Category Archives: Cooking

Crispy Parmesan Asparagus Fries

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In general, my kids are very good at eating their vegetables. But I’m always looking for ways to make them more appealing. Although they’ll both eat asparagus with just a little olive oil, salt n’ pepper – they certainly don’t gobble it down like they did these crunchy flavorful asparagus fries. Yum yum! These would be great with any poultry or pork tenderloin or even as an appetizer for your next party. Bet you’ll even get those picky eaters to like asparagus with these beauties!
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Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

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My poor kids have been in a lunchtime rut for a while now. All I ever make them is turkey and peanut butter sandwiches. No, not together. Turkey for the girl. Peanut butter for the boy. My son always asks for “peanut butter…(yelling) and JAM!”. Apparently he’s unclear if I remember from the previous 200 sandwiches I’ve made him  that I  know he likes jam. One of the few things he likes better is pizza. So today I broke free from the mid-day doldrums and made them these easy little pizza rolls. Not the healthiest of lunches, but I had all the ingredients in my fridge and needed to use them up. Continue reading →

Caprese Salad

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This is the easiest and most elegant appetizer to whip together ever. People go nuts over it, but it’s amazingly simple to prepare. I made this for my son’s third birthday. It was Cars themed and my husband said I should make something with tomatoes and put a sign next to it that said “Tow Mater”. He cracks me up. Pretty sure he thought I was going to just throw some cherry tomatoes in a bowl or something, but I decided to do this instead. Continue reading →

Greatest Chicken Salad Ever

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Everyone should have a favorite go-to chicken salad recipe. If you don’t, use this one. It’s the greatest in the world. I thought I’d posted this ages ago, but when my sister went looking for it there was nary a chicken salad recipe to be found.  So here it is.  Depending on how I’m feeling, I sometimes add a dollop of Dijon to this recipe as well. When making it for a large crowd, I do the whole thing and add the almonds last. Then I separate half of the recipe out and don’t put nuts in it. You know, to be kind to the anti-nut or allergy oppressed people.  This stuff is great served on sandwiches, crackers, open-faced as a crostini or just piled on a big bed of spinach or lettuce. You can use it for appetizers at a party, a nice tea sandwich or for a light summer dinner! Enjoy! Continue reading →

Perfect Roast Chicken

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I love roasting chickens. I only recently discovered this easy (yes, easy) dinner. I used to think roasting a chicken meant slaving away all day, basting repeatedly. Not so. A few minutes of prep and then into the oven it goes. No work required for an hour and a half while it cooks. Just think of all things you could do in that amount of time! Read some books to the kids, do the dishes, fold some laundry, paint your nails, get some sun in the front yard while eating strawberries from a bowl. I highly recommend that last one. You should try it some time. It’s amazing. Then you come back inside high on vitamin D to the delicious smell of a roasted chicken. There is not a better way to spend an afternoon. Continue reading →

Mediterranean Chicken Bake

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This quick casserole includes great flavors like artichokes, tomatoes and olives. Tossed together in with chicken, pasta and cheese it takes boring chicken casserole to a new (delicious) place. It’s an amazing meal for a busy weeknight. You could use any leftover chicken you’ve already cooked, shred up a rotisserie chicken or quickly cook up some fresh chicken to use in this dish. I paired this with my Pear and Feta Salad and some hearty rolls for a perfect easy Friday night meal. Yum yum! Continue reading →

BBQ Pulled Pork

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Why is it when working out at the Y, the only good thing on TV is the Food Network? It kills me to watch fabulous dishes being made while I’m dripping sweat and struggling to breathe. But, since I don’t have cable television in my house (mostly because if I did, all I’d do is sit and watch the Food Network), I’m thankful for the great ideas I get from watching Rachel, Ina, Paula, Bobby and Guy at the gym. This week it was Paula Dean. This is the first recipe I’ve ever tried of hers. They always look amazing, but I’ve never actually remembered to look up the recipe once I get home. I think I’m in an indoor BBQ kind of mood because apparently in Seattle we’re going to skip right over Spring this year and go directly from Winter to Summer sometime in July. Seriously…I think there was a frost this week and I broke out my flip flops yesterday because it was going to be a whopping 58°. Continue reading →

Vintage Cheese Ball

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For some reason, I associate cheese balls with the 60′s. Not that I was around then. But I just picture people hanging out, having cocktails and noshing on crackers and cheese…shaped like a ball. Anyway, I decided to make one for our Mom’s Day BBQ with the family. It is a quick easy and absolutely delicious appetizer sure to please a crowd. Totally groovy baby. Pay attention to the amount of ranch dressing mix. Any more than an ounce package and your cheese will be too salty. Also, it’s best to let this ball sit in the fridge overnight to allow the flavors to all jive. You’re gonna be so jazzed when you taste this! It’s outta sight! Continue reading →

Buffalo-Style Empanadas

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Empanadas originated in Spain and eventually made their way around the world in various forms. The name comes from the verb empanar meaning to wrap in bread. Some countries fill the dough with meat, some with sweet fillings or vegetables. I decided to combine the standard fare of the midwest (BBQ) with the Spanish tradition of empanadas. Mmmmm. Tasty. I know, it’s not really a traditional Mexican food. But for many years I’ve made enchiladas or tacos on Cinco de Mayo and today I wanted a little something different.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

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It’s been about 6 hours since I had this delicious soup for dinner. I haven’t stopped thinking about how awesome it was. Perfectly blended spices and rich chicken flavor combine in a soup that (in my humble opinion) could best any Mexican restaurant’s version of this south-of-the-border classic. As incredible as it tastes, you’d think it requires slaving away in the kitchen all day. But you’d be wrong. Your slow-cooker does all the work. Just throw it in and let the magic happen. The only effort required is the homemade tortilla strips . (sigh) Yes, you could certainly substitute regular corn chips I suppose – but with your soup practically making itself, come on…you can handle making the tortilla strips. Really. You can do it. They are the perfect crunchy topper to an absolutely fantastic meal. Happy Cinco de Mayo! I know, I’m a few days early…I like to stretch out celebrations as much as possible! Continue reading →