Cheap Holiday Party Tray

Cheap Holiday Party Tray

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When the holidays roll around and you’re asked to a party, do you usually say, “What can I bring?” And what if you don’t usually cook, or can’t cook. And maybe your budget is overextended as it is. That’s when you might think Party Tray. And if you know how to assemble a Cheap Holiday Party Tray, all your problems are solved. At least the what to bring option is. I apologize that this tray isn’t decked out in Christmas trappings. Between my bad shoulder and hand, I’m a bit limited and obviously made this Cheap Holiday Party Tray right around Thanksgiving. If you follow me, you might even recognize a few of these items. I’ll link to them, too.

 

Cheap Holiday Party Tray

Cheap Holiday Party Tray

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Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf

Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf

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Do y’all know Nathalie Dupree? She’s like the queen of Southern cooking; the Southern Julia Child. So when a friend (the same friend who introduced me to Panera’s Steak & White Cheddar Panini and many other meals & recipes over the years – she has great taste!) mentioned that Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf was a family favorite, I couldn’t wait to try it. It’s actually been on my must make list for a while and I gotta say it’s just the perfect thing to make on a cold winter weekend.

 

Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf

Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf

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Almost Bon Appetit's Dry Rubbed Turkey

Almost Bon Appetit’s Dry Rubbed Turkey

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I know I probably should have had this post out weeks before Thanksgiving, but better late than never, right? Anyway, I figure a lot of you must have Turkey for Christmas, too, or you can pin it for next year. And what a turkey this Almost Bon Appetit’s Dry Rubbed Turkey is! The “Almost” is because I’ve changed it up, just a bit. Find the original recipe here on Bon Appetit’s site; they have several dry-brined turkey recipes.

 

Almost Bon Appetit's Dry Rubbed Turkey

Almost Bon Appetit’s Dry Rubbed Turkey

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Fast Fresh Instant Pot Lo Mein

Fast Fresh Instant Pot Lo Mein

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I’m a huge fan of Lo Mein so when a friend mentioned she saw a recipe for Instant Pot Lo Mein, I was wowed. Could I make a Fast Fresh Instant Pot Lo Mein? One that’s as good or even better than my skillet versions? Maybe even better than takeout? The answer’s “Yes!” As in yes, yes, yes, pluheese! If you love Lo Mein, this Instant Pot version will rock your world.

Fast Fresh Instant Pot Lo Mein

Fast Fresh Instant Pot Lo Mein

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Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Copycat

Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Copycat

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There’s something about Olive Garden. People love it or hate it, but I have to say they’ve cracked the code on how to keep America’s diners happy and coming back. My folks are big fans (more about that, below) but my favorite thing, by far on the menu, is their Zuppa Toscana Soup. Luckily, it’s super easy and fast to make at home. You just need Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Copycat recipe.

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Copycat

Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Copycat

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Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes Bo Xao Khoai Tay

Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes Bo Xao Khoai Tay

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I’ve seen quite a few versions of Stir-Fried Beef & Potatoes and quite a few photos, and this recipe for my version, Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes Bo Xao Khoai Tay seems to be different. It’s how the Chef at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Twin Cities makes their Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes and it is utterly crave-worthy!

Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes Bo Xao Khoai Tay

Vietnamese Beef & Potatoes Bo Xao Khoai Tay

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Minnesota Cassoulet "Bean Pot"

Minnesota Cassoulet “Bean Pot”

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It’s easy to always think about St. Paul & Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, as a Swedish/Norwegian city and we do have a large population. Maybe our weather made them feel at home. But it’s just as easy to forget that our earliest settlements were French and/or French Canadian. So in honor of our French, here’s a “Bean Pot” or if ya want to be fancier, I’ll just call this a Minnesota Cassoulet Bean Pot.

Minnesota Cassoulet "Bean Pot"

Minnesota Cassoulet “Bean Pot”

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Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn

Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn

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As far as a frugal snack, there’s not much that beats out popcorn. That is if you’re ditching the boxes of the microwave stuff and sticking with a bag or a jar of kernels and making your own Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn. Yanno, microwave popcorn packets are the biggest rip-off since instant oatmeal packets. Hey, it HAD to be said! I mean really, what’s going to be next? Bottled water, lol?!

Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn

Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn

 

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

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Goodness knows I’m not a huge sports fan. I just don’t have the attention span to sit and follow most things on TV. Unless maybe it’s food related, lol! But yanno what I can get behind on game day? The food! There’s just something about the fun party food that shows up around every football party, and these Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders are the perfect example of fun food.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

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Crispy Zucchini Fritters

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

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I had a couple zucchini in my fridge. I know I bought them for something specific, but who knows what that was! I usually have a menu for what I plan to eat & make, but in typical fashion, lost the list. Oh, the joys of getting old! But that all might have been for the best because instead, I made Crispy Zucchini Fritters.

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

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Best Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

Best Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

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Do you love oatmeal as much as I do? If so, you might be like me – wanting to make Steel Cut (or Irish) Oats more often but hating the hassle, the attention they take and the dreaded pan cleanup. My Best Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal is the answer to all that hot mess!

Best Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

Best Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal – in a jar to tote to work.

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Slow Cooker Zucchini Beef Soup

Slow Cooker Zucchini Beef Soup

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Slow Cooker Zucchini Beef Soup has got to be the perfect end of summer soup, especially if you happen to have a garden still spitting out zucchini! Here in the Twin Cities, I’m still seeing a few on my neighbor’s plants. Me, I know better than to ever plant zucchini – the plants never stop and you’ll have zucchini out the ears, lol!

Slow Cooker Zucchini Beef Soup

Slow Cooker Zucchini Beef Soup

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Pear Almond Granola French Toast with Pear Brown Sugar Caramel Syrup

Epic Pear Almond Granola French Toast

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I don’t think it would come as a surprise to any of you guys that I love food! And I love sharing food in real life and on my site, here. And I get excited about it. And I’m really excited about this Epic Pear Almond Granola French Toast. I know I’ve been talking about it with the recipes leading up to this French Toast. The Autumn Almond Pear Granola and the Pear Brown Sugar Caramel Syrup. And I don’t normally post twice in the same day, but the Pear Brown Sugar Caramel Syrup is kind of a sister recipe to this one and I couldn’t wait to share this French Toast.

Epic Pear Almond Granola French Toast

Epic Pear Almond Granola French Toast

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That Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

That Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

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Not too long ago, I posted out the recipes I have on my site that were made with Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix. Or rather, my Homemade Onion Soup Mix recipe. There were quite a few more than I thought I had on my site, but there was one glaring omission. I’ve never posted it because it’s so easy, it’s hardly a recipe. It’s that Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe from the 60’s.

That Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

That Old Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

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French Onion Soup Burgers

French Onion Soup Burgers

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I have finally found a burger that I just want to eat all the time. And I’m not normally a big burger person! These French Onion Soup Burgers are everything a burger should be!

French Onion Soup Burgers

French Onion Soup Burgers

They’re juicy and super flavorful and can I just say Caramelized Onions and melty Provolone or Gruyure and an Onion Bun just to drive those flavors home? Do I even need to say anything else?

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Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop

Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop

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Ok, so what kind of blogger/friend would I be if I posted my homemade Mexican Pinto Bean Spice and then didn’t follow up with a recipe for my Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop? So here it is, and you can make these the old-fashioned way by simmering on the stove or the quicker newfangled Instant Pot version. I vote for quicker, but I have an Instant Pot and an issue with delaying gratification.

Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop

Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop

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Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers

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Ok, guys, here it is, after the post on the Instant Pot Brown Rice to go in the Greek Brown Rice Salad & then the Greek Brown Rice Salad, to enjoy with the Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers, and now, finally, the Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers are here! Yeah, baby. It’s like the house that Jack built! Luckily, it’s worth it and all the components of this meal are pretty quick and easy.Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

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Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

Greek Brown Rice Salad

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I’ve been on a bit of a Meditteranean kick. I’m trying to health up the rest of the summer, at least until Labor Day comes. Besides it’s August and it’s hot and it’s humid (whine whine whine) and I want to eat (and cook) cool and light. And so I made Greek Brown Rice Salad to go with my soon to be posted Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers.

Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)

I just did a post for Horiatiki Greek Salad not too long ago. Gosh, that was good. And I wanted to carry some of those flavors forward with a little twist. Funny how I listed so many variations of our American Style Greek Salads, but I didn’t mention or think about combining it with rice, let alone brown rice.

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Salad with Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables & Barley

Salad with Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables & Barley

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A bit of cooked Barley was the “by-product” of my Healthy Lemon Ginger Barley Water recipe awhile back. Well, if you know me, you know I try to waste nothing, and sure didn’t want to waste a morsel of wonderful, chewy, nutty Barley. (I love it, and so should you, btw! It’s really good for you!) And so I went on a quest and that quest ended in this Salad with Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables & Barley. It’s a lot to use a cup of Barley, huh?!

Salad with Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables & Barley

Salad with Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables & Barley

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Southern Tomato Gravy

Southern Tomato Gravy

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I don’t know who to “blame” for me whipping up this Southern Tomato Gravy the other day. Certainly not all my family that has migrated down to Georgia because I have never had Southern Tomato Gravy at their homes nor heard the words Tomato Gravy pass their lips. I knew it was going to be just the thing to go over the leftover Biscuits I made the other day, though.

Southern Tomato Gravy

Southern Tomato Gravy

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