Chinese Almond Cookies

These Chinese Almond Cookies are a tasty take on the traditional Chinese take-out cookie that symbolizes good fortune and good luck, especially for the Lunar New Year. 

 

The round cookies represent coins and the almonds on top represent good luck. 

Extra Gooey Sticky Buns

Serve these extra gooey sticky buns for a special breakfast for Valentine's Day for your whole family or for that special someone. 

These sticky buns begin with an extra buttery brioche dough that is amazingly soft and tender. The dough is layered with cinnamon sugar and toasted pecans, and then is baked in a spectacular honey and brown sugar caramel sauce and topped with more toasted pecans. 

Spaghetti with Breadcrumbs, Garlic, and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

This Spaghetti with Breadcrumbs, Garlic, and Olive Oil is a rustic and wonderful take on the classic dish spaghetti aglio e olio, or spaghetti with garlic and oil, from Naples, Italy. 

This pasta dish is pure comfort in a bowl and is wonderful served as a simple and romantic dinner for two along with a salad or a vegetable. 

Corn Sauté with Pancetta, Potatoes, and Peppers

This corn sauté with pancetta, potatoes, and peppers is a hearty side dish that goes perfectly with fried chicken, fish, or a juicy steak. 

This sautéed corn is so savory and buttery. You can serve it either hot or at room temperature, making it great for potlucks, picnics, or barbecues. You will definitely not regret making extra. 

Pineapple Avocado Salsa

This pineapple and avocado salsa is so simple to make and wonderful for dipping, adding to tacos and nachos, and totally refreshing for topping grilled fish such as salmon or halibut. 

I've tried this pineapple avocado salsa four ways. First, with homemade tortilla chips for dipping, later for topping pan seared cod, and with sourdough toast, like dressed up avocado toast, for breakfast. Finally, I stirred a little into some scrambled eggs. Everything was totally tasty. 

Bouchon Bakery Shortbread Cookies

Bouchon Bakery Shortbread Cookies - they are so simple, yet they can be so elegant, and they are perfect for a simple dessert, a snack, or for gifting. 

These shortbread cookies are a magical combination of flour, butter, sugar, vanilla bean paste, and kosher salt. You can make the dough in advance and refrigerate or freeze it, making baking ahead that much easier. The baked cookies can also be frozen. 

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup

With just a few ingredients, you can make this butternut squash and sausage soup in your slow cooker. 

You can prep the ingredients in the morning and serve this soup for lunch by noon. Start a little bit later in the day and you can enjoy this soup for dinner. The spicy sausage, combined with the butternut squash, brings so much flavor to this easy soup.