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It was a nice Sunday so Mr. Special and I wanted to enjoy the outdoors. Not wanting to be in the kitchen, I decided to use the slow cooker and cook chicken that we had defrosted. What to do with … Continue reading →
What may seem like a simple meal in the slow cooker can mean a tasty, special meal for two. Ingredients such as garlic, shallots, carrots and jarred piquillo peppers offers a variety of flavors in this easy slow cooked dish. … Continue reading →
A chilly Sunday afternoon usually means I’m in the kitchen baking a little treat for “Mr. Special” and I. So I opened the cupboards and had some yellow cake mix and a package of peanut butter cookie mix on hand. … Continue reading →
Since today is National Spaghetti Day, here’s my FAVE! Italian Chicken Sausage Topped Quinoa Pasta Yummy! What’s your fave spaghetti recipe?? Related articles National spaghetti day (eatocracy.cnn.com) January 4 – National Spaghetti Day (foodimentary.com) 4 Great Recipes for National Spaghetti … Continue reading →
My recipe Italian Ravioli with Pesto is a Finalist in the Tyler Florence Ultimate Wine and Food Sweepstakes !! THANKS to Everyone Who Voted for My Dish!!! So, now it’s up to Tyler Florence, himself, to review the final recipes and decide on … Continue reading →
I knew that it would be different to be interviewed on TV, but it was more than different. It was such an honor and a “blast” to have Raleigh’s local station, WNCN TV-17‘s own Page Crawford interview me this morning. Page … Continue reading →
You Only Have Two Days Left to Vote for my Italian Ravioli with Pesto in the Tyler Florence Wines Ultimate Food & Wine Experience. Please vote today AND tomorrow!! When you vote for me, I owe YOU, so please let me know when … Continue reading →
Yesterday was the finale of my wrapping and bagging of all of the Christmas gifts. All is now under the tree. Not sure if we could get anymore under there. Today, I’ve been busy baking cookies and baking Red Velvet … Continue reading →
Two years ago I created a recipe for a sweet bread made with spiced apple cider. I took a little from about 4 different recipes and created my own bread using spiced cake mix and yams/sweet potatoes. So glad I … Continue reading →
This past weekend was my fix “Halloween Cupcakes Weekend” it also ended up being “Sprain Your Back Weekend”. Who would have thought I would have sprained my back by just simply making cupcakes? Unbelievable! Well, I’m almost 100% better now … Continue reading →
When trying to think up a recipe to go along with a Cabernet Sauvignon, I thought up a creative ravioli recipe. I’ve tried ravioli before making them using wanton wrappers. So, after I designed the recipe, I entered it into … Continue reading →
Dear Santa, I have been a very good girl this year. I have made many blog entries and have created some great recipes this year. I’ve also won a few contests as well. So, if you don’t mind Santa, I … Continue reading →
I baked all weekend for cooking/recipe contests. All were hits with the neighbors! I try to share my creations. Mainly, because “Mr. Special” and I can’t eat it all!! And some of the creations don’t freeze well. I’ve always wanted … Continue reading →
You may remember that I won 2 years in a row (2009 and 2010) in Dei Fratelli’s Ripened Recipe Contest. Where there are 10 winners who win a year’s supply of Dei Fratelli tomato products. Well, one of my recipes … Continue reading →
I created a new dessert for my Thanksgiving gathering. Since it was such a hit – I entered it in the Imperial Sugar Company’s Homemade Holidays Recipe Contest. Instead of a pumpkin pie – I had cans of yams or … Continue reading →
I haven’t cooked with cauliflower that much before. Only when a few florets are included along with broccoli and perhaps some carrots in a dish. But not as a main ingredient in a dish. Since “Mr. Special” and I were … Continue reading →
I don’t speak Spanish, but I sure speak “Taco!” I took some browned, lean ground turkey and mixed that with sauteed onions, bell pepper and a packet of low-sodium taco mix. An easy way to get all of those nice spices … Continue reading →
The Sutter Home® Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest has come and gone. Thank goodness I noticed the deadline soon enough to enter this year. I am usually on top of the dates of the contests I enter every year, … Continue reading →
I had tried quinoa pasta last year and wanted to introduce it “Mr. Special”. I like that quinoa pasta, unlike other types of pasta, has zero cholesterol, very low sodium and low fat. And for a lot of people, it … Continue reading →
I believe that when dating an Italian making certain the Italian dishes one creates for that special someone are FANTASTIC!! Not mediocre. (I would think that the mother of said date probably created some awesome dishes in her time and … Continue reading →
My mind was racing regarding all of the leg quarters I had frozen and ways of using them in recipes. The very first way I thought about cooking the chicken was simply baked barbecue chicken. I don’t have means of … Continue reading →
There was a sale at the local market on chicken . . . leg quarters. Well, needless to say, I stocked up the freezer. I am always reminded of Paula Deen liking dark meat for the flavor. I’m sure others feel … Continue reading →
I wanted to make something different for Valentine’s Day. So, I read a recipe for stuffed cherry cupcakes last week and got an idea. I would create my own recipe using strawberry-filled cupcakes. When I looked for my cupcake pan, I found … Continue reading →
Hopefully, my stuffed pork tenderloin I made yesterday can help win in the Heinz & Ocean Spray Ultimate Challenge Recipe Contest. With the contest, you have to create a dish using Heinz Chili Sauce and Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce. I … Continue reading →
When I read in September that Dixie Crystals Sugar /Imperial Sugar was holding the “Most Valuable Tailgate Recipe Contest”and the Winner would take home 2012 Sugar Bowl tickets, I immediately had to put on my thinking cap. My favorite college team’s … Continue reading →
Well, this, by far, was the hardest choice to make for any recipe contest I’ve held. The OctoberFEST Recipe Contest was very “fruitful.” Truly, fruitful. The creation of most of the recipes included lots of fruit. Thank you to all of … Continue reading →
The OctoberFEST Recipe Contest is over and I’ve been reviewing all of the entries. I must add, “scrumptious” entries, that is!! I’ll be making a decision soon!! So, keep tuned in!!
I carved my pumpkin yesterday. We had retrieved the large orange guy from the Farmer’s Market in Raleigh. The Farmer’s Market this time of year is a wealth of “pumpkinness”. Before I started, I went to several sites online to … Continue reading →
One of my food buddies entered my OctoberFEST Recipe Contest and she’s added some very comforting warmth to it - Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey. Now, I’ve tried this new whiskey from JD and let me tell you, it’s very smooth with … Continue reading →
YAHOO! I got the word that my recipe was CHOSEN and now I’m INVITED to be one of the finalists in the Atlanta Region of the Aetna Healthy Food Fight. This means going to Atlanta next weekend to prepare my … Continue reading →
When I thought about holding a recipe contest highlighting comfort food dishes, I had no idea that comfort food could come in so many forms. From meat loaves, zucchini bakes, macaroni with vegetables. Just an all out YUM-FEST! If you’re … Continue reading →
I entered a terrific tailgating recipe in the Bandit Wine Tailgating Recipe Contest with yet another Prosciutto-wrapped item. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough room on their entry form to place my entire recipe, so I thought I would share it here and … Continue reading →
Well, Foodies, it’s time to show off you’re Fall dishes and enter my blog’s OctoberFEST Recipe Contest. Send me your fave comfort food dishes. Prizes will be awarded to the Top TWO Dishes!! There are 2 Categories: Category 1: Main dish items, … Continue reading →
This weekend was a great preview to Fall. The weather was nice and cool. Because of the temperature change, I was reminded of a nice Fall casserole dish. An Italian dish with layers of pasta, zucchini, mushrooms, ricotta cheese and tomatoes. … Continue reading →
So, I got the bad news yesterday when I happened to review the website for this year’s Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Contest. I’m NOT a Finalist this year. BooHoo, and I may have to drown my sorrows!! … Continue reading →
I entered a Prosciutto-wrapped fish Tostada (Italian Herb Prosciutto-Wrapped Fish Tostadas with Tomato-Pimento Coulis) in the Aetna Healthy Food Fight Contest. I need YOUR HELP!! Please Vote for this Recipe to help me make it to Atlanta this year for a … Continue reading →
In August, I entered the Build A Better Burger Contest sponsored by Sutter Home Winery, as I did last year. This time I decided to go authentic, with a Spanish-styled burger from Spain. NOT from South America, as we tend to … Continue reading →
I’m back from my trip to New York City! Wow, it was Fantastic! Just as a reminder, this trip was the one that I had won the end of last year (the Jimmy Dean Crumbles Recipe Contest – The Crumble … Continue reading →
Well, I couldn’t pass up entering my FAVE recipe/cooking contest!! I had to enter at least one recipe in this year’s recipe contest with the RealWomenofPhiladelphia.com. After winning in last year’s competition, I truly entered just to add this to MY RECIPE … Continue reading →
I made some quiche appetizers last year and since they did so well, I tweaked the recipe and incorporated Lindsay® Olives. I’m submitting this scrumptious recipe (below), Olive, Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Brunch Quiches in the Lindsay® Olives ”Love This Recipe” Contest. These … Continue reading →
I stared at leftover grilled chicken on a plate in the fridge, as I wondered, do I want to eat this again? When I had a thought. More like a virtual bulb going off over my head. Chicken Tacos. I … Continue reading →
A long time ago, I remember weekly pancake suppers at a church. Very fond memories, because I really wasn’t sure how the women in the kitchen were creating such luscious pancakes. They didn’t taste like ordinary pancakes. Perhaps it was the love … Continue reading →
I wanted a spin on regular brownies and saw a post about Rocky Road Brownies (at the A Dash of Sass blog) following a Martha Stewart recipe. It definitely caught my eye. When I saw the photo that Kate had … Continue reading →
For my last entry into this season’s (Season 2) Real Women of Philadlephia’s Video Host Contest (Sponsored by Kraft and Paula Deen) I knew I had to “pump it up a notch” but keep it simple too!! So, I decided … Continue reading →
I was trying to be a little adventurous and find something to create with a box of cake mix I had on hand. So, I created cookies from the cake mix. I used the wikihow.com article How to Make Cake … Continue reading →
With the competition ”heating up” at the RWOP (RealWomenofPhiladelphia.com) (Kraft) Video Hosting Contest, I had to “bump it up a notch” and enter an Entree worthy of Philadelphia cream cheese. I think I did it! I got the idea from this month’s … Continue reading →
I came up with a versatile sauce that can be used to accent many different dishes. This sweet sauce has a bold ginger flavor accented by way of Saucy Mama’s Pacific Rim Ginger Dressing. So far, this is by far, … Continue reading →
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANGIE WALKER of alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com Angie is the winner of my Blog’s Giveway of a 3-Pack of Saucy Mama Condiments (regarding my post http://alternativetastes.com/2011/05/15/i-entered-and-the-reward-is-yours/ ). Congratulations Angie and I hope to see some of your fantastic creations with those wonderful Saucy … Continue reading →
I used Sauce Mama’s Pacific Rim Ginger Dressing in this tasty taco. I have created a lot of chicken dishes before with ground ginger or fresh ginger, but this was so flavorful that I really think that this dressing added … Continue reading →
