So they’re finally here. Tomatoes. First one, then three, now nine – all from our little garden. As you can see, they’re multiplying exponentially! But even if you don’t grow your own, you’ll find great tomatoes this time of year, and great tomatoes make the best Fresh Tomato Pasta.
Fresh Tomato Pasta
A gorgeous dish, it really should have a fancy name…a little wine, lemon and a handful of sun-dried tomatoes spark up gorgeous green beans, chicken and a few potatoes. Fingerling potatoes or Yukons are perfect but a red potato makes a great budget stand in. And everything is napped with that bright sauce. Shhh…don’t tell anyone how simple this dish is and they’ll think you’re a genius.
Lemony Chicken with Green Beans
Years and years ago my sister gave me a cookbook called Women of Great Taste from the Junior League of Wichita, Kansas. It wasn’t a big cookbook, but I used it a LOT. Their Enchiladas con Pollo became a family favorite. Talk about cheesy creamy deliciousness!
Enchiladas con Pollo with a Green Chile Sour Cream Sauce
I wanted to throw out this delicious quick little creamy sauce – I use this same basic recipe in all kinds of ways.
Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Wine
This super simple, stir together, pat in the pan tart shell sounded just too, too simple to be so good. But it is, and best of all it tastes like a big ol’ sugar cookie!
Sabayon Lemon Tart – this has my easy pat in the pan tart shell.
I feel like I’ve made a new discovery, Brussels Sprouts braised in cream. I know. A little crazy, huh? A little over the top decadent. Maybe you’ve already made them?
Cream Braised Brussels Sprouts
Here’s a super simple little breakfast casserole that is perfect even for the pickiest of eaters. Delicious just as is, full of cheese & Sausage or Ham, I often like to tinker!
Cheese & Sausage Egg Bake
Red Onion Jam, Red Onion Confit, Caramelized Red Onions – all different names for the same thing: Rich, silky, sweet & tart, this is a condiment that should be in everyone’s fridge.
Red Onion Marmalade on crackers with a little cream cheese.
These pretty little meatballs with a bit of a Korean kick & a sweet/spicy glaze are just fun, fun, fun. They’d also be great for game day or an appetizer at any party – but can I just mention Super Bowl?! It’s coming right up and you’ll want these. Even if you don’t know you do, yet, you’re gonna want them!
Spicy Korean Meatballs
I kind of fell in love with the Coquito recently. Creamy, frothy, coconut deliciousness laced with Rum and touched with Cinnamon.
Coquito, a creamy, frothy coconut & rum cocktail
If you’ve never had the classic Puerto Rican pork roast, Pernil, you’ve been missing out. It’s beyond fantastic – slowly roasted, garlicky, herby deliciousness, done when it’s just about falling off the bone tender.
Pernil – Puerto Rican Pork Shoulder
You’re going to think I’ve gone Cauliflower Cray Cray! If you follow me, you’ll remember I made “Essential Oven Roasted Cauliflower” last week. And then I made Cauliflower with Dates & Pine Nuts. Now, here’s Smoky Cauliflower Hummus.
Smoky Cauliflower Hummus
I’m a cauliflower lover and roasting is my favorite way to cook it. It’s crisp/tender, and the roasting really brings out the best in cauliflower. I’ll eat it just as is, on its own, dress it up for a fancier side or use it as a part of another recipe. Heck, I’ll eat it like some people eat popcorn!
Oven Roasted Cauliflower
So January has rolled around and so has my annual attempt to eat healthy. Are you with me? At least for a while, anyway? Besides, this Salmon en Papillote is so lovely, you won’t even care whether its healthy or not.
Salmon en Papillote – this will keep cooking inside the packet, so open immediately
When I make Christmas cookies, Cocoa Snowflakes are always on the list. Why? Well, there’s chocolate. And there’s that almost chewy texture that works so nicely with the crispier sides and bottom of the cookie.
Cocoa Snowflakes or Cocoa Crinkles
I was very excited to come across this recipe for Fruit Cake In my Grandmother’s recipe box. It came down from her Mother, Lizzie Maloney. It’s a rich, moist and lovely Gingerbread type cake and the spicing is beautiful.
Fruit Cake or Plum Cake (a very old recipe)
I gotta tell ya, I never thought about eating Bacon Wrapped Dates. Recipes, I’ve seen – but back me up here, folks, doesn’t it sound kind of weird? Well, weird they are, but weirdly delish!
Bacon Wrapped Bleu Cheese Stuffed Dates
I don’t know when the thought popped in my mind to remake my turkey leftovers into Pozole, but I’m glad it did. And not just any old Pozole but a Green (Verde) Pozole with Turkey. Pozole Verde de Pavo.
Green Turkey Pozole (Pozole Verde de Pavo)
Another pie? Why not!? Because I already made my Fave Pumpkin Pie last week, and then a Caramel Creme Pumpkin Pie extravaganza. So for actual Thanksgiving? A Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Pie. The bottom layer is a lush cream cheese & the top, a more sedate pumpkin pie layer. The Dulce de Leche Whipped Cream? It stole the show.
Dulce de Leche 2 Layer Pumpkin Pie
I can’t wrap my head around it – some people call it Caramel Sauce, others Butterscotch. But they’re all talking about a rich, delicious, luscious sauce.
Easy Caramel or Butterscotch Sauce
This Creamy White Chicken Chili is creamy & cheesy with a hint of heat and a touch of smokiness.
Creamy White Chicken Chili
Fall has caught up with us, finally, with a fury. We’ve finally had our first real frost. And with it, a flurry of activity. Some herbs were potted and brought in and as many green tomatoes as we deemed prudent picked and placed in bags where hopefully they’ll ripen.
Sausage & Potato Sheet Tray Bake
First of all, I’m just not that much of a French Fry fan. I think they’re okay, don’t get me wrong, and every once in awhile I have one that’s great. But that one great one ruins every other French Fry for me for a long time. And Frozen French Fries? I’m a hater. It’s a strong word, hater, but it’s true.
Stupid Simple French Fries
As summer morphs into fall, it’s fun to make recipes that still take advantage of the abundance of tomatoes out there (yes, it’s me again – the tomato lady, lol!) but to give them a heartier twist. And when that twist includes easy boneless-chicken breast and a simple balsamic vinegar reduction? Well, count me in.
Balsamic Glazed Chicken & Tomatoes
Would a tomato by any other name still taste as wonderful? How about a “pomme d’amour”? I hafta admit, the French name seems to inspire a bit more lustfulness than our simple “tomato” does. And Tomatoes Provencal seems just a bit more romantic than Baked Tomato with a Garlicky Breadcrumb Crust!
Baked Tomatoes with a Garlicky Breadcrumb Crust
When I wanted to make my Crab Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers (how’s that for a teaser?!) I wanted to use some Old Bay Seasoning. Well, I have some at home (probably ancient – I DO live in the Midwest, after all) but none here at the folk’s. In the middle of nowhere. In South Dakota. It’s rather dry here, not to mention landlocked with very few lakes.
Old Bay Seasoning Substitute
Pina Coladas. They’re so good. Sweet, but good. What if you could make a fruit salad that had all the flavor (but none of the booze) of a Pina Colada? I’d drink to that. And the fruit in this salad, especially the bananas and pineapple, play so nicely with the lovely coconut flavors of the Pina Colada mix. Whoaa – mix? Yeah, mix.
Pina Colada Fruit Salad
I love that Quick Breads just seem to scream “good home cooking” don’t you? They’re great for all kinds of occasions: when company is dropping by, for brunch, or maybe to take to the office or to a family who needs a bit of a boost. This would make anyone feel better, at least while they’re eating it!
Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
