Dinner! Invite her over as usual, but make this evening extra special. Greet her with a festive appetizer — Pineapple, Ham & Swiss Appetizers are a delicious and easy way to begin. Be sure to offer her a favorite beverage, and play music she loves.

Let her sit and relax while you do the work! Prepare a spicy-sweet entrée, Asian Shrimp with Pea Pods & Bell Peppers, and serve it sizzling warm on steamed rice. Prep all the vegetables and ingredients, and cook the rice before she arrives. With everything chopped and ready, cooking takes less than 10 minutes, and the delightful aromas and freshness of this dish will add to the atmosphere of fun.

As the evening winds down, brew some decaf coffee and unveil a simple yet stunning Café Latte Tart. She’ll know she raised you right!

We are happy to report to you, Robin, that we do have such things in our recipe collection! And we think your idea to get some desserts into the freezer is brilliant.

You can’t go wrong with festive Candy Cane Dessert Squares – a pink peppermint dessert lined with rich chocolate ganache that is delicious frozen or refrigerated, and certain to get rave reviews. Or, bake and freeze some lovely Pecan Tarts with Orange Cream, and simply add the orange whipped cream when you thaw and serve. Pound cakes also freeze well – Cranberry Walnut Maple Pound Cake baked in two loaf pans is a nice holiday choice. Wrap your cooled loaves in plastic food wrap and then in foil. Add the drizzle after thawing for a moist, irresistible treat!

Happy Holidays!

Every family has its traditional favorites for Thanksgiving dinner. Still, there is always room in the menu for a few surprises to keep the meal interesting and maybe even start a new tradition.

Our Pistachio-Sprinkled Green Beans or Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes are simple dishes that add a touch of elegance to the table. For dessert, bake a deliciously rich Chocolate-Laced Pecan Pie that combines a classic pecan pie recipe with chocolate chips for irresistible results.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving