Sorghum is an interesting grain with a rich heritage and unique flavor. Plus it's something of a superhero crop because it's one of the most efficient crops in conversion of solar energy, is environmentally friendly, requires less water than other grain crops and is … Continue reading →
Best Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)
Giardiniera, pronounced "jar-din-air-ah", is one condiment you don't want to be without. And once you've tried it you'll understand why. Originating in Italy, these pickled vegetables were introduced to Chicago in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants and took … Continue reading →
Dill Pickled Green Beans (Dilly Beans)
If you've never tried Dilly Beans you don't know what you've been missing! These have been a beloved classic for generations. They're perfect for snacking and the delightfully crunchy texture of dill pickled green beans also provides the perfect contrast and pairing for … Continue reading →
Blue Cheese Butter
When I was a kid I hated blue cheese. Nothing could convince me to eat it. And whenever my mom made something with blue cheese in it, I resisted it with all my stubborn might. But this story has a good ending. Once I hit adulthood I finally came to my senses and fell … Continue reading →
How To Can Diced Tomatoes
There are several reasons it's a great idea to can your own tomatoes. The first reason is this: BPA's. Nearly everyone's heard of this chemical because of the health risks associated with it. Sadly it continues to be used in so many of our food products. In the case of … Continue reading →
German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)
Eating this cool and crunchy cucumber salad always reminds me of Germany. It's commonly included as part of any Salatteller (salad plate) in German restaurants. A Salatteller will often feature a serving of carrot salad, radish salad, lettuce greens, potato salad and this … Continue reading →
Lavender Lemonade
I moved to England from Germany when I was 15 years old and lived there for what were 6 wonderful years. Those memories of touring the British Isles and making friends with people whom I still consider family are among my most treasured memories. We lived just south of … Continue reading →
BEST Chicken Salad
I'm a sentimental romantic. So you'll have to indulge me for a moment. One of my favorite movies of all time is the Megan Follows version of Anne of Green Gables and its sequel. Would it be too dramatic to say that growing up, those movies helped shape who I am? Yes, … Continue reading →
Classic Homemade Caramel Sauce
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post! Is there anything more swoon-worthy than a waffle cone dripping with ice cream or a loaded ice cream sundae? I can totally relate to one of my favorite actresses, Ginger Rogers, when she said: "My love for ice cream … Continue reading →
Cherry Barbecue Sauce
What would you do with 75 pounds of cherries? That's what I picked up this past weekend: Three 25 lb boxes of plump, luscious bing cherries. I've been busy pitting and canning cherries in light syrup, making jam, making cherry dessert sauce, cherry crisp, fruit leather, and … Continue reading →
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
You just can't have too many pasta salad recipes. They're the perfect accompaniment to any BBQ, picnic or potluck so it's always nice to have a variety to choose from. I had a chunk of mozzarella and some pepperoni left over from a pizza I made the other day and needed a … Continue reading →
Pickled Asparagus
Asparagus is something I look forward to every year. Steamed and served with a Hollandaise sauce, sauteed with butter, added to stir-fries, made into a creamy soup, roasted or grilled and added to a Mediterranean salad...I love asparagus every which way. And that includes … Continue reading →
Chocolate Nut Banana Protein Smoothie
Thank you to Silk for sponsoring this post! Protein is vital. And it's especially important to get an adequate amount of it for breakfast. I was reading a recent article from The Atlantic wherein they were taking a look at the latest research findings on protein … Continue reading →
Watermelon Salad with Mint and Feta
Watermelon was my favorite fruit as a child and continues to be something I also look forward to come summer. While mediocre watermelons are pretty "meh," a really good watermelon is pure heaven. And you know what? I just learned something about watermelons that I never … Continue reading →
How To Smoke Neck Bones & Ham Hocks
At the heart of Southern home cooking, smoked neck bones and ham hocks are commonly enjoyed with things like beans, potatoes, rice, cabbage as well as in soups and stews where they're slow-cooked until their smoky, fork-tender meat falls right off. Most of you have … Continue reading →
Squid Ink Paella (Arròs Negre/Arroz Negro)
I've partnered with Aneto to bring you this post. If it isn't obvious by now how much I love paella then let me say it again: I LOVE PAELLA! For a national dish that's thoroughly unique, super fun to make and incredibly delicious, it's hard to rival Spain. Another … Continue reading →
Slow Cooker Pineapple Orange BBQ Chicken
Sweet, tangy and juicy with a touch of kick, this Pineapple Orange BBQ Chicken takes less than 10 minutes of prep time and the slow cooker does the rest. This dish features a fun interplay of flavors that compete for attention just long enough to be noticed and then blend … Continue reading →
How To Render Lard (and why you should use it)
Chances are the vast majority of people reading the title and looking at this bottle of lard will have a negative reaction. What will follow is the pronouncement of a string of health conditions that through decades of medical myths have come to be associated with eating … Continue reading →
Healthier 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Wouldn't it be nice if all delicious recipes were this easy? Yep, that's it: Only 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep time. The oven does the rest and soon you'll be biting into a perfectly chewy, delicious and healthier peanut butter cookie. These cookies also … Continue reading →
Easy Mexican Chocolate Pots de Crème
I first introduced you to my Easy Chocolate Pots de Crème in early 2015 and it has remained our favorite chocolate dessert since. It's the sweet treat my husband requests the most and is always a hit with our guests. We've gotten many emails from our readers echoing the … Continue reading →
Grilled Veal Steak Fajitas
Thank you to The Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this post. I grew up in southern Germany and then spent my mid-teens through young adulthood in England. What do the two countries have in common? This: Hardly anyone knows anything about Mexican food. It's true. I'm … Continue reading →
Sweet Pea Risotto with Basil & Pancetta
I've partnered with Aneto to bring you this post! In celebration of Spring, I want to introduce you to a risotto featuring one of early Spring's finest bounties: The garden-fresh sweet pea. Aren't they simply irresistible? We had a really nice harvest of sweet peas … Continue reading →
Best Gluten Free Carrot Cake (with Marzipan Carrots)
You may have noticed I've been experimenting more with gluten free baking. No, The Daring Gourmet isn't converting into a gluten free blog. I just like adding variety to my blog. Plus, I like to have alternatives to gluten for myself and my family. Our son just … Continue reading →
Best Sweet & Sour Sauce
Get ready for a fast, simple, and deeeelicious Sweet & Sour Sauce! This sweet and sour sauce is perfect as a dipping sauce for potstickers, egg rolls, chicken nuggets and anything else your heart desires. Use also to incorporate into your favorite Chinese dishes like … Continue reading →
Lemon Dill Mustard Dressing
Dill has always been one of my favorite herbs. I've had success in growing nearly all of my culinary herbs from seed and planting them in my herb garden, but dill has been a challenge. I've been trying to grow it for the past three years and just haven't had much luck. I … Continue reading →
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
It's after making meals like this that I ask myself why I don't utilize my slow cooker more often. I mean, what could be simpler than throwing in a handful of ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and then coming home to a ready-made meal for dinner? Well, I've … Continue reading →
Seafood Paella (Paella de Marisco)
I've partnered with Aneto, my favorite broth manufacturer, to bring you this post. What beats paella for a romantic night in? Prepare it together as a couple then sit down to enjoy it followed by dessert and a great movie. I'm speaking from experience, it makes for … Continue reading →
Traditional Irish Beef & Guinness Stew (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)
Nothing speaks comfort like a good beef stew. Variations of beef stew are found around the world and a few famous examples include France's Boeuf Bourgignon, Hungary's Goulash, and Belgium's Carbonnade à la Flamande (recipe to come). The first one is simmered in wine, the … Continue reading →
Gluten Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Doughnuts in one form or the other have been around for eons; so long in fact that according to the Smithsonian archaeologists have dug of fossilized pieces of doughtnuts dating back to prehistoric Native American settlements. But "proper" doughnuts are believed to have … Continue reading →
Asian-Spiced Chicken & Vegetable Soup
I've partnered with Aneto, my favorite broth manufacturer, to bring you this post. I don't think I could live without soup. There are just those days when what I crave most is a bowl of hot soup, whether it's the thick creamy kind or the rich brothy variety. The other … Continue reading →
Authentic Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread)
If you've ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant - certainly if you've ever set foot in Ethiopia - you will have heard of injera. It's a sourdough flatbread unlike any other sourdough. It starts out looking like a crepe but then develops a unique porous and slightly spongy … Continue reading →
Healthy Food Swaps + 10 Healthy Salad Dressings
Since the start of the new year I've been focusing on cutting back on calories in an effort to shed the final few pounds I put on during the holidays. Rather than go on an extreme diet, I've just been taking small, simple steps on a daily basis, swapping out high calorie … Continue reading →
Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup
It's been a crazy week and I'm ready for the weekend, how about you? I've been nursing a case of strep throat with accompanying fever while still having to meet the day to day demands of taking my kids to their various activities and meeting deadlines of my own. … Continue reading →
Low Carb High Protein Nut & Seed Bread (Paleo)
In an attempt to burn a few excess pounds and to cut back on carbs generally, I've been focusing more on foods high in protein and healthy fats the past few weeks. High protein/high fat foods are more satiating, which means you're less likely to nibble throughout the day, … Continue reading →
Italian Wedding Soup
I've partnered with Aneto, my favorite broth manufacturer, to bring you this post. Served at every Italian-American wedding across the nation, this soup is so delicious that no self-respecting Italian-American couple would ever think of getting married without … Continue reading →
How To Make Candied Orange and Lemon Peel
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post! January celebrates the ushering in of citrus season! I always get excited to see the fresh crops pour into the produce section of my local grocery stores and roadside fruit stands. I LOVE practically anything … Continue reading →
Blender Banana Oatmeal Bran Muffins
I made these muffins earlier this week and out of a dozen muffins our 4 year-old daughter ate six in a two-hour period and was still wanting more! Her new favorite muffin? Apparently so! As she kept asking for more I hesitated and then reasoned, "you know, why not? We … Continue reading →
Slow Cooker Chinese Fried Rice
Chinese fried rice has always been a favorite of mine, but it's a long process to get it right, to make it the way it's served in restaurants. And during the week I like to keep meals as quick and simple as possible. You too? And so I figured, why not? Practically … Continue reading →
How To Create a Cheese & Charcuterie Board
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post! I can't think of anything classier than a cheese & charcuterie board for entertaining or to enjoy for a couple's night in. Todd and I have a tradition where a few evenings a month, after the kids are in bed … Continue reading →
Spanish Deviled Eggs
Thank you to Lindsay® for sponsoring this post! Spaniards are masters of appetizers, which they call “tapas.” For them it's an art form and every restaurant and bar features its own carefully crafted selection of tapas. In Spain when you go out for dinner it's common … Continue reading →
