When I was a kid, either creamed peas or creamed pearl onions or a combination of both 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 Salmon Loaf recipe into Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf, I thought I’d better address the Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions, too. They really do go so well together and the cream sauce serves as a sauce for the Salmon Loaf, too.

Lentils with Chorizo and Carrots over Mashed Potatoes
I’ve been making a conscientious effort to reduce the amount of red meat my family eats, and I love this recipe that uses just a bit of chorizo and a whisper of bacto on lend enormous flavor the dish. The rest of the flavor comes from the vegetables and wine which marry beautifully with the earthy flavors of the lentils.

Beef Stew with Wine (or not) and Bacon
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m crazy about stew. I just love it on a cold wintery day, cooking low and slow and if it’s fogging over the windows as it slowly braises, even better. I think it adds to the whole ambiance! I have several fave stews but of all of them, this is hands down the one I crave the most. It’s my Beef Stew with Wine (or not) and Bacon.