Overnight Cranberry Eggnog French Toast Casserole

With sweet and creamy eggnog, tangy cranberries and crunchy pecans - this MAKE AHEAD Cranberry Eggnog French Toast Casserole is the perfect breakfast or brunch dish for Christmas, New Year and beyond! 

Oh the weather outside is frightful....let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....so goes the song. Thankfully, this year I won't have to sing this song as I am in a warm and beautiful tropical island republic - The Philippines. This year I will have a wonderful warm Christmas, yay! Please don't get me wrong - I do like a white Christmas, too. After all, I have lived in the US for over a decade and am used to having a cold and wintry Christmas. However, this year I am home not only to be with my family, whom I haven't seen for 3 years, but to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding Anniversary! So, I do have the perfect excuse to have a warm Christmas this year! I am truly delighted to be with my family for such a special occasion.

Ginisang Munggo (Mung Bean Soup / Stew)

With beans, spinach, tomatoes and meat this hearty and healthy soup is filling and delicious!

Mung Beans or locally called "munggo" is considered a staple food in the Philippines especially in the provinces. Just a small amount of mung beans with added meat (like chicken, pork, or shrimp) or even meatless truly goes a long, long way and can easily feed an entire family. I think that's why it's quite popular. Not only can it feed a lot of people - it is also quite cheap and also very nutritious! If you're abroad, you can find mung beans either in the Asian section of your grocery or in any Asian store.

Apple-Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

So many desserts to make, too little time. Don't you often get the feeling that there are so many types of desserts or pies that you want to make for Thanksgiving but you simply don't have the time to make each and every one of them? Or perhaps, you are looking at the feast of pies in front of you during Thanksgiving and wish you can try each slice of pumpkin, pecan or apple pie - but feel like it's way too much to eat all three in one go!  I hear ya! I know the feeling!!! 

National Geographic - Eat: The Story of Food

We've been featured! As part of EAT: The Story of Food premiering on Nov. 21-23 (9/8 Central), National Geographic Channel is showcasing a fantastic collection of Healthy Recipes from Hollywood and sports celebrities, renowned chefs, food bloggers, artists, etc. It's our honor to be included in such an esteemed list. We are recipe #68 (arranged alphabetically). The awesome part - this digital cookbook is free for you to download and enjoy!

The variety of recipes in this cookbook are amazing! Not only that, as the title connotes, it's full of delicious  and healthy dishes that are so good for you and your family. I can't wait to try some of them myself.

Don't miss out - get your free E-Cookbook here.

Check out the series here. Don't forget it's airing tomorrow night at National Geographic Channel.

Yummy Cranberry Cheesecake

Last year for the holiday season, I made a No Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake as part of the 12 Cakes of December series. I joined 11 other food bloggers and we each took turn to make cakes that we felt best represented the season. I wanted a truly festive and lovely cake so I chose to make a cheesecake with cranberries - since cranberries have a deep red hue which of course is the color of Christmas. Besides, I truly love cheesecake!