Blood Red Strawberry Pie | Volver #FoodnFlix

Food, life, secrets, and death permeate the landscape of this month's Food 'n Flix pick, the 2006 Spanish flick, Volver (roughly translated as "to return" in English). The return to an unspoken secret...the return to life.

Fresh Strawberry Muffins | The Roanoke Girls

Some secrets run so deep and fierce that they suffocate those who protect them. That is exactly the case with dark, chilling secret held by the Roanoke girls. It's caused generations of mystery and speculation around the girls born at Roanoke house. Beautiful women that either die or run. Welcome to the TLC Book Tours stop for The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel!

Slow Cooker Christmas Ham

To be fair, this ham can be made any time of the year, but I think it fits the holidays perfectly with the red, tart lingonberry jam and the scent of allspice and cloves. The best part is that the ham itself cooks up nice and tender in the slow cooker, all by itself, freeing you up to do other things with that much coveted resource—time!

A jar of lingonberries, some honey, and a little bit of warming spice are mixed to make a beautiful and festive glaze. One thing that you might notice missing is whole cloves. While I adore clove-scented ham as much as the next person, I don't adore having to pluck picking them (and usually missing a few) of the cooked ham.

Pineapple Cranberry Chutney + Eat Like a Gilmore Cookbook Review

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to this week's edition of the Gilmore Girls coffee klatch! In anticipation of Netflix's Black Friday release date of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Chef Sarah Elizabeth and I have been binging and the discussing the original seven seasons and sharing recipes inspired by the show for almost 2 months now.

Since I binged like a champion, I've been done for a couple of weeks now. So, while I may have shared my thoughts on the series finale last week, my Wednesdays are reserved indefinitely for hanging with the girls. I'll pull ideas from random (and often seasonally appropriate) episodes and share other random Gilmore Girls inspired fun.

Mixed Berry Crumb Pie with an All-Butter Press-In Crust

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Land O'Lakes, Inc. All opinions are my own.

Before I get into this delectable berry pie, I wanted to let  you know that I'll be working with Land O'Lakes, Inc. as an ambassador through the end of the year. I can't tell you how excited I am to be working with a company whose products I grew up seeing my grandma and my mom use, and that I always have in my own kitchen. I hope you and your family enjoy the recipes that I develop using Land O Lakes^® Butter and other products over the next six months as much as my family does!

Let's talk pie today. More specifically, let's talk pie crust, which seems to be the part of the pie that scares off most would-be pie makers. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say that they just can't make crust because they can't roll it thin enough or wide enough, or it breaks apart when after they worked hard at rolling it out and try lifting it into the pan. I get it, really. But let me tell you, there's nothing like the satisfaction of a biting into a pie that YOU made entirely from scratch.

Blueberry Lavender Shrub Syrup (Drinking Vinegar)

In case you haven't guessed, I'm on a bit of a shrub kick. I can't seem to get enough of the these amazing drinking vinegars once the weather gets hot and sticky. When poured over ice and topped off with some sparkling water, I'm hard pressed to find anything more refreshing (aside from plain ice water). So, when I found out that this month's Progressive Eats theme was "summer bounty", my brain immediately started scanning the fruit, berries, and herbs that I'd been stocking up on this past week.

Blueberry Buttermilk Popsicles (Paletas de Suero de Leche de Arándano) | #PaletaWeek

As this first week of summer continues, so do the popsicles! Today I'm sharing a variation on one of my go-to summertime freezer-fillers and my submission for Lola's Cocina's Paleta Week, Blueberry Buttermilk Popsicles. I know it's not a new discovery, especially to those in the American south, but drinking buttermilk is amazing way to help you beat the heat.

The first time I shared a buttermilk ice pop variation was in 2010, and it used cranberries and bananas (and also a kiwi and pineapple version). I've also shared a mixed berry version (that were made in a ZOKU) and my favorite of them all is cherry buttermilk. But this blueberry variety is disappearing fast, as well.

Strawberry "Brown Bread" Scones | Jane Slayre meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Welcome to the May edition of the All Vampire Book and a Movie Club! Our host Kimberly from Coffee and Casseroles chose two great offerings this month that differ from previous months in that the movie is not an adaptation of, or based on, the book. Instead, there's a common theme that ties them together—both have a female fulfilling her destiny of being a slayer as the main character. The chosen book being Jane Slayre, a reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre by Sherri Browning Erwin. The chosen movie was the flick that led to the popular tv series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The movie (1992): Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Set in modern-day (modern for 1992) Southern California, Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is a seemingly shallow teenage cheerleader whose biggest worry is whether an outfit is currently in style. But at night, she dreams of past lives in which she hunts and kills vampires. As her peers begin to go missing and show up later, changed into vampires, her small world is opened up when she meets a strange man named Merrick (Donald Sutherland) who informs her of her birthright...her destiny.

Blushing Apricot Pie | #FridayPieDay

Friday. Friday. Pie Day.

Well, the inevitable has happened. It's been in the 80's and muggy all week long. And, of course, that means it's time to start complaining about the weather. But the arrival of heat also means to arrival of fresh local fruit and berries. When I saw a bin stacked full of beautiful little orange-colored orbs at the market the other day, I immediately scooped some up with pie in mind!

Blueberry Thyme Pie inspired by North of Here

Today I'm hosting a book tour stop for the novel North of Here by Laurel Saville. The story centers around 4 characters and is divided into sections, each of which contain a period of interaction between 2 of them that trickle outwards and affect all of them. And while I did enjoy the way it was broken up, and the eloquent writing, I wasn't as fond of the book itself.

I don't know what it is, but lately I've found myself choosing books that are a bit unsettling. I'm very much an escapist reader by choice and want to be transported away from the dismal and despressive. But this book lays both on heavy. Plus, the main characters are an entirely unlikable bunch, with Dix being the only port in the storm.

(Almost) Nigella's Mini Cranberry Mince Pies | #FridayPieDay

We're having pie for Christmas—it's #FridayPieDay! Can I tell you something? I've never tried a traditional mincemeat pie. I don't know why. It wasn't something I grew up on, and apparently it's just another thing I've been "saving for later" for the twenty-plus years since I started making my own pie. I figured since it's a very traditional Christmas offering (um, in the UK), now would be the perfect time to give it a go.

Although I admit that I didn't go very traditional. I didn't use the really old-school variety that actually contained lamb or beef and I didn't make the traditional dark, currant-filled mince, either. Instead, I tried Nigella's cranberry mince—because cranberries!

But first, a little glimpse into the history of mincemeat. I mentioned that it was originally made with meat, but according to Why Christmas? it was also oval-shaped to represent the manger that Jesus slept in, the top crust representing his swaddling clothes.

Roasted Maple Vanilla Cranberry Sauce

Although my family has their preferred cranberry sauce for the Thanksgiving table every year, I like slipping in a new one every now and again just to see how it's received. I always hear people raving about homemade and then following that sentiment saying that they wish they could make it. I immediately tell them that they can and that homemade cranberry sauce is actually THE EASIEST dish on the whole holiday table to make.

Seriously, it doesn't get easier than 5 to 8 minutes on the stovetop. But this batch takes it one step further and roasts the cranberries. The time commitment isn't much more, you just need to wait for the oven to preheat. And the coolest thing about it is that roasting actually concentrates the flavor of the tart cranberries by removing some of their natural water via the process of evaporation.

Chocolate Fruit 'n Nut Bites

Here's the thing, I love holiday baking. The planning, the process, the wrapping, the handing out to teachers, bus drivers, neighbors, and loved ones...or at least, I used to. I'd still love it if I could only find the time to do it. For the past 5 or 6 years, it seems like I go to sleep after a satisfying Thanksgiving meal and wake up a few days before Christmas in a panic. The holidays are stressful, yo.

But I do my best to wake up in the middle of it all and actually get something done. Therefore, easy holiday baking and treat recipes are a life saver. And really, these chocolate fruit 'n nut bites couldn't be any simpler. There's not really even a recipe, but I did write down approximate amounts of what I used so that you could have a bit of a guideline to go off of.

Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie #FridayPieDay

Not only is today FridayPieDay, it's also the day after Thanksgiving, a holiday with a dessert table that centers around pie in my family. This year we had a mid-size gathering at my mom's house—just mom, her kids, and our kids which makes 15 people total. And yet, we still wound up with 5 pies. 3 people to a pie.

It's funny because there was only 1 pie and 1 cake scheduled in the initial "plan". We'd all volunteered to bring certain dishes and apparently all decided, individually, that 1 pie just wasn't going to cut it. And who knows what happened to the cake because it wound up being a no-show.

Cranberry Port Ring (Jellied Cranberry Sauce)

I've mentioned my fear of the jiggly cylinder that had a prime spot on the Thanksgiving tables of my youth before, but recently I decided to look at it in a new light. I know some pretty diehard fans of jellied cranberry sauce. Like my grandma, they have special serving dishes made specifically to fit that "can" shape when laid down on its side. They slice it ever just so, stacking a disk or two lovingly on their plate.

I decided that it was time to reevaluate my position on the stuff. After all, I didn't think that I liked cranberries at all as a kid unless they were in the form of juice or chewy dried bits, but it turns out that I actually can't get enough of them. For the past 20 years, that bowl of glistening ruby goodness that is whole-berry cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things on the table. And yet, I've seen the faces on some of my older family members when they realize that, once again, there is no can-shaped sauce to be found.

25 Cranberry Sauce, Relish, and Chutney Recipes for your Thanksgiving Table

What was once the dish I shunned that most at the Thanksgiving table is now the dish I can't do without—cranberry sauce! I've mentioned my distrust of the jellied cylinder that graced the holiday tables of my youth before. The day I discovered that not all cranberry "sauces" were created equal, my holiday menu was turned upside down. I started imagining which liquids, herbs, fruits, or spices would go into my cranberries to best complement the rest of the meal.

I have my favorite, but I'm always game for trying another version of cranberry sauce alongside it. Because hey, you never know. Oh, and I think it's worth mentioning that after so many years of shunning that jiggling ruby cylinder, I'm actually going to bring a homemade jellied cranberry sauce to our family potluck this year (surprise!). And I'm looking forward to it.

What form of cranberries will be gracing  your Thanksgiving table this year? If you're not sure yet, here are 25 cranberry sauce, relish, and chutney recipes  to inspire you!

Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Sauce by Peas & Crayons

Cabernet Cranberry Sauce from The Kitchen is My Playground (pictured)
Chipotle White Ale Cranberry Sauce from The Beeroness
Cranberry Apple Chutney from Nutmeg Nanny
Cranberry Chutney from The Spiced Life
Cranberry Chutney w/ Dates & Indian Spices from The Tomato Tart

Cabernet Cranberry Sauce by The Kitchen is My Playground

Cranberry Pear Chutney from Spoonful of Flavor (pictured)
Cranberry Port Ring (Jellied Cranberry Sauce) (pictured)
Cranberry Salsa from Farm Fresh Feasts
Cranberry Sauce with Ginger and Cloves
Cranberry Sauce with Ginger and Maple from The Roasted Root

Cranberry Pear Chutney by Spoonful of Flavor

Cranberry White Wine Sauce from Frugal Foodie Mama
Easy Cranberry Sauce with Apples, Pecans and Pineapple from Two Healthy Kitchens
Fresh Cranberry Sauce from The Lean Green Bean
Ginger Cranberry Sauce from spabettie
Ginger Laced Cranberry Orange Sauce from Nutmeg Nanny

Ruby Port Cranberry Sauce by Karen's Kitchen Stories

Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Maple Syrup from The Adventure Bite
Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce from Busy in Brooklyn
Orange Cranberry Sauce from A Cedar Spoon
Ruby Port Cranberry Sauce from Karen's Kitchen Stories (pictured)
Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Sauce from Peas & Crayons (pictured)

Cranberry Port Ring (Jellied Cranbery Sauce)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce from The Magical Slow Cooker
Spiced Cherry Cranberry Chutney from Cooking in Stilettos
Spiced Red Wine Cranberry Sauce (aka The Best (and Easiest) Cranberry Sauce. Like, ever.)
Thanksgiving Chutney Three Ways from The Nosher
Trina's Low-Sugar Fresh Cranberry Salsa with Cilantro, Lime, and Jalapeno from Kalyn's Kitchen


Check out my Pinterest boards for more Thanksgiving Food and Inspiration!


*Homemade Cranberry Jam with Fresh Fruits photo via Shutterstock

Cranberry Yogurt Custard Pie with Nutty-Oat Crust

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Greek Gods® Yogurt. All opinions are my own.

Do I need to tell you how much I adore pie? If you've visited me before, probably not. But just in case this is your first time here, I have something to tell you. PIE IS MY JAM! When forced to choose between pie and cake, I'll choose pie every time. I love it so much that I devote the last Friday of each month to it. And, when it came time for me to put on my big girl panties and start contributing to our Thanksgiving (extended) family meal, I brought homemade pie.

Now that we're clear on my feelings for pie, you'll understand why I immediately jumped at the chance at partnering with The Greek Gods brand Greek-Style Yogurt to make a Thanksgiving-inspired pie featuring their yogurt. That and the fact that you can find a carton of their Honey Greek Yogurt in my fridge at all times.

One of my favorite things to eat when I want a lighter breakfast option, or even a midday snack, is a serving of the honey Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and granola. I've tried all sorts of combinations—my favorite being peaches so ripe they drip down your arms when you try to slice them and honey almond granola. But since I don't think peaches when I think Thanksgiving, that combo was out (but you can bet I'll be making a peach version of this pie next summer).

Initially it was a toss-up between spiced apples and a variation on a pumpkin pie, but since those are both regulars in our holiday dessert spread already, I decided to go with cranberries instead. I am so glad that I did. By first tossing the cranberries with some honey and vanilla, it "tames the tart" a wee bit, plus the honey accents the honey Greek yogurt in the creamy custard that the cranberries wind up suspended in after baking.

As a nod to that breakfast I enjoy, I made the crust from the same main ingredients that go into granola—oats and nuts. The results? A festive pie that has earned its spot on our Thanksgiving menu this year...and probably every menu in the future!

The Greek Gods® brand Greek-Style Yogurt and Kefir are gluten-free and contain live and active cultures. Plus, The Greek Gods® brand Greek-Style Yogurt and Kefir are made with milk from cows that are not treated with growth hormones.

Interested in learning more? Connect with The Greek Gods Yogurt: website | facebook | twitter | instagram | pinterest

Cranberry Yogurt Custard Pie with Nutty-Oat Crust

Roasted cranberries suspended in a sweet Greek yogurt custard make up the filling of this pie with a nutty-oat crust that is perfect for the holidays.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 90 minutes

Cook Time: 45-50 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert soy-free vegetarian cranberries yogurt honey Christmas Thanksgiving pie American fall winter

Ingredients (8 to 12)

for the cranberries:

• 2 cups whole cranberries
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (use pod for something else)
• pinch of fine sea salt

for the crust:

• 2 cups toasted nuts (any one or a combination)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• pinch of fine sea salt

for the yogurt custard:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup (6 ounces) The Greek Gods Honey Greek Yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• whipped cream (as much as you like), to serve

Instructions

make the cranberries:

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Toss all of the ingredients for the cranberries together in a medium bowl. Lay them out on the prepared baking sheet. Slide into preheated oven and roast until the cranberries begin to pop and release their juices, 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.

make the crust:

Combine nuts, oats, butter, sugar, and salt in a food processor and process until finely ground, ~3 minutes. Dump into the bottom of a 9.5-inch pie plate and press into the bottom and up the sides. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Clean the bowl of the food processor for later use.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Set plate on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely.

make the yogurt custard and finish the pie:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Scrape the cooled cranberries into the bottom of the crust and spread evenly.

Combine sugar, milk, yogurt, eggs, flour, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of the food processor and process until smooth. Pour into the crust over the cranberries.

Set the pie on a baking sheet, then slide into preheated oven and bake until the filling is set, 45-50 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Store cooled pie, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Serve cold or at room temperature with a big pile of whipped cream on the top.

Have you ever used Greek yogurt in a pie? If so, was it in the filling or the crust (or both)? I'd love to hear how you'd use Greek Yogurt to transform a favorite Thanksgiving pie this holiday season...and so would The Greek Gods Yogurt! Enter your favorite pie recipe using Greek Gods Greek-Style Yogurt in their Fall Pie Recipe Contest for a chance at winning some great prizes.

Spiced Red Wine Cranberry Sauce aka The Best (and Easiest) Cranberry Sauce. Like, ever.

Growing up, I used to cringe at the thought of eating cranberry sauce. I would say I didn't like it, but honestly, I can't remember even trying it. The thing is, the one on our Thanksgiving table was the kind that was still in the shape of the can. My grandma had a special crystal dish that she served it on every year. The dish was rectangular and the cylinder of gleaming red jelly fit perfectly on its side, then somebody would slice it. It just wasn't appealing to me.

When I decided that I wanted to start contributing  to the Thanksgiving meal, the first two things I made were pie...and homemade cranberry sauce. Through the world of food magazines, I realized that cranberry sauce—
a) didn't have to come in a can
b) could contain whole berries
c) is the simplest thing on the planet to make
d) is DELICIOUS!

This is my family's favorite version; I've been making it for almost 20 years now. Even though I still like to experiment and try new flavor combinations, you'll always find a batch of this on the table—it has four generations of people who look forward to it!

Spiced Red Wine Cranberry Sauce

Red wine, cinnamon, and star anise elevate this simple cranberry sauce to a whole new level.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Keywords: simmer side sauce dairy-free nut-free soy-free vegan cranberries wine cinnamon Christmas Thanksgiving American fall

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

• 3/4 cup of your favorite red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, or Merlot are all good choices)
• 3/4 cup granulated or raw sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole star anise
• 12 ounces whole, raw cranberries

Instructions

Combine the wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, and star anise in a medium-sized pot over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and the wine just comes to a boil, ~3 minutes.

Add the cranberries to the pot, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring from time to time until the cranberries just begin to pop, ~5 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to sit until cooled to room temperature. At this point, you can transfer it to a bowl or container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Remove cinnamon stick and star anise before transferring to a serving dish. Serve warm or cold (I love it warm).

Notes:

This recipe doubles well - I know because I ALWAYS make a double batch.

Sometimes I add a pinch of vanilla sea salt in with the sugar. It's not necessary, but if you have some hanging around anyway, give it a try.

Grilled Duck Half w/ Raspberry Barbecue Sauce

Would you believe me if I told you that you could have tender, succulent duck for dinner on a busy weeknight? Well, guess what? You CAN have tender, succulent duck for dinner on a busy weeknight! It's simply a matter of combining seasonal fruit and raiding your spice cupboard to throw together a flavorful barbecue sauce while your grill heats up.

You may know that I am a Maple Leaf Farms ambassador for a few simple reasons. They are a local family-run business here in Indiana and they produce a superior product that stems from caring and commitment. I'm not paid to use, write, or talk about their products—I do it because I think everybody should know about their availability.

Red Fruit Salad

Red. The color of love and passion. It's bold. It's exciting. It draws the most eyes in any crowd. It disappears first in any candy jar. So, while it's important to eat the rainbow in order to get the best variety of nutrients and antioxidants, sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and embrace the intensity that is RED!

Who doesn't go crazy for sweet, juicy red fruit and berries at their peak? Who else has to purchase an extra pint of wild strawberries from the farmers market...just so that you'll actually have some left by the time you get home?

I've probably mentioned it a time or five before—for me, there's no season like cherry season. Is it wrong to eat one's weight in cherries? I think not.