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Brandied Cranberry Sauce
When I think of decadent holiday cooking and cocktails, brandy always comes to mind. A generous amount transforms cranberry sauce into the most delicious accompaniment to turkey or your choice of roast. Holiday spices, cranberries, and dried fruit, which plumps while cooking, lend even more festive flavor. A touch of orange lends bright citrus that cranberries just seem to crave. Thanksgiving happens to be my favorite feast of the year, and I’m always looking for new ways to serve up something that will make loved ones feel joyful. Special ingredients and little touches always seem to do the trick. While you could omit the dried fruit, I recommend a combination…
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Chocolate Peanut Butter & Jelly Cups | Halloween Inspiration
Homemade peanut butter and jelly cups are year-round sweets, but it happens to be nearing Halloween as I write this. That means I’m also sharing a playlist of my favorite seasonal songs to get you in the spirit. If there is anything better than melting chocolate for a new recipe, it’s playing some good music while you do it. Whether you celebrate spooky season or tend toward the cuter side of the holiday, now is the time to think about festive dishes to enjoy on Halloween in between popping these chocolates. I personally love this pumpkin tomato soup served in a whole pumpkin. If you already have a main dish…
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Summer Fruit Salad
When the summer fruit is this good, treat yourself to an indulgent yet healthy dish that hits all the right sweet, slightly savory, and tangy notes. Champagne vinegar is my preferred way to brighten up a mix of stone fruit, buttery avocado and mango, and blackberries. With its delicate, crisp flavor, it lends just the right amount of acidity. Torn basil leaves add an herbaceous quality. Then I finish it with beautiful sea salt flakes. All the flavors benefit from that little touch. After all, summer is better with a reminder of the sea. Ingredients 2 large nectarines2 apricots⅓ pound cherries¾ cup blackberries1 mango1 avocadoHandful fresh basil leavesExtra-virgin olive oilChampagne…
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Shrimp with Mango Cocktail Sauce
Shrimp cocktail makes a summery appetizer or party dish, and I love to add lobster or crab into the mix. Tie your choice of seafood together with a mango cocktail sauce that’s bright, lightly sweet, and as spicy as you prefer. Here I use both horseradish and serrano pepper for different types of heat, and both ingredients can be adjusted to your preference. What you won’t want to skip is the ripe mango puree that lends essential flavor. After juicing limes for the cocktail sauce, save the halves as they will be needed for poaching the shrimp. If you have lemons, oranges, or other citrus on hand, feel free to…
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Vegan Chili
Healthy, cozy comfort foods belong in our weekly meal rotation, and this vibrant chili delivers plenty of plant-based goodness. With a special blend of seasonings, it hits all the savory notes we expect in a meat-based version, except the protein comes from two different types of beans. Consider vegan chili a great option for meatless Monday or simply treat yourself when you’re in the mood for the tastiest dinner. The beans and vegetables in this recipe can easily be swapped for your favorites, especially when garden and farmers’ market options are plentiful. Backyard peppers and squash become so abundant at a certain point in summer that you’ll be happy to…
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