The Tiny Fairy

What to make on game day…hmmm. Not just any game day, thee game day – the Super Bowl! I could have made a full Cuban menu since the host city…

I love trifle desserts. They are delicious, easy to assemble and always make a statement. This dessert has been requested at Christmas Eve dinner for over 25 years, but you…

As much as I love to cook and entertain, I’ve never been one for large crowds – especially over the holidays. My idea of ringing in a new year is…

Twenty nine years ago, Santiago Rivera, owner of La Viña in San Sebastian, Spain, created the Basque Burnt Cheesecake for the patrons at his bar. The cheesecake has gained popularity…

Ever feel confused and overwhelmed with all the options? Sometimes I feel like I need to be a sommelier to know what to drink. While I am far from knowledgeable…

When entertaining, I like to either prepare a batch of cocktails in a pitcher or I like to make a punch for my guests to help themselves. This Christmas, I…

All I can say is everything is better with butter! This is the creation of Danielle Kartes from Rustic Joyful Food and it is the best coconut macaroon I’ve eaten.…

This is a show stopper! This cake is magnificent! In flavor, texture and presentation. Three glorious layers of German gingerbread spiced cake with a creamy yet not overly sweet mascarpone…

Peanut Butter Blossoms are a perfect cookie for the peanut lover! It’s a beautiful chewy cookie, lightly coated in sugar and topped with a Hershey’s chocolate kiss. This recipe was…

These little gingerbread spiced sugar cookies are wonderful! They have a mild gingerbread flavor rolled up in a sugar cookie. How perfect is that? I’m not a fan of Gingerbread…

Sharing with you today my Nostalgic Lodge Christmas Tree – this is our main tree in the formal living room. This is the first year without a natural tree. While…

No other holiday brings family and friends around a bounty of food to give thanks to God for a year of blessings. What an amazing country we live in and…

It’s easy to decorate your holiday desserts and cocktails with sugared fruit. Depending on the number of desserts or cocktails with sugared decorations, I may sugar half a bag of…

This Classic Pumpkin Roll is a true holiday classic! The roll (sponge cake) is light and moist with a mild pumpkin flavor. Mascarpone cheese is Italian cream cheese and because…

Had this delicious side at a company Thanksgiving luncheon a few years back and I loved it. Probably because it wasn’t the usual creamed vegetable and it had a beautiful…

This Classic Cranberry Sauce is my go to recipe. It’s simple and uncomplicated is always best since you don’t want so many flavors competing over the Thanksgiving meal. Place all…

Love, love, love sangrias! Sangria – the national drink of Spain and Portugal. A glorious combination of red wine, fruit, and spirits. Served at bars, restaurants and family tables throughout…

This is one of the first soups I ever made and I still enjoy it today. It’s like eating a baked potato, but better because it has corn! Who doesn’t…

Gingerbread spice mix is an essential ingredient in many German Christmas recipes dating back to the Middle Ages. It’s called Lebkuchengewuerz and it is made of up nine spices, representing…

Oktoberfest is a 16 – 18 day folk festival held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany that dates back to 1810 when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Since then,…

If you love beer and cheese (and bacon), you’ll love my take on Germany’s Bierkäsesuppe! This is a rich and flavorful soup made with good German beer, Cheddar cheese and…

If you love cherries, you will love this sauce! It’s perfect. Following the same method that I use for my raspberry sauce, I cooked frozen sweet dark cherries with cherry…

This is a hack! I can’t call it a recipe, but this worked and it was delicious! I was in such a hurry I used a boxed cake mix, followed…

Sauces can make any savory or sweet dish! This vanilla sauce is a basic sauce that is served in Germany with Apple Fritters and other desserts. This would be great…

This is an easy Apple Strudel dessert so you know I’m taking a shortcut with a store bought item! I’m using a sheet of Pepperidge Farm frozen puff pastry instead…

Ah, fried foods! Who doesn’t love it? I mean breaded, fried chicken is the precursor to chicken nuggets. Schnitzel is basically a cut of pork, veal, chicken or steak that…

Unlike mayonnaise based potato salads, this vinegar dressed potato salad is tangy, bright and absolutely delicious. The secret is tossing the warm potatoes in the dressing – it really absorbs…

These soft buttery pretzels are easy to make and so delicious! They freeze and reheat well too! This is an easy recipe and you can make a batch and enjoy…

What’s better than a fresh bagel in the morning with your cup of coffee? I love bagels and I fell in love with an everything bagel with the works (cream…

Every year my cousin hosts a Halloween party for her grandson and we have such a great time at his party! Did I tell you he’s five? We eat, drink…