Nans Cornbread Dressing with Fresh Herbs and Smoked Oysters

My grandmother made the most amazing dressing.  Every holiday is was a staple at her house.  Now that she is gone, my beautiful Mom is keeping up the tradition of always making it for everyone to enjoy and remembering her loving spirit.  This year I decided to change it up a bit by adding smoked oysters.  I have always wanted to try Oyster dressing or stuffing and because we didn't have the kids this Thanksgiving I was going to give it a try.  I absolutely loved it and think the oysters gave it such a smokey unique flavor.   Now of course if you don't like oysters, like my Mom :), please feel free to leave them out.  My grandmother's original recipe does not include the fresh herbs, but I think it adds so much to it.  Indulge!

Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

This is such a lovely recipe and so easy to make.  I was one of those who always would be the canned cranberry sauce, but after trying this I will never buy canned again.  You can always leave the bourbon out or add it before cooking to make sure the alcohol cooks out.  Indulge!

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

Happy Thanksgiving!  One of my favorite times of the year had come and gone.  One of my most request recipes in my Pumpkin cake.  I have made this for several years now and decided to tweak it a bit.  Normally I would use sour cream which always keeps it so moist.  This year however, I wanted to try switching the sour cream for this vanilla honey Greek yogurt that I absolutely love.  I think I made a wonderful choice.  The yogurt took it to another level.  I hope you enjoy it as much as my family.  Indulge!

Cucumber Cups with California Crab

This is another wonderful filling to use with the refreshing Cucumber Cups.  I LOVE all things sushi and thought how amazing would it be to recreate the California roll into this appetizer, minus the rice.  Indulge!

Cucumber Cups with Smoked Salmon Mousse

Summer is officially about to end and one of my favorite appetizers to serve over the summer was Cucumber Cups.  This is such a refreshing appetizer with endless possibilities of fillings.  I had some left over smoked salmon and that it would pair beautifully with the cucumber.  If you don't like cucumber you could easily pipe this on the cracker of your choice.  Indulge!

                                                       Photo courtesy of Maggie Filla

Chocolate Toffee Cupcake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Part II of Graduation Party:  Here is the chocolate cupcake I also made for the graduation party.  Indulge!

Banana Split Cupcakes

Part I Graduation Party:  This past week my baby girl graduated from 5th grade.  It was such a bittersweet moment.  On one hand I am excited for her to explore this next chapter in her life, but it saddens me that she is growing up way too fast for me.  The parents decided to throw the graduates a party and I decides to bring cupcakes.  Anyone else surprised, more and more that seems to be my go to dessert to bring.  Now mind you once I had already signed up to bring them, I soon realized that there were about 100 5th graders!!  The panic was soon to set in.  I have never made that many at once.  I knew that I had to plan plan plan.  I wanted to bring a chocolate one and a vanilla one.  For the vanilla one I thought it would be fun to create a favorite ice cream treat into cupcake form.  With this cupcake I think I pretty much captured all the flavors (except pineapple).  I put the banana flavor into the cupcake, strawberry in the cream filling, vanilla in the frosting and drizzled it with chocolate, topped with nuts and a banana split wouldn't be complete without a cherry.  I had so much fun making these and hopefully the kids enjoyed them just as much.  The Chocolate cupcake up next.  Indulge!