Thanksgiving in my family is a big deal. Usually anywhere from 35-50 people, mostly related (my mom is one of nine… two generations later and there are a lot of cousins to go around), gathered together in one home. Several turkeys, Pop’s special stuffing, potatoes, veggies, tons of pies, you get the idea. I’d like…
Category: From Scratch Holidays
{from scratch holidays} Sweet Potato & Kale Casserole
I don’t think I’d ever made a casserole before. I wasn’t even sure I had a casserole dish. My venture in to this new territory was made even more exciting for me because I didn’t strictly follow a recipe. I found a Martha Stewart recipe that resembled something I imagined was both healthy and tasty…
{from scratch holidays} Maple, Citrus & Ginger Cranberry Preserves
Who doesn’t love a good tart cranberry sauce? I do I do! I do love me some cranberry goodness, as I make it all fall & winter long. On meaty sandwiches, on toast, in coconut milk yogurt, baked into my granola, on oatmeal, in my cereal or a dollup on an argula salad. I love…
{edible gifts} Backyard Medicinal Tea
{Red Clover, Thyme, Sage & White Clover} Happy Holidays! I’m going to tell you about a homemade from-scratch holiday gift you can give to someone you love. As with all things I make, it’s easy and low cost. This post however, is a little different from any I’ve done, because it’s going to come with…
{from scratch holidays} old montreal fondue
Have you thrown a fondue party yet? No? What are you waiting for? Take the plunge this Thanksgiving by trying out a fondue appetizer while the turkey is in the oven. It’s a great excuse to keep your family and friends lingering around the table, lazily dipping crudite and hunks of warm bread into a…
{from scratch holidays} Cheesy Pumpkin Thyme Crackers
Who doesn’t love crackers? Easy to buy from a store, but boring when you do. Here’s a great way to Do It Yourself when you’re prepping for holiday festivities. You can go the predictable cracker route, but I wanted to try something a little different. I found a couple recipes for crackers, but they mostly…
cold & flu season w/ fire cider
I was introduced to Fire Cider (produced by a local place, Shire City Herbals in Pittsfield, MA), a few weeks ago when a friend offered me a few precious shots of his stash after hearing me complain about inflamed lymph nodes in my throat, and the worry of a prolonged oncoming illness. Made with apple…
{from scratch holidays} A Family Cook Book
I am not a handy person. When I tried knitting, the scarf was lumpy and grubby. I bend nails. I am too impatient to do embroidery or calligraphy and inevitably cut the sleeves out of the material for the skirt if I try to sew. So when it comes to home-made gifts, I have three…
{edible gift} Deliciously Easy Toffee Cookies
Holiday time is here! It’s time to start thinking of the edible gifts, cookie swaps, and desserts for parties. In the mood for an easy cookie recipe that will garner rave reviews every time? Look no further than this toffee cookie recipe! It’s so easy that anyone can make it. Even experienced bakers who take pride…
{from scratch holidays} scrub-a-dub-dub
Recently I made two types of body scrubs for FSC’s Saratoga Food Swap*. If you want to save money by cutting out luxury items without losing the luxury, this is an easy and cheap way to pamper yourself. Spend a tiny bit extra for some fab packaging and you have yourself a really delightful, super…
{edible gift} homemade chai concentrate
As an avid chai drinker, I was ecstatic to stumble upon the realization that I could make my own creamy, spicy chai concentrate! This recipe is a cinch to make- just add the ingredients to a jar and stir- and is a perfect from-scratch holiday gift. You can make several batches at once and bottle…
{reflections of a daughter} DIY Coffee Roasting
There is really nothing like the smell of freshly roasted coffee. Unless of course you were like me when I was introduced to coffee roasting, seven and a half months pregnant. It was Christmas of 2004, I was in my third trimester of pregnancy, and my mother decided that for my dad’s Christmas gift that…
Thanksgiving Gratitude, an Update.
Note: This is my follow-up post to my plea for recipe help in our ongoing series, {Desperately Seeking} Reader Advice. -Christina Last week I asked for help with two issues based on the fact that my husband & I lost our Thanksgiving turkey because an illness had infected the flock at a local farm. I…
{thanksgiving} Our Last Thoughts…tips & tricks
Our last thoughts for the biggest foodie day of the season… Alexis: “Do like me and get someone else to cook you a rockin’ Thanksgiving dinner. If you are the chef, be sure to drink wine while you are preparing the meal, or, preferably, while waiting for someone else to make it. My general advice…
We are thankful for…
Sarah authored a beautiful ” What I’m Thankful For” post on her personal running blog, Chasing Down a Dream, a few days ago and I was inspired. She discussed family, food, her From Scratch friends and her dog and running partner, Georgia. Please read the post, its inspiring what she’s been able to accomplish in…
