Pumpkin Hummus
On Thanksgiving, it’s nice to have some nibbles before dinner, but I like to keep them light so everyone is really hungry for the main event. Pumpkin hummus is festive, colorful, and full of flavors of the season.
Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette Sauce
Oysters are supposed to be an aphrodisiac. I'm not so sure about that, but I really like eating them. They make for a nice light appetizer paired with a glass of Champagne-perfect for a romantic dinner.
Roasted Beet and Beet Green Salad with Warm Pistachio Salsa Verde
Whether with friends or my loved one, I like to have at least one dish on the menu that is heart-healthy. This year, I'm making my Roasted Beet and Beet Green Salad with Warm Pistachio Salsa Verde. Besides all of the health benefits, the most positive effect of this salad is that it tastes so darn good! Enjoy in good health and Happy Valentine's Day!
Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Aioli
This is a great hors d'oeuvre to make ahead of time for a cocktail party. I steam the asparagus and make the aioli the day before and store them in the refrigerator until serving time.
The "Perfect" Manhattan with Drunken Cherries
For this recipe, I turned to my two favorite cocktail guru girls, Leanne Shear and Tracey Toomey.
Oven-Fried Chicken Satay
By coating chicken in cornflakes and baking it, I get the same crunchy effect without all of the labor. I like to serve this with my homemade BBQ sauce.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Also known as ‘Devils on Horseback’. People go crazy for these bite-size snacks, which only take minutes to prepare.
Sausage Balls
These are such a great cocktail party snack. They are so easy to eat and taste great. I also like to make these as an hors d'oeuvre at brunch parties.
Meatloaf Sliders
The most popular recipe from my first cookbook was meat-loaf. I called it "manloaf" because if you make it for a man, he's destined to fall in love with you.
My Thanksgiving Fake-Out Recipes!
The holiday season is all about spending time with family and friends, and eating delicious food, of course! It's crunch-time to get everything ready for the big day and these are a few of my favorite “fake-out” recipes that are simplified to make your Thanksgiving prepping stress-free!
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dates, Manchego and Almonds
Between the turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, and pies, oven real estate is scarce on Thanksgiving. In the past, I've always made roasted brussels sprouts and juggled what needed to go in the oven when. This year, I'm giving myself a break with one less thing to take up that precious oven space -- I'm making my shaved brussels sprout salad instead.
Caramelized Vidalia Onion Dip
As you probably know by now, summer is my favorite time of year. Here in the Hamptons, I spend most of my time at the beach (with Gus of course!), on my little Boston Whaler boat, picking up goods at the farm stands, and cooking with my friends and family. On the coast of the northeast, we appreciate our summers so much after months upon months of bad weather, and we try to squeeze in every drop of fun that we can!
Chicken and Broccoli Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash
I like to eat, portion control is not an option for me! Ha ha! So, I have to create healthy meals that I love but won't feel guilty about eating. This chicken and broccoli twice-baked spaghetti squash is one of those meals. It's so good, and so filling and so guilt free - spaghetti squash is only 42 calories per cup and it's full of fiber! I also love this because it can be a main dish, or with just a simple omission of chicken, it can be a side dish for a larger meal.