Happy Foodie

Chicken parm matched with angel hair smothered in a homemade red sauce. Deeelish. Used bone-in chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breast, and I removed the skin and didn’t dredge and fry to save calories.

Chicken pot pies nestled in beautiful Le Creuset cocottes. These were a gift from friends this holiday season. They paired it with a cook book and this was the very first recipe within. Simple and delicious version of the classic pot pie.

Our special holiday spread: manchego cheese, Spanish olives, and Terra-brand vegetable chips. We paired this with a Rioja that was dry and robust. I have to thank former co-worker and friend Jennifer Sekerka for the pairings here!

Snickerdoodle cookies! Recipe is courtesy of Laurie Reuttimann.

These simply are holiday time crack. They fall apart and literally melt in your mouth, and the sugar-cinnamon coating is the perfect compliment to the velvety richness of the cookie. Very easy recipe to make, and the results make all the effort worth it.

Breakfast for our office pot luck. Whole wheat waffles stuffed with a delicious mixed berry gastrique! Everything - including the batter - was homemade.

A slice of the red velvet cake. It was moist, sweet, creamy, and crunchy (thanks to the addition of toasted coconut).

From-scratch red velvet cake smothered in toasted coconut cream cheese frosting. Cross-section picture coming soon!

Crispy baked chicken paired with from-scratch homemade biscuits smothered in homemade milk gravy. And we threw in homemade beans for vegetarian purposes. Rib-sticking good!

The ever-delicious combination of a hearty stew with fresh dark rye. The stew is a Giada di Laurentiis original; the bread is a recipe I found online. This meal is guaranteed to make a cold Winter night warmer!

I love having an office where I can cook. Bacon and sun-dried tomato egg scramble with a Thomas’ bagel thin!