Small Plates

The smaller the better. Small is beautiful. Small is the new big. Biggy Smalls. It's a small world, afterall. The best things come in small packages. Yup, this week size does matter! This week we're talkin' SMALL PLATES! That almost doesn't look right...maybe I should have said small plates! Now, that doesn't mean head into the kitchen, cook something up and put it on a little plate although it doesn't mean not to, either. Think appetizer. Think just the perfect size for a taste...tease your palate, if you will. Think something you've always wanted to make, but didn't want to eat it all yourself, so you make it into tasting portions.

You decide which way you'd like to take it! A sit down with a lover... A day of kitchen experimentation... or a veritable tasting feast for your friends and neighbors... You know the old saying... So, break out the dip! Dig out those saucers and mini-plates that you don't use often enough. And maybe even try something new...something you toyed with tasting, but didn't want to eat it all yourself. Call them what you will...tapas, mezze, pupus (I especially like this one), hors-d'oeuvre, smorrebrod, zakouski, canapé, appetizer...what SMALL PLATES will you dazzle with this week?

If you haven't seen what Traditions everybody cooked up last week, be sure to head over and find out!

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Find any of Nigella Lawson's recipes, either in her cookbooks or online, cook it and make sure you post it by January 3rd. And of course don't forget to link up with Mr. Linky so that everyone can find and see your dish.

***Oh! I thought I'd mention that the small plates collage at top is made up of photos by IHCC members (clockwise starting in upper LH corner: girlichef, Adventures with the Woods, BigSisLilSis & Living in the Kitchen with Puppies)!
I Heart Cooking Clubs *Small Plates* Participants

1. Leana - Caramel Croissant Pudding 2. DebinHawaii--Halloumi Bites 3. Natashya - Small Tomato Tarts

4. Kim -Stirring the Pot 5. Tina Marie~ Cocktail Sausages 6. debbmarie - Hasselback Potatoes

7. Gonna want seconds-Prosciutto Bundles

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Traditions

Traditions.
The things that we do during holidays and special occasions, both small and monumental, that make them personal and special to us.
Whether you are carrying on long family traditions or making new ones, food often takes center stage.

Christmas of course is a huge event this week, and there are many other winter holidays to celebrate all over the world as well. Regardless of the holiday, they celebrate family, love, giving and sharing. And don't forget food!

Find any of Nigella Lawson's recipes, either in her cookbooks or online, cook it and make sure you post it by December 27th. And of course don't forget to link up with Mr. Linky so that everyone can find and see your dish.

If you haven't had a chance yet, check out December's Pot Luck! I think this has been an exceptionally good one. I had a rather large portion of each.

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.
Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

And Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

December Potluck!

It is time to Potluck for December!

Potluck is our monthly "anything goes" theme where you cook up whichever of Nigella's dishes that you want to and post it to share with the rest of the IHCC group.

Whether you are trying out holiday party dishes, looking for something simple and easy, or are trying to sneak some salad into a month full of decadent dishes, there is a Nigella dish for you out there.

Find any of Nigella Lawson's recipes either in her cookbooks or online, cook it and make sure you post it by December 20th and of course don't forget to link up with Mr. Linky so that everyone can find and see your dish

If you are still craving cookies, don't forget to check out all the treats from last week's Cookies and Dessert Exchange--although I gained weight just looking at them!

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.
Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

Happy December cooking, see you at the Potluck!

Cookie Exchange!

Woohoo! It is that time of year again, time to be nice to neighbours, family, and co-workers.. ok, some of you might be nice to them all year round, saint-like beings that you may be, but at this time of year we go the extra mile.
Baking, sharing, laughing.. there is something about the holidays that can bring out the best in us. And bring we shall - this week's I Heart Cooking Clubs theme is Cookie Exchange! Bars, squares, cupcakes and other goodies are also perfectly wonderful and acceptable.

So grab your Nigella cookbooks, or search for one of her recipes online, and bake up something wonderful for sharing. And who knows? Maybe someone will bake something nice for you this year!

Post your Cookies or Dessert Exchange on your blog any time this week by Sunday the 13th of December and link your post up to Mr. Linky so that we can all share in your treats!

Oops, sorry about that extra R. I got over excited, apparently.

Well who wouldn't? We are talking Cookies here! Shortbreads, sablés, drop cookies, oatmeal, chocolate chip, glazed, sprinkled....

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone. Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post for all the details.

While you're at it, make sure you have had a chance to check out all the wonderful Goddess Goodies from last week!