December 16, 2010.   Categories Best of the Web, By Holiday, Candy, Desserts.

Homemade American Classics: Snickers Bars, Peppermint Patties,  Peanut Butter Cups, Oreos and More! This morning the fan page from Joy of Baking posted a link to homemade Peppermint Patties.  I looked at the photo and started thinking of all of the candies and treats we’ve loved since childhood. Many of us don’t buy these sinful treats not just because we’ve grown out of them… or to avoid the calories but to avoid...

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December 14, 2010.   Categories Comfort Food, Soups.

Split pea soup with ham and bacon is one of my favorite fall foods.  It reminds of chilly fall days during my childhood.  When I make a hearty soup like this, I always start by cooking a little bit of bacon in the soup pot.  It adds a nice base layer of flavor to the soup.  If you’re concerned about fat content, you don’t have to do this step… but it does taste better with bacon!  Well, what doesn’t taste better...

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December 13, 2010.   Categories By Holiday, Christmas, Cookies from Home, Desserts.

Wyatt’s Christmas Cookies 2010 marks my son’s 5th Christmas and I’ve been feeling nostalgic about it.  What happened to the era of binkies, cribs and pureed food?  It also made me realize that in the not too distant future, I’ll be looking back wondering what happened to this five year old little boy.  Bottom line:  enjoy each moment.  We’ve been lucky, there have been lots of wonderful Christmas moments...

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December 12, 2010.   Categories Breakfast / Brunch, By Holiday, Christmas, Comfort Food, Desserts, Easter.

If there is a more comforting scent than freshly baked cinnamon rolls during the holidays I’ve not yet discovered it.  This recipe makes about 45-50 individual rolls.  In my opinion they are the perfect size.. not massive and gooey like those “buns” you get at the mall. Although this isn’t her recipe, I like to follow Nancy Silverton’s baking tip from her La Brea Bakery Cookbook and use disposable pie tins to...

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November 28, 2010.   Categories By Holiday, Poultry, Soups, Southwestern / Mexican, Thanksgiving Dinner, Turkey.

Spicy Southwestern Turkey Soup Ingredients 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  4 cloves garlic, chopped  1 1/2 cups chopped onion  1 carrot, chopped into small chunks 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their liquid  4 cups organic chicken broth  1 teaspoon dried oregano  1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper  1 tsp adobo sauce from chipotle peppers with 1 diced chipotle 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin  1/2 teaspoon black pepper  1 bay leaf  3...

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