Veteran Built and a side of Apple Pie

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Veteran Built and a side of Apple Pie

So on to that side of Apple Pie…what could be more American than serving in the military and loving apple pie?! :) Matt saw the bowl of red local macintosh apples that were waiting for our boys to eat them and asked when were we going to have apple pie?? Done. I used the salted caramel I recently made from Jane Soudah’s cookbook, ‘Delightful Desserts’ and baked the Salted Caramel Apple Pie for dessert. Our whole family so enjoyed this apple pie, that Matt has already requested it as our dessert for our Thanksgiving with our extended family. We did serve this pie warmed with a scoop or 2 of Steve’s Bourbon Vanilla and a Salted Caramel ice cream. YUM!!

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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with a Side Story

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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with a Side Story

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Parmesan Crisps

It has taken me a long time to write this as this recipe has quite the story attached to it. 

In New England, it has been a winter of frigid cold temperatures followed with short dark days where I feel like bears have it right with this hibernating thing. Wake me when spring is here. 

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A Pumpkin Bread that You Will Crave all Season Long

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A Pumpkin Bread that You Will Crave all Season Long

It is a wind whipping 27 degrees here in Newport, Rhode Island - in November! Oh man, I am not ready to brave the cold temperatures outside so I will stay cozy right here sitting at our farm table with my hot cup of coffee and my winter blanket scarf wrapped around me while I write about this ah-mazing pumpkin bread I can’t stop eating! I know I just posted another pumpkin recipe in cookie form, but seriously while we were stationed in Italy we did not get around to too many pumpkin items and I am now catching up! But just wait, this pumpkin bread is different.  It is moist, it is dark and pumpkin pie spicy and it is topped with, drumroll please… rosemary sea salt! I know what you are thinking - rosemary sea salt on traditional pumpkin bread??? This recipe is to add a twist for those that want to throw caution to the windy day out there and make a traditional recipe ‘POP’ with sea salt and fresh fragrant rosemary. It brings out all the fall flavors! You will want to make it for your neighbors, friends, and loaves just for yourself to enjoy on cold fall weekend mornings curled up on the couch. 

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Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with a Maple Sea Salt Glaze

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Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with a Maple Sea Salt Glaze

I realize I bake during times of stress and lately I am baking a lot. it is a good thing that it is fall time as we need to get our winter ‘coats’ on. ;) The news is a constant reminder of ‘ugh’ in our world…I can’t believe I used ‘ugh” as an adjective?! When I feel overwhelmed by life’s woes, I love to bake and take pictures and just find the pretty. So with that being said, I woke up super early on a rainy Saturday morning that I could have slept in and decided to get out a few baking bowls and a can of pumpkin while the coffee maker percolated our Custom House coffee blend and created the scent of fall in the air before all my boys woke up. I come from the school of thought that cookies should be part of every meal….breakfast cookies, why not? Life is short, enjoy the moment. 

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Newport Sea Salt Co.'s New Flavor - Rosemary and Thyme!

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Newport Sea Salt Co.'s New Flavor - Rosemary and Thyme!

When we started thinking about the idea of making sea salt, we automatically thought of all the flavors we could make once we got the sea salt process down: a spicy red pepper blend, a citrus sea salt, garlic herb, an espresso blend; we couldn't wait to get started! But as they say in Italian, piano, piano…slow, slow. Even as I write this, Matt is in our home kitchen tinkering away with different blends and asking our boys what flavors they taste. He is definitely having fun with it! 

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Stay Salty with this Summer Salad Recipe

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Stay Salty with this Summer Salad Recipe

Whew, it has been a jam packed summer thus far! Are you enjoying all your BBQ’s, summer parties, and hopefully some summer relaxation? We have been so fortunate to see so many friends this summer here in Newport. Friends from Italy, Virginia Beach, Pennsylvania and Colorado have made their visit to us in the awesome city by the sea. Just last night, my soon to be turning 80 year old dad (bday tomorrow) and my spring chicken mom of a few years younger have arrived from South Carolina and are ready to spoil our boys with lots of love and attention. Grandparents are the best! Our schedule is packed with fun things to do together and to start we may just take my dad on the Craft Brew Race and end the day at the Polo fields. With that being said, it is going to be a crazy day. Matt and I love food and like to prepare some fun sides and main dishes to bring to events like the Polo gathering and so we are preparing…

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Forget the Cheese Plate and Bring this to Your Next Party!

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Forget the Cheese Plate and Bring this to Your Next Party!

Before you go to your next party, BBQ, or picnic, and need a crowd pleaser appetizer make this awesome Roasted Pineapple whipped ricotta topped with sea salt. Oh MY!!! 

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