Archives: holidays

Spiced Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce

November 26, 2014 | By andrea | Comments Off on Spiced Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce | Filed in: Autumn, Christmas, Condiment, Holidays, Life in Oregon, Local Goodness, Quick Cooking, Recipes, Side Dish, Winter.

I love trying new ways to make cranberry sauce. You can easily have several different types of cranberry sauces, relishes or chutneys at a holiday feast because they’re so easy to make. This recipe for Spiced Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce is flavored with a hint of cinnamon, cloves and a double hit of orange (Grand Marnier and freshly-grated • Read More »

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze

March 14, 2013 | By andrea | 2 Comments | Filed in: Baking, Cakes, Chocolate, Christmas, Dessert, Holidays, Recipes.

If you’re looking for a chocolate dessert that that will make you swoon then look no further. This wonderful cake is smooth and rich, and perfect for entertaining (Christmas, Valentines, bridal showers, dinner parties, etc.)! While easy to make, the cake does require time in the fridge (about 7 hours) so plan accordingly. Before serving the cake, drizzle each plate • Read More »

Caramel Oatmeal Chewies

December 17, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Caramel Oatmeal Chewies | Filed in: Baking, Chocolate, Christmas, Cookies & Bars, Dessert, Holidays, Recipes.

  I’m a big fan of just about any kind of caramel and chocolate treat. These gooey bar cookies are definitely a winner: chocolate chips, crunchy pecans and a rich caramel drizzle layered between an oatmeal cookie base and crumble topping. They are rich, delicious and easy to make. I always use Mrs. Richardson’s brand Butterscotch • Read More »

Wild Rice with Butternut Squash, Leeks and Corn

December 1, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Wild Rice with Butternut Squash, Leeks and Corn | Filed in: Autumn, Christmas, Holidays, Recipes, Rice, Side Dish, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian.

Since the holidays are are upon us, here’s a great side dish that will compliment a potpourri of menus. I love the combination of chewy wild rice, roasted butternut squash and sweet corn…delish! This dish goes well with just about any meat, and much of the recipe can be made ahead of time — making • Read More »

Heartland Turkey and Vegetable Chowder

November 29, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Heartland Turkey and Vegetable Chowder | Filed in: Comfort Food, Holidays, Main Dish, Recipes, Soup/Stew, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Vegetable.

I’m always on the search for new ways to use up leftover turkey, which is what led me to this delicious soup. It’s loaded with fresh veggies and herbs, and you can substitute different veggies depending on what you have on hand. For instance, I used green beans instead of zucchini. Serve with crusty bread • Read More »

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Chile

November 19, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Chile | Filed in: Christmas, Holidays, Potatoes, Recipes, Side Dish, Southwestern, Thanksgiving, Vegetable, Vegetarian.

I love sweet potatoes (yams) but I’m not a fan of the cloyingly sweet dishes that call for sugar and marshmallows. Instead, I prefer savory sweet potato recipes like this one that includes smoky chipotle chiles. The heat of the chiles is really delicious with the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. This recipe is perfect • Read More »

Rice Stuffing with Water Chestnuts, Apples and Hazelnuts

November 17, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Rice Stuffing with Water Chestnuts, Apples and Hazelnuts | Filed in: Autumn, Christmas, Holidays, Recipes, Rice, Side Dish, Thanksgiving, Winter.

If you’re looking for a creative stuffing/dressing recipe for this holiday season, you’ll want to give this one a try. I had never tried rice stuffing before and was intrigued by the list of ingredients in this recipe from best-selling author Debbie Macomber: crunchy water chestnuts, toasted hazelnuts, tart apples, and sweet raisins. Hazelnuts (filberts) are grown • Read More »

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

November 12, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Roasted Brussels Sprouts | Filed in: Christmas, Holidays, Recipes, Side Dish, Thanksgiving, Vegetable, Vegetarian.

This is seriously one of the easiest side dishes I’ve ever made. If you like brussels sprouts then you’ll love the extra flavor that roasting brings out in them. If you don’t like brussels sprouts then maybe it’s time to try them. C’mon, I dare you! These pint-sized cabbages are loaded with Vitamins A and • Read More »

Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake

December 20, 2011 | By andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in: Baking, Breakfast, Cakes, Christmas, Dessert, Holidays, Recipes, Thanksgiving.

If you’re still working on your Christmas morning menu, this recipe for Cranberry Streusel Cake would be a good one to consider. The moist, festive cake is both easy to make and delicious. The sweet, brown sugar streusel is a nice balance to the tart cranberries. To simplify things the morning of, have your cranberries chopped and measured, and • Read More »

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

December 14, 2011 | By andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in: Christmas, Condiment, Holidays, Quick Cooking, Recipes, Sauce, Thanksgiving, Winter.

Next time you need cranberry sauce, I urge you to make your own. Not only is it incredibly easy to make, but you can jazz it up and make it more exciting than the humdrum store-bought variety. In this recipe, I love the addition of fragrant orange zest and orange liqueur…very tasty!  Cranberry-Orange Sauce    -recipe from • Read More »