I love pie. There's something so homey and happy about homemade pie and I always lobby to contribute pies for Thanksgiving potluck. However, pie is awesome all year round and tomorrow (January 23) is National Pie Day. I don't need a holiday to eat pie, but hey, I'll take the inspiration! Here are 10 pies to try, tomorrow or any day. I think my 2015 resolution will be to make all 10 of these pies by the year's end.

Click through the links below for full recipes, additional images, and further culinary inspiration from these amazing pie-loving bloggers!

1. Laurel recently introduced me to brownie pie (a true stroke of baking brilliance) and this brownie pie recipe looks similar in composition.

2. I adore coconut and this coconut cream pie looks simpler than a recipe I've used in the past. I can't wait to try it!

3. This French coconut pie (yes, I meant it when I said I adore coconut) looks like a macaroon in pie format. Sign. me. up.

4. Don't feel like firing up the oven? Try this no-bake peanut butter pie. Mmm...peanut butter.

5. S'mores. Great on a stick, even easier to eat as s’mores pie.

6. Got lactose issues? Not a problem with this chocolate tofu pie. I was surprised by how good it was...I was a little skeptical at first, despite being pro tofu!

7. This lemon meringue pie is a major favorite in our house; Laurel mastered it for Thanksgiving! The photo below is of her final product -- impressive, no?

8. Two words. Crack pie.

9. Enjoy two fruity servings with less guilt (that math totally works, right?) with this strawberry pie.

10. Quick and easy caramel pie. I think I'm going to surprise Laurel with this soon. She will FREAK OUT.

Image credits: all images via linked sources above

It's apparently Bake Cookies Day. For real. Get on it! Now, about the title of this post. During the holidays, for me cookie perfection isn't about fanciness or uniformity; instead, I want to make cookies that: 1) are delicious; 2) are easy to make; 3) yield generous batches (i.e., work well for gifting); 4) can be made in small bite-sized portions (i.e., make for happy sampling); and 5) freeze well (so you or your recipients can save leftovers for a less cookie-saturated time). Here are 10 cookies that fit that definition of perfection for me.

Click through the links for recipes, additional photos, and lots more culinary inspiration from these fine bloggers!

1. These gingerbread chocolate chunk cookies are my new favorite. I'm actually going to start making them year round they are so awesome! We actually have a stash in our freezer right now and it's like a little gift every time I take out a cookie and enjoy it post-defrost.

2. These melt-in-your-mouth Italian wedding cookies are so pretty and snowball-like; perfect for holiday gifting.

3. I love peanut butter cookies. I especially love when it only takes 3 ingredients to make them.

4. I'm intrigued by these ricotta cookies, especially given that they make a big batch (perfect for gifting). I'm planning on making these this weekend; I know Laurel and Violet will love adding the sprinkles!

5. I love a classic sugar cookie and this recipe doesn't require chilling!

6. The flip side of #6 are these dark chocolate sugar cookies. I love how dramatic they are!

7. I always gravitate towards chocolate crinkle cookies at a holiday spread but for some reason have never made them. I'm changing that this year!

8. Reese's cookies = another cookie that I always dive for at the cookie plate. Can't wait to make a batch of these!

9. I love the unexpectedness of offering lemon sugar cookies at Christmas. So cheerful!

10. I also love these coconut lime snowball cookies, which I made last weekend for a cookie party. The butter cookie dough can be used as a base for countless other cookie options.

Image credits: all images via sourced links above

I love cookies. Truly love them. And from the reaction I received on Instagram and Facebook when I posted this picture, clearly y'all love cookies too. On Thursday I'll share more cookie inspiration, but first, here are two amazing cookies I brought to a cookie party on Sunday. They're classically holiday (in the buttery goodness sense) and worked well as small bites for the sampling party. Many people asked for the recipes/sources, so here they are:

1. CHEWY CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD COOKIES

These chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies via Martha Stewart are simply perfect. There's fresh grated ginger in them but it's not overpowering and I love the marrying of flavors. My only deviation from the recipe is that I rolled the balls to 1-inch (smaller than in the recipe) so they would be bite sized.

2. COCONUT-LIME SNOWBALL COOKIES

This was my first time making these coconut-lime snowball cookies and they were AWESOME. This recipe comes from Baking Illustrated, with annotations below.

Cookie ingredients:

• 2.5 cups flour
• 3/4 cup superfine sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softed but still cool, cut into 16 pieces
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature

Glaze ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1.5 cups (6 oz) confectioners' sugar
• 1.5 cups sweetened shredded coconut, pulsed in food processor until finely chopped, about 15 1-second pulses

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt, and lime zest in an electric mixer to combine. With the mixer running on low, add butter, 1 piece at a time, until the mixture looks crumbly, about 1 minute longer. Add vanilla and cream cheese and mix on low until clumps begin to form.
2. Turn dough into a bowl and knead/press together until dough sticks together. Don't panic if there are some crumbly bits...just stick it all together. Split dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
3. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place on parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheets about 1.5 inches apart and bake about 12 minutes, until bottom edges very lightly browned. Cool completely.
4. To make glaze, whisk cream cheese, lime juice, and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Dip cookie tops in glaze and scrape away excess then dip in coconut. Let stand until glaze dries, about 20 minutes.

In both cases, it works great to prep these cookies ahead of time. Our cookie party was after the Girls on the Run 5K so I knew I didn't have time to do everything in one day. I made both doughs and rolled out the balls on Saturday (the dough balls need to be refrigerated anyway so it works perfectly). I baked the cookies Sunday morning and then after we got back from the run, I did the final icing/coconut step for coconut-lime snowball cookies.

If you have any left, these cookies also freeze well!

Image credits: Christine Koh

I'm all about food delegation, especially around the holidays, and I'm always looking for new inspiration. I asked a few of my favorite food blogger friends to share their go-to (culinary freak out inducing) holiday recipes, whether they're bringing a dish for potluck, making something for an open house, or want to serve a family favorite at home. I also included a couple of personal favorites. Happy cooking!

1. I love spinache artichoke dip. I love stuffed mushrooms. These spinach and artichoke dip stuffed mushrooms are my new everything.

2. I am a huge fan of appetizer spreads, especially ones with items that are easy little bitefuls like these smoked salmon pinwheels.

3. I can totally see myself cozied up with this cheesy ham and hashbrown breakfast casserole on Christmas morning.

4. One of my favorite things about the holidays is being able to take your time at breakfast. I love making pancakes from scratch (it's not hard!) and these apple pancakes offer a lovely way to add fruit to the carbs.

5. I cannot count the number of times I've made this magic Mexican casserole; it's a hit every single time and amenable to your favorite substitutions.

6. Carrie is totally right: baked lasagna with bechamel sauce is a completely different -- and sublime -- beast.

7. I made this slow cooker vegetarian chili a few weeks ago for a last minute dinner party and it was a huge hit. I was attracted to the recipe because hey, crockpots are sexy, and also because of the unusual inclusion of black bean soup and baked beans. I also offered a bowl of cooked ground beef for those who wanted to add meat to their chili.

8. My dear friend Paige says that people regularly go bonkers over this potato gratin with rosemary crust. Sign me up.

9. This simply artichoke casserole looks divine on its own, as a side, or as part of an appetizer sread. YUM.

10. I've been consuming lots of sweet potato these days; I'm excited to give this sweet potato souffle a whirl!

11. These gorgeous pickled grapes (who knew?) would be awesome in an appetizer spread or would make for a fantastic food gift.

12. Though I love making pie crust from scratch, I am that person who usually just scrapes and eats the filling and leaves the crust behind. So I'm especially excited to try this crustless Swedish apple pie recipe.

Image credits: all images per linked sources above, with the exception of #8, per Paige Lewin.

One item on my minimalist holiday manifesto was about creating opportunities for together time projects. The girls and I had such an awesome time working on clutter-free kid-crafted gifts last weekend that I'm fired up for more this weekend! Following an earlier post on 10 easy DIY food gifts, I wanted to share 15 more easy DIY food gifts, spanning sweet to savory. Click through the links for recipes, more photos, and further creative inspiration!

1. All your gift recipient needs to know how to do is turn on their oven and they're on their way to fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies thanks to these adorable cookie dough gift packs.

2. I always feel more virtuous when I opt to snack on nuts (vs. truffles) during the holidays. Even if they are, uh, covered with sugar. I love that you only need four ingredients (one of them being water) to make these cinnamon sugar almonds.

3. I'm admittedly a little stunned by the (healthy) brilliance of this clementine wreath.

4. Bust out that sexy crockpot for this slow cooker apple butter. Oh how I love the "toss everything in the pot" gift prep!

5. Give the gift of an ice cream sundae pack. The site offers free printable tags but this would be equally adorable and appreciated without coordinated tags!

6. I love the idea of gifting savory with this marinated cheese and olives recipe.

7. These s'mores kits would be a huge hit with the kids. For inexpensive wrapping, package up in treat bags.

8. Homemade granola in cellophane bags will make for a happy holiday breakfast gift.

9. These cranberry pistachio energy bites offer a more healthy gift alternative.

10. Seriously: caramel dipped pears.

11. Another great caramel and pear alternative? This salted caramel pear butter.

12. I want to gift -- and consume -- copious amounts of this bacon salt. BACON SALT!

13. Save your loved ones some cafe bucks with this chai tea latte mix.

14. Roasted pumpkin seed brittle will be worth the extra teeth brushing.

15. A few years ago I shared about my obsession with this trifecta of appetizers. This trio of cheeseballs was AMAZING and the yield was larger than the recipe projected. I'm thinking it would be cute to make these as mini cheese balls to gift special, cheese loving friends.

Image credits: all images sourced via links above.

It's been so fun to run this Eat Seasonal feature! I've garnered so much cooking inspiration, as have many of you! However, today's feature on cranberries (in season in Massachusetts September to November) will be the last for 2014; I'll resume the series next year when the spring produce starts popping again! Enjoy this 12-item roundup, largely focusing on off the beaten path recipes!

Click on each link for the full recipe and more beautiful photos; these food bloggers are totally rad!

1. Get breakfast off to a healthy start with these butternut squash muffins with cranberries. (Who knew?)

2. Season your winter salads with this cranberry vinaigrette with fresh thyme and shallot.

3. Cranberries are a brilliant addition to glazed carrots.

4. Love the flavor combination and presentation of this acorn squash with walnuts and cranberries.

5. I would eat this quinoa with butternut squash, cranberries, and pistachio straight up or as stuffing.

6. This cranberry sauce with dried cherries is perfect for Thanksgiving.

7. This cheerful citrus cranberry cake will lift you out of your winter doldrums.

8. I plan on making these almond-cranberry-chocolate cookies with the girls this weekend!

9. Keep up your holiday stamina with these no-bake cranberry pistachio energy bites.

10. Give the gift of cranberry infused vodka.

11. These sparkling sugar cranberries could serve as both tasty snack and beautiful centerpiece.

12. Make your house smell like the holidays with this cranberry infused simmering stove top potpourri.

Image credits: all images via linked sites above

Whoo boy -- it's the last day of the month! I know that things like birthdays and inspiring work events make for great months, but October really and truly was a lovely one on all counts. Enjoy your Halloween festivities with your families today, and when you're ready to kick back some time over the weekend, enjoy some delightful backreading with this Best of October 2014 roundup.

Family Issues

• Lessons learned: getting over the homeschool stigma
• 5 tips that make saving for college not scary

Halloween

• 10 cute Halloween printables make it easy to create a festive home
• 10 clever Halloween costumes, no sewing required
• On the fly no sew M&M costume
  
• Dear Boston Mamas: how to handle the Halloween candy craze

Home

• How to create a gorgeous gallery wall
• Eat seasonal: 12 apple recipes
• Eat seasonal: 11 pear recipes
• Eat seasonal: 12 pumpkin recipes

Fashion

• Friday Find: New Balance zoo kicks are WILD
• 5 favorites from fashionABLE

Miscellaneous

• Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome

Image credit: peanut butter cup blondie via Pinterest

Pumpkins are everywhere right now (they're in season in Massachusetts September to November) and I'm super excited to share today's Eat Seasonal feature. Why? Because I have 5 pumpkins sitting on my steps, two of which are uncarved and will soon move from decor element to delicious food thanks to the inspiration in this feature. This 12-item roundup largely focuses on off the beaten path (so, no pumpkin pie!) -- enjoy!

Click on each link for the full recipe and more beautiful photos; these food bloggers are totally rad!

1. This chocolate chunk pumpkin bread is seriously delicious, whether or not you use canned or homemade puree.

2. Roasted pumpkin fries = brilliant.

3. This roast pumpkin with feta and honey would be an amazing first course.

4. I love that leaving the rind on for this spicy honey roasted pumpkin means one less step while adding beauty to dish.

5. Give your salads decidedly fall treatment with this pumpkin maple vinaigrette.

6. Warm up on a cold day with this pumpkin turkey chili.

7. Breathe new life into a classic with this pumpkin and kale lasagna.

8. Perfect one-dish comfort food can be found in this roast pumpkin, herb and walnut pasta bake.

9. This roasted pumpkin risotto is a little more involved (in my universe, a make-over-the-weekend meal) but looks worth the effort.

10. She had me at one pot creamy pumpkin pasta.

11. Make your butter more awesome by making it whipped cinnamon honey pumpkin butter.

12. A brilliant use for those pumpkin seeds: roasted pumpkin seed brittle.

Image credits: pumpkins via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

Around this time of year, pears seem to sit in the shadows of their apple cousin. But this delicious fruit is in season from September to mid-November in Massachusetts and is amenable to all sorts of creative usage, aside from raw snack form. Today's Eat Seasonal feature offers 11 ways to incorporate your market or orchard pear bounty. Like my recent apple recipe roundup, I wanted to share recipes a bit further off the beaten path. Enjoy!

Click through the below links for recipes and more beautiful images from these creative bloggers!

1. This honey pear bread would make for a yummy breakfast treat or snack during the day.

2. Further fueling my love for Brussels sprouts is this pear and blue cheese roasted Brussels sprouts dish.

3. I shall be busting out my sandwich press for this bacon, cheddar, and pear panini.

4. This caramelized pear and gorgonzola flatbread would work equally well for brunch or dinner.

5. Whoa. The presentation of these honey pears in puff pastry is simply awesome.

6. I don't normally think of pairing chocolate and pears, but this stunning chocolate pear loaf cake is making me change that tune.

7. These mini pies with pear and blue cheese are so cute (and tasty sounding) that I'm ready to make the metric conversion.

8. These caramel dipped pears would give caramel apples a run for their money.

9. I think I'm going to try this salted caramel pear butter for holiday gifts. NOM.

10. Another amazing holiday gift (for those who enjoy libations): spiced pear vodka.

11. And you can use your spiced pear vodka for this Asian pear and ginger sparkler.

Image credits: pears via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above