By SARA VANDEN BERGE   If you’re on TikTok, you’ve certainly fallen on the side of Courtney Cook, you know the charming young mother who has gone viral for her interesting recipes.   Courtney makes strange, but delicious-looking concoctions that have made her a TikTok sensation.   She makes these Korean eggs that look so delicious I couldn’t wait to try them.   I mean, what’s not to like about boiled eggs soaked in soy sauce and green onions and topped with kewpie mayo?   I m

By Julie Brinkley   Not only is this pasta filling and easy to make, it’s incredibly flavorful.   Made with Italian sausage, chicken stock, heavy cream and parmesan cheese, this delicious recipe is rich, creamy and the perfect end to a long day.   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.   WHAT YOU NEED   1 lb ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy)   1 onion, diced   1 green bell pepper, diced   Minced garlic, to taste   3 tablespoons tomato paste   1 can (8 ounces) tom

By Sarah Weaver   Holiday baking is never complete without a batch of traditional sugar cookies.   This easy recipe is fun to make with the kids (especially the decorating)!   WHAT YOU NEED   1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups all-purpose flour   HOW TO MAKE THEM Cream butter and sugar in a mixer; add vanilla and egg.   In a separate bowl, combine baking powder, salt and flour. Add flour mixture to butter mixtu

By Sarah McNeal-Weaver   Christmas is coming and your kitchen should be stocked and ready for a visit from Santa.   These delicious gingerbread latte cheesecake cookie cups are enough to get The Grinch into the holiday spirit.   Here’s how to make them.     WHAT YOU NEED   ¾ cup softened butter    1 cup brown sugar (I prefer light)   1 egg   4 TBS molasses   2 cups all-purpose flour      1 ½ tsp ground ginger   2 tsp cinnamon    pinch of nutmeg   pinch of ground cloves   1 ts

By Sarah Weaver   Is there any better combo than chocolate and cherries?   This recipe combines the two for a perfectly delicious cookie.     WHAT YOU NEED   2 1/2 cups flour    ¼ tsp salt   1 cup softened butter   ¾ cup white sugar     1-2 tbs cherry juice from jar   1 tsp vanilla    ½ c chopped cherries (from jar)   ½ mini chocolate chips    HOW TO MAKE THEM   Place butter and sugar in mixer and let whisk until light and fluffy.   In separate bowl, combine flour and salt; a

By Julie Brinkley   It’s the most wonderful time of the year and if you’re looking for easy, delicious ways to entertain your guests this holiday season, these appetizers are for you.   Click here to watch how I make them.     GARLIC MOZZARELLA PUFFS   1 sheet puff pastry   200 g grated mozzarella cheese   3 garlic cloves   ½ tsp oregano    100 g of bacon   1 egg (for brushing)   Chopped parsley   Salt and pepper   HOW TO MAKE IT   Mix cheese, garlic, oregano salt and pepper

Get festive with this beautiful holiday cocktail. By SARA VANDEN BERGE It appears that I am set to be the hostess with the mostest for the third year in a row thanks to this fancy winter cocktail I’ve mastered. The Brandy Ice. If you’ve never enjoyed one of these, you’re missing out. This holiday cocktail made with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream quickly became a fan favorite in our home a few years ago. The festive cocktail is perfect for a crowd. Here’s the recipe to make Brand

By Sarah Weaver   Christmas smash cookies are an excellent cookie to throw in your holiday rotation!   With lots of room to play around, and easy to make, these cookies can be as crazy and festive or as simple and elegant as you want.   Bring your butter and eggs to room temp by laying on the counter an hour before you are ready to bake.      HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED   1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) softened butter    1 cup white sugar   2 eggs   2 tsp. vanilla   2 ½ c flour   ¼ tsp b

Flour Riot can hardly keep these popular Christmas cakes in stock. The dense vanilla bean holiday treat is topped with a delicious vanilla cream cheese frosting. Photos/Flour Riot By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Flour Riot , a new bakery located in downtown Dublin, is officially open with a collection of delicious homemade baked goodies for sale.   Owner Sarah Weaver says all of Flour Riot's baked goods are made locally by cottage law bakers and prepared with simple, clean ingredients

By Julie Brinkley   If you have any leftover turkey you need to use, you’ll want this recipe for turkey and wild rice soup.   This creamy dish has all the feels you want on a cold day.   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.     HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED   3 tbsp butter   1 medium onion   2 medium carrots   2 stalks celery   3 cloves garlic   1 cup wild rice   6 cups chicken broth      2 cups cooked turkey   1 tsp dried thyme (2 tsp fresh)   1 tsp rosemary (2 tsp fresh)  

By Sarah Weaver   If your Thanksgiving Day table calls for a pumpkin pie, making one is easier than you think.   This is how you do it! (And for pre-made goodies, follow Flour Riot , located in the heart of Dublin, Texas.)   WHAT YOU NEED   One premade pie shell   15 oz. pumpkin (1 can)   12 oz evaporated milk    1/2 cup sugar    1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt    1/2 tsp ginger    1/2 tsp nutmeg   1/2 tsp vanilla    2 eggs    HOW TO MAKE IT   Prepare pie shell and set oven to 42

Recipe by Sarah Weaver   With the holidays upon us, there’s a good chance you’ll need to whip up some buttercream icing or homemade whipped cream to top off those big mugs of hot chocolate.   The good news is that both are simple to make. Click here to watch a video on how I do it and keep scrolling for the full recipes. BUTTERCREAM ICING; WHAT YOU NEED   1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened   4 cups powdered sugar    1 tbsp. pure vanilla   2-4 tbsps. whole milk or hea

By Julie Brinkley   This salad made with shaved brussels sprouts, pomegranate and candied pecans make a delicious Thanksgiving Day side.   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.   WHAT YOU NEED   12 ounces brussels sprouts   1 ½ cup pomegranate seeds   1 ½ chopped Honeycrisp apple   1 cup candied pecans   ¾ dried cranberries   ¾ cup parmesan cheese   VINAIGRETTE   3 tbsp olive oil   1 ½ tbsp lemon juice   1 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar   2 tbsp Dijon mustard   1 tbsp ma

By SARA VANDEN BERGE With the holidays upon us, I ordered ingredients to whip up one of our favorite holiday appetizers that’s the perfect crowd-pleasing dish. I stumbled upon this recipe a couple of years ago, and now it’s a staple at holiday gatherings. I made a big crockpot of these festive cranberry meatballs for a recent Friendsgiving and they were gobbled up fast! HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED 1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce 1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce 3/4 cup pac

Recipe by Sarah Weaver   The holidays are upon us, and if you’re like a lot of people, making a pie crust can be a little intimidating.   The good news is that it’s not as hard as you think. Follow these steps to make the perfect crust for your holiday pie and click here  to watch how I make it. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED   1/2 cup shortening or butter    1 1/2 cups flour, plus 1/2 cup for surface  1/2 tsp of salt    1/2 cup ice cold water        HOW TO MAKE IT   Start by adding fl

By Julie Brinkley   Soup season is officially here and this recipe for creamy Tuscan tortellini is a family favorite.   Heavy cream, chopped kale and shredded chicken makes for a flavorful, creamy and filling dish that will warm you up on a cold night.   Click here to watch how it’s made.     WHAT YOU NEED   ½ diced onion diced   1 leak, diced   3 stalks of celery, chopped   3 cloves garlic   1 can crushed tomatoes     1 box of chicken stock or bone broth   Parmesan rind   2

By Julie Brinkley   This easy-to-make dish with rice, chicken, French onion soup and cheese is absolutely delicious   And it’s pure comfort your family will love!   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.     WHAT’S IN IT   2 cups white rice   1 (10.5-ounces) can condensed French onion soup   2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed beef consommé   8 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped   1 cup grated pecorino romano or parmesan cheese, divided     1 stick butter, cu

Sarah Weaver has joined Beneath the Surface News as a cooking contributor. Photo/Katelyn Sparger Photography By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Just in time for the holiday season, Dublin resident Sarah Weaver is joining Beneath the Surface News to host a weekly Facebook live baking class.   Sarah will go live on the BTSN Facebook page at 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday beginning Nov. 12.   “Baking has always been a huge part of who I am, and on most days, you can enter my home and there is s

By Julie Brinkley   It’s time for dinner and we're making crispy smash dumplings with ground chicken and cabbage.   They are so good!   Click here to watch a video on how they are made.     WHAT YOU NEED   1 lb. ground chicken   1 clove minced garlic   3 tbsp ginger, peeled and minced   1 cup green cabbage, finely shredded   3 scallions chopped   1 egg     ½ tsp salt   ½ tsp pepper   1 tbsp sesame oil   1 tbsp soy sauce   1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with 2 tbsp water)   1 packa

Absolute deliciousness.  By Julie Brinkley   There are several variations on these protein bowls, which are growing in popularity.   You can create a bowl using different protein like ground turkey or ground chicken and adding veggies, pickles, avocado and cottage cheese to pump up the protein.   Click here to watch a video on how I make it.       WHAT YOU NEED   2 tbsp ghee or olive oil   1-2 tbsp minced garlic   ¼ cup yellow onion, diced   ¼ cup red onion, diced   1 green