Thanks to Green Giant™ Veggie Snack Chips for sponsoring this post! Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread. Clearly I was experiencing some flavor combination cravings that wouldn't be satisfied until I unleashed my experimental powers in the kitchen. And fortunately … Continue reading →
DG’s Steak Sauce
Whether you're partial to Heinz 57 or are an A1 Sauce loyalist, you're going to love this homemade steak sauce! With a deeply robust, sweet-spicy, and smoky flavor, this sauce will enliven anything you put it on - and you may never buy store-bought again! … Continue reading →
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon custards, puddings and pies have been made and enjoyed since the Middle Ages. Meringue came on board some time during the 1600's and then, in the 1800's, Swiss baker Alexander Frehse came up with the brilliant idea of combining the two - lemon and meringue - to make … Continue reading →
Pakistani Chickpea & Pistachio Fudge (Besan Ki Barfi)
Besan Ki what?? The name, yes the name. And it's precisely the name that drew my attention to it in the first place and intrigued me enough to give this traditional Pakistani treat a try. If you had come across a sweet called "barfi", wouldn't you have wanted to try it … Continue reading →
Lemon Coconut Muffins
I love pretty much any baked goods with lemon. Can't think of an exception. Lemon has a way of bringing carbs to life, which is probably why lemon zest is a central component to German and European baking at large. That and butter. Must have butter. But these muffins … Continue reading →
Bobotie (South African Meatloaf Casserole)
One of the most flavorful and delicious casseroles you will ever try, Bobotie is an absolute feast for the taste buds! The national dish of South Africa, Bobotie features meat, fruit, nuts, curry, and a host of other spices and ingredients that combine to create the most … Continue reading →
Shanghai Burgers
Sometimes there just are no words. Like this time. Yum. Aw, I can do better than that. Let's try this again... Scrumptiously, delectably, exquisitely, deliciously, lusciously, scandalously, daringly, tantalizingly ...YUM! There, that's better. We all have … Continue reading →
Roasted Tomato Herb Bread
Fresh tomatoes. Roasted until sweet. Fresh garden herbs. Combined and kneaded into yeast dough. Fresh from the oven. Fragrant and flavorful. Soft, tender, and delicately chewy. Perfectly sliceable for your deli-quality sandwiches. Better make two loaves while … Continue reading →
Bananas Foster Popovers
Thank you to Pollinate Media Group and Huggies for sponsoring this post. Sponsored post A few months ago when I was trying to think of ideas to use up a large batch of fresh strawberries, the idea of using popovers in place of traditional shortcake came to mind. … Continue reading →
Red Robin Banzai Burger Copycat Recipe
To quote a friend, "Sometimes you just need a great burger." I couldn't agree more. … Continue reading →
German Picnic Salad
Thank you to Honest Cooking and Castello for sponsoring this post! Though I do try to exercise self-control, I'm a bit of a cheese addict. Growing up in Europe with regular access to the world's best cheeses rendered me into something of a cheese snob. I can't help it. … Continue reading →
Orange Chocolate Hazelnut Bread
Does that hazelnut oil in the picture look familiar to you? That's right! You saw it in my Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies where I lavishly praised its name. Hazelnut oil is simply too good to let sit unused in the refrigerator, so I wanted to put it to use. And since I love … Continue reading →
Creamy Homemade Lemon Curd
Fresh, creamy, citrusy, Summery lemon curd! Put some on your tongue and experience a delightfully sweet zing! I first fell in love with lemon curd when I when lived in England. I lived near Cambridge for six years and enjoyed lemon curd on a regular basis. It's … Continue reading →
Ginger Scallion Noodles
Ginger Scallion Noodles. Ready in less than 15 minutes + can be made ahead of time + tastes delicious = Yes, please! … Continue reading →
Mega Healthy Honey Olive Quinoa Cake
My family's health is of utmost importance to me, especially my kids' health. I'm always looking for creative ways to incorporate healthy ingredients into my cooking and baking. This cake is no exception and I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about it! I felt like … Continue reading →
Spaghetti with Roasted Sweet Corn and Cherry Tomatoes
The weather has been gorgeous here. My appetite for large meals often wanes on hot days and I find myself craving something lighter and fresher. Something more "seasonal." What could be more synonymous with Summer than fresh garden herbs, tomatoes, and sweet corn on the … Continue reading →
Grilled Chicken and Roasted Cherry Tomato Salad with Herbed Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette
This past Friday was the first official day of Summer! Salads are one of my favorite things to eat on hot days. Not that the weather's been hot here in WA, in fact right now it's pouring rain, but it was a beautiful weekend for the most part and that called for a yummy … Continue reading →
Herbed Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette
Everyone needs a good vinaigrette recipe on hand. This one is it. Robust enough to dress up a main dish salad, yet delicate enough to accentuate any accompanying flavors. If you haven't tried champagne vinegar before, you really need to. Preferred by many chefs, … Continue reading →
BEST Homemade Rice-a-Roni
Do you like the taste of boxed Rice-a-Roni but have been looking for a healthier alternative? Do you dislike store-bought Rice-a-Roni but would still love a great side dish? Whichever camp you're in, you're going to love this Homemade Rice-a-Roni! I've been making … Continue reading →
Ultimate Chicken Chow Mein
Good food is therapeutic. It adds spice to life, offers comfort for the "blah's", provides warmth on a cold evening, coolth on a hot day...and helps unravel and unfrazzle you after having spent two hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the cursed I-5 headed south of Seattle … Continue reading →
Baharat (Middle Eastern Spice Blend)
Baharat, Arabic for “spice”, is a special an all-purpose spice blend widely used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Just a pinch of it adds depth and flavor to sauces, soups, grains, vegetables, stews and meat. Middle Eastern food is phenomenal. Those of you who have taken the … Continue reading →
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Two years ago CNN conducted a poll among 35,000 individuals to determine the world's 50 most beloved foods. The results were unexpected. Guess what ranked #2? You got it, Nasi Goreng! Nasi Goreng, the national dish of Indonesia, translates as "fried rice." A few weeks … Continue reading →
Curried Hash Brown Scramble
I made potato salad this past Saturday to take on a family picnic. I ended up boiling more potatoes than I needed, so I put the leftovers in the refrigerator for another use. The potatoes ended up coming in handy for a quick meal on a time crunch. I love potatoes. Made … Continue reading →
Caramel Banana Upside Down Bread
I couldn't take it anymore. After two carb-free days to lose the 2 pounds I had gained after an indulgent week, I had to have CARBS. A few days ago I was back down to my desired weight and I approached the day with a smile on my face. An almost intoxicated giddiness set … Continue reading →
May Recipe Roundup!
We really enjoyed some great food in May, didn't we? I had forgotten just how good until I compiled the recipes. Soups, pastas, cookies, cake, pie, quiche, and some daring originals! … Continue reading →
Honey Mustard Dilly Cheese Chops
Sometimes in life good things happen by what seems like a sheer stroke of luck. Like spontaneously throwing together a recipe without any pre-meditation and having it turn out perfectly. Like this pork chop recipe. I didn't know what to make for dinner last night. And … Continue reading →
Chicken Teriyaki Noodles
In the mood for Asian? Not in the mood to cook, or at least nothing that's going to take more than 15 minutes? Well you've come to the right place! This meets all your criteria for quick, Asian, and delicious! Remember that luscious Homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe I … Continue reading →
Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies
I purchased some marvelous hazelnut oil from an international grocery store in Seattle a week ago. I finally opened it and inhaled...deeply. The aroma, oh my, the aroma! I bought it with the intention of using it as a finishing oil, primarily for salads and vegetables. … Continue reading →
Creamy Pasta with Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
Pasta is often my go-to food when I'm in a hurry and need to churn out something quickly. Like "10-15 minutes" quickly. Pasta is one of those things that requires very little effort to make taste good. Take my Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Scampi, for example. Within 10 minutes … Continue reading →
Bacon and Leek Quiche
Practically everything tastes better with bacon, don't you think? And to be fair, bacon really gets a bad rap - as do a lot of things that the food industry decides to target for a time, and so we avoid them for a decade or two resorting to "safer" alternatives just to … Continue reading →
Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
I had a huge organic sweet potato left over from making baby food for my daughter. I also had some sweet onions and an opened package of bacon that needed to be used. I'm not sure what the mental process was that ultimately led me to the idea of incorporating these items … Continue reading →
Key Lime Pie
Mmmmmm, wouldn't you love a slice of this right now? I would! I Love key lime pie. That's right, "Love" with a capital "L". I have to tell you, I've tried several recipes, including more complicated and time-consuming ones, but not one has been better than this one. … Continue reading →
Porcini Mushroom Linguine with Chicken, Shiitakes and Gorgonzola
I received some pasta from Pappardelle's for review. All opinions are entirely my own. In general, I've become pretty tired of store-bought pasta. Do you feel the same? Just a little bit jaded? Even the "flavored" ones lack flavor. Either they don't add enough of … Continue reading →
Strawberries and Cream Popovers
Quick to make, easy to assemble, and visually appealing. A lovely, original alternative to traditional strawberry shortcake. You can substitute any berry of your choice. The idea for these came on whim as I was making popovers to go with a stew. While handling and … Continue reading →
French Almond Cake with Green Tea Honey Glaze
Oh. My. Golly. Goodness. Don't let the simple appearance of this cake fool you - there's nothing simple about the flavor. Almonds, vanilla, green tea and honey combine to make this a truly remarkable cake. Light and airy, layers of flavor, and the perfect touch of … Continue reading →
Cinco de Mayo Recipe Roundup!
Get ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Here are six finger-licking recipes to help you gear up! … Continue reading →
Mexican Grillades and Grits
Served at home, at weddings and parties, and even at classy debutante balls, Grillades and Grits is a traditional brunch from Louisiana. This recipe is an original spin on this classic dish. Grillades and Grits "Mexican Style"! I recently made the classic New Orleans … Continue reading →
Baked Polenta with Mushrooms, Bacon and Swiss Chard
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. I developed this dish by way of request from Constance (Make a Request!). She wrote the following: "My mom used to make polenta on top of the stove with bacon and onion and then bake it to get a nice crisp crust. Any ideas?" Constance, this gave … Continue reading →
Watercress Salad with Strawberries and Hazelnuts
Whether deliciously complex or refreshingly simple, I love a good salad. The other day the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the beautiful rhododendrons were starting to blossom. I felt like something fresh and vibrant. So I picked up some fresh watercress and … Continue reading →
New Orleans Grillades and Grits
Look no further for a tried and true authentic Grillades and Grits recipe! Tender beef cutlets are simmered in a rich gravy and served over creamy grits - it's heaven! Well, shut my mouth, is that New Orleans Grillades and Grits?? Darn tootin' it is. Well, now ain't … Continue reading →