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Mashed potatoes have always been one of my favorite comfort foods and side items to any meal, especially in the fall and around the holidays. No holiday dinner is quite complete without this traditional and delicious dish.

Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Growing up, we had our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with my mom’s side of the family in Colorado. We all live within a couple of miles of each other, so travel is easy to say the least. Plus my cousins and I are all relatively close in age, so holidays are always a blast! Each family contributes something a little different each year to the feast, but my Uncle is always in charge of making the mashed potatoes. His mashed potatoes are the absolute most delicious potatoes I have ever had in my life. I’m pretty sure that if he decided to take a year off, we would all boycott the whole holiday! They are just that good!

I recently had a casual dinner party with my boyfriend’s family and decided that mashed potatoes would be the perfect addition to the meal. I was serving a brown sugar and Dijon mustard glazed salmon and pine nut and Parmesan roasted asparagus, so I thought these mashed potatoes would pair perfectly. My Uncle’s recipe has never been completely revealed, so I have been experimenting a lot trying to get the mashed potatoes just perfect! One thing I know is that he uses russet potatoes, but as I have been exploring different recipes, so many people recommend the red potatoes. You can make this recipe with either russet or red potatoes, but I have to say, after making this recipe quite a few times now just this week, I stand behind the russet potatoes! 

This macaroni and cheese recipe is one of my absolute favorite go-to’s when I am looking for a unique twist to a traditional comfort food. Everyone loves a good homemade macaroni and cheese, but the bacon and hot pepper puts a spin on a classic that is sure to get your guests lining up for more! The addition of the bell peppers and jalapeños bring a freshness to the dish, while the bacon brings a nice sense of comfort.

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I am absolutely LOVING these buffalo chicken wonton cups these days! With the start of fall, it is time for warm sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin spice everything! But also with the start of fall, is football season!! Time for tailgates, corn hole, reconnecting with TCU friends, and of course….good food! Tailgating snacks are always the best, but these buffalo chicken wonton cups take the cake!

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These are pretty quick and easy to make and are best served straight from the oven…plus they are unique, so always a crowd pleaser! 

I have been experimenting with breakfast potatoes quite a bit lately. I’ve tried frying them, cooking them on a skillet, and baking, and I have to say these are best and easiest of them all! They are perfectly crisp on the outside but still soft on the inside. The perfect amount of spice and salt rounds them off perfectly. Plus they are SO easy to make. A little bit of chopping, slicing and dicing, then throw them in the oven for 40 minutes and voila! They are perfect and ready to be served.

Potatoes redoI like to make these for brunch parties of all sizes, whether it is a large party of 10 or more or a more intimate gathering. They are always a crowd pleaser. I made similar potatoes on a skillet for a brunch party a few weeks ago, but I found that baking them just streamlines your party prep process and allows you to focus on other details rather than needing to babysit them on the stove. Plus it leaves some stove space available if you are making pancakes or eggs or anything that requires a skillet. 

Caprese bites are the easiest appetizer for any party, whether it’s a formal cocktail party, an outdoor picnic, or a casual dinner party, these easy bites are perfect! I recently made these for a Summer Soiree that my roommates and I threw as a semi housewarming/end of summer celebration. These were the perfect addition to my “Snack” menu, as they were easy for guests to pick up and eat while mingling and visiting with other friends.

caprese bite 2

Menu planning can be a challenge…You have to consider the mood you’re trying to create, the formality, and of course, the tastes and preferences of your guests. A lot to think about, right?

 Well, I embrace this challenge! Planning the perfect menu is one of my favorite things to do, and I spend an inordinate amount of time in a day doing just that! My roommate recently went to a dinner party at her boyfriend’s parents’ house. The host was serving a coconut crusted salmon and asked my roommate to bring a side that would complement the salmon. Since a majority of my daydreaming time is spent menu planning and coming up with spins to classic recipes, she asked me to help her come up with some ideas.

A quick brainstorming session led us to a scrumptious solution — these beautiful bacon and rosemary scalloped potatoes. I had been wanting to experiment with scalloped potatoes for a while, so this was the perfect excuse!

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