Sunday, November 27, 2011

A Holiday Review: "Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas"

Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas
by Susan Waggoner
Abrams Publishing

Putting up the Christmas tree is one of those events that always makes me reminisce as I pull out each ornament and recall the moment it entered my life. We have ornaments that represent our travels, our beloved pets, and, of course, our children. One side of my tree is dedicated to my children: the ornaments that hold photos of two bald-headed baby boys, their annual personalized ornaments, and, over the past few years, the ornaments they've made themselves at school. The kids are taking over my tree!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #32

It's been absolutely wonderful to have the last few days off from work. I've been enjoying my days at home and had a nice Thanksgiving. I hope that all of you did, too. I did not partake in Black Friday shopping although my husband did hit Wal-mart at midnight to buy a new computer since our old one is almost shot!

I've been busy this morning trying to clean house so that I can begin decorating for Christmas. I'm excited about having the house decorated but would love to close my eyes and, magically, it's finished with no effort from me. What a task! I'm already starting to feel the holiday crunch - I really need to carve out some time to write more for the blog, my food column, and my cookbook reviews. I think it's time that I start an editorial calendar to keep me on task for the month.

How does everyone here stay organized? I know some of you post an incredible amount of recipes each week and have other projects going on at the same time. How do you do it all? I'm looking forward to see what you all have in store for the holidays. I know it will be wonderful and inspirational!

Here's the dessert I made for Thanksgiving dinner. I got the recipe from Life as a Lofthouse. It was absolutely delicious and I enjoyed eating the leftovers right out of the dish. I think I'm going to try it with chocolate pudding instead of pumpkin at some point. I loved using the Twinkies as a base. 

Last Week's Top Recipes

#1
from Catalina Bakes



#2
from Life's Simple Measures


#3
from Aunt Nubby's Kitchen

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! There were so many wonderful recipes!
The Rules...
  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
The party starts here:

Friday, November 25, 2011

Shrimp and Grits Dressing: My New Thanksgiving Tradition




Both of my cookbooks are currently available on Amazon.


__________________________________________________________________________

This recipe is from my favorite magazine, Southern Living. Please visit the original recipe here for the full, printable recipe and for more information.




Sometimes, I will see a recipe for the first time and it's like the heavens open up and a radiant light shines down on me. That's what happened when I saw this recipe for Shrimp and Grits Dressing from Southern Living. It sounded wonderful and perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Last weekend, I decided to do a test run just to see how it would turn out. I had my fears that the grits would be too dense and rubbery. But, it was absolutely perfect and I made another batch Thursday morning. I, of course, had to make a few changes (improvements) here and there which I'll share here with you.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

My Trip to World Market


I love World Market! It's one of my favorite places in...well...the world. I told myself this would be the last trip before Christmas. I really don't need to go back in there for anything else. But, there were tons of Christmas decorations and serving pieces that I want so it would be nice to go back after Christmas to catch some of these things on sale. I did pick up a few things today and thought I would share them with you.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #31

I'm a little late starting the party today. I woke up with a little bit of a stomach bug, but I'm on the mend and getting hungry this evening. Gosh, I've done so much grocery shopping the last couple of days in anticipation of Thanksgiving cooking and baking. Got some great deals on sugar and butter so I'm stocked through the Christmas holidays, too. Now, to figure out what I'm going to make with all of it...

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I would like to open up the linky party to all types of food. I love to find new appetizers and side dish recipes as well as desserts. I feel like I need some inspiration. I'm planning a Pumpkin Twinkie Dessert that I found on Life as a Lofthouse a couple of weeks ago. I'm also thinking about making some mini apple pies since I'll be home Wednesday and will have some extra time to make the crust. So, please share what you're making on Thursday. I can't wait to see it!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
From my kitchen

Last week's top recipes:
#1
from The Sweet Swiper

#2
from The Sweet Swiper

#3
from The Crunchy Mamacita


Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! There were so many wonderful recipes!

The Rules...
  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway for The Casserole Queens Cookbook. Deadline: November 30, 2011.

The party starts here:

Thursday, November 17, 2011

"The Casserole Queens Cookbook": Review and Giveaway

The Casserole Queens Cookbook
by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock
Published by Clarkson Potter

In my column this week, I featured a review of a new cookbook, The Casserole Queens Cookbook by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock. These two Casserole Queens know their way around casseroles and run a thriving food delivery service out of Austin, Texas. I know you'll enjoy reading the recipes. Click here to read my full review and a recipe from the book. Also, for more recipes and information on these ladies, visit their web site, The Casserole Queens. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Winner is...

The winner of Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story is...

Lori said...

I wanna win the Sugar, Sugar cookbook~!
Lori
Congratulations Lori! Hope you enjoy it!!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Cookbook Review: "The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook"

The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook
by Pat and Gina Neely
Knopf Publishing

When I first saw the cover of Pat and Gina Neely's new cookbook, The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook, I thought the recipes would center around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. But, once I actually started reading the book, I saw that the Neelys celebrate all year round. No occasion is too small to gather family and friends for the fellowship of food.

Iced Cinnamon Chip Cookies


So far this weekend, I've watched Mistletoe over Manhattan and Eloise at Christmastime on the Hallmark Channel. It's been wonderful having the Christmas movies on over the past few weekends. It really helps to put me in the spirit. When I think of the Christmas spirit, I think of Christmas baking and all of the excitement that entails: the planning, the packaging, the giving, and the consumption.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #30

So, last week, I tried my hand at making a pie crust for the first time. After I posted my intentions here, I decided that it was time for me to invest in a food processor before I got started on this endeavor. I got a good deal on one and brought it home to begin the process. I could not for the life of me get the food processor to work. Frustrated, I ended up making the crust by hand with a pastry cutter. Then, when I was almost done and was wrapping the dough in plastic wrap to chill, my husband walked into the kitchen and discovered that I didn't have the bowl and lid lined up correctly on the food processor. It works now! But, I was so frustrated...

Anyway, the crusts turned out just fine with my added elbow (and shoulder) grease. Here's the little pecan pies I made from a recipe from Mini Pies by Christy Beaver and Morgan Greenseth. So, I'm trying to have a working relationship with this food processor. I even had a little trouble this morning when I attempted to use it to make some cinnamon roll muffins. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon. What have you been up to this week?

from Mini Pies

Here are the top recipes from last week!

#1
from Lark's Country Heart

#2
from Reading Confetti

Pumpkin Cake003
#3
from Cupcakes and Crinoline


Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! There were so many wonderful recipes!

The Rules...

  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story. Please click here to read the review and to enter the giveaway. Deadline: November 14, 2011.

The party starts here:


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Reminder: Giveaway Deadline Approaching

The deadline for Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story is quickly approaching on November 14!

Entry numbers are low so you still have a great chance of winning this cookbook. It will make the perfect Christmas gift for someone or just keep it for yourself.

Click here to read the review, catch a sneak peek at one of the recipes, and enter to win a copy for yourself.

Good luck!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Cookbook Review: "Mini Pies" and My Big Accomplishment

Mini Pies
by Christy Beaver and Morgan Greenseth
Ulysses Press

Just because something is small doesn't mean it's insignificant. The first thing I noticed when I saw Mini Pies by Christy Beaver and Morgan Greenseth was its size. It is a small paperback cookbook, roughly six inches square. But, as I read through the cookbook, I discovered that it isn't small. It's just compact, concise, and loaded with rich recipes. And, as you will see, even though the book is small, my results were big!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #29

Hello! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm planning on trying my hand at pie-making this weekend. Maybe I should be more specific - I'm trying my hand at pie crust-making. I'm going to have to do it the old fashioned way with a pastry cutter as I don't have a food processor so I'm going to be channeling the spirits of my grandmothers before me. I hope I have the knack for it. I really want to have this perfected before Thanksgiving.

This week, I wrote a review for a brand new cookbook that I know will be right up your alley: Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story by Kimberly Reiner and Jenna Sanz-Agero, better known as the Sugar Mommas. I'm also hosting a giveaway of the cookbook here on A Well-Seasoned Life so I hope you'll stop by and enter the giveaway. The deadline is November 14, 2011. While you're there, you can get a sneak peek at one of their recipes. Hope to see you there!

from Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story
by Kimberly Reiner and Jenna Sanz-Agero

Last Week's Top Recipes

#1
from Catalina Bakes

#2
from Fantastical Sharing on Recipes

#3
from Meg's Everyday Indulgence

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! There were so many wonderful recipes!

The Rules...

  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story. Please click here to read the review and to enter the giveaway. Deadline: November 14, 2011.

The party starts here:

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Giveaway and Review: "Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story"

Blogger seems to have a glitch and I wasn't sure if this posted correctly. Please check out this post if you're interested in winning a copy of Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story.

"Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story": Review and Giveaway


In my column this week, I featured a review of a new cookbook, Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has a Story by Kimberly "Momma" Reiner and Jenna Sanz-Agero. These two Sugar Mommas know their way around desserts and I know you'll enjoy reading the recipes and the stories behind them. Click here to read my full review and a recipe from the book. Also, for more recipes and information on the Sugar Mommas, visit their web site, Sugar Sugar.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Winner Is...

The winner of the Farm Chicks cookbook package is:

Linda OXOX said...

I L-O-V-E Farm Chicks blog! It's a frequent of mine. And to own her books...wonderful! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
linda.schatzie@gmail.com

Congratulations Linda!!!