This is our # 365th Full Plate Thursday ! Eight years ago this month I launched Full Plate Thursday and we have not missed on single week since then. One of my goals with this party was to develop a quality food and recipe community with food related topics. Certainly you have helped us create that community here, where some of the greatest cooks on the planet gather here every Thursday! To each one of you who are a part of this community, thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent with us every week. You are a true joy and blessing in my life!

Our Red Velvet Surprise is a great dessert to serve for any occasion. This is a really pretty dessert and taste every bit as good as it looks. I made the recipe today for a very special friend who was celebrating a birthday. I am glad that my photo's were made because there wasn't one single slice left. This dessert is made with layers of flavor that will offer a surprise as you take your first bite.

We have family and friends that are from Cajun Country, and through the years we have developed a love for Cajun food. This Pressure Cooker Cajun Chicken is one of the recipes that we love and it is so easy and quick in the pressure cooker. The flavor of the chicken is amazing and makes you think you are sitting at  a family table in the middle of Cajun Country. Served over rice it is a complete meal, that will have your family asking for seconds.

Before I start my meal plan today, I am headed to the barn to inventory my cold bins to find out just how many root vegetables we have left to use. Then I will be back in the house to inventory the pantry. I like to take a look at what we have on hand before I start the plan, then I am reducing the inventory on hand before I have to buy new product. We will be having some very special guest this week so I will be including some of their favorites.

Welcome to the party, I am so happy that you are able to join us today! We had so many wonderful recipes, table decor and food related post last week it is hard to make decisions about what to put on my plate. We do have some great featured post this week so I sure hope you will stop by and say hello to these awesome bloggers. We have survived the ice, snow and only in Texas would you have a Tornado Warning the very next week, wow I got to sit in my safe place and read some of your awesome recipes last night. We are fine, no damage here so lets get this party started!

Cabbage and Sausage are a great combination of flavor and I added a little pasta to the skillet and a secret sauce to make it a great one pot meal.  There are some combinations that just work and we love this skillet of goodness with or without the pasta. This is a recipe that can be on your table in very little time to feed a hungry family. We have really enjoyed this recipe and sure hope you enjoy it!

I love to have great appetizer's on hand for the big game days and our game nights. Sometimes its nice to have a hot dip and can be kept warm in a great little party Crock Pot. This recipe is just like a wonderful Green Chili Chicken Enchilada that you can dip up with a chip.  When I made it the first time, my husband kept going into the dip so much I thought I wouldn't have enough for my photo's. The flavor of this thick rich Tex Mex dip will sure have your guest coming back until that pot is empty!

I am sitting real close to the fire today as I begin to write this meal plan for the week. We have had some of the coldest temperatures that have been recorded in over 30 years, burrrrr! When it gets this cold my thoughts go to comfort food and some spice that will warm us up and stay with you especially if you have to be outdoors for any length of time. I am going to do some baking this week, I love to bake when it is really cold outside. I might even make some homemade bread that sure sounds good.

I am so glad to see you today, so come on in and find a spot at the table for all the wonderful dishes that you are sharing with us today. We are expecting 1-1/2 inches of ice and 2 to 3 inches of snow, that is a really big deal here so we are all stocked up for the winter storm. We have some of wonderful Cider to enjoy today while we wait for everyone to arrive. Stop by and take a look at the awesome features we have from last weeks party, some great post to look at!

Our neighbors have a few pecan trees and they had a great harvest this year which they were kind enough to share with us. I wanted to make something really special for them so I think that these Salty Caramel Pecan Cookies will be just the perfect Thank You gift! We have loved this recipe and can hardly keep the cookie jar full they go that quick. These cookies have that great sweet and salty taste with the creamy caramel and a crunchy pecan, a delicious combination for a cookie.

We are Mexican food lovers here at the cottage and have some recipes that have been our favorites through the years. This Slow Cooker Tamale Pie is sure one of those recipes that we have made over and over. This recipe has gone to church dinners and sports parties, it is just one of those awesome go to recipes. This dish is packed with Tex Mex flavors and is a very hearty pie.

It is so much fun to sit here by the fire with a nice cup of tea and plan a nice cozy meal plan for next week. The snow has started to fall and it is very beautiful, although I don't think it will be with us very long.  It's just a good time to stay indoors and cozy up. The Flu is so bad here that 3 of our local schools will be closed for the next several days. I am so glad that I have enough food here in my pantry, home canned food, freezer and garden cold bins we don't have to go anywhere for awhile.

Welcome to the cottage and Full Plate Thursday, come on in we are gathering around the fire today to stay warm. Have some Hot Chocolate, Hot Spiced Tea or Coffee, find a place a the table we are about to enjoy this amazing food that all of you bring to share with us. We have some awesome features from last week so be sure and stop by those blogs to check them out and say hi! Glad to see all of you today and thanks so much for coming, lets eat!!

When we begin to transition into the deep cold of winter, nothing is better than a great Winter Greens Salad with some lovely winter fruits and a great vinaigrette. The salad mix that I am using today is really one of my favorites, and although it is a winter mix it is delicious the year round. We still have winter greens in our garden so it is nice to take a brisk walk to the garden and come  back with some wonderful fresh greens for a salad. There are so many options to this salad but today I am using a combination of wonderful winter fruits with the greens.