Corned Beef, Havarti & Sauerkraut Panini

Another St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, leaving our refrigerator filled with odd ends of corned beef, boiled potatoes, sauerkraut and roasted cabbage.  Yessssss.  The timing is perfect for fantastic leftover creations with all the bold flavors of your traditional corned beef dinner.  Time for pot pie, Irish-inspired omelets and my take on the classic reuben.

Shamrock Cookies

Top o' the mornin' to ya!  Actually, it's 7:25 in the evening, but the Irish vibe is reverberating throughout every red hair on my head.  It's only two weeks until St. Patrick's Day, always a fabulous corn beef filled festivus in our household, but this year it's an especially momentous occasion.  So fabulous and exciting that I am giving up on trying to contain my enthusiasm, opting instead to bake out all my energy.  We've had cornbread (not so Irish), bagels, soda bread and of course these darling little cookies.  So darn cute and pop-able, you'd be unlucky to pass the holiday by without a batch.

Boozy Choco-Nut Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

When it comes to Valentine's Day, you might as well call me Scrooge.  It's my absolute least favorite holiday of the year.  No matter where you go or what you do, it's practically impossible to escape the overabundance of hearts, sugary sweets and bright pinky red...which is like salt in the wound for this med student wife.  For his first three years the hubs was a medical underling, spending the day either cramming for giant exams or working the night shift.  But this year things are completely different.  No night shifts, no traveling for residency interviews and no large tests on the horizon.  Instead, the hubs and I are celebrating Valentine's on the actual day for the first time...ever.  We're going all out this year with cards, flowers and a heart-shaped cake.  But don't let the shape of that cake fool you.  Stuffed with peanut butter, bananas, chocolate chips and hint of whiskey, this is about as far from a pink fluffy dessert as you can get.

Rosemary Apples On Horseback

Everyone loves to nibble.  Be it savory popcorn or sweet miniature chocolates, tidbits satisfy in their own special (little) way.  What better holiday is there than New Year's to nosh around a room, sipping something bubbly and eating food off of toothpicks?  I absolutely love counting down the hours with hors d'oeuvres, board games a few close friends.  And this year's appetizer is sure to knock their slippers off!

Roast Vegetable Gravy - a.k.a. The Last Gravy Recipe You'll Ever Need

For better or for worse, everyone has a signature dish for which they are known.  Gourmands may be recognized for something spectacular such as tartare, artisan bread or decadent chocolates.  Others are known for frozen pizza, refrigerated crescent rolls or the ever popular blue box mac & cheese.  Be they on the high or low end of the spectrum, the hubs and I enjoy all of these food items on occasion.  As for me....well, I'm not exactly sure of where I fall on this spectrum for I am known for a holiday condiment.

Nutella Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

There is a theme to my baking this year...non-traditionalizing the traditional.  All the childhood classics are still rolling out, but with a few minor modifications to keep things jazzy and fun.  Perhaps it's the anticipation of spring and the hubs residency match, but this year I am itching for change, even with Christmas cookies.  Why not add a little spice or swap in an ingredient or two?  Just keep that milk coming and I'll keep the cookies rolling.  And though this may not be the most festive creation of the season, it has without a doubt been the most popular on the cookie party platter.

Perfect Pumpkin Pie with Hazelnut Crust

Pumpkin pie is a quintessential Thanksgiving day dessert.  It never matters how much turkey you've tasted, stuffing you've stuffed or cranberries you've crammed...the meal isn't over until you've had a bit of that deep orange delight.  Fragrant, creamy and so very festive, we all request "just a sliver" to round out the meal.  Unfortunately, pumpkin pie is not a light dessert.  It is often dense and heavy, the tipping point from a little over-satisfied to painfully over-stuffed.  That was why I was so incredibly delighted to find this amazing recipe a few years ago.  This light, fluffy pie is the absolute perfect way to end a family feast without putting yourself into a food coma.

Pumpkin Butter French Toast w/ Pecans & Vermont Maple Syrup

If you've visited the hubs and I here for breakfast before, you know that I am not a maple syrup gal.  Morning after morning, I have adamantly opposed maple syrup, always opting for honey or agave nectar on top of my bready morning delights.  But thanks to the hubs, the state of Vermont and the residency program in Burlington for their delicious souvenirs, I get to sing a different tune today!  I'm embracing maple for the first time ever...and on one of my absolute favorite seasonal breakfasts in Pumpkin Butter French Toast.

Hazelnut & Brown Sugar Roasted Hens w/ Butternut, Grape & Sage Stuffing

After the spending an abundance of summer days in front of the barbecue, there is nothing that the hubs and I enjoy quite like a roast bird.  Not only does it make an excellent and super fancy-shmancy dinner, but the oven also helps heat the house.  Cooking absolutely has its perks.  Warm home, delicious dinner...that's a win-win combo.

Pumpkin Shortbread Bars with Candied Pecans

You know it's fall when pumpkin hits the market.  Be it carving, cooking or canned, pumpkin is the symbol of the season.  There's nothing like a piping hot bowl of creamy pumpkin oatmeal to start your day, tender roasted pumpkin meat tossed with pasta and goat cheese or a freshly brewed pumpkin latte from your favorite mer-coffee-maker.  And of course, there's the all time rockstar of pumpkin - the pie.  Problem is...I have a teensy problem when it comes to eating pumpkin pie on pre-holidays.  Post-holidays or the fête du jour itself, no sweat.  But before the holiday....I don't think so.  The hubs does not share my opinion and his sweet tooth would be hard pressed to wait until the end of November for a pumpkin dessert.  Luckily these delightful Pumpkin Shortbread Bars are the perfect tide-us-through dessert until the turkey hits the table.

Almond Crunch Apple Pie

For the last three years, my college cohorts and I have gotten together once annually for a weekend of reminiscent debauchery.  In the past, weddings in the Pacific Northwest we our justification for the cost of bi-costal plane tickets.  This year, we changed things up by going East for a fabulous Labor Day weekend in NYC.  Think of the video from "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" over the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack.  Heck yeah!  Since there were no weddings this year, we decided to gather for the first of our group's big three-oh's.  The unexpected fun of a pregnancy announcement and surprise engagement was cause for even more celebration.  It was all fabulous - the ladies, the weekend, the city.  The only part of the Big Apple that I missed was a slice of pie.  Which for some reason, I took a little too close to heart.  After all, it's just pie, right?  Wrong.  So when my bossy pregnant friend demanded a post inspired by our weekend together, it was pretty obvious what I'd have to make.  Bust our your pairing knife, because it's time for some apple pie.

Red, Lime & Blue Galette

Get your stars and stripes out, because the Fourth of July is almost upon us!  For the record, I'm really excited about this year's celebrations.  Last year we drove right by Independence Day twice without stopping - first Canada's on our way to visit family in Toronto and then America's on the way back. Though the fireworks were splendid from our view in the car, the lack of food and cornhole was quite disheartening.  This year we're staying put to celebrate both the 4th and the hubs completing of his third year of medical school.  That's right folks, as of 4:30 on July 3rd we're only 12 months away from being a two income household.  Needless to say, there's ample reasons to celebrate this week.

Birthday Week! Red Wine Risotto & Peanut Butter Pup Cake

The first week in June is very important in our household.  After Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's the most anticipated week of the year.  It's Birthday Week!  On the first we celebrate our pups, while the fifth is devoted to the hubs.  I love this week....probably more than my own birthday.  I get to bake both dog and people treats to share with the two most important little creatures in my life.  So it's only fitting that I take a post to stop and reminisce in this year's celebrations.

Cinco De Mayo Baked Breakfast Peppers

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, todo el mundo!  (And thanks for your assist on that one, Google translate.)  I absolutely love this holiday.  I don't really need an excuse to eat Mexican food, but will take advantage of one when it comes strolling by every year.  We've been embracing the Mexi-spirit all weekend by sipping La Palomas and noshing on Chopped Guacamole.  But I would have to say that breakfast is my favorite time of day to head south of the border.  Nothing quite wakes you up like a side of spicy salsa with your eggs.  So in honor of today, we're sharing our Baked Breakfast Peppers with a Cinco de Mayo twist.

Poppy Seed Thumbprint Cookies

Spring has finally sprung.  For the first time this year, we had a week with no snow, three consecutive days of sun and temperatures over 40 degrees.  After a the bleak cold of winter, I am wild with delight about wearing lightweight jackets, eating lunch outdoors and rollerblading with the hubs and pup (don't worry, we're spandex-free).  So naturally, it's time to bring the Springy-ness into our cooking as well.  With their bright, lemony flavor and sweet crumbly texture, Poppy Seed Thumbprints are a perfect way to welcome back the sunshine.

Corned Beef Pot Pie

St. Patrick's Day - the day we remember the beloved patron saint of Ireland by dyeing beer, watch for rainbows and wear green to avoid being pinched.  After chasing out the snakes, he must've had a ball.  We always celebrate with our most favorite of traditions, the much beloved corned beef and cabbage.  My mom made it every year growing up, and it has a huge spot in my heart.  Plus there's all that great leftover meat for Rueben's and corned beef hash.  But there's another dish that I would like to introduce to your leftover repertoire if you can stand to give your Thousand Island a little break.  The amazing flavor of the Irish dinner with all the warmth of a truly great comfort food...ladies and gents, I give you the Corned Beef Pot Pie. 

S'more Skewers

My hubs is a huge fan of chocolate and marshmallow.  Smash them between two graham crackers, melt them in rice krispies, layer them on a giant chewy cookie, mix them in ice cream....if you add carbs, and that all you require to make him a very happy man.  No, happy is an understatement....a child who's just found Wanka's golden ticket after a cavity-free dental exam is more accurate.  So naturally, I do my best to turn him into this wriggling child of delight by making all sorts of goodies out of marshmallows and chocolate.  Take S'more Samoa Squares, for example.  First made while he was studying for the biggest exam of his medical career, he now requests these whenever he has a truly tremendous exam on the horizon.  But for those times in between, this is his favorite little creation to have lying around.

Red Hot Candy Cookies

Valentine's Day is all about the sweets.  Sweet gents, sweet ladies, sweet children, sweet pups, sweet tarts.  And plenty of sweet desserts.  But my hubs, in addition to being super sweet, is also pretty hot.  So to contrast the abundance of sugar-spun romance topped with frosting and hearts, I bring to you today a fantastic little cookie with a cinnamon kick.  Slightly sweet, slightly hot.  Perfect.

Caprese Shrimp Bruschetta

My friend Joel would cry and run away if I served him this dish.  Why?  Because it contains both tomatoes and cheese, his arch nemeses of food.  But if you're reading this, odds are you are not Joel and not scared of tomatoes and cheese.  First, good for you.  Second, please read on.

Egg Nog Waffles (but healthy!)

Eggnog is one of the quintessential holiday beverages that you love to drink.  Unless your my hubs.  He is not a nogger, much to my nog-loving disappointment.  We hadn't even purchased any the past two holiday seasons.  So this year I was not letting eggnog pass me by once again.  We bought a carton and I have been drinking small glasses of this thick, creamy beverage and pondering just how I could trick the hubs into loving egg nog enough to welcome it into our home annually.  And my way to his inner nog-lover was through one of our favorite breakfasts...waffles.