Yanno, Valentine’s Day is almost here – a day celebrated for sweethearts, but also by everyone, young and old, and those of us that just celebrate friendship. I’ve done a few popcorn mixes for different holidays, but never for Valentine’s Day. Today, I change all that! Here is my Valentines White Chocolate Popcorn.
Valentines White Chocolate Popcorn
I have good news today. See, some of you know I’ve been having some troubles with my joints; typing, while still slow and has to be done just a little at a time is easier and I’m trying to use the voice options on my computer. And cooking has been challenging, but I’m really trying to focus on fun & easy (and lightweight) food. And the best news? I made Old English Potted Cheese and it’s a super easy cheese spread and just to die for.
Old English Potted Cheese
If you follow me (and if you don’t, I’d love it if you do, see the right sidebar) you know I made Boston Sausage & Pepper Grinders right before Superbowl 2019. See the New England Patriots were playing the Los Angeles Rams (and the Patriots won) and I thought those “grinders” (that’s just the local name for sandwiches) would be perfect for the Superbowl or any game day, or really anytime! What’s not perfect? Leftovers. Leftover link sausages? They’re kinda sad. So I’ve refashioned them into Orzo with Sausage & Peppers.
Orzo with Sausage & Peppers
I gotta tell ya, I’m in love with my Crab Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers and they’re just great for a Superbowl or any party. But I need a little Old Bay Seasoning for those. Old Bay isn’t something I use often, so I mix up my own and when I do, I try to think about ways to use up the last bit. Long story short, that’s how these Old Bay Oyster Crackers came about.
Old Bay Oyster Crackers
The Superbowl is coming right up! Now that’s a big deal in the U.S. for those reading from far-flung lands and it’s an event. We always had a great football team in my hometown, but I’m just not the fan I used to be. I gotta admit, I’m fan of the food, though, and the Superbowl is an excuse to hang out either in front of the TV or in the kitchen. Since the New England Patriots are playing this year, I’m making the Classic Boston Sausage Pepper Grinders.
Ok, so I hate January. And February. And I’m not too wild about March, either. That’s because I live up Nord in Minnesota, you betcha, and while December is kind of exciting, by the time January rolls around, I’m just about done with it! But you know what I love about January? Pineapples! You heard me right! And I now love these Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Chops.
Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Chops
When I first started writing about food, it was always my intention to highlight ingredients, how to shop, compare prices, choose them, store them as well as use them. And I did make a stab at that, years ago, under “Ingredients” above in my menu.
Cubbys Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
It’s been pretty bitter in the Twin Cities, but we’re having a little heatwave and are up to 12 degrees. Which would be great if we didn’t get about 7 inches of snow last night and even better if the high tomorrow wasn’t expected to be -5 with a low of -25 and worse on Wednesday. But that’s exactly the time you want soup! And even better a pretty much pantry soup (if your pantry is anything like mine) and not just any soup. You want this little White Chicken Chili Slow Cooker – Instant Pot – Stovetop number coz it’s going to warm you from the inside out!
White Chicken Chili Slow Cooker – Instant Pot – Stovetop
We are having “Arctic Chill.” It got ccccold last night and right now it’s minus 11. And I have no right to complain because I live in Minnesota, but we’ve been so spoiled this year it’s a shock. We Minnesotans know that a real Arctic Chill can be 34 to 35 below, so there’s that. Maybe we’re actually lucky. But today I feel particularly lucky because I don’t have to go anywhere and I have a piece of Simon Pearce Quechee Quiche I’m going to have for breakfast!
Simon Pearce Quechee Quiche – it’s a little puffy out of the oven but it settles a bit
I haven’t posted a big ol’ salad for a while and for a while I’ve been intrigued by this Cubby’s Beet & Goat Cheese Salad. As stated on Cubby’s website, the salad is a mix of Spring Greens, Roasted Red Beets, Toasted Pistachios, Goat Cheese, Avocado, Orange Slices, Orange Zest, and Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Cubbys Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
January kind of gets me down. All the celebrations (and food) from Thanksgiving through Christmas and even New Year’s, then that “What have I done feeling” when it’s all over. Then there are the New Year’s Resolutions. And the cold. And even though every day brings another minute or so of light, the dark, dreary winter. But sometimes, there’s an opportunity to inject a little sunshine into your life, and this Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette is just that.
Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette
A while back I made my Perfect Pumpkin Spice Pancakes (those are so good, I want them all the time!) and wanted some syrup. But I don’t usually buy grocery store syrup, and I just wasn’t feeling maple syrup at all. Besides, that can be super pricey. And for some reason, the idea of a bacon syrup popped in my head. So here’s my Bacon Pecan Syrup…it’s a little special for a fun brunch experience.
Perfect Pumpkin Spice Pancakes with Bacon Pecan Syrup
I hear over and over it’s too expensive to eat “healthy” and you hear it so much, it’s gotta be true, right? I think that’s an “oft-repeated lie.” Stay with me as I prove that wrong with these 12 Healthy Budget Meal Strategies & recipes to go with them. You don’t always have to pay a lot to eat well, and might just save money if you shop carefully and cook at home. Bonus!
Every January, I post out what are your favorite recipes on my site on my New & Old post. The ones that are the most popular and it is always a surprise! And of course, it gives me a lot of insight into what “you” might be looking for in a recipe. The problem is, that’s a collective “you” meaning it’s based on the number of visits to each recipe or post. Each view is a “click” that is added up by the “Jetpack” elves, Jetpack being a feature on my WordPress site, and WordPress is my “host” that I pay to keep my site on.
It seems, although I’m improving a bit, I’m still struggling with my various “ailments” so I apologize for two breakfast recipes in a row. Usually, I do try to shake things up a bit but in order to take the stress off my hands and shoulders I’m just not really cooking and when I looked through my drafts of posts I’ve never posted, I came across these Perfect Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. I have to admit that looking at the pics made ME hungry, so here they are.
Perfect Pumpkin Spice Pancakes with Bacon Pecan Syrup
I typically don’t make a lot of breakfast casseroles. I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because I had a small family, I’m not a morning person (I should hashtag that!) and for years, although I have a few breakfast casseroles on my site, I love this Potato Cheese Strata. It’s kind of like my “signature” dish when I have overnight company, but it’s huge and more complicated. But now I have a “new” breakfast casserole, Overnight Breakfast Sausage Casserole. I’m kinda psyched about it.
Overnight Breakfast Sausage Casserole
We’ve all been there – the New Year comes & when we sit down with the bills we wonder what we’ve done. Or at least, if I’m being honest, I’ve been there. And then it’s triage time. While some items might not be totally in your control, your food budget is. Most of these ideas are very doable all year long, a few are only for the short term and couple are not good strategies at all unless you’re in a place of desperation. I’ll explain that, more below. In the meantime, here’s how to put your thumb in the dike & slash your food grocery costs.
Happy New Year’s, everyone! I’m looking back to what’s just been a crazy year for me! It was actually October of 2017 that I came back home after an extensive time caring for my folks and it took more out of me than I realized, the emotional and especially the physical labor of it all. It really was all too much for me.
So Happy New Year’s, everyone! I can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve, already! So what do you do for New Year’s Eve? Me, I’m kind of an old curmudgeon. I mean back in the day I’d go out with the girls but these days I’m usually perfectly happy to stay in, stay warm & safe and maybe stay up till midnight.
Copycat Outback Steakhouse Salad
I was at the store the other day grabbing some vinegar when I happened to notice a small bottle of Balsamic Reduction for sale, right next to the Balsamic Vinegar I was buying to make a reduction. But lemme tell ya, it was pricey! The bottle was darling, though, with a cute little cork, but even that couldn’t justify paying that much for a Simple Balsamic Reduction.
Simple Balsamic Reduction
Ok, so the other day for some reason, I decided I HAD to have a popover. It seemed something I could whip up without too much hassle, especially since I usually make my Popovers in a Muffin Tin. I love making those popovers; they’re just stupid simple and so delish. Well, ya’ll know how that goes. I decided I needed something special to go with my Popovers, so I decided I better make Easy Strawberry Butter. And of course, I kept thinking that both Popovers and Easy Strawberry Butter would be great for New Year’s brunch. I cannot believe how fast the days are whizzing by…it’s just days now before I have to remember to put 2019 on everything. That gets harder, every year!
Strawberry Butter & Popovers in a Muffin Tin
I’m not sure what made me think of this old-fashioned recipe…I’d call it comfort food. I don’t think I grew up on it, but it was always around at someone’s house. I remember making this way back when I was a young Mom. I always called it Ground Beef Noodle Bake. I suspect it has roots in the German Kugel but became “casseroled up” in the U.S., much the way our “American Goulash” did.
Ground Beef Noodle Bake
So ya all know if you follow me (and if you don’t, I’d love it if you do! Check on the sidebar at the right) that I just posted out my Saltine Cracker Caramel Bars. I just couldn’t resist taking another crack (bad pun) at a cracker treat. I am all about quick, fun and easy this year! I’ve been so behind at getting my holiday treats posted because of my various “ailments” (Btw, my hand & shoulder seem to be better after cortisone shots although I had my doubts at first!) that I’m doubling up and posting two treats, today.
Ritz Cracker Toffee
It’s been a bit humbling for me not to be able to do much cooking (or typing) with my bum hand and shoulder. Especially when Christmas is only days away. So I’ve been trying to find super easy Christmas treats that can be knocked off at the last minute. I figured at this time of year, everyone needs something easy, bum hand or not! And when that recipe is as good as these Saltine Cracker Caramel Bars no-one will guess just how easy they are.
Saltine Cracker Caramel Bars
Guys, I gotta tell you I haven’t been this excited about Fudge for a long time. My wonderful neighbor and friend (thank you “S”) dropped off some Fireball Whiskey Fudge the other day. I fell in love at first taste. And the funniest thing about that is that I’m not a huge fudge person and I don’t care much for Whiskey.
Fireball Whiskey Fudge
I remember Martin Sheen was featured on the back pages of Bon Appetit, where they used to run a celebrity spot every month. It wasn’t until I got my copy of “Best American Recipes 2003-2004” by Molly Stevens (I loved that series of books) that I paid attention. She highlighted Martin Sheen’s Pumpkin Cheesecake in the most glowing terms. She’s not wrong!
Martin Sheen’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
I was chatting with my friend Tonya on facebook book the other day. I asked if she’d made anything great in her Instant Pot and she gave me this recipe, Instant Pot Mexican Chipotle Chicken Soup. This soup saved my life! Thanks Tonya for sharing!
Instant Pot Mexican Chipotle Chicken Soup
Way back in the olden days (my granddaughter just asked me not too long ago what it was like when I was growing up, lol), way back when I had more energy, when I was a little more “Martha” than I am now, I used to do a lot more DIY and crafty kind of things. One of those things was drying oranges for all kinds of stuff. A.nd this year I came across a method that makes Beautiful Dried Oranges.
Beautiful Dried Oranges