Category Archives: Cooking

Cabbage Rolls

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Apparently corned beef/cabbage last Thursday and the slaw with my pulled pork didn’t give me enough of a cabbage fix already this week. I guess when the stuff goes on sale around St. Patrick’s Day, I want to make the most of it. I used up most of a head of this smelly veggie tonight with these rolls. Smelly, but yummy. I always make this recipe on a week that I’ve got another dinner with rice on the menu. I just make a little extra so I have a cup of it already cooked and ready for these cabbage rolls. These kind of taste like a stuffed bell pepper, just rolled in cabbage leaves instead of crammed into a pepper. Continue reading →

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Crispy Cheese Pulled Pork Tacos with Sesame Slaw

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It’s Taco Tuesday! I have died and gone to over-eating heaven. Seriously. Dinner tonight was quite possibly the most delicious food I’ve had all year. Possibly in the past 5 years. I cannot remember the last meal I enjoyed more than what I shared with my family tonight. My daughter declared “Mommy, this is so good, because it makes my brain smarter” – apparently beyond being simply and utterly delicious, it also fuels the mind.  What could make me rave so much? Get this…BBQ pulled pork wrapped in a crispy cheese shell, topped with a tangy creamy sesame slaw. Oh yeah baby. That is  just phenomenal food. Have I ever mentioned how much I am in love with cheese? Especially the crispy kind. If you’re like me and seek out the crunchy parts on the edges of scalloped potatoes, casseroles, nachos etc — you’re going to pass out from pleasure when you taste these things. Continue reading →

Curried Chicken Crostinis

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I first made these a few years ago for my sister-in-law’s baby shower. The were a huge hit, but somehow the recipe got buried in my mass of kitchen paper and was forgotten until I was searching for tea sandwich ideas. Voila! Perfect! The curry is very subtle, even folks who claim not to like curry gobble these babies up. You can add chopped blanched almonds or pecans to this chicken salad if you like – but keep in mind your guests. I have a couple “anti-nut” people in my life, so I steer clear of adding them to dishes. Aren’t I nice?

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Italian Cucumber Crostinis

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I first enjoyed these little appetizers at my cousin Shannon’s house. Crostinis are perfect for a tea time delight because they fit neatly on a small plate and require no utensils. These are quick and delicious. Certainly not your mother’s cucumber tea sandwich. I mixed the cream cheese and seasoning packet together and let it sit in the fridge overnight to really blend the flavors. Anytime I’m mixing two things together, I like them to have a chance to get to know each other. The fridge is totally a food night club.
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BBQ Sauce

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This is just a simple and quick recipe for BBQ Sauce. There are much more complex recipes out there, but since I use this whenever I’m basting things for a long time (like in a crock pot), I don’t bother with a lot of fuss.

BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 dash hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, mustard powder, and salt. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before brushing on your favorite meat.

 

Split Pea Soup

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My mom has made split pea soup as long as I can remember. The giant pot simmering away on the stove would waft deliciousness all day. Is there a better smell than ham cooking?

When I got a hankering for her amazing soup and called for her recipe, I got the bad news. There is no recipe. She just throws stuff in the pot. Darn! I hate when that happens. She did give me the general idea and I did the best I could to recreate some version of her soup. Here’s what I came up with. It was delicious. I actually started this in the crock pot today and then changed my mind and simmered it on the stove the way mom always did. I’m sure you could just as easily throw it all in a crock pot and walk away for 8 hours.
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Perfect Dinner Rolls

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I love love love my new bread machine. It’s so easy to just throw all the ingredients in, turn it on and have beautiful dough. The recipe for these rolls is pretty time-consuming – only because you have to allow it to rise three times. You don’t really have to do anything with the dough during all that rising time – today I did some laundry and played with my munchkins, it just requires you to be around the house pretty much all day. But letting the dough rise thrice (I love that word) is what makes these rolls so airy and light. Mmmmm and delicious. Have I mentioned I love bread? These are perfect with soup. Or Thanksgiving dinner. Or soup. I also love soup.

Biscuits and Gravy

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This is probably my favorite indulgent food. I love biscuits. I love meat. I love gravy. This combines all three in a perfect heart attack waiting to happen.  But they are sooooooooooo good. Biscuits and gravy are something that can feed a crowd with minimal work during your party too. You can make everything the night before. Just keep the biscuits in an airtight container, and put the gravy in a crock pot to warm an hour or so before you’re going to serve. Yum yum yum. Continue reading →

Vegetarian Chickpea Sandwich Filling

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Normally, I’m a meat, meat and more meat kind of gal. I have zero interest in becoming a vegetarian. However, in an effort not to become completely bored to death with turkey sandwiches (my standard lunch fare when trying to drop a few pounds) – I went searching for something new. I stumbled upon this recipe and thought to myself “Why not?”. I like garbanzo beans (chickpeas), but have never thought of them as a main ingredient for lunch. Hummus? Yes please! But a sandwich of garbanzos? I had to check it out.
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Perfect Party Pinwheels

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These pinwheels are easy, delicious and totally adaptable to your tastes. I’ve made them with various cheeses, veggies and even put ham or turkey in them occasionally. You can also use spinach, tomato or herb tortillas for a festive platter. Make them the night before and let the flavors blend overnight in the fridge. Slice and enjoy! Perfect! Continue reading →