Seriously I have had enough. Winter started way too early this past November. And it continues to drag on, with a tease of warm weather here and there. In a feeble attempt to pretend that it may in fact be spring, or summer, I pulled out the tomatoes and basil that I dried, after having picked them from my garden last year. And for a few glorious minutes, I got to taste … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and Cheese...a kid favorite for sure! But why can't it be an adult favorite?! With just a little sprucing up, it sure can be! I remember my mom making "the blue box" and mixing in peas and tuna. It was the "all-american meal" back in the 80s. That...and chicken cordon bleu's from the freezer. Two meals that I am both fond of, but somehow disgusted by. (I do … [Read more...]
Italian Wedding Soup
Here is my version of Italian Wedding Soup. Simple. Delicious. So yeah. There's going to be a wedding this year. My sister's!!! I'm honored to stand beside her as the matron of honor, and I'm thrilled that Charlie gets to be a ring bearer! And there's going to be an Italian at the wedding. My sister's fiance is Italian. Dark headed, dark eyed with a last name that's … [Read more...]
Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce
When I got home from Atlanta this week, I had to quickly jump back into reality. I came home to 6 piles of laundry that needed to be taken care of, a sink full of dishes, a weekend's worth of meals to be made (thankfully I'd already made 2 for next week!), and the prospect of having to regroup again for next week's trip to Chicago and Minneapolis! (I'd love to meet … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
This Slow Cooker Macaroni & Cheese ranks right up there with premium comfort food. A great side for a New Year's Day meal. Okay, I confess. We even have this easy recipe as the main course on busy weeknights or for Sunday dinner. It's a dressier version of the boxed kind. Homemade macaroni and cheese for the seven of us. A highly requested family … [Read more...]
Baked Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Sherry-Simmered Carrots
Looking for something to spruce up your holiday side dishes and meal?!? Might I suggest adding a splash (or a cup!) of Holland House cooking wines to your marinade, or a splash of Holland House vinegars to a homemade salad dressing. Make your home merry this holiday season with the delicious flavors of Holland House Wine for Cooking and Premium Vinegars. They will … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Soup
Takes 10 minutes to brown the beef. In that 10 minutes, you can get everything else ready for the soup. And then 6.5 hours later, your meal is ready! So simple, so quick, so delicious!!! (For when you're tired of turkey and you need some beef!) Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Soup Ingredients 1.25 lb. ground chuck ($2.23) On sale for $1.79/lb 1/2 onion, … [Read more...]
Pierogi Casserole
It won't be long before we are rolling in Thanksgiving leftovers. I enjoy the opportunity to create "encore meals" from the leftovers. One of my favorite ways to use leftover mashed potatoes is in pierogi casserole. This goes together quickly and can easily be altered to suit your family's preferences. My children prefer milder cheeses, so I use mostly mozzarella cheese, but … [Read more...]
Chunky Bolognese Sauce
I have been itching to make a Bolognese Sauce ever since Jamie emailed me her recipe during the Pantry Staples contest. I dug out the last of the bacon from the freezer, grabbed a few cans from the pantry, and pulled out the ground beef and veggies from this past week's grocery trip. I decided to double up and make 2 batches, as I found I had plenty to do so. And thought this … [Read more...]
Spinach Meatballs with Spaghetti
Look at these green babies simmering in homemade spaghetti sauce. After rummaging through the freezer and pantry last week, I discovered that I had everything on hand for these Spinach Meatballs. A reader mentioned them on Facebook recently, and I had to make them. I was really worried that the boys wouldn't eat the meatballs because they had "green stuff" in them, but it … [Read more...]