
Ok – where does the time go? It’s December 22 and we’re T minus 3 days and counting. Oy Vey! So, here are a few more fabulous bloggers that told a little birdie what was on their holiday wish list this year.

Ok – where does the time go? It’s December 22 and we’re T minus 3 days and counting. Oy Vey! So, here are a few more fabulous bloggers that told a little birdie what was on their holiday wish list this year.
I put a question out to some of my favorite bloggers asking what would be THEIR picks for *the* perfect gift that they’d love to find under the tree and, let me tell you – I got some amazing responses.

Have you started to panic that Thanksgiving is almost upon us? Have you finalized that menu, planned the grocery list and started to prep? Don’t worry – I haven’t either – but I’m in panic mode now.
Here are a few links to some fabulous reads that will help you get your holiday plan in order.
First up: Blissfully Domestic has a Thanksgiving Cooking Checklist that is a must read.
Lana at Never Enough Thyme has some ideas for Thanksgiving Menu Planning.
Jen at One Curly Fry In A Box Of The Regular has her priorities set with Thanksgiving Cocktails. I know I’ll also be serving Sunny’s Bourbon Cider Twist – love that cocktail!
Megan from This Girl Can Eat has you covered with Wine Pairing Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Dinner.
If you watched Food Network’s Thanksgiving LIVE! yesterday – you probably noticed that the chefs all talked about the importance of appetizers (and cocktails) to keep hungry guests from driving you nuts. Sue over at Food Network Musings has a great idea for Tiny Thanksgiving Tarts that will have your guests “ooh-ing and ahhh-ing” over these stunning (yet simple) appetizers!
Michelle from Taste As You Go has a great idea for Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts that also would make a great appetizer!
Thanksgiving isn’t always just about the turkey –the sides play a vital role, imo. Kicking off the sides spotlight is Susan over at Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy with her Killer Candied Sweet Potatoes that not only sound delicious but, thanks to the photos, look scrumptious!
If you like a little spice in your sweet potatoes, why not try Alli – n– Son’s Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes instead?
Loralee at one of my favorite magazines, Where Women Cook, has a great recipe for a Broccoli Salad.
Do you serve soup as a starter? Instead of the typical butternut squash soup, why not try this Pumpkin Black Bean Soup from Ali Girl Cooks.
Gina at SkinnyTaste has a Make-Over Corn Casserole which is a cross between a corn pudding and a cornbreak that is waistline friendly.
Thanksgiving also requires that stuffing (or dressing) must be on the menu. Brown Eyed Baker has a Sausage Fig & Cranberry Stuffing which was adapted from the Barefoot Contessa that will definitely be on the menu in addition to my Bampa’s Chestnut Dressing.
Mother Thyme also has a Wild Rice and Cranberry Stuffing which is another great stuffing idea.
Chinese Grandma has a quick & easy recipe for a Easy Cranberry Sauce that will have you put away the canned stuff for good.
I’m going to attempt to make my own gravy (that is hopefully LUMP FREE) this year. One idea I have is from Michael Ruhlman and his foolproof method for a fabulous Turkey Gravy.
Brown Eyed Baker also has a recipe for Homemade Gravy that looks simple yet full of flavor. Did someone say Brandy?
Instead of the typical dinner roll, why not try Creative Culinary’s Pumpkin and Sage Biscuits with Sage and Caramelized Shallot Brown Butter.
Not Rachael Ray has a fabulous recipe for Pumpkin Cheddar Muffins that will also be on the menu this week.
Now – turkey prep time and everyone I talked to is all about the brine. I’m still considering but, if I do, I’m definitely going to try Annie Bakes’ recipe for Turkey Brine.
The first turkey I roasted – let’s just say it was a learning lesson. I have gotten MUCH better over the years but I’m always learning new tips and tricks. Michael Ruhlman comes to the rescue again with a new method for a Roasted & Braised Turkey.
We Are Not Martha also examines How To Cook A Butterball Turkey.
Finally, The Kitchn (which is always a wealth of information) discusses How To Cook A Turkey.
No Thanksgiving would be complete with dessert, right? I am pretty positive that Pumpkin Cheesecake will be on the menu this week as my dear friend Bec is rumored to be sending one down to Philly with my dad. Her recipe has spoiled me for any and all other pumpkin cheesecakes and – if she agrees – I might just have to disclose it here on Cooking in Stilettos. However, not having it here won’t help you this week so I found some alternatives.
When I’m looking for tried and true dessert ideas, one of the first blogs I think of is Emily from Sugar Plum and, sure enough, she has you covered with a Layered Amaretti Apple Pumpkin Pie.
I know many are all about the cupcakes (yes Jen – I also mean you!) and Something Swanky has a delectable Apple Cider Cupcakes and Salted Caramel Buttercream. (this is SO going in the recipe arsenal!)
Want something chic for dessert at the Thanksgiving table? Why not try Loralee of Where Women Cook delish Blueberry Lemon Mini Tarts.
Finally, another idea for a delightfully unexpected dessert instead of the typical pie comes from Susan of Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy with her Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.
What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers? Jaden at Steamy Kitchen has a great Turkey Gumbo that will be on the menu this year.
Not a gumbo fan? The Merry Gourmet has you covered with a delicious Turkey Tetrazzini casserole.
Don’t forget to make some Turkey Stock. Emily Malloy’s Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness has you covered.
Finally – no Thanksgiving would be perfect without a fabulous table. The Decor Girl has some great ideas on how to dress your holiday table for impact.
What’s on your menu for Thanksgiving this year?
Finally – because I’ve never done this before but thought “Why Not” – if you have a great Thanksgiving Recipe post, why not link below.

Now it’s almost 5 years later and I still had yet to try tabbouleh. Recently, I happened to catch an ep. of Aarti’s Party and saw that Aarti was making Quinoa Tabbouleh. I had most of the ingredients on hand, only really needing to go to Whole Paychex for some mint. Thanks to the Stiletto Chef aka Candice and her cookbook, I have become hooked on Quinoa which is a staple in my pantry.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised with how it came out. I remembered an article by Julie Anne Rhodes aka Jewels from the Roving Stove about unfiltered extra virgin olive oil and it’s benefits with salads. I decided to whip that out of the pantry for a nice flavor bump. Also, I added a touch more lemon juice in honor of Ms. M. and this salad didn’t last long in my household. It was even better for lunch the next day – definitely a recipe that will be a staple in my house.

This past month has kicked my butt in ways I didn’t even know could exist. Between all the medical drama with the Sous Pug, balancing the day to day with hospital visits, dog nutrition research (home cooked diet v. canned dog food), learning medical jargon, etc., I am wiped out. Shortly after the Sous Pug went home, he was rushed back to the hospital and had to undergo quite the surgery and had to stay there for basically another week to recover.
Officially the Sous Pug is home for good. However it’s a delicate balancing act between the morning feedings, the noontime check (and his midday snack), the evening feedings and don’t even get me started on the amount of medication I have to give him daily. When it comes to meds, that pug is smart and I can’t hide it in a daggone thing. If he finds it, he spits it at me and it’s a 45 min. wrestling match to get him to swallow just one pill. Add to that an ever watchful eye, his constant need for attention, his temper tantrums, doctor appointments and turning my home into a quasi hospital suite, well then, cooking (for me at least) has not been a high priority. I have, however, been cooking for him regularly as he’s not a fan of the new prescription dog food. This is a dog that adores spice and to remove that and leave him with bland chicken, hamburger and rice is heartbreaking. So, that has been my life for the past month and, quite frankly, I’m hoping this is the last month we will see with Wiggy’s pancreatitis and, if all goes well, they will remove his feeding tube. I can’t even begin to tell you how fabulous Hickory Veterinary Hospital is – they essentially saved my little guy’s life. Their doctors, techs and staff are all top notch and I think that some treats have to be made for those wonderful people. Of course, Wiggy won’t be able to partake but, who knows, perhaps one day.
In other news, with all that is going on, I found a little somethin’ somethin’ in the mailbox this weekend that had me clickin’ my stilettos with glee – namely, my shiny new Blog Tag. I have become a tad obsessed with jewelry lately and when I found out that Courtney from Coco Cooks is also a fab jewelry designer, well I had to take a peek. And when I saw that she did blog tags, well you know I needed to have a Cooking In Stilettos blog tag to add to my jewelry collection in my favorite metal – copper. Something bright and shiny to bring up the mood, right? She has some other stunning pieces and is so gifted when it comes to jewelry design so I know I will be adding some more Coco pieces to my collection.
If you would like a blog tag of your very own or some seriously chic pieces to add to your jewelry collection, check out Courtney’s jewelry site.

What a week! Well here are a few things that piqued this gal’s interest this week.

In addition to Cooking in Stilettos, I’m also a contributor at Philly Street Style – your home for all things fabulous.
Philly Street Style is hosting one heck of a giveaway – actually, it’s “Pretty Delicious” if I may say so myself. They are giving away a brand new copy of Candice Kumai‘s fabulous new cookbook, Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You. This cookbook has been my go-to cookbook since it came out and I have had great success with every recipe I have tried so far. Personally, I think it’s one of the best cookbooks I have gotten this year.
So – head over to Philly Street Style and enter. You have to hurry though – contest closes on Monday, April 4, 2011 at 5pm. Let’s make 2011 a delicious one!
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