Apples, pumpkins, spices. Those scream FALL to me.

Some of my favorite things to do with those fall favorites are a bit out of the ordinary.

Like the chicken breast roast with apple and tart cherry above. Check it out here for inspiration.

Ever tried spiced apple streusel tartlets for dessert? With ice cream? To die for! Feels like you’re sitting at Grandma’s table wearing a cable knit sweater every time.

Want a great fall meal? Try a hickory smoked turkey followed up by a pumpkin cheesecake.

Holy autumn that’s good!

What are your favorite fall foodie dishes? Dish ’em out here so we can all drool over them, will ya?

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

It’s COOKOUT time of year!!!

You want to invite the whole gang over to beat the heat and share some good, grilled grub.

With a little planning, your cookout can be the Greatest Cookout of All Time. And everyone – including you – will have lots of fun.

How does this happen? Follow this simple checklist for a fantastic cookout!

1. INVITATIONS

You can obviously just verbally invite folks over but if you do that you don’t have a concrete RSVP list. And that makes food and supplies hard to judge. My advice is good, old-fashioned invitations in the mailbox. Guests can RSVP by e-mail, but go all out and send ’em some paper!

2. MENU PLANNING

Think about the number of people who’ll be there, but also WHO will be there. Does everyone like filets? Burgers? Chicken? Seafood? Make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy. And load up on sides and desserts, too, like gourmet mac ‘n cheese and red velvet cake. Check out these recipes for inspiration. Hey, variety is the spice of life!

3. DRINKS

Don’t forget to quench their thirst! Make sure if you’re going to have alcoholic drinks, you also have non-alcoholic drinks. And have lots of water on hand. It’s hot out there!

4. DECORATIONS

You can really give your cookout a special feel if you decorate just for the occasion. Go Hawaiian or decorate with a down-home Southern twist. Really make it special!

5. ENTERTAINMENT

This can be as simple as setting out a game of horseshoes or croquet to play while the food is grilling. Or, even designating a DJ. Just give ’em something to focus on before, during and after the food makes its grand entrance!

If you plan it all out ahead of time, you can just go with the flow and enjoy your friends and family at your cookout. And THAT is what summer’s all about!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

It’s time to start thinking about Easter menus. And, for me, I stress less if I can make most things ahead of time.

So let’s stress less, shall we?

There are so many menu choices that we can prepare beforehand, and then heat or simply serve when mealtime comes.

For me, a ham is a must-have. We don’t sit down to eat a ham often so it’s usually a holiday dinner for us. Luckily, it’s a heat and serve type entree. And that makes me happy.

The sides and dessert? Well, that’s a different story.

Click here to see a beautiful make-ahead Easter menu including glazed carrots with pistachios (beautifully displayed above), spring pea soup, chutney-glazed ham, pepper cheese biscuits and lemon beehive meringues.

This, my friends, is the recipe for a fantastic Easter meal!

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens at BHG.com.