Cajun-Spiced White Bean and Andouille Soup

Warm your winter with this tasty, satisfying dish

Need to warm up your winter table? Soup is your friend.

This one has traditional Cajun spices and andouille sausage, so you know it’s full of flavor. Plus it includes protein-rich beans and hearty greens, so it’s a complete meal in a bowl. And if you don’t have all the ingredients on hand, it’s easy to make substitutions (we’ll tell you how).

Time to get your Cajun on. La soupe est servie!

Unexpected Medical Adventure

So we’re taking off for two weeks

We weren’t planning to take down time on the blog this November, but it turns out we need to. One of us (Kitchen Riffs – a/k/a KR) had a sudden eye problem that required surgery. The prognosis is excellent, but he needs to be a couch potato for a bit. So no goodies coming from our kitchen to you, alas. And we won’t be visiting other blogs for a while.

In the meantime, why not enjoy this 2011 post about Beaujolais Nouveau? Every year on the third Thursday of November – which happens to be tomorrow – the very first Beaujolais of the year is released. This is very fresh wine (the grapes were just picked a few weeks ago) and it doesn’t age well, so it needs to be consumed very soon. But it’s a nice, fresh wine, and we think it pairs particularly well with Thanksgiving dinner. Or sip it all by itself as a predinner treat.

And speaking of Thanksgiving, we hope everyone has a wonderful one! We expect to see you with a new post on the last Wednesday of November.

Cranberry-Apple Crisp with Nut Crumble

Autumn’s most popular fruits make this a festive dessert

Apples and cranberries are both autumn icons. So why not set them up for a date?

They get along beautifully in this dish: Cranberry ting enlivens apple mellowness. And baking concentrates their flavors, bringing out the best in both.

With Thanksgiving coming up soon, you’ll want to add this dish to the menu. Your guests will gobble it up.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider with Rum

Make this autumn warmer with rum for adults, without for kiddies

It’s getting chilly in our part of the world. And the nights are getting longer. Time to warm up with hot apple cider!

This spicy version brings out the best of autumn (and rum helps tame fall’s gloomy chill). But it’s great sans alcohol, too, so the whole family can enjoy.

How about them apples?