Fresh pesto is quick and easy to make, and has much better flavor than store bought jars of pesto. What’s more, it’s a great way to use up any basil from the garden before the temperatures get any colder. ‘This recipe omits tree nuts, an ingredient typically found in pesto. For those with allergies, tree [...]
Posts under ‘cooking’
Fish sticks with homemade tartar sauce
Last night we had fish sticks for dinner. I know what you’re thinking: I am quite the gourmet cook, right? We all need a break, and last night was my night. However, fish sticks are not complete without a side of tartar sauce for dipping and, since we have never met a tartar sauce that [...]
Easy homemade chicken noodle soup
When a nasty cold hits, nothing soothes and comforts like soup. Most times, we simply open a can of Campbell’s and heat it on the stove top, but a recent epiphany (not to mention the frozen whole chicken taking up way too much room in the freezer) led me to make my own chicken noodle [...]
Espresso rub
It’s no secret that I love espresso. But espresso combined with red meat seemed a little, well, weird. Until I tried it. At a fancy little steakhouse, the hubs and I decided to try an espresso rub steak, figuring that since we like espresso and like steak, why not try both? And it was absolutely [...]
Savory lemon and herb marinade
We love using marinades as an easy way to add flavor and zip to grilled or baked meats – they are so easy to whip up, and can even tenderize a tougher cut of beef. Just mix the ingredients in a zip top bag, put the meat in, and refrigerate for a few hours to [...]
Springtime asparagus salad with fresh vinaigrette
Nothing says spring to me more than asparagus. The first vegetable to pop up out of my garden, those tender green stalks of goodness are a welcome change to the winter vegetables we’ve been enjoying. Always looking for a new way to enjoy the potently delicious veggie, I decided to whip up a light vinaigrette [...]
Pot roast
As the new owner of a shiny new Dutch oven, I immediately went through my stash of recipes to try out and found this one for an easy pot roast. The meat is browned in the Dutch oven, then the other ingredients are added and the entire thing is cooked for a few hours, leaving [...]
Italian sausage and tomato pasta
Weeknights are all about quick and simple meals in my house. Not only is my time at a premium, but recipes with few, simple ingredients mean I don’t have to make a run to the grocery store. This recipe from Real Simple magazine fits the bill, and is a bright, colorful dish. I use about [...]
Ham & bean soup
The holidays are long past, so it’s time to do something with that ham bone that got stashed in the freezer and is taking up altogether too much space. I purchased a bag of 15 different beans for bean soup before the holidays and now’s the time to use it. Bean soup is a quick [...]
Roast chicken for a simple Sunday supper
Sunday evening is the time for comfort food – especially during the cold winter. This roast chicken is great for a Sunday supper, or a great comfort food for a weeknight. The garlic gives the chicken great flavor and the lemon is subtle but fresh. Serve with bread or orzo on the side (mix in [...]
