tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53885064997254649272025-12-11T00:21:54.814-08:00...sharing classic recipes every day.♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-6370435061808628322011-03-19T06:30:00.000-07:002011-03-19T06:30:01.168-07:00

I'm getting back in the blogging saddle after a 3 week hiatus. Mom signed the papers yesterday and my dear husband moved the last bit of stuff out and closed the door on the home he grew up in. It's been tiring and emotional, but very satisfying that we managed to get Mom moved out, moved in, and all settled. She is comfortable and content in her new apartment and already making new friends. I

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-10185556710092440872011-02-27T10:30:00.000-08:002011-02-27T10:41:46.587-08:00

We all have such busy lives and sometimes things happen in our families that require our undivided attention and assistance.  Beloved home with Dad, Mom & my "young" husband After two years on the market in a down economy, the home my husband grew up in sold earlier this month. The process is moving quickly and the closing deadline is March 17. This is a classic case of natural

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-15284581073081014842011-02-25T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:02:55.381-08:00

Thrown into the middle of the meal planning mix this week was this chicken dish. After all, we can only eat soup so often, right? I remember Grandma fixing it and thought today seemed as good a day as any to resurrect the recipe, particularly given the fact that our own "pet" chickens have created a whirlwind of work for us and maybe this is my way of getting back at them. Sounds awful, but our

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-63852096380847285332011-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-22T05:30:03.440-08:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love my crockpot. I would love to get one of those new programmable ones with the multiple temperature settings and all the bells and whistles, but really it's probably not necessary. The food I cook in my old one comes out just as tasty and our home smells just as wonderful! This is a soup that really makes the house smell great and other than peeling

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-84392248958272416772011-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:002011-02-21T10:17:05.343-08:00

We hope all of you had a loving Valentine's week! We had such a sweet Valentine's Day! The downside was our choice of steaks but the steak sauce from Nigella that we made could have made a pair of Nikes taste delicious! I just love her. This week has been a real challenge with work and family demands and just plain human fatigue! Plus, I made the mistake of not planning meals so everything was

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-64313276713071650352011-02-18T13:00:00.000-08:002011-02-21T12:10:39.385-08:00

Here's a mild but hearty "Mexican" casserole that could be spiced up if you have the palate for it. Grandpa wasn't big on spicy food and Grandma always toned things down out of respect for him. This one was a flavorful favorite though and even Grandpa liked it. It's easy, budget friendly, and the servings are generous. Served with a little cornbread and salad on the side, it's a full meal deal.

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-37317674445060493272011-02-16T17:00:00.000-08:002011-02-16T17:00:03.178-08:00

Having a savory smell wafting through the house on a non-descript cold winter day in February is a welcome treat.  With the smell of apples and pork you just know that there's going to be something great for dinner. What is it about that combination of flavors? Haven't been able to figure it out, but it's magical good and this recipe is great as is . I wouldn't change a thing except maybe to

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-14115256994022951452011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:002011-02-14T08:00:14.067-08:00

I've mentioned before how much Grandma loved puff pastry. This is a dish that she used to make for her bridge parties, so the recipe is versatile in that these could be served as hors d'hoeuvres or a main dinner course.  By the way, have I mentioned that I still have so much to learn about cooking? This dish is a perfect example. The difference in the way I made it and the way Grandma used

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-80456080127687625832011-02-11T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-11T05:30:02.977-08:00

So many main course posts lately, it's time for a few sweet things! If you want a real treat that's easy to prepare and delicious with a cup of coffee or tea, this one's for you. You can tell yourself they're healthy with the old-fashioned oats in them, but I'm sure the Weight Watchers points wouldn't lie. These are probably off the charts on the points (but they are off-the-charts good)! The

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-41691521981980518882011-02-09T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-09T05:30:01.130-08:00

Chili is about the most versatile soup on the planet. You can spice it up if you want it hot or keep the temperature low. With beans, meat, and peppers or without them. Thickened or not. Sky's the limit! We've posted another chili recipe (Easy Stovetop Chili) which is very good, but this special batch was for the boys on Super Bowl Sunday and it was a hit. Matter of fact, they requested it for

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-55188508787435472012011-02-08T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-08T05:30:02.847-08:00

On Super Bowl Sunday, we served this make-ahead, marinated chicken for our crowd and it was a hit! This is one that's suitable for almost any casual gathering any time of year. All the wonderful flavors of soy, ginger, garlic and onion give the chicken a little tang and the white wine vinegar tenderizes to perfection. Not only is it super tasting, but it's also super easy to prepare and a budget

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-88915143689397015292011-02-07T17:40:00.000-08:002011-02-07T17:48:38.414-08:00

Congratulations Green Bay! A great game and a fun time yesterday with about 15 people and lots and LOTS of food. The boys were terrific and even cleaned up after themselves! How about that!!! Even though it was a potluck, we still wanted to make a couple special dishes so everyone would have a stomach full when they left.  I think our picks were real crowd pleasers! 1. The dish voted numero

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-9298317957534860132011-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:002011-02-05T13:47:21.908-08:00

Lasagna has gotten to be a mainstay because it's so filling and hearty. Of course it's also been sorely lost on convenience and there are plenty of frozen ones out there, but they're in no way reminiscent of home made. The quality of any lasagna is dependent upon the quality of the sauce put into it. That's the key ingredient that has to be good. Grandma would whip up some of her own spaghetti

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-21586055349087997682011-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-04T05:30:03.009-08:00

I never developed a taste for bell peppers until I was grown up and missed out on fully appreciating all the great food Grandma made with these colorful veggies. (I was always a brat and picked the little green or red or yellow or orange pieces off whatever they may have been cooked with.)  In defense of bell peppers everywhere, this dish was Grandma's secret weapon. It allowed her to "hide"

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-53812904694338474342011-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-03T05:30:05.095-08:00

The first time I had wild rice I swore I would never eat white rice again. Wild rice is filling and hearty and stays with you for hours, the way food should. It's healthy too and many nutrition experts say it contains lots of Vitamin E and folate and is a good protein source.  Mix it with fresh vegetables or meat and you've got a healthy full meal deal. This would also be a great side dish (

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-76863738898979853062011-02-02T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-02T05:30:00.087-08:00

It's a shame what's been done to Green Bean Casserole.  In an effort to make it "convenient" it's been turned to mush! The old-fashioned-from-scratch way is not at all difficult and the results are superior. So why serve mush? Grandma always made hers from scratch. The one time she made it the "convenient" way, she quietly returned to the old way the next time. Without a doubt, she knew what

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-41228072267243642192011-02-01T19:30:00.000-08:002011-02-01T21:24:06.271-08:00

Back in the saddle again and glad to have a couple of deadlines behind me! However, in front of me are potatoes. Lots and lots of potatoes. They're on sale this month because February is supposed to be the ever-memorable "National Potato Lover Month" and all sorts of potato varieties are on sale. I picked up a bag of Idahoes and thought I'd pull out the recipe archives to see what sounded

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-76342846248316345122011-01-29T15:35:00.000-08:002011-01-29T15:35:23.342-08:00

Grandma "hiding" behind Scout Hello Foodie Fans! Nope, I haven't disappeared off the planet, but this girl is taking some blogging days off to get some much-needed projects done around the house.  Super bowl is coming up too and we're having a party, so I'll be getting out Grandma's cookbooks to figure out the menu. Be sure to stop in and see what we come up with! Blessings to you all!

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-64727546089741253282011-01-28T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-28T05:30:03.536-08:00

We have really traveled the world with our cuisine this week. Today we've migrated from Ireland all the way to Finland. Seems like a real stretch, but this potato recipe gem is worth it.  There's some controversy surrounding the name of these potatoes. Hasselblad or Hasselback. I'm going with Hasselback because that's what Grandma's recipe book says. Either way, they're an easy peazy

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-15162572003705068212011-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-27T05:30:01.119-08:00

Okay, I admit I'm on a bit of a Guinness kick lately. Maybe it's a sudden desire to be Irish, I don't know, but I'm thoroughly enjoying preparing and serving these main courses that fill the house with a comforting aroma (and the fam is loving it too--more the eating than the smelling though!). This pork chop dish is almost as good as the Guinness Irish Stew and, again, it's just gotta be the

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-24359665033623971752011-01-26T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-26T05:30:00.494-08:00

Here's part 2 of our "Irish series." (Why wait for St. Patrick's Day?)  No need for perfumy sprays to make your house smell good...this'll do it. Only difference is that your house will smell like a home. Grandma's always did and generally it was so good you just had to ask what it was in the oven creating the wonderful smell! Usually it was something unique and different like this little

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-9000924256709054502011-01-25T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-25T08:13:34.770-08:00

To those of you new to Grandma Cooks 365, here's a primer: I was raised by Grandma and Grandpa. They literally sacrificed their retirement to give me a good upbringing. They never said a word about it, which made it that much more amazing and now that I look back as a parent--all the struggles, stress, and hard work (but joy mixed in there too!)--I realize what they had done for me

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-85184886250176609012011-01-24T09:48:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:48:25.088-08:00

Who doesn't love something sweet occasionally? Grandma absolutely loved pastries and "treat" breads, especially the citrus-containing variety--orange, lemon...it didn't matter. She thought (and I agree) they were refreshing! This one has all that and more.  Although the recipe is called "Sour Cream Pound Cake," it's actually not a pound cake in that it's not dense or heavy. All the eggs and

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-81602391161940458572011-01-23T11:09:00.000-08:002011-01-23T11:10:02.613-08:00

Grandma's pancakes were quite simply the best I've ever tasted. No mixes here. Besides what real convenience are mixes? You still have to break an egg and add milk!  This recipe just has wholesome ingredients and the simple combination is as easy as the instant.  Matter of fact, you could possibly blend the dry ingredients and create your own mix.  Put them all in a large zip lock

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388506499725464927.post-19133030459085764032011-01-22T11:26:00.000-08:002011-01-23T11:11:37.639-08:00

On those rare occasions when Grandma would buy a bag of potato chips, we knew there was a good chance that (1) either she was having a guild meeting and would whip up a delicious crab dip to pair with the chips or (2) she was going to make one of her delicious tuna casseroles. Her tuna casseroles were unsurpassed for crunchy golden deliciousness and, yes, it has the potato chips mixed in and

♥ Lydia ♥http://www.blogger.com/profile/15459272418818667543noreply@blogger.com0