Chicken Cornbread Casserole

I've so been enjoying this week guys, I've got to tell you.  I worked my rear end off filling box after box (after box after box after box...) with popcorn orders over the past couple of weeks leading up to Christmas.

Have I mentioned just how grateful I am for each and every one of your orders, by the way?

You guys are absolutely too kind.

THANK YOU.

 Anyway, I've been one busy girl.

I stay fairly occupied with popcorn orders most of the year, but these weeks leading up to Christmas always go a little nuts with orders for gifts and parties.  A few days ago I reached that point where there was very little chance that all but the most super-expensive-expedited shipping options would arrive before Christmas and I put the shop on vacation.  I hauled the last of the boxes off to ship and my daughter actually cheered.

I'm 100% my kids' for the rest of their Christmas break and it feels absolutely fabulous!

This never happens guys.  I'm so excited.

We've made spritz cookies and toffee.  We've hung festive paper chains.  We've wrapped presents.

Super Easy Sugar Coated Pecans

MAKE ME STOP EATING THESE!!!

Ohmygoodness.

I did not expect these to be this good!

I am blessed to have a fairly steady source of pecans and I generally have some hanging out in the freezer.  Thank goodness, because I LOVE them.

I sub them for walnuts whenever possible.  I add them to salads.  I make cookies.

And now I've made these: Sugar Coated Pecans.

I'm not sure I can think of a better holiday treat or small gift.

They're addictive!

Spectacularly Simple Red Beans and Rice

Every once in a while you come across one of those spectacularly easy recipes that everyone loves.

  

This is one of those recipes, guys.  You're going to want to print it out or write it down or bookmark it or pin it or whatever you do when you find one of those keeper recipes.

I really don't think this is a traditional red beans and rice recipe since it doesn't have andouille in it- but I'd be lying if I said I was some kind of expert on red beans and rice!  My experience in Louisiana is pretty much limited to a couple of drives through the state on road trips and New Orleans.

I'm not exactly a connoisseur of cajun food.  I am however a bit of a lover of good food, and I can say with every degree of certainty that this is indeed very good food.

Taking On Tamales

My sister-in-law and I have been talking about making tamales for for-ev-er. 

It's been a thing.  We keep saying that when we get together we're going to make them because we've both always wanted to try our hand at them.  And we both like to eat.  And we both like to have fun in the kitchen.

And we were both slightly intimidated by the idea of making them on our own.

And since she's a teacher if she's reading this she might be thinking to herself that I started a bunch of sentences with conjunctions right there.

Anyway.

So we had family coming in for Thanksgiving again this year and we decided that the day after Turkey Day would be the perfect time to finally follow through and do this thing.

I found all kinds of interesting tamale varieties to try but my brilliant in-laws pointed out to me we were going to have boatloads of extra turkey on hand that we might as well use.

Another Try At Fudge: My Eggnog Obsession Continues

Every year I get excited when I see the eggnog hit the dairy section of the grocery store.

We've already been over the fact that I haven't quite worked up the courage to drink it on it's own (though it makes an excellent coffee creamer!) but I sure love to cook with it.  That flavor is just amazing!

So far this year I've made Eggnog Custard, eggnog pancakes, and this- eggnog fudge.  It's not even December yet- there's so much more eggnog fun in my future this season!

Now I know that just the other day I was telling you that, generally speaking, I'm not a fan of fudge.

That still remains true.

This time though, my general dislike of fudge was trumped by my love of eggnog flavor and also slightly tempered dislike of the beloved holiday treat on the heels of how wonderfully that White Cranberry Pecan Nutmeg Fudge came out.

So of course I decided to give this Eggnog Fudge a chance.  :-)

Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffing Bites

If you served me a plate full of stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy for Thanksgiving- and nothing else- I would be a happy girl.

Ok, maybe throw in some deviled eggs- we know how much I love those guys- but seriously...that's all I really need.

Sure, turkey is fine, mac and cheese is delicious, rolls are tasty...but those things are just the frosting on the cake of Thanksgiving as far as I'm concerned.

If you're a crazy carb lover like me you're going to love this recipe!

What if I told you that I had a recipe that used all of those things.

Minus the deviled eggs, of course.  That would just be weird.  :-)

So flash forward a week and a few days from today: you've had your fill of Thanksgiving foods but the fridge is still full.  You have leftovers to use up but you can only face so many Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches.  You really need to shake things up a little.

This is where Stuffing Bites come in!

Calling All Custard (and Eggnog) Lovers

You know how memories from when you were little tend to get a little jumbled in your mind?

They're disjointed.

Snapshots of my childhood, little flashes of emotion.

 

In my mind, custard lives right alongside learning how to fold towels.

I have a memory of an evening at the house we lived in before my sister was born.

 It was just my mom and I home.  My dad was most likely at work, I'm not really sure.  I remember that the television was on.  I think there may have been a Christmas tree, that I'm not completely sure of.  It feels cozy in my memory.

I remember standing behind the couch next to my mom as she laid towels over the back of the couch and taught me how to fold them.

Then I remember custard.  A small ramekin of goodness sprinkled with nutmeg.

In reality those memories might have nothing to do with each other, I must have been very, very young at the time.

Yet forevermore, custard and towel folding will always been linked in my mind.

One thing I do know for sure?

I have loved custard since my first bite.