.

DIY Edible Holiday Gifts

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 1 comment

DIY VANILLA EXTRACT – The baker on your list will appreciate this gift. I use my extract almost daily and make several bottles at a time so I never run out.

It’s almost here. Christmas is just a few days away. I still haven’t finished my shopping. I know. I know. Maybe some of y’all are in the same boat? Maybe. In comes DIY EDIBLE HOLIDAY GIFTS to rescue us. For not a lot of money and very little time involved you can make gifts that are sure to please the culinary enthusiasts on your lists. From Homemade Vanilla Extract to Homemade Amaretto to Infused Olive Oil we’ve got something to choose from to help you cross some names off your list. If you wanted to go even further you could even create gift baskets using your Edible Gift and create a theme around that gift.

Tomato Potato and Leek Gratin

Posted by Paula in Vegetarian | 1 comment

Potato Tomato and Leek Gratin.

There’s just something extremely comforting about a warm, cheesy, bubbling potato dish isn’t there. I love potatoes all year round but especially during these chilly months when I can’t seem to get warm enough. This is a dish that I had earlier this year when I was fortunate enough to travel to Atlanta with TuttoRosso tomatoes for an event held at Hugh Acheson’s Restaurant, Empire State South. This was one of the dishes he personally prepared for our group, all while wearing pretty amazing socks. Sock game was on point y’all. Yes, I’m a detail person. I notice all the things.

Naked Cake with Sugared Berries

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 1 comment

Naked Cake with Sugared Berries.

I like cake. No, not true. I LOVE cake. I don’t mind baking cakes, because I get to eat said cake. However, I have never considered myself a cake decorator. I can bake you a delicious cake, but the decorating part isn’t my forte. I know my strengths and weaknesses. Doesn’t stop me from trying to do things I’m not the best at though. It does however encourage me to find different paths, and this is one of those paths. The Naked Cake. It’s my new cake best friend. Why? Because it’s a not so good at cake decorating kinda cake. Never mind that it’s currently super trendy. I will be making this cake for all of always.

Reserve Angus Steakhouse Roast

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 7 comments

A steakhouse strip roast isn’t as hard to prepare as you might imagine. I know the upscale steakhouses would like you to believe that they are, but I’m here to tell you they’re really not. It’s the perfect centerpiece for your upcoming holiday meal this month, and with a little help from Harris Teeter you’ll be well on your way to impressing your family and dinner guests.

Besides having all the ingredients you need for your holiday meals, Harris Teeter can make your life a little easier when you use its Express Lane service. Have you heard of this service? I went through the Express Lane and can tell you firsthand it couldn’t be easier. You simply do your shopping online (in your pajamas, if you choose), select the date and time you’d like to pick up your order, then show up in the Express Lane to pick it up. Easy peasy, right?

Baked Brie with Cranberries

Posted by Paula in Appetizer, Vegetarian | 1 comment

Baked Brie with Cranberries.

It’s a simple and delicious appetizer that’s perfect for the holiday season. This dish has just a few simple ingredients. We’re using frozen cranberries so you can enjoy this appetizer all year long. We’re also sharing tips on food safety. Food safety is important when preparing any dish. There are a few simple things we can all do every time. There are FOUR core rules of food safety that are really easy to remember. Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often. Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate. Cook: Cook to the safe internal temperature. Chill: Refrigerate or freeze promptly. Those are really easy to remember right? You can find even more information about food safety on the Partnership for Food Safety Education website.