Tropical Pom Rum Runner

Fun Holiday and Summer drinks can start out with a delicious fruity Tropical Pom Rum Runner or our Caribbean Rum Punch just like those popular cruise drinks you can experience them in your own home with these tropical flavors.

Our delicious drink has banana rum, lots of fruit juices, and a lemon drop schnapps!

The Caribbean Rum Punch is another fruity favorite similar to a Coco Loco we had on many cruise Islands so let our drinks take you away to a favorite vacation spot!

23

Crockpot Ham and Cabbage

When I was growing up, ham and cabbage in the crockpot was a staple in our home.  Mom was great at making inexpensive meals that would stretch our budget for the week. This one one that fed many of us. Being Italian we always had a houseful at dinner time.

16

Feast of 7 Fishes Roundup

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is eating fish that night for their Christmas Eve celebration dinner.

Christmas Eve is a fasting day and the customs and respect given it to abstain from eating any meat that day until Christmas Day.

This Italian Christmas Eve Tradition has always been practiced by our family here in America.

Seafood is part of Catholic abstinence from eating meat until the feast of Christmas Day.

This celebration was to wait and welcome the Vigilia di Natale, and the birth of baby Jesus.

When the clock strikes 12:00 am everyone gathers in our family for Midnight mass and prayer for our baby Jesus as it has been written that was the time of his birth.

Although the tradition is 7 Fishes, we usually have more than 7 with the medleys we serve in the meals along with the Insalata Caprese and Italian Struffoli dessert.

Below are the links to the recipes highlighted by name.

31

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookie Recipe

If you are a peanut butter lover ~ this is a chocolate cookie filled with peanut butter then you are going to love this one~  I thought maybe they would be difficult, but the filling rolls into a ball easily to mold around the cookie batter.

Roll the dough into a ball and flatten it in the palm of you hand then add the peanut butter ball, viola you have a filled cookie that is awesome!

Flatten with the palm of your hand and watch them transform into a delightful taste of a perfect cookie in every bite.

These are also great travelers and pack well.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
1/2 cup unsalted butter-softened
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

2 tablespoons of milk

Filling:
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter

Mix both together till smooth and make 28 small round balls and place on a cookie sheet refrigerate till ready to use.
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, blend flour, cocoa, and baking soda.
Add white sugar, brown sugar, butter and 1/4 cup peanut butter, beat in mixer with a flat beater attachment until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beat until blended. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Set aside.

Roll dough into 28 round pieces, using about a tablespoon of dough. Flatten each piece in the palm of your hand, add a small peanut butter ball to the center, pull dough around the ball and when covered in chocolate roll into a ball. Flatten with the back of a glass or palm of your hand. Keep washing your hands if they become sticky. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees until set around  6 to8 minutes do not overbake, or the cookie will be dry . Cool completely, dust with confectionery sugar. I didn't use alot in the picture so you can see the cookie but I like these cookies dipped in the confectionery sugar twice!  Once while warm once cooled just a tip  ....
Printable Recipe

26

Peanut Butter Cups

These are super easy-to-make peanut butter candy cups with just a few ingredients that can just be the start of the perfect gift during the holidays for those hard-to-buy folks.

Peanut butter cups are a favorite here, however, this easy recipe is versatile and there are several kinds of candy cups you can transform with a basic recipe guide.

We have filled them, left them solid topped with nuts, coconut, or dried fruits and we also have placed the melted chocolate into fancy molds for special events.

These are not only great for parties, fundraisers, weddings, and showers but mainly they're fantastic to eat and the skies the limits of possibilities.

We love experimenting with using these mini muffin tins and liners which makes the whole candy-making process a breeze.

If you have a peanut butter cup lover, this is the easiest way to make them not to mention economical.

Scroll through all our tips, substitutions, and filling ideas, these are fun to make and everyone will rave about them!

12

Candy Bar Dream Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ever wonder what to do with all that leftover Halloween candy? Well, this cake is a great way to use up assorted candy bars.

I usually make this cake right after we get stuck with a bunch of the candy after the holiday and use whatever I can on top.

The cake is layered with instant pudding, cream cheese filling, and a whipped cream topping in between and is very yummy.

All of those creamy layers with a favorite baked cake is just a decadent dessert for any party your hosting and of course, the kids love it.

Although we add Bailey's Irish creme to a layer for the flavor to make this kid-friendly just use a flavored extract or butterscotch, rum, or another flavor you prefer.

The recipe is super easy to make and you'll be asked to make it again, especially for a birthday party for that special someone who loves candy!

16

Fish, Chicken or Veal Francese Recipe

Every Christmas Eve it's a tradition to make 7 kinds of fish and we usually have more varieties than that.

Since some folks have food allergies and can't eat fish mom would substitute eggplant on Christmas Eve since it was a tradition not to eat meat.

Otherwise, the oil will taste like fish and so will the Chicken. We were not disappointed with the fish, it was wonderful.

Every year we made the Francese sauce and you can actually use this for Chicken, Veals, Pork or even Venison during any weeknight meal, it's a delicious combination of lemon and wine.

Using all fresh ingredients including fish makes a gourmet delight and the recipe is really super simple with some other suggestions and a few additions, you can make an authentic dish from different Regions of Italy on your plates.

If you love lemon, white wine, and egg-coated meat, this will be your new favorite meal for any occasion.

17

Christmas Befana Cookies

La Befana was approached by the three Wise Men (Magi), Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, who asked her how to get to the road to Bethlehem and they asked her to join them on their journey to bring gifts to the Christ child.

First, she refused to say she was too busy however later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had passed away.

She relentlessly looked for Baby Jesus but got lost and never found the manger, this is just one story of the many legends that's been written.

The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 as a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana is a big part of Italian Christmas celebrations.

The old woman who visits children in Italy on the eve of January 5th and on January 6th the Epiphany is celebrated similarly to the story of Santa Claus.

The woman enters children's homes through the chimney to deliver the gifts and through her visions and the loss of her child, he brings those gifts into her child's memory and feels like she became the mother of every child in Italy.

Every Epiphany Eve, the old witch is covered in black soot, from the chimney, has tattered clothes, and flies around the world on a broomstick, then comes down chimneys to deliver candy and presents to children that have been good all year.

To those who were naughty, she left coal so we have included both cookie recipes we make for this traditional legend to celebrate and recognize La Befana on this traditional day.

14

Ricotta Nutella Frangelico Cheesecake

This is a delicious rich cheesecake with a cookie crust. The filling is made with a Ricotta Nutella and Frangelico. A truly decadent and off the charts tasting Italian Cheesecake that's amazing!


The cheesecake reminds me a little something like an Easter Italian Cassata but with Nutella and then with a shot of Frangelico, if you're a lover of these flavors like me, this will be your new found love of desserts to make at Christmas time.


I make this every year and usually freeze them for gift giving. Take a stroll to see the recipe at the end on how to make this easy delicious Italian cheesecake with Nutella!

36

Decadent Hazelnut Nutella Truffles

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounces) can sweeten condensed milk
1 1/4 cups Nutella
1 teaspoon hazelnut-flavored liqueur or 1 teaspoon vanilla
60 whole hazelnuts (approx)
1 -2 cup chopped hazelnuts
dipping chocolate

 Melt chocolate chips with milk and Nutella.  Remove from heat and stir in liqueur or vanilla. Chill in the fridge till firm. Shape into 1 inch balls around a whole hazelnut, then roll in chopped hazelnut.  Dip in melted chocolate if desired and store in an airtight container in a cool place.

22

Shrimp Parmesan

This dish is called Shrimp Parmesan an easy fried shrimp that's then baked with marinara and topped with mozzarella served on a bed of your favorite pasta.

The steps are very simple and this dish is perfect for hosting a dinner party, especially for all those who love seafood.

Our Italian American dish is a terrific alternative on Christmas Eve as part of the Feast of 7 Fishes here in Florida where we had it for the first time in Key West.

Parmesan is a wonderful cheese, we use Parmesan Reggiano grated with this dish which makes it a star ingredient.

This recipe is so easy and comes together with just a few ingredients in less than 30 minutes!

18

Christmas Jello Cake

Christmas Jello Cake is a blast from the past fun cake treat from the 1960s and perfect when changing out the colors to match any holiday

We've adapted our cake colors for Easter, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, and Patriotic colors to match our party's theme and for adult parties, we've even added little spirits to the water for an adult jello shot-style cake!

This is the best cake all summer long just changing up the colors to match your party theme of maybe you're celebrating Christmas in July it's a freshing pretty festive dessert!

The cake stays moist with the jello injection of colorful flavor and is so pretty that it is certainly a showstopper for any party you host or holiday gathering.

21

Italian Hot or Cold Caramel Macchiato Coffee Recipes



Italian Caramel Macchiato Coffee
This recipe is a great combination of freshly brewed espresso with foamed milk and caramel syrup. Caramel macchiato is basically  a coffee drink that is quite similar to latte, but it contains caramel syrup and sometimes it may also contain vanilla syrup or vanilla extract. There are various methods to prepare a caramel macchiato recipe. Some prefer to drink it hot while some love drinking iced caramel macchiato. So, do you want to learn making caramel macchiato?

I had to experiment with my new toy my  new espresso machine! Unfortunately it broke the first month and had to buy another one. Then that broke so I got a much better one!
 This happens to be my favorite coffee whenever we go out... here is my simple recipe!


Italian Hot or Cold Caramel Macchiato Coffee 

Vanilla Syrup (you can purchase in a local supermarket or fine coffee shop)
1/2 cup fresh espresso
8 ounces milk, steamed with foam
3 to 4 tablespoons caramel sauce I use ice cream topping or make my own click here
Whipped cream
More drizzle for the top of the whipped cream of caramel

Recipe

 To make your coffee drink, add two tablespoon of vanilla syrup to a 16-ounce glass. Add 1/2 cup fresh brewed espresso followed by 8 ounces of steamed milk ( if you don't have an expresso machine you will have to heat the milk.
 Add 3 to 4 tablespoons caramel sauce to the drink. Stir before drinking.  Top with whipped cream and drizzle caramel on top.

Do you like chilled better?
Espresso - ½ cup

Cold milk - 8 ounces
Caramel sauce - 4 tablespoons
Vanilla syrup

If you love  chilled  or iced coffee drinks and caramel macchiato, then here is an iced caramel macchiato recipe for you. First brew half cup of espresso. In a 16 ounces glass and add 2 tablespoon of vanilla syrup to it. Then fill 3/5th of the glass with cold milk. Add in ice cubes and stir the liquid. Gently pour the cooled espresso over the ice cubes and see that the espresso gets mixed with only half of the milk down the glass. Then top the liquid with whipped cream and drizzle caramel sauce over it.

21

Zucchini Raspberry Lemon Loaf

A festive Zucchini Raspberry Lemon Loaf everyone will love this holiday season with the addition of red raspberries that makes this so special and just the right colors for Christmas homemade baked gift giving.

Disposable loaf pans are perfect for giveaways, tree pans can be found at any local dollar stores great to bring for holiday parties or you can use regular-size loaf pans if you can keep the family from devouring these yummy loaves.

This is a very old recipe from back in the '80s. I actually won a ribbon at a fair in Upstate NY one year.

We also make a Zucchini Cranberry Chocolate Chip loaf you may also like so we included the recipe below in the recipe card to print it off.

I entered a quick bread baking contest and won the first prize making them in mini loaf muffin tins.

The lemony glaze really enhances the zucchini with fresh raspberries in this soft delicious loaf!

Plus the easiest Holiday cake/bread you'll ever make, so hold on to this recipe it's so darn pretty to serve and even perfect for serving during an elegant dinner party you may be hosting with some raspberry ice cream or sherbert.

If you're not a fan of red raspberries, maraschino cherries or diced strawberries can be substituted so just pick the one you prefer to make the recipe, with another choice!

I have made so many and given these as gifts over the years starting in September making and freezing them after thawed just place in pretty tins, or wrapping them in clear plastic wrap with a nice bow added to a basket with other homemade mason jar goodies.

Scroll down to our printable recipe card for all the recipes, and remember you can substitute any red colored fruits you prefer even dried!

17

Italian Amaretto Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake

This Italian Amaretto Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake is a slice of chocolate lovers' dream cheesecake.


The recipe is super simple and the filling is bursting with smooth silky chocolate flavors.


The crust can be made with chocolate or vanilla cookie crumbs and the filling is a rich and decadently smooth creamy mixture of ricotta, cream cheese, and sour cream.


After baking this scrumptious chocolate cheesecake, you can serve it plain, with raspberries, topped with a chocolate Amaretto ganache (recipe included), or just a dollop of freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings.


I love all kinds of cheesecake, but the addition of almond flavoring really enhances the chocolate to a fabulous Italian-style gourmet flavor.


A simple elegant dessert fit for a King to serve at any function or dinner party with more than one wow given will be heard.


If you love cheesecake try our favorite summertime cheesecake Margarita Lime Cheesecake, it's so refreshing!


Just scroll down to the recipe card and print off this recipe.

24

Lemon and Garlic Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin

This Marinade for Lemon and Garlic Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin comes out juicy no matter how you cook it either in the slow cooker, oven, or even grilled this is a wonderfully flavored pork tenderloin!

If you're like me, then you want something easy and fork-tender, I can't eat meat that's stringy, and chewy and sit there all day chewing! This is perfectly tender every time.

Seriously if I have to fight with my meat, then it's not worth my time and I just move on to the side dishes on the table.

The citrusy taste compliments the pork and you can make any vegetable side dish you prefer, we love our roasted Parmesan Roasted Potatoes and when cooking them in the oven together it makes the meal so easy to get done.

This pork tenderloin so melts in your mouth tender, it's foolproof, easy, and perfect every time.

Don't give it a second thought on looking for another recipe this will be the one everyone raves about and the flavors are spot-on delicious just scroll through all our tips to the recipe printable card below!

10

Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Milk

This Sweet Potato Soup is very flavorful and easy to make, healthy, and absolutely delicious, if you're a sweet potato fan this silky smooth soup is the perfect starter appetizer for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Our family seems to enjoy this when the cooler weather hits, we also make a favorite Seafood Chowder, Mom's Classic Italian Stew, and this Sweet Potato Soup is a regular on our food meal prep calendar.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup is major comfort food and you'll soon be a huge fan just like we are!

11

Julia Child Creamed Brussels Sprouts Adapted

This version of Jula Child's brussels sprouts in cream sauce is a quick and easy side dish we just love.

The chopped Brussels is quickly sauteed in a buttered pan and then simmered in butter with basil, parsley, and garlic flavors.

We have just added a bit of freshness with an herb-flavored sauce that compliments these Brussels perfectly.

If you love Julia's recipe you may also like to view Julia's Steak Diane and Julia's Beef Bourguignon Recipe.

We also included for those not creamed vegetable lovers Julia Child's Braised in Butter Brussels Sprout recipe in our recipe card. Those are boiled and then baked in butter and are also a family favorite!

Scroll down to print our adapted version of creamy brussels sprouts at the bottom of this post.

5

Fresh Cranberry Orange Breakfast Scones

Here's a great way to start your Holiday morning with these delicious breakfast Fresh Cranberry Orange Breakfast Scones.


Orange with a hint of cinnamon will be a lingering smell of fall and comforting scents.


I love making quick bread in the fall, but these scones are light fluffy and so festive looking for the holiday.


Especially at Thanksgiving, or Christmas, the color of these and the fresh taste of orange is the perfect way to start that busy day!


Scroll down and check out our step-by-step photos you don't have to be a professional baker to make these easy buttery scones.

17

Nutella Chocolate Mousse Tart

This Nutella Chocolate Mousse Tart is one of those desserts that everyone looks forward to with its smooth chocolate filling and chocolate crust topped with a high pile of meringue.


It has the best of all flavors with a little crunch in the crust with the addition of hazelnuts and a light thick chocolate hazelnut filling.


This tart is perfect for entertaining guests especially when you want a deliciously elegant dessert to serve


For adult entertainment, we also like to have a bottle of Frangelico out for an after-dinner liqueur which is a hazelnut delightful after-dinner drink.


If you're a Nutella lover, this filled tart will be the most delicious dessert you've ever had the pleasure of eating and will wow everyone who takes that first bite.


Although this takes a little time, it's so worth it, just scroll down to the step-by-step recipe card for this out-of-this-world decadent dessert tart.

29

Nutella Ganache Milano Cookie Knockoffs

Delicious buttery and filled with decadent fudge. These Nutella Ganache Milano Cookie Knockoffs of one of the best cookies you will ever make homemade!

29

Grandma's Italian Honey P's and Q's

This is an Italian Christmas traditional dessert from Calabria that my Mom and Grandmother made every year.

Very popular in the area of Cosenza.

A little time-consuming pastry strip filled with walnuts, raisins, orange zest, and warm spices and drizzled with delicious warm honey then sprinkled with tiny colorful candy balls.

Although we called them P's and Q's these are also referred to or called rosette, or little roses.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and hit print for this recipe step by step.

Potato and Tuna Fried Cakes

3 russet potatoes or if your in a hurry use instant potatoes follow instructions
2 tbsp oil
1 can tuna water packed drained
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 to 2 cups bread crumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
Oil for deep-frying canola, olive oil, butter
salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes in a pot of  boiling water. When they become soft, peel off skin and mash them add a tablespoon of butter, salt, pepper to taste.

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a pan. Fry garlic until lightly browned. In the same bowl as the potatoes, add tuna, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, cayenne pepper and  stir until well blended. 

Roll the tuna mixture into mounds or patties. Coat each pattie with breadcrumbs, dip into beaten egg and roll again in breadcrumbs again.

Heat oil for frying. ( Or for a healthier version, place on parchment paper and bake on 375  degree oven, till brown)   Pan fry tuna cakes  ( I like to add a tablespoon of butter in the olive oil) till golden brown on each side. Lower heat if they brown too soon. Drain cakes on paper towels and serve hot with tarter, tomato sauce, or sour cream and dill.
Printable Recipe

22

Peppers Peppers and More Peppers

Our grandparents and my mom and dad loved peppers in all kinds of ways, fried, baked, roasted, grilled and they were used in just about every meal one way or another.

Roasted Peppers were a staple in our home growing up and often Grandma-made on a gas stove and burnt under a broiler until soft and tender.

Just peel the skins, add olive oil and fresh garlic clove, a little salt to taste, hard crusty Italian Bread.

It was a labor of love and a delicious economical meal to feed a large family.

20

Seupa a la Vapelenentse

This is a hearty rustic soup from the Valle d'Aosta and made with strips of curly cabbage, beef broth stale bread and Fontina cheese.

The history of this soup was from one of the smallest Italian villages, Valpelline, not far from Aosta, nestled in the mountains of the Pennine Alps, and the dish was considered peasant food.

When I read the ingredients I felt it was very similar to the French version of an onion soup, however, this was much simpler and basic, thankfully, and still fantastic in flavor.

The original recipe calls for stale white bread, we prefer rye or pumpernickel and have adapted it slightly for more flavor.

Although the soup has just a few ingredients and is quickly made, it's still one of the most popular and is even served at festivals during the month of July with this traditional dish, along with music and dancing in the Aosta Valley.

During the winter months, I truly enjoy this bowl of cheesy delicious soup and serve this with hard-crusted Italian bread made Tuscan style.

Certainly, over the years this vintage recipe has evolved with many changes, this is a basic recipe we still love just as simple as it was made many years ago.

Below the bottom, you will find a printable copy to make in your own kitchen.

13

Mini Baked Apple Donuts

31

Grandma's leftover Ham and Bacon Lentil Soup

 Grandma's Ham and Bacon Lentil Soup

1 (6-ounce) package baby spinach (remove the stems if desired)
½  cup chopped celery
½  cup carrots, roughly diced
 2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fennel chopped
2 tablespoons fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley, chopped
1 cup cooked ham, diced
6 or 7 strips of cooked bacon chopped into pieces
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Garlic salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 to 4 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought
1 (16-ounce) package dried brown lentils (2 cups)
Grated Locatelli Romano cheese for garnish

Place spinach, parsley, ham, bacon, tomato paste and seasonings in a 3-quart saucepan or soup kettle. In a food processor pulse celery, carrots, garlic, onion till fine, add to pan. Add olive oil and cook for a few minutes to soften vegetables.

Add 2 to 4 cups of chicken broth and enough water to total 5 cups of liquid to the pot. Add the lentils.

Bring to a boil; lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes uncovered. Watch and add more liquid if the lentils seem dry or the soup is too thick; you may need another 1 to 2 cups.

Partly cover the pot and simmer another 20 to 25 minutes.

This can be very thick, almost a stew, or, with the addition of more broth or water, a thinner soup. Serve in bowls topped with grated cheese. Serve with warm Italian Crusty Bread...
Printable Recipe

8

Molasses Cookie Bars

These simple Iced Molasses Spice Bars are the perfect bar to kick off fall and are great for any holiday dessert table.

If you're looking for an easy way to get that cinnamon spice aroma in your home while baking these are going to do the trick.

Get creative and change it up and decorate them with green and red cherries for the holiday, sprinkles.

If you would like a copy of this recipe to make just scroll to the very end of this post and hit print.

These are delicious molasses spice bars iced with a creamy topping. Perfect for fall and holiday-themed cookie trays!

21

Halloween Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Balls

A cheese spread shaped into Pumpkin heads for a Halloween party appetizer.

This pumpkin-shaped cheese ball is so easy and fun to make besides being delicious and easy to spread on crackers, toasted bread, and vegetables.

The cheese call looks so festive for a Halloween party and makes a great centerpiece on your party table.

It's always a big hit at any party and of course, you can decorate them for Thanksgiving without the faces and just leave them plain.

Serve with toast points, garlic bread, cucumber slices, and just about any cracker or vegetable assortment.

Everyone always gets a big kick out of making them look like a couple so get creative to make two festive cheese balls.

15

Amaretto Baked Cod Filets with Mushrooms

Amaretto Baked Cod Filets with Mushrooms has a nutty toasted almond with a splash of liquor baked in this gourmet tasting easy dish.


This cod is dressed with a breadcrumb garlic and mushrooms style topping!


If you're looking for a baked cod recipe that's easy a little sweet and crunchy this easy almond topped cod is delightful.


Seafood can be any hardy white fish you prefer and the milder tasting fish pairs well with the sweetness of the Amaretto drizzled on top!


If you loved baked cod we have a few more mouth-watering recipes like Baked Haddock with Scallop,s and Lemon, Baked Cod with Roasted Vegetables, and our Christmas Eve 7 Fish Favorites.


Scroll down to get this printable recipe!

23

Braised Beef in Brunello di Montalcino

The wine for this beef recipe is Brunello di Montalcino (made from Sangiovese grapes) grown in the commune of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, Tuscany.

Perfect pairings with Brunello di Montalcino can be stewed and braised game dishes, with wild boar, guinea fowl, or duck, but also roast veal and pork.

When speaking of when to drink a Brunello di Montalcino, it is worth mentioning richly seasoned first courses such as Tortellini with wild boar ragout or Pappardelle Toscane.

But Brunello di Montalcino, especially if more mature, is also excellent with very mature pungent flavored cheeses.
This wine is the perfect complement to this braised beef dish and is easy to make.

Certainly looking at the ingredients you will know right away that Tuscan cooks love simplicity as you will find less is more here.

As for traditional cuisine, wild boar and polenta Scottiglia (stew) or risotto with pigeon sauce are iconic pairings.

Scroll down to the end for this printable recipe.

18

Fresh Roasted Pumpkin

Roasted fresh pumpkin can be made into desserts, frozen for all year-round recipes, side dishes, and soups with our easy-to-prepare puree, and used in any recipe that calls for fresh pumpkin.

This is the easiest way to cook that leftover Halloween pumpkin or sugar pie pumpkin or large Farm raised to use in all your favorite pumpkin recipes.

We even make the most delicious baked custards, pumpkin turnovers and so much more using our step-by-step fresh pumpkin puree.

The pumpkin puree also freezes well in freezer bags to use all year long and not just in the fall season.

There are two kinds we use, sugar pumpkins are not to be confused with the ones used to carve jack-o'-lanterns.

Also, these smaller versions of pumpkins or sweet pumpkins aka sugar pie pumpkins are smaller, sweeter, and less fibrous, which makes them a great choice for baking, soups, and cooking not to mention easier to handle when cutting.

However the downside of the smaller sugar pies is the cost, they are much more expensive in comparison, so the bottom line is either one can be used, the large farm pumpkin aka Jack or Latern style is not as sweet and have much more hairy stringy insides!

The pumpkin puree also freezes well in freezer bags to use all year long and not just in the fall season.

Just scroll down to the bottom for our printable recipe card, tips, and instructions on how to easily make your own pumpkin roasted, puree, and recipes.

8

Halloween Recipes, Treats for A Perfect Spooky Party New and Old Idea's!

Check out these fun Blog Posts on Creating a Festive and Scary Halloween Party just follow the link below for some great Halloween Recipe Ideas.

Halloween Fun Recipes From 2009

Best Recipes for Halloween Roundup

Older Photo's of Great Party Foods

For more Halloween Recipe Ideas for Your Next Party:

Meatloaf Ghoul
Doll Cake as a Witch
Popcorn Pumpkins
Gravestones
Witches Hats
Witch Pistachio Fingers
English Muffin Pizza

Check out My Spooky Recipe Video

24

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte seems to be the craze this year!

I can only tell you one cup isn't ever enough.

With prices so high, you can make it home in a slow cooker in a few hours and leftovers are great reheated!

I have made a pot for so many families get together and parties along with taking it to work and letting the associate have a nice hot cup of this delicious brew all day.

There is nothing better to warm you up than pumpkin latte, it's a sure proof way to take the chill out with comforting flavors of fall.

I have tried so many coffee shops absolutely love the fresh taste in this recipe, nothing comes close to the rich homemade real pumpkin spice flavors in this brew.

Some use artificial flavoring and it totally ruins the authentic flavor.

You may also like to try my Homemade Amaretto that tastes great in a cup of any style coffee.

One taste of the real deal here and this will be your new favorite fall coffee for sure!

25

Chicken Wings and Dipping Sauces

Here are 18 incredible dipping sauce recipes, (including a homemade ketchup) that go great on anything from French Fries to Chicken Tenders and great dippers for any BBQ'd grilled meats and more!

These dipping sauces range from sweet to spicy and so much more!

If you love dipping sauces on the side, you just hit the jackpot of recipes below.

All the dipping sauce recipes are super easy to make and there are flavors below to satisfy the whole family of dippers.

We also have coordinating dipping sauces for wings, that are baked, fried, air-fried, or grilled, so there is a sauce that will be perfect for everyone in the family.

These are perfect for entertaining and hosting a dinner party, with so many flavors to impress your friends and family.
Learn how to cut your own chicken wings, (which is so economical when you make over 50 at a time) to baked wings, Italian 4 flavored wings, and wing stew, and surely you wouldn't want to miss my beer-baked chicken wings!

We have made 24 flavored wings and have a great assortment!

So try any of the 18 easy dippers below just by hitting print the ads will disappear below!

76

Mini Fresh Pumpkin Turnover Recipe

These mini pumpkin turnovers are a delightful treat, great with coffee, tea, and a nice surprise in anyone's lunch box!

We just love these all made from scratch-style pumpkin hand pies.

I know when you think of pumpkin, you think of fall immediately in desserts, especially pie.

Well, for pumpkin lovers sometimes a whole pie is way too big for a small family so these mini hand pies are the answer.

As a child, we grew pumpkins and froze the puree so we could have these any time of the year, but it just seemed to taste better made during the fall season with that cinnamon spice and pumpkin filling smell throughout the house while baking!

If you're not so fortunate to grow them, buy them at the end of the season, they are inexpensive and check out my instructions for cooking them in a slow cooker, that method made this whole custard filling an easy experience.

Oh, don't throw out those seeds in your fresh pumpkins, use our recipe for pumpkin seeds roasted, for a great snack!

For our pumpkin puree using sugar pie pumpkins try this small pumpkin recipe in your slow cooker for the freshest pulp for the best desserts year-round!

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Chicken Skewer Appetizer with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced in chunks or strips or pork tenderloin cut into chunks is awesome with this sauce too!
1 teaspoon  olive oil or sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes for some heat
salt and pepper
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar
canola oil for frying
Toss chicken in sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Thread skewers with chicken strips or chunks.
Make dipping sauce.
Whisk in a small bowl, peanut butter, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes add 2 or 3 tablespoons of water.
Heat your grill or  grilling pan on high. Cook chicken until cooked through completely. Serve with dipping sauce.

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Chocolate Nutella Banana Crepes with Kahlua Fudge Sauce



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