Category: Recipes

Oven-Roasted Green Chilies

Oven-Roasted Green Chilies

Now you can make your own Oven-Roasted Green Chilies. They are fresh tasting and you can make a big batch for less money then buying them in cans. I love certain convenience foods. Don’t get me wrong. Canned soups, beans, and green chilies out of 

Spinach Salad with Turkey and Pomegranate Seeds

Spinach Salad with Turkey and Pomegranate Seeds

Spinach salad with leftover turkey coupled with pomegranate seeds is the cure after a couple of days of Thanksgiving leftovers. Soon after the big turkey day, I want a salad. I crave salad. I need a salad. This is a colorful and refreshing concoction items 

Turkey, Spinach, and Cheese Panini

Turkey, Spinach, and Cheese Panini

Are you wondering what to do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers in the refrigerator right now? This is a great time of year for a Turkey, Spinach, and Cheese Panini. Paninis are grilled Italian sandwiches. They became popular in the 1970s and 1980s in Italy. 

Homemade Turkey Gravy (Large Batch)

Homemade Turkey Gravy (Large Batch)

Homemade Turkey Gravy is the “Thanksgiving Sauce” that brings everything together on the plate. It’s notorious for helping to hide overcooked and dry turkey breast meat. But, made with quality ingredients can be intensely infused with the best savory Thanksgiving flavor—the turkey neck, defatted drippings, 

Turkey Chili—Texas Style (Made with Leftover Turkey)

Turkey Chili—Texas Style (Made with Leftover Turkey)

Turkey Chili—Texas Style is Made with leftover Roaster Turkey. The day after Thanksgiving means that people are out shopping, putting up Christmas decorations, working on Christmas cards, looking for leftover turkey recipes, or all of the above.  I typically make soup with my leftovers, like 

Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes – Restaurant Style

Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes – Restaurant Style

I remember being surprised the first time I ordered chicken in a restaurant and there was 1/2 of a chicken on my plate. I’m calling this Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes “restaurant style” because I’ve left the chicken cut in half like you get at 

Pan-seared Oven-finished Salmon with Barbecue Sauce

Pan-seared Oven-finished Salmon with Barbecue Sauce

Salmon was an acquired taste for me. I finally started liking it in my twenties. Up to that point the only salmon I ate was my Mom’s salmon patties with ketchup. One night when I was out to dinner with a few coworkers on a 

Mom’s Wax Beans With Buttered Bread Crumbs

Mom’s Wax Beans With Buttered Bread Crumbs

When I was a kid I loved when my Mom made her recipe for wax beans with buttered bread crumbs. She often served them with pork chops. As I got older, I even remember begging her to make bigger batches. I would have been happy 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches For a Crowd

Pulled Pork Sandwiches For a Crowd

My husband and I have been having 4th of July open house parties for the last five years. Now that we live on a golf course with an excellent view of our local fireworks the party is better than ever. For the last two years 

Grandma’s Polish Kapusta with Pork Spare Ribs

Grandma’s Polish Kapusta with Pork Spare Ribs

Writing about this recipe is a little surreal because I didn’t know this Grandma. I never met her. I think she died before I was even born. You see, my dad is the youngest of ten kids and he loved this meal so much that 

Corn Pudding

Corn Pudding

I never had corn pudding before, until my husband and I had this at a friend’s house for dinner.  Our hosts served corn pudding with spiral sliced ham.  I can hardly believe that I haven’t experienced this combination before.  I’m very grateful to have received 

Steakhouse Sweet Potato with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Butter

One of the more popular posts on this site is for a steakhouse baked potato.  It’s a recipe for a crispy-skinned Russet potato. However, there is more than one kind of potato that you can get at most steakhouses.  Let’s not forget the sweet potato! 

Jeff and Zoe’s Master Boule Dough Recipe

Jeff and Zoe’s Master Boule Dough Recipe

Homemade no-knead breads are hugely popular nowadays. No wonder. In about 4 hours you can have a homemade boule.

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Recently, my husband and I entertained another family for dinner. Our guests were unexpectedly surprised with a menu that was Thanksgiving part II. We did the whole thing all over again: roaster turkey, crock pot mashed potatoes, classic turkey stuffing, etc. We were all happily 

Empanaditas (Mini Empanadas)

Empanaditas (Mini Empanadas)

Some friends invited my husband and I to a party recently. Their menu called for heavy hors ‘doeuvres. That is one of my favorite kind of party menus because you can usually get many different kinds of small bites in one evening. That makes my 

Chicken Shish Kebab

Chicken Shish Kebab

Chicken Shish Kebab is a classic example of Mediterranean food which I love. I might go as far as saying that it is my favorite type of food. However, I would like to travel extensively all over the Mediterranean just to make sure! Mediterranean food 

Ham Buns with Secret Sauce

I’m not sure where this tradition started, but I’m glad for it. I was introduced to “ham buns” around the first of February last year. The youth group in our church sold them for $2.50 each (and they freeze well). Until that point in my 

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Now I know what the fuss is all about. I think everyone knew about kale chips except for me. Several months ago I saw an episode of Down Home with the Neely’s on Food Network. When I finally got around to making these and tasting 

Chicken Capri Deluxe

Chicken Capri Deluxe

I have made some version of this recipe at least a dozen times in the past 6 months. I’m not even sure if I’ve made it the same way twice. The original Chicken Capri recipe is on page 214 of The South Beach Diet Cookbook. 

Mom’s Potato Salad

Mom’s Potato Salad

Everyone loves my Mom’s potato salad—even when I make it! I have been making my mom’s potato salad for several years, mostly for large gatherings. I’ve made  it for 4th of July parties, potlucks, and even a wedding with hundreds of people. This is one 

Strawberry, Orange & Grape Salad with Basil

Strawberry, Orange & Grape Salad with Basil

When invited to someone’s house for dinner, or a party, my Mom taught me to always ask if there was anything I could bring.  So, when my husband and I were invited to an impromptu barbeque at a friend’s house, and asked what we could bring, 

Warm Salmon and Roasted Asparagus Salad

Warm Salmon and Roasted Asparagus Salad

When my husband and I have a busy in our lives we have a tendency to not think about what we eat.  We derail from a health lifestyle – and throw all dietary guidelines out the window, eating whatever we want whenever we want.  When 

Broiled Wild Salmon

Broiled Wild Salmon

I used to be intimidated to make a whole side of salmon. Not anymore! Making seafood has been a learning curve and it takes practice. This is a salmon preparation that I now serve to guests! Broiled Wild Salmon1 large fillet (about 2 pounds)3 tablespoons 

Easy Crisp-Tender Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Peeled Ends

Easy Crisp-Tender Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Peeled Ends

These Easy Oven-Roasted Asparagus are crispy yet tender from end to end because part of the stalk is peeled. They are quick and easy enough to make for a week night dinner, and elegant enough to serve to guests. Sometimes you can find tender thin 

Lemon Vinaigrette and Marinade

Lemon Vinaigrette and Marinade

If you are trying to reduce the amount of your sugar intake in your daily diet be sure to check the ingredient list of your salad dressing. I’ve read the back of a few bottles of dressing, and not recognized an ingredient or two. Now, 

Pan-Seared Ribeye with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

Pan-Seared Ribeye with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

I love steak. My Dad does too and I remember eating it quite often growing up. However, I grew up in the low-fat craze of the 80’s and I spent many years being fat phobic. In high school I probably would have thought ribeyes were 

Steakhouse Baked Potato with Salt Jacket

Steakhouse Baked Potato with Salt Jacket

This Steakhouse Baked Potato with Salt Jacket is something that my husband taught me how to make while we were dating! I added the “salt jacket” part, and it is still the best baked potato I’ve ever tasted. It’s better than all the restaurant potatoes 

Chicken, Vegetable, and Rice Soup

Chicken, Vegetable, and Rice Soup

I wanted to have another chicken-based soup in my repertoire with more fiber than my traditional chicken noodle soup recipe. After several experiments, I settled on using a gourmet blend of brown rice, plus zucchini and spinach as my added vegetables. I’ve been reading about 

Swiss Chard with Cannellini Beans and Bacon

Swiss Chard with Cannellini Beans and Bacon

Walking through Whole Foods the other day I noticed a giant display of gorgeous Swiss chard. I bought a bunch thinking that at the very least I could wilt them in olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. In reality, when it came time to 

Chicken Pot Pie—Family Style

Chicken Pot Pie—Family Style

How many times are you inspired to make a recipe because you flip through a cooking magazine or see the cover of one while waiting to check out at the grocery store. I decided to make this family-style chicken pot pie for just such a 

Whole Wheat Linguine with Mushrooms and Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

Whole Wheat Linguine with Mushrooms and Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

The following recipe is one of my brother’s go-to recipes. He has made it so many times that he no longer needs the original recipe, and now just cooks it by feel and what looks good. I love when that happens! It all started one 

Quick and Easy Spicy Black Bean Soup

Quick and Easy Spicy Black Bean Soup

When I lived near a Trader Joe’s, I would sometimes buy a carton of spicy Cuban black bean soup that they carried. I thought it was reasonably healthy for being so convenient. The only listed ingredient that bothered me was cane juice. The soup didn’t 

Special Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Special Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

A few weeks ago I happened to catch Food Network show with Giada. One of the dishes she made really stuck in my mind. So much so, that the next time I went grocery shopping I bought fingerling potatoes. As Giada was cooking the potato 

Chili and Fixings

Chili and Fixings

I have made this recipe a several times now. I usually triple or quadruple the recipe, put it in my crock pot and then chili is waiting for us when we come home with guests.  What makes this special is all the optional fixings.  It 

Penne Pasta Bake

Penne Pasta Bake

Penne Pasta Bake is not only great on a weeknight, but also for any occasion you would like to have something assembled before hand. Then all you have to do is bake it.  It’s easier than lasagna but just as tasty, and this casserole can 

Turkey Dumpling Soup

Turkey Dumpling Soup

Our new winter favorite—Turkey Dumpling Soup. Our Christmas dinner is usually Thanksgiving dinner part II. What can I say? My husband loves my Roaster Turkey, Classic Turkey Stuffing, and Mashed potatoes. Therefore, I had plenty turkey bones to make a batch of homemade turkey stock. 

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes – 3 Variations

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes – 3 Variations

Using a slow cooker is very useful for making sure Thanksgiving day (or any special dinner with guests) goes smoothly.  After all, there are so many dishes to make sure we get to the table hot – why not take an opportunity to make it 

Roaster Turkey

Roaster Turkey

I never heard of making a turkey in an electric roaster until I saw my mother-in-law make her turkey this way. Of course, after I saw this method I had to get an electric roaster myself! If this is the turkey my husband grew up 

Mom’s Classic Turkey Stuffing

Mom’s Classic Turkey Stuffing

Now I understand why my husband gets so excited about having turkey stuffing every year. The first time I tasted his Mom’s Classic Turkey Stuffing while my husband and I were still dating, I knew I would need to learn how to make it. My 

Baked Bacon

Baked Bacon

Several years ago I worked at a camp and conference center. We had a full time chef that prepared some pretty amazing meals for groups of 50 to groups of 300 plus. One morning I saw how he made the breakfast bacon on large sheet 

The Easiest Salt and Pepper Roasted Chicken

The Easiest Salt and Pepper Roasted Chicken

I have made this recipe several times now, and it just keeps getting better and better. I used to try to put all sorts of spices on top of the chicken, stuffed inside of the chicken, stuffed in between the skin and the chicken (not 

Authentic Recipe Italian Meatballs – Polpette

Authentic Recipe Italian Meatballs – Polpette

Who knew that a “food stuff made of ground meat” could taste so good? I had no idea how many different kinds of meatballs there were until I did a little reading on Wikipedia. There must be thousands of recipes using every kind of meat 


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