Pin Wheel Appetizers

Appetizers December 21, 2025 Leave a comment

Pinwheel appetizers are popular for social gatherings because they are easy to make and look festive. They can be customized with different ingredients to match various tastes and occasions. Common fillings include olives, chopped scallions, chili peppers, ham, salmon, cheese, and spinach. For a festive look, adding red and green colors can make the presentation more appealing. A popular filling is cream cheese, which helps the rollups keep their shape and adds flavor. When preparing pinwheels, it is important to balance the flavors and textures. For example, combining creamy cheese with savory meats or fresh vegetables creates a tasty combination. Using herbs and spices can also improve the flavor. Overall, pinwheel appetizers are a versatile and elegant choice for any event. By choosing the right ingredients and paying attention to how they look, these appetizers can fit any theme or dietary need, making them a reliable option for entertaining.

Holiday Pin Wheels

Serves:
About 35 roll ups

Ingredients

To basic filling, add meats, salmon, spinach, sliced olives, or other herbs and flavors to make them your own! 

  • 2 packages cream cheese flavored or white, softened
  • 1 package ranch dressing mix
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 flour tortillas, use spinach and tomato for a festive touch!
  • 1/2 cup finely diced green bell peppers
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red bell peppers
  • 2 green onions, sliced

Directions

  1. Mix the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix and the black pepper together thoroughly.
  2. Spread the mixture on the tortillas, and then sprinkle over the diced bell peppers and green onions.
  3. Roll up tightly, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until party time (for at least 1 hour).
  4. Slice into small 1-2″ wheels and serve.

Salsa Dip

Appetizers December 18, 2025 Leave a comment

Born in the 1980’s this dip is always a favorite at our family gatherings. It is tasty and easy to make. Many family members and friends have asked me for the recipe over the years. You can prepare it in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, which makes serving more convenient. Since it serves many people, it is a great choice for your appetizer options and is suitable for any occasion.

Ingredients

  • 1 jar of chunky salsa sauce
  • 1 8oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 1 can mild medium diced Chile peppers (drained)
  • Shredded iceberg lettuce
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Sliced black olives
  • Shredded mozzarella or Mexican styled cheese

Directions

  1. Mix the first 3 ingredients until pink – can be a little chunky – spread in a pie plate or quiche pan.
  2. Top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, black olives and mozzarella cheese
  3. Serve with tortilla chips

Portobello Mushroom Entrée

Dinner Ideas, Weight Watcher Friendly December 16, 2025 Leave a comment

Pick out 2 nice size Portobello mushrooms. They can be grilled or cooked on a stove top and make a wonderful replacement to a hamburger, especially if you are watching your red meat intake. Frankly, I just love mushrooms and even though Montana has wonderful beef – I wouldn’t hesitate to replace my burger with a Portobello Mushroom “burger”. Cook these up and spread with Onion Jam, horseradish sauce and place on an onion roll and you have a delicious, filling meal.

Ingredients:

  • 2 large Portobello mushrooms, wipe clean with a dry paper towel, remove stem and gills with a spoon, careful not to break the mushroom
  • 1 clove of garlic, grated
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley, thyme, or substitute with your favorite fresh cut herb

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a plastic bag, seal and marinate for up to an hour
  2. Remove mushrooms from bag and discard marinade
  3. If cooking on stove top, preheat skillet with 1 tsp of olive oil
  4. Grill or cook on stove top for 3-4 minutes on each side until soft but not mushy
  5. Split bun and place cut sides down on skillet or grill and toast
  6. Spread with onion jam and horseradish sauce, enjoy

Horseradish Sauce

2/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons of prepared horseradish

Stir together and store in refrigerator

Oyster Stuffing

Bread, Chicken, Dinner Ideas, Fish December 15, 2025 Leave a comment

The history of oyster stuffing dates back to at least 1685, when it was first mentioned in the cookbook The Accomplisht Cook in London. Traditionally, the stuffing was placed under the skin of the bird, a common practice at the time. By 1796, culinary advice suggested stuffing the cavity of the bird instead. Different regions have their own preferred types of stuffing: Southerners often favor pecan, rice, or cornbread; Italians typically include sausage; and Germans enjoy dried fruit, potatoes, and apples. I personally discovered an oyster stuffing recipe many years ago and decided to try it. I am pleased to say that this stuffing is delicious, it does not have a fishy smell or taste. One of its advantages is that it can be served as a standalone dish. For the best flavor, I recommend using fresh herbs whenever possible. Enjoy your cooking experience and the unique taste of oyster stuffing.

SERVES 8—10

INGREDIENTS

  • 11 cups ½” cubed white French bread (about 14 oz.)
  • 6 slices bacon
  • 6 tbsp. butter, melted, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 6 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
  • 40 medium oysters, such as Bluepoint’s shucked (about 1 lb.), with 1 cup of the liquor reserved (I have used canned oysters)
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup madeira or port (a sweet wine)
  • ⅓ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chopped thyme leaves
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chopped sage leaves
  • ½ tsp. Tabasco (or any hot sauce)
  • ¼ tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp. ground cloves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 250˚F.
  2. Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake, stirring occasionally, until dried but not browned, about 15 minutes. Remove bread cubes from the oven and let cool.
  3. Put bacon into a 12″ skillet; cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until crisp for about 10 minutes. Remove bacon from pan. Reserve 1 tablespoon of grease.
  4.  Add 4 tablesopoons of butter to bacon grease and heat. Add shallots and celery, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
  5.  Add oyster liquor, stock, Madeira or port, parsley, thyme, sage, Tabasco, nutmeg, cloves, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.  Scrape the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the bread cubes and oysters. Set aside to allow the flavors to come together for 10 minutes.
  6. Raise the oven temperature to 400˚. Transfer mixture to a buttered 2-qt. oval baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil, drizzle with remaining butter, and continue baking until golden brown and crusty, about 15 minutes more. Serve immediately.

Crab and Flounder Dish

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Fish December 13, 2025 Leave a comment

flounder crabTraditionally we served fish for our Christmas Eve dinner. My mom loved her herrings in sour cream. Today, I will share my favorite dish and that is Crab Meat stuffed Flounder. This incredible dish can be served as a main entrée using the method below; or a side dish using smaller fillets; wrap a smaller flounder around a small scoop of crab meat mixture, secure with a toothpick. I have also served this crab mixture scooped on top of salmon or trout. You will enjoy this dish however you decide to serve it. Happy Holidays.

FLOUNDER FILLETS

4 to 5 Large fillets

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

flounder slicedSprinkle flounder with salt and pepper. Using a fillet knife, carefully open the flounder by cutting along the left and right sides of the seam down the middle of the fish to make pockets. Lay the cut sides back.

CRAB MIX

Ingredients

  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 minced red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons spicy mustard
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 10 saltine crackers, crumbled medium to fine
  • 1/2-pound lump crabmeat, picked clean of shells
  • 1/2-pound claw crabmeat, picked clean of shells
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. In a medium skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onions, garlic, parsley and peppers until soft. Let cool.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the egg, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, heavy cream, mustard, lemon juice and mayonnaise together. Gently mix in the Saltine crackers and crabmeat. Add salt and pepper, if needed. Set aside to stuff in flounder.
  3. Stuff the flounder with the Crab Mix and press the sides down to cover the filling. Sprinkle with paprika.
  4. Coat a glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place the fish in the dish and bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Without removing the dish from the oven, turn the oven to broil and broil for 5 additional minutes.
  6. When the fish is done, remove it from the oven.

*Optional: Melt ½ cup of butter and drizzle over fillets when finished baking.

How to Make Delicious Marshmallow Creme at Home

Dessert, Famous Recipes, Fun Stuff December 9, 2025 Leave a comment

Marshmallow creme is an American food item. It is a very sweet, spreadable, marshmallow-like confection. Marshmallow creme and peanut butter are used to create a Fluffernutter sandwich. In addition, marshmallow creme and Nutella can be spread on graham crackers to emulate s’ mores – a tasty fireside treat.  I have also used Marshmallow fluff to fill whoopee pies and icing chocolate cake.  You can take a pastry tip and fill cupcakes with marshmallow fluff for a yummy, sweet treat.  Or take a spoon and just dig in.  Enjoy

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites 
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter 
  • 2 tablespoons sugar 
  • 3/4 cup golden corn syrup 
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a heavy duty mixer, with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. 
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and beat until soft peaks form, set aside. 
  3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, add 1/3 cup water, corn syrup, and 2/3 cup sugar. 
  4. Cook over medium heat while stirring until the mixture reaches firm ball stage (instructions below) or 248 degrees on a candy thermometer. This step will take about 15 minutes. 

(To test for firm ball stage:  Fill a glass with cold water and drop a small spoonful of the mixture into the cold water. Remove the mixture from the cold water and it should hold its shape, but quickly flatten)

  1. Once the corn syrup mixture has reached firm ball stage, turn the mixer onto medium and in a slow steady stream; pour the corn syrup mixture into the beaten egg whites. 
  2. Once all of the corn syrup mixture has been added, beat on high for 5 minutes. 
  3. Add vanilla extract and beat on high 1 minute 
  4. Store in a tightly sealed container

Roasted Garlic Chicken Thighs

Chicken, Dinner Ideas December 8, 2025 Leave a comment

Here is a terrific recipe for chicken thighs, great for a party or a special dinner.  Or use legs/thighs. Yes, you do have to love garlic, so be sure only to invite those who have an acquired taste for this tasty allium.

This recipe should be prepared the day before and as a note, the longer you marinate it – the taster it becomes.  It is best to marinade for at the very least, 6 hours up to 24 hours in advance.  Please use only fresh herbs and fresh garlic cloves with this recipe, or you will rob yourself of the intoxicating aroma and flavor of this dish.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 – 4 pounds of skin on and bone in chicken thighs
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 16 fresh garlic cloves
  • 2-tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 2-tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1/2 cup (or more) fresh parsley, chopped

MARINADE

  • About 1 cup of olive oil – more or less to cover the chicken pieces
  • 6 peeled and smashed garlic cloves – cut in half after you smash them
  • ½ cup of fresh minced flat leaf Italian parsley

PROCESS

  •  Wash, and trim extra skin and fat from chicken thighs, pat them dry.
  • Spread them flat in a baking dish large enough to hold all thighs
  • Combine olive oil, garlic cloves and parsley and pour over thighs
  • Cover baking dish with plastic wrap or lid and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, turning only once during that time.

After 6 – 24 hours

  • Remove chicken from marinade and scrape off excess olive oil and place chicken in a shallow, foil lined, rimmed  cookie  sheet. 
  • With a slotted spoon, scoop up garlic and parsley from marinade and spread on top of chicken.
  • Reserve 1/3 cup of olive oil from marinade.
  • Preheat oven to 400F. 

In a bowl combine

  • 8 more garlic cloves, minced or grated
  •  1/3 cup reserved olive oil
  •   2 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped
  •   2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  1. Pour this mixture on top of chicken in pan.
  2. Bake at 400F.  for 45 minutes – do not turn chicken during baking.
  3. *Note: do not crowd chicken pieces in roasting pan – this will steam the chicken rather than roasting it.

Enjoy

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Dessert December 7, 2025 Leave a comment

The history of pound cake dates back to the early 1700s.  It is believed that the pound cake is a Northern European dish and was traditionally made with a pound of each of four ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, and sugar.  Over time the ingredients for pound cake changed and everyone started adding different ingredients. For example, Eliza Leslie who wrote the 1851 edition of Direction for Cookery used 10 eggs and beat them as light as possible and mixed them with a pound of flour then adding the juice of two lemons or three large oranges, which changed the flavor and texture of the cake. Everyone had their own way and belief of making a pound cake. For instance, 5 years ago James Villas wrote in the 2008 issue of Saveur that flour won’t work in place of all purpose flour because it lacks the strength to support the heavy batter.

My recipe brings back many memories it has been handed down through the decades in my family.  I have tweaked it here and there to add my own flavors and touches, this recipe makes a very dense, rich and flavorful  pound cake. Wonderful on its own with its crunchy crust sprinkled with 10-x (powdered sugar), or glazed with a vanilla glaze.

SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon Almond extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 F.

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the sour cream and mix until incorporated. 
  3. Sift the baking soda and flour together.
  4. Add to the creamed mixture alternating with eggs, beating each egg 1 at a time. 
  5. Add the flavorings and pour the mixture into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes.



The Frittata

Breakfast, Dinner Ideas, Lite and Weight Watcher Recipes, Side, Vegetables December 6, 2025 Leave a comment

Eggs for breakfast, lunch or dinner, did you know that every part of the egg is edible, even the shell. Ground egg shells are sometimes used as a food additive to deliver calcium. Although egg color is a largely cosmetic issue, with no effect on egg quality or taste, I am fortunate enough to live among farmers and ranchers who have hens that lay blue, green, pink, brown and white eggs, Easter eggs all year round. These eggs are the freshest and I believe taste about as good as an egg can taste. Regardless of where you get your eggs, they are versatile and healthy. This recipe is a basic recipe for a baked Frittata, you can use your favorite vegetables and cheese to make it totally your own recipe. A tossed salad and a slice of frittata for dinner is a complete meal.

Spray a deep pie plate, 11”x5” 7” oven proof dish, or muffin cups with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350F.

Ingredients

  • 5 eggs & 3 egg whites
  • 3 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
  • Dash of salt
  • Dash of pepper
  • 1-2 Tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley

Directions for Egg Mixture

  1. Beat all ingredients together
  2. Mix egg mixture with you choice of vegetables and cheese
  3. Bake in a preheated 350F. oven for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Add-in Ingredients in ½ cup increments, up to 1-1/2 cups

  • sautéed

Edible Glitter

Dessert, Fun Stuff December 5, 2025 Leave a comment

Who doesn’t need edible glitter for holiday baking decorations? If you run out of sprinkles for your holiday cookies I came across this recipe and you can make all the colors of the rainbow. Have fun and happy baking! 

 Try this:

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of food coloring

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. degrees
  2. Mix sugar and food coloring together
  3. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.