Alfredo...yum!

Doesn't this look like a big bowl of creamy pasta goodness?

 

Roasted Squash Seeds

Well it sort of is...except it's not pasta!

Cannoli Crumb Pie

I can never say 'no' to a new way to make cannoli. I've made Cannoli Dip and a parfait called Cannoli Cream Dessert. So why not make a Cannoli Crumb Pie? This pie got rave reviews from a food friend of mine, so that was even more incentive for me to try it!

Werther's Caramel Apple Tart

My Werther's Prize Pack!

I won that prize from the Werther's Caramel website! The Werther's company was asking folks to upload their favorite caramel recipes to their website. I had a few recipes, so that's exactly what I did! Well, Werther's kindly chose me as the recipient of that generous prize! I was so thrilled! Check out their site and see some of the deliciously creative caramel recipes posted by other home cooks including myself. 

Cauliflower Breadsticks

I've seen this recipe and similar recipes like this one, floating around the Internet for quite a while now! It has been on just about every food page I've visited. I took it as a sign that I need to try it...and so I did!

Amazing 3 Ingredient Crock-Pot Pork

Don't you just love delicious recipes that only contain a few simple ingredients? I purposely search out these kinds of recipes lately! They're so much fun to try and always a great surprise when they taste so darn good! I found this cool recipe on a website called
Average Mom's Wear Capes by Christie O.

Classic Stuffing

I know Thanksgiving has come and gone but stuffing is great any day of the year! I make this as a side dish to chicken, pork chops, ham and even fish! This can also be used as a layer for so many different kinds of savory casseroles! So don't just think of stuffing as a Thanksgiving food! Try it for your everyday meals also!

Super Easy Dessert Crepes

I've ordered dessert crepes many times in restaurants because it's a nice light dessert after a heavy meal. They can be filled with just about any fruit or even with melted chocolate! Or just roll them up unfilled and serve them with some fresh whipped cream.

Quick and Easy Gravy

I use this recipe whenever I need a quick gravy. The gravy can be made with chicken or beef broth. This gravy can also be used to thicken soups. You can also make this into a vegetarian gravy by using vegetable broth instead of chicken or beef broth. And add any seasonings you want such as pepper, garlic powder, herbs, etc. It's better than canned gravy because you can customize it to suit your own taste!

Shipwreck Casserole

I found this recipe on one of my favorite food blogs called Noshing with the Noland's by Tara Noland. I love the story that Tara tells about the title of this recipe!

Easy No-Cook Cranberry Relish - Only 3 Ingredients

I'm not much of a canned cranberry jelly person. For some reason it tastes like the 'can' to me! So whenever that condiment was passed around the table on Thanksgiving I would just keep passing it! And the way it jiggled just creeped me out! I know...I have serious cranberry jelly issues! But I know that it's a 'must' to serve on Thanksgiving! It's a tradition! If it wasn't on the table there would be an uproar, I'm sure!

Apple Dumplings

I'm on an apple journey lately! I've been finding myself gravitating towards all things apple! It must be the season!

One Pan Baked Pork Chops on Veggie Rice

I just love these kinds of easy recipes! Especially when you can make a meat and side dish in one pan!

Red Curry Pumpkin Soup

Here is another pumpkin recipe I've made this week! I told you I would be making a few pumpkin recipes to use up my homemade Pumpkin Puree.

Pierogi Kielbasa Casserole

I love casseroles because everything is made in one pan! This one was so easy and delicious! The whole family loved it! This is just frozen pierogi that are layered in a casserole dish with sour cream, diced kielbasa and cheddar cheese. Then just add some chicken broth and bake until bubbly!

Copanata (Sicilian) Roasted Vegetable Salad

I'm Sicilian, but this is my first time making Copanata...gasp! I can tell you one thing(or maybe two things)...this is delicious and it won't be my last time making it!

Marsala Pot Roast

I've had Veal Marsala and Chicken Marsala, but I've never had Beef Marsala...until now! This was absolutely delicious! Why hadn't I heard about this sooner?

Pumpkin Spice Latte

You may remember from my post about how to make Pumpkin Puree from fresh pumpkins, that I had plenty of homemade pumpkin puree and would be making lots of pumpkin recipes!  So, I hope no one is tired of pumpkin recipes yet! I've heard that it's okay to share pumpkin recipes until Christmas day! Then after that everyone is done with pumpkin! Sort of like 'don't wear white after Labor Day'! Well, this is the first recipe I've tried so far and it was VERY good! So stay tuned for e few more pumpkin recipes on this blog in the coming weeks!

This Pumpkin Spice Latte is suppose to be a perfect copycat for the Starbuck's version. Since I've never had the Starbuck's version I can't compare! To me this tastes like drinking a pumpkin pie mixed in with your coffee...yum!

Pumpkin vs. Apple

This time of year I see TONS of recipes using apples and pumpkins! I love both, so it's a pleasure to see! I'm always amazed that so many cooks can come up with so many creative ways to use these items in recipes! Every year a new apple or pumpkin recipe emerges that I've never seen before and sweeps across the Internet becoming very popular, very quickly! But I'm old fashioned sometimes and I gravitate towards the basics when it comes to apples and pumpkins! I'll take a simple apple or pumpkin pie any day!

These next 2 recipes were just what I wanted...simple and basic but so very delicious! Both recipes are sweetened with SPLENDA® helping to keep them lower in calories.




Mini Apple Muffins
Click **Here** for recipe

These are very tasty little muffins! I simplified the direction and also made some adjustments. I added a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of ground cloves. I used SPLENDA® brown sugar blend instead of the plain granulated sweetener. And to make the directions easier I just mixed all the dry ingredients together in one bowl. Then in a separate bowl I mixed together all the wet ingredients. Then I added the wet to the dry and mixed until well combined. I used mini cupcake liners and scooped the batter to the top of each with a melon baller. Then baked as stated. These had a nice fresh apple taste but I would decrease the amount of lemon zest next time to half. And eat these after they've cooled completely so that all the flavors have a chance to meld together.

These mini muffins were perfect paired with a nice cup of this Gingerbread Coffee sweetened with SPLENDA®!



Gingerbread Coffee
Click **Here** for Recipe



Harvest Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Click **Here** for Recipe

 I love that these cookies are so light and soft. And I love the bright pumpkin color and flavor! I made them as written except I didn't use the walnuts or raisins because I wanted the pumpkin to shine through and it did! I also decreased the sugar slightly by only using 1/4 cup of the SPLENDA® white sugar blend. But I used the full amount of the SPLENDA® brown sugar blend. I added 1/2 tsp. allspice and I'm glad I did because it was perfect in this! A very good cookie that tastes great warm or cold.

I enjoyed these cookies with a cup of Whisky Tea sweetened with SPLENDA®

 Share the love of all things sweet with SPLENDA® and check out their website for more recipes using SPLENDA®
Also visit SPLENDA® on Facebook to share you're love with them!



Click  for **Here** coupon

Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder

With the fall chill in the air this is the perfect time for a nice hearty bowl of this chowder! I loved the slight smokiness from the bacon along with the bite sized chunks of sautéed chicken. The creamy corn and cheddar cheese aren't too shabby either!

Pumpkin Puree

If you have some pumpkins lying around from leftover Halloween decorations, why not use them to make pumpkin puree? I'm not talking about the pumpkins that you carved faces into and lit with a candle! I mean whole, untampered, pumpkins.