Every year during the holidays we feel compelled to make cookies. I have a friend of mine that most years she makes massive amounts of cookies, and I love to go over there, and while I am put to work, I also get in trouble for feeding as many cookies as toddlers like to eat. Toddlers love cookies. For me it isn’t the holidays unless you have some 7 layer cookies, in my house we always called them Hello Dolly cookies, why? I don’t know. Pecan Sandies are my next runner up when it comes to holiday cookies.

Christmas Wreaths is a post from: CopyKat Recipes | Restaurant Recipes

Thanksgiving Dinner Recommendations

I think that this is one of the most important meals of all year. I can’t think of a meal that we all spend more time on, than this one. Perhaps like you, I don’t think it is Thanksgiving without a perfectly cooked turkey. The one that I have tried and liked the best is Alton Brown’s Roasted Turkey. This turkey requires a little more preparation than, but between the brinning the bird makes the meat sweet and delicious. Even if you don’t use this recipe simply brinning the turkey in a salt and sugar brine will make the bird taste so much better. You can make a simple brine of equal parts of salt and sugar for a succulent bird.

Now let’s talk about appetizers. One of my new favorite appetizers, is green bean bundles. If you have never tried the green bean bundles, this is a recipe that I highly suggest. Fresh steamed green beans are wrapped with bacon, and seasoned with a sweet and savory sauce.

I also like to serve up a simple baked brie, all you need is some puff pastry, and a chunk of brie. Simply saute some almonds in butter, and take a sheet of puff pastry dough, add your brie, the sauteed almonds, and a tablespoon or two of brown sugar, and bake. This is a great way to keep everyone at bay until the meal is ready.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a fabulous side dish. Beautiful Brussels sprouts are a beautiful side dish that is perfect to serve. Everyone loves bacon, and these are so easy to make, you can make these ahead of time, and reheat these when it is time to serve them.

Olive Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake is a must have dessert. A gingersnap inspired crust is served with a pumpkin infused creamy New York style cheesecake, that is topped with a pumpkin spiced whipped cream is hard to top. Here you can combine the best of cheesecake and pumpkin pie.

These are just a few of the dishes that will be served at my Thanksgiving table. I hope this may help you with your menu planning.

Thanksgiving Dinner is a post from: CopyKat Recipes | Restaurant Recipes

Labor Day Recipes

Now, for labor day, I love to grill, I will grill up burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and if I can find good steaks on sale, well those get thrown on the grill too. I like to spend time with my friends as much as possible, I don’t like spending too much time cooking while my friends are over, well unless I can get them to help as well.
Appetizers
So, I must confess, I love appetizers, honestly, I could live on appetizers and desserts. I am generally far more concerned about appetizers than I am any other part of the meal. I will try to reign in my appetizers for you guys, otherwise this would be a list of appetizers.
Houston’s Spinach Artichoke Dip – This wouldn’t have been on my mind, but recently I went to a party, and I realized how much I loved spinach artichoke dip. This copycat recipe for Houston’s Spinach Artichoke dip is one of our recipes that receive the most compliments.
Luby’s Stuffed Jalapenoes – Pickled jalapeno peppers are stuffed with a flavored cream cheese, these are a little spicy, but not too much. Want to take it really easy, stuff these with goat cheese, and they are just as good, and easy to make.

Side Dishes
Better than KFC Cole Slaw – I love this recipe, this makes delicioius cole slaw, and you can make it ahead of time. This copycat recipe is easy to make, inexpensive, and it makes a large quantity. You can make this recipe up to two days ahead of time, so you aren’t in a rush the day of your event.
Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad – This is another easy to make salad that helps to stretch the budget and you can make this ahead of time. Freshly shredded carrots, raisins and a creamy dressing makes for a refreshing salad everyone is sure to love.
Other dishes I will be making, grilled corn on the cob, and grilled potato packets. My grilled potato packets are simply potato and onion slices wrapped in foil seasoned with salt and pepper with a couple of pats of butter on them and cooked on the grill. These potato packets take about 20 minute or so, so I like to start them before I start to grill the meat.
Desserts
Sopapilla Cheesecake – this is not a copycat recipe, but it was one I made recently and received numerous compliments, and it may be one that your friends and family have not previously tried. Cresent rolls, a cheesecake filling make for an easy to prepare dessert.
Colonia Cottage Buttermilk Pie – Buttermilk pies may not be familar to everyone, but they are one of the easiest pies to make. Buttermilk pies take very few ingredients, and you pour this creamy and tangy filling into a frozen pie shell, and it you will have homemade pie in no time.

Cocktails
I enjoy serving up delicious copycat cocktails at parties I throw at my house. I like to prepare cocktails that you may not always order when you go out. Sometimes cocktails are expensive when you have them in the restaurant, but at home, they cost much less. Here are a few of my favorite cocktails to serve.
TGI Friday’s Sex on the Beach
Joe’s Crab Shack Ya Ya Punch – everytime I have served up this cocktial I have had to make a 2nd or 3rd batch of this drink. Wonderfully fruity and refreshing is perfect for a hot summer day.

For me, the main thing about those nice holiday weekends is having extra time to get together with your friends and family. Enjoying a meal with someone is a great way to spend time together, best of all, you don’t have to spend a lot of money when you prepare food at home. Why not have a pot luck and have everyone bring a favorite dish or two of theirs? I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend and that you get to spend time with those that you love.

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day Weekend Recipes is a post from: CopyKat Recipes | Restaurant Recipes

Beet Dyed Hard Boiled Eggs

Other fun things to do with Eggs
Dying eggs with herbs
Naturally dyed eggs
Cascarones – Mexican Easter Eggs
Many ways to dye eggs
GeekFare – My inspiration for these eggs

Beet Dyed Hard Boiled Eggs is a post from: CopyKat Recipes | Restaurant Recipes

Blow torches are not toys, but you can cook with them. If you are doing to do this outside, do not do it on a windy day. Do it where the air is still. You can buy a very inexpensive blow torch at your local hardware store. I purchased mine for about 15 dollars. So what do you want to bet that I will be making crème Brule sometime soon?

Honey Baked Ham like Honeybaked Ham is a post from: CopyKat Recipes | Restaurant Recipes