One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. I have a confession to make. I haven’t really been following a menu the last couple weeks. You see, after Kjell’s hospital stay and subsequent doctor craziness,... more

If you’re getting together for the holidays, there’s a decent chance you’re also planning on eating a large roast of some sort. Break from tradition this year or throw a New Year’s dinner and do things up a bit with a filet mignon in a red wine and balsamic reduction with shallots and mushrooms. Ole grew up with Sunday dinners. After church his mom would have some type of roast waiting, and the whole family and sometimes guests would sit down to eat. With a family of seven... more

Dried cranberries, pecans and blue cheese come together with a slightly sweet poppy seed dressing. This salad is becoming a tradition during the holiday season for us, served at our Christmas dinner. With the mix of sweet and salty, it’s the perfect introduction to the rich foods that follow. I am so honored to be a part of Share Our Strength’s 7-course progressive dinner Share Our Holiday Table with 50 other bloggers this week. Through Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign,... more

Food is a passion. I’m not sure that it necessarily comes out all the time as I tell you about the mess my kids and I made, how I have taken to making my own fruit snacks or that I’m making ice cream in the fall, but I hope it does. I hope that you can see my relationship with food is one that I’ve fought for and continue to fight for daily. It’s important to me, and it’s important for me to share it, this time with an apple pie cheesecake topped with a salted caramel... more

We are talking turkey today of the mustard-crusted variety. It may not be as traditional as your favorite roasted one, but it’s juicy and delicious, and it fits in with all the traditional Thanksgiving fare perfectly, livening up your table and giving those relatives something to talk about. One of my favorite movies of all time is Jodie Foster’s Home for the Holidays. Maybe it’s the dysfunction that it portrays that makes me feel at home. (Snicker) Still, it’s the feeling... more