Very Festive Yuletide Cheese Log!

Hey there folks! With 9 days left until Christmas you're probably looking for ways to out do your party from last year. Sure, everyone loves your onion soup mix dip but lets give them something more this year. How about a soft goat cheese log wrapped in pistachio pieces and dried cranberries? Sound too complicated? Fear not! It's super easy and magically delicious. So sit back and relax because this is too easy.

You'll need:

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup salted pisachios

1- 4-6 oz goat cheese log

You will probably be able to find the goat cheese log in the fine cheese section of your grocery store. Sometimes they come in a 4 oz package and sometimes they come in a 6 oz package, however, either one will work. 

You'll need to run your pistachios and cranberries under a butcher knife to chop them up a little or in a food processor just a couple of pulses to get them at a coarse chop. Do not do them together or you will end up with pistachio mush. After you get them chopped and ready, place the cranberries and pistachios on a shallow plate and mix them up. Next, roll the cheese log in the pistachio and cranberry pieces. You'll want to let the cheese sit for a little so it gets soft because it is a crumbly cheese and it will fall apart when you try to roll it if it's too cold.

After that refridgerate until 30 minutes before your shindig and place it on a pretty plate and you're good to go! Your friends and family will love it and marvel at it's beauty. Enjoy!

Happy Eating!

Flightless French Onion Soup

Season's greetings everyone!

I'm taking a minute out of our busy schedule to do a quick, fast and yummy post. With all the hub-bub around the new TSA regulations I've found a way to give you fantastic French onion soup that you don't have to fly to France for. It's a great starter for any holiday feast and will keep you warm on these cold winter nights.

You'll need:

4 cups onions, thinly sliced

2 cans beef broth, I use Campbells

1/4 cup butter
1 tsp pepper

3 Tbsp white wine

Provolone

French bread

You'll need to take our your trusty Crock-Pot and fill it with the onions, beef broth and butter. Let this cook for 4 hours. After 4 hours add the white wine and let it cook for 2 more hours and serve immediately. For extra credit you can slice up some French bread and top it with provolone cheese. 

This is one of my favorite dishes and it's easy if you're on the go or need to prepare a quick and tasty starter soup. Enjoy and as always...

Happy Eating!

Quick Cold Day Chili!

Today, South Bend, IN got it's first full snow day! I had snow from the time I woke up to the time I started making this delicious post. Lucky for me, our little kitty Kaci is feeling better and I was able to write this and cook dinner. Now, just as a heads up because of the holidays and an impending Christmas cruise, posting will be sparse again. But I'll do my best to help you all get ready for the holiday festivities. Today we have quick and easy chili that will keep you warm even if your temperatures are low which they were because the high today was 23!

So you'll need--

1 lb ground beef, browned

2 14 oz cans dark red kidney beans

1 28 oz can stewed sliced tomatoes

1 1/2 cup onions, diced

2 Tbsp minced garlic

1 package McCormick Chili seasoning.

1 1/2 cup water

Salt

Pepper

Now, I'm not claiming to be a chili master, heck, I probably won't be winning any chili cook-off's anytime soon. But I do know that there is no shame in using a remixed seasoning, especially if you're in a hurry. However, if you can make your own blend of seasonings then by all means, go ahead. Until I get to that point I'll just leave the mixing and blending to the pro's.

So in a large pot combine the browned beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, seasoning and water and set on a medium- high for 15 minutes. Stirring ever so often to make sure nothing is getting stuck to the bottom. After your 15 mintues are up, set it to a low- medium and let it simmer for 30-45 minutes. This may cause the beans to split and will thicken up your chili considerably. But I'm not going to force you to have the chili my way so if you like your chili on the thinner side then you can add the beans in the last 10-15 mintues of the cooking process.

Happy Eating!