• Pumpkin Butter Wontons
    Food

    Pumpkin Butter Dessert Wontons

    Even though the weather may let us go pumpkin picking in our shorts, we are squarely in autumn, and menus everywhere are celebrating the season with pumpkin spice items ranging from chai to doughnuts. At home, the menu has become pretty pumpkin-filled as well. This weekend I used homemade pumpkin butter to make dessert wontons that turned out so deliciously I just had to share them with you Quite a few of my loved ones look forward to pumpkin dishes but pass on ones with a heavy dose of pie spices, so I tend to use just enough to bring out the natural flavor of the star ingredient. Adding some…

  • Holiday Cranberry Sauce
    Food

    Holiday Cranberry Sauce

    Thanksgiving calls for a proper feast. While the first sighting of a pumpkin inspires some to plan Halloween costumes or jump ahead to gift-giving lists, autumn has me thinking about turkey, stuffing, and every dish that makes the feast delicious. Now that Thanksgiving is a little over a week away, I finally can share the holiday cranberry sauce recipe that will be on my table this year. Homemade cranberry sauce is a holiday essential that is simple to prepare and adds vibrancy with its ruby tone and bright flavor. In this recipe, tart cranberries are made irresistible with the addition of brown sugar, Cointreau, and a touch of balsamic vinegar…

  • strawberry pumpkin tart
    Baking,  Food

    Strawberry Pumpkin Tart

    Fresh strawberry jam livens up a pumpkin tart. This layered dessert veers from pumpkin pie flavor and lets you taste the fall staple in a different way. Without traditional spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, pumpkin retains more of its natural flavor, and it pairs deliciously with strawberry. Vanilla and brown sugar round out the filling, which is creamier than the pie version. When it comes to the jam, all you need is a little sugar and lemon juice to create a spread that is not overly sweet. A packaged product from the store won’t have the same flavor so it’s best to make it at home. The berries will…

  • mole roasted sweet potatoes
    Food

    Mole Roasted Sweet Potatoes

    Mole poblano is a Mexican sauce that includes chile peppers, spices, herbs, and nuts among a long list of ingredients. Chocolate features prominently in the mix, but it rounds out the flavor rather than lending a dessert-like quality. This recipe captures the essence of mole, relying on a balance of strong ingredients that come together to lend a savory deliciousness to roasted sweet potatoes. When you read through the ingredients below, you may wonder what pairs well with a side dish that contains cocoa powder, ancho chile, and peanuts. Once the potatoes spend time in the oven, the flavors meld and become more complex. As with mole poblano, they go…