And I have the perfect thing: Chamb’ and Bubbly. Yes, Chamb’ and Bubbly, as my husband hilariously dubbed it in honor of one of the greatest SNL skits of all time. Technically I’m talking about a Chambord Kir Royale, which is made by mixing champagne or sparkling wine with Chambord, a French raspberry liqueur that is just as good as it sounds. This drink is sparkling, festive, and perfect for sipping as you sing Auld Lang Syne....

I like to wedge chunks of cheese in the batter so you get lovely pockets of cheese and the lovely textured crust on top. But you could just mix it through – even faster to prepare!! A terrific no yeast bread recipe I don’t often bake with yeast because it requires patience for the dough to rise. Oh, and the kneading. I’ve actually got reasonable upper body strength. My challenge is my height....

One of my favorite dishes that usually makes an appearance at Michelle’s is this “cheesy bread”, a sort of cross between garlic bread and pizza. It’s a great way to help feed a lot of hungry people, and easy to pull together, even at the last minute. I’ve shown them sliced, but you could easily cut them crosswise again for smaller appetizer bites. But watch out, they’re addictive! Variations on Cheesy Bread Try mixing in other ingredients with the topping mixture, such as chopped black olives, chopped canned artichoke hearts, minced shrimp, or crab meat....

This recipe is inspired by a favorite of my friend Lynn from her The Southern Living Cookbook. Lynn likes to make hers with Shoepeg white corn. We used regular yellow corn and it turned out terrific. Perfect with chili. The recipe calls for the cornbread to be baked in the oven in a cast iron skillet. We serve the cornbread at the table directly from the skillet, the benefit being that because the cast iron holds its heat so well, the corn bread stays warm throughout the entire meal....

Griddled chicken on a bed of crunchy vegetable strips, with fine noodles (you don’t need too many to bulk this dish out so that it’s filling enough for dinner) and a creamy chilli lime dressing with flecked with fresh coriander. This is the type of dinner I go to 100% of the time, on those occasions when I’m trying to be good, but I’m craving something tasty and filling. It’s the perfect remedy when you’re almost ready to throw in the towel and cook up a great big pie (like this one!...

I’ve been adding more good fat, like avocado, to my lunches. Good fats take longer for your body to burn, so they are like a slow burning fuel. On this topic of avoiding the afternoon wall, I’ve also started adding a small snack to my day at about 2 or 3pm. It usually consists of something like carrots dipped in a nut butter or a small smoothie with greens, berries, collagen, coconut milk and water....

And don’t worry….this Chicken Stroganoff recipe makes PLENTY of sauce!! Chicken Stroganoff Beef Stroganoff is a retro classic we’ll love forever. However, a really great Beef Stroganoff does involve taking the time to slice the beef super thinly, as well as some deftness to ensure the beef is seared to perfection yet still juicy on the inside. Chicken Stroganoff, on the other hand, requires considerably less effort. Especially when you do it my way, searing whole pieces of boneless chicken thighs not only because it means less prep (ie no chopping), but also because by cooking whole chicken thighs, you can brown them really beautifully....

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce for Chicken Sun dried tomatoes don’t feature as much anymore as they should. Back in the 80’s they were ALL THE RAGE! But they never went out of fashion in my world. Throw a small amount into almost any meal and you get a wonderful burst of extra flavour. I use them to make a super quick 12 Minutes Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad, in creamy chicken pasta, I stuff ’em inside chicken breast and Chicken Meatloaf and I use then for pasta salads....

Making your own chocolate-covered pretzels is a fun afternoon project and makes a nice alternative to the store-bought varieties, especially around the holidays when homemade treats feel extra-special. Video: How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels The Best Pretzels to Use You can make chocolate-covered pretzels using any pretzel shape that you like. Both the traditional pretzel twist and the long pretzel rod are popular, but the mini twists are my personal favorite....

A sweet, impressive crowd pleasing dessert option – and just 47 CALORIES per piece! Chocolate Covered Strawberries How many times have you slaved away on a dessert only to find that: people are too full to have more than a tiny slice; friends who declare they’re on a diet (and we all know that January is all about NYE resolutions to be healthier!); or doesn’t suit certain dietary requirements?...

Today is the day after Thanksgiving and America is in a food coma. Can you imagine how many millions of pounds of turkey was consumed yesterday? A number I can’t comprehend! Though many Americans may be considering a) how to burn off Thanksgiving excess calories b) what to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers, those of us in the rest of the world are already focussed on another important matter: How to be the most popular person at any gathering for the upcoming holiday seasons....

Eating from a bowl is just better These days, I notice many of our meals are eaten in a bowl, like sometimes it feels like we need to run the dishwasher just to have clean bowls. I don’t even know the last time Justin had eggs on plate…actually I do. It was on a weekend recently when I made pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. We ate the pancakes on a plate (duh!...

To me, the English version is more whimsical, perhaps because Mr. Toad is my favorite character in The Wind in the Willows? In any case, this recipe has a playful name, and much like its cousin “pigs in a blanket,” is a hit with kids. I first posted a recipe for Toad in the Hole back in 2003. I wasn’t quite satisfied with that recipe, and based on feedback from readers and a bit more experimentation, updated the recipe....

Shakshuka is a delicious Middle-Eastern dish that is full of flavor. It’s a one skillet meal that can be served up as breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Shakshuka is also super easy to make. You start by sautéing some vegetables in a skillet. Toast some spices, then add in tomatoes. This mixture is then simmered to allow the flavors to build as well as to allow some of the liquid to evaporate....

It makes the perfect summertime lunch, and it’s also very easy to make! Leftovers are great too. Cold soups are a lifesaver in the summer, when you just can’t bring yourself to heat up the oven or cook over a hot stove. This avocado soup is delicious and so refreshing. While the concept may seem unusual, it actually makes sense that this particular fruit would work well in a soup - after all, it’s wonderfully creamy and flavorful....

This is a collection of recipes where the children (depending on their age) can do 90% on their own or with minimal help. We always recommend supervising your kids in the kitchen. These are fantastic for the kids to bake and if you watch the video it’s actually our eldest Gracey. No flour needed and a great way to use up some old bananas. Gracey and Lewis teamed up and followed this recipe and made us a fantastic spag bol a few weeks ago....

If you can’t make it to their location to try one, Levain offers overnight shipping. But the cookies are only available through the end of fall. Because their days are numbered, I recreated them to indulge even after the season ends. Essential Tips for Making Levain Cookies at Home Recreating these cookies at home successfully involves splurging on the best chocolate and freshest spices you can get your hands on, as well as patiently waiting for the dough to chill....

What Kind Of Pumpkin Should I Use? The base of this roasted pumpkin soup is, well, roasted pumpkin! Roasting vegetables brings out so much of their flavor, and pumpkin is no different. We like to use a pie pumpkin, otherwise known as a sweet pumpkin. This type of pumpkin boasts a rich and sweet flavor and is very similar to butternut squash. It’s different than your typical jack-o-lantern, so make sure to take a close look at the variety before you buy!...

I worked in a fried chicken shop for 5 years when I was at high school and college, so I know my crispy chicken tenders! Back then, most of the chicken was chopped in store on a bandsaw, but sometimes, when the cut stuff was running low, we had to get the cleaver out. Yep, a 15-year old, with a cleaver, trying not to cut any fingers off. We also had a massive old pressure cooker, a burger grill that literally spat out flames (those burgers tasted amazing though) and more than a few interesting/scary customers....