This week, a couple of bite sized sweets that are perfect for holiday gatherings. 3 cups finely ground gingersnap cookies 2 1/3 cups sugar, divided 4 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons lightly packed orange zest, divided 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 5 large eggs, room temperature 1 cup sour cream, room temperature 1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature Garnish: chopped c

Keep up the flavor of your bird with this Spice recipe. It's so much better than a store bought blend. 12-14lb. whole turkey, giblets and neck discarded 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 8 tablespoons Cajun Spice mix (recipe follows) 2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 large onion) 1 1/2 cups chopped celery (about 3 stalks) 1 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1 medium bell pepper) 1/4 cup olive oil Line a large roasting pan with foil. Place a V-shaped roasting rack over fo

Let's see what we can find this week for the center of your Thanksgiving table. Let's start with something a little different. 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans 2 tablespoons bread crumbs 2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 large egg 1 tablespoon Creole mustard 1 (1 to 1/2-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 red pears

I love soups made wiht seafood. Here's one that uses crabmeat. 1/4 pound butter 1/4 cup chopped green onion 1 1/2 pounds claw claw crabmeat 1 1/2 tablespoon granulated onion 3/4 teaspoon shrimp base 1/4 cup flour 1/2 pound sliced mushrooms (optional) 1 1/2 quarts half & half 1 1/2 quarts heavy cream 1/4 cup white wine Salt and pepper to taste Dash cinnamon Dash nutmeg In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add green onions and sweat down for 2 minutes, then stir in cr

Dcooler weather is coming. How about a couple of cream soups this week? 2 1/2 ounces dried wild mushrooms 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms 4 tablespoons butter, or as needed, divided 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/4 cup red wine or port 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon dried thyme Pinch of cayenne Salt and pepper to taste 5 cups beef stock 1 cup half & half 2 lrge egg yolks Put the dried mushrooms in a small heatproof bowl and cover

Walk down the grocery isle and look at the options for boxed potatoes. Do yourself a favor, bypass these and make your own. The taste is 1000 times better. 1 stick butter, in all 4 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and green parts only 6 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt to taste 1 pound mixed mushrooms, coarsely chopped Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 generous teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed 2 cups chicken stock, in all 1 3/4 cups half & half 3 1/2 pounds waxy potatoes, peeled,

This week, I want to share a couple of recipes from years past. Let's start with a predecessor to spinach dip. 4 tablespoons butter 1 cup finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup chicken stock 6 ounces pepper Jack cheese, cubed 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 3/4 teaspoon celery salt 3/4 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Creole seasoning to taste 20 ounces f

One of my favorite way to eat potatoes are roasted. Here's a recipe using sweet potatoes. 7 cups 1-inch-cubed peeled sweet potatoes (...

With the holidays coming up, let's look at a couple of side dishes using sweet potatoes. Today, we will start with a salad. 1 1/2 pounds...

Here's an oldie but a goodie. It was popular in the 1980's. 2 cups sugar 1 cup shortening 4 eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt...

This week, I want to feature some iconic cakes. Let's start with on from the 50's. 3 cups sifted cake or all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon...

There are two schools of cornbread, sweet and non-sweet. This one falls into the second group. 6 tablespoons bacon drippings, divided 2...

This week, I want to share a couple of breads to complete your meals. 1 teaspoon canola oil 12 ounces andouille sausage, diced 1 1/2 cups...

Here's a slow cooker take on barbecue sauce. 3 tablespoons canola oil 2 large red onions, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 2 jalapeños,...

Let's continue with some sauces that are made in the crock pot. 3 pounds ripe tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 5...

Here's a great sauce for poutry or beef. Canola oil 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 1/2 quarts beef stock 2 large onions, chopped 5 garlic...

This week, I want to share a couple of sauces that are made in a crock pot. The first is a Cajun Velouté Sauce. 2 sticks butter 1 cup...

Here's a recipe that looks fancy on a plate. It's a great way to show your culinary chops. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast 2...

Here's the suace for Thursday's recipe. It's great for light meats like chicken and pork. 3 tablespoons white wine 3 tablespoons white...

Smothered Pork Chops is a great comfort food. Pairing it with rice adds to the comfort. See if you agree. 6 pork chops, about 1 1/2-inch...