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
If you follow me, you might know I’m all about leftovers and transforming them into marvelous new dishes, so I wasn’t daunted at all by the five pounds of mashed potatoes I had when I made my Slow Cooker or Oven Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes. I had a few ideas, but after seeing Gail’s post for her Duchess Mashed Potatoes on her site, Snap Shots in Cursive, I couldn’t get them out of my mind. Out the window flew any thoughts of gnocchi and pierogies, and inspired, I decided to make this Duchess Potatoes Casserole (From Leftover Mashed Potatoes).
Duchess Potatoes Casserole (From Leftover Mashed Potatoes)
Ok, so will you guys kill me if I post two mashed potatoes recipes in the same week? I probably could have done with some better timing but with Thanksgiving (and Christmas soon after) looming and mashed potatoes such an important part of the meal, I wanted to get this Make-Ahead Slow Cooker or Oven Mashed Potatoes recipe out. And not to worry, I have a teaser – a beautiful, easy and feast worthy Chocolate Tart coming up along with a couple of fun Thanksgiving-y recipes.
Make-Ahead Slow Cooker or Oven Mashed Potatoes
For everyday old dinners, I usually make my plain old mashed potatoes, I call them Simple Rustic Mashed Potatoes. They’re super easy, pretty lean and I don’t even peel them. Sometimes I make my Perfect Instant Pot Potatoes, too. They’re a great mashed potato. But when Company comes or a Holiday rolls around, I pull out all the stops and make my best ones: Best Company Mashed Potatoes.
Best Company Mashed Potatoes
I don’t know about you, but eating at steakhouses isn’t my wheelhouse. So when I go to one, I read every inch of the menu and agonize over just the right choice of steak and sides to maximize my experience! (And then I hate it if someone else orders something that looks better than what I have, lol!) And while I enjoy the steak, what makes it for me is the au gratin potatoes. My daughter takes after me because she was out for a special dinner with her sweetie, and what Jess raved about the next day wasn’t the steak, it was Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin.
Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin Copycat make individual or one large casserole.
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
Do you love Shepherd’s Pie? Or Cottage Pie? It’s been a fave of mine since I was a kid. I have a recipe on my site made from ground beef, but the Shepherd’ Pie that will have me running to the kitchen (and the family running to the table) is this one: Shepherds Pie from Leftover Pot Roast.
Shepherds Pie from Leftover Pot Roast
My Mom used to make what she called American Fries. She’d pull out the electric skillet (so many things were made in that! Hello Porcupine Balls, I remember you…and not fondly, either) but we were happy to see that skillet it if it meant American Fries. Now me, I think the BEST American Fries are American Fries From Leftover Potatoes.
American Fries From Leftover Potatoes
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
So how many of you have a “Deserted Island” food? I almost said, “dessert island” that would be even better, huh? So a Deserted Island food is a food you would pick if you had to live on a deserted island but the catch is It can be only one food. Mine is potatoes. Specifically mashed potatoes and if I could bring my Instant Pot along, it would be these Perfect Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Perfect Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
It seems I’m all about the summer party recipes, lately, not my typical everyday fare! (See the explanation marks? That proves it!) And this Loaded Baked Potato Salad is definitely one. Heck, it’s a party in a bowl.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
I’m always looking for a simple, easy side dish when we’re grilling something and these Foil Pouch Potatoes Peppers Onions go with just about anything. Burgers, chicken, pork chops, steak.
Foil Pouch Potatoes Peppers Onions
Here’s a new to me soup that you might like, too. Yucatan Pork Stew Instant Pot or Not. You might be familiar with Taco Soup or Sopa de Lima. They’re kind of relatives & share some of the same qualities as this Yucatan Pork Stew Instant Pot or Not.
Yucatan Pork Stew Instant Pot or Not
Caldo de Res is usually a long-simmered beef Mexican soup made with shank, but today I wanted to show you a shortcut Caldo de Res you can get on the table quickly. And not to worry guys, I know I’ve been posting a lot of Mexican food! I’ll be mixing things up this week just in case you’re not the fan I am!
Shortcut Caldo de Res
It snowed again. Yep. Not on Easter (and April Fool’s Day) but the day before. It was like a cruel joke, and it put me right into comfort mode. Anyway, here’s some of that comfort, Easy Cheesy Ham & Potato Chowder. It’s wrap up in a throw with your big fuzzy socks and eat from a mug comfort!
Easy Cheesy Ham & Potato Chowder
The lowly potato chip. It’s available everywhere. But if you haven’t ever had a home-made potato chip, you just haven’t lived. These Best Homemade Potato Chips are warm, crispy crunchy deliciousness. They’re unbelievable delish! They’re like gobsmacking good!
The Best Homemade Potato Chips – Brined & Double Fried
How do I know about Brunswick Stew Virginia Style? Back in the ’70s, we went on one of the very few family vacations that didn’t include dogs (My Dad raised Goldens and showed extensively), probably to try to instill some sort of family bonding combined with patriotic zeal to renew our faith in Family, God, and Country.
Brunswick Stew Virginia Style
I’ve been trying to get this post for Korean Pancakes or Gamjajeon out all day! ‘Coz the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Pyeongchang is in the Gangwon Province of South Korea, dominated by the Taebaek Mountains.
Korean Pancakes, Gamjajeon 감자전
If you grew up in the Midwest or any area with German (or Eastern European) roots, you might have grown up with this hearty & healthy soup. And you already know that Smoked Sausage and Cabbage Soup is absolute comfort food. A bowl of this will warm you up from the inside out even on the coldest days.
Smoked Sausage & Cabbage Soup
So last week I posted Philly Cheesesteak Sliders (before I knew how badly our Vikings were going to be trounced!) This week, I thought what the heck. New England Clam Chowder was in order. For the Superbowl, eh? You betcha.
New England Clam Chowder – make this as thick or as thin as you’d like, very easily!
Oh, but I do love me some soup. Especially in the fall. And since I had some sausage left after making Smoked Sausage and White Bean Soup in the Instant Pot the other day, I thought I’d make more soup, but take it in another direction. I could hardly think of a better use for that sausage than Cheesy Potato Sausage Soup – Instant Pot or Stove-top.
Cheesy Potato Sausage Soup – Instant Pot or Stove-top
When I made this Instant Pot Pork Chop One Pot Meal the first time, we had just gone from a few lovely fall days to fall with a vengeance here in the Twin Cities. Windy, cold & blustery.
Instant Pot Pork Chop One Pot Meal
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
If you’ve never had a really good German Potato Salad, you might think you might think you don’t care for it. I know this to be true because I’ve tried, from time to time, grocery store deli German Potato Salad. It doesn’t compare to what you can make at home.
German Potato Salad
When we’re talking about Vietnamese cuisine in our family, my sis is all about the Pho. A few years back, I posted a phenomenal recipe for Pho Ga, Chicken Pho, just for her and I have a Shortcut Pho Ga Tay on my site, too, that can be made with turkey or chicken. Me, I’m all about the Cà Ri Gà Vietnamese Chicken Curry. I mean really all about it! I crave it!
Ca Ri Ga Vietnamese Chicken Curry
I admit to being surprised that I liked this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad so much, and so did the folks. And I have my lil’ sis (who I no longer consider evil for suggesting such a salad knowing I’m not a Ranch fan) to thank.
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
I’m always looking for something fun to do with my leftover Corned Beef. I know it’s always good the next day just as is, but we so seldom have Corned Beef I really like to do something special. These Corned Beef Fritters are it!
Corned Beef Fritters
I have a little secret. I’ve been holding out on you. See, I’ve been making these Hasselback Scalloped Potatoes for months now and never posted them. They’re amazing, they’re gorgeous and they’re amazing. Oh, I said that already. Well, I can’t say it enough.
Hasselback au Gratin Potatoes
