Top 25 Recipes of 2013

As 2013 comes to a close it's time to roundup the tastiest new recipes on Closet Cooking! 2013 was a tasty year indeed on Closet Cooking and these are the most popular new recipes added during the year. This collection of recipes includes many of my favourites and it is a wide range of recipes from decadent dips to tasty sides, hearty mains and quite a few healthy alternatives! I hope that you enjoyed 2013 and I am looking forward to an even tastier year here at Closet Cooking in 2014!

Happy New Year!

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Shrimp Scampi Dip

Shrimp scampi has to be one of my favourite pasta dishes; not only is it super quick and easy to make but shrimp and pasta in a garlicky white wine, lemon and butter sauce is just so irresistible! When I came across the idea of a shrimp scampi dip on Foodie Crush I knew that I would have to make it and it was perfect for a New Years Eve party appetizer! I am totally addicted to hot melt-y cheese dips so I could not pass up on the idea of taking all of the flavours of shrimp scampi and placing them in a melted cheese dip! This dip starts off by cooking some shrimp in butter along with plenty of garlic followed by the white wine and lemon juice before mixing it all up with plenty of cheese and baking it until it is all melted, bubbling and golden brown. Not only is this dip super easy to make but it will also be the talk of the town at your party, though it will disappear quickly so you might want to make a double batch and hoard some for yourself!

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New Years Eve Party Recipes

I can't believe that it's that time of year again but 2013 is almost over and that means that it is time to start planning your New Years Eve party! Whether you are having a few guests over to celebrate or you are just spending a quite night in you are going to need some tasty snacks to help ring in the new year! With that in mind I have gathered up some of my favourite tasty treats that would be amazing at any New Years Eve party and they include everything from decadent melted cheese dips to grilled meat and even a few healthier options for those that are already dreading their New Years resolutions. Whatever you are doing this New Years Eve these tasty treats are sure to please, so enjoy and have a great New Year!

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Ham and Cheese Egg Casserole

Over the holidays I always like to make some tasty breakfasts and things work out really well if you make a ham for dinner as the leftovers can be used to make this quick and easy ham and cheese egg casserole. I first came across the idea for this egg breakfast casserole on Kalyn's Kitchen about four years ago and I made it right away and I have been making it ever since. With some leftover ham in my fridge and the holidays here it was the perfect time to make it again and update the four year old photos for the recipe!

This breakfast egg casserole is super easy to make and really light to boot. It consists of eggs and cottage cheese at it base and from there you can add pretty much whatever you want. I like to experiment with different flavour combinations but the one that I keep coming back to is the classic ham and cheese combo. You pretty much just need to mix the eggs, cottage cheese and the fillings and bake until golden brown! You can even assemble everything the night before so that you only have to bake it in the morning making it even easier for a busy morning.

I am a big fan of spicy heat so I like to add some pickled jalapenos to my ham and cheese egg casseroles and you can never go wrong topping it off with some salsa and sour cream! What a tasty to start the day!

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Creamed Corn with Roasted Red Peppers and Bacon

I am always on the lookout for tasty new side dish recipes to add to my box so when I came across the idea of creamed corn, think creamed spinach except with corn, on Picky Palate I just had to try it. I mean, you really cannot go wrong taking sweet corn and placing it in a creamy cheese sauce but then to add sweet and smoky roasted red peppers and bacon really takes this side over the edge! This creamed corn is super easy to make and you can even make it a day ahead and then just reheat it making it perfect for reducing the load for a big holiday meal! I am sure that this creamed corn with roasted red peppers and bacon will be a hit with any meal and it will be one of the first dishes to disappear from the table!

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Holiday Recipes

For me the holidays are all about family, friends and good food so I like to have a lot of recipes on hand for everything from breakfasts to snacks and appetizers to the all important dinner main course to the sides and the desserts. Every holiday deserves to start out on the right foot with a special, tasty and hearty breakfast or brunch to get you through the day. Whether you are hosting the holiday or you are a guest you are going to need some tasty treats to get you through the afternoon and of course holiday cookies are on the menu but don't forget to include some savoury appetizers as well! For the the centre piece of your dinner it's always nice to do a roast like prime rib, ham or turkey but you can always go with something a little easier. I always have plenty of fun with the sides for the dinner as there are just so many tasty ways to go! Lets not forget the dessert, just in case someone has room leftover for it! I Hope that some of these recipe ideas will help make your holidays a little more tasty!

If you still don't have your holiday baking finished, don't worry there is still plenty of time. Check out my Holiday Cookie Guide for some new ideas!

If you are looking for some Homemade Holiday Food Gifts, I have some of those as well!

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon in a Mustard Cream Sauce

Although the main course usually gets a lot of focus for special holiday dinners it's also important to have some tasty sides and these roasted brussels sprouts and bacon in a creamy mustard sauce are a great way to go! This brussels sprout side dish is super easy to make where you pretty much just need to roast the brussels sprouts, cook the bacon and make the sauce. You could go with steamed brussels sprouts for this dish but roasting them really helps to bring out their flavour. The sauce is nice and simple and yet it's just packed with flavour! It starts out with some onions and garlic followed by some flour to thicken the sauce, some milk, the grainy mustard and a hit of miso before it is finished off with some parmesan cheese. You really cannot go wrong with this roasted brussels sprout side dish as a side for your special holiday meal!

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Roasted Opal Apple BBQ Sauce and Grilled Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin Medallions

A few months ago I had the opportunity to head out to Washington to visit the Broetje Ordchards and in particular to see their Opal Apple ordchards. Opal apples are a relativley new breed of apple that is a cross between the golden delicious and topaz, it is yellow, crispy and it has a sweet and tangy or tart flavour. Other than being super tasty one nice thing about the opal apple is that it doesn't brown after being sliced so it is great for packing for lunches pre-sliced.

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Mushroom Crusted Prime Rib Roast

Although cookies and treats get a lot of the focus over the holidays you are also going to be hosting some big meals and it is always nice to have something special like a roast turkey or a prime rib. This year I was thinking about prime rib, which is always a good option, and I thought that I would try something new, a mushroom crusted prime rib. Beef and mushrooms are a fabulous flavour combination that creates plenty of umami so you really cannot go wrong crusting mushrooms on your prime rib. This recipe starts by rubbing the roast with a mixture of dijon mustard, white miso paste, garlic and fresh cracked black pepper and then pressing on the crust of chopped dried porcini mushrooms. One of the great things about a prime rib roast is that it's just that easy, you coat it as desired, place it in the oven and roast it until a meat thermometer indicated that is is done, let it rest and then slice it! While the prime rib is roasting you are free to work on side dishes or to chat with family and friends. No matter how you slice it, this mushroom crusted prime rib dinner is sure to be a hit for your special holiday dinner!

Don't forget to us the pan drippings to make some au jus (see below), gravy or yorkshire pudding!

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Bacon Maple Shortbread

Shortbread has to be one of my favourite cookies for the holidays and you can be sure that there will be several different kinds on my holiday cookie platter! Not only is it melt in your mouth buttery delicious but it is also super easy to make! One of my favourite things about shortbread is that it's so easy to add flavours to it and I always have fun dreaming up new flavour combinations. This year I had a new idea for shortbread and it was to add one of my all time favourite foods, bacon! When I was a kid I accidentally discovered that adding maple syrup to the pan when cooking bacon made for a dreamy combination of sweet and savoury and I could not resist using that combo in the bacon shortbread. The recipe for this shortbread is a pretty basic shortbread recipe with the addition of the bacon and swapping out the sugar for maple syrup and of course I needed to add a bit more flour to compensate for the liquid in the syrup. I think that I have found a new favourite shortbread! This maple bacon shortbread is a fabulous combination of sweet and savoury and they simply melt away in your mouth!

Next I am thinking that a chocolate dipped bacon shortbread is in order!

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Homemade Holiday Food Gifts

The holidays are nearly upon us and that means that it is time get cracking and finish up those homemade food gifts! Nothing says I love you like the gift of homemade food products! Top on my list this year has to be the Maple Bourbon Bacon Jam followed by a close second of Vanilla Bourbon Caramel Sauce. Of course homemade jams, chutneys and marmalades are always a great way to go and if you are feeling like something a little different this year, Candied Orange Peels will keep things fresh. You cannot go wrong giving the gift of cookies, especially not with some homemade gourmet shortbread!

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Peppermint Chocolate Coated Pretzels

Next up for my holiday treats is something other than a cookie, peppermint chocolate covered pretzels! The sweet and salty combo can be an amazing one and when it is as easy to do as dipping some salty pretzels in chocolate you just cannot go wrong. Chocolate coated pretzels are as easy to make at home as melting some chocolate and dipping the pretzels into it! Once you have the melted chocolate on the pretzel it is the perfect vehicle to stick something else on like crushed peppermint candy cane making it a perfect treat for the holidays! These peppermint chocolate coated pretzels make a welcome addition to any holiday cookie platter and they are perfect for giving away as gifts!

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Honey Dijon Pretzel Chicken

When the days are busy it's always nice to have some quick, easy and tasty recipes in your box and this honey dijon pretzel chicken is one such recipe! This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and it's hard to beat sweet and tangy honey dijon coated chicken with a crispy and salty pretzel crust! I have been wanting to try this honey dijon pretzel chicken ever since I came across it on pinterest, via cinnamon, spice and everything nice, and I only made a few tweaks to the honey dijon sauce to make it more to my tastes. I added some grainy mustard for the texture and visual affect, cut back on the oil, replaced the vinegar with fresh lemon juice, added garlic and some miso which goes fabulously well with the honey dijon flavour combo. I have to say that this is some tasty chicken and I know that I will be making it again and again, along with the tasty honey dijon sauce! Yum!

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Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup

These days I have been all about soups and it was about time to try a soup that has been on my mind for a while now, a jalapeno popper inspired soup! Jalapeno poppers are jalapenos that are stuffed with cheese and either breaded and deep fried until crispy or wrapped in bacon and grilled and I figured that a soup with a the flavours of these tasty little treats would be simply amazing. With the flavours already set this recipe pretty much writes itself! Everything starts out with the jalapenos, cream cheese, cheddar and of course the bacon which is added to a broth and although this would make for a pretty good soup all by itself I wanted to bulk it out a bit and I decided to do so by adding chicken, white beans and a bit of corn. With this we have almost every aspect of the jalapeno popper covered but we are still missing that crunch of the breaded deep fried popper which I added by serving the soup with tortilla chips, either for crumbling on top or for dipping and scooping!

I just had to make this soup now because we are throwing our friend Bev, from Bev Cooks, a virtual baby shower and I know how much she enjoys spicy food! Congratulations Bev! Check out below for links to all of the other tasty recipes made for Bev's shower!

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Brussels Sprout and Mushroom Hash

Ever since I made the brussels sprout hash with sweet potato and bacon a couple of weeks ago I have been kind of obsessed with it making different versions every couple of days! Out of all of the different versions that I have been experimenting with this brussels sprout and mushroom hash is definitely one of my favourites and not just because of my love for mushrooms! Brussels sprouts and mushrooms are a fabulous combo and they go amazingly well together in a breakfast 'hash' along with a fried eggs with a runny yolks! This hash is really easy to make where you basically saute the mushrooms and cook until they start to caramelize, add the brussels sprouts, cook until they start to caramelize, add the eggs and cook until the desired level of doneness. To avoid dirtying another pan, just make small holes in hash and fry the eggs in them.

What a great way to enjoy your brussels sprouts for breakfast!

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Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

This year I started my holiday baking with a different take on my favourite cookie from last year, the chocolate and maraschino cherry shortbread cookies, except that this time I used the same cherry and chocolate flavour combo in chocolate chip cookies! You really just cannot go wrong with chocolate chip cookies and throwing cherries into the mix will only make things better since the chocolate and cherry combo is a fabulous one! One of the best things about homemade chocolate chip cookies, other than the fact that they are so ridiculously addictively good, is that they are so easy to make. You literally just need to spend about 5 minutes combining ingredients and then you throw them in the oven. The hardest part about making them is waiting for them to finish baking, and that 10 minutes of bake time will seem like an eternity as your kitchen starts to fill up with the aroma of fresh baked cookies, and then you have to wait for them to cool, but then again that burnt tongue might just be worth it! For these maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies you will also have to chop up some cherries but that only takes a few more minutes and it is definitely worth the effort!

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eCookbook Bundle

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Buy the Closet Cooking eCookbook Bundle Now

eCookbooks Included in Bundle

Melty Grilled Cheese

Craving a grilled cheese? These 25 drool inducing grilled cheese sandwiches are just stuffed full of ooey gooey melted cheese and sure to satisfy even the strongest craving. Never have a boring grilled cheese again!

Tasty Soups

Soup is pure comfort food any time and this cookbook collects 25 of tastiest the soup recipes ever to come out of my closet sized kitchen, including exclusive new recipes!

Game Day Party Food

Having some friends over for the game? This cookbook contains 25 quick and easy recipes that will disappear quickly have your guests raving about the food at your party!

The Best of Closet Cooking 2013

The 25 tastiest and most popular recipes on Closet Cooking as of 2013 collected into one easy to use cookbook available in multiple formats for your convenience.

The Best of Closet Cooking 2012

The 25 tastiest and most popular recipes on Closet Cooking as of 2012 collected into one easy to use cookbook available in multiple formats for your convenience.

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Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Normally I don't do all that much with spaghetti squash but this year I have really been enjoying it and in particular in stuffing it with tasty things like lasagna or in this case chicken enchilada filling. The basic idea behind this is that you cut a spaghetti squash in half, scoop out the seeds, roast it, stuff it with chicken enchilada filling, cover it in cheese and then bake it until the cheese has melted. One of the fun things about stuffed spaghetti squash like this is that you can use small spaghetti squash and then just serve it in perfectly individually sized servings in the shell itself!

I kept things nice and simple for the chicken enchilada filling going with shredded chicken, a light and tasty homemade enchilada sauce, black beans and corn and with the melted cheese topping your family will never know just how healthy this is or how many vegetables lurk underneath! What a great light, family fun meal!

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Holiday Cookie Guide

I can't believe that it's already December and that means that it is time to start thinking about Holiday cookie baking! You can never have too many cookies over the holidays whether for entertaining, giving them away as gifts or even just to snack on yourself. It's always nice to have a variety of cookies on your platter so that everyone can find something they like and perhaps even try some new ones! I have gathered a few of my favourite holiday cookies here to share with you and I will also be trying a some new ones over the coming days!

Although some cookies, like chocolate chip cookies, shouldn't be made until a few days ahead of time others, like shortbread and fruit cakes, will keep for weeks at room temperature and months in the freezer so you can plan accordingly to ensure that you are not swamped at the last minute with cookie baking. It's time to get your baking on!

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Roasted Butternut Squash, Shiitake Mushroom and Kale, Kimchi Bibimsoba

I was tired of all of the heavy eating and needed a break so I was thinking that a slight twist on bibimbap, a Korean style mixed rice bowl, using soba noodles instead of rice, along with plenty of fall vegetables would hit the spot! Soba noodles are made from buckwheat and it is a nice alternative to rice and hey, who doesn't like slurping noodles? For the vegetables I went with diced butternut squash that I coated in gochugaru chili flakes and roasted until tender and caramelized along with some sauteed kale and mushrooms and fresh homemade kimchi. The whole thing is of course finished off with a spicy gochujang hot sauce sauce before mixing and enjoying! This is perfect for a light meal and you can easily add meat or even better, a fried or poached egg with a runny yolk to make it more substantial! What a tasty way to detox from all of that holiday food!

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Ham and Eggs au Gratin

Are you looking for a special breakfast for the holidays? This is it! Until recently I had actually never heard of a ham and egg au gratin but when I saw it on pinterest recently, via Scrumptious South Africa, I knew that I would have to make it! The ham and egg au gratin is essentially slices of ham and hard boiled eggs that are made 'gratin' style, covered in a creamy sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbling! Besides the fabulous ham and egg combo what really makes this recipe work is the super tasty sauce, which is pretty much a basic bechamel sauce that is seasoned with dijon mustard, lemon juice and parsley and I could not help but throw in plenty of cheese!

In addition to being one of the tastiest breakfasts that I've had in a long time the recipe is actually really easy! You pretty much just need to make the hard boiled eggs, make the sauce and then assemble and bake it. With the ham and egg combo I immediately thought of this as a breakfast dish and it is perfect for days when you have a bit of time in the morning like the weekend or a holiday but if you assemble everything the night before you can easily bake it on a busy weekday morning!

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Shrimp Saltimbocca

I recently came across the idea of shrimp saltimbocca by tide and thyme on pinterest and when I did I immediately knew that I would have to try it! Saltimbocca is a tasty Italian dish where veal is cooked with prosciutto and sage that is either pinned to the outside or wrapped up in the middle. I like a chicken version where the prosciutto is wrapped around the chicken with the along sage leaves and both the prosciutto and the sage get nice and crispy on the outside of the chicken as it cooks. You really can't go wrong wrapping chicken in crispy fried prosciutto and sage and I knew that a shrimp version would be just as good if not better!

The shrimp version takes a bit more time to make since you have to wrap all of the shrimp up with small sage leaves but other than that it is super easy! Once the shrimp has been cooked the bottom of the pan is covered in those little brown bits of flavour which you just cannot let go to waste so I made a quick pan sauce with some browned butter, wine and lemon juice along with the crumbled bits of some crispy fried sage. This shrimp saltimbocca along with the buttery lemony pan sauce would be perfect tossed with pasta for a meal but I decided t go a different route and served it as appetizers along with the pan sauce for dipping.

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Split Pea Soup

As with a lot of roasts I sometimes think that I have more fun with the ham leftovers than the initial meal and I always like to start off with that precious ham bone! The ham bone is perfect for simmering for hours in soups and stocks to bring out all of its flavour imparting it into the soup. You can use a ham bone in a lot of different soups but my favourite has to be the classic split pea soup which is a bowl of comfort food on a chilly day. With the days getting colder I knew that I would be using the bone from the gingersnap crusted ham that I made last week and it was the perfect opportunity to update my split pea soup recipe with some new photos!

This split pea soup is super easy to make where you really just need to saute some vegetables, throw everything into the pot along with the ham bone and then simmer for a few hours letting all of the flavours come out while the split peas cook. I like to go with a ham broth for this soup but chicken broth or vegetable broth also work. If you have any leftover ham meat, it makes a great addition and I like to finish everything of with a hit of grainy mustard and lemon juice.

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Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

The Thanksgiving dinner is a truly amazing thing and one of the parts that I enjoy most is just getting started when the dinner comes to an end and that is thinking about creative ways to use all of the leftovers. In fact I tend to plan on making more than I believe that will be finished to ensure that there will be enough leftover to experiment with. Although I would be probably be perfectly happy using all of the leftover turkey in my favourite roast turkey sandwiches, I see it almost as a challenge to do something new and creative with the leftovers every year to keep things interesting. There are just so many things that you can do with roast turkey and if you also consider using some of the other leftovers in the same dish like the cranberry sauce or the sweet potato casserole things really start to get really fun. If you roasted a full turkey, don't throw the carcass out as you can use it to make some turkey stock and that opens up a whole new load of doors for turkey soups and stews. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some ideas for using your Thanksgiving leftovers in creative ways and so I present to you some of my favourites!

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Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

While everyone is waiting for the big dinner you cannot let them starve and this is where the snacks and appetizers come in. The appetizers or hors d oeuvres, are always one of my favourite parts of planning Thanksgiving and they are a great way to make your Thanksgiving day stand out. There are just so many different things that you can do with appetizers from a simple platter of meats, cheeses and fruit, to cookies, to dips, to chips, to crostini or even finger sized pies. Although I always enjoy sticking in season with pumpkin and cranberry dishes, I don't let it constrain me too much and I am not afraid to mix it up with combinations of sweet and savoury. The only thing that you need to be careful about really, is that you do not ruin your guests appetite for the big meal!

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Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes

Having a couple of days off for Thanksgiving means that you can spend a bit more time on breakfasts giving you the perfect opportunity to make something a bit fancier and to share it with family and loved ones. Here are a few tasty breakfast ideas for your Thanksgiving holiday!

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Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Although the turkey is the star of the show, it is definitely the dessert that gets all the attention. I often like to go all out with the dessert and with falls harvest around there are plenty of options. My biggest problem is trying to decide which dessert to make as there are just too many amazing options. Despite the fact that I want to go all out on dessert I recognize the fact that the Thanksgiving meal is already a huge production and so I appreciate a dessert that can be made a day or two ahead of time.

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Loaded Smashed Potatoes

Looking for something new to do with your potatoes? How about 'smashed' potatoes? I have been wanting to try smashed potatoes ever since I saw them on Pioneer Woman and it was past time that I gave them the 'loaded' treatment by topping them with all of the classic loaded baked potato toppings including bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions. The basic idea behind smashed potatoes is that you take small cooked potatoes and you 'smash' them, by pressing down on them with a glass or something, into thin pancakes and then you bake them until they are golden brown and crispy! There is very little that can compare with potatoes that are nice and crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside, think french fries, fritters, etc. and these smashed potatoes are no exception! Of course you can top smash potatoes however you like from simple things like herbs to more elaborate like these but no matter how you top them, they will disappear quickly!

If you use really small potatoes, they work as a really nice 1-2 bit appetizer!

Love fully loaded baked potato flavours? Check out below the recipe for more recipe ideas!

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Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Although the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving meal, I find that I spend more time planning the side dishes. There is only so much that you can do with the turkey so I spend a lot of my creativity coming up with exciting and tasty side dishes. I do try to restrain myself a bit though as the Thanksgiving dinner is already really big and it requires a lot of time and effort to make. As a general rule of thumb, I try to go with one green vegetable and one potato or squash side dish and then maybe one or two others and the sky is the limit for the extras! Sometimes it is nice to go with old favourites or maybe a new take on a classic and I like to try at least a few completely new dishes every year.

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Bourbon Gingersnap Crusted Ham

Whether you are tired of turkey or you are you want a second roast in addition to the turkey you really cannot go wrong with a tasty ham! Ever since I tried this bourbon gingersnap crusted ham by Alton Brown I have been hooked and I keep coming back to it when I am looking for a ham recipe. Like most hams this one is super easy to make where you bake it, pull it out, remove the skin and fat, brush on some mustard, sprinkle on some brown sugar, spritz it with bourbon and then press on the crushed gingersnaps before baking it for a bit longer. The tangy mustard combined with the sweet brown sugar and the gingery cookies is simply amazing! One variation that I like to do is to bush the ham with some maple syrup before applying the mustard which adds another tasty layer of complexity.

Of course one of the best things about a ham is the leftovers, including the bone, and all of the exciting that you can do with them! Check out some ideas below the recipe!

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Thanksgiving Main Course Recipes

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching I thought that it was about time that I dusted off and updated the roundups of all of my favourite Thanksgiving dishes starting with the main course. I have to say that a simple roast turkey is my favourite main course and I am always looking forward to it! Although you could get all fancy with your roast turkey, you really don't have to as a long as you roast it properly, that turkey is going to shine all by itself. Since I generally serve Thanksgiving diner to a small group of people I often opt to just go with a large turkey breast which is much easier to roast but you do miss out on all of the dark meat and the bone that you can make turkey stock from. If turkey is just not your thing or if you are just bored with it or if you are serving to a large group of people and want a second roast, you cannot go wrong serving a ham, a roast beef or even a roast lamb. Without further ado, on to the recipes:

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Kanafeh/Künefe (Sweet Cheese Pastry)

A few months ago I got an email inviting me to explore Israel, it's people and it's cuisine on a project called Taste of Israel put on by a group called Stand With Us. At first I was a little leery about the offer but after a bit of research it seemed legit and it was an opportunity that I simply could not pass up and so I went! It turned out to be an absolutely amazing experience filled with lots of great people and of course plenty of amazing food! I enjoyed a lot of dishes in Israel and I just had to try making a few of them at home and sharing them with you!

The adventure started as soon as we got off the plane, after almost 20 hours travel time from Toronto, as we were whisked away to the beautiful Dan Hotel Tev Aviv where after checking in we headed out for dinner at Yaffo Tel Aviv restaurant by Haim Cohen. The meal that we had there was filled with plenty of tasty dishes including a flat bread that was covered in melted garlicky butter and roasted cherry tomatoes but the one dish that really stood out for me was a dessert, the kanafeh.

I had never heard of kanafeh before but as soon as I heard that it was warm cheese in between two layers of light flaky pastry, I was sold! I mean you really cannot go wrong with cheese and I loved the idea of using it in a dessert! This particular künefe was made with goat cheese and it was topped with a sweet apple sauce and the combination of sweet and savoury was phenomenal; I knew immediately that I would have to make kanafeh when I got home!

Kanafeh (aka Kunafeh, aka Künefe, aka...) is a pastry that is common to countries in the Levant region including Turkey, Israel, Greece, etc. and and there are as many different ways of spelling it as there are of making it. It's commonly made with the shredded phyllo like pastry, with the same name as the final dish, and it is usually filled with a neutral, non-salty, stringy cheese and it is baked until the pastry gets nice and golden brown and crispy and it is then smothered in a simple syrup. (Imagine something like a single layered baklava with a cheese filling instead of nuts.)

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Moussaka Patty Melts

With the cooling weather I have been thinking about cold weather dishes more often like moussaka, a Mediterranean casserole consisting of layers of meat in a tomato sauce, eggplant and a bechamel sauce. During the summer I made some burgers inspired by moussaka and given my fascination with grilled cheese sandwiches I could not help but think that a moussaka patty melt would also be great! For this sandwich I start out with patties of ground lamb seasoned simply with a bit of garlic and cinnamon, topped with a layer of grilled eggplant, a simple and yet tasty tomato sauce and of course plenty of melted cheese! Speaking of cheese, I went with a Greek cheese, graviera, which melts well so it is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches. When I made the moussaka burgers I used a bechamel sauce which is a bit to wet to go inside a grilled cheese sandwich but it does go great as a topping along with some extra tomato sauce!

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Brussels Sprout Hash with Sweet Potato and Bacon

Brussels sprouts have to be one of my favourite fall green vegetables and I had been meaning to try something new with them, a brussels sprout hash. Hash is a dish that often consists of diced meat, onions and potatoes and it is typically served as a breakfast dish along with eggs. I was thinking that it would be great fun to change things up a bit and do brussels sprouts for breakfast in a 'hash' along with some bacon, onions and sweet potato served with fried eggs! Brussels sprouts can be a little on the bitter side so I went with sweet potatoes for this hash to balance things out and the bacon adds a nice smokiness and saltiness. Hash is super easy to make and it is a one pan dish as you can cook the eggs in the pan in little holes or wells made in the hash and you can transfer the pan to the oven to finish cooking the tops of the eggs.

The brussels sprout hash with sweet potatoes and bacon turned out wonderfully well and I have to say that it is fun to have brussels sprouts for breakfast! I enjoy this brussels sprout hash so much that I have been making different versions of over the last few days and although I prefer it with sweet potatoes it also works with regular potatoes and even without the potatoes!

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Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Cauliflower Soup with Goat Cheese

Soup season is definitely here and do I ever have a tasty one to share with you today, a creamy roasted cauliflower and red pepper soup! The original idea behind this soup was for a creamy roasted red pepper soup but I figured that I would keep things a little on the healthier side by using pureed cauliflower to add the creaminess and to help thicken the soup up a bit. Roasted red peppers and cauliflower are a great combo and another thing that I like to combine with roasted red peppers is tangy goat cheese which also further adds to the creaminess of the soup. Like a lot of great soups, this one is super easy to make where you really just need to roast the red peppers and cauliflower, saute some onions, add the broth and goat cheese, and heat up before pureeing. I added one final touch to the soup and that was a bit of paprika to add a hint of smokiness!

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Roasted Apple and Aged White Cheddar Soup

For my next apple recipe I continue with my apple and cheddar theme in this tasty roasted apple and cheddar soup! This apple and cheddar soup could not be easier, you start out by roasting some apples to bring out even more flavour and then the apple flavours continue with the use of apple cider as part of the soups liquid base. A ham broth goes particularly nicely in this soup as the main liquid but otherwise a chicken broth or even a vegetable broth would also work. Of course the second star of the show is a nice aged white cheddar which really packs in the flavour so you do not need a lot of it. I have to say that this soup is a truly beautiful blending of sweet and savoury and I like to finish it off with a touch of grainy mustard and maple syrup to really bring the effect home!

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20 Apple-icious Recipes

One of my favourite things about fall is that it's apple season! Apples are amazing for snacking on and they can be used as an ingredients in a wide variety of dishes both fresh and cooked. You really can't go wrong adding some fresh diced apples to a salad and they bring a nice crisp texture along with a sweet and tart flavour but that is really just the beginning. Apples are truly amazing in sweet baked dishes like apple pies, crumbles, crisps, cakes, buns, muffins, oatmeal, etc. but they are also fabulous in savoury dishes like soups, sandwiches, quiches, etc. Let's not forget about some other classic apple uses including apple juice, apple cider and apple sauce all of which are fun and easy to make fresh at home! With all of the different varieties of apples at the market these days I could not help but think of some of my favourite apple recipes which I share here with you now. No matter how you use apples this fall you are bound to enjoy them!

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Roasted Green Bean Red Pepper Quinoa Salad

Just because the weather is cooling doesn't mean that salads are off the menu, especially when they are like this tasty, hearty and healthy quinoa salad with roasted green beans and red peppers! I always enjoy making salads like this and they are super easy to make! I usually like to start with a rice, whole grain or quinoa and then I add some in season vegetables like green beans and red peppers followed optionally with a bean, some cheese, nuts and a dressing and in no like you have tasty salad that eats like a meal! When it comes to the vegetables, I often like to roast them as roasting helps bring out more of their flavour and in this case both green beans and red peppers are particularly nice when roasted. This roasted green bean and red pepper quinoa salad is definitely a great way to enjoy salads this fall!

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Tofu and Wakame Miso Soup

With the cooler weather here I have been thinking about soups more and I thought that I would take the opportunity to update the recipe for one of my favourite soups, miso soup. Miso soup is a Japanese soup consisting of dashi and miso paste along with other ingredients that vary depending on region, season and taste. You will find miso soup on the menus at a lot of Japanese restaurants and it's super easy to make at home! One of the more common ingredients combos for miso soup is tofu and wakame (an edible seaweed) and it is the version that I probably make the most. One of the things that I like about miso soup, other that the fact that it's packed with flavour and umami along with being healthy, is that it usually only take a few minutes to make which makes it perfect busy work day meals!

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Lasagna Dip

Last week when I made the lasagna stuffed spaghetti squash I tried to keep things nice and light and healthy but I could not help but think about doing something similar only a bit naughtier, a hot melted cheesy lasagna dip! I am a huge fan of dips, especially when they have plenty of hot melted cheese and since lasagna is one of my favourite meals I knew that a lasagna dip was sure to be amazing! The basic idea behind this dip was to use the layers of a lasagna in a dip including a base of cheese and a quick, easy and tasty tomato meat sauce all topped off with plenty of melted mozzarella! My mom always made lasagna with cottage cheese for the cheese layer so I am rather partial to that but ricotta or even cream cheese would also work well. For the tomato based meat sauce I kept things lighter and healthy going with turkey for the meat and I packed the sauce with plenty of flavour! I have to say that this dip is truly spectacular and it really does remind me of lasagna, though it is a lot easier to make and perfect for enjoying while watching the game!

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Pumpkin, Chorizo and Black Bean Soup

I can't believe that October is almost over and that means that the pumpkins will soon disappear so I wanted to get at least one more pumpkin recipe in and this time it's a pumpkin soup that is perfect for the cooling weather. Really this soup is just a combination of two of my other favourite pumkin soups the pumpkin and black bean soup and the pumpkin and chorizo soup but despite it's simplicity it is super tasty! I mean you really cannot go wrong combining pumpkin with black beans and spicy Mexican style chorizo sausage in a warm and hearty soup! This soup has it all, the pumpkin and partially pureed black beans make it nice and thick and creamy, the chorizo sausage and remaining black beans give it a nice hearty texture and the chipotle chilies in abobo make it nice and smoky and give it a healthy amount of spicy heat to keep you warm! This pumpkin, chorizo and black bean soup is a great way to enjoy the last of the pumpkins this season and a great way to keep warm in these cooling days!

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Apple, Cheddar and Bacon Fritters in Caramel Sauce

I always enjoy making fritters out of different fruits and vegetables and I recently realized that I had not shared my recipe for the classic fritters, apple fritters! I have really been into apples lately so as soon as I had the idea of apple fritters they quickly made it to my meal plan! Although basic apple fritters are amazing all by themselves I like to kick them up a bit by adding cheddar cheese and since bacon also goes so well with this combo I like to throw some in as well. These apple fritters are super easy to make, you pretty much just need to shred the apples and cheese, squeeze and drain the shredded apple, mix everything up and then fry them in a pan. The apples, bacon and cheddar combo makes for an amazing blend of sweet and savoury in these fritters that are nice and crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside! I like to snack on these apple and cheddar fritters just as they are but they are also absolutely divine when topped with caramel sauce.

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