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My mom is not much of a cook. This she will admit to any of you. But the woman can boil pasta an melt velveeta like nobody's business. Growing up, macaroni and cheese was make homemade only for special occasions. Any other time it came out of a box. Macaroni and cheese in general is something that one bite and I am transported into time. Funny that my son will not eat it this way. He finds
I have been trying to eat clean. I know the blog posts you see on here don't always depict that. The rest of my family has to enjoy food and then there are times you just need to try a new recipe. I have been trying to swap out full fat for reduced and portion control. That is huge! I am also trying to eat more fish. Unfortunately the adults in our home are the only ones that like fish. When T
Sometimes I feel like changing things up and boy did I this time! I took a family favorite and spun it! Some liked it and some not so much. My kids are not a fan of sweet potato mash. I am not sure if it is a texture thing or that they just love my mashed potatoes with all the heart stopping goodness and refuse to love anything else. Elverything else on this meal was a hit. The Dijon w
I have a girlfriend that has meatloaf every Monday. Meatloaf Monday as she calls it. I love that! I always loved meatloaf as a kid. I would get excited for the leftovers, not caring for the dinner. I would beg my mother to just make me a sandwich for dinner. Please! She would never allow to. To this day when I make my family meatloaf I sneak a half sandwich before dinner. I cant help it. I don
Certain dishes just beg to be made into a sandwich. Meatloaf, Roast Beef and Corned Beef. My kids don't share the enthusiasm us adults have for it. In fact I would guess one will drive thru Taco Bell and the other will eat cereal. I made a Twice Baked Corned Beef last night and all I could think about was the possibility of the sandwich. It has to be on rye bread and heavy on the mustard. No c
Guinness Beef Stew St. Patrick's Day doesn't have to be about Corned beef. I have so many friends that despise it. I love love love it personally but I understand how it is not everyone's favorite. Heck my kids don't particularly like it so I get it. This however, my brats love. What is not to love about stew? And I love meat that cooks in beer, it just gets this deep flavor that
I love leftovers that go into a sandwich. Meatloaf, pot roast, whole chicken, turkey and corned beef. I dont even want to eat them for dinner, but just make a sandwich or sammich as we say it around my house. Corned Beef is especially good in a sandwich! squirt some mustard on it and I am in heaven. But tonight I am going all out and making Ruebens! As a little girl I did not like these becaus
My Grandmother had the best corned beef recipe of all time. But I didn't have her recipe and I needed to come up with something that was equally good. Hers had a sweet orange glaze on it that was to die for. This is nothing like it. But after playing with it this has become a family favorite. A favorite of The Fireman's. Just recently I have acquired my Gram's recipe and will be making it soon.
I am totally in love with Corned Beef! It doesn't have to be March or St. Patrick's Day for my family to toss it in the crock pot. The Fireman loves my recipe for Corned Beef. I cook it until it is just about to fall apart but where it is still holding its shape and then cover it with brown mustard and brown sugar and put in the oven to crust up. It is heavenly. But it is in no way tradi
Its hard to imagine but life has had me so busy lately that I have had not an extra second to work on my blog. St. Paddy's Day is my all time Favorite holiday. I love it even better than Christmas and it is because of the food. But I haven had the time to even think about the food lately until today. I have one week to enjoy all of the St. Patrick's Day foods I can and get them on or repeated
I wing meals so often that I cant even blog about it. For example, the noodles that I am posting today are so simple that I cant even really take a ton of pictures. But it is so much better than any box variety you can buy and is so easy you probably shouldnt tell your family. It'll be our secret. Quick Parmesan Noodles Noodles (I used 1/2 pound) Pasta water 1 cup of fres
My Gram would make the best biscuits growing up and each and every time I swear she did it different. Sometimes I saw her grab a box a biscuit and other times I saw her make them homemade with Crisco or butter. I think it just came down to what she had on hand. The Ballplayer loves biscuits and he doesn't have a favorite just as long as they are covered in butter. I made these quite some t
This is all the Country Cook's fault. She posted a recipe for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread which I blogged, and then had the audacity to changed and make Cheesy Jalapeno Bread (The Fireman's favorite) but while coming up with The Fireman's Fave bread, we also came up with this one. This is perfect for kids, perfect for watching your favorite game and perfect for movie nights. If you like
So everyone is hopefully recovered or recovering from Valentines Day. I am back on on my healthy eating. I try to eat under a certain calorie limit a day and at times it feels like it's anything goes. I generally try to be good so I can savor that one glass of wine a day. I made this a while back with pork. Many like to have applesauce with pork. I personally wasn't raised with that tradit
I saw these all over Pinterest last year. Pinterest is very very dangerous for me. I end up looking at recipes on my PHONE and then saving recipes to my iPhone with the intention of making them one day (I am 600 strong, so if there is a support group, I am first to go) and then I order pizza for dinner. No joke! These didn't even have a blog to go with them just a picture which I t
I am taking a break from my healthy eating to show you a recipe I made way back when and promised I would get out on my blog, but then the holidays hit and time got away from me. Valentines Day is coming upon us so very soon and if you know me, that means very little to me. I am not big on it, probably because my anniversary is right around that time and it trumps Valentines Day any day. B
It is a known fact in my house I do not like beets. My daughter loves them. My husband loves them. I cant handle the smell of them. If we do to a restaurant and they are on a salad I will kindly move mine to my sweet husband's dish, knowing how he will appreciate them. (He does the same thing with raw tomatoes.) When my CSA delivery service had beets in it, The Fireman was thrill
I know January is over but I am still TRYING to eat healthy and as much and many vegetables as I can. This happens to be one of my favorite "salads" to make. It is so simple that I am almost embarrassed to share it but it is so good that I have to. I am also embarrassed to tell you that if The Fireman is on duty, I will make this and eat the whole BOWL (yes I did just confess that) for din
The Fireman is a serious Steeler fan. I'm more a college football fan. I know! You're shaking you're head but I enjoy it more. Something about college football and the spirit of the sport. The way the schools get all involved. Even the sportscasters talk differently. Professional ball just doesn't do it for me. But the appetizers at the game, that is what I am talking about! Even if it is just t
A couple weeks ago I showed you this great recipe for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread and it was so yummy but if you know me, the whole time I was thinking about how I was going to change the recipe. My wheels were turning with each bite I shoved in my mouth. So the next week I made three more and considering one member of the house is counting her calories, one doesn't like cheese, that only l
So we know I am always late with my posts, I thought about saving this for next Thanksgiving but this screams JANUARY! After Thanksgiving I needed to lighten up my dishes. I had been on a weekend of heavy dishes and if I was going to lose any more weight ever or not gain any of the weight I lost, I needed to get off the Turkey day calorie over load. The beauty of this recipe is that it wor
I am ALWAYS behind in posts so bear with me but this recipe screams JANUARY! It's a clean meal with great flavors. The recipe for this calls for goat cheese which if you know me, I LOVE goat cheese. I discovered it a year ago after thinking it was gross. I had never even tasted it before but thought it was gross. I was sooo wrong. It is like cream cheese with a kick. And now I am in love.
I originally made this for Thanksgiving. And I have a rule that if I don't post the recipe during Thanksgiving I will save it for next year. But then I made it again two weeks later during the Christmas season proving maybe it was also a Christmas dish. So I thought I would save it for Christmas next year. But then (hang with me) the grocery stores had acorn squashes again last week and
I think I first saw this on Pinterest. It is a dangerous website. I go on it looking for inspiration and find myself on it all day collecting recipes that I haven't used yet and then we end up eating pizza for dinner. No joke. But this I kept eying on my phone for a while until I finally decided we needed to try it. While this recipe is amazing it created a monster, being that the ne
I love to grill chicken even in the winter. And I try to get The Fireman to grill enough chicken so we can have leftovers the next night. There is nothing better than BBQ'd chicken the the next night or maybe that is just the mom talking that doesn't have to cook. Make some rice and some veggies and dinner is served!! I have seen this all over Pinterest but it originates from Cooking Ligh
I am one of those strange people that has decided I like vegetables. I know, I am odd. But I dont just like the standard green beans, corn and peas, which are all quite yummy by the way, but I have branched off into the kale, artichoke hearts and cauliflower. So now that I like it all. It's this experiment to see what I can combine together. Most of the time my family just shakes their h
They say you drop your New Years resolutions by the second week of January. That is probably why I never make resolutions. Last year I got fed up with some extra weight I had been carrying and decided to become serious about it. I really played around with what worked for me. I found for me I have to eat in moderation. I cant low carb. I need (and I say that with a profound need) potatoes
It has become pretty customary to have The Fireman work either Christmas or Christmas Eve. Our kids being older, we just reschedule the holiday, having our Christmas dinner either on Christmas eve or night depending which night he is off. I try to make something special if he is working Christmas day for the kids even if we have celebrated the day before. Put appetizers out on the bar al
Watergate Salad (which for the record is never ever ever called that in our house but Pistachio Salad) is only made around the holidays in our house. I don't see any reason why it shouldnt be made in the summer when it it hot out. But I never make it in the summer. I buy it at the deli in the summer. I really should break the habit! Anyways...This is too easy to make and reminds me of Ambrosia whi
I made these little gems for my Christmas baking last year and they were probably my favorite. It shows how much my taste have changed. I love love love (yes I just used the word love three times) butter cookies and almond flavor. I found myself looking for imperfect cookies that couldnt be put into my Christmas Cookie Boxes so I could pop them into my mouth. Making a little pile of imperfect co
I love these. I love these too much, and fortunately these are too easy to make. I will toss these together and refrigerate until the day of whatever party we are having. Appetizers always hold a special place in my family. Every holiday, we always have our big meal later in the evening so we can snack all day on the appetizers. Cocktail Weenies 1 package of Cocktail Weenies 1/2 cup of
I had never in my entire life seen this recipe before this summer. I made it and understood why Trisha Yearwood's family called it "Crack" and so it has been renamed in our house the same thing. I now make it for road trips along with brownies. But in the back of my mind I was thinking how I would dress it up for my Christmas Gift boxes. This is a keeper! Sweet & Saltines recipe ad
I think there is one thing my youngest son and I agree on...Chocolate and peanut butter belong together. There is no denying it I love the way they go together. If I am craving candy I usually want a peanut butter cup. I have been known to take dark chocolate and swipe it through the peanut butter on occasion. This is my Gram's recipe. The woman could bake like no other. And I am sure every gr
This was introduced to me about ten years ago. It is so easy to make. It uses a box cake mix which we all know makes me happy. I make this around the holidays when making goody boxes or plates for friends. You could put a simple glaze on top and serve for dessert. I am not topping with anything so I can slice and place in gift boxes. This is one of those recipes you put away for your baking se
I like to make cookies around the holidays with cranberries in them. The pop of red color is so pretty and the tart against the sweet cookie just makes such a nice contrast. I usually make a full batch of oatmeal cookies and half the cookies will have chocolate chips in them for the kids and the other half cranberries for me. I have it in my mind that oatmeal cookies are healthy. Shhh. Don't tel
I love breakfasts that you can get together the night before or in advance and then pop into the oven on Christmas morning. This one is perfect for just that. Assemble this before you go to bed on Christmas Eve and then pop into the oven while you are opening presents Christmas Morning. The smell will be amazing. Baked French Toast Topping 1 cup firmly packed Brown Sugar 6 TB butter
My mom did not cook very much. She cooked. She was very capable but I don't think she enjoyed it. This was the one recipe I remember her making every holiday. Sure, now you can buy it already made but there is nothing like making it homemade. My mom's version was a little different from the recipe on the box. She used more of everything. She also cooked until everything was brown. I think she
When making my Christmas boxes to give away I always include bundt cakes that are sliced up. They are so moist, so tasty and such a treat. The person you give it to will wonder what type of cake it just is. This one you will want to make up an extra to save for the family. I don't frost the cakes for putting in my gift boxes but will put a glaze on them if for the family. Chocolate Kahlua C
These potatoes are almost too pretty to eat. I say that fully knowing that I will eat it and not feel bad about it.These babies are perfect for Christmas. They are easy to make, they are pretty and can be baked along side whatever else you are baking. Hasselback Potatoes 3-6 cloves of garlic sliced uber thin. (I like a lot of garlic but most dont) 4-6 large potatoes (but dont get the ones tha
This is my basis for making a million variations to different bars. I start with this basic Blondie recipe and then I will make a batch with cranberries and pecans, or cinnamon chips or white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Blondies 6 TB Butter 1 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 eggs 1 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13"x9" pan
Christmas Dinner always has a cheesy potato dish. I think it is just customary. Or at least it is in our house. I don't think I have ever turned down a potato dish even when dieting. I just cant resist. At Christmas we usually have a standing roast and cheesy potatoes just go hand and hand with red meat. This potato dish is as easy as it comes for Augratins. You dont need to slice it all up p
These are usually on my Christmas Baking list but closer to the bottom of the list. When making my baking list I make a top of bundt cakes that are easy to make, easy to slice and divine to eat. Then bar cookies that are fast to whip up, fast to cut and produces a ton. Then I tackle the cookies that my family just can't live without or have to be in my Christmas giving boxes. I usually lea
I don't make this very often. It isn't because its hard to make. It's very easy. It just seems to be only made around the holidays. Most of the other get togethers, I am known for making Spicy Spinach and Artichoke Dip or Baked Pub Cheese. But each time I make this dip, I get rave reviews and it happens to be one of The Tortured Teenager's all time favorites. She looks for it each and every Th
If your house is anything like my house, you have a ton of turkey leftover and are starting to wonder what to do with it other than another midnight turkey sandwich (guilty) this happen to be my favorite. This will take a big chunk of your leftovers, just as a warning. Make a HUGE tray. They are creamy delicious. You will be picking at them all night. If you do not eat them all for dinner, I rec
There have been years that we have just been too busy to do up a BIG turkey. And in that case I have been so happy that the grocery store has had just turkey breasts. It is just as easy to brine a turkey breast (and in just 24 hours) and it still feeds a full family of four. Cook up two and you have leftovers. So if you are looking to lighten the load or lessen the leftovers, this m
We are getting so close to Thanksgiving! This is a desert that you will get lots of ooh and aahhs! I am not a baker. I keep saying this over and over and it really is because I have a really hard time following directions. Baking is so precise and I like to not be precise. I love this recipe because you toss it together and it looks like you slaved over it. Your pie lovers will love the flakines
I have shown you an Easy way to may Cranberry Relish (other than buying the can like my Gram did!) I want to show you another way to make Cranberry Relish. I didn't like it much as a child. Now I need a bite of cranberries on each bite of turkey, mixed in with the gravy. My taste has changed as an adult. The Tortured Teenage shares my view on cranberry relish. She loves it. The Ballplayer wont e
The other day I showed you my easy method for roasting a turkey. Now you need some gravy to finish it off. This is the easiest way for me to make gravy. I have other recipes where I use wine, or other items but this is the easiest way. So if you are intimidated by making gravy, this is your recipe! When you take the bird out of the oven, place your bird on the serving plate or in my case, on a
Brining a turkey is my preferred method. Don't get me wrong, I have been known for throwing a bird in the oven with little effort and the family loves it just the same, but if you are going for the gold medal, this is it in my family. Brining a bird takes time. You need to have it defrosted one day earlier than you normally would. Making the brine takes about ten minutes. If you have
Yes!! I did just say EASY!! Most do not think of easy when they think Thanksgiving. I used to get so stressed out at the thought of cooking this meal for my family or friends but over the years, I started buying more than one turkey when they went on sale. How can you not? You can get them as cheap as the pot roasts you like to cook all winter long. I love making a turkey dinner for no good reason
