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Valentine's Day is coming up and even though it's not my favorite holiday by a long shot, I never turn down an excuse to cook. I've got lamb and gnocchi on the menu, so check back next week for a few tasty recipes to feed the one you love. In the meantime, here are some of my recipes around the web. At Cooking Channel

Just because the Super Bowl has come and gone doesn't mean you can't make Southern-style Chicken Nuggets year round. Fried is always in season!

Love Take 5 candy bars (I mean, what's not to love about sweet, salty, chocolatey bliss)? Then my "Take the Day" Pie will change your life. Just sayin.

At The Kitchn

This Mushroom Bruschetta makes the perfect vegetarian lunch but would also be great as an appetizer. The sauteed mushrooms would even make the perfect side!

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The Holiday Season is upon us, and I'm feeling busier than ever. I'm trying to take a few moments each day to breathe it all in, because it will be gone before I know it. Where in the heck did this year go?! I'm tackling some fun, festive recipes in the next couple of weeks (buche de noel and homemade dog treats to name a few) that I can't wait to share with you. I'll also be posting some gift ideas -- both for the foodie and beyond -- so keep a lookout.

In the meantime, here's some of my tasty fall recipes from around the web.

At Cooking Channel

These Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies were my contribution to the Cooking Channel Holiday Cookie Exchange. I had to taste test thousands of these to get the flavors "just right." You can thank me later.

Here's the Beef and Andouille Chili recipe I promised last week. I slow-braised bites of beef sirloin until tender, and then married it with spicy sausage for a bit of kick. So good!

At The Kitchn

Regarding this Pork Ragu with Semolina Gnocchi, I'm just going to leave you with this comment from @Heatherbelle, a Kitchn reader:

"So I basically left work early to get to the butcher shop to buy pork shoulder. Last night when I took it out of the oven and tasted it I wanted to die. Today when I took it out of the fridge to warm up and ate it cold I actually died. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when my guests arrive to eat it tonight. Because I'll be dead. From mouth happiness death."

Throw those canned biscuits into the trash, because there's a new Monkey Bread in town. The Bourbon Creme Anglaise dipping sauce really takes it over the top.

I always seem to have an abundance of sweet potatoes lying around. This Sweet Potato & Goat Cheese Bruschetta is a new and exciting way to use them up!

Thanksgiving Roundup: Day 3

I love that during November all of the food magazines, websites, and blogs become completely overridden with all things turkey. But at the same time the holiday onslaught can be just a little (or a lot) overwhelming. Here's my dirty little secret: I have never cooked a single Thanksgiving recipe from any of those sources listed above. In my mind, Thanksgiving is all about tradition, and that means I expect the same meal each and every year, no questions asked. Which means we cook from the same family recipes passed down through the generations. That being said, that tiny fact doesn't stop me from ripping pages from every magazine and bookmarking every blog with avengence. Perhaps one of these years I'll get a wild hair and switch up my mamma's dressing. Should that day ever come, here's a short-list of recipes I deem worthy of rocking the (gravy) boat.

I'll be enjoying fried turkey this year, however last year I made this simple roast turkey recipe from D'Artagnan paired with my heritage breed bird. It was the juiciest, most delicious turkey I'd ever eaten! You can bet it will be the only recipe I use when I tackle Thanksgiving for my own family one day. (At D'Artagnan)

Zuni Cafe is famous for their roast chicken, but it is the accompanying warm bread salad that makes me weak at the knees. Who says it wouldn't pair just as nicely with a slow-roasted turkey? (At Smitten Kitchen)

Sweet potatoes are mandatory at my holiday table. If I was ever willing to give up my molten marshmallow-topped casserole, I might give Giada's sweet potato gnocchi a try. It would definitely throw my traditionalist Southern family for a loop! (At Food Network)

Brussels Sprouts are enjoying their time in the limelight right now; I think Molly just may have outdone herself with these cream-braised brussels sprouts. I'm drooling. (At Orangette)

I've had a crush on this chard and onion panade since I bookmarked it a year ago. If I may quote Luisa here, this is "peasant food for the gods, if you will." Yes. Yes I will. (At Wednesday Chef)

As much as I love pie, on Thanksgiving I'm all about the flare: I developed a sky-high pumpkin spiced cake earlier this month, and last year I served a Texas chocolate triple layer cake. This autumn delight cake made with sweet potatoes and ginger might give those other two a run for their money. (At Sweetapolita)

I've got too many spare cans of pumpkin to count. This pumpkin mousse might not show up on actual Thanksgiving day, but I can guarantee it may appear the day after. (At Spoon Fork Bacon)

Okay, that's what I've got. Do you still need more inspiration? The awe-inspiring Zach and Clay have indexed the Thanksgiving recipes from all their favorite food magazines! If this doesn't help you find a recipe then I don't know what will. Good luck! (At Bitten Word)

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Happy Halloween, gang! It's been a minute since I did a recipe roundup, so I've got lots of yummy links to share! Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all of the amazing content out there on the internet, but I'm having fun using Pinterest to try and wrangle it all.

For the most exciting news first, Dixie Caviar's Football Sandwiches won Saveur Magazine's Home Cook Challenge. These tasty sliders are famous around my parts; I'm so excited they are finally getting the national attention they deserve! Be sure to bring them to your next tailgate to guarantee confessions of love and undying devotion.

Here's my latest at The Kitchn

I developed these Pumpkin Spiced Krispie Treats as a last minute Halloween snack, but the addition of warm and toasty spices make them perfect for any occasion all autumn long.

I may have saved my best Taiwanese recipe for last! This Beef Noodle Soup is pure global comfort food. The Asian Pickled Cabbage is pretty tasty, too

Recently it was "autumn fruit" week at The Kitchn, so I celebrated with my favorite fall flavor - Apples! For breakfast, try my homemade Apple-Cinnamon Toaster Strudels, which in my personal opinion are better than the real thing.

For dessert, try my spin on Baked Apple Dumplings.

Need a soothing pasta dish to feed a crowd? This Pastitsio a.k.a. Greek Pasta Bake should do the trick.

I love fall vegetables, but for some reason turnips don't seem to get a lot of love. These Glazed Turnips will impress even the pickiest eaters.

Here's my latest at Cooking Channel

I've amped up traditional Jalapeno Poppers by adding corn AND bacon. Try them baked or fried.

And elsewhere around the web

You all know my love for deep-frying. These potato rings with homemade buttermilk ranch just got added to my bucket list. (At Spoon Fork Bacon)

One of my favorite kitchen hobbies is making "processed" ingredients from scratch. I can't wait to try this homemade chocolate syrup. (At Brave Tart)

Strawberry cake rocks, but all the recipes available online start with boxed mix or food coloring, This version promises a delicious cake without the toxic additions. Yummy! (At Look I Made That!)

Chicken fried steak with cream gravy. Enough said. (At Use Real Butter)

Every girl needs a perfect vanilla cake. I made this a few weeks ago paired with a chocolate malted buttercream and it was perfection. (At Sweetapolita)

I'm a big fan of both the book and movie The Help. My aunt recently made Minnie's chocolate pie, which was fabulous. I want to try the fried chicken, as well. (At Food & Wine)

I've been contemplating starting a cookbook club for the ladies in my life. It seems I'm not the only one. (At Everyday Food and Tea and Cookies)

This is a great point from Marcella Hazan about why fresh isn't always better than canned. I completely agree. (At Educated Palate)

I can spend my whole life trying for these garlic-chopping skills (at New York Times)

I've never actually tasted chicken tikka masala but this post makes it look pretty damn good. (At Tasty Kitchen)

One can only hope to have a love like theirs. Swoon. (At Snippet & Ink)

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I've been busy over at The Kitchn recreating amazing recipes inspired by my trip to Taiwan. So far both the steamed pork buns and the sweet and sour chicken have been a grand success!

Also at The Kitchn, don't forget to check out my braised beef stroganoff and three cheese tomato tart.

And elsewhere around the web...

I'm pretty sure I make the best chocolate chip cookies around, but maybe I'll give these chocolate chip cookies a try anyways, just to be sure. (At Alexis Napa)

I love marshmallow fluff more than a fat kid loves, well, marshmallow fluff. This marshmallow cream-hot fudge sundae sent me straight to the pantry to get a spoonful of the stuff to snack on. And yes, I always have it on hand. (At Bon Appetit)

I've been on a crazy chicken kick lately. This chicken with tomato herb pan sauce, this cheesy basil stuffed chicken, and this cilantro-lime chicken all look super tasty to me. (At Annie's Eats, Mel's Kitchen Cafe, and Katherine Martinelli, respectively)

I love everything these guys write, and the napkin note wasn't any different. I don't even have kids, but I am a really sentimental person and can't wait to do things like this for my imaginary children. (At Dinner: A Love Story)

Homemade tater tots just seem right up my alley. Perhaps I'll even take it a step further and stir them into a casserole! (At The Kitchen via Cook's Country)

I need every single item in this imaginary kitchen, except for no. 14 which I already have in that very same color. Birthday present anyone? (At Odessa May Society)