Recipe: Apple Dumplings

Ok folks… this recipe for Apple Dumplings is not a traditional one… in fact it is downright odd… but it is easy… it is foolproof and it is amazing… yes… I said amazing… absolutely amazing.

I came across the recipe recently and thought… you pour Mountain Dew over it??? really??? I mean are you sure??? The stuff you drink on a hot summer’s day??? That Mountain Dew??? Yep… that Mountain Dew.

Super Bowl Party Food Ideas - Make it a BBQ without the Grill

How about BBQ? ... but you don't have to roll out the grill for this one... a crockpot will do the trick!

You can't have too many options when it comes to deciding on party foods... so here is another great idea for your Super Bowl party or get-together... the menu is easy and practically cooks and bakes it itself... like having help in the kitchen!






First... a munchie or two...



Bacon

Recipe: Loaded Fries

Steak fries fully loaded with cheddar cheese, crispy applewood smoked bacon and green onions served with sour cream or better yet…. Sour Cream Horseradish Sauce or Spicy Ranch Dressing…. totally delicious and totally easy! Perfect as a side dish or even a great party food for watching the big game. If you do them as a party food.. make small piles of fries so people can easily take a serving.I

How to Make Perfect Oven Fries

It’s always a challenge to cut the fat in foods that are family favorites and are traditionally fried. One way to do that is to oven bake them. The biggest complaint is that they simply don’t taste as good as the fried version. French fries are a prime example.Actually … I think the actual taste difference is minimal.. what probably is the biggest difference is texture. After all… a “good"

Recipe: Sour Cream Horseradish Sauce

My family has always loved horseradish in sauces. It is a natural addition to sour cream and is typically a German accompaniment to many foods, especially beef. So when I had a Sour Cream Horseradish Sauce served with potatoes… it was naturally a hit with me. Something about that little bite that you feel all the way to your nose…. I just love it.Now this sauce has as much or as little bite as

Super Bowl Party Foods

Looking for great Super Bowl Party Foods??? You've come to the right place... great recipes and tips to make your party a success!

So let's start here …






Munchies... here are a few to get you started thinking..




Lil Smokies in a Blanket









Mini Loaded Potato Empanadas











Mexican Layered Dip









Corned Beef Bread Dip







Ranch Spinach Dip

Want more substantial

Recipe: Egg Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Pockets

Need breakfast on the go? Have trouble getting the family to even eat breakfast? Forget fast food and drive thrus…. This recipe for Egg Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Pockets is the answer … it’s easy… delicious and best of all… it can be for on the go!Make the parts ahead.. put it quickly together and pop it in the oven…. works great in a toaster oven too.What’s really great about this is that

Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Rice Medley

Hmmmm.... Comfort Foods are the best in the winter... even in places that are not cold and snowy in the winter... we still crave Comfort Foods... Fabulous casseroles... soups... stews... cobblers and pies... and so much more... dish is warm and satisfying.... perfect for one of those cold nights... This recipe for Cheesy Chicken Rice Medley is actually a re-post... I posted this a few years ago..

Recipe: Monkey Bread

Warm little pieces of dough… covered in sugar and cinnamon… all stuck together with a buttery caramel sauce … just waiting for you to sneak in the kitchen and pull one of those pieces right off… after all… you just have to taste test the recipe… make sure it came out alright.... right???

Hmmm… mighty good… maybe just one more…. no one will notice… oh what the hell… I’ll just pull one off this

gooooooo GIANTS!

I'm going to be honest, I've recently become footballed-out. Yep, I'm not "the cool" girlfriend who enjoys watching football on the weekends and having to live my life around the playing schedule. Don't get me wrong, I root for my teams (Huskies and Seahawks) and I'll watch the big games (and even enjoy them). BUT EVERY WEEKEND FOR MONTHS ON END?!?! I'm over it. 

But I'm really exicted, for two reasons: 

1. football is ALMOST over

2. The Giants made it to the Super Bowl!!! 

This is the boyfriend's team and therefore my secondary team. The Seahawks were out a long time ago, so I've been trying to be "the cool" girlfriend by supporting my man and rooting for the g-men. Usually this means me sitting on the couch next to him while the game is on reading food magazines but it's the thought that counts, right?! And I am actually excited that they made it to the biggest game of the year. It's something I can get amped up about and it's an excuse for me to make fun treats for us while we watch the game. Also, our good friend Tom is a die hard Patriots fan. It's sure to be a good game considering the last time they were in the Super Bowl together, the Giants stole the Patriots undefeated season for a win, oooooooo! Wanna see how the bet between the boys turned out last time?! Sorry Tom.

I wanted to do something a little different but familiar for the Super Bowl this year. After lots of thinking, I decided (with the help of my friend T) to make buffalo chicken won tons. A play on the classic wings without the mess or dealing with chicken on a bone (I'm not a fan of the fat, grizzle, and slime of this type of meat - I know, I know, I'm un-american). Plus I used chicken breast and baked the wontons instead of frying so they're healthier, you know, if it weren't for the cream cheese. But then again, cheese is dairy and dairy is good for your body :) 

I love these won tons because they have what I call the wow factor. Something that sounds fun and tastes good.I hope you enjoy them. What's on your menu for the Super Bowl this year? 

buffalo chicken won ton's 

yields about 50 - 60 wontons. Packages vary by weight, not count which is totally weird. You'll have enough filling for about 60 wontons.

ingredients:

1 - 8oz package cream cheese at room temperature

3 large chicken breasts cooked and finely shredded 

¼ c. blue cheese crumbles

¼ c. franks wing sauce

2 green onions finely chopped

1 package wonton wrappers (about 50 - 60 sheets)

Preheat oven to 400º F. In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, chicken, blue cheese crumbles, franks sauce, and chopped green onions. Combine until thoroughly mixed. If you want, you can combine it in a food processor to make it quicker. I would add the chicken chunks about halfway through if you're doing it this way. 

Next, get a small bowl of water and set up your assembly station (wrappers, mixture, water bowl, baking sheet). Take a damp paper towel and place it over the wonton wrappers - you don't want them drying out while you're making them all. 

Now to assemble. Place ½ TBSP of the chicken mixture in the center of the wonton. Gently rub a little water around 2 of the edges and fold to make a triangle. Press the edges tightly to seal them. If the mixture comes out of the seam, you know you have a little too much filling in there, use a little less of the mixture. Next fold one corner into the center and the other corner on top of that. You may need to secure those corners with a small drop of water too. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat for the next 59 wrappers. 

Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool. Then bake for 15 - 20 minutes until the outside is golden brown. Serve with celery and carrot sticks and a side of ranch or blue cheese. Eat any leftover mix with some tortilla chips.

improv style:

you can use canned chicken, or cook up some chicken thighs instead or do a dark/light meat combo. to save time you could buy a rotisserie chicken and just shred the meat, then you're guaranteed nice juicy chicken. or you could use ground chicken or turkey as a last resort. you can use any kind of "wing sauce" you like. franks is a classic which is why i used that but i think going forward i'd use my own hot sauce. also, green onions are optional. i think the richness of the mixture needs a little sharpness to cut through it. if you don't have any you could use chopped celery instead or leave it out. 

if you wanted to be indulgent, after-all, it IS the super bowl, you could fry these babies in some oil. these can also be made a day or two ahead of time and then baked right before serving. just make sure you store them in an air tight container with a slightly damp paper towel to keep them from drying out. you could even pop them into the freezer and defrost and serve as you want... this is a very easy recipe, it just takes a little time to fill and fold all those wrappers! 

too much work to wrap all those won tons? i don't blame you... it's not for everyone. if you can't be bothered, try making buffalo chicken dip instead! use one less chicken breast and add a little heavy cream or half and half to thin the mixture up a bit. place in a casserole dish and bake in the oven at 350º F for about 20 minutes until it becomes bubbly and warm. serve with pita or tortilla chips and carrots and celery sticks. dip away!

Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

I thought I would post another popular Asian meal… Chicken Fried Rice….another dish to add to your Chinese New Year celebration.This truly is quick and easy. Prep a few things ahead and this dish is prepared in minutes…. Yes … you read that right… minutes…. and so much better and cheaper than take-out. Better because you control the ingredients.TIPSYou MUST prepare the rice ahead. It MUST

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon

It's Chinese New Year... and what better way to celebrate the Year of the Dragon than with food.Don't do take out!Why not try one of these recipes? They aren't difficult to make and are a delicious way to celebrate the New Year.I hope you try one of these tasty recipes!Baked Crab RangoonsBeef and Broccoli Stir-FryPineapple Chicken Stir-Fry

Recipe: Banana and Dulce de Leche Dessert Empanadas

The perfect combination of banana and rich caramel.. wrapped in a flaky crust… hmmm… so good. Empanadas can be either savory or sweet.. and this one is undoubtedly sweet. I had some Dulce de Leche in the fridge just screaming to be used.. and a rather large bunch of bananas .. and I thought why not stuff it in an empanada… nothing ventured nothing gained.These Dessert Empanadas can be made to

Recipe: Mini Grilled Reuben Sandwiches

With the “big game” fast approaching… thoughts about what to serve I have another fresh idea for game day food…. these Mini Reuben Sandwiches are just the ticket… they’re easy to assemble…. and quick to grill… if you have a panini maker… all the better!Serve them with oven baked fries… side salads like coleslaw, macaroni salad and potato salad… don’t forget deli dill pickles… and you have a

Recipe: Russian Dressing

My Mother made Russian Dressing regularly…. Although her recipe differs slightly from the one I’ve been using in recent years.. the overall taste is very similar… I like my Russian Dressing with a little bite to it… and have added a bit of horseradish to my recipe as well as sour cream and a little pickle relish…. She always chopped hard-boiled egg into hers… I didn’t add it to this recipe.This

all about moderation

I know it's the time of year when everyone is trying really hard to watch what you eat. In fact, I'm sure most of you are still going strong on your new years resolutions to watch what you eat, how much you eat, and living an overall healthier life. Every year I find myself striving for similar goals and every year I succumb to my love of good eats. So this year I'm not swearing off sweets or fat or carbs or gluten. I'm going for balance and moderation. 

I discovered my love of poached pears last year. I had heard of them before, but never tried it or thought to try it. One night last winter I got a craving for pears. They're one of my favorite fruits. I just love the sweet, grainy texture and juicy freshness of it. So I ran to the store, only to find out there were no ripe pears in sight. I didn't let that stop me. I bought a few thinking I would wait a day or two for them to ripen up. By the time I got home, however, I could no longer wait. And then I remembered poached pears. I was sure that if I cooked them, it wouldn't matter, and it didn't! So I hit the internet and I stumbled upon all sorts of recipes. Being a huge red wine lover, I decided to try it that way. Instead of following a recipe, I decided to throw in some of my own ingredients and see how it turned out. I did, however, decide that I must top my recipe with Michael Chiarello's mascarpone filling. HOLY FOOD HEAVEN is that stuff good! 

So while it's not a completely "healthy" dessert (thanks to the mascarpone filling), it is a healthier option. All about moderation, right?! And lets be honest, it's a lot healthier than any of my usual dessert cravings (pretty much anything with chocolate and butter). Pears are fruit and fruit is healthy. Red wine is good for my heart, and well, mascarpone is dairy, which is good for my bones. So you see, I'm doing my body good! Slightly delusional, maybe - but you have to live a little! 

red wine poached pears + vanilla bean mascarpone filling

yields 4 servings

ingredients:

for the pears:

4 bartlett pears slightly under ripened

1 bottle of cabernet sauvignon

1 star anise

1 cinnamon stick

2 bay leaves

1½ c. water (or enough to cover pears in the pot)

½ vanilla bean

4 TBSP sugar

for the mascarpone filling:

adapted from michael chiarello

8 oz mascarpone - room temperature

½ vanilla bean

½ vanilla extract

3 TBSP half and half

2 TBSP powdered sugar

for the wine syrup (optional):

½ c. poaching liquid

3 tsp. granulated sugar

for the pears:

Peel, core, and cut pears in half lengthwise. In a pot large enough to fit the 8 pear halves, combine the wine, spices, sugar, pears and water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 40 minutes, until pears become fork tender. The cooking time will vary depending on the ripeness of the pears. 

for the mascarpone cream:

Meanwhile, combine mascarpone, vanilla, sugar, and half and half into a mixing bowl and beat on high until it becomes smooth and creamy. Add more half and half if you want it to be a little bit thinner. 

for the syrup:

reduce poaching liquid with sugar until it's halved in volume. basically, cook your mixture on medium-high for about 15 minutes until it thickens. drizzle over pears

Once pears are cooked, place a spoon full of the mascarpone cream on the pear and drizzle with the wine syrup. If you have leftover cream, save it for another batch of pears (trust me, you'll be making them again that week), or you could add it to your pancakes for a breakfast treat! Also, don't get rid of that poaching liquid. You can re-poach more pears in it or drink it as mulled wine another day! 

improv style:

there are a million ways to poach a pear. first of all, if you made the mulled wine and had leftovers, you could just poach the pears in that, adding enough water to cover the pears. you can use any kind of wine you prefer, zinfandel, chianti, even white wines or dessert wines... if you're trying to keep it booze free, think about poaching it in tea or fruit juice.

you can obviously leave out the mascarpone cream, or try making it with cream cheese or creme fraiche. if you don't have a vanilla bean you can leave it out and add a little more vanilla extract. you could even try adding a different flavor of extract here or perhaps some lemon zest would be really good, too. you could leave out the sauce all together and just do vanilla ice cream or sorbet. 

for the poaching liquid, aside from changing the liquid you cook it in, you can also play with the spice mixture. love cinnamon? add 1 - 2 more sticks... don't have star anise? that's ok, leave it out! you could try putting in a few black pepper corns or go a different direction and add some orange zest or slices. get creative and play with it. it's pretty hard to mess this recipe up!

Recipe: Southern Corn and Crab Chowder

I received this fantastic chowder recipe and decided to post another warm and wonderful soup recipe today… after all… you simply cannot have too many great soup recipes… especially in the winter.This recipe for Southern Corn and Crab Chowder is packed with flavor… it’s from the wife of a friend of Warren’s…. Lynne Brooks... A big thank you for sending me this recipe and picture… it combines two

Recipe: Ham and Potato Soup

There is nothing like a great big bowl of soup on a cold winter’s night…. and Ham and Potato Soup is a deliciously satisfying one just perfect for that cold night.

This soup is made in under an hour and is a meal in itself. Served with warm biscuits right out of the oven…. a dinner made in heaven … for sure.

Most potato soups are made basically the same… however… I do a few things differently

Recipe: Spaghetti with Zucchini Yellow Squash and Tomatoes

This fresh tasting pasta dish is so quick and easy to cook… a perfect weeknight meal… inexpensive too! This was a staple at our house for years… an easy dinner to get on the table quickly after a long commute home from work.Thinly sliced zucchini and yellow squash with finely chopped garlic sautéed quickly in a little olive oil then a can of Hunts Diced Tomatoes … cooked together for about 5-10

Recipe: Mini Loaded Potato Empanadas

Empanadas are great for snacking… parties… even meals… depending on what you fill them with and how big you make them.So…. in case…. you’ve never had an empanada…. you’re really missing out. It’s a bread or pastry dough stuffed… and either baked or fried. I prefer baked… and I’ve made them using canned biscuit dough and pie crust… both work well… although for minis I prefer to use pie crust…

Recipe: Hamburger Stroganoff

We all love Stroganoff… and I often make it with ground beef. This recipe is quick and easy.. a great weeknight meal. TIPSAdd the sour cream at the very end and with the skillet off the heat… you do not want to boil it with sour cream in the sauce.We like it quite “saucy” so I used two cans of Cream of Mushroom soup… I wrote the recipe for one can since most people like to use 1 can.You can use

hello, snow!

Winter has finally hit Chicago. It dumped snow all day and into the night yesterday. I love when the city is covered in sparkly white. No matter how old I get the first snowfall of the year always feels magical. I still get excited like I did when I was a kid. Is it cold where you are yet? 

I'll never forget the first time I had mulled wine. I was in Prague with one of my best friends Meghan. It was a chilly summer night. We were walking around the town square, admiring the Astronomical Clock - a large, beautiful time piece from 1410! The carvings and gold details of this clock are stunning. 

Right around the corner from the clock was a small vendor selling mulled wine. I had never heard of it before but after spending 4 months in Italy, my new found love of wine had me ordering a cup. It was warm and still had tons of red wine tang but with a hint of winter spices and a slight sweetness from the fruit it was steeped with. On a cool summer night it hit the spot. 

Sitting on my couch watching the snow fall with a kitty in my lap I couldn't think of a more perfect winter warm me up than a nice big mug of mulled wine!  It's a great adult alternative to hot cocoa when you're not in the mood for rich dairy (because lets be real, chocolate ALWAYS sounds good but dairy can sometimes get in the way). I highly suggest you try some mulled wine tonight. Maybe with a little chocolate bar on the side!

mulled wine

yields 4 servings

ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine (I used a cabernet sauvignon)

1 cinnamon stick

2 star anise pods

5 whole cloves

1 c. dried cherries

½ an orange sliced

2 TBSP honey

In a pot, add all of your ingredients and gently simmer on medium heat for about 20 minutes - enough time to let the flavors incorporate and the dried cherries to plump up. 

improv style:

there's a million different things you could do to switch this recipe up. the biggest way to change the flavor profile is with the type of wine you select. i like full bodied reds but you can use whatever type of red you prefer. also, you don't need a fancy expensive wine for this since you're adding flavors... make sure you like how it tastes but don't go breaking the bank. i think it could be really interesting to try this with a crisp pino grigio or other white wine, too. think of hot sake... 

i'm not a huge cinnamon fan but if you are, consider adding 1 or 2 more sticks to your pot. star anise... ever heard of it?! it's a common asian spice that has a subtle licorice flavor. i'm not a big fan of licorice either but it works in this. if you don't have any you can leave it out, no problem. same with cloves, they add that rich winter flavor to the wine... basically you're taking apple cider fixings and adding wine instead. you could leave out the fruit or substitute it with apples, cranberries (fresh, frozen, or dried), figs, plumbs, dates, prunes or ginger. you could even try adding some orange juice or apple juice as well to substitute the fresh fruit. brandy or a cognac could be an interesting addition to the mix as well. 

if you're looking to do a non-alcoholic version of this you could try grape juice or apple juice or even a black tea. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

This recipe for Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is adapted slightly from the recipe from the folks at Betty Crocker. You will not believe just how easy it is to make… and while it won’t replace my original rice pudding recipe … it makes a darn good rice pudding and with no effort… perfect for busy days.The Betty Crocker recipe is called Slow Cooker Caramel Rice Pudding…. after making it and then

Recipe: Fiesta Lime Chicken

I call this my Fiesta Lime Chicken…. It reminds me of several dishes I’ve had in restaurants… This Mexican seasoned chicken can be used as part of other recipes or just sprinkle some shredded Mexican blend cheese on it and some green onion…. served with a side of Mexican or Spanish rice… maybe a small plate of lettuce with guacamole and sour cream along side…. a great little meal and so quick.Try

Recipe: Boston Cream Dessert Shooters

These terrific little Boston Cream Dessert Shooters can be made in minutes… having company?.. prepare them ahead. They’re perfect for a dessert buffet table for a party.TIPSI use 5 oz. clear plastic cups… you can find them at most party stores or online.I used Entemann’s All Butter Pound Cake… you can use any other brand you prefer or make your own… a yellow cake mix would work too if you wanted

Recipe: Faux Pastry Cream

This easy recipe for Faux Pastry Cream makes a darn good “pastry cream” in under 10 minutes. It’s great for a last minute dessert. I almost always have some heavy cream on hand since it has such a long shelf life… and I also keep pudding mix and milk on hand also… so throwing this together is quick and easy and can be used in so many dessert recipes.TIPSI recommend you use whole milk … it makes

Recipe: Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

I know Hot Dog Mac and Cheese is not the most glamorous meal I could cook… but you know… it really hits the spot on a cold winter’s night… we like comfort food in the winter… living in the south… we’re lucky.. we don’t have terribly cold nights… but when it does get cold… we like hearty foods.. and this one fits the bill quite nicely.

This is definitely a kid-friendly meal that adults will

Recipe: Skillet Corn Bread

I know it may seem odd … but a cast iron skillet was on my Christmas Wish List this year… you have to remember I love to cook and well… all things kitchen related are always welcome… and my southern guy came through… I just had to break it in … so corn bread was in our future…. and what better time than when we had the Vegetarian Chili… I haven’t had tremendous luck with corn bread lately..

the entertainer

So I totally meant to post this before New Years rolled around. You know, in case you wanted to maybe get an idea for an easy appetizer to serve at your holiday party. And now you're probably into the whole "healthy recipe" thing since New Years Resolutions are in full effect. But I'm going to share this easy appetizer idea anyway. I mean, technically it's made of fruit, fruit is healthy. Especially when paired with cheese and nuts. Right?! Either way, make sure you make these for your next party!

Growing up, my mom was always hosting some sort of party or another. Nothing crazy or over the top but she always put thought, time, and a little something extra into it. I both loved and hated when she had people over because 1. it meant I had to help clean the house and 2. I got to play in the kitchen for a few hours as her Sous Chef. 

I loved watching my mom work in the kitchen. It's like she was a choreographed ballerina whipping up a from-scratch batch of tea cookies, while spinach and pine nut stuffed puff pastries were browning in her oven, and Grand Marnier injected chocolate dipped strawberries were chilling in the refrigerator. She made it look easy and more importantly, she had fun with it. Everything was always done from scratch and with attention to detail. And I wonder where my anal-retentiveness comes from! 

This recipe is one of her most popular appetizers, and an easy one at that! Roquefort and Walnut Grapes. They're not the bell of the ball, but they're certainly a tasty one. Blue cheese is mixed with cream cheese to tone it down and then red grapes are brought into the mix. Rolled in nuts, it's the perfect app to go with your wine! Juicy and nutty with the pungent kick of some smelly blue cheese*... what could be better?!

* I will say I'm not the biggest blue cheese fan (typically it's just too strong for me) BUT these grapes are the exception. The cheese is subtle enough and just adds a little something extra to the sweet, juicy burst of the red grapes. 

roquefort + walnut grapes

ingredients:

1 lb seedless red grapes, rinsed and dried

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

.14 lb roquefort blue cheese, room temperature

2 T. milk

fresh cracked pepper to taste

6 c. walnuts

In a bowl, combine cheeses and milk, whip with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Drop in the grapes and give them a good stir. In a food processor, finely chop walnuts until they're a coarse powder. Pour on a plate or shallow bowl. Next drop a few grapes, one at a time into the nuts and toss to coat and set on a plate. Drop more and repeat until there are no grapes left.

It's that easy! I like to assemble them on a plate to resemble a bunch of grapes but you could put them on toothpicks and place into an apple or a harder piece of cheese on a cracker plate. Get creative!

improv style:

you can use different types of blue cheese as long as they're creamy enough to mix well with the cream cheese. if you're a big fan of the stinky blues, use more of it to get a higher concentration of flavor. similarly if you're not a big fan you could use less or substitute the cheese all together. something like a goat cheese or mascarpone - as long as it is creamy enough to blend and adhere to the grapes. if you don't use blue cheese, consider adding in some herbs (fresh or dried) to add a little more flavor. I would suggest thyme or rosemary and even add a bit of lemon zest, too. you could also substitute the red grapes for olives if you're not a fan of grapes. it would completely change the idea behind the dish but could be a really fun alternative.


you could try substituting the milk for red wine or port. if you're pairing the grapes with wine it would be best to leave it out but if you're not... that would be a really fun way to switch it up.  also, you can use any kind of nut you like. i think walnut and pecans work best with this recipe but you can use pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts (ooh, that could be reallllllll good), or even almonds . i actually ended up doing all sorts of nuts since i didn't have enough walnuts to do the whole batch.

if you don't have a food processor you could chop, chop, chop as fine as you can and then take the back of a heavy pan and smash the chopped pieces to get them even finer. it's a bit more work, but it's worth the effort. you could also try doing it in a blender but food processor is #1 if you have it. a great idea if you have leftovers is to add these to your salad with a simple balsamic vinaigrette! talk about a fancy salad!

Not the best pic but it gives you an idea of what's inside... 

Recipe: Vegetarian Chili

Ask any southern man … Vegetarian Chili or Chili with Meat?… and the answer you most probably will hear… Chili with Meat. Seems in the south they like their chicken fried and their chili with meat… so making a Vegetarian Chili for my southern guy was a challenge.. getting him to admit chili did not have to have meat in it was… well… almost impossible.. best I can hope for is a … not bad.. not

Recipe: Tuna Salad Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich

I love sandwiches… all kinds… I could spend all day thinking up sandwich combinations… take me to a restaurant… and more than likely I will look at the sandwich listing first… I’m always on the lookout for that “next” great sandwich.I will try just about anything put between two slices of bread… okay maybe not anything.. but then again I did say just about anything.Tuna salad alone can be made so

Recipe: Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas

It’s always a good time for Mexican food…. and lunch time is no exception. These Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas are perfect for a weekend lunch or even a mid week evening meal. I came across a recipe using black beans and spinach in our local supermarket, Publix and thought the combination sounded interesting. I made numerous changes to the recipe since I found theirs bland.I added a lot

Recipe: Crab Bisque

On a cold winter’s day nothing is more satisfying that a rich delicious soup… and Crab Bisque fits the bill. I love to make soups in the winter… they make the perfect lunch.Rich doesn’t have to mean fat laden… there are ways to cut the fat… oh make no mistake… this soup has fat in it.. it’s just a question of how much.I used butter… you can use a low fat margarine… I did use a ¼ cup of heavy

Recipe: Noodle Kugel

Years ago when I was working in a local department store shoe department, I worked with two women who were fantastic cooks… Ida and Shirley… well.. Ida and Shirley would bring in Noodle Pudding.. aka Noodle Kugel.. fairly often too… I have no idea how I managed to stay thin back then… Noodle Kugel is positively addicting!The recipe is fairly simple… there are many variations … but the basic

Recipe: Taco Hot Pockets

Taco Hot Pockets make great snacks or meals on the run… they’re also perfect for watching the game… and so easy to make… you can prepare these in advance and pop them in the oven when you what them .. so the cook doesn’t have to miss any of the action… now how great is that?TIPSI make my own Taco Seasoning and keep it in a jar… I like controlling what’s in my food and what better way than

Recipe: Hoppin’ John

I find in interesting the differences in foods and traditions that different regional areas have. Many are influenced by the ethnic background of those in the area. Hoppin’ John is no exception. A traditional Southern dish, Hoppin’ John has it’s roots in West Africa. It’s a version of beans and rice, typically made with black eyed peas, onions, peppers and either bacon or ham hocks, or