This plum jam is delicious added to cakes, in muffins, on pancakes, ice cream and any other way your heart desires! You can make it either with or without pectin. With four Italian plum trees in our yard I get busy the end of every Summer processing hundreds of … Continue reading →
BEST Authentic Enchilada Sauce
Rich and robust and a thousand times better than store-bought, this authentic homemade enchilada sauce recipe packs some serious FLAVOR! Not just for enchiladas, this sauce will take your soups and stews to a whole new level! Nothing beats homemade. That's a phrase … Continue reading →
Creamy French Dressing
This homemade Creamy French Dressing recipe whips up in just 5 minutes, is WAY better than store-bought, and is a guaranteed winner! Homemade dressings are the best! Not only because they taste MUCH better than their store-bought counterparts, but because they don't … Continue reading →
Wild Huckleberry Jam
Learn how to make this exquisitely delicious huckleberry jam recipe from your freshly picked wild huckleberries! It's huckleberry season. And that means fresh huckleberry jam! We enjoyed red huckleberries a few weeks ago and now the black huckleberries are … Continue reading →
BEST Italian Dressing Recipe
The perfect balance of flavors, get ready to whip up the BEST, most flavorful homemade Italian dressing in just 5 minutes! Nothing beats the taste of good homemade Italian dressing! The flavors are fresh, vibrant and simply wonderful. And the flavor only gets better … Continue reading →
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
This classic strawberry rhubarb jam recipe is sure to win you over with its wonderful burst of fresh and fruity flavor! Easy to make and includes canning instructions so you can make a bunch to last you through the year! Spread this jam on our homemade English Crumpets … Continue reading →
Neiman Marcus Dip (Almond Bacon Cheese Spread)
This dip also goes by the name “Million Dollar Dip” because that’s how many people feel about it. And we couldn’t agree more! I was craving a savory, cheesy snack the other day. I opened the fridge and noticed some bacon along with a block of cheddar and a wedge of … Continue reading →
Shichimi Togarashi and Nanami Togarashi (Japanese 7 Spice Blend)
This popular Japanese spice blend dates back to at least the 17th century and has been used since as a favorite way to add flavor and heat to everything from noodles and rice dishes to grilled meats like yakitori as well as soups and tempuras. What Is Shichimi … Continue reading →
Authentic Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Clarified Butter)
If you love Ethiopian food and just can't quite figure out how to replicate that flavor at home, you may be missing the ultimate secret ingredient: Niter Kibbeh! Niter Kibbeh (Nit'ir Qibe) is an ingredient integral to Ethiopian cuisine and is made by clarifying … Continue reading →
Kecap Manis (Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce)
There's a reason Kecap Manis is the most popular condiment in Indonesia: It's not only delicious, it's so incredibly versatile you'll find yourself wanting to add it to nearly everything! A meal in Indonesia is virtually incomplete without ketcap manis, the most … Continue reading →
Cheesy Dijon Chicken Rolls with Balsamic Glaze
Here is something healthy, wholesome and delicious that combines your serving of meat, vegetables and dairy all in one! A variety of flavorful vegetables are sauteed and tucked inside thinly sliced chicken filets that have been slathered with Dijon mustard and seasoned … Continue reading →
French Pork Rillettes (Rillettes de Porc)
I'm always amused by dishes now considered gourmet and upscale that were in years past ridiculed as peasant food. Foods like lobster, oysters, foie gras, and famous dishes like coq au vin and boeuf bourgignon used to be the food of the poor - now they're only served in the … Continue reading →
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup has been used as an effective natural remedy for centuries for treating and preventing colds, coughs and flu. And it's so easy to make yourself! The elder tree (sambucus nigra) has been prized as a "medicine chest" for centuries because of its … Continue reading →
BEST Traditional Mincemeat
If you've never cared for the store-bought stuff or even most homemade versions, you're not alone. But just wait until you've tried this ultimate homemade mincemeat recipe - it's a total game-changer! Whether you've never liked mincemeat or you've always loved it, prepare … Continue reading →
Toasted Hazelnut & Date Spread
I've partnered with New Seasons Market to bring you this post. Any time we're invited to someone's house for dinner or something casual like a game night with snacks, I always like to bring along a little something as a thank you. Depending on how much time I have it can … Continue reading →
Authentic Chinese Plum Sauce
Chinese plum sauce is a smooth sweet and tart sauce infused with traditional Chinese spices and boasts a deliciously complex flavor profile that will mesmerize your taste buds! It's wonderfully versatile as a dipping sauce, stir-fry sauce, basting sauce or glaze as well as … Continue reading →
BEST Marinara Sauce
BEST Marinara Sauce You won't find a more flavorful marinara sauce - it's easy to make and is absolutely PACKED with flavor! Canning instructions included so you can enjoy the fresh flavor of tomatoes all year long! Marinara Sauce Recipe It's hard to beat a simple … Continue reading →
Peach Bacon Jam
Get ready for the ULTIMATE bacon jam recipe! The combination of flavors will absolutely "wow" your taste buds and have you coming back for more! Is that making you drool? Because it's making me drool. And I've already had it several times. So I can fully vouch for … Continue reading →
Honey Peach Cardamom Sauce
Peaches are in season here in Washington State and I picked up a bulk load of 75 pounds of them last week! I've been busy chopping and freezing them for smoothies, canning them, making fruit leather, peach cobbler and peach crisp, and thought I'd try something new - this … Continue reading →
Homemade Blackberry Syrup
Bursting with the incredible flavor of concentrated blackberries, this homemade blackberry syrup is easy to make and tastes absolutely phenomenal! NOTHING beats homemade! This year saw the best crop of blackberries we've seen yet with the largest, juiciest, sweetest … Continue reading →
Best Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)
Not just for hot dogs and muffuletta sandwiches, add this giardinera to your burgers, nachos, pizzas, pasta salads and anything else your heart desires! This homemade giardiniera recipe is simply the best and once you've tried it you'll be HOOKED for life! How To Make … 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 →
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 … Continue reading →
Cherry Barbecue Sauce
A deliciously flavorful and fruity cherry barbecue sauce you can enjoy on your grilled meats, chicken, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and used in any recipe that calls for barbecue sauce! What would you do with 75 pounds of cherries? That's what I picked up this … Continue reading →
BEST Sweet and Sour Sauce
There are so many ways to enjoy this popular and versatile sauce. And with only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep/cook time, this delicious Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe couldn't be simpler! Plus it's better than your favorite Chinese takeout or restaurant! Chinese … 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 →
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 →
Candied Orange Peel Recipe
Making your own candied orange peel and candied lemon peel is super easy and the difference between homemade and store-bought is absolutely mind-blowing! Leave the store-bought stuff on the shelf because NOTHING compares to homemade, it's incredible!! How To Make … Continue reading →
English Custard (Crème Anglaise)
This classic English custard recipe, Creme Anglaise, is very simple and quick to make and the result is absolutely delicious served with dessert! Irresistibly creamy and smooth and infused with vanilla! Custard serves two basic culinary purposes: Either as a thick … Continue reading →
Cranberry Ginger Mustard Sauce
Cranberry sauce. Whether you love it or hate it, Thanksgiving and Christmas simply aren't the same without it. As a kid and teenager I used to avoid the stuff. You know, that thick gelatinous stuff that retains the shape of the can after it's unceremoniously dumped onto … Continue reading →
Bavarian Sweet Mustard (Bayerischer Süßer Senf)
A thoroughly authentic German mustard recipe, this Bavarian sweet mustard is the kind served at the Munich Oktoberfest! Delicious and easy to make! My mom is from Bavaria from a small town south of Munich on the Austrian border, and though I grew up in … Continue reading →
Kitchen Basics: How To Roast Red Peppers
Instead of paying a premium for store-bought, learn how to roast red peppers yourself! It's easy and there are SO many delicious ways to use your roasted peppers! Jarred roasted red peppers are one of those things I often don't have on hand when I need them. Can you … Continue reading →
Plum Butter (Pflaumenmus)
Plum Butter brings back memories of the time I spent with my Oma and Opa growing up in southern Germany. There it's called Pflaumenmus and you can readily find it in any grocery store next to the jams and marmalades. My Oma used to make Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) … Continue reading →
Pickled Turnips
Pickling is a method of preservation that dates back to Neolithic times around 7000 BC. During this anaerobic fermentation process strange and wonderful things happen that transform the original product into something quite different. And very healthy with all those … Continue reading →
Sicilian-Style Grilled Tuna Steaks
A mouthwatering Sicilian-style grilled tuna steaks recipe! Grilled to perfection and topped with the flavors of sun-kissed Sicily. It's easy and delicious! A special thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post From my early childhood trips to Italy's beaches to … Continue reading →
BEST Authentic Hoisin Sauce
Potently flavorful and fragrant, Hoisin sauce is a central ingredient in many Chinese dishes and will work absolute MIRACLES for the foods you add it to! Look no further for the BEST hoisin sauce recipe! What is Hoisin Sauce? Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark, fragrant … Continue reading →
Roasted Sweet Potato Fettuccine Alfredo
Even though the holidays are long over, our consumption of sweet potatoes doesn't have to be - nor should it be! Find out more about the U.S.history of sweet potato consumption and why you should be eating them throughout the year in my post on Curried Sweet Potato Soup … Continue reading →
BEST Chinese Black Bean Sauce
This authentic black bean sauce recipe holds the grand secret to making some of the best Chinese food on the planet! It will work absolute flavor miracles for your Chinese dishes! Chinese Black Bean Sauce Recipe For those of you who know what Chinese black bean sauce … Continue reading →
How To Make a Bouquet Garni
If you like French food and you want to cook like the French, you have to become acquainted with the Bouquet Garni. An indispensable part of French cuisine, the bouquet garni is quick and simple to put together and will do wonders for your food. Plus, I've got some great … Continue reading →
Authentic Lebkuchengewurz (German Gingerbread Spice)
THE essential ingredient to authentic tasting Lebkuchen, Pfeffernusse and more, absolutely NOTHING compares to the bold and vibrant flavors of homemade Lebkuchengewurz! This German gingerbread spice mix will make you think you're walking the streets of one of Germany's … Continue reading →