I recently took a trip back home to New Jersey and made my parents do all of the fall activities I was missing.

Anyone else out there over-eager for the holiday season and planning their holiday meals too? It’s never too early to plan!

While the bright orange shell of these cooked prawns bears resemblance to shrimp, I find their meat to be more similar to tender lobster tails than to shrimp.

The chili rub is full of deep flavors and just a little spicy. It contrasts perfectly with the sweet fruity oranges the turkey is stuffed with. So, if you want to add a little spice to your holiday dinner, try out this non-traditional turkey recipe. 

I fill a large dispenser or carafe with sangria and let people fill up on this fruity punch as needed! Using one with a spout like this one from Home Depot makes for easy refills!

Cloudlike mashed potatoes whipped with butter, cream and cheddar cheese are what dreams are made of. At least they’re what my dreams are made of.

These crispy battered and fried cauliflower bites tossed in homemade buffalo sauce are a great vegetarian alternative to buffalo chicken wings - they also happen to be gluten free! 

These puff pastry squares are topped with caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese and thyme –all the best parts of French onion soup made into little bite-size appetizers fit for a cocktail party.

It’s best to start with firm ripe pears for this delicate dessert. As the pears poach, they absorb the poaching liquid and become sweet and tender. The poaching liquid is sweet and flavored with cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean.

This lasagna consists of layers of lasagna noodles, creamy spinach béchamel, beef and veal Bolognese, fresh spinach leaves and Parmesan cheese.

The chorizo and tomato soup with wild rice is a comforting fall soup. The chorizo and rice add texture to the tomato based broth while the chorizo adds lots of flavor and mild spice to the soup.