Appetizers · Cooking

Stuffed Mushrooms

Oh how I love mushrooms. One of my favorite appetizers is the stuffed mushrooms at Olive Garden. I know that all the cheese, butter, cheese and breadcrumbs takes away from the nutritional value of the shrooms, but I don't care. Mmmmmm delicious. Tomorrow we're having an all day Star Wars Marathon with our small group… Continue reading Stuffed Mushrooms

Cooking · Dinner

Mom’s Potatoes

I look forward to these potatoes every time my mom has a brunch. They are amazingly rich. They equally amazingly bad for you. But I don't care. I love them. Now you can too. I actually was so excited to dig into these when I made them recently that I forgot to take a photo.… Continue reading Mom’s Potatoes

Cooking · Dinner

Pear and Feta Salad

The dressing on this salad is out of this world. I wanted to eat it with a spoon. It is a little sweet and a little tangy and mixes perfectly with the richness of the feta and crisp sweetness of the pears. Fabulous! I messed with the original recipe a bit because of family food… Continue reading Pear and Feta Salad

Cooking · Dinner

Gourmet Red “Smashed” Potatoes

When my sister Amy was little, she called mashed potatoes "smashed" potatoes. I think every kid does for a while. But, poor Amy had siblings and parents who thought it was so cute when she said it, that we told her it was correct. Adamantly we insisted that she was right and people who said… Continue reading Gourmet Red “Smashed” Potatoes

Cooking · Dinner · Family

Baked Chicken Kiev

When I asked my dad what he wanted for his birthday dinner, he responded with a gleam in his eye "I love chicken Kiev". I'd never even heard of chicken Kiev before, so I went to work finding the perfect recipe for it. Nothing I found seemed quite right on its own however, so I… Continue reading Baked Chicken Kiev

Cooking · Dinner

Marinated Baked Pork Chops

Why buy expensive marinades when making your own is so easy? And, you can control the ingredients - add a little heat, spices or whatever you fancy! Take this simple, basic marinade and let your imagination run wild! The key to tender flavorful pork chops is not to over cook them. If they are gray… Continue reading Marinated Baked Pork Chops

Cooking · Snacks

Hummus

Usually I buy hummus in a big tub from Costco. It's fairly cheap (especially compared to the tiny containers at regular grocery stores) and my family can blow thru one in about a week. My kids love it with chips or carrots. Zack and I enjoy toasting up some pita bread and scooping hummus up… Continue reading Hummus

Cooking · Dinner

Butternut Squash Ravioli

This is not a "homemade" meal. I mean, I had to boil the water, but that's about it. Sometimes - I just am not feelin' it when it comes to dinner time. Frequently that happens to fall on Friday night. Costco to the rescue. The other day I was there and stopped by one of… Continue reading Butternut Squash Ravioli

Cooking · Dinner

Easy Chicken Marinade

This is a quick and easy way to make delicious, flavorful chicken. I use fresh lemon and herbs, but if all you have is the green lemon juice bottle and some dried spices - they'll work in a pinch. Serve up with some rice and veggies. Perfect, simple, fast meal. Photo of the completed meal… Continue reading Easy Chicken Marinade

Cooking · Dinner · Uncategorized

Gourmet Pumpkin Soup

This soup is GORGEOUS! It's also delicious. How much salt you need will greatly depend on what kind of chicken stock you use. Don't add all your salt at the beginning! After it has simmered, taste it with a clean spoon and decide if you need any more salt added beyond 1/2 teaspoon. Serve with… Continue reading Gourmet Pumpkin Soup