Smoky "Pimento" Cheese Sandwiches

You know when you make something because you know it will be good, but more because it is easy and you are attempting to prepare 15 other dishes?  When I made these sandwiches, I put them in that category (FYI -- pimento is in quotes because this recipe doesn't actually contain any pimentos!).  However, they turned out to be a hit amongst everyone!

The smoked gouda cheese and sun-dried tomatoes create an unbelievable smoky flavor.  This would also be great served with crackers or pita chips as an appetizer.

Sausage Egg Bake

My family has had the same Christmas day brunch every single year, for as long as I can remember.  Sausage egg bake and monkey bread.  There is nothing complicated about this meal and it can be made in advance -- allowing for a morning spent lounging, opening gifts, laughing and just enjoying time together.  It would be equally as fitting for New Year's Day brunch.

This year was no different and I decided I finally had to share the recipe with you.  Over the years, the white bread has been replaced with wheat, pork sausage replaced with turkey sausage, eggs substituted with half egg whites but its still on the table every year.  I have included the original recipe below but it is easily adapted to suit your preference.

Grape, Blue Cheese, and Walnut Pizza

I'm baack!!  Sorry I have been MIA for a while; I was busy traveling then busy wrapping up my Master's program with a lot of projects.  But that's all done now so I'm back to blogging!

My mom got me this cookbook, Cooking Light: fresh food fast, for Easter and it is by far the best cookbook I have ever read.  Every single recipe looks delicious, they are all fast and have minimal ingredient lists; perfect!  Whenever I get a cookbook I look through everything and tab all of the recipes that I want to make...well I got a quarter of the way through this book and realized I had tabbed every single recipe!

I was visiting my mom this weekend and we decided to make this amazing pizza for dinner.  The combination of ingredients works perfectly together.  The grapes have a totally different flavor after they're cooked that I can't quite pinpoint, all I know was that is was delicious!  I highly recommend this light, fun pizza with a glass of wine for the summer!

**keep in mind that this recipe yields one mini pizza

Northstar Breakfast Burrito

Northstar Cafe is one of my all time favorite places to eat in Columbus, OH.  I decided to try and recreate their breakfast burrito since I can't have it down in the south.  I have never had a breakfast burrito, or any burrito for that matter, that even compares to Northstar's.  I would eat anything in this burrito on its own, but the combination of ingredients together is so delicious!

I also recreated their ricotta pancakes a while ago.  Also super delicious!

Super Bowl Party Ideas

Whether you're throwing a Super Bowl Party or having a low-key evening for the game, you always need good game-day food!  Below you will find a few of our favorites.

Start off with my favorite Honey-Nut Snack Mix

or make these simple Spicy Cashews

If you feel like being healthy -- Hummus

Another healthy option -- Roasted Red Pepper and White Bean Dip with Pitas -- yum!

Who doesn't love Guacamole?

My new all-time favorite -- Jalapeno Popper Dip (sorry no picture!)

You can't go wrong with this Cranberry Pistachio Brie served with crackers

Turn these Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burgers into little sliders!

and serve with Sweet Potato Rounds with Basil Salt

 

Warm up with this Jerk Chicken Chili -- a new family favorite!

Sweet Potato and Turkey Chili with this yummy Buttermilk Jalapeno Cornbread

Recipe courtesy of my mom -- easy and AMAZING Peanut Butter and Chocolate Rice Krispie Bars

Double Chocolate Salted Peanut Bark -- its like a homemade candy bar.

For dessert, make a batch of our favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry Pistachio Brie

I have been making this brie for a number of years.  After bringing it to a few gatherings with friends, it was announced that I was required to bring the brie to every gathering going forward.  My mom originally shared this recipe with me and I know she makes it just as often as I do.  The flavor combination is just amazing -- cranberries, balsamic, onions and pistachios.  We made this over the holidays and it looked so festive!  However, its a great appetizer to make year round.

Breaded Chicken Breasts with Goat Cheese and Thyme Filling

This chicken is so tasty, easy to make, and would impress just about anyone.  This would be a great dish to serve to out-of-town guests over the holidays.  It can be made a day ahead of time, refrigerated, and then baked the day of.  It can also be made more simple by using store bought bread crumbs rather than making your own.  

You might also like this Almond-Stuffed Chicken (it's my personal favorite).

Caprese Salad Skewers

 

Hopefully over the next few weeks, we can help provide some great recipe ideas for the holiday season!  These caprese salad skewers are a delicious and easy appetizer to serve at any occasion.  I think these bright little bites also make for a great presentation.  

I have to warn you -- I don't have "measurements" for what I used.  I just bought a carton of cherry tomatoes, a container of fresh mozzarella bites and a handful of fresh basil.  This made about 45 skewers.

Herb Goat Cheese Spread

I love this spread.  It is simple and perfect for any occasion.  I used the herbs in the original recipe (minus the tarragon), but you can mix in your favorite fresh herb!  Note -- you can make this with a hand mixer or standing mixer like I did (I don't own a food processor -- don't judge).

A Fall Gathering: Afternoon Baby Shower

I had the pleasure of helping a friend out with a baby shower this past weekend.  This was my first time creating a full menu and preparing everything from appetizers to desserts for a group of people.  I was so happy with the way everything turned out (and so honored that she asked me to help)!

The menu included the following:
Oat Snack Mix -- Everyone always seems to love this and I served it in cupcake liners so it would be easier to snack on.

Caprese Salad Bites with a Balsamic Reduction -- Such a pretty little appetizer.

Herb Goat Cheese Spread with Crackers -- This spread should be included every time I serve cheese and crackers.

Apple-Rosemary Blue Cheese Bites (not pictured)

Honey Yogurt Dip with Fresh Fruit -- I could eat this on its own (greek yogurt -- my fav) but a great dip to serve with fruit -- and only 3 ingredients!

Spinach Salad -- Year after year this salad seems to make an appearance at every family gathering -- Christmas, Thanksgiving, graduations, family reunions, you name it!

Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts -- A nice spin on chicken salad and nice and light -- just the way I like it.

Desserts included:
White Chocolate Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting -- I thought these flavors seemed great for fall.  This is a denser cupcake so I'm glad I made them mini.  The idea for the chocolate "A" came from a friend -- love this idea!

Pumpkin Blondies -- These have been a hit with everyone who has tried them!

Cake Bites -- Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and white chocolate coating.

I will be sharing all of these recipes with you in the coming days and weeks.  If you have any preferences for which I post first, please let me know -- would love to hear from you :)

Side note:  Sarah and Molly are enjoying the weekend together in Charleston.  Wish I was there!!

Sweet 'n' Savory Snack Treat

This is the perfect treat to serve at any Fall gathering.  It is just the right combination of sweet and salty.  A cute idea from the author of this recipe is to serve this snack mix in cake ice cream cones so guests can have their own little container to hold while they walk around the party.  I think that is a great idea!

Apple, Brie and Honey Quesadilla

I love sweet and savory and I love quesadillas -- and that is why I love this recipe.  I saw a recipe for Pear, Brie and Honey Quesadillas on Two Peas and their Pod and decided to switch up the pears for apples because fall is here and I can't stop buying Honeycrisp apples.

I didn't use a lot of cheese because I was trying to have a healthy dinner but I didn't miss it with the combination of the apples, red onion, honey and rosemary.  I just didn't get the cheesy quesadilla effect.  One more tip -- next time, I will saute the apples and onions first to soften them up.

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese

Fall has arrived...up north it has anyways!  But regardless of whether or not it is still 90 degrees in Charleston, I am so excited about all the Fall flavors; pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg...yummm!!  I even went to Starbucks the first day their pumpkin spice flavor arrived and treated myself to a nice hot latte.  So about this pumpkin cream cheese, it is awesome!  You can put this on just about anything because it is that good.

Banana Muffins with Mascarpone Cream Frosting

I  never tried Mascarpone cheese until this recipe.  I'm glad I made these because I now know what I've been missing!  Mascarpone cheese is amazing!!!!  These are super easy to make and would impress just about anyone.  The recipe says to top the muffins with toasted walnuts, which I think would really add to the presentation, but I was in a big hurry to get these finished and didn't have time.

Charleston Bound!! ... and Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

After months of contemplating which graduate school to attend, I finally made my decision.  I will be headed to the College of Charleston in South Carolina!  I decided to celebrate by making the most incredible Macaroni & Cheese ever from my favorite restaurant in Charleston -- Cru Cafe.  This is not your standard boxed Mac & Cheese; it is so creamy and rich that you will never want to go back to the box after tasting this.

I also found this recipe particularly fitting for today since it is "Fat Tuesday."  This is the perfect indulgence before the start of any fast!