Naf Naf Lentil Soup

Naf Naf Lentil Soup

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I’ve been meaning to post Naf Naf Lentil Soup for awhile, but today I was inspired because it has to be the perfect after tax day soup – especially if you’re not getting a refund! Made in minutes with a handful of ingredients, it’s not only absolutely delish, it’s downright cheap to make. It’s modeled after the soup at the fast casual restaurant, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill. I had to stop in awhile back to try their Chicken Shawarma, but it was the Lentil Soup that blew me away!

Naf Naf Lentil Soup

Naf Naf Lentil Soup

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Kale Salad With Creamy Caesar

Kale Salad With Creamy Caesar

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First of all, a disclaimer! This really isn’t a “Caesar” dressing in this Kale Salad With Creamy Caesar, but it IS a dressing that’s creamy and cool and punching with enough flavor to stand up to and tame any kale salad. It’s a little bold, a little brash and as the kids would say, “Gangsta.” (That’s when the kids say, “Mom, no one says that, lol!) I don’t think there could be anything more perfect with a Kale salad than this creamy dressing.

Kale Salad With Creamy Caesar

Kale Salad With Creamy Caesar

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Horchata Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Horchata Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

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A few weeks ago, Anna commented on my recipe for Horchata and asked where the recipe for my Horchata Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) that I promised to post was. (Anna, I hope you’re following so you see this, and sorry for the delay!) Horchata, if you’re not familiar, is a Mexican Aguas Fresca, a cool, creamy, cinnamony rice-based beverage. It’s so much better than it sounds; it’s absolutely delish, refreshing but with a little substance.

Horchata Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Horchata Arroz con Leche (Cream of Rice)

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Fresh Pea Pesto

Fresh Pea Pesto

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Spring has finally started to spring here! I have a shoot from a daylily coming up. And of course, raking and clean up (with some snow still in the yard) is happening, thanks to my son. We’re hoping to get some of the leaves up before the spring rains hit – a horrible job since I couldn’t rake last fall. But with spring comes renewed life & renewed hope – and this Fresh Pea Pesto.

Fresh Pea Pesto

Fresh Pea Pesto over pasta

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Shortcut Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches

Shortcut Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches

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I can’t think when I first got interested in the Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches. I’m pretty sure it was after I made Minnesota Bean Pot Cassoulet Recipe. I used a little of the pork from that recipe for this loosely based interpretation of the famous sandwich, so if you’re from Philly, just look away, now! Since I just put out a post the other day on Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage, I thought that Shortcut Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches would be a nice companion recipe. Just in case there’s any roast pork left over from that meal.

Shortcut Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches

Shortcut Philly Roast Pork Sandwiches (Leftover Recipe)

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Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage

Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage

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Usually, I think of long, slow cooking like Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage in the fall, but a pot of this glorious dish couldn’t be better on a cold, drizzly spring day. This is like Sunday dinner extraordinaire! You might want to try to make this sometime this spring before it gets too warm for a hearty dinner.

Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage

Braised Pork Roast with Sausage & Cabbage

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Mom's Classic Carrot Cake - Sheet Cake Version; it makes a marvelous layer cake, too.

Mom’s Classic Carrot Cake

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This is my Mom’s Classic Carrot Cake and for a while, it was a go-to for special occasions, especially since it was always a two-layer affair. I think I’ll always associate carrot cake with Easter…in my mind, I guess, Easter goes hand in hand with rabbits and rabbits eat, well, carrots – and just about anything else in the garden!

Mom's Classic Carrot Cake - Sheet Cake Version; it makes a marvelous layer cake, too.

Mom’s Classic Carrot Cake – Sheet Cake Version; it makes a marvelous layer cake, too.

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Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions

Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions

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When I was a kid, either creamed peas or creamed pearl onions were on the menu now and then, especially at Grandma’s house. Honestly, I wonder if they were the ones that used to come in the box, frozen. They were often served with Salmon Loaf, so when I reworked Grandma’s recipe into Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf, I thought I’d better address the Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions, too.

Not Grandma's Salmon Loaf

Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf – with Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions

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Not Grandma's Salmon Loaf

Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf

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As a child, I don’t think anything struck more terror in my heart than learning dinner was Grandma’s Salmon Loaf. It was on regular rotation during both Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas and Lent, before Easter, when there were many days of fasting, abstinence, and obligation when meat wasn’t served. I’ve always thought about making a post for that Salmon Loaf, but just never could do that to y’all – or to me! So that’s prompted me to come up with Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf!

Not Grandma's Salmon Loaf

Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf – this is the recipe that will win you over!

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Best Bacon Waffles

Best Bacon Waffles

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There are a lot of “holidays” in the Spring, but ya wanna know what one of my faves is? Waffle Day. It’s on March 25th but I celebrated it this year, early, with these glorious, crispy and fluffy Best Bacon Waffles! And then I slathered them with my Bacon Pecan Syrup (although I left the pecans out) and had my own little celebration. This is an excellent waffle recipe, btw, without the bacon, too. I like it even more than the Alton Brown’s Really Good Waffles that are already on my site.

Best Bacon Waffles

Best Bacon Waffles

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Instant Pot BBQ Wings

Instant Pot BBQ Wings

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I always think of Wings, Sports Bars, and Football together. Like they’re connected in my mind, and in my head, you can’t have any them without the other. But Wings are great anytime you want to have a sporty get together and with March Madness upon us (the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments if you’re not in the know) why not have your wings on the couch, in front of the TV? You can knock out some pretty great Instant Pot BBQ Wings at home, pretty darned fast!

Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce with Instant Pot BBQ Wings

Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce with Instant Pot BBQ Wings

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Simon Pearce's Rory's Scones

Simon Pearce’s Rory’s Scones

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I made Simon Pearce’s Vermont Cheddar Soup the other day and I couldn’t help but make the Simon Pearce’s Rory’s Scones to go with it! The soup, the scones, and a little real butter – there couldn’t be anything better on a cold, dreary, sleety March day! It’s enough to warm you from the inside out.

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup with Simon Pearce's Rory's Scones

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup with Rory’s Scones

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Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup with Simon Pearce's Rory's Scones

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup

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I’ve become a pretty big fan of Simon Pearce’s Restaurant and an even bigger fan of the Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup. And the weird thing is, I’ve never been to the Mill at Simon Pearce, the restaurant in Quechee, Vermont. And never had their Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup there, either. But no matter, I can have it right here in Minnesota (you betcha) where it seems just as at home on a snowy March night.

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup

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Hot Reuben Dip

Hot Reuben Dip

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It was a friend who first gave me the recipe for this Hot Reuben Dip years ago, and I remember we went a little gaga over it for a while. Then at some point, I just kinda forgot about it. Maybe spring came and Hot Reuben Dip is def a super creamy, super cheesy kind of a winter comfort kind of thing. So last night when I wanted Reuben Sandwiches and had forgotten to get the bread and didn’t want to go out for it (#HatingWinterWhenWillItGoAway) I remembered this quick and easy dip. And oh my gosh I had forgotten how insanely good it is!!

Hot Reuben Dip

Hot Reuben Dip

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Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

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Ya gotta know I have a bit of a thing for Corned Beef. Heck, I and can hardly wait every year to make it for St. Paddy’s day! I even have a couple of recipes already on my site, Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner for the Crockpot or Oven and a Whiskey & Marmalade Glazed Corned Beef. Both are delish but I just had to make an Instant Pot Corned Beef for this year. I’ve actually made it several times just to make sure I got my fill I perfected it before I posted the recipe, here.

Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

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New Orleans Creole Jambalaya

New Orleans Creole Jambalaya

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Mardi Gras is almost upon up, and Mardi Gras always makes me think of New Orleans and New Orleans always makes me think of Jambalaya. See how my mind works? It’s all about the food, lol! And while my fave Jambalaya Recipe is already on my site, one made with a roux (that’s said to be the Cajun-style) I really wanted to up my game this year and perfect a Creole-style Jambalaya, the tomato-y kind. Yeah, I’ had to get out of my (very delish) Cajun rut and make this New Orleans Creole Jambalaya for Mardi Gras this year.

New Orleans Creole Jambalaya

New Orleans Creole Jambalaya

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Mardi Gras King Cake Scones

Craveable Collections

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You’ll find all my recipes in my Main Menu at the top of the page, and when you are on any recipe post, you can always click on links or tags to find similar ones. Sometimes it’s nice to see some favorites broken out for when you’re craving recipes for a certain occasion. There’s always more to come, so keep checking back. 🙂

holiday & party food

 

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Make-Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal

Make-Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal

22 Comments

If you’re looking for an easy, no fuss way to get breakfast on the table, look no further than Make-Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal. There is something to be said of springing (ok, stumbling, #not a morning person) into the kitchen on a cold, frosty winter morning, getting the oven going and baking a panful of warm, apple-y cinnamony make ahead deliciousness.

Make-Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal

Make-Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal

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Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Instant Pot/Stove Top

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Instant Pot/Stove Top

16 Comments

So I was trying to think of the last time I made Soup. It was so long, I had to look it up! I made a White Chicken Chili that can be made in the Slow Cooker, Instant Pot or on the Stove in January, and it’s pretty soup-like but the last bone fide soup I made was in December: My friend Tanya’s Instant Pot Mexican Chipotle Chicken Soup. So I’m due! You, my friends, are due! I’m getting out of my Mexican soup rut and shaking things up with this Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Instant Pot/Stove Top.

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Instant Pot/Stove Top

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Instant Pot/Stove Top

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Escabeche - Mexican Pickled Vegetables

Escabeche – Mexican Pickled Vegetables

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Have you had those marvelous pickled veggies in restaurants that are sometimes a garnish on Mexican or food from other Latin American countries? And of course, as I’m saying this, I’m assuming that you’re probably not in Latin America and don’t already make Escabeche, Mexican Pickled Vegetables! Although I do get visitors from all over the place and so far today, according to the WordPress wizards, I’ve had seven visitors from Mexico! Hola!

Escabeche - Mexican Pickled Vegetables

Escabeche – Mexican Pickled Vegetables

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Valentines White Chocolate Popcorn

Valentines White Chocolate Popcorn

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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

Valentines White Chocolate Popcorn

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Old English Potted Cheese

Old English Potted Cheese

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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

Old English Potted Cheese

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Orzo with Sausage & Peppers

Orzo with Sausage & Peppers

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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

Orzo with Sausage & Peppers

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Old Bay Oyster Crackers

Old Bay Oyster Crackers

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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

Old Bay Oyster Crackers

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Boston Sausage Pepper Grinders

Boston Sausage Pepper Grinders

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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.

 

This does have an ad, but it is a compilation of the Budweiser Clydesdales.

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Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Chops

Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Chops

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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

Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Chops

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