Three Company-Worthy Recipes For Fall

Did you ever consider that you may have a culinary super power? Some people have an incredibly delicate palate, others can put together combinations most would never think of, while still others are artists when it come to presenting food.

My super power is the ability to spot a great recipe. I actually have created very few original dishes. Most of what I do is tweak something I have found to suit my family. But I know a good thing when I see it even if sometimes I am trying something because the ingredients are so weird I have to do it, like chocolate cake made with sauerkraut and canned peas (no lie). Yes, I do have misses now and then but when I find a winner, I keep it! Such is the case with today's offerings.

Let night we hosted a small gathering and were to provide snacks. So I did a charcuterie board. But to amp it up a bit, I made two recipes from The Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten. I also needed a dessert and since it is fall, I had to do a fresh apple cake, ala Paula Deen. All three were a big hit. Since I didn't really "make these my own" I decided just to put in the direct links to the recipes.

The first is Caramelized Bacon. Yes, Ma'am, you heard that right! It has brown sugar, pecans, and a touch of maple syrup. It's super easy. One unexpected by-product is that the bits that fall off the bacon onto the cookie sheet can be served as well! Bonus!