Hospitality Week Food Friday: Special, Yet Easy Recipes!

Because this is such a SPECIAL WEEK, I thought I'd do something totally different for Food Friday!  There are times when you want to serve something SPECIAL, food-wise, and yet you don't want it to be so difficult and time-consuming that it takes you away from what's important:  spending time with your guests!  So, I went on a search, and want to share with you these AMAZING RECIPES from across the Blogosphere and internet, via links and photos. When you try these, please comment here and let us all know how great they were, and any little tips for making them, ok?
I love the color in this first one, an appetizer, and at this time of year, you can't go wrong with turkey and cranberries.

From Blogger's Recipes

HappyMama has this awesome appetizer,
Cranberry Turkey Crostini

From A Pocket Full of Buttons:

Stuffing Frittata

This recipe just makes my mouth water, every time I think about it! Wow!

This guy has come up with a really warm, inviting soup!
This would be a great soup to serve to friends
at a casual Sunday night informal supper
and absolutely perfect this time of year for using all that pumpkin you have.
From Closet Cooking:

Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

No photo, but being Swedish,

I couldn't help including this recipe:)

From Scandinavian Cooking

Swedish Meatballs 

I love Rob Barrett's cooking videos, and it's not just because he lives in my city!  I have posted a bunch of Rob's recipes before, but this one is just perfect if you want to plan a really special Christmas meal, but true to form, Rob shows us how to make this soooo simple!

From Cooking for Dads (not just for dads, but for everyone who likes Easy, Delicious Food!)

Rob Barrett shows us how to make a special meal for Christmas: Prime Rib!

I can think of so many ways you could do this, for example, a quiet get-together with another couple or two (feed the kids early and put them to bed:) or a family Christmas tradition--you could even go to your church's candlelight service and when you get home your Prime Rib will be done!

And I saved the Best for last:  Dessert!

Did you know you can invite people over just for Dessert?
Of Course you can.
Or Dessert and a Night of Table Games
~Super Simple~
From
Ready Set Create:

Chocolate Candy Cane

From Joy of Desserts and More: 

Decadent Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

I hope you'll enjoy checking out these sites and recipes!  It was really fun to find them, and I hope you like them as well.  Now, go call up someone and invite them over!

Timely Tips on Tuesdays: Rob Barrett Cooking Monkey Bread

I love Rob Barrett's "Cooking for Dads" shows!  I get such a kick out of him! (Ok, please just start the video, and the big baboon face will go away, if it is still there:)  Yes, this really is a cooking show video--trust me! Oh, Rob.  And didn't his mother ever teach him not to slam doors? even microwave doors?  Well, anyways, these recipes look wonderful, and so easy.  I'm sure that you could substitute your own homemade bread dough--if you try that, make sure and tell me (and him) how it turns out!  Which kind of monkey bread do you like the best? I think I like two of them: the Savory, especially with the sauce he dips them in at the end:) or the White Chocolate and Raspberry! (Anything with chocolate in the name has to be good, right?!) Nummy! Enjoy!

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Rob Barrett Cooking Coconut Fish

Ok, on a lighter note: we're cooking fish today!

My husband loves fish, and he loves coconut! So, this is the perfect recipe for him.  Rob Barrett of "Cooking for Dads" is cooking Coconut Fish! (Do your kids like fish? Mine don't, but we keep trying:)  We live on a lake, where my husband catches bass standing on the edge of our lawn just casting out, right from shore! It's amazingly delicious when you're eating fish from your own lake 30 minutes from catch to eat!  When I was growing up, I hated fish (too many bones, I suppose... But that's a "fileting" problem, isn't it?) but I have learned to love fish.  I'm really looking forward to testing this recipe out on my husband, and I'll let you know if he likes it! (Such an unusual combination!)  I hope you'll try it, too (and love it)--and let me know what your "tricks" are for getting your kids/family to eat fish! Thanks! And,

Enjoy!

*Rob suggests you can cut down on the brown sugar about a 1/3, I believe, for a better result:)

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Rob Barrett's "Cooking for Dads" Video Cooking Asiany Peanut Butter Steak

It's Tuesday, and that means "Timely Tips on Tuesday".  The past few weeks I've been sharing with you some of the wonderful cooking videos by Rob Barrett that I recently found on Youtube.  Rob, of "Cooking for Dads" fame, is a local hero, from my neck of the woods, and is developing quite a faithful following.  Today, he's making "Asiany Peanut Butter Steak." A little later, I'll be posting the related video in which he shows how to make your own peanut butter. I really enjoy watching these videos, because he shows quick and easy ways to make recipes that look like you spent a whole lot more time cooking--in other words they look delicious!  I can't wait to try this one!

In this video, he does a little "Costco ad".

(My note: Shopping at Costco or Sam's Club can, actually, save you some money, (I love Sam's Club) *if* you shop wisely. For me that means:

1) Don't assume everything in the store is cheaper.
2) Don't buy 20 years' worth of something because the price was right, and,
3) Don't fall prey to buying the item you've "sampled" out of guilt, when you don't really want or need it!)

I hope these videos and recipes will help you feed those you love, deliciously and quickly, giving you more time to spend with them--Enjoy!

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Rob Barrett of "Cooking for Dads" Cooking Low-Fat Chicken Cordon Bleu

Do you want to eat well, but lose weight (or watch your weight), too? Here's a low-fat recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu that you might enjoy! Again, Rob Barrett (from "Cooking for Dads")shows us how to make it easy. Enjoy!

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Rob Barrett of "Cooking for Dads" Cooking 3 Distinctive Chili Recipes From One Base

Hi! This was actually aired just 6 days ago on KSTP Twin Cities Live, (right in my "Backyard"--How cool is that?) and Rob Barrett from "Cooking for Dads" shows how to make chili in 3 very distinctive ways, using the same basic base!  These look incredible!  We make chili a lot, and I can't wait to try the variation with the cream cheese added, 'cuz I Looove cream cheese! Sometimes I have added melted cream cheese to salsa for a fun dip for Nachos, and it's really good--kind of similar idea. But, wow, Chocolate chips? Watch this--and try these ideas--you'll be the hit at the next Potluck or Party!
(Try adding beef bouillon instead of the red wine, it will have the same effect of adding flavor, without the alcohol.)

Valentine's Dinner: Video Cooking Show

I just found this *great* cooking show on YouTube! "Cooking for Dads" but it's not just for dads, by a long shot!  Rob Barrett has put together some very professional cooking shows from his kitchen, which I'm going to post here on my Timely Tips on Tuesdays series, but I happened on this Valentine's Dinner, so I just had to post it right away--I know you're going to love it. I mentioned on Food Friday that children, especially daughters, need to learn how to cook.  Well, one thing I love about these videos is that he makes his recipes easy to understand and cook!  If you haven't already got something planned for Valentine's Dinner, try this! It looks really simple, and delicious. Coconut Shrimp, Salad, and special carrots...well, watch and see!