Cooking Tip of the Day

Super Bowl Party Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:38:03 PST

Looking for great Super Bowl Party Foods??? You've come to the right place... great recipes and tips to make your party a success!So let's start here …Munchies... here are a few to get you started thinking..Lil Smokies in a BlanketMini Loaded Potato EmpanadasMexican Layered Dip</>Corned Beef Bread DipRanch Spinach DipWant more substantial food?... here are some ideas:Mini Grilled Reuben

Recipe: Egg Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Pockets

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:36:33 PST

Need breakfast on the go? Have trouble getting the family to even eat breakfast? Forget fast food and drive thrus…. This recipe for Egg Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Pockets is the answer … it’s easy… delicious and best of all… it can be for on the go!Make the parts ahead.. put it quickly together and pop it in the oven…. works great in a toaster oven too.What’s really great about this is that

Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Rice Medley

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:09:09 PST

Hmmmm.... Comfort Foods are the best in the winter... even in places that are not cold and snowy in the winter... we still crave Comfort Foods... Fabulous casseroles... soups... stews... cobblers and pies... and so much more... dish is warm and satisfying.... perfect for one of those cold nights... This recipe for Cheesy Chicken Rice Medley is actually a re-post... I posted this a few years ago..

Recipe: Monkey Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:27:33 PST

Warm little pieces of dough… covered in sugar and cinnamon… all stuck together with a buttery caramel sauce … just waiting for you to sneak in the kitchen and pull one of those pieces right off… after all… you just have to taste test the recipe… make sure it came out alright.... right??? Hmmm… mighty good… maybe just one more…. no one will notice… oh what the hell… I’ll just pull one off this

Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:14:32 PST

I thought I would post another popular Asian meal… Chicken Fried Rice….another dish to add to your Chinese New Year celebration.This truly is quick and easy. Prep a few things ahead and this dish is prepared in minutes…. Yes … you read that right… minutes…. and so much better and cheaper than take-out. Better because you control the ingredients.TIPSYou MUST prepare the rice ahead. It MUST

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:11:50 PST

It's Chinese New Year... and what better way to celebrate the Year of the Dragon than with food.Don't do take out!Why not try one of these recipes? They aren't difficult to make and are a delicious way to celebrate the New Year.I hope you try one of these tasty recipes!Baked Crab RangoonsBeef and Broccoli Stir-FryPineapple Chicken Stir-Fry

Recipe: Banana and Dulce de Leche Dessert Empanadas

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:54:35 PST

The perfect combination of banana and rich caramel.. wrapped in a flaky crust… hmmm… so good. Empanadas can be either savory or sweet.. and this one is undoubtedly sweet. I had some Dulce de Leche in the fridge just screaming to be used.. and a rather large bunch of bananas .. and I thought why not stuff it in an empanada… nothing ventured nothing gained.These Dessert Empanadas can be made to

Recipe: Mini Grilled Reuben Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:04:35 PST

With the “big game” fast approaching… thoughts about what to serve I have another fresh idea for game day food…. these Mini Reuben Sandwiches are just the ticket… they’re easy to assemble…. and quick to grill… if you have a panini maker… all the better!Serve them with oven baked fries… side salads like coleslaw, macaroni salad and potato salad… don’t forget deli dill pickles… and you have a

Recipe: Russian Dressing

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:27:36 PST

My Mother made Russian Dressing regularly…. Although her recipe differs slightly from the one I’ve been using in recent years.. the overall taste is very similar… I like my Russian Dressing with a little bite to it… and have added a bit of horseradish to my recipe as well as sour cream and a little pickle relish…. She always chopped hard-boiled egg into hers… I didn’t add it to this recipe.This

Recipe: Southern Corn and Crab Chowder

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:59:35 PST

I received this fantastic chowder recipe and decided to post another warm and wonderful soup recipe today… after all… you simply cannot have too many great soup recipes… especially in the winter.This recipe for Southern Corn and Crab Chowder is packed with flavor… it’s from the wife of a friend of Warren’s…. Lynne Brooks... A big thank you for sending me this recipe and picture… it combines two

Recipe: Ham and Potato Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:40:51 PST

There is nothing like a great big bowl of soup on a cold winter’s night…. and Ham and Potato Soup is a deliciously satisfying one just perfect for that cold night.This soup is made in under an hour and is a meal in itself. Served with warm biscuits right out of the oven…. a dinner made in heaven … for sure.Most potato soups are made basically the same… however… I do a few things differently that

Recipe: Spaghetti with Zucchini Yellow Squash and Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:07:32 PST

This fresh tasting pasta dish is so quick and easy to cook… a perfect weeknight meal… inexpensive too! This was a staple at our house for years… an easy dinner to get on the table quickly after a long commute home from work.Thinly sliced zucchini and yellow squash with finely chopped garlic sautéed quickly in a little olive oil then a can of Hunts Diced Tomatoes … cooked together for about 5-10

Recipe: Mini Loaded Potato Empanadas

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:10:11 PST

Empanadas are great for snacking… parties… even meals… depending on what you fill them with and how big you make them.So…. in case…. you’ve never had an empanada…. you’re really missing out. It’s a bread or pastry dough stuffed… and either baked or fried. I prefer baked… and I’ve made them using canned biscuit dough and pie crust… both work well… although for minis I prefer to use pie crust…

Recipe: Hamburger Stroganoff

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:11:18 PST

We all love Stroganoff… and I often make it with ground beef. This recipe is quick and easy.. a great weeknight meal. TIPSAdd the sour cream at the very end and with the skillet off the heat… you do not want to boil it with sour cream in the sauce.We like it quite “saucy” so I used two cans of Cream of Mushroom soup… I wrote the recipe for one can since most people like to use 1 can.You can use

Recipe: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:09:04 PST

This recipe for Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is adapted slightly from the recipe from the folks at Betty Crocker. You will not believe just how easy it is to make… and while it won’t replace my original rice pudding recipe … it makes a darn good rice pudding and with no effort… perfect for busy days.The Betty Crocker recipe is called Slow Cooker Caramel Rice Pudding…. after making it and then

Recipe: Fiesta Lime Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:12:43 PST

I call this my Fiesta Lime Chicken…. It reminds me of several dishes I’ve had in restaurants… This Mexican seasoned chicken can be used as part of other recipes or just sprinkle some shredded Mexican blend cheese on it and some green onion…. served with a side of Mexican or Spanish rice… maybe a small plate of lettuce with guacamole and sour cream along side…. a great little meal and so quick.Try

Recipe: Boston Cream Dessert Shooters

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:15:14 PST

These terrific little Boston Cream Dessert Shooters can be made in minutes… having company?.. prepare them ahead. They’re perfect for a dessert buffet table for a party.TIPSI use 5 oz. clear plastic cups… you can find them at most party stores or online.I used Entemann’s All Butter Pound Cake… you can use any other brand you prefer or make your own… a yellow cake mix would work too if you wanted

Recipe: Faux Pastry Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:13:46 PST

This easy recipe for Faux Pastry Cream makes a darn good “pastry cream” in under 10 minutes. It’s great for a last minute dessert. I almost always have some heavy cream on hand since it has such a long shelf life… and I also keep pudding mix and milk on hand also… so throwing this together is quick and easy and can be used in so many dessert recipes.TIPSI recommend you use whole milk … it makes

Recipe: Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:30:29 PST

I know Hot Dog Mac and Cheese is not the most glamorous meal I could cook… but you know… it really hits the spot on a cold winter’s night… we like comfort food in the winter… living in the south… we’re lucky.. we don’t have terribly cold nights… but when it does get cold… we like hearty foods.. and this one fits the bill quite nicely.This is definitely a kid-friendly meal that adults will love

Recipe: Skillet Corn Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:29:25 PST

I know it may seem odd … but a cast iron skillet was on my Christmas Wish List this year… you have to remember I love to cook and well… all things kitchen related are always welcome… and my southern guy came through… I just had to break it in … so corn bread was in our future…. and what better time than when we had the Vegetarian Chili… I haven’t had tremendous luck with corn bread lately..

Recipe: Vegetarian Chili

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:28:01 PST

Ask any southern man … Vegetarian Chili or Chili with Meat?… and the answer you most probably will hear… Chili with Meat. Seems in the south they like their chicken fried and their chili with meat… so making a Vegetarian Chili for my southern guy was a challenge.. getting him to admit chili did not have to have meat in it was… well… almost impossible.. best I can hope for is a … not bad.. not

Recipe: Tuna Salad Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:15:27 PST

I love sandwiches… all kinds… I could spend all day thinking up sandwich combinations… take me to a restaurant… and more than likely I will look at the sandwich listing first… I’m always on the lookout for that “next” great sandwich.I will try just about anything put between two slices of bread… okay maybe not anything.. but then again I did say just about anything.Tuna salad alone can be made so

Recipe: Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:50:16 PST

It’s always a good time for Mexican food…. and lunch time is no exception. These Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas are perfect for a weekend lunch or even a mid week evening meal. I came across a recipe using black beans and spinach in our local supermarket, Publix and thought the combination sounded interesting. I made numerous changes to the recipe since I found theirs bland.I added a lot

Recipe: Crab Bisque

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:08:23 PST

On a cold winter’s day nothing is more satisfying that a rich delicious soup… and Crab Bisque fits the bill. I love to make soups in the winter… they make the perfect lunch.Rich doesn’t have to mean fat laden… there are ways to cut the fat… oh make no mistake… this soup has fat in it.. it’s just a question of how much.I used butter… you can use a low fat margarine… I did use a ¼ cup of heavy

Recipe: Noodle Kugel

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:14:59 PST

Years ago when I was working in a local department store shoe department, I worked with two women who were fantastic cooks… Ida and Shirley… well.. Ida and Shirley would bring in Noodle Pudding.. aka Noodle Kugel.. in fairly often… I have no idea how I managed to stay thin back then… Noodle Kugel is positively addicting!The recipe is fairly simple… there are many variations … but the basic