Sweet & Spicy Roasted Nuts This recipe calls for just 5 simple ingredients that can go from raw to roasted in less than an hour. The nuts are tossed with a small amount of butter and maple syrup and seasoned with salt and spices. The result is a sweet, spicy, salty snack. These nuts smell so crazy good while in the oven, and taste even better when out. Trust me, you can't eat just one. This would be perfect served at a party or split into single-sized portions for quick snacks on the go. This recipe calls for chili powder as the main seasoning, and while the commercial stuff could be used, it's never been my thing. I think it's the Keep Reading

How to Roast Vegetables Raise your hand if you are just making it up as you go along. You, too? Good. I mean, we're all proficient at some things, but think back to when you were just starting out. From navigating the elementary school playground to understanding your freshman college syllabus to taking a tiny person home from the hospital, life involves a certain amount of stumbling around until you figure it out. When my husband and I got married, I was new to the whole someone-is-depending-on-me-for-dinner-every-night phenomena. It was my first Real Housewife of Hampton (no, not those Hamptons) challenge, and I was determined to do it well. Keep Reading

In 2011, my extended family decided to mix things up for Thanksgiving. We swapped out old standards for different recipes, most of which we'd never tried before. There was a flurry of emails and texts between all of us, as we split up food assignments and shopping lists. We met early and cooked together all afternoon. I loved it. It was my very favorite Thanksgiving meal ever. Unfortunately, there was a big fuss from the traditionalists in the family, so things have gone back to the turkey + stuffing routine. If your family wants to party like it's 2011, here are some of the recipes we used for that delicious dinner. Enjoy (and save some Keep Reading