by CRYSTAL JOHNSON

Nothing says holidays or party like the appetizers that have been around forever and are still requested/eaten first. If there’s one way to make these there must be fifty! Here’s a version without the usual biscuit mix - only because I didn’t have any and didn’t want to buy it for one recipe. This is the moment to buy good sausage and a good block of cheddar cheese. Use the grater and freshly grate cheese for this one. It makes a big difference!! I’m a fan of white cheddar an

It’s a good time of year to have quick and easy appetizers in mind. These shells are no secret but I do forget about them sometimes. They’re perfect for elegant little bites! You’ll find these in your freezer section of the grocery store. They are usually near puff pastry and pie crust. I think they are quite popular during the holidays because I had to search a few stores to find them recently. So-stock up! Keep a few boxes in your freezer for a go-to appetizer. These are as

If I want to be nostalgic for my teenage years, I make these sausage bites. They are SUPER simple and only require 3 ingredients. My mom used to make them anytime we had a crowd gathering for breakfast or as appetizers. Of course you can zhuzh them up by adding different kinds of cheese or spices, but the original is pretty great! INGREDIENTS 1 pound breakfast sausage 1 block cream cheese, leave out at room temperature to soften 2 packages crescent rolls (the kind that come p

This is a completely insane pumpkin dessert that you don’t yet know you need! My friend Kim made this years ago and I was shocked at how amazing it tasted compared to how easy it was to make. Your home will smell divine! INGREDIENTS 1 - 29 ounce can Pumpkin Pie Mix OR plain pumpkin puree 1 - 6 ounce can evaporated milk 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup Sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 box yellow cake mix with pudding 1/2 pound b

I found these on Pinterest several years ago and just remembered them in time for Thanksgiving! They are delicious and super easy. The most important part is making sure you grease the muffin pans well. REALLY well. INGREDIENTS 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup all purpose flour 2 cups chopped pecans 2/3 cup butter, softened 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Grease mini or regular muffin pans. Be sure to generously

It is officially COLD in Nashville! We even had a sprinkling of snow throughout the day. This isn't my first chili of the year - but I've changed my recipe a little so I'm posting an update and adding some red wine ideas. Since we eat this a lot in fall and winter I've tried it with several kinds of wine and I have a few favorites. It's so interesting to read about and hear what wines people prefer paired with foods. It varies so widely and i'm always up for trying a new comb

It's that wonderful/stressful/fun/overwhelming time of year! I love the holidays, but I do get stressed trying to make sure I have everything ready/travel plans in sync/work covered/etc. Even so, the gatherings, traditions, decorations, FOOD, and spirit of the holiday season makes the memories more wonderful than stressful. That is only my own opinion (obviously). Each person has their own feelings - from wonderful to horrible and all the notches in between. Below are some id

🍋 Lemon is one of my top 3 favorite ingredients. I love it in both sweet and savory dishes and definitely in drinks/cocktails. Maybe I have been accused of using a bit too much at times (totally valid complaint) but this recipe is perfectly balanced. 🍋 It is both delicious and very easy to make - having only 5 ingredients. Great for a last minute treat! The ingredients are listed in both metric and imperial measurements since Nancy and her recipe are from the UK. For "serio

It has been COLD here and we've had snow in Atlanta twice in the past few weeks! So, I'm all about comfort food for the moment. I love a good Bolognese sauce for sure-but spaghetti and meatballs happens to be the go-to comfort food pasta dish at our house. I've started making extra meatballs to freeze since I found out they cook PERFECTLY from frozen in heated sauce. It makes a quick meal with no compromise on taste. I’ll add more details below. This recipe was shared with m

My grandparents had a huge pecan tree in their yard when I was growing up and it usually produced a ton of pecans. When I visited, after having moved a couple hours away, my grandfather would have bags of SHELLED pecans for me. I found out later that he gave my parents and uncles pecans too…but not always the shelled ones. Makes me feel special to this day! These have become a holiday tradition and I look forward to making them every year. They’re quick and truly easy - great

For some reason I’ve had pecan pie, instead of pumpkin-which I'm usually looking for, on my mind for Thanksgiving. Specifically, I’ve been thinking of the cutest little pecan tarts that my friend Anne makes. I prefer the crust to filling ratio with the small tarts. The buttery crust balances the super sweet filling. They’re always so good! "My sister-in-law gave this recipe to me when I was 18 years old. Her father raised pecans and she always made pecan pies for our Christm

Beef Bourguignon is one of my favorite cold weather meals that I make multiple times throughout fall and winter. I've tried several recipes and Ina Garten's is my go-to. It has a ton of flavor and easy instructions. I've been focusing on eating more plants since January AND it has been cold in Atlanta so I have been craving the flavors and comfort-food-tummy-warming feeling that Beef Bourguignon brings. Using the blueprint of Ina's recipe combined with some flavor boosting i

Ohh, where to start...there are so many desserts and I like them all! I'm going to err on the side of less is more here and just post the last couple I've had or made that are a bit off the beaten path. Pumpkin Roll I've always loved pumpkin desserts but this is my favorite! My mom makes this every year and I always make sure I have a slice saved for breakfast the next day with a cup of coffee. Cranberry Pudding Cakes These little "puddings" are the creation of the British Ba

My favorite holiday for sure! I love that it means time with family and friends AND that it means yummy, once-a-year dishes. I'll be headed home to Tennessee for Thanksgiving this year so, no huge meal-planning for me, but maybe someone wants last-minute ideas. I'll see my Memaw, pictured below, who is responsible for all the holiday traditions on my mom's side of the family. To say we love her is an understatement! When I don't make it home to TN I host Thanksgiving in Atlan

The first time I made Thanksgiving at home I was walking through all the typical dishes with my husband to see what we wanted to have and he asked about squash casserole. I'd had it before but needed a recipe so I checked the little cookbook from the church I grew up in. I know almost every lady who shared a recipe in that book and have very fond memories of them. I still think of the poeple there in that tiny church as a community who care about and want the best for each ot

I might be the only person who specifically asks for this one at my Memaw's Thanksgiving. It's a yummy cranberry sauce/relish that brings a lot of texture. I can eat this alone with no turkey...love it! INGREDIENTS 1 package fresh Cranberries, rinse, then simmer in about a half cup of water until they pop **Cranberries can also be finely chopped from fresh-no cooking OR you can use 1 can of Cranberries 2 Oranges, 1 peeled, 1 whole, chopped 1/2 cup Pecans, chopped 1/2 cup pine

I recently asked a few friends what they were looking for or looking forward to for the holidays. Ever since, I have one friend - whom I've known since I was five and grown up with - who says to post deviled eggs and keeps sending me hilarious Tik-Toks related to deviled eggs ever since. So this is for my oldiest-moldiest friend Heather B. These are such a Southern classic. I've grown up eating deviled eggs and sometimes forget about them until encountered at a dinner or holi

Some recipes bring to mind a specific person, time or place. This one does all of those things! My former roommate and good friend, Courtnie, was always like a sister and even shared her family. I ended up calling her Aunt Pam by the same name she did. The whole family was always sweet, supportive AND super fun! I remember lots of laughing anytime they were all together. This recipe has become part of my Thanksgiving menu. I've tried many mac and cheese recipes over the years

This recipe comes from my friend Robyn and I dare say it has replaced green bean casserole in my house. I love both...but this is a crowd-pleaser and we really do enjoy it for special occasions (as it is really rich). INGREDIENTS 5 cans whole green beans, or 32-48 ounces fresh green beans, boiled to fork-tender 1 package bacon (not super thick) ½ cup butter 1 cup brown sugar INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Lay 1 piece of bacon flat and top with a bundle o

It's that wonderful/stressful/fun/overwhelming time of year! I love the holidays, but I do get stressed trying to make sure I have...