Appetizers · Cocktails · Holiday · Parties

Holiday Home Tour Blog Hop

My favorite part of the holidays is inviting friends and family into my home. Today I’m giving you a sneak peek into my holiday celebrations, along with two other bloggers – Kippi from Kippi at Home, and Lia from Southern Yankee DIY.  If you visit my house this time of year, you’re likely to find… Continue reading Holiday Home Tour Blog Hop

Canning · Cooking · Holiday

Pears Poached in Red Wine

Delicately spiced pears poached in red wine make a truly special dessert, especially when topped with mascarpone and crumbled amaretti cookies. They’re also lovely sliced on top of a salad, along with blue cheese and walnuts. Traditionally, the pears are left whole and are served standing in a pool of glistening syrup. This is a striking… Continue reading Pears Poached in Red Wine

Appetizers · Cooking · Parties

An Elegantly Simple Cheese Plate

Sometimes the most impressive appetizers are the ones that take the least amount of work. This is one of those times. To be honest, a cheese plate was a last minute addition to my menu. I certainly didn’t expect it to be a showstopper that had multiple people asking for the recipe. I don’t mind… Continue reading An Elegantly Simple Cheese Plate

Book Club · Cooking · Freezer Meals · Main Dishes

Book Club – The Toss of a Lemon

Ever since I read The Toss of a Lemon*  for the first time a few years ago, I’ve been eager to have some people to discuss it with. Not surprisingly, I’ve suggested to the book club a few times, and I was happy to learn it was this month’s selection. The book deals with complex themes… Continue reading Book Club – The Toss of a Lemon

Cocktails · Cooking · Holiday

Getting into the Halloween Spirit

For several years in a row I hosted a Spooky Cocktail Party for Halloween, complete with a full assortment of creepy yet elegant Halloween cocktails. A short but sweet menu is key to keeping guests from feeling overwhelmed by too many choices, and also makes the bartender’s job much easier.   This was a great party to… Continue reading Getting into the Halloween Spirit