Back when I shared my recipe for deviled eggs, I told you that I was a bit of a purest when it came to making them. Well, I thought I was. By that time, I had tried various kinds of deviled eggs but kept insisting that the classic recipe was the best.  Now I may have to eat my words, if you will, because these Sriracha Deviled Eggs are quickly becoming a favorite. They have the same creamy filling that we’re all accustomed to but spicy sriracha gives them a wonderful kick.

November has been down right nasty here in Seattle. Its been windy. Its been rainy. It is the kind of weather that makes you want to crawl back in bed and not get out until June or maybe even July considering Seattle’s track record. But alas that is not a possibility. Instead, when the weather turns dismal,  I turn to making beef stew. Beef stew with red wine to be exact. Its full of tender beef, veggies, beef broth and red wine. It is a combination that will warm your home as well as your bellies.

I have always had a fondness for cream cheese spreads. They are super easy to make and you can add just about any flavor that you like. Take this recipe for instance. After making my Spinach, Arugula, Cranberry and Walnut Salad, I have discovered a new found love for dried cranberries and the sweetness that they add to dishes. In this recipe, their sweetness pairs nicely with the fresh rosemary and smooth cream cheese. Spread on some crisp crackers and you’ll have an addicting little snack perfect for all of your upcoming holiday festivities.

Whenever you roast chicken, beef or, to keep with the season, turkey, you probably notice the little brown flavor bits and lovely pan juices that accumulate in the bottom of the pan. It might seem a little crazy but did you know that some people actually throw this stuff away? Shocking, I know.  Perhaps they do not know that those little brown bits and lovely juices are the perfect base for some of the best gravy ever.  And it is actually a lot easier to make then some people think.

If I had to make a list of my top 5 sandwiches, a classic BLT would certainly be near the top. The toasted sour dough bread, mayo, juicy tomatoes, crunchy bacon and crisp lettuce nearly always yield a scrumptious sandwich. A sandwich that I thought could not get any better. That is until I tried a BLT with the addition of spicy, succulent Cajun shrimp. Now that my taste buds have experienced this delicious combination, this sandwich just might inch its way past the traditional BLT on my sandwich list.

After yesterday’s heavy but heavenly Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes, I thought I’d lighten things up a bit with this flavorful Thanksgiving salad. It has all kinds of goodies like spinach, peppery arugula, crunchy walnuts, sweet cranberries and tangy goat cheese. Then all of these goodies are tossed in a quick cranberry vinaigrette. It is the perfect way to get your Thanksgiving cranberries in “non-log” form.

I’d like to offer you some facts. Fact 1: Mashed potatoes are glorious wonderful things. Fact 2: Bacon, green onions, sharp cheddar cheese, creamy havarti cheese and gruyere cheese are also wonderful. Fact 3: If you mix creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes with bacon, green onions, sharp cheddar cheese, creamy havarti and gruyere you have one heck of a Thanksgiving side dish. Fact 4: I ate two huge plates of these last night. Fact 5: My jeans are tighter this morning. Fact 6: These mashed potatoes are totally worth it.

Thanksgiving is a mere 2 1/2 weeks away and that could only mean one thing, its Turkey Time! Wonderfully juicy, perfectly roasted turkey. For many people this means a big 10 or even 20 pound bird. However for those that are having a smaller gathering. Or for those, like me, who really prefer the dark meat, these roasted turkey thighs are the perfect option.  The meat is succulent and flavorful, everything I look for in my Thanksgiving turkey.