Holiday Cranberry Phyllo Baskets

These just scream Christmas, don't they?  I wanted to show you this recipe to give you plenty of time to include this in your holiday entertaining.  I love cranberry desserts at the holidays - they are so pretty, with the cranberries looking like little jewels. These phyllo baskets are simply scrumptious and you can make the components of these ahead of time, making it a breeze to assemble right before you want them.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Pancetta

I'm a little overwhelmed by all the e-mails I received about the Auction Dinner.  I was so happy to share the menu with you and some of the fun touches from the dinner.  Thanks to all of you who let me know how much you enjoyed it.  

Fall means knitting to me and this year I've become obsessed with doing mittens (it used to be scarves).  I just finished these purple and black Delphine mittens that a local shop owner here designed.  Was so much fun. Knitting is sort of my Zen place.

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Auction Dinner Party

What's the best part of serving a dinner party for a group of people who bought it at an auction?  They are there for the food!  When I was asked last year to donate a dinner for our local high school's fundraiser, I didn't have to think about it long before I said yes. As part of the package, the Varsity Lacrosse coach was going to be my waiter for the evening. Cook a dinner for a group of people who are actually going to be paying attention to the food?  Yes! Cook a dinner where I can just stay in the kitchen and plate things and send them out? Yes! That was my idea of a good time.

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