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On this last morning of 2013, I'm counting you all in my blessings. Thank you for the laughs, the encouragement, the tears, the fun and the FOOD all year long! Your comments and emails mean more to me than you will ever know. I grin every single time you take a moment out of your day to let me know you made one of our recipes! I wish you all a wonderful New Year, full of great memories, wonderful food and fun times spent with the people you love.

These are the recipes that were viewed the most frequently here on Barefeet In The Kitchen this past year. (I'll be sharing my own personal favorite recipes from 2013 later this week.) In the meantime, counting down from #13 to #1, here are the Top 13 Recipes from 2013:

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Some of the best food I've ever eaten has been delivered by friends and strangers in a time of sickness or exhaustion. A meal brought to your door on a night when you have no energy to cook says that someone is thinking of you. My friends Ashley and Ryan from Center Cut Cook received the news a few days ago that Ryan has cancer. Many miles separate us and I can't deliver a meal to their door; so I'm participating in a virtual potluck for them today.

I hope that there are friends near them to deliver a meal and hug them both as Ryan recovers from surgery and starts treatment this coming year. While they are facing those treatments over the coming year, our blogger friends are getting together to help raise a little money to help Ashley and Ryan. You can click here to make a donation (every dollar helps).

Are you overwhelmed at the thought of delivering a meal to another family? I used to be the same way. As a newlywed, a friend called and asked me if I would take a meal to another family. I agreed to do that and then panicked. I called my mom and arranged for her to prepare the meal I was supposed to deliver!

What I wish I'd known then is that the meal doesn't need to be complicated. A simple pot of soup or a dish of pasta can be appreciated beyond words. Wondering what kind of meal to give? Today I'm sharing some of our favorite meals to deliver, from soups and stews to crock-pot meals, pastas, and casseroles. (I'm including tips for transporting each one as well!)  Hopefully this post will inspire others to step outside their comfort zone and take a meal to someone near them in a time of need.

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Merry Christmas! I'm taking a blogging vacation from now until the first week of January. I'm going to curl up on the couch, read as many books as I can, make our favorite recipes without taking a single picture, find some snow to play in, and watch lots of movies while snuggled into warm blankets. Family will be visiting and there will be plenty of board games played at night. I plan to enjoy every single moment of my favorite two weeks of the year!

Want a peek into our holiday? Follow me on Instagram for a daily glimpse into our fun! I'll be sharing recipes on Facebook throughout the break and you can message me there or reach me  via email with any questions you might have.

If you're looking for recipe inspiration, I'm sharing some of my meal plan for the next two weeks. These are a few of our favorite recipes and I can hardly wait to enjoy them again! Click on any of the photos or the links to see the original posts.

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Chocolate cake with chocolate icing is one of my favorite desserts. This is a well documented fact, because this is the seventh chocolate cake recipe on the blog. I officially promise to refrain from posting another chocolate cake for at least the next few months, okay? They are hard to resist though! When a reader emails you (Thanks, Julie!) with her grandmother's Best Ever Sour Cream Cake recipe, it's hard not to hit the kitchen immediately.

This cake is every bit as good as promised! Rich chocolate cake, extra moist from the scoop of sour cream, is then topped with a rich and creamy chocolate icing glaze. Despite the length of the ingredient list, this is a simple recipe. If you're a fan of the classic Texas Sheet Cake, you'll want to try this version; it is slightly more moist with an icing closer to a pudding than a frosting. This cake was an enormous hit with everyone who tasted it.

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I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite cocktail. The Moscow Mule has a strong lime twist with a mild ginger beer background. The drink is made with a very simple combination of lime, vodka and ginger beer. This is the perfect drink when you want something refreshing and not overly sweet.

Have you tried ginger beer? I had never heard of it before now. Ginger beer is non alcoholic and it has a stronger ginger flavor than ginger ale. It is a fermented drink, making it less carbonated and less sweet than ginger ale as well. I absolutely love it.

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Dried cherries, dark chocolate and Chex® cereal combine to make one of my favorite new snacks this holiday season. Does your family love Muddy Buddies® as much as mine does? Years ago, my best friend introduced me to the addictive snack and it has made a regular appearance in our kitchen countless times since then. I typically make a half batch or smaller, simply because I can't be trusted to stay out of it myself. It disappears ridiculously fast!

When Chex® asked me to create a new party mix recipe, I could hardly wait to play with that idea. This fun twist on our family's recipe was inspired by a late night craving for Black Forest Cake. As my boys were snacking on this, one of them declared this version, "27 Thumbs Up!" Considering that 2 thumbs up is a huge success, I'm calling this a new family favorite.

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There is just something about tomatoes and Italian spices simmering that never fails to make me smile. Luckily for me, everyone in my family shares this love of Italian flavors. One of my favorite meats to include in a soup is sausage. If you choose a spicy or hot variety, the sausage alone will bring a great deal of flavor to the soup. Along with some tomatoes, beans and baby spinach, this was a really great combination of flavors that every member of the family enjoyed. My middle son ate three bowls of this soup and told me twice that it was a two thumbs up meal.

This is a flavorful, quick and simple soup that can be on the table, start to finish in about half an hour. This soup has been a  favorite in my family for a couple years now and it has become one of my favorite meals for busy nights. The recipe requires just five or so minutes of hands on time. It comes together so easily and turns out perfectly every single time!

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Rich and creamy mint chocolate fudge loaded with bites of marshmallow is a combination that proved altogether too tempting for me! I've completely fallen in love with Five Minute Fudge. The fudge turns out smooth and creamy without all of the traditional time spent stirring the pot on the stove!

My plan was to make a few batches early in the month for gifting, but I wound up sending it off to work with my husband. I couldn't stay out of it! It's a good thing it isn't candy-making season year round, right? Just the tiniest piece satisfied me... for about an hour. Then I'd find myself back in the kitchen slicing off another teeny sliver. This is dangerously rich, sweet and tempting!

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From the crunch of the sugar crust on the bottom, to the juicy cranberries, to the flaky cake layer on top; this is cranberry dessert heaven. This recipe was sent to me by a reader, Maureen. She saw our Cranberry Christmas Cake on Facebook and thought we might like this pie. She was right. My whole family LOVED this pie and I even ate it again for breakfast. It proved to be irresistible!

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Have you ever had a food experience that you know you'll never forget?  I was lucky enough to get to work with an amazing chef, talking flavors, tradition, and posole on my recent trip to New Mexico. Posole is a special dish, traditionally served between October and December. A simple stew made from pork and hominy; it's a celebratory dish typically served for weddings, holidays and other special occasions.

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Rich, creamy over-the-top peanut buttery fudge is so easy to make, you might laugh. My brother tasted this at my house last week and called the next night for the recipe. I gave it to him and he couldn't believe this was all there is to it. This is one of the best peanut butter fudge recipes I've ever tasted, and it is beyond simple to make.
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Salty pretzels, buttery toffee and rich chocolate are layered into this easy to make candy. The combination is irresistible. I'll be sending the rest of this toffee to my husband's office tomorrow, because I can not stay out of it!

This will keep nicely in the refrigerator for a few weeks, provided you can resist eating it. Toffee is one of my favorite food gifts to make for the holidays. You know what else is great about this toffee? It requires NO candy thermometer. The only special equipment you need is a brown paper bag.

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Almost a year ago, I ran across a recipe for Reuben Soup. I mentioned it to my husband at the time and he did not let me forget it. His all-time favorite sandwich is the classic reuben; rye bread piled high with corned beef, sauerkraut and melting Swiss cheese. This soup takes all of those flavors and combines them in a steaming hot bowl of soup, perfect for these chilly nights.

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Cream Cheese Mints bring back a flood of childhood memories for me. I remember sneaking to the dessert table more than a few times during my cousin's wedding reception and discovering these amazing little mints. After that, I ate myself sick on them almost every time they were in reach. When I first learned how easy they are to make, I couldn't believe they were so simple; just three ingredients and you can dress them up however you like.


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Rich, creamy hot cocoa can be made from scratch with barely two minutes work. You might be asking yourself why anyone would want to use the crock-pot to make hot chocolate. As it turns out, it's kind of nice not to hover over the stove stirring a pot!

I combined everything in the slow cooker when we started pulling out our Christmas decorations this weekend. By the time the tree was decorated, we had hot chocolate ready and waiting for us. If you prefer a stove-top recipe, this Simple Homemade Hot Cocoa is an awesome winter treat as well.

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This is a melt in your mouth, smooth and creamy fudge; rich with dark chocolate and almonds. I fell head over heels for the combination of almonds and chocolate this past summer when I couldn't stop making Double Chocolate Almond Ice Cream. The almond flavor is subtle and  it takes a moment to realize what makes the chocolate flavor special. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend swapping almond for vanilla next time you make your favorite chocolate cake. It is a fantastic way to change up your favorites.

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If you haven't yet, please take just a moment to click this link and leave a comment on the Feeding America blog post. Barefeet In The Kitchen will be donating $1 to Feeding America for every comment left on that blog post, up to $500. (That will buy 4,000 MEALS!) NO DONATION is required from you in order to be counted. (1 comment per individual please.)

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or simply enjoying the last week of November before the Christmas season is in full swing. I'll be celebrating Hanukkah with my sister's family for the first time ever and I'm excited! (Follow along on Instagram for a peek into our vacation!)

If you happen to find yourself with extra turkey on your hands this weekend, here are a few of my favorite turkey recipes to help you make the most of it:

BBQ Turkey Stuffed Red Potatoes - bites of turkey, dripping with tangy barbecue sauce and stuffed into a fluffy baked potato with a crispy skin

Southwest Turkey Chopped Salad - the turkey in this salad is mixed with a ton of other great flavors; black beans, plenty of vegetables, pine nuts and cheese. The salad is topped with a great tasting barbecue ranch dressing. Add the crunch of tortilla chips to make it a taco salad.
Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup - chunks of turkey, carrots, celery and thick egg noodles come together in a creamy soup to create a perfect after-Thanksgiving meal. My family looks forward to this soup every bit as much as we look forward to the big turkey with all the sides.

Spicy Southwest Turkey and Four Bean Soup - red chile, green chile and jalapeno combined with four different beans and some leftover turkey to create a seriously spicy soup packed with a whole lot of Mexican flavor.

I'm taking the week off to spend time with family, but I'll be back with lots of great new recipes on Monday! In the meantime, check out Barefeet In The Kitchen on Facebook if you are looking for recipe inspiration. I'll be there sharing delicious recipes each day!

~ Click here to Subscribe to Barefeet In The Kitchen by Email and receive new recipes in your inbox every day. ~

The texture of a brownie, the flavors of a chocolate chip cookie, the simplicity of a basic bar recipe, all of these things make this my go-to dessert on a regular basis. I've made these blondies countless times and they are always a hit. One of my brothers requests them each time he visits us. The best part? This is a very easy dessert to throw together whether in advance or at the last minute. I love to serve these when they are still warm from the oven and oozing melted chocolate.

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Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Sugar Butter Balls, Polvorones, Snowball Cookies, Egyptian Feast Cookies, Nut Butter Balls, Norwegian Snowballs, Kourambie, Walnut Delights, Pecan Petites, Holiday Nuggets, Swedish Heirloom Cookies, these melt-in-your-mouth cookies are known by many different names around the world. My grandmother called them Sugar Butter Balls. Every time I bite into one I'm transported to a time when I watched her roll them between her hands.
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Sweet and tender corn simmers in a rich cream sauce to make this an unforgettable side dish that is like no other creamed corn I've ever tasted. I had no intention of sharing another holiday recipe this close to Thanksgiving. However, when I ran across this recipe yesterday, it begged to be tried and I couldn't resist. And now, because this corn has made it to my own Thanksgiving menu for next week, I'm giving you the chance to add it to yours as well.

My favorite thing about this dish is that it is made in the Crock-Pot. No watching, no stove-top, no oven space required, no serving dishes taking space in the refrigerator. It took me about two minutes to combine everything and start it cooking. Four hours later, I stirred it and served it. That pretty much makes this the ultimate holiday side dish.

The first bite at the table was followed by, "oh my gosh, what is in this? Wow!" My kids begged for more and the corn was an enormous hit all around. While I have trouble calling this a "vegetable side dish," I don't have a bit of hesitation calling it delicious. This is pure indulgence and it is perfect for a holiday table!

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Tart cranberries and apples are mixed with brown sugar and spices to fill this flaky buttery crust. When Bob's Red Mill contacted me to see if I might be interested in testing their new gluten free pie crust mix, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm thrilled to tell you that this is one of the best pie crusts I've ever tasted and it doesn't taste one little tiny bit gluten free.
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Are you bored with the same old chicken? If so, this collection of chicken recipes is for you! You requested it, so here it is. I've gathered the best of the chicken recipes in one place and there is nothing boring in the list. Oven roasted, pan fried, stir fries, skillet meals, casseroles, finger foods and salads are all included!

Before you browse the chicken recipes, please take just a moment to click this link and leave a comment on the Feeding America blog post. From now until Friday, Barefeet In The Kitchen will be donating $1 to Feeding America for every comment left on that blog post, up to $500. (That will buy 4,000 MEALS!) NO DONATION is required from you in order to be counted. (1 comment per individual please.)

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Chunks of turkey, carrots, celery and thick egg noodles come together in a creamy soup to create a perfect after-Thanksgiving meal. My family looks forward to this soup every bit as much as we look forward to the big turkey with all the sides. My middle son loves this soup so much that we have labeled it HIS soup and he would happily just drink the broth if I let him. He calls this "broth soup" because he thinks the broth is "awesomely delicious."

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Smoky pork, herbed potatoes and plenty of cheesy goodness come together in this simple, hearty meal. When Teet's Food Store contacted me and asked if I'd like to create some recipes using their smoked meats, I thought it sounded like fun. Little did I know what a treat was in store for me.

~ I'm thrilled to tell you that Teet's Food Store is giving away $50 worth of smoked meats to THREE lucky winners! Don't miss your chance to enter to win! ~

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Tart cherries and dark chocolate meet in this chewy sweet cookie. I made these for my husband's office last week. I wanted to send in something a little different from the usual and these were a great choice. The hint of almond flavor is unexpected and it works perfectly with the cherries and the chocolate.

We've loved crinkle cookies for years; they are the ultimate "crisp on the outside with a soft chewy center" cookie. I regularly make cinnamon crinkle cookies and lemon crinkle cookies. I can't believe I never thought to make them with our favorite fillings before now. I can hardly wait to play with this idea again.

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This is a roast chicken with crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat; it is exactly the chicken I've been wanting to make for a while now. If you're a friend of mine on Instagram, you've already heard about my extreme excitement with this chicken. I just might have danced around the kitchen for a few moments after I tasted the first bite.

I've fought with whole chickens repeatedly over the past few years. I tried everything from simple sauces to complicated sauces, spice rubs with long ingredient lists, specific instructions for when and how to flip the bird mid process. Not only was I over-complicating the heck out of a simple roast chicken, I was stressing myself out! I was using multiple pots, racks and tools and all I needed in the end was a baking sheet.

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If this is your first time visiting Barefeet In The Kitchen, you might be impressed with pretty pictures of delicious sounding recipes. These are not the recipes I remember from my childhood. As I was growing up, my family was often blessed by food gifts from charity. I hardly knew the difference between a food pantry and the grocery store. I simply knew that food was coming into the house and that made everyone happy.

I remember watching my mother cry over a gift of groceries. I recall being speechless with joy over a huge bag of day-old doughnuts, because I couldn't recall having a doughnut before that day. The doughnuts were part of a food box that my mother stood in line for every Tuesday afternoon. She would bring them home and sort them. She set aside the doughnuts that were still whole on a plate to be a special dessert that night. The doughnuts that were smashed were chopped up and allowed to dry out overnight. The next day she made them into "doughnut pudding," a simple bread pudding without added sugar.

I learned a lot from countless meals of plain beans and rice. I learned to be grateful for every single thing in my life. Though I grew up poor, I was richly blessed and I never went to bed hungry. There may never be anything more beautiful to me than a full pantry. The monotony of grocery shopping as an adult is countered by the overwhelming gratitude that I am able to go to the store and purchase what we need every week. I don't weigh the cost of new shoes against whether or not we'll be able to purchase our food.

Every dollar you give through our Virtual Food Drive helps provides EIGHT meals for people in need. We can work together to make a HUGE impact in many lives this holiday season!

Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger relief organization, with over 200 food banks serving every state. Those food banks provide food and groceries to 33,500 food pantries, 4,500 soup kitchen, and 3,600 emergency shelters.

Follow this link to Barefeet In The Kitchen's Virtual Food Drive. It only takes a moment to donate and you really can make a difference!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your gift to help feed the hungry this holiday season!

I researched a great many charities before deciding to work with Feeding America. Feeding America spends 97.9% of their budget directly on food distribution endeavors. You can examine their ranking among other charities here. Through Feeding America we can accomplish the most with even the smallest of gifts. Even if you only have a dollar to give, you can make a difference through our Virtual Food Drive!

Fluffy cheesecake mousse is layered between salted caramel sauce and a brown sugar graham cracker crust. I could not resist these little jars once they were stashed in the refrigerator. I worked my way through one of the jars, a tiny taste at a time as I waited through the day to serve them at night. This is the best no-bake cheesecake dessert I've ever tasted. The cheesecake mousse layer is super fluffy and not at all heavy. As a result, the crumbs do not absorb the moisture from the cheesecake, allowing them to remain crisp and chewy.

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Poblano chiles and chorizo combine with plenty of sweet corn to make this a new favorite from the first bite. Surprisingly hearty without being heavy, my whole family gave this meal two thumbs up. I loved the combination of flavors in this chowder. There is spice from the peppers without any real heat. Even my three year old had no trouble with the heat in this dish.

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Tender chunks of roast chicken, creamy white beans and fresh kale combine with a sprinkling of herbs and a bit of chicken broth to make a surprisingly hearty meal. Topped with a generous sprinkling of cheese, my husband and I both agreed that this soup was delicious.

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Travelers come from all over the world to wander through the oldest capitol city in the United States. History is evident is all areas of the city. The food, the architecture, the shopping, and the people are all unique to this small town.

While we were in Santa Fe, we stayed right off the plaza at the Inn and Spa at the Loretto. The window in our room opened over Loretto Chapel next door. We were lucky enough to arrive in time to watch a bride and groom coming out of the chapel following their wedding. The sun was setting, mariachis were playing, and the church bell was tolling. I am so glad that we were there for that special moment. It was a beautiful reminder that Santa Fe is more than a tourist destination. This is a town that people live in and love and we became part of that living history during our stay.

Whether you are here for the shopping, the art, the food, or the people, these are some of my favorite things to do in Santa Fe.
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Crisp apples are caramelized and then layered in between a buttery brown sugar crust and a strudel topping before being baked into these chewy sweet bars. Serve topped with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and a generous pour of Bourbon Caramel Sauce or Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce, this is a fall dessert recipe that simply can not be beat. I've made these apple pie bars twice in the past two weeks and they disappeared absurdly fast both times.

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I never imagined that this little corner of the internet would grow into something as much fun as this blog is for me every single day. I have had the time of my life getting to know all of you through your comments here on the blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, Twitter, and Email.

Barefeet In The Kitchen would not be the same without each and every one of you!

I'm giving away a $100 gift card to the store of the winner's choice, just to say thank you! Thank you for being the awesome people that you are. Thank you for coming back and reading every day. Thank you for sharing the recipes with your friends and families. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
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Bourbon Caramel Sauce is unique among the different caramel sauces I've made. The bourbon flavor is present without being overwhelming and the bourbon offers a depth to the recipe that I was not expecting. This is not an everyday caramel sauce to drizzle into your morning coffee. (Doesn't everyone do that?) This is a rich dessert sauce that just begs to be poured over baked apples.

I poured this sauce over Apple Pie Bars (recipe coming tomorrow!) and then topped them with Vanilla Ice Cream. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was one of the best desserts I've made in my life.

If you are not a fan of cooking with alcohol, check out the original Homemade Caramel Sauce and the Vanilla Bean Salted Caramel Sauce that have both become staples in my refrigerator.

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Mashed potatoes, corn pudding, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables, vegetables and more vegetables: I could never choose just one favorite side dish! I don't know how it is in your house, but in my world, side dishes often trump main dishes this time of year.

I managed to narrow our favorites down to twenty to share with you today. These are all recipes that get made again and again in my kitchen. What recipes do YOU looking forward to making each holiday season?
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Creamy, rich, garlicky potato soup made without a drop of cream or milk. I loved this soup from the very first bite. Do not let the name of this soup weird you out. I swear it is delicious! When I made Creamy Cauliflower Sauce for the first time, and the second, third, fourth and fifth times, it almost begged to be used in a soup. (Truthfully, I ate it on it's own as a soup a time or two.) This is not merely a substitute for traditional baked potato soup, this soup stands on its own and is every bit as tasty as its heavier dairy filled friend.

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Creamy, spicy, perfectly smooth and cheesy dip just like they serve at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Smother a burrito with it, pour it on a burger, drizzle it across roasted potatoes, pour it onto Spanish rice, layer in into nachos or dip your chips in it. I highly recommend making a batch of Taco Meatballs to serve with it. Between the meatballs and this dip, my family has been very happy with their dinners lately.

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All of your favorite Mexican spices are wrapped up in these tender juicy bite-size meatballs. This might be the easiest meatball recipe ever and it happened almost by accident a few weeks ago. I made a huge tray of Black Bean and Beef Taco Nachos for lunch and I still had some ground beef that needed to be used. The Mexican spice mix was sitting on the counter and one thing led to another.

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Pumpkin butter is a thick, richly spiced spread that is perfect on top of toast or muffins. It is also delicious swirled into oatmeal or yogurt, dolloped onto crackers or spooned over ice cream. Pumpkin butter is one of the most versatile fruit spreads I make. If you are a pumpkin lover, this recipe is for you.

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Tender pork is slowly cooked with Mexican spices and then layered into cheesy saucy spicy enchiladas. This Slow Cooked Mexican Pork has been at the top of my favorites list for a while now and I've made it at least six times in the past few months. I kept thinking that the pork would be great in enchiladas, but we like it so much on it's own, I never managed to try them until now.

My middle son has been asking for "red" enchiladas for over a month now and these were made specifically for him. (That silly child doesn't love green chile the way the rest of the family does, how is that even possible?) The whole family loved them and there was barely a serving left in the pan.

I'm headed to New Mexico tomorrow to spend the weekend with my sister. In my excitement, I've been making our favorite Southwestern foods all week. I can hardly wait to eat my fill of my favorites in Santa Fe!

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Fudgy, chewy, chocolate toffee brownies are perfect with a tall glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee. The toffee adds a bit of crunch on top and a great flavor throughout each brownie. These brownies have such a rich, deep chocolate flavor they are closer to fudge than traditional brownies.

I made these to share with some friends last week and they disappeared in minutes. The recipe was immediately requested by several people and I promised to post it soon. I love when a dessert turns out that well!

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Crisp roasted potatoes with a fluffy center are one of my favorite side dishes. I serve them for breakfast, lunch or dinner and I usually double or triple the recipe to keep them in the refrigerator during the week for easy breakfasts. Tossing the potatoes with fresh rosemary makes them just a little bit fancier without any real effort or extra time spent. I served these potatoes with Pan Fried Chicken and Caramelized Brussels Spouts. There was hardly a bite leftover after the meal.

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This minestrone soup is filled with three different beans, tender vegetables and pasta, seasoned with Italian spices and topped with Parmesan cheese. My family hardly considers it a meal if there isn't meat on the table, so I included a pound of hot sausage in our soup. The soup is delicious both with and without the meat.

It never fails to make me smile when a simple hearty soup makes everyone in my family so happy. It makes me even happier when that meal requires less than 30 minutes time spent in the kitchen! Served on it's own or with some crusty bread and a salad, this is a wonderfully hearty winter meal.

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Creamy vanilla cheesecake is poured over a simple graham cracker crust and then layered with pumpkin pie cheesecake to create this spectacular dessert. For all that it looks fancier, this is a very simple recipe that results in an unforgettable ending for any meal.

I've made a double layer pumpkin pie each Thanksgiving for years. That pie is frequently requested and it is always a hit. However, this recipe just knocked that one off the table. My whole family absolutely loved this pie and it is officially on our holiday dessert list now!

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Albondigas soup is a traditional Mexican meatball soup. Despite the fact that I grew up in New Mexico, I had never tasted it before making this recipe. My friend Kelly sent me her recipe for this soup earlier this year and I was excited to finally have a chance to try it last night. The whole family enjoyed it for dinner and my kids went nuts over the fact it was a soup filled with meatballs! (Never fear, little ones, I'll be adding plenty of vegetables next time I make it!)

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These crispy, rich, chocolate peanut butter bites are one of the best five minute recipes I've ever made. It took longer to melt the butter than it did to stir together the rest of the recipe! As soon as I tasted one, I wrapped up the rest to send to the office with Sean the next day. (No joke, I could have eaten half the pan if left alone with it all day!) Do I even need to mention that my kids absolutely loved these as well?

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This lightly sweetened and spiced cake is filled with chunks of apple, then drizzled with warm caramel sauce just before serving. A sprinkling of raw sugar over the top of the cake adds a bit of crunch and sweetness as well. If caramel sauce isn't your thing, this cake was also delicious with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream on top!

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A great flour tortilla should be soft and bendable; it shouldn't tear or crumble apart when you roll it into a burrito. Above all else, it should taste good! I wanted a gluten free version of our favorite flour tortillas, that wouldn't taste like a gluten free version. Finding a combination of ingredients that would produce the perfect tortilla and in the process not taste like weird, chewy cardboard is something I almost gave up on many times.

While this recipe contains three times as many ingredients as traditional tortillas with their simple combination of flour, salt, water and oil; the ingredients aren't complicated ones. Each of these items works with the others to create the perfect tortilla. I've tested this recipe six times now and the tortillas have turned out well every time. We've had more breakfast burritos and breakfast tacos in the past month than we've eaten in the past two years. My whole family is thrilled with this recipe.

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