What's Up? Magazine

It's the time of year for looking back and reflecting on what we did in 2011. I can say I did a whole lot of cooking. 

Most people, including me, have the impression that making pasta is difficult or requires a special machine. Every once in a while I surprise myself and prove it isn't so.

Some vegetables scare me. Nearly all varieties of greens, minus spinach, fall into that category. But my goal is always to try new things, particularly vegetables, so tonight was the night to work on Swiss chard. And, guys, guess what? It was super good and super easy -- absolutely nothing to be afraid of at all.

It's easy to get caught up in planning Thanksgiving courses for you and your family, but have you stopped to think about what you beverages you will serve? Most people opt for bottles of wine and don't think to get creative in this area. After my last blog post, I've been thinking more about what cocktails I might serve at my Thanksgiving dinner. Here are four great ideas.

Call me crazy, but planning a menu and writing out a grocery list soothes me.

There’s something to be said for keeping tradition alive around Thanksgiving. Year after year, we break out the family candlesticks for the dinner table, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade until Santa appears, and gather with our closest friends and family to give thanks for the blessings we’ve had during the year.

I managed to get three days into November before creating my first Thanksgiving-related post on this blog. This is an achievement.

I own a lot of cookbooks, but I must say that rarely are they ever opened. 

That creamy, decadent macaroni and cheese you see just above was my dinner last night. And it has a secret.

The Recipe: Chicken with Olives over Whole-Wheat Linguine

The Source: The Pioneer Woman