When the word “vegetarian” pops up in the context of someone coming to dinner, it can sometimes make this Southern girl’s heart skip a beat.

“Whatever will I cook?” I think to myself.

Add that to Thanksgiving dinner, and the heart goes pitter-patter for more than a beat. I mean, I’m the person who puts giblets in the dressing and cooks brussels sprouts with bacon fat. Mashed potatoes are one of the few things meat isn’t added to.

Then I stop, and I realize there are so many meals that I make without the addition of animal fat. I cook with copious amounts of olive oil these days, instead of butter. Hell-o, I even make gravies that don’t start with meat, so making a Thanksgiving dinner that works for both the omnivores and herbivores in my life should be a breeze. But I don’t want it to just work, I want it to be an extra-special meal for everyone coming to dinner. (more…)

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Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian by Courtney

While every year I struggle with which favorites to serve and what new things to try, this cranberry sauce has been a staple since I started making it a few years ago. Last year I was tempted to shift to a Pinot Noir-laced cranberry sauce, but at the last minute I decided not to stray from a good thing.

Those last two words should give you a hint of where I found this recipe — in one of my many Martha Stewart magazines. One of my guilty pleasures around this time of year is pulling out all of my November and December issues from years past and combing through recipes, seeing what I’ve missed or what I haven’t made and trying to decide whether it will go with this year’s theme.

But back to the cranberry sauce. This recipe creates 2 versions – one spicy, pepper-jelly-and-herb version, and a sweet-tart orange version. (more…)

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Dairy free, Gluten free, Side Dish, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian by Courtney

I stumbled upon this recipe one day when setting up a champagne cocktail bar. I knew I wanted to include one of my favorites, the French 75. I had some fresh raspberries, so I decided to do a simple Chambord and Champagne. To create a “bar”, though, I felt I needed three drinks. So off to the internet I went.

A quick search returned the classic champagne cocktail. It was easy enough. Just a few ingredients, sugar cube, bitters, brandy (and of course, champagne). But how would it taste? (more…)

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Dairy free, Drink Time, Gluten free, Vegetarian by Courtney

This weekend I decided to take the time to create plenty of homemade goodies to enjoy during the work week. One of the things my husband has been wanting since getting the espresso maker is “tiny cookies” to go with his morning cappuccino. So this weekend I decided to make one old favorite and something new as well.

The old favorite is an amaretti cookie. I discovered these in the A16 cookbook. It’s one of the desserts that looked fairly simple, so I tried it, and while my first batch had issues, I finally figured out the trick to getting the perfect amaretti cookies every time (so the recipe below is updated accordingly). (more…)

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Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy free, Dessert, Gluten free, Italian, Vegetarian by Courtney

Earlier this week I suggested the perfect drink to go with the Grilled Chicken Wings was a Manhattan. It’s not often that I suggest a cocktail pair with food, as I generally prefer my cocktails to be a before- or after-dinner drink. However, the first time I made the chicken wings, I happened to be drinking a Manhattan, and this yummy pairing was born.

Brown drinks aren’t my typical summer sippers, but when I made a batch of brandied cherries a while back, I started searching for cocktails to use them in. I didn’t have to look far, because once I had this drink, I was hooked. My cherries disappeared in no time. (more…)

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Dairy free, Drink Time, Vegetarian by Courtney