Thanksgiving Recipes: Gourmet Appetizers

What time do you eat Thanksgiving dinner? Some families dine as early as 2 p.m. while others wait to break bread at the traditional dinner hour. If your family waits until after the Turkey Day football games are over before digging into your Thanksgiving spread, you aren’t alone. I’ve spent many Thanksgivings with families who wait until late evening to eat their holiday feasts. In most cases it’s planned that way because it takes that long for guests to get their appetites back after chowing down on tasty appetizers. The following recipes are not your average chip and dip, mini-meatball … Continue reading →

Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Snack Table

Growing up my parents never allowed us to eat snacks on Thanksgiving. I suspect this tradition stemmed from my mom not wanting her 10-hour day in the kitchen to be for not, and the desire for a costly multi-course meal for a family of eight to be completely devoured by ravenous children. When I moved to the mainland for college I discovered that not all families function the way mine did. In fact, I quickly learned that snacks and Thanksgiving go hand-in-hand for some clans, especially those who enjoy watching professional football on Turkey Day. If your Thanksgiving Day includes … Continue reading →

Are You Ready for Some Football… FOOD?

The National Football League officially kicked off its 89th season on Thursday night, but today is the day millions of pigskin fans having been waiting all summer for—the first full Sunday of non-stop bone-crunching, heart-stopping, hard-hitting on-the-field action. Given that I live in Wisconsin (not far from legendary Lambeau Field—home of the Green Bay Packers), which was ground zero for the whole Brett Favre saga (the famed quarterback came out of retirement to play for the Packers but ended up getting traded to the New York Jets) needless to say, today is a big day around here. (By the way, … Continue reading →

Super Stuffed Mushrooms

What does bacon, goat cheese, crab and black olives have in common? They make tasty additions to stuffed mushroom recipes. (Just ask Aimee.) I wouldn’t use all of them in the same recipe, but I have successfully combined two or three of them to make delicious mushroom appetizers. The first stuffed mushroom recipe I’m sharing comes from a friend of mine who had a version of it at a local restaurant and tried to recreate it in her own kitchen. She served her Pancetta, Pine Nut and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms at a party she had over the Christmas holidays … Continue reading →

Aimee’s Inside Out Stuffed Mushrooms

I love mushrooms — and now we have a good reason to love them. Recent research from Tufts University found that common white button mushrooms are health heroes! Button mushrooms can give your immune system a boost, fight viruses, and help protect against cancer. They’re also a low calorie alternative to pasta and rice. Swapping one cup of button mushrooms for one cup of rice or pasta in your favorite recipes can save you two hundred calories. Make the switch twice a week for a year and you can lose as much as six pounds with very little effort! They … Continue reading →

Super Easy Super Bowl Finger Foods

The NFL’s biggest game of the year is just a few days away and today my local grocery store was packed with shoppers loading up for Super Bowl parties. (At least according to the folks standing in front and back of me in line.) Frankly, I was a bit surprised that so many Wisconsinites planned to go all out for a game they were convinced they would be watching in person while cheering on the Green Bay Packers. Alas, it appears those same fans plan to replace the bitter taste in their mouths with chips and dip and other spicy … Continue reading →

Simple Snacks to Take on the Road

In my regular TRAVEL blog I’ve been writing a series of articles on ways to save when traveling with children. Most parents know that next to transportation and lodging expenses the biggest hit to a family’s budget while on vacation is food. Which is why I make a habit of packing snacks to bring with us on our family trips. The following recipes are for very simple and affordable snacks that travel well. In fact, they are so simple that my 3-year-old daughter often helps me prepare them. Not only does it allow her to gain cooking experience, but also … Continue reading →

Creating the Perfect Dip Table

A big bowl of chunky dip surrounded by chips, crackers, and veggies solves a lot of life’s entertainment problems. The quick and easy dish serves as an attractive table centerpiece, doesn’t require utensils and is one of the only ways my kid will eat raw vegetables without being bribed. If you’ve been reading my recent guest blogs in the FOOD category then you know that I’ve been on a dip kick as of late. Blame the Green Bay Packers. Our hometown football team is on the road to the Super Bowl and ever since they made the playoffs, party invitations … Continue reading →

More Delicious Party Dips: Fiesta Dip and Cheesy Gorgonzola Dip

If you are struggling to find the perfect dish to take to an office party, potluck or family get together you’re in luck. For the past week I have been scouring my recipe boxes in search of the perfect contributions to the huge bash my friends are hosting on Sunday in honor of the Green Bay Packers making it to the NFC Championship game. In two days the Green and Gold will slaughter the New York Giants while we gorge on Spicy Sloppy Joes, Crunchy Cole Slaw, Crab Dip, and dozens of other tasty dishes. When the party is over … Continue reading →

Two Hearty Crab Dips

Regis Philbin has made a point to plug the NFL match up between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants at the start of his syndicated talk show EVERYDAY this week. Which makes me feel less guilty about posting the recipes I am making for the NFC Championship game viewing party I’m attending on Sunday. Living in Wisconsin–where some businesses are planning to close early just so their employees can watch the game at home—-it’s hard not to get caught up in all the hoopla. But, even if you are not hosting an AFC or NFC Championship party … Continue reading →